Comparison of RAFT polymerization of methyl methacrylate in conventional emulsion and miniemulsion systems

In this study, we have conducted the reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) in two heterogeneous systems, i.e. conventional emulsion and miniemulsion, with identical reaction conditions. The main objective is to compare the living character in both systems according to the nucleation mechanism, the latex stability, the particle sizes and particle size distributions of latexes, the molecular weights and molecular weight distributions (or polydispersity index, PDI) of PMMA, and the kinetics of the RAFT polymerization. The RAFT agent used in both systems was 2-cyanoprop-2-yl dithiobenzoate (CPDB). The effects of an oil-soluble initiator 2,2′-azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) and a water-soluble initiator kalium persulfate (KPS) on the RAFT/emulsion and RAFT/miniemulsion polymerizations were investigated. Methyl-β-cyclodextrin (Me-β-CD) was used as a solubilizer. The average molecular weights and molecular weight distributions (PDIs) of dried PMMA samples were characterized by gel permeation chromatography (GPC). The experimental results showed that the RAFT/miniemulsion polymerization of MMA exhibited better living character than that of RAFT/emulsion polymerization under the conditions of our experiment. The PDI of PMMA in RAFT/miniemulsion polymerization was decreased with the addition of Me-β-CD. However, Me-β-CD did not have influence on the PDI of PMMA prepared in RAFT/emulsion polymerization.     

RAFT polymerization of acrylamide manipulated with trithiocarbonates in poly(ethylene glycol) solution

The reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization of acrylamide (AM) in aqueous two‐phase system was successfully carried out in polyethylene glycol (PEG) aqueous solution. Because of phase transition involved in the polymerization process, the ln([M]₀/[M])‐time plots were indicated in two‐stages significantly. Both the initial homogeneous polymerization and the subsequent heterogeneous polymerization were under good control. The effects of various synthesis parameters such as polymerization temperature, concentration of CTA, and initiator on RAFT polymerization behaviors have been investigated. Furthermore, the evolution process of the droplet morphologies after separation was examined by transmission electron microscope. The results showed that the nuclei were formed throughout the whole heterogeneous polymerization and stable sphere particles with an average size of about 1 μm were produced finally. More importantly, it was also found that the viscosity played a significant role in the stabilization of the dispersion of polymer particles. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016 , 133, 43000.     

偏氯乙烯-丙烯酸甲酯悬浮共聚树脂的研制

采用悬浮共聚的方法研制了偏氯乙烯/丙烯酸甲酯（VDC/MA）共聚树脂。考察了共聚配方、分散剂种类及用量、搅拌速度及聚合温度对VDC/MA共聚树脂的影响。结果表明,当VDC/MA=（92-96）/（8-4）、采用分散剂B（用量0.13%)、搅拌速度300-400r/min,并根据聚合温度调节分子量大小,制得的VDC/MA共聚树脂其膜光泽好、透时度高,热稳定性好。     

甲基丙烯酸甲酯与丙烯酸正丁酯乳液聚合的研究

以甲基丙烯酸甲酯与丙烯酸正丁酯为主要原料,过硫酸铵为引发剂,OP-10、十二烷基硫酸钠(K12)为乳化剂,用乳液聚合法合成了聚丙烯酸酯类共聚乳液,考察了聚合条件对乳液聚合的影响。实验结果表明,在单体、引发剂、水用量一定时,合适的反应条件为乳化剂(OP-10∶K12=1∶1)2%,单体滴加时间以60~90min,80℃反应2h左右。     

Online monitoring of the copolymerization of 2-(dimethylamino)ethyl acrylate with styrene by RAFT. Deviations from reaction control

