Mesomorphic behavior of polydiethylphosphazenes as described by13C,14N, and2H NMR

The existence of mesomorphism in polydiethylphosphazene was recently established by MAS NMR and X-ray diffraction characterization. In the present work the mechanism of motion of the ethyl side groups in the high-temperature polymorph tabove 45 C) is identified and compared to the arrangement of side groups in the low-temperature polymorph. For this purpose a few NMR active nuclei (¹³C,¹⁴N, and²H) were exploited to define the side-chain motions occurring at transition. Experiments performed at varying temperatures close to the onset of solid transition suggest the presence of jumps between two conformations in the pretransition state. Rotor-synchronized triple-resonance NMR of the high-temperature phase determined the average distances between the carbons and the nitrogens in the polymorphs. The theoretical prediction of the dipolar interaction between the nuclei supports the hypothesis that ethyl groups can undergo a complete rotation about the P CH₂ bond by jumping across a conformational barrier. The mechanism of motion of the ethyl groups must be cooperative and the collapse of the rigid shell around the main chain is described at the transition.Presented at the 1st Italian Workshop on Cyclo- and Poly (phosphazene) Materials. February 15 16, 1996, at the CNR Research Area in Padova, Italy.     

Effect of the isotopic composition of lithium carriers on the ionic conductivity of lanthanum lithium titanate ceramic

The ionic conductivity of the solid electrolyte La_{2/3 − x} Li_3x TiO₃ at temperatures 20–600°C with different isotopic composition of the lithium current carriers is measured. It is shown that it has two components — low-and high-temperature — with very different activation energies. NMR on ⁷Li nuclei is used to measure the spin-lattice relaxation rate of the carriers. It is determined that the activation energies of short-and long-range carrier motion are the same at temperatures 20–500°C and are sharply different at higher temperatures. The effect of the concentration of cationic vacancies on the motion of carriers with different isotopic composition is investigated. __________ Translated from Steklo i Keramika, No. 7, pp. 31–34, July, 2007.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Poly[bis(ethyl salicylate)phosphazenes] and Poly[bis(ethyl salicylate diethylamino)phosphazenes] and Their Hydrolytic Degradation

The polydichlorophosphazenes were synthesized from hexachlorocyclotriphosphazenes by ring opening polymerization in the presence of AlCl₃ as a catalyst. Poly[bis(ethyl salicylate)phosphazenes] (PESP) and poly[bis(ethyl salicylate diethylamino)phosphazenes] (PESDEAP) were synthesized via macromolecular substitution reactions using ethyl salicylate and (or) diethylamine as side groups. The synthesis results were proved by nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H NMR, and ³¹P NMR) and gel permeation chromatography. In addition, the hydrolytic degradation of PESP and PESDEAP was investigated at constant temperature in neutral medium.     

Ring opening reactions of glycidyl methacrylate copolymers to introduce bulky organosilicon side chain substituents

Summary Glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) random copolymers with methyl acrylate (MA), ethyl acrylate (EA), n-butyl acrylate (BA), methyl methacrylate (MMA), ethyl methacrylate (EMA) and n-butyl methacrylate (BMA) were synthesized by solution free radical polymerizations, at 70±1 °C using α,α’-azobis(isobutyronitrile) as an initiator to give the copolymers I – VI in good yields. The copolymer compositions were obtained using related ¹H NMR spectra and the polydispersity indices of the copolymers determined using gel permeation chromatography (GPC). Tris(trimethylsilyl)methyl (Tsi=trisyl) groups were then covalently attached to the obtained copolymers as side chains by ring opening reaction between excess of TsiLi and expoxide groups of GMA units to give the copolymers I_Tsi – VI_Tsi in good yields. In the coupling reaction, the TsiLi reacted selectively with the epoxy groups of the backbone polymer rather than with the carbonyl groups of the backbone. This method of preparing functionalized silanes is limited by the readiness with which TsiLi abstracts a proton, if one is available, rather than attacks at carbon. In addition in the reaction with epoxides, the product alkoxide can transfer a silyl group from carbon to oxygen or ring opening polymerization. However these were shown not to occur at the conditions of interest here. The epoxy group possesses a higher reactivity for the TsiLi than the ester and chloromethyl groups. The ring opening reaction between the epoxy group and the TsiLi is simple and fast. All the resulted polymers were characterized by FT-IR and ¹H NMR spectroscopic techniques. The glass transition temperature (Tg) of all copolymers was determined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) apparatus. All the polymers containing trisyl groups showed a high glass transition temperature in comparison with unmodified copolymers (I – VI). Attaching the tris(trimethylsilyl)methyl group to macromolecular chain should lead to important modifications of polymer properties such as gas permeability and perm selectivity parameters.     

