Redox initiation system of ceric salt and α,ω‐dihydroxy poly(dimethylsiloxane)s for vinyl polymerization

The redox system of ceric salt and α,ω‐dihydroxy poly(dimethylsiloxane) is used to polymerize vinyl monomers such as acrylonitrile and styrene to produce block copolymers. The concentration and type of α,ω‐dihydroxy poly(dimethylsiloxane) affects the yield and the molecular weight of the copolymers. The copolymers have about 20°C lower glass‐transition temperatures and much higher contact angle values than of the corresponding homopolymer of vinyl monomers, although the weight percent of α,ω‐dihydroxy poly(dimethylsiloxane) of the copolymers is in the range of 1–2%. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 102: 2112–2116, 2006     

Temperature influence on the behavior of polysulfone‐b‐poly(alkylene oxide)‐b‐poly(dimethylsiloxane) triblock copolymers in a selective solvent

Triblock copolymers containing polysulfone, poly(alkylene oxide), and poly(dimethylsiloxane) segments were obtained by addition of preformed α,ω‐bis(hydrogensilyl) poly(dimethylsiloxane) oligomers to alyl end‐capped poly(alkylene oxide)‐b‐polysulfone. Viscometric and UV absorption measurements were carried out in dilute 1,2‐dichlorethane solutions, in the temperature range of 20–75°C. The specific interactions exhibited by the block copolymers in a selective solvent are influenced by the copolymer composition and temperature. The results point to a conformational transition phenomenon, located around 55°C, which is attributed to the transition from a segregated to a pseudo‐Gaussian conformation through a compressed‐segregated conformation. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 57:114–118, 2017. © 2016 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Preparation and stress-strain properties of aba block copolymers of α-methylstyrene and butadiene

ABA-type “tapered” block copolymers of α-methylstyrene (monomer A) and butadiene were prepared using four commercially available dilithio initiators. Polymerizations were run at 25°C in benzene solvent, or at 40°C with butadiene dissolved in neat α-methylstyrene. Although α-methylstyrene has a rather low ceiling temperature, triblock copolymers could be made at these temperatures by using α-methylstyrene concentrations well in excess of the [M]_e values at the respective temperatures. Its concentration was such that molecular weights of at least 15,000–20,000 for the A blocks could be attained. The course of the copolymerization at 40°C was followed, showing that copolymers containing about 40% α-methylstyrene could be formed in 4–8 hr, depending on the initiator used. They showed the usual behavior of triblock thermoplastic elastomers, with tensile strengths > 3000 lb/in.² at 24°C. However, because of the high T_g of poly(α-methylstyrene) (172°C), they also had tensiles of several hundred lb/in.² at 100°C, unlike comparable polymers with polystyrene end blocks, which have practically no strength at this temperature. Microstructures of polybutadienes made with these initiators are also given.     

Polyimide–polysiloxane block copolymers synthesized from α, ω-(3-aminophenoxy) terminated poly[oxy(dimethylsilyl)-1,4-phenylene(dimethylsilylene)]s

A method has been worked out for the synthesis of α,ω-(3-aminophenoxy) terminated poly[oxy(dimethylsilyl)-1,4-phenylene(dimethylsilylene)]oligomers with controlled molecular weight. From these oligomers were synthesized polyimide-polysiloxane block copolymers via a transimidization route, with polyimide moieties based on 2-aminopyridine terminated 5,5′-oxybis-1,3-isobenzofuranedione-4,4′-[1,4-phenylenebis(1-methylethylidene)]bisaniline oligomers. The copolymers obtained show higher thermooxidative stability in comparison with copolymers having siloxane moiety based on α,ω-aminopropyl or α,ω-arylamine terminated poly(dimethylsiloxane) oligomers.     

Characterization of block copolymers based on poly[3,3-bis(ethoxymethyl)oxetane] and other novel polyethers

Diblock, triblock, and alternating block copolymers based on poly[3,3-bis(ethoxymethyl) oxetane] [poly(BEMO)] and a random copolymer center block poly(BMMO-co-THF) composed of poly[3,3-bis(methoxymethyl)oxetane] [poly(BMMO)], and poly(tetrahydrofuran) [poly(THF)] were synthesized and characterized with respect to molecular weight. Glass transition temperatures T_g and melting temperatures T_m were characterized via DSC, modulus–temperature, and dynamic mechanical spectroscopy (DMS). These polyethers had T_m between 70°C and 90°C, and T_g between ?55°C and ?30°C. The degree of crystallinity of poly(BEMO) was found to be 65% by X-ray powder diffraction. Tensile properties of the triblock copolymer, poly(BEMO-block-BMMO-co-THF-block-BEMO) were also studied. A yield point was found at 4.1 × 10⁷ dyn/cm² and 10% elongation and failure at 3.8 × 10⁷ dyn/cm² and 760 % elongation. Morphological features were examined by reflected light microscopy and the kinetics of crystallization were studied. Poly(BEMO) and its block copolymers were found to form spherulites of 2–10 μm in diameter. Crystallization was complete after 2–5 min.     

