Synthesis, characterization, and properties of chain terminated polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane-functionalized perfluorocyclobutyl aryl ether copolymers

A new class of perfluorocyclobutyl (PFCB) polymers covalently functionalized with polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) is presented. Three discreetly functionalized POSS monomers possessing thermally reactive trifluorovinyl aryl ether (TFVE) were prepared in good yields. The POSS TFVE monomers were prepared by initial corner-capping of cyclopentyl (-C₅H₉), iso-butyl (-CH₂CH(CH₃)₂), or trifluoropropyl (-CH₂CH₂CF₃) functionalized POSS trisilanols with acetoxyethyltrichlorosilane followed by sequential acid-catalyzed deprotection and coupling with 4-(trifluorovinyloxy)benzoic acid. TFVE-functionalized POSS monomers were thermally polymerized with 4,4′-bis(4-trifluorovinyloxy)biphenyl or 2,2-bis(4-trifluorovinyloxybiphenyl)-1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoropropane monomers via a condensate-free, [2 + 2] step-growth polymerization. The polymerization afforded solution processable PFCB polymers with POSS macromer installed on the polymer chain ends. POSS monomers and their corresponding copolymers were characterized by ¹H, ¹³C, ¹⁹F, and ²⁹Si NMR, GPC, ATR-FTIR, and elemental combustion analysis. GPC trace analysis showed agreeable number-average molecular weight for various weight percent of cyclopentyl or iso-butyl and trifluoropropyl chain terminated POSS PFCB copolymers. DSC analysis showed the introduction of increasing POSS weight percent in the endcapped PFCB copolymers lowers the glass transition temperatures as high as 31 °C. On the other hand, the trifluoropropyl POSS endcapped PFCB polymer glass transition temperature was unaffected when copolymerized with the more fluorinated 2,2-bis(4-trifluorovinyloxybiphenyl)-1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoropropane monomer. TGA analysis of POSS PFCB copolymers showed step-wise decomposition of copolymers resulting from the initial degradation of the POSS cages at 297-355 °C in nitrogen and air which was confirmed by pyrolysis coupled with GC-MS. This initial weight loss was proportional to the weight percent of POSS incorporated into the polymer. The balance of decomposition was observed at 450-563 °C in nitrogen and air which is higher than the PFCB homopolymers in most cases. Polymer surface characterization was performed on spin cast transparent, flexible films. These composite films exhibited good POSS dispersion within the matrix PFCB polymer as was shown by TEM analysis.     

The synthesis and characterization of polystyrene/magnetic polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) nanocomposites

Fc-CHCH-C₆H₆-(C₅H₉)₇Si₈O₁₂ (POSS1, Fc: ferrocene) which contain both metal and CC double bond was firstly synthesized by Wittig reaction. The chemical structure of POSS1 was characterized by FTIR, ¹H, ¹³C and ²⁹Si NMR, mass spectrometry and elemental analysis, and the magnetic property of POSS1 have also been studied. Polystyrene composites containing inorganic-organic hybrid polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS1) were prepared by bulk free radical polymerization. XRD and TEM studies indicate that POSS1 is completely dispersed at molecular level in PS matrix when 1 wt% POSS1 is introduced, while some POSS1-rich nanoparticals are present when content of POSS1 is beyond 3 wt%. GPC results show that molecular weight of the PS/POSS1 nanocomposites are increased with addition of POSS1. TGA and TMA data show the thermal stabilities of PS/POSS1 nanocomposites have been improved compared to neat PS. The PS/POSS1 nanocomposites also display higher glass transition temperatures (T_g) in comparison with neat PS. Viscoelastic properties of PS/POSS1 nanocomposites were investigated by DMTA. The results show the storage modulus (E′) values (temperature>T_g) and the loss factor peak values of the PS/POSS1 nanocomposites are higher than that of neat PS. Mechanical properties of the PS/POSS1 nanocomposites are improved compared to the neat PS.     

