Copolymers fractionation

One component obeys the Bemoullian model the other two obey the enantiomorphic- site model. Similarly, the NMR data of fractionated copolymers can be used to demonstrate the presence of multiple components in the copolymers. An example is shown of ethylene-propylene copolymers where the NMR/fractionation data are used to show the presence of two or three catalytic sites. 

Recent studies [111,214] indicate that Th-FFF can even be used to determine the relative chemical composition of two components in random copolymer and linear block copolymers whose monomers do not segregate due to solvent effects. However, this application is limited by the unpredictable nature of thermal diffusion. Nevertheless, combining information from Th-FFF with those derived on fractions by independent detectors selective to composition (such as an IR spectrometer) can yield further insight into the dependence of DT on the chemical composition. Even more powerful is the combination of Th-FFF with SEC as, here, the chemical composition (from Th-FFF) can be studied as a function of the molar mass (from SEC). This was demonstrated by van Asten et al. by cross fractionating copolymers and polymer blends with SEC and Th-FFF [358]. 

A few other methods have been used to prepare polypeptide hybrid copolymers. Inoue polymerized Bn-Glu NCA off of amine-functionalized styrene derivatives, and then copolymerized these end-functionalized polypeptides with either styrene or methyl methacrylate using free radical initiators to yield hybrid comb architecture copolymers [38]. Although unreacted polypeptide was identified and removed by fractionation, copolymers were obtained with polypeptide content that increased with feed ratio. There was no mention if the polypeptide interfered with the radical chemistry. In similar work, Imanishi and coworkers converted the amine-ends of polypeptides to haloacetyl groups that were used to initiate the free radical polymerization of either styrene or methylmethacrylate to yield hybrid block copolymers [39]. Studies using CPC showed that the crude product contained mixtures of copolymers and homopolymers, and so removal of the homopolymers by extraction was necessary. 

In P-Tref/SEC cross-fractionation, copolymer chains are first fractionated according to comonomer composition into a series of fractions using P-Tref. Each fraction is then analyzed using SEC to obtain its MWD. P-Tref/SEC is a very powerful cross-fractionation technique because it provides information on the bivariate comonomer composition and MWD. Although the process is still time-consuming, the information obtained with P-Tref/SEC crossfractionation provides an almost complete map of chain microstructures. This cross-fractionation technique has been used for various ethylene/1-olefin copolymers (1-butene, 1-hexene, 1-octene, and l-pentene-4-methyl). 

The compositions and absolute molecular weights reported in Table 1 were determined by NMR and GPC-MALS, respectively. Poly(apidic acid-co-octanediol-co-sorbitol) (PAOS) containing (1, 5, 12 and 18) % (mol fraction) sorbitol units have relative molar mass values that are similar (43,000 to 60,000). However, the 27 % (mol fraction) copolymer has a relative molar mass value of 117,000. We believe that the high molecular weight reported for 27 % PAOS is due to branching and an increased propensity for interchain coupling reactions that occur between non-chain end repeat units. 

Mj Composition of the initial mixture, molar fraction Medium Yield % Copolymer composition, molar fraction Copolymer solvents... 

Molecular weight, thermogravimetric (TGA), differential thermal (DTA), and glass transition studies have also been run on both fractionated and unfractionated copolymers (Table 9.1). For a fractionated copolymer, with anhydride in the range of 7-13 mol %, the following relationship between number-average molecular weight and intrinsic viscosity holds ... 

Copolyesters of 3-hydroxybutyrate (3HB) and 3-hydroxyvalerate (3HV) were produced by Burkholderia cepacia D1 at 30 °C in nitrogen-free culture media containing n-butyric acid and/or n-valeric acid [115]. When n-valeric acid was used as the sole carbon source, the 3HV fraction in copolyester increased from 36 to 90 mol% as the concentration of n-valeric acid in the culture medium was increased from 1 to 20 g/1. The addition of n-butyric acid to the culture solution resulted in a decrease in the 3HV fraction in copolyester. The copolymers biosynthesized by this method were mixtures of random copolymers having a wide variety of composition of the 3HV component. The melting points of the fractionated copolymers show a concave curve with the minimum at the 3HV content of approximately 40 mol%. The alpha-parameter of lattice indices of the PHB crystal for the fractionated copolymers largely increased as the 3HV composition increased. Biodegradability of the copolymer increased with the lower content of 3HV composition and/or the lower crystallinity. 

