Melt polymerization of copoly(ethylene terephthalate–imide)s and thermal properties

Copoly(ethylene terephthalate–imide)s (PETI) were prepared by melt polycondensation of bis(2-hydroxyethyl)terephthalate (BHET) and imide containing oligomer, i.e., 4,4′-bis[(4-carbo-2-hydroxyethoxy)phthalimido]diphenylmethane(BHEI). The apparent rate of poly-condensation reaction was faster than that of homo poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) due to the presence of imide units. The PETI copolymers with up to 10 mol % of BHEI unit in the copolymer showed about the same molecular weight and carboxyl end group content as homo PET prepared under similar reaction conditions. The increase in T_g of copolymer was more dependent on molar substitution of BHEI than on substitution of BHEN, reaching 91°C with 8 mol % BHEI units in the copolymer from T_g = 78.9°C of homo PET. In the case of PETN copolymer, 32 mol % of bis(2-Hydroxyethyl)naphthalate (BHEN) units gave T_g of 90°C. The maximum decomposition temperature of PETI copolymer was about the same as that of homo PET by TGA analysis. The char yield at 800°C was higher than that of homo PET. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Synthesis and enzymatic degradation of high molecular weight aliphatic polyesters

The aliphatic polyesters with high molecular weight have been prepared according to two methods. First is the synthesis of the polyesters by polycondensation of dimethyl succinate (DMS) with 1,4‐butanediol (BD) using various metal alkoxides as a catalyst. Among the metal alkoxides used, titanium tetraisopropoxide [Ti(OiPr)₄] gave the best results (highest molecular weight and yield). Thus, we have prepared aliphatic polyesters using a variety combinations of diesters [MeOOC—(CH₂)_x—COOMe, x = 2–8] with BD by the catalysis of Ti(OiPr)₄. The polyesters with high number‐average molecular weight (M_n > 35,000), except dimethyl adipate (DMA, x = 4)/BD polyester (M_n = 26,900), were obtained in high yield. The melting temperatures (T_m) of polyesters were relatively low (43.4–66.8°C) except that (115.6°C) of the DMS/BD polyester. Second is the synthesis of high molecular weight polyesters by chain extension reaction of lower molecular weight (M_n = 15,900–26,000) polyesters using hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) as a chain extender. The M_n values of chain‐extended polyesters consequently increased more than two times (M_n = 34,700–56,000). The thermal properties of polyesters hardly changed before and after chain extension. Enzymatic degradations of the polyesters were performed using three different enzymes (cholesterol esterase, lipase B, and Rhizopus delemar lipase) before chain extension. The enzymatic degradability varied depending on both thermal properties of polyesters [melting temperature and heat of fusion (crystallinity)] and the substrate specificity of enzymes, but it was the following order: cholesterol esterase > lipase B > R. delemar lipase. The ¹H‐NMR spectrum of water‐soluble degraded products of the polyester indicated that the polyester was degraded into a condensation product of diol with diester in a monomer form. The enzymatic degradation of chain extended polyesters was slightly smaller than that before chain extension, but proceeded steadily. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 80: 340–347, 2001     

Controlled radical polymerization catalyzed by CuCl/BDE complex in water medium. I. Polymerization of styrene and synthesis of poly(St‐b‐MMA)

The controlled radical polymerization of styrene in water medium, in the presence of polyoxyethylene nonyl phenyl ether, catalyzed and initiated by CuCl/BDE [bis(N,N′‐dimethylaminoethyl)ether]/R—X was studied. The results show that the molecular weight increased with conversion of the monomer. Using this controlled system, the block copolymer, poly(St‐b‐MMA), was successful synthesized in water medium. In reference to the system of CuCl/BDE/PhCH₂Cl, the polymerization may also occur in the micelle to produce a superhigh molecular mass (M_n = 1,500,000) polymer with monodispersion (MWD, M_w/M_n = 1.03). The Cu(I) and Cu(II) partition ratio in two phases, which may affect the reversible deactivation and debase the catalyst efficiency, was detected. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 75: 802–807, 2000     

Copolymerization of phenylisocyanate and ϵ‐caprolactone with rare earth chloride systems

