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.     

Shear degradation of poly(vinyl acetate) in toluene solutions by high-speed stirring

A poly(vinyl acetate) (PVAc) of M?_w 750,000 and M?_w/M?_n 5.10 in toluene solution was sheared in a Virtis-60 homogenizer. The polymer concentration was 3.0 to 12.0 g/100ml, and test temperature was 10 ± 0.5°C. The extent of degradation was measured by gel permeation chromatography (GPC). It was concluded that on shearing (i) the molecular weight decreases rapidly at the beginning of shearing and thereafter decreases ever more slowly toward a limiting value, (ii) the molecular weight distribution is narrowed, (iii) no degradation occurs up to 5000 rpm and thereafter increases with stirring speed, (iv) degradation is more at lower concentrations but concentration is not a sensitive variable, and (v) the chain scission occurs randomly. The Mark-Houwing relationship for PVAc in THF at 25°C was derived as [η] = 2.47 × 10^?4 × M?_v^0.644.     

Shear degradation of polyisobutene

A polyisobutene of M?_w 1.98 × 10⁶, M?_w/M?_n 1.8, was extruded in an Instron capillary rheometer. Shear degradation occurred at high shear stresses, approaching melt fracture, and was more prominent at lower extrusion temperatures for tests at 60–140°C. The capillary was 2.0 in. long with a length/diameter ratio of 66.7 and a 90° entrance angle. Repetitive extrusions at constant shear rate caused a decrease in a molecular weight and a simultaneous narrowing of the molecular weight distribution. Extrudate expansion was measured after each successive capillary pass for tests at 80°C. Extrudate swelling correlated well with (M?_z+1) M?_z/M?_w, except for the two first passes, where melt fracture was pronounced. The correlation with equilibrium extrudate expansion was almost as good for (M?_z/M?_w)^3.7 (Mill's correlation) and for M?_z+1 alone. The efficiency of bond rupture is low, with the energy required to rupture 1 mole of bonds being about 200,000 kcal at 80°C.     

Comparaison des méthodes de fractionnement par chromatographie de perméation et par gradient d'elution pour la détermination des répartitions moléculaires des polypropylénes

Molecular weight distributions for polypropylene samples have been determined by a permeation fractionation method (GPC). Porous silica beads were used as a packing material for the columns. The set of columns allows a good separation of the polypropylene macromolecular chains in a range of molecular weights from 5000 to 1.5 × 10⁶, and the thermal and mechanical stabilities of these beads are very good. The calibration has been carried out with fractions of polypropylene of narrow molecular weight distribution prepared by a large-scale column fractionation. The molecular weights M?_w and M?_n and the ratios M?_w/M?_n calculated from the GPC curves show, in general, good agreement with the ones calculated from the column fractionation curves. However, the M?_w/M?_n ratios are always highter in the case of GPC fractionation. This could be due to diffusion phenomena.     

Effect of acrylic acid neutralization on ‘livingness’ of poly[styrene‐ran‐(acrylic acid)] macro‐initiators for nitroxide‐mediated polymerization of styrene

BACKGROUND: The effect of acrylic acid neutralization on the degradation of alkoxyamine initiators for nitroxide‐mediated polymerization (NMP) was studied using styrene/acrylic acid and styrene/sodium acrylate random copolymers (20 mol% initial acrylate feed concentration) as macro‐initiators. The random copolymers were re‐initiated with fresh styrene in 1,4‐dioxane at 110 °C at SG1 mediator/BlocBuilder^® unimolecular initiator ratios of 5 and 10 mol%. RESULTS: The value of k_pK (k_p = propagation rate constant, K = equilibrium constant) was not significantly different for styrene/acrylic acid and styrene/sodium acrylate compositions at 110 °C (k_pK = 2.4 × 10^?6–4.6 × 10^?6 s^?1) and agreed closely with that for styrene homopolymerization at the same conditions (k_pK = 2.7 × 10^?6–3.0 × 10^?6 s^?1). All random copolymers had monomodal, narrow molecular weight distributions (polydispersity index M?_w/M?_n = 1.10–1.22) with similar number‐average molecular weights M?_n = 19.3–22.1 kg mol^?1. Re‐initiation of styrene/acrylic acid random copolymers with styrene resulted in block copolymers with broader molecular weight distributions (M?_w/M?_n = 1.37–2.04) compared to chains re‐initiated by styrene/sodium acrylate random copolymers (M?_w/M?_n = 1.33). CONCLUSIONS: Acrylic acid degradation of the alkoxyamines was prevented by neutralization of acrylic acid and allowed more SG1‐terminated chains to re‐initiate the polymerization of a second styrenic block by NMP. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry     

