Polymerization course

The first attempts at ROP have been mainly based on anionic and cationic processes [4,5]. In most cases, polyesters of low molecular weight were recovered and no control on the polymerization course was reported due to the occurrence of side intra- and intermolecular transesterification reactions responsible for a mixture of linear and cyclic molecules. In addition, aliphatic polyesters have been prepared by free radical, active hydrogen, zwitterionic, and coordination polymerization as summarized in Table 2. The mechanistic considerations of the above-mentioned processes are outside the scope of this work and have been extensively discussed in a recent review by some of us [2 ]. In addition, the enzyme-catalyzed ROP of (di)lactones in organic media has recently been reported however, even though this new polymerization procedure appears very promising, no real control of the polyesters chains, or rather oligomers, has been observed so far [6]. 

Fig. 11.1.8 Thermal analysis of polymerization course and number of particles.

The study of the steric polymerization course when varying the type of initiator and the polymerization conditions, may be of considerable interest for a better knowledge of stereospecific catalysts. 

The dependence of the conversion and polymer-composition on the reaction time is shown in Figure 1 for the copolymerization of St with AA at f = 0.4, pH 9.0 and 70°C. The polymerization course was found to consist of three stages At first AA polymerizes preferentially but the preference decreases rapidly with increasing conversion (0 - 1.0 hr) St polymerizes exclusively (1.0 - 1.5 hrs) and again AA polymerizes preferentially (1.5 hrs - end). A similar copolymerization mode was observed in an aqueous copolym-... 

For the polymerization of BD in hexane Gromada et al. also used a catalyst system which contained a Mg-cocatalyst (Nd(0-2,6-f-Bu2-4-Me-Ph)3(THF)/Mg( Hex)2). A linear first-order plot for the applied polymerization conditions was obtained which suggests a constant number of active species throughout the polymerization course [235]. 

After the reactor has been charged with water, surfactant, and any optional paraffin antifoulant, it is brought to temperature and then pressurized with VDF and optional comonomer(s). The reaction pressure is maintained during polymerization course by adding monomer(s) to the reactor. 

Solution polymerization uses a solvent for the monomer and polymer with a considerably high solvent-to-monomer ratio. The polymerization course is similar to bulk. Dilution of monomer and polymer with solvent reduces heat load and viscosity. But the output is also reduced by the diluents. Solution polymerization is advantageous only when the solution can be directly applied without separation such as in the manufacture of protective coatings. However, when the product is marketed in a solid form, the polymer must be separated from the solvent. Solvent separation often involves energy- and capital-intensive processes. 

Synthesis of large heterocycles usually involves condensation reactions of two difunctional molecules. Such molecules tend to polymerize. So far two special techniques have been described above to avoid this important side-reaaion , namely high dilution and use of templates. The general procedure to avoid polymerizations in reactions between difunctional molecules is, of course, the application of protecting groups as described in sections 4.1.2 and 2.6. 

When propene is polymerized under free radical conditions the polypropylene that results IS atactic Catalysts of the Ziegler-Natta type however permit the preparation of either isotactic or syndiotactic polypropylene We see here an example of how proper choice of experimental conditions can affect the stereochemical course of a chemical reaction to the extent that entirely new materials with unique properties result... 

Attempts to characterize polymeric substances had been made, of course, and high molecular weights were indicated, even if they were not too accurate. Early workers tended to be more suspicious of the interpretation of the colliga-tive properties of polymeric solutions than to accept the possibility of high molecular weight compounds. Faraday had already arrived at Cs Hg as the empirical formula of rubber in 1826, and isoprene was identified as the product... 

Of course, in reactions (5.A) and (5.B) the hydrocarbon sequences R and R can be the same or different, contain any number of carbon atoms, be linear or cyclic, and so on. Likewise, the general reactions (5.C) and (5.E) certainly involve hydrocarbon sequences between the reactive groups A and B. The notation involved in these latter reactions is particularly convenient, however, and we shall use it extensively in this chapter. It will become clear as we proceed that the stoichiometric proportions of reactive groups-A and B in the above notation—play an important role in determining the characteristics of the polymeric product. Accordingly, we shall confine our discussions for the present to reactions of the type given by (5.E), since equimolar proportions of A and B are assured by the structure of this monomer. 

If we multiply the time elapsed per monomer added to a radical by the number of monomers in the average chain, then we obtain the time during which the radical exists. This is the definition of the radical lifetime. The number of monomers in a polymer chain is, of course, the degree of polymerization. Therefore we write... 

