A Perspective of Polyphosphazene Research

Synthesis and Characterization of Phosphorus-Containing Sorbent for Basic Dye Removal

A new phosphorus-containing sorbent was prepared by copolymerizing ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) and trimethylvinyl silane (TMVS) with diphenylvinylphoshine oxide (DPVO). It was characterized and applied in the removal of cationic dyes such as C.I. Basic Yellow 2 (BY2), C.I. Basic Blue 3 (BB3) and C.I. Basic Red 46 (BR46) using the batch method. Spectroscopic analysis indicated that the phosphinoyl group was introduced into the sorbent structure. Equilibrium adsorption data were fitted to the Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin and Dubinin-Radushkevich isotherm models. The Freundlich model is the most suitable to describe the adsorption of BB3 (the Freundlich constant kF = 32.3 mg1-1/nL1/n/g) and BY2 on the sorbent (13.8 mg1-1/nL1/n/g), while the Langmuir model is the most adequate to describe the adsorption of BR46 (the monolayer capacity Q0 = 2.7 mg/g). The kinetics of the dye adsorption follows the assumptions of the pseudo-second-order (the rate constants k2 = 0.087 ÷ 0.738 g/mg min) model rather than pseudo-first-order or intraparticle diffusion. The presence of Na2SO4 and cationic surfactant in the aqueous solutions inhibited dye retention by the DPVO-EGDMA-TMVS. Adsorbent regeneration efficiency does not exceed 60% using 1 M NaCl and 1 M HCl solutions in the presence of 50% v/v methanol.

Synthesis, Characterization and Application of a New Functionalized Polymeric Sorbent Based on Alkenylphoshine Oxide

A novel phosphorus-containing sorbent (CyP(Ph)4-DVB) was prepared by copolymerizing divinylbenzene (DVB) with bis α,β-unsaturated phosphorylated cyclohexene (CyP(Ph)4). ATR-FT-IR indicated that the phosphinoyl group was introduced into the sorbent structure. The thermal properties of the sorbent were investigated using a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), which revealed that (CyP(Ph)4-DVB) is more stable than poly(DVB). The CyP(Ph)4-DVB was applied for cationic dye removal, such as C.I. Basic Yellow 2 (BY2) and C.I. Basic Blue 3 (BB3). Batch adsorption tests suggested that the Freundlich isotherm model seemed to be the better one for the description of equilibrium sorption data at equilibrium, rather than the Langmuir or Temkin models. The Freundlich constants concerning the adsorption capacity of CyP(Ph)4-DVB, k_F, were calculated as 14.2 mg^1-1/nL^1/n/g for BY2 and 53.7 mg^1-1/nL^1/n/g for BB3.

Cyclo- and Polyphosphazenes for Biomedical Applications

Cyclic and polyphosphazenes are extremely interesting and versatile substrates characterized by the presence of -P=N- repeating units. The chlorine atoms on the P atoms in the starting materials can be easily substituted with a variety of organic substituents, thus giving rise to a huge number of new materials for industrial applications. Their properties can be designed considering the number of repetitive units and the nature of the substituent groups, opening up to a number of peculiar properties, including the ability to give rise to supramolecular arrangements. We focused our attention on the extensive scientific literature concerning their biomedical applications: as antimicrobial agents in drug delivery, as immunoadjuvants in tissue engineering, in innovative anticancer therapies, and treatments for cardiovascular diseases. The promising perspectives for their biomedical use rise from the opportunity to combine the benefits of the inorganic backbone and the wide variety of organic side groups that can lead to the formation of nanoparticles, polymersomes, or scaffolds for cell proliferation. In this review, some aspects of the preparation of phosphazene-based systems and their characterization, together with some of the most relevant chemical strategies to obtain biomaterials, have been described.

Phosphazene Cyclomatrix Network-Based Polymer: Chemistry, Synthesis, and Applications

Polyphosphazenes are an inorganic molecular hybrid family with multifunctional properties due to their wide range of organic substitutes. This review intends to propose the basics of the synthetic chemistry of polyphosphazene, describing for researchers outside the field the basic knowledge required to design and prepare polyphosphazenes with desired properties. A special emphasis is placed on recent advances in chemical synthesis, which allow not only the synthesis of polyphosphazenes with controlled molecular weights and polydispersities but also the synthesis of novel branched designs and block copolymers. We also investigated the synthesis of polyphosphazenes using various functional materials. This review aims to assist researchers in synthesizing their specific polyphosphazene material with unique property combinations, with the hope of stimulating further research and even more innovative applications for these highly interesting multifaceted materials.

