Polymer Journal
Vol. 38, No. 12 (December, 2006)

[Award Accounts: SPSJ Award (2005)] Web Release Date: November 10, 2006

1211-1219 Polyelectrolyte Gels-Fundamentals and Applications  H. J. Kwon, Y. Osada, and J. P. Gong [Full Text PDF(J-STAGE)]

This paper presents fundamental aspects, properties and applications of negatively charged polyelectrolyte gels, focusing on the electrical properties of polyelectrolyte gels, diffusion of proteins in polyelectrolyte gels, interaction between polyelectrolyte gels and oppositely charged molecules, mechanical strength of polyelectrolyte based gels. The properties of polyelectrolyte gels are shown to have considerable potential for practical applications, such as soft and wet scaffolds of cells, soft actuators and replacement of biological tissues.

[Regular Article] Web Release Date: October 26, 2006

1220-1229 Gelation in Multiple Link System of the R–Ag+R–Bf−g Model: To Find a Neat Solution for Cyclic Concentration  K. Suematsu [Full Text PDF(J-STAGE)]

A neat solution is given for the concentration of cyclic species in the multilink system of the R–Ag+R–Bf−g model; the mathematics is identical with the preceding finding, but the expression is greatly simplified. Making use of this result, we derive the closed form of the gel point for this new gelling system, the result showing that the critical dilution occurs abruptly, in direct contrast to the sudden appearance of a macroscopic gel molecule.

[Regular Article] Web Release Date: October 26, 2006

1230-1236 Novel Synthesis of Surface-Block Dendrimer Using [4+4] Photocycloaddition of Anthryl Dendrons  Y. Yanagimoto, Y. Takaguchi, and S. Tuboi [Full Text PDF(J-STAGE)]

Novel surface-block dendrimer was obtained by the use of [4+4] photocycloaddition of two different anthracnenes bearing a newly designed dendritic substituent to afford a hetero-dimer.

[Regular Article] Web Release Date: November 2, 2006

1237-1244 Photocrosslinking System Using Highly-Functionalized Epoxy Crosslinkers Having Degradable Property  H. Okamura, K. Shin, and M. Shirai [Full Text PDF(J-STAGE)]

Multifunctional crosslinkers having two, three, four and six functionalities were synthesized using a convergent method and were applied to a photocrosslinking system having thermally degradable properties. When the blended films of epoxides/poly(p-vinylphenol) with a photoacid generator were irradiated and followed by baking at relatively lower temperatures (<100 °C), the films became insoluble in solvents. Insoluble fraction of the blended films increased with the numbers of the epoxy unit of a molecule. The crosslinked films became soluble after prolonged bake at relatively higher temperatures (>120 °C).

[Regular Article] Web Release Date: November 2, 2006

1245-1250 Preparation of Poly (n-butyl acrylates) Encapsulated Carbon Black via Ultrasonic Irradiation Initiating Emulsion Polymerization  Q. Li, G. Wu, X. Zhang, and C. Wu [Full Text PDF(J-STAGE)]

By employing the dispersion, crushing, activation and initiate effect of ultrasonic irradiation, the big agglomerates or aggregates of carbon black are broken down and vinyl monomer proceeds to polymerize in the admicelle formed on the surface of carbon black through the adsorption of the surfactant, which finally formed a polymer encapsulated carbon black with smaller particle size and uniform particle size distribution.

[Regular Article] Web Release Date: November 2, 2006

1251-1257 Isothermal Crystallization Behavior of the Poly(L-lactide) Block in Poly(L-lactide)-Poly(ethylene glycol) Diblock Copolymers: Influence of the PEG Block as a Diluted Solvent  J. Yang, T. Zhao, L. Liu, Y. Zhou, G. Li, E. Zhou, and X. Chen [Full Text PDF(J-STAGE)]

The PLLA homopolymer formed well-defined spherulites that exhibit the classical maltese-cross extinction pattern. The PLLA blocks of PLLA-PEG diblock copolymers could form ring-banded spherulites. The presence of the PEG block as a diluted solvent promoted to form ring-banded spherulites. ((a) LA9, Tc=115 °C, (b) LA15EG5, Tc=120 °C, (c) LA5EG5, Tc=95 °C, (d) LA2.5EG5, Tc=75 °C. The images were obtained at the crystallization temperature)

