Synthetic Addition Polymers

The range of applications of CE-MS is still rather limited [899]. Few real unknown samples have been analysed by CE-MS. In particular, CE-MS activities for synthetic polymer additive analysis purposes are not abundant. On the other hand, ITP and ITP-CE separations of food additives on a chip have been reported [900]. 

There are two main categories of synthetic polymers addition polymers and condensation polymers. The former are made from monomers via a chain reaction involving a reactive intermediate. Monomers are typically... 

The quahty of microbial mass spectra was assessed visually immediately after data acquisition with regard to the following criteria first and foremost, the SNR and the presence of a sufficient number of mass peaks were evaluated. Further quality criteria were a fiat spectral baseline and the absence of interfering, or confounding, mass peaks from plasticizers and other synthetic polymer additives. Outliers, that is, spectra failing to meet one or more of the quahty requirements were not accepted for subsequent analyses. The remaining spectra were de-noised in the following by... 

Proteins often have the same high-affinity isotherms as do synthetic polymers and are also slow to equilibrate, due to many contacts with the surface. Proteins, however, have the additional complication that they can partially or completely unfold at the solid-liquid interface to expose their hydrophobic core units to a hydrophobic surface... 

Many complex systems have been spread on liquid interfaces for a variety of reasons. We begin this chapter with a discussion of the behavior of synthetic polymers at the liquid-air interface. Most of these systems are linear macromolecules however, rigid-rod polymers and more complex structures are of interest for potential optoelectronic applications. Biological macromolecules are spread at the liquid-vapor interface to fabricate sensors and other biomedical devices. In addition, the study of proteins at the air-water interface yields important information on enzymatic recognition, and membrane protein behavior. We touch on other biological systems, namely, phospholipids and cholesterol monolayers. These systems are so widely and routinely studied these days that they were also mentioned in some detail in Chapter IV. The closely related matter of bilayers and vesicles is also briefly addressed. 

In addition to an array of experimental methods, we also consider a more diverse assortment of polymeric systems than has been true in other chapters. Besides synthetic polymer solutions, we also consider aqueous protein solutions. The former polymers are well represented by the random coil model the latter are approximated by rigid ellipsoids or spheres. For random coils changes in the goodness of the solvent affects coil dimensions. For aqueous proteins the solvent-solute interaction results in various degrees of hydration, which also changes the size of the molecules. Hence the methods we discuss are all potential sources of information about these interactions between polymers and their solvent environments. 

The factor 1 - p/p2 cannot be too close to zero, nor can the refractive index of the polymer and the solvent be too similar. These additional considerations limit the choice of solvents for a synthetic polymer, while their values are optimal for aqueous protein solutions. 

Starch is a polysaccharide found in many plant species. Com and potatoes are two common sources of industrial starch. The composition of starch varies somewhat in terms of the amount of branching of the polymer chains (11). Its principal use as a flocculant is in the Bayer process for extracting aluminum from bauxite ore. The digestion of bauxite in sodium hydroxide solution produces a suspension of finely divided iron minerals and siUcates, called red mud, in a highly alkaline Hquor. Starch is used to settle the red mud so that relatively pure alumina can be produced from the clarified Hquor. It has been largely replaced by acryHc acid and acrylamide-based (11,12) polymers, although a number of plants stiH add some starch in addition to synthetic polymers to reduce the level of residual suspended soHds in the Hquor. Starch [9005-25-8] can be modified with various reagents to produce semisynthetic polymers. The principal one of these is cationic starch, which is used as a retention aid in paper production as a component of a dual system (13,14) or a microparticle system (15). 

Current manufacturers of these products are the Polymer Additives Group of Witco Corp. (New York), with the trade name Mark, and Synthetic Products Co. (Cleveland), with the trade name Synpron. The antimony-based stabilizers are typicaHy used for rigid PVC extmsion appHcations at about 0.4 to about 0.8 phr, priced at about 3.80— 4.50/kg. 

More recently, Raman spectroscopy has been used to investigate the vibrational spectroscopy of polymer Hquid crystals (46) (see Liquid crystalline materials), the kinetics of polymerization (47) (see Kinetic measurements), synthetic polymers and mbbers (48), and stress and strain in fibers and composites (49) (see Composite materials). The relationship between Raman spectra and the stmcture of conjugated and conducting polymers has been reviewed (50,51). In addition, a general review of ft-Raman studies of polymers has been pubUshed (52). 

Thickeners. Thickeners are added to remover formulas to increase the viscosity which allows the remover to cling to vertical surfaces. Natural and synthetic polymers are used as thickeners. They are generally dispersed and then caused to swell by the addition of a protic solvent or by adjusting the pH of the remover. When the polymer swells, it causes the viscosity of the mixture to increase. Viscosity is controlled by the amount of thickener added. Common thickeners used in organic removers include hydroxypropylmethylceUulose [9004-65-3], hydroxypropylceUulose [9004-64-2], hydroxyethyl cellulose, and poly(acryHc acid) [9003-01-4]. Thickeners used in aqueous removers include acryHc polymers and latex-type polymers. Some thickeners are not stable in very acidic or very basic environments, so careful selection is important. 

