Computer Simulation of Substituted Polyacatylenes
Abstract
A wide variety of substituted polyacetylenes has been synthesized in recent years. Polyacetylene itself is a semiconductor with omega values as high as 10(-4) Scm(-1) for oriented films; when doped, polyacetylene is a conductor. The conjugated chain has a planar conformation. The substituted polymers are primarily insulators, however; the interaction of large substituted groups forces the chain in a non-planar conformation. Poly(1-(trimethylsilyl)-1- propyne), (PTMSP), has been found to be of particular interest, due to its large permeability to gases. The O2 permeability of PTMSP, for example, is an order of magnitude higher than that of polydimethyisiloxane. PTMSP is an amorphous polymer highly soluble in common organic solvents, and is oxidatively stable. Values of Mw higher than 10(6) have been achieved. Viscosity studies indicate PTMSP has an expanded structure. It is predicted that a given chain's twisted conformation will be maintained even in solution; the barriers for rotation about backbone bonds should prevent a change in conformation. (JES)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 1990
- Accession Number
- ADA226328
Entities
People
- S. B. Clough
- S. Tipathy
- X. F. Sun