Graft copolymerization of styrene onto ethylene-vinyl p-nitrobenzoate copolymer by chain transfer reaction

The effect of steric hindrance on the attack of growing polymer radicals to the reaction sites on a trunk polymer was examined in the graft copolymerization of styrene onto a trunk polymer with pendant aromatic nitro groups by chain transfer reaction of growing polymer radicals to the pendant nitro groups. The nitro groups on ethylene-vinyl p-nitro benzoate copolymer (EVNB) are more effectively utilized in the graft copolymerization than those on the vinyl p-nitro benzoate homopolymer (PVNB) previously used as a trunk polymer, because the nitro groups are distributed less frequently on the trunk polymer in the former than in the latter. This was also confirmed by the higher chain transfer constant of growing polystyrene radicals to EVNB compared to that of PVNB.     

Graft frequency of graft copolymers by chain transfer of growing polymer radicals to trunk polymers containing nitro groups

The relationship between the chain transfer constant, extent of monomer conversion, and number of branches was derived for the graft copolymerization through chain transfer of growing polymer radicals to the pendent aromatic nitro groups on the trunk polymer. The equation derived enables us to predict the number of branches for a given monomer trunk polymer. The relationship obtained is compared with the experimental data previously reported for the graft copolymerization of styrene onto poly(vinyl p-nitrobenzoate). The value of α′, the ratio of nitro groups with branches to those which are attacked by polystyrene radicals, is less than unity except for the graft copolymers obtained with high initiator concentrations and at early stages of the reaction. This lowering of α′ is attributed to the steric hindrance of branches already formed on the trunk polymer which prevents the attack of polystyrene radicals on the nitro groups and side reactions, such as reaction of the nitroso groups formed as an intermediate with styrene.     

Architecture of nanostructured polymers by segregated domain crosslinking of block‐graft copolymer micelles

Polystyrene‐block‐polyisoprene (PS‐block‐PI; high 3,4‐structure) diblock copolymer was prepared by living anionic polymerization. For transfer into a reactive intermediate, the hydroxylation of the double bonds of PI block was achieved by hydroboration, followed by oxidation. Esterification of the hydroxy‐derivative with stearoyl chloride or decanoyl chloride resulted in block‐graft copolymers composed of PS (flexible chain)‐grafted long alkane (stretched chains). After partial chloromethylation of PS block copolymer, photofunctional N,N‐diethyldithiocarbamate (DC) groups were introduced into such pendant sites by reaction with the corresponding sodium salt. We studied the self‐assemblies of photofunctional block‐graft copolymers in a selective solvent, such as heptane, and constructed nanostructured polymers by crosslinking PS cores under UV irradiation. © 2001 Society of Chemical Industry     

Self-crosslinkable graft copolymer with blocked isocyanate and other functionalities: synthesis, reactivity and application to thermoset coatings

Novel self-crosslinkable graft copolymers with complementary reactive groups, that is, a pendant blocked isocyanate in the first segment and a hydroxyl group in the second segment, were developed. In order to incorporate isocyanate functionality, m-isopenyl-,-dimethyl benzyl isocyanate (TMI) was (copolymerized with n-butyl acrylate (nBA) by radical polymerization in solution. Subsequently, a part of the isocyanate was reacted with 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate (HEA) in order to incorporate a polymerizable double bond into the copolymer molecule. After blocking the remaining isocyanate groups with methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) oxime, the polymerizable prepolymer was copolymerized with methacrylates, including hydroxyl monomers, to form the graft copolymer. Another process of preparing the graft polymer was also carried out; TMI/nBA copolymer was reacted with MEK oxime to block about 70% of isocyanate groups, then poly(ol)polymer such as poly(ester)resin was added. After the grafting reaction was completed, remaining NCOs were blocked by MEK oxime. Furthermore, by incorporating neutralizable functionalities such as carboxyl or tertiary amino groups to the second segment of the graft copolymer, self-dispersible (self-stabilized) aqueous coating vehicles were prepared. MEK oxime blocked tertiary isocyanate from TMI in the present graft polymers exhibits fairly lower deblocking temperature comparing to the similar products derived from IBM (isocyanatoethyl methacrylate) or isophorone diisocyanate-hydroxyethyl acrylate (IPDI-HEA) adduct, and hence it is possible to produce coatings curable at a lower temperature (100–120 °C) while retaining satisfactory storage stability. Owing to this curability the coatings are applicable to the products made of plastics such as components of automotives etc. Possible application to waterborne coatings is also described.     

