Surface morphology evolution of poly(styrene-block-4-vinylpyridine) (PS-b-P4VP)(H) and poly(methyl methacrylate)-dibenzo-18-crown-6-poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMCMA) supramolecular film

Well-ordered nanostructured polymeric supramolecular thin films were fabricated from the supramolecular assembly of poly(styrene-block-4-vinylpyridine) (PS-b-P4VP)(H⁺) and poly(methyl methacrylate)-dibenzo-18-crown-6-poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMCMA). A depression of cylindrical nanodomains was formed by the block of P4VP(H⁺) and PMCMA associates surrounded by PS. The repulsive force aroused from the incompatibility between the block of P4VP(H⁺) and PMCMA was varied through changing the molecule weight (M_w) of PMCMA, the volume fraction of the block of P4VP(H⁺), and annealing the film at high temperature. Increasing the repulsive force led to a change of overall morphology from ordered nanoporous to featureless structures. The effects of solvent nature and evaporation rate on the film morphology were also investigated. Further evolution of surface morphologies from nanoporous to featureless to nanoporous structures was observed upon exposure to carbon bisulfide vapors for different treatment periods. The wettability of the film surface was changed from hydrophilicity to hydrophobicity due to the changes of the film surface microscopic composition.     

Temperature-dependent interaction parameters of poly(methyl methacrylate)/poly(2-vinyl pyridine) and poly(methyl methacrylate)/poly(4-vinyl pyridine) pairs

Temperature-dependent interaction parameters (α) of poly(methyl methacrylate)/poly(2-vinyl pyridine) (PMMA/P2VP) pair and PMMA/poly(4-vinyl pyridine) (PMMA/P4VP) pair were obtained from the SAXS profiles at various temperatures, and curve fitting to the random phase approximation theory. For this purpose, symmetric P2VP-block-PMMA and P4VP-block-PMMA copolymers were synthesized anionically. The molecular weights of both block copolymers were controlled to exhibit the disordered state over the entire experimental temperatures. We found that the value of α for PMMA/P4VP was larger than PMMA/P2VP, similar to polystyrene (PS)/poly(vinyl pyridine) pairs. However, the difference between in α between PMMA/P2VP and PMMA/P4VP was much smaller than that between PS/P2VP and PS/P4VP. This might be attributed to the hydrophilic PMMA block compared with hydrophobic PS block. Finally, the order-to-disorder transition temperature for symmetric P2VP-block-PMMA copolymers was determined by small angle X-ray scattering and birefringence methods.     

Thermal properties of novel supramolecular polymer networks based on poly(4-vinylpyridine) and disulfonic acids

Novel supramolecular polymer networks were prepared by the reaction of poly(4-vinylpyridine) (P4VP) with 1,5-naphthalenedisulfonic acid (NDS), 1,3-propanedisulfonic acid (PDS), or adipic acid (AA). The IR and XPS analyses of the polymer networks revealed that the P4VP/NDS complex has a higher ionic interaction between pyridinium cation and sulfonate anion than the P4VP/PDS complex, and that hydrogen bonding interaction between pyridine and carboxylic acid predominantly contributes for the P4VP/AA complex. When the glass transition temperatures of P4VP and P4VP/proton donor (1/1) complexes are compared, the higher order was P4VP/NDS>P4VP/PDS>P4VP>P4VP/AA, in agreement with a higher degree of ionic interaction. The P4VP/PDS complex had a melting endothermic peak in the DSC thermograms, which was not observed for the P4VP/NDS complex. The thermal decomposition temperature of the P4VP complexes is also investigated in relation to the intermolecular interaction.     

The compatibilizing effect of poly(styrene-co-4-vinylpyridine) copolymers on the polystyrene–polyethylene-based ionomer blends

The compatibilizing effect of styrene-co-4-vinylpyridine (SVP) random copolymers on the immiscible polystyrene (PS)–polyethylene-based ionomer (Surlyn) blends was examined by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and tensile test. For the binary SVP–Surlyn and ternary PS–Surlyn–SVP blends, the domain size of dispersed phase decreases dramatically with the increase in the vinyl pyridine (VP) content of the SVP copolymers. The mechanical properties are improved with increasing the VP content in copolymers. FTIR results suggest that the compatibilization in this blend system is attributed to the ion–dipole interaction between the polar VP groups of SVP copolymer and ionic groups of Surlyn. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 69: 807–816, 1998     

Low dielectric constant nanoporous poly(methyl silsesquioxane) using poly(styrene-block-2-vinylpyridine) as a template

