Calculation and Analysis of the Molecular Weight Characteristics of the Polymer in the Synthesis of Butyl Rubber

The article compiled a mathematical model of the cationic copolymerization of isobutylene and isoprene using a catalyst AlCl3 in a CH3Cl solution, including the reactions of initiation, chain growth, chain transfer to the monomer, and chain termination. The molecular weight characteristics of butyl rubber synthesized in methyl chloride using a catalytic system based on aluminum trichloride have been investigated. Relationships are obtained for calculating the moments of the molecular weight characteristics of butyl rubber. The effect of the concentration of the initiator on the conversion versus time was investigated.

Cationic Copolymerization of Isobutylene with 4-Vinylbenzenecyclobutylene: Characteristics and Mechanisms

A random copolymer of isobutylene (IB) and 4-vinylbenzenecyclobutylene (4-VBCB) was synthesized by cationic polymerization at −80 °C using 2-chloro-2,4,4-trimethylpentane (TMPCl) as initiator. The laws of copolymerization were investigated by changing the feed quantities of 4-VBCB. The molecular weight of the copolymer decreased, and its molecular weight distribution (MWD) increased with increasing 4-VBCB content. We proposed a possible copolymerization mechanism behind the increase in the chain transfer reaction to 4-VBCB with increasing of feed quantities of 4-VBCB. The thermal properties of the copolymers were studied by solid-phase heating and crosslinking. After crosslinking, the decomposition and glass transition temperatures (Tg) of the copolymer increased, the network structure that formed did not break when reheated, and the mechanical properties remarkably improved.

Cationic copolymerization of cholesterol vinyl ether with methylvinylsulfide: toward medicinal polymers

Oligomers of cholesterol vinyl ether (CVE) with methyl vinyl sulfide synthesized in the presence of cationic catalyst ВF3 OEt2 in up to 81% yield (Mn up to 5700) demonstrate optical activity exceeding that of CVE homopolymer, which is probably due to both conformational effects of the oligomer chain and chirality induction during the polymerization.