Surface,thermal and mechanical characteristics of polymeric solids

Surface molecular motions of amorphous polymeric solids have been directly measured on the basis of lateral force microscopic (LFM) and scanning viscoelasticity microscopic (SVM) measurements. SVM measurement revealed that the molecular motion at the surface of the monodisperse polystyrene (PS) film with Mn less than ca.30k was fairly activated compared with that in a bulk region, mainly due to the surface segregation of chain end groups. Temperature dependent LFM and SVM measurement revealed that the surface glass transition temperature, Tg of the monodisperse PS film was lower than the bulk one, even though Mn was fairly large as 140k and also, that the time-temperature superposition was applicable to the surface relaxation process. The chain end group segregation at the air/PS interface was verified from the dynamic secondary ion mass spectroscopic (DSIMS) depth profiling of the proton and deuterium ion for the end-labeled deutrated-PS (dPS) film. These results suggest that the surface Tg is depressed due to an increase in free volume near surface region, being induced by the preferential surface localization of chain end groups.     

Surface aggregation structure and surface mechanical properties of binary polymer blend thin films

During preparation of very thin polymer belnd films from a solution of polymers, the phase‐separated structures which are quite different from that observed for the bulk blend film was observed. From atomic force microscopic(AFM) observation, it is concluded that the surface undulation, which reflects the phase separated morphology of the blend system, is present. In the case of (polystyrene(PS)/poly(methyl methacrylate)(PMMA)) blend system, a large influence of end‐group chemistry on the surface morphology was observed. The phase identification of the (rubbery polymer/glassy polymer) binary blend thin films was successfully achieved by scanning vioscoelasticity microsopy(SVM).     

Surface thermomechanical and glass transition temperature measurements of polymeric solids

The surface molecular motion of polymeric solids was investigated on the basis of scanning force microscopic and temperature-dependent X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic measurements. The surface of the monodisperse polystyrene films was in a glass-rubber transition state even at 293 K in the case of number-average molecular weight less than ca. 30k. The surface glass transition temperature, Tgs for the symmetric poly(styrene-block-methyl methacrylate) diblock copolymer films were much lower than those for the bulk samples. A remarkable depression of Tg at the air-polymer interface was explained by the surface localization of chain end groups.     

STUDIES ON THE PERMEABILITY OF P VC/EBBA OVERLAPPED ULTRATHIN COMPOSITE MEMBRANES MODIFIED BY PLASMA-POLYMERIZATION WITH FLUOROCARBON MONOMERS

The PVC/EBBA ultrathin composite membranes with thickