Fast, multi-responsive microgels based on photo-crosslinkable poly(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate)

Multi-responsive microgels based on poly(2-(N,N-dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) were developed and their properties were investigated. The primary goal of this research was to speed up the stimulus-response time of the hydrogels to a level usable for actuator applications, by reducing the diffusion distance of water. The gels were prepared by a UV induced photodimerization of a copolymer of 2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate and 4-cinnamoyl-phenyl methacrylate. Patterning studies showed that these materials can be used as photo-resist materials with high resolution at short exposure times. They showed lower critical solution temperature behavior in water, as well as pH dependent solubility and swelling ratios. While 1 mm thick gels showed response times to temperature and pH-changes of several hours, Si-supported microgels of 300 nm thickness had response times in the range of only a few seconds. The copolymer was prepared by free radical copolymerization, and the reactivity ratios were determined with the extended Kelen Tudos method. Spin-coating of this copolymer on Si supports and subsequent UV-irradiation yielded microgels of variable thickness (200 nm-15 μm), which was determined by confocal scanning laser microscopy. Surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy measurements demonstrated the fast, stimuli-responsive swelling behavior, while differential scanning calorimetry gave insight into the morphology of the networks.     

Synthesis and characterization of poly(dimethylamino ethyl methacrylate)–poly(ethylene oxide)–poly(dimethylamino ethyl methacrylate) triblock copolymers

Novel, monodispersed, and well‐defined ABA triblock copolymers [poly(dimethylamino ethyl methacrylate)–poly(ethylene oxide)–poly(dimethylamino ethyl methacrylate)] were synthesized by oxyanionic polymerization with potassium tert‐butanoxide as the initiator. Gel permeation chromatography and ¹H‐NMR analysis showed that the obtained products were the desired copolymers with molecular weights close to calculated values. Because the poly(dimethylamino ethyl methacrylate) block was pH‐ and temperature‐sensitive, the aqueous solution behavior of the polymers was investigated with ¹H‐NMR and dynamic light scattering techniques at different pH values and at different temperatures. The micelle morphology was determined with transmission electron microscopy. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009     

Ultra high molar mass poly[2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate] via atom transfer radical polymerization

Well-defined high molecular weight poly[2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylates] [poly(DMAEMA)s] with molar masses up to ∼1×10⁶ g/mol were successfully synthesized via atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). This was achieved by using p-toluenesulfonyl chloride(p-TsCl)/CuCl/1,1,4,7,10,10-hexamethyl-triethylenetetramine(HMTETA) initiator/catalyst complex in methanol/water mixture. Well-controlled/‘living’ behavior was demonstrated throughout the reaction, up to high monomer conversion. The PDI value remained low at 1.26 even for a polymer with very high molecular weight at 1.1×10⁶ g/mol. We believe this is the first successful case where controlled ATRP produces a polymer with molar mass exceeding a million!     

Ultra-thin films of cationic amphiphilic poly(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) based block copolymers as surface wettability modifiers

Ultra-thin films of cationic amphiphilic block and statistical copolymers were applied on silica surfaces from aqueous solutions through electrostatic interactions, and the resulting modification in the wettability of the surfaces was studied. A copolymer series from 2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate with methyl methacrylate and butyl methacrylate was polymerized by ATRP. Subsequently, the conformation of the polymers in aqueous solutions was studied by surface tension measurements, dynamic light scattering, ¹H NMR and cryogenic transmission electron microscopy. Unimeric conformation, equilibrium micelles or frozen micellar structures were observed, depending on polymer composition and the ionic strength of the solution. The polymers were applied on silica from aqueous solutions by either spin coating or adsorption. The formed ultra-thin film surfaces were studied by AFM and water contact angle measurements. The spin-coated surfaces were highly hydrophilic with rapidly dropping contact angles, whereas the surfaces prepared by adsorption had stable water contact angles between 30-60°, depending on polymer. The difference between the spin-coated and adsorbed surfaces is explained by the formation of a monolayer in the adsorbed surfaces.     

The homo and copolymerisation of 2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate in supercritical carbon dioxide

This paper describes the free radical dispersion homopolymerisation of 2-(dimethylamino) ethyl methacrylate (DMA) and copolymerisation of DMA with methyl methacrylate (MMA) in supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO₂). The polymerisations are performed in the presence of two commercially available stabilisers, poly(dimethylsiloxane) monomethacrylate macromonomer (PDMS-mma) and the carboxylic acid terminated perfluoropolyether (Krytox 157FSL). Dry, fine powdered polymer product was produced for the copolymer under optimised conditions, but only aggregated solid is formed for homo poly(DMA). The effect of reaction time, stabiliser, copolymer composition and reaction pressure on the yield, molecular weight and morphology of the copolymers has been investigated.     

