Structure-property relations of segmented block copolymers with liquid-liquid demixed morphologies

Poly(propylene oxide) based polyether(ester-amide)s (PEEA) with non-crystallisable amide segments were synthesized and their structure-property relations studied. These model segmented block copolymers were used to gain insight in the structure-property relations of block copolymers with liquid-liquid demixed morphologies, also present in segmented polyurethanes. The poly(propylene oxide) used had a molecular weight of 2300 g/mol and was end capped with 20 wt% ethylene oxide. The non-crystallisable amide segments are based on an amorphous polyamide: poly(m-xylylene isophthalamide) and the repetitive length (x) of the amide segment was varied from 1 to 10. Phase separation in these PEEA's occurred by liquid-liquid demixing when the length (x) of the non-crystallisable amide segment was higher than 2 (x>2). TEM experiments showed spherical structures at two size scales, 5-10 nm domains (nano-domains) and 30-500 nm domains (sub-micron domains), both dispersed in a polyether matrix. The size and volume fraction of these spherical domains were found to increase with increasing the amide segment length. The modulus of the materials increased moderately with increasing amide segment content (increasing amide segment length x). The compression and tensile sets values of these PEEA's were found to decrease with increasing amide segment length, thus these PEEA's behave also more elastic at longer amide contents (thus also at higher modulus). Giving time these liquid-liquid demixed segmented block copolymers recovered completely.     

Synthesis of polyether-based block copolymers based on poly(propylene oxide) and terephthalates

Poly(propylene oxide) (PPO) is a low reactive telechelic polyether and the synthesis of high molecular weight poly(propylene oxide)-based block copolymers was studied. The poly(propylene oxide) used was end capped with 20 wt % ethylene oxide and had a molecular weight of 2300 g/mol (ultra-low monol PEO-b-PPO-b-PEO). The type of terephthalic acid based precursors was varied: terephthalic acid, dimethyl terephthalate, diphenyl terephthalate, di(trifluoro ethyl) terephthalate, di(p-nitrophenyl) terephthalate) and terephthalic acid chloride. High molecular weight poly(propylene oxide) based segmented block copolymers were obtained with diphenyl terephthalate (inherent viscosity: 1.6 dl/g).The synthesis of polyether(ester-amide)s comprising PPO and isophthalamide-based segments was also studied by varying the polymerization temperature and time. High molecular weight poly(propylene oxide) block copolymers could be obtained if the reaction was carried out for 2 h at 250 °C under vacuum. Higher temperatures (280 °C) and longer times result in lower inherent viscosities, probably due to degradation of the polyether.     

Structure-property behavior of poly(dimethylsiloxane) based segmented polyurea copolymers modified with poly(propylene oxide)

Poly(propylene oxide) (PPO) was incorporated in a controlled manner between poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) and urea segments in segmented polyurea copolymers and their solid state structure-property behavior was investigated. The copolymers contained PDMS segments of MW 3200 or 7000 g/mol and an overall hard segment content of 10-35 wt%. PPO segments of MW 450 or 2000 g/mol were utilized. Equivalent polyurea copolymers based on only PDMS as the soft segment (SS) component were used as controls. The materials (with or without PPO) utilized in this study were able to develop microphase morphology as determined from dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) and small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). DMA and SAXS results suggested that the ability of the PPO segments to hydrogen bond with the urea segments results in a limited inter-segmental mixing which leads to the formation of a gradient interphase, especially in the PPO-2000 co-SS containing copolymers. DMA also demonstrated that the polyureas based on only PDMS as the SS possessed remarkably broad and nearly temperature insensitive rubbery plateaus that extended up to ca. 175 °C, the upper temperature limit depending upon the PDMS MW. However, the incorporation of PPO resulted in more temperature sensitive rubbery plateaus. A distinct improvement in the Young's modulus, tensile strength, and elongation at break in the PPO-2000 and PDMS-7000 containing copolymers was observed due to inter-segmental hydrogen bonding and the formation of a gradient interphase. However, when PPO was incorporated as the co-SS, the extent of stress relaxation and mechanical hysteresis of the copolymers increased relative to the segmented polyureas based on the utilization of only PDMS as the soft segment component.     

