Solid-state polymerization crystals

Solid-State Polymerization, Crystal Optics, and Conformational Itansitions... 

Sixl, H. Spectroscopy of the Intermediate States of the Solid State Polymerization Reaction in Diacetylene Crystals. Vol. 63, pp. 49 — 90. 

The solid-state polymerization of diacetylenes is an example of a lattice-controlled solid-state reaction. Polydiacetylenes are synthesized via a 1,4-addition reaction of monomer crystals of the form R-C=C-CeC-R. The polymer backbone has a planar, fully conjugated structure. The electronic structure is essentially one dimensional with a lowest-energy optical transition of typically 16 000 cm-l. The polydiacetylenes are unique among organic polymers in that they may be obtained as large-dimension single crystals. 

Polydiacetylenes are obtained as single crystals by topochemical solid-state polymerization of the monomer single crystal. These compounds have received considerable attention because of their one-dimensionally -conjugated structure. Their unique --electron structures, and therefore superior third-order nonlinear optical properties, have been extensively investigated. 

A kinetic model for single-phase polymerizations— that is, reactions where because of the similarity of structure the polymer grows as a solid-state solution in the monomer crystal without phase separation—has been proposed by Baughman [294] to explain the experimental behavior observed in the temperature- or light-induced polymerization of substimted diacetylenes R—C=C—C=C—R. The basic feature of the model is that the rate constant for nucleation is assumed to depend on the fraction of converted monomer x(f) and is not constant like it is assumed in the Avrami model discussed above. The rate of the solid-state polymerization is given by... 

Later, Tieke reported the UV- and y-irradiation polymerization of butadiene derivatives crystallized in perovskite-type layer structures [21,22]. He reported the solid-state polymerization of butadienes containing aminomethyl groups as pendant substituents that form layered perovskite halide salts to yield erythro-diisotactic 1,4-trans polymers. Interestingly, Tieke and his coworker determined the crystal structure of the polymerized compounds of some derivatives by X-ray diffraction [23,24]. From comparative X-ray studies of monomeric and polymeric crystals, a contraction of the lattice constant parallel to the polymer chain direction by approximately 8% is evident. Both the carboxylic acid and aminomethyl substituent groups are in an isotactic arrangement, resulting in diisotactic polymer chains. He also referred to the y-radiation polymerization of molecular crystals of the sorbic acid derivatives with a long alkyl chain as the N-substituent [25]. More recently, Schlitter and Beck reported the solid-state polymerization of lithium sorbate [26]. However, the details of topochemical polymerization of 1,3-diene monomers were not revealed until very recently. 

The polymerization proceeds under photo- [49,50],X-ray [51], and y-ray [52] irradiation in the dark in vacuo, in air, or even in water or organic solvent as the dispersant (nonsolvent) for the crystals, similar to the solid-state polymerization of diacetylene compounds [ 12]. The process of topochemical polymerization of 1,3-diene monomers is also independent of the environment surrounding the crystals. Recently, the thermally induced topochemical polymerization of several monomers with a high decomposition and melting point was confirmed [53]. The polymer yield increases as the reaction temperature increases during the thermal polymerization. IR and NMR spectroscopies certified that the polymers obtained from the thermally induced polymerization in the dark have a stereoregular repeating structure identical to those of the photopolymers produced by UV or y-ray irradiation. 

Andrews76 gave results of the work of Reed and Martin on cis-polyisoprene specimens crystallized from a strained cross linked melt and on solid state polymerized poly-oxymethylene respectively, explaining the results by simple two phase models. He also summarized the studies of Patel and Philips775 on spherulitic polyethylene which showed that the Young s modulus increased as a function of crystallite radius by a factor of 3 up to a radius of about 13 n and then decreased on further increasing spherulite size. 

Topochemical Polymerization The chiral crystalline environment of a monomer itself can be a source of asymmetric induction in solid-state polymerization [69-72], Prochiral monomers such as 37 give enantiomorphic crystals, one of which can be preferentially formed by recrystallization with a trace amount of optically active compounds. Photoir-... 

Gross, S. M. Roberts, G. W. Kiserow, D. J. DeSimone, J. M. Crystallization and Solid State Polymerization of Poly(bisphenol A carbonate) Facilitated by Supercritical C02. Macromolecules 2000, 33, 40 -5. 

Radiation-Induced Polymerization. Polymerization induced by irradiation is initiated by free radicals and by ionic species. On very pure vinyl monomers, D. J. Metz demonstrated that ionic polymerization can become the dominating process. In Chapter 12 he postulates a kinetic scheme starting with the formation of ions, followed by a propagation step via carbonium ions and chain transfer to the vinyl monomer. C. Schneider studied the polymerization of styrene and a-methylstyrene by pulse radiolysis in aqueous medium and found results similar to those obtained in conventional free-radical polymerization. She attributes this to a growing polymeric benzyl type radical which is formed partially through electron capture by the styrene molecule, followed by rapid protonation in the side chain and partially by the addition of H and OH to the double vinyl bond. A. S. Chawla and L. E. St. Pierre report on the solid state polymerization of hexamethylcyclotrisiloxane by high energy radiation of the monomer crystals. 

The solid state polymerization of hexamethylcyclotrisiloxane has been investigated over the temperature range —196° to 60°C. The rates of polymerization have been related to the presence of ion scavengers, H20, NH3, in the monomer and to the size of the crystals. Using large crystals dried over sodium, G values of polymerization of 11 X 103 were obtained at 50°C. This is five times larger than previously reported values. The reaction is concluded to be surface initiated and to be terminated at a crystal face or at a defect. 

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