Synthesis and Characterization of Macroinitiators Based on Polyorganophosphazenes for the Ring Opening Polymerization of N-Carboxyanhydrides

Among the various biocompatible amphiphilic copolymers, biodegradable ones are the most promising for the preparation of drug delivery systems since they are destroyed under physiological conditions, that, as a rule, reduce toxicity and provide controlled release of the drug. Hybrid graft-copolymers consisting of the main inorganic polyphosphazene chain and polypeptide side chains are of considerable interest for the development of delivery systems with a controlled degradation rate, since the main and side chains will have different degradation mechanisms (chemical and enzymatic hydrolysis, respectively). Variable particle degradation rate, controlled by the adjusting the composition of substituents, will allow selective delivery in vivo and controlled drug release. The present work proposes the preparation of biodegradable macroinitiators based on polyorganophosphazenes for the synthesis of hybrid copolymers. Synthesis of novel biodegradable macroinitiators based on polyorganophosphazenes was performed via macromolecular substitution of a polydichlorophosphazene chain with the sodium alcoholates, amines and amino acids. The composition of copolymers obtained was calculated using NMR. These polyorganophosphazenes bearing primary amino groups can be considered as convenient macroinitiators for the polymerization of NCA of α-amino acids in order to prepare hybrid copolymers polyphosphazene-graft-polypeptide. The developed macroinitiators were amphiphilic and self-assembled in the aqueous media into nanoparticles. Furthermore, the ability to encapsulate and release a model substance was demonstrated. In addition, the in vitro cytotoxicity of synthesized polymers was evaluated using two cell lines.

A POSS-Phosphazene Based Porous Material for Adsorption of Metal Ions from Water

The development of adsorptive materials continues to be an important area of research for removal of heavy metal ions from waste water. The adsorption capacity can be modulated by both physical and chemical modification of the adsorbent. Herein, we combine the unique properties of polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) and organocyclophosphazene as the building units to synthesize a hybrid porous material, abbreviated as PN-POSS. The synthetic method follows a Heck reaction between hexa(4-bromophenoxy)cyclotriphosphazene and octavinylsilsesquioxane (OVS). The Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis shows that the material possesses micro- and mesopores of 1.5 and 3.8 nm size and a surface area on the order of 500 m²  g^-1 . These attributes in combination with the donor ability of the phosphazene units qualify the material for high adsorption of Pb²⁺ , Hg²⁺ and Cu²⁺ ions with maximal adsorption capacities on the order of 1326, 1927 and 2654 mg g^-1 , respectively. The adsorbent exhibits a good regeneration performance and can be effectively used for water treatment.

Synthesis of polyphosphazenes with different side groups and various tactics for drug delivery

Polyphosphazenes (PPZs) are hybrid polymers comprising a main chain containing nitrogen and phosphorous linked through interchanging single and double bonds, and side chains.

Preparation of Poly(bis(phenoxy)phosphazene) and 31P NMR Analysis of Its Structural Defects under Various Synthesis Conditions

Poly(aryloxy)phosphazenes emerge as an important class of hybrid polymers for a whole range of potential applications. To date, however, little is known about the detailed reaction mechanisms during preparation. This draws a great deal of attention for developing well-defined and well-controllable synthesis methods. In this paper, poly(dichlorophosphazene) (PDCP) has been successfully synthesized, and subsequent reaction with sodium phenoxide or phenol in the presence of K₂CO₃ can produce poly(bis(phenoxy)phosphazene) (PBPP). To elucidate the issues of branching and cross-linking, focuses have been placed on the change of various reaction conditions, in terms of concentration, temperature, time, solvent, catalysis, etc. The product polymers were examined using the techniques of ³¹P and ¹³C NMR, GPC, XPS, and FT-IR, in order to characterize the structural defects, in particular, branching and unwanted substitutions, such as addition of water molecules or oxidation of the phosphorus atoms on the backbone of the polymers. This work sheds light on the tailor design of poly(aryloxy)phosphazenes and other polyphosphazenes with more uniform and controllable structures.

