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At least 127 records · Page 7

Production of Renewable Solvents and Monomers from Lignocellulosic Feedstocks

Lignocellulosic biomass is pretreated and broken down into cellulosic sugars. The cellulosic sugars are converted to mevalonolactone (MVL) using Visolis’ proprietary microbes. The MVL containing broth is separated from the cells, deashed-decolorized, concentrated and fed into a catalytic reactor to develop anhydro mevalonolactone (aMVL), and 3-methyl pentanediol (3MPD). The products were separated by distillation into high purity compounds as solvent or polymer applications.

3-methyl pentanediol, polymer, solvent↗

Photochemically Synthesized Polyimides

An alternative to the conventional approach to synthesis of polyimides involves the use of single monomers that are amenable to photopolymerization. Heretofore, the synthesis of polyimides has involved multiple-monomer formulations and heating to temperatures that often exceed 250 C. The present alternative approach enables synthesis under relatively mild conditions that can include room temperature. The main disadvantages of the conventional approach are the following: Elevated production temperatures can lead to high production costs and can impart thermal stresses to the final products. If the proportions of the multiple monomeric ingredients in a given batch are not exactly correct, the molecular weight and other physical properties of the final material could be reduced from their optimum or desired values. To be useful in the alternative approach, a monomer must have a molecular structure tailored to exploit Diels-Alder trapping of a photochemically generated ortho-quinodimethane. (In a Diels-Alder reaction, a diene combines with a dienophile to form molecules that contain six-membered rings.) In particular, a suitable monomer (see figure) contains ortho-methylbenzophenone connected to a dienophile (in this case, a maleimide) through a generic spacer group. Irradiation with ultraviolet light gives rise to a photochemical intermediate the aforementioned ortho-quinodimethane from the ortho-methylbenzophenone. This group may react with the dienophile on another such monomer molecule to produce an oligomer that, in turn may react in a stepgrowth manner to produce a polyimide. This approach offers several advantages in addition to those mentioned above: The monomer can be stored for a long time because it remains unreactive until exposed to light. Because the monomer is the only active starting ingredient, there is no need for mixing, no concern for ensuring correct proportions of monomers, and the purity of the final product material is inherently high. The use of solvents is optional: The synthesis can be performed using the neat monomer or the monomer mixed with one or more solvent(s) in dilute or concentrated solution. The solubility of the monomer and the physical and chemical properties of the final polymer can be tailored through selection of the spacer group.

Meador, Michael A.↗

Relative rates for plasma homo- and copolymerizations of olefins in a homologous series of fluorinated ethylenes

It is well known that the rate of plasma polymerization, or deposition rate, of a given monomer depends on various plasma process parameters, e.g., monomer flow rate, pressure, power, frequency (DC, rf or microwave), location of the substrate in the reactor, reactor geometry or configuration, and temperature. In contrast, little work has been done to relate deposition rates to monomer structures for a homologous series of monomers where the rates are obtained under identical plasma process parameters. For the particular series of fluorinated ethylenes (C2HxF4-x; x = 0-4), deposition rates were reported for ethylene (ET), vinyl fluoride, vinylidene fluoride and tetrafluoroethylene (TFE), but for plasma polymerizations carried out under different discharge conditions, e.g., pressure, current density, and electrode temperature. Apparently, relative deposition rates were reported for only two members of that series (ET, x = 4, and TFE, x = 0) for which the plasma polymerizations were conducted under identical conditions. We now present relative deposition rates for both homopolymerizations and copolymerizations of the entire series of fluorinated ethylenes (x = 0-4). Our interest in such rates stems from prior work on the plasma copolymerization of ET and TFE in which it was found that the deposition rates for the plasma copolymers, when plotted versus mol % TFE in the ET/TFE feed stock, followed a concave-downward curve situated above the straight line joining the deposition rates for the plasma homopolymers. This type of plot (observed also for an argon-ET/TFE plasma copolymerization) indicated a positive interaction between ET and TFE such that each monomer apparently "sensitized" the plasma copolymerization of the other. Since the shape of that plot is not altered if mol % TFE is replaced by F/C, the fluorine-to-carbon ratio, this paper aims (1) to show how the relative deposition rates for plasma copolymers drawn from all pairs of monomers in the C2HxF4-x series, as well as the deposition rates for the individual plasma homopolymers, vary with F/C ratios of the monomers or monomer blends, and (2) to see if those rates give rise to a common plot.

