Fe‐mediated ICAR ATRP of styrene and acrylonitrile in polyethylene glycol

In this contribution, random copolymers of p(styrene‐co‐acrylonitrile) via initiators for continuous activator regeneration (ICAR) in atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) (ICAR ATRP) of styrene and acrylonitrile (SAN) were synthesized at 90°C in low molecular weight polyethylene glycol (PEG‐400) using CCl₄ as initiator, FeCl₃·6H₂O as catalyst, succinic acid as ligand and thermal radical initiator azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as thermal free radical initiator. In this system, well‐defined copolymer of SAN was achieved. The kinetics results showed that the copolymerization rate obeyed first‐order kinetics model with respect to the monomer concentration, and a linear increase of the molecular weights with the increasing of monomer conversion with narrow molecular weight distribution was observed in the range of 1.1–1.5. The conversion decreased with increasing the amount of FeCl₃·6H₂O and increased with increasing the molar ratio of [St]₀/[AN]₀/[CCl₄]₀ and temperature. AIBN has a profound effect on the polymerization. The activation energy was 55.67 kJ mol^?1. The living character of copolymerization was confirmed by chain extension experiment. The resultant random copolymer was characterized by ¹H‐NMR and GPC. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014 , 131, 40135.     

Synthesis and characterization of a novel graft copolymer with poly(n-octylallene-co-styrene) backbone and poly(?-caprolactone) side chain

A novel graft copolymer consisting of poly(n-octylallene-co-styrene) (PALST) as backbone and poly(?-caprolactone) (PCL) as side chains was synthesized with the combination of coordination copolymerization of n-octylallene and styrene and the ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of ?-caprolactone. Poly(n-octylallene-co-styrene) (PALST) backbone was prepared from the copolymerization of n-octylallene and styrene with high yield by using the coordination catalyst system composed of bis[N,N-(3,5-di-tert-butylsalicylidene)anilinato]titanium(IV) dichloride (Ti(Salen)₂Cl₂) and tri-isobutyl aluminum(Al(i-Bu)₃). The molar ratio of each segment in the copolymer, and the molecular weight of the copolymer as well as the microstructure of the copolymer could be adjusted by varying the feeding ratio of both styrene and n-octylallene. The hydroxyl functionalized copolymer PALST-OH was prepared by the reaction of mercaptoethanol with the pendant double bond of PALST in the presence of radical initiator azobisisbutyronitrile (AIBN). The target graft copolymer [poly(n-octylallene-co-styrene)-g-polycaprolactone] (PALST-g-PCL) was synthesized through a grafting-from strategy via the ring-opening polymerization using PALST-OH as macroinitiator and Sn(Oct)₂ as catalyst. Structures of resulting copolymer were characterized by means of gel permeation chromatography (GPC) with multi-angle laser light scattering (MALLS), ¹³C NMR, ¹H NMR, DSC, polarized optical microscope (POM) and contact angle measurements.     

Grafting vinyl monomers onto silk fibers. VIII. Graft copolymerization of methyl methacrylate onto silk using tetravalent manganese–oxalic acid redox system

The graft copolymerization of methyl methacrylate onto silk fibers was investigated in aqueous solution using the Mn(IV)–oxalic acid redox system. The copolymerization reaction was carried out under a variety of conditions such as different monomer, initiator, oxalic acid, acid concentrations, and temperatures. The graft yield increases with increasing initiator concentration up to 5 × 10^?2M, and with further increase of the initiator concentration it decreases. The graft yield also increases with increasing sulfuric acid concentration up to 15 × 10^?2M, and decreases thereafter. The rate of grafting also increases with increase in oxalic acid concentration up to 1.5 × 10^?2M and 84.592 × 10^?2M, respectively, and thereafter the rate of grafting shows down. The effect of temperature, solvents, and salts on graft yield has also been investigated and a plausible rate expression has been derived.     

Graft copolymerization with new class of acidic peroxo salts as initiators. I. Grafting of acrylamide onto cotton–cellulose using potassium monopersulfate,catalyzed by co(II)

Graft copolymerization of acrylamide (AM) onto cotton–cellulose has been studied using a new class of acidic peroxo-salt “potassium monopersulfate” as initiator catalyzed by Co(II). It is observed that the graft yield is influenced by the reaction time, temperature, and concentrations of the monomer, catalyst, initiator, at fixed weight of the polymer. Maximum graft yield (30.8%) is obtained at 40°C under nitrogen atmosphere for the concentrations of monomer 1.2M; initiator 4.83 × 10^?3M; Co(II) 5 × 10^?4M for 4 h of reaction time. The graft copolymers after proper purification have been subjected to IR analysis, testing of their water-retention properties, rot resistance, tensile properties, and behavior towards acids and alkalies. The results of such analysis are compared with the base. Suitable mechanism for the graft copolymerization is suggested and grafting rate has been evaluated.     

