Surface modification of kaolin. 2. Enhanced steric stabilisation of polymer-modified kaolin

The polymer-modified surface of kaolin was studied to determine the effect of changing the molecular weight of the polymer chain grafted on the surface. The particle was modified by attaching poly(ethylene oxide) to the surface using a urethane linkage. Upper critical flocculation temperature and contact angle measurements were conducted to quantify the changes in surface characteristics and stability in an aqueous dispersion. The effect of pH on stability and grafted density of polymer chains showed the mechanism of stabilisation to be that of enhanced steric stabilisation. The kaolin particle was also modified with the more hydrophobic poly(propylene oxide). The behaviour was characterised as for poly(ethylene oxide) and interesting differences in extent and mechanism for stabilisation were observed.     

Molecular dynamics of poly(ethylene oxide) in concentrated solution

Incoherent quasi-elastic neutron scattering measurements on aqueous poly(ethylene oxide) solutions show that as the concentration of water is increased to 1:1 mole ratio of water to ethylene oxide monomer units, the polymer chain mobility is not enhanced. Increased mobility is only observed when the water content is increased beyond this ratio. The activation energy for viscous flow shows a similar behaviour, it is unchanged as the system is diluted from the melt to the 1:1 solution and as more water is added it falls sharply. Similar studies on the system poly(ethylene oxide)/toluene show that chain mobility is enhanced and the activation energy for viscous flow falls continuously, at all concentrations. The difference is attributed to the formation of polymer-water hydrogen bonded complexes in aqueous solution. High resolution data for the aqueous systems suggest that the molecular dynamics obey the scattering law predicted for the Zimm model. In the melt the behaviour changes towards the limit given by the Rouse model.     

Some novel polysiloxane elastomers and inorganic-organic composites

This review describes the use of polysiloxanes in developing two novel types of materials. In the first approach, polysiloxane elastomers were prepared so as to have unusual network chain length distributions, thereby improving their ultimate properties. The technique involved end linking mixtures of very short and relatively long functionally terminated chains of poly(dimethylsiloxane) to give bimodal networks. Such (unfilled) elastomers show very large increases in reduced stress or modulus at high elongations because of the very limited extensibility of the short chains present in the networks. This non-Gaussian behavior also appears in compression or biaxial extension, as obtained by inflation of sheets of the material. Non-Gaussian theories taking into account this limited chain extensibility were found to be in good agreement with experiment. The composites were prepared using techniques very similar to those employed in the sol-gel pproach to ceramics. Alkoxysilanes or related metaloorganic materials were hydrolyzed in the presence of polymer chains, for example, polysiloxanes and polyoxides, that have reactive end groups such as hydroxyls. The end groups bond the polymer chains into the silica or related ceramic material formed in the hydrolysis, thus forming inorganic-organic composites. When the polymer chains are in excess, they constitute the continuous phase, with ceramic-type material appearing as reinforcing domains. When present in smaller amounts, the polymer is dispersed in the continuous ceramic phase, to give a polymer-modified ceramic. Under some conditions, bicontinuous systems are obtained. The composites thus prepared were characterized by stress-strain measurements, density determinations, differential scanning calorimetry, electron microscopy, X-ray and neutron scattering, and NMR spectroscopy.This review was presented at the Second International Topical Workshop, Advances in Silicon-Based Polymer Science.     

The chain extension of anionic prepolymers in the preparation of aqueous poly(urethane–urea) dispersions

Anionic polyurethane prepolymers end‐capped with isocyanate groups were dispersed and chain‐extended in aqueous media using three different extension agents: hydrazine, 1,2‐ethylene diamine (EDA) and 1,2‐propylene diamine (PDA). Two types of prepolymer were used. The first was prepared from isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI), α,α‐dimethylol propionic acid (DMPA) and poly(propylene oxide) diol (PPO) and the second from α,α,α′,α′‐tetramethyl‐1,3‐xylylene diisocyanate (m‐TMXDI), poly(caprolactone) diol (PCL) and DMPA. The colloidal particles which formed in the dispersion process and the constituent poly(urethane–urea) chains were characterised by a combination of dynamic and static light scattering, gel permeation chromatography and FTIR spectroscopy. Using EDA as the extender, a study was made of how the degree of extension depended on the molar ratio of amine to isocyanate groups, [NH₂]/[NCO] (= R_{A, I}). It was found that using a stoichiometric balance of isocyanate and amine groups did not lead to high degree of extension, and better chain extension was obtained at lower R_{A, I} values. In a comparative study using stoichiometric balances of isocyanate and amine groups, the degrees of extension obtained using PDA and EDA were approximately the same, while hydrazine was the least effective. Force–extension studies were carried out on samples prepared from films cast from the aqueous poly(urethane–urea) dispersions in order to assess the influence of chain‐extender type and stoichiometry on bulk properties; values of Young's modulus, tensile strength and maximum extension are reported. Copyright © 2003 Society of Chemical Industry     

Experimental tests of entanglement models of rubber elasticity: 1. Uniaxial extension-compression

The predictions of several entanglement models of rubber elasticity for the uniaxial stress-strain response of crosslinked polymer networks are examined. It is found that the Gaylord tube model and the Flory constrained junction fluctuation model both agree well with the experimental data.     

Properties of CO2 copolymers with heterocyclic monomers

Basic properties of poly(propylene carbonate) and poly(propylene urethane) were estimated by means of additive methods. The properties estimated for the former polymer—an alternating CO²/propylene oxide copolymer—were compared with those determined experimentally. Properties of poly(styrene carbonate)—an alternating CO²/styrene oxide copolymer—were estimated and confronted with those of poly(4,4′-isopropylidene diphenylene carbonate) produced commercially.     

Deuterium magnetic resonance studies on strained selectively deuterated elastomers

The lineshape analysis of the ²H nuclear magnetic resonance of uniaxially strained poly(1,4-butadiene) networks deuterated homogeneously and selectively at network junctions shows that the orientation of chain segments attached to crosslinks is larger than the average segmental orientation. In addition, it is shown that the molecular effective extension ratio of all elastically effective chains is smaller than the macroscopic extension ratio, and short chains are stretched to a higher extent than long chains. The deviation from the affine deformation behaviour and the onset of inhomogeneous deformation of individual chains takes place at the transition from the Gaussian to the non-Gaussian network. In the Gaussian regime the segmental orientation varies with the inverse of the molecular weight of elastically effective chains in agreement with molecular theories of rubber elasticity. ²H n. m. r. spectra of a thermoplastic poly(styrene-b-butadiene-b-styrene) block copolymer carrying selectively deuterated butadiene segments at the block boundaries reveal an enhanced mobility of these segments under deformation. ²H n. m. r. experiments on amorphous segmented polyurethanes selectively deuteratured in hard and soft segments, respectively, show that the elasticity in these samples is achieved by physical crosslinks formed by very small highly mobile aggregates of hard segments dispersed in the soft phase. Within the hard domains two processes for motion due to phenyl groups in 4. 4'-methylenebis(phenylisocyanate) units and CH₂ groups in 1. 4-butanediol units can be discriminated.     

Urethane foams from animal fats. II. Reaction of propylene oxide with fatty acids

Propylene oxide has been reacted with 9,10-dihydroxystearic acid to form polyol components for urethane foams. The alkali-catalyzed reaction proceeds slowly until the first mole of propylene oxide is absorbed and thereafter at a higher rate. For other substrates, the initial reaction proceeds most readily with alcohols and decreases in speed with increasing acidity of the hydroxyl group. Threo-anderythro-9,10-dihydroxystearic acids were reacted with approximately 1, 2, 4, 6 and 8 moles of propylene oxide. Both series of the resulting polyols were liquid, unlike corresponding oxyethylated derivatives, which were solids in theerythro series. A small amount of unsaturation was observed in the reaction products in accord with previous studies. The liquid polyols can be used conveniently in the preparation of rigid urethane foams.     

