Preparation of star polymers based on polystyrene or poly(styrene-b-N-isopropyl acrylamide) and divinylbenzene via reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer polymerization

Star polymers based on styrene/divinyl benzene (St/DVB) and PSt-b-poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide) (NIPAAM)/DVB have been successively prepared by ‘arm-first’ method via reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. The linear macro RAFT agent PSt-SC(S)Ph was prepared by RAFT polymerization of St using benzyl dithiobenzoate and AIBN as RAFT agent and initiator. Successive RAFT polymerization of NIPAAM with PSt-SC(S)Ph as macro RAFT agent to afford diblock copolymer, PSt-b-PNIPAAM-SC(S)Ph. The coupling reactions of PSt-SC(S)Ph or PSt-b-PNIPAAM-SC(S)Ph in the presence of DVB produced the star copolymers, C(PSt)_n or C(PSt-b-PNIPAAM)_n. The molar ratio of DVB/PSt-SC(S)Ph and polymerization time influenced the yields, molecular weight and distribution of the star-shaped polymers, which was characterized by ¹H NMR and IR spectra, GPC measurements as well as DLS.     

Using dilatometry in the reversible addition fragmentation transfer polymerization of N-(S)-(−)-α-methylbenzyl methacryloylamine

Optically active polymers were prepared using reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer polymerization (RAFT) of N-(S)-α-methylbenzylmethacryloylamine (N-(S)-α-MBMA), a functional optically active monomer. RAFT polymerizations were carried out at 70 °C in ethanol using AIBN as a thermal initiator and benzyl or (1-phenyl)ethyl dithiobenzoate (BDB and PEDB, respectively) as the RAFT agents. The kinetic study was performed by dilatometry. Plots of conversion vs time indicated that the polymerizations followed first order kinetics. ¹H NMR, IR, and UV–vis spectrophotometric studies confirmed the presence of thiocarbonylthio moieties (−SCS-) in the polymer chains. The molecular weight distributions (MWDs) were moderately narrow with polydispersity indices between 1.3 and 1.6, which indicated that the control of the reaction was not completely achievement using BDB or PEDB as RAFT agents. The optical activity [α]_D²⁵ measurements of synthesized polymers by RAFT did not show a noticeably linear increase dependence with respect to molecular weight, as was previously reported for another controlled free radical polymerization (CRP) system.     

Synthesis and characterization of H-shaped copolymers by combination of RAFT polymerization and CROP

A novel trithiocarbonate, S,S′-bis(1-(((5-ethyl-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxane-5-yl)methoxy)carbonyl)propyl) trithiocarbonate (CTA-H), was synthesized in the presence of the anion-exchange resin with OH⁻ form. And then it was used as the chain transfer agent in RAFT polymerizations of styrene (St), the polymers with controllable molecular weights and narrow molecular weight distributions were synthesized. After the terminal acetonide groups was deprotected in the presence of a cation-exchange resin with H⁺ form, the polystyrene (PSt) with two hydroxyl groups in both chain ends was easily afforded. Then it was used as macro initiator in the cation ring open polymerization (CROP) of 1,3-dioxepane (DOP), and the well-defined H-shaped block copolymers, (PDOP)₂PSt(PDOP)₂, were successfully prepared. The H-shaped structure was characterized by its IR, GPC and ¹H NMR spectra, and also those of the hydrolysis products.     

Dihydroxyl-terminated telechelic polymers prepared by RAFT polymerization using functional trithiocarbonate as chain transfer agent

A novel reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) agent, S,S′-bis(2-hydroxylethyl-2′-butyrate)trithiocarbonate (BHEBT), was first successfully synthesized in the presence of an anion-exchange resin with OH⁻ form, and then it was used as chain transfer agent in RAFT polymerizations of styrene or methyl acrylate, the dihydroxyl-terminated polymers with controlled molecular weights and narrow molecular weight distributions were produced, which was confirmed by GPC, ¹H NMR spectra and kinetic analysis. Furthermore, these obtained telechelic polymers with trithiocarbonate group in the middle of the chains were used as macro chain transfer agents in the further RAFT polymerizations, and well-defined telechelic dihydroxyl-terminated triblock copolymers have been prepared successively. The structures were confirmed by their IR and ¹H NMR spectra.     

Reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer polymerizations of styrene with two novel trithiocarbonates as RAFT agents

Two novel reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) reagents bearing functional groups, S,S′-bis(9-anthrylmethyl) trithiocarbonate (BATTC) and S,S′-bis(1-naphthylmethyl) trithiocarbonate (BNTTC) were synthesized and used for the RAFT polymerizations of styrene (St). The polymerization results showed that the RAFT polymerizations could be well controlled using BNTTC or BATTC as the RAFT agents. For example, the polymerization rates were of first-order with respect to the monomer concentration, and the molecular weights of the obtained polystyrenes (PS) with narrow molecular weight distributions increased linearly with the monomer conversions and were close to their theoretical values in the presence of BNTTC or BATTC. The successful reaction of chain extension and analysis of ¹H NMR spectra confirmed the existence of the functional anthracene or naphthalene groups at the chain end of the correspondingly obtained PS. Optical properties of the obtained PS were characterized by fluorescence and UV absorption. Photochemical properties of the obtained PS end capped with anthracene were also described under irradiation of UV light.     

Molecular-weight-controlled polymerization of styrene with Mn(acac)3 in combination with organic halides

Summary The control of molecular weight of polymers in polymerization of styrene (St) with manganese(III) acetylacetonate [Mn(acac)₃] in the presence of organic halides (RX) in toluene at 80°C was investigated. In the polymerizations of St with Mn(acac)₃ in combination with benzyl bromide (BzBr) as RX, the molecular weight of the polymer increased with polymer yields, and the relationships between the molecular weight of polymer and polymer yield gave a straight line passing through the original point. However, the molecular weight distribution was not narrow, but kept almost constant (M_w/M_n was about 2) throughout the polymerization. The mechanism of the polymerization of St with Mn(acac)₃-BzBr was also discussed. Received: 18 December 2000/Revised version: 19 April 2001/Accepted: 25 April 2001     

Synthesis and self-assembly behaviors of three-armed amphiphilic block copolymers via RAFT polymerization

The novel trifunctional reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) agent, tris(1-phenylethyl) 1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triyl trithiocarbonate (TTA), was synthesized and used to prepare the three-armed polystyrene (PS₃) via RAFT polymerization of styrene (St) in bulk with thermal initiation. The polymerization kinetic plot was first order and the molecular weights of polymers increased with the monomer conversions with narrow molecular weight distributions (M_w/M_n ≤ 1.23). The number of arms of the star PS was analyzed by gel permeation chromatography (GPC), ultraviolet visible (UV-vis) and fluorescence spectra. Furthermore, poly(styrene-b-N-isopropylacrylamide)₃ (PS-b-PNIPAAM)₃, the three-armed amphiphilic thermosensitive block copolymer, with controlled molecular weight and well-defined structure was also successfully prepared via RAFT chain extension method using the three-armed PS obtained as the macro-RAFT agent and N-isopropylacrylamide as the second monomer. The copolymers obtained were characterized by GPC and ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra. The self-assembly behaviors of the three-armed amphiphilic block copolymers (PS-b-PNIPAAM)₃ in mixed solution (DMF/CH₃OH) were also investigated by high performance particle sizer (HPPS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Interestingly, the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of aqueous solutions of the three-armed amphiphilic block copolymers (PS-b-PNIPAAM)₃ decreased with the increase of relative length of PS in the block copolymers.     

