Fundamentals of Polymer Chemistry
Fundamentals of Polymer Chemistry
Fundamentals of Polymer Chemistry
1.2 Definitions
A polymer in its simplest form can be regarded as comprising molecules of
closely related composition of molecular weight at least 2000, although in
many cases typical properties do not become obvious until the mean molec-
ular weight is about 5000. There is virtually no upper end to the molecular
weight range of polymers since giant three-dimensional networks may produce
crosslinked polymers of a molecular weight of many millions.
Polymers (macromolecules) are built up from basic units, sometimes
referred to as ‘mers’. These units can be extremely simple, as in addition
polymerisation, where a simple molecule adds on to itself or other simple
molecules, by methods that will be indicated subsequently. Thus ethylene
CH2 :CH2 can be converted into polyethylene, of which the repeating unit
is —CH2 CH2 —, often written as —CH2 CH2 n , where n is the number of
repeating units, the nature of the end groups being discussed later.
The major alternative type of polymer is formed by condensation polymeri-
sation in which a simple molecule is eliminated when two other molecules
condense. In most cases the simple molecule is water, but alternatives include
ammonia, an alcohol and a variety of simple substances. The formation of a
condensation polymer can best be illustrated by the condensation of hexam-
ethylenediamine with adipic acid to form the polyamide best known as nylon :
H H
H2N(CH2)6NH + HOOC(CH2)4CO.OH + HN(CH2)6NH2
1
= H2N(CH2)6NH.OC(CH2)4CONH(CH2)6NH2
+ H2O + H2O
The concept of a polymer 3
This formula has been written in order to show the elimination of water.
The product of condensation can continue to react through its end groups
of hexamethylenediamine and adipic acid and thus a high molecular weight
polymer is prepared.
Monomers such as adipic acid and hexamethylenediamine are described
as bifunctional because they have two reactive groups. As such they can
only form linear polymers. Similarly, the simple vinyl monomers such as
ethylene CH2 :CH2 and vinyl acetate CH2 :CHOOCCH3 are considered to
be bifunctional. If the functionality of a monomer is greater than two,
a branched structure may be formed. Thus the condensation of glycerol
HOCH2 CH(OH)CH2 OH with adipic acid HOOCCH2 4 COOH will give a
branched structure. It is represented diagrammatically below:
HOOC(CH2)4COOCH2CHCH2OOC(CH2)4COOCHCH2O
CH2O
O
CO
(CH2)4
CO
O
CH2 O
H COOC(CH2)4COOCH2CHCH2O
CH2
O
CO(CH2)4COO
2 ADDITION POLYMERISATION
Addition polymerisation, the main type with which this volume is concerned,
is essentially a chain reaction, and may be defined as one in which only a small
initial amount of initial energy is required to start an extensive chain reaction
converting monomers, which may be of different formulae, into polymers.
A well-known example of a chain reaction is the initiation of the reaction
between hydrogen and chlorine molecules. A chain reaction consists of three
stages, initiation, propagation and termination, and may be represented simply
by the progression:
Activation +M +M +nM
M M* M2* M3* Mn+3 etc.
† Some modern sources prefer to refer to addition polymerisation and stepwise polymerisation.
Addition polymerisation 5
as acrylonitrile CH2 :CHCN and methyl methacrylate CH2 :CCH3 COOCH3 .
Styrene may also be polymerised by an anionic method. Typical catalysts
include sodium in liquid ammonia, alkali metal alkyls, Grignard reagents and
triphenylmethyl sodium C6 H5 3 C-Na.
Amongst other modern methods of polymerisation are the Ziegler–Natta
catalysts [8] and group transfer polymerisation catalysts [9]. Ionic polymeri-
sation is not of interest in normal aqueous polymerisation since in general
the carbonium ions by which cationic species are propagated and the corre-
sponding carbanions in anionic polymerisations are only stable in media of
low dielectric constant, and are immediately hydrolysed by water.
(CH3)2C.N:NC(CH3)2
NC CN
CN
which decomposes into two radicals, (CH3)2 C. and nitrogen N2 , is well-
known. Thus a free radical mechanism is the basis of addition polymerisation
where these types of initiator are employed. For a transient free radical the
convention will be used of including a single dot after or over the active
element with the odd electron.
A polymerisation reaction may be simply expressed as follows. Let R be a
radical from any source. CH2 :CHX represents a simple vinyl monomer where
X is a substituent, which may be H as in ethylene CH2 :CH2 , Cl as in vinyl
chloride CH2 :CHCl, OOC.CH3 as in vinyl acetate CH2 :CHOOCCH3 or many
other groups, which will be indicated in lists of monomers.
The first stage of the chain reaction, the initiation process, consists of the
attack of the free radical on one of the doubly bonded carbon atoms of the
monomer. One electron of the double bond pairs with the odd electron of
the free radical to form a bond between the latter and one carbon atom. The
remaining electron of the double bond shifts to the other carbon atom which
now becomes a free radical. This can be expressed simply in equation form:
H
R + CH2:CHX R.CH2C. 2
X
6 Fundamentals of polymer chemistry
The new free radical can, however, in its turn add on extra monomer units,
and a chain reaction occurs, representing the propagation stage:
H H
R.CH2C. + n (CH2CHX R:(CH2CHX)n CH2C . 3
X X
The final stage is termination, which may take place by one of several
processes. One of these is combination of two growing chains reacting
together:
P
RCH2 CHXn CH2 CHX P
C RCH2 CHXm CH2 CHX
D RCH2 CHn CH2 CHXCH2 CHXCH2 CHXm R 4a
X X
Z-CH2C. + CH2CHX = Z-CH:CHX + CH3C. 5
H H
H
R(CH2CHX)nCH2C . + t-C12H25SH
6a
X
= R(CH2CHX)nCH2CH2X + C12H25S.