Kinetics of copolymerization reactions of 2-(dimethylamino)ethyl acrylate (DMAEA) and styrene by reversible addition fragmentation transfer (RAFT) in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) are reported. Novel approaches in the online monitoring of the synthesis of the amphiphilic copolymers by Automatic Continuous Online Monitoring of Polymerization reactions (ACOMP) are presented. Automatic withdrawal of separate reactor streams and their subsequent dilution throughout the reaction with organic and aqueous solvents, respectively, allowed different features to be captured. Thus, light scattering data combined with spectroscopic and viscometric measurements in DMF, together with conductivity measurements in aqueous medium provided in real time comonomer conversion, copolymer mass, reduced viscosity, and composition. Continuous data gathered allowed observing and quantifying the DMAEA-linked macroRAFT control agent decomposition, with significant effects on the reaction kinetics. Deviations from controlled behavior were investigated during (co)polymerization reactions under different conditions.Multi-detector Size Exclusion Chromatography (SEC) and NMR were used to bring additional information on the system investigated.     

Synthesis of cationic polyacrylamide by aqueous two‐phase polymerization in poly(ethylene glycol) chloride solution

Aqueous two‐phase copolymerization of acrylamide(AM) and acryloyloxyethyl trimethyl ammonium chloride (DAC) was performed in poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) solution and in PEG chloride(Cl‐PEG) solution, respectively. Series of cationic polyacrylamide(CPAM) aqueous dispersion were prepared using potassium persulfate (KPS) as initiator. The effect of total amount of monomers, the dosage of initiator, the content of dispersant, the mass ratio of AM to DAC, and the temperature on the conversion, molecular weight, cationic degree, and stability of aqueous dispersion were studied in detail. It is found that the increase of initiator and reaction temperature resulted in the increase of the final conversion, whereas the increase of DAC and PEG concentration resulted in the decrease of the final conversion. The optimum reaction conditions of synthesis were as follows: (1) PEG‐H₂O system: PEG 7.5 g, AM 8 g, DAC 2 g, KPS 0.05 g, H₂O 100 mL, 70°C. In this process conditions, the molecular weight of CPAM was 3.21 × 10⁶, the cationic degree of CPAM was 24.4%, the storage stability of the aqueous dispersion was over 3 months. (2) Cl‐PEG‐H₂O system: Cl‐PEG 7.5 g, AM 8 g, DAC 2 g, KPS 0.05 g, H₂O 100 mL, 65°C. In this process conditions, the molecular weight was 3.68 × 10⁶, the cationic degree was 23.3%, and the storage stability of the aqueous dispersion was over 6 months. In general, the stability of CPAM aqueous dispersion in Cl‐PEG system is much better than in PEG system. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013     

Synthesis of poly(methyl methacrylate)-silica nanocomposites using methacrylate-functionalized silica nanoparticles and RAFT polymerization

Well-defined poly(methyl methacrylate)-silica nanocomposites were produced by “grafting through” using reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. The surface of silica nanoparticle was modified covalently by attaching methacryl group to the surface using 3-methacryloxypropyldimethylchlorosilane. Polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) using the 4-cyano-4-(dodecylsulfanylthiocarbonyl)sulfanyl pentanoic acid RAFT agent, produced the PMMA-SiO₂ nanocomposites. Characterization of these well-defined nanocomposites included FT-IR, gel permeation chromatography (GPC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and dynamic mechanical analysis. These results show that the T_g values are higher and the mechanical strength of the PMMA-SiO₂ nanocomposites is slightly improved when compared to bulk PMMA. Further, the molecular weight of the PMMA (up to M_n = 100,000) is controlled and the SiO₂ are well dispersed in the PMMA matrix.     

Poly(ethylene glycol) as a ‘green solvent’ for the RAFT polymerization of methyl methacrylate

We demonstrate the use of a range of poly(ethylene glycol)s (PEGs) to control the polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) using reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. The use of PEG as the solvent (M_n = 4600 g mol⁻¹) resulted in an increase in the rate of the reaction over that of other solvents by a factor of 5 at 60 °C, allowing MMA to be polymerized to high conversions with a DP of 100 much more rapidly than in standard solvents, while maintaining control over the molecular weight with polydispersities as low as 1.05. Interestingly, whilst the same rate increase is seen when polymerizing to a DP of 500, PEG appears to limit the achievable molecular weight to differing degrees depending on its chain length. Advantages of using PEG include its very low toxicity and other environmentally friendly aspects of its nature that allow it to be classed as a ‘green’ solvent.     

