Correlation of Morphology Evolution with Superior Mechanical Properties in PA6/PS/PP/SEBS Blends Compatibilized by Multi-phase Compatibilizers

In this study,the maleic anhydride(MAH)and styrene(St)dual monomers grafted polypropylene(PP)and poly[styrene-b-(ethylene-co-butylene)-b-styrene](SEBS),i.e.PP-g-(MAH-co-St)and SEBS-g-(MAH-co-St)are prepared as multi-phase compatibilizers and used to compatibilize the PA6/PS/PP/SEBS(70/10/10/10)model quaternary blends.Both PS and SEBS are encapsulated by the hard shell of PP-g-(MAH-co-St)in the dispersed domains(about 2μm)of the PA6/PS/PP-g-(MAH-co-St)/SEBS(70/10/10/10)quaternary blend.In contrast,inside the dispersed domains(about 1μm)of the PA6/PS/PP/SEBS-g-(MAH-co-St)(70/10/10/10)quaternary blend,the soft SEBS-g-(MAH-co-St)encapsulates both the hard PS and PP phases and separates them.With increasing the content of the compatibilizers equally,the morphology of the PA6/PS/(PP+PP-g-(MAH-co-St))/(SEBS+SEBS-g-(MAH-co-St))(70/10/10/10)quaternary blends evolves from the soft(SEBS+SEBS-g-(MAH-co-St))encapsulating PS and partially encapsulating PP(about 1μm),then to PS exclusively encapsulated by the soft SEBS-g-(MAH-co-St)and then separated by PP-g-(MAH-co-St)inside the smaller domains(about 0.6μm).This morphology evolution has been well predicted by spreading coefficients and explained by the reaction between the matrix PA6 and the compatibilizers.The quaternary blends compatibilized by more compatibilizers exhibit stronger hierarchical interfacial adhesions and smaller dispersed domain,which results in the further improved mechanical properties.Compared to the uncompatibilized blend,the blend with both 10 wt%PP-g-(MAH-co-St)and 10 wt%SEBS-g-(MAH-co-St)has the best mechanical properties with the stress at break,strain at break and impact failure energy improved significantly by 97%,71%and 261%,respectively.There is a strong correlation between the structure and property in the blends.     

Solutions of mixtures of cellulose and synthetic polymers in <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-methylmorpholine-<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-oxide

Phase state and morphological features of solutions of cellulose blends with rigid-chain thermotropic LC copolyesters and isotropic poly(m-phenyleneisophthalamide) in the highly polar donor solvent N-methylmorpholine-N-oxide are studied by DSC and polarization microscopy. The ternary phase diagram for the cellulose-copolyesters-N-methylmorpholine-N-oxide system is constructed. Rheological characteristics of the prepared solutions are studied using capillary and rotary rheometers under the regimes of continuous and periodic shear deformation. Rheological characteristics of cellulose solutions with copolyesters in N-methylmorpholine-N-oxide with their different phase states are shown to change in accordance with the traditional mechanism of flow for solutions with high specific interactions between their components. However, the character of the rheological behavior of mixtures of cellulose with poly(m-phenyleneisophthalamide) in N-methylmorpholine-N-oxide primarily stems from structural-morphological transformations in solutions taking place upon deformation.     

Determination of the Water/AOT/Isooctane Reverse Micelles Size Parameters from Their Refractive Index Data

The present paper aims to study the proprieties of water confined in water/AOT/isooctane reverse micelles from their refractive indices at 298.5 K. The refractive indices of the microemulsions were investigated at increasing water concentration and at different micellar volume fractions, Φ _d. The refractive index of micellar water was deduced for a large water to AOT molar ratio, W ₀. The refractive index of interfacial water was also calculated. Then, the molar faction of interfacial water, α, was deduced for different W ₀ values and compared with those measured by NMR as reported in the literature. The results show qualitative agreement. Finally, the average aggregation number, n _agg, the area per surfactant headgroup, σ, as well as the interfacial thickness, d _i, of the reverse micelles were determined for the W ₀ values studied. The values of these structural parameters also show good qualitative agreement with NMR and small angle X-ray scattering data reported in the literature. Thus, the refractive index method can be a cheap and fast alternative for these two methods.     

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.     