[Regular Article] Web Release Date: November 2, 2006

1258-1266 Helix-Sense-Selective Radical Polymerization of N-(Triphenylmethyl)methacrylamides and Properties of the Polymers  N. Hoshikawa, C. Yamamoto, Y. Hotta, and Y. Okamoto [Full Text PDF(J-STAGE)]

N-(Triphenylmethyl)methacrylamide (TrMAM) and N-[di(4-butylphenyl)phenymethyl]methacrylamide (DBuTrMAM) were polymerized using a radical initiator. The polymers obtained at low temperature had nearly a 100% isotacticity. The polymers were dissolved in conc. H2SO4 accompanied by cleavage of the side groups to give poly(methacrylamide) (poly(MAM)). The poly(MAM) with a 100% isotacticity showed a crystallinity. The poly(DBuTrMAM) formed a lyotropic crystalline phase in chloroform. The poly(TrMAM) obtained in the presence of various chiral additives had a prevailing helicity. The optically active poly(TrMAM) exhibited a low chiral recognition.

[Regular Article] Web Release Date: November 10, 2006

1267-1277 Wormlike Micelles of Binary Polyoxyethylene Alkyl Ether Mixtures C10E6 + C14E6 and C14E8 + C14E6  Y. Einaga, Y. Kito, and M. Watanabe [Full Text PDF(J-STAGE)]

Phase separation temparatures of the micellar solutions of the binary polyoxyethylene alkyl ether mixtures C10E6 + C14E6 and C14E8 + C14E6 are progressively decreased with increasing C14E6 component in the respective mixtures, accompanying with growth in micellar length Lw.

[Note] Web Release Date: November 16, 2006

1278-1282 Synthesis and Properties of Organosoluble Poly(phenylenemethylene)s from Substituted Benzenes or Naphthalenes  T. Nemoto, T. Ueno, M. Nishi, D. Shin, Y. Nakamoto, and G. Konishi [Full Text PDF(J-STAGE)]

The preparation of an organnosoluble poly(phenylenemethylene) based on substiuted benzenes or naphthalenes via addition-condensation in solution is described. The acid-catalyzed polycondensation of 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene with formaldehyde afforded the novolac-type polymer (phenylene-methylene backbone) in a high yield. The resulting polymer was soluble in chloroform and THF. From the GPC analysis, the number average molecular weight was 3,200. In a dilute solution, the polymer exhibited a spherical structure. The obtained polymer has significant characteristics as a polymer composite and a precursor of a thermosetting resin.

[Short Communication] Web Release Date: November 2, 2006

1283-1287 Surface Initiated Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization of N-Hydroxysuccinimide Methacrylate from Magnetite Surface as Precursor for Functional Polymer Shell  S. Parvin, E. Sato, J. Matsui, and T. Miyashita [Full Text PDF(J-STAGE)]

We describe here a surface coating method of magnetite nanoparticles (Fe3O4) using surface initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). The polymer shell prepared by a graft polymerization of poly(N-hydroxysuccinimide methacrylate) (pSucMA) chains on the magnetite nanoparticles surface can act as a reactive shell to react with various functional amine derivatives. To demonstrate the reactivity of pSucMA, the covered pSucMA were reacted with tetradecylamine to convert pSucMA to polytetradecylmethacrylamide.

[Short Communication] Web Release Date: November 2, 2006

1288-1291 Synthesis and Polymerization of Novel (S)-N-Maleoyl-L-leucine Propargyl Ester  H. Gao, Y. Isobe, K. Onimura, and T. Oishi [Full Text PDF(J-STAGE)]

(S)-N-Maleoyl-L-leucine propargyl ester ((S)-PLMI), a kind of N-substituted maleimide (RMI), was synthesized newly from maleic anhydride, L-leucine, and propargyl alcohol. Optically active poly((S)-PLMI)s were obtained by anionic, radical, and transition-metal-catalyzed polymerizations using organometal/chiral ligand complexes, 2,2′-azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN), and (bicyclo[2,2,1]hepta-2,5-diene) chloro rhodium (I) dimer ([Rh(nbd)Cl]2), respectively. Chemoselectivity in the polymerization of (S)-PLMI under various reaction conditions were discussed.