Synthesis and properties of new poly(ether imides) based on pyridine‐containing aromatic dianhydride and diamine monomers

A series of novel aromatic poly(ether imides) with inherent viscosities of 0.48–0.70 dL/g and weight‐average molecular weights of 18,800–40,500 g/mol were successfully prepared from two dianhydride and two diamine monomers containing pyridine moiety via both two‐step method and one‐step method. Comparison of the one‐step and the two‐step methods for the preparation of poly(ether imides) was carried out and shown that poly (ether imides) obtained via one‐step method exhibited higher molecular weights than the similar polymers prepared through two‐step process. Poly(ether imide) resins obtained via both one‐step and two‐step methods with subsequent chemical dehydration showed good solubility not only in high boiling point solvents but also in low boiling point solvents. High‐quality poly(ether imide) films could be obtained via the two‐step method with subsequent thermal imidization, which exhibited excellent thermal properties with glass transition temperatures of 239–278°C, initial decomposition temperatures of 540–574°C, residual weight percent at 800°C of 64.5–69.3% under nitrogen, good thermo‐oxidative stability with initial decomposition temperatures of 521–544°C, residual weight percent at 800°C of 33.6–51.1% under air atmosphere, outstanding mechanical properties with tensile strengths in the range of 104.6–109.4 MPa, tensile modulus in the range of 1.92–2.58 GPa, and elongation at break from 6.9 to 8.0%, as well as good transparency with cutoff wavelengths of 386–392 nm and low dielectric constants of 2.80–2.92 at 1 MHz. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009     

Relationship of temperature to composition of copolymers of α-methylstyrene and maleic anhydride

Alternating copolymers of α-methylstyrene and maleic anhydride were prepared in good yields in a decalin solution at temperatures below 80°C. Random copolymers with large percentages of α-methylstyrene were obtained in good yields at higher temperatures. These results were in accord with the charge transfer complex which was characterized by n.m.r. and u.v. spectrophotometry and shown to exist below 80°C. The copolymers were characterized by pyrolysis/gas chromatography and differential scanning calorimetry. The glass transition temperature of poly(α-methylstyrene) and the random copolymer of this monomer and maleic anhydride were approximately 450 and 458 K respectively.     

Poly(vinyl chloride)–polyol (AB)x block copolymers: Synthesis,characterization, and mechanical properties

Poly(vinyl chloride)–polyol (AB)_x block copolymers have been prepared by the condensation polymerization of low-molecular-weight hydroxy-terminated poly(vinyl chlorides) (PVC) and diisocyanate-capped polyester and polyether diols. The difunctional poly(vinyl chlorides) were synthesized by ozonization of commercial resin followed by metal hydride reduction. The (AB)_x block copolymers, which contained 3000 or 4300 molecular weight PVC block sizes and 1000–2000 molecular weight polyol segments, had a wide range of mechanical properties, depending on overall polymer structure. Tensile strengths ranged from 7.8 to 31.5 MPa, elongations from 125% to 610% and torsional stiffness temperatures (T_f) from 25°C to ?22°C.     

Block polymers from isocyanate-terminated intermediates. IV. Properties of cured butadiene–ε-caprolactam block polymers

Butadiene–ε-caprolactam block polymers containing a high proporation of 1,2 units in the butadiene-segments were synthesized and physical properties were measured on the cured copolymers. Flexural strength and impact resistance both increase regularly with increasing ε-caprolactam content in peroxide cured copolymers. This behavior is explained by the higher values of flexural modulus and impact resistance for poly(ε-caprolactam) compared with peroxide-cured polybutadiene resins. Copolymers reinforced with silica showed higher heat distortion temperatures but lower impact resistance than corresponding unfilled samples. Arrhenius plots of flexural properties at various test temperatures were linear. Both flexural modulus and strength decreased regularly with increasing test temperature. Flexural properties of filled copolymers were relatively unaffected by heat aging up to 204°C for several weeks, however, dramatic decreases in these properties were noted in a matter of days when heat aging was done at 260–316°C. These results are explained by the rapid degradation of poly(ε-caprolactam) above its melting point. Block polymers whose butadiene segments contained a high proportion of 1,4 units were also synthesized. These copolymers were elastomeric when cured with either sulfur or peroxide.     