A copolymer of phenylisocyanate (PhNCO) and ε‐caprolactone (CL) was synthesized by the rare earth chloride systems lanthanide chloride isopropanol complex (LnCl₃·3iPrOH) and propylene epoxide (PO). Polymerization conditions were investigated, such as lanthanides, reaction temperature, monomer feed ratio, La/PO molar ratio, and aging time of catalyst. The optimum conditions were: LaCl₃ preferable, [PhNCO]/[CL] in feed = 1 : 1 (molar ratio), 30°C, [monomer]/[La] = 200, [PO]/[La] = 20, aging 15 min, polymerization in bulk for 6 h. Under such conditions the copolymer obtained had 39 mol % PhNCO with a 78.2% yield, M_n = 20.3 × 10³, and M_w/M_n = 1.60. The copolymers were characterized by GPC, TGA, ¹H‐NMR, and ¹³C‐NMR, and the results showed that the copolymer obtained had a blocky structure with long sequences of each monomer unit. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 103: 2135–2140, 2007     

Synthesis and characterization of new aromatic polyesters containing pendent naphthyl units

Two bisphenols, viz., 4,4′‐[1‐(2‐naphthalenyl)ethylidene]bisphenol and 4,4′‐[1‐(2‐naphthalenyl) ethylidene]bis‐3‐methylphenol were prepared by condensation of commercially available 2‐acetonaphthanone with phenol and o‐cresol, respectively. A series of new aromatic polyesters containing pendent naphthyl units was synthesized by phase‐transfer‐catalyzed interfacial polycondensation of these bisphenols with isophthaloyl chloride, terephthaloyl chloride, and a mixture of isophthaloyl chloride/terephthaloyl chloride (50 : 50 mol %). Inherent viscosities of polyesters were in the range 0.83–1.76 dL g⁻¹, while number average molecular weights (M_n) were in the range 61,000–235,000 g mol⁻¹. Polyesters were readily soluble in organic solvents such as dichloromethane, chloroform, tetrahydrofuran, m‐cresol, pyridine, N,N‐dimethylformamide, N,N‐dimethylacetamide, and 1‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidinone at room temperature. Tough, transparent, and flexible films were cast from a solution of polyesters in chloroform. X‐Ray diffraction measurements displayed a broad halo at 2θ ≅ 19° indicating the amorphous nature of polyesters. Glass transition temperatures of polyesters were in the range 209–259°C. The temperature at 10% weight loss (T₁₀), determined by TGA in nitrogen atmosphere, of polyesters was in the range 435–500°C indicating their good thermal stability. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010     

Synthesis and characterization of liquid crystalline polymers from p-hydroxybenzoic acid,poly(ethylene terephthalate), and third monomers

Eight new p-hydroxybenzoic acid (PHB) and poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) copolymers containing vanillic acid (VA), p-aminobenzoic acid, m-hydroxybenzoic acid, hydroquinone/terephthalic acid (TPA), bisphenol A/TPA, 1,5-naphthalenediol/TPA, 2,7-naphthalenediol/TPA, and 1,4-dihydroxyanthraquinone/TPA as eight third monomers with a variety of structural features were synthesized by melted-state copolycondensation and were characterized through a thermal analyzer, proton nuclear magnetic resonance, wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD), and a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The experimental results show that PHB/PET/VA copolymers exhibit a faster polycondensation rate, lower melting temperature, and higher thermostability than do the other seven copolymers and third monomer-free PHB/PET polymers. The as-spun fibers derived from the PHB/PET/VA copolymers with different VA contents show tensile strengths, Young's moduli, and break elongations of 0.6–1.5 GPa, 28–67 GPa, and 7–9%, respectively. A highly oriented fibrillar structure in the PHB/PET/VA copolymer fibers was observed using WAXD and SEM. The most effective third monomer of the eight third monomers for an enhancing polycondensation rate and molecular weight of the PHB/PET polymers and for improving their thermal and mechanical properties is found to be vanillic acid (VA). © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 66: 2129–2138, 1997     

Preparation and characterization of some new unsaturated polyesters based on 3,6‐bis(methoxymethyl)durene

A series of unsaturated polyester resins based on 3,6‐bis(methoxymethyl)durene with different diacids or anhydrides, namely, phthalic anhydride, maleic anhydride, and succinic acid, and different glycols, namely, 1,2‐propylene glycol, triethylene glycol, 1,4‐cyclohexane diol, and 3,6‐bis(benzyloxymethyl)durene, were prepared. Infrared and nuclear magnetic resonance spectra were used to characterize the unsaturated polyester resins obtained qualitatively and quantitatively. The average‐number molecular weight (M^?_n) was determined by end‐group analysis. These polyesters were found to cure with styrene at room temperature. The thermal behavior of the styrenated polyesters was studied via thermogravimetrical analysis and differential scanning calorimetry (TGA and DSC). © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 81: 3388–3398, 2001     