Photopolymer: synthesis and characterization of poly(4‐methacryloyloxyphenyl‐4′‐chlorostyryl ketone)

Methacrylate monomer containing a photodimerizable α,β‐unsaturated ketone moiety was prepared and polymerized in ethyl methyl ketone at 70 °C using benzoyl peroxide as an initiator. The polymer was characterized by UV, IR, ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR spectra. The molecular weights (M _w and M _n) of the polymer were determined by gel permeation chromotography. The thermal stability of the polymer was measured by thermogravimetric analysis in air and nitrogen. The glass transition temperature of the polymer was determined by differential scanning calorimetry. The photo reactivity of the polymer was investigated as thin film and in solution. © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry     

Synthesis,characterization, and thermal degradation of novel poly(2‐(5‐bromo benzofuran‐2‐yl)‐2‐oxoethyl methacrylate)

A novel methacrylate monomer containing benzofuran side group, 2‐(5‐bromo benzofuran‐2‐yl)‐2‐oxoethyl methacrylate (BOEMA), was synthesized from esterification reaction of 2‐bromo‐1‐(5‐bromo benzofuran‐2‐yl) ethanone with sodium methacrylate at 85°C in the presence of 1,4‐dioxane solvent. After characterization with Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometer, nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H‐NMR and ¹³C‐NMR), its homopolymerization was carried out by free radical polymerization at 60°C in the presence of benzoyl peroxide initiator and 1,4‐dioxane solvent. The glass transition temperature (T_g) of the synthesized novel polymer, poly(2‐(5‐bromo benzofuran‐2‐yl)‐2‐oxoethyl methacrylate) [poly(BOEMA)], was determined to be 137°C with differential scanning calorimetry technique. Thermal degradation kinetics of poly(BOEMA) was investigated by thermogravimetric analysis method at different heating rates with 5°C/min intervals between measurements. From dynamic measurements, the analysis of each process mechanism of Coats–Redfern and Van Krevelen methods showed that the most probable model for the decomposition process of poly(BOEMA) homopolymer agrees with the random nucleation, F₁ mechanism. The apparent decomposition activation energies of poly(BOEMA) by Kissinger's and Flynn–Wall–Ozawa methods in the studied conversion range were 188.47 and 180.13 kJ/mol, respectively. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2012. © 2011 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Synthesis and characterization of hyperbranched poly(silyl ester)s

Hyperbranched poly(silyl ester)s were synthesized via the A₂ + B₄ route by the polycondensation reaction. The solid poly(silyl ester) was obtained by the reaction of di‐tert‐butyl adipate and 1,3‐tetramethyl‐1,3‐bis‐β(methyl‐dicholorosilyl)ethyl disiloxane. The oligomers with tert‐butyl terminal groups were obtained via the A₂ + B₂ route by the reaction of 1,5‐dichloro‐1,1,5,5‐tetramethyl‐3,3‐diphenyl‐trisi1oxane with excess amount of di‐tert‐butyl adipate. The viscous fluid and soft solid poly(silyl ester)s were obtained by the reaction of the oligomers as big monomers with 1,3‐tetramethyl‐1,3‐bis‐β(methyl‐dicholorosilyl)ethyl disiloxane. The polymers were characterized by ¹H NMR, IR, and UV spectroscopies, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The ¹H NMR and IR analysis proved the existence of the branched structures in the polymers. The glass transition temperatures (T_g's) of the viscous fluid and soft solid polymers were below room temperature. The T_g of the solid poly(silyl ester) was not found below room temperature but a temperature for the transition in the liquid crystalline phase was found at 42°C. Thermal decomposition of the soft solid and solid poly(silyl ester)s started at about 130°C and for the others it started at about 200°C. The obtained hyperbranched polymers did not decompose completely at 700°C. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 101: 3430–3436, 2006     

