The Effect of Macromolecular Architecture on Functional Group Accessibility: Hydrogen Bonding in Blends Containing Phenolic Photoresist Polymers

Summary An investigation of phenolic functional group accessibility in linear poly(4-hydroxy styrene) (PHS) and novel, branched poly(4-hydroxystyrene) (PHS-B) is presented. The phase behavior and extent of hydrogen bonding in blends of PHS-B with complimentary Lewis base polymers are calculated from glass transition temperature (T_g) enhancements measured using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) techniques. The fraction of PHS-B hydroxyls accessible for hydrogen bonding were compared to linear PHS chains and small molecular weight analogs to help establish a molecular architecture-functional group accessibility property relationship for use with dissolution inhibition in candidate microlithographic photoresist binders. Design approaches to macromolecular structure and architecture for tailored intermolecular interactions in phenolic systems are discussed with respect to the effects of local steric screening as well as an intriguing thermodynamic competition between inter- and intra-molecular hydrogen bonding via molecular mechanics modeling.     

Thermal degradation of polymers. XVI. Thermal analysis studies on poly(p-methoxystyrene) and poly(p-hydroxystyrene) in air and nitrogen

Comparative thermal degradation studies have been made in air and nitrogen on polystyrene (PS), poly(p-methoxystyrene) (PMS), poly(p-hydroxystyrene) (PHS) and p-hydroxystyrene/styrene copolymers (p-HS/S) by thermal analytical methods (TG and DSC). The degradation behavior shown by these polymers in an oxidizing or inert atmosphere is different. PMS and PS, however, degrade in a similar manner in the same test atmosphere, suggesting that similar degradation mechanisms are operative for these systems. Polymers containing p-HS behave differently to PMS and PS in both atmospheres. Their behavior in air is discussed it terms of the antioxidant effect of the phenolic hydroxyl grouping and the related crosslinking reactions. In nitrogen, the anomalous behavior is discussed in terms of the observed carbonization reaction.     

Novel biocidal polymers based on branched and linear poly(hydroxystyrene)

New biocidal polymers based on branched as well as linear poly(p-hydroxystyrene) were synthesized. Biocidal polymers were synthesized in two steps by creation of active centers via chloroacetylation of linear and branched poly(p-hydroxystyrene) using chloroacetyl chloride. The second step involves the immobilization of onium salts onto the chloroacetylated polymers. All the prepared polymers were characterized using elemental microanalysis, FT-IR, ¹H NMR spectra, and TGA. Antimicrobial activity of the prepared polymers was tested against various pathogenic microorganisms. The antimicrobial activity was found to be affected by the active group and the tested microorganism. The phosphonium salts showed higher activity than ammonium salts.     

Silylated poly(4-hydroxystyrene)s as negative electron beam resists

Silylated poly(4-hydroxystyrene)s and radical polymerized 4-tert-butyldimethylsilyloxystyrene (TBDMSOSt) were examined as electron beam resists. Commercial poly(4-hydroxystyrene) (PHS) with M_w = 1.69 × 10⁴ and M_w/M_n = 5.41 was silylated with 1-(trimethylsilyl)imidazole and tert-butylchlorodimethylsilane. Both silylation reactions proceeded quantitatively to afford trimethylsilylated PHS with M_w = 3.93 × 10⁴ and M_w/M_n = 4.91, and tert-butyldimethylsilylated PHS with M_w = 4.08 × 10⁴ and M_w/M_n = 3.81. These 2 silyl ether polymers acted as a negative working resist to electron beam (EB) exposure. Sensitivity and contrast of tert- butyldimethylsilylated PHS were not affected by prebake temperature around its T_g of 97°C, while those of PHS were dependent on prebake temperature around its T_g of 160°C. At a prebake temperature of 125°C, the sensitivity parameter and the contrast γ value were obtained as follows: 3.93 × 10⁻⁴ C cm⁻² and 0.91 for PHS; 1.49 × 10⁻⁴ C cm⁻² and 1.06 for trimethylsilylated PHS; 1.84 × 10⁻⁴ C cm⁻² and 1.44 for tert-butyldimethylsilylated PHS. The silylation procedures obviously improved the sensitivity of PHS. TBDMSOSt was polymerized in bulk at 60°C with 2,2′-azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as an initiator. The resultant poly(TBDMSOSt) possessed M_w = 3.01 × 10⁵ and M_w/M_n = 1.92 and exhibited a sensitivity of 1.60 × 10⁻⁵ C cm⁻² and a γ value of 1.47. More than 10 times enhancement of sensitivity was observed compared with tert-butyldimethylsilylated PHS. Such a high sensitivity is probably due to the high molecular weight of the bulk polymerized material. Poly(TBDMSOSt) resolved an isolated line of 0.20 μm width and 0.5 μm line and space patterns. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 70: 1151–1157, 1998     