NASA Center ARC↗

Kinetic dissection of individual steps in the poly(C)-directed oligoguanylate synthesis from guanosine 5'-monophosphate 2-methylimidazolide

A kinetic study of oligoguanylate synthesis on a polycytidylate template, poly(C), as a function of the concentration of the activated monomer, guanosine 5'-monophosphate 2-methylimidazolide, 2-MeImpG, is reported. Reactions were run with 0.005-0.045 M 2-MeImpG in the presence of 0.05 M poly(C) at 23 degrees C. The kinetic results are consistent with a reaction scheme (eq 1) that consists of a series of consecutive steps, each step representing the addition of one molecule of 2-MeImpG to the growing oligomer. This scheme allows the calculation of second-order rate constants for every step by analyzing the time-dependent growth of each oligomer. Computer simulations of the course of reaction based on the determined rate constants and eq 1 are in excellent agreement with the product distributions seen in the HPLC profiles. In accord with an earlier study (Fakhrai, H.; Inoue, T.; Orgel, L. E. Tetrahedron 1984, 40, 39), rate constants, ki, for the formation of the tetramer and longer oligomers up to the 16-mer were found to be independent of length and somewhat higher than k3 (formation of trimer), which in turn is much higher than k2 (formation of dimer). The ki (i > or = 4), k3, and k2 values are not true second-order rate constants but vary with monomer concentration. Mechanistic models for the dimerization (Scheme I) and elongation reactions (Scheme II) are proposed that are consistent with our results. These models take into account that the monomer associates with the template in a cooperative manner. Our kinetic analysis allowed the determination of rate constants for the elementary processes of covalent bond formation between two monomers (dimerization) and between an oligomer and a monomer (elongation) on the template. A major conclusion from our study is that bond formation between two monomer units or between a primer and a monomer is assisted by the presence of additional next-neighbor monomer units. This is consistent with recent findings with hairpin oligonucleotides (Wu, T.; Orgel, L. E. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1992, 114, 317). Our study is the first of its kind that shows the feasibility of a thorough kinetic analysis of a template-directed oligomerization and provides a detailed mechanistic model of these reactions.

Non-NASA Center↗

Co-polymer films for sensors

Embodiments include a sensor comprising a co-polymer, the co-polymer comprising a first monomer and a second monomer. For some embodiments, the first monomer is poly-4-vinyl pyridine, and the second monomer is poly-4-vinyl pyridinium propylamine chloride. For some embodiments, the first monomer is polystyrene and the second monomer is poly-2-vinyl pyridinium propylamine chloride. For some embodiments, the first monomer is poly-4-vinyl pyridine, and the second monomer is poly-4-vinyl pyridinium benzylamine chloride. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Ryan, Margaret A.↗

Co-polymer Films for Sensors

Embodiments include a sensor comprising a co-polymer, the co-polymer comprising a first monomer and a second monomer. For some embodiments, the first monomer is poly-4-vinyl pyridine, and the second monomer is poly-4-vinyl pyridinium propylamine chloride. For some embodiments, the first monomer is polystyrene and the second monomer is poly-2-vinyl pyridinium propylamine chloride. For some embodiments, the first monomer is poly-4-vinyl pyridine, and the second monomer is poly-4-vinyl pyridinium benzylamine chloride. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Ryan, Margaret A.↗

Understanding the Influence of Chain Architecture on the Transport Quantities of Polymer Electrolytes with Covalently Bonded Anions

