Poly sequences

In polymers made of dis-symmetric monomers, such as, for example, poly(propylene), the stmcture may be irregular and constitutional isomerism can occur as shown in figure C2.1.1(a ). The succession of the relative configurations of the asymmetric centres can also vary between stretches of the chain. Configuration isomerism is characterized by the succession of dyads which are named either meso, if the two asymmetric centres have the same relative configurations, or racemo if the configurations differ (figure C2.1.1(b )). A polymer is called isotactic if it contains only one type of dyad and syndiotactic if the dyad sequence strictly alternates between the meso and racemo fonns. 

Figure C2.16.2. The sequence of atoms in tlie two poly types of SiC, zincblende and wurtzite, along tlie c-direction. The zincblende lattice has perfect tetraliedral angles.

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. 

In conventional tenter orientation, the sequence of steps is as described above (MD—TD). In some cases it is advantageous to reverse the draw order (TD—MD) or to use multiple draw steps, eg, MD—TD—MD. These other techniques are used to produce "tensilized" films, where the MD tensile properties are enhanced by further stretching. The films are generally unbalanced in properties and in extreme cases may be fibrillated to give fiber-like elements for special textile appHcations. Tensilized poly(ethylene terephthalate) is a common substrate for audio and video magnetic tape and thermal transfer tape. 

The in situ process is simpler because it requires less material handling (35) however, this process has been used only for resole resins. When phenol is used, the reaction system is initially one-phase alkylated phenols and bisphenol A present special problems. As the reaction with formaldehyde progresses at 80—100°C, the resin becomes water-insoluble and phase separation takes place. Catalysts such as hexa produce an early phase separation, whereas NaOH-based resins retain water solubiUty to a higher molecular weight. If the reaction medium contains a protective coUoid at phase separation, a resin-in-water dispersion forms. Alternatively, the protective coUoid can be added later in the reaction sequence, in which case the reaction mass may temporarily be a water-in-resin dispersion. The protective coUoid serves to assist particle formation and stabUizes the final particles against coalescence. Some examples of protective coUoids are poly(vinyl alcohol), gum arabic, and hydroxyethjlceUulose. 

Fig. 1. Triad sequences for stereoregular poly(propylene oxide) where (a) shows isotactic (RRR or SSS), (b) syndiotactic (RSR or SRS), and (c) heterotactic...

Polyurethane foams are formed by reaction with glycerol with poly(propylene oxide), sometimes capped with poly(ethylene oxide) groups with a reaction product of trimethylolpropane and propylene oxide or with other appropriate polyols. A typical reaction sequence is shown below, in which HO—R—OH represents the diol. If a triol is used, a cross-linked product is obtained. 

Several silk fibroin genes have been cloned and sequenced and they all show a similar sequence pattern variable domains at the N- and C-termini flank a large region of repetitive short sequences of alternating poly-Ala (8 to 10 residues) and Gly-Gly-X repeats (where X is usually Ser, Tyr, or Gin). This middle region varies in length and may comprise up to 800 residues. 

As a class the aliphatic polyalkenamers have low values due to a combination of low chain stiffness and low interchain attraction. The presence of double bonds has the effect of increasing the flexibility of adjacent single bonds (see Chapter 4) and overall this leads to a reduction in. Thus in the sequence from polydecenamer down to polypentenamer an increase in the double bond concentration leads to a lowering of Tg. On the other hand the Tg of polybutenamer, i.e. poly butadiene, is somewhat higher than that of polypentenamer, presumably because the proportion of stiff links, i.e. double bonds, becomes sufficiently high to override the flexibilising effect on adjacent chains. Consequently the polypentenamers have the lowest Tg values known for hydrocarbon polymers (cis- -114°C, trans- -97°C). 

It is typical, for instance, of syndiotactic polystyrene (s-PS) [7-9] and syndiotactic poly- p-methylstyrene (s-PPMS) [10] to present crystalline forms with a transplant conformation of the chains (shown for s-PS in Fig. 1) as well as crystalline forms with sequences of dihedral angles of the kind TTG+G+ (or the equivalent G G TT), corresponding to a s(2/l)2 helical symmetry of the chains (shown for s-PS in Fig. 1). 

Such a sequence is very pronounced with the different stereoisomers of poly(methyl methacrylate), for example, and is a reflection of the increasingly easy rotation about the backbone C—C bonds in the different configurations. 

The program will be demonstrated with poly(vinyl alcohol) for tacticity analysis and with copolymer vinylidene chloride isobutylene for monomer sequence analysis. Peak assignments in C-13 spectra were obtained independently by two-dimensional NMR techniques. In some cases, assignments have been extended to longer sequences and confirmed via simulation of the experimental data. Experimental and "best-fit" simulated spectra will be compared. 

Perret, R., and Skoulios, A., Synthese et caracterisation de copolymeres sequences polyoxyethylene/poly-e-caprolactone. 

A recent development has been the synthesis of bioerodible poly-phosphazenes that bear glyceryl side groups (35). The synthesis of these polymers requires a protection-deprotection sequence to reduce the functionality of the glycerol and prevent crosslinking. 

---