Synthesis of polystyrene oligomers by nitroxide‐mediated radical polymerization using diethylketone triperoxide as a multifunctional radical initiator

Styrene oligomers (M_n, 2500–3000 g/mol) with low polydispersity index and containing peroxidic groups within their structure were synthesized using a novel trifunctional cyclic radical initiator, diethylketone triperoxide (DEKTP), through nitroxide‐mediated radical polymerization (NMRP), using OH‐TEMPO. During the synthesis of the polystyrene (PS) oligomers, camphorsulfonic acid (CSA) was used to inhibit the thermal autoinitiation of styrene at the evaluated temperatures (T = 120–130°C). The polymerization rate, which can be related to the slope of the plot of monomer conversion with reaction time, was monitored as a function of OH‐TEMPO, DEKTP, and CSA concentrations. The experimental results showed that all the synthesized polymers presented narrow molecular weight distributions, and the monomer conversion and the molecular weight of the polymers increased as a function of reaction time. Under the experimental conditions, T = 130°C, [DEKTP] = 10 mM, and [DEKTP]/[OH‐TEMPO] = 6.5, PS oligomers containing unreacted O? O sites in their inner structure were obtained. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012     

Synthesis of graft polyesters by ring-opening copolymerization of epoxy-terminated poly(ethylene glycol) with acid anhydrides

The copolymerization of epoxy-terminated poly(ethylene glycol methyl ether) (CH₃PEG–epoxide) with phthalic anhydride catalyzed by tertiary amines was performed in o-dichlorobenzene at 100°C to prepare the PEG graft polyester. 4-Dimethylaminopyridine was the most favorable catalyst to give the graft polyester with relatively high molecular weight. The acidity of the reaction solution decreased and M _n of the graft polyesters increased with reaction time. The CH₃PEG/phthalic acid ratio of the products was little affected by the kind of solvent and the reaction temperature above 100°C, but M _n increased with lowering the polarity of solvents and with raising the temperature. Other acid anhydrides, including maleic, succinic, tetrahydrophthalic, and pyromellitic anhydride, could be copolymerized with CH₃PEG–epoxide. The number of branched CH₃PEG chains was controlled by the mixing of low molecular weight epoxide such as n-butyl glycidyl ether. CH₃PEG component of the graft copolymers melted and crystallized at lower temperature than the raw CH₃PEG because of the restriction on the trunk polyester chain.     

Studies on synthetic-polymer plates with high surface energy. V. Diethylene glycol bis(allyl carbonate)–acrylic acid copolymer plate by vapor-phase transfer process

Synthetic-polymer plates with carboxyl group on their surface were prepared by a two-step copolymerization process transferring M₂ monomer via vapor phase. Diethylene glycol bis(allyl carbonate) (CR-39) was used as M₁ monomer, and acrylic acid was acid was used as M₂ monomer. The relations between the experimental conditions and the surface properties of the resulting plates were examined in the following terms: (1) composition of CR-39 prepolymer gel plate used and (2) concentration of benzoyl peroxide as the initiator. The plates had good water wettability and an excellent antifogging property.     

Synthesis and characterization of poly(ether amide ether ketone)/poly(ether ketone ketone) copolymers

A new monomer, N,N′‐bis(4‐phenoxybenzoyl)‐m‐phenylenediamine (BPPD), was prepared by condensation of m‐phenylenediamine with 4‐phenoxybenzoyl chloride in N,N‐dimethylacetamide (DMAc). A series of novel poly(ether amide ether ketone) (PEAEK)/poly(ether ketone ketone) (PEKK) copolymers were synthesized by the electrophilic Friedel‐Crafts solution copolycondensation of terephthaloyl chloride (TPC) with a mixture of diphenyl ether (DPE) and BPPD, over a wide range of DPE/BPPD molar ratios, in the presence of anhydrous AlCl₃ and N‐methylpyrrolidone (NMP) in 1,2‐dichloroethane (DCE). The influence of reaction conditions on the preparation of copolymers was examined. The copolymers obtained were characterized by different physicochemical techniques. The copolymers with 10–25 mol % BPPD were semicrystalline and had remarkably increased T_gs over commercially available PEEK and PEKK due to the incorporation of amide linkages in the main chains. The copolymers III and IV with 20–25 mol % BPPD had not only high T_gs of 184–188°C, but also moderate T_ms of 323–344°C, having good potential for the melt processing. The copolymers III and IV had tensile strengths of 103.7–105.3 MPa, Young's moduli of 3.04–3.11 GPa, and elongations at break of 8–9% and exhibited outstanding thermal stability and good resistance to organic solvents. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011     

