Photo-stabilising action of metal chelates in polypropylene—Part IV: Influence of metal stearates in an exchange mechanism

The effect of calcium and nickel stearates on the photo-stabilising action and photo-decomposition of one calcium and two nickel metal chelates in polypropylene has been examined using infra-red and ultraviolet derivative spectroscopy. Whereas the presence of calcium stearate antagonises the photo-stabilising action of one nickel chelate, Irgastab 2002, it strongly synergises with the other, Cyasorb UV 1084. The presence of nickel stearate synergises with the calcium chelate, Irganox 1425, in unprocessed polymer whereas, in processed polymer, it exhibits antagonism. Rates of photo-decomposition of the metal chelates are also affected by metal stearates. The data suggests that, with these nickel chelates, there might be some degree of metal exchange with certain metal stearates.     

Photo-stabilising action of metal chelates in polypropylene—Part I: Excited state quenching versus UV antioxidant action under polychromatic irradiation

The photo-stabilising action of three metal chelates—nickel (II) 2,2′ thiobis (4-tert-octylphenylato) n-butylamine and the nickel and calcium derivatives of bis (ethyl-3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxybenzyl) phosphonate, in polypropylene—is examined using normal and second order derivative ultraviolet, infra-red and phosphorescence spectroscopic techniques and hydroperoxide analysis. Whilst all three stabilisers quenched the phosphorescence emission of a powerful photo-sensitiser, benzophenone, there was no protective action during photo-sensitised oxidation of the polymer. In the case of anthraquinone, there was no quenching and no protection. Processing history plays a dominant rôle in controlling the photo-stabilising performance of the chelates. Each stabiliser operates differently, being dependent on its relative stability during processing and photo-oxidation and on the formation and destruction of polymeric and antioxidant hydroperoxides during processing. Metal chelates operate by inhibiting polymer hydroperoxide formation during processing and acting as ultraviolet stable chain terminators or by giving products during the early stages of photo-oxidation which are themselves effective stabilisers.     

Photo-stabilising action of metal chelate stabilisers in polypropylene: Part VII—Additive interactions

The interactions of three metal chelates (nickel (II) 2,2′-thiobis (4-tertoctyl-phenolato), n-butylamine (Cyasorb UV 1084) and the nickel and calcium derivatives of bis(ethyl-3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxybenzyl) phosphonate (Irgastab 2002 and Irganox 1425)) with other commercial additives, in the stabilisation of polypropylene film, are examined using normal and second-order derivative ultraviolet and infra-red spectroscopic techniques. It is shown that the observed behaviour is dependent on the particular additive, the processing history of the polymer and the metal chelate concerned, and is therefore highly complex. All three chelates show antagonism with a hindered piperidine, bis(2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-piperidinyl) sebacate (Tinuvin 770), in unprocessed polymer, whereas one of the chelates behaves synergistically with this additive in processed samples. The chelates also show antagonism with a primary antioxidant, tris((3-(3′,5′-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxybenzyl)-2′'-aceto-ethyl)) isocyanurate (Goodrite 3125), whereas, with a secondary antioxidant, distearyl pent-aerithrityl diphosphite (Weston 618), their behaviour is synergistic in both unprocessed and processed polymer. Two of the chelates show synergism with 2-hydroxy-4-n-octoxybenzophenone (Cyasorb UV 531), the remaining chelate showing antagonism. Mixtures containing a three-additive system show a more complex behaviour. The results are explained in terms of hydroperoxide decomposition, inhibition, stabiliser dispersion, ultraviolet stability and additive compatibility.     