Preparation of ultrahigh molecular weight polyacrylonitrile and its terpolymers

The synthesis of high molecular weight (in excess of 10⁶ million Daltons) poly(acrylonitrile) and poly(acrylonitrile-co-methylacrylate-co-itaconic acid) is described. An inverse emulsion polymerization formulation with AIBN as the initiator was used. However, polymer precipitation occurred early in the polymerization. In each case, the molecular weight distribution was surprisingly narrow (M?_w/M?_n ～ 1.5). Conversion vs. time plots with monomers containing the inhibitor had the “S” shape typical of emulsion polymerizations. The terpolymer composition and molecular weight were quite uniform throughout the polymerization. With inhibitor-free monomers, the initial molecular weights were very high (～ 3 × 10⁶ Daltons), but gelation occurred at ca. 50% conversion. There was an inverse relationship between the monomer inhibitor content and the polymer molecular weight. It is suggested that the growing polymer radicals are occluded in the precipitated polymer particles and are terminated by inhibitor diffusing into the particles, accounting for the narrow molecular weight distribution. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Structure and properties of cellulose graft copolymers. II. Cellulose–styrene graft copolymers synthesized by the ceric ion method

Styrene was graft-copolymerized onto wood cellulose by the ceric ion method of Mino and Kaizerman. The grafting reaction was found to depend strongly on the concentration of ceric ion in the grafting system and maximum grafting occurred in a narrow range of concentration of initiator, 1.0 × 10^?3-1.8 × 10^?3 mol/l, at 58 ± 1°C. A pretreatment technique, developed to enhance the monomer diffusion into cellulose, was found to increase the grafting considerably. The structures of the cellulose-styrene graft copolymers were studied by hydrolyzing away the cellulose backbone to isolate the grafted polystyrene branches. The molecular weight and the molecular weight distributions of the grafted polystyrene were determined using gel permeation chromatography. The number-average molecular weight (M?_n) ranged from 23,000 to 453,000 and the polydispersity ratios (M?_w/M?_n) varied from 2.5 to 8.0. The grafting frequencies calculated from the per cent grafting and molecular weight data were of the order of 0.05–0.4 polystyrene branches per cellulose chain.     

Dynamic light-scattering characterization of the molecular weight distribution of a broadly distributed phenolphthalein poly(aryl ether ketone)

Using a recently developed laser light-scattering (LLS) procedure, we accomplished the characterization of a broadly distributed unfractionated phenolphthalein poly(aryl ether ketone) (PEK-C) in CHCl₃ at 25°C. The laplace inversion of precisely measured intensityintensity time correlation function from dynamic LLS leads us first to an estimate of the characteristic line-width distribution G(T) and then to the translational diffusion coefficient distribution G(D). By using a previously established calibration of D (cm²/s) = 2.37 ×10⁻⁴M^−0.57, we were able to convert G(D) into a differential weight distribution f_w(M). The weight-average molecular weight M_w calculated from f_w(M) agrees well with that directly measured in static LLS. Our results indicate that both the calibration and LLS procedure used in this study are ready to be applied as a routine method for the characterization of the molecular weight distribution of PEK-C. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

In-chain functionalization by alternating anionic copolymerization of styrene and 1-(4-dimethylaminophenyl)-1-phenylethylene