Swelling-assisted graft copolymerization of 4-vinyl pyridine on poly(ethylene terephthalate) films using a benzoyl peroxide initiator

Graft copolymerization of 4-vinyl pyridine (4-VP) on poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) films using a benzoyl peroxide (Bz₂O₂) initiator was investigated under different conditions including polymerization time, temperature, monomer concentration, and initiator concentration. Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) was used as swelling agent to promote the incorporation and the subsequent polymerization of 4-VP to PET films. Maximum percent grafting was obtained when the polymerization was carried for a period of two hours at 65°C. Increasing the monomer concentration from 0.2M to 0.8M and Bz₂O₂ concentration from 1.0×10⁻³M to 2.5×10⁻³M was accompanied by a significant enhancement in percent grafting. Monomer diffusion on PET films and its effect on the grafting yield were studied and intrinsic viscosities of grafted films were also measured. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Combining CMPO and HEH[EHP] for Separating Trivalent Lanthanides from the Transuranic Elements

Combining octyl(phenyl)-N,N-diisobutyl-carbamoylmethylphosphine oxide (CMPO) and 2-ethylhexylphosphonic acid mono-2-ethylhexyl ester (HEH[EHP]) into a single process solvent for separating transuranic elements from liquid high-level waste is explored. The lanthanides and americium can be co-extracted from HNO₃ into 0.2 mol/L CMPO + 1.0 mol/L HEH[EHP] in n-dodecane. The extraction is relatively insensitive to the HNO₃ concentration within 0.1–5 mol/L HNO₃. Americium can be selectively stripped from the CMPO/HEH[EHP] solvent into a citrate-buffered N-(2-hydroxyethyl)ethylenediaminetriacetic acid solution. Separation factors >14 can be achieved in the range pH 2.5–3.7, and the separation factors are relatively insensitive to pH—a major advantage of this solvent formulation.     

Studies on synthetic polymer plates with high surface energy. III. Diethylene glycol bis(allyl carbonate)–unsaturated sulfonic acid system

Synthetic polymer plates (GPs) with high surface energy were prepared by the two-step copolymerization process previously reported, using diethylene glycol bis(allyl carbonate) (CR-39) as M₁ monomer and unsaturated sulfonates [sodium vinyl sulfonate (VS^?Na⁺), potassium styrene sulfonate (StS^?K⁺), and sodium 2-sulfoethyl methacrylate (SEM^?Na⁺)] as M₂ monomer. The contact angle (θ_H) of water for the acid-treated (immersed in an aqueous 0.1 N HCl solution for 2 h) GPs decreased in the order StS^?K⁺, VS^?Na⁺, and SEM^?Na⁺. In the case of M₂ = SEM^?Na⁺, the θ_H value was about 20°. By adding NaCl in the immersion solution and changing the pH of the immersion solution, the θ_H values for the CR-39–SEM^?Na⁺ GPs were lowered to 18.9 and 13.1°, respectively. The θ_H values for the above GPs were smaller than those for the CR-39–acrylic acid or the CR-39–methacrylic acid GPs in the previous report, whereas the contact angle (θ_Na) of water for the former after alkali treatment (immersed in an aqueous 0.1 N NaOH solution for 2h) was larger than those for the latter. The former had durability of water wettability superior to the latter because of the difference in dissociation characteristic of the respective functional group.     