Here, we use a combination of experiments and coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations to elucidate the structure–property relationships in polymer electrolytes obtained by the copolymerization of poly(vinyl ethylene carbonate─lithium styrene bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide) or p(VEC-LiSTFSI). Experiments show that the conductivity reduces with increasing anion (i.e., STFSI) fraction on the chain, and the cation transference number (t + ) is found to be dependent on the anion fraction. Furthermore, a significant fraction of unpolymerized VEC monomers are observed. Since it is inherently difficult to experimentally control the chain architecture and the amount of unpolymerized VEC in these systems, we perform coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations on model polymer systems with different chain architectures to mimic the plausible experimental systems. Specifically, we look at the differences in transference numbers arising from (i) a random copolymer of VEC and STFSI monomers; (ii) a blend of VEC-STFSI copolymer with VEC monomers; and (iii) a ternary blend of the VEC homopolymer, STFSI homopolymers, and VEC monomers. The ternary blend model demonstrates the closest resemblance with the experimental transference numbers and diffusivities. The lithium diffusivity obtained from the coarse-grained models with VEC monomers (plasticizers) is about 1.5 times that of the model without VEC monomers, showing that the plasticizing effect of VEC monomers is modest. We rationalize the experimental observations based on aggregate and cluster analyses obtained from molecular simulations. This work reveals that polymer electrolyte chain architecture and plasticizers can critically influence the transport properties, and these parameters should be considered when designing single ion conducting polymeric electrolytes.

cluster distribution↗

Montmorillonite, oligonucleotides, RNA and origin of life

Na-montmorillonite prepared from Volclay by the titration method facilitates the self-condensation of ImpA, the 5'-phosphorimidazolide derivative of adenosine. As was shown by AE-HPLC analysis and selective enzymatic hydrolysis of products, oligo(A)s formed in this reaction are 10 monomer units long and contain 67% 3',5'-phosphodiester bonds (Ferris and Ertem, 1992a). Under the same reaction conditions, 5'-phosphorimidazolide derivatives of cytidine, uridine and guanosine also undergo self-condensation producing oligomers containing up to 12-14 monomer units for oligo(C)s to 6 monomer units for oligo(G)s. In oligo(C)s and oligo(U)s, 75-80% of the monomers are linked by 2',5'-phosphodiester bonds. Hexamer and higher oligomers isolated from synthetic oligo(C)s formed by montmorillonite catalysis, which contain both 3',5'- and 2',5'-linkages, serve as catalysts for the non-enzymatic template directed synthesis of oligo(G)s from activated monomer 2-MeImpG, guanosine 5'-phospho-2-methylimidazolide (Ertem and Ferris, 1996). Pentamer and higher oligomers containing exclusively 2',5'-linkages, which were isolated from the synthetic oligo(C)s, also serve as templates and produce oligo(G)s with both 2',5'- and 3',5'-phosphodiester bonds. Kinetic studies on montmorillonite catalyzed elongation rates of oligomers using the computer program SIMFIT demonstrated that the rate constants for the formation of oligo(A)s increased in the order of 2-mer < 3-mer < 4-mer ... < 7-mer (Kawamura and Ferris, 1994). A decameric primer, dA(pdA)8pA bound to montmorillonite was elongated to contain up to 50 monomer units by daily addition of activated monomer ImpA to the reaction mixture (Ferris, Hill and Orgel, 1996). Analysis of dimer fractions formed in the montmorillonite catalyzed reaction of binary and quaternary mixtures of ImpA, ImpC, 2-MeImpG and ImpU suggested that only a limited number of oligomers could have formed on the primitive Earth rather than equal amounts of all possible isomers (Ertem and Ferris, 2000). Formation of phosphodiester bonds between mononucleotides by montmorillonite catalysis is a fascinating discovery, and a significant step forward in efforts to find out how the first RNA-like oligomers might have formed in the course of chemical evolution. However, as has been pointed out in several publications, these systems should be regarded as models rather than a literal representation of prebiotic chemistry (Orgel, 1998; Joyce and Orgel, 1999; Schwartz, 1999).

RNA/chemical synthesis↗

Method for nanoencapsulation of aerogels and nanoencapsulated aerogels produced by such method

A method for increasing the compressive modulus of aerogels comprising: providing aerogel substrate comprising a bubble matrix in a chamber; providing monomer to the chamber, the monomer comprising vapor phase monomer which polymerizes substantially free of polymerization byproducts; depositing monomer from the vapor phase onto the surface of the aerogel substrate under deposition conditions effective to produce a vapor pressure sufficient to cause the vapor phase monomer to penetrate into the bubble matrix and deposit onto the surface of the aerogel substrate, producing a substantially uniform monomer film; and, polymerizing the substantially uniform monomer film under polymerization conditions effective to produce polymer coated aerogel comprising a substantially uniform polymer coating substantially free of polymerization byproducts.Polymer coated aerogel comprising aerogel substrate comprising a substantially uniform polymer coating, said polymer coated aerogel comprising porosity and having a compressive modulus greater than the compressive modulus of the aerogel substrate, as measured by a 100 lb. load cell at 1 mm/minute in the linear range of 20% to 40% compression.