H
R(CH2CHX)n CH2C · + CCl4 = R(CH2CHX)n CHXCl + Cl3C· 6b
X
Most common solvents are sufficiently active to take part in chain transfer
termination, the aliphatic straight-chain hydrocarbons and benzene being
amongst the least active. The effect of solvents is apparent in the following
equation, where SolH denotes a solvent:
H
R(CH2CHX)n CH2C· + SolH = RCH2CHX)n CH2X + Sol· 6c
X
In all the cases mentioned, the radicals on the right-hand side of the equations
must be sufficiently active to start a new chain; otherwise they act as a retarder
or inhibitor (see the next section)
Derivatives of allyl alcohol CH2 :CHCH2 OH, although polymerisable by
virtue of the ethylenic bond, have marked chain transfer properties and produce
polymers of low molecular weight relatively slowly (see also Section 2.1.2).
Stable intermediate products do not form during a polymerisation by a free
radical chain reaction, and the time of formation of each polymer molecule is
of the order of 103 s.
Kinetic equations have been deduced for the various processes of polymeri-
sation. These have been explained simply in a number of treatises [10–13].
The classic book by Flory [10] derives these equations in greater detail.
A useful idea which may be introduced at this stage is that of the order of
addition of monomers to a growing chain during a polymerisation. It has been
assumed in the elementary discussion that if a growing radical M-CH2 CÐ is
considered, the next unit of monomer will add on to produce
H H H
M CH2 C C C ·
X H X
It is theoretically possible, however, for the next unit of monomer to add on,
producing
H H H
M CH2 C C C ·
X X H
8 Fundamentals of polymer chemistry
The latter type of addition in which similar groups add in adjacent fashion is
known as ‘head-to-head’ addition in contrast to the first type above, known
as ‘head-to-tail’ addition. The head-to-tail addition is much more usual in
polymerisations, although in all cases head-to-head polymerisation occurs at
least to some extent.
There are various ways of estimating head-to-head polymerisation, both
physical and chemical. Nuclear magnetic resonance data should be mentioned
amongst the former. The elucidation of polyvinyl acetate CH2 CHOOCCH3 n
may be taken as representative of a chemical investigation. A head-to-tail
polymer when hydrolysed to polyvinyl alcohol would typically produce units
of CH2 CHOHCH2 CHOH. A head-to-head unit is CH2 CHOHCHOHCH2 .
In the latter case there are two hydroxyl groups on adjacent carbon atoms, and
the polymer is therefore broken down by periodic acid HIO4 , which attacks
this type of unit. It is possible to estimate the amount of head-to-head addition
from molecular weight reduction or by estimation of the products of oxidation.
This produces radicals that are resonance stabilised and are removed from a
system by mutual combination or disproportionation. Only a small amount
of inhibitor is required to stop polymerisation of a system. A calculation
shows that for a concentration of azodiisobutyronitrile of 1 ð 103 mole1 in
benzene at 60 ° C, a concentration of 8.6 ð 105 mole L1 h1 of inhibitor is
required [10]. p-Hydroquinone C6 H4 OH2 , probably the most widely used
inhibitor, only functions effectively in the presence of oxygen which converts
it to a quinone–hydroquinone complex giving stable radicals. One of the most
effective inhibitors is the stable free radical 2 : 2-diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl:
NO2
C6H5
N N NO2
C6H5
NO2
Addition polymerisation 9
This compound reacts with free radicals in an almost quantitative manner to
give inactive products, and is used occasionally to estimate the formation of
free radicals.
Aromatic compounds such as nitrobenzene C6 H5 NO2 and the dinitroben-
zenes (o-, m-, p-)C6 H4 NO2 2 are retarders for most monomers, e.g. styrene,
but tend to inhibit vinyl acetate polymerisation, since the monomer produces
very active radicals which are not resonance stabilised. Derivatives of allyl
alcohol such as allyl acetate are a special case. Whilst radicals are formed
from this monomer, the propagation reaction (equation 3) competes with that
shown in the following equation:
Studies have shown that under normal conditions the decomposition proceeds
through to the second stage, and it is the phenyl radical C6 H5 . that adds
on to the monomer. Dibenzoyl peroxide decomposes at a rate suitable for
most direct polymerisations in bulk, solution and aqueous media, whether
in emulsion or bead form, since most of these reactions are performed at
60–100 ° C. Dibenzoyl peroxide has a half-life of 5 h at 77 ° C.
10 Fundamentals of polymer chemistry
A number of other diacyl peroxides have been examined. These include
o-, m- and p-bromobenzoyl peroxides, in which the bromine atoms are
useful as markers to show the fate of the radicals. Dilauroyl hydroperoxide
C11 H23 CO.OO.OCC11 H23 has been used technically.
Hydroperoxides as represented by t-butyl hydroperoxide CH3 3 C.O.O.H
and cumene hydroperoxide C6 H5 C(CH3 .O.O.H represent an allied class with
technical interest. The primary dissociation
These peroxides are useful for polymerisations that take place at 100–120 ° C,
whilst di-t-butyl peroxide, which is volatile, has been used to produce radicals
for gas phase polymerisations.
A number of peresters are in commercial production, e.g. t-butyl perben-
zoate CH3 3 C.O.O.OC.C6 H5 , which acts as a source of t-butoxy radicals at
a lower temperature than di-t -butyl hydroperoxide, and also as a source of
benzoyloxy radicals at high temperatures. The final decomposition, apart from
some secondary reactions, is probably mainly
S2 O8 2 ! 2 SO4 .
Research using 35 S-modified persulfate has shown that the use of a persulfate
initiator may give additional or even sole stabilization to a polymer prepared
in emulsion. This may be explained by the polymer having ionised end groups
from a persulfate initiator, e.g. ZOSO3 Na, where Z indicates a polymer residue.