Preparation and properties of silicon-containing copolymers for near-UV resists,II. Poly[(N-(4-hydroxyphenyl)maleimide)-alt-(p-trimethylsilyl-α-methylstyrene)]

Poly[(N-(4-hydroxyphenyl)maleimide)-alt-(p-trimethylsilyl-α-methylstyrene)] (α-PHTMMS) and several N-(4-hydroxyphenyl)maleimide -alt-p-α-methylstyrene related copolymers were synthesized for novel positive near-UV resists containing diazonaphthoquinone sulfonate (DNS). The chain-stiffening effect of the maleimide group was responsible for high thermal resistance. Thus, a high glass transition temperature of 240°C and thermal decomposition temperature of 425°C were obtained. Lithographic positive images were obtained which resisted thermal deformation at 250°C. The prepared silicon-containing resists were also used as the top imaging layer of a bilayer resist for microlithographic application.     

Physical property characteristics of polysulfone/poly-(dimethylsiloxane) block copolymers

A series of polysulfone/poly(dimethylsiloxane) (AB)_n block copolymers have been synthesized over a wide composition range by varying the molecular weights of the polysulfone and poly(dimethylsiloxane) blocks. The properties vary from a rigid material at high polysulfone content (>65% polysulfone) to an elastomeric material at high poly(dimethylsiloxane) content (>65% poly(dimethylsiloxane)). A simple extension of MAXWELL's analysis of heterogeneous systems is shown to be applicable to the prediction of permeability data and a similar treatment of KERNER's analysis can be used for predicting modulus data. Analysis of both the permeability data and modulus data predict a similar phase inversion composition for this two-phase block copolymer. Different properties can be obtained with a given block copolymer composition by casting films from different solvents or by swelling the films in a non-solvent which preferentially swells one phase only. The tendency of poly(dimethylsiloxane) to crystallize at low temperature is dependent upon the flexibility of the block copolymer, which can be influenced by the method of film preparation.     

Polyamide4‐block‐poly(vinyl acetate) via a polyamide4 azo macromolecular initiator: Thermal and mechanical behavior,biodegradation, and morphology

A series of polyamide4‐block‐poly(vinyl acetate)s were synthesized by the radical polymerization of vinyl acetate (VAc) using an azo macromolecular initiator composed of polyamide4 (PA4). The block copolymers were investigated by examining their molecular weight, structure, thermal and mechanical properties, biodegradation, and the morphology of the film surface. The compositions and molecular weights (Mw) ranging from 46,800 to 163,700 g mol^?1 of the block copolymers varied linearly with increasing molar ratio of VAc to azo‐PA4. The block copolymers have high melting points of 248.2–262.5°C owing to PA4 blocks and heats of fusion, which were linearly dependent on the PA4 content. The mechanical properties of the block copolymers were monotonically dependent on the composition, i.e., increasing the PA4 content increased the tensile strength, whereas increasing the poly(vinyl acetate) content increased the elongation at break. The morphology of the block copolymers suggested the appearance of microphase separation. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 42466.     

Attempted synthesis of multiblock copolymers of butadiene,styrene, and α-methylstyrene: Effect of polar additives on copolymerizations

Owing to the low T_g of polystyrene, the mechanical properties of polystyrene-block-poly-butadiene-block-polystyrene (SBS) thermoplastic elastomers drop steeply above 60°C. To overcome this behavior, many research groups have considered the replacement of styrene (S) by α-methylstyrene (MS). We also attempted the synthesis of copolymers with a central polybutadiene (poly B) block and rigid blocks consisting of polystyrene (poly S) and poly(α-methylstyrene) (poly MS) blocks. Starting from a dilithium initiator, difunctional poly B's with low 1,2 content (10%) were prepared and toluene was added. After addition of a small amount of styrene, MS was added in the presence of a 15% (in vol) of THF at T ≤ ?40°C. The copolymers did not have the expected structure and poor mechanical properties resulted, which were, however, still measurable at 120°C. These results probably resulted from secondary reactions involving the MS carbanions. To identify these reactions and to control the polymer structure, the synthesis of multiblock copolymers was carried out with a monofunctional polybutadienyllithium to which were added successively S and MS (in a mixture of hexane and benzene as solvent). MS was added at low temperature in the presence of small amounts of THF or at room temperature after addition of TMEDA. These attempts were unsuccessful, the copolymer being always multimodal as a result of unwanted coupling reactions involving terminal double bonds. The synthesis of elastomers using a coupling reaction of poly MS–poly S–poly B was also considered but the yield in poly B was low since termination reactions involving the polar additive occurred. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Confined crystallization morphology of poly(ϵ‐caprolactone) block within poly(ϵ‐caprolactone)–poly(l‐lactide) copolymers