Low dielectric constant nanoporous poly(methyl silsesquioxane) (PMSSQ) was prepared through the templating of an amphiphilic block copolymer, poly(styrene-b-2-vinylpyridine) (PS-b-P2VP). The experimental and theoretical studies suggest that the intermolecular hydrogen bonding interaction is existed between the PMSSQ precursor and PS-b-P2VP. The result of modulated differential scanning calorimeter (MDSC) indicates the miscible hybrid of the PMSSQ precursor/PS-b-P2VP. The miscible hybrid and the narrow thermal decomposition of the PS-b-P2VP lead to nanopores in the prepared films from the results of transmission electronic microscopy (TEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). The effects of the loading ratio and the PS block volume ratio (f_PS: 0.74, 0.46 and 0.35) on the morphology and properties of the prepared nanoporous PMSSQ films were investigated. The AFM and TEM studies suggest that the uniform pore morphology should be prepared from a modest porogen loading level for the optimum intermolecular hydrogen bonding. The PS-b-P2VP with a smaller f_PS requires a higher loading level to obtain the uniform pores. The refractive index and dielectric constant of the prepared nanoporous films could be tuned by the loading ratio in the range of 1.361-1.139 and 2.359-1.509, respectively. However, both properties are independent of the f_PS. The prepared study demonstrates the control of the morphology and properties of the nanoporous films through the polymer structure.     

Characterization and catalytic performance of poly(4-vinylpyridine) supported on mesoporous carbon: comparison with poly(4-vinylpyridine) supported on mesoporous silica

In this study, the synthesis of poly(4-vinylpyridine) (P4VP) supported on mesoporous carbon (CMK-3) by in situ polymerization of 4-vinylpyridine in the presence of CMK-3 has been investigated. The structural properties of the P4VP/CMK-3 were investigated by FT-IR, XRD, BET, TGA, SEM and TEM techniques. The catalytic activity of this new heterogeneous basic catalyst was tested for Knoevenagel reaction. Excellent yields at room temperature in aqueous media and solvent-free conditions were obtained. The catalytic activity of this purely organic hybrid catalyst was compared with P4VP/SBA-15 to clarify the advantages of mesoporous carbon on mesoporous silica as support. The results showed that the stability of P4VP/CMK-3 was excellent and could be reused 10 times without much loss of activity in Knoevenagel reaction. Surprisingly, the composite prepared by mesoporous carbon showed much higher activity than that of P4VP/SBA-15. This unique result opens new perspectives for application of mesoporous carbons as structurally defined hydrophobic catalyst support in catalytic reactions.     

Block polymers of poly(para-xylelene) and polystyrene or poly(vinyl pyridine) prepared by anionic polymerization

Anionic polymerization of para-xylelene, p-X, may be initiated in solution at a low temperature (～?70°C) by electron-transfer process. The spontaneous formation of diradicals through dimerization of p-X monomers is too slow at these temperatures to initiate the radical polymerization of p-X. The anionic polymerization yields a living poly(p-xylelene) which is capable of growing further by the addition of vinyl pyridine, VP. In this way block polymers PVP-P_pX-PVP were prepared. Alternatively, the addition of p-X monomers to living polystyrene, PS, or living poly(vinyl pyridine), PVP, yields at low temperatures the block polymers P_pX-PS-P_pX or P_pX-PVP-P_pX. The block polymers prepared by this approach were isolated and characterized. Even small blocks of P_pX attached to polystyrene or poly(vinyl pyridine) make the resulting polymers insoluble in boiling solvents below 200°C.     

Ionic conductivity of swollen LDPE/poly(4-vinylpyridine) blend

Summary LDPE/P4VP films synthesized by in situ sorption and thermal polymerization of 4-vinylpyridine, (4VP), were used for conductivity investigations. The conductivities of swollen films varied from 7×10⁻⁶ to 1.21×10⁻³ S.cm⁻¹ at room temperature depending on P4VP mass increase in the host matrix. For the temperature range of 303–333K the conductivity varied from 7×10⁻⁶ to 2.66×10⁻³ S.cm⁻¹. A comparison between Arrhenius and VTF plots for conductivity measurements showed a best fit for temperature dependence according Arrhenius modified equation. The materials are stable for temperatures below 645 K. Received: 8 June 2001/ Revised version: 14 January 2002/ Accepted: 15 January 2002     

The study of hydrogen bonding and miscibility in poly(vinylpyridines) with phenolic resin

The hydrogen bonding and miscibility behaviors of poly(2-vinylpyridine) (P2VP) or poly(4-vinylpyridine) (P4VP) with phenolic resin were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). These blends have a single glass transition over the entire composition range indicating that these blends are able to form a miscible phase due to the formation of inter-molecular hydrogen bonding between hydroxyl of phenolic and pyridine ring of poly(vinylpyridines). Furthermore, FTIR studies on the hydrogen-bonding interaction between the hydroxyl group of phenolic and pyridine ring of poly(vinylpyridines) at various compositions and temperatures indicate that the greater inter-association for P4VP than P2VP due to the steric hindrance effect on specific interaction between these two polymers. Finally, inter-association equilibrium constants of phenolic/P2VP and phenolic/P4VP blends were determined by model compounds.     

