In the project, our purpose is the synthesis of segmented block copolymers using novel selectively reacting bi-functional coupling agents which have recently been developed by Jakisch at al. Both couplers have one oxazoline group that reacts with carboxylic groups and one oxazinone group that reacts with hydroxyl or amino groups. It was intended to synthesize segmented block copolymers by combination of amino or hydroxyl terminated pre-polymers and carboxylic terminated chain extenders using the above mentioned coupling agents. Several prepolymers were selected such as hydroxyl terminated liquid polybutadiene (PBD-OH), hydroxyl terminated liquid natural rubber (LNR) and amino terminated liquid polybutadiene-b-acrylonitrile (PBAN) and poly(propylene glycol)-bis(2-aminopropylether) (PPO). They were selected as soft polymer segments in the segmented block copolymers aimed for. Additionally, various di-carboxylic acids were chosen as chain extenders. The resulting block copolymers are phase separated materials with a crystalline hard phase. This was demonstrated by two glass transition temperatures corresponding to the soft and hard segments and various melting regions of the hard chain extenders. For these new materials, the controlled phase separation morphology in nano-size was evidenced by TEM. A hard domain size of about 2-5 nm surrounded by a soft matrix was observed on the micro-photographs. This is consistent with the low hard segment content and the segment alternation (A-B)n in multi-block copolymers. With respect to the mechanical properties, a relationship between tensile strength and the average molar mass of the block copolymers was found out. The samples behave as rubber-like thermoplastic materials. The tensile properties depend on the degree of polymerization and the polymer distribution. The reinforcement ability of the hard domains in a physical network was achieved as expected. As a consequence, the obtained final products have mechanical properties like a typical elastomeric material.

Dans un contexte de miniaturisation à l’extrème des composants électroniques, les copolymères àblocs apportent une réponse technologique alternative aux procédés conventionnels destructuration des matériaux par lithographie. Parmi les défis à relever, l’obtention de systèmes decopolymères suffisamment résolus demeure un élément essentiel pour que cette technique puisseoffrir une réelle alternative pour la lithographie sub-20 nm. Nous montrons au travers del’exemple du maltoheptaose-b-polystyène (MH-b-PS) que les copolymères biosourcés ont lacapacité d’atteindre une résolution sub-10 nm grâce à l’association d’un bloc hydrophile(l’oligosaccharide) et d’un bloc hydrophobe (le polystyrène). Les études par AFM, SAXS etGISAXS réalisées sur les films de MH-b-PS ont permis de montrer que le recuit sous vapeur desolvant est plus efficace que le recuit thermique pour organiser ce type de copolymère, composéd’un bloc sensible à la dégradation thermique. Ensuite, une étude inédite du recuit sous vapeur desolvant par QCM-D (Micro-balance à quartz avec mesure de dissipation) a été présentée et adémontré la capacité de cette technique à caractériser la quantité de solvant absorbée par le filmau cours du traitement ainsi que l’évolution de la viscoélasticité du film permettant ainsi d’obtenirdes informations indispensables à la compréhension du mode d’action du recuit sous vapeur desolvant. Finalement, l’étude en solution de ce copolymère ainsi que l’impact de la longueur deschaines des deux blocs sur la morphologie des films auto-organisés permettra de mieuxcomprendre à l’échelle de la chaine de polymère le comportement spécifique du MH-b-PS. / The constant desire of size reduction in nanoelectronic leads to develop processes, able to patternmaterials at the sub-10 nm scale. In this context, self-assembling block copolymers are promisingmaterials offering an alternative method to conventional lithography techniques. Currently, one ofthe major challenges in this field is to find copolymers that could address sub-10 nm pattern sizein order to provide a competitive process. In this thesis, we studied the maltoheptaose-bpolystyrene(MH-b-PS) and we showed that these kinds of sugar-based copolymers are able toself-assemble on a sub-10 nm scale thanks to the combination of a hydrophilic block (sugar) and ahydrophobic block (polystyrene). The AFM, SAXS and GISAXS studies realized on the MH-b-PS films showed that for this kind of copolymer whose one of the block is easily degraded withtemperature, the solvent annealing is more efficient than the thermal annealing to self-assemblethe copolymer. Then, an original study of the solvent annealing by QCM-D (Quartz crystalmicrobalance with dissipation monitoring) evidenced that this technique is able to characterize theviscoelasticity of the film and the amount of solvent absorbed by the copolymer during the solventtreatment. These useful measurements allowed to improve our understanding of the poorly knownsolvent annealing mechanism. To finish, we performed a study of the copolymer in solution and astudy of the impact of the chain length on the morphology of the film and were able to highlightthe specific behavior of this copolymer at the level of the polymer chain.

