Calculation of the molecular weight distribution of crosslinked polymer chains using the theory of branching processes

1980 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vladimír Vojta ◽  
Karel Dušek
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Weight ◽  
Molecular Weight Distribution ◽  
Weight Distribution ◽  
Branching Processes ◽  
Polymer Chains ◽  
Crosslinked Polymer

scholarly journals Water vapor induced self-assembly of islands/honeycomb structure by secondary phase separation in polystyrene solution with bimodal molecular weight distribution

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maciej Łojkowski ◽  
Adrian Chlanda ◽  
Emilia Choińska ◽  
Wojciech Swieszkowski
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Weight ◽  
Phase Separation ◽  
Molecular Weight Distribution ◽  
Weight Distribution ◽  
Self Assembly ◽  
Secondary Phase ◽  
Honeycomb Structure ◽  
Polymer Chains ◽  
Molecular Weights ◽  
Secondary Phase Separation

<p>The formation of complex structures in thin films is of interest in many fields. Segregation of polymer chains of different molecular weights is a well-known process. However, here, polystyrene with bimodal molecular weight distribution, but no additional chemical modification was used. It was proven that at certain conditions, the phase separation occurred between two fractions of bimodal polystyrene/methyl ethyl ketone solution. The films were prepared by spin-coating, and the segregation between polystyrene phases was investigated by force spectroscopy. Next, water vapour induced secondary phase separation was investigated. The introduction of moist airflow induced the self-assembly of the lower molecular weight into islands and the heavier fraction into a honeycomb. As a result, an easy, fast, and effective method of obtaining island/honeycomb morphologies was demonstrated. The possible mechanisms of the formation of such structures were discussed.</p>

scholarly journals The interplay between bi-modal molecular weight distribution in polystyrene and humidity induces self-assembly of biomimetic micropillars/honeycomb morphology in the thin polymer film

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maciej Łojkowski ◽  
Adrian Chlanda ◽  
Emilia Choińska ◽  
Wojciech Swieszkowski
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Weight ◽  
Molecular Weight Distribution ◽  
Weight Distribution ◽  
Self Assembly ◽  
Phase Segregation ◽  
Polymer Chains ◽  
Thin Polymer Film ◽  
Chemical Compositions ◽  
Molecular Weights ◽  
The Right

<p>Segregation of polymer chains of different molecular weights is a well-known process. A traditional experimental approach of studying phase segregation in thin films composed of polymer blends with identical chemical compositions but different molecular weights was focused on functionalisation of chemical group or modification of end-group. In this study, however, a different approach was proposed. Polystyrene with bimodal molecular weight distribution, but no additional chemical modification was used. The films were prepared by spin-coating and the segregation between polystyrene phases was investigated by force spectroscopy. The solubility of bimodal polystyrene was explored. At the right molecular weight distribution and soluted in Methyl Ethyl Ketone, the phase segregation occurred. Introduction of moist airflow induced the separation of the lower molecular weight into micropillars and the heavier fraction self-organized into a honeycomb. As a result, an easy, fast, and effective method of obtaining micropillar/honeycomb morphologies was demonstrated. The mechanism of formation of such structures was explained. </p>

Controlled/‘living’ polymerization methods

2004 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wayne Hayes ◽  
Steve Rannard
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Weight ◽  
Molecular Weight Distribution ◽  
Weight Distribution ◽  
Chain Transfer ◽  
Living Polymerization ◽  
Degree Of Polymerization ◽  
Polymer Chains ◽  
Chain Growth ◽  
Living Polymerizations ◽  
Living Nature

Chain-growth polymerizations such as free-radical polymerizations are characterized by four key processes:(i) initiation, (ii) propagation, (iii) chain transfer, and (iv) termination. If it is possible to minimize the contribution of chain transfer and termination during the polymerization, it is possible to achieve a level of control over the resulting polymer and achieve a predetermined number average molecular weight and a narrow molecular weight distribution (polydispersity). If such an ideal scenario can be created, the number of polymer chains that are produced is equal to the number of initiator groups; the polymerization will proceed until all of the monomer has been consumed and the polymer chain ends will remain active so that further addition of monomer will lead to continued polymerization. This type of polymerization was termed a ‘living’ polymerization by Szwarc in 1956 and represents one of the ultimate goals of synthetic polymer chemists. Flory determined that in the absence of termination, the number of propagating polymer chains must remain constant and that the rate of polymerization for each growing chain must be equal. In this situation, the number average degree of polymerization (DPn) and hence the molecular weight of the polymer can be predicted by simple consideration of the monomer to initiator ratio (see eqns (1) and (2), respectively). Several key criteria are used to elucidate the ‘living’ nature of a polymerization. For a polymerization to be considered ‘living’, the rate of initiation must exceed the rate of propagation. Therefore, all the propagating polymer chains are formed simultaneously and grow at the same rate. If this situation did not occur, the first chains formed would be longer than those initiated later and the molecular weight distribution of the propagating chains would broaden. In addition, an ideal ‘living’ or ‘immortal’ polymerization must not exhibit any termination of the propagating polymer chains over the lifetime of the reaction. Consequently, ‘living’ polymerizations are characterized by very narrow molecular weight distributions (Mw/Mn < 1.2).