Self-assembly of segmented polyurethane and poly(4-vinylpyridine) in solution

Summary Poly(tetrahydrofuran) (PTHF) reacted with toluene diisocyanate (TDI) to form a prepolymer. Such a prepolymer was extended by 2,2-hydroxymethyl butanoic acid (DMBA) to form a segmented polyurethane with carboxyl (PUc) consisting of alternating soft and hard segments, where carboxyls are distributed only along the hard segments. By using static and dynamic laser light scattering (LLS) as well as atomic force microscopy (AFM), we have investigated the self-assembly of the PUc and poly(4-vinylpyridine) (P4VP) in tetrahydrofuran/chloroform mixed solvent. Our experiments show that the PUc and P4VP form a stable assembly with a size of 59–122 nm due to the H-bonding, depending upon the PUc (COOH) concentration. The LLS and AFM measurements demonstrate the assembly is spherical.     

Synthesis of cross-linked poly(4-vinylpyridine) and its copolymer microgels using supercritical carbon dioxide: Application in the adsorption of copper(II)

Compared with conventional precipitation polymerization method, cross-linked poly(4-vinylpyridine) (P4VP) and its microgels copolymerized with α-methacrylic acid (MAA) were synthesized through a new route of stabilizer-free polymerization in supercritical fluids. The yellow, dry, fine powders were directly obtained from precipitation polymerization of 4-vinylpyridine in supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO₂) at pressures ranging from 70.0 to 230 bar, using N,N′-methylenebisacrylamide as cross-linker. The effects of the reaction pressure, cross-linker ratio, initiator concentration, and reaction time were investigated. The capacity of this microgel for adsorption of copper(II) was also studied. At higher cross-linker concentrations, a high yield of the cross-linked P4VP microgel was generated in scCO₂, and its particle size was less than 300 nm. Polymerization of cross-linked P4VP in scCO₂ was extremely sensitive to the density of the continuous phase. The adsorption followed the Langmuir isotherm. The adsorption capacities of cross-linked P(4VP-co-MAA) and cross-linked P4VP were 47.2 and 26.9 mg g⁻¹, respectively.     

Higher-order structural analysis of bacterial poly[(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate-co-(R)-3-hydroxyhexanote] highly oriented films

Bacterial poly[(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate-co-(R)-3-hydroxyhexanoate] (PHBH) highly oriented films were prepared by the combination of roll and uniaxial drawing processes. The change in the higher-order structure of PHBH films was investigated by wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) and small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). Extended films, which show superior mechanical properties and high ductility, have complicated structures. By roll extension, both deformed and undeformed spherulites co-exist, the former inclined to the direction perpendicular to the film surface. The latter were destroyed by further uniaxial extension. The tie-molecules between uniaxially oriented lamellae were extended and transformed to the β-form with a planar zig-zag conformation. Three kinds of structures, c-axis parallel to the uniaxial drawing direction, c-axis inclining to the normal vector of the film surface, and the β-form between lamellae, are intermingled in the film.     

Effect of mechanical treatments on orientation behavior and spectral properties of azoderivative dyes incorporated in poly(vinyl alcohol) films

Various azoderivative dyes were incorporated in uncolored poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVOH). One type of film was obtained by drying the layer of solution cast on glass plate. The other type was obtained by rubbing the PVOH layer before complete drying. Linear birefringence and dichroism of dyed polymer films were investigated as a function of stretching degree. An increase in the linear birefringence was found with increasing stretching degree for both uncolored and colored films. Dichroism of the PVOH films depends on the dye chemical structure and also on the stretching degree of both non-rubbed and rubbed and dyed PVOH samples. Molecular modeling was used to examine interactions occurring between PVOH and the embedded dye molecule. These stretching degree dependencies were approximated mathematically, which was used to describe the behavior of some components of interference filters.     

