Ulrich Decker

Trialkoxysilane grafting onto nanoparticles for the preparation of clear coat polyacrylate systems with excellent scratch performance

Transparent reinforced polyacrylates were prepared using nanosized filler particles with radiation-curable acrylates. To improve embedding of the nanofillers within the acrylate matrix the filler surface was chemically modified. This modification of the silica and alumina nanoparticles was accomplished by trimethoxysilanes having methacryloxypropyl (MEMO), vinyl (VTMO), and n-propyl (PTMO) functionalities. Due to acid catalyzed condensation of organosilanes a polysiloxane shell was formed around the nanoparticles. This shell is bonded to OH groups on the filler surface. The appearance of covalent Si–O–Si–R bonds was clearly shown by multinuclear MAS NMR. MALDI-TOF mass spectroscopy revealed the formation of polysiloxane oligomers with different degrees of condensation. In the work presented, an acrylate-nanocomposite formulation contains up to 35 wt.% nanosized silica covered with polysiloxanes. For MEMO modification, surface-anchored methacryl groups can copolymerize with network acrylates. But also PTMO-modified composite materials exhibit markedly improved properties as compared to the neat acrylate polymer; e.g., an increased modulus and heat resistance, improved scratch and abrasion resistance. This makes polyacrylate nanocomposites a very promising new coating technology for many far reaching technical applications.

Preparation of scratch and abrasion resistant polymeric nanocomposites by monomer grafting onto nanoparticles, 1 FTIR and multi‐nuclear NMR spectroscopy to the characterization of methacryl grafting

Nano-sized silica and alumina particles were used as fillers for polymer reinforcement and scratch resistant coatings. For favorable embedding within the polyacrylate matrix the surface of the fillers was chemically modified by reaction with methacroyloxy (propyl)-trimethoxysilane. The formation of covalent Si(Al)-O-Si-C bonds between functional groups from silane and OH groups on silica and alumina was demonstrated by means of FTIR and MAS NMR spectroscopy. The reactivity of the various surface silanols towards the coupling agent and the yield of surface Si-O-Si bonds were estimated by 29 Si CP MAS NMR data.

REAL-TIME FTIR-ATR SPECTROSCOPY TO STUDY THE KINETICS OF ULTRAFAST PHOTOPOLYMERIZATION REACTIONS INDUCED BY MONOCHROMATIC UV LIGHT

Abstract Real-Time FTIR–ATR spectroscopy was used to study the kinetics of photopolymerization reactions induced by monochromatic UV light. Various photoinitiator systems were tested for their efficiency to start the curing reaction of acrylates on irradiation at 313 or 222 nm. The effect of physical and chemical factors such as photoinitiator concentration, light intensity, temperature, monomer functionality and inertization on kinetic parameters like polymerization rate, induction period and final conversion was studied. The contribution of the postcuring to the final conversion was determined by following the decay of the double bonds during and after irradiation with single or multiple short UV flashes with a duration of 50–200 ms. Finally, some investigations of samples from practical applications such as UV-curable powder coatings, printing inks, and release coatings of silicone acrylates will be reported.

CO2 and SnII Adducts of N-Heterocyclic Carbenes as Delayed-Action Catalysts for Polyurethane Synthesis

Catalytic rivals: Both CO(2)-protected tetrahydropyrimidin-2-ylidene-based N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) and Sn(II)-1,3-dimesitylimidazol-2-ylidene, as well as Sn(II)-1,3-dimesitylimidazolin-2-ylidene complexes (example displayed), have been identified as truly latent catalysts for polyurethane (PUR) synthesis rivaling all existing systems both in activity and latency.A series of CO(2)-protected pyrimidin-2-ylidenes as well as 1,3-dimesitylimidazol-2-ylidene and dimesitylimidazolin-2-ylidene complexes of Sn(II) have been prepared. Selected single-crystal X-ray structures are reported. The new compounds were investigated for their catalytic behavior in polyurethane (PUR) synthesis. All compounds investigated showed excellent catalytic activity, rivaling the industrially most relevant catalyst dibutyltin dilaurate. Even more important, all compounds displayed pronounced latent behavior, in selected cases rivaling and exceeding the industrially relevant latent catalyst phenylmercury neodecanoate both in terms of latency and catalytic activity. This allows for creating one-component PUR systems with improved pot lifetimes. Pseudo-second-order kinetics were found for both CO(2)-protected tetrahyropyrimidin-2-ylidenes and for [SnCl(2)(1,3-dimesityldihydroimidazol-2-ylidene)], indicating a fast pre-catalyst decomposition prior to polyurethane formation. 1,3-Di(2-propyl)tetrahydropyrimidin-2-ylidene was additionally found to be active in the cyclotrimerization of various isocyanates, offering access to a broad variability in polymer structure, that is, creating both urethane and isocyanurate moieties within the same polymer.

