‘Graft from’ polymerization on colloidal silica particles: elaboration of alkoxyamine grafted surface by in situ trapping of carbon radicals

We report in this paper an original method for the synthesis of polybutylacrylate grafted on silica particles. First, we use the Stoeber method to synthesize silica particles with a narrow size distribution. An initiator for radical-chain controlled polymerization is then grafted on the silica surface in two steps. Trimethoxysilylpropyl methacrylate (TPM) is first grafted on silica by simple condensation. Then, a alkoxyamine initiator N-tert-butyl-N-1-diethylphosphono2,2-dimethylpropyl-0,1-methoxycarbonyl ethylhydroxylamine (MONAMS) reacts with the CC double bond of the TPM to form the grafted initiator of radical polymerization. The last step is the grafting of butylacrylate. For this, we use living free radical polymerization that allows to control the molecular weight and the polydispersity of the polybutylacrylate chains. We show that this synthesis method makes it possible to obtain a colloidal suspension of silica particles having a mean size of about 88 nm, a weak polydispersity and an important grafting density of polybutylacrylate (PBA).     

Elastomer polymer brushes on flat surface by bimolecular surface-initiated nitroxide mediated polymerization

The method of formation of well-defined polymer brushes based on the nitroxide mediated polymerization (NMP) of n-butyl acrylate (BA) initiated from a self-assembled mono-layers (SAMs) of an azoic initiator in the presence of a stable nitroxide radical is described. After preliminary qualitative characterization by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, the samples were studied by ellipsometry in order to determine the dry film thickness (initiator and polymer) and the grafting density of macromolecular chains. It is demonstrated, that in the presence of stable counter radical SG1, acting as chain growth moderator, the surface initiated NMP exhibits a living/controlled character permitting to control architectural parameters (e.g. degree of polymerization) of elastomer grafted polymer chains. The possibility to use the living control character of this type of polymerization to re-initiate grafted chains in order to increase the thickness of an elastomer thin film with conservation of the brushes regime has been demonstrated.     

Nitroxide-mediated polymerization of styrene initiated from the surface of fumed silica. Comparison of two synthetic routes

Nitroxide-mediated free radical polymerization of styrene was performed from 13 nm diameter fumed silica in two steps. First, an alkoxyamine, based on N-tert-butyl-N-(1-diethylphosphono-2,2-dimethylpropyl) nitroxide (DEPN) was covalently attached onto silica. Polystyrene chains with controlled molecular weights and narrow polydispersities were then grown from the alkoxyamine-functionalized nanoparticles surface in the presence of a ‘free’ sacrificial styrylDEPN alkoxyamine. Two strategies were investigated in order to immobilize the alkoxyamine initiator on the silica surface. In a first route, we synthesized a unimolecular alkoxyamine initiator carrying triethoxysilyl end groups reactive towards the silica surface. In a second route, the alkoxylamine was formed in situ by the simultaneous reaction of a polymerizable acryloxy propyl trimethoxysilane (APTMS), azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) and DEPN used as radical trap. In both cases, the grafting of both the initiator and the polystyrene chains was characterized and quantified by several techniques which allowed us to evaluate and compare the two strategies.     

Block copolymer grafted-silica particles: a core/double shell hybrid inorganic/organic material

Hybrid inorganic/organic materials consisting of a poly(n-butyl acrylate)-b-poly(styrene) diblock copolymer anchored to silica particles were synthesized via ‘grafting from’ technique using a controlled/living free radical polymerization named stable free radical polymerization. XPS and FTIR analysis were used to control the effectiveness of the chemical modification of the silica particles. Thermal characterizations were performed by thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and by differential scattering calorimetry (DSC). The TGA permitted the determination of the quantity of grafted polymer and thus the grafting density; DSC was used to study the influence of the silica and blocks of the copolymer on their thermal behaviors. The glass transition temperature of the grafted copolymers was compared to these of free polymers or copolymers homologues.     