Toughening Poly(lactic acid) with Imidazolium-based Elastomeric Ionomers

Imidazolium-based elastomeric ionomers (i-BIIR) were facilely synthesized by ionically modified brominated poly(isobutylene-co-isoprene) (BIIR) with different alkyl chain imidazole and thoroughly explored as novel toughening agents for poly(lactic acid) (PLA). The miscibility, thermal behavior, phase morphology and mechanical property of ionomers and blends were investigated through dynamic mechanical analyses (DMA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), tensile and impact testing. DMA and SEM results showed that better compatibility between the PLA and i-BIIR was achieved compared to the PLA/unmodified BIIR elastomer. A remarkable improvement in ductility with an optimum elongation at break up to 235% was achieved for the PLA/i-BIIR blends with 1-dodecylimidazole alkyl chain (i-BIIR-12), more than 10 times higher than that of pure PLA. The impact strengths of PLA were enhanced from 1.9 kJ/m² to 4.1 kJ/m² for the PLA/10 wt% i-BIIR-12 blend. Toughening mechanism had been established by systematical analysis of the compatibility, intermolecular interaction and phase structures of the blends. Interfacial cavitations initiated massive shear yielding of the PLA matrix owing to a suitable interfacial adhesion which played a key role in the enormous toughening effect in these blends. We believed that introducing imidazolium group into the BIIR elastomer was vital for the formation of a suitable interfacial adhesion.     

Crystal structure of nickel paratungstate B Ni<Subscript>5</Subscript>[W<Subscript>12</Subscript>O<Subscript>40</Subscript>(OH)<Subscript>2</Subscript>]·37H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O

From the solution of the system Na₂WO₄-HNO₃-Ni(NO₃)₂-H₂O acidified to Z = ν(H⁺)/ν(WO ₄ ^2? ) = 1.29, the green crystals of nickel paratungstate B Ni₅[W₁₂O₄₀(OH)₂]·37H₂O are isolated. By FTIR spectroscopy the isopoly anion is shown to belong to the structural type of paratungstate B. Using single crystal X-ray analysis, the structure of Ni₅[W₁₂O₄₀(OH)₂]·37H₂O is solved (M _r = 3840.36, monoclinic, P2₁/c space group, a = 21.9061(6) Å, b = 14.9297(4) Å, c = 22.1391(6) Å, β = 107.609(3)°, V = 6901.4(3)ų at T = 293 K, Z = 4, d_x = 3.696 g/cm³, F ₀₀₀ = 6944, μ = 21.368 mm^?1, ?33 ≤ h ≤ 33, ?22 ≤ k ≤ 22, ?33 ≤ l ≤33; the final uncertainty values for the observed reflections are R _F = 0.0532, wR ² = 0.0831 (R _F = 0.1088, wR ² = 0.0894 over all independent reflections), S = 0.978; CSD-421468).     

Production and characteristics of substituted lanthanum niobate LaNb<Subscript>1–<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>W<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>O<Subscript>4 + δ</Subscript>

Solid solutions LaNb_1–x W _x O_{4 + δ} (x = 0.02–0.10, Δx = 0.02) were investigated, which crystallize in the monoclinic system (space group I2/c) at room temperature and undergo a phase transition into the tetragonal modification with increasing temperature. The stability of various modifications was analyzed by high-temperature X-ray powder diffraction analysis. The electrical conductivity of sintered samples was studied by impedance spectroscopy. Insertion of tungsten into the niobium sublattice leads to an increase in the conductivity of the solid solutions.     

Electron transport properties of thermoelectrics based on layered substituted transition metal dichalcogenides

Temperature dependences of the electrical conductivity are studied in the range 4.2’300 K and Seebeck coefficient at room temperature of bulk samples of tungsten dichalcogenide polycrystals with niobium substitutions for tungsten and selenium substitutions for sulfur – W_1–x Nb _x (S_1–y Se _y )₂. The two-dimensionalization of electron transport properties is detected at niobium concentrations x ≥ 0.1 in W_1–x Nb _x S₂ and x ≥ 0.05 in W_1–x Nb _x Se₂. In samples with additional partial selenium substitution for sulfur the electron transport remains three-dimensional. At room temperature the Seebeck coefficient (at equal electrical conductivities) is several times higher in the samples with quasi-two-dimensional transport than in the samples with three-dimensional transport. The calculation of the power factor at room temperature shows its nine times increase.     

Substrate specificity and function of acetylpolyamine amidohydrolases from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudomonas aeruginosa</Emphasis>

Background

Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a Gram-negative, aerobic coccobacillus bacterium is an opportunistic human pathogen and worldwide the fourth most common cause of hospital-acquired infections which are often high mortality such as ventilator-associated pneumoniae. The polyamine metabolism of P. aeruginosa and particularly the deacetylation of acetylpolyamines has been little studied up to now. Results with other bacterial pathogens e.g., Y. pestis suggest that polyamines may be involved in the formation of biofilms or confer resistance against certain antibiotics.