Pervaporation of nonaqueous ethanol azeotropes through interpenetrating polymer network membranes prepared from poly(4-vinylpyridine) and poly(vinyl alcohol)

Highly hydrophilic interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) membranes were prepared from a mixture system of poly(4-vinylpyridine) (P4VP) and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) by quaternizing crosslinking of P4VP with 1,4-dibromobutane (DBB) and simultaneous crosslinking of PVA with hexamethylene diisocyanate (HMDI). The membrane performance in pervaporation (PV) for the azeotropic mixture of ethanol with a less polar organic liquid (chloroform, benzene, carbon tetrachloride, and cyclohexane) was investigated. The strength of these IPN membranes was higher than that of the cellulose acetate membrane and depended on the membrane composition. All the membranes were ethanol permselective for the azeotropic feeds and equimolar mixture feeds as well. Only the swelling degree Q of the membrane, among several physicochemical factors, showed a relationship with the separation performance for the four feeds; a lower value of Q generally corresponded to a higher separation factor and smaller permeability. The membrane composition, which exhibited an optimum membrane performance, was examined in detail for some membranes. Both the separation factor for sorption and that for diffusion far exceeded unity, but the latter was greater in most cases than was the former and dominated the overall separation. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 82: 2729–2738, 2001     

Unique orientation textures formed in miscible blends of poly(vinylidene fluoride) and poly[(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate]

The oriented crystallization of poly[(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate] (PHB) in the miscible blends with poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) was investigated with various compositions. The PVDF/PHB blend films were prepared by solution casting and subsequent melt-quenching in ice water. Oriented films of the blends were prepared by uniaxially stretching the melt-quenched film at 0 °C in ice water using a hand-operated stretching apparatus. The oriented blend films were heat-treated at a fixed length in order to crystallize PHB in the oriented state. The crystal orientation and the lamellar textures of the obtained samples were studied with wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD), and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), respectively. The SAXS measurements showed that a considerable amount of molecular chains of PHB are excluded from the lamellar stacks of PVDF and exist in the interfibrillar regions in the oriented films of the blends. The cold crystallization of PHB in the interfibrillar region results in the orientation of PHB crystals, and the type of crystal orientation depends upon the composition of the blends. For the PVDF/PHB=4/6-7/3 blends, the crystal a-axis of PHB is highly oriented parallel to the drawing direction and the crystal c-axis (molecular chain axis) in PHB crystals is perpendicular to the drawing direction, i.e. orthogonal to the chain axis of the crystals of PVDF. It is considered that the a-axis orientation is induced by the confinement of crystal growth in the interfibrillar nano-domains. For the PVDF/PHB=2/8-3/7 blends, however, the crystal c-axis of PHB is primarily oriented in the drawing direction, suggesting that the stressed molecular chains of PHB are crystallized with the molecular orientation retained.     

Miscible blends of poly(vinyl phenyl ketone hydrogenated) and poly(styrene-co-4-vinylpyridine)

Miscibility behavior over a wide composition range was detected for polymer blends of poly(vinyl phenyl ketone hydrogenated) (PVPhKH) with poly(styrene-co-4-vinylpyridine) (PS-co-4VPy). Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermo mechanical analysis (TMA) reveal that each composition has only one glass transition temperature. The variation of the glass transition temperature with composition for PVPhKH/PS-co-4VPy miscible blends follows the Gordon-Taylor equation. FTIR analysis of this binary system indicates the existence of hydrogen bonding between pyridine ring of PS-co-4VPy and hydroxyl groups insert into PVPhKH. This specific interaction has a decisive influence in the phase behavior of PVPhKH/PS-co-4VPy blends.     

Crystallization and orientation behaviors in isotactic polystyrene and poly(2,6-dimethylphenylene oxide) blends

The crystallization and orientation behavior in the miscible iPS/PPO blends were studied aiming at producing oriented materials consisting of iPS crystals and amorphous PPO chains. Oriented films of iPS/PPO blends were prepared by drawing the melt-quenched blend films. The films were heat-treated under constraint at the drawing temperature so as to crystallize the molecular chains of iPS in the oriented state. The crystallinity and the crystal orientation in the drawn annealed films were studied by the wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD), and the orientation behaviors of molecular chains were analyzed by polarized FTIR spectroscopy. WAXD diagrams show the presence of the highly oriented crystalline structure of iPS in the drawn annealed films of pure iPS and iPS/PPO=7/3 blend. The polarized FTIR spectra of drawn annealed films suggest that the molecular orientation of the amorphous chains of PPO and iPS is markedly relaxed by the heat treatment, although the orientation of iPS with 3₁ helical structure was retained during the oriented crystallization. It was concluded that the drawn annealed samples of the iPS/PPO=7/3 blend consist of highly oriented iPS crystals and nearly isotropic amorphous materials. The mechanical properties of the oriented iPS/PPO blends were measured not only in the stretching direction but also perpendicular to the stretching direction. It was shown that the ultimate strength in the perpendicular direction is 4-5 times higher in the drawn annealed film of iPS/PPO=7/3 blend than in the drawn annealed iPS. The improvement in the vertical strength in the blend is discussed in relation to the structural characteristics of the iPS/PPO blend.     