Synthesis of substituted polymethylenes from acenaphthylene by radical polymerization and copolymerization

Radical polymerization of acenaphthylene (Ace) as a 1,2-disubstituted ethylene was investigated. It was found that the polymerization rate (R_p) was expressed as follows: R_p = k[Ace]^1.0[AIBN]^0.68, and that the overall activation energy was 113 kJ/mol for polymerization with 2,2'-azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) in benzene at 50–70°C. Poly(Ace) obtained was characterized by NMR spectroscopy and GPC. Some substituted copolymethylenes were also prepared by radical copolymerization of Ace with other 1,2-disubstituted ethylenes, that is, maleic anhydride, diisopropyl fumarate, and N-cyclohexylmaleimide. The monomer reactivity ratios were determined from comonomer–copolymer composition curves.     

Controllable radical copolymerization of styrene and methyl methacrylate using 1,1,2,2‐tetraphenyl‐1,2‐bis(trimethylsilyloxy) ethane as initiator

Copolymerization of styrene (St) and methyl methacrylate (MMA) was carried out using 1,1,2,2‐tetraphenyl‐1,2‐bis (trimethylsilyloxy) ethane (TPSE) as initiator; the copolymerization proceeded via a “living” radical mechanism and the polymer molecular weight (M_w) increased with the conversion and polymerization time. The reactivity ratios for TPSE and azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) systems calculated by Finemann–Ross method were r_St = 0.216 ± 0.003, r_MMA= 0.403 ± 0.01 for the former and r_St= 0.52 ± 0.01, r_MMA= 0.46 ± 0.01 for the latter, respectively, and the difference between them and the effect of polymerization conditions on copolymerization are discussed. Thermal analysis proved that the copolymers obtained by TPSE system showed higher sequence regularity than that obtained by the AIBN system, and the sequence regularity increased with the content of styrene in copolymer chain segment. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 82: 1474–1482, 2001     

Methyl acrylate/1‐octene copolymers: Lewis acid‐mediated polymerization

Copolymerization of methyl acrylate (MA) with 1‐octene (1‐Oct) was conducted in the presence of free radical initiator, 2,2′‐azobis(2‐methylpropionitrile) (AIBN) using heterogeneous Lewis acid, acidic alumina. The polymers obtained were transparent and highly viscous liquids. The copolymer composition calculated from ¹H NMR showed alkene incorporation in the range of 10–61%. The monomodal nature of chromatographic curves corresponding to the molecular weight distribution in gel permeation chromatography (GPC) further confirmed that the polymers obtained are true copolymers. The number–average molecular weights (M_n) of the copolymers were in the range of 1.1 × 10⁴–1.6 × 10⁴ with polydispersity index of 1.75–2.29. The effects of varying the acidic alumina amount, time of polymerization, and monomer infeed on the incorporation of 1‐Oct in the polymer chain were studied. Increased 1‐Oct infeed led to its higher inclusion in the copolymer chain as elucidated by NMR. DEPT‐135 NMR spectral analysis was used to explicate the nature of arrangement of monomer sequences in the copolymer chain. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009     

Kinetic study of radical polymerization. VII. Investigation into the solution copolymerization of acrylonitrile and itaconic acid by real‐time 1H NMR spectroscopy

Free radical solution copolymerization of acrylonitrile (AN) and itaconic acid (IA) was performed with DMSO‐d₆ as the solvent and 2,2′‐azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as the initiator. Weight ratio of the monomers to solvent and molar ratio of initiator to monomers were constant in all experiments. The initial comonomer composition was the only variable in this study. On‐line ¹H NMR spectroscopy was applied to follow individual monomer conversion. Mole fraction of AN and IA in the reaction mixture (f) and in the copolymer chain (F) were measured with progress of the copolymerization reaction. Overall monomer conversion versus time and also compositions of monomer mixture and copolymer as a function of overall monomer conversion were calculated from the data of individual monomer conversion versus time. Total rate constant for the copolymerization reaction was calculated by using the overall monomer conversion versus time data and then k_p/k_t^0.5 was estimated. The dependency of k_p/k_t^0.5 on IA concentration was studied and it was found that this ratio decreases by increasing the mole fraction of IA in the initial feed. The variation of comonomer and copolymer compositions as a function of overall monomer conversion was calculated theoretically by the terminal model equations and compared with the experimental data. Instantaneous copolymer composition curve showed the formation of alternating copolymer chain during copolymerization reaction. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 103: 3253–3260, 2007     