马来酸酐与丙烯酸钠水溶液共聚合研究

研究了等离子体引发马来酸酐(MA)、丙烯酸钠(AANa)共聚,制备阻垢剂马来酸酐-丙烯酸钠共聚物的工艺方法。在反应室压力为8~25 Pa,放电频率13.56 MHz,总单体质量分数为30%的条件下,优化了聚合工艺条件,较佳结果为:放电时间70 s,放电功率80 W,单体配比3∶7(MA∶AANa),后聚合温度90℃及后聚合时间1 h。转化率为90%,产物螯合力340 mg CaCO3/g。     

Thermal polymerization of methyl (meth)acrylate via reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) process

Thermal polymerization of methyl (meth)acrylate (MMA) was carried out using 2-cyanoprop-2-yl-1-dithionaphthalate (CPDN) and cumyl dithionaphthalenoate (CDN) as chain transfer agents. The kinetic study showed the existence of induction period and rate retardation, especially in the CDN mediated systems. The molecular weights of the polymers increased linearly with the monomer conversion, and the molecular weight distributions (M_w/M_ns) of the polymers were relatively narrow up to high conversions. The maximum number-average molecular weights (M_ns) reached to 351?900 g/mol (M_w/M_n = 1.47) and 442?400 g/mol (M_w/M_n = 1.29) in the systems mediated by CPDN and CDN, respectively. Chain-extension reactions were also successfully carried out to obtain higher molecular weight PMMA and PMMA-block-polystyrene (PMMA-b-PSt) copolymer with controlled structure and narrow M_w/M_n. Thermal polymerization of methyl acrylate (MA) in the presence of CPDN, or benzyl (2-phenyl)-1-imidazolecarbodithioate (BPIC) also demonstrated “living”/controlled features with the experimented maximum molecular weight 312?500 g/mol (M_w/M_n = 1.57). The possible initiation mechanism of the thermal polymerization was discussed.     

The miscibility of polyacrylates and polymethacrylates with PVC: In situ polymerization and the miscibility of poly(methyl acrylate) and poly(ethyl acrylate) with PVC

The in situ polymerization of vinyl chloride with various polyacrylates and polymethacrylates has been studied. The products were examined by dynamic mechanical analysis. Poly(methyl acrylate) and poly(ethyl acrylate) had previously produced two-phase blends with poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) by solvent casting, but poly(ethyl acrylate) was shown to be miscible with PVC when blends were produced by in situ polymerization. Poly(methyl acrylate) and poly(octyl acrylate) were found to be immiscible with PVC whereas other polyacrylates and polymethacrylates with intermediate ester group concentrations were found to be miscible, confirming previous studies. The glass transition temperatures of the blends were measured and the deviations from the expected mean of the two base polymers were calculated as an indication of the strength of interaction between the polymers. The polymers having intermediate ester group concentrations showed the strongest interactions and the results correlated well with previously measured interaction parameters.     

Preparation and characterization of composite resin by vinyl chloride grafted onto poly(BA-EHA)/poly(MMA-St)