Graft polymerization of vinyl acetate onto silica

The free‐radical graft polymerization of vinyl acetate onto nonporous silica particles was studied experimentally. The grafting procedure consisted of surface activation with vinyltrimethoxysilane, followed by free‐radical graft polymerization of vinyl acetate in ethyl acetate with 2,2′‐azobis(2,4‐dimethylpentanenitrile) initiator. Initial monomer concentration was varied from 10 to 40% by volume and the reaction was spanned from 50 to 70°C. The resulting grafted polymer, which was stable over a wide range of pH levels, consisted of polymer chains that are terminally and covalently bonded to the silica substrate. The experimental polymerization rate order, with respect to monomer concentration, ranged from 1.61 to 2.00, consistent with the kinetic order for the high polymerization regime. The corresponding rate order for polymer grafting varied from 1.24 to 1.43. The polymer graft yield increased with both initial monomer concentration and reaction temperature, and the polymer‐grafted surface became more hydrophobic with increasing polymer graft yield. The present study suggests that a denser grafted polymer phase of shorter chains was created upon increasing temperature. On the other hand, both polymer chain length and polymer graft density increased with initial monomer concentration. Atomic force microscopy–determined topology of the polymer‐grafted surface revealed a distribution of surface clusters and surface elevations consistent with the expected broad molecular‐weight distribution for free‐radical polymerization. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 87: 300–310, 2003     

Preparation of Ni-g-polymer core–shell nanoparticles by surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization

Surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (si-ATRP) technique was successfully employed to modify Ni nanoparticles with polymer shells. ATRP initiators were covalently bonded onto Ni nanoparticle surfaces by a combination of ligand exchange and condensation reactions. Various kinds of polymers including poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and poly(n-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) were grafted from the immobilized initiators. The grated polymer shells gave Ni nanoparticles exceptionally good dispersion and stability in solvents. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and transmission electron spectroscopy (TEM) were employed to confirm the grafting and to characterize the nanoparticle core–shell structure. Gel permeation chromatography (GPC) studies of cleaved polymer chains revealed that the grafting polymerization was well controlled. The magnetic properties of Ni-g-polymer nanoparticles were also studied.     

Control of main chain structure and possibility of molecular weight control of polymer on polymerization of vinyl chloride with tert-butyllithium

The controlled polymerization of vinyl chloride (VC) with tert-butyllithium (tert-BuLi) was investigated. The polymerization of VC with tert-BuLi at −30 °C proceeded to give a high molecular weight polymer in good yield. In the polymerization of VC −30 to 0 °C under nearly bulk, the relationship between the M_n of polymers and polymer yields gave a straight line passed through the origin, but the M_w/M_n of PVC was not narrow. When CH₂Cl₂ was used as polymerization solvent, the M_n of PVC increased with the polymer yield, and the M_w/M_n of 1.25 was obtained. Structure analysis of the resulting polymers indicates that the main chain structure could be regulated in the polymerization of VC with tert-BuLi. Accordingly, a control of molecular weight of polymer and main chain structure is possible in the polymerization of VC with tert-BuLi.     

Poly(l-lactide) brushes on magnetic multiwalled carbon nanotubes by in-situ ring-opening polymerization

Biodegradable poly(l-lactide) (PLLA) has been covalently grafted onto the surface of magnetic multiwalled carbon nanotubes (m-MWCNTs) by in-situ ring-opening polymerization of lactide. The content of grafting PLLA can be controlled by adjusting the feed ratio of monomer to m-MWCNTs. FT-IR and Raman spectroscopy confirm that PLLA have been covalently attached to the sidewalls of m-MWCNTs. Thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) indicates that the composites of PLLA grafted m-MWCNTs have a polymer weight percentage of ca. 25.6-33.7 wt%. The scanning eletron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) are utilized to image the PLLA grafted m-MWCNTs, showing relatively uniform polymer layer coated on the surface of m-MWCNTs. The composites of PLLA grafted m-MWCNTs exhibit superparamagnetic behavior at room temperature and are aligned under a low magnetic field.     

