Poly-Sugar: Modification of Poly(vinyl Alcohol)

This paper describes the attachment of sugar (sucrose) onto low molecular weight poly(vinyl alcohols) (etherification) to produce a new class of synthetic sweetener. Because of its regulated molecular weight, the new sweetener would pass through the digestive tract and be excreted in its original molecular form. We have termed the new class of sweeteners poly-sugar. The etherification of sucrose with poly(vinyl alcohol) can be carried out either in dimethyl sulfoxide or water. We have prepared poly-sugars with varying degrees of etherification (3.4–5.4). Highly etherified products were bitter, but a poly-sugar with a 4.23 degree of etherification was sweet without any bitter aftertaste.     

Kinetics of the Thermo-Oxidative Degradation of Nylon 66 by Oxyluminescence Methods

The chemiluminescence from stabilized nylon 66 fibers during oxidation above T_g has been studied to determine the activation energies of the initiation, propagation and termination reactions. When oxygen is admitted to a nylon 66 sample heated in an inert atmosphere, a pulse of chemiluminescence is observed corresponding to a nonstationary alkyl peroxy radical concentration in the polymer. The analysis of the decay to the steady state can provide kinetic data for peroxy radical reactions in the induction period of the oxidation and the effect of stabilizers on these reactions.     

A physical model of the surface layers of Newtonian liquids

We consider boiling, bubbling, and the elasticity of the bubble walls of pure water and other Newtonian liquids. For the first time, the elastic bubble walls were shown to be a realistic physical model of the surface layers of water and other true liquids.     

Magnesium ion transport in poly(ethylene oxide)-based polymer electrolyte containing plastic-crystalline succinonitrile

A new composition of magnesium (Mg)-ion-conducting polymer electrolyte comprising poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) complexed with Mg trifluoromethanesulfonate (Mg triflate or Mg(Tf)₂) containing different amounts of a nonionic plastic crystal succinonitrile (SN) has been prepared and characterized. High polarity and rotational disorder of the SN molecules in the plastic-crystalline phase, supports the enhancement of ionic conductivity of the PEO-Mg(Tf)₂ complex system, showing a maximum room temperature ionic conductivity of ～6?×?10^-4 S cm^?1 observed with the addition of 50 wt.% of SN. X-ray diffraction, optical microscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry suggest a substantial structural modification, decrease in crystallinity, and various interactions in the polymer electrolyte components due to addition of SN. The cyclic voltammetry, impedance, and dc polarization studies confirm the Mg-ion conduction in the PEO complex. The electrochemical potential window of the electrolyte, observed from the linear sweep voltammetry, is determined to be ～4.1 V. The performance characteristics of the SN-incorporated polymer electrolyte system indicate their potential applicability as electrolytes in ionic devices including Mg batteries.     

Novel Copolymers of Halogen Ring Substituted 2-Cyano-3-Phenyl-2-Propen- Amides and Styrene

ABSTRACT

Electrophilic trisubstituted ethylene monomers, halogen ring substituted 2-cyano-3-phenyl-2-propenamides, RC₆H₄CH=C(CN) CONH₂ (where R is o-Cl, m-Cl, p-Cl, p-Br, and p-F) were prepared by Knoevenagel condensation. Novel copolymers of the propenamides and styrene were prepared at equimolar monomer feed composition by solution copolymerization in the presence of a radical initiator at 80°C. The order of reactivity (1/r ₁) for the monomers (M₁=styrene) was o-Cl (1.42) > p-F (1.19) > p-Cl (0.70) > m-Cl (0.60) > p-Br (0.44).     

Polymerization of N,N-Dialkylacrylamides with Anionic Initiators Modified by Diethylzinc

Abstract

N,N-Dimethyl-, diethyl-, and dipropylacrylamides were polymerized with 1,1-bis(4′-trimethylsilylphenyl)-3-methylpentyllithium (I) in the presence and absence of diethylzinc in THF. Although the polymers produced with I in the absence of diethylzinc have rather broad molecular weight distributions, the addition of diethylzinc to the polymerization systems causes narrow molecular weight distributions of the polymers. The addition of diethylzinc also affect the stereospecificities of the polymers obtained. The poly(N,N-diethylacrylamide) produced with I/diethylzinc (molar ratio of 1/3-15) is highly syndiotactic, while the one obtained with I is isotactic. The configuration of the poly(N,N-dimethylacrylamide) is changed from isotactic to syndio and heterotactic rich by the addition of diethylzinc to the polymerization mixture. Little effect of diethylzinc is observed on the stereospecificity of the polymerization of N,N-dipropylacrylamide. The stoichiometric additive effect of Et₂Zn toward the initiator in the polymerization of DEAA suggests that the coordination of Et₂Zn aggregates with the propagating carbanionic species narrows the molecular weight distribution and controls the tacticity of the polymer.     