scholarly journals Exploiting the Interplay Between Bi-Modal Molecular Weight Distribution in Polystyrene and Humidity to Induce Self-Assembly of Biomimetic Micropillars/honeycomb Morphology in Thin Polymer Film

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maciej Łojkowski ◽  
Adrian Chlanda ◽  
Emilia Choińska ◽  
Wojciech Swieszkowski
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Weight ◽  
Molecular Weight Distribution ◽  
Weight Distribution ◽  
Self Assembly ◽  
Spin Coating ◽  
Phase Segregation ◽  
Polymer Chains ◽  
Thin Polymer Film ◽  
Chemical Compositions ◽  
Molecular Weights

<p>Segregation of polymer chains of different molecular weights is a well-known process. For many years, it was assumed that this process occurs over long-time intervals. On the contrary, solvent evaporation during spin-coating is very fast. A traditional experimental approach of studying phase segregation of thin films composed of polymer blends with identical chemical compositions but different molecular weights, was focused on functionalization of chemical group or modification of end-group. In this study however, a different approach was proposed, in which polystyrene with a bimodal molecular weight distribution but no additional chemical modification was implemented in order to examine and analyze its phase segregation. By doing this, we have presented an easy, fast, effective and fully controlled method of obtaining biomimetic micropillar/honeycomb morphologies. In addition, the evaporation rate during spin-coating and the viscosity of a solution with a bimodal molecular weight distribution was described.</p>

scholarly journals Water vapor induced self-assembly of islands/honeycomb structure by secondary phase separation in polystyrene solution with bimodal molecular weight distribution

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maciej Łojkowski ◽  
Adrian Chlanda ◽  
Emilia Choińska ◽  
Wojciech Swieszkowski
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Weight ◽  
Phase Separation ◽  
Molecular Weight Distribution ◽  
Weight Distribution ◽  
Self Assembly ◽  
Secondary Phase ◽  
Honeycomb Structure ◽  
Polymer Chains ◽  
Molecular Weights ◽  
Secondary Phase Separation

AbstractThe formation of complex structures in thin films is of interest in many fields. Segregation of polymer chains of different molecular weights is a well-known process. However, here, polystyrene with bimodal molecular weight distribution, but no additional chemical modification was used. It was proven that at certain conditions, the phase separation occurred between two fractions of bimodal polystyrene/methyl ethyl ketone solution. The films were prepared by spin-coating, and the segregation between polystyrene phases was investigated by force spectroscopy. Next, water vapour induced secondary phase separation was investigated. The introduction of moist airflow induced the self-assembly of the lower molecular weight into islands and the heavier fraction into a honeycomb. As a result, an easy, fast, and effective method of obtaining island/honeycomb morphologies was demonstrated. The possible mechanisms of the formation of such structures were discussed.

scholarly journals The interplay between bi-modal molecular weight distribution in polystyrene and humidity induces self-assembly of biomimetic micropillars/honeycomb morphology in the thin polymer film

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maciej Łojkowski ◽  
Adrian Chlanda ◽  
Emilia Choińska ◽  
Wojciech Swieszkowski
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Weight ◽  
Molecular Weight Distribution ◽  
Weight Distribution ◽  
Self Assembly ◽  
Phase Segregation ◽  
Polymer Chains ◽  
Thin Polymer Film ◽  
Chemical Compositions ◽  
Molecular Weights ◽  
The Right

<p>Segregation of polymer chains of different molecular weights is a well-known process. A traditional experimental approach of studying phase segregation in thin films composed of polymer blends with identical chemical compositions but different molecular weights was focused on functionalisation of chemical group or modification of end-group. In this study, however, a different approach was proposed. Polystyrene with bimodal molecular weight distribution, but no additional chemical modification was used. The films were prepared by spin-coating and the segregation between polystyrene phases was investigated by force spectroscopy. The solubility of bimodal polystyrene was explored. At the right molecular weight distribution and soluted in Methyl Ethyl Ketone, the phase segregation occurred. Introduction of moist airflow induced the separation of the lower molecular weight into micropillars and the heavier fraction self-organized into a honeycomb. As a result, an easy, fast, and effective method of obtaining micropillar/honeycomb morphologies was demonstrated. The mechanism of formation of such structures was explained. </p>

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