Growth of polystyrene films via gas‐phase polymerization with [Pd(CH₃CN)₄][BF₄]₂ thin film catalyst

Abstract

The heterogeneous catalytic polymerization of styrene vapor with a tetrakis(acetonitrile)palladium(II) tetrafluoroborate, [Pd(CH3CN)4][BF4]2, thin film has been demonstrated. The catalyst is deposited by nebulization of dilute solutions onto a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) and then exposed to styrene vapor in controlled environments. The use of QCM allows in situ monitoring of catalyst deposition and polymer growth kinetics. The polymerization process appears to involve the entire catalyst film rather than polymerization only at the catalyst film surface. The styrene vapor polymerization occurs rapidly after a short induction time needed for monomer dissolution and catalyst activation. The narrow molecular weight distribution of the produced polymer suggests that the deposited film acts as a single site catalyst. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 1930–1934, 2005

On-line measurement of monomer concentration in UV photopolymerization using a quartz crystal resonator

“…For example, the resonator was applied to monitor gas-phase polymerization [17], crystallization [18][19][20] and condensation process involving phase change [21]. In photopolymerization, the resonator was employed in an on-line monitoring the UV photopolymerization [22] and in measuring the surface adsorption of surfactant used for the surface modification of glycidyl methacrylate [23].…”

Monitoring photopolymerization of trimethylolpropane triacrylate using a quartz crystal resonator

“…While a contacting phase changes on the resonator surface, the resonant frequency and resistance of the resonator vary due to mass load change and rheological alteration on the surface. For example, the resonator was applied to monitor gas‐phase polymerization,29 crystallization,30–32 and condensation processes involving the phase change 33. In photopolymerization, the resonator was used in an in‐line monitoring the UV photopolymerization process34 and in measuring the surface adsorption of surfactant used for the surface modification of glycidyl methacrylate 35…”

“…When the quartz crystal resonator was used in the studies of polymerization process, the variation of resonant frequency has been monitored to detect the variation of polymer amount built on the electrode surface. The reduction of resonant frequency was used to determine the amounts of polymerization of polypyrrole,25–28, 36 polyaniline,37–39 polyacrylate21, 34, 40–43 and polystyrene,29 and enzyme and protein 23. In addition, the dissipation monitoring of the quartz crystal resonator was applied to the polymerization 35, 44–46.…”