Surface characterization of macroporous glycidyl methacrylate based copolymers by inverse gas chromatography

Two samples of macroporous crosslinked poly(glycidyl methacrylate-co-ethylene glycol dimethacrylate), PGME, with different porosity parameters were synthesized by suspension copolymerization and modified by ring-opening reaction of the pendant epoxy groups with ethylene diamine, EDA. Inverse gas chromatography at infinite dilution was used for the determination of adsorption properties of PGME, and copolymer modified with ethylene diamine, PGME-en. Thermodynamic parameters of adsorption, dispersive components of the surface free energies, and the acid/base constants for the copolymer samples were calculated. The calculated dispersive surface energy values, , for PGME and PGME-en are comparable with the literature data for nonconductive polymers.     

Novel photopolymerizable biodegradable triblock polymers for tissue engineering scaffolds: synthesis and characterization

For use in micro-patterned scaffolds in tissue engineering, novel diacrylated triblock macromers (PLA-b-PCL-b-PLA, PGA-b-PCL-b-PGA and PCL-b-PEO-b-PCL) were synthesized and characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). All diacrylated polymers were designed as triblock copolymers and involved biodegradable blocks of relatively non-polar epsilon-caprolactone (CL) and polar monomers such as glycolide (GA), lactide (LA) or ethylene oxide (EO). All triblock polymers were prepared in molecular weights of a few kilo daltons via the anionic ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of the corresponding lactide, glycolide or caprolactone using stannous octoate [Sn(Oct)(2)] as catalyst. The polymers had low polydispersity indices, ranging from 1.23 to 1.56. Biodegradable polymeric networks were prepared with conversions of 72-84% via photopolymerization of the triblock diacrylated polymers with 2,2-dimethoxy-2-phenylacetophenone (DMPA) as photoinitiator. PLA-b-PCL-b-PLA copolymers crumbled easily and were not suitable for micro-patterning. PGA-b-PCL-b-PGA copolymers had higher water contact angles than PCL-b-PEO-b-PCL and were also cytocompatible with Fibroblasts 3T3.     

Synthesis of zwitterionic block copolymers via RAFT polymerization

A series of poly [2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate (DMA)-sodium acrylate (SA)] diblock copolymers were synthesized using reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. The polymerization exhibits controlled characters: well-controlled molecular weight, narrow molecular weight distribution, molecular weight increasing with polymerization time. The zwitterionic diblock copolymers show rich solution behaviors. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) indicated the formation of micelles and reverse micelles of copolymers is affected by net charge density of copolymers. Microcalorimetry studies showed that the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) increases with incorporation of hydrophilic segments in buffer.     

偏氟乙烯／三氟乙烯共聚物介电松弛的结晶度效应

用改进的介电松弛谱仪（精度２‰）测定了ＶＤＦ／ＴｒＦＥ（７／２７、６５／３５、５２／４８ｍｏｌ％）共聚物溶液成膜、液氮淬火、熔融慢冷和热处理试样在－１２０—１３０℃、１０－２一１０４Ｈｚ范围的复数介电常数．介电松弛研究结果显示低结晶度的淬火试样较高结晶度的熔融慢冷和热处理试样的Ｔｃ高．结晶度上升，居里点处的介电常数增大．室温以下的介电频率谱分别由代表非晶区分子运动的β松弛（低频部）和局域运动的γ松弛（高频部）叠合而成．随结晶度提高，β松弛峰减小，γ松弛峰增大；非晶松弛强度减弱．晶区松弛强度增强．     

Properties of block and graft copolymers of polybutadiene with small complexed poly(4-vinylpyridine) segments

Various diblocks, triblocks and a graft copolymer of butadiene with 4-vinylpyridine short blocks have been prepared. They were complexed with ZnCl₂ to give ionomer-like materials. For all copolymers, the T_g of the elastomeric block (?84°C to ?91°C) was unchanged by complexation. For all diblocks and triblocks with short blocks (DP _n ～ 3) the storage modulus was only slightly increased by comparison with uncomplexed materials. For the graft copolymer even with short blocks the material is less sensitive to temperature after complexation. For triblocks, when the DP _n of the vinylpyridine blocks was high enough (15 units), complexes were associated in multiplets of large size and the elastomeric properties were retained up to 200°C.     