Influence of cross-linker concentration on the cross-linking of PDMS and the network structures formed

The cross-linking of linear di-vinyl-terminated poly(dimethylsiloxanes) (PDMS) with tetrakis(dimethylsiloxane) was studied in the presence of different concentrations of the cross-linker (H/V = ratio of Si-H groups of the cross-linker and CC bonds). The consumption of the Si-H and CC bonds was monitored simultaneously by in situ Confocal Raman Microscopy (CRM) and ATR-FTIR spectroscopy. When formulations with H/V ≥ 1.0 are cross-linked at low temperature (25 °C) in air and atmospheric humidity conditions, hydrosilylation and secondary reactions occur simultaneously at early stages of the reaction. For H/V = 1.0 the CC bonds are also consumed by side reactions.Films cross-linked from formulations with different H/V ratios were studied by NMR imaging, swelling/extraction experiments and SEM. Films cross-linked with H/V = 1.0 showed a slower magnetization decay due to the presence of a large percentage of extractable material not connected to the cross-linked network. After extraction, all the films show faster relaxation behavior, explained by the presence of two types of chemical cross-links as well as one type of physical cross-links. These cross-links result from the occurrence of hydrosilylation and secondary reactions and counterbalance each other at different H/V ratios.     

Influence of the temperature on the formation of a phenolic resol resin catalyzed with amine

The influence of the condensation temperature on the phenolic resol resin prepolymer formation was studied by liquid chromatography and carbon nuclear magnetic resonance (¹³C NMR) spectroscopy. Four resols catalyzed with triethylamine and with initial pH=8.0 and F/P=1.8 were synthesized at 60, 80, 95 °C, and reflux (98-102 °C). On increasing the condensation temperature, reactant consumption rates and first formed addition products increased, condensation times decreased as well. Prepolymer synthesized at refluxing temperatures showed higher formaldehyde addition onto ortho positions with respect to the other resols. Different types of phenolic rings connecting bonds were observed: para, para and ortho, para bridges as well as ether bonds were detected. No ortho, ortho bonds were observed for the condensation with the catalyst used. ¹³C NMR measurements did not show qualitative differences between prepolymers. Anyway, residual phenol and formaldehyde concentrations and the amount of free unreacted ortho and para positions decreased with temperature.     

Oxidation of methyl linoleate in the presence of lignin

The overall aim of this study is to develop new wood modifications using vegetable oils to obtain improved durability of wood materials in an environmentally friendly way. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopies were used to study oxidation and possible chemical coupling reactions between polyunsaturated fatty acids and model lignin compounds in order to better understand the interactions between oxidatively drying systems such as vegetable oils or alkyds with the lignin part in wood. This was done by studying mixtures of different model lignin compounds and methyl linoleate. The oxidation process was analyzed at 70 °C both in methyl linoleate alone and in combination with 20 wt% of lignin model compounds. The effects of those compounds on the oil polymerization processes were monitored by NMR (both ¹³C and ¹H experiments) and the domain specific reactivity and patterning were then combined with FT-IR data. No covalent bonds having formed between the oil and the model compounds were detected by combination of several ¹³C/¹H 2D NMR methods. From the spectra, the oxidation degrees of model compounds were calculated, and for some lignin model compounds alcohols were oxidized to carbonyls during the process. Those results were in excellent agreement with FT-IR data and oxidation mechanisms were proposed. The combination of both analytical techniques was necessary to have a better understanding of these systems: NMR demonstrated the absence of chemical bond and quantified oxidation degree of model lignin molecules while FT-IR focused on oil oxidation.     

Synthesis, characterization and ring-opening polymerization of a novel six-membered cyclic carbonate bearing pendent allyl ether group

A novel six-membered cyclic carbonate with pendent allyl ether group, 5-allyloxy-1,3-dioxan-2-one (ATMC), was synthesized from glycerol, and the corresponding polycarbonate, poly(5-allyloxy-1,3-dioxan-2-one) (PATMC) was further synthesized by ring-opening polymerization in bulk at 120 °C. Two kinds of catalyst, tin(II) 2-ethylhexanoate (Sn(Oct)₂) and immobilized porcine pancreas lipase on silica particles (IPPL), were employed to perform the polymerization. The structures of the novel monomer and the resulting functional polymers were confirmed by FTIR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, GPC and DSC. The molecular weight (M_n) of PATMC decreased rapidly with the increase of IPPL or Sn(Oct)₂ concentration. The highest molecular weight (M_n = 48,700 g/mol) of PATMC with the polydispersity of 1.31 was obtained at 0.1 wt% concentration of IPPL for 48 h. Postpolymerization oxidation reactions to epoxidize the unsaturated bonds of the PATMC were also achieved. The epoxide-containing polymers could afford facilities for further modification.     