Grafting of 2-(dimethlamino) ethyl methacrylate onto gamma irradiated polypropylene fabric

Polypropylene fabric was gamma pre-irradiated at doses of 1,2 and 3 Mrads. The irradiated fabric was grafted with an aqueous solution of 2-(dimethylamino) ethyl methacrylate. The graft yield was studied as a function of the different variable conditions such as storage time, monomer concentration (10–40%), reaction time, and temperature (50, 70, 100°C). The grafted polypropylene was further quaternized with dimethyl sulphate or monochloroacetic acid. The grafted and quarternized fabrics were dyed with an acid dye. The fixation properties of the dyed samples were determined by DMF extraction. The moisture regain and mechanical properties were also measured.     

Photopolymerization of methyl methacrylate and 2-(dimethylamino) ethyl methacrylate induced by diacetoxyiodobenzene in the presence of radical inhibitors

Summary Polyvalent iodine compounds such as diacetoxyiodobenzene, (CH₃COO)₂IC₆H₅ (DAI), and bis(trifluoroacetoxy) iodobenzene, (CF₃COO)₂IC₆H₅ (BTI), are efficient initiators of cationic and radical polymerizations. To confirm the radical mechanism of DAI-induced polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and 2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA), a study has been performed in the presence of the radical inhibitor 2,3,5,6-tetrachloro-p-benzoquinone (TCQ) and its complex with triethylamine (TEA). The polymerization kinetics and the effect of irradiation intensity have been studied.     

Preparation and properties of semifluorinated block copolymers of 2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate and fluorooctyl methacrylates

Semifluorinated block copolymers of poly(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) (PDMAEMA) and poly(fluorooctyl methacrylates) (PFOMA) were prepared using group transfer polymerisation via sequential monomer addition. Wide ranges of copolymers were obtained with good control over both molecular weight and composition by adjusting the monomers/initiator ratio. The micellar characteristics of the copolymers in water and chloroform were investigated by quasi-elastic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy. The size and morphologies of micelles were greatly influenced by copolymer composition, pH, and temperature. In addition, the solubility of copolymers and the formation of water-in-carbon dioxide (W/C) microemulsions were described in terms of the cloud points. The block copolymers exhibited the excellent ability of stabilizing W/C microemulsions.     

Thermoelasticity of the poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) gel

Anomalous thermoelastic behaviour has been reported by Warren and Prins for water swollen gels of poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA) subjected to simple tension. The central feature of the assertion that the molecular deformation mechanism in this polymer differs radically from that of all other known long range elastomers has been the claim that the entropic component of the tensile load is negative (f_s < 0; $\text{f}{}_{\mathrm{e}}\text{f}\text{> 1}$) for certain temperatures in the range 30°–80°C. The experiments described here utilize a new technique to demonstrate, conversely, that the elasticity of the PHEMA gel is conventionally rubber-like in displaying a decrease in entropy on stretching. While confirming the similarity between PHEMA and other polymeric elastomers in this respect we note, however, an unusually large energy contribution to the tensile load ($\text{f}{}_{\mathrm{e}}\text{f}\text{= 0.78}$) which distinguishes PHEMA from all other elastomers for which the energy component of force has been measured. It is suggested that the hydrophilicity of the PHEMA molecule may account for this.     

Synthesis and characterization of poly[2-(10-undecenoyloxy)ethyl methacrylate]

Summary By Schotten-Baumann's esterification of poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) with 10-undecenoyl chloride a new multimonomer - poly[2-(10-undecenoyloxy)ethyl methacrylate] was prepared. Based on the results of elemental analysis, FTIR, ¹H-NMR and ¹³C-NMR spectra, the structure of the multimonomer was proposed. The thermal properties of the multimonomer were studied by DSC and TG. The rate of disappearance of double bonds in the multimonomer during UV irradiation was examined in the solid state to obtain a crosslinked product. Received: 17 September 2001/Revised version: 5 February 2002/ Accepted: 7 March 2002     

Selective betainization of 2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate residues in tertiary amine methacrylate diblock copolymers and their aqueous solution properties