Co γ-irradiation-initiated RAFT polymerization of VAc at room temperature

In this work, the reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization of vinyl acetate (VAc) was successfully performed at room temperature using ⁶⁰Co γ-irradiation as the initiation source. Under the dose rate of 10 Gy/min irradiation, the polymerization proceeded smoothly and converted approximately 90% of the monomer within 7 h. The molecular weight distribution (M_w/M_n) remained narrow (M_w/M_n < 1.35) up to 90% conversion. Compared to AIBN-initiated RAFT polymerization at 60 °C, ⁶⁰Co γ-irradiation-initiated RAFT polymerization is a technique that can better control the molecular weight, especially at high conversion. The ¹H NMR spectra and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry confirmed that most of the chain ends of poly(VAc) (PVAc) from γ-irradiated RAFT polymerization were living and can be reactivated for chain-extension reactions. The microstructures of PVAc from ⁶⁰Co γ-irradiated RAFT polymerization (almost head-to-tail addition) and AIBN-initiated RAFT polymerization (5% tail-to-tail addition) were different, as revealed by the ¹³C NMR spectra. For the first time, ⁶⁰Co γ-irradiation was used as an initiation source for RAFT polymerization of VAc at room temperature.     

Synthesis of chemically amplified photoresist polymer containing four (Meth)acrylate monomers via RAFT polymerization and its application for KrF lithography

KrF photoresist polymers (PASTMs) were prepared via reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. Four (meth)acrylates with lithographic functionalities including styrene (St), 4-acetoxystyrene (AST), 2-methyl-2-adamantyl methacrylate (MAMA), and tert-butyl acrylate(TBA) were used as monomer components and 2-methyl-2-[(dodecylsulfanylthiocarbonyl) sulfanyl]propanoic acid (MDFC) was used as RAFT agent, varying the RAFT content could modulate molecular weight. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H NMR) indicated that the synthesis was successful. Gel permeation chromatography (GPC) showed that the molecular weight decreased with the increased content of MDFC, and all the polymers possessed weight-average molecular weight below ten thousand and polydispersity less than 1.32. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) characterized the thermal properties, the results implied that initial thermal decomposition temperature reached 200 °C, which could satisfy the lithography process. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) showed that the Tg decreases with molecular weight. The RAFT polymerization kinetics plots demonstrated that the polymerization was first-order, the number-average molecular weights of the polymers with relatively low polydispersity index values increased with total monomer conversions indicating that the concentration of growing radicals was constant throughout the polymerization process. The narrow molecular weight distribution and composition uniformity of the polymers prepared by RAFT polymerization could be beneficial for lithography, after alcoholysis, lithography evaluation under KrF lithography showed that this homogeneous polymer photoresist exhibited better space and line (S/L) pattern with resolution of 0.18 μm according to the SEM image.     

Synthesis of triblock copolymer having alternating structures and kinetics study on RAFT‐mediated bulk,miniemulsion and seed miniemulsion polymerizations

We have conducted reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerizations of styrene (St) and maleic anhydride (MAh) and n‐butyl acrylate (BA) to produce a well‐defined triblock copolymer having alternating structure, P(St‐alt‐MAh)‐b‐PSt‐b‐PBA, via bulk, miniemulsion and seed miniemulsion polymerizations. The polymerization kinetics and living characters were investigated. The results followed by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) showed that bulk and miniemulsion polymerizations exhibited controlled nature such as narrow polydispersity index (PDI), controlled molecular weight, and first‐order polymerization kinetics, whereas triblock copolymer owned a rather wider PDI. Comparison of GPC RI and UV traces revealed that alternating copolymer and diblock copolymer have a very high percentage of living chains. For seed miniemulsion polymerization, when the molecular weight of triblock copolymer is more than 36,000 g/mol, the formation of homopolymer of BA resulted in broadening of PDI. ¹H NMR method was used to identify the compositions of block copolymers. Differential scanning calorimetry analysis showed that the copolymers exhibited distinct glass temperatures. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2011. © 2011 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Novel Tertiary Amino Containing Blinding Composite Membranes via Raft Polymerization and Their Preliminary CO2 Permeation Performance

