Backbone chain

In graft copolymers the chain backbone is composed of one kind of monomer and the branches are made up of another kind of monomer. 

Polybutylene. Polybutylene is composed of linear chains having an isotactic arrangement of ethyl side groups along the chain backbone. 

The product molecules usually have a carbon chain backbone, with pendant substituent groups... 

The cellulose molecule contains three hydroxyl groups which can react and leave the chain backbone intact. These alcohol groups can be esterified with acetic anhydride to form cellulose acetate. This polymer is spun into the fiber acetate rayon. Similarly, the alcohol groups in cellulose react with CS2 in the presence of strong base to produce cellulose xanthates. When extruded into fibers, this material is called viscose rayon, and when extruded into sheets, cellophane. In both the acetate and xanthate formation, some chain degradation also occurs, so the resulting polymer chains are shorter than those in the starting cellulose. 

The angle formed between successive bonds along the chain backbone—0 in Fig. 1.5a-is not free to assume all values, but is fixed at a definite angle depending on the nature of the bond. For the tetrahedral angle associated with carbon-carbon single bonds, d = 109.5°. 

Poly(ethylene oxide). Although AH j is more than double that of polyethylene, the effect is offset by an even greater increase for AS j. The latter may be due to increased chain flexibility in the liquid caused by the regular insertion of ether oxygens along the chain backbone. 

Changes in the conformation of polymer chain backbone occur much more slowly in the vicinity of Tg than most of the molecular processes that serve as examples of simpler equilibria. 

In the last three chapters we have examined the mechanical properties of bulk polymers. Although the structure of individual molecules has not been our primary concern, we have sought to understand the influence of molecular properties on the mechanical behavior of polymeric materials. We have seen, for example, how the viscosity of a liquid polymer depends on the substituents along the chain backbone, how the elasticity depends on crosslinking, and how the crystallinity depends on the stereoregularity of the polymer. In the preceding chapters we took the existence of these polymers for granted and focused attention on their bulk behavior. In the next three chapters these priorities are reversed Our main concern is some of the reactions which produce polymers and the structures of the products formed. 

The various mechanical properties of polyamides may be traced in many instances to the possibility of intermolecular hydrogen bonding between the polymer molecules and to the relatively stiff chains these substances possess. The latter, in turn, may be understood by considering still another equilibrium, this one among resonance structures along the chain backbone ... 

To investigate the triads by NMR, the resonances associated with the chain substituent are examined, since structures [XV] -[XVII] show that it is these that experience different environments in the various triads. If dyad information is sufficient, the resonances of the methylenes in the chain backbone are measured. Structures [XIII] and [XIV] show that these serve as probes of the environment in dyads. 

Biodegradable polymers and plastics are readily divided into three broad classifications (/) natural, (2) synthetic, and (J) modified natural. These classes may be further subdivided for ease of discussion, as follows (/) natural polymers (2) synthetic polymers may have carbon chain backbones or heteroatom chain backbones and (J) modified natural may be blends and grafts or involve chemical modifications, oxidation, esterification, etc. 

Heteroatom Chain Backbone Polymers. This class of polymers includes polyesters, which have been widely studied from the initial period of research on biodegradable polymers, polyamides, polyethers, polyacetals, and other condensation polymers. Their linkages are quite frequendy found in nature and these polymers are more likely to biodegrade than hydrocarbon-based polymers. 

Investigation has shown that chain transfer to polymer occurs predominantly on the acetate methyl group in preference to the chain backbone one estimate of the magnitude of the predominance is 40-fold (92,93). The number of branches per molecule of poly(vinyl acetate) polymerised at 60°C is ca 3, at 80% conversion. It rises rapidly thereafter and is ca 15 at 95% conversion and 1-2 x lO" number-average degrees of polymerisation. 

From the preceding considerations it is appreciated that the intrinsic chain flexibility is determined by the nature of the chain backbone and by the nature of groups directly attached to the backbone. 

Polypropylene differs from polyethylene in its chemical reactivity because of the presence of tertiary carbon atoms occurring alternately on the chain backbone. Of particular significance is the susceptibility of the polymer to oxidation at elevated temperatures. Some estimate of the difference between the two polymers can be obtained from Figure 1J.7, which compares- the rates of oxygen uptake of eaeh polymer at 93°C. Substantial improvements can be made by the inclusion of antioxidants and such additives are used in all commercial compounds. Whereas polyethylene cross-links on oxidation, polypropylene degrades to form lower molecular weight products. Similar effects are noted... 

Both polymers are linear with a flexible chain backbone and are thus both thermoplastic. Both the structures shown Figure 19.4) are regular and since there is no question of tacticity arising both polymers are capable of crystallisation. In the case of both materials polymerisation conditions may lead to structures which slightly impede crystallisation with the polyethylenes this is due to a branching mechanism, whilst with the polyacetals this may be due to copolymerisation. 

The ring is in the chain backbone as a 2,5-disubstituted moiety. In these situations the polymer is more resistant to side reactions but some substituents are more susceptible than others to activation by the presence of the ring and promote branching and degradation under the influence of air, particularly at high temperature. This particular behaviour is encountered in some polycondensates as discussed in Section Il-A. 

Ratna, B.R., Liquid crystalline elastomers as artificial muscles Role of side chain-backbone coupling. Proceedings of SPIE 8th Annual International Symposium of Smart Structures and Materials, EAPAD... 

---