Crosslinked poly(butyl acrylate-co-2-ethylhexyl acrylate)/poly(methyl methacrylate-co-styrene) (ACR I) latex was synthesized by multi-stage emulsion polymerization. A series of grafting vinyl chloride (VC) composite latices were prepared by emulsion copolymerization in the presence of core-shell ACR I latex. The effects of ACR I amount and its core/shell ratio on particle diameters of the composite latices and mechanical properties of the prepared materials were investigated. The grafting efficiency (GE) of VC grafted onto ACR I increases with an increasing ACR I content. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) study indicates that ACR I latex particles have a regular core-shell structure obviously. However, when styrene content in the shell of ACR I is more than 70 percent of the shell by weight, ACR I latex particles have an irregular core-shell morphology like sandwich. The composite latex particles synthesized by core-shell ACR I latex grafting VC have a clear three-layered core-shell structure. Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) study reveals that the compatibility between ACR I and PVC is well improved. With increasing ACR I content, the loss peak in low temperature range for every composite sample becomes stronger and stronger and gradually shifts to a higher temperature. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) graphs showed that the fractured surface of the composite sample exhibited better toughness of the material. TEM graphs showed that ACR I was uniformly dispersed in the PVC matrix.     

聚乙二醇存在下苯乙烯/甲基丙烯酸甲酯无皂乳液聚合体系的动态表面张力

利用最大泡压法（MBPM）研究了苯乙烯（St）/甲基丙烯酸甲酯（MMA）在有、无聚乙二醇（PEG）水溶液中进行无皂乳液聚合过程中的动态表面张力变化。发现PEG使体系反应速率变慢,反应50 min,有PEG参与的体系转化率只有49%,而无PEG参与的体系转化率已达到98%以上,接近终点。St/MMA和引发剂形成的聚合物在PEG的作用下,形成了一种具有更强表面活性的聚合物,表面活性水平高于PEG以及无PEG参与聚合体系的聚合物,但弱于混合单体及齐聚物。这种较强表面活性的聚合物在转化率只有5%的时候就已经存在,是聚合物进入粒子堆形成稳定小粒子的动力,并最终使粒子带有足够脱离粒子堆的表面电荷。     

Living radical dispersion photopolymerization of styrene by a reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) agent

In this study, an addition-fragmentation chain transfer agent bearing dithioester group is synthesized and applied to conventional dispersion photopolymerization of styrene in ethanol medium in the presence of poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) stabilizer with varying amounts of the RAFT agent and optionally with conventional initiator, azobisisobutyronitril (AIBN) at various temperatures. Monomer conversion, molecular weight evolution, polydispersity index (PDI), and final particle sizes are measured. The PDI of the formed polymer is between 1.5 and 2.5 in the presence of RAFT agent. Higher concentration of RAFT agent or elevated temperature leads to the acceleration of the polymerization rate resulting in fast conversion, and reducing molecular weight and PDI. Stable polystyrene beads above 1 μm in diameter are successfully prepared by means of RAFT method applied in dispersion polymerization. The weight average particle sizes are between 1.08 and 2.04 μm, and the uniformity (D_w/D_n) is ranged from 1.26 to 2.51.     

Comparison of reaction kinetics and gelation behaviors in atom transfer, reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer and conventional free radical copolymerization of oligo(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate and oligo(ethylene glycol) dimethacrylate

The reaction kinetics and gelation behavior in atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP), reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT), and conventional free radical copolymerizations (FRP) of oligo(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (OEGMEMA) and oligo(ethylene glycol) dimethacrylates (OEGDMAs) were investigated and compared with respect to the polymerization rate, gel point, and the evolution of network with vinyl conversion. All the three systems experienced autoacceleration in the reaction rate but occurred at different regions of vinyl conversion, caused by diffusion-controlled radical reactions: termination in the FRP, addition in the RAFT, and deactivation in the ATRP, respectively. In the FRP, significant amount of gel materials was collected by solvent extraction far before the onset of macro-gelation detected by an abrupt increase in complex viscosity. However, in the RAFT and ATRP, no gels were found until the systems approached their macro-gelation points. The observation suggests limited intramolecular crosslinking/cyclization reactions in the ATRP and RAFT systems. This is because the slow growth of primary chains (ATRP and RAFT in hours versus FRP in seconds) allowed adequate chain relaxation and diffusion of reacting species. The gel materials thus synthesized by ATRP and RAFT are expected to be more homogeneous in network structure than that by FRP.     