Facile synthesis of poly (N,N-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate) (PDMAEMA) star polymers on the basis of the prepolymer chains, PDMAEMA as the macro chain transfer agent and divinyl benzene (DVB) as the cross-linking reagent by reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization was described. The RAFT polymerizations of DMAEMA at 70 °C using four RAFT agents with different R and Z group were investigated. The RAFT agents used in these polymerizations were dibenzyl trithiocarbonate (DBTTC), s-1-dodecyl-s''-(α,α''-dimethyl-α-acetic acid) trithiocarbonate (MTTCD), s,s''-bis (2-hydroxyethyl-2''-dimethylacrylate) trithiocarbonate (BDATC) and s-(2-cyanoprop-2-yl)-s-dodecyltrithiocarbonate (CPTCD). The results indicated that the structure of the end-group of RAFT agents had significant effects on the ability to control polymerization. Compared with the above-mentioned RAFT agents, CPTCD provides better control over the molecular weight and molecular weight distribution. The polydispersity index (PDI) was determined to be within the scope of 1.26 to 1.36. The yields, molecular weight, and distribution of the star polymers can be tuned by changing the molar ratio of DVB/PDMAEMA-CPTCD. The chemical composition and structure of the linear and star polymers were characterized by GPC, FTIR, ¹H NMR, XRD analysis. For the pure Chitosan membrane, a great improvement was observed for both CO₂ permeation rate and ideal selectivity of the blending composite membrane upon increasing the content of SPDMAEMA-8. At a feed gas pressure of 37.5 cmHg and 30 °C, the blinding composite membrane (Cs: SPDMAEMA-8 = 4:4) has a CO₂ permeation rate of 8.54 × 10⁻⁴ cm³ (STP) cm⁻²∙s⁻¹∙cm∙Hg⁻¹ and a N₂ permeation rate of 6.76 × 10⁻⁵ cm³ (STP) cm⁻²∙s⁻¹∙cm∙Hg⁻¹, and an ideal CO₂/N₂ selectivity of 35.2.     

Controlled synthesis of thermoresponsive polymer via RAFT polymerization of an acrylamide containing l-proline moiety

Reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization of N-acryloyl-l-proline methyl ester (A-Pro-OMe) was investigated in order to find suitable conditions to achieve controlled synthesis of amino acid-based polymers with pre-determined molecular weight, narrow polydispersity, well-defined chain end structure, and characteristic thermoresponsive property. The effect of various parameters, such as chain transfer agent (CTA)/initiator ratio, solvent, and temperature, on RAFT polymerization of A-Pro-OMe was examined using benzyl dithiobenzoate as a CTA. Chain-end structure of the resulting poly(A-Pro-OMe) was confirmed by ¹H NMR analysis, MALDI-TOF mass spectroscopy, and chain extension experiment. Thermally induced phase separation behaviors of poly(A-Pro-OMe)s prepared by RAFT and conventional free radical polymerizations were also studied in aqueous solution.     

Rapid ambient temperature living radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate and styrene utilizing sodium hypophosphite as reducing agent

A facile, safe, and inexpensive reducing agent, sodium hypophosphite (NaH₂PO₂·H₂O), has been successfully used to perform ambient temperature living radical polymerizations of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and styrene (St). The rapid radical polymerizations were readily obtained at 25°C, i.e., MMA reached a conversion of ca 90% after 2.5 h, and St reached a conversion of ca 80% after 40 h. The polymerizations of MMA and St exhibited excellent living/controlled nature, as evidenced by pseudo first‐order kinetics of polymerization, linear evolution of molecular weights with increasing monomer conversions, and narrow molecular weight distributions. The various experimental parameters—ligand, solvent, and molar ratio of NaH₂PO₂·H₂O to CuSO₄·5H₂O—were varied to improve the control of polymerization, molecular weight, and molecular weight distribution. ¹H NMR analyses and chain‐extension reactions confirm the high chain‐end functionality of the resultant poly(methyl methacrylate) and polystyrene. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 42123.     