Graft copolymerization of styrene onto poly(p-nitrophenyl acrylate) by chain transfer reaction

Styrene (St) was polymerized in the presence of poly(p-nitrophenyl acrylate) (PNPA) with azobisisobutyronitrile as an initiator to prepare graft copolymers through the chain transfer reaction of growing polystyrene (PSt) radicals to the aromatic nitro groups on PNPA. The maximum number of branches attained was 16.4 (P _n of PNPA was 1780), which corresponds to 108 monomer units per PSt branch. This is far less than the value of 43, previously obtained for poly(vinyl p-nitrobenzoate) as a trunk polymer. Therefore, several model compounds for trunk polymers were prepared, and the chain transfer constants of PSt radicals to these model compounds were determined. As a result of the Hammett plot, it is concluded that higher electron attracting property of the substituents increases the reactivity of nitro groups to the growing PSt radicals, resulting in more highly branched graft copolymers.     

Preparation of poly(4‐vinylpyrrolidone)‐g‐poly(N‐hydroxyacrylamide) and study of its metal binding properties

Crosslinked poly(N‐vinylpyrrolidone), preirradiated in air with γ rays, was grafted with ethyl acrylate in dioxane and water. A detailed study of grafting was made under various reaction conditions. The graft copolymer was treated with potassium hydroxamate in ethanol. The resulting polymer contained pendant hydroxamic acid groups ( CO NHOH) and was studied for the formation of complexes with Fe(III), Cu(II), and Ni(II). The effect of pH on the metal ion uptake by the polymer was also studied. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 77: 475–483, 2000     

Effect of grafting degree and side PEO chain length on the ionic conductivities of NBR-g-PEO based polymer electrolytes

Comb-shaped graft polymers were synthesized and complexed with a LiCF₃SO₃ salt to form a new class of polymer electrolytes. The polymers based on an acrylonitrile-butadiene copolymer (NBR) have pendant, short-chain poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) grafted onto a butadiene unit. The characteristics of these polymer electrolytes were investigated in terms of number of pendant EO groups and grafting degree in the graft copolymer. The maximum conductivity was observed at the optimum side PEO chain length, and the PEO chain length for the maximum conductivity decreased with an increase in the grafting degree. And a solid ⁷Li NMR relaxation technique was used to study the local environments and dynamics of the ions in the polymer electrolytes. The maximum conductivity value obtained from our study was three orders of magnitude higher than that of classical PEO-based electrolytes at ambient temperature. These improved low temperature conducting polymers with higher relative mechanical strength are expected to be suitable for practical applications, such as in rechargeable lithium batteries or electrochromic devices.     

Development of a new azido-oxazoline monomer for the preparation of amphiphilic graft copolymers by combination of cationic ring-opening polymerization and click chemistry

A new monomer (2-(5-azidopentyl)-2-oxazoline) bearing an azido group was synthesized. The cationic ring-opening copolymerization of this monomer with 2-methyl-2-oxazoline resulted in a well-defined linear polymer backbone with pendant azido groups. Alkynyl-poly(d,l-lactide) was grafted onto the azido groups of poly(oxazoline) via a Huisgen 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction to give a novel amphiphilic graft copolymer [poly(2-methyl-2-oxazoline-co-2-pentyl-2-oxazoline)-g-poly(d,l-lactide)] (P[(MeOx-co-PentOx)-g-LA]). Different graft copolymers were prepared with PLA of different lengths. Preliminary results of the self-association of this copolymer in water indicated the formation of nanoparticles, which suggests this copolymer may have applications as vehicles for drug delivery.     