A general account of initiation methods for vinyl acetate is applicable to
most monomers [16].
H2 O2 C S2 O5 2 D HO Ð C HS2 O6 Ð
The HS2 O6 represented here is not the dithionate ion, but an ion radical whose
formula might be
O− O−
S O S.OH
O O
2.2 Copolymerisation
There is no reason why the process should be confined to one species of
monomer. In general, a growing polymer chain may add on most other
monomers according to a general set of rules which, with some exceptions,
will be enunciated later.
If we have two monomers denoted by Mi and Mn and Mi Ð and Mn Ð denote
chain radicals having Mi and Mii as terminal groups, irrespective of chain
length four reactions are required to describe the growth of polymer:
Mi . C Mi ! K11 Mi Ð
Mi . C Mn ! K12 Mii Ð
Mii Ð CMii ! K22 Mii Ð
Mii Ð CMi ! K21 Mi Ð
where K has the usual meaning of a reaction rate constant. These reactions
reach a ‘steady state’ of copolymerisation in which the concentration of radi-
cals is constant; i.e. the copolymerisation is constant and the rates of formation
of radicals and destruction of radicals by chain termination are constant. Under
these conditions the rates of formation of each of the two radicals remain
constant and without considering any elaborate mathematical derivations we
may define the monomer reactivity rations r1 and r2 by the expressions
K11 K22
r1 D and r2 D
K12 K21
These ratios represent the tendency of a radical formed from one monomer
to combine with itself rather than with another monomer. It can be made
intelligible by a practical example. Thus, for styrene C6 H5 CH:CH2 (r1 ) and
butadiene CH2 :CHCH:CH2 (r2 ), r1 D 0.78 and r2 D 1.39. These figures tend
to indicate that if we start with an equimolar mixture, styrene radicals tend to
copolymerise with butadiene rather than themselves, but butadiene has a slight
preference for its radicals to polymerise with each other. This shows that if we
copolymerise an equimolar mixture of styrene and butadiene, a point occurs
at which only styrene would remain in the unpolymerised state. However,
for styrene and methyl methacrylate, r1 D 0.52 and r2 D 0.46 respectively.
These two monomers therefore copolymerise together in almost any ratio.
As the properties imparted to a copolymer by equal weight ratios of these
two monomers are broadly similar, it is often possible to replace one by the
other on cost alone, although the inclusion of styrene may cause yellowing of
copolymer films exposed to sunlight.
14 Fundamentals of polymer chemistry
Nevertheless, if an attempt is made to copolymerise vinyl acetate with
styrene, only the latter will polymerise, and in practice styrene is an
inhibitor for vinyl acetate. The reactivity ratios, r1 and r2 for styrene
and vinyl acetate respectively have been given as 55 and 0.01. However,
vinyl benzoate CH2 :CHOOCC6 H5 has a slight tendency to copolymerise
with styrene, probably because of a resonance effect. If we consider the
case of vinyl acetate and trans-dichlorethylene (TDE) trans-CH2 Cl:CH2 Cl,
r1 vinyl acetate D 0.85 and r2 D 0. The latter implies that TDE does not
polymerise by itself, but only in the presence of vinyl acetate. Vinyl acetate,
on the other hand, has a greater tendency to copolymerise with TDE than with
itself, and therefore if the ratios are adjusted correctly all of the TDE can be
copolymerised.
Let us consider the copolymerisation of vinyl acetate and maleic anhydride:
O
r1 = 0.055, r2 = 0
CH C
O
CH C
O
Sometimes a very low r2 is quoted for maleic anhydride, e.g. 0.003. Vinyl
acetate thus has a strong preference to add on to maleic anhydride in a growing
radical rather than on to another vinyl acetate molecule, whilst maleic anhy-
dride, which has practically no tendency to add on to itself, readily adds
to a vinyl acetate unit of a growing chain. (Note that homopolymers of
maleic anhydride have been made by drastic methods.) This is a mathemat-
ical explanation of the fact that vinyl acetate and maleic anhydride tend to
alternate in a copolymer whatever the starting ratios. Excess maleic anhy-
dride, if present, does not homopolymerise. Surplus vinyl acetate, if present,
forms homopolymer, a term used to distinguish the polymer formed from a
single monomer in contradistinction to a copolymer. Styrene also forms an
alternating copolymer with maleic anhydride.
Only in one or two exceptional cases has both r1 and r2 been reported to
be above 1. Otherwise it is a general principle that at least one of the two
ratios is less than 1. It will be readily seen that in a mixture of two monomers
the composition of the copolymer gradually changes unless an ‘azeotropic’
mixture is used, i.e. one balanced in accord with r1 and r2 , provided that r1
and r2 are each <1.
Polymers of fixed composition are sometimes made by starting with a small
quantity of monomers, e.g. 2–5 % in the desired ratios, and adding a feedstock
which will maintain the original ratio of reactants. This is especially noted, as
will be shown later, in emulsion polymerisation. If it is desired to include the
more sluggishly polymerising monomer, and an excess is used, this must be
removed at the end, by distillation or extraction.
Addition polymerisation 15
However, as a general principle it should not be assumed that, because
two or more monomers copolymerise completely, the resultant copolymer is
reasonably homogeneous. Often, because of compatibility variations amongst
the constantly varying species of polymers formed, the properties of the final
copolymer are liable to vary very markedly from those of a truly homogeneous
copolymer.
The term ‘copolymer’ is sometimes confined to a polymer formed from two
monomers only. In a more general sense, it can be used to cover polymers
formed from a larger number of monomers, for which the principles enunciated
in this section apply. The term ‘terpolymer’ is sometimes used when three
monomers have been copolymerised.