Synthesis and characterization of microphase separated primary amine functionalized polystyrene-b-poly(2-vinylpyridine)

Microphase separated block copolymers containing primary amine functionalities would have applications in sensors, templates, anti-microbial surfaces and cell scaffolds. Primary amines allow for a variety of different click chemistries that facilitate these applications. In this investigation microphase separated polystyrene-b-poly(2-vinylpyridine) films were quaternized with a primary amine functionality utilizing the less common trimethylsilyl protecting group and a substitution reaction. The glass transition of the 2-vinylpyridine block was suppressed after functionalization. The newly introduced amine functionalities are susceptible to cross-linking through the use of glutaraldehyde, demonstrating the availability of the amines for further chemical modification. The trimethylsilyl protecting group allowed for the reliable quaternization of PS-b-P2VP with a primary amine, without disrupting the film or its morphology.     

Exfoliation of organoclay nanocomposites based on polystyrene-block-polyisoprene-block-poly(2-vinylpyridine) copolymer: Solution blending versus melt blending

Exfoliated nanocomposites based on polystyrene-block-polyisoprene-block-poly(2-vinylpyridine) (SI2VP triblock) copolymer were prepared by solution blending and melt blending. Their dispersion characteristics were investigated using transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). For the study, SI2VP triblock copolymers with varying amounts of poly(2-vinylpyridine) (P2VP) block (3, 5, and 13 wt%) and different molecular weights were synthesized by sequential anionic polymerization. In the preparation of nanocomposites, four different commercial organoclays, treated with a surfactant having quaternary ammonium salt, were employed. It was found from SAXS that the microdomain structure of an SI2VP triblock copolymer having 13 wt% P2VP block (SI2VP-13) transformed from core-shell cylinders into lamellae when it was mixed with an organoclay. It was found further that the solution-blended nanocomposites based on a homogeneous SI2VP triblock copolymer having 5 wt% P2VP block (SI2VP-5) gave rise to an exfoliated morphology, irrespective of the differences in chemical structure of the surfactant residing at the surface of the organoclays, which is attributable to the presence of ion-dipole interactions between the positively charged N⁺ ion in the surfactant residing at the surface of the organoclay and the pyridine rings in the P2VP block of SI2VP-5 and SI2VP-13, respectively. Both solution- and melt-blended nanocomposites based on microphase-separated SI2VP-13 having an order-disorder transition temperature (T_ODT) of approximately 210 °C also gave rise to exfoliated morphology. However, melt-blended nanocomposite based on a high-molecular-weight SI2VP triblock copolymer having a very high T_ODT (estimated to be about 360 °C), which was much higher than the melt blending temperature employed (200 °C), gave rise to very poor dispersion of the aggregates of organoclay. It is concluded that the T_ODT of a block copolymer plays a significant role in determining the dispersion characteristics of organoclay nanocomposites prepared by melt blending.     

Shell-core-corona aggregates formed from poly(styrene)-poly(4-vinylpyridine) block copolymer induced by added homopolymer via interpolymer hydrogen-bonding

The solution behavior of poly(styrene)-poly(4-vinylpyridine) (PS-b-P4VP) block copolymer with added poly(4,4′-oxydiphenylenepyromellitamic acid) (POAA) homopolymer in DMF is studied by dynamic light scattering (DLS), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). It is found that coaggregation takes place when mixing PS-b-P4VP block copolymer and POAA homopolymer in DMF due to the strong interpolymer hydrogen-bonding between POAA chains and P4VP blocks. The coaggregation is a diffusion-controlled process and the complexation-induced aggregates are very stable. NMR measurements demonstrate that the resultant aggregates are much more swollen compared with typical amphiphilic block copolymer core-shell micelles. DLS measurements with Eu³⁺ as a probe combined with TEM observation, are employed to study the structure of the aggregates. Results reveal that the formed aggregates are core-shell spheres with the P4VP/POAA complexes as core and the PS blocks as shell when the weight ratio of POAA to PS-b-P4VP is lower. However, a core-shell-corona structure forms with a thin layer of POAA chains adsorbed on the initial core-shell aggregates with increasing weight content of POAA to 60%. Finally, possible mechanisms of the structural transitions are proposed.