Graft copolymerization of styrene onto poly(vinyl p-nitrobenzoate) by chain transfer reaction

To obtain highly branched graft copolymers, styrene (St) was grafted onto poly(vinyl p-nitrobenzoate) (PVNB) as a trunk polymer through the chain transfer reaction of growing polystyrene (PSt) radicals to the pendent aromatic nitro groups on the trunk polymer. The number of PSt branches increased with St concentration at constant concentrations of PVNB and azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as an initiator, and decreased with AIBN concentration at constant PVNB and St concentrations. The maximum number of branches attained was 43 (P_n of PVNB was 970), which corresponds to 23 monomer units of PVNB per PSt branch. It is confirmed from the results of infrared spectroscopy that the addition of the growing polystyrene radicals occurs not at the benzene rings but at the nitro groups on the benzene rings. Polymerization of St was also carried out in the presence of isopropyl p-nitrobenzoate (IPNB) as a model compound of PVNB. IPNB was found to retard the polymerization of styrene more strongly than PVNB. The chain transfer constant of the polystyrene radicals to IPNB was more than twice as large as that to PVNB.     

Radiation-convertible polymers from norbornenyl derivatives. Crosslinking with ionizing radiation

Vinyl polymers with pendant norbornenyl (bicyclo[2.2.1]heptenyl) groups crosslink rapidly on exposure to ionizing radiation. Analysis (according to Charlesby-Pinner theory) of extraction data from an ethylene–vinyl acetate copolymer and the corresponding ethylene–vinyl norbornenecarboxylate copolymer shows that the unsaturated polymer crosslinks by a chain reaction. At low doses, the kinetic chain length is about 4. Pendant norbornenyl groups accelerate crosslinking of a vinyl alcohol–vinyl acetate–vinyl chloride copolymer and convert poly(vinyl alcohols) and cellulose acetate from degrading to crosslinking polymers. A novel application of the Charlesby-Pinner plot strongly suggests linear dependence of the extent of crosslinking on the norbornenyl group concentration in a series of modified poly(vinyl alcohols). The greater effectiveness of pendant norbornenyl groups, compared to cyclohexenyl groups, demonstrates the importance of the reactivity of the double bond.     

Polyallene-based graft copolymer via 6-methyl-1,2-heptadien-4-ol and methyl methacrylate

A series of well-defined graft copolymers with a polyallene-based backbone and poly(methyl methacrylate) side chains were synthesized by the combination of living coordination polymerization of 6-methyl-1,2-heptadien-4-ol and atom transfer radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate. We first prepared poly(alcohol) with polyallene repeating units via 6-methyl-1,2-heptadien-4-ol by living coordination polymerization initiated by [(η³-allyl)NiOCOCF₃]₂, followed by transforming the pendant hydroxyl groups into halogen-containing ATRP initiation groups. Next, grafting-from route was used for the synthesis of the well-defined graft copolymer with excellent solubility: poly(methyl methacrylate) was grafted to the backbone via ATRP of methyl methacrylate. This kind of graft copolymer is the first example of graft copolymer via allene derivative and methacrylic monomer.     

