1. Investigations of styrene polymerized in wood using ionizing radiation as the chain initiator indicate that property improvements are of the same order as for thermally initiated polymerization. 2. Free radicals have been detected in irradiated cellulose, Dioxane lignin, Spruce Periodate lignin and Beaun’s “Isolated Native Lignin” as well as in wood subjected to radiation. Consequently, wood radical identification is not possible. 3. Analysis of radical concentrations and decay suggest the presence of one or more decaying radical species in irradiated wood. The persistent maximum in radical concentration found corresponds to one or two unique radical sites per molecule; possibly the terminal hydroxyl group. 4. Results suggest that in the grafting reaction the initiation is a direct radical-monomer couple and does not involve decomposing peroxides. / Thesis / Master of Engineering (ME)

Commercially available 4,4′-dichlorodiphenylsulfone (DCDPS) was successfully disulfonated with fuming sulfuric acid to yield 3,3′-disodiumsulfonyl-4,4′-dichlorodiphenylsulfone (SDCDPS). Subsequently, DCDPS and SDCDPS were systematically reacted with 4,4′-biphenol under nucleophilic step polymerization conditions to generate a series of high molecular weight, film-forming, ductile, ion conducting copolymers. These were converted to the acid form and investigated as proton exchange membranes for fuel cells. Hydrophilicity increased with the level of sulfonation. However, water sorption increased gradually until about 50 mole percent SDCDPS was incorporated, and thereafter showed a large increase to yield water soluble materials for the 100% SDCDPS system. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) confirmed that the morphology of the copolymers displayed continuity of the hydrophilic phase at 60 mole percent SDCDPS. Conductivity measurements in the 40-50 mole percent SDCDPS range, where excellent mechanical strength was maintained, produced values of 0.1 S/cm or higher which were comparable to the control, Nafion™. These compositions also show a high degree of compatibility with heteropolyacids such as phosphotungstic acid. These inorganic compounds provide a promising mechanism for obtaining conductivity at temperatures well above the boiling point of water and membrane compositions containing them are being actively pursued. The water soluble 100% SDCDPS system was further investigated by successfully functionalizing the endgroups to afford aromatic amines via appropriate endcapping with m-aminophenol. Oligomers and polymers from 5-30 kg/mole number average molecular weight were synthesized and well characterized by NMR spectroscopy, endgroup titrations and size exclusion chromatography. The diamino-telechelic sulfonated segment was reacted with several dianhydrides and diamines to produce multiblock, hydrophobic polyimide-hydrophilic sulfonated polyarylene ether copolymers. Both ester-acid and amic acid synthesis routes were utilized in combination with spin-casting and bulk imidization. A series of tough, film-forming segmented copolymers was prepared and characterized. AFM measurements demonstrated the generation of quite well defined, nanophase-separated morphologies which were dependent upon composition as well as aging in a humid environment. Characterizations of the segmented copolymers for conductivity, and water and methanol sorption were performed and comparisons to state-of-the-art perfluorinated Nafion™ systems were made. It is concluded that the segmented or block systems have the potential to enhance certain desirable PEM characteristics in fuel cells, particularly those related to swelling, retention of mechanical strength at elevated temperatures, and critical adhesion issues in membrane electrode assemblies. / Ph. D.

