Methacrylic Block Copolymers through Metal-Mediated Living Free Radical Polymerization for Modification of Thermosetting Epoxy

Epoxidized Block and Statistical Copolymers Reinforced by Organophosphorus-Titanium-Silicon Hybrid Nanoparticles: Morphology and Thermal and Mechanical Properties

Glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) and a mixture of alkyl methacrylates (average chain length of 13 carbons; termed C13MA; derived from vegetable oils) were copolymerized by nitroxide-mediated polymerization to form epoxidized statistical and block copolymers with similar compositions (F GMA ∼0.8), which were further cross-linked by a bio-based diamine. Hybrid plate-like nanoparticles containing organophosphorus-titanium-silicon (PTS) with an average size of ∼130 nm and high decomposition temperature (485 °C) were synthesized via a hydrothermal reaction to serve as additives to simultaneously enhance the thermal and mechanical properties of the blend. Nanocomposites filled with PTS were prepared at different filler-loading levels (0.5, 2, 4 wt %). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) of the cured block copolymer displayed reaction-induced macrophase-separated domains. TEM also showed an effective dispersion of PTS hybrids in the matrix without intense agglomeration. Thermogravimetric analysis at different heating rates revealed the activation energy of poly (GMA-stat-C13MA) at maximum decomposition increased from 143.5 to 327.2 kJ mol-1 with 4 wt % PTS. Decomposition temperature and char residue improved 12 °C and ∼7 wt %, respectively, and T g increased 12 °C by adding 4 wt % PTS. Targeting various PTS concentrations enabled tuning of the tensile modulus (up to 75%), tensile strength (up to 46%), and storage modulus in both glassy state (up to 59%) and rubbery plateau regions (up to 88%). Oscillatory frequency sweeps indicated that PTS makes the storage modulus frequency dependent, suggesting that the inclusion of the nanoparticles alters the relaxation of the surrounding matrix polymer.

Synthesis of well-defined PCL-b-PnBA-b-PMMA ABC-type triblock copolymers: toward the construction of nanostructures in epoxy thermosets

A novel PCL-b-PnBA-b-PMMA was designed and applied to construct ordered nanostructures within epoxy thermosets.

Reaction-induced microphase separation in DDS-cured TGDDM thermosets containing PCL-b-PES-b-PCL triblock copolymer

Schematic diagram of micro-phase separation during the curing reaction.

Microstructure and mechanical properties of amphiphilic tetrablock copolymer elastomers via RAFT miniemulsion polymerization: influence of poly[styrene-alt-(maleic anhydride)] segments

Tetrablock copolymer elastomers having poly[styrene-alt-(maleic anhydride)] segment (SMA) were synthesized via RAFT miniemulsion polymerization. Different fractions of SMA led to various morphologies and T_gs, affecting the mechaincal properties.

A review of block copolymer-based biomaterials that control protein and cell interactions

Block copolymers posses the ability to phase separate into micro and nanoscale patterns resulting in nonhomogeneous surfaces and solids. This nonhomogeneity has been harnessed to improve mechanical properties, control degradation, and add functionality to biomaterials. The ability of block copolymers to generate a wide variety of surface chemistries and morphologies can also be harnessed to control protein adsorption, protein conformation, and cell adhesion. Proteins and cells will respond to periodically structured surfaces, so block copolymers have a great deal of potential as biomaterials. This review will explore the ability of block copolymers to control specific biological responses such as cell adhesion, protein adsorption and conformation, parameters that govern the overall host response to a material. In addition, some of the specific applications of block copolymer, antithrombogenic materials and their ability to pattern proteins, will be discussed.

Convection-assisted assembly of cellulose nanowhiskers embedded in an acrylic copolymer

Ultrathin films containing a high fraction of cellulose nanowhiskers embedded in an acrylic-based polymer matrix were successfully prepared by a shear-convective assembly method. Their morphological, chemical and physical properties were examined by AFM Peak Force Tapping, Ellipsometry, contact angle and X-ray photoelectronic spectroscopy (XPS). Smooth, stable, robust and hydrophobic ultrathin films were obtained. The processing conditions influence, to different extents, the organization and morphology of the resulting ultrathin films. Under the given experimental conditions, films with highly packed and oriented cellulose nanowhiskers were obtained. A post-treatment based on UV-curing allows a further enhancement of the stability of the films without impacting any other property.

Acrylic AB and ABA block copolymers based on poly(2-ethylhexyl acrylate) (PEHA) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) via ATRP

Acrylic block copolymers have several advantages over conventional styrenic block copolymers, because of the presence of a saturated backbone and polar pendant groups. This investigation reports the preparation and characterization of di- and triblock copolymers (AB and ABA types) of 2-ethylhexyl acrylate (EHA) and methyl methacrylate (MMA) via atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). A series of block copolymers, PEHA-block-PMMA(AB diblock) and PMMA-block-PEHA-block-PMMA(ABA triblock) were prepared via ATRP at 90 °C using CuBr as catalyst in combination with N,N,N',N″,N″-pentamethyl diethylenetriamine (PMDETA) as ligand and acetone as additive. The chemical structure of the macroinitiators and molar composition of block copolymers were characterized by (1)H NMR analysis, and molecular weights of the polymers were analyzed by GPC analysis. DSC analysis showed two glass transition temperatures (T(g)), indicating formation of two domains, which was corroborated by AFM analysis. Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) analysis of AB and ABA block copolymers showed scattering behavior inside the measuring limits indicating nanophase separation. However, SAXS pattern of AB diblock copolymers indicated general phase separation only, whereas for ABA triblock copolymer an ordered or mixed morphology could be deduced, which is assumed to be the reason for the better mechanical properties achieved with ABA block copolymers than with the AB analogues.

Formation of fibril structures in polymerizable, rod-coil-oligomer-modified epoxy networks

This paper describes the in situ preparation of fibrils in epoxy networks in which the fibril-like structures are cured polymerizable rod-coil oligomers. The epoxy-terminated alpha,omega-modified PEO oligomers, which are ABA rod-coil-rod oligomers with a poly(ethylene oxide) coil unit and two aromatic azomethine liquid-crystalline rod units, were synthesized and then further blended with an epoxy precursor. Uniform nanoscale columnar structures were observed in the neat rod-coil oligomers as well as in the crosslinked liquid-crystalline state. During the curing of the blends, the supramolecular nanoscale columnar structures of the rod-coil oligomers are transformed into polymeric fibrils where the epoxy functional end groups have co-reacted with epoxy precursors to form a crosslinked network.