Structural characterization of poly(diethylsiloxane) in the crystalline, liquid crystalline and isotropic phases by solid-state 17O NMR spectroscopy and ab initio MO calculations

The structure of poly(diethylsiloxane) (PDES) has been characterized using solid-state NMR of (17)O. The sample studied had a weight-average molecular weight of 2.45 x 10(5). The sample was prepared by utilizing the cationic ring-opening polymerization of (17)O-enriched hexacyclotrisiloxane. Solid-state NMR of (17)O-enriched PDES was measured on the low-temperature beta(1) phase, the high-temperature beta(2) phase, the two-phase system consisting of the liquid crystal and isotropic liquid phase and the isotropic phase. From these data, the molecular structure and dynamics of PDES in the various phases were characterized via the chemical shifts of (17)O, and electric field gradient parameters were determined from NMR and ab initio molecular orbital (MO) calculations. In addition to the solid-state NMR of (1)H, (13)C and (29)Si previously reported on these samples, knowledge of the dynamic behavior of PDES as inferred from the NMR of (17)O in the present study was enhanced significantly. Further, the potential of combining the experimental NMR of (17)O with ab initio MO calculations to characterize the dynamics of polymers containing oxygen is demonstrated.     

Peculiar temperature dependence on the binding of methyl orange and its homologs by 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate-N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone copolymers

2-Hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA)-N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone (VPy) copolymers of various compositions have been prepared. The copolymers obtained were examined for their ability to bind a homologous series of methyl orange derivatives, methyl orange, ethyl orange, propyl orange, and butyl orange, at 5, 15, 25, and 35°C, respectively, in an aqueous solution. The first binding constants and the thermodynamic parameters that accompanied the binding were evaluated. The binding ability of the copolymer for the small cosolute was enhanced with an increase of the HEMA content in the copolymer. Moreover, a bell-shaped curve appeared in the binding of butyl orange by the copolymers having higher HEMA residues when the first binding constant was plotted as a function of temperature, whereas no such phenomenon was detected for the copolymers with less HEMA content or for the less hydrophobic dye, methyl orange, ethyl orange, or propyl orange. This peculiar temperature dependence of the first binding constant shows that the enthalpy of the binding varies from a positive (unfavorable) value below ca. 15°C to a negative (favorable) one above this temperature. This behavior can be accounted for in terms of more hydrophobic effects involved in the binding process.     

Cross-linked polyvinylpyrrolidones with increased affinity and specificity for methyl orange and its homologs

Polyvinylpyrrolidones of various degrees of cross-linkage have been prepared by radical polymerization of N-vinylpyrrolidone with methylenebisacrylamide to regulate the fraction of cross-linkage. The insoluble polymers obtained were examined for their ability to bind methyl orange and its homologs, methyl orange, ethyl orange, propyl orange, and butyl orange at 5, 15, 25, and 35°C, respectively, in an aqueous solution. The first binding constants and the thermodynamic parameters that accompanied the binding were calculated. For any particular dye the extent of binding, the absolute magnitude of ΔF°, and the value of ΔS° increased as the degree of cross-linkage increased, starting with water-soluble polyvinylpyrrolidone (zero cross-linkage) and proceeding to the polymer with high cross-linking density. This behavior can be accounted for in terms of more extensive hydrophobic domains in the cross-linked polymeric matrix that enhances hydrophobic interactions in the binding process. Moreover, the cross-linked macromolecule polymerized in the presence of methyl orange and then stripped of the bound methyl orange shows substantially stronger binding for this small molecule than the polymer cross-linked in the absence of methyl orange. In contrast, the cross-linked polymer prepared similarly in the presence of the larger molecule, butyl orange, exhibits decreased affinity toward the smaller consolute, methyl orange, than either of the other polymers described. It seems, therefore, that the polymeric matrix provides favorable binding sites or pockets that can accommodate a specific small molecule. The preparative procedure, which uses a small-molecule template, molds into the polymer some structural specificity in the binding of small molecules.     