Influence of chemical crosslinks on the elastic behavior of segmented block copolymers

Polyether(ester-amide)s (PEEA) segmented block copolymers with di- and tri-functional poly(propylene oxide)s and amide segments were synthesized and the elastic properties studied. The difunctional polyether used had a molecular weight of 2300 g/mol end capped with 20 wt% ethylene oxide. The trifunctional polyether had a molecular weight of 6000 g/mol of which each arm had a molecular weight of 2000 g/mol. The concentration of the trifunctional polyether of the total ether content was varied from 0 to 40 mol%. The amide segments were of a non-crystallizing type with a content in the copolymers of 27 wt%. Phase separation occurred, therefore, only by liquid-liquid demixing. The thermal mechanical properties of the polymers were analyzed by dynamic mechanical thermal analysis and the elastic properties by compression set and tensile set. The materials are model blockcopolymers for the more complex chemically crosslinked polyether(urethane-urea)s (PEUU).With increasing amounts of chemical crosslinks the glass transition temperature and the modulus did not change noticeably. However, the elastic behavior as measured by compression set and tensile set, improved dramatically. Giving time all materials recovered completely and with increasing amount of chemical crosslinks this recovery happened faster. An explanation is given for the (viscoelastic) deformation in these copolymers.     

Phase behavior of aqueous systems containing block copolymers of poly(ethylene oxide) and poly(propylene oxide)

Phase behavior of aqueous systems containing block copolymers of poly(ethylene oxide (PEO) and poly(propylene oxide) (PPO) was evaluated by building up temperature-concentration phase diagrams. We have studied bifunctional triblock copolymers (HO-PEO-PPO-PEO-OH) and monofunctional diblock copolymers (R-PEO-PPO-OH and R-PPO-PEO-OH, where R length is linear C₄ and C_12–14). The cloud points of the polymer solutions depended on EO/PO ratio, polarity, R length and position of the hydrophilic and hydrophobic segments along the molecule. Such factors influence on the solutions behavior was also analyzed in terms of critical micelle concentration (CMC), which was obtained from surface tension vs. concentration plots. Salts (NaCl and KCl) added into the polymer solutions change the solvent polarity decreasing the cloud points. On the other hand, the cloud points of the polymer solutions increased as a hydrotrope (sodium p-toluenesulfonate) was added. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 66: 1767–1772, 1997     

Synthesis and properties of hydrophilic segmented block copolymers based on poly(ethylene oxide)‐ran‐poly(propylene oxide)

The present article discusses the synthesis and various properties of segmented block copolymers with random copolymer segments of poly(ethylene oxide) and poly(propylene oxide) (PEO‐r‐PPO) together with monodisperse amide segments. The PEO‐r‐PPO contained 25 wt % PPO units and the segment presented a molecular weight of 2500 g/mol. The synthesized copolymers were analyzed by differential scanning calorimetry, Fourier transform infra‐red spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis. In addition, the hydrophilicity and the contact angles (CAs) were studied. The PEO‐r‐PPO segments displayed a single low glass transition temperature, as well as a low PEO crystallinity and melting temperature, which gave enhanced low‐temperature properties of the copolymer. The water absorption values remained high. In comparison to mixtures of PEO/PPO segments, the random dispersion of PPO units in the PEO segments was more effective in reducing the PEO crystallinity and melting temperature, without affecting the hydrophilicity. Increasing the polyether segment length with terephthalic groups from 2500 to 10,000 g/mol increased the hydrophilicity and the room temperature elasticity. Furthermore, the CAs were found to be low 22–39° and changed with the crosslink density. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 117:1394–1404, 2010     

Molten lithium sulfonimide salt having poly(propylene oxide) tail

Poly(propylene oxide) (PPO) tailed lithium(trifluoromethyl sulfonylimide)s (TFSI-PPO) were prepared as non-onium type ionic liquid polymers. Introduction of PPO chain to the TFSI salt group resulted in lower the glass transition temperature (T_g) and induce the salt dissociation. The TFSI-PPO showed relatively high ionic conductivity owing to the high dissociation degree of the TFSI salt group. The maximum ionic conductivity of 3.3×10⁻⁶ S cm⁻¹ was observed at 30 °C for TFSI salt having PPO tail with number average molecular weight of 850. On the other hand, PPOs having the same salt moiety on both chain ends ((TFSI)₂-PPO) showed higher T_g than that of TFSI-PPOs. The lithium transference number of the (TFSI)₂-PPO with PPO chain length of Mn=2000 was 0.74 in spite of slightly lower ionic conductivity.     