Dynamic modelling and optimization of three different processes namely (a) bulk polymerization of styrene, (b) solution polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and (c) emulsion copolymerization of Styrene and MMA in batch and semi-batch reactors are the focus of this work. In this work, models are presented as sets of differential-algebraic equations describing the process. Different optimization problems such as (a) maximum conversion (Xn), (b) maximum number average molecular weight (Mn) and (c) minimum time to achieve the desired polymer molecular properties (defined as pre-specified values of monomer conversion and number average molecular weight) are formulated. Reactor temperature, jacket temperature, initial initiator concentration, monomer feed rate, initiator feed rate and surfactant feed rate are used as optimization variables in the optimization formulations. The dynamic optimization problems were converted into nonlinear programming problem using the CVP techniques which were solved using efficient SQP (Successive Quadratic Programming) method available within the gPROMS (general PROcess Modelling System) software. The process model used for bulk polystyrene polymerization in batch reactors, using 2, 2 azobisisobutyronitrile catalyst (AIBN) as initiator was improved by including the gel and glass effects. The results obtained from this work when compared with the previous study by other researcher which disregarded the gel and glass effect in their study which show that the batch time operation are significantly reduced while the amount of the initial initiator concentration required increases. Also, the termination rate constant decreases as the concentration of the mixture increases, resulting rapid monomer conversion. The process model used for solution polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) in batch reactors, using AIBN as the initiator and Toluene as the solvent was improved by including the free volume theory to calculate the initiator efficiency, f. The effects of different f was examined and compared with previous work which used a constant value of f 0.53. The results of these studies show that initiator efficiency, f is not constant but decreases with the increase of monomer conversion along the process. The determination of optimal control trajectories for emulsion copolymerization of Styrene and MMA with the objective of maximizing the number average molecular weight (Mn) and overall conversion (Xn) were carried out in batch and semi-batch reactors. The initiator used in this work is Persulfate K2S2O8 and the surfactant is Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate (SDS). Reduction of the pre-batch time increases the Mn but decreases the conversion (Xn). The sooner the addition of monomer into the reactor, the earlier the growth of the polymer chain leading to higher Mn. Besides that, Mn also can be increased by decreasing the initial initiator concentration (Ci0). Less oligomeric radicals will be produced with low Ci0, leading to reduced polymerization loci thus lowering the overall conversion. On the other hand, increases of reaction temperature (Tr) will decrease the Mn since transfer coefficient is increased at higher Tr leading to increase of the monomeric radicals resulting in an increase in termination reaction.

L’utilisation de carbènes N-hétérocycliques (NHCs), en tant qu’activateurs organiques « multitâches », a permis la polymérisation de deux classes de monomères : les monomères vinyliques de type (méth)acrylique et les monomères cycliques de type époxyde. En particulier, la polymérisation par transfert de groupe (GTP) catalysée par les NHCs a été utilisée pour polymériser les monomères acryliques et méthacryliques, dans des solvants polaires comme apolaires, en présence d’un amorceur de type acétal de cétène silylé. Sur cette base des copolymères à blocs « tout-acrylique » ont été synthétisés. Dans une autre étude, la polymérisation par ouverture de cycle (ROP) des oxydes d’éthylène et de propylène a été induite par les NHCs. Dans un premier cas, les NHCs ont été utilisés comme amorceurs de la réaction. Puis, en employant un amorceur tiers, ils ont servi de catalyseurs de la ROP. Des poly(oxyde d’éthylène) et poly(oxyde de propylène) hétérodifonctionnels ont été synthétisés. Enfin, une dernière approche a permis de concilier les deux méthodes de polymérisation. A l’aide d’un système unique d’amorçage, la copolymérisation séquentielle d’un monomère vinylique polaire et d’un monomère cyclique a pu être réalisée. / The use of N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) as multitask organic activators has enabled the polymerization of two classes of monomers: polar vinylic monomers like (meth)acrylics, and cyclic epoxides. In particular, the NHC-catalyzed group transfer polymerization (GTP) has been used to polymerize both acrylic and methacrylic monomers, either in polar or apolar solvents, in the presence of a silyl ketene acetal as initiator. On this basis, “all-acrylic” block copolymers have been synthesized. In another study, the ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of ethylene and propylene oxides was induced by NHCs. In one case, NHCs have been used as initiators of the reaction. On the other hand, using a third compound, they have served as catalysts for the ROP. Heterobifonctional poly(ethylene oxide)s and poly(propylene oxide)s have been synthesized. A final approach has brought together the two polymerization methods. Using a single initiating system, the sequential copolymerization of a polar vinylic monomer and a cyclic monomer has been achieved.