Hyperbranched Acrylate Copolymer via Initiator‐Fragment Incorporation Radical Copolymerization of Divinylbenzene and Ethyl Acrylate: Synthesis,Characterization, Hydrolysis,Dye‐Solubilization,Ag Particle‐Stabilization,and Porous Film Formation

Summary: Soluble hyperbranched acrylate copolymers were prepared by the copolymerization of divinylbenzene (0.10 mol · L^?1) and ethyl acrylate (0.50 mol · L^?1) using dimethyl 2,2′‐azoisobutyrate of high concentrations (0.30–0.50 mol · L^?1) as initiator at 70 and 80 °C in benzene. The copolymer formed at 80 °C for 1 h showed the weight‐average molecular weight of 2.5 × 10⁵, the small radius of gyration of 10 nm, the low second virial coefficient of 5.7 × l0^?7 mL · g^?2 as shown by the MALLS measurements at 25 °C in tetrahydrofuran, and also the very low intrinsic viscosity of 0.10 dL · g^?1 at 30 °C in benzene. The hyperbranched copolymer exhibited an upper critical solution temperature (35 °C on cooling) in an acetone‐water (60:11 v/v). The copolymer showed an ability to encapsulate and transfer Rhodamine 6G as a dye probe and could stabilize Ag nanoparticles. The porous film was prepared by simply casting an acetone solution of the hyperbranched copolymer on a cover glass. The copolymer molecules radially arranged on the surface layer of the spherical pores as observed by the polarized optical microscope. The hyperbranched acrylate copolymer was hydrolyzed by KOH to yield poly(carboxylic acid).

Optical microscope image (crossed polarizers) of a porous film from copolymer solution in acetone.     

Grafting vinyl monomers onto polyester fibers. VI. Graft copolymerization of methyl methacrylate onto PET fibers using tetravalent cerium as initiator

The graft copolymerization of methyl methacrylate onto polyester fibers (PET) was investigated using tetravalent cerium as the initiator. The rate of grafting was found to increase progressively with the initiator and monomer concentrations up to 2.5 × 10^?2M and 70.41 × 10^?2M, respectively. The reaction was found to be catalysed by acid up to 15.0 × 10^?2M. The graft yield increased by increasing temperature. The effect of addition of some solvents and thiourea on the rate of grafting was also investigated. A suitable kinetic scheme has been pictured, and rate equations have been derived.     

Reactivity ratios of free monomers and their charge‐transfer complex in the copolymerization of N‐butyl maleimide and styrene

As for the charge‐transfer complex (CTC) formed by N‐butyl maleimide (NMBI) and styrene in chloroform, the complex formation constant was determined by ¹H‐NMR of Hanna–Ashbaugh. The copolymerization of NBMI (NBMI, M₁) and styrene (St, M₂) in chloroform using AIBN as an initiator was investigated. On the basis of the kinetic model proposed by Shan, the reactivity ratios of free monomers and CTC in the copolymerization were calculated to be r₁₂ = 0.0440, r₂₁ = 0.0349, r_1C = 0.00688, r_2C = 0.00476, and the ratios of rate constants were obtained to be k_1C/k₁₂ = 6.40, k_2C/k₂₁ = 7.33. In addition, the copolymer was characterized by IR, ¹H‐NMR, DSC, and TGA. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 83: 3007–3012, 2002; DOI 10.1002/app.2330     

Preparation of poly(styrene‐b‐2‐hydroxyethyl acrylate) block copolymer using reverse iodine transfer polymerization

Reverse iodine transfer polymerizations (RITP) of 2‐h‐ydroxyethyl acrylate (HEA) were performed in N,N‐dimethylformamide at 75°C using AIBN as initiator. Poly(2‐hydroxyethyl acrylate) (PHEA) with M_n = 3300 g mol^?1 and M_w/M_n <1.5 were obtained. Homopolymerization of styrene in RITP was also carried out under similar conditions using toluene as solvent. The resulting iodo‐polystyrene (PS‐I) with (M_{n, SEC} = 607 g mol^?1, polydispersity index (PDI) = 1.31) was used as a macroinitiator for the synthesis of amphiphilic block copolymers based on HEA with controlled well‐defined structure. Poly(styrene‐b‐2‐hydroxyethyl acrylate) (PS‐b‐PHEA) with M_n = 13,000 g mol^?1 and polydispersity index (M_w/M_n) = 1.4 was obtained, copolymer composition was characterized using ¹H‐NMR and FTIR, whereas SEC and gradient HPLC were used to confirm the formation of block copolymer and the living character of polymer chains. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012     

