Synthesis and Characterization of Poly(methyl methacrylate-block-ethylene glycol-block-methyl methacrylate) Block Copolymers by Reversible Addition-Fragmentation Chain Transfer Polymerization

Bottom fire behaviour of thermally thick natural rubber latex foam

In this paper, the bottom fire behaviour of 25 cm × 25 cm × 5 cm natural rubber (NR) latex foam with uniformly distributed 6 mm diameter holes was investigated experimentally in a small-scale experimental platform under bottom ventilation. The bottom fire behaviour was analysed. The results show that the burning process of the thermally thick NR latex foam under bottom ventilation conditions can be divided into three stages: initial growing, full development, and decay. A deflagration covered the entire rear surface was observed at 308 s. The burning balls moving at a speed of 0.15 m/s were observed after the bottom ignition and they moved from the center to the sides along with the expansion. The mass loss rate of the sample was accelerated dramatically from 0.2 g/s to 0.5 g/s when the bottom surface was ignited at 308 s.

Functional Polyether-based Amphiphilic Block Copolymers Synthesized by Atom-transfer Radical Polymerization

This review deals with the synthesis, physical properties, and applications of amphiphilic block copolymers based on hydrophilic poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) or hydrophobic poly(propylene oxide) (PPO). Oligomeric PEO and PPO are frequently functionalized by converting their OH end groups into macroinitiators for atom-transfer radical polymerization. They are then used to generate additional blocks as part of complex copolymer architectures. Adding hydrophobic and hydrophilic blocks, respectively, leads to polymers with amphiphilic character in water. They are surface active and form micelles above a critical micellization concentration. Together with recent developments in post-polymerization techniques through quantitative coupling reactions (‘click’ chemistry) a broad variety of tailored functionalities can be introduced to the amphiphilic block copolymers. Examples are outlined including stimuli responsiveness, membrane penetrating ability, formation of multi-compartmentalized micelles, etc.