Miscibility and viscoelastic properties of acrylic polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane-poly(methyl methacrylate) blends

We investigate the miscibility of acrylic polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSS) [characteristic size d≈2 nm] and poly(methyl methacrylate)(PMMA) in order to determine the effect of well-dispersed POSS nanoparticles on the thermomechanical properties of PMMA. Two different acrylic POSS species (unmodified and hydrogenated) were blended separately with PMMA at volume fractions up to ?=0.30. Both POSS species have a plasticizing effect on PMMA by lowering the glass transition temperature T_g and decreasing the melt-state linear viscoelastic moduli measured in small amplitude oscillatory shear flow. The unmodified acrylic-POSS has better miscibility with PMMA than the hydrogenated form, approaching complete miscibility for loadings ?<0.10. At a loading ?=0.05, the unmodified acrylic POSS induces a 4.9 °C decrease in the T_g of PMMA, far less than the 17.4 °C decrease in the glass transition temperature observed in a blend of 5 vol% dioctyl phthalate (DOP) in PMMA; however, the decrease in the glass transition temperature per added plasticizer molecule is nearly the same in the unmodified acrylic-POSS-PMMA blend compared with the DOP-PMMA blend. Time-temperature superposition (TTS) was applied successfully to the storage and loss moduli data and the resulting shift factors were correlated with a significant increase in free volume of the blends. The fractional free volume f₀=0.046 for PMMA at T₀=170 °C while for a blend of 5 vol% unmodified acrylic-POSS in PMMA f₀=0.057, which corresponds to an addition of 0.47 nm³ per added POSS molecule at ?=0.05. The degree of dispersion was characterized using both wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). Diffraction patterns for both blend systems show clear evidence of phase separation at ?=0.20 and higher, but no significant phase separation is evident at ?=0.10 and lower. The storage modulus measured in DMA indicates appreciable phase separation for unmodified acrylic POSS loadings ?≥0.10, while no evidence of phase separation is present in the ?=0.05 blend in DMA.     

The nucleophilic, phosphine-catalyzed thiol-ene click reaction and convergent star synthesis with RAFT-prepared homopolymers

The synthesis of 3-arm star polymers from reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT)-prepared precursor homopolymers in combination with thiol-ene click chemistry is described. Homopolymers of n-butyl acrylate and N,N-diethylacrylamide were prepared with 1-cyano-1-methylethyl dithiobenzoate and 2,2′-azobis(2-methylpropionitrile) yielding materials with polydispersity indices (M_w/M_n) ≤ 1.18 and controlled molecular weights as determined by a combination of NMR spectroscopy, size exclusion chromatography (SEC), and matrix assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). Subsequent one-pot reaction of homopolymer, hexylamine (HexAM), dimethylphenylphosphine (DMPP), and trimethylolpropane triacrylate (TMPTA) results in cleavage of the thiocarbonylthiol end-group (by HexAM) of the homopolymer yielding a macromolecular thiol that undergoes DMPP-initiated thiol-Michael addition to TMPTA yielding 3-arm star polymers. The presence of DMPP is demonstrated to serve an important second role in effectively suppressing the presence of any polymeric disulfide as determined by SEC. Such phosphine-mediated thiol-ene reactions are shown to be extremely rapid, as verified by a combination of FTIR and NMR spectroscopies, with complete consumption of the CC bonds occurring in a matter of min. MALDI-TOF MS and SEC were used to verify the formation of 3-arm stars. A broadening in the molecular weight distribution (M_w/M_n ∼ 1.35) was observed by SEC that was attributed to the presence of residual homopolymer and possibly 2-arm stars formed from trimethylolpropane diacrylate impurity. Interestingly, the MALDI analysis also indicated the presence of 1- and 2-arm species most likely formed from the fragmentation of the parent 3-arm star during analysis. Finally, a control experiment verified that the consumption of CC bonds does not occur via a radical pathway.     

