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High Melting Precision Sulfone Polyethylenes Synthesized by ADMET Chemistry
Author(s) -
Gaines Taylor W.,
Trigg Edward B.,
Winey Karen I.,
Wagener Kenneth B.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
macromolecular chemistry and physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.57
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1521-3935
pISSN - 1022-1352
DOI - 10.1002/macp.201600118
Subject(s) - sulfone , crystallinity , polymer chemistry , polymer , polymerization , polyethylene , chemistry , crystallite , small angle x ray scattering , materials science , organic chemistry , crystallography , scattering , physics , optics
A series of aliphatic polysulfones is synthesized via ADMET polymerization in which a sulfone group is located precisely after every 8th, 14th, and 20th carbon. Primary structural characterization is accomplished using 1 H NMR, 13 C NMR, and IR. Polymer morphology is studied by DSC and X‐ray scattering, which reveals layered morphologies comprised of polyethylene crystallites along with sulfone groups arranged in sheets. In contrast to other precision polymers with functional groups synthesized by ADMET, this morphology is found at all spacer lengths. Prior to hydrogenation the sulfone polymers show T m decreasing with increasing sulfone concentration, a typical phenomenon attributed to the mix of cis and trans configurations producing defects in the crystals. However, following hydrogenation, the melting temperature increases as the sulfone group concentration increased rather than decreased, with the highest T m being 175 °C. This is an increase of 45 °C relative to linear polyethylene synthesized via ADMET chemistry. The precise location of the sulfone groups, which are not tactic, within these polyethylenes increases crystallinity, promotes secondary bonding and increases T m .