Ability of nitrones of various structures to control the radical polymerization of styrene mediated by in situ formed nitroxides

The ability of several nitrones to control the radical polymerization of styrene at 110 °C has been investigated by high-throughput experimentation. The nitrone/free radical initiator pair dictates the structure of the nitroxide and the alkoxyamine formed in situ, which determines the position of the equilibrium between the active and the dormant species operating in the nitroxide-mediated polymerization. For the styrene polymerization to be controlled, the nitrone must be reacted with 2,2′-azo-bis-isobutyronitrile (AIBN) at 85 °C, prior to addition of styrene and polymerization at 110 °C. The effect of the nitrone structure on the kinetics of the styrene polymerization has been emphasized. Amongst all the nitrones tested, those of the C-phenyl-N-tert-butylnitrone (PBN) type are the most efficient in terms of polymerization rate, control of molecular weight and polydispersity. Electrophilic substitution of the phenyl group of PBN by either an electrodonor or an electroacceptor group has only a minor effect on the polymerization kinetics. Importantly, the polymerization rate is not governed by the thermal polymerization of styrene but by the alkoxyamine formed in situ during the pre-reaction step. The initiation efficiency is, however, very low, consistent with a limited conversion of the nitrone into nitroxide and alkoxyamine.     

Surface-initiated nitroxide-mediated radical polymerization of 2-(dimethylamino)ethyl acrylate on polymeric microspheres

2-(Dimethylamino)ethyl acrylate (DMAEA) was grafted from the surface of alkoxyamine-functionalized crosslinked poly(styrene-co-chloromethylstyrene) microspheres by nitroxide-mediated radical polymerization (NMRP). Latex particles (∼60 nm diameter) bearing chloromethyl groups were synthesized by emulsion polymerization. N-tert-butyl-N-(1-diethyl phosphono-2,2-dimethylpropyl)nitroxide (SG1) was then immobilized on the particle surface. Microspheres grafted with the homopolymer pDMAEA, as well as block copolymers poly(styrene-b-DMAEA) and poly(butyl acrylate-b-DMAEA) were prepared by surface-initiated NMRP in N,N-dimethylformamide at 112 °C, with the addition of free SG1 to ensure that control is maintained. Particle size increases with number average molecular weight (M_n) of untethered polymers. The polymerizations exhibit linear first order kinetic plots and slight curvature of evolution of M_n with conversion. The functional microspheres were analyzed by infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy and thermal analysis, as well as their dispersibility in water; the results support the formation of surface-grafted pDMAEA on the microspheres.     

Effect of nitrobenzene on initiator-fragment incorporation radical polymerization of divinylbenzene with dimethyl 2,2′-azobisisobutyrate

The polymerization of divinylbenzene (DVB) with dimethyl 2,2′-azobisisobutyrate (MAIB) was conducted at 70 and 80 °C in benzene in the presence of nitrobenzene (NB) as a retarder. When the concentrations of DVB, MAIB, and NB were 0.45, 0.50, and 0.50 mol/l, respectively, the polymerization proceeded without any gelation to yield soluble polymers. The polymer yield (up to 65%) and the molecular weight (M_n=1.5-4.2×l0⁴ at 70 °C and 1.3-3.9×l0⁴ at 80 °C) increased with time. The polymer formed in the polymerization at 80 °C for 4 h consisted of the DVB units with (4 mol%) and without double bond (41 mol%), methoxycarbonylpropyl group as MAIB-fragment (48 mol%), and NB unit (7 mol%). Incorporation of such a large number of the initiator-fragments as terminal groups in a polymer molecule indicates that the polymer is of a hyperbranched structure. The polymer showed an upper critical solution temperature (40 °C on cooling) in an acetone-water [14:1 (v/v)] mixture. The results of MALLS and viscometric measurements and TEM observation supported that the polymers formed in the present polymerization have a hyperbranched structure. The polymerization system at 70 °C involved an ESR-observable nitroxide radical formed by the addition of polymer radical to the nitro group of NB. The polymerization was kinetically investigated in dioxane. The initial polymerization rate (R_p) at 70 °C was expressed by R_p=k[MAIB]^0.5[DVB]^0.9[NB]^−0.4. The kinetic results were explained on the basis of the reversible addition of polymer radical to NB and the termination between the polymer radical and the nitroxide radical. The overall activation energy of the polymerization was 27.8 kcal/mol.     