Elasticity behavior of swollen polyurethane networks

A series of polyurethane networks were prepared by reacting MDI (4,4′-diphenylmethane diisocyanate) with various mixtures of poly(oxyethylene) end-capped poly(oxypropylene) triol and diol. The uniaxial compressive properties of the polyurethane networks both in equilibrium swelling in toluene and in a dried state were measured at 27 °C. The compressive stress-strain data were analyzed according to equations based on the Gaussian theory of elasticity. Deviations from the Gaussian behavior were observed; however, as the polyether diol content increased, deviations from the Gaussian behavior decreased. The interaction parameters between the polyurethane networks and toluene at an equilibrium state were analyzed by the Flory-Huggins equation. As the polyether diol content increased, the interaction parameter, χ, increased due to the increasing content of the poly(oxyethylene) unit and urethane group concentration. With increasing polyether diol content, polyurethane networks approached phantom behavior more closely.     

Synthesis and properties of unsaturated polyester diol–polyurethane hybrid polymer network

This article deals with the synthesis and properties of poly[(propylene glycol maleate)-co-(propylene glycol phthalate)] diol (PGMPD)/polyester–urethane or polyether–urethane hybrid polymer networks (HPNs). The polyurethane type and the molar ratio of NCO/OH have an effect on their properties. The structure–property relationship is discussed as well. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Structure–property relationships of poly(urethane‐urea)s with ultralow monol content poly(propylene glycol) soft segments. III. influence of mixed soft segments of ultralow monol poly(propylene glycol), poly(tetramethylene ether glycol), and tri(propylene glycol)

Recent advances in the catalyst technology associated with the production of poly(propylene glycol) (PPG) have allowed for the fabrication of ultralow monol content PPG macrodiols (Acclaim? polyols), which are highly bifunctional and can be produced in substantially higher molecular weights and with narrower molecular weight distributions than previously possible. These factors have enabled the preparation of higher value elastomers and may allow for the first manufacture of economically attractive PPG‐based poly(urethane‐urea) (PUU) fibers. In the past, many performance polyurethane and PUU elastomers used poly(tetramethylene ether glycol) (PTMEG) for the soft segments either alone or in combination with other macrodiols. The work presented here details the investigation of the morphological features of PUU systems with mixed soft segments of PPG, PTMEG, and a low molecular analog of PPG, tri(propylene glycol) (TPG) in an effort to ascertain the influence of structural features on the mechanical and thermal properties of the elastomers. Also of interest was whether the incorporation of PPG and TPG would either prohibit or greatly hinder the formation of strain‐induced PTMEG crystallites. It was found that, even when only 60 wt % of the soft segments consisted of PTMEG, those soft segments were still able to undergo recognizable strain‐induced crystallization as detected by wide‐angle X‐ray scattering. It was also seen that, as the ratio of PPG to PTMEG was varied, there were systematic changes in the soft segment glass transition and cold crystallization characteristics. Inclusion of PPG and TPG resulted in PTMEG's diminished ability to undergo cold and strain‐induced crystallization, as seen with differential scanning calorimetry and wide‐angle X‐ray scattering. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 89: 3520–3529, 2003     

Preparation and properties of poly(urethane acrylate) films for ultraviolet‐curable coatings

Four different UV‐curable poly(urethane acrylate)s were prepared through the reaction of two diisocyanates [i.e., toluene‐2,4‐diisocyanate (TDI) and isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI)] and two polyols [i.e., polycaprolactone triol (PCLT) and polycaprolactone diol (PCLD)], and they were characterized with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The mechanical properties, thermal properties, and water sorption of the cured poly(urethane acrylate)s were also investigated with respect to the chemical structures of the polyols and diisocyanates. In comparison with linear PCLD–TDI and PCLD–IPDI, crosslinked PCLT–TDI and PCLT–IPDI with trifunctional PCLT showed relatively high thermal decomposition temperatures. The hardness and modulus of the UV‐cured poly(urethane acrylate) films, which were measured by a nanoindentation technique, were in the following increasing order: PCLD–IPDI ～ PCLD–TDI < PCLT–IPDI ～ PCLT–TDI. The pencil hardness was 3H for PCLT–IPDI and PCLT–TDI and HB for PCLD–IPDI and PCLD–TDI. Two urethane acrylates prepared from the trifunctional polyol showed better acid and alkali resistances than those made from the bifunctional polyol. These mechanical properties and chemical resistances may have been strongly dependent on the chain flexibility of the molecules and crosslinking density. Regardless of the functionality in the polyol, the change in the yellowness index showed a lower value in the poly(urethane acrylate) coating containing the aliphatic diisocyanate IPDI in comparison with the corresponding poly(urethane acrylate) with the aromatic diisocyanate TDI. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010     

Processing temperature dependent mechanical response of a thermoplastic elastomer with low hard segment

The mechanical responses including monotonic and cyclic tensile responses have been investigated on a microphase-separated poly (styrene-isoprene-styrene) triblock copolymer (SIS). The specimens were injection-molded by using different melt temperatures to acquire different microphase structures. As a result of temperature-dependent segregation driving force, the specimens with reduced microphase separation can be obtained by increasing processing melt temperature from 180 °C to 240 °C. On the basis of stress-strain behavior, Young's modulus was found to increase with increasing PS domain continuity in the order of disorder state to disordered spheres to body-cubic-centered (BCC) spheres to oriented cylinders morphology. Meanwhile, cyclic hysteresis decreases with reduced microphase separation and with decreasing the applied predetermined maximum tensile strain. In addition, the Mooney–Rivlin phenomenological approach was used to evaluate and explore the relationship between the polymer topological networks and the rubber elasticity of thermoplastic elastomers.     

Synthesis,aggregation and adsorption behaviour of a thermoresponsive pentablock copolymer

Poly(ethylene oxide)–poly(propylene oxide)–poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO–PPO–PEO) triblock copolymer (Pluronic F127) was modified by introducing poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) at both the PEO ends, and the pentablock copolymer (PNIPAM₄₁–F127–PNIPAM₄₁, PN41) so prepared was characterized using gel permeation chromatography and ¹H NMR spectroscopy. The degree of polymerization of NIPAM blocks at the two ends was 41. The solution behaviour and microstructure of PN41 aggregates in water were examined using UV–visible spectroscopy, micro‐differential scanning calorimetry and small‐angle neutron scattering (SANS) and compared with F127. Two lower critical solution temperatures (LCSTs) were observed for the pentablock copolymer, corresponding to PPO and PNIPAM blocks, respectively. The adsorption of PN41 on thiol‐grafted hydrophobic gold surfaces at various temperatures was investigated using a quartz crystal microbalance. It was found that the adsorption behaviour and mechanism of PN41 were mainly determined by the interactions of the pentablock copolymers with different chain conformations in dilute aqueous solutions at various temperatures. SANS measurements were used to determine the temperature‐dependent structural evolution of polymer micelles in aqueous solution. A NOESY study revealed that above the LSCT of PNIPAM, the interaction of PPO and PNIPAM protons increases and the distance between PPO and PNIPAM decreases. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry     

Hydrolytic resistance of model poly(ether urethane ureas) and poly(ester urethane ureas)

Poly(ester urethane ureas) (PesURUs) and poly(ether urethane ureas) (PetURUs) synthesized from diphenylmethane-4,4′-diisocyanate and poly(butylene adipate) diol, and poly(tetramethylene oxide) diol or poly(propylene oxide) diol, respectively, were hydrolyzed at 70°C for various periods up to 16 weeks. Differences in thermal and mechanical properties of as-received dry samples are correlated with the number and strength of hydrogen bonds formed between urea/urethane groups of hard segments and polyester or polyether groups of soft segments. Gel permeation chromatography measurements show that the molar mass of linear PesURUs markedly decreases with the hydrolysis time, whereas that of linear PetURUs remains almost unaffected. PesURU crosslinked by polymeric isocyanate has lower crystallinity, but shows somewhat better resistance to hydrolysis than its linear counterpart because of its more stable three-dimensional molecular structure. Water uptake at 37°C, dynamic mechanical thermal analysis, and differential scanning calorimetry thermograms determined for redried hydrolyzed specimens concurrently show that advancing hydrolysis accounts for decrease in the crystallinity (if any) of soft polyester segments, in the efficacy of hydrogen bonding and in crosslinking density. Experimental data indicate that hydrolytic resistance of PetURUs is primarily determined by (1) the hydrolytic stability of individual types of present groups, (2) steric hindrances affecting the access of water molecules to these groups, and (3) the hydrophilicity of backbones. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 70: 577–586, 1998     

Ionic transport behavior in poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(propylene oxide)-poly(ethylene oxide) and LiClO4 complex