Alternating copolymers from the radical copolymerization of citraconic derivatives with isobutyl vinyl ether

Radical copolymerization of citraconic anhydride (CAn) with isobutyl vinyl ether (IBVE) was studied as well as the copolymerizations of N-alkylcitraconimides, dialkyl citraconates and mesaconates with IBVE. All the copolymerizations attempted except one, incorporating N-alkylcitraconimide, were found to give alternating copolymers with molecular weights of more than 10,000 in most cases. Of all the copolymerizations, the CAn-IBVE system showed the highest reactivity. A charge transfer complex between these two monomers was confirmed to exist in this system. The equilibrium constant of the complex formation was determined by UV spectroscopy as 0–162 litre/mol in CHCl₃ at 15°C. The alternating copolymer obtained from CAn with IBVE was converted to the corresponding copolymer of dialkyl citraconate by esterification.     

Ring‐opening copolymerization of maleic anhydride with propylene oxide by double‐metal cyanide

Ring‐opening copolymerization of maleic anhydride (MA) with propylene oxide (PO) was successfully carried out by using double‐metal cyanide (DMC) based on Zn₃[Co(CN)₆]₂. The characteristics of the copolymerization are presented and discussed in this article. The structure of the copolymer was characterized with IR and ¹H‐NMR. Number‐average molecular weight (M_n) and molecular weight distribution (MWD) of the copolymer were measured by GPC. The results showed that DMC was a highly active catalyst for copolymerization of MA and PO, giving high yield at a low catalyst level of 80 mg/kg. The catalytic efficiency reached 10 kg polymer/g catalyst. Almost alternating copolymer was obtained when monomer charge molar ratio reached MA/PO ≥ 1. The copolymerization can be also carried out in many organic solvents; it was more favorable to be carried in polar solvents such as THF and acetone than in low‐polarity solvents such as diethyl ether and cyclohexane. The proper reaction temperature carried in the solvents was between 90 and 100 °C. The M_n was in the range of 2000–3000, and it was linear with the molar ratio of conversion monomer and DMC catalyst. The reactivity ratio of MA and PO in this reaction system was given by the extended Kelen–Tudos equation: η=[r₁+(r₂/α)]ξ?(r₂/α) at some high monomer conversion. The value of reactivity ratio r₁(MA) = 0 for MA cannot be polymerized itself by DMC catalyst, and r₂(PO) = 0.286. The kinetics of the copolymerization was studied. The results indicated that the copolymerization rate is first order with respect to monomer concentration. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 93: 1788–1792, 2004     

Synthesis and characterization of quaternary ammonium ionomers

The cationic monomers, MPDMAC₁₆ and MPDMAC₁₈, were obtained by quaternization of methacrylamidopropyl–N,N′‐dimethylamine with n‐alkyl iodides (1‐iodohexadecane and 1‐iodooctadecane) in ethyl acetate. Hydrophobic ionomers of MPDMAC₁₆ and MPDMAC₁₈ with N‐substituted acrylamides were prepared at 60 ± 0.1°C in DMF using AIBN initiator. The cationic monomers and ionomers were characterized by ¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR spectroscopy. The copolymer composition was evaluated from elemental analysis data using carbon/nitrogen (C/N) ratio. The molecular weight distributions of ionomers were obtained from GPC analysis. Both the dilute solution and concentrated solution properties of ionomers were studied by viscometry at 30°C. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 98: 1100–1105, 2005     

Synthesis and characterization of poly[4‐(2‐thiazolylazo)phenyl methacrylate]‐co‐poly(methyl methacrylate)

A new methacrylic monomer, 4‐(2‐thiazolylazo)phenylmethacrylate (TPMA) was synthesized. Copolymerization of the monomer with methyl methacrylate (MMA) was carried out by free radical polymerization in THF solution at 70 ± 0.5°C, using azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as an initiator. The monomer TPMA and the copolymer poly(TPMA‐co‐MMA) were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and elemental analysis methods. The polydispersity index of the copolymer was determined using gel permeation chromatography (GPC). Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) of the copolymer performed in nitrogen revealed that the copolymer was stable to 270°C. The glass transition temperature (T_g) of the copolymer was higher than that of PMMA. The copolymer with a pendent aromatic heterocyclic group can be dissolved in common organic solvents and shows a good film‐forming ability. Both the monomer TPMA and the copolymer poly (TPMA‐co‐MMA) have bright colors: orange and yellow, respectively. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 103: 2152–2157, 2007     

Initiator‐fragment incorporation radical polymerization of ethylene glycol dimethacrylate in the presence of 1,1‐diphenylethylene: synthesis and characterization of soluble hyperbranched polymer nanoparticles