Results

To elucidate the role of acetylpolyamines and their enzymatic deacetylation in more detail, all three putative acetylpolyamine amidohydrolases (APAHs) from P. aeruginosa have been expressed in enzymatic active form. The APAHs PA0321 and PA1409 are shown to be true polyamine deacetylases, whereas PA3774 is not able to deacetylate acetylated polyamines. Every APAH can hydrolyze trifluoroacetylated lysine-derivatives, but only PA1409 and much more efficiently PA3774 can also process the plain acetylated lysine substrate. P. aeruginosa is able to utilize acetylcadaverine and acetylputrescine as a carbon source under glucose starvation. If either the PA0321 or the PA1409 but not the PA3774 gene is disrupted, the growth of P. aeruginosa is reduced and delayed. In addition, we were able to show that the APAH inhibitors SAHA and SATFMK induce biofilm formation in both PA14 and PAO1 wildtype strains.

Conclusions

P. aeruginosa has two functional APAHs, PA0321 and PA1409 which enable the utilization of acetylpolyamines for the metabolism of P. aeruginosa. In contrast, the physiological role of the predicted APAH, PA3774, remains to be elucidated. Its ability to deacetylate synthetic acetylated lysine substrates points to a protein deacetylation functionality with yet unknown substrates.

     

Structural improvement of ZnO electrodes through solution-processed routes for enhancing open-circuit voltage in dye-sensitized solar cells

We report herein one of our recent studies on nanostructured ZnO electrodes for application in dye-sensitized solar cells, focusing on achieving a higher open-circuit voltage (V_OC). ZnO films were obtained through solution-processed routes including pyrolytic conversion of layered hydroxide zinc acetate (LHZA) films deposited on a fluorine-doped tin oxide-coated conducting glass substrate by a chemical bath deposition method. The morphology of the initial LHZA and the converted ZnO films was tuned from a thick (approximately 12 μm) flower bed-/lawn-like bilayer structure to a thin (1.2 μm) lawn-like quasi-monolayer structure by decreasing the Zn source concentration in the chemical bath. V_OC was found to be enhanced with this morphological change from 0.692 (the bilayer structure) to 0.735 V (the quasi-monolayer structure). Fine tuning of the quasi-monolayer structure by introducing the grain growth effect led to V_OC of the cell as high as 0.807 V, although a short-circuit photocurrent density (J_SC) remained low. Further attempts were then made to increase J_SC while maintaining the high V_OC. When the thickness of the lawn-like monolayer film was increased up to approximately 5 μm, the resultant cell showed V_OC?=?0.750 V, J_SC?=?6.20 mA cm^?2 and a conversion efficiency (η) of 2.83%. The film with a modified flower bed-/lawn-like bilayer structure approximately 11 μm in thickness finally yielded V_OC?=?0.741 V, J_SC?=?13.6 mA cm^?2, and η?=?5.44%.     

Brazilian <Emphasis Type="Italic">Dioscoreaceas</Emphasis> starches

Determination of the characteristics of native starches is crucial in order to select their best application in various industrial fields. Thus, two different types of non-traditional native starches from the Dioscoreaceas species (Dioscorea sp. and Dioscorea piperifolia Humb. var. Wild) were studied regarding their thermal, structural and rheological properties. The results were contrasted with traditional commercial starch sources (potato, cassava and corn). From the thermogravimetric results (TG/DTG), D. piperifolia starch obtained the highest thermal stability of the samples, except for potato starch. Furthermore, using differential scanning calorimetry and viscoamylograph profiles (RVA), it was found that the Dioscoreaceas starches presented a higher onset (T _o) temperature and susceptibility to retrogradation. They also showed lower values in relation to relative crystallinity, which was calculated from their X-ray patterns and tendency to white (L*) colour. The shapes of the Discoreaceas starch granules were determined using electron microscopy; it was found that as the potato starch the Dioscoreaceas starches showed a wide range of particle size.     

The assignment of signals in the EPR spectra of axially symmetrical quintet dinitrenes

Fine structure levels in an external magnetic field and angular dependences of resonance magnetic fields on the direction of an external magnetic field were calculated for two axially symmetrical quintet dinitrenes with the zero-field splitting parameters D _q = 0.260 cm^?1, E _q = 0.000 and D _q = 0.243 cm^?1, E _q = 0.003 cm^?1. The EPR spectra of such dinitrenes contained lines of only three xy transitions (xy ₁, xy ₂, and xy ₄), two Δm _s = ±2 transition lines between the W _?2 and W ₀ sublevels, and three additional lines from noncanonically oriented molecules whose magnetic axis Z made an angle of 12°–16° or 52°–54° with an external magnetic field.     