Copolymerization behavior and properties of dimethacrylate-styrene networks

Dimethacrylate oligomers diluted with styrene (commonly known as vinyl ester resins) are important matrix resins for fiber-reinforced composites used in construction, marine craft, and transportation vehicles. These comonomers react via free radical copolymerization to yield void-free thermosets. The inter-relationships among copolymerization kinetics, physical properties of the networks, and cure temperatures for a 700 g/mol dimethacrylate oligomer with systematically varied styrene concentrations were investigated. FTIR was used to monitor the reactions of the carbon-carbon double bonds of the methacrylate (943 cm⁻¹) and styrene (910 cm⁻¹). Reactivity ratios were determined via a non-linear method at four cure temperatures. The data were analyzed using the integrated form of the copolymerization equation and assuming a terminal reactivity model to predict copolymer compositions throughout the reactions. The results indicated that at early conversion more styrene was incorporated into the networks at lower cure temperatures. The experimental vinyl ester-styrene network compositions agreed well with those predicted by the integrated copolymer equation at early and intermediate conversion. Mechanical properties of dimethacrylate-styrene networks were determined for materials cured at room temperature and at 140 °C. Materials cured at room temperature were tougher and had lower rubbery moduli than those cured at 140 °C.     

Epoxy nanocomposites with octa(propylglycidyl ether) polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane

The POSS-containing nanocomposites of epoxy resin were prepared via the co-curing reaction between octa(propylglycidyl ether) polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (OpePOSS) and the precursors of epoxy resin. The curing reactions were started from the initially homogeneous ternary solution of diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA), 4,4′-Diaminodiphenylmethane (DDM) and OpePOSS. The nanocomposites containing up to 40 wt% of POSS were obtained. The homogeneous dispersion of POSS cages in the epoxy matrices was evidenced by scanning electronic microscopy (SEM), transmission electronic microscopy (TEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) showed that at the lower POSS concentrations (<30 wt%) the glass transition temperatures (T_gs) of the nanocomposites almost remained invariant whereas the nanocomposites containing POSS more than 40 wt% displayed the lower T_gs than the control epoxy. The DMA results show that the moduli of the nanocomposites in glass and rubbery states are significantly higher than those of the control epoxy, indicating the nanoreinforcement effect of POSS cages. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) indicates that the thermal stability of the polymer matrix was not sacrificed by introducing a small amount of POSS, whereas the properties of oxidation resistance of the materials were significantly enhanced. The improved thermal stability could be ascribed to the nanoscaled dispersion of POSS cages and the formation of tether structure of POSS cages with epoxy matrix.     

A covalent organic/inorganic hybrid proton exchange polymeric membrane: synthesis and characterization

Commercial polyetheretherketone (Victrex PEEK) was sulfonated up to 90% degree of sulfonation (DS), then reacted with SiCl₄ to obtain a hybrid polymer. The product was characterized by ²⁹Si NMR and ATR/FTIR spectroscopies demonstrating the formation of covalent bonds between the organic and inorganic components. No dispersed inorganic silicon was present in the product as evidenced by the lack of any resonance at δ<−100 ppm. Despite the high DS the physicochemical properties of the hybrid were suitable for the preparation of membranes exhibiting high and stable conductivity values (10⁻² S/cm), hence suitable for application as ion exchange membrane.     

Synthesis and crystallization behaviors of highly fluorinated aromatic polyesters

Studies on fluorine containing condensation polymers are limited compared to that of fluorine containing addition polymers. In this report, highly fluorinated aromatic polyesters were synthesized by a polycondensation reaction of tetrafluorophthalic anhydride with ethylene glycol. Viscosity, solubility, thermal properties and crystallization behaviors of fluorinated polyesters were investigated using IR, ¹⁹F NMR, DSC, GPC, polarized optical microscope and rheometer. The fluorinated polyester is insoluble in most organic solvents, such as acetone, ethyl acetate, chloroform, THF, and trichloromethane. However, it is soluble in highly polar solvents, such as dimethylsulfoxide, dimethylformamide and dimethylacetamide. The fluorinated polyester (o-PETF) is a crystalline polymer with a crystallization enthalpy of 35.2 J/g and a broad crystallization temperature range from 54 to 130 °C. Average crystalline growth rate is 4.2 μm/min at 110 °C in the preliminary 30 min. Spherulite growth was observed at the temperature when the dendrites begin to melt. Crystallization property of o-PETF may be ascribed to the higher mobility of fluorinated polyester chains and dipolar contribution of carbon-fluorine bonds.     