Reversible cross-linking reactions of alkoxyamine-appended polymers under bulk conditions for transition between flow and rubber-like states

Reversible cross-linking reactions of alkoxyamine-appended polymers with low glass transition temperature (T_g) were successfully carried out under bulk conditions. The low-T_g polymers with alkoxyamine units in the side chains were synthesised by radical copolymerisation of 2-ethylhexyl acrylate and two kinds of alkoxyamine-containing acrylate monomers. By heating the low-T_g polymers under bulk conditions at 100 °C, cross-linked polymers were formed by radical exchange reactions between alkoxyamine units, and a transition from a liquid-like flowable polymer state to a rubber-like polymer state was confirmed. A de-cross-linking reaction was also accomplished by radical exchange reactions between the cross-linked polymers and an added alkoxyamine-containing small molecule or stable nitroxyl radical, which resulted in transition to the flowable state again. The structural transition between low-T_g linear polymers and cross-linked polymers were characterised by ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, rheology measurement, swelling experiment, and gel permeation chromatography measurement.     

Synthesis and characterization of thermosensitive poly(organophosphazene) gels with an amino functional group

Thermosensitive poly(organophosphazene) gels have been synthesized with a host of side groups, including α‐amino‐ω‐methoxy‐poly(ethylene glycol), hydrophobic amino acid esters (PheOEt, LeuOEt, and IleuOEt), depsipeptide ethyl ester (GlyGlycOEt), and lysine ethyl ester (lysOEt). The fraction of the last side group, lysOEt, which possesses two amine functional groups, was designed to be in the range of 0.1–0.3 mol per polymer unit. The poly(organophosphazenes) have been characterized via ¹H‐ and ³¹P‐NMR spectroscopies, GPC, and elemental analysis. The phase transition behavior of the poly(organophosphazenes) in aqueous solution has been determined via viscometry. Some of the poly(organophosphazenes) with amino functional groups exhibit reversible sol–gel transitions at temperatures near those of the human body, when in aqueous solution. These polymers form a sol at lower temperatures, and become gels at higher temperatures. Also, these polymer solutions have been found to behave generally like Newtonian fluids in the sol state, but appear to exhibit pseudoplastic qualities in the gel state. The polymers possessing depsipeptide ethyl esters (ethyl‐2‐(O‐glycyl)glycolate) as a side group tend to exhibit much higher degradation rates under physiological conditions than do those which lack the depsipeptide ethyl ester group. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 120:998–1005, 2011     

Crystal structure,electrical and magnetic properties of anion-deficient perovskite-like Ba3SmFe2O7.5

Anion-deficient perovskite-like Ba₃SmFe₂O_7.5 was prepared using a glycerol–nitrate synthesis. Using high-temperature X-ray diffraction in situ a crystal structure transition temperature range 800 and 840 °C was established. These results were further confirmed by high-temperature dilatometric analysis. The average thermal expansion coefficient (TEC) of Ba₃SmFe₂O_7.5 is about 12.8 × 10⁻⁶ K⁻¹ between 25 °C and 800 °C. Magnetic experiments proved an excellent phase purity of the oxide and reveal that Fe³⁺ ions stay in high and intermediate spin states in a ratio of 75% and 25% respectively.     