We saw in the last chapter that the stationary-state approximation is apphc-able to free-radical homopolymerizations, and the same is true of copolymerizations. Of course, it takes a brief time for the stationary-state radical concentration to be reached, but this period is insignificant compared to the total duration of a polymerization reaction. If the total concentration of radicals is constant, this means that the rate of crossover between the different types of terminal units is also equal, or that R... 

Moreover, where i r-acetjldi- -xyljlene [10029-00-2]( is pyroly2ed, by adjusting temperatures in the deposition region, it is possible to isolate two different polymeric products, ie, poly(acetyl-/)-xylylene) [67076-72-6] (8) and poly(p-xylylene) (PPX) (2). This of course requires the cleavage of the original dimer into two fragments. 

Because the polymerization occurs totally within the monomer droplets without any substantial transfer of materials between individual droplets or between the droplets and the aqueous phase, the course of the polymerization is expected to be similar to bulk polymerization. Accounts of the quantitative aspects of the suspension polymerization of methyl methacrylate generally support this model (95,111,112). Developments in suspension polymerization, including acryUc suspension polymers, have been reviewed (113,114). 

Since polymer swelling is poor and the aqueous solubiUty of acrylonitrile is relatively high, the tendency for radical capture is limited. Consequentiy, the rate of particle nucleation is high throughout the course of the polymerization, and particle growth occurs predominantiy by a process of agglomeration of primary particles. Unlike emulsion particles of a readily swollen polymer, such as polystyrene, the acrylonitrile aqueous dispersion polymer particles are massive agglomerates of primary particles which are approximately 100 nm in diameter. 

Synthetic Fiber and Plastics Industries. In the synthetic fibers and plastics industries, the substrate itself serves as the solvent, and the whitener is not appHed from solutions as in textiles. Table 6 Hsts the types of FWAs used in the synthetic fibers and plastic industries. In the case of synthetic fibers, such as polyamide and polyester produced by the melt-spinning process, FWAs can be added at the start or during the course of polymerization or polycondensation. However, FWAs can also be powdered onto the polymer chips prior to spinning. The above types of appHcation place severe thermal and chemical demands on FWAs. They must not interfere with the polymerization reaction and must remain stable under spinning conditions. 

Copolymers of VF and a wide variety of other monomers have been prepared (6,41—48). The high energy of the propagating vinyl fluoride radical strongly influences the course of these polymerizations. VF incorporates well with other monomers that do not produce stable free radicals, such as ethylene and vinyl acetate, but is sparingly incorporated with more stable radicals such as acrylonitrile [107-13-1] and vinyl chloride. An Alfrey-Price value of 0.010 0.005 and an e value of 0.8 0.2 have been determined (49). The low value of is consistent with titde resonance stability and the e value is suggestive of an electron-rich monomer. 

Equation 1 is an oversimplification of the actual process. The polymerizable sulfur source for the PPS polymerization consists of a dehydrated product of A/-meth5i-2-pyrrohdinone [872-50-4] (NMP) and aqueous sodium sulfide feedstocks. During the course of this dehydration, one equivalent of NMP is hydrolyzed to form sodium A/-methyl-4-aminobutanoate (SMAB) (eq. 3). 

Polymerization Initiator. Some unsaturated monomers can be polymerized through the aid of free radicals generated, as transient intermediates, in the course of a redox reaction. The electron-transfer step during the redox process causes the scission of an intermediate to produce an active free radical. The ceric ion, Ce" ", is a strong one-electron oxidizing agent that can readily initiate the redox polymerization of, for example, vinyl monomers in aqueous media at near ambient temperatures (40). The reaction scheme is... 

Low surface energy substrates, such as polyethylene or polypropylene, are generally difficult to bond with adhesives. However, cyanoacrylate-based adhesives can be effectively utilized to bond polyolefins with the use of the proper primer/activa-tor on the surface. Primer materials include tertiary aliphatic and aromatic amines, trialkyl ammonium carboxylate salts, tetraalkyl ammonium salts, phosphines, and organometallic compounds, which are initiators for alkyl cyanoacrylate polymerization [33-36]. The primer is applied as a dilute solution to the polyolefin surface, solvent is allowed to evaporate, and the specimens are assembled with a small amount of the adhesive. With the use of primers, adhesive strength can be so strong that substrate failure occurs during the course of the shear tests, as shown in Fig. 11. 

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