2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate (DMA) was block copolymerized in turn with three other tertiary amine methacrylate comonomers, namely 2-(diethylamino)ethyl methacrylate (DEA), 2-(diisopropylamino)ethyl methacrylate (DPA) and 2-(N-morpholino)ethyl methacrylate (MEMA), using group transfer polymerization (GTP). The DMA residues of each of these diblock copolymers were selectively betainized using 1,3-propane sultone under mild conditions to yield a series of novel betaine diblock copolymers. These selectively betainized copolymers could be dissolved molecularly without co-solvents in aqueous media at room temperature, with micellization occurring reversibly on judicious adjustment of the solution pH, temperature or electrolyte concentration. In all three cases, stable block copolymer micelles were formed with betainized-DMA coronas and hydrodynamic diameters of 10-46 nm. The selective betainization of the DMA residues dramatically reduces the surface activity and increase the solubility of the tertiary amine methacrylate block copolymers (DMA-DEA, DMA-DPA and DMA-MEMA).     

Effect of molecular weight and polymer concentration on the triple temperature/pH/ionic strength-sensitive behavior of poly(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate)

Poly(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) (PDMAEMA) samples were synthesized via aqueous atom transfer radical polymerization with DP_n of 35, 151, 390, and 546 and dispersity of 1.13, 1.17, 1.20, and 1.18, respectively. All samples were exposed to temperature and pH variations at different concentration of polymer and salt (NaCl). Results indicated that cloud point (T_cl) can be controlled by changing DP_n, polymer concentration, and ionic strength of solution. According to results, T_cl of the PDMAEMA chains shifted to lower temperatures with increasing solution pH at all molecular weight ranges due to deprotonation of tertiary amine groups in polymer structure. However, higher molecular weight polymers were more sensitive to pH variation especially in alkaline media. Also, higher polymer concentration acted as driving force to decrease cloud point of samples and formation of aggregates that was more predominant for higher molecular weights at alkaline media. T_cl of PDMAEMA chains decreased with increasing ionic strength even at low pH values for low molecular weight polymers.     

Synthesis and characterisation of novel methyl methacrylate-2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate copolymer salts containing polymerisable anions

A series of copolymers containing different ratios of methyl methacrylate and 2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate has been synthesised by conventional free radical polymerisation. These copolymers have been converted into a series of novel salts by reaction with the acid monomers, methacrylic acid, methacryloyloxyethyl phosphate and vinyl phosphonic acid. The copolymers and the corresponding salts have been characterised fully by a range of spectroscopic and thermal analysis techniques. The nature of the salt has a characteristic effect on the thermal degradation of the polymer. The presence of the phosphorus monomers leads to formation of residual char, even at temperatures as high as 1000 °C.     

Anomalous sorption in poly(ethyl methacrylate)

Vapor sorption data were obtained for the ethylbenzene–poly(ethyl methacrylate) system at 120°C. Successive step-change sorption experiments carried out at two-film thicknesses indicate the presence of maxima in the sorption curves. The fractional amount of overshoot decreased as the final pressure or weight fraction of the experiment increased and as the sample thickness increased. It is proposed that the maxima in the sorption curves are caused by structural rearrangements produced by relaxation of polymer chains.     

Photoinitiated synthesis of poly(poly(ethylene glycol) methacrylate-co-diethyl amino ethyl methacrylate) superabsorbent hydrogels for dye adsorption

Random copolymers of poly(ethylene glycol) methacrylate (PEGM), and diethyl amino ethyl methacrylate (DEAEM) were synthesized at low, and high conversions by photoinitiation. Crosslinked poly(PEGM-co-DEAEM) samples were obtained, and characterized by FTIR, SEM, DSC, TGA, and elemental analyses. Swelling behavior of the copolymers revealed that the copolymers acted as superabsorbent hydrogels. The monomer reactivity ratios were calculated using Fineman Ross, Extended Kelen Tüdøs , and Mayo Lewis methods that gave r₁(PEGM) = 0.90, r₂(DEAEM) = 0.14 at low conversions. At high conversions r₁ and r₂ values were calculated as 1.01 and 0.40, respectively. Adsorption isotherms of methyl orange (MO) onto hydrogels were studied using Langmuir, Freundlich, and Temkin models. The experimental data fitted well with the Langmuir equation. The maximum adsorption capacity for MO was 212.7 mg g⁻¹ at pH = 3. The adsorption data gave best fit with the pseudo-second order kinetic model. Thermodynamic evaluation showed spontaneous nature for MO adsorption onto poly(PEGM-co-DEAEM) hydrogels. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019 , 136, 47707.     

