Cross-linking radical

Entrapment methods have been used almost exclusively to immobilize plant cells (17). They can be classified into three general groups (24,25) a. gel formation by ionic crosslinking of a charged polymer (ionotropic) b. gel formation by cooling of a heated polymer (thermal), and c. gel formation by chemical reaction (cross-linking, radical polymerization). 

A photonic crystal-type stack of logs was obtained by TP initiated cross-linking radical polymerization of acrylates in the presence of poly(styrene-co-acrylonitrile) as binder and an amino substituted distyrylbenzene (58) as two-photon active initiator (Fig. 3.93) [133]. This photonic crystal-type microstructure has an average periodicity of 1 pm, a base area of 60 pm x 60 pm, and a height of 8 pm. The lines are about 200 nm wide, which is considerably smaller than the fabrication wavelength (Fig. 3.93) [133]. 

Conj ugated Ladder Polymers. Since the 1930s double-stranded, ladder-type polymers have been prepared in a multistep process with limited success of cyclization (191,192). Other routes have also been explored such as those for poly(acrylonitrile) (193,194), poly(l,2-butadiene), poly(3,4-isoprene) (195), or poly(butadiyne)s (196). These materials were found to be poorly soluble and unworkable, with a considerable number of defects in the structure (incomplete cyclization, cross-linking, radical sites). The first successful synthesis of a ladder polymer with a completely defined structure was accomplished in 1991 by Sherf and Mullen (197). The first step was the AA/BB-t5q)e polycondensation of an aromatic diboronic acid with a substituted 2,5-dibromo-l,4-dibenzoylbenzene to give a single-stranded precursor PPP-type polymer, followed by cyclization to the ladder structure (Fig. 8). Several other examples exist that have resulted in ladder-type structures. These include angular polyacene (198,199), Diels-Alder polyaddition of AB-type diene-dienophiles (200), AA/BB-type Diels-Alder polyaddition of a bisdiene and a bisdienophile (201), thienylene imits (202),... 

The SiH radical physisorbs on tlie a-Si H surface and recombines tliere witli anotlier SiH radical to fonn disilane Si2 Hg, or abstracts H from tlie surface to fonn a dangling bond and SiH. The film growtli is detennined by tlie chemisoriDtion of tlie SiH radical on a free dangling bond site by fonnation of a Si-Si bond. The cross-linking of... 

Organic peroxides are used extensively for the curing of unsaturated polyester resins and the polymerization of monomers having vinyl unsaturation. The —O—O— bond is split into free radicals which can initiate polymerization or cross-linking of various monomers or polymers. 

Both solvent-iaduced swelling and oxygen inhibition ate characteristic of all cross-linking negative resists based on free-radical chemistry. 

Polymerization. In the absence of inhibitors, acrolein polymerizes readily in the presence of anionic, cationic, or free-radical agents. The resulting polymer is an insoluble, highly cross-linked soHd with no known commercial use. 

Bulk Polymerization. The bulk polymerization of acryUc monomers is characterized by a rapid acceleration in the rate and the formation of a cross-linked insoluble network polymer at low conversion (90,91). Such network polymers are thought to form by a chain-transfer mechanism involving abstraction of the hydrogen alpha to the ester carbonyl in a polymer chain followed by growth of a branch radical. Ultimately, two of these branch radicals combine (91). Commercially, the bulk polymerization of acryUc monomers is of limited importance. 

Thermal Oxidative Stability. ABS undergoes autoxidation and the kinetic features of the oxygen consumption reaction are consistent with an autocatalytic free-radical chain mechanism. Comparisons of the rate of oxidation of ABS with that of polybutadiene and styrene—acrylonitrile copolymer indicate that the polybutadiene component is significantly more sensitive to oxidation than the thermoplastic component (31—33). Oxidation of polybutadiene under these conditions results in embrittlement of the mbber because of cross-linking such embrittlement of the elastomer in ABS results in the loss of impact resistance. Studies have also indicated that oxidation causes detachment of the grafted styrene—acrylonitrile copolymer from the elastomer which contributes to impact deterioration (34). 