When copolymerisation takes place in a heterogeneous medium, as in emul-
sion polymerisation (see Chapter 2), whilst the conditions for copolymerisation
still hold, the reaction is complicated by the environment of each species
present. Taking into account factors such as whether the initiator is water or
monomer soluble (most peroxidic organic initiators are soluble in both), the
high aqueous solubility of monomers such as acrylic acid CH2 :CHCOOH and,
if partition between water-soluble and water-insoluble monomers is significant,
the apparent reactivities may differ markedly from those in a homogeneous
medium. Thus, in an attempted emulsion polymerisation, butyl methacrylate
CH2 :CCH3 COOC4 H9 and sodium methacrylate NaOOCCCH3 :CH2 poly-
merise substantially independently. On the other hand, methyl methacrylate
and sodium methacrylate will copolymerise together since methyl methacry-
late has appreciable water solubility [19, 20].
More unusually vinyl acetate and vinyl stearate CH2 :CHOOCC17 H35 will
only copolymerise in emulsion if a very large surface is present due to very
small emulsion particles (of order <0.1 m) or a class of emulsifier known as a
‘solubiliser’ is present, which has the effect of solubilising vinyl stearate to a
limited extent in water, increasing the compatibility with vinyl acetate which
is about 2.3 % water soluble.
Problems relating to copolymerisation in emulsion will be found in
Chapter 3 and Sections 2.2.1 and 8.5. For more advanced texts, see the
Appendix, Section 8.
K12 D P1 Q2 expe1 e2
where P1 and Q2 are constants relating to the general activity of the monomers
M1 and M2 respectively and e1 and e2 are proportional to the residual elec-
trostatic charges in the respective reaction groups. It is assumed that each
monomer and its corresponding radical has the same reactivity. Hence, from
the reactions in Section 2.2,
r1 r2 D exp[e1 e2 2 ]
CH2 CH.OOCCH3
(1) (2) (3)
It is now known that there is significant chain transfer on the vinyl H atoms
of vinyl acetate [24].
Another method of forming branched chains involves the retention of a
vinyl group on the terminal unit of a polymer molecule, either by dispro-
portionation or by chain transfer to monomer. The polymer molecule with
residual unsaturation could then become the unit of a further growing chain.
Thus a polymer molecule of formula CH2 CHX—(Mp), where Mp represents
a polymer chain, may become incorporated into another chain to give a struc-
ture (Mq).CH2 .CX—(Mp)(Mr), where Mq and Mr represent polymer chains
of various lengths, that may be of the same configuration or based on different
monomers, depending on conditions.
Ethylene, CH2 :CH2 , which is normally a gas (b.p. 760 mm Hg: 104 ° C,
critical temperature 9.5 ° C) is prone to chain branching when polymerised by
the free radical polymerisation process at high temperatures and pressures,
most branches having short chains. In this case intramolecular formation of
short chains occurs by chain transfer, and is usually known as ‘back biting’.
CH2 CH3
CH2 CH2 (CH2)3
*CH CH *CH
2 2
CH3 CH3
(CH2)3 + n C2H4 (CH2)3
*CH *CH (CH CH ) E
2 2n
where E represents an end group. The carbon with the asterisk is the same
throughout to illustrate the reaction.
Excessive chain branching can lead to crosslinking and insolubility (Chapter
5). It is possible for chain branching to occur from completed or ‘dead’ molecules
by hydrogen abstraction, and although this impinges on grafting, it is treated as
a chain branching phenomenon if it occurs during a polymerisation.
18 Fundamentals of polymer chemistry
3.2 Graft copolymers
The idea of a graft copolymer is a natural extension of the concept of chain
branching and involves the introduction of active centres in a previously
prepared chain from which a new chain can grow. In most cases this is an
added monomer, although two-polymer molecules can combine directly to
form a graft. The graft base need not be an ethylene addition polymer. Various
natural products, including proteins and water-soluble gums, have been used
as a basis for graft copolymers by formation of active centres.
A block copolymer differs from a graft in only that the active centre is
always at the end of the molecule. In the simplest case, an unsaturated chain
end arising from a chain transfer can act as the basis for the addition of
a block of units of a second monomer, whilst successive monomers or the
original may make an additional block. Another possibility is the simultaneous
polymerisation of a monomer which is soluble only in water with one which
is water insoluble, provided that the latter is in the form of a fine particle
size emulsion. Whether the initiator is water soluble or monomer soluble, an
extensive transfer through the surface is likely, with the continuation of the
chain in the alternate medium.
There are a number of ways of achieving active centres, many of which
depend on an anionic or cationic mechanism, especially the former. However,
since in water-based graft polymerisation only free radical polymerisations
and possibly a few direct chemical reactions involving an elimination are of
interest, the discussion here will be confined to these topics.
Graft centres are formed in much the same manner as points of branching,
with the difference that the graft base is preformed. It may be possible to perox-
idise a polymer directly with oxygen, to provide hydroperoxide O.OH groups
directly attached to carbon. This is facilitated, particularly, where numerous
tertiary carbon occur as, for example, in polypropylene CH2.CH . In
CH3
other cases the direct use of a peroxide type of initiator encourages the forma-
tion of free radicals on existing polymer chains. Particularly useful in this
respect is tert-butyl hydroperoxide, tert-C4 H9 .O.OH, because of the strong
tendency of the radical formed from it to abstract hydrogen atoms. Dibenzoyl
peroxide C6 H5 CO.O2 is also frequently used as a graft initiator. In aqueous
systems initiators such as tert-butyl hydroperoxide may be used in conjunction
with a salt of a sulfur-reducing acid to lower the temperature at which radicals
are generated.
Graft methods make it possible to add to polymers such as
butadiene–styrene chains of a monomer that is not normally polymerisable,
such as vinyl acetate. The polymerisation medium in which a graft can take
place is in general not restricted; the process may take place fairly readily in
emulsion. There is a vast amount of literature available on the formation and
properties of graft copolymers [25].
