Polymer Journal
Vol. 39, No. 11 (November, 2007)

[Special Issues -Synchrotron Radiation and Neutron Beam- Review Article] Web Release Date: September 26, 2007

1085-1097 Quantum Beam Studies on Polymer Crystallization under Flow  T. Kanaya, G. Matsuba, Y. Ogino, N. Takahashi, and K. Nishida [Full Text PDF(J-STAGE)]

We review our recent experiments on polymer crystallization under flow using time-resolved depolarized light scattering (DPLS), small-angle and wide-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS and WAXS) and small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) in a wide spatial scale from 0.1 nm to several tens micrometer. The DPLS and SAXS studies revealed that the shish-kebab formation is governed by a competition between the crystallization rate and the chain relaxation rate. SANS study showed that a long cylindrical object 2 μm in diameter and 12 μm in length was formed from deformed network of ultra-high molecular weight components, which included three shishs (or extended chain crystals) 9 nm in diameter.

[Special Issues -Synchrotron Radiation and Neutron Beam- Regular Article] Web Release Date: August 28, 2007

1098-1104 Synchrotron Small-Angle X-ray Scattering from Polystyrene Polymacromonomers in Toluene  Y. Nakamura, M. Sugiyama, K. Amitani, and T. Norisuye [Full Text PDF(J-STAGE)]

Particle scattering function P(θ) for polystyrene polymacromonomer F15-9 (degrees of polymerization of main and side chains are 106 and 15, respectively) in toluene at 25 °C is displayed in the form of k2P(θ) against k (the magnitude of the scattering vector). Solid, dashed, and dot-dashed lines represent the theoretical curves for the wormlike cylinder with a uniform cross section, the wormlike chain with Gaussian distribution within the cross-sectional plain, and the touched-bead comb with wormlike main and side chains, respectively.

[Special Issues -Synchrotron Radiation and Neutron Beam- Regular Article] Web Release Date: September 14, 2007

1105-1111 A Neutron Reflectivity Study on a Terraced Lamellar Morphology in a Block Copolymer Thin Film  K. Niihara, U. Matsuwaki, N. Torikai, K. Satoh, M. Kamigaito, and H. Jinnai [Full Text PDF(J-STAGE)]

A microphase-separated structure of a poly(deuterated styrene-block-2-vinylpyridine) (dPS-b-P2VP) block copolymer thin film was studied by neutron reflectivity (NR). The dPS-b-P2VP thin film formed a terraced lamellar structure. Based on the structural informations obtained by transmission electron microtomography, a scattering length density profile along the depth direction, b/vTEMT, was evaluated, which was then used as an initial profile in the conventional model fitting method. An excellent best-fit to Rexp was obtained using b/vTEMT, even though the thin film had the terraced structure.

[Special Issues -Synchrotron Radiation and Neutron Beam- Regular Article] Web Release Date: September 26, 2007

1112-1116 Self-Assembling in Polymerization Processes of N-Isopropylacrylamide  M. Takenaka, N. Iwase, S. Nishitsuji, and K. Ito [Full Text PDF(J-STAGE)]

The self-assembling processes during the polymerization of N-Isopropylacrylamide (NIPA) was investigated with time-resolved small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). During the polymerization process at 35.0 °C which is above the cloud point curve of poly-N-Isopropylacrylamide (PNIPA)/water solution, the phase separation occurs simultaneously. The SAXS profile can be well expressed by the sum of Porod law and Ornstein-Zernike form.

[Short Communication] Web Release Date: September 14, 2007

1118-1119 Preparation and Structure of Copper Nanoparticles-polysilane Composite Film  J. Kamada, M. Takahashi, K. Iwata, K. Goto, H. Watanabe, and S. Tamai [Full Text PDF(J-STAGE)]

Poly(phenylhydrogensilane) (PPHS) was found to have an extremely high reductive ability for reducing Cu(OCOCH3). Dipping a thin film of PPHS in an acetonitrile dispersion of a Cu(OCOCH3) under nitrogen at room temperature, Cu(OCOCH3) was reduced to Cu metal and copper nanoparticles-polysilane composite film was obtained.

[Short Communication] Web Release Date: October 2, 2007

1120-1121 Template-Directed Synthesis of Lamellar Polystyrene Nanomaterial  J. J. Guo and X. Y. Li [Full Text PDF(J-STAGE)]

A novel polymer nanomaterial-lamellar polystyrene nanomaterial was prepared by free-radical polymerization in surfactant liquid-crystal template. The thickness of the lamellar polystyrene nanomaterial was uniform and only several nanometers. The plane of lamellar polystyrene nanomaterial was smooth and irregular. Morphology of L-PS strongly depended on the surfactant liquid-crystal template. This research provides a general and versatile technique for preparing novel polymer nanomaterial.

