Extending Morphology Control to Sophisticated Precision Polymer Systems (ARO Polymer Chemistry)
Abstract
Major Goals: 1. Fully understand the chemistry involved in precision aliphatic polysulfone synthesis 2. Apply provisionally patented research to the synthetic work 3. Conduct large scale polymerizations with newly-purchased high vacuum mechanical stirring apparatus 4. Examine material and chemical properties of precision polysulfones in different applications (i.e. fibers and membranes). Accomplishments: Our group continued investigating the synthesis of large-scale high temperature bulk polycondensation of sulfone diene monomers. The catalyst which enables high temperature polycondensation is a derivative of a Hoveyda-Grubbs second generation catalyst, which has been shown to be stable for metathesis reactions up to 200 deg C with limited olefin isomerization events. The result is precision polysulfones which exhibit high melting points (>160 deg C) and sharp crystallization exotherms. Building on work conducted previously, our group further optimized the synthesis of precision polysulfones on a multi-gram scale to prepare high molecular weight polymers (Mw up to 70 kg/mol) on a time scale of hours, not days. Evolution of high molecular weights in short time scales is enabled by the improved mass transfer resulting from mechanical stirring in combination with high vacuum conditions. Initial attempts at spinning fibers from saturated precision polysulfones yielded uniform fibers with modest tensile properties.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 26, 2021
- Accession Number
- AD1184138
Entities
People
- Kenneth B. Wagener
- Sara L. Klossner
Organizations
- University of Florida