Elongational viscosities of random and block copolymer melts

The influence of random and block copolymerized structures on the uniaxial elongational viscosity was investigated. The investigated random copolymers were poly(ethylene-random-ethyl methacrylate) with comb-branched structure and poly(styrene-random-acrylonitrile) with linear structure. The studied block copolymers were poly(styrene-block-ethylenebutylene-block-styrene) with linear structure. The elongational viscosities of random copolymers showed strain-hardening properties. The strain-hardening property was influenced little by comonomer contents and depended on whether copolymers had linear or branched structures. In contrast, the elongational viscosities of block copolymers gave strain-softening properties. The strain-softening property was not affected by strain rates and block comonomer ratios. The causes of strain-hardening and -softening properties are discussed from relaxation spectrum and damping function based on the Bernstein–Kearsley–Zapas model. The damping functions of linear and branched random copolymers agreed with those of linear and branched homopolymers, respectively. On the other hand, linear block copolymers exhibited stronger damping than linear homopolymers. It was concluded that strain-hardening and -softening properties in the elongational viscosity of random and block copolymerized structures are correlated with their damping functions. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 69: 1765–1774, 1998     

Thermal degradation of polymers. XV. Vacuum pyrolysis studies on poly(p-methoxystyrene) and poly(p-hydroxystyrene)

The monomers p-hydroxystyrene (p-HS) and p-methoxystyrene (p-MS) have been synthesized and polymerized using azobisisobutyronitrile as free-radical initiator. The polymerization behavior of p-HS is anomalous, and a mechanism is suggested to account for this phenomenon. Poly(p-hydroxystyrene) (PHS) and poly(p-methoxystyrene) (PMS) homopolymers have been subjected to vacuum pyrolysis at temperatures in the range of 300–500°C. The products of degradation have been identified and qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed and the degradation behavior of the two systems compared with polystyrene. PHS shows anomalous behavior resulting from the high reactivity of the p-HS monomer and the facility for transfer afforded by the proton of the hydroxyl substituent. Mechanisms to account for the degradation behavior of each system are discussed.     

A comparative study of the structure-property behavior of highly branched segmented poly(urethane urea) copolymers and their linear analogs

The solid-state structure-property behavior of highly branched segmented poly(urethane urea) (PUU) copolymers and their linear analog was investigated. A limited study of their solution rheological behavior was also undertaken. The linear PUUs were synthesized by the two-step prepolymer method, whereas the oligomeric A₂+B₃ methodology was utilized to synthesize the highly branched materials. The soft segments (SS) were either poly(tetramethylene oxide) (PTMO) or poly(propylene oxide) (PPO). All copolymers utilized in this study, with one exception, contained 28 wt% hard segment (HS) content. DMA, SAXS, and AFM studies indicated that the linear as well as the highly branched PUUs were microphase separated. The SS T_g of the highly branched PUUs was nearly identical to that of their respective linear analogs. However, the linear copolymers exhibited broader and less temperature sensitive rubbery plateaus, both attributed to one or both of two reasons. The first is better hydrogen bonding organization of the HS phase as well as greater HS lengths than in the highly branched analogs. The second parameter is that of a potentially higher chain entanglement for the linear systems relative to the branched analogs. Tapping-mode AFM phase images confirmed the microphase morphology indicated by SAXS and DMA. Ambient temperature strain-induced crystallization was observed in the PUU based on PTMO 2040 g/mol at a uniaxial strain of ca. 400%, irrespective of the chain architecture. Stress-strain, stress relaxation, and mechanical hysteresis of the highly branched copolymers were in general slightly poorer than that of their linear analogs. Ambient temperature solution viscosity of the highly branched materials in dimethyl formamide was substantially lower that that of the linear samples of nearly equal molecular weight.     