The confined crystallization of poly(?‐caprolactone) (PCL) block in poly(?‐caprolactone)–poly(l ‐lactide) (PCL‐PLLA) copolymers was investigated using differential scanning calorimetry, polarized optical microscopy, scanning electronic microscopy and atomic force microscopy. To study the effect of crystallization and molecular chain motion state of PLLA blocks in PCL‐PLLA copolymers on PCL crystallization morphology, high‐temperature annealing (180 °C) and low‐temperature annealing (80 °C) were applied to treat the samples. It was found that the crystallization morphology of PCL block in PCL‐PLLA copolymers is not only related to the ratio of block components, but also related to the thermal history. After annealing PCL‐PLLA copolymers at 180 °C, the molten PCL blocks are rejected from the front of PLLA crystal growth into the amorphous regions, which will lead to PCL and PLLA blocks exhibiting obvious fractionated crystallization and forming various morphologies depending on the length of PLLA segment. On the contrary, PCL blocks more easily form banded spherulites after PCL‐PLLA copolymers are annealed at 80 °C because the preexisting PLLA crystal template and the dangling amorphous PLLA chains on PCL segments more easily cause unequal stresses at opposite fold surfaces of PCL lamellae during the growth process. Also, it was found that the growth rate of banded spherulites is less than that of classical spherulites and the growth rate of banded spherulites decreases with decreasing band spacing. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry     

Cationic polymerization of α-methyl styrene from polydienes. II. Tensile properties of poly(butadiene-g-α-methyl styrene) and poly(styrene-b-butadiene-g-α-methyl styrene) copolymers

Tensile properties of poly(butadiene-g-α-methyl styrene) copolymers have been investigated on molded samples. These graft copolymers show thermoplastic elastomer behavior because of their graft copolymer structure. Both modulus and strength increase with increasing α-methyl styrene content and tensile strength is highest at the 45–50% by weight α-methyl styrene level. Tensile strength at elevated test temperatures is considerably higher for these poly(butadiene-g-α-methyl styrene) copolymers than for styrene-butadiene-styrene triblock polymers. This is attributed to the higher glass transition temperature for poly(α-methyl styrene) segments compared to polystyrene segments. The oil acceptance of these graft copolymers appears to depend on the number of loose polybutadiene chain ends. Thus, the tensile strength of oil-extended poly(butadiene-g-α-methyl styrene) copolymers was considerably lower than oil-extended poly(styrene-b-butadiene-g-α-methyl styrene) copolymers even though both copolymers contained equal hard segment contents.     

ABA triblock copolymers with two crystallizable blocks

Triblock copolymers of the ABA type were synthesized in which the A block is poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO), having molecular weight of 1000 or 2000, and the B block is poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS), having molecular weight of about 8000 or 10,000. When the triblock copolymer was cooled from the melt, the PEO block crystallized at around room temperature. Upon further cooling to liquid nitrogen temperature and reheating, the crystallization of the PDMS middle block took place at around ?90°C. The melting temperatures and degrees of crystallinity of the PEO blocks in the copolymers were depressed from their respective pure state values. On the other hand, the melting points of the PDMS middle blocks in the copolymers were the same as the pure state values; furthermore, the degrees of crystallinity were unexpectedly much higher. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Block copolymer of polyurethanes with poly(m-phenylene isophthalamide)