Synthesis of aliphatic polyesters by a chain‐extending reaction with octamethylcyclotetrasilazane and hexaphenylcyclotrisilazane as chain extenders

Aliphatic HO-terminated polyesters such as poly(diethylene glycol adipate) (PDEGA), poly(ethylene adipate) (PEA), and poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) with molecular weight from 1247 to 1948 were synthesized through condensation polymerization from adipic acid or butanedioic acid with excess diethylene glycol, ethylene glycol, or butylene glycol. From the HO-terminated polyesters, polyesters with high molecular weight were synthesized by a chain-extending reaction with octamethylcyclotetrasilazane (OMCT) or hexaphenylcyclotrisilazane (HPCT) as chain-extenders. Gel permeation chromatography (GPC) characterization shows that the M_n of chain-extended PDEGA is from 12,644 to 32,870, M_w is from 22,786 to 70,048; M_n of chain-extended PEA is 11,368, M_w is 19,877; and the M_n of chain-extended PBS is from 9823 to 39,873, M_w is from 18,823 to 137,192. The chain-extended polyesters were also characterized by ¹H-NMR spectrum, IR spectra, and DSC spectra. The multiple peaks at 7.37 and 7.67 ppm in the ¹H-NMR spectrum of chain-extended PDEGA and peaks at 3051.1 and 1593.4 cm⁻¹ in the IR spectrum of the chain-extended PBS show the evidence of the  SiPh₂ structure in the polyesters obtained from the chain-extending reaction. DSC study shows that the bulky  SiPh₂ units introduced by the chain-extending reaction lower the regularity of the polyester chains, so the melting point of the chain-extended PBS and PEA decreases compared to that of the original HO-terminated PBS and PEA. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 92: 3333–3337, 2004     

Thermal decomposition of potassium persulfate in aqueous solution at 50°C in an inert atmosphere of nitrogen in the presence of acrylonitrile monomer

The rate of thermal decomposition of persulfate in aqueous solution in the presence of acrylonitrile (AN) monomer (M) and of nitrogen, may be written as: in the concentration range of persulfate (1.8 to 18.0) ×10^-3, and of monomer (M), 0.30 to 1.20, mol dm^-3. It was observed that the pH of the solution containing persulfate and monomer did not alter during polymerization if the monomer concentrations were close to its solubility under the experimental conditions. Conductance of the aqueous solutions of persulfate and monomer was found to decrease during the reactions. In an unbuffered aqueous solution containing only persulfate, however, the pH was found to decrease continuously at 50°C with time, while the conductance of the solution was found to increase. The monomer (AN) had no effect on the glass electrodes of the pH meter in aqueous solutions, and also on the electrodes of the conductivity cell. It has been suggested that the secondary or induced decompositions of persulfate were due to the following elementary reactions: where (M_j^· radicals (j = 1 to 10) are water-soluble oligomeric or polymeric free radicals. k_x and k_y at 50°C have been estimated as 1.70 X 10^-5 and 5.08 × 10³ dm³ mol^-1 s^-1, respectively. By measuring pH of freshly prepared persulfate solutions at 25°C, it is suggested that 0.05–0.30% of persulfate reacts molecularly with water (i.e., hydrolysis), as soon as it (10^-3 to 10^-2 mol dm^-3) is added to distilled water (pH 7.0). This hydrolysis was found to be stopped in dilute sulfuric acid solution (pH 3–4).     

Photoinitiated cationic oligomerization of terminal and internal epoxides

The iodonium salt‐catalyzed, photoinduced cationic oligomerization of terminal and internal monoepoxides from oleochemical as well as the petrochemical origin was studied. The ring‐opening of terminal epoxides (1,2‐octene oxide, phenyl glycidyl ether, 9,10‐epoxy decanoic acid methyl ester and 10,11‐epoxy undecanoic acid methyl ester) predominantly led to macrocyclic oligoethers (M_n = 650—1,100 g/mol) via backbiting in quantitative yields. Mixtures of cyclic and bishydroxy‐terminated oligoethers (M_n = 1,050—1,500 g/mol) were achieved by the conversion of internal epoxides (7,8‐tetradecene oxide and cis‐9,10‐epoxy octadecanoic acid methyl ester) in yields of 80—95%. Macrocyclization was completely suppressed by addition of 20 mol‐% water or ethylene glycol receiving diol‐oligoethers for potential application as soft segments for polyurethanes with molecular weights of approximately 1,300 g/mol.     

