Malononitrile-involved Michael addition polymerization: An efficient and facile route for cyano-rich polyesters with programmable thermal and mechanical properties

An efficient, atom-economic, oxygen-tolerant, and water-tolerant strategy has been established to synthesize cyano-rich polyesters. Four kinds of organic bases, 1,1,3,3-tetramethylguanidine (TMG), 4-dimethylaminopyridine, triethylamine, and 1,5,7-triazabicyclo[4.4.0]dec-5-ene (TBD) were explored for accelerating Michael addition polymerization of malononitrile and 1,4-butandiol diacrylate. TMG can promote the polymerization efficiently under mild conditions to quantitatively afford polyester with high-molecular weight and moderate polydispersity. The comparison of the kinetic studies of TMG and TBD reveals that TMG shows better catalytic performance, while the catalysis of TBD brings about oligomers in spite of the higher efficiency at early age of the polymerization. Moreover, other diacrylate compounds could also be quantitatively polymerized to afford polyesters with high molecular weight. When dimethacrylate is chose as the monomer, the polymerization becomes sluggish. All the afforded polyesters display programmable thermal and mechanical properties that are closely related to their chemical structures.     

13C NMR investigations of molecular order of rod-like,bent-core,and thiophene mesogens

In this review, methods to obtain the orientational order of topologically variant molecular mesogens using by one- and two-dimensional (2D) solid-state ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy are described. Besides ¹³C chemical shifts, the ¹³C─¹H dipolar couplings measured from 2D-separated local field (SLF) technique are used for computing the order parameters of a variety of mesogens. The investigated molecules are composed of a variable number of rings in the core, that is, core ranging from simply one ring to five rings. Among the mesogens investigated, a special focus has been placed on mesogens with thiophene rings, which are gaining popularity as liquid crystalline organic semiconductors. The replacement of a phenyl ring by thiophene in the core has a dramatic influence on molecular topology, as observed from the measured order parameters. The review highlights the advantages of the 2D SLF method for understanding the local dynamics and for mapping the topology of mesogens through the measured order parameters. SLF NMR studies of as many as 24 molecular mesogens that vary in terms of the molecular structure as well as topology are covered in the review. Order parameters of the rings have been estimated from the ¹³C─¹H dipolar couplings in the nematic, smectic A, smectic C, and tilted hexatic phases as well as in B₁ and B₂ mesophases of various mesogens. It is anticipated that, in the years to come, the 2D SLF method would provide advanced molecular information on structurally complex mesogens that are emerging in liquid crystal science through the incessant efforts of synthetic chemists. The mini review covers the orientational order of topologically variant molecular mesogens determined by 1D and 2D solid-state ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. Accordingly, rod-like, bent-core, and thiophene mesogens were subjected to 2D SLF measurements to get the order parameters from which the topology was established. The replacement of phenyl ring by thiophene and its influence on order parameters as well as on molecular topology is also discussed.     

Effects of Moisture and Stresses on the Structure and Properties of Polyester Resin

The results of a complex study of structural changes in a cured Norpol 440 polyester resin under the action of damp environment and mechanical loading are presented. A considerable effect of absorbed moisture on the structure and some characteristics of the material is revealed by using thermophysical methods and X-ray diffractometry. The joint effect of moisture and mechanical stress is estimated by investigating the creep in stationary and nonstationary moisture conditions. The anisotropy of the material structure formed during creep is evaluated from the results of dilatometric measurements. It is found that the degree of anisotropy of the material after creep accompanied by moisture sorption is higher than that after creep in the conditions of moisture equilibrium with atmosphere. It is established that the aftercure and relaxation of the residual creep deformation come to an end at heating to 80-85°C. At a further rise in temperature and repeated heating, changes in the material structure are not observed.     

Synthesis of unsaturated polyester resins for large sized composites

A series of unsaturated polyesters based on phthalic anhydride (PHA), maleic anhydride (MA), ethylene glycol (EG), diethylene glycol (DG), triethylene glycol (TG), propylene glycol (PG), styrene (Sty) and acrylonitrile (AN) were prepared. The molecular weights of the prepared polyesters were determined by end-group analysis. The effect of the structure of the resin on its curing behavior has been investigated. On the basis of the experimental study, the following were concluded: (1) The maximum curing temperature (T_max) is related to the molecular weight of the glycol incorporated in these castings. In this context the T_max was found to decrease with increasing the molecular weight. Meanwhile the time to peak temperature t_max was increasing. (2) The higher the percentage of AN in the crosslinking monomer system, the slower a resin cures. (3) The values of T_max were found to be influenced to a large extent by the percentage of AN.     