Figure 4.11 shows simulated data for two-seeded semi-batch emulsion copolymerisations of BA and MMA carried out with feeding times of 3 and 6h, respectively. Figures 4.11(a) and (b) present the cumulative and instantaneous copolymer compositions. The results in the Figures 4.11(a) and (b) clearly demonstrate that the steady state is achieved in both cases. However, for the addition period of 6 h the fraction copolymer with a composition deviating from the desired composition of 0.5 is smaller than for the addition period of 3 h. Furthermore, the cumulative composition is closer to 0.5 for the 6 h addition period than for the 3 h addition. In comparison with the batch process, the composition drift is almost negligible as displayed in Figure 4.11 (d) which shows a very narrow chemical composition distribution (CCD) centred at 0.5. 

An important industrial example of W/O emulsions arises in water-in-crude-oil emulsions that form during production. These emulsions must be broken to aid transportation and refining [43]. These suspensions have been extensively studied by Sjoblom and co-workers [10, 13, 14] and Wasan and co-workers [44]. Stabilization arises from combinations of surface-active components, asphaltenes, polymers, and particles the composition depends on the source of the crude oil. Certain copolymers can mimic the emulsion stabilizing fractions of crude oil and have been studied in terms of their pressure-area behavior [45]. 

Figure C2.1.11. Morjrhologies of a microphase-separated di-block copolymer as function of tire volume fraction of one component. The values here refer to a polystyrene-polyisoprene di-block copolymer and ( )pg is tire volume fraction of the polystyrene blocks. OBDD denotes tire ordered bicontinuous double diamond stmcture. (Figure from [78], reprinted by pemrission of Annual Reviews.)...

This equation relates the composition of the copolymer formed to the instantaneous composition of the feedstock and to the parameters rj and r2 which characterize the specific system. Figure 7.1 shows a plot of Fj versus fj-the mole fractions of component 1 in the copolymer and monomer mixture, respec-tively-for several arbitrary values of the parameters rj and r2. Inspection of Fig. 7.1 brings out the following points ... 

Figure 7.1 Mole fraction of component 1 in copolymers (Fj) and feedstock (fi) for various values of ri and r2.

An ideal gas obeys Dalton s law that is, the total pressure is the sum of the partial pressures of the components. An ideal solution obeys Raoult s law that is, the partial pressure of the ith component in a solution is equal to the mole fraction of that component in the solution times the vapor pressure of pure component i. Use these relationships to relate the mole fraction of component 1 in the equilibrium vapor to its mole fraction in a two-component solution and relate the result to the ideal case of the copolymer composition equation. 

Figure 7.3 Fraction of nj sequences of the indicated length for copolymers prepared from equimolar feedstocks with rj r2 = 0.03 (shaded) and T1T2 = 0.30 (unshaded). [Data from C. Tosi, Fo/ym. 5ci. 5 451 (1968).]...

Table 7.5 Fraction of Mj Sequences of Length nj for Copolymers Prepared from Feedstocks of Different Composition for a System with rjr2 = 1...

The copolymer composition equation relates the r s to either the ratio [Eq. (7.15)] or the mole fraction [Eq. (7.18)] of the monomers in the feedstock and repeat units in the copolymer. To use this equation to evaluate rj and V2, the composition of a copolymer resulting from a feedstock of known composition must be measured. The composition of the feedstock itself must be known also, but we assume this poses no problems. The copolymer specimen must be obtained by proper sampling procedures, and purified of extraneous materials. Remember that monomers, initiators, and possibly solvents are involved in these reactions also, even though we have been focusing attention on the copolymer alone. The proportions of the two kinds of repeat unit in the copolymer is then determined by either chemical or physical methods. Elemental analysis has been the chemical method most widely used, although analysis for functional groups is also employed. 

The data in Table 7.6 list the mole fraction of methyl acrylate in the feedstock and in the copolymer for the methyl acrylate (Mi)-vinyl chloride (M2) system. Use Eq. (7.54) as the basis for the graphical determination of the reactivity ratios which describe this system. 

The mole fractions of various dyads in the vinylidine chloride (Mi)-isobutylem (Mj) system were determinedf by NMR spectroscopy. A selection of the value obtained are listed below, as well as the compositions of the feedstocks fron which the copolymers were prepared ... 