Surface photografting polymerization of vinyl acetate,maleic anhydride,and their charge‐transfer complex. VI. Charge‐transfer complex (2)

The photografting copolymerization of a low‐density polyethylene/vinyl acetate (VAC)–maleic anhydride (MAH) binary monomer system was studied from the perspective of dynamics. The total conversion percentage (CP) and grafting conversion percentage (CG) were measured by gravimetry. On the basis of plots of CP and CG as functions of the polymerization time, the total polymerization rate (RP) and grafting polymerization rate (RG) were calculated. In addition, the apparent activation energy (E_a) and the reaction orders of the photografting polymerization under different reaction conditions, such as the total monomer concentration and the concentration of benzophenone (BP), were determined also. The results showed that, in comparison with the photografting polymerization of the two single monomers (VAC and MAH), RP and RG noticeably increased for the VAC–MAH binary monomer system. When the total monomer concentration was kept at 4M, the apparent E_a's of the three photografting polymerization systems were as follows: for VAC ([MAH]/[VAC] = 0/4), E_a's for the total polymerization and grafting polymerization were 41.00 and 43.90 kJ/mol, respectively; for MAH ([MAH]/[VAC] = 4/0, E_a's were 39.65 and 43.23 kJ/mol, respectively; and for the VAC–MAH binary monomer system, E_a's were 34.35 and 40.32 kJ/mol, respectively. These results suggested that the polymerization of the binary system occurred more readily than the other two. The reaction orders of RP with respect to the total monomer concentration of the monomers and the concentration of BP were 1.34 and 0.81, respectively. According to these investigations, it could be inferred that in the binary monomer system, both the free monomers and charge‐transfer complex took part in the polymerization; to the termination of the propagating chains, two possible pathways, unimolecular termination and bimolecular termination, coexisted in this binary monomer system. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 95: 910–915, 2005     

EDTA and pH‐sensitive crosslinking polymerization of acrylic acid, 2‐acrylamidoglycolic acid,and 2‐acrylamide‐2‐methyl‐1‐propanesulfonic acid

Network formation was monitored by shear storage modulus (G′) during free radical crosslinking polymerization to investigate the effects of pH and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA; a complex agent). Three types of acrylic monomers, acrylic acid (AAc), 2‐acrylamidoglycolic acid (AmGc), and 2‐acrylamido‐2‐methyl propanesulfonic acid (AmPS), were polymerized in the presence of a crosslinking agent. The ratio of crosslinking agent (methylene bis‐acrylamide; MBAAm) to monomer was varied as: 0.583 × 10^?3, 1.169 × 10^?3, 1.753 × 10^?3, and 2.338 × 10^?3. G′ of the hydrogel in crosslinking polymerizations of AAc and AmPS was effectively increased by addition of EDTA, which was not the case for the crosslinking polymerization of AmGc. The order of magnitude of G′ differed based on the acidity of monomer. The maximum values of G′ in crosslinking polymerizations of AAc, AmGc, and AmPS were ～20,000 Pa, 6000 Pa, and 400 Pa, respectively. G′ varied linearly with the molecular weight between crosslinks (M_wc). pH and EDTA‐complex affected the rate of intramolecular propagation during crosslinking polymerization. Our results indicated that G′ was primarily affected by the following factors in the order: (1) acidity of monomer, (2) M_wc, and (3) physical interactions induced by pH and EDTA. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014 , 131, 41026.     

Study of negative substitution and monomer self‐condensation effects on molar mass and structural characteristics of hyperbranched polyesters originating from a high‐functionality core

In order to provide more insight into the effect of core functionality on hyperbranched polymer characteristics, two series of hyperbranched polyesters (HBPEs) were synthesized by reacting 2,2‐bis(methylol)propionic acid (bis‐MPA) as AB₂ monomer with both dipentaerythritol (DPE) and pentaerythritol as six (B₆)‐ and four (B₄)‐functional core molecules. The molar mass, composition and structure of HBPEs were determined with respect to the negative substitution logic and monomer self‐condensation effect. The molar masses and structures of HBPEs containing DPE core were less influenced by the negative effect of a reacted hydroxyl group on the reactivity of other hydroxyl groups in the same monomer unit. Thus, the use of DPE core in copolymerization with bis‐MPA monomer could help slightly to increase the molar mass of HBPEs. Conversely, the effect of self‐condensation of bis‐MPA on the molar mass reduction was more pronounced in the case of DPE hyperbranched polymers due to the A–B negative substitution effect. These two effects become more significant with increasing pseudo‐generation numbers of the HBPEs. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry