Synthesis and comparative study of thermal stabilities of the imidization of some maleic anhydride copolymers

In the present study, first, maleic anhydride‐styrene (MA‐St), maleic anhydride‐allyl phenyl ether (MA‐APhE), maleic anhydride‐heptene‐1(MA‐Hp), and maleic anhydride‐allyl propionate (MA‐AP) copolymers have been synthesized in different solvents in the presence of azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) at 70°C. Then, these four copolymers have been reacted with aniline at 60°C in N,N‐dimethyl formamide (DMF), and maleamidic acid derivatives of these copolymers have been synthesized. Next, they have been obtained from their maleimide derivatives by heating under vacuum at 150°C. All these polymers have been characterized by Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and investigated their thermal properties by using differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) methods. The analyses results showed that thermal properties of maleimide derivatives of maleic anhydride copolymers changed as depend on the neighbor monomers of maleic anhydride. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 101: 2250–2254, 2006     

Properties of modified poly(vinyl alcohol) membranes prepared by the grafting of new polyelectrolyte copolymers for water–ethanol mixture separation

For the preparation of a water‐selective membrane for the pervaporation separation of an azeotropic solution, a series of grafted copolymers were synthesized by the reaction of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) with poly(sodium salt styrene sulfonic acid‐co‐maleic acid) (PSStSA‐co‐MA). The esterification was performed between the hydroxyl groups of PVA and the carboxylic groups of the copolymer with a heat treatment. PSStSA‐co‐MA was prepared with sodium salt styrene sulfonic acid and maleic anhydride copolymerization in dimethyl sulfoxide with azobisisobutyronitrile as an initiator. The reaction mechanism and resultant structure were confirmed with IR spectra. The effect of the heat‐treatment time on the gel content was investigated. The permeation flux decreased and the separation factor increased as the crosslinking agent content rose. A membrane containing 15 wt % PSStSA‐co‐MA was used for water–ethanol azeotropic solution pervaporation at 30°C, and a flux of 0.43 kg/m² h and a separation factor of 190 were obtained. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 86: 2854–2859, 2002     

Compatibilizer in waste tire powder and low‐density polyethylene blends and the blends modified asphalt

With the increasing ratio of waste tire powder (WTP) to low‐density polyethylene (LDPE), the hardness and tensile strength of the WTP/LDPE blends decreased while the elongation at break increased. Five kinds of compatibilizers, such as maleic anhydride‐grafted polyethylene (PE‐g‐MA), maleic anhydride‐grafted ethylene‐octene copolymer (POE‐g‐MA), maleic anhydride‐grafted linear LDPE, maleic anhydride‐grafted ethylene vinyl‐acetate copolymer, and maleic anhydride‐grafted styrene‐ethylene‐butylene‐styrene, were incorporated to prepare WTP/LDPE blends, respectively. PE‐g‐MA and POE‐g‐MA reinforced the tensile stress and toughness of the blends. The toughness value of POE‐g‐MA incorporating blends was the highest, reached to 2032.3 MJ/m³, while that of the control was only 1402.9 MJ/m³. Therefore, POE‐g‐MA was selected as asphalt modifier. The toughness value reached to the highest level when the content of POE‐g‐MA was about 8%. Besides that the softening point of the modified asphalt would be higher than 60°C, whereas the content of WTP/LDPE blend was more than 5%, and the blends were mixed by stirring under the shearing speed of 3000 rpm for 20 min. Especially, when the blend content was 8.5%, the softening point arrived at 82°C, contributing to asphalt strength and elastic properties in a wide range of temperature. In addition, the swelling property of POE‐g‐MA/WTP/LDPE blend was better than that of the other compalibitizers, which indicated that POE‐g‐MA /WTP/LDPE blend was much compatible with asphalt. Also, the excellent compatibility would result in the good mechanical and processing properties of the modified asphalt. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011     

A compatibilized composite of recycled polypropylene filled with cellulosic fiber from recycled corrugated paper board: Mechanical properties,morphology, and thermal behavior

This article deals with the feasibility of using recycled corrugated paper board (rPF) as the reinforcing material for recycled plastics. The composites of recycled polypropylene (rPP) and rPF were prepared by extrusion compounding and injection molding, and the rPP/rPF composites compatibilized by maleic anhydride grafted PP (PP‐g‐MA), maleic anhydride grafted ethylene‐1‐octene copolymer (POE‐g‐MA), and maleic anhydride grafted styrene‐ethylene‐butylene‐styrene copolymer (SEBS‐g‐MA) were also prepared. The crystallization and melting behavior, mechanical properties, thermal stability, and morphology of these composites were studied. The results indicated that rPF promoted the crystallization, enhanced the strength and toughness of rPP/rPF composites to some extent while decreased thermal stability at the same time. PP‐g‐MA and POE‐g‐MA improved the dispersion and interface adhesion of rPF, and further upgraded the mechanical properties and vicat softening temperatures. Among these compatibilizers, PP‐g‐MA was most favorable to the strength improvement while POE‐g‐MA was most favorable to the toughness improvement. As for SEBS‐g‐MA, it had no obvious modification effect. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011     

Toughening of polyamide 6 with a maleic anhydride functionalized acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene copolymer

Maleic anhydride functionalized acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene (ABS‐g‐MA) copolymers were prepared via an emulsion polymerization process. The ABS‐g‐MA copolymers were used to toughen polyamide 6 (PA‐6). Fourier transform infrared results show that the maleic anhydride (MA) grafted onto the polybutadiene phase of acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene (ABS). Rheological testing identified chemical reactions between PA‐6 and ABS‐g‐MA. Transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy displayed the compatibilization reactions between MA of ABS‐g‐MA and the amine and/or amide groups of PA‐6 chain ends, which improved the disperse morphology of the ABS‐g‐MA copolymers in the PA‐6 matrix. The blends compatibilized with ABS‐g‐MA exhibited notched impact strengths of more than 900 J/m. A 1 wt % concentration of MA in ABS‐g‐MA appeared sufficient to improve the impact properties and decreased the brittle–ductile transition temperature from 50 to 10°C. Scanning electron microscopy results show that the shear yielding of the PA‐6 matrix was the major toughening mechanism. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008     

Effects of addition of acrylic compatibilizer on the morphology and mechanical behavior of amorphous polyamide/SAN blends

Amorphous polyamide (aPA)/acrylonitrile‐styrene copolymer (SAN) blends were prepared using methyl methacrylate‐maleic anhydride copolymer MMA‐MA as compatibilizer. The aPA/SAN blends can be considered as a less complex version of the aPA/ABS (acrylonitrilebutadiene‐styrene) blends, due to the absence of the ABS rubber phase in the SAN material. It is known that acrylic copolymer might be miscible with SAN, whereas the maleic anhydride groups from MMA‐MA can react in situ with the amine end groups of aPA during melt blending. As a result, it is possible the in situ formation of aPA‐g‐MMA‐MA grafted copolymers at the aPA/SAN interface during the melt processing of the blends. In this study, the MA content in the MMA‐MA copolymer and its molecular weight was varied independently and their effects on the blend morphology and stress–strain behavior were evaluated. The morphology of the blends aPA/SAN showed a minimum in the SAN particle size at low amounts of MA in the compatibilizer, however, as the MA content in the MMA‐MA copolymer was increased larger SAN particle sizes were observed in the systems. In addition, higher MA content in the compatibilizer lead to less ductile aPA/SAN blends under tensile testing. The results shown the viscosity ratio also plays a very important role in the morphology formation and consequently on the properties of the aPA/SAN blends studied. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010     

Synthesis and characterization of anionic graft copolymers containing poly(ethylene oxide) grafts

Graft copolymers containing poly(ethylene oxide) side chain attached to maleic anhydride‐alt‐vinyl methyl ether (MA‐VME) copolymer were prepared by coupling MA‐VME and poly(ethylene glycol) monomethyl ether (MPEG) by esterification in DMF at 90°C. MPEG and dodecyl alcohol (DA) were grafted onto MA‐VME copolymer in o‐xylene at 140°C in the presence of p‐toluene sulfonic acid as catalyst. The molecular weights of MPEG were found to influence the rate of the grafting reaction and the final degree of conversion. The graft copolymers were characterized by IR, GPC, and ¹H‐NMR. DSC was used to examine thermal properties of the graft copolymers. The analysis indicates that grafts have phase‐separated morphology with the backbone and the MPEG grafts forming separate phases. The properties in aqueous solutions of these grafts were studied with respect to aggregation behavior and viscometric properties. In aqueous solution, the polymers exhibited polyelectrolyte behavior (i.e., a dramatic increase of the viscosity upon neutralization). Graft copolymers with DA have lower viscosities. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 86: 1138–1148, 2002     

Molecular weights of styrene–maleic anhydride copolymers

A dual-calibration method for the determination of molecular weights and molecular weight distribution of styrene–maleic anhydride copolymers (S/MA) by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) is introduced. It might be applicable to copolymers of other type. A linear relationship of intrinsic viscosity [η] and weight-average molecular weight (M?_w) for unfractionated S/MA in tetrahydrofuran (THF) at 25°C can be expressed by the equation The maleic anhydride content of the copolymers ranges from 5 to 50 mole-%, and the M?_w range is from 2 × 10⁴ to 7 × 10⁶. The plot of log [η] M?_w versus GPC elution volume of the S/MA copolymers falls on the same curve as that of the polystyrene standards in THF.     

Synthesis and characterization of statistical copolymers of styrene and 4‐(1‐hydroxyalkyl)styrene

A family of new polymers based on poly(4‐(1‐hydroxyalkyl)styrene), and its copolymers with styrene were synthesized and thoroughly characterized by ¹H‐NMR, ¹³C‐NMR, FTIR, and UV spectroscopies. The chemical modification reactions of polystyrene (PS) was used as a novel method of performing the synthesis of poly(4‐(1‐hydroxyethyl‐co‐styrene)), poly(4‐(1‐hydroxypropyl‐co‐styrene)), poly(4‐(1‐hydroxybutyl‐co‐styrene)), and poly(4‐(1‐hydroxyphenylmethyl‐co‐styrene)). The novelty of this method lies in the incorporation of the desired mol % of the functional groups in polystyrene chain, to obtain random copolymers of desired composition. In preliminary testing/evaluation studies the utility and versatility of the new copolymers, which have the potential to be negative‐tone photoresist materials, were studied. Thus a few photoresist formulations based on poly(styrene‐co‐4‐(1‐hydroxyalkylstyrene)) were developed with 5 wt % of a photoacid generator. These studies suggested that the new copolymers synthesized by a simple and alternate method could have the same potential as a photoresist material when compared with the polymers synthesized by the polymerization of the corresponding functional monomer. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 92: 1902–1914, 2004     

Mechanical properties of wollastonite‐reinforced polypropylene composites modified with SEBS and SEBS‐g‐MA elastomers

Mechanical properties of isotactic polypropylene/wollastonite/styrene rubber block copolymers (iPP/wollastonite/SRBC) composites were studied as a function of elastomeric poly(styrene‐b‐ethylene‐co‐butylene‐b‐styrene) triblock copolymer (SEBS) and SEBS grafted with maleic anhydride (SEBS‐g‐MA) content from 0 to 20 vol%. Microphase morphology was stronger influenced by SRBC elastomers than by different wollastonite types. Higher encapsulation ability of SEBS‐g‐MA than SEBS caused more expressive core‐shell morphology and consequently higher notched impact strength as well as yield parameters, but lower Young's modulus. Higher ductility of the composites with SEBS than with SEBS‐g‐MA has been primarily caused by better miscibility of the polypropylene chains with SEBS molecules. Surface properties of components and adhesion parameters also indicated that adhesion at SEBS‐g‐MA/wollastonite interface, which was stronger than the one at the SEBS/wollastonite interface, influenced higher encapsulation of wollastonite particles by SEBS‐g‐MA. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 47:1873–1880, 2007. © 2007 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Reactive extrusion of polycaprolactone compounds containing wood flour and lignin

Biodegradable polycaprolactone (PCL) was melt‐compounded in a Werner & Pfleiderer twin‐screw extruder (ZSK25) together with wood flour (WF) and lignin with maleic anhydride‐grafted polycaprolactone (PCL‐g‐MA) used as a compatibilizer. The grafting of maleic anhydride onto PCL was achieved with reactive extrusion in the presence of 2,5‐dimethyl‐2,5‐di‐(t‐butylperoxy)hexane as an initiator. The graft copolymers were analyzed with size exclusion chromatography and titration. As a function of the initiator and maleic anhydride addition, the grafted maleic anhydride content varied from 1.4 to 3.1 wt %. Compounds compatibilized with PCL‐g‐MA exhibited improved mechanical properties: a compatibilized PCL compound containing 40 wt % WF gave a Young's modulus of 2300 MPa with respect to 400 MPa for neat PCL and a 100% increase in yield stress. The content of WF, lignin, and PCL‐g‐MA was varied systematically to examine stress–strain and impact behavior. Low contents of grafted maleic anhydride and PCL‐g‐MA were required to improve both mechanical properties and interfacial adhesion. Biodegradation was investigated. Lignin addition was found to retard biodegradation. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 81: 1972–1984, 2001     

Phase morphology and interfacial characteristics of polycarbonate/acrylonitrile‐ethylene‐propylene‐diene‐styrene blends compatibilized by styrene‐maleic anhydride copolymers

Blends of polycarbonate (PC) and acrylonitrile ‐ ethylene‐propylene‐diene‐styrene (AES) were reactive compatibilized by styrene‐maleic anhydride copolymers (SMA). The changes in phase morphology and interfacial characteristics of the blends as a function of maleic anhydride content of SMA and the concentration of compatibilizer have been systematic studied. The occurrence of reaction between the terminal hydroxyl groups of PC and the maleic anhydride (MA) of compatibilizer was confirmed by fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. A glass transition temperature (T_g) with an intermediate value between T_g(AES) and T_g(PC) was found on differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) curves of PC/AES blends compatibilized with SMA contains high levels of MA. Furthermore, at lower compatibilizer content, increase of the compatibilizer level in blends result in decreasing gap between two T_gs corresponding to the constituent polymers. Small angle X‐ray scattering (SAXS) test results indicated that compatibilizer concentration for the minimum of blend interface layer's thickness was exactly the same as it was when compatibilized PC/AES blend exhibited optimal compatibility in DSC test. The observed morphological changes were consistent well with the DSC and SAXS test results. A new mechanism of interfacial structural development was proposed to explain unusual phenomena of SMA compatibilized PC/AES blends. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 42103.     

Compatibility effect of reactive copolymers on polypropylene/polyamide 6 blends from commingled plastic wastes

We report the compatibility effect on a recycled polypropylene/nylon (75/25) blend processed with reactive copolymers on the basis of morphological, mechanical, and rheological characteristics. Via a scanning electron microscopy investigation, we found improved surface morphologies with regular and fine domains in a recycled polypropylene/nylon (75/25) blend compatibilized with copolymers containing maleic anhydride as a reactive functional group [styrene–(ethylene/butylene)–styrene‐graft‐maleic anhydride copolymer and polypropylene‐graft‐maleic anhydride]. Large increases in both the mechanical and rheological properties with the addition of the styrene–(ethylene/butylene)–styrene‐graft‐maleic anhydride copolymer could be interpreted with respect to a specific structure at the interface, showing a strong interfacial adhesion between recycled polypropylene and nylon. To confirm the existence of this structure, we used various dynamic rheological parameters: the Cox–Merz rule, storage modulus, and phase angle. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 101: 1188–1193, 2006     

Preparation and characterization of copolymers containing (+)‐bornyl methacrylate and their racemate for positive‐tone photoresist

This study investigated the chemical behavior of polymers bearing cycloaliphatic bornyl units along with the steric difference of the chiral (+)‐bornyl methacrylate [(+)‐BMA] and racemic (±)‐BMA, expressed in the physical properties of the copolymers and the resist characteristics. To do this, a series of copolymers containing (+)‐bornyl methacrylate [(+)‐BMA] and (±)‐BMA] units was synthesized. Comonomers of tert‐butyl methacrylate (TBMA), methyl methacrylate (MMA), and maleic anhydride (MA) were used. The thermogravimetric curves, glass‐transition temperature (T_g), and molecular weight (MW) of the copolymers were evaluated. Exposure characteristics of chemical‐amplified positive photoresists comprising various copolymers were investigated. It was found that copolymers bearing (±)‐BMA have higher T_g and better thermostability than those of copolymers containing (+)‐BMA units. The copolymers with (±)‐BMA units, however, revealed an inert photochemical behavior on the positive‐tone photoresist. The patterning properties of the positive photoresist, composed of copolymers bearing (+)‐BMA and (±)‐BMA, and the photoacid generator (PAG) were also investigated. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 81: 3538–3544, 2001     

Effects of some PVC‐grafted maleic anhydrides (PVC‐g‐MAs) on the morphology,and the mechanical and thermal properties of (alfa fiber)‐reinforced PVC composites

This work studied the poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) chemically modified with maleic anhydride (MA) through reactions in solution, using benzoyl peroxide as an initiator. Quantities of the grafted MA were determined by the titration of carboxylic acid groups derived from the anhydride functions. Estimation of the grafted MA level was also performed by using IR absorbance ratio. Increases in reaction time led to higher levels of grafted MA. The effects of three different PVCs grafted with maleic anhydride (PVC‐g‐MAs) types on the morphological, mechanical, and thermal properties of PVC/alfa (fiber) composites were examined. The interfacial properties between fiber and PVC were improved after the addition of PVC‐g‐MA, as was evident from SEM morphology study. Enhancements of the mechanical properties and thermal stability of the PVC‐g‐MA‐treated composites were strongly dependent on the amount of MA grafts. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 19:225–232, 2013. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Phase structure and morphology of wollastonite‐reinforced polypropylene composites modified with SEBS and SEBS‐g‐MA elastomers

Supermolecular structure of isotactic polypropylene/wollastonite/styrenic rubber block copolymers composites were studied as a function of elastomeric poly‐ (styrene‐b‐ethylene‐co‐butylene‐b‐styrene) triblock copolymer (SEBS) and the SEBS grafted with maleic anhydride (SEBS‐g‐MA) content (from 0 to 20 vol%) by optical, scanning, and transmission electron microscopy, wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry. Wollastonite particles disturbed the spherulitization of polypropylene matrix. Both elastomers affected the crystallization of polypropylene matrix mainly by solidification effect. Although SEBS‐g‐MA encapsulated wollastonite particles more expressive than SEBS forming thus core‐shell morphology in higher extent, scanning electron micrographs indicated more constrained wollastonite particles in fractured surfaces of composites with SEBS elastomer. Moreover, SEBS‐g‐MA disorientated wollastonite particles and affected reorientation of the polypropylene crystallites stronger than SEBS elastomer. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 47:2145–2154, 2007. © 2007 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Influences of compatibilizers on rheology and mechanical properties of propylene random copolymer/styrene‐ethylene‐butylene‐styrene block copolymer/organic‐montmorillonite nanocomposites

Propylene random copolymer (PPR)/styrene‐ethylene‐butylene‐styrene block copolymer (SEBS)/compatibilizer/organic‐montmorillonite (OMMT) quaternary nanocomposites and PPR/compatibilizer/OMMT ternary nanocomposites were prepared via two‐stage melt blending and influences of compatibilizers, maleic anhydride (MA) grafted styrene‐ethylene‐butylene‐styrene copolymer (SEBS‐g‐MA), poly(octene‐co‐ethylene) (POE‐g‐MA), or propylene block copolymers (PPB‐g‐MA), on rheology and mechanical properties of the nanocomposites were investigated. The results of X‐ray diffraction measurement and transmission electron microscopy observation showed that OMMT layers were mainly intercalated in the nanocomposites except for the mainly exfoliated structure in the quaternary nanocomposites using POE‐g‐MA as compatibilizer. The nanocomposites exhibited pseudo‐solid like viscoelasticity in low frequencies and shear‐thinning in high shear rates. As far as OMMT dispersion was concerned, POE‐g‐MA was superior to SEBS‐g‐MA and PPB‐g‐MA, which gives rise to the highest viscosities in both the ternary and quaternary nanocomposites. The quaternary nanocomposites containing POE‐g‐MA were endowed with balanced toughness and rigidity. It was suggested that a suitable combination of compatibilizer and SEBS was an essentially important factor for adjusting the OMMT dispersion and distribution, the rheological and mechanical performances of the nanocomposites. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013     

Mechanical and thermal properties of SEBS‐g‐MA compatibilized halloysite nanotubes reinforced polyethylene terephthalate/polycarbonate/nanocomposites

