Sensitivity and molecular weight

Figure 3. Theoretical prediction for the system P(CMS-2VN), showing relationship among component ratio, molecular weight and sensitivity.

Separation of high-molecular-weight heat-sensitive materials. High-molecular-weight materials are often heat sensitive and as such are usually distilled under vacuum to reduce their boiling temperature. 

Shearing causes polymer chains to break, therefore a decrease in molecular weight and, consequently, in thickening power. It has been shown that the higher its molecular weight, the more the polymer is sensitive to mechanical shearing (Brlant et al., 1985). 

G-5—G-9 Aromatic Modified Aliphatic Petroleum Resins. Compatibihty with base polymers is an essential aspect of hydrocarbon resins in whatever appHcation they are used. As an example, piperylene—2-methyl-2-butene based resins are substantially inadequate in enhancing the tack of 1,3-butadiene—styrene based random and block copolymers in pressure sensitive adhesive appHcations. The copolymerization of a-methylstyrene with piperylenes effectively enhances the tack properties of styrene—butadiene copolymers and styrene—isoprene copolymers in adhesive appHcations (40,41). Introduction of aromaticity into hydrocarbon resins serves to increase the solubiHty parameter of resins, resulting in improved compatibiHty with base polymers. However, the nature of the aromatic monomer also serves as a handle for molecular weight and softening point control. 

The formaldehyde-to-phenol molar ratios of most novolacs lie somewhere between 0.30 and 0.99. This is a very broad range in the eyes of a novolac chemist. Novolacs are extremely sensitive to molar ratio variation and they are usually specified to the nearest 0.001 molar ratio unit or less. Also unlike resoles, one does not have the option of selecting the development of molecular weight through viscosity control. The molecular weight and viscosity are largely determined by... 

The type of initiator used affects the molecular weight and conversion limits in a reactor of fixed size and the molecular weight distribution of the material produced at a given conversion level. The initiator type also dictates the amount of initiator which is necessary to yield a given conversion to polymer, the operating temperature range of the reactor and the sensitivity of the reactor to an unstable condition. Clearly, the initiator is the most important reaction parameter in the polymer process. 

Size exclusion chromatography (SEC) separates molecules of a polymer sample on the basis of hydrodynamic volume. When the chromatograph is equipped only with a concentration-sensitive detector, i.e. conventional SEC, a molecular weight distribution (MWD) can be obtained from the chromatogram only through use of a calibration function relating molecular weight and elution volume V (2). 

Although poly(organo)phosphazenes have been characterized using dilute solution techniques (4-10), attempts to characterize polydichlorophosphazene directly have been limited (11,12,13). The presence of gel and the fact that polydichlorophosphazene is moisture sensitive generally have precluded an accurate analysis of its molecular weight and molecular weight distribution... 

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