Branched polystyrene with abundant pendant vinyl functional groups from asymmetric divinyl monomer

Branched polystyrenes with abundant pendant vinyl functional groups were prepared via radical polymerization of an asymmetric divinyl monomer, which possesses a higher reactive styryl and a lower reactive butenyl. Employing a fast reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) equilibrium, the concentration of active propagation chains remained at a low value and thus crosslinking did not occur until a high level of monomer conversion. The combination of a higher reaction temperature (120 degrees C) and RAFT agent cumyl dithiobenzoate was demonstrated to be optimal for providing both a more highly branched architecture and a higher polymer yield.

Syndiospecific polymerization of styrene with multi-nuclear titanium complexes

Two multi-nuclear titanium complexes [Ti(eta(5)-Cp-*) Cl(mu-O)](3) ( 1) and [(eta(5)-(CpTiCl)-Ti-*)(mu-O)(2)(eta(5)-(CpTi)-Ti-*)(2)(mu-O)(mu-O)(2)](2)Ti (Cp-* = C5Me5) ( 2) have been investigated as the precatalysts for syndiospecific polymerization of styrene. In the presence of modified methylaluminoxane ( MMAO) as a cocatalyst, complexes 1 and 2 display much higher catalytic activities towards styrene polymerization, and produce the higher molecular weight polystyrenes with higher syndiotacticities and melting temperatures ( T-m) than the mother complex (CpTiCl3)-Ti-* does when the polymerization temperature is above 70 degrees C and the Al/Ti molar ratio is in the low range especially.

Preparation and characterization of post-derivatives from functional polystyrene (ATRP) with p-nitroaniline-azomethine phenol and their thermal and optical study

The functional polystyrene, (Cl-PS)(2)-CHCOOCH2CH2OH ( designated as XPSt and coded P2) was prepared by ATRP at 130(0)C using CuCl and bipyridine as catalysts, 2,2-dichloro acetate-ethylene glycol (DCAG) as multifunctional initiator and THF as solvent. 4-Nitoroaniline azomethine-4' phenol (P1) as chromophores were covalently linked to the functional end groups of the polymer by using simple displacement reaction. The functional polystyrenes, namely XPSt (P2) and (PS)(2)-CHCOOCH2CH2OH, designated as X-PSt and coded P3 and their post-derivatives, namely, DXPSt (P4) and DX-PSt (P5) respectively were characterized by IR, NMR and UV spectroscopies, gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), polarising optical microscopy (POM) and XRD studies. DSC showed that incorporation of chromophores in the side chains of polymers towards the polystyrene moiety increases the rigidity of the polymer and subsequently, its glass transition temperature; however the incorporation of side chain towards the alcoholic functional group decreases the glass transition temperature. The post derivatives do not play any significant role to increase the thermal stability ( TGA).

AFM study of the self-assembly behavior of hexa-armed star polymers with a discotic triphenylene core

The size-armed polystyrenes and poly-(methyl methacrylate)s with a triphenylene core showed different self-assembling patterns, isolated cylinders for polySt on mico and highly ordered cylindrical pores for polyMMA on a silicon water. With a decrease of polymer concentration in tetrahydrofuran (HHF), the size and height of cylinders decreased for polySt, but fur polyMMA, the size and depth of the cylindrical pores increased. Slow evaporation of the solvent and a low molecular weight favored the formation of regular patterns.

COMPARISON OF THE BEHAVIOR OF CYCLIC AND LINEAR POLYSTYRENE IN DILUTE-SOLUTION

Using a low angle laser light scattering photometer, the second virial coefficients (A2) of both cyclic and linear polystyrene were determined in cyclohexane, toluene and methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) solutions. From the data obtained in cyclohexane solution the theta-temperature of cyclic polystyrene was determined to be 30-degrees-C. In toluene solution A2 of cyclic polystyrene is smaller than that of linear polystyrene with the same molecular weight, but in MEK the values are similar.