Poly(alkyl itaconates): 8. Observations of dual glass transitions and crystallinity in the dialkyl ester series diheptyl to di-eicosyl

A series of poly(di-n-alkyl itaconic acid esters) with side chain lengths from 7 to 20 carbon atoms have been prepared. For derivatives with chain lengths of 7 to 11 carbons, two glass transition temperatures have been detected. The transition occurring at the lower temperature T²_g originates in the side groups and is a result of the independent cooperative relaxation of the alkyl side chains, while that observed at higher temperatures T¹_g reflects the glass-rubber transition of the main chain backbone and the cooperative motion of the total molecule. Derivatives with chain lengths ?12 carbon atoms display melting temperatures T_m, and measurement of the enthalpy of fusion ΔH_f indicates that side chain crystallization takes place with part of each side chain entering into a regularly packed hexagonal lattice.     

Raman spectroscopy of the polymorphic forms and liquid state of cocoa butter

Raman spectroscopy was used to characterize the polymorphs and liquid state of cocoa butter, with emphasis placed on the evolution of the ester carbonyl stretching region (1800–1700 cm^?1), along with complementary analysis and comparison of the Raman‐active C? C (1200–1000 cm^?1), C?C (1660 cm^?1), C? H (3000–2700 cm^?1) and CH₂ (1500–1250 cm^?1) vibrational modes. Unique Raman signatures were obtained for all cocoa butter polymorphs, with their identity confirmed using DSC and XRD. The ester carbonyl region permitted polymorph discrimination due to differences in the number of modes, their relative frequencies and their full‐widths at half‐maximum. The C? C stretching modes, which provided insight into the trans/gauche content, were polymorph‐independent. C? H stretching generally increased with polymorph stability, indicating the dominance of antisymmetric C? H methylene vibrations as the cocoa butter crystal lattice became more ordered. The change in the intensities of the C? H stretching bands used to probe the order–disorder transition of forms IV, V and VI hinted at pre‐melt structural changes mostly in forms IV and V. Overall, Raman spectroscopy clearly demonstrated that the different functional groups studied could be characterized independently, allowing for the understanding of their role in cocoa butter polymorphism. Practical applications : Fat bloom is the unwanted, uncontrolled re‐crystallization or polymorphic transition of CB form V crystals into form VI normally caused by the migration of lower‐melting fats (e.g. in centre‐filled products) and/or temperature fluctuations during storage. In its mildest form, it appears as an overall dulling of the chocolate surface. In its extreme form, the appearance of the chocolate deteriorates significantly with the development of distinct white patches. Though forms V and VI can be clearly distinguished via XRD, we present evidence that Raman spectral characterization of the ester carbonyl stretching (1800–1700 cm^?1), C? C (1200–1000 cm^?1), C?C (1660 cm^?1), C? H (3000–2700 cm^?1) and CH₂ (1500–1250 cm^?1) vibrational modes yields distinct liquid–solid and polymorph‐dependent differences in CB. From a practical standpoint, the unique signatures associated with forms V and VI offer novel possibilities in the study of fat bloom formation, such as the development of predictive tools.     

Synthesis and characterization of UV‐curable acrylic resin containing fluorine groups

A novel fluorine‐containing acrylic resin, 4‐trifluoromethylphenyl glycerol dimethacrylate (TPGD), was synthesized and the structure was characterized by FTIR, ¹³C NMR, ¹H NMR, and ¹⁹F NMR spectroscopy. The conversion of cure reaction, thermal stability, glass transition temperature (T_g), and electrical properties of the TPGD acrylic resin cured with UV radiation were investigated. The thermal stability and T_g of the UV‐cured specimens show a maximum value at 1 wt% photoinitiator, due to the formation of advanced network structures. The cured specimens had a relatively low dielectric constant, attributed to the decreased deformation polarizability of segment motion in the fluorine‐containing resin. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry     

Studies of thermal transition behavior in plasticized poly(vinyl butyral-co-vinyl alcohol) with solid-state NMR and thermal analysis techniques