Polyimide and polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane nanocomposites for low-dielectric applications

A novel polyimide (PI) hybrid nanocomposite containing polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) with well defined architecture has been prepared by copolymerization of octakis(glycidyldimethylsiloxy)octasilsesquioxane (Epoxy-POSS), 4,4′-oxydianiline diamine (ODA), and 4,4′-carbonyldiphthalic anhydride (BTDA). In these nanocomposite materials, the equivalent ratio of the Epoxy-POSS and ODA are adjustable, and the resultant PI-POSS nanocomposites give variable thermal and mechanical properties. More importantly, we intend to explore the possibility of incorporating POSS moiety through the Epoxy-POSS into the polyimide network to achieve the polyimide hybrid with lower dielectric constant (low-k) and thermal expansion. The lowest dielectric constant achieved of the POSS/PI material (PI-10P) is 2.65 by incorporating 10 wt% Epoxy-POSS (pure PI, k=3.22). In addition, when contents of the POSS in the hybrids are 0, 3, 10 wt% (PI-0P, PI-3P, PI-10P), and the resultant thermal expansion coefficients (TEC) are 66.23, 63.28, and 58.25 ppm/°C, respectively. The reduction in the dielectric constants and the resultant thermal expansion coefficients of the PI-POSS hybrids can be explained in terms of creating silsesquioxane cores of the POSS and the free volume increase by the presence of the POSS-tethers network resulting in a loose PI structure.     

Spontaneous polymerization and chain microstructure evolution in high-temperature solution polymerization of n-butyl acrylate

This study concerns understanding of the underlying mechanistic pathways in high temperature solution polymerization of n-butyl acrylate (nBA) in the absence of added thermal initiators. The particular system of interest is the batch polymerization of nBA in xylene at temperatures between 140 and 180 °C with initial monomer content between 20 and 40 wt%. A mechanistic process model is developed to capture the dynamics of the polymerization system. Postulated reaction mechanisms include chain-initiation by monomer (self-initiation), chain-initiation by unknown impurities, chain-propagation by secondary and tertiary radicals, intra-molecular chain-transfer to polymer (back-biting), chain-fragmentation (β-scission), chain-transfer to monomer and solvent, and chain termination by disproportionation and combination. The extent of the reactions is quantified by estimating the reaction rate constants of the initiation and the secondary reactions, based on a set of process measurements. The set of measurements considered in the parameter estimation includes monomer conversion, number- and weight-average molecular weights, and average number of chain-branches per chain (CBC). Effect of temperature on chain microstructures was observed to be most evident when microstructures are expressed in terms of their quantities per chain. The evolution of other microstructural quantities such as average number of terminal double bonds per chain (TDBC) and average number of terminal solvent groups per chain (TSGC) was then also investigated. Microstructural quantities per polymer chain (TDBC, TSGC, CBC) are defined based on combinations of ¹³C, ¹H NMR and chromatographic measurements. This study presents (i) a mechanistic explanation for the competing nature of short-chain-branch and terminal double bond formation (i.e. as temperature increases, number of chain branches per chain decreases and number of terminal double bonds per chain increases), (ii) quantitative insights into dominant modes of chain-initiation and chain-termination reactions, and (iii) mechanistic explanations for the observed spontaneous polymerization. The study also reports estimated Arrhenius parameters for second-order self initiation, tertiary radical propagation, secondary radical backbiting and tertiary radical β-scission reaction rate constants. Validation of the mechanistic process model with the estimated Arrhenius parameters and comparison of estimated parameter values to recently reported estimates are also presented.     