Postgrafting of vinyl polymers onto hyperbranched poly(amidoamine)-grafted nano-sized silica surface

To prepare polymer-grafted nano-sized silica with hydrophilic core and hydrophobic shell and with higher percentage of grafting, the postgraft polymerization of vinyl polymers onto hyperbranched poly(amidoamine)-grafted (PAMAM-grafted) nano-sized silica initiated by the system consisting of Mo(CO)₆ and terminal trichloroacetyl groups of PAMAM-grafted silica was investigated. The introduction of trichloroacetyl groups onto PAMAM-grafted silica surfaces was readily achieved by the reaction of trichloroacetyl isocyanate with terminal amino groups of PAMAM-grafted silica. It was found that the polymerization of vinyl monomers, such as methyl methacrylate (MMA), styrene, and glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) was successfully initiated by the system consisting of Mo(CO)₆ and terminal trichloroacetyl groups of PAMAM-grafted silica. In the polymerization, the corresponding vinyl polymers were effectively postgrafted onto PAMAM-grafted silica, based on the propagation of polymer from surface radicals formed by the reaction of terminal trichloroacetyl groups with Mo(CO)₆: the percentage of PMMA postgrafting onto PAMAM-grafted silica reached to 400% after 30 min, but the formation of gel was observed after 35 min. The formation of gel tends to decrease by use of hyperbranched PAMAM-grafted silica with higher percentage of grafting. The vinyl polymer-postgrafted nano-sized silica gave a stable colloidal dispersion in various organic solvents.     

Graphene oxide modification with graft polymers via nitroxide mediated radical polymerization

We demonstrate a method to modify the surface of graphene oxide (GO) by grafting polymer chains using nitroxide mediated radical polymerization (NMRP). Surface modification by NMRP was achieved using GO functionalized with 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-piperidine 1-oxyl (TEMPO, T) to produce graphene oxide-TEMPO (GO-T). GO prepared from graphite by the Hummer's method was facilely functionalized in one step with T. Graft polymerization reactions of styrene and isoprene were carried out using nitroxide chemistry to control the polymerization and the ‘grafting from the surface’ polymerization technique. GO-T acts as a multifunctional macroalkoxyamine initiating and controlling the polymerization in the presence of monomer. The grafting reactions were performed by dispersing GO-T in dimethylformamide and heating at 130 °C in the presence of monomer to form graphene oxide-g-polystyrene-TEMPO (GO-g-PS-T) and graphene oxide-g-polyisoprene-TEMPO (GO-g-PI-T). FT-IR, Raman, XPS, XRD, TGA and TEM data are consistent with the attachment of the TEMPO group to the GO surface and with polystyrene and polyisoprene being grafted onto the GO surface. The amount of PS and PI grafted to GO-T was estimated from TGA data to be approximately 34% for a 7 h reaction time and 68% for a 144 h reaction time, respectively.     

Hydrophilic polymer supports grafted by poly(ethylene glycol) derivatives via atom transfer radical polymerization

In this study, a newly structured hydrophilic polymer supports are prepared by the chemical modification (grafting) of the polystyrene-based preformed beads via atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) employing the CuBr/PMDETA catalyst system. Hydrophilic monomers including N,N-dimethylacrylamide (DMA) and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) macromonomers were grafted onto Merrifield type resin. Based on optical microscopic data, the particle sizes of the resins were increased in the order of 10 μm after the polymerization. This increment indicated that monomers are grafted not only to the particle surface but also to within a polymer matrix. These resins demonstrate well-swellability in polar solvent, and they enable high functional loadings up to 0.7-1.8 mmol g⁻¹. The high loading capacity in polar solvents and favorable mechanical properties of resins render them to have great potential applications in peptide and oligonucletide syntheses.     

