Morphology of reactive PP/PS blends with hyperbranched polymers

To study the efficiency of different mechanism for reactive compatibilization of polypropylene/polystyrene (PP/PS) blends main chain or terminal functionalized PP and terminal functionalized PS have been synthesized by different methods. While the in-situ block and graft copolymer formation results in finer phase morphologies compared to the corresponding non-reactive blends, the morphology development in the ternary blend system PP/PS + HBP (hyperbranched polymer) is a very complex process. HBP with carboxylic acid endgroups reacts preferably with the reactive sites of the oxazoline functionalized PS (PS-Ox) and locates mainly within the dispersed PS-Ox phase. A bimodal size distribution of the PS-Ox particles within the oxazoline modified PP (PP-Ox) matrix phase is observed with big PS-Ox particles (containing the HBP as dispersed phase) and small PS-Ox particles similar in size like the unimodal distributed particles in the non-reactive PP-Ox/PS-Ox blends. Factors influencing the morphology are discussed.     

New reactive polymeric systems for use as waveguide materials in integrated optics

Cross-linked polymeric materials are used in a wide range of applications. Special compositions are used in micro-system technologies and its utilization is extending to integrated optics. We have been working for several years in the field of polymers for optical applications. Highly fluorinated polycyanurate systems have been proven as promising waveguide materials in integrated optics. The refractive index can be adjusted reproducibly in a wide range almost continuously. The layer quality was optimized. Low optical losses of less than 0.3 dB/cm@1550nm were obtained and working optical prototypes were developed. The birefringence had been a major problem, but this was solved by adjusting the coefficient of thermal expansion of substrate and film. We will report in this paper on the polycyanurate ester resins and the new triazine containing polymeric systems.     

Versuche zur Synthese von [2.2]- und [2.3]Cyclopentadienophanen

Synthetic Attempts towards [2.2]- and [2.3]Cyclopentadienophanes . The first [2.2]Cyclopentadienophane (=2,2,3,3,8,8,9,9-octamethyltricyclo[8.2.1.1^4,7]tetradecatetraene; 1b ) has been synthesized (Scheme 5) by reductive coupling of 6,6-dimethylfulvene 3 → 5 (50%) followed by base-induced twofold condensation of 1,2-di(cyclopentadienyl)-1,2-dimethylbutane 5 with acetone to give difulvene 15 (95%). Reductive coupling of 15 gives a complex mixture of tautomers of 16 , 17 , and 1b , which contains ca. 50% of the target molecule 1b . Other synthetic attempts towards [2.2]cyclopentadienophanes 1a and 1b and [2.3]cyclopentadienophane 18 are discussed.     

Investigation of polyelectrolyte adsorption by means of a novel concept based upon the use of model surfaces and model polyelectrolytes

A concept to study the influence of molecular parameters in the adsorption of polyelectrolytes is presented. Characteristic for this approach is the use of model surfaces and model polyelectrolytes. The properties of both the surfaces and polyelectrolytes can be varied in a well defined way and over a broad range. First experiments show that the method is able to give structural information about the adsorbed polyelectrolytes. The method is very sensitive, adsorption experiments with polyelectrolyte concentrations in the region of micromoles per litre are possible.     

Core Functionality and Scaling Behavior of Lysine Dendrimers

Summary: A scaling exponent to describe the dependence of the hydrodynamic radius as a characteristic length of the molecule on the molecular weight, has been determined for low generation dendrimers with a thiacalixarene core and lysine dendrons. The hydrodynamic radius has been calculated from the diffusion coefficient measured by pulsed‐field‐gradient NMR spectroscopy. Scaling exponents of 2.0 for the lysine monodendron, 2.3 for a dendrimer with a bifunctional core, and 3.9 for a dendrimer with a tetrafunctional core have been determined. For a given structure of the dendrons, the scaling exponent reflects the functionality of the core of the dendrimers.

Hydrodynamic radius of lysine dendrons as a function of molar mass.     

Two Routes for Immobilization of a Hyperbranched OH-Terminated Polyester on a Silicon Surface

Summary: Stable thin films of a hyperbranched aromatic-aliphatic OH-terminated polyester (POH) were prepared on silicon substrates. We report on grafting-to processes using macromolecular (PGMA) and bifunctional low-molecular weight coupling agents (BOX). An appropriate annealing procedure was developed for the covalent immobilization. The HBP films were characterized with spectroscopic ellipsometry, drop shape analysis (DSA), atomic force microscopy (AFM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and electrokinetic measurements. The immobilized films have an uniform surface morphology and are slightly hydrophilic (θ_a = 79°). The grafting process did not influence the chemical composition and the surface properties, which is important for the further application as functional layers in aqueous media.