ISSN:
0360-6376
Keywords:
Physics
;
Polymer and Materials Science
Source:
Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
Topics:
Chemistry and Pharmacology
Notes:
Procedures for the synthesis of polyacetylene ([CH]x) with Mn (number average molecular weight) from 400 to about 106 have been developed. This probably represents the largest range of molecular weight (MW) obtainable for a given monomer by a single initiator system. The catalyst residue level in [CH]x can be significantly reduced by acidic-methanol purification. The very low MW polymer L-[CH]x (polyacetylenes with Mn 400-500), has the same cis crystal structure as the higher MW polymers but is less ordered along the c-axis. It is isomerized to the trans material with apparently a more compact unit cell than high MW polymers. There is annealing of crystallite which increases the longitudinal order during thermal isomerization. This process occurs more readily and with lower activation energy in L-[CH]x than for polymers with higher MW. Isomerization of high MW polymers tends to trap cis units which can result in degradation as evidenced by the formation of sp3 carbon vibrations in IR spectra. This is true even for L-[CH]x after prolonged heating. The results render credence to the proposal based on anamalous resonance Raman scattering profile that there can be very short trans segments in thermally isomerized trans-[CH]x.
Additional Material:
7 Ill.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/pol.1985.170230910