Cette thèse se concentre principalement sur l'activation du CO2 dans les polymérisations radicalaires et catalytiques des oléfines. Le polyéthylène a tout d'abord été synthétisé par un procédé de polymérisation radicalaire dans du CO2 supercritique (scCO2) dans des conditions douces (T? 100 °C, P? 300 bar) sans ajout de solvant organique pour solubiliser l'amorçeur. Nous avons utilisé l'AIBN, le peroxyde de lauryle ou le peroxyde de benzoyle pour étudier différents modes d'amorçage. La décarboxylation de ce dernier peut être supprimée dans le scCO2 et conduit à la formation de polyéthylène fonctionnalisé par des groupements esters. En outre, une interaction entre le triéthylaluminium (AlEt3) et les radicaux a été dévoilée, l'effet d'AlEt3 sur la polymérisation radicalaire de l'éthylène a été étudié, révélant son rôle d'agent de transfert de chaîne irréversible dans ce processus. Cette interaction, en combinaison avec celle d'AlEt3 avec le CO2 ont été exploitées pour permettre l'incorporation de CO2 dans les chaînes de polymère. Ainsi, si le motif CO2 est présent dans les chaînes de polyéthylène en utilisant AlEt3, le CO2 est bien pour la première fois un réactif efficace dans la polymérisation radicalaire de l'éthylène. D'autre part, des copolymérisations aléatoires et séquencées d'éthylène-isoprène par des procédés de transferts de chaînes à l'Aluminium catalysés par des complexes de fer ont été réalisées. Ensuite, chaque monomère a été polymérisé indépendamment dans du CO2 supercritique en utilisant le catalyseur de fer optimal lui correspondant afin d'obtenir des procédés plus écologiques pour la polymérisation de ces monomères dont le but ultime sera l'incorporation de motifs carboxyliques. Les essais visant à fonctionnaliser le polyéthylène et d'autres polyoléfines avec du CO2 à l'aide de diverses stratégies constituent un domaine d'intérêt majeur pour de futurs développements au sein de notre laboratoire / This thesis focuses primarily on the utilization of CO2 in radical and catalytic polymerizations of a-olefins. Polyethylene was synthesized by a free radical polymerization process in supercritical CO2 (scCO2) under mild conditions (T? 100 °C, P? 300 bar) without addition of any initiator diluent, using AIBN, lauroyl peroxide, or benzoyl peroxide to investigate different initiation modes. The decarboxylation of the latter can be suppressed in scCO2 to yield ester-functionalized polyethylene. Furthermore, an interaction between triethylaluminum (AlEt3) and radicals was unveiled, the effect of AlEt3 on ethylene radical polymerization was investigated showing its role as an irreversible chain-transfer agent in this process. This interaction in conjunction with the reactivity of AlEt3 towards CO2 were harnessed to allow for CO2-incorporation within polyethylene chains. Thus, since CO2 was incorporated within the polyethylene chains using AlEt3, CO2 for the first time behaved as an effective reagent in ethylene radical polymerization. On the other hand, ethylene-isoprene random and block copolymerizations via iron-catalyzed chain shuttling processes have been achieved. Subsequently, each monomer was polymerized in supercritical CO2 using its corresponding dedicated iron catalyst in order to achieve sustainable processes to polymerize these monomers with the hope of incorporating some carboxylic moieties. Trials to functionalize polyolefins by CO2 using various strategies is an area of interest in the upcoming work of our laboratory

Le dibenzoylméthane (DBM) a été étudié comme catalyseur pour la copolymérisation par ouverture de cycle du L-lactide (LA) et du ε-caprolactone (CL) amorcée par des alcools en masse à haute température. Des copolymères présentant des structures gradient à statistique ont été formés. L’étude cinétique a mis en évidence que le DBM est un faible activateur de bout de chaîne et de monomère, l’apparente accélération de la copolymérisation étant due à la formation in situ d’acides carboxyliques catalysant la réaction à leur tour. L’acide benzoïque (BA), un acide carboxylique faible, a ensuite été étudié pour les homopolymérisations par ouverture de cycle du LA et du CL amorcées par des alcools en masse à haute