Pretreatment Chemicals Even though the suspended solids concentration of the slurry to be tested may be correct, it is frequently necessary to modify the sluriy in order to provide an acceptable filtration rate, washing rate, or final cake moisture content. The most common treatment, and one which may provide improvement in all three of these categories, is the addition of flocculating agents, either inorganic chemicals or natural or synthetic polymers. The main task at this point is to determine which is the most effective chemical and the quantity of chemical which should be used. 

In addition to plastics materials, many fibres, surface coatings and rubbers are also basically high polymers, whilst in nature itself there is an abundance of polymeric material. Proteins, cellulose, starch, lignin and natural rubber are high polymers. The detailed structures of these materials are complex and highly sophisticated in comparison the synthetic polymers produced by man are crude in the quality of their molecular architecture. 

The third approaeh to synthetic polymers is of somewhat less commereial importance. There is in fact no universally accepted deseription for the route but the terms rearrangement polymerisation and polyaddition are commonly used. In many respects this process is intermediate between addition and condensation polymerisations. As with the former teehnique there is no moleeule split out but the kinetics are akin to the latter. A typical example is the preparation of polyurethanes by interaction of diols (di-alcohols, glycols) with di-isocyanates Figure 2.7). 

It is an observed fact that with most synthetic polymers the head-to-tail structure is formed. In the case of diene polymers differences may arise in the point of addition. Reaction can take place at the 1 and 4 positions, the 1 and 2 positions or the 3 and 4 positions to give the structures indicated in Figure 4.9. 

In addition to its water solubility poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) is soluble in a very wide range of materials, including aliphatic halogenated hydrocarbons (methylene dichloride, chloroform), many monohydric and polyhdric alcohols (methanol, ethanol, ethylene glycol), some ketones (acetyl acetone) and lactones (a-butyrolactone), lower aliphatic acids (glacial acetic acid) and the nitro-paraffins. The polymer is also compatible with a wide range of other synthetic polymers, with gums and with plasticisers. 

The use of casein plastics was severely curtailed with the development of synthetic polymers, particularly after the Second World War. In addition stricter regulations concerning health and safety at work will have caused attention to be drawn to the formolising process. In the experience of the author the environment surrounding the formolising baths is most unpleasant and this will have accelerated the demise of the casein manufacturing industry. 

There are two great families of synthetic polymers, those made by addition methods (notably, polyethylene and other polyolefines), in which successive monomers simply become attached to a long chain, and those made by condensation reactions (polyesters, polyamides, etc.) in which a monomer becomes attached to the end of a chain with the generation of a small by-product molecule, such as water. The first sustained programme of research directed specifically to finding new synthetic macromolecules involved mostly condensation reactions and was master-... 

Porous silica packings do, however, sometimes suffer from adsorption between the sample and silanol groups on the silica surface. This interaction can interfere with the size exclusion experiment and yield erroneous information. In many cases, this problem is easily overcome by selecting mobile phases that eliminate these interactions. In addition, the surface of porous silica packings is routinely modified in order to reduce these undesirable interactions. Trimeth-ylsilane modified packing is typically used with synthetic polymers. Diol modified packing is typically used with proteins and peptides. 

Two general reactions form synthetic polymers chain addition and condensation. 

Polyisoprene is a synthetic polymer (elastomer) that can he vulcanized hy the addition of sulfur. cis-Polyisoprene has properties similar to that of natural ruhher. It is characterized hy high tensile strength and insensitivity to temperature changes, hut it has low abrasion resistance. It is attacked hy oxygen and hydrocarbons. 

Synthetic polymers can be classified as either chain-growth polymen or step-growth polymers. Chain-growth polymers are prepared by chain-reaction polymerization of vinyl monomers in the presence of a radical, an anion, or a cation initiator. Radical polymerization is sometimes used, but alkenes such as 2-methylpropene that have electron-donating substituents on the double bond polymerize easily by a cationic route through carbocation intermediates. Similarly, monomers such as methyl -cyanoacrylate that have electron-withdrawing substituents on the double bond polymerize by an anionic, conjugate addition pathway. 

We start with synthetic organic polymers. Since about 1930, a variety of synthetic polymers have been made available by the chemical industry. The monomer units are joined together either by addition (Section 23.1) or by condensation (Section 23.2). They are used to make cups, plates, fabrics, automobile tires, and even artificial hearts. 

Of some interest is also co-crosslinking of various synthetic polymers, their blends with natural ones as well as compositions with inert or active fillers numerous patents are devoted to these materials (for example, Refs. [87, 88]). Low doses of crosslinking allow to introduce various physiologically active additives into SAH without any danger of radiation damage. This possibility is particularly attractive for the technology of SAH. 

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