Anionic copolymerizations of styrene (M₁) with excess 1-(4-dimethyl-aminophenyl)-1-phenylethylene (M₂) were conducted in benzene at 25°C for 24h, using sec-butyllithium as initiator. Narrow molecular weight distribution copolymers with M?;_n = 16.1 × 10³ g/mol (M?_w/M?_n = 1.04) and 38.2 × 10³g/mol (M?_w/M?_n = 1.05), and 24 and 38 moles of M₂ per macromolecule, respectively, were characterized by size exclusion chromatography, ¹H NMR spectroscopy and DSC. The monomer reactivity ratio, r₁ = 5.6, was obtained from the copolymer composition at complete consumption of M₁, assuming that the rate constant k₂₂ =0,i.e. r₂ =0. The polymers exhibited T_g values of 128 and 119°C, respectively, which correspond to an estimated T_g = 217°C for the hypothetical homopolymer of M₂.     

Antiinflammatory polymer-bound steroids for topical applications. I. Synthesis and characterization

Covalent binding of hydrocortisone and dexamethasone to hydrophylic biocompatible macromolecular carriers through hydrolizable carbonate linkage was investigated according to two complementary strategies. (a) Radical copolymerization of hydrocortisone-²¹C-vinylcarbonate with N-vinylpyrrolidone (NVP,60°C), or N-[tris(hydroxymethyl)methyl]acrylamide (THMMA, 50°C) in dimethylacetamide solution: In spite of a nearly zero reactivity ratio for the steroid monomer which behaves as a degradative transfer agent—C_T ～ 5.7 × 10^?2 and 6.8 × 10^?3 for NVP and THMMA, respectively–this process may afford fairly high molecular weight polymers (M?_w ? 10⁴–10⁵) with high enough hydrocortisone content (0.03–0.10 mole.fraction). (b) Condensation of the hydrocortisone or dexamethasone-²¹C-chloroformates onto poly(oxyethylene glycol) (M?_n = 6220) or hydroxypropylcellulose (HPC, M?_w = 1.35 × 10⁵) in tetrahydrofuran solution (30°C): This straightforward process is of low efficiency (yields >50%), and only HPC derivatives show good chemical homogeneity.     

Melting and crystallization behavior of poly(tetrafluoroethylene). New method for molecular weight measurement of poly(tetrafluoroethylene) using a differential scanning calorimeter

Melting and crystallization behavior of virgin polytetrafluoroethylene have been studied using a differential scanning calorimeter. Following quantitative relationship was found between number average molecular weight of polytetrafluoroethylene and the heat of crystallization in the molecular weight range of 5.2 × 10⁵ to 4.5 × 10⁷: M?_n = 2.1 × 10¹⁰ ΔH_c^?5.16, where M?_n is number average molecular weight and ΔH_c is the heat of crystallization in cal/g. The heat of crystallization is independent of cooling rate ranging from 4 to 32°C/min. This relationship provides a simple rapid and reliable method for measuring the molecular weight of polytetrafluoroethylene.     

Thermal degradation of polyethylene in a nitrogen atmosphere of low oxygen content. II. Structural changes occuring in low-density polyethylene at an oxygen content less than 0.0005%

Samples of low-density polyethylene, free from additives, were heated at temperatures between 284° and 355°C under high-purity nitrogen. Changes in molecular weight distribution (MWD), molecular weight averages, and degree of long-chain branching (LCB) were followed by gel chromatography (GPC) and viscosity measurements. Other structural changes were investigated by infrared spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). At 284° and 315°C, the MWD's were shifted toward higher molecular weights and the M?_w values increased. At 333° and 355°C, the MWD's shift toward lower molecular weight, but the high molecular weight, tail is largely retained. M?_w decreases slowly at 333°C. At 355°C, M?_w undergoes a rapid initial drop which levels off. M?_w/M?_n and the degree of LCB increase with heating time and temperature. Olefinic unsaturation increases. The vinyl groups show a larger relative increase than do the trans-vinylene and vinylidene groups. At 355°C, the peak of the unimodal DSC thermogram is shifted to ～3°C higher temperature. A lower melting peak then develops, and after 72 and 90 min the two peaks are about equal in size. The density increases from 0.922 g/cm³ to 0.930 g/cm³ for samples heated at 355°C, and the weight loss was 1.5% after 90 min. A reaction scheme for the thermal degradation of polyethylene is discussed. Initiation is suggested to be accomplished by scission of allylic C? C bonds. Propagation proceeds by both intra- and intermolecular hydrogen abstraction, followed by β-scission. Termination can occur by both combination and disproportionation. Combination reactions are suggested to account for the observed formation of LCB and high molecular weight material. Due to changes in the degree of LCB during the degradation, viscometry alone will not give a proper measure of the changes in molecular weight.     