température. L’étude cinétique a mis en évidence un mécanisme bifonctionnel et une différence de réactivité des deux monomères en présence de BA validés par des calculs théoriques. Une gamme de copolymères statistiques présentant différentes compositions ont été synthétisés par copolymérisation par ouverture de cycle du LA et CL catalysé par BA et amorcé par différents alcools en masse à haute température. Finalement, plusieurs catalyseurs organiques ont été testés pour la copolymérisation du LA et CL. / Dibenzoylmethane has been investigated as organocatalyst for the bulk ring-opening copolymerization (ROcP) of L-Lactide (LA) and ε-caprolactone (CL) initiated by alcohols at high temperature. Copolymer presenting a gradient to statistical structure has been generated. Kinetic study has pointed out that DBM is a poor chain end and monomer activator, the apparent acceleration of the ROcP process may be due to the in situ generation of carboxylic acids which can catalyze the reaction as well. Benzoic acid, a weak carboxylic acid, has then been investigated for the efficient bulk ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of LA and CL initiated by various alcohols at high temperature. The kinetic study has pointed out that LA and CL have different reactivity in presence of benzoic acid which acts as a bifunctional activator. The experimental results were supported by computational calculations. An array of statistical copolymer of varying LA/CL compositions have been synthesized by ROcP of LA and CL catalyzed by BA in presence of various alcohol as initiators in bulk at high temperature. Finally, miscellaneous organocatalysts have been tested for the ROcP of LA and CL.

Nesta Dissertação, foram realizadas reações de copolimerização de 1,3-butadieno com diferentes alfa-olefinas (1-hexeno, 1-octeno e 1-dodeceno) utilizando-se um sistema catalítico do tipo Ziegler-Natta ternário constituído por versatato de neodímio, hidreto de diisobutilalumínio e cloreto de t-butila. O sistema catalítico também foi avaliado em reações de homopolimerização com cada alfa-olefina. As condições reacionais, tanto da síntese do catalisador como das reações de polimerização, foram mantidas constantes. Foi estudada a influência de diferentes teores de cada alfa-olefina (1, 3, 5, 10, 20 e 30 % em relação ao 1,3-butadieno) sobre a conversão da polimerização, a microestrutura, a massa molar, as propriedades viscosimétricas e a estabilidade térmica dos polímeros obtidos. Foi avaliada, ainda, a influência do tamanho da cadeia da alfa-olefina sobre as características da polimerização. Os polímeros foram caracterizados por espectroscopia na região do infravermelho (FTIR), cromatografia por exclusão de tamanho (SEC), viscosimetria capilar e termogravimetria (TG). A microestrutura dos polímeros, praticamente, não variou com a adição das alfa-olefinas. A massa molar numérica média (Mn) não sofreu alterações significativas, enquanto que a massa molar ponderal média (Mw) apresentou tendência ao aumento, quanto maior foi a incorporação de comonômero. A viscosidade intrínseca não apresentou uma tendência com a adição da alfa-olefina na reação, permanecendo na faixa de 2,015 a 3,557 dL/g. A estabilidade térmica do copolímero mostrou uma tendência a aumentar com a incorporação das alfa-olefinas / In this work, were performed copolymerization reactions of 1,3-butadiene with different alpha-olefins (1-hexene, 1-octene and 1-dodecene), using a ternary catalytic system of Ziegler-Natta, constituted by neodymium versatate, diisobutylaluminum hydride and t-butyl chloride. The catalytic system was also evaluated in homopolymerization reactions with the alpha-olefins. The reaction conditions, both the catalyst synthesis as the polymerization reactions, were kept constant. The influence of different content of each alpha-olefin (1, 3, 5, 10, 20 and 30% compared to 1,3-butadiene) on the polymerization conversion, the microstructure, molar mass, viscometric properties and thermal stability of polymers was studied. The influence of alpha-olefin chain size on polymerization characteristics was also evaluated. The polymers were characterized by infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), size exclusion chromatography (SEC), capillary viscometry and thermogravimetry (TG). The polymer microstructure, practically, did not change with the addition of alpha-olefins. The number average molecular mass (Mn) has not changed; while the weight average molecular mass (Mw) trended to increase. The intrinsic viscosity did not show a trend with the alpha-olefin addition, remaining in the range from 2.015 to 3.557 dL/g. The copolymer thermal stability showed a tendency to increase with the incorporation of alpha-olefins