Melt flow and strength of branched styrene copolymers

In order to assess the dependence of strength properties of glassy polymers upon the extent of branching, copolymers of poly(styrene–acrylonitrile) were prepared. By using principally three methods: (a) hydroperoxide intermediates, (b) hydroxyl radical initiation, and (c) incorporation of transfer monomers, branched polymers with high levels of branching with comb and dendritic type structures were generated. The tensile strength was found to be strongly correlatable with melt flow, and, in general, the branched copolymers were found to have the same tensile strength as linear polymers of the same melt index.     

Structure, dynamics and interactions of complex sol-gel hybrid materials through SSNMR and DSC: Part I, binary systems based on PE-PEG block copolymer, PHS and silica

This paper is the first part of a combined DSC and solid-state NMR study aimed at understanding the dynamic, morphological and interaction properties of three-component organic-inorganic hybrid coatings exhibiting interesting barrier properties against oxygen diffusion, obtained by sol-gel processes starting from triethoxysilane terminated polyethylene-b-poly(ethylene glycol) copolymer (PE-PEGSi), poly(4-hydroxystyrene) (PHS), and tetraethoxysilane (TEOS). This paper reports the results of the study of the corresponding simpler two-component hybrids, which, beside the interest of these systems by themselves, was necessary for unravelling the characterization of the complex three-component systems. The phase, dynamic and interaction properties of binary systems PE-PEG/SiO₂, PHS/SiO₂, and PE-PEG/PHS have been here investigated and compared with those of the single components. Evidences of the occurrence of hydrogen bonds between PHS and both silica and PEG have been obtained. The interaction with silica and PHS seems to strongly inhibit the crystallization of PEG segments but to not prevent PE from segregating into crystalline domains. Moreover a noticeable mobility of amorphous PEG segments and the presence of mobile isolated or loosely packed PE segments in all-trans conformations have been highlighted in PE-PEG/SiO₂ hybrids. The structural and phase behaviour of PHS results to be strongly affected by the presence of either silica or PEG. In PHS/SiO₂ hybrids a two-state model with PHS chains either tightly- or loosely bound to silica domains has been proposed, while in PE-PEG/PHS blends the presence of a PEG-PHS miscible amorphous phase has been observed.     

Novel amphiphilic carbon black composite nanoparticles from TEMPO-terminated polymer and TEMPO-terminated block copolymer grafted carbon black