Temperature swing adsorption of gold(III) ions on poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) gel

The possibility of temperature swing adsorption (TSA) of heavy metals on thermosensitive N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPA) gel has been examined. The NIPA gel has a high degree of affinity for Au(III) ions. The amount of Au(III) ions adsorbed on the NIPA gel is low at 10 °C and high at 50 °C, and the amount adsorbed increases in a stepwise manner with temperature around 32 °C, the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of poly(NIPA). Au(III) ions tend to be well adsorbed on shrunken gel, but are adsorbed poorly on swollen gel. The adsorption capacity of 0.637 mmol-Au/g-dry gel at 50 °C was obtained from a Langmuir-type isotherm. The NIPA gel adsorbs and desorbs Au(III) ions reversibly by TSA between 50 °C and 10 °C. In addition, the enrichment of Au(III) ions in the diluted solution through TSA was successfully conducted. To discuss the mechanism of adsorption of Au(III) ions on the NIPA gel, the adsorption of Au(III) ions on non-thermosensitive N,N-dimethylacrylamide and thermosensitive N,N-diethylacrylamide gels, which have a structure similar to that of the NIPA gel, was also investigated. These gels adsorb Au(III) ions strongly; however, the amount of Au(III) ions adsorbed is independent of the temperature.     

The limits of linear viscoelasticity in poly(methyl methacrylate) and poly(ethyl methacrylate)

The limit of linear viscoelasticity is determined for poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and poly(ethyl methacrylate) (PEMA) in uniaxial tension creep over the temperature range of 20° to T_g ?10°C. The time span covered is from 10 to 1000 sec. The linear limit is defined as the point at which the creep compliance deviates by more than 1% from its mean value in the linear viscoelastic range. For both materials, the stress limit of linear viscoelasticity falls to a minimum or plateau level at a temperature below T_g. It is suggested that the β-mechanism plays an important role in the existence of this minimum.     

Copolymerizations of 2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate with (methyl)acrylates initiated by a neutral Pd(II)-based complex

The copolymerization reactions of 2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) with methyl methacrylate (MMA), butyl methacrylate (n-BMA), methyl acrylate (MA), and butyl acrylate (n-BA), respectively, by an environmentally stable palladium acetylide Pd(PPh₃)₂(CCPh)₂ (PPP) have been investigated. PPP shows relatively high catalytic activity for these copolymerizations. Reactivity ratios of these copolymerizatins have been measured and calculated by the Kelen-Tüdös method for the first time, and their values are as follows: (1) r_DMAEMA=1.13, r_MMA=1.07; (2) r_DMAEMA=0.77, r_n-BMA=0.84; (3) r_DMAEMA=1.54, r_MA=0.09; (4) r_DMAEMA=0.71, r_n-BA=0.14. The mechanism of these copolymerizations was discussed and a radical mechanism was proposed.     

High tensibility and pH-responsive swelling of nanocomposite hydrogels containing the positively chargeable 2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate monomer

Positively chargeable nanocomposite hydrogels (NC gels) were synthesized by in situ copolymerization of acrylamide (AM) and 2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) in an aqueous suspension of hectorite clay Laponite XLS. The stability of the Laponite suspension containing DMAEMA was monitored by its transmittance, viscosity and zeta potential. The polymerization was initiated either by redox or UV radiation to fabricate the NC gels. Elongation at break and tensile strength decreased with increasing DMAEMA content in monomers up to 17 mol%. As expected from the protonation of DMAEMA, the NC gels containing more than 5 mol% DMAEMA showed pH-responsive swelling; the gels were swollen at pH < 4 and shrunken at pH > 4. In comparison with the redox-initiated NC gels, the UV-initiated NC gels possessed a more homogeneous structure with higher transmittance, better mechanical properties, and a larger equilibrium swelling ratio at pH < 4.     

Dynamic mechanical behavior of chlorosubstituted derivatives of poly(ethyl methacrylate) and poly(ethyl acrylate)

A freely oscillating torsional pendulum was used in the investigation of the influence of trichloroethyl, tetrachloroethyl, trichloromethoxyethyl, and trichloroethoxyethyl side groups on the molecular mobility in the glassy state and on the glass transition temperature of poly(meth)acrylates. All the polymers under study, which may be used as fire retardants, exhibit a simple relaxation behavior. While the parameters of the low-temperature and secondary relaxation process in the glassy state are not noticeably affected by the substituents used, the glass transition temperature T_g, increases with rising polarity and volume of side chains. The increase is larger in the series of polyacrylates, so that differences in the softening temperatures of polymethacrylates and polyacrylates having the same side chains decrease considerably with growing substitution.