Strength of biodegradable polypropylene tapes filled with a modified starch

The possibility of creating composite materials with high deformation and strength characteristics based on polypropylene (PP) and a natural polysaccharide in the form of a modified starch (MS) has been studied. The modified starch is shown to interact chemically with functional groups of PP, thereby positively affecting the physicomechanical properties, structure, and water absorption properties of films and oriented flat fibers based on starch-filled PP. The strength characteristics of both oriented and unoriented composites are 1.5–2.0 times as high as those of the initial PP. The water absorption ability of the materials varies symbatically with content of MS, which points to the dominant contribution of interactions at the PP-MS interface. The introduction of MS into synthetic polymers offers a possibility of producing new ecologically safe materials with high strength characteristics. __________ Translated from Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 42, No. 3, pp. 389–400, May–June, 2006.     

Peculiarities of epoxide polymers modified with polychlorodiphenyl

The effect of polychlorodiphenyl (a low-molecular plasticizer) on the dynamic mechanical characteristics of epoxide polymers, namely, their strength, creep, and water absorption, are studied over a wide temperature range. Modification with polychlorodiphenyl is found to increase the rigidity and decrease the molecular-group mobility of a polymer, which correlates with changes in the physicomechanical properties. The effect of polychlorodiphenyl, different than that of other plasticizers, is explained here by a closer intermolecular coupling and a smaller free volume within the system, as has been confirmed by results of infrared spectrometry, as well as by measurements of density and sorptive properties.     

Damage to transparent polymers caused by laser pulses lasting 10−3 and 10−8 sec

A study has been made of the internal damage produced in transparent polymers by laser pulses lasting 10^–3 sec (free-generation mode) and 10^–8 sec (giant-pulse mode). It has been established that in these cases different mechanisms are responsible for the damage. The action of giant laser pulses on transparent polymers evidently provides the first and so far only means of studying fracture effects associated with the truly instantaneous application of load, i. e., when the load application time is much less than the fracture time.Mekhanika Polimerov, Vol. 3, No. 3, pp. 493–497, 1967     

Effect of hydrostatic pressure on the tensile strength of polymer materials

The effect of hydrostatic pressure on the tensile strength of amorphous, crystalline, and thermosetting polymers has been investigated. The maximum hydrostatic pressure was 2000 kgf/cm². The surfaces of some specimens were protected from the ambient medium (oil). The tests showed that hydrostatic pressure improves the strength or high-elastic limit and Young's modulus of all the materials investigated. In the case of brittle materials, the increase in strength is greater if the surface is protected, whereupon the plasticity is also improved. Hydrostatic pressure produces important changes in the deformation behavior of crystalline polymers.Mekhanika Polimerov, Vol. 3, No. 6, pp. 1043–1047, 1967     

Optical absorption spectrum of Ni2+ in Garnierite

The results obtained in the study of the absorption spectrum of Ni²⁺ in two samples of Garnierite are described. Both the samples of Garnierite have been studied by preparing their mineral oil mulls. One of these samples could however be studied in its crystal form as well. From the observed features, the absorption bands in both the samples of Garnierite have been attributed to an ion of Ni²⁺ in tetrahedral symmetry. The observed and calculated energies for the bands are found to be in close agreement with one another justifying the assumption that the site symmetry of Ni²⁺ ion is tetrahedral. For one of the Garnierite samples both the crystal and mineral oil mull spectra could be recorded and it is interesting to find that they are identical with one another. It has therefore been suggested that the absorption spectrum of any mineral can be studied by preparing its mineral oil mull in case it cannot be cut and polished into a thin crystal suitable for absorption work. The crystal field parameters derived for the two samples of Garnierite are identical and they are B = 845 cm^?1, C = 3.9 B, Dq = 422 cm^?1 and λ = ? 275 cm^?1.     

X-ray spectroscopic study of the thiomalic acid complex of cobalt

The cobalt K absorption spectrum has been studied in thiomalic acid complex of cobalt using a bent crystal X-ray spectrograph. It has been observed that the position of the absorption discontinuity taken with the freshly prepared complex differs from that of the discontinuity obtained with the complex kept in air for about 24 hours. It has been shown that this shift of the absorption edge is due to the change in valency of cobalt in the complex. The shape of the absorption discontinuity has revealed that the complex has an octahedral structure with the hybridizationsp ³ d ². On the molecular orbital theory the electronic configuration in this complex can be described asa _1g ^Emphasis>2 t _1u ^Emphasis>6 e _g ^Emphasis>4 t _2g ^Emphasis>4 e _g ^Emphasis>*2 .     