Synthesis, characterization, and properties of a novel acrylic terpolymer with pendant perfluoropolyether segments

A novel acrylic terpolymer with pendant perfluoropolyether (PFPE) segments has been synthesized and fully characterized. By hexamethylene diisocyanate functional groups PFPE monofunctional macromonomers have been grafted on a poly(butyl methacrylate-co-hydroxyethyl acrylate-co-ethyl acrylate) random terpolymer. Such grafted copolymer behaves like an interface-active material, since the perfluoropolyether segments in solvent cast films rearrange themselves at the air-polymer interface by surface segregation. In addition, blends of the above graft copolymer with acrylic base polymers (either the terpolymer itself or a commercial copolymer) have been examined in terms of surface segregation and fluorine enrichment of the external layers.The critical surface tension, γ_c, of solid films made of the neat graft copolymer as well as of the polymer blend has been evaluated by contact angle measurements and Zisman plots. Even a small addition (5 wt%) of the fluorinated copolymer to the acrylic component has been found very effective in lowering the surface tension. The outermost surface composition has been investigated by XPS technique, confirming the strong fluorine enrichment. Furthermore, SEM and EDX analyses have been performed on cross-sectioned films, showing that in the above polymer blends macrophase surface segregation has originated a thick layer made of fluorinated copolymer close to the air-polymer interface.     

Blue light‐emitting poly(p‐phenylenevinylene) derivative with oxadiazole and carbazole pendant groups

A blue light‐emitting statistical poly(p‐phenylenevinylene) (PPV) copolymer with hole‐transporting carbazole and electron‐transporting oxadiazole pendant groups attached to the kinked m‐terphenyl unit was prepared by Heck coupling between 1,4‐divinylbenzene and dibromides. The latter were synthesized through pyrylium salts. The polymer had optical band gap of 2.89 eV and emission maximum at 446 nm in THF solution and 434 nm in thin film. It showed a pure blue emission with no aggregates or excimers formed even in solid state because of the long and bulky pendant groups. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 101: 3842–3849, 2006     

Effects of reactive reinforced interface on the morphology and tensile properties of amorphous polyamide–SAN blends

The effects of reactive reinforced interface on the morphology and tensile properties of amorphous polyamide (a-PA) and styrene-acrylonitrile (SAN) copolymer blend have been investigated using styrene maleic anhydride (SMA) copolymer as a reactive compatibilizer. The anhydride groups of SMA copolymer can react with the amine groups of polyamide and form in situ graft copolymers at the a-PA–SAN interfaces during the blend preparation. The interfacial adhesion strength of the reactive reinforced interface was evaluated quantitatively using an asymmetric double cantilever beam fracture test as a function of SMA copolymer content using a model adhesive joint. The interfacial adhesion strength was found to increase with the content of SMA copolymer and then level off. The morphological observations of a-PA–SAN (80/20 w/w) blends showed that the finer dispersion of the SAN domains with rather narrow distribution was obtained by the addition of SMA copolymer into the blends. The trend of morphology change was not in accord with that of the interfacial adhesion strength with respect to the content of SMA copolymer. However, the results of tensile properties showed very similar behavior to the case of the interfacial adhesion strength with respect to SMA content; that is, there was an optimum level of the reactive compatibilizer beyond which the interfacial adhesion strength and tensile strength did not change significantly. These results clearly reveal that tensile properties of polymer blend are highly dependent on the interfacial adhesion strength. Furthermore, it is suggested that the asymmetric double cantilever beam fracture test using a model interface is a useful method to quantify the adhesion strength between the phases in real polymer blends. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 68: 1925–1933, 1998     

Synthesis of epoxidized poly(1,3-butadiene-co-acrylic acid) resins

Summary A copolymer of 1,3-butadiene with pendant carboxyl groups 1 was conveniently transformed into the corresponding epoxidized copolymer 2 Synthesis of copolymer 2 was carried out by epoxidation of double bonds present in copolymer 1.     

