Polybutadiene initiator

Recently, a novel method for determining the microstructure of crosslinked polybutadiene in latex using solution 13C-NMR technique was reported [133]. The surfactant and polymer concentrations in the latex were adjusted to give a good signal resolution of the latex sample, as indicated by half-width of the resonance peak at 32.7 ppm. Under these conditions, the S/N ratio was almost identical to that of sample in solution, as shown in Figure 11.31. The microstructure of sol and gel fractions in a radical initiated polybutadiene, determined by this technique, was similar to that of solution measurements. 

Polybutadiene rubbers are soluble in styrene. As the polymerization proceeds phase separation occurs, and the solution turns opaque because of the difference in refractive indices between the two phases. Initially polybutadiene in styrene is the continuous phase, and polystyrene in styrene is the discontinuous phase. When the phase volumes are equal and sufficient shearing agitation exists, phase inversion occurs. After this point polystyrene in styrene is the continuous phase, and polybutadiene in styrene is the discontinuous phase. Phase inversion is represented in Figure 4. A change in viscosity is also observed at phase inversion (. ... 

Some bulk polymerizations (e.g., the production of crystal or general-purpose PS) are homogeneous because the produced polymer is amorphous and completely soluble in the monomer. In contrast, PVC soon precipitates from its monomer. In the HIPS process, the heterogeneity results from the incompatibility between the initial polybutadiene (PBD) prepolymer and the generated polystyrene (PS) chains. 

Table 9. Microstructure of Alkali Metal Initiated Polybutadienes ...

In anionic solution systems the feed stocks are typically dried over various types of dessicants because the systems are sensitive to water contamination. When using continuous anionic solution polymerization systems, it is necessary to employ low (ppm) concentrations of a chain-transfer agent in order to discourage gelation and fouling 1,2-butadiene is often used for this purpose in commercial applications. Alkyl-lithium-initiated polybutadiene is less prone to contain gel and does not contain the heavy metal catalyst residues associated with Ziegler-Natta catalyzed products. 

The initial polybutadiene lines decrease significantly as the peroxide level increases. On the other hand. Fig. 8.26 also shows the cross-polarization spectrum, and in this case, the mobile samples have little intensity and the highly cured samples have high intensity, a result that reflects the rigidity of the cured networks. 

Monomer compositional drifts may also occur due to preferential solution of the styrene in the mbber phase or solution of the acrylonitrile in the aqueous phase (72). In emulsion systems, mbber particle size may also influence graft stmcture so that the number of graft chains per unit of mbber particle surface area tends to remain constant (73). Factors affecting the distribution (eg, core-sheU vs "wart-like" morphologies) of the grafted copolymer on the mbber particle surface have been studied in emulsion systems (74). Effects due to preferential solvation of the initiator by the polybutadiene have been described (75,76). 

Polymerization Reactions. The polymerization of butadiene with itself and with other monomers represents its largest commercial use. The commercially most important polymers are styrene—butadiene mbber (SBR), polybutadiene (BR), styrene—butadiene latex (SBL), acrylonittile—butadiene—styrene polymer (ABS), and nittile mbber (NR). The reaction mechanisms are free-radical, anionic, cationic, or coordinate, depending on the nature of the initiators or catalysts (194—196). 

Thermoplastic Elastomers. These represent a whole class of synthetic elastomers, developed siace the 1960s, that ate permanently and reversibly thermoplastic, but behave as cross-linked networks at ambient temperature. One of the first was the triblock copolymer of the polystyrene—polybutadiene—polystyrene type (SheU s Kraton) prepared by anionic polymerization with organoHthium initiator. The stmcture and morphology is shown schematically in Figure 3. The incompatibiHty of the polystyrene and polybutadiene blocks leads to a dispersion of the spherical polystyrene domains (ca 20—30 nm) in the mbbery matrix of polybutadiene. Since each polybutadiene chain is anchored at both ends to a polystyrene domain, a network results. However, at elevated temperatures where the polystyrene softens, the elastomer can be molded like any thermoplastic, yet behaves much like a vulcanized mbber on cooling (see Elastomers, synthetic-thermoplastic elastomers). 