Dependence of intrinsic viscosity and molecular size on molecular weight of partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide

As a typical water-soluble polymer, ultra-high molecular weight (UHMW) partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide (HPAM) has been widely used in various industries as thickeners or rheology modifiers. However, precise determination of its critical physical parameters such as molecular weight, radius of gyration (R_g) and hydrodynamic radius (R_h) were less documented due to their high viscosity in aqueous solution. In this work, the molecular structure of five UHMW-HPAM samples with different MW was elucidated by ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy, and their solution properties were characterized by both static and dynamic light scattering. It is found that all the second virial coefficient (A₂) values are positive and approaching zero, indicating of a good solvent of 0.5 M NaCl for UHMW-HPAM. The weight-average molecular weight (M_w) dependence of molecular size and intrinsic viscosity [η] for these series of HPAM polymers with MW ranging from 4.81 to 15.4 × 10⁶ g·mol⁻¹ can be correlated as R_g = 3.52 × 10⁻²M_w^0.51, R_h = 1.97 × 10⁻²M_w^0.51, and [η] = 6.98 × 10⁻⁴ M_w^0.91, respectively. These results are helpful in understanding the relationship between molecular weight and coil size of HPAM polymers in solution, and offer references for quick estimation of molecular weight and screening of commercial UHMW-HPAM polymers for specific end-users.     

Use of a sequential extraction technique to determine the MWD of bulk UHMWPE

The molecular weight distribution (MWD) of bulk ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) was determined by an increasing temperature sequential extraction technique. Using decahydronapthalene (decalin) as the solvent, 5 g samples of UHMWPE were fractionated stepwise from room temperature to 190°C in 10°C increments. Results via high temperature capillary viscometry show that intrinsic viscosity ([η]) ranges from 12.0 to 37.0 dL/g or that the viscosity average molecular weight (M?_v) ranges from approximately 1.6 to 7.4 × 10⁶. When the integral distribution is plotted against M?_v on logarithmic probability graph paper, a straight line (i.e., a Wesslau distribution) results. Although the present methodology is tedious, many previous problems which have led to degradation are overcome by this technique.     

Evaluation of steady-state flow curves from model molecular weight distributions

Graessley's theory of entanglement was applied to several model distributions. The distribution functions chosen were such that the differential weight distributions were triangular with respect to a log molecular weight axis. The molecular weight level, breadth of the molecular weight distribution, skewness, and blending of simple distributions were studied in their effect on the steady-state flow curve. The governing factor for the shape of the reduced flow curve was shown to be M?_z+1·M?_z/M?_w². Other general features of the flow curve predicted by Graessley's theory were discussed.     

Molecular weights of natural rubbers from selected temperate zone plants

Molecular weights and molecular weight distributions are compared by gel permeation chromatography for rubbers from 33 north temperate zone plants, guayule, and Hevea. Rubbers isolated from all the northern plants had much lower weight-average molecular weight (M _w) values (9.72 × 10⁴–4.95 × 10⁵) than milled Hevea (1.31 × 10⁶) or guayule (1.28 × 10⁶) rubber. Pycnanthemum incanum, Lamiastrum galeobdolon, Monarda fistulosa, and Vernonia fasciculata produced potentially useful natural rubbers having M _w values above 4 × 10⁵ and polydispersity factors of 3.1–4.5.     