Graft copolymers with poly(ethylene oxide) segments

Graft copolymers containing poly(ethylene oxide) as side chains attached to the backbone have attracted significant interest because of their unique properties. They have expanded a class of materials important for science and biomedicine. This review article describes a variety of synthetic procedures, i.e. directly by the macromonomer method or by the ‘grafting from’ technique as well as indirect routes via a polymeric precursor. The uses of these graft copolymers in numerous applications are presented to show their versatile nature and their potential. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry     

Crystallization, and morphology of poly(trimethylene terephthalate)/poly(ethylene oxide terephthalate) segmented block copolymers

A new type of poly(ether-ester) based on poly(trimethylene terephthalate) as rigid segments and poly(ethylene oxide terephthalate) as soft segments was synthesized and its crystallization behavior and morphology were investigated. Differential Scanning Calorimetry revealed that the copolymer containing 57 wt% soft segments presented a low glass transition temperature (−46.4 °C) and a high melting temperature (201.8 °C), suggesting that it had the typical characteristic of thermoplastic elastomer. With increasing soft segment content from 35 to 57 wt%, the crystallization morphology transformed from banded spherulites to compact seaweed morphology at a certain film thickness, which was due to the change of surface tension and diffusivity caused by increasing the soft segment content. Moreover, with the decrease of film thickness from 15 to 2 μm, the crystallization morphology of the copolymer (57 wt% soft segment) changed from wheatear-like, compact seaweed to dendritic. Scanning Electron Microscopy revealed that some flower-like crystals presenting in the bulk, which had been surprisingly found in the poly(ether-ester) segmented block copolymers for the first time. Possible mechanism was discussed in the text.     

Synthesis and characterization of poly(dimethyl siloxane) containing poly(vinyl pyrrolidinone) block copolymers

ABA‐type block copolymers containing segments of poly(dimethyl siloxane) and poly(vinyl pyrrolidinone) were synthesized. Dihydroxyl‐terminated poly(dimethyl siloxane) was reacted with isophorone diisocyanate and then with t‐butyl hydroperoxide to obtain macroinitiators having siloxane units. The peroxidic diradical macroinitiators were used to polymerize vinyl pyrrolidinone monomer to synthesize ABA‐type block copolymers. By use of physicochemical methods, the structure was confirmed, and its characterization was accomplished. Mechanical and thermal characterizations of copolymers were made by stress–strain tests and differential scanning calorimetric measurements. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 71: 1915–1922, 1999     

Blends of poly(propylene) and polyacetal compatibilized by ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymers

Polymer blends of poly(propylene) (PP) and polyacetal (polyoxymethylene, POM) with ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH) copolymers were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), rheological, tensile, and impact measurements, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The PP–POM–EVOH blends were extruded with a co‐rotating twin‐screw extruder. The ethylene group in the EVOH is partially miscible with PP, whereas the hydroxyl group in the EVOH can form hydrogen bonding with POM. The EVOH tends to reside along the interface, acting as a surfactant to reduce the interfacial tension and to increase the interfacial adhesion between the blends. Results from SEM and mechanical tests indicate that a small quantity of the EVOH copolymer or a smaller vinyl alcohol content in the EVOH copolymer results in a better compatibilized blend in terms of finer phase domains and better mechanical properties. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 89: 1471–1477, 2003     

Synthesis and characterization of hexafluoroisopropylidene bisphenol poly(arylene ether sulfone) and polydimethylsiloxane segmented block copolymers