Synthesis of hybrid TiO2 nanoparticles with well-defined poly(methyl methacrylate) and poly(tert-butyldimethylsilyl methacrylate) via the RAFT process

Surface of titania nanoparticles (TiO₂) was modified by a coupling agent as 3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate (MPS) to form TiO₂-MPS polymerizable particles. Methyl methacrylate (MMA) and tert-butyldimethylsilyl methacrylate (MASi) were radically polymerized through the immobilized vinyl bond on the surface in the presence of the reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) agent 2-cyanoprop-2-yl dithiobenzoate using 2,2′-azobisisobutylnitrile (AIBN) as an initiator. FTIR spectroscopy confirmed the presence of the coupling molecule and the methacrylate groups on the surface. Thermogravimetric analysis and elemental analysis revealed a surface coverage of the coupling molecule of 2.0 wt%. TGA measurements showed that grafted PMMA and PMASi were accounted for 10% and 4.8% of the particle mass, respectively. ¹H NMR and SEC were used to verify the livingness of the polymerization. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to study the morphology of the particles before and after the surface grafting.     

Block copolymerization of poly(ethylene glycol) and methyl acrylate using potassium diperiodatocuprate(III)

Block copolymers of methyl acrylate (MA) and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) have been obtained using a novel redox system—potassium diperiodatocuprate(III)[DPC]/PEG system in alkaline aqueous medium. Block copolymers with a high percentage of blocking were obtained, which indicated that the DPC/PEG redox system was an efficient initiator for this blocking. Effects of different conditions (concentration of reactants, temperature, concentration of the DPC, and reaction time) on the total conversion, percentage of blocking, and intrinsic viscosity were examined. The effects of different monomers and various PEGs with different molecular weight on the total conversion were also examined. A mechanism is proposed to explain the generation of radicals and the initiation of block compolymerization. Some basic properties of the block copolymers were also studied by thermogravimetry and scanning electron microscope. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 96: 2139–2145, 2005     

Calorimetric study on the influence of the nature of the RAFT agent and the initiator in ab initio aqueous heterophase polymerization

Experimental results regarding reaction rate profiles and final latex and polymer properties are presented for combinations of four different RAFT agents [benzyl dithioacetate (BDA), benzyl dithiobenzoate (BDB), 1-phenyl ethyl dithiobenzoate (PhEDB), and cumyl dithiobenzoate (CDB)] and three types of initiators [potassium peroxodisulfate (KPS), 4,4′-azobis (4-cyanopentanoic acid) (ACPA), and poly(ethylene glycol)-azo-initiator (PEGA200)]. It was found out that at given type of RAFT agent the type of initiator has a strong influence on the reaction rate profiles as well as on both the molecular properties of the polymers and the colloidal properties of the latexes. Among the RAFT agents tested BDA is the most efficient one regarding the control of chain growth.     

Miscibility of C60-end-capped poly(ethylene oxide) with poly(vinyl chloride)

The miscibility of blends of single [60]fullerene (C₆₀)-end-capped poly(ethylene oxide) (FPEO) or double C₆₀-end-capped poly(ethylene oxide) (FPEOF) with poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) has been studied. Similar to poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO), both FPEO and FPEOF are also miscible with PVC over the entire composition range. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy showed the development of a new low-binding-energy Cl2p doublet and a new high-binding-energy O1s peak in FPEO/PVC blends. The results show that the miscibility between FPEO and PVC arises from hydrogen bonding interaction between the α-hydrogen of PVC and the ether oxygen of FPEO. From the melting point depression of PEO, FPEO or FPEOF in the blends, the Flory-Huggins interaction parameters were found to be −0.169, −0.142, −0.093 for PVC/PEO, PVC/FPEO and PVC/FPEOF, respectively, demonstrating that all the three blend systems are miscible in the melt. However, the incorporation of C₆₀ slightly impairs the interaction between PEO and PVC.