The effect of crystallinity on chain mobility and free volume in the amorphous regions of a miscible polycarbonate/polyester blend

Homopolymers and blends of polycarbonate/ThermX have been investigated by differential scanning calorimetry, dynamic mechanical analysis, density measurements, and positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy. The study focuses on the chain mobility and free volume in the amorphous miscible regions of the blends and how this mobility and free volume are affected by increasing crystallinity. It is proposed that judicious annealing, which results in increasing crystallinity (while avoiding ageing or transesterification), induces a constraint on the amorphous region leading to an increase in T_g and coalescence of free volume sites. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Rigid nitronyl-nitroxide-labelled anchoring molecules: syntheses, structural and magnetic investigations

The syntheses of two rigid organic molecular rods bearing a nitronyl-nitroxide radical and a terminal nitrogen-based functionality like a pyridine or a cyano group are reported. Both new paramagnetic molecules are fully characterized, including crystal structure analysis. Furthermore their magnetic behaviours in the crystalline state are investigated and their spin concentration corroborate their excellent purity. While the pyridine functionalized rod is synthesized by converting the corresponding benzaldehyde to the phenyl-nitronyl-nitroxide radical, the synthesis of the cyano functionalized rod demonstrates the accessibility of highly sophisticated spin-labelled molecules via cross-coupling reaction with a meta-iodo-phenyl-nitronyl-nitroxide moiety.     

INFLUENCE OF COMPOSITIONAL HETEROGENEITY ON MORPHOLOGY AND PROPERTIES OF SEGMENTED COPOLYMERS

Polyethylene terephthalate(PET)/polycaprolactone(PCL) segmented copolymers with different hard segment contents and a blend of two of them were studied by using DSC, WAXS, TEM and IR techniques and dynamic mechanical, stress-strain and isothermal crystallization measurements. Emphasis was laid on the studies of influence of compositional heterogeneity on the morphology and properties of these segmented copolymers. It was found that the solution cast specimens of the more heterogeneous sample exhibit better segregation of segments, high crystallinity and melting temperature. They have higher thermal stability of mechanical properties at small deformations. However, they are less stable against large deformations and may become softer than the more homogeneous ones.     

非弹性体增韧—聚合物增韧的新途径

本文是一篇关于非弹性增韧方法的综述。文章首先简要回顾了传统的橡胶增韧韧性聚合物材料的机理,然后着重介绍了最近在国外出现的刚性有机填料(ROF)增韧的基本概念、分析方法和增韧的冷拉机理,列举了脆性塑料粒子和韧性基体组成的合金体系的大量实验结果来说明以上内容,最后通过与传统橡胶增韧机理的对比指出非弹性体增韧是不同于后者的一种新增韧方法,并有可能成为制备高强度、高韧性工程塑料的一种新途径。     

水溶性聚酯的结构和性能

由对苯二甲酸二甲酯、间苯二甲酸、间苯二甲酸二甲酯５－磺酸钠与乙二醇等共缩聚合成的ＰＥＴ型水溶性聚酯（ＷＳＰ）是一种新型的水溶性聚合物，在化纤、纺织、涂料、粘合剂、电子、油墨等领域有着广泛的应用前景．化纤领域超细纤维新材料的研究、开发和生产，迫切需要一...     

Mass spectrometric analysis of low molecular mass polyesters by laser desorption/ionization on porous silicon

A low molecular mass polyester was analyzed by desorption/ionization on porous silicon (DIOS) mass spectrometry. The results were compared with those of matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry using matrixes of alpha-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid (CHCA) and 10,15,20-tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)porphyrin (F20TPP). The CHCA matrix was not suitable for characterization of low molecular mass components of the polyester because the matrix-related ions interfered with the component ions. On the other hand, the F20TPP matrix showed no interference because no matrix-related ions appeared below m/z 822. However, the solvent selection for determining optimal conditions of sample preparation was limited, because F20TPP does not dissolve readily in any of the available organic solvents. In the DIOS spectra, the polymer ions were observed at high sensitivity without a contaminating ion. No matrix is needed for DIOS spectra of low molecular mass polyesters, facilitating sample preparation and selectivity of a precursor ion in post-source decay measurements.