Cationic RuII Complexes with N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Ligands for UV‐Induced Ring‐Opening Metathesis Polymerization

Metathesis chemistry and, in the context of polymer chemistry, ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) have gained a strong position in chemistry and materials science. ROMP is strongly associated with two classes of well-defined metal alkylidene based initiators, molybdenumbased Schrock and ruthenium-based Grubbs type initiators. Despite the tremendous achievements in catalyst development, both families of initiators are still experiencing ongoing, vivid development. Most Grubbs type initiators work at room temperature or require only gentle warming to work properly. More recently, an increasing number of reports on latent Ru-based initiators has appeared. Such precatalysts are of particular interest in technical applications of ROMP, since they allow for premixing, that is, the preformulation of a monomer/precatalyst mixture, its storage over a longer period of time even at elevated temperatures (usually less than 45 8C), and, most importantly, the shaping and profiling of such mixtures prior to polymerization (“curing”). Numerous latent Grubbs type initiators have been reported recently; however, all these precatalysts are triggered thermally. By contrast, surface modification and functionalization require UV-triggerable precatalysts. Few such systems have been reported to date. The synthesis of photoactive Schrock type tungsten-based compounds as well as ruthenium and osmium arene compounds of the general formula [Ru(p-cymene)Cl2(PR3)] and [Os(p-cymene)Cl2(PR3)] (R= cyclohexyl, etc.) were first reported by van der Schaaf et al. They also investigated the photoinduced polymerization of different functionalized norbornenes and 7-oxanorbornenes using various [Ru(solvent)n]X2 complexes, (X= tosylate, trifluoromethanesulfonate) as well as Ru half-sandwich and sandwich complexes. Noels and co-workers reported on the visiblelight-induced ROMP of cyclooctene using [RuCl2(IMes)(pcymene)] (IMes= 1,3-dimesitylimidazol-2-ylidene). Some of these systems were also used in ring-closing metathesis reactions. Most of the systems available to date, however, have significant disadvantages. They either show low activity, resulting in low polymer yields (less than 30%) in the photochemically triggered process, or the irradiation wavelength necessary to trigger ROMP is 360 nm or higher. In the latter case, the initiatorsA thermal stability is generally poor, thus discouraging their application in photoinduced ROMP. Thus, none of the systems reported to date was entirely thermally stable above or even at room temperature. Therefore, these systems do not fulfill the requirements of a truly latent photocatalyst. Herein, we report the development of the first thermally stable, truly UV-triggerable precatalysts for ROMP and their application in surface functionalization. We commenced our investigations with [Ru(IMesH2)(CF3CO2)(tBuCN)4)] CF3CO2 (PI-1) and [Ru(IMes)(CF3CO2)(tBuCN)4)] CF3CO2 (PI-2), which were prepared from [Ru(CF3CO2)2(L)(p-cymene)] [31,32] (L= IMes or IMesH2, 1,3-dimesityl-4,5-diyhdroimidazolin-2-ylidene) by reaction with excess tBuCN. Both compounds can be handled in air. H and C NMR spectroscopy data and elemental analysis reveal the presence of one N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligand, two inequivalent trifluoroacetate groups, and four tBuCN ligands, suggesting cationic Ru complexes. The structures of PI-1 and PI-2 were confirmed by X-ray analysis; the structure of PI-1 is shown in Figure 1 (see also the Supporting Information). Upon mixing of either PI-1 or PI-2 with monomers 3–8 (Scheme 1), no reaction was observed at room temperature within 24 h. Even highly reactive (distilled) dicyclopentadiene (4) did not react with PI-1 or PI-2 at room or elevated temperature (RT<T< 45 8C) in the absence of light. Heating a mixture of 8 with PI-1 or PI-2 in 1,2-dichloroethane to 60 8C resulted in the formation of much less than 10% polymer within 24 h. However, exposing mixtures of either PI-1 or PI2 in chloroform with these monomers to 308-nm light at room temperature resulted in the formation of the corresponding polymers. Yields were between less than 5 and 99% (Table 1). Increasing the energy of the light by switching from 308 nm to a 254-nm Hg lamp gave raise to high, in most cases virtually quantitative, yields (Table 1). The molecular weights [*] Dr. D. Wang, Dr. W. Knolle, Dr. U. Decker, Dr. L. Prager, Dr. S. Naumov, Prof. Dr. M. R. Buchmeiser Leibniz-Institut f.r Oberfl/chenmodifizierung e.V. (IOM) Permoserstrasse 15, 04318 Leipzig (Germany) Fax: (+49)341-235-2584 E-mail: michael.buchmeiser@iom-leipzig.de Homepage: http://www.iom-leipzig.de/index_e.cfm

Alternating ring-opening metathesis copolymerization by Grubbs-type initiators with unsymmetrical N-heterocyclic carbenes.

A series of Ru(IV)-alkylidenes based on unsymmetrical imidazolin-2-ylidenes, that is, [RuCl(2){1-(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)-3-R-4,5-dihydro-(3H)-imidazol-1-ylidene}(CHPh)(pyridin)] (R = CH(2)Ph (5), Ph (6), ethyl (7), methyl (8)), have been synthesized. These and the parent initiators [RuCl(2)(PCy(3)){1-(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)-3-R-4,5-dihydro-(3H)-imidazol-1-ylidene}(CHC(6)H(5))] (R = CH(2)C(6)H(5) (1), C(6)H(5) (2), ethyl (3)) were used for the alternating copolymerization of norborn-2-ene (NBE) with cis-cyclooctene (COE) and cyclopentene (CPE), respectively. Alternating copolymers, that is, poly(NBE-alt-COE)(n) and poly(NBE-alt-CPE)(n) containing up to 97 and 91% alternating diads, respectively, were obtained. The copolymerization parameters of the alternating copolymerization of NBE with CPE under the action of initiators 1-3 and 5-8 were determined by using both a zero- and first-order Markov model. Finally, kinetic investigations using initiators 1-3, 6, and 7 were carried out. These revealed that in contrast to the 2nd-generation Grubbs-type initiators 1-3 the corresponding pyridine derivatives 6 and 7 represent fast and quantitative initiating systems. Hydrogenation of poly(NBE-alt-COE)(n) yielded a fully saturated, hydrocarbon-based polymer. Its backbone can formally be derived by 1-olefin polymerization of CPE (1,3-insertion) followed by five ethylene units and thus serves as an excellent model compound for 1-olefin polymerization-derived copolymers.

Biocompatible polysaccharide-based cryogels.

This study focuses on the development of novel biocompatible macroporous cryogels by electron-beam assisted free-radical crosslinking reaction of polymerizable dextran and hyaluronan derivatives. As a main advantage this straightforward approach provides highly pure materials of high porosity without using additional crosslinkers or initiators. The cryogels were characterized with regard to their morphology and their basic properties including thermal and mechanical characteristics, and swellability. It was found that the applied irradiation dose and the chemical composition strongly influence the material properties of the resulting cryogels. Preliminary cytotoxicity tests illustrate the excellent in vitro-cytocompatibility of the fabricated cryogels making them especially attractive as matrices in tissue regeneration procedures.

Kinetic investigations on UV-induced photopolymerization reactions by real-time FTIR-ATR spectroscopy: the efficiency of photoinitiators at 313 and 222 nm

Abstract Real-time FTIR-ATR spectroscopy was used to study the kinetics of photopolymerization reactions induced by monochromatic UV light. Various photoinitiators with a broad range of extinction coefficients were tested for their efficiency to start the curing reaction of a diacrylate on irradiation at 313 or 222 nm. The effect of the absorption and initiation properties of the photoinitiators on the polymerization rate was analyzed. At 222 nm, the acrylate was found to polymerize even without photoinitiator.

Crystallization of Ge2Sb2Te5 thin films by nano- and femtosecond single laser pulse irradiation

The amorphous to crystalline phase transformation of Ge2Sb2Te5 (GST) films by UV nanosecond (ns) and femtosecond (fs) single laser pulse irradiation at the same wavelength is compared. Detailed structural information about the phase transformation is collected by x-ray diffraction and high resolution transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The threshold fluences to induce crystallization are determined for both pulse lengths. A large difference between ns and fs pulse irradiation was found regarding the grain size distribution and morphology of the crystallized films. For fs single pulse irradiated GST thin films, columnar grains with a diameter of 20 to 60 nm were obtained as evidenced by cross-sectional TEM analysis. The local atomic arrangement was investigated by high-resolution Cs-corrected scanning TEM. Neither tetrahedral nor off-octahedral positions of Ge-atoms could be observed in the largely defect-free grains. A high optical reflectivity contrast (~25%) between amorphous and completely crystallized GST films was achieved by fs laser irradiation induced at fluences between 13 and 16 mJ/cm2 and by ns laser irradiation induced at fluences between 67 and 130 mJ/cm2. Finally, the fluence dependent increase of the reflectivity is discussed in terms of each photon involved into the crystallization process for ns and fs pulses, respectively.

Tailoring the material properties of gelatin hydrogels by high energy electron irradiation

Natural hydrogels such as gelatin are highly desirable biomaterials for application in drug delivery, biosensors, bioactuators and extracellular matrix components due to strong biocompatibility and biodegradability. Typically, chemical crosslinkers are used to optimize material properties, often introducing toxic byproducts into the material. In this present work, electron irradiation is employed as a reagent-free crosslinking technique to precisely tailor the viscoelasticity, swelling behavior, thermal stability and structure of gelatin. With increasing electron dose, changes in swelling behavior and rheology indicate increasing amounts of random coils and dangling ends as opposed to helical content, a result confirmed through Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Gel fraction, rheology and swelling measurements at 37 °C were used to verify thermal stability in biological conditions. Scanning electron microscopy images of dried gelatin samples support these conclusions by revealing a loss of free volume and apparent order in the fracture patterns. The degree of crosslinking and mesh size are quantified by rubber elasticity theory and the Flory-Rehner equation. Overall, precise control of material properties is demonstrated through the interplay of concentration and irradiation dose, while providing an extensive parameter-property database suitable for optimized synthesis.