双硫酯作为链转移剂的苯乙烯本体聚合研究

研究了二硫代苯甲酸苄基酯（BDB）、二硫代苯甲酸苯乙基酯（PEDB）及二硫代苯甲酸异丙苯基酯（CDB）三种RAFT试剂作为链转移剂的苯乙烯本体聚合。动力学研究表明,当BDB及PEDB浓度和偶氮二异丁腈（AIBN）浓度同时增大时,AIBN浓度提高所导致的聚合反应速率提高起主导作用：当CDB和AIBN浓度同时提高时,CDB浓度提高所导致的聚合速率降低作用影响更显著。对CDB体系,随转化率提高分子量分布变宽。对BDB体系,当其浓度较高时,随转化率提高分子量分布变窄;当其浓度较低时,不利于实现可控,活性聚合,反应后期分子量分布变宽。动力学和GPC分析均表明以BDB为链转移剂时苯乙烯本体聚合的可控性最好。在同时考虑链转移剂和引发剂作用的基础上,提出了修正的聚合物分子量预测模型,该模型可有效预测以双硫酯为链转移剂的苯乙烯RAFT聚合体系的分子量。     

Preparation and Characterization of Anthracene End-Capped Polystyrene via Reversible Addition-Fragmentation Chain Transfer Polymerization

Summary A novel benzodithioate compound with an anthracene structure (anthracen-9-ylmethyl benzodithioate, AMB) was synthesized. Using AMB as the chain transfer agent, the RAFT polymerizations of styrene with AIBN as an initiator were carried out in difference reaction conditions. The polymerization results showed that AMB was an effective RAFT agent for the RAFT polymerizations of styrene with the characteristics of “living”/controlled free radical polymerization. The structure of the obtained polymers was characterized by ¹H NMR. The results showed that the polymers contained an anthrancene moiety of AMB in the end and showed enhanced fluorescence property than AMB in DMF solution. The chain extension experiments of the obtained polymer with two different monomers (styrene and methyl acrylate) were successfully carried out.     

Synthesis and characterization of diethyl-dithiocarbamic acid 2-[4-(2-diethylthiocarbamoylsulfanyl-2-phenyl-acetyl)-2,5-dioxo-piperazin-1-yl]-2-oxo-1-phenyl-ethyl ester as new reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer agent for polymerization of ethyl methacrylate

Diethyl-dithiocarbamic acid 2-[4-(2-diethylthiocarbamoylsulfanyl-2-phenyl-acetyl)-2,5-dioxo-piperazin-1-yl]-2-oxo-1-phenyl-ethyl ester as a novel di-functional reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) agent was synthesized based on 2,5-diketopiperazine. The RAFT agent was designed based on the propagating core (R group) approach and characterized by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, FT-IR, elemental analysis, and melting point technique. Then, ethyl methacrylate was synthesized via free radical and RAFT polymerizations. To investigate the effect of the RAFT agent on the kinetic of polymerization, molecular weight, and polydispersity index (PDI) of polymers and also monomer conversion were monitored. Also, synthesized polymers were characterized by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, FT-IR, and TGA. Characterization analyses of synthesized RAFT agent were consistent with the structure. NMR and FTIR analyses confirmed end group incorporation of RAFT agent into polymer structure. According to results, poly(ethyl methacrylate) with low PDI (1.14) was obtained. Kinetic study indicated well-controlled polymerization of ethyl methacrylate by synthesized RAFT agent. TGA results showed that RAFT agent could reduce termination reactions and so reduce head-to-head bonds and chain-end unsaturation by keeping the concentration of radicals low enough.     

RAFT Polymerization of Methyl Acrylate in Carbon Dioxide

Summary: Reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerizations of methyl acrylate (MA) in solution containing either 22 vol.‐% CO₂ or toluene were performed at 80 °C and 300 bar using cumyl dithiobenzoate (CDB) at concentrations between 1.8 × 10^?3 to 2.5 × 10^?2 mol · L^?1 as the RAFT agent. Product molecular weight distributions and average molecular weights indicated the successful control of MA polymerization in CO₂, even at low CDB concentrations. RAFT polymerization rates were strongly retarded by CDB and were lower in CO₂ than in toluene solution. The enhanced fluidity associated with the addition of CO₂ to the polymerizing system provided access to mechanistic details of RAFT polymerization. The data of the present study into MA, together with our recent results on RAFT polymerization of styrene in solution of CO₂ and of toluene, suggest that self‐termination of intermediate RAFT radicals is responsible for retardation in case of high concentrations of this intermediate and in case of enhanced fluidity, which may be achieved by polymerization in solution of CO₂.