Synthesis and NMR studies of the polymer membranes based on poly(4-vinylbenzylboronic acid) and phosphoric acid

Proton conduction in novel anhydrous membranes based on host polymer, poly(4-vinylbenzylboronic acid), (P4VBBA) and phosphoric acid, (H₃PO₄) as proton solvent was studied. The materials were prepared by the insertion of the proton solvent into P4VBBA at different stoichiometric ratios to get P4VBBA·xH₃PO₄ composite electrolytes. Homopolymer and the composite materials were characterized by FT-IR, ¹¹B MAS NMR and ³¹P MAS NMR. ¹¹B MAS NMR results suggested that acid doping favors or leads to a four-coordinated boron arrangement. ³¹P MAS NMR results illustrated the immobilization of phosphoric acid to the polymer through condensation with boron functional groups (B-O-P and/or B-O-P-O-B). Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) showed that the condensation of composite materials starts approximately at 140 °C. An exponential weight loss above this temperature was attributed to intermolecular condensation of acidic units forming cross-linked polymer. The insertion of phosphoric acid into the matrix softened the materials shifting T_g to lower temperatures. The temperature dependence of the proton conductivity was modeled with Arrhenius relation. P4VBBA·2H₃PO₄ has a maximum proton conductivity of 0.0013 S/cm at RT and 0.005 S/cm at 80 °C.     

Atomic oxygen functionalization of double walled C nanotubes

The interaction of atomic oxygen with double walled C nanotubes at room temperature was studied by high resolution photoemission spectroscopy with synchrotron radiation. The nature of the chemical species formed on the nanotube sidewalls was followed from the initial adsorption up to advanced oxidation stages, whereas the thermal evolution of the O-related chemical species was monitored by fast photoemission. At the beginning of oxidation O atoms preferentially chemisorb forming C-O-C bonds, in ether and epoxy structures, which originate different components in the O1s spectra and exhibit different thermal stability. The onset of sp² lattice distortion is attested by the appearance of C-C bonds intermediate between sp² and sp³ configurations. The formation of double and triple C-O bonds is favored at later oxidation stages, and is accompanied by increasing lattice amorphization and decreasing emission in the Fermi level region. After annealing at 950 °C the O1s signal disappears and the presence of lattice defects emerges from the C1s line shape. This result, together with the chemical inertness of the deoxygenated nanotubes towards CO and O₂ adsorption suggests that the dangling bonds are promptly healed by thermal annealing and only stable topological defects are retained in the nanotube lattice.     

Formation of nanostructured epoxy networks containing polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) blocks

Nanostructured epoxy networks, based on DGEBA and poly(oxypropylene)diamine (Jeffamine D), containing nano-sized inorganic blocks, polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSS), were investigated. The POSS were incorporated in the network as crosslinks or as pendant units by using octa- or monoepoxy-POSS monomers, respectively, as well as diepoxides with pendant POSS. The authors focused on investigating the relationship between the network formation process and the final product properties. The reactivity of the epoxy-functional POSS monomers, the hybrid systems' time of gelation, the gel fractions and the phase structure of the networks were determined using ¹H or ¹³C NMR spectroscopy, chemorheology experiments, sol-gel analysis and transmission electron microscopy (TEM).All the POSS epoxides tested show a reduced reactivity if compared to their respective model compounds due to sterical crowding in the neighborhood of their functional groups and due to reduced epoxy group mobility. The incorporation of pendant POSS into networks of the type DGEBA-Jeffamine D-monoepoxy-POSS hence took place only in the late reaction stage. Together with the high tendency of these POSS to aggregation, the kinetics favors the formation of small nano-phase-separated POSS domains, which act as physical crosslinks due to their covalent bonds to the organic matrix. At POSS loadings higher than 70%, topological constraint by POSS leads to a strongly reduced elastic chain mobility, thus additionally strongly reinforcing the networks. The network build-up and gelation of the octaepoxy-POSS-Jeffamine D system were slow compared to the reference DGEBA-Jeffamine D network due to a low octaepoxy-POSS reactivity and due to its strong tendency to cyclization reactions with primary amines. The topology of the amino groups is shown to be very important. In contrast to monoepoxy-POSS, the octaepoxy-POSS becomes dispersed as oligomeric junctions (purely chemical crosslinks) of the network in the cured product. The octaepoxide's reinforcing effect is small and is given only by its high functionality and not by its inorganic nature. The functionality effect is reduced by the mentioned cyclizations.     

