Water soluble polyaniline and its blend films prepared by aqueous solution casting

Polyaniline (PAn) was doped with phosphonic acid containing hydrophilic tails. The solubility of the doped PAn in water was controlled by changing the length of hydrophilic chain in the dopant. When poly(ethylene glycol) monomethyl ether (PEGME) with molecular weight M-w = 550 was used as the hydrophilic chain of the dopant, the doped PAn was entirely soluble in water. The film cast from aqueous solution showed good electrochemical redox reversibility, Aqueous solution blending of PAn with poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG, M-w = 20 000) and poly(N-vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP, M-w = 360 000) was achieved. Percolation threshold of the composite film was lower than 3 wt.%. Electrical conductivity of the composite film was in the range of 10(-1)-10(-5) S cm(-1), depending on molecular weight of the acid and the content of PAn in the composite. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Synthesis, crystal structure and luminescence studies of a lanthanide coordination polymer with a new double betaine ligand

A novel europium(III) coordination polymer with a new double betaine derivative, {[Eu(L')(NO3)(H2O)(3)](NO3)(2). 3.5H(2)O}(n) (L-1 = 1,3-bis(pyridinio-4-carboxylato)-propane) has been synthesized and its structure determined. Its luminescence properties have also been studied. The title metal carboxylate coordination polymer contains centrosymmetric dimeric units in which each pair of metal ions is linked by a pair of syn-anti carboxylato-O,O' groups, and each pair of such dimeric units is bridged by the backbones of L-1 ligands to form infinite double chains in the b direction. These metal carboxylate chains are further cross-linked by hydrogen bonds among both coordinated and discrete nitrate anions, aqua ligands and lattice water molecules to form a three-dimensional network. Luminescent data show that the L-1 ligand is a good energy donor and the complex has a relatively long luminescent lifetime.

Characterization and ionic conductivity of an amorphous comblike polymer - II: Based on ethylene maleic anhydride copolymer backbone with monoethyl ether of poly(ethylene glycol) of M-W=550 as side chain

Using a graft modification method, a comblike polymer host (CBPE550) was synthesized by reacting monomethyl ether of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEGMA) with ethylene-maleic anhydride copolymer (EMAC) and endcapping the residual carboxylic acid with methanol. The product was characterized by IR and elementary analysis. Result showed that the product was amorphous and semi-ester product is accord with reaction equation. There were two peaks in the plot of the ionic conductivity against Li salt concentration. The plot of log a against 1/(T - T-0) shows a dual VTF behavior when using the glass transition temperature of PEO of side chain as T beta. The comblike polymer is a white rubbery solid. It can be well-dissolved in acetone. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Preparation of polymer-supported zirconocene catalysts and olefin polymerization

A novel polymer-supported metallocene catalyst with crosslinked poly(styrene-co-acrylamide) (PSAm) as the support has been prepared and characterized. The probability of long sequences of acrylamide (Am) in PSAm is still low even at an Am amount of 32.8 mol %, implying the relatively homogeneous distribution of Am. The infrared spectra of PSAm and the supported catalyst substantiate that an amide group in PSAm coordinates with methylaluminoxane through both oxygen and nitrogen atoms. Ethylene/alpha-octene copolymerization showed that the catalytic activity is not markedly affected by adding alpha-octene. C-13 NMR analysis of the ethylene/alpha-octene copolymer indicated that the composition distribution of the copolymer is uniform. (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Effect and mechanism in compatibilization of poly(styrene-b-2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) diblock copolymer in poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide) poly(ethylene-ran-acrylic acid) blends

The compatibilization effect of poly(styrene-b-2-ethyl-2-oxazoline) diblock copolymer, P(S-b-EOx), on immiscible blends of poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide) (PPO) and poly(ethylene-co-acrylic acid) (EAA) is examined in terms of phase structure and thermal, rheological and mechanical properties, and its compatibilizing mechanism is investigated by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. The block copolymer, synthesized by a mechanism transformation copolymerization, is used in solution blending of PPO/EAA. Scanning electron micrographs show that the blends exhibit a more regular and finer dispersion on addition of a small amount of P(S-b-EOx). Thermal analysis indicates that the grass transition of PPO and the lower endothermic peal; of EAA components become closer on adding P(S-b-EOx), and the added diblock copolymer is mainly located at the interface between the PPO and EAA phases. The interfacial tension estimated by theological measurement is significantly reduced on addition of a small amount of P(S-b-EOx). The tensile strength and elongation at break increase with the addition of the diblock copolymer for PPO-rich blends, whereas the tensile strength increases but the elongation at break decreases for EAA-rich blends. This effect is interpreted in terms of interfacial activity and the reinforcing effect of the diblock copolymer, and it is concluded that the diblock copolymer plays a role as an effective compatibilizer for PPO/EAA blends. The specific interaction between EAA and polar parts of P(S-b-EOx) is mainly hydrogen bonding. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Polymer-supported zirconocene catalyst for ethylene polymerization

The use of crosslinked poly(styrene-co-4-vinylpyridine) having functional groups as the support for zirconocene catalysts in ethylene polymerization was studied. Several factors affecting the activity of the catalysts were examined. Conditions like time, temperature, Al/N (molar ratio), Al/Zr (molar ratio), and the mode of feeding were found having no significant influence on the activity of the catalysts, while the state of the supports had a great effect on the catalytic behavior. The activity of the catalysts sharply increased with either the degree of crosslinking or the content of 4-vinylpyridine in the support. Via aluminum compounds, AlR3 or methylaluminoxane (MAO), zirconocene was attached on the surface of the support. IR spectra showed an intensified and shifted absorption bands of C-N in the pyridine ring, and a new absorption band appeared at about 730 cm(-1) indicating a stable bond Al-N formed in the polymer-supported catalysts. The formation of cationic active centers was hypothesized and the performance of the polymer-supported zirconocene was discussed as well. (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 37-46, 1999.