Effect of ultraviolet radiation on the life of stressed polymers under vacuum and in air

The effect of the ultraviolet radiation of PRK mercury-quartz lamps on the life of four polymers has been investigated under vacuum and in air. It is shown that the role of oxygen and water vapor is not an important one. The effect of UV radiation on the life and creep of stressed polymers in air and under vacuum is practically the same.A. F. Ioffe Physicotechnical Institute, Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Leningrad. Translated from Mekhanika Polimerov, Vol. 4, No. 4, pp. 661–664, 1968.     

The near ultraviolet emission spectrum of tetralin (tetrahydronaphthalene)

An emission spectrum of tetralin (tetrahydronaphthalene) in the near ultraviolet excited by a transformer discharge through flowing vapour has been studied and about twenty-nine bands in emission have been photographed and measured on suitable instruments. Vibrational analysis of the bands in terms of the fundamental frequencies of the molecule is proposed and is compared with those obtained in the corresponding absorption spectrum of tetrahydronaphthalene studied by the author.² The results afford further confirmation of the correctness of the analysis and particularly the assignment of the (0,0) band proposed in the absorption spectrum of the molecule.     

Vinyl polymerisation

A systematic study of the kinetics of photo-chemical polymerisation of acrylamide using the system anthraquinone sulphonate-NaCl-HClO₄ under deaerated condition in aqueous solution has been done. The determinations of the monomer disappearance (bromometry), the sensitiser disappearance (spectrophotometry) and chainlengths of polymers with respect to light intensity, concentration of monomer, light absorption fraction (k _e ) of sensitiser, etc., have been carried out. An overall kinetic mechanism is given in the light of experimental results.     

Vinyl polymerization

A systematic study of the kinetics of photopolymerization of vinyl monomers initiated by the complex azidopentamminecobalt (III) chloride in aqueous solution has been made. The determinations of monomer disappearance, complex disappearance, chainlengths of polymers, obtained against the different variables like light intensity, concentrations of monomer, light absorption fraction, etc., have been made. A kinetic mechanism proposed for the overall reaction is discussed in the light of the experimental results and certain rate constants have also been evaluated.     

Time-temperature superposition applied to crosslinked polymers in creep with superimposed hydrostatic pressure

The creep of an epoxy composition under combined tension and hydrostatic pressure (up to 800 kgf/cm²) has been investigated. The applicability of time-temperature superposition to a complex state of stress is demonstrated. Hydrostatic pressure is shown to affect the deformability of crosslinked polymers in tension.Leningrad Technological Institute of the Refrigeration Industry. Plastpolimer Research-Production Association, Leningrad. Translated from Mekhanika Polimerov, No. 3, pp. 541–544, May–June, 1976.     

Dielectric investigation of the molecular mobility of silicone ladder polymers

Dielectric spectroscopy has been used to study the molecular mobility in polyphenylsilsesquioxane, polyphenylisobutylsilsesquioxane with a 1:1 ratio of phenyl to isobutyl groups, and poly-m-chlorophenylsilsequioxane on the temperature interval from –196 to 300°C at frequencies from 10² to 10⁶ Hz. The investigation was carried out in air and in a nitrogen atmosphere. The flexibility mechanism of silicone ladder polymers is considered and the development of molecular mobility is shown to be discrete.Institute of Heteroorganic Compounds, Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Moscow. Translated from Mekhanika Polimerov, No. 1, pp. 3–7, January–February, 1976.     

Water absorption and its effect on rubber strength

The effect of the swelling of rubbers in water and their recovery on the tear strength of the material has been investigated and a mechanism of water absorption is proposed. It is shown that there is a fundamental difference between the mechanism of water absorption and swelling in solvents. The strength of a rubber dried after being kept in water is anomalously high. This effect is explained in terms of the proposed polymer-nonsolvent interaction mechanism.É. A. Ter-Gazaryan State Scientific-Research and Design Institute of Polymer Adhesives, Kirovakan. Moscow Technological Institute of the Meat and Dairy Industry. Translated from Mekhanika Polimerov, No. 1, pp. 136–138, January–February, 1970.     

Kinetics of absorption of water by filled epoxide polymers

The kinetics of the absorption of water by composite materials based on an epoxide binder and glass microspheres were investigated. It was shown that the absorption of water by these materials has the character of a stage mechanism due to destruction of the adhesion between the binder and the microspheres. Treatment of the glass spheres with a coupling agent not only reduces the water absorption but also changes the character of the kinetic curve for water absorption. It was shown that a thermomechanical method can be used to evaluate the stability of the adhesion bonds between the polymer and the filler under the influence of water.Vladimir Scientific-Research Institute of Synthetic Resins. Translated from Mekhanika Polimerov, No. 2, pp. 290–294, March–April, 1972.     