Samples of plasticized poly(vinyl butyral-co-vinyl alcohol) (PVB) are found to exhibit multiple thermal transitions as observed by dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Arrhenius plots using DSC and DMA data suggest that two of the transitions are glass-type ones. Variable temperature solid-state ¹³C-NMR experiments show a temperature-dependent line-broadening pattern for all PVB backbone carbons with maximum broadening at 55°C or at about 50°C above the second-order-type transitions α₁ and α₂ as measured by DSC. Using Arrhenius plots, the NMR transition is found to best correlate with α₁, which is consistent with glass transition behavior. The solid-state NMR spectra also show that vinyl alcohol tacticity remains unresolved up to a temperature of about 95°C, beyond which line narrowing begins to occur. High-temperature thermal transitions are also observed by DSC and DMA, which suggest that the onset of motion involving vinyl alcohol sequences may be responsible for these transitions.     

Two different reaction mechanisms of cinnamate side groups attached to the various polymer backbones

Cinnamate polymers are well known photoreactive polymers due to [2+2] cycloaddition reaction of cinnamate side group. In this work, we have found that the cinnamate side groups could be also reacted by thermal energy, and this reaction is presumed to attribute to the radical reaction of carbon double bond in the cinnamate groups. Contrary to the photocycloaddition reaction of the cinnamate side groups, the thermal reaction of cinnamate side group was closely related to the flexibility of polymer backbone. The difference of the mechanism between the photocycloaddition reaction and thermal crosslinking reaction was confirmed by ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR analysis of the model compound.     

Structural and kinetic study of phase transitions in LaYSi2O7

Phase transitions in LaYSi₂O₇ have been investigated as a function of temperature using XRD, NMR and TEM. Previously described empirical crystal structure guidelines based on average cation radius in rare-earth RE₂Si₂O₇-type disilicates predict a stable tetragonal A-LaYSi₂O₇ polymorph at temperatures below 1500 °C. This study demonstrates that A-LaYSi₂O₇ is not thermodynamically stable at these temperatures and suggests that guidelines based on average cation size do not accurately describe the equilibrium behaviour of this silicate system. The A to G-type polymorph transition is extremely sluggish; complete transformation requires ～250 h at 1200 °C, and more than 3 weeks of calcination at 1100 °C. This observation is important when this type of material is used as environmental barrier coating (EBC) of advanced ceramics. Analysis of XRD and TEM data reveal complete substitution of Y and La on the rare-earth cation sites in both LaYSi₂O₇ polymorphs, but indicate preferential site occupancies in the G-type polymorph.     

Synthesis and properties of photosensitive rubbers. IV. Photosensitive rubbers from hydroxyethyl cinnamate and polyisoprene modified with maleic anhydride

Polyisoprene in o-dichlorobenzene solution were reacted with maleic anhydride at 180°C under nitrogen atmosphere to form modified polyisoprene with α-substituted succinic anhydride groups. These groups were converted by reaction with hydroxyethyl cinnamate in pyridine at 25°C to cinnamate groups. Various amounts of cinnamate groups as photosensitive groups could be easily introduced into polyisoprene up to 75 mol % toward polyisoprene repeating units. Polymer glass transition temperatures of the products rose linearly from ?70°C for polyisoprene to 60°C with increasing amounts of the side groups. The solution viscosity of the products in chloroform decreased from 9.34 for polyisoprene to 0.77 with increasing amounts of the side groups. The photosensitivity of the polyisoprene, which is based on the photodimerization of the cinnamate groups, was higher than that of polypentenamer having cinnamate groups due to the interaction by the free carboxylic acids neighboring with the cinnamate groups. The photosensitivity of the cinnamate group was kinetically evaluated in terms of the dependence on the polymer glass transition temperature. The interaction by the free carboxylic acid groups in the polyisoprene reduced the dependence of the photosensitivity on the mobility of the polymer segments. Linear relationship between observed rate constants of the photodimerization and (T_UV ? T_g + 50)^?1 was obtained and the slope of the line changed and became very small at higher glass transition temperatures.     