双亲性三嵌段共聚物/水体系超分子结构的研究

利用小角 X-射线散射技术研完了双亲性聚氧化乙烯-聚二甲基硅氧烷-聚氧化乙烯三嵌段共聚物/水体系在高浓度的溶致性液晶相,测定了亲水区、疏水区随浓度和结构变化的尺寸等超分子结构参数。用简单的几何模型可满意地解释实验结果。     

Crystallization behavior and biodegradation of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) and poly(ethylene glycol) multiblock copolymers

Block copolymerization by using isocyanates is an effective method for incorporating PHB and PEG because it can prepare copolymers with good properties, such as toughness, strength, and so on. In this study, we adopted soil suspension system to estimate the biodegradability of a series of PHB/PEG multiblock copolymers with different compositions and block lengths. In the degradation process, the changes in weight loss, molecular weight, and tensile strength were periodically measured to determine the biodegradability, and the surface morphology was also observed by SEM. In contrast to pure PHB, the weight loss of the copolymer was relatively lower. On the other hand, the tensile strength and molecular weight experienced apparent decrease, and for BHG1000-3-1, they reached 46.7% and 77.7% of the initial value, respectively. SEM observation showed that the surface was covered with numerous erosion pits. All these indicate that the degradation indeed took place and long-chain molecules have been hydrolyzed into shorter ones. The crystallization behavior was also investigated by DSC and WAXD. The results showed that both the segments, PEG and PHB, can form crystalline phases at lower PHB contents ranging from 29% to 44%, and when PHB component was more than 60%, only PHB phase can crystallize.     

Preparation of block copolymer vesicles in solution

Block copolymer vesicles can be prepared in solution from a variety of different amphiphilic systems. Polystyrene‐block‐poly(acrylic acid), polystyrene‐block‐poly(ethylene oxide), and many other block copolymer systems can produce vesicles of a wide range of sizes; those in the range of 100–1000 nm have been explored extensively. Different factors, such as the absolute and relative block lengths, the presence of additives (ions, homopolymers, and surfactants), the water content in the solvent mixture, the nature and composition of the solvent, the temperature, and the polydispersity of the hydrophilic block, provide control over the types of vesicles produced. Their high stability, resistance to many external stimuli, and ability to package both hydrophilic and hydrophobic compounds make them excellent candidates for use in the medical, pharmaceutical, and environmental fields. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 923–938, 2004     

水性丙烯酸酯共聚物交联体系的流变性

用旋转粘度计研究了甲基丙烯酸甲酯／丙烯酸丁酯／丙烯酸三元共聚物水性交联体系的流变性，考察了树脂含量、金属鳌合物含量和氨水水化对其流变性的影响。结果表明：三元共聚物水性交联体系呈非牛顿流体流变行为，具有剪切变稀特性；随树脂含量或鳌合物含量增加，体系的增稠能力得以增强；水化不仅可改善体系的增稠性能，而且可增强体系的非牛顿流变性。     

Thermal degradation of copolymers of styrene with dicarboxylic acids - II: Copolymers obtained by radical copolymerisation of styrene with maleic acid or fumaric acid

Thermal degradation processes in copolymers of styrene with two stereoisomers of 1,2-ethylenedicarboxylic acids (i.e. maleic acid (the cis-isomer) and fumaric acid (the trans-isomer)) have been studied by mass spectrometry, FTIR and TG measurements. The influence of the chemical composition on thermal degradation of copolymers with acid by non-isothermal thermogravimetric analysis (TG) was also studied. The stereo-configuration of carboxyl groups in copolymers was analysed by potentiometric titration. It was found that copolymers degrade in two main complex stages. The initial step in the decomposition involves the formation of cyclic five-membered anhydrides. The presence of trans configuration of carboxyl groups hinders the formation of cyclic anhydrides and shifts the decomposition to higher temperatures, making decarboxylation competitive. At higher temperatures anhydride decomposition takes place and finally the degradation of main chains occurs.