Improved quantitation of 2,4-dichlorophenol in plant tissues by high-performance liquid chromatography with amperometric detection

For the determination of 2,4-dichlorophenol (DCP) residues in plant tissues, the use of high-performance liquid chromatography with amperometric detection decreases the quantitation limits by a factor of five compared to those obtained with gas chromatography with Hall conductivity detection. It also avoids the clean-up and derivatization procedures required for electron-capture detection. After extraction of DCP from plant tissue by steam distillation and collection in toluene, an alumina clean-up column is used to remove electroactive interferences from the samples. The DCP is then extracted into aqueous alkaline solution, neutralized, and diluted with acetonitrile to ca. 50% (v/v). An alternative clean-up made use of an in-line, pre-column electrochemical procedure, in which case the alumina column was not used. The components were separated with a reverse-phase column and detected with a polychlorotrifluoroethylene/graphite composite electrode at an applied potential of +1.0 V vs. Ag/AgCl. The quantitation limit for DCP in the plant tissues was 100 pg per injection (0.05 mg Kg^?1).     

Electroreduction of Aryldiazonium Ion at the Polar and Non-Polar Faces of ZnO: Characterisation of the Grafted Films and Their Influence on Near-Surface Band Bending

ZnO is a strong candidate for transparent electronic devices due to its wide band gap and earth-abundance, yet its practical use is limited by its surface metallicity arising from a surface electron accumulation layer (SEAL). The SEAL forms by hydroxylation of the surface under normal atmospheric conditions, and is present at all crystal faces of ZnO, although with differing hydroxyl structures. Multilayer aryl films grafted from aryldiazonium salts have previously been shown to decrease the downward bending at O-polar ZnO thin films, with Zn−O−C bonds anchoring the aryl films to the substrate. Herein we show that the Zn-polar (0001), O-polar (000 ), and non-polar m-plane (10 0) faces of ZnO single crystals, can also be successfully electrografted with nitrophenyl (NP) films. In all cases, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) measurements reveal that the downward surface band bending decreases after modification. XPS provides strong evidence for Zn−O−C bonding at each face. Electrochemical reduction of NP films on O-polar ZnO single crystals converts the film to a mainly aminophenyl layer, although with negligible further change in band bending. This contrasts with the large upward shifts in band bending caused by X-ray induced reduction.     

A millimeter/sub-millimeter-wave spectroscopic study of the FeCl radical (XΔi)

Pure rotational spectroscopy of the FeCl radical (X⁶Δ_i) has been carried out using millimeter/sub-millimeter direct absorption techniques. The species was created by the reaction of chlorine with iron vapor. All six spin-orbit components were observed in the majority of the twenty-one rotational transition recorded. Chlorine hyperfine structure was resolved in the Ω = 9/2 and 7/2 components, and lambda-type doubling observed in the Ω = 3/21/2, and −1/2 ladders. The data were analyzed with a ⁶Δ Hamiltonian, and rotational, fine structure, lambda-doubling, and hyperfine parameters determined. The hyperfine and lambda-doubling interactions in FeCl appear to be different from those in the FeF radical.     

High-resolution photoelectron spectroscopy through deconvolution

A new iterative deconvolution algorithm for the development of very high resolution Hc(I)-excited photoelectron spectra of gases is presented. The algorithm accepts as input a medium-resolution spectrum and an instrument function obtained by scanning intrinsically narrow line (e.g. the Ar²P_3/2 line) under conditions identical to those used to acquire the medium resolution spectrum. The deconvolved partial spectrum of an O₂H₂O mixture is presented as a test case prior to presentation of results for three nitrogen lines. For comparison purposes directly obtained high-resolution spectra of the nitrogen lines are included. The shapes of the nitrogen lines are discussed within the framework of a one-center expansion theory of photoionization. The conditions under which deconvolution can be profitably applied are briefly discussed and an attempt is made to establish the deconvolution (contrary to still popular belief) is not in any way equivalent to curve fitting.     