Vinyl‐type homo‐ and copolymerization of norbornene catalyzed by bis(phenoxyimine) titanium complex

A ternary catalytic system consisting of a bis(phenoxyimine) titanium complex, triisobutylaluminium and an organoboron compound exhibited high activity in the vinyl‐type homopolymerization of norbornene. The obtained polynorbornene showed a modest molecular weight (M _n ≈ 5 × 10⁴ g mol^?1) and broad molecular weight distribution (polydispersity index ≈ 3.5). A copolymer of norbornene with 1,3‐butadiene was prepared using a binary catalytic system consisting of bis(phenoxyimine) titanium complex and triisobutylaluminium. The norbornene units in the copolymer adopted a vinyl‐type addition structure confirmed using distortionless enhancement by polarization transfer 135 ¹³C NMR microstructure analyses. Polymerization kinetics studies showed that neither monomer feed ratio nor conversion had an effect on the composition of the copolymer backbone which was composed of 55% norbornene units and 45% 1,3‐butadiene units. The essentially constant polymer composition implied an alternating nature of chain propagation. The copolymer exhibited good thermal stability and moderate glass transition temperature (50.9–68.2 °C) with a relatively high molecular weight (M _w = 0.18 × 10–1.31 × 10⁵ g mol^?1), and excellent transparency (maximal transmittance >80%). © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry     

The kinetics of polyarylate hydrolytic embrittlement

The hydrolysis of polyarylate in water between 55 and 98°C was found to be a zero-order process with an activation energy of 19.2 kcal/mol, determined by changes in molecular weight. The equation for the effect of temperature on the rate of hydrolysis is ln k = 34.1 ? 10⁴/T, where k is in day^?1. The decrease in molecular weight is accompanied by a loss in ductility. The transition from a ductile to brittle failure in tension occurs at M?_w of about 35,000 and M?_n of 12,700. At 27°C (80°F) and high humidity environment this would occur after 21 years. But during injection molding, the material, if not properly dried, would embrittle in a matter of seconds.     

Free radical scavenging activity of cellulase‐treated chitosan

Partially N‐acetylated chitosan was hydrolyzed by the cheap, commercially available, and efficient cellulase. The products, with different molecular weight, were comparatively investigated by GPC, FT‐IR, XRD, and NMR. The results show that the decrease of molecular weight led to transformation of crystal structure and increase of water‐solubility, but the chemical structures of residues were not modified. Superoxide anion radical and hydroxyl radical quenching assay were used for the evaluation of free radical scavenging activity of cellulase‐treated chitosan in vitro. Low molecular weight chitosan (LMWC3, M_w 1.7 × 10³) exhibited high scavenging activity against free radical. It scavenged 79.3% superoxide radical at 0.1 mg mL^?1. At 2.0 mg mL^?1, scavenging percentage of initial chitiosan, LMWC1 (M_w 27.3 × 10³), LMWC2 (M_w 5.9 × 10³), and LMWC3 (M_w 1.7 × 10³) against hydroxyl radical was 14.3%, 33.1%, 47.4%, and 65.9%, respectively. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009     

Untersuchung des einflusses molekularer parameter auf morphologie und eigenschaften von polyethylenen niedriger dichte

Based on the example of PE-LD grades and on model substances obtained by preparative fractionation (fractions in the molecular weight range M?_w = 1.2 ? 390·10⁴ g/mol), comprehensive investigations regarding the problems of structure/properties have been carried out. The correlations of M?_w with 15 physical and application technological perameters have been investigated taking into account the reaction mechanism during the manufacturing of PE-LD in the tubular and agitated autoclave reactor, resulting in the formation of so-called primary structure perameters M?_n, M?_w, molar mass distribution, short chain branching and long chain branching. For the interpretation of the results, among other factors, also the morphological conditions have been taken into consideration, which in connection with the molecular parameters reveal — for specific M?_w-ranges — strong changes and saturation ranges, resp., for the physical and application technological properties.