Synthesis, characterization, and cyclopolymerization of a functional non-symmetric divinyl monomer

A non-symmetric divinyl monomer with terminal carboxylic acid functionality was readily synthesized from the reaction of ethyl α-hydroxymethylacrylate (EHMA) with maleic anhydride. The new monomer (EHMA-MA) was homopolymerized in both bulk and ethyl acetate using AIBN as an initiator to give cyclopolymers. The synthesis of the monomer and cyclopolymers were followed by ¹³C NMR, ¹H NMR, and FTIR. ¹H NMR was also utilized to obtain the degree of cyclization of the polymers, which were found to be 95% or higher in all cases. The molecular weights of the cyclopolymers were around 40-60,000 g/mol as estimated by SEC. The cyclopolymers were thermally stable up to 150 °C. Although the cyclopolymers obtained were not water-soluble; they were soluble in aqueous 1 M NaOH solution. In addition to the carboxylic acid functionality present, the cyclopolymers also had an ethyl ester and a lactone moiety. These functional groups were reacted with hexylamine to obtain a polymer with imide and amide moieties.     

Regioselective substitution of 2‐isocyanatoethylmethacrylate onto cellulose

Cellulose is a well‐known versatile polymer that presents a wide range of material properties via the substitution and grafting reactions of its hydroxyl groups. Because of their commercial potential, combinations of cellulose and vinyl polymers have been examined with various grafting methods. In this study, the condensation reactions of regioselective and nonregioselective substitution with 2‐isocyanatoethylmethacrylate were performed in a homogeneous solvent system of dimethyl acetamide/lithium chloride. The successful substitution was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, ¹H‐NMR, cross‐polarization/magic angle spinning ¹³C‐NMR, thermogravimetric analysis, and X‐ray diffraction. The substituted celluloses showed excellent thermal stability and a different polymorph with a depressed cellulose–intrinsic polymorphic phase. The 2‐isocyanatoethylmethacrylate side chain seemed to expand the intermolecular distance with enhanced chain mobility and trigger the formation of a novel crystalline polymorph with a dramatically improved thermal stability. This investigation provided us with a useful understanding of the modification of cellulose with spatial distribution control for advanced future applications requiring a combination of cellulose with vinyl polymers. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013     

Relaxation mechanism in several kinds of polyethylene estimated by dynamic mechanical measurements, positron annihilation, X-ray and C solid-state NMR

Relaxation processes of several kinds of polyethylene films and fibers with different molecular orientational degrees and crystallinities were extensively investigated by the dynamic mechanical relaxation, positron annihilation and ¹³C nuclear magnetic relaxation (¹³C NMR). From complex dynamic tensile modulus, the activation energies of α₁ and α₂ relaxations were determined to be 97-118 and 141-176 kJ/mol, respectively. The activation energy of β relaxation was 114-115 kJ/mol. These values were similar to those of α₁ relaxation reported already. For γ relaxation mechanisms, there existed two mechanisms, γ₁ and γ₂, the activation energies being 9-11 and 23-25 kJ/mol, respectively. The values were independent of the molecular orientation and crystallinity. The two local motions indicate that non-crystalline phase composes of two regions of non-crystalline phase, rubber-like amorphous phase and interfacial-like amorphous phase. From ¹³C NMR measurements of ¹³C longitudinal relaxation time for the non-crystalline phase, the activation energy was 20.7 kJ/mol. This value is close to the activation energy (23-25 kJ/mol) of the γ₂ relaxation estimated by the dynamic mechanical measurement. The result by ¹³C NMR did not provide two kinds of activation energy, indicating combined influence of the two correlation times. Even so, the activation energies obtained by ¹³C NMR indicated that the γ₂ relaxation mainly is due to the motion of the C-C central bond of a short segment (e.g. three to four CH₂) within interfacial-like amorphous phase. The γ and β relaxation peaks by the dynamic mechanical measurements corresponded to the first and second lifetime transition of ortho-positronium indicating, in turn, a drastic change in free volume by local mode relaxation.