Modification of silica nanoparticles with hydrophilic sulfonated polymers by using surface-initiated redox polymerization

Sulfonated polymer/silica hybrid nanoparticles were prepared by free radical polymerization of 2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propane sulfonic acid (PAMPS-g-SN) and styrene sulfonic acid sodium salt (PSSA-g-SN), initiated on the surfaces of aminopropyl-functionalized silica nanoparticles (ASN). Ce(IV) ammonium nitrate/nitric acid and sodium dodecyl sulfate were used as redox initiator and stabilizer, respectively. ASN Nanoparticles were synthesized by a covalently attached 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane onto the surface of silica nanoparticles. Sulfonated monomers (AMPS or SSA) were then grafted onto the ASN nanoparticles, ultrasonically dispersed in water, using redox initiator system at 40?°C. ASN, PAMPS-g-SN and PSSA-g-SN nanoparticles were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), thermogravimetry, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analyses. FTIR and TGA results indicated that both AMPS and SSA monomers were successfully grafted onto the silica nanoparticles. The grafted amounts of sulfonated polymers onto the silica nanoparticles were estimated from TGA thermograms to be 46 and 22?% for PAMPS and PSSA, respectively. From SEM and TEM micrographs, the average-diameters of the polymer-grafted silica nanoparticles were measured to be <50?nm with a (semi)spherical morphology, in which several silica nanoparticles were able to form a core with PAMPS or PSSA existing around the silica nanoparticles.     

Preparation of high PMMA grafted particle SiO2 using surface initiated free radical polymerization

In this work, a convenient surface-initiated free radical graft-polymerization method, by which polymethacrylic acid (PMAA) with a high grafting density was grafted on silica gel particles, was put forward, and it was feasible and effective. The coupling agent γ-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (AMPS) was first bound onto the surfaces of silica gel particles, obtaining the modified particles AMPS-SiO₂. So a redox initiation system was constituted with the amino groups on the surfaces of AMPS-SiO₂ particles and ammonium persulphate in the solution. A great deal of primary free radicals on the surfaces of AMPS-SiO₂ particles is produced via the redox initiating reaction, so that the surface-initiated free radical graft- polymerization of methacrylic acid (MAA) on the silica gel particles was realized, giving the grafted particles PMAA/SiO₂ with a high grafting degree (about 30 g/100 g) of PMAA. The effects of the main factors on the surface initiated graft polymerization were examined and the corresponding mechanism was investigated in depth. The experimental results show that for this surface-initiated free radical graft-polymerization of MAA, the suitable temperature is 40 °C. If the temperature is over 40 °C, the graft polymerization will be affected negatively, and the grafting degree of PMAA will decline because of the intense heat decomposition of ammonium persulphate. During the graft polymerization, the grafted polymer layer that has formed is a hindrance to the subsequent graft polymerization. The used amount of initiator and the monomer concentration affect the graft polymerization greatly. The appropriate reaction conditions are as follows: reaction time of 10 h, initiator persulphate amount of 1.1% (it implies the mass percent of the monomer), and monomer MAA concentration of about 5% (it drives at the mass percent of the solution).     

Controlled atom transfer radical polymerization of MMA onto the surface of high-density functionalized graphene oxide

We report on the grafting of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) onto the surface of high-density functionalized graphene oxides (GO) through controlled radical polymerization (CRP). To increase the density of surface grafting, GO was first diazotized (DGO), followed by esterification with 2-bromoisobutyryl bromide, which resulted in an atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) initiator-functionalized DGO-Br. The functionalized DGO-Br was characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Raman, and XRD patterns. PMMA chains were then grafted onto the DGO-Br surface through a ‘grafting from’ technique using ATRP. Gel permeation chromatography (GPC) results revealed that polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) follows CRP. Thermal studies show that the resulting graphene-PMMA nanocomposites have higher thermal stability and glass transition temperatures (T_g) than those of pristine PMMA.     