The effect of LiClO₄ on the ionic transport behavior in poly(ethylene oxide)₂₀-poly(propylene oxide)₇₀-poly(ethylene oxide)₂₀ (P123) polymer electrolyte was studied. Its conductivity reaches maximum as molar ratio between ether O atoms and lithium ions [n(O)/n(Li)] equals 8. The results show that LiClO₄ could interact with P123 well and has impacts on polymer organization and chain dynamics. As LiClO₄ concentration decreases, the glass transition temperature (T_g) decreases and the free ion percentage increases. The tendency of conductivity with LiClO₄ concentration is the result of competing effects between polymer chain mobility and free charge carrier concentration.     

Solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance of the PA6/PC,PA6/PPO,and PA6/PC/PPO blends

The effect of mixing time is very important to plasticization and/or occurrence of chemical reaction between polyamide 6/poly(propylene oxide), polyamide 6/polycarbonate, and polyamide 6/polycarbonate/poly(propylene oxide) blends. The systems were investigated through solid-state carbon-13 cross-polarization magic angle spinning with variable contact time in the NMR experiment. In the systems, polycarbonate can prevent the antiplasticization effect already observed in the polyamide 6/poly(propylene oxide) blend. Therefore, it was verified that the addition of polycarbonate in the polyamide 6/poly(propylene oxide) system causes a hardening of the blend. This fact can be attributed to the restriction of the mobility of the NH group, probably influenced by the type of interaction that occurs in the polyamide 6/polycarbonate/poly(propylene oxide), due to the effect of poly(propylene oxide), which can be act as an interfacial agent promoting a better interaction between polyamide 6 and polycarbonate. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 69: 129–133, 1998     

Synthesis and characterization of new functional poly(urethane‐imide) crosslinked networks

To synthesize new functional poly(urethane‐imide) crosslinked networks, soluble polyimide from 2,2′‐bis(3,4‐dicarboxyphenyl) hexafluoropropane dianhydride, 4,4′‐oxydianiline, and maleic anhydride and polyurethane prepolymer from polycaprolactone diol, tolylene 2,4‐diisocyanate and hydroxyl ethyl acrylate were prepared. Poly(urethane‐imide) thin films were finally prepared by the reaction between maleimide end‐capped soluble polyimide (PI) and acrylate end‐capped polyurethane (PU). The effect of polyurethane content on dielectric constant, residual stress, morphology, thermal property, and mechanical property was studied by FTIR, prism coupler, Thin Film Stress Analyzer (TFSA), XRD, TGA, DMTA, and Nano‐indentation. Dielectric constant of poly(urethane‐imide) thin films (2.39–2.45) was lower than that of pure polyimide (2.46). Especially, poly(urethane‐imide) thin films with 50% of PU showed lower dielectric constant than other poly(urethane‐imide) thin films did. Lower residual stress and slope in cooling curve were achieved in higher PU content. Compared to typical polyurethane, poly(urethane‐imide) thin films exhibited better thermal stability due to the presence of the imide groups. The glass transition temperature, modulus, and hardness decreased with increase in the flexible PU content even though elongation and thermal expansion coefficient increased. Finally, poly(urethane‐imide) thin films with low residual stress and dielectric constant, which are strongly affected by the morphological structure, chain mobility, and modulus, can be suggested to apply for electronic devices by variation of PU. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 100: 113–123, 2006     

Thermoplastic vulcanizates obtained by reaction-induced phase separation: Interplay between phase separation dynamics,final morphology and mechanical properties

Reaction-induced phase separation (RIPS) of miscible blends of poly(?-caprolactone) (PCL) and an epoxy resin based on poly(propylene oxide) (PPO) was used to prepare thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPVs) with fine rubber dispersions. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) confirmed the formation of cross-linked rubber particles dispersed in the thermoplastic matrix at PCL contents ≥20 wt%. The morphology development during phase separation was studied by optical microscopy (OM) and time-resolved small-angle light scattering (SALS). It was shown that higher curing temperatures lead to a decrease in rubber particle size, but at the same time lead to an increase in the extent of particle connectivity. In some cases, gelation of the PPO-rich phase limits full structure development, which leads to extensive connectivity between the dispersed rubber particles and a strong deterioration in tensile properties.