Search results for "Chemical engineering"
showing 10 items of 5892 documents
The effect of macromolecular architecture of ethylene copolymers with multi-alkenylsilsesquioxane on morphological, rheological and dynamic mechanica…
2021
Abstract The influence of the degree and the way of incorporation of multi-alkenylsilsesquioxane into the polymer chain on morphological, rheological and dynamic mechanical parameters were determined. It was found that POSS incorporated into the polymer chain was located outside the crystalline structure of lamella in amorphous phase. The incorporation of POSS-6-2 as a pendant group resulted in significant increase of separation of macromolecules. The key factor in rheological and dynamic mechanical behavior of copolymers turned out to be the way of POSS incorporation into the polymer chain. The incorporation of POSS into the polymer chain as a pendant group resulted in decreased relaxation…
Tunable dynamic hydrophobic attachment of guest molecules in amphiphilic core–shell polymers
2016
In this study, synthesis and dynamic properties of amphiphilic core–shell polymers are reported as monitored through their interaction with small amphiphilic molecules. Brush-like structures are formed with a hydrophobic core surrounded by a hydrophilic shell utilizing controlled radical addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization of macromonomers consisting of linear polyglycerol chains attached to alkylene methacrylate. Continuous wave electron paramagnetic resonance (CW EPR) spectroscopy is employed to study how the amphiphilic, paramagnetic spin probe 16-DSA (16-doxyl stearic acid) interacts with polymers of different alkylene chain lengths in their hydrophobic cores and…
The role of additives in the recycling of polymers
1998
The main problems in post-consumer plastics recycling are due to the degradation undergone by the polymers during processing steps and by the products during their lifetime and, for heterogeneous recycling, to the incompatibility of different polymers. To reduce the negative effects of the recycling steps, two main ways can be adopted for homogeneous materials: restabilization during the recycling to avoid or at least to slow the degradation and addition of fillers and modifiers capable of improving the performance of thermoplastic polymers without increasing the final cost of the secondary material. In the case of mixed plastics, compatibilization is the necessary step to obtain secondary …
Living Polymer Chains with Predictable Molecular Weight and Dispersity via Carbanionic Polymerization in Continuous Flow: Mixing Rate as a Key Parame…
2016
Aiming at systematic variation of the parameter dispersity, Đ (or “polydispersity”), living polymers with predictable dispersity (Đ = 1.15–2.20) and controlled molecular weights (Mn = 3200–18 500 g mol–1) were prepared via carbanionic polymerization. The approach relies on a continuous flow reactor equipped with a tangential four-way jet micromixing device. By varying the total flow rate, the mixing efficiency of the initiator (sec-BuLi) and the corresponding vinyl monomers is controlled, resulting in polymers with predefined dispersity, while the number-average molecular weight, Mn, is kept constant. In this manner living polystyrene (PS), poly(p-methylstyrene) (PpMeS), and poly(2-vinylpyr…
Polydispersity and Molecular Weight Distribution of Hyperbranched Graft Copolymers via “Hypergrafting” of ABm Monomers from Polydisperse Macroinitiat…
2013
The hypergrafting strategy designates the synthesis of hyperbranched graft copolymers (HGCs) in a grafting-from approach, using ABm monomers, from multifunctional, polydisperse macroinitiator cores by slow monomer addition. Hypergrafting leads to complex polymer topologies with defined molecular weight, degree of branching (DB), and polydispersity (PD). By a generating function formalism, a generally applicable equation for the PD of HGCs (PD = PDf + (m – 1)/f) is derived, where PDf is the polydispersity of the core and f its average functionality. In addition, the complete molecular weight distribution function has been calculated for varied m and f as well as for a given distribution of i…
Mechanistic study on the metallocene-based tandem catalytic coordinative chain transfer polymerization for the synthesis of highly branched polyolefi…
2021
Abstract Creation and control of long-chain branches (LCBs) in coordination polymerization of olefins is an enduring focus of research in both academia and industry. We have recently introduced a tandem catalytic coordinative chain transfer polymerization reaction where upon the concerted function of the polymerization catalyst, the chain transfer agent (CTA), and the displacement catalyst, a highly branched microstructure can be formed. Here we introduce a new tandem catalytic system using Et(Ind)2ZrCl2 as the polymerization catalyst. Despite the optimal reaction temperature for the cooperative function of catalyst components is lower than the ideal temperature for the productivity of the …
Influence of Hair Density and Hair Length on Interparticle Interactions of Spherical Polymer Brushes in a Homopolymer Matrix
2003
The dynamics of hairy spherical nanoparticles in a melt of linear polymer chains has been investigated by mechanical spectroscopy as a function of particle topology and concentration. Using a simple free volume approach for the data analysis of the structural relaxation time vs concentration and the well-known hard-sphere result as a reference, a semiquantitative measure for the interparticle interactions, that is particle deformability/softness, and the effective particle size compared to the size of a nonswollen spherical brush has been determined. For these studies, model particles of hairy nanoparticles differing in either hair length or grafting density have been prepared. In contrast …
Modular approach toward bioactive fiber meshes carrying oligosaccharides
2010
A modular strategy toward (bio)functional nanofiber meshes by electrospinning is described. In contrast to commonly established, multistep protocols or complex spinning setups, a straightforward single-step procedure is investigated to obtain polymer nanofibers with pentafluorophenyl (Pfp)-activated esters on the surface. The aim was to electrospin, for the first time, poly(pentafluorophenyl methacrylate) (PPfpMA) and PPfpMA/poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL) blends, resulting in reactive nanofibers with fiber surfaces that can be functionalized with suitable bioactive entities. While PPfpMA fibers are brittle the spinning of PCL/PPfpMA blends leads to improved mechanical stability of the obt…
Self-organization of hydrophobized polyzwitterions
1992
Abstract Several series of copolymers of different geometry were synthesized from zwitterionic surfactant monomers and polar non-ionic comonomers. Bulk properties were investigated by d.s.c. and X-ray scattering. The copolymers were amorphous, but exhibited superstructures up to high commonomer contents. Solubility of the copolymers was determined as a function of geometry and composition. From the results, a main chain spacer model has been derived. All water-soluble copolymers exhibited characteristic features of classical polysoaps, as shown by surface tension measurements and by solubilization of pyrene. But gradual differences depending on the polymer geometry were observed for the sol…
Amphiphilic poly(ether urethanes) carrying associative terpyridine side groups with controlled spacing
2021
The rational design of transiently crosslinked polymer gels requires a profound understanding of how molecular and topological factors determine the mechanical and dynamic material properties. To refine so-far established structure–property relations, complementary and versatile model sytems are still a crucial prerequisiste. In this study, the synthesis of a metallo-supramolecular associating terpyridine-diol (referred to as sticker) and its incorporation into poly(ethylene glycol) (pEG) based polyurethanes (PU) with strictly alternating vs. random sequences and variable sticker spacings is described. Synergetic effects resulting from the proximity of multiple neighboring urethane and stic…