Functional polymers supported on porous silica. II.Radical polymerization of vinylbenzyl chloride from grafted precursors

Vinylbenzyl chloride was chosen as a model monomer for grafting a functional polymer onto silica carrying radical active precursors, such as monomer, transfer agent or initiator, previously grafted onto silica via a suitable coupling agent. The grafting efficiency was studied as a function of the texture of the initial silica, the nature of the active precursor and the polymerization conditions. Evidence for grafting was obtained from FTIR and ²⁹Si CP-MAS NMR spectra, and the thickness of the grafted layer was estimated from surface area and porosimetry measurements. From molecular weight measurements of nongrafted polymer it can be deduced that there is a trend toward the elongated conformation of the grafted polymer. Attempts to separate the grafted polymer through digestion of the silica with HF, failed to give a soluble linear polymer except when the active precursor was a transfer agent; in the two other cases a crosslinked polymer with a low crosslink density was obtained, which kept the morphology of the initial silica.     

Viscoelastic properties and morphological characterization of silica/polystyrene nanocomposites synthesized by nitroxide-mediated polymerization

Polystyrene (PS) chains with molecular weights comprised between 15,000 and 60,000 g/mol and narrow polydispersities were successfully grown from the surface of silica nanoparticles by nitroxide-mediated polymerization (NMP). Small angle X-ray scattering was used to characterize the structure of the interface layer formed around the silica particles, and at a larger scale, dynamic light scattering was used to determine the hydrodynamic diameter of the functionalized silica suspension. In a second part, blends of PS-grafted silica particles and pure polystyrene were prepared to evaluate the influence of the length of the grafted PS segments on the viscoelastic behavior of the so-produced nanocomposites in the linear viscoelasticity domain.Combination of all these techniques shows that the morphology of the nanocomposite materials is controlled by grafting. The steric hindrance generated by the grafted polymer chains enables partial destruction of the agglomerates that compose the original silica particles when the latter are dispersed either in a solvent or in a polymeric matrix.     

Thermosensitive copolymer synthesized by controlled living radical polymerization: Phase behavior of diblock copolymers of poly(N‐isopropyl acrylamide) families

In this study, we prepared a series of thermosensitive polymers with low polydispersity index (PDI) values by nitroxide‐mediated controlled radical polymerization (NMRP) with 2,2,6,6‐tetramethyl‐1‐piperdinyloxy nitroxide (TEMPO) as a stable nitroxide‐free radical. Poly(N‐isopropyl acrylamide) (PNIPAAm)‐block‐poly(N‐tert‐butyl acrylamide) (PNTBA) was successfully synthesized, first, through polymerization with N‐isopropyl acrylamide to obtain the reactive polymer PNIPAAm‐TEMPO and, second, through polymerization by the addition of N‐tert‐butyl acrylamide (NTBA). The added molar fraction of NTBA during the second polymerization was adjusted accordingly to obtain the final polymerization product, a thermosensitive polymer (PNIPAAm‐block‐PNTBA), which had a targeted lower critical solution temperature (LCST). The result shows that the synthesis method used in this study effectively controlled the formation of the polymer to obtain a low PDI. The thermosensitive block copolymer, PNIPAAm‐b‐PNTBA (molar ratio = 9:1), with LCSTs in the range 27.7–39.8°C, was obtained through controlled living radical polymerization with PNIPAAm–TEMPO. Specifically, the 5 wt % aqueous solution of PNIPAAm‐b‐PNTBA (molar ratio = 9:1) had an LCST of 37.4°C; this was close to body temperature, 37°C. The 5 wt % aqueous solution of PNIPAAm‐b‐PNTBA (molar ratio = 9:1) showed potential for use in biomedical applications. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016 , 133, 43224.