Thermally stable interpenetrating polymer networks for second-order nonlinear optical materials

We report several kinds of interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) with nonlinear optical (NLO) properties. DMA spectra show that the two components of the IPNs have good compatibility with each other. The NLO materials have good optical transparency. The thermal stability of alignment was improved and the poled order remained very high. (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Synthesis of a new aryl ether ketone polymer

The synthesis of a new aryl ether ketone polymer with an advantageous ratio of glass transition temperature to melting temperature is reported.

Phase transition temperatures of side chain liquid crystal polymer from molecular dynamics simulation

In this paper, phase transition temperatures of side chain liquid crystal polymer were predicted by molecular dynamics simulation. We analyzed the change of energy and the degree of similarity(S) with the temperature varying. The simulated phase transition temperatures agree with the experimental values in a proper deviation.

Preparation and luminescent properties of inorganic polymer nano - Structured hybrid films doped with rare earth complexes

The inorganic/polymer hybrid films with good luminescent properties have been obtained by the sol - gel process via incorporating the polymer component doped with rare earth complexes. These films exhibit good toughness and transparency. Their fluorescence spectra and lifetimes indicate that they all have the characteristic luminescence of the central rare earth ions. The lifetimes of these films are longer than those of pure complexes. TEM have showed that the rare earth complexes are dispersed homogeneously in SiO2/PVB interpenetratiny networks, and the dispersed size is between 20 and 30 nn.

In-situ microscopic FTIR spectroelectrochemical study of the reduction of K3Fe(CN)(6) in polymer electrolyte

Cyclic voltammetry and in-situ microscopic FTIR spectroelectrochemistry were used for the electrochemical and vibrational characterizations of the reduction process of K3Fe (CN)(6) in polyethylene glycol(PEG) with LiClO4 as supporting electrolyte at a Pt microelectrode. The rate of electron transfer is a function of the concentration of the supporting electrolyte. The redox potentials and cyclic voltammetric currents vary with Li/O molar ratio. The bl-situ spectroelectrochemistry shows that the infrared spectra are influenced by the concentration of LiClO4. The bridging cyanide groups with a structure Fe-I-C drop N ... Fe-I-C drop N are formed during the reduction process of K3Fe (CN)(6). There may be an activated complex between the Lif cation and the complex anion.

The rheological and extrusion behaviour of blends based on phenolphthalein poly(ether-ether-sulfone) and thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer

A novel engineering thermoplastic, phenolphthalein poly (ether-ether-sulfone) (PES-C) was blended with a commercial thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer(TLCP), Vectra A950, up to 30 weight percent of TLCP. A rheometrics dynamic spectrometer (RDS-I) and a CEAST capillary rheometer, a rheoscope 1000 were employed to investigate the melt rheology and extrusion behaviour at both the low and high shearing rates. The morphologies of the blends under different shearing were observed with a scanning electron microscope(SEM) and correlated to the observed rheology. The principal normal stress differences measured with cone-and-plate geometry give a temperature-independent correlation for both blend and PES-C when they are plotted against shear stress. But the extrudate swell of the blends showed a strong temperature dependence at each shear stress. The concentration dependence of extrudate swell shows a contrary behaviour to that of the inorganic filled system. A reasonable hypothesis based on the relaxation and disorientation of TLCP during flowing in the capillary and exiting was given to explain it. The melt fracture was checked after extrusion from capillary and was discussed.

Microelectrode voltammetric measurement of heterogeneous electron transfer rate constants for reduction of 7,7,8 ',8 '-tetracyanoquinodimethane in polymer electrolytes

This paper presents a microelectrode voltammetric determination of heterogeneous electron transfer rate constants (k(s)) and diffusion coefficients (D) of 7,7,8',8 '-tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ) in polyelectrolytes. The diffusion coefficients are estimated using cyclic voltammetry under linear diffusion conditions, and the heterogeneous electron transfer rate constants are obtained under mixed linear and radial diffusion in the polyelectrolyte. k(s) and D increase with increasing temperature, and the activation barriers of the electrode reaction for reduction of TCNQ are obtained. On the other hand, the dependencies of D and k(s) of TCNQ on the size and charge of the counterion are compared in the polyelectrolyte. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Effect of the core-shell latex polymer content on the compatibility, morphology and mechanical properties of PC/PBA-cs-PMMA blends

The toughening effect of the content of a core-shell poly(butyl acrylate)/poly(methyl methacrylate) latex polymer (PBA-cs-PMMA) on the mechanical properties, morphology and compatibility of its blends with polycarbonate(PC), i.e., PC/PBA-cs-PMMa, was studied. The mechanical properties of the blends are strongly affected by varying the content of PBA-cs-PMMA in the blend. When the PBA-cs-PMMA content is only 5 wt.-%, the impact strength of PC/PBA-cs-PMMA is almost 19 times as high as that of pure PC, indicating that PBA-cs-PMMA is a very good impact modifier for PC. With increasing interphacial layer thickness and decreasing interphacial tension, the interphacial activity becomes more and more effective and, at the same time, miscibility increases too.

Effect of polymer chain structure and chain distance on luminescent efficiency

Three kinds of PPV-based copolymers were synthesized and characterized. Their luminescent properties were investigated and discussed by PL spectrum, and time-dependence luminescent spectrum in film and solution stare. The results show that in the range of our study, the PL intensity and lifetime of luminescent decay increase with the increasing length of flexible segments and the solution diluting, indicating the tendency of the increase of luminescent efficiency.