The polymerization of ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) as crosslinker was carried out at 70 and 80 °C in benzene using dimethyl 2,2′‐azobisisobutyrate (MAIB) as initiator at concentrations as high as 0.50–0.70 mol l^?1 in the presence of 1,1‐diphenylethylene (DPE), where the concentrations of EGDMA and DPE were 0.50–0.70 and 0.25–0.50 mol l^?1, respectively. The polymerization proceeded homogeneously, without gelation, to give soluble polymers. The yield and molecular weight of the resulting polymers increased with time. The homogeneous polymerization system involved ESR‐observable DPE‐derived radicals of considerably high concentration (3.6–5.3 × 10^?5 mol l^?1). The methoxycarbonylpropyl groups as MAIB‐fragments were incorporated as a main constituent (35–50 mol%) into the polymers (initiator‐fragment incorporation radical polymerization). The polymers also contained DPE units (15 mol%) and EGDMA units with double bonds (10–25 mol%) and without double bonds (20 mol%). Results from gel permeation chromatography (GPC)–multiangle laser light scattering (MALLS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and viscometric measurements revealed that the individual polymer molecules were formed as hyperbranched nanoparticles. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry     

Ionomer synthesis by emulsion polymerization of styrene and sodium acrylate

The emulsion copolymerization of styrene and sodium acrylate is reported using either a water-soluble initiator (potassium persulfate, or KPS), or an oil-soluble one [2,2-azoisobutyronitrile (AIBN)]. Reaction rates are fast with both KPS and AIBN. With KPS, conversions >90% are achieved in 50 min, with AIBN, conversions reach 85% in 100 min. Particle size, measured by quasielectric light scattering (QLS), increases with conversion. Particle size in final latices is ∼ 70–80 nm. Copolymer formation is confirmed by infrared (IR) spectroscopy, plasma emission spectroscopy (PES), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). IR and PES indicate that mainly sodium acrylate reacts at the beginning of the reaction and then styrene is incorporated in the copolymer backbone. The copolymer produced with KPS contains more sodium acrylate than the one made with AIBN. These differences can be explained in terms of the reactivities and partitioning (local concentrations) of the monomers and of the type of initiator used. Thermomechanical analysis (TMA) of the copolymers reveals two transitions: one at ∼ 100°C, which is due to the glass transition temperature (T_g) of polystyrene blocky segments in the copolymer, and another one at higher temperatures, which is associated to the T_g of segments composed of alternated sodium acrylate and styrene units. The higher-temperature transition shifts to lower values as the reaction proceeds because these segments become richer in styrene. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 66: 879–889, 1997     

Copolymerization of norbornene and methyl acrylate catalyzed by Nd(naph)<Subscript>3</Subscript>–Al(i-Bu)<Subscript>3</Subscript>

The copolymerization of norbornene (NB) and methyl acrylate (MA) catalyzed by Nd(naph)₃–Al(i-Bu)₃ and the structure of the copolymers are studied in this article. All polymerization reactions were carried out under nitrogen atmosphere using syringe technique. The copolymers are characterized by IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, GPC, and TGA. Norbornene and methyl acrylate are 22.2 and 77.8 mol%, respectively, in the copolymer. The molecular weight distribution is M_w/M_n < 2.0. The molecular weight of copolymer changes with the change of NB/MA in molar ratio. Molecular weight and its distribution of copolymer decrease as molar ratio of NB/MA increases. The copolymerization can be performed in solvents such as aromatic hydrocarbon. The copolymerization can be obtained at room temperature, whereas the copolymer yield increases with increasing reaction temperature. The yield of copolymer changes with the Al/Nd molar ratio with a preferable Al/Nd molar ratio of 30.     

Structure and properties of graft copolymer of starch and resorcinol synthesized using HRP

A modified starch tannage was synthesized by radical copolymerization of degraded starch and resorcinol (RC) using horseradish peroxidase (HRP)/H₂O₂ as an initiator. The effects of the degradation degree, system pH value, reaction temperature on the copolymerization, and tanning properties of the graft copolymer used in leather processing were investigated. The application results showed that the graft copolymer has excellent tanning properties. The shrinkage temperature (T_s) of the tanned leather reached 85.4°C, and the thickness increment ratio of the retanned leather was 23.1%. The tanning effects were significantly improved with RC modification compared with the graft copolymer of starch and vinyl monomers. The results indicated that the graft copolymer of starch and RC may be a replacement for toxic chrome and aldehyde tannage. The structure of the graft copolymer was characterized by FTIR, ¹H-NMR, GPC, and UV. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012