Influence of compatibilizer on the structure properties of polylactic acid/natural rubber blends

Polylactic acid (PLA) was toughened by 5–20 wt % of natural rubber (NR). Two different compatibilizers maleated PLA (PLA-g-MA) and maleated NR (NR-g-MA) were used as coupling agent. The blends were prepared using twin screw extruder at varying levels of NR. Mechanical, thermal and morphological analyses were carried out to study the effect of compatibilizer on PLA/NR blends compatibility.     

Melt processing of maleic anhydride grafted poly(lactic acid) and its compatibilizing effect on poly(lactic acid)/poly(butylene adipate-<Emphasis Type="Italic">co</Emphasis>-terephthalate) blend and their composite

Poly(lactic acid) (PLA)/poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) blends were prepared using melt processing. The effects of maleic anhydride grafted PLA (PLA-g-MA) and calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) content on mechanical, thermal, and morphological properties of the blends were investigated. PLA-g-MA was synthesized by varying monomer and initiator contents using a reactive melt-grafting process. Tensile properties of PLA/PBAT blend were enhanced with adding 2 phr of PLA-g-MA. SEM micrographs exhibited the improvement of interfacial adhesion between PLA and PBAT in the compatibilized blend. Moreover, thermal stability of the blends improved with presence of PLA-g-MA. With increasing CaCO₃ content, Young’s modulus of the composites increased.     

Thermochemical study of the complex formation of mercury(II) with nitrilotriacetic acid in an aqueous solution

The formation constant of the Hg(Nta) ₂ ^4? complex, where Nta^3? is the nitrilotriacetate ion, is determined by pH-metric titration at 298.15 K and ionic strength I = 0.5 (KNO₃) (logβ = 21.49 ± 0.10). The thermal effects for the formation of the Hg(NTa) _i2?3i complexes (i = 1, 2) are determined by a direct calorimetric method (?56.69 ± 1.04 and ?85.88 ± 1.32 kJ/mol for i = 1 and 2, respectively).     

Synthesis of PP-<Emphasis Type="Italic">g</Emphasis>-PIP and properties of PP/PP-<Emphasis Type="Italic">g</Emphasis>-PIP binary blends

The polypropylene-graft-polyisoprene (PP-g-PIP) copolymers with different side chain length were synthesized by the combination of solid phase graft and anionic polymerization. The copolymers were characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance spectrum (¹H-NMR), gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Five PP/PP-g-PIP blends with PP-g-PIP as a flexibilizer to toughen PP were prepared and characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), DSC, wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD). Their morphologies, glass transition temperatures, crystallinity and mechanical properties were investigated. All the results pointed out that the covalent bonding of PP and PIP increased the compatibility and interfacial adhesion, which led to PIP well dispersed in the system and small size PIP particles in the binary blends. In addition, the toughness of PP was improved while its tensile strength slightly decreased.     

Stability of diammine and chloroammine gold(I) complexes in aqueous solution

The substitution equilibria AuCl ₂ ^? + iNH ₄ ⁺ = Au(NH₃)_iCl_{2 ? i} + iCl^? + iH⁺, β _i ^* . were studied pH-metrically at 25°C and I = 1 mol/L (NaCl) in aqueous solution. It was found that logβ ₁ ^* = ?5.10±0.15 and logβ ₂ ^* = ?10.25±0.10. For equilibrium AuNH₃Cl_solid = AuNH₃Cl, log K _s = ?3.1±0.3. Taking into account the protonation constants of ammonia (log K _H = 9.40), the obtained results show that for equilibria AuCl ₂ ^? + iNH₃ = Au(NH₃)_iCl_{2 ? i} + iCl^?, logβ₁ = 4.3±0.2, and logβ₂ = 8.55±0.15. The standard potentials E ₀ ^1/0 of AuNH₃Cl⁰ and Au(NH₃) ₂ ⁺ species are equal to 0.90±0.02 and 0.64±0.01 V, respectively.     

Simulation of copper(II) cations sorption on goethite from aqueous solutions of complexons

Effect of complexons of polyaminopolycarboxylic acid series (IDA, NTA, EDTA, and DTPA) and polyphosphonic acid series (HEDP, NTP, and EDTP) on Cu(II) cations sorption on goethite (α-FeOOH) from aqueous solutions has been studied. Obtained results have been considered in the context of complexation reactions in bulk solution and on sorbent surface. It has been found that all complexons (except for EDTA), depending on nature, produce on goethite surface (≡FeOH) triple complexes of type A (surface–metal–complexon) of composition ≡FeOCuLH _i ^1+i?n and ≡FeOCuL(OH) _j ^1?j?n or type B (surface–complexon–metal) of composition ≡FeLH _i Cu^3+i-n and ≡FeLCu(OH) _j ^3?j?n . pH-Ranges for complex existence and stability constants for the surface complexes have been determined. Factors affecting the character of complexon effect (immobilization/remobilization) on the sorbed metal have been analyzed.     