Este trabalho apresenta um estudo sobre a síntese e propriedades do copolímero poli(l,l-lactídeo-stat-e-caprolactona)-bloco-poli(óxido de etileno)-bloco-poli(l,l-lactideostat-e-caprolactona). Poli(óxido de etileno) de massa molar 20.000 u.m.a. e poli(óxido de etileno) modificado, preparado a partir de poli(glicol etilênico) de massa molar 4.000 u.m.a., foram selecionados para o processo da síntese. A reação foi feita pela polimerização por abertura de anel em massa a 120ºC usando octoanato de estanho como iniciador. A composição química de cada amostra foi determinada com auxílio de RMN-1H e RMN-13C e suas propriedades mecânicas foram verificadas e comparadas utilizando análises térmicas como DMTA, DSC, TG e a aplicação da MEV como análise complementar. A observação pelas fotos de MOLP permitiu a visualização do comportamento de nucleação dos copolímeros e as características de sua cristalinidade. Seu grau de cristalinidade e as fases cristalinas foram identificados por difração de raios X (WAXS). A biocompatibilidade do material também foi examinada pela cultura de células. Os resultados de caracterização indicam o sucesso da copolimerização, as propriedades elastoméricas e, sua não citotoxidade comprovaram a possibilidade do uso destes copolímeros como biomateriais. Contudo, o tempo prolongado de reação e baixa incorporação do monômero lactídeo ainda são questões a serem melhoradas para a viabilização do copolímero como material de implante na área biomédica. / This work includes the study of the synthesis and characterization of the copolymer poly(l,l-lactide-stat-e-caprolactone)-b-PEG-b-poly(l,l-lactide-stat-e-caprolactone). Poly (ethylene oxide) with molar weight 20.000 and poly(ethylene oxide) modified, prepared from poly(ethylene oxide) with molar weight 4000 have been selected for this synthesis process. The reaction was done by ring-opening bulk polymerization, using stannous octoate as initiator at 120ºC. The chemical composition of samples were determined by 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR and their mechanical properties were verified using thermal analyses like DMTA, DSC and TG. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was applied as a complementary analysis. The pictures of polarizing optical microscopy showed us the copolymer\'s nucleation behaviors and their respective crystallization. The degrees of crystallinity and phase of copolymers were determined by WAXS. The biocompatibility of the copolymer was examined by cell cultivation test. The result of these analyses above indicated the success of synthesis. Their rubbery properties and non-toxicity allowed their application as biomaterial. However, the long reaction time and low incorporation of monomer of lactide might to be improved to increase its potential use in biomedical area in the future.

