Properties of polystyrene nanosponges

As discussed, the intensive crosslinking of polystyrene cods in ddute solutions results in the formation of the soluble polymeric species, nanosponges, which can be expected to reproduce on the molecular level the major properties of the hypercrosslinked networks prepared from semi-dduted polystyrene solutions. Since the nanosponges present a novel type of macromolecular objects, their physico-chemical characterization could be of great theoretical interest. 

Reprinted from [231] with permission of Ekevier. Not measured. 

Intramolecular crosshnking causes a dramatic drop in the intrinsic viscosity of the solutions of polymer PS-330, from 0.98 down to 0.10 

On crosslinking, the molecular wei t of the polystyrene macromolecules of330 kDa should rise to 370 kDa for sample IHPS-18, due to the introduction of one additional —CH2- poup per styrene repeat unit (at the formal degree of crosshnking of the nanosponge of 200% attained). It could even amount to 390 kDa if the residual 6% chlorine is also taken into consideration. 

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