Quantum-Chemical Study on Positional Selectivity in the Trimethylsilylation and Sulfonation of Pyrrole and <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-Alkylpyrroles

Positional selectivity (α:β ratio) of electrophilic substitution in pyrrole, N-methylpyrrole, and N-tert-butylpyrrole was analyzed by ab initio [RHF/6-31G(d), MP2/6-31G(d)//RHF/6-31G(d)] and DFT [B3LYP/6-31G(d)] calculations of some σ-complexes derived from the substrates. The results of calculations with the use as model electrophilic species of trimethylsilyl cation [MP2/6-31G(d)//RHF/6-31G(d) and B3LYP/6-31G(d)] and SO₃ molecule [B3LYP/6-31G(d)] instead of proton are fairly consistent with the experimental data, according to which trimethylsilylation of pyrrole and its N-substituted derivatives with trimethylsilyl trifluoromethanesulfonate, as well as sulfonation with pyridine-sulfur trioxide complex, gives the corresponding β-substituted products.     

The relation between the potential of zero charge and work function for <Emphasis Type="Italic">sp</Emphasis>-metals

It is shown that for numerous sp-metals there exists no unified work function (W _e) dependence of the potential of zero charge E _{q = 0} and the potential drop characterizing the metal lyophilic behavior Δ _M ^Hg E _chem) _{q = 0}. The reason is that the metal work function is by no means the only factor affecting the value of E _{q = 0}. The quantities E _{q = 0} and (Δ _M ^Hg E _chem) _{q = 0} depend also on the distance of the solvent dipoles’ closest approach to metal surfaces (d _ms) in the absence of the metal-solvent chemisorption interaction. When the metal-solvent chemisorption interaction is involved, this distance affects the degree of overlapping of the metal’s acceptor levels and the upper occupied donor levels in the solvent molecules. To reliably investigate the effect of any of these factors on E _{q = 0}, the other one should be fixed up. It is shown, by example of Ga-, Bi-Gaand Sn-Ga-electrodes, as well as Pb-Ga-, In-Ga-, and Cd-Ga-electrodes demonstrating very close values of the “electrochemical work function” that the metal-solvent chemisorption interaction becomes stronger with the decreasing of d _ms. The influence of this factor is intensified with the increasing of the solvent’s donor number DN. The W _e dependence of E _{q = 0} and (Δ _M ^Hg E _chem) _{q = 0} can be traced by example of metals with nearly equal d _ms values, e.g., Tl-Ga, In-Ga, and Ga. In all studied solvents, the deviation of E _{q = 0} from W _e increased in the series Tl-Ga < In-Ga < Ga, that is, with the increasing of the metal’s work function in vacuum. The effect is intensified with the increasing of the solvent’s DN. The obtained results agree with the concept of donor-acceptor nature of the metal-solvent chemisorption interaction.     

Structure,bioactivity and theoretical study of 1-cyano-<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-p-tolylcyclo-propanecarboxamide

A novel cyclopropane derivative, 1-cyano-N-p-tolylcyclopropanecarboxamide (C₁₂H₁₂N₂O, Mr = 200.24) was synthesized and its structure was studied by X-ray diffraction, FTIR, ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectrum and MS. The crystals are monoclinic, space group P2_1/c with a = 7.109 (4), b = 13.758 (7), c = 11.505 (6) Å, α = 90.00, β = 102.731 (8), γ = 90.00 °, V = 1097.6 (9) ų, Z = 4, F(000) = 312, D _c  = 1.212 g/cm³, μ = 0.0800 mm^?1, the final R = 0.0490 and wR = 0.1480 for 1,375 observed reflections with I > 2σ(I). A total of 6,109 reflections were collected, of which 2,290 were independent (R _int = 0.0290). Theoretical calculation of the title compound was carried out with HF/6-31G (d,p), B3LYP/6-31G (d,p), MP2/6-31G (d,p). The full geometry optimization was carried out using 6-31G(d,p) basis set, and the frontier orbital energy. Atomic net charges were discussed, and the structure-activity relationship was also studied. The preliminary biological test showed that the synthesized compound is bioactive against the KARI of Escherichia coli.     

