Linear triblock copolymers of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) with two azide groups at both block junctions (PNIPAM-N₃-PEG-N₃-PNIPAM) are click reacted with dipropargyl oxalylate under high polymer concentration (250 g/L). Benefiting from rapid feature of alkyne-azide click reaction and spatial shielding of PNIPAM end blocks, PEG center block of PNIPAM-N₃-PEG-N₃-PNIPAM remains separated although PNIPAM end blocks keep in contact under this high concentration. Therefore, PNIPAM-N₃-PEG-N₃-PNIPAM undergoes self-cyclization at block junctions to form tadpole-shaped architecture while N₃-PEG-N₃ without PNIPAM end blocks inter-connects linearly. The influence of block lengths of PEG and PNIPAM on the unusual cyclization under high polymer concentration is studied.

Biodegradable poly(L-lactide-r-trimethene carbonate) copolymers (P(LLA-co-TMC)) with different compositions were synthesized. The degradation of the copolymers was carried out in phosphate buffer saline solutions (pH = 7.4) at 37℃. The compositions, structure and properties of the copolymers in degradation were characterized with ¹H-NMR, DSC, XRD, GPC, and SEM. The weight loss of the P(LLA-co-TMC) 50/50 was much faster than that of P(LLA-co-TMC) 85/15 and PLLA homopolymer. Interestingly, though the molecular weight of the compolymers decreased greatly during degradation, the compositions were rarely varied. After long time degradation, the PLLA segments were induced to crystallize in the P(LLA-co-TMC) 85/15 copolymer. The SEM observation of the surface and cross-section of P(LLA-co-TMC) 85/15 copolymer films found it was similar to the bulk degradation of PLLA homopolymer.

Hybrid materials based on polymethylphenylsiloxane (PMPS) and organic functionalized silica were synthesized via condensation reaction between silanol and alkoxysilyl groups in the presence of quaternary ammonium hydroxide. The structure of prepared materials was investigated by FTIR and NMR, which indicate that the products have incorporated modified silica into the polymer matrix. The prepared hybrid materials show a satisfactory thermal resistance because the initial decomposition of typical product occurred at nearly 100 K higher than that of the pure polymer according to the thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) results. Differential thermogravimetric analysis (DTGA) data confirm that the thermal degradation of prepared hybrid materials comprises of two steps, of which the first one could be controlled by adjusting the content of silica particles and the ratio of surface groups on the particles. The coating films obtained from hybrid products exhibit good thermal mechanical properties. Therefore, the materials are hoped to be used for the application in thermal resistant coating.

An eco-friendly chemical reduction method was successfully used for the preparation of chitosan (CTS) composite films loaded with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) by self assembly method using poly(ethylene glycol) as both reducing and stabilizing agent. UV-Vis spectra of the prepared chitosan loaded silver nanoparticles (CTSLAg) films reveal that full reduction of silver ions to silver nanoparticles takes place at 90℃. The effect of reaction conditions on the silver nanoparticles formation was investigated using UV-Vis spectrophotometer. The morphology of the films was tested by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The DSC curves showed that the CTSLAg film had a favorable compatibility and heat stability. AgNPs were confirmed by XRD and UV-Vis spectroscopy. The TEM findings revealed that the silver nanoparticles synthesized were spherical in shape with uniform dispersal, and by increasing CTS:PEG ratio larger silver nanoparticles could be obtained. The results of antibacterial study reveal that the prepared nanocomposite films exhibited potential inhibition.

A novel method for the surface modification of PVDF porous membranes was introduced. Styrene-(N-(4-hydroxyphenyl) maleimide) alternating copolymer SHMI-Br was blended with PVDF to fabricate SHMI-Br/PVDF membranes. The C-Br bond on the SHMI-Br/PVDF membrane was served as initial site of ATRP, and P(PEGMA) brush was grafted on the PVDF membrane. Attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR/FTIR) was used to prove the P(PEGMA) brushes were successfully grafted onto the SHMI-Br/PVDF membrane surface. Introduction of P(PEGMA) brushes on the PVDF membrane surface enhanced the hydrophilicity effectively. When the PEGMA degree of grafting was 16.7 wt%, the initial contact angle of PVDF membrane decreased from 98° to 42°. The anti-fouling ability of PVDF membrane was improved significantly after P(PEGMA) brush was grafted. Taking the PEGMA degree of grafting 16.7 wt% as an example, the flux of protein solution was about 151.21 L/(m² h) when the pH value of the BSA solution was 4.9. As the pH value was increased to 7.4, the flux was changed to 180.06 L/(m² h). However, the protein solution flux of membrane M3 (PEGMA: 0 wt%) was only 73.84 L/(m² h) and 113.52 L/(m² h) at pH 4.9 and 7.4, respectively.

In this article a rapid and facile method for synthesis of acyl azide is described. The cross-linked poly(N-methyl-4-vinylpyridinium) azide ion, [P₄-VP]N₃ is prepared and used as an efficient polymeric reagent for synthesis of acyl azides from acyl halides at room temperature under heterogeneous conditions. Various benzoyl halides, with electron-withdrawing groups as well as electron-donating groups, were transformed into the corresponding benzoyl azides in high to excellent yields in short reaction times. The acyl azide products were characterized by FT-IR, and some of them were also characterized by ¹H- and/or ¹³C-NMR spectroscopy, and physical properties were compared to literature values of known compounds. The spent polymeric reagents can be regenerated and reused for several times without losing their activity. Relative to the reported methods, the present method has the advantages of operational simplicity, mild reaction conditions, fast reaction rates, simple reaction work-up and lower hazardous and potentially explosive nature. Also the present method is the first procedure for the synthesis of acyl azides from acyl halides by using a polymer-supported azide ion under heterogeneous conditions.