Figure 7.8 Mole fractions styrene (Mj) and methyl methacrylate (M2) in feedstock (f) and copolymers (F) as a function of the extent of polymerization. Average copolymer compositions are also shown. [From V. E. Meyer and R. K. S. Chan, Polym. Prepr. 8 209(1967), used with permission.]...

If we define p and Pj. as the probability of addition occurring in the meso and racemic modes, respectively, then p Pr since there are only two possibilities. The probability p is the analog of Pjj for copolymers hence, by analogy with Eq. (7.30), this equals the fraction of isotactic dyads among all dyads. In terms of the kinetic approach of the last section, p is equal to the rate of an iso addition divided by the combined rates of iso and syndio additions ... 

The fraction of sequences of the length indicated below have been measured t for a copolymer system at different feed ratios ... 

Formaldehyde homopolymer is composed exclusively of repeating oxymethylene units and is described by the term poly oxymethylene (POM) [9002-81-7]. Commercially significant copolymers, for example [95327-43-8] have a minor fraction (typically less than 5 mol %) of alkyUdene or other units, derived from cycHc ethers or cycHc formals, distributed along the polymer chain. The occasional break in the oxymethylene sequences has significant ramifications for polymer stabilization. 

Polymers in Solution. Polyacrylamide is soluble in water at all concentrations, temperatures, and pH values. An extrapolated theta temperature in water is approximately —40° C (17). Insoluble gel fractions are sometimes obtained owing to cross-link formation between chains or to the formation of imide groups along the polymer chains (18). In very dilute solution, polyacrylamide exists as unassociated coils which can have an eUipsoidal or beanlike stmcture (19). Large aggregates of polymer chains have been observed in hydrolyzed polyacrylamides (20) and in copolymers containing a small amount of hydrophobic groups (21). 

The T of a polymer can be altered by the copolymerization of two or more monomers. The approximate T value for copolymers can be calculated from a knowledge of the weight fraction W of each monomer type and the T (in degees kelvin) of each homopolymer (12). 

The incidence of these defects is best determined by high resolution F nmr (111,112) infrared (113) and laser mass spectrometry (114) are alternative methods. Typical commercial polymers show 3—6 mol % defect content. Polymerization methods have a particularly strong effect on the sequence of these defects. In contrast to suspension polymerized PVDF, emulsion polymerized PVDF forms a higher fraction of head-to-head defects that are not followed by tail-to-tail addition (115,116). Crystallinity and other properties of PVDF or copolymers of VDF are influenced by these defect stmctures (117). 

In order to increase the solubiUty parameter of CPD-based resins, vinyl aromatic compounds, as well as other polar monomers, have been copolymerized with CPD. Indene and styrene are two common aromatic streams used to modify cyclodiene-based resins. They may be used as pure monomers or contained in aromatic steam cracked petroleum fractions. Addition of indene at the expense of DCPD in a thermal polymerization has been found to lower the yield and softening point of the resin (55). CompatibiUty of a resin with ethylene—vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymers, which are used in hot melt adhesive appHcations, may be improved by the copolymerization of aromatic monomers with CPD. As with other thermally polymerized CPD-based resins, aromatic modified thermal resins may be hydrogenated. 

Melt Viscosity. As shown in Tables 2 and 3, the melt viscosity of an acid copolymer increases dramatically as the fraction of neutralization is increased. The relationship for sodium ionomers is shown in Figure 4 (6). Melt viscosities for a series of sodium ionomers derived from an ethylene—3.5 mol % methacrylic acid polymer show that the increase is most pronounced at low shear rates and that the ionomers become increasingly non-Newtonian with increasing neutralization (9). The activation energy for viscous flow has been reported to be somewhat higher in ionomers than in related acidic... 

The polyamides are soluble in high strength sulfuric acid or in mixtures of hexamethylphosphoramide, /V, /V- dim ethyl acetam i de and LiCl. In the latter, compHcated relationships exist between solvent composition and the temperature at which the Hquid crystal phase forms. The polyamide solutions show an abmpt decrease in viscosity which is characteristic of mesophase formation when a critical volume fraction of polymer ( ) is exceeded. The viscosity may decrease, however, in the Hquid crystal phase if the molecular ordering allows the rod-shaped entities to gHde past one another more easily despite the higher concentration. The Hquid crystal phase is optically anisotropic and the texture is nematic. The nematic texture can be transformed to a chiral nematic texture by adding chiral species as a dopant or incorporating a chiral unit in the main chain as a copolymer (30). 

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