Molecular Composites Comprising Rodlike Polyamides and Vinyl Polymers

Abstract

At present we have strong evidence that several members of a series of wholly-aromatic, para-linked, rodlike polyamides, polyesters, and polyesteramides form molecular composites with certain flexible-chain, thermoplastic polymers over a wide range of compositions. This paper reports on the initial results of an investigation of intermolecular interactions using spectroscopy and various scattering techniques as well as characterization of some of the mechanical and optical properties of these materials. The composites are made by two techniques: 1) photo-polymerization of a homogeneous solution of a rodlike polymer in a monomer containing a photoinitiation; 2) solvent evaporation from homogeneous solutions of very limited combinations of solvent, rodlike polymers and flexible polymers. While both of these techniques produce optically clear, nonscattering films of various thicknesses over the entire compositional range, e.g., 1–99 wt% of rodlike polymer, the latter is generally more convenient and has been used extensively in this study. Optical and electron microscopy, wide angle light scattering, and spectroscopic and thermal analysis support the view that these polymer combinations are truly molecularly dispersed.     

3-Tetrahydrofurfuryloxy-2-Hydroxypropyl Methacrylate: Synthesis,Characterization, Homopolymerization,and Copolymerization

Abstract

3-Tetrahydrofurfuryloxy-2-hydroxypropyl methacrylate monomer was prepared from methacrylic acid, tetrahydrofurfuryl alchol, and epichlorhydrin. Homopolymerization and copolymerization with (2-phenyl-1,3-dioxolane-4-yl)methyl methacrylate and N-vinyl pyrrolidone monomers were carried out in 1,4-dioxane solution at 60°C using benzoyl peroxide as initiator. Infrared, proton and carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance techniques were used in characterizations of the monomer, the homopolymer and the copolymers were determined by DSC technique. The copolymer compositions were estimated from 1H-NMR spectra. The reactivity ratios in copolymerization of 3-tetrahydrofurfuryloxy-2-hydroxypropyl methacrylate and (2-phenyl-1,3-dioxolane-4-yl) methyl methacrylate were calculated by both Kelen-Tüdos and Fineman-Ross methods.     

Electrical,Mechanical, and Thermal Properties of Poly(4,4′-Cyclohexylidene Diphenylene-m-Benzene/Toluene-2,4-Disulfonate)

Abstract

The films of poly(4,4′-cyclohexylidene diphenylene-m-benzene disulfonate) (PSBB, 0.610 mm thick) and poly(4,4′-cyclohexylidene diphenylene-toluene-2,4-disulfonate) (PSBT, 0.537 mm thick) showed 8.23 ± 0.25 and 9.6 ± 0.245 kV, respectively, as the dielectric breakdown voltage (ac) in air at room temperature. The same films have 8.8 × 10¹¹ and 7.2 × 10¹⁴ ω°Cm volume resistivity. PSBB (40 μm thick) and PSBT (50 μm thick) films have tensile strengths of 1971 and 1677 kg/cm² and percent elongations of 1.3 and 1.2, respectively. The static hardnesses of PSBB (0.178 mm thick) and PSBT (0.190 mm thick) at three different loads (15–60 g) are 12.8–15.5 and 14.5–16.5 kg/mm², respectively. PSBB and PSBT are thermally stable up to about 355°C in an N₂ atmosphere and involve two-step degradation. DSC and DTA showed T _g at about 125–127 and 138–142°C, respectively, for PSBB and PSBT in N₂. PSBB and PSBT have comparable breakdown voltages and volume resistivity with some useful plastics whereas they have superior T _g and thermal stability with retention of excellent solubility in common solvents over polysulfonates without a cardo group. Thus, the cardo (cyclo-hexyl) group has enhanced thermal and mechanical properties with excellent solubility and easy processing.