Stability of gold(I) glycinate complexes in aqueous solution

The stepwise substitution equilibrium AuCl ₂ ^? +iX^?=AuCl_2?i X _i ^? +iCl^?, β_i, where X^? is the glycinate ion (H₂N-CH₂-COO^?), i = 1 or 2, at 25°C in an aqueous solution with I = 1.0 mol/L (NaCl) has been studied pH-metrically. The corresponding constants are logβ₁ = 3.60 ± 0.10, and logβ₂ = 6.2 ± 0.2.     

Gold(I) complexes with methionine residue in aqueous solutions

Equilibria of stepwise substitution AuCl₂^? + iMet^– = AuCl_2–iMet _i ^– + iCl^–, β _i (i = 1, 2), where Met^– is a methionine residue, in aqueous solutions are studied at 25°C and I = 0.2 M (NaCl). The equilibrium constants are determined: logβ₁ = 3.8 and logβ₂ = 5.4.     

Electron affinity and substituent effects in radical anions

The first vertical electron affinities EA of 13 series of molecules and free radicals D(X _i ) _n are related to the inductive (σ _I ), resonance (σ _R ^? ), and polarization (σ_α) parameters of substituents X _i by the dependences EA = EA _H + aΣσ _I + bΣσ _R/? + cΣσ_α: In radical anions D^+·(X _i ) _n , compared to radical cations D^+·(X _i ) _n , the polarization interaction is weaker or similar in magnitude but has an opposite sign. The previously unknown resonance parameters σ _R ^? of substituents SiMe₃ and CH₂SiMe₃ bound to the radical anion center H₂C=CH^?· were calculated.     

Simultaneously improving the tensile and impact properties of isotactic polypropylene with the cooperation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">co</Emphasis>-PP and <Emphasis Type="Italic">β</Emphasis>-nucleating agent through pressure vibration injection molding

In this article, crystalline morphology and molecular orientation of isotactic polypropylene (iPP), random copolymerized polypropylene (co-PP) and β-nucleating agent (β-NA) composites prepared by pressure vibration injection molding (PVIM) have been investigated via polarized light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, wide-angle X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry. Results demonstrated that the interaction between co-PP and iPP molecular chains was beneficial for the mechanical improvement and the introduction of β-NA further improved the toughness of iPP. In addition, after applying the pressure vibration injection molding (PVIM) technology, the shear layer thickness increased remarkably and the tensile strength improved consequently. Thus, the strength and toughness of iPP/co-PP/β-NA composites prepared by PVIM were simultaneously improved compared to those of the pure iPP prepared by conventional injection molding (CIM): the impact toughness was increased by five times and tensile strength was increased by 9 MPa. This work provided a new method to further enhance the properties of iPP/co-PP composites through dynamic processing strategy.     

2,6-Disubstituted 4-azidopyrimidines: synthesis,kinetic and thermodynamic studies of azide-tetrazole rearrangement by NMR spectroscopy

Thermodynamic and kinetic parameters of the tautomeric tetrazole-azide rearrangement for a series of 2,6-disubstituted 4-azidopyrimidines are determined by NOESY/EXSY and DNMR: ΔH = 15—28 kJ mol^–1; ΔS = 47—65 J mol^–1 К–1; Е _a = 93—117 kJ mol^–1; lgA = 15.1—18.9. They are dependent on electronic properties of the substituents and the polarity of solvent.     

Three-Component Reaction of 4-Methylpyridine with Alkyl Propiolates and Secondary Phosphine Chalcogenides

The reaction between 4-methylpyridine, alkyl propiolates, and secondary phosphine oxides proceeded as N-vinylation-C-phosphorylation with stereo- and regioselective formation of (E)-N-ethenyl-C²- phosphoryl-1,2-dihydropyridines [when using bis(2-phenylethyl)phosphine oxide] or (E)-N-ethenyl-C⁴- phosphoryl-1,4-dihydropyridines (when using diphenylphosphine oxide). The process occurred at 60–62°C within 3 h to give functional dihydropyridines in 40–82% yield. Under similar conditions, bis(2-phenylethyl) phosphine sulfide and selenide reacted with alkyl propiolates preferably by nucleophilic PH-monoaddition at the triple bond.     