X-ray spectroscopic study of chemical bonding in MnSe2 and CoSe2

X-ray absorption study of two intermetallic compounds MnSe₂ and CoSe₂ has been carried out using a Cauchois type bent crystal spectrograph. The metal K absorption edges in both the compounds are found to shift toward the high energy side with respect to the discontinuities in the pure metals. On the other hand, the Se K absorption edge in both these compounds is found to shift toward the lower energies. Emission study of the compound MnSe₂ has shown that the Mn Kβ ₅ band in this compound is shifted toward the high energy side with respect to that in the pure metal. From the magnetic data and the results obtained in this work it is possible to obtain the chemical bonding pictures in these compounds. For MnSe₂ the bondings sp ³ d ² for the metal atom andsp ³ for the metalloid atom have been suggested. For CoSe₂ the bondings appear to bed ² sp ³ for the metal atom andsp ³ for the metalloid atom. These bondings are compatible with the pyrite type structure of these compounds. It is possible to explain the electrical behaviour of the compounds on the basis of these bonding pictures.     

The1I6 state of Pr3+ in LaCl3 at 77°K

A single crystal of 5% Pr³⁺ in LaCl₃ was grown by Stockbarger’s method and its absorption spectrum at 77° K. recorded in the region 4200–5400 Å on a grating spectrograph having a dispersion of 5 Å/mm. in the first order. Polarization of the absorption lines has also been obtained. In the group of lines arising from¹I₆ ←³H₄ transition, six more lines in addition to the four previously known have been observed. Satisfactory analysis of all these ten lines is given. One additional Stark level in¹I₆ is established at 21407 cm.^?1 withμ=1. For a few lines the polarization results obtained here do not agree with those of previous workers but fit in satisfactorily in the analysis.     

X-Ray spectroscopic evidence for chemical bonding in manganese selenide (MnSe)

K absorption spectra of manganese and selenium have been recorded photographically in the pure metals and in the intermetallic compound manganese selenide (MnSe), employing a bent crystal X-ray spectrograph. It has been observed that the Mn K absorption discontinuity in MnSe shifts by 5·6 eV toward the high energy side with respect to the discontinuity in the pure metal. On the other hand, the Se K edge in MnSe is found to shift by 3·4 eV toward the low energy side with respect to the discontinuity in pure selenium. Also, emission work has revealed that the Mn K_β5 band in the compound shifts by about 5 eV toward the high energy side with respect to that in the pure metal. It has been shown that these results confirm the resonatingp ³ type of chemical bonding in the compound, as suggested theoretically by Pearson.     

Determination of the thickness of the surface layer on polymer blocks

A dependence of the thickness of the surface layer on the mechanical and wave characteristics of polymers has been obtained from joint solution of the equations of surface-wave motion and surface-layer equilibrium. From the dependence derived, the thicknesses of the surface layers have been calculated for four polymers. The dependence of surface-layer thickness on mechanical properties of the polymers and loading characteristics has been established.Institute of the Chemistry of High-Molecular-Weight Compounds, Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian SSR, Kiev. Translated from Mekhanika Polimerov, No. 2, pp. 195–201, March–April, 1972.     

X-ray spectroscopic study of chemical bonding in NiSe and NiSe2

The K absorption spectra of nickel and selenium have been recorded photographically in the pure metals and the compounds NiSe and NiSe₂. It has been observed that the Ni discontinuity shifts toward the high energy side with respect to that in the pure metal by about 5.0 eV for NiSe and about 6.7 eV for NiSe₂. The Se edge in both these compounds is found to shift by about 2.6 eV toward the low energy side with respect to that in pure selenium. From these results it is possible to obtain the bonding pictures for the compounds. The compound NiSe appears to have resonating p³ type of bonding. For NiSe₂ the orbitals involved in the bonding are d²sp³ for the metal atom and sp³ for the metalloid atom. The electrical behaviour of the compounds has been explained on the basis of these bonding pictures.     

Mechanical behavior of a number of polymers at helium temperatures

An experimental investigation of the mechanical behavior of a number of polymers in the range 4.2–240°K has been made. It has been shown that at helium temperature the Poisson ratio is governed by the free volume. It has been established that the dynamic Young's modulus and shear modulus of these polymers at 4.2°K depend on the chemical structure: their values are determined by the mean distance between neighboring macromolecule chains.