Electrophotographic and microwave photodielectric studies on titanium dioxide pigments in the solid state

In this paper, we report some novel preliminary findings on the photoactivity of titanium dioxide pigments using photoconductive and microwave dielectric techniques. A variety of pigment types were investigated by both methods, including the two crystalline forms of titanium dioxide, anatase and rutile, and a variety of coated pigments. Analysis of the data obtained indicates that there are possible relationships between the photoconductive and photodielectric results, and that these may be used to characterize the pigment types rapidly. Photoconductive measurements were carried out on pigmented films of poly(N-vinylcarbazole) (PVK). Uncoated pigments were found to be more photoconductive than coated pigments with the anatase modification being the more active. It is believed that the pigments act as “trapping” sites to the holes produced by PVK, and that the more photoactive the pigment, the easier it is to regenerate the holes. Various factors influence the band gap of the pigment and these have a significant effect on the photoactivity and photoconductivity of the pigment samples. These include the presence of traps and recombination centres (present as coatings on the surface of the pigment particle) and impurities which can act as acceptors or donors.

Microwave dielectric measurements were carried out on the different anatase and rutile pigments, each exhibiting a different microwave resonant frequency loss depending on the nature of the crystalline modification and the coating. However, on illumination on the pigments with polychromatic light in the microwave cavity, the resonant frequency losses exhibit shifts, the nature of which depend on the pigment type and the coating. Thus the anatase pigments exhibit greater responses than the rutile pigments, particularly with regard to the shift in the resonant frequency values and the change in the Q factor of the resonant peak. The resonant frequency values of the anatase samples are also higher than those obtained for the rutile samples. Furthermore, the frequency shifts are in opposite directions, with the anatase modification exhibiting a more rapid shift to lower frequencies and rutile a slower shift to higher frequencies. It appears that, when the anatase samples are irradiated, their dielectric properties change from those characteristic of a conductor-like material to those of an insulator-like material. However, these changes are reversible once the illumination is terminated. With the rutile samples, irradiation increases the resonant frequency values and hence their dielectric constants. Thus the pigments appear to become more like conductors.     

Mapping the Geometry of Metal Three‐Coordination Using Crystal Structure Data: Reaction Pathway for Ligand Addition to Linear HgII Species

Symmetry‐modified principal‐component analysis has been used to visualise the geometrical distortions of three‐coordinate metal centres observed in crystal structures retrieved from the Cambridge Structural Database. It is shown that compounds of Cu, Ag, Hg, Zn, and Au dominate the dataset, and exhibit distortions away from the trigonal planar archetype towards a) T‐shaped and b) Y‐shaped geometries. A small number of compounds, principally of Cu and Ag, also show distortions towards trigonal pyramidal geometries. The interconversions from Y‐shaped geometries, through the trigonal planar form to T‐shaped geometries are clearly mapped by the PC analysis. For Hg^II complexes, it is possible to interpret the transition from T‐shaped geometries to the trigonal planar form in terms of a reaction pathway for ligand addition to linear L₁? Hg^II? L₂ species.     

Oxidation processes in blue water pipe

The thermal, hydrolytic and photochemical oxidation of blue water pipe material has been studied using Fourier Transform infra-red microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and hydroperoxide analysis. The results indicate that oxidation of the pipe occurs predominantly on the outer surface and to a lesser extent on the bore, often with little or no change in the middle layers, FTIR analysis of microtomed sections of the pipe supports the DSC analysis (oxidation induction time at 200°C—OIT) and indicates leaching and consumption of the polymer antioxidants at the outer surface of the pipe. Oxidation profiles at 80°C in water, as measured using carbonyl index, indicate an unusual hydrolytic oxidation and extraction of the carbonylic oxidation products only at the outer pipe surface to a depth of about 0·5 mm resulting in high hydroperoxidation levels. These oxidation analyses are consistent with density profile changes through the pipe wall. Whilst water is concluded to have an important influence in controlling pipe stability, which, in turn, is governed by the temperature and extractability of the polymer antioxidants, ultraviolet light is also seen to have a similar detrimental effect. The influence of these various degradative parameters on the long-term stability of pipe is discussed with a view to elucidating the mechanisms involved.