Non-isothermal kinetic for lyophilized leachate from sanitary landfill and composting usine

Leachate samples from a sanitary landfill of Araraquara city and composting usine of Vila Leopoldina, São Paulo, Brazil were lyophilized to remove the water content. TG/DTG curves at different heating rates were recorded. The second step of the thermal decomposition of leachate from the Araraquara landfill (CB₁), from the composting usine from Vila Leopoldina (CB₂) from the organic phase extracted (FO) and aqueous phase (FA) were all kinetically evaluated using the non-isothermal method.By Flynn-Wall isoconversional method the following values were obtained: E=234±3.65 kJ mol^?1 and logA=29.7±0.58 min^?1 for CB₁; E=129±1.66 kJ mol^?1 and logA=11.8±0.10 min^?1 for CB₂; E=51.6±1.35 kJ mol^?1 and logA=6.09±0.09 min^?1 for FO and E=76.91±6.33 kJ mol^?1 and logA=8.88±0.7 min^?1 for FA with 95% confidence level. Applying the procedures of Málek and Koga, SB kinetic model (?esták-Berggren) is the most appropriate to describe the decomposition of CB₁, CB₂, FO and FA.     

Synthesis of urethane—acrylic multi-block copolymers via electrochemically mediated ATRP

The electrochemically mediated atom transfer radical polymerisation (eATRP) of n-butyl acrylate was investigated under a variety of catalyst concentrations. Poly(n-butyl acrylate)-block-polyurethane-block-poly(n-butyl acrylate) copolymers were prepared via electrochemically mediated atom transfer radical polymerisation (eATRP) using only 7 × 10^?6 mole % of Cu^II complex. The successful chain extension and formation of penta-block copolymers confirmed the living nature of the poly(alkyl acrylates) prepared by eATRP. In this work, the tri-block and penta-block urethane-acrylate copolymers were synthesised for the first time by using tertiary bromine-terminated polyurethane macro-initiators as transitional products reacting with n-butyl acrylate, and subsequently with tert-butyl acrylate in the presence of the Cu^IIBr₂/TPMA catalyst complex. The results of ¹H NMR spectral studies support the formation of tri-block poly(n-butyl acrylate)-block-polyurethane-block-poly(n-butyl acrylate) copolymers, and penta-block poly(tert-butyl acrylate)-block-poly(n-butyl acrylate)-block-polyurethane-block-poly(n-butyl acrylate)-block-poly(tert-butyl acrylate) copolymers.     

Self-Nucleation Efficiency of PDLA in PLAs: Crystallization Behavior and Morphology

Crystallization behavior and morphology of PLA blended with 0.05–1.00 wt % loadings of poly(D-lactic acid) (PDLA) forming stereocomplex crystallites as in-situ nucleating agents, were studied using wideangle X-ray diffraction (WAXD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and polarizing-light optical microscopy (POM). Blending PLA with small amount of PDLA does lead to formation of PLA stereocomplex (SC), although the PLA is a random copolymer. The in-situ formed SC crystal acted as nucleation sites in blends and accelerated the crystallization of PLA by decreasing the half-time (t_1/2). The nucleation efficiency of PDLA obviously increased and the crystallization induction time decreased while the content of PDLA reached up to 0.20 wt %. While the content of PDLA is 0.2 wt %, the nucleation efficiency of PDLA is up to 43.8%, and the induction time decreased from 430 to 88 s. In addition, compared with pure PLA, t_1/2 decreases from 15.1 to 3.5 min at T_c = 127.5°C while the amount PDLA is 1.0 wt %. The equilibrium melting temperature of PLA decreased from 187.2 to 181.2°C with the increase of PDLA content.     