Radiation Effects. Polytetrafluoroethylene is attacked by radiation. In the absence of oxygen, stable secondary radicals are produced. An increase in stiffness in material irradiated in vacuum indicates cross-linking (84). Degradation is due to random scission of the chain the relative stabiUty of the radicals in vacuum protects the materials from rapid deterioration. Reactions take place in air or oxygen and accelerated scission and rapid degradation occur. 

Two other important commercial uses of initiators are in polymer cross-linking and polymer degradation. In a cross-linking reaction, atom abstraction, usually a hydrogen abstraction, occurs, followed by termination by coupling of two polymer radicals to form a covalent cross-link ... 

P—H is a polymei with covalently attached hydrogen, L is the initiating radical, and P—P is a cross-linked polymer. Cross-linking is a commercially... 

Because high temperatures are required to decompose diaLkyl peroxides at useful rates, P-scission of the resulting alkoxy radicals is more rapid and more extensive than for most other peroxide types. When methyl radicals are produced from alkoxy radicals, the diaLkyl peroxide precursors are very good initiators for cross-linking, grafting, and degradation reactions. When higher alkyl radicals such as ethyl radicals are produced, the diaLkyl peroxides are useful in vinyl monomer polymerizations. 

Organic peroxides are used in the polymer industry as thermal sources of free radicals. They are used primarily to initiate the polymerisation and copolymerisation of vinyl and diene monomers, eg, ethylene, vinyl chloride, styrene, acryUc acid and esters, methacrylic acid and esters, vinyl acetate, acrylonitrile, and butadiene (see Initiators). They ate also used to cute or cross-link resins, eg, unsaturated polyester—styrene blends, thermoplastics such as polyethylene, elastomers such as ethylene—propylene copolymers and terpolymers and ethylene—vinyl acetate copolymer, and mbbets such as siUcone mbbet and styrene-butadiene mbbet. 

Uses. About 35% of the isophthahc acid is used to prepare unsaturated polyester resins. These are condensation products of isophthahc acid, an unsaturated dibasic acid, most likely maleic anhydride, and a glycol such as propylene glycol. The polymer is dissolved in an inhibited vinyl monomer, usually styrene with a quinone inhibitor. When this viscous hquid is treated with a catalyst, heat or free-radical initiation causes cross-linking and sohdification. A range of properties is possible depending on the reactants used and their ratios (97). 

The free radicals initially formed are neutralized by the quinone stabilizers, temporarily delaying the cross-linking reaction between the styrene and the fumarate sites in the polyester polymer. This temporary induction period between catalysis and the change to a semisoHd gelatinous mass is referred to as gelation time and can be controUed precisely between 1—60 min by varying stabilizer and catalyst levels. 

As the quinone stabilizer is consumed, the peroxy radicals initiate the addition chain propagation reactions through the formation of styryl radicals. In dilute solutions, the reaction between styrene and fumarate ester foUows an alternating sequence. However, in concentrated resin solutions, the alternating addition reaction is impeded at the onset of the physical gel. The Hquid resin forms an intractable gel when only 2% of the fumarate unsaturation is cross-linked with styrene. The gel is initiated through small micelles (12) that form the nuclei for the expansion of the cross-linked network. 

Catalyst Selection. The low resin viscosity and ambient temperature cure systems developed from peroxides have faciUtated the expansion of polyester resins on a commercial scale, using relatively simple fabrication techniques in open molds at ambient temperatures. The dominant catalyst systems used for ambient fabrication processes are based on metal (redox) promoters used in combination with hydroperoxides and peroxides commonly found in commercial MEKP and related perketones (13). Promoters such as styrene-soluble cobalt octoate undergo controlled reduction—oxidation (redox) reactions with MEKP that generate peroxy free radicals to initiate a controlled cross-linking reaction. 

This catalyst system is temperature-sensitive and does not function effectively at temperatures below 10°C but at temperatures over 35°C the generation of free radicals can be too prolific, giving rise to incomplete cross-linking formation. Redox systems are preferred for fabrication at temperatures ranging from 20—30°C (Fig. 5). 

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