Between the 1920s when the initial commercial development of mbbery elastomers based on 1,3-dienes began (5—7), and 1955 when transition metal catalysts were fkst used to prepare synthetic polyisoprene, researchers in the U.S. and Europe developed emulsion polybutadiene and styrene—butadiene copolymers as substitutes for natural mbber. However, the tire properties of these polymers were inferior to natural mbber compounds. In seeking to improve the synthetic material properties, research was conducted in many laboratories worldwide, especially in the U.S. under the Rubber Reserve Program. 

There are several approaches to the preparation of multicomponent materials, and the method utilized depends largely on the nature of the conductor used. In the case of polyacetylene blends, in situ polymerization of acetylene into a polymeric matrix has been a successful technique. A film of the matrix polymer is initially swelled in a solution of a typical Ziegler-Natta type initiator and, after washing, the impregnated swollen matrix is exposed to acetylene gas. Polymerization occurs as acetylene diffuses into the membrane. The composite material is then oxidatively doped to form a conductor. Low density polyethylene (136,137) and polybutadiene (138) have both been used in this manner. 

To produce the Type 2 polymers, styrene and acrylonitrile are added to polybutadiene latex and the mixture warmed to about 50°C to allow absorption of the monomers. A water-soluble initiator such as potassium persulphate is then added to polymerise the styrene and acrylonitrile. The resultant materials will be a mixture of polybutadiene, polybutadiene grafted with acrylonitrile and styrene, and styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer. The presence of graft polymer is essential since straightforwsird mixtures of polybutadiene and styrene-acrylonitrile copolymers are weak. In addition to emulsion processes such as those described above, mass and mass/suspension processes are also of importance. 

Interfacial polycondensation between a diacid chloride and hexamethylenediamine in the presence of small amounts of ACPC also yield polymeric azoamid, which is a macroazo initiator.[27] In this manner, azodicarbox-ylate-functional polystyrene [28], macroazonitriles from 4,4 -azobis(4-cyano-n-pentanoyl) with diisocyanate of polyalkylene oxide [29], polymeric azo initiators with pendent azo groups [3] and polybutadiene macroazoinitiator [30] are macroazoinitiators that prepare block and graft copolymers. 

Grafting reactions onto a polymer backbone with a polymeric initiator have recently been reported by Hazer [56-60]. Active polystyrene [56], active polymethyl methacrylate [57], or macroazoinitiator [58,59] was mixed with a biopolyester polyhydroxynonanaate [60] (PHN) or polybutadiene to be carried out by thermal grafting reactions. The grafting reactions of PHN with polymer radicals may proceed by H-abstraction from the tertier carbon atom in the same manner as free radical modification reactions of polypropylene or polyhy-droxybutyratevalerate [61,62]. 

Polymerization of butadiene using anionic initiators (alkyllithium) in a nonpolar solvent produces a polymer with a high cis configuration. A high cis-polybutadiene is also obtained when coordination catalysts are used. 

Styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) is the most widely used synthetic rubber. It can be produced by the copolymerization of butadiene (= 75%) and styrene (=25%) using free radical initiators. A random copolymer is obtained. The micro structure of the polymer is 60-68% trans, 14-19% cis, and 17-21% 1,2-. Wet methods are normally used to characterize polybutadiene polymers and copolymers. Solid state NMR provides a more convenient way to determine the polymer micro structure. ... 

Predominantly di-end-functional polymers may be prepared by conducting polymerizations with high concentrations of a functional initiator. Some of the first commercial products of this class, carboxy and hydroxy-terminated polybutadienes, were produced by this route.194... 

Polybutadiene with the tosylate end groups was used as an initiator for the polymerization of 2-oxazoline368, but block efficiency was not high because of slow... 

By analogy to simple olefins, we propose that 0(3P) initially adds to the 1,4 or 1,2 double bonds in polybutadienes at ambient temperature. Since the rate constants for 0(3P) addition to cis-2-butene and 1-butene (as models for 1,4 and 1,2 double bonds, respectively) are in the ratio 4.2 1 at 298 K ( 6), preferential addition to the 1,4 double bonds is assumed to persist to very high vinyl contents (-8011). The biradical adducts then rearrange to epoxides and carbonyl compounds or give rise to chain rupture and/or crosslinking as a consequence of PIF, according to the scheme ... 

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