The purpose of this study was to modify the surface characteristics of CB so as to prevent the aggregation of CB to provide the dispersibilities in either H₂O or organic solvent. In this study, five kinds of hydrophilic TEMPO-terminated polymer, hydrophobic TEMPO-terminated polymer and amphiphilic TEMPO-terminated block copolymer were synthesized. The five kinds of TEMPO-terminated polymers were: (1) poly(4-acetoxystyrene) (PAS-T), (2) poly(4-hydroxystyrene) (PHS-T), (3) polystyrene (PS-T), (4) poly(4-acetoxystyrene)-block-polystyrene (PAS-b-PS-T), (5) poly(4-hydroxystyrene)-block-polystyrene (PHS-b-PS-T). These TEMPO-terminated polymers with desired molecular weights and specific structures were synthesized by using the method of living radical polymerization in the presence of 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidinyl-1-oxy (TEMPO). These TEMPO-terminated polymers and TEMPO-terminated block copolymers were grafted onto the surface of CB through a reaction of polymer radicals trapped by CB, so as to obtain the TEMPO-terminated polymer/CB and TEMPO-terminated block copolymer/CB composite nanoparticles. Various variables such as reaction time, reaction temperature, amount of TEMPO-terminated polymer, molecular weight of TEMPO-terminated polymer and amount of CB all of which influenced the grafting efficiency were investigated. Besides, the stability of the composite nanoparticles, which dispersed in H₂O or organic solvent, was investigated by laser light scattering. The amphiphilic composite nanoparticles, PHS-T/CB and PHS-b-PS-T/CB, which dispersed well in both H₂O and organic solvent, were synthesized successfully in this work.     

Synthesis and characterization of chiral polyacrylates and their applications as positive tone photoresists

To estimate the effects of diastereomeric copolymers as photoresists, diastereomeric copolymers containing chiral and racemic bornyl methacrylates (BMAs) were synthesized. Both alicyclic BMAs were synthesized from (?)‐borneol and (±)‐borneol, and then copolymerized with t‐butyl methacrylate (t‐BMA), tetrahydro‐pyranyl methacrylate (THPMA), and α‐methacryloxy‐γ‐butyrolactone (MABL). The glass transition temperature of the copolymers was found to increase with an increase in the content of alicyclic bornyl groups in the copolymers. To investigate the effect of both the alicyclic butyrolactone and the bornyl groups on photosensitivity, thermal property, and etching resistance, the synthesized alicyclic copolymers were used to prepare photoresists with photoacid generators. The sensitivity and the contrast of the photoresists were calculated. This investigation demonstrated that the existence of alicyclic butyrolactone and bornyl groups increases the etching resistance of photoresists. It was also found that high stereo hindered bornyl structures disturb and restrict the mobility of the polymer chain, leading to an increase in the thermal stability of the polymers. A real pattern recording of photoresists with PR3 composition was performed; an optimal sensitivity of 20 mJ/cm² and resolution of 1 μm of positive tone photoresists with 1 μm thickness was achieved. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008     

Differential scanning calorimetric studies on the glass transition temperature of polyhydroxystyrene derivatives containing sorbed water

Poly(4-acetoxystyrene) (PAS) and poly(4-acetoxy-3-methoxystyrene) (PAMS), poly(4-hydroxystyrene) (PHS) and poly(4-hydroxy-3-methoxystyrene) (PHMS) have been prepared. The effects of hydrogen bonding on the glass transition temperatures (T_g) of these polymers have been studied by differential scanning calorimetry. The T_g′s of partially hydrolyzed PAS and PAMS increased with the degree of hydrolysis. Partially hydrolyzed PAS and PAMS are estimated to be random copolymers, judging from the correspondence between the calculated and observed T_g′s of these polymers. The effect of water on the glass transition was also studied, and it was clarified how water adsorbed on the polymers acts as a hydrogen-bond breaker. The ‘critical water content’ is calculated from the decrease of T_g by water absorption, and the relation between hydrogen bonding and T_g is discussed.     

Aliphatic tertiary amine mediated synthesis of highly branched polylactide copolymers