[Regular Article] Web Release Date: September 7, 2007

1122-1127 pH Responsive Aggregation of Imidazolium Cations-Modified Gold Nanoparticles with Poly(acrylic acid) in Aqueous Solution  K. Naka, H. Tanaka, and Y. Chujo [Full Text PDF(J-STAGE)]

The gold nanoparticles were precipitated when PAA (Mw=25000) was added in aqueous solution of which pH was 2.4. The precipitate was redissolved when the solution′s pH dropped below pH 1.9 and rose above pH 5.5. The gold nanoparticles at lower pH (pH<1.9) were well redispersed in aqueous solution and aggregates with a diameter of 115± 21 nm of the gold nanoparticles were formed at above pH 5.5. Effect of molecular weights of PAA was also studied.

[Regular Article] Web Release Date: September 7, 2007

1128-1134 Preparation of Carbon Fiber Fabrics from Phenolic Resin by Electrospray Deposition  K. Suzuki, H. Matsumoto, M. Minagawa, M. Kimura, and A. Tanioka [Full Text PDF(J-STAGE)]

Flexible carbon fiber fabrics of 1.7 μm diameter fiber were prepared by electrospray deposition from phenolic resin/poly(vinyl butyral) and successive curing and carbonization. In the present study, the phenolic resin of thermostable polymer was used for electrospray deposition and successive carbonization. An addition of poly (vinyl butyral) (Mw=110,000) improved the dimensional stability of the as-deposited fabrics. After carbonization of the as-deposited fabrics, the flexible carbon fiber fabrics were obtained.

[Regular Article] Web Release Date: September 7, 2007

1135-1142 Synthesis and Characterization of Novel Trifunctional Fluorine Containing Epoxy Resins Based on 1,1,1-Tris(2,3-epoxypropoxyphenyl)-2,2,2-trifluoroethane  Z. Ge, Z. Tao, J. Liu, L. Fan, and S. Yang [Full Text PDF(J-STAGE)]

A novel trifunctional fluorine containing epoxy, TEF was synthesized and cured with alicyclic anhydride or aromatic diamines to produce the epoxy resins. Experimental investigation indicated that TEF epoxy resins showed higher Tg (210–287 °C, DMA) and improved dielectric properties as well as Low CTE (46.7–59.6 ppm/°C), as comparison with those of commercial BPA ones, which are promising candidates for advanced microelectronic packaging.

[Regular Article] Web Release Date: September 14, 2007

1143-1149 Electrical Properties of Non-Crosslinked Polyethylene/Syndiotactic Polystyrene Composites Filled with Carbon Black  K.-B. Yoon, G. H. Lee, W. Y. Choi, and D. H. Lee [Full Text PDF(J-STAGE)]

Carbon black (CB)-filled high density polyethylene (HDPE)/syndiotactic polystyrene (sPS) composites were prepared by the conventional melt-mixing procedure. The CB particles were preferentially attracted to the sPS droplets which constitute the dispersed phase within the HDPE matrix. The high PTC intensity of CB-filled HDPE composites can be achieved by using a very high melting semicrystalline polymer as one of its component.

[Regular Article] Web Release Date: September 14, 2007

1150-1156 Synthesis of Hyperbranched Polymer with Degree of Branching of Approximately 100% by Polycondensation of 2-(4-Phenoxyphenoxy)fluorenone  S. Kono, W. Sinananwanich, Y. Shibasaki, S. Ando, and M. Ueda [Full Text PDF(J-STAGE)]

An approximately 100% branched hyperbranched polymer was successfully prepared using 2-(4-phenoxyphenoxy)fluorenone as a monomer in acidic medium. The kinetics of the model reaction between 9-fluorenone and anisole was investigated. The polymer obtained was characterized by FT/IR and, 13C NMR spectroscopy, which confirmed that the polymer was an almost 100% branched hyperbranched polymer.

[Regular Article] Web Release Date: September 26, 2007

1157-1166 Formation of Stable Holographic Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystal Grating with High Diffraction Efficiency Assisted by in situ Hydrolysis-Condensation of Trialkoxysilylalkyl Group of Methacrylate Component  Y. H. Cho, G. Suzuki, and Y. Kawakami [Full Text PDF(J-STAGE)]

Combination of low concentration of trimethylolpropane triacrylate and 3-methacryloxypropyltriethoxysilane with urethane function inserted as the spacer together with liquid crystal TL 203, gave polymer dispersed holographic grating with high diffraction efficiency, by the assistance of enhancement of hydrolysis of triethoxysilyl group by moisture. Optimum balance of the formation of polymer matrix by radical polymerization together with cross-linking by hydrolysis condensation seems to be realized.