Sullivan, Thomas A.↗

Cu‐Catalyzed Aerobic Oxidative C─C Cleavage in Lignin‐Derived Oligomers and Biological Funneling of the Monomeric Products

Existing methods for lignin deconstruction to aromatic monomers primarily cleave carbon–oxygen bonds within the polymer, resulting in sub-optimal monomer yields and formation of oligomers that retain intact carbon–carbon bonds. Here, we demonstrate that copper-catalyzed aerobic oxidation under aqueous alkaline conditions promotes oxidative cleavage of carbon–carbon bonds in lignin oligomers derived from reductive catalytic fractionation (RCF) of pine and poplar biomass. Fundamental insights are gained from reactions of model compounds that resemble subunits present in RCF oligomers. Optimal results are achieved in a flow reactor that provides precise control over O2 delivery, temperature, and reaction residence time. The Cu-catalyzed aerobic oxidation conditions access aromatic monomers in 19 and 34 wt% monomer yields, respectively, from pine- and poplar-derived RCF oligomers. Overall, the sequence consisting of biomass RCF into monomers and oligomers followed by oxidative deconstruction of the RCF oligomers generates substantially higher yields of aromatic monomers from lignin. Engineered strains of Pseudomonas putida support biological funneling of the oligomer-derived oxygenated aromatic compounds into cis,cis-muconic acid from pine or 2-pyrone-4,6-dicarboxylic acid from poplar.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗

Chemically Recyclable Analogs of Styrene–Butadiene Copolymers Enabling Perfectly Linear Ethylene–Styrene Materials with Random Phenyl Distribution

Copolymerization of cyclopentene (CP) and 4-phenylcyclopentene (4PCP) at a full range of comonomer feed ratios is reported using Ru-based ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) yielding homogeneous copolymers analogous to poly(styrene-ran-1,4-butadiene) and poly(ethylene-ran-styrene) copolymers following hydrogenation under mild conditions. In all cases, total monomer conversions of 86%–92% yielded copolymers with compositions within 4% of monomer feeds. Analysis of equilibrium copolymerization thermodynamics, rarely performed on two cycloolefin monomers with low ring strain energies, provides rational design strategies for negotiating two monomers with different equilibrium monomer concentrations. Inverse-gated decoupled 13 C NMR analysis of dyad sequences on the resulting copolymer microstructures concludes a near-random distribution of comonomer units. The copolymers produced from ROMP have number-average molar masses up to 60 kg mol –1 , moderate dispersities (1.5 ± 0.1), and high trans olefin content (86% ± 2%) while glass-transitions temperatures follow the Fox equation and span the full range between homopolymer extremities of PCP (−96 °C) and P4PCP (17 °C). Unlike most prevulcanized elastomers, these materials undergo facile chemical recycling to monomer, producing complete ring-closing metathesis depolymerization (RCMD) of the polymer back to the CP comonomers. Quantitative olefin hydrogenation produced perfectly linear polyethylene with 4%–16% of the backbone carbons containing a phenyl pendant, analogous to ES copolymers with up to 71.5% w/w styrene units but with random distribution of the aromatic pendants. Thermal properties of these materials are discussed, which span from semicrystalline to amorphous, and with T g values notably less than the reported ES copolymer analogs at similar compositions.

animal feed↗

Relative Rates for Plasma Homo- and Copolymerizations of Olefins in a Homologous Series of Fluorinated Ethylenes