In the Sn(Oct)₂ catalyzed bulk copolymerization of l-lactide (LLA) and a large amount of branching comonomer 2,2-bis(hydroxymethyl)butyric acid (BHB) (LLA/BHB/Sn(Oct)₂ ratio is 5:1:0.05, 135 °C), low molecular weight of copolymers with inhomogeneous structure were generated. MALDI-TOF mass spectrum demonstrated that the lower molar mass fraction was dominated with the BHB homo-polycondensation products; whereas the higher molar mass fraction was mainly composed of linear chains of poly(l-lactide) (PLLA) bearing one BHB unit. The addition of aliphatic tertiary amine to this polymerization system could effectively enhance the molecular weight of the obtained copolymers, whereas, aromatic tertiary amines and aliphatic primary and secondary ones were not so effective. The obtained PLLA copolymers were characterized by GPC, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR and MALDI-TOF MS, which verified that they were composed of LLA and BHB units and had the highly branched structure. The degree of branching was about 0.23–0.30. Thermal analyses by TGA and DSC demonstrated that the resulting highly branched PLLA copolymers were amorphous. Compared with linear PLLA, the highly branched PLLA copolymers were thermally more stable and had lower T_g. The mechanism of aliphatic tertiary amine mediated synthesis of medium molecular weight of highly branched PLLA copolymers was proposed.     

Monomer sequence of partially hydrolyzed poly(4-tert-butoxystyrene) and morphology of diblock copolymers composing this polymer sequence as one block

The molecular characteristics of poly(4-tert-butoxystyrene) (O) upon hydrolysis reaction were investigated. It is known that O can be converted into poly(4-hydroxystyrene) (H) through hydrolysis reaction using strong acid. In this study, a set of poly(4-tert-butoxystyrene-co-4-hydroxystyrene)s (O/H copolymers) having various conversion rates, f_Hs, were prepared. Hydrolysis reaction is found to occur uniformly by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) where the average f_H obtained was consistent with that from ¹H NMR though a certain distribution in the number of hydrolyzed units was conceived. Monomer sequence of O/H copolymers was determined by ¹³C NMR and the changes in triad concentration were obtained by spectra subtraction method. As a result, ¹³C NMR reveals that O and H are statistically distributed. To evaluate the effect of hydrolysis on microphase-separated structure, we observed the morphology of partially hydrolyzed poly(4-tert-butylstyrene-block-4-tert-butoxystyrene) (BO) by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). Samples with f_H from 0.21 to 0.67 form both lamellar (major component) and cylindrical (minor component) structures reflecting both the statistical manner of hydrolysis reaction and the possible localized distribution of H sequence.     

Composite coatings based on linear and branched block copolymers for hydroxyapatite deposition in simulated body-fluid

ABSTRACT

In this work, the fabrication of composite coatings based on block copolymers and silicates deposited on stainless-steel plates through electrophoretic deposition technique was studied. Linear poly(?-caprolactone), and poly(dimethylsiloxane-block-ε-caprolactone) copolymers were obtained through ROP polymerization, whereas branched poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate-co-(hydroxyethylmethacrylate-graft-ε-caprolactone)-block-ε-caprolactone) copolymers were synthesized by a one-pot technique by combining ROP and RAFT synthesis. SEM micrographs revealed homogenous and dense structures over the metallic substrate and the absence of micro-cracks. Thermal characterization revealed residual percentages of solids between 63% and 72% wt/wt. Finally, an in-vitro assessment confirmed the presence of a hydroxyapatite layer over coatings after immersion in a simulated body-fluid solution by XRD analyses.     

Synthesis and characterization of statistical copolymers of styrene and 4‐(1‐hydroxyalkyl)styrene

A family of new polymers based on poly(4‐(1‐hydroxyalkyl)styrene), and its copolymers with styrene were synthesized and thoroughly characterized by ¹H‐NMR, ¹³C‐NMR, FTIR, and UV spectroscopies. The chemical modification reactions of polystyrene (PS) was used as a novel method of performing the synthesis of poly(4‐(1‐hydroxyethyl‐co‐styrene)), poly(4‐(1‐hydroxypropyl‐co‐styrene)), poly(4‐(1‐hydroxybutyl‐co‐styrene)), and poly(4‐(1‐hydroxyphenylmethyl‐co‐styrene)). The novelty of this method lies in the incorporation of the desired mol % of the functional groups in polystyrene chain, to obtain random copolymers of desired composition. In preliminary testing/evaluation studies the utility and versatility of the new copolymers, which have the potential to be negative‐tone photoresist materials, were studied. Thus a few photoresist formulations based on poly(styrene‐co‐4‐(1‐hydroxyalkylstyrene)) were developed with 5 wt % of a photoacid generator. These studies suggested that the new copolymers synthesized by a simple and alternate method could have the same potential as a photoresist material when compared with the polymers synthesized by the polymerization of the corresponding functional monomer. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 92: 1902–1914, 2004     