Thermodynamics of binding of methyl orange and its homologs by poly(vinylpyrrolidone): The effect of inorganic electrolytes

The extent of binding of methyl orange, ethyl orange, propyl orange, and butyl orange by poly(vinylpyrrolidone) has been measured in aqueous solutions of inorganic electrolytes such as NaCl, LiCl, NaSCN, and NaClO₄ by an equilibrium dialysis method. The effect of the salts on the first binding constants and the thermodynamic functions which are accompanied by the dye—polymer association process was investigated relative to the corresponding values in the absence of such salts. It was found that in aqueous solutions of NaCl and LiCl the enthalpy change accompanying the binding is small and the largest contribution to the free energy of binding is from the positive entropy gain. For NaSCN and NaClO₄, the values of ΔF° and ΔH° were both large and negative and the value of ΔS° was small and negative. Thus, the favorable free energy for the complex formation was due entirely to the negative enthalpy term. These characteristics of the thermodynamic quantities are discussed in terms of changes in structural properties of water in the vicinity of the binding entities and conformational changes of the polymer to which the dye is bound due to the added foreign electrolytes.     

Binding of methyl orange and its homologs by polycations containing apolar pendant groups

The binding of methyl orange, ethyl orange, and propyl orange by polycations involving various apolar pendant groups such as methyl, ethyl, benzyl, or dodecylbenzyl groups has been examined quantitatively by an equilibrium dialysis method at 5, 15, 25, and 35°C. The first binding constants and the thermodynamic parameters in the course of the binding have been calculated. The favorable free energy of the binding is accompanied by an entropy gain and an exothermic enthalpy change. The shorter the alkyl chain of the dyes or the polymers, the more negative is the enthalpy change and hence the smaller is the entropy change. Furthermore, an increase in binding affinity can be created in the polycation upon introduction of hydrophobic groups. In particular, the binding ability of the polycation containing a dodecylbenzyl group for methyl orange is almost 300-fold that of bovine serum albumin. Therefore it is clear that hydrophobic interactions, as well as electrostatic ones, are involved in the binding.     

Interaction of poly(vinylpyrrolidone) with methyl orange and its homologs in aqueous solution over the temperature range 60–90°c

The binding of methyl orange, ethyl orange, propyl orange, and butyl orange by poly(vinylpyrrolidone) has been examined by a technique of equilibrium dialysis over a high temperature range (60–90°C). The first binding constants and the thermodynamic parameters in the course of the binding were evaluated. The results obtained at these temperatures were compared to those at lower ones (5–35°C) described previously in order to estimate the contribution of hydrophobic bonds to the binding. It was found that at the 60–90°C range complex formation between the dye and the macromolecule is associated with an exothermic enthalpy change and a positive entropy change. The enthalpy and entropy changes of the binding are of the order of ?4.5 kcal/mole and 6 eu, respectively, for each dye measured. Thus the binding is mainly enthalpy-controlled. Furthermore the effect of the alkyl chain length of the dye on both the ΔH° and ΔS° values is not pronounced. Also temperature dependences of the ΔH° and ΔS° terms were not observed. All these observations in the higher temperature range can be explained as a result of the disruption of water structure in the binding environment and hence a decrease in hydrophobic bond formation between the dye and the polymer.     

The development of grain-oriented silicon steel with high permeability

We explain the theoretical background, uses and new development of grain-oriented silicon steel with high permeability using A1N as a grain growth inhibitor.New production techniques have made it possible to get superior core loss values; for example, 0.99 W/kg at 1.7 Tesla and 50 Hz (0.30 mm thickness). The presence of A1N precipitated being controlled in the size of about 300 Å or under and in adequate distribution and quantity in the steel is very important for developing secondary grains with high permeability.Core loss improvements on actual transformers using high permeability materials are approximately 10–25% in wound type pole transformers and 5–20% in laminated type large transformers.     

Gate-induced band ferromagnetism in an organic polymer

We propose that a chain of five-membered rings (polyaminotriazole) should be ferromagnetic with an appropriate doping that is envisaged to be feasible with a field-effect transistor structure. The ferromagnetism is confirmed by a spin density functional calculation, which also shows that ferromagnetism survives the Peierls instability. We explain the magnetism in terms of the Mielke and Tasaki flatband ferromagnetism with the Hubbard model. This opens a new possibility of band ferromagnetism in purely organic polymers.