Made available in DSpace on 2014-12-17T15:42:03Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 NiveaNM_DISSERT.pdf: 4430545 bytes, checksum: 80673edc56d71303c3e6a5cd7b2b1996 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-07-12 / Coordena??o de Aperfei?oamento de Pessoal de N?vel Superior / The present study describes the stability and rheological behavior of suspensions of poly (N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM), poly (N-isopropylacrylamide)-chitosan (PNIPAMCS), and poly (N-isopropylacrylamide)-chitosan-poly (acrylic acid) (PNIPAM-CS-PAA) crosslinked particles sensitive to pH and temperature. These dual-sensitive materials were simply obtained by one-pot method, via free-radical precipitation copolymerization with potassium persulfate, using N,N -methylenebisacrylamide (MBA) as a crosslinking agent. Incorporation of the precursor materials into the chemical networks was confirmed by elementary analysis and infrared spectroscopy. The influence of external stimuli such as pH and temperature, or both, on particle behavior was investigated through rheological measurements, visual stability tests and analytical centrifugation. The PNIPAM-CS particles showed higher stability in acid and neutral media, whereas PNIPAM-CS-PAA particles were more stable in neutral and alkaline media, both below and above the LCST of poly (Nisopropylacrylamide) (stability data). This is due to different interparticle interactions, as well as those between the particles and the medium (also evidenced by rheological data), which were also influenced by the pH and temperature of the medium. Based on the results obtained, we found that the introduction of pH-sensitive polymers to crosslinked poly (Nisopropylacrylamide) particles not only produced dual-sensitive materials, but allowed particle stability to be adjusted, making phase separation faster or slower, depending on the desired application. Thus, it is possible to adapt the material to different media / Esse estudo descreve a estabilidade e o comportamento reol?gico de suspens?es aquosas de part?culas reticuladas sensitivas de poli (N-isopropilacrilamida) (PNIPAM), poli (N-isopropilacrilamida)-quitosana (PNIPAM-QS) e poli (N-isopropilacrilamida)-quitosanapoli (?cido acr?lico) (PNIPAM-CS-PAA). A obten??o dos materiais foi realizada por polimeriza??o por precipita??o, via radicais livres, utilizando persulfato de pot?ssio como iniciador e N,N -metilenobisacrilamida (MBA) como agente reticulante. A incorpora??o dos precursores nas part?culas reticuladas foi confirmada por an?lise elementar e espectroscopia na regi?o do infravermelho. A influ?ncia de est?mulos externos, como pH, temperatura, ou ambos, no comportamento das part?culas, foi investigado por medidas reol?gicas, estabilidade visual e centrifuga??o anal?tica. As part?culas de PNIPAM-QS apresentaram maior estabilidade em meios ?cido e neutro, enquanto que as part?culas de PNIPAM-QS-PAA foram mais est?veis em meios neutro e alcalino, tanto abaixo quanto acima da LCST da PNIPAM (dados de estabilidade). Isso ocorreu devido ?s diferentes intera??es interpart?culas e entre as part?culas e o meio (tamb?m evidenciadas pelos dados reol?gicos), que foi influenciada pelo pH e temperatura do meio. Baseando-se nos resultados obtidos, observou-se que a introdu??o de pol?meros sens?veis ao pH nas part?culas reticuladas de poli (N-isopropilacrilamida), resultou n?o apenas na s?ntese de copol?meros reticulados com dupla sensibilidade, mas em part?culas pass?veis de ajuste de estabilidade, ou seja, que podem sofrer separa??o de fases mais ou menos r?pida, dependendo da aplica??o desejada. Dessa forma, ? poss?vel adaptar as part?culas sintetizadas aos mais diversos meios

