Molecular parameters, polymers, determination

Polymer molecular parameters were determined relative to polystyrene standards by gel permeation chromatography (GPC). The chloromethyl groups were determined by IR spectroscopy and X-ray fluorescence analysis. 

Equatioa-of-state theories employ characteristic volume, temperature, and pressure parameters that must be derived from volumetric data for the pure components. Owiag to the availabiHty of commercial iastmments for such measurements, there is a growing data source for use ia these theories (9,11,20). Like the simpler Flory-Huggias theory, these theories coataia an iateraction parameter that is the principal factor ia determining phase behavior ia bleads of high molecular weight polymers. 

The problem of solvent selection is most difficult for high molecular-weight polymers such as thermoplastic acryHcs and nitrocellulose in lacquers. As molecular weight decreases, the range of solvents in which resins are soluble broadens. Even though solubihty parameters are inadequate for predicting ah. solubhities, they can be useful in performing computer calculations to determine possible solvent mixtures as replacements for a solvent mixture that is known to be satisfactory for a formulation. 

Materials. GMC and PCLS were synthesized by free radical solution polymerization initiated by benzoyl peroxide as described previously (5,6). Nearly mono and polydisperse polystyrenes were obtained from Pressure Chemical Co. and the National Bureau of Standards respectively. Molecular weight and polydispersity were determined by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) using a Water Model 244 GPC, equipped with a set (102-106 A) of —Styragel columns using THF as the elution solvent. The molecular parameters of the above three polymers are listed in Table I. The copolymer, poly(GMA-co-3-CLS), contained 53.5 mole % 3-CLS and 46.5 mole % GMA, as determined by chlorine elemental analysis. The structure of the copolymer is shown in Figure 1. 

The fibrillar structure of crystalline polymers is determined by molecular characteristics, the initial morphology and orientation conditions. Recently, a complex investigation of the effect of molecular parameters (MW, MWD and degree of branching) and orientation parameters (temperature and draw ratio) on the morphology of PE and its thermomechanical behaviour has been reported 181 185). 

Rod-like 6, adopting an almost 73 helical conformation, belongs to a unique set of stiff polymers, exhibiting both TchLC and lyotropic liquid crystallinity. Indeed, experiments demonstrated that solutions of 6 became cholesteric at high concentrations [99]. The isotropic-biphasic phase boundary concentration increases as the molecular weight is increased. This increase has been described theoretically using the molecular parameters determined from dilute solution data. 

The preparation of biodegradable microspheres by a solvent evaporation process using sodium oleate as the emulsifier was described in previous publications (1.21. A number of process parameters (such as drug loading, polymer molecular weight, polymer composition and initial polymer solution concentration) were studied to determine their effects on the release of drugs from biodegradable microspheres. 

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