Surface modification of contact lenses using adsorption of ethylene oxide branched copolymers

To examine methods for reducing the amount of adsorbed protein on the surface of contact lenses during use, cationic copolymers containing poly(ethylene oxide) units were synthesized and evaluated as surface modifiers. Poly(ethylene oxide) graft‐branched copolymers of composition 70 mol % dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate (DM) and 30 mol % methoxy polyethylene glycol methacrylate (Mp0G; p = 2, 4, 9; the average number of the ethylene oxide units) were obtained using nonionic monomers containing poly(ethylene oxide) units. The copolymers very efficiently prevented protein adsorption on a contact lens. Contact angle measurements showed that immersion in tear fluid made the lens surface hydrophobic because of adsorption of proteins with hydrophobic residues. The copolymer pretreatment made the lens surface hydrophilic, even after dipping in artificial tear fluid. These results suggest that adsorption of the poly(ethylene oxide) branched copolymer on the contact lens would make the lens surface hydrophilic and prevent protein adsorption. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013     

Photochemistry of azide-phenolic resin photoresists

The photochemistry of a negative working photoresist, MRL, composed of poly(4-hydroxystyrene) and an aromatic monoazide compound, 4-azido-4′-methoxychalcone, has been examined, The major products of photolysis of MRL films are primary amine, secondary amine, and poly(4-hydroxystyrene) with increased molecular weight. The polymeric secondary amines are generated from the nitrene insertion into the backbone carbon-hydrogen bonds of the polymer. Hydrogen abstraction from the polymer by the nitrene with subsequent polymer radical recombination results in the increase in the molecular weight of the poly(4-hydroxystyrene), rendering the exposed areas insoluble in both aqueous alkaline and organic developers. Rapid decrease in the dissolution rate of the poly(4-hy-droxystyrene) with increasing molecular weight is separately ascertained.     

Synthesis of a branched photosensitive copolymer and its application for negative‐type photoresists

Novel branched copolymers, poly(styrene‐alt‐maleic anhydride) (BPSMA), were synthesized through mercapto chain‐transfer polymerization with styrene, maleic anhydride (MA), and 4‐vinyl benzyl thiol (VBT). Then, the hydroxyl of hydroxyethyl methacrylate was reacted with MA to synthesize branched photosensitive copolymers, p‐BPSMAs. Fourier transform IR spectroscopy and ¹H‐NMR indicated that the synthesis was successful. Gel permeation chromatography indicated that the molecular weight decreased with increasing content of VBT. The thermal properties were characterized by thermogravimetric analysis; the results show that the thermal decomposition temperature of the BPSMAs was greatly enhanced. Real‐time IR was used to evaluate the UV‐curable kinetics of the p‐BPSMAs; the results show that the p‐BPSMAs could rapidly photopolymerize under UV irradiation in the presence of photoinitiators. Moreover, the photoresist based on the p‐BPSMAs exhibited improved photosensitivity when the VBT content increased, and the photoresist with 12 mol % VBT content had a low value of the dose that retained 50% of the original film thickness (10 mJ/cm²), and a 50‐μm resolution could be achieved compared to a linear photoresist. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016 , 133, 42838.     

中间体对乙酰氧基苯乙烯的合成及其进展

对乙酰氧基苯乙烯可用于合成作为光致抗蚀剂（光刻胶）主要成分的聚对羟基苯乙烯。本文介绍了中间体对乙酰氧基苯乙烯的合成方法，其主要采用对羟基苯乙酮、对羟基苯甲醛、对乙基苯酚及衍生物等为原料合成。