In this study,we modified two kinds of conventional polyurethane (PU) by the low molecular weight diamine-terminated wholly-rigid aromatic polyamide poly(m-phenylene isophthalamide) (PmIA) (Nomex). Two molecular weights (1000 and 2000) of poly(tetramethylene glycol) (PTMG) with 4,4-diphenylene methane diisocyanate (MDI) and with three different ratios of low molecular weight diamine-terminated PmIA prepolymer with different molecular weight of 346, 584, 823 were synthesized to form six PmIA-PU block copolymers. Various block copolymers were also obtained by different ratios of wholly-rigid PmIA prepolymers. Inherent viscosity results indicated that the block copolymers are more viscous than conventional polyurethanes, suggesting that the block copolymers had sufficiently high molecular weights. Moreover, results obtained from differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and dynamic mechanical properties analysis (DMA) demonstrated that the block copolymers not only exhibited a glass transition temperature (T_g) under 0 °C, but also had a higher storage modulus (E) than those of the conventional PU. Opitical microscopy (OM), phase contrast microscopy (PCM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analyses confirmed that all of the block copolymers had a dispersed phase structure. The mechanical properties, tensile strength and 300% modulus of the block copolymers were found to be better than those of conventional PU.     

Poly(1,3‐disila‐1,3‐diphenyl‐2‐oxaindane)– poly(dimethylsiloxane) block copolymers

The hydrolytic condensation of 1,3‐dichloro‐1,3‐disila‐1,3‐diphenyl‐2‐oxaindane under neutral conditions produced α'ω‐dihydroxy‐1,3‐disila‐1,3‐diphenyl‐2‐oxaindane (polymerization degree ≈ 4). The homofunctional condensation of α'ω‐dihydroxy‐1,3‐disila‐1,3‐diphenyl‐2‐oxaindane in a toluene solution and in the presence of activated carbon was performed, and dihydroxy‐containing oligomers with various degrees of condensation were obtained. Through the heterofunctional condensation of dihydroxy‐containing oligomers with α'ω‐dichlorodimethylsiloxanes in the presence of amines, corresponding block copolymers were obtained. Gel permeation chromatography, differential scanning calorimetry, thermomechanical analysis, thermogravimetry, and wide‐angle roentgenography investigations were carried out. Differential scanning calorimetry and roentgenography studies of the block copolymers showed that their properties were determined by the ratio of the lengths of the flexible and linear poly(dimethylsiloxane) and rigid poly(1,3‐disila‐1,3‐diphenyl‐2‐oxaindane) fragments in the macromolecular chain. At definite values of the lengths of the flexible and rigid fragments, a microheterogeneous structure was observed in the synthesized block copolymers. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 84: 1409–1417, 2002; DOI 10.1002/app.10335     

Carbon dioxide sorption and diffusion in poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate) and poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate‐CO‐3‐hydroxyvalerate)

CO₂ sorption and diffusion in poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate) and three poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate‐co‐3‐hydroxyvalerate) copolymers were investigated gravimetrically at temperatures from 25° to 50°C and pressures up to 1 atm. The sorption behavior proved to be linear for all the copolymers studied. An additional set of measurements performed in a pressure decay apparatus at 35°C showed that the linearity could be extrapolated to pressures up to 25 atm. The sorption results obtained from both techniques were in good agreement. The poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate‐co‐3‐hydroxyvalerate) sorption kinetics were increasingly non‐Fickian at the higher temperatures, thus preventing the calculation of diffusion coefficients above 35°C. Interestingly, this was not the case for poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate), and diffusion coefficients and permeabilities could be calculated at all of the investigated temperatures. The 35°C permeabilities were fairly low, which is attributed to the high degree of crystallinity of this polyester family. Finally, the poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate) barrier properties against CO₂ are successfully compared with those of some selected common thermoplastics. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 71: 2391–2399, 1999     

Thermal and structural analysis of heparin–PEO–PDMS–PEO–heparin pentablock copolymers

ABCBA-type amphiphilic block copolymers comprising polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO), and heparin segments were synthesized by coupling reactions between end-functionalized oligomers. These multiblock copolymers were characterized to examine bulk properties using ¹H-NMR, FTIR, end-group analysis, and sulfur elemental analysis. Block copolymers were further characterized in bulk using differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffraction measurements. The PDMS glass transition remains unchanged with increasing PEO content, indicating coexistence of pure PDMS with mixed phases. Furthermore, endothermic melting of the block copolymers shifts to higher temperatures and becomes more intense with increasing PEO molecular weight. Additionally, the crystallinity of the PEO segment in the block copolymers increases with increasing PEO molecular weight. The PEO melting endotherm peak shifts from near 318 to 323 K with annealing. In the cooling thermogram, the block copolymers exhibit two crystallization exotherms, one near 303 K and the other near 193 K, attributed to PEO and PDMS recrystallization and nucleation, respectively. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.