The relative rates of plasma (co)polymerizations of ethylene, vinyl fluoride, vinylidene fluoride, trifluoroethylene and tetrafluoroethylene (VF(sub x); x = 0-4, respectively) were determined in an rf, capacitively coupled, tubular reactor with external electrodes using identical plasma parameters. The averages of deposition rates obtained by both microgravimetry and ellipsometry were plotted versus the F/C ratios of the monomers or monomer blends. The deposition rates for VF(sub x)(x = 1-3) and 20 monomer blends were all located above a straight line joining the rates for VF(sub 0) and VF(sub 4), following a concave-downward plot of deposition rate versus F/C ratio similar to that reported previously for VF(sub 0)/VF(sub 4) blends. The deposition rates for VF(sub m)/VF(sub n) blends (m = 3 or 4; n = 0-2) were all greater than expected for non-interacting monomers; those for VF(sub 0)/VF(sub 2) and VF(sub 1)/VF(sub 2) blends were all lower than expected; while those for VF(sub 0)/VF(sub 1) and VF(sub 3)/VF(sub 4) blends fen on a straightline plot versus F/C ratio, indicative of apparent non-interaction between monomers. The mechanisms for plasma (co)polymerizations of VF(sub x) monomers responsible for the wide range of relative deposition rates remain to be elucidated.

Golub, Morton A.↗

High-Performance Polymers Having Low Melt Viscosities

High-performance polymers that have improved processing characteristics, and a method of making them, have been invented. One of the improved characteristics is low (relative to corresponding prior polymers) melt viscosities at given temperatures. This characteristic makes it possible to utilize such processes as resin-transfer molding and resin-film infusion and to perform autoclave processing at lower temperatures and/or pressures. Another improved characteristic is larger processing windows that is, longer times at low viscosities. Other improved characteristics include increased solubility of uncured polymer precursors that contain reactive groups, greater densities of cross-links in cured polymers, improved mechanical properties of the cured polymers, and greater resistance of the cured polymers to chemical attack. The invention is particularly applicable to poly(arylene ether)s [PAEs] and polyimides [PIs] that are useful as adhesives, matrices of composite materials, moldings, films, and coatings. PAEs and PIs synthesized according to the invention comprise mixtures of branched, linear, and star-shaped molecules. The monomers of these polymers can be capped with either reactive end groups to obtain thermosets or nonreactive end groups to obtain thermoplastics. The synthesis of a polymeric mixture according to the invention involves the use of a small amount of a trifunctional monomer. In the case of a PAE, the trifunctional monomer is a trihydroxy- containing compound for example, 1,3,5-trihydroxybenzene (THB). In the case of a PI, the trifunctional monomer is a triamine for example, triamino pyrimidine or melamine. In addition to the aforementioned trifunctional monomer, one uses the difunctional monomers of the conventional formulation of the polymer in question (see figure). In cases of nonreactive end caps, the polymeric mixtures of the invention have melt viscosities and melting temperatures lower than those of the corresponding linear polymers of equal molecular weights. The lower melting temperatures and melt viscosities provide larger processing windows. In cases of reactive end caps, the polymeric mixtures of the invention have lower melt viscosities before curing and the higher cross-link densities after curing (where branching in the uncured systems would become cross-links in the cured systems), relative to the corresponding linear polymers of equal molecular weights. The greater cross-link densities afford increased resistance to chemical attack and improved mechanical properties.

Jensen, Brian J.↗

Re-directing mixed-feed deconstruction products to hybrid polyesters: Tolerance windows for commodity plastics reconstruction

Solvolysis is a promising strategy for mixed-feed polyester recycling, but little attention has been given to downstream product separations or the impact of using imperfectly separated monomer mixtures in recycled polymer reconstruction. Here, we challenge the traditional need for high-purity monomers in polycondensation synthesis of engineering thermoplastics. Monomer mixtures are derived from catalyzed methanolysis of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), and polybutylene adipate-co-terephthalate (PBAT), with separation scenarios ranging from high (99:1) to low (90:10) purity. We focus on challenging-to-separate products like ethylene glycol and 1,4-butanediol and evaluate tolerance for comonomer incorporation in recycled hybrid polyesters: polybutylene-co-ethylene terephthalate (PBET) and polybutylene ethylene adipate-co-terephthalate (PBEAT). Evaluations are made between “contaminant” monomer incorporation, and the resulting materials’ thermal properties, crystalline structure, tensile toughness, and rheology. Ultimately, we highlight that despite incorporation of contaminant monomer, high-performance hybrid polyesters of PET, PBT, and PBAT are obtained while reducing the strain of high-throughput separations.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