Conetworks on the base of polystyrene with poly(methyl methacrylate) paired polymers

Abstract

It is found that forced (reactive) blending of polystyrene (PS) with polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) involves the covalent binding of heterogeneous macromolecules to afford the paired polymers. For this purpose, the “anchor” N-H unsubstituted tetrazole or oxirane functional groups are preliminarily introduced in the structure of both polymers in a small amount that leads to a covalent binding of the heterogeneous macromolecules. The reaction between the modified PS and PMMA is carried out in dimethylformamide (DMF), toluene and dichloroethane (DCE) at a high total concentration of polymers (10-20 g dL-1). The process is accompanied by gel-formation to deliver cross-linked paired polymers It is established that the highest rate of the paired polymer is attained in the DCE medium, while the lowest rate is observed in DMF. For paired polymers synthesized in DMF, two glass transition temperatures (Tg) of 92°C and 104°C correspond to the original PS and PMMA, respectively. The products of forced blending of PS and PMMA in toluene have one averaged Tg value (99°C), whereas those obtained in DCE show no pronounced glass transition region at 90 ÷ 115°C. In toluene or DCE, the paired polymers are formed, which represent single-phase systems having one glass transition region.

Tuning the index of refraction of a polyvinyl toluene and polystyrene copolymer toward a heterogenous, index‐matched neutron detector

“…BPA‐DM was employed at low concentrations as a crosslinking monomer, and it is not expected to create as large an impact on the refractive index as other polymers may produce. Several research groups have studied blends of PS and PMMA, 29–31 which could be extended to PVT/PMMA mixtures for lowering the index of PVT resins produced for neutron detection ( 1.61 32,33 and PMMA 1.508). The most common practice is to buy partially polymerized monomer formulations (called resins in the neutron detection industry) from Eljen Technologies from which plastic scintillators are bulk‐polymerized into the desired shape; but this results in translucent (not transparent) plastic when combining different resins (such as PS and PVT).…”

Nanoconfined Crosslinked Poly(ionic liquid)s with Unprecedented Selective Swelling Properties Obtained by Alkylation in Nanophase-Separated Poly(1-vinylimidazole)-l-poly(tetrahydrofuran) Conetworks

“…Nanoconfined material structures, including polymers as well, due to the wide range of unique structural features, properties, and effects arising under nanocompartmentalized conditions, have created significant worldwide interest over the last couple of years (see e.g., references [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ] and references therein). The recently emerged polymer conetworks, especially amphiphilic conetworks (APCNs), composed of covalently or supramolecularly bonded, otherwise immiscible, hydrophilic and hydrophobic polymer chains, belong to such nanophase-separated materials with mutually nanoconfined macromolecular components [ 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 ]. Considering that polymers containing imidazole rings, which also play a pivotal role in the major biopolymers and compounds of living organisms, such as DNA, RNA, proteins, enzymes, hormones, vitamins, etc., provide various advantageous properties, like water solubility, strong metal ion coordinating ability, protonation, and alkylation possibilities, we have recently explored the synthesis, nanophasic structure, and properties of poly(1-vinylimidazole)- l -poly(tetrahydrofuran) (PVIm- l -PTHF) and poly(1-vinylimidazole)- l -poly(propylene...…”