Synthesis Of Ionomers Research Articles

Synthesis of poly(acrylic-co-itaconic acid) through precipitation photopolymerization for glass-ionomer cements: Characterization and properties of the cements

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to synthesize poly(acrylic acid-co-itaconic acid) (PAA-co-PIA) ionomer through a novel precipitation photopolymerization technique. The ionomer was characterized and the effect of its structural parameters, such as molecular weight and copolymer composition were investigated on the mechanical properties of glass-ionomer prepared using the ionomer. MethodsDesign of experiment (DOE) was used to examine the effect of monomer ratio and the amount of chain transfer agent on the molecular weight and final conversion of the ionomers synthesized through the precipitation photopolymerization. The copolymer compositions were identified using FTIR and 1H-NMR spectroscopy. The molecular weights of the copolymers were evaluated by GPC. A series of PAA-co-PIA copolymers were then synthesized via the photopolymerization technique in three monomer ratios and two molecular weight ranges (high and low) to study the properties of the glass ionomers thereof. Experimental dental glass-ionomer cements were prepared by mixing the synthesized polymers with glass powder and their compressive properties were determined according to ISO 9917-1:2007 after storing for 0, 1, 7 and 28 days in distilled water. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to study the fracture surface morphology of the cements. ResultsThe PAA-co-PIA polymers were synthesized by the photopolymerization method in a short time and high purity. The DOE showed that by decreasing the acrylic acid/itaconic acid ratio and increasing the amount of transfer agent, the molecular weight and final conversion decreased significantly. By increasing the itaconic acid content in the copolymer composition and increasing the molecular weight in a constant copolymer composition, the compressive strength and modulus were increased. Microstructures revealed that cements made of the higher molecular weight poly acids showed lower cracks and voids. SignificanceThe precipitation photopolymerization technique provides a promising and facile method in the synthesis of ionomers which are used in dental cements and other application.

Synthesis of multiblock ionomers by copolymerization in inverse microemulsions

The synthesis of ionomers with randomly distributed ionic blocks was achieved by free radical copolymerization of a hydrophobic monomer with an ionic comonomer in inverse microemulsions. The ionic monomer, sodium acrylate (approximately 1 mol% based on the monomer feed) is encapsulated in the aqueous compartments of inverse micelles of sodium bis-(2-ethylhexyl)sulfosuccinate. The hydrophobic monomer, methyl methacrylate or butyl acrylate, is dissolved together with the initiator in the oil continuous phase (toluene). For a given hydrophobe/ionic monomer ratio, it is possible to tune the length of the ionic block in the ionomer by adjusting the initial number of ionic monomers per water droplet, N H. The ionomers were obtained in their Na salt form and converted thereafter into Ca salts. Differential scanning calorimetry measurements performed on both series show a decrease in the glass-transition temperature for the Ca-poly(methyl methacrylate) ionomers upon increasing N H. The results are discussed in terms of the nature of the counterion and of the ionomer microstructure.

Sulfonation of chlorine-containing polymers: Sulfonation of various model tert-alkyl chlorides

tert-Alkyl chlorides of the structure R-C(CH3)2Cl, where R-methyl, ethyl, tert-butyl, and neo-pentyl, were reacted with a stoichiometric quantity of acetyl sulfate at room temperature in methylene chloride diluent. Reaction conversion was monitored as a function of time using 1H NMR; structure of the sulfonated products was characterized using 1H and 13C NMR. Reactivity toward sulfonation increased with increasing size of the R group. In all cases the structure of the products was the same as would be expected from sulfonation of the olefin which results from dehydrochlorination of the tert-chloride. The observed behavior was consistent with a mechanism involving dehydrochlorination followed by addition of SO3 to yield a zwitterionic intermediate. Depending upon structure, the zwitterion may either eliminate a proton to form one or more isomeric β,γ-unsaturated sulfonic acids, or it may rearrange to form a five-membered γ-sultone. This chemistry, which is particularly useful in the synthesis of ionomers, represents a direct route to alkyl sulfonic acids when the alkyl halide is the natural starting point in the synthesis.

Chemical Modification of polynorbornene: Synthesis of Ionomers

Relatively high molecular weight samples of polynorbornene were chemically modified by reaction with N-chlorosulphonyl isocyanate and subsequently hydrolysed with tetra-n.butylammonium hydroxide. The resulting ionomers were characterised.