The research goal of this work was dedicated to improvement of the properties and enhancement of the application potential of commodity polymer based on polyolefins by choosing different synthesis routes to create new structures and materials. More precisely, the presented study explores different aspects of metallocene and post-metallocene catalyzed olefin polymerization leading to synthesis of novel copolymers and nanocomposites. The first part of this thesis deals with controlled polymerization of α-olefins catalyzed by post-metallocenes. Bis(phenoxyamine) zirconium complexes with [ONNO]-type ligands bearing cumyl (bPA-c) and 1-adamantyl (bPA-a) ortho-substituents were applied. For the polymerization catalyzed by bPA catalyst quasi-living kinetic character is proposed. The bPA catalyst was applied for synthesis of block copolymers by employing the strategy of sequential monomer addition. The blocky structure of the copolymer was successfully achieved and confirmed by NMR techniques. Moreover, the monomodal distribution of molar mass in SEC chromatogram confirmed the absence of homopolymers. In the second part of the work new defined comb-like copolymers (CLC) having a poly(10-undecene-1-ol) (PUol) backbone and densely grafted poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) side chains are presented. These copolymers were synthesized in two steps by means of metallocene polymerization followed by ring opening polymerization. Copolymers with varied and adjustable graft length (PCL segments) were synthesized. It was proved that the melting and crystallization temperatures of the CLC correlate with the PCL side chain length, i.e. longer chains result in higher Tm and Tc,o values. The melting enthalpy was found to be asymptotically dependent on the length of PCL side chains. The bulk morphology of the comb-like copolymers is proposed to be lamellar as judged from the TEM micrographs. The third part of the thesis is focused on the synthesis of polypropylene nanocomposites via in situ polymerization. Thereby, organomodified aluminumphosphate with kanemite-type layered structure (AlPO-kan) has been used as novel filler. Melt compounding composites were prepared for comparison purposes to evaluate the influence of in situ synthesis on the dispersion quality of the filler in polymer matrix. Melt compounding of neat AlPO-kan with PP did not lead to formation of nanocomposites. TEM images show macro-composites with the lamellar solid remaining agglomerated. On the contrary, in situ polymerization of propene yielded materials with exfoliated nanocomposite morphology. In XRD, diffractions of the AlPO-kan pilling of layers are not detectable. It can be concluded that the primary existing layers are delaminated. Very fine distribution of the filler in the polypropylene matrix has been impressively demonstrated by TEM.

Thin membranes with dense periodic arrays of nanoscopic voids were fabricated using the principles of supramolecular assembly and self-organization in polymers. Such nanoporous membranes can be used as templates for synthesis and patterning of various organic and inorganic materials. In this thesis 4-vinylpyridine fragments of polystyrene-block-poly(4-vinylpyridine) (PS-PVP) were associated with the molecules of two different low molar mass additives, 2-(4'-hydroxybenzeneazo)benzoic acid (HABA) and 3-n-pentadecyl phenol (PDP), via hydrogen bonds. The choice of an additive and a solvent is a key factor which influences the morphologies of the PS-PVP+HABA associates (supramolecular assemblies) in thin films. The reversible association via hydrogen bonds allows the amphiphilic molecules of PDP to phase segregate on the free air interface. Unlike, the molecules of HABA remain associated within cylindrical and lamellar domains formed by the PVP block. A solvent used for film deposition influences the orientation of PVP+HABA domains with respect to the confining interfaces. The films deposited from 1,4-dioxane – a good solvent for PS and a bad one for PVP+HABA – demonstrated the perpendicular orientation of PVP+HABA domains. Meanwhile, the preparation of films from a chloroform solution – a good solvent for both PS and PVP+HABA – led to the parallel alignment. The orientation was independent on the film thickness (within the studied range of 20–100 nm) and insensitive to the chemical nature of a substrate. The orientation of the domains was shown to switch upon exposure to vapors of the above mentioned solvents from the parallel to perpendicular orientation and vice versa. Moreover, the swelling of the films in solvent vapors resulted in the significant improvement of the domain ordering. Extraction of HABA with selective solvent transformed of PVP+HABA domains into channels with reactive PVP chains on the walls. The resulted membranes with the perpendicular oriented channels (the diameter about 8 nm, the inter-channel distance 24 nm) were used as a template for the creation of ordered arrays of nanodots from nickel, chromium and gold.