Um modelo matemático da reação de copolimerização em emulsão de acrilato de butila e estireno em reator batelada e semi-batelada isotérmico foi desenvolvido e apresentou bons resultados quando comparado a experimentos disponíveis em literatura científica. O modelo contemplou a solução do balanço populacional, tanto para a distribuição de tamanho de partículas quando para a distribuição média de radicais por partícula. Contemplou-se também a solução do balanço de momentos, para obtenção da massa molar média numérica e mássica. O problema descrito foi resolvido através da solução numérica de um conjunto de equações algébricodiferenciais e o balanço populacional foi resolvido pelo método dos pivots fixos. Foi possível validar com boa aderência a conversão dos monômeros, o diâmetro médio de partículas, número de partículas por litro de emulsão, número médio de radicais por partícula, a distribuição de tamanho de partículas e a massa molar média numérica e mássica ao longo do tempo para um conjunto de experimentos. / A mathematical model of emulsion copolymerization reaction of styrene and butyl acrylate for batch and semi-batch isothermal reactor was developed and presented good results when compared to experiments available in the scientific literature. The model included the solution of the population balance for both particle size distribution and average number of radicals per particle. The balances of moments of the molecular weight distribution are solved to obtain the weight- and numberaveraged molecular weight of the polymer. The problem described was solved by numerical solution of a set of algebraic-differential equations and the population balance was solved by the method of fixed pivots. The model prediction were validated with a set of experiments with respect to the changes of monomer conversion, average particle diameter, number of particles per liter of emulsion, average number of radicals per particle, particle size distribution, number- and weight-average molecular weight during process time.

Philosophiae Doctor - PhD (Chemistry) / There is growing concern on endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs). The presence of drugs in water supplies was first realized in Germany in the early 1990s when environmental scientists discovered clofibric acid. Clofibric acid has the ability to lower cholesterol in ground water below a water treatment plant. Endocrine disrupting compounds can be defined as those chemicals with the ability to alter daily functioning of the endocrine system in living organisms. There are numerous molecules that are regarded or referred to as EDCs such as but not limited to organochlorinated pesticides, industrial chemicals, plastics and plasticizers, fuels, estrogens and many other chemicals that are found in the environment or are in widespread use. 17?- estradiol is the principal estrogen found in mammals during reproductive years. Estriol is produced in large quantities during pregnancy. 17?-estradiol is the strongest, estriol the weakest. Estriol is water soluble, estrone and estradiol are not. Although estrogen is produced in women they are also at risk of over exposure to estrogen. Pesticides are extensively used today in agricultural settings to prevent and control pests. Various pesticides, including banned organochlorines (OCs) and modern non-persistent pesticides, have shown the ability to disrupt thyroid activity, disturbing the homeostasis of the thyroid system. Because these EDCs have adverse effects on health of both human and wildlife, it is imperative to develop viable costeffective analytical methods for the detection of these EDCs in complicated samples and at very low concentrations. Very high selectivity towards particular compounds is a very important property for the suitability of a detection method. This is because these compounds mostly coexist in complex matrices which makes the detection of a specific compound very challenging. It is paramount to develop highly sensitive and selective methods for the detection of these estrogens and phosphoric acid-based pesticides at trace levels. / 2021-08-31