Polymer structure and properties 19
There are very often special considerations in respect of graft copoly-
merisations that take place in emulsion form, with particular reference to
water-soluble stabilisers of the polyvinyl alcohol type [26]. In some cases
halogen atoms may be removed by a radical. This occurs particularly with
polymers and copolymers based on vinyl chloride CH2 :CHCl, vinylidene chlo-
ride CH2 .CCl2 and chloroprene CH2 .CClCH:CH2 . Ultraviolet light and other
forms of irradiation are particularly useful in this respect.
Properties of graft copolymers are sometimes unique, and not necessarily an
intermediate or balance between those of polymers derived from the respec-
tive monomers. This is particularly noticeable with solubility properties and
transition points. A brief reference may be made here to the more direct chem-
ical types of graft formation that do not involve free radicals. These depend
on the direct reaction of an active group on the polymer. The simplest group
is hydroxyl ÐOH, which under suitable conditions may react with carboxyl
ÐCOOH, carboxyanhydride . C:OOO:C. or carbochloride ÐCOCl to form esters
or polyesters depending on the nature of the side chain. Equally, hydroxyl
groups may react with oxirane CH3.CHX groups. This applies especially
O
with ethylene oxide CH2 CH2 to form oxyethylene side chains, giving graft
O
copolymers of the type
In practice the polymer is an irregular coil, as shown in Figure 1.1. The dimen-
sion most frequently used to describe an ‘average’ configuration is the ‘root
mean square’, symbolised as r, which can be symbolised mathematically as
0.5
n1 r1 2
n1
where there are n individual polymer molecules, and the distance apart of
the chain ends is r1 , r2 , etc. This concept of root mean square is necessary in
dealing with certain solution properties, and also certain properties of elasticity.
No real polymer molecule can have completely free and unrestricted rota-
tion, although an unbranched polythene C2 H4 n approaches closest to this
ideal. (The theoretical polymethylene CH2 m has been prepared by the poly-
merisation of diazomethane CH2 N2 , with elimination of nitrogen.) The prop-
erties of polyethylene over a wide range of molecular weights are, at ambient
temperatures, those of a flexible, relatively inelastic molecule, which softens
fairly readily. Chain branching hinders free rotation and raises the softening
point of the polymer. Even a small number of crosslinks may, however, cause
a major hindrance to the free rotation of the internal carbon bonds of the chain,
resulting in a sharp increase in stiffness of the resulting product.
Many side chain groups cause steric hindrance and restrictions in the free
rotation about the double bonds. A typical example is polystyrene, where the
planar zigzag formulation is probably modified by rotations of 180° a round
alternate double bonds to produce a structure of minimum energy, such as
C6H5
C6H5
CH CH2 CH CH2
CH2 CH CH2 CH CH2
C6H5 C6H5
Polymer structure and properties 21
Because of the steric hindrance, polystyrene is a much harder polymer than
polyethylene.
Other molecular forces that effect the physical state of the polymers are
the various dipole forces and the London or dispersion forces. If different
parts of a group carry opposite charges, e.g. the carbonyl :CDO and hydroxyl
—O—HC , strong interchain attraction occurs between groups on different
chains by attraction of opposite charges. This attraction is strongly tempera-
ture dependent. A special, case of dipole forces is that of hydrogen bonding,
by which hydrogen atoms attached to electronegative atoms such as oxygen
or nitrogen exert a strong attraction towards electronegative atoms on other
chains. The principal groups of polymers in which hydrogen bonding occurs
are the hydroxyl and the amino .NHX or amide .CONH2 groups and are
illustrated by the following:
H
O O O H O CH N H O C
H H O
The net effect of dipole forces, especially hydrogen bonding, is to
stiffen and strengthen the polymer molecules, and in extreme cases to
cause crystalline polymers to be formed (see below). Examples of polymers
with strong hydrogen bonding are polyvinyl alcohol —CH2 CHOH—n ,
polyacrylamide (CH2CH−)n and all polymers including carboxylic acid
CONH2
groups, e.g. copolymers including units of acrylic acid CH2 :CHCOOH and
crotonic acid CH2 :CH.CH2 COOH.
The London forces between molecules come from time-varying dipole
moments arising out of the continuously varying configurations of nuclei and
electrons which must, of course, average out to zero. These forces, which
are independent of temperature, vary inversely as the seventh power of the
distance between the chains, as do dipole forces, and only operate at distances
below 5 Å.
Forces between chains lead to a cohesive energy, approximately equal to the
energies of vaporisation or sublimation. A high cohesive energy is associated
with a high melting point and may be associated with crystallinity. A low
cohesive energy results in a polymer having a low softening point and easy
deformation by stresses applied externally.
Whilst inorganic materials often crystallise and solid organic polymers
generally possess crystallinity, X-ray diffraction patterns have shown that in
some polymers there are non-amorphous and crystalline regions, or crystal-
lites. Whilst crystallinity is a characteristic of natural products such as proteins
and synthetic condensation products such as the polyamide fibres, crystallinity
sometimes occurs in addition polymers. Even if we discount types prepared by
special methods, such as use of the Ziegler–Natta catalysts [8], which will not
22 Fundamentals of polymer chemistry
be discussed further here since they are not formed by classical free radical
reactions, a number of polymers prepared directly or indirectly by free radical
methods give rise to crystallinity.
One of these already mentioned is polyvinyl alcohol, formed by hydrolysis
of polyvinyl acetate. It must, however, be almost completely hydrolysed, of
the order of 99.5 %, to be effectively crystalline, under which conditions it can
be oriented and drawn into fibres. If hydrolysis is partial, the resulting disorder
prevents crystallinity. This is the case with the so-called ‘polyvinyl alcohol’
of saponification value about 120, which is used for emulsion polymerisation.