[Regular Article] Web Release Date: September 26, 2007

1167-1171 A Group Contribution-Based Model to Predict Organic Solvent Diffusivities in Amorphous Rubbery Polymers  H. Lv, B. Wang, and J. Yang [Full Text PDF(J-STAGE)]

A group contribution-based model was developed to predict solvent diffusion coefficients in amorphous rubbery polymers. Since all of the parameters with respect to the polymer can be determined by the group contribution method, this model provides feasibility to correlate the solvent diffusivities with polymer structures, without the knowledge of any diffusion or viscoelastic data. Calculations of solvent diffusion coefficients were generally consistent with the published experimental results over a wide temperature range.

[Regular Article] Web Release Date: September 26, 2007

1172-1176 Electroactive Azo Polyamide Based Oligoaniline: Synthesis and Characterization  L.-B. He, H.-P. Mao, D.-M. Chao, and W.-J. Zhang [Full Text PDF(J-STAGE)]

An alternating copolymer, electroactive azo polyamide was prepared by oxidative coupling polymerization of oligoaniline macromonomer and p-phenylenediamine.

[Regular Article] Web Release Date: September 26, 2007

1177-1184 Synthesis and Swelling/De-swelling Behavior of Core-Shell Type Gel Consisting of Two Different Poly(N-alkylacrylamide) Gel Layers  T. Iizawa, A. Terao, M. Ohuchida, Y. Matsuura, and Y. Onohara [Full Text PDF(J-STAGE)]

The semi-cylindrical core-shell type gel (A) containing a poly(N-n-propylacrylamide) shell layer and poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) core was prepared by cutting the corresponding cylindrical gel into two halves. The semi-cylindrical gel was markedly bent in water at temperatures between the lower critical solution temperatures of both layers, since it was not symmetric with respect to the axis. The deformations among the swelled gel (B), the bent gel (C), and the de-swelled gel (D) occurred reversibly in response to the stepwise temperature changes.

[Regular Article] Web Release Date: October 2, 2007

1185-1192 Synthesis and Characterization of Novel Organosoluble, Thermal Stable and Optically Active Polyesters Derived from 5-(2-Phthalimidiylpropanoylamino)isophthalic Acid  S. Mallakpour and Z. Rafiee [Full Text PDF(J-STAGE)]

5-(2-Phthalimidiylpropanoylamino)isophthalic acid as a novel diacid monomer containing phthalimide and flexible chiral groups was synthesized. A series of novel optically active polyesters (PE)s containing phthalimide group was prepared by reaction of diacid with several aromatic diols via direct polyesterification with tosyl chloride/pyridine/N,N-dimetheylformamide system as a condensing agent. The resulting new polymers were obtained in high yields and inherent viscosities ranging between 0.21 to 0.81 dLg−1. The resulting PEs have good thermal satiability as well as excellent solubility.

[Regular Article] Web Release Date: October 2, 2007

1193-1198 Optical Resolution of Racemic Amino Acids through DNA-Poly(4-vinylbenzyl)trimethylammonium Polyion Complex Membranes  M. Yoshikawa, M. Maruhashi, Y. Iwamoto, and N. Ogata [Full Text PDF(J-STAGE)]

Novel polyion complex membranes were prepared from DNA sodium salt and poly(4-vinylbenzyl)trimethylammonium chloride. Those polyion complexes gave durable membranes. DNA-poly(4-vinylbenzyl)trimethylammonium polyion complex membranes thus obtained transported D-Lys from racemic Lys mixtures. The permselectivity toward D-Lys reached 1.26. It was revealed that chiral separation was expressed mainly by diffusivity selectivity, while L-Lys was incorporated into the polyion complex membrane in preference to the corresponding D-isomer.

[Note] Web Release Date: September 14, 2007

1199-1201 Filtration-Assisted Magnetic Micropatterning of Bacterial Cellulose  T. Kimura, T. Kamioka, and S. Kuga [Full Text PDF(J-STAGE)]

Fibrils of bacterial cellulose floating in the cultivation medium are hardly trapped because most fibrils stay away from the trapping zone (a). On the other hand, the fibrils reach the filter surface upon filtration, where they are trapped because the modulation of the magnetic field is effective in the vicinity of the filter surface (b). Arrows indicate the magnetic field.

[Note] Web Release Date: September 26, 2007

1202-1206 Preparation of Soluble Polypyrrole with -C≡C-p-C6H4-hexyl Side Chains at the N-Position and Its Self-assembling Behavior  R. Yamashita, T. Koizumi, S. Sasaki, and T. Yamamoto [Full Text PDF(J-STAGE)]

A new pyrrole-thiophene copolymer with a -C≡C-p-C6H4-hexyl side chain at the N-position of pyrrole has been prepared. X-ray diffraction and optical data indicate self-assembling behavior of the copolymer.