Molecular weight distribution oxidized

The width of molecular weight distribution (MWD) is usually represented by the ratio of the weight—average and the number—average molecular weights, MJM. In iadustry, MWD is often represented by the value of the melt flow ratio (MER), which is calculated as a ratio of two melt indexes measured at two melt pressures that differ by a factor of 10. Most commodity-grade LLDPE resias have a narrow MWD, with the MJM ratios of 2.5—4.5 and MER values in the 20—35 range. However, LLDPE resias produced with chromium oxide-based catalysts have a broad MWD, with M.Jof 10—35 and MER of 80-200. 

Chromium Oxide-Based Catalysts. Chromium oxide-based catalysts were originally developed by Phillips Petroleum Company for the manufacture of HDPE resins subsequendy, they have been modified for ethylene—a-olefin copolymerisation reactions (10). These catalysts use a mixed sihca—titania support containing from 2 to 20 wt % of Ti. After the deposition of chromium species onto the support, the catalyst is first oxidised by an oxygen—air mixture and then reduced at increased temperatures with carbon monoxide. The catalyst systems used for ethylene copolymerisation consist of sohd catalysts and co-catalysts, ie, triaLkylboron or trialkyl aluminum compounds. Ethylene—a-olefin copolymers produced with these catalysts have very broad molecular weight distributions, characterised by M.Jin the 12—35 and MER in the 80—200 range. 

The living nature of ethylene oxide polymerization was anticipated by Flory 3) who conceived its potential for preparation of polymers of uniform size. Unfortunately, this reaction was performed in those days in the presence of alcohols needed for solubilization of the initiators, and their presence led to proton-transfer that deprives this process of its living character. These shortcomings of oxirane polymerization were eliminated later when new soluble initiating systems were discovered. For example, a catalytic system developed by Inoue 4), allowed him to produce truly living poly-oxiranes of narrow molecular weight distribution and to prepare di- and tri-block polymers composed of uniform polyoxirane blocks (e.g. of polyethylene oxide and polypropylene oxide). 

A porphinatoaluminum alkoxide is reported to be a superior initiator of c-caprolactone polymerization (44,45). A living polymer with a narrow molecular weight distribution (M /Mjj = 1.08) is ob-tmned under conditions of high conversion, in part because steric hindrance at the catalyst site reduces intra- and intermolecular transesterification. Treatment with alcohols does not quench the catalytic activity although methanol serves as a coinitiator in the presence of the aluminum species. The immortal nature of the system has been demonstrated by preparation of an AB block copolymer with ethylene oxide. The order of reactivity is e-lactone > p-lactone. 

FIGURE 6.26 Oxidation of twin-tocopherol 33 by AgN03 in toluene at 25 °C molecular weight distributions of the resulting oligomers depend on the reaction time.73... 

A small number of companies use metal oxide catalysts, such as the example shown in Fig. 18.6, to make high density polyethylene. The polyethylene made with this catalyst generally has a narrower molecular weight distribution than high density polyethylene made with Ziegler-Natta catalysts. 

A radical initiator based on the oxidation adduct of an alkyl-9-BBN (47) has been utilized to produce poly(methylmethacrylate) (48) (Fig. 31) from methylmethacrylate monomer by a living anionic polymerization route that does not require the mediation of a metal catalyst. The relatively broad molecular weight distribution (PDI = (MJM ) 2.5) compared with those in living anionic polymerization cases was attributed to the slow initiation of the polymerization.69 A similar radical polymerization route aided by 47 was utilized in the synthesis of functionalized syndiotactic polystyrene (PS) polymers by the copolymerization of styrene.70 The borane groups in the functionalized syndiotactic polystyrenes were transformed into free-radical initiators for the in situ free-radical graft polymerization to prepare s-PS-g-PMMA graft copolymers. 

Polystyrene/polyethylene oxide dendrimers were prepared by ATRP using tri- and tetra (bromomethyl) benzene as the initiators [207]. Each bromine end-group of the resulting stars was transformed first to two - OH groups and subsequently to potassium alcholate, as shown in Scheme 114. These - OK sites served to initiate the anionic polymerization of EO. The synthesized dendritic copolymers were found to display monomodal and narrow molecular weight distribution. 

Propylene oxide is a surface active monomer structurally similar to ethylene oxide and therefore of interest as a SHM W-SP, but with more than ten repeating units this polymer is not water soluble. A compositional isomer methyl vinyl ether is water soluble the adsorption behavior of this polymer (PMVE) is illustrated in Figure 4. At 1 ppm the rate of 7T increase is linear over three hours. The diffusion rate could be calculated if the W-SP s molecular weight were monodispersed. The polymer studied had a Gaussian molecular weight distribution, which is true of essentially all W-SPs even after attempts have been made to... 

Investigations into the molecular weight distribution showed that C—C bond break down randomly [126]. Thus, in the PS oxidized at 473 K, the ratio Mw/A/n initially increased from 1.06 to 1.50 (in this case, Mn decreased from 400,000 to 90,000) and remained virtually unchanged during further oxidation. The situation was different with PE residual oxygen at concentrations as low as 0.3% promoted the destruction of this polymer [127]. Moreover, anaerobic conditions at 588 K induced cross-linking processes in PE, while in the presence of 0.34% 02 the destructive processes became predominant. The decrease in Mn at 628 K under anaerobic conditions was not accompanied by changes in the ratio Mw/Mn 3. Conversely, this ratio increased in the course of the oxidative destruction of PE. 

The hydroboration/oxidation sequence does not change the molecular-weight distribution. Gel permeation chromatography (GPC) measurements in dimethyl-formamide (DMF) with the resulting polystyrene-ft-polyalcohol polymers show very similar polydispersity indexes (Table 10.2). Here, the hydroboration/oxidation sequence is clearly superior to the epoxidation reaction, which leads to a... 

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