This polymer consists, by molar proportions, of about 88 % of vinyl alcohol
and 12 % of vinyl acetate units.
Polymers of vinylidene chloride CH2 CCl2 are strongly crystalline. Poly-
mers of vinyl chloride CH2 CHCl and acrylonitrile CH2 CHCN are partially
crystalline, but crystallinity can be induced by stretching the polymer to a
fibre structure to induce orientation. Polyethylene, when substantially free
from branching, is crystalline and wax-like because of the simple molec-
ular structure. It does not, of course, have the other properties associated with
crystallinity caused by hydrogen bonding, such as high cohesive strength.
Another type of crystallinity found in polymers is side chain crystallinity,
e.g. in polyvinyl stearate (−CH2CH−)n or polyoctadecyl acrylate
OOC.C17H35
(−CH2CH−)n This type of crystallinity has relatively little application,
COOC16H37
since the products tend to simulate the crystalline properties of a wax.
However, this property may be useful in connection with synthetic resin-based
polishes, the subject of a later chapter.
In considering the effect of side chains on polymer properties, it is conve-
nient to take a series of esters based on acrylic acid and compare the derived
polymers. These are most readily compared by the second-order transition
points (Tg ). Technical publications show some variation in these figures, prob-
ably because of variations in molecular weight. However, polymers prepared
under approximately the same conditions have much the same degree of
polymerisation (DP), and emulsion polymers are preferred as standards in
this connection.
Figure 1.2 shows the variations in Tg of a series of homologous
polymers based on acrylic acid CH2 :CHCOOH and methacrylic acid
CH2 :CCH3 COOH. The striking difference in Tg of the polymers based on
the methyl esters should be noted, being almost 100 ° C. This is due to the
steric effect of the angular methyl .CH3 group on the carbon atom to which
the carboxyl group is attached. Polymethyl methacrylate is an extremely hard
solid, used inter alia for ‘unbreakable’ glass.
The effect of the angular methyl group slowly diminishes as the alcohol side
chains become longer; these latter keep the chains apart and reduce the polar
Polymer structure and properties 23
100
80
60
Brittle point (°C)
40
n-Alkyl
methacrylates
20
−20
n-Alkyl
acrylates
−40
−60
2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16
Carbon atoms in the alkyl group
Figure 1.2 Brittle points of polymeric n-alkyl acrylates and methacrylates. (Repro-
duced with permission from Riddle [28].)
80
60
Wx and wx
40
20
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18
M × 10−5
5 TECHNOLOGY OF POLYMERISATION
Monomers may be polymerised by free radical initiation by one of five
methods: polymerisation in bulk, in solution, dispersed as large particles in
water or occasionally in another non-solvent (suspension polymerisation), or
dispersed as fine particles, less than 1.5 µm, usually less than 1 µm in diameter.
The last-named process is usually known as emulsion polymerisation. As the
applications of polymers in emulsion is the basis of this series of volumes,
emulsion polymerisation is the subject of Chapter 3. A variant of suspension
polymerisation may be described as solution precipitation. It is often applied
to copolymers, e.g. a copolymer of methyl methacrylate and methacrylic acid.
In concentrated solution, the acid solubilises the methyl methacrylate. On
28 Fundamentals of polymer chemistry
polymerisation a fine water-insoluble powder is produced, which, depending
on the monomer ratios, is usually alkali soluble.
In the past two decades a variation of emulsion polymerisation has been
introduced, the polymers being known as ‘dispersymers’. To form dysper-
symers, a liquid monomer forms an emulsion-like product in an organic
liquid, usually a liquid hydrocarbon, in which the polymer is insoluble. The
final emulsion closely resembles an aqueous polymer emulsion in physical
appearance [34].
CH2:CH CH:CH2
6.4 Acrylics
6.4.1 Acrylic and methacrylic acids
The most numerous class of monomers are the acrylics, viz. esters of acrylic
acid CH2 :CHCOOH and methacrylic acid CH2 :CCH3 COOH. Both are
crystalline solids at low ambient temperatures, becoming liquid at slightly
higher temperatures (see Figure 1.2). These acids polymerise and copolymerise
extremely readily, being frequently employed in copolymers to obtain alkali-
soluble polymers. Whilst both acids are water soluble, methacrylic acid, as
might be expected because of its angular methyl group, is more soluble in
ester monomers, and to some extent in styrene, and as such is more useful in
copolymerisation, especially if water based.
Whilst esters of acrylic acid give soft and flexible polymers, except for those
with long alkyl chains, methyl methacrylate polymerises to an extremely hard
polymers. The polymers in this series become softer with increasing alkyl
chain lengths up to C12 . The highest alkyl chain acrylics in both series tend
to give side chain crystallisation.
The principal monomers and their polymer 33
6.4.2 Individual acrylic and methacrylic esters
A range of esters of acrylic acid are available commercially from methyl
acrylate through ethyl acrylate to n-heptyl acrylate and 2-ethylhexyl acrylate
CH2 :COOCH2 CHC2 H5 C4 H9 . They vary from the fairly volatile, pungent
liquids of the lowest member of the series to characteristic, but not neces-
sarily unpleasant, odour of the higher members of the series. The highest
members require distillation under reduced pressure to avoid simultaneous
decomposition and polymerisation.
The methacrylic ester series closely parallels the acrylics, but boiling points
tend to be somewhat higher, especially with the short chain esters (Table 1.1).
Methyl methacrylate CH2 :CCH3 COOCH3 is by far the most freely available
and least costly of the monomers of the series.
As an alternative to the simple alkyl esters, several alkoxyethyl
acrylates are available commercially, e.g. ethoxyethyl methacrylate
CH3 :CCH3 COOC2 H4 OC2 H5 and the corresponding acrylate. The ether
oxygen which interrupts the chain tends to promote rather more flexibility
than a simple carbon atom.