In the project, our purpose is the synthesis of segmented block copolymers using novel selectively reacting bi-functional coupling agents which have recently been developed by Jakisch at al. Both couplers have one oxazoline group that reacts with carboxylic groups and one oxazinone group that reacts with hydroxyl or amino groups. It was intended to synthesize segmented block copolymers by combination of amino or hydroxyl terminated pre-polymers and carboxylic terminated chain extenders using the above mentioned coupling agents. Several prepolymers were selected such as hydroxyl terminated liquid polybutadiene (PBD-OH), hydroxyl terminated liquid natural rubber (LNR) and amino terminated liquid polybutadiene-b-acrylonitrile (PBAN) and poly(propylene glycol)-bis(2-aminopropylether) (PPO). They were selected as soft polymer segments in the segmented block copolymers aimed for. Additionally, various di-carboxylic acids were chosen as chain extenders. The resulting block copolymers are phase separated materials with a crystalline hard phase. This was demonstrated by two glass transition temperatures corresponding to the soft and hard segments and various melting regions of the hard chain extenders. For these new materials, the controlled phase separation morphology in nano-size was evidenced by TEM. A hard domain size of about 2-5 nm surrounded by a soft matrix was observed on the micro-photographs. This is consistent with the low hard segment content and the segment alternation (A-B)n in multi-block copolymers. With respect to the mechanical properties, a relationship between tensile strength and the average molar mass of the block copolymers was found out. The samples behave as rubber-like thermoplastic materials. The tensile properties depend on the degree of polymerization and the polymer distribution. The reinforcement ability of the hard domains in a physical network was achieved as expected. As a consequence, the obtained final products have mechanical properties like a typical elastomeric material.

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Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Chemistry / Takashi Ito / This dissertation describes the fabrication and characterization of nanoscale structures in commercially available polymers via multiphoton ablation and bottom-up self assembly techniques. High-resolution surface imaging techniques, such as atomic force microscopy (AFM) and chemical force microscopy (CFM) were used to characterize the physical features and chemical properties, respectively, of these nanoscale structures. Fabrication using both top-down and bottom-up methods affords flexibility in that top-down allows random, user-defined patterning whereas bottom-up self assembly produces truly nanoscale (1-100nm) uniform features. Multiphoton induced laser ablation, a top-down method, was used to produce random sub-micron scale features in films of poly(methylmethacrylate) (PMMA), polystyrene (PS), poly(butylmethacrylate) (PBMA) and poly[2-(3-thienyl)ethyloxy-4-butylsulfonate] (PTEBS). Features with 120-nm lateral resolution were obtained in a PMMA film which was concluded to be the best polymer for use with this method. It was also found that etching resolution was highest for polymers having high glass transition temperatures, low molecular weights and no visible absorption. Bottom-up self assembly of polystyrene-poly (methylmethacrylate) (PS-b-PMMA) diblock copolymer and UV/acetic acid treatment produced nanoscale cylindrical domains supported by a substrate. AFM imaging at the free surface showed metastable vertical PMMA domain orientation on gold substrates. In contrast, horizontal orientation was obtained on oxide-coated silicon regardless of surface roughness and annealing conditions. The horizontal domain orientation on silicon substrates was ideal to probe simultaneously the difference in surface charge and hydrophilicity of the two distinct nanoscale domains of UV/AcOH treated PS-b-PMMA films. CFM on UV/acetic acid etched PS-b-PMMA revealed the presence of –COO- groups which were found to be more abundant inside the etched trenches than on the unetched PS matrix as shown by ferritin adsorption onto etched PS-b-PMMA. Lastly, the PS-b-PMMA was cast as a free-standing monolith at the end of a quartz micropipette. AFM revealed circular PMMA dots at the free surface, indicating alignment parallel to the long axis of capillary. Ion conductance within nanochannels indicated surface –charge governed ion transport at low KCl concentrations and flux of negatively-charged sulphorhodamine dye demonstrated the permselective nature of nanochannels.