Relationship between branch length and the compatibilizing effect of polypropylene‐g‐polystyrene graft copolymer on polypropylene/polystyrene blends

Three polypropylene‐g‐polystyrene (PP‐g‐PS) graft copolymers with the same branch density but different branch lengths were evaluated as compatibilizing agents for PP/PS blends. The morphological and rheological results revealed that the addition of PP‐g‐PS graft copolymers significantly reduced the PS particle size and enhanced the interfacial adhesion between PP and PS phases. Furthermore, it is verified that the branch length of PP‐g‐PS graft copolymer had opposite effects on its compatibilizing effect: on one hand, increasing the branch length could improve the compatibilizing effect of graft copolymer on PP/PS blends, demonstrated by the reduction of PS particle size and the enhancement of interfacial adhesion; on the other hand, increasing the branch length would increase the melt viscosity of PP‐g‐PS graft copolymer, which prevented it from migrating effectively to the interface of blend components. Additionally, the crystallization and melting behaviors of PP and PP/PS blends were compared. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014 , 131, 40126.     

Poly(styrene-g-ethylene oxide) copolymers as interfacial agents in immiscible polymer blends

A poly(styrene-g-ethylene oxide) copolymer with an average of 100 styrene units between the graft points is studied with respect to its interfacial activity in binary incompatible mixtures of polymers having different degrees of miscibility toward the graft copolymer components. The interfacial properties were studied by scanning electron microscopy, dynamic mechanical spectroscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry. The data obtained are compared with previously published data from a graft copolymer with the same composition but with shorter PEO branches and only 20 styrene units between them. In spite of their structure, the two graft copolymers could reduce the size of the dispersed phase in the case of athermal mixing. With a negative heat of mixing between only one graft component and the blend, the short branch graft had no effect, while the longer branch graft caused a reduction of the size of the dispersed phase. With a negative heat of mixing for the graft branches as well as for the backbone a strong compatibilizing effect was found for both types of graft copolymers. The results show that even very short parts of the backbone of a graft copolymer can contribute to compatibilization in a polymer blend, especially when the backbone has a negative heat of mixing with one of the blend components.     

Graft copolymerization of methoxypoly(ethylene glycohol) methacrylate onto polyacrylonitrile and evaluation of nonthrombogenicity of the copolymer

Methoxypoly(ethylene glycohol) methacrylate was grafted onto polyacrylonitrile in dimethylsulfoxide solution via thioamide formation, where ammonium peroxydisulfate was used as an initiator. Optimum conditions for the graft copolymerization, such as degree of thioamidation of the trunk polymer, feeding concentration of the acrylate and the trunk polymer, and temperature were examined. Also the rate of graft polymerization was found to be proportional to concentrations of the acrylate and the trunk polymer. An increase of the degree of the grafting increased water content of the graft copolymer and decreased interfacial free energy between the copolymer and water. In vivo tests showed that the graft copolymer obtained was highly nonthrombogenic.     

Preparation of polyimide/nylon 6 graft copolymers from polyimides containing ester moieties: Synthesis and characterization

Polyimide‐g‐nylon 6 copolymers were prepared by the polymerization of phenyl 3,5‐diaminobenzoate with several diamines and dianhydrides with a one‐step method. The polyimides containing pendant ester moieties were then used as activators for the anionic polymerization of molten ?‐caprolactam. In the graft copolymer syntheses, the phenyl ester groups reacted quickly with caprolactam anions at 120°C to generate N‐acyllactam moieties, which activated the anionic polymerization. The thermal stability and chemical resistance were dramatically increased by the incorporation of only 5 wt % polyimide in the graft copolymers. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 99: 309–318, 2006     

Preparation of polymers with pendant quinonoid groups and their photocrosslinking with visible light irradiation

Photosensitive polymers with pendant quinonoid groups were prepared by the reaction of p-(benzoquinon-2-ylthio) acetic acid (QTAA) or p-(p-benzoquinon-2-ylthio)benzoic acid (QTBA) with hydroxyethyl methacrylate-methyl methacrylate copolymer. The polymers showed a strong π-π^* absorption band at around 410 nm and were efficiently crosslinked by visible light irradiation. Somewhat higher photosensitivity of QTAA-bound polymer compared with that of QTBA-bound polymer suggested some contribution of intramolecular hydrogen abstraction of QTAA to the photocrosslinking.