The synthesis and characterization of a super-activated carbon containing substitutional boron (BCx) and its applications in hydrogen storage

A new family of porous boron-substituted carbon (BC_x) materials with controlled structure is investigated. The chemistry involves a B-precursor polymer, i.e., poly(borachlorophenyldiacetylene), containing inorganic additives (templates). At pyrolysis <400 °C, the B-precursor engages in easy inter-chain reactions to form dark solid with high yield (>85%). Above 600 °C, the amorphous carbon-like BC_x materials containing up to 12% B have been prepared, which show an extended fused hexagonal ring structure with B-puckered curvature. This out of planar B moiety maintains its electron deficiency, due to limited π-electron delocalization, and exhibits super-activated properties to enhance H₂ binding energy (20-10 kJ/mol) and adsorption capacity. After removing the inorganic additives by water-washing, the resulting porous BC_x shows a surface area 500-800 m²/g. Evidently, the pore size distribution is directly related to melting temperature and distribution of the inorganic salts. As the temperature increases to >1400 °C, the distorted ring structure gradually flatten out to form a multi-layer (crystalline) BC_x structure. The resulting planar graphitic layer only can accommodate a reduced B content (<3% at 1800 °C) and low surface area. The B moieties also lose their acidity due to the extensive π-electron delocalization.     

Polysulfones tethered with benzimidazole

Benzimidazole units have been grafted onto a polysulfone (PSU) backbone via long alkyl thio-ether chains using a two-step procedure. In the first step, lithiated PSU was reacted with 10-undecenoyl chloride to graft PSU with undecenoyl side chains. The second step involved a free-radical thiol-ene coupling reaction between the CC bonds of the pendant undecenoyl chains and 2-(2-benzimidazolyl)ethanethiol. In this reaction, all the CC bonds were converted into thio-ether linkages without any detectable structural degradation, as confirmed by ¹H NMR spectroscopy and size-exclusion chromatography. The procedure constitutes a convenient and general pathway to attach functional or mesogenic groups to PSU via long flexible spacers. Thermogravimetry showed that the benzimidazole-functionalized polymers were stable up to 250 °C under nitrogen atmosphere, and that the first degradation step was attributed to the cleavage of the thio-ether bond. While the grafting of the undecenoyl side chains was found to significantly decrease the glass transition temperature (T_g), the subsequent tethering of the benzimidazole only slightly increased the T_g of the grafted PSU backbone. The concentration of benzimidazole was probably too low for the formation of a percolating benzimidazole domain. This explains the quite modest proton conductivity measured under completely dry conditions, e.g. 34 nS/cm at 180 °C for a polymer functionalized with 1.7 benzimidazole units per repeating unit of PSU.     

Ab initio study of the binding strength of POSS-cation complexes

Polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) is a cage-shaped molecule comprised of alternating silicon and oxygen atoms that have found increasing use as filler in polymer nanocomposites. The presence of four oxygen atoms on each face of the POSS cage suggests that the molecule forms a stable complex with a cationic atom or molecule. Although experimental evidence exists for gas-phase binding, the lack of an estimate of this binding strength makes it difficult to predict if complex formation is feasible in condensed systems. This paper presents an ab initio DFT study of the binding strength of POSS-cation complexes based on cation type, POSS cage functionalization, and the presence of a counterion. The binding strength of an unfunctionalized (i.e. with H-terminated corners) POSS molecule with a Li⁺ ion is found to be ∼80 kT at room temperature in vacuo. In a poly(styrene) solvent, the polarity of the medium is estimated to affect little this binding energy. Cyclohexyl ligand substitution is found to increase the binding strength by an additional 30 kT. In the presence of a tightly bound counterion (Cl⁻), the binding energy drops to the still substantial value of ∼20 kT. POSS is found also to bind cationic surfactants (through study of the model ⁺NH₃CH₃) at ∼25 kT, suggesting a possible new route to POSS modification to hinder agglomeration. This study supports the conclusion that POSS-cation complex formation is feasible in the presence of polymer.