In this study, the effect of maleic anhydride grafted styrene‐ethylene‐butylene‐styrene (SEBS‐g‐MA) content on mechanical, thermal, and morphological properties of polyethylene terephthalate/polycarbonate/halloysite nanotubes (PET/PC/HNTs) nanocomposites has been investigated. Nanocomposites of PET/PC (70 : 30) with 2 phr of HNTs were compounded using the counter rotating twin screw extruder. A series of formulations were prepared by adding 5–20 phr SEBS‐g‐MA to the composites. Incorporation of 5 phr SEBS‐g‐MA into the nanocomposites resulted in the highest tensile and flexural strength. Maximum improvement in the impact strength which is 245% was achieved at 10 phr SEBS‐g‐MA content. The elongation at break increased proportionately with the SEBS‐g‐MA content. However, the tensile and flexural moduli decreased with increasing SEBS‐g‐MA content. Scanning electron microscopy revealed a transition from a brittle fracture to ductile fracture morphology with increasing amount of SEBS‐g‐MA. Transmission electron microscopy showed that the addition of SEBS‐g‐MA into the nanocomposites promoted a better dispersion of HNTs in the matrix. A single glass transition temperature was observed from the differential scanning calorimetry test for compatibilized nanocomposites. Thermogravimetric analysis of PET/PC/HNTs nanocomposites showed high thermal stability at 15 phr SEBS‐g‐MA content. However, on further addition of SEBS‐g‐MA up to 20 phr, thermal stability of the nanocomposites decreased due to the excess amount of SEBS‐g‐MA. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 42608.     

Synthesis and antitumor activity of poly(3,4‐dihydro‐2H‐pyran‐co‐maleic anhydride‐co‐vinyl acetate)

The radical‐initiated terpolymerization of 3,4‐dihydro‐2H‐pyran (DHP), maleic anhydride (MA), and vinyl acetate (VA), which were used as a donor–acceptor–donor system, was carried out in methyl ethyl ketone in the presence of 2,2′‐azobisisobutyronitrile as an initiator at 65°C in a nitrogen atmosphere. The synthesis and characterization of binary and ternary copolymers, some kinetic parameters of terpolymerization, the terpolymer‐composition/thermal‐behavior relationship, and the antitumor activity of the synthesized polymers were examined. The polymerization of the DHP–MA–VA monomer system predominantly proceeded by the alternating terpolymerization mechanism. The in vitro cytotoxicities of poly(3,4‐dihydro‐2H‐pyran‐alt‐maleic anhydride) [poly(DHP‐alt‐MA)] and poly(3,4‐dihydro‐2H‐pyran‐co‐maleic anhydride‐co‐vinyl acetate) [poly(DHP‐co‐MA‐co‐VA)] were evaluated with Raji cells (human Burkitt lymphoma cell line). The antitumor activity of the prepared anion‐active poly(DHP‐alt‐MA) and poly(DHP‐co‐MA‐co‐VA) polymers were studied with methyl–thiazol–tetrazolium testing, and the 50% cytotoxic dose was calculated. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 96: 2352–2359, 2005     

Poly(styrene‐co‐maleic anhydride)‐graft‐fatty acids as novel solid–solid PCMs for thermal energy storage

A solid–solid phase change material (S‐SPCM) can store and release a specific amount of latent heat during its phase transition. In this regard, poly(styrene‐co‐maleic anhydride) (SMA)‐graft‐fatty acids (FA) copolymers were synthesized as novel S‐SPCMs for thermal energy storage (TES). The chemical structures of the SMA‐g‐FA copolymers were characterized by proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H NMR) and Fourier transform infrared (FT‐IR) spectroscopy techniques. The phase transformations of the copolymers form crystalline phase to amorphous phase were monitored using polarized optical microscopy (POM). The latent heat TES (LHTES) properties, thermal cycling reliability, and thermal stability of the S‐SPCMs were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis methods. The SMA‐g‐FA copolymers produced as S‐SPCMs showed solid–solid phase transitions at about 40°C–60 °C range and had latent heat storage and release ability between 84 and 127 J/g, respectively. The S‐SPCMs had stable chemical structures and reliable LHTES characteristics even after 5,000 thermal cycling. They had reasonable thermal conductivity value changed in the range of 0.15–0.19 W/mK. Furthermore, it was concluded that the SMA‐g‐FA copolymers can be considered as promising S‐SPCMs for TES utilizations. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 59:E337–E347, 2019. © 2019 Society of Plastics Engineers