Some technical perfluorinated alkyl acrylates have been described.
They include N-ethylperfluorooctanesulfonamido)ethyl acrylate Cn F2nC1 SO2 N
C2 H5 –CH2 O–C(O)–CHDCH2 (n approximately 7.5, fluorine content
51.7 %), the corresponding methacrylate and the corresponding butyl
derivatives. The ethyl derivatives are waxy solids, the ethyl acrylate and the
corresponding methacrylate derivative having a melting range of 27–42 ° C.
The butyl acrylic derivative is a liquid, freezing at 10 ° C.
Various glycol diacrylates and dimethacrylates are available. Ethylene glycol
dimethacrylate CH2 :CCH3 COOC2 H4 OOCCH3 :CH2 is extremely reactive,
and is sometimes marketed as a solution in methyl methacrylate. It polymerises
extremely readily and acts as a powerful crosslinking agent. The dimethacry-
lates of triethylene glycol and higher glycols, some of which are also readily
available, are less reactive, retain better flexibility and are more controllable
in their polymerisation characteristics.
Glycidyl methacrylate CH2CHCH2OOCC(CH3):CH2 has two reactive
O
groups, the epoxide group being distinct in nature from the vinyl double bond
(see also Chapters 5 and 7). The epoxide group is only slowly reactive in
water, and even in emulsion polymerisation does not hydrolyse excessively.
However, the presence of the group makes the methacrylate moiety much
more prone to ready polymerisation.
The half esters of both ethylene glycol and propylene glycol
are now monomers of commerce, propylene glycol monoacrylate
CH3 CHOHCH2 OOCCH:CH3 being typical (the primary alcohol unit is the
34 Fundamentals of polymer chemistry
active one in the formula). These monomers provide a source of the mildly
reactive and hydrophilic groups on polymer chains. A problem with these
monomers is that traces of a glycol dimethacrylate may be present as impurities
at a low level.
6.4.5 Acrylonitrile
Acrylonitrile CH2 :CHCN, and the less frequently used methacrylonitrile
CH2 :C(CH3 CN, give extremely hard polymers and are employed as
comonomers to give solvent resistance. Acrylonitrile monomer, like vinyl
chloride, is not a solvent for its own polymer and is about 7 % soluble in
water, although its polymer is insoluble, making it of interest in theoretical
studies. These monomers are unusually toxic because of the nitrile group.
The principal monomers and their polymer 35
6.5 Polymerisable acids and anhydrides
Besides acrylic and methacrylic acid, crotonic acid (strictly the cis acid)
CH3 CH:CHCOOH, a white powder, often takes part in copolymerisations,
especially with vinyl acetate, but it only self-polymerises at low
pH and with great difficulty. Itaconic acid (methylenesuccinic acid)
CH2 :CCH3 COOHCOOH, a water-soluble solid, also readily takes part in
copolymerisation, although it will only homopolymerise at about pH2.
Maleic acid cis-HOOCCH:CHCOOH, the simplest dibasic acid, is rarely
copolymerised on its own, but frequently as the anhydride, maleic anhydride:
CHCO
O
CHCO
CH2 CH CH2 CH
CH CH
CH2 CH2
Bi-unit of a 1 : 2 addition
CH2:CHCH2OCH2CH CH2
O
CH3
C CHCOOCH2CH:CH2
CH3 O
8 APPENDIX
This section is devoted to a list of references to which the reader may refer if
more information is required on the subjects listed in this chapter, with special,
but not exclusive, reference to monomers and their general and polymerisation
properties. It is not intended to be exhaustive, and as far as possible is based
on monographs and surveys, to avoid the necessity of obtaining copies of
numerous original works.
There have been few, if any, publications in English or other Western
languages in the quarter century specifically devoted to monomers. A few
earlier works, still useful, are quoted here. For a general account of monomers,
the following is suggested:
C.E. Schildknecht, Vinyl and Related Monomers, Wiley, New York, 1952
Although more than 40 years old, this volume is still very valuable.
R.H. Boundy and R.F. Boyer (eds.), Styrene, Its Polymers, Copolymers and
Derivatives, Reinhold, New York, 1952
E.H. Riddle, Monomeric Acrylic Esters, Reinhold, New York, 1954
S.A. Miller (ed.), Acetylene, Its Properties, Manufacture and Uses, Vol. 1,
Ernest Benn, London, 1965
S.A. Miller (ed.), Ethylene and Its Industrial Derivatives, Chapters 6 and 11,
Ernest Benn, London, 1969
J.V. Koleske and L.H. Wartman (eds.), Polyvinyl Chloride, Its Preparation
and Properties, Gordon and Breach, New York, and Macdonald Technical
and Scientific, London, 1969
Many of the major producers issue bulletins on properties and polymerisation
of the various monomers. The following multivolume Encyclopaedias have
many articles of interest:
Encyclopedia of Polymer Science, 2nd edn, eds. H.F. Mark, G. Gaylord and
N.M. Bikales, Wiley, New York
Comprehensive Polymer Science, eds. C. Booth and C. Price, Pergamon Press,
Oxford, 1989
Handbook of Polymer Science and Technology, eds. G. Allen and
J.C. Bevington, Marcel Dekker, New York
P.A. Lovell, M.S. El-Aasser, eds, Emulsion Polymerisation, and Emulsion
Polymers, John Wiley, 1997.