A series of magnetic nanocomposites based on poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) and Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles were prepared using a facile in situ polymerization method. The chemical structures of the PCL/Fe₃O₄ nanocomposites were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Results of wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) showed that the incorporation of the Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles did not affect the crystallization structure of the PCL. Both scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to characterize the morphology and dispersion of the Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles within the as-synthesized nanocomposites. Results of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and polarizing optical microscopy (POM) showed that the crystallization temperature was raised and the spherulites size decreased by the presence of Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles in the nanocomposites due to the heterogeneous nucleation effect. The thermal stability of the PCL was depressed by incorporation of Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles from thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The superparamagnetic behavior of the PCL/Fe₃O₄ nanocomposites was testified by the superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetometer analysis. The obtained biodegradable nanocomposites will have a great potential in magnetic resonance imaging contrast and targeted drug delivery.

A full-field finite element method (FEM) analysis combined with electronic speckle pattern interferometry (ESPI) measurement was developed to investigate defect evolution in polymer films. Different from the previous reports, which only compare the ESPI experimental and FEM simulated results at several points or lines, herein the full-field FEM results were exported, subtracted with a continuous distribution. By choosing proper parameters and number of substeps, the simulated and experimental results showed excellent correspondence. Furthermore, the displacement fields vertical to the tensional direction were also presented, and the strain field was preliminarily evaluated. The current method of combination of ESPI and FEM allows for capturing the experimental fringe maps to validate and optimize FEM results simulated, and would give a higher security to structural and mechanical analysis of polymeric materials.

The surface composition of poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl) and fullerene derivative [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (P3HT/PCBM) blend films could be changed by controlling the film formation process via using mixed solvents with different evaporation rates. The second solvent, with a higher boiling point than that of the first solvent and much better solubility for PCBM than P3HT, is chosen to mix with the first solvent with a lower boiling point and good solubility for both PCBM and P3HT. The slow evaporation rate of the second solvent provides enough time for PCBM to diffuse upwards during the solvent evaporation. Thus, the weight ratio of PCBM and P3HT (m_PCBM/m_P3HT) at surface of the blend films was varied from ca. 0.1 to ca. 0.72, i.e., it increases about seven times by changing from single solvent to mixed solvents. Meanwhile, the mixed solvents were in favor to form P3HT naonofiber network and enhance phase separation of P3HT/PCBM blend films. As a result, the power conversion efficiency of the device from mixed solvents with slow evaporation process was about 1.5 times of the one from single solvents.

A novel acrylamide A₂B₂^* (A = alkene, B^* = alkyl chlorine) type inimer was obtained from commercially available 1,2-ethylenediamine, chloroacetyl chloride and acryloyl chloride. The as-prepared monomer can form water-soluble hyperbranched poly(N,N-ethylidene bis(N-2-chloroacetyl acrylamide))s (HPECA) through atom transfer radical polymerization/self-condensing vinyl polymerization method in the presence alkyl chlorine/CuCl/2,2-bipyridine activation system which can effectively suppress the gelation formation. ¹H-NMR spectra and dual detector size exclusion chromatography proved the hyperbranched structure indisputably, and the degree of branching was determined by the detailed analyses of ¹H-NMR spectra. The trend of the degree of branching was in consistent with the result of Mark-Houwink exponent a. The experiment results suggested that the conversion was 67%, M_w = 13.2 × 10⁴, Mark-Houwink a = 0.282 and the degree of branching = 64% when the reaction temperature was 120 oC, reaction time = 168 h and N,N-ethylidene bis(N-2-chloroacetyl acrylamide):Cu(I) = 50:0.62.

Multiarm star block copolymers hyperbranched polyethylenimine-b-poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (HPEI-b-PHEMA) with average 28 PHEMA arms have been prepared by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of HEMA in a mixed solvent of methanol and water using a core-first strategy. The hyperbranched macroinitiator employed was prepared on the basis of well-defined hyperbranched polyethylenimine with M_w/M_n of 1.04 by amidation with 2-bromo-isobutyryl bromide. The polymerization condition was optimized to prepare star copolymers with narrow dispersity, and the variables included the volume ratio of methanol to water, the molar ratio of initiating site to CuCl and the molar ratio of [CuCl]:[CuBr2]. Under the optimized polymerization condition, the lowest M_w/M_n value of the obtained star copolymers was around 1.3. Kinetic analysis showed that an induction period existed in the polymerization of HEMA. After this induction period, a linear dependence of ln([M]₀/[M]_t) on time was observed. The obtained HPEI-b-PHEMA could adsorb hydrophilic molecules. The comparison with the star copolymer with hydrophobic core and hydrophilic PHEMA shell verified that both the hydrophilic core and shell could host the hydrophilic guests, but the amidated HPEI core was more effective than the PHEMA shell.

A numerical method is developed to compute the development of molecular weight distribution (MWD) curves of linear polymers undergoing chain scission. The method can be applied to complex chain scission kinetics and for arbitrarily complex initial MWD curves. Our method is based on the method of lines (MoL). Different from the existing numerical scheme, we propose the use of logarithmically spaced points. This development ensures the accuracy of the computed MWD curves at low molecular weights, and it does not require a very fine discretization to produce an accurate result.