Synthesis and characterization of polypropylene glycol-graft-styrene

Grafting polymerization based on polypropylene glycol (PPG) and styrene (St) was synthesized with different composition of styrene using the free radical technique in the presence of potassium persulphate as an initiator. The grafted copolymers (PPG-g-St) used different styrene composition (65/15, 65/25, 65/35), respectively. The grafted copolymers were investigated through FTIR (Fourier-transform spectroscopy), Differential scanning calorimeter and thermogravimetric analyzer. FTIR showed new peaks at 1450 cm-1 and 1135 cm-1 due to the grafting process of St on PPG. Thermal stability of grafted copolymer increases by increasing the ratio of styrene, while Tg decreases by increasing the ratio of styrene.

Thermosensitive Poloxamer-graft-Carboxymethyl Pullulan: A Potential Injectable Hydrogel for Drug Delivery

A thermosensitive copolymer composed of amphiphilic triblock copolymer, poloxamer 407, grafted on hydrophilic pullulan with pendant carboxymethyl groups (CMP) was prepared and characterized. The structure of the new copolymer was assessed by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) spectroscopy. The content of the poloxamer in the grafted copolymer was 83.8% (w/w). The effect of the copolymer concentration on the gelation behavior was analyzed by the vertical method and rheological tests; the gel phase of the copolymer occurred at a lower concentration (11%, w/v) as compared with poloxamer (18%, w/v). The starting gelation time under the simulated physiological conditions (phosphate buffer with a pH of 7.4, at 37 °C) was sensitive on the rest temperature before the test, this being 990 s and 280 s after 24 h rest at 4 °C and 20 °C, respectively. The rheological tests evidenced a high elasticity and excellent ability of the copolymer to recover the initial structure after the removal of the applied force or external stimuli. Moreover, the hydrogel has proved a sustained release of amoxicillin (taken as a model drug) over 168 h. Taken together, the results clearly indicate that this copolymer can be used as an injectable hydrogel.

Fabrication and Properties of Smart Temperature Epoxidized Natural Rubber

Temperature-responsive polymers are smart materials due to responding to change in surrounding temperature and are applicable for different applications. Here, we prepared the smart rubber from epoxidized natural rubber (ENR) latex, N-vinylcaprolactam (NVCL) as monomer, poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) as a surfactant and potassium persulfate (KPS) as free radical initiator. The temperature responsiveness of the grafted copolymers was investigated using water swelling and compared with that of pure ENR. The lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of the grafted copolymer was found to be in the range 20-40 ˚C whereas the ENR was not responsive to temperature. The temperature-responsiveness of the grafted copolymer near human body temperature can be utilized to be fabricated as biomedical materials. Based on this study, the temperature-responsive ENR-graft-NVCL would potentially be used as a novel responsive rubber-based material in various applications.

Immobilization and Release Studies of Triazole Derivatives from Grafted Copolymer Based on Gellan-Carrying Betaine Units

New polymer-bioactive compound systems were obtained by immobilization of triazole derivatives onto grafted copolymers and grafted copolymers carrying betaine units based on gellan and N-vinylimidazole. For preparation of bioactive compound, two new types of heterocyclic thio-derivatives with different substituents were combined in a single molecule to increase the selectivity of the biological action. The 5-aryl-amino-1,3,4 thiadiazole and 5-mercapto-1,2,4-triazole derivatives, each containing 2-mercapto-benzoxazole nucleus, were prepared by an intramolecular cyclization of thiosemicarbazides-1,4 disubstituted in acidic and basic medium. The structures of the new bioactive compounds were confirmed by elemental and spectral analysis (FT-IR and 1H-NMR). The antimicrobial activity of 1,3,4 thiadiazoles and 1,2,4 triazoles was tested on gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. The triazole compound was chosen to be immobilized onto polymeric particles by adsorption. The Langmuir, Freundlich, and Dubinin–Radushkevich adsorption isotherm were used to describe the adsorption equilibrium. Also, the pseudo-first and pseudo-second models were used to elucidate the adsorption mechanism of triazole onto grafted copolymer based on N-vinylimidazole and gellan (PG copolymer) and grafted copolymers carrying betaine units (PGB1 copolymer). In vitro release studies have shown that the release mechanism of triazole from PG and PGB1 copolymers is characteristic of an anomalous transport mechanism.

Behaviour of PLA/POSS nanocomposites: Effects of filler content, functional group and copolymer compatibilization

The main purpose of this study was to investigate influences of three parameters on the mechanical and thermal properties of the polylactide (PLA) matrix nanocomposites filled with polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) particles. For the first parameter of “Filler Content”, nanocomposites with 1, 3, 5, 7 wt% basic POSS structure were compared. For the second parameter of “Functional Group,” basic POSS structure having only nonpolar isobutyl groups were compared with three other functionalized POSS structures; i.e. aminopropylisobutyl-POSS (ap-POSS), propanediolisobutyl-POSS (pd-POSS) and octasilane-POSS (os-POSS). Finally, for the third parameter of “Copolymer Compatibilization,” all specimens were compared before and after their maleic anhydride (MA) grafted copolymer compatibilization. Specimens were produced with twin-screw extruder melt mixing and shaped under compression molding. Various tests and analyses indicated that the optimum filler content for the improved mechanical properties was 1 wt%; while the optimum structure for strength and modulus was pd-POSS structure, in terms of fracture toughness it was basic POSS structure. Additional use of MA compatibilization was especially effective for the basic POSS and os-POSS particles.

Thermodeformation properties of dynamically volcanized thermoplastic elastomers based on random polypropylene and nitrile butadiene rubber

The paper presents the results of a study of the thermodefomational characteristics of dynamically vulcanized thermoplastic elastomers based on random polypropylene and nitrile butadiene rubber (SKN). In order to improve the compatibility of polymer mixtures, Exxelor PO1200, a grafted copolymer of polypropylene with maleic anhydride, was used as a compatibilizer. The concentration of maleic anhydride in the composition of the grafted copolymer was 3.0 wt. %. It was shown that as a result of the loading of the compatibilizer, it seemed possible to improve the compatibility of bipolar mixtures, in which there was no separation between the components of the mixture. It was found that with the load of 30 wt. % SKN-18, as well as 40 wt. % SKN-26 or SKN-40 into the composition of random polypropylene, the polymer composition exhibits the properties of thermoplastic elastomers, as a result of which plastic deformation is replaced by a highly elastic characteristic for rubbers. The temperature regions of the solid, highly elastic, and viscous flowing states are determined. In order to give polymer blends greater elasticity, they were vulcanized using crosslinking agents such as dicumyl peroxide and sulfur. It is shown how, in the process of increasing the concentration of dicumyl peroxide from 0.25 to 1.0 wt. %, the thermomechanical properties of dynamically vulcanized thermoplastic elastomers significantly change. It was found that with the introduction of dicumyl peroxide in an amount equal to 1.0 wt. %, the melt flowability of vulcanized materials almost completely lose their ability to flow, and pass from a highly elastic state to a glassy one. With the load of sulfur in an amount of 1.0 to 10 wt. %, the melt flowability of the vulcanized thermoplastic elastomers is preserved.