Biowaste material reinforced cyanate ester based epoxy composites for flame retardant applications

This article reports the development of halogen-free flame-retardant amine-terminated cyclophosphazene (ATCP) and functionalized rice husk ash (FRHA)-reinforced cyanate ester (CE; 2,2-bis(4-cyanatophenyl)propane)-based epoxy (EP) composite material through the ring formation of cyanurate and imino carbonyl adduct formation. The ATCP/FRHA/CE-EP composites were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope, X-ray diffraction analysis and contact angle measurements. A plausible fire-retardant mechanism has been hypothesized based on the analysis of decomposition temperature, char yield, heat release rate, total smoke production, smoke production rate and carbon monoxide production. These results suggest that the ATCP/FRHA/CE-EP composites can be used as hydrophobic, electrical-resistant and improved fire-retardant materials. Hence, ATCP/FRHA/CE-EP flame-retardant system paves new possibility of high-performance non-halogen flame-retardant polymeric materials for electronic and microelectronic applications.

Evaluation of poly(diaryloxyphosphazene) elastomer for heat shielding insulations and morphology of charred layers

The ablative properties of elastomeric insulations are often inadequate for solid rocket motor (SRM) applications. These materials exhibit relatively high erosion rates during the operation of an SRM unless the charred insulation layers are reinforced with suitable fibre fillers. As alternatives to traditional synthetic rubber materials, flexible semi-inorganic rubbers such as polyphosphazene elastomers are now used as state-of-the-art heat-shielding materials. We have successfully managed to prepare a poly(diaryloxyphosphazene) elastomer (PDPP) as well as some insulation materials that are free of any fibrous fillers (with only the addition of inorganic oxides, such as fumed silica and zinc oxide). These polyphosphazene insulations exhibit excellent linear ablation rates (0.08 mm s−1 after a 20 s ablation test) as compared to synthetic organic rubbers. In addition, integrated and rigid charred layers without noticeable swells are formed on the surfaces of the matrices resulting in ‘coral fleece-like’ hollow microtubes, which show better ablative resistance performance than do traditional insulations. The pyrolysis products of PDPP have been characterized by pyrolysis gas chromatography mass spectrometry and the mechanism of its decomposition is also discussed.

Functionalization of α-zirconium phosphate by polyphosphazene and its effect on the flame retardance of an intumescent flame retardant polypropylene system

α-ZrP was combined with polyphosphazene and formed a core–shell structure, which has a significant synergistic flame retardant performance in polypropylene.

Development of halogen-free flame retardant phosphazene and rice husk ash incorporated benzoxazine blended epoxy composites for microelectronic applications

Amine terminated cyclophosphazene and functionalized rice husk ash incorporated benzoxazine based epoxy (ATCP/FRHA/Bz-Ep) composites.

Novel spirocyclic phosphazene-based epoxy resin for halogen-free fire resistance: synthesis, curing behaviors, and flammability characteristics

A novel halogen-free fire resistant epoxy resin with pendent spiro-cyclotriphosphazene groups was designed and synthesized via a three-step synthetic pathway. The chemical structures and compositions of spiro-cyclotriphosphazene precursors and final product were confirmed by (1)H, (13)C, and (31)P NMR spectroscopy, mass spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The thermal curing behaviors of the synthesized epoxy resin with 4,4'-diamino-diphenylmethane, 4,4'-diamino-diphenyl sulfone, and novolac as hardeners were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and the curing kinetics were also studied under a nonisothermal condition. The evaluation of the thermal properties demonstrated that these thermosets achieved a good thermal resistance due to their high glass transition temperatures more than 150 °C, and also gained high thermal stabilities with high char yields. The flammability characteristics of the spirocyclic phosphazene-based epoxy thermosets cured with these three hardeners were investigated on the basis of the results obtained from the limiting oxygen index (LOI) and UL-94 vertical burning experiments as well as the analysis of the residual chars collected from the vertical burning tests. The high LOI values and UL-94 V-0 classification of these epoxy thermosets indicated that the incorporation of phosphazene rings into the backbone chain imparts nonflammability to the epoxy resin owing to the unique combination of phosphorus and nitrogen following by a synergistic effect on flame retardancy. The epoxy resin obtained in this study is a green functional polymer and will become a potential candidate for fire- and heat-resistant applications in electronic and microelectronic fields with more safety and excellent performance.