Structure and properties of solid solutions based on bismuth niobate Bi<Subscript>3</Subscript>NbO<Subscript>7</Subscript>

Solid solutions Bi₃Nb_1–yW_yO_{7 ± δ}, Bi₃Nb_1–yV_yO_{7 ± δ}, Bi₃Nb_1–yFe_yO_{7 ± δ} (y = 0.1–0.5; Δy = 0.1), and Bi_3–xY_xNb_1–yW_yO_{7 ± δ} (x = 0.05, 0.1; y = 0–0.3; Δy = 0.1) have been studied. The homogeneity ranges of the solid solutions and crystal-chemical parameters have been determined by means of X-ray powder diffraction. The electrical conductivity of sintered samples has been studied by impedance spectroscopy. The joint introduction of yttrium and tungsten into the niobium sublattice does not lead to an increase in the conductivity of solid solutions, and the change of the dopant type has no noticeable effect on this conductivity.     

Synthesis of Complex Tungsten-Zirconium Carbonitrides

The process parameters (temperature, atmosphere, and composition) of the synthesis of complex carbonitrides W_1?xZr _x C_1?yN _y were determined. The area of formation of homogeneous carbonitrides in synthesis from refractory compounds and from WC and zirconium oxide was found. The conditions of appearance of the hemicarbide W₂C were elucidated. The possibility of fabricating homogeneous carbonitrides (CNs) at the lower temperature of the synthesis by increasing fineness of the starting components by vibrogrinding was examined.     

The mobility of threaded <Emphasis Type="Italic">α</Emphasis>-cyclodextrins in PR copolymer and its influences on mechanical properties

The methylated polyrotaxane (MePR) copolymer was prepared via the methylation of hydroxyl of threaded α-cyclodextrin (α-CDs) in polyrotaxane (PR) copolymer by CH₃I/NaH. Its structure was characterized by GPC, IR and NMR. The WXRD and TGA measurements showed the destruction of channel-like crystalline structure in MePR copolymer. The sliding of threaded α-CDs along PEG axis in PR and MePR copolymers was demonstrated by their dielectric spectra that also evidenced the presence of rotating of threaded α-CDs around PEG axis in MePR copolymer. The frequent and vigorous molecular mobility in MePR and PR copolymers was also verified by dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) and rheological measurement, which was possibly assigned to the sliding and rotating of threaded α-CDs. DMA and rheological results showed that the mobility of α-CDs could simultaneously strengthen and toughen PR copolymer proved by stress-stain curves. In this paper, we report the CD mobility in PR and MePR copolymers. The macroscopic behaviors of PR copolymer, such as mechanical properties in solid state, were also found to be benefited from CD mobility.     

Crystal structure of KAsUO<Subscript>6</Subscript>·<Subscript>3</Subscript>H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O at 100 and 293 K

The crystal structure of KAsUO₆·3H₂O was solved at 100 K and 293 K. KAsUO₆·3H₂O at T = 100 K: tetragonal, P4/ncc, a = 7.2037(6) Å, c = 17.811(2) Å; Z = 4, R1 = 0.0263, wR2 = 0.0546, for 618 independent reflections; at T = 293 K: tetragonal, P4/ncc, a = 7.1600(4) Å, c = 17.746(1) Å; Z = 4, R1 = 0.0263, wR2 = 0.0433 for 427 independent reflections. The results of X-ray analysis are compared with our previous data on heat capacity of this compound, and changes that take place in the structure at elevated temperature are considered.     

Thermal characterisation of raw aluminosilicate glazes in SiO<Subscript>2</Subscript>–Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>–CaO–K<Subscript>2</Subscript>O–Na<Subscript>2</Subscript>O–ZnO system with variable content of ZnO

Thermal properties of raw aluminosilicate ceramic glazes in the multicomponent system of SiO₂–Al₂O₃–CaO–K₂O–Na₂O–ZnO modified by ZnO addition were studied by differential thermal analysis (DTA), dilatometry (DIL), hot-stage microscopy (HSM), X-ray diffraction and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Using the method of differential thermal analysis, the ways in which zinc oxides affect the temperature of transition (T _g), crystallisation (T _c) were determined. An analysis of the DTA data obtained during thermal tests showed that an increase in ZnO content results in decreasing the T _g value. Also, the influence of ZnO on characteristic temperatures and viscosity of glazes was checked. The introduction of zinc oxide (ZnO) into the glaze composition contributes to the decrease in viscosity of such glazes. An increasing ZnO content in the glazes also causes the reduction in softening (T _s), half-sphere (T _half-sphere) and fusion (T _fusion) temperatures. The mid-infrared spectroscopy showed that the thermal properties of glazes in SiO₂–Al₂O₃–CaO–K₂O–Na₂O–ZnO system modified by addition of ZnO can be associated with the depolymerising influence of zinc ions on the structure of the tested glazes.