Valentina Sabatini

Homogeneous synthesis and characterization of sulfonated polyarylethersulfones having low degree of sulfonation and highly hydrophilic behavior

In the present paper, the wettability of polyarylethersulfones (PESs) was promoted through the controlled introduction of sulfonic groups in PES polymeric chain. Homogeneous synthesis using a sulfonated comonomer introduced sulfonic groups while exerting a tight control over the degree of sulfonation (DS) and avoiding the undesired side reactions brought about by heterogeneous sulfonation reactions. A series of sulfonated polyarylethersulfones (SPESs) with very low amounts of sulfonic groups - 0.5, 0.75, and 1 meq SO3-*g-1 of polymer - was synthesized via polycondensation using 4,4’-difluorodiphenylsulfone, 4,4’-dihydroxydiphenyl and a sulfonated comonomer, 2,5-dihydroxybenzene-1-sulfonate potassium salt. The presence of sulfonic groups was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra; the macromolecular structure and the real DS of SPESs were determined by 1H NMR; the molecular weights were investigated by size exclusion chromatography (SEC); ion exchange capacity (IEC) values, measured by potentiometric titration, are in good agreement with the experimental DS. The polyelectrolyte effect was studied on intrinsic viscosity (IV) measurements. The effect of DS on the thermal properties of SPES membranes was studied by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC); wetting properties were characterized by static water contact angle (SWCA) measurements on membranes obtained via solution casting. The results showed that an increased DS results in higher glass transition temperatures (Tg) and lower water contact angles, the latter dropping from

Combining control of branching and sulfonation in one-pot synthesis of random sulfonated polyarylethersulfones: effects on thermal stability and water retention

\overline {91} ^\circ

A Combined XRD, Solvatochromic, and Cyclic Voltammetric Study of Poly (3,4-Ethylenedioxythiophene) Doped with Sulfonated Polyarylethersulfones: Towards New Conducting Polymers

91¯∘ to

Polyphenol Polymerization by an Alternative Oxidative Microbial Enzyme and Characterization of the Biological Activity of Oligomers

\overline {43} ^\circ

Electrodes modified with sulphonated poly(aryl ether sulphone): effect of casting conditions on their enhanced electroanalytical performance.

43¯∘ as DS was raised from 0 to 1.0 meq SO3-*g-1. This work demonstrates that homogeneous synthesis of SPES is an efficient way to prepare SPES membranes with tightly controlled DS and enhanced hydrophilic properties, in particular, an excellent hydrophilic SWCA even at very low amounts of sulfonic moieties.

The use of epoxy silanes on montmorillonite: an effective way to improve thermal and rheological properties of PLA/MMT nanocomposites obtained via in situ polymerization

ABSTRACT Currently, no studies dealing with the role played by ionic liquids on tailoring surface features of polymer films are available. In this work, ionic liquids influence on the surface of sulfonated polyarylethersulfones was investigated. Sulfonated polyarylethersulfones with different degrees of sulfonation were synthesized; their surface properties were modulated through an ionic exchange reaction between the K+ cation of sulfonated polyarylethersulfones and ionic liquids, synthesized changing the length of cation of apolar groups. Hydrophobic properties of sulfonated polyarylethersulfones–ionic liquids films improve with both an increase in degrees of sulfonation and the length of ionic liquids alkyl chains due to higher surface roughness, as shown by scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT