Downloaded by FORDHAM UNIV on September 3, 2014 | http://pubs.acs.org Publication Date: June 30, 1998 | doi: 10.1021/bk-1998-0696.pr001
Preface
X h i s volume is based on an international symposium on "Anionic Polymerization. Practice and Applications" which was held during the National American Chemical Society Meeting in Orlando, Florida in the fall of 1996. The goal of the symposium was to provide state-of-the-art presentations by industrial research scientists practicing in the area of anionic polymerization. The symposium presentations [see Polym. Prepr. Am. Chem. Soc. Div. Poly. Chem. 1997, 37(2), 626-733] and the corresponding papers included herein describe the usefulness of anionic polymerization research and emphasize the industrial research perspective on anionic processes for the preparation of polymeric materials. Living anionic polymerization proceeds in the absence of the kinetic steps of chain transfer and chain termination and provides methodologies for the synthesis of polymers with controlled, well-defined structures. Polymers can be prepared with control of the major variables which affect polymer properties including molecular weight, molecular weight distribution, copolymer composition and microstructure, stereochemistry, chain-end functionality and molecular architecture. This inherent aspect of control in living anionic polymerization stimulated tremendous industrial research activity which led to the development of numerous technologies for the preparation of important commodity and specialty materials. The papers collected in this monograph provide a unique glimpse into industrial anionic polymerization research and technology. To provide a selfcontained and useful book, a general introduction to the principles of anionic polymerization (Quirk et al.) and the commercial applications of anionic polymerization (Hsieh) are included. Four papers are grouped under the heading of fundamentals and polymerization processes: The subjects include chain-end aggregation (Fetters et al., Exxon), process monitoring by U V (Viola, Bortolotti et al., EniChem), tertiary amine-functionalized initiators (Tadaki et al., JSR) and soluble lithium amide initiators (Lawson et al., Bridgestone/Firestone). One of the unique and useful aspects of living polymerization is the ability to prepare block copolymers by sequential monomer addition or by direct tapered block copolymerization; the four papers on block copolymers include styrene-butadiene-styrene thermoplastic elastomers (Lovisi et al., Petroflex), styrene-isoprene-styrene triblocks for pressure-sensitive adhesives (Matsubara and Ishiguro, Nippon Zeon), packxi In Applications of Anionic Polymerization Research; Quirk, R.; ACS Symposium Series; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 1998.
Downloaded by FORDHAM UNIV on September 3, 2014 | http://pubs.acs.org Publication Date: June 30, 1998 | doi: 10.1021/bk-1998-0696.pr001
aging films based on styrene-butadiene block copolymers (Knoll and Niessner, B A S F ) , and tapered styrene-butadiene copolymers for use in asphalt modification and as impact modifiers (Moctezuma et al. and Martinex, Industrias Negromex). Another unique aspect of controlled anionic polymerization is the ability to prepare star polymers which often exhibit unique processing and property advantages. Three star polymer papers describe high temperature processes (Schué et al., Université Montpellier), pressure-sensitive adhesives based on asymmetric star block copolymers (Ma et al., 3M) and randomly branched polystyrenes (Hahnfeld et al., Dow). The advantage of controlled diene microstructure for elastomers is exemplified by descriptions of new isoprene polymers (Ishii et al., Kuraray) and 1,2polybutadiene (Arest-Yakubovich et al., Efremov Synthetic Rubber and Karpov Institute). Other applications of controlled anionic polymerization include macromonomer techniques (Roos and Muller, Rohm GmbH and Universitàt Mainz) and preparation of lithographic resists polymers (Ito, IBM). Many commercial processes have been developed for the polymerization of polar and inorganic monomers. This subject includes poly(ethylene oxide) (Tsvetanov et al., Bulgarian Academy of Sciences), industrial applications of lactam polymerization (Udipi et al., Monsanto), poly(e-caprolactam) as solvent for blends (Chorvath et al., Eindhoven University), functionalized poly(methyl methacrylates) (Lindsay, ICI Materials), and siloxane copolymers (Zavin et al., Russian Academy of Science). In summary, this monograph describes many exciting and useful aspects of anionic polymerization research. It is anticipated that students, faculty and other practitioners of anionic polymerization will benefit from and be stimulated by learning about industrial research in this area from this work. Acknowledgments The symposium was supported by the A C S Polymer Division, the A C S Corporation Associates, A C S Petroleum Research Fund, F M C (Lithium Division), Bridgestone, Bridgestone/Firestone Research, Revertex, 3 M Company, ICI, B A S F , General Electric, and Cyprus Foote. This support is gratefully acknowledged.
RODERIC P. QUIRK
The Maurice Morton Institute of Polymer Science University of Akron Akron, OH 44325-3909
xii In Applications of Anionic Polymerization Research; Quirk, R.; ACS Symposium Series; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 1998.