A series of hexafluoroisopropylidene bisphenol poly(arylene ether sulfone) (BAF PAES) segmented block copolymers with varying fractions of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) were synthesized by a condensation reaction of hydroxyl-terminated BAF PAES and dimethylamino endcapped PDMS. The segmented block copolymers have high thermal stability. The BAF PAES homopolymer exhibits a tensile modulus of 1700 MPa and an elongation at break of 16%. Copolymerizing BAF PAES with increasing molecular weight amounts of PDMS results in tensile properties ranging from plastic to elastomeric where the elongation is 417% for a segmented block copolymer with 64 wt% PDMS incorporated. The morphological properties of these segmented block copolymers were characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM), small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). AFM and TEM images show the segmented block copolymers were microphase separated, and comparison with bisphenol A (BA) PAES-b-PDMS segmented block copolymers revealed complex differences between the morphological behavior of the two systems. SAXS data of the segmented block copolymers supports AFM and TEM images, indicating microphase separation but little long-range order.     

Synthesis, characterization, and properties of poly(ethylene terephthalate)/poly(1,4-butylene succinate) block copolymers

Reactive blending at 290 °C of a series of mixtures of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) and poly(1,4-butylene succinate) (PBS) led to the formation of block PET/PBS copolyesters. The block lengths of the resulting copolymers decreased with the severity of the treatment. Copolyesters with PET/PBS molar compositions of 90/10, 80/20, 70/30, and 50/50 were prepared by this method and their composition and microstructure were characterized by ¹H and ¹³C NMR, respectively. The T_g, T_m, and crystallinity of the copolymers decreased as the content in PBS and the degree of randomness increased. The elastic modulus and tensile strength of the copolymers decreased with the content of PBS, whereas, on the contrary, the elongation at break increased. The PET/PBS copolymers exhibited a pronounced hydrolytic degradability, which increased with the content in 1,4-butylene succinic units. Hydrolysis mainly occurred on the aliphatic ester groups.     

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     

Investigation on the microstructure and the electric property of poly(propylene)/chlorinated poly(propylene)/poly(aniline) composites

The article presents results of studies on composites made from poly(propylene) (PP) modified with poly(aniline) (PANI) doped with dodecylbenzene sulfonic acid (DBSA) and chlorinated poly(propylene) (CPP). The volume resistivity of PP/CPP/PANI composites was detected, and the results show that the volume resistivity decreases with increasing CPP content, and there exists a minimum volume resistivity. Effects of CPP on the microstructure and crystalline structure of the PP/CPP/PANI composites and the relationship between the effects and the electric property were carefully analyzed by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and wide angle X‐ray diffraction (WAXD). The method that the specimens of SEM are polished is appropriate to investigate the morphology of conducting polymer composites. The obtained results illuminate that the area of conducting parts and insulating parts obtained from the digital analysis of the SEM image is obviously influenced by the CPP content, the parameters of the lamellar‐like structure are immediately related to CPP content and denote the dispersion of PANI‐DBSA, and the percent crystallinity and mean crystal size of PP are directly correlated with the CPP content. The increasing area of conducting parts, the increasement of layer distance, the decreasement of size and layer number of the lamellar‐like structure of PANI‐DBSA, and the increasement of the percent crystallinity and mean crystal size of PP are beneficial to the improvement of the conductive property of PP/CPP/PANI composites. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009     

Synthesis and characterization of biodegradable aliphatic copolyesters with poly(tetramethylene oxide) soft segments

A series of aliphatic poly(ether–ester)s based on flexible poly(tetramethylene oxide) (PTMO) and hard poly (butylene succinate) (PBS) segments were synthesized by the catalyzed two‐step transesterification reaction of dimethyl succinate, 1,4‐butanediol, and α,ω‐hydroxy‐terminated PTMO (M_n = 1000 g/mol) in the bulk. The content of soft PTMO segments in the polymer chains was varied from 10 to 50 mass %. The effect of the introduction of the soft segments on the structure, thermal, and physical properties, as well as on the biodegradation properties was investigated. The composition and structure of the aliphatic segmented copolyesters were determined by ¹H NMR spectroscopy. The molecular weights of the polyesters were verified by viscometry of dilute solutions and polymer melts. The thermal properties were investigated using DSC. The degree of crystallinity was determined by means of DSC and WAXS. Biodegradation of the synthesized copolyesters, estimated in enzymatic degradation tests on polymer films in phosphate buffer solution with Candida rugosa lipase at 37°C, was compared with hydrolytic degradation in the buffer solution. Viscosity measurements confirmed that there was no change in molecular weight of the copolyesters leading to the conclusion that the degradation mechanism of poly(ester–ether)s based on PTMO segments occurs through the surface erosion. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2007     

Synthesis and characterization of poly(propylene glycol) polytrioxamide and poly(urea oxamide) segmented copolymers

This report describes the synthesis and characterization of unprecedented poly(propylene glycol) (PPG) polytrioxamide and poly(urea oxamide) (UOx) segmented copolymers containing monodisperse hard segments. Synthesis of the segmented copolymers relied on an efficient two‐step end‐capping sequence, which resulted in novel difunctional oxamic hydrazide‐terminated polyether oligomers. Polymerization with oxalyl chloride or 4,4′‐methylenebis(cyclohexyl isocyanate) provided the desired segmented copolymers displaying thermoplastic elastomeric behavior. Variable‐temperature Fourier transform infrared and ¹H NMR spectroscopies confirmed the presence of hard segment structures and revealed ordered hydrogen bonding interactions with thermal dissociation profiles similar to those of polyurea and polyoxamide copolymer analogs. Dynamic mechanical analysis of PPG‐UOx exhibited a longer, rubbery plateau with increased moduli compared to PPG polyurea, and tensile analysis revealed a dramatic increase in copolymer toughness due to enhanced hydrogen bonding. A new step‐growth polymerization strategy is described that is capable of producing tunable hydrogen bonding segmented copolymer architectures. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry     

CO_2/环氧丙烷共聚合成聚碳酸亚丙酯多元醇

利用双金属氰化物作为催化剂,催化CO2/环氧丙烷调节共聚制备聚碳酸亚丙酯多元醇(PPC),详细考察了催化剂用量、相对分子质量调节剂及其用量、CO2用量等对聚合的影响.研究发现PPC的相对分子质量与相对分子质量调节剂的用量成线性关系,可以根据需要合成具有规定相对分子质量的PPC树脂.最后提出聚合过程中碳酸丙烯酯可能按照解拉链的方式生成.     

ABA-type block copolymers containing poly(dimethylsiloxane) and ketonic resins

Block copolymer containing segments of poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) and ketonic resins were synthesized. Dihydroxy-terminated PDMS were reacted with the isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI) to obtain the diisocyanate-terminated PDMSs (urethane). These urethanes were reacted with reactive hydroxyl groups in the cyclohexanone–formaldehyde, acetophenone–formaldehyde, and in situ melamine-modified cyclohexanone–formaldehyde resins. Formation of block copolymers was illustrated by several characterization methods, such as chemical and spectroscopic analysis and gel permeation chromatography. The solubilities of the block copolymers were determined, and their surface properties were investigated by contact angle measurements. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 67: 643–648, 1998     

Butyllithium-initiated anionic synthesis of well-defined poly(styrene-block-ethylene oxide) block copolymers with potassium salt additives

Poly(styrene-block-ethylene oxide) (PS–PEO) diblock copolymers have been synthesized with predictable block molecular weights and narrow molecular weight distributions. sec-Butyllithium-initiated polymerization of styrene was effected in benzene solution followed by ω-end-group functionalization with ethylene oxide to form the corresponding polymeric lithium alkoxide (PSOLi). Block copolymerization of ethylene oxide initiated by the unreactive PSOLi was promoted by addition of dimethylsulfoxide and either potassium t-butoxide, potassium t-amyloxide or potassium 2,6-di-t-butylphenoxide. Although the PS–PEO block copolymer product contained some poly(ethylene oxide) homopolymer, the poly(ethylene oxide) block M̄_n was in good agreement with the calculated value and the molecular weight distribution of the final block was generally narrow (M̄_w/M̄_n ≤ 1.1). The amount of PEO homopolymer was minimized using potassium 2,6-di-t-butylphenoxide rather than potassium t-alkoxides.