Synthesis,structure, and physicochemical properties of the Cr(<Emphasis Type="Italic">iso</Emphasis>-Bu<Subscript>2</Subscript>PS<Subscript>2</Subscript>)<Subscript>3</Subscript> chelate compound

A paramagnetic (μ_ef = 3.86 BM) complex Cr(i-Bu₂PS₂)₃ (I) has been synthesized. Single crystals I were grown, and the crystal structure of the compound was determined from X-ray diffraction data (X8 APEX diffractometer, MoK _α radiation, 4516 F _hkl , R = 0.0604). Monoclinic crystals, space group P2₁/n, unit cell parameters a = 14.2665(5) Å, b = 11.4400(4) Å, c = 23.1299(8) Å, β = 90.245(1)°, V = 3775.0(2) ų, Z = 4, d _calc = 1.196 g/cm³. The structure is based on discrete mononuclear molecules. The coordination polyhedron of the Cr atom is a distorted S₆ octahedron formed from the S atoms of three cyclic bidentate ligands — i-Bu₂PS ₂ ⁻ ions. Electron spectroscopy data correspond to the octahedral structure of the CrS₆ chromophore. Original Russian Text Copyright ? 2007 by E. A. Sankova, L. A. Glinskaya, T. E. Kokina, R. F. Klevstova, and S. V. Larionov __________ Translated from Zhurnal Strukturnoi Khimii, Vol. 48, No. 2, pp. 374–378, March–April, 2007.     

On solving secular equations for half-integer spins (<Emphasis Type="Italic">I</Emphasis> = 5/2, 7/2, and 9/2) in NQR spectroscopy

Solutions to secular equations for the spins 5/2, 7/2, and 9/2 were found. The results allowed the quadrupole interaction constant e ² Qq _zz and asymmetry parameter η to be calculated from experimental NQR frequencies. An equation for determining the dE _i /dη value necessary in experiments with applied electric fields was obtained.     

Mechanistic insights into the shear effects on isotactic polypropylene crystallization containing <Emphasis Type="Italic">β</Emphasis>-nucleating agent

The crystalline structures and crystallization behaviors of iPP containing β nucleation agent TMB-5 (iPP/TMB-5) were investigated by synchrotron radiation wide angel X-ray diffraction (SR-WAXD), differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) and polarized light microscope (PLM). It was found that α-crystallization lagged behind β-crystallization at normal temperatures, but the discrepancy reduced with increasing temperature. TMB-5 could not induce β-iPP when the nucleation agent is wrapped up with α-crystal that crystallized at high temperatures. The polymorphic composition of iPP/TMB-5 was susceptible to the introductory moment of shear. New crystallization process of β-nucleated iPP was proposed to understand the experimental phenomena which could not be explained by those reported in the literature. It was supposed that polymer crystallization initiated from mesophase, and the formations of iPP crystals involved the organization of helical conformation ordering within mesophase. It was proposed that the iPP melt contained mesophases with stereocomplex-type ordering of right-handed and left-handed helical chains which could be disturbed by shear or TMB-5, leading to different polymorphic structures.     

Mass spectra of new heterocycles: XV. Fragmentation of 1-substituted 3-alkoxy-2-(propargylsulfanyl)- and 3-alkoxy-2-(allenylsulfanyl)-1<Emphasis Type="Italic">H</Emphasis>-pyrroles under electron impact

The electron impact mass spectra of 1-R-substituted 3-alkoxy-2-(propargylsulfanyl)- and 3-alkoxy-2-(allenylsulfanyl)-1H-pyrroles (R = Me, i-Pr, s-Bu, Ph) have been studied for the first time. These compounds give rise to stable molecular ions whose primary fragmentation follows three competing pathways: cleavage of the C–O bonds with expulsion of alkyl radical, cleavage of the C–S bonds with formation of [M–C₃H₃]⁺ ions, and cleavage of the C–N bonds with synchronous hydrogen transfer to give odd-electron [M–C_nH_2n]+ · ion. The main fragmentation pathway of 2-(propargylsulfanyl) derivatives is cleavage of the C–S bond with formation of [M–C₃H₃]⁺ ion.     

pH-responsive Micelles from a Blend of PEG-<Emphasis Type="Italic">b</Emphasis>-PLA and PLA-<Emphasis Type="Italic">b</Emphasis>-PDPA Block Copolymers: Core Protection Against Enzymatic Degradation

pH-responsive micelles with a biodegradable PLA core and a mixed PEG/PDPA shell were prepared by self-assembly of poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(lactic acid) (PEG-b-PLA) and poly(2-(diisopropylamino)ethyl methacrylate)-b-poly(lactic acid) (PDPA-b-PLA). The micellization status with different pH and the enzyme degradation behavior were characterized by ¹H-NMR spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering measurement and zeta potential test. The pH turning point of PDPA block was determined to be in the range of 5.5?7.0. While the pH was above 7.0, the PDPA block collapsed onto the PLA core and could protect the PLA core from invasion of enzyme, as a result, the micelle exhibited a resistance to the enzymatic degradation.