References 47
REFERENCES
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2. W.H. Carrothers, in Collected Papers on High Polymeric Substances, H. Mark and
G. Stafford Whitby (eds.), Interscience Publishers, 1940
3. C. Booth and C. Price (eds.), Comprehensive Polymer Science, Vol. 1, Pergamon Press, 1989
4. H.R. Allcock and F.W. Lampe, Contemporary Polymer Chemistry, Vol. 1, 2nd edn, Prentice-
Hall, 1990
5. M.P. Stevens, Polymer Chemistry, 2nd edn., Oxford University Press, 1990
6. G. Odian, Principles of Polymer Chemistry, 3rd edn., Wiley, 1991
7. P.E.M. Allen, in, The Chemistry of Cationic Polymerisation, Plesch (ed.), Pergamon Press,
1963, Ch. 3; As ref 3; Vol. 3, Part 1, G. Sauvet and P. Sigwalt, pp. 579–637; H.st.D. Nuyken,
Pask, pp. 639–710
8. G. Natta and F. Danusso, Stereoregular Polymers and Stereospecific Polymerisation, Perg-
amon Press, Oxford, 1967; Y.V. Kissin in Handbook of Polymer Science and Technology,
Chereminosoff (ed.), Vol. 8, Marcel Dekker, 1989, pp. 9–14
9. M.A. Doherty, P. Gores and A.H.E. Mueller, Polym. Prepr. (Am. Chem. Soc.), 29(2), 72–3
(1988)
10. P.J. Flory, Principles of Polymer Chemistry, Cornell University Press, 1953, Ch. 4, p. 106
et seq.
11. G.C. Eastmond, A. Ledwith, S. Russo and P. Sigwalt, Comprehensive Polymer Science,
Sec. 1, Pergamon Press, 1989
12. F.W. Billmeyer, Textbook of Polymer Science, 3rd edn, Wiley, 1985
13. C.H. Bamford, Encyclopedia of Polymer Science and Engineering, 2nd edn, Vol. 13, pp.
729–35 1988 (refers specifically to retardation and inhibition)
14. C.E. Schildknecht, Allyl Compounds and Their Polymers, Ch. 1, pp. 195 et seq.
15. H. Warson, Per-Compounds and Per-Salts in Polymer Processes, Solihull Chemical Services,
1980
16. M. El-Aaser and J.W. Vanderhoff (eds.), Emulsion Polymerisation of Vinyl Acetate, Applied
Science Publishers, 1981
17. G.S. Misra, and U.D.-N. Bajai, Progress in Polymer Science, Vol. 8, Pergamon Press, 1982–3
18. H. Warson, Makromol. Chemie, 105, 228–45 (1967)
19. H. Warson and R.J. Parsons, J. Polym. Sci., 34(127), 251–269 (1959)
20. H. Warson, Peintures, Pigments, Vernis, 43(7), 438 –446 (1967)
21. T. Alfrey and D. Price, J. Polym. Sci., 2, 101–106 (1947)
22. P.J. Flory, Principles of Polymer Chemistry, Cornell University Press, 1953, Table 20, p. 188
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24. H.N. Friedlander, H.E. Harris and H.E. Pritchard, J. Polym. Sci., 4A(1) 649–64 (1966)
25. J.M.G. Cowie, Comprehensive Polymer Science, Vol. 3, Pergamon Press, 1989, pp. 33–42
26. H. Warson, Chem. Ind., 983, 220–2 (21 March 1983)
27. W.R. Moore, An Introduction to Polymer Chemistry, University of London Press, 1967,
p. 278
28. E.H. Riddle, Monomeric Acrylic Esters, Reinhold, 1964
29. H. Warson, in Properties and Applications of Polyvinyl Alcohol, Society of Chemical
Industry, 1968, pp. 46–76
30. R.K. Tubbs, H.K. Inskip and P.M. Subramanian, in Properties and Applications of Polyvinyl
Alcohol, Society of Chemical Industry, 1968, pp. 88–103
31. K. Noro, in Polyvinyl Alcohol, Properties and Applications, C.A. Finch (ed.), Wiley, 1973,
Ch. 7, pp. 147–166
32. E.H. Merz and R.W. Raetz, J. Polym. Sci., 5, 587 (1950)
33. American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM), Vicat Softening Point D-1525-65T; Ring
and Ball Apparatus E28-67
34. K.E.J. Barrett (ed.), Dispersion Polymerisation in Organic Media, Wiley, 1975
48 Fundamentals of polymer chemistry
35. S.J. Baum and R.D. Dunlop, FIAT No. 1102, US Department of Commerce, 1947, pp. 13–17
and 42–3
36. S.J. Baum and R.D. Dunlop, FIAT No. 1102, US Department of Commerce, 1947, p. 49
37. L.I. Nass, C.A. Heiberger and M. Langsam (eds.), Encyclopedia of Polymer Science, 2nd
edn, Vol. 1, Wiley, 1985, pp. 127–38
38. H. Warson, Polym., Paint, Col. J., 178, 625–7 and 865–7 (1988)
39. Y. Kobayashi and T. Yoshikawa (Hitachi Chemical), JP 92 339,805–6, 1993; Chem. Abstr.,
119, 118076, 140017 (1993)
40. W.J. Toussaint, and L.G. McDowell (Carbide and Carbon), USP 2,299,862, 1942
41. R.L. Adelman, J. Org. Chem., 14, 1057 (1949)
42. J.E.O. Mayne, H. Warson, and R.J. Parsons (Vinyl Products), BP 827,718, 1960; equivalent
to USP 2,989,544, 1961
43. J.E.O. Mayne and H. Warson (Vinyl Products), BP 877,103, 1961
44. Shell Chemicals, Technical Manuals, VM 1.1, VM1.2, 1991
45. F. Brown and C.D. Mitchell (Dunlop), BP 701,258, 1951
46. H. Warson, Derivatives of Acrylamide, 1990, pp. 46–51
47. H. Warson, Polymerisable Surfactants and Their Applications (Self-Emulsification), Solihull
Chemical Sevices, 1989
48. H. Warson, The Polymerisable Half Esters; Their Polymers and Applications, Solihull Chem-
ical Services, 1978
49. H. Warson et al. (Vinyl Products), BP 995,726, 1965