     

Synthesis of linear isotactic-rich poly(p-methylstyrene) via cationic polymerization coinitiated with AlCl3

Cationic polymerizations of p-methylstyrene (pMS) with H₂O/AlCl₃/triphenylamine (TPA) or triethylamine (TEA) initiating system were carried out in mixed solvents of n-hexane and dichloromethane at ?80 ～ ?50 °C. The effects of TPA or TEA concentration, solvent polarity, polymerization temperature and time on monomer conversion, number-average molecular weight (M_n), molecular weight distribution (MWD, M_w/M_n), stereoregulatity and crystallinity of poly(p-methylstyrene) (PpMS) were investigated. The stereospecific cationic polymerization of p-methylstyrene could be achieved and high molecular weight (M_n = 116,000 ～ 436,000 g mol^?1) polymers with isotactic-rich segments (more than 75% of meso dyad) along macromolecular chains could be successfully synthesized. A possible mechanism for stereospecific cationic polymerization of pMS was proposed. The propagation proceeded via the dominant back-side attack and insertion of monomer from the growing ion paired species. The steric course of propagation was mainly determined by the tightness of the growing ion paired species and steric hindrance in counteranion. The resulting isotactic-rich PpMS could form crystal morphology with 10 ～ 30 μm in size by flow-induced crystallization under pressure at 180 °C. A possible model for the aligning mechanism was sketched to describe crystallization and to explain the multi-melting peaks and lower glass transition temperatures of PpMS. This is the first example of stereospecific cationic polymerization of p-methylstyrene to get crystallizable polymers with such high molecular weights and isotacticity.     

Preparation of controlled molecular weight and narrow distribution HALS and its application

A polymerizable hindered amine light stabilizer (HALS) 1,2,2,6,6-pentamethyl-piperidin-4-yl acrylate (PMPA) was synthesized, and it was copolymerized with styrene to prepare poly(St-co-PMPA) by reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. The reaction conditions, such as chain transfer agent (CTA)/initiator ratio, monomer/CTA ratio, and St/PMPA ratio, were found to affect the polymerization reaction. Poly(St-co-PMPA) with high molecular weight and narrow distribution could be obtained under suitable conditions. The molecular weight is about 3.0 × 10³ to 5.0 × 10³ and the molecular weight distribution is about 1.07 to 1.25. The result showed that PMPA was effectively added to the polymer chain and the polymerizations were found to proceed in controlled fashions under a lower conversion. Moreover, the tensile strength and notched impact strength of ABS/poly(St-co-PMPA) are significantly improved, respectively, after 800-h UV irradiation, which was both higher than that of pure ABS. The results showed that poly(St-co-PMPA) was an effective high molecular weight HALS.     

One-pot synthesis of hyperbranched polymers using small molecule and macro RAFT inimers

Two novel RAFT inimers, small molecule inimer 2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl 4-cyano-4-(phenylcarbonothioylthio)pentanoate (MAE-CPP) and macro inimer PMMA-MAE-CPP were synthesized and used to prepare hyperbranched polymers via RAFT polymerization without the use of a divinyl cross-linker. The hyperbranched polymers synthesized included copolymers of MAE-CPP with styrene, copolymers of the macro inimer PMMA-MAE-CPP with styrene and the homopolymerization product of the macro inimer PMMA-MAE-CPP. The spectroscopic characteristics and polymerization kinetics of these RAFT polymers obtained under different polymerization conditions were systematically studied and the results compared with those obtained from the corresponding linear RAFT polymerizations as well as from hyperbranched polymerizations performed in the presence of a divinyl cross-linker which are reported in literature. The RAFT methodology reported here for the preparation of hyperbranched polymers is simpler than those reported previously using a divinyl cross-linker and provides good control over the hyperbranched polymers without the formation of insoluble gels.