Multinuclear solid-state NMR of complex nitrogen-rich polymeric microcapsules: Weight fractions, spectral editing, component mixing, and persistent radicals

The molecular structure of a crosslinked nitrogen-rich resin made from melamine, urea, and aldehydes, and of microcapsules made from the reactive resin with multiple polymeric components in aqueous dispersion, has been analyzed by 13C, 13C{1H}, 1H–13C, 1H, 13C{14N}, and 15N solid-state NMR without isotopic enrichment. Quantitative 13C NMR spectra of the microcapsules and three precursor materials enable determination of the fractions of different components. Spectral editing of non-protonated carbons by recoupled dipolar dephasing, of CH by dipolar DEPT, and of C–N by 13C{14N} SPIDER resolves peak overlap and helps with peak assignment. It reveals that the N- and O-rich resin “imitates” the spectrum of polysaccharides such as chitin, cellulose, or Ambergum to an astonishing degree. 15N NMR can distinguish melamine from urea and guanazole, NC=O from COO, and primary from secondary amines. Such a comprehensive and quantitative analysis enables prediction of the elemental composition of the resin, to be compared with combustion analysis for validation. It also provides a reliable reference for iterative simulations of 13C NMR spectra from structural models. The conversion from quantitative NMR peak areas of structural components to the weight fractions of interest in industrial practice is derived and demonstrated. Upon microcapsule formation, 15N and 13C NMR consistently show loss of urea and aldehyde and an increase in primary amines while melamine is retained. NMR also made unexpected findings, such as imbedded crystallites in one of the resins, as well as persistent radicals in the microcapsules. The crystallites produce distinct sharp lines and are distinguished from liquid-like components by their strong dipolar couplings, resulting in fast dipolar dephasing. Fast 1H spin–lattice relaxation on the 35-ms time scale and characteristically non-exponential 13C spin–lattice relaxation indicate persistent radicals, confirmed by EPR. Through 1H spin diffusion, the mixing of components on the 5-nm scale was documented. [Display omitted] •The structure of a crosslinked N-rich resin was determined by multinuclear NMR.•13C, 13C{1H}, 1H–13C, 1H, 13C{14N}, and 15N solid-state NMR methods were employed.•Microcapsules made from the resin and other polymeric components were analyzed.•The weight fractions of the microcapsule components were determined by NMR.•NMR revealed crystallites in a resin and persistent radicals in microcapsules.