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International audience; Well‐defined linear alkyl benzene surfactants (COxn) were successfully synthesized using cardanol as a green phenolic alternative and initiator for polyoxazoline (POx), the hydrophilic block of nonionic surfactants. Various hydrophilic lipophilic balance values were investigated by varying the POx length according to the [monomer]/[initiator] ratio. The chemical structure of the surfactants, in particular the terminal groups, was well identified by matrix assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight mass spectrometry demonstrating the good progress of the cationic ring‐opening polymerization. The COxn surfactants spontaneously self‐assembled in water at a critical aggregation concentration of 1–2 µmol L−1 into nano‐objects characterized by a hydrodynamic diameter of 11–24 nm and a number of aggregations ranging from 30 to 60 according to the worm‐like micelle model.

International audience; Polyurethanes cover a large range of materials exhibiting various physical and mechanical properties making them useful in different applications such as elastomers or biomaterials, for instance. The introduction of ionic groups in the polyurethane backbone opens the way to new applications where the ionic groups can act as physical crosslinkers that greatly modify the final mechanical and thermal properties of the materials. Furthermore, the hydrophilicity of the chains can be enhanced by the presence of the ionic species, and so the materials can be processed as conventional dispersions even in a polar solvent such as water. As a consequence the applications are numerous; the main commercial outlets are focused on coatings and textiles industries where they can be used as waterproof coatings or substitutes for leather. But these materials can also be used in high-tech industries for shape memory materials, biomedical devices and biocompatible materials. This review summarizes the latest developments of this class of promising materials and provides the reader with the potentialities of these polymers in various areas.

Methyl methacrylate was copolymerized with propyl N,N-tetramethylbis(phosphonate)-bis(methylene)aminemethyl methacrylate (MAC3NP2). The thermal degradation and flammability of this modified poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) were compared with those of pure PMMA using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and pyrolysis combustion flow calorimetry (PCFC). The morphology of char was investigated using scanning electron microscopy and the yield of phosphorus using energy-dispersive X-ray analysis. The gases evolved during degradation in TGA were analysed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The total heat release and heat release capacity of the reactively modified PMMA are reduced, as compared to pure PMMA. The modified PMMA presents a better thermal stability (above 290 °C) than pure PMMA and leads to an important char formation. A comparison among TGA, PCFC and the amount of phosphorus in the condensed phase gives useful information about the role of phosphorus in the flame retardancy of the copolymer. The result reveals the effect of phosphorus not only in the condensed phase but also in the vapour phase. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry

The mode of termination of 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl α-fluoroacrylate (FATRIFE) in radical polymerization was studied, and only termination by recombination occurred, which led to telechelic macromolecular structures. The radical polymerization in acetonitrile was carried out to synthesize oligomers with a low number average degree of polymerization (DP n ) cum (about 20), using tert-butylcyclohexyl peroxydicarbonate (TBCPC) as initiator at 75 °C. The initial [TBCPC] 0 /[FATRIFE] 0 molar ratio was monitored to evaluate its influence on the (DP n ) cum of α-fluoroacrylic oligomers. The 1 H NMR analysis of the polymers showed that the (DP n ) cum values obtained were higher than 40, in spite of a high C 0 value. To explain these results, the mode of termination was evaluated using the following kinetic law: R pi [I 2 ] 0.27 0 [M] 1.24 0 . The development of kinetic relationships allowed us to calculate the ratio k prt /k i .k p as about 17-30 mol s l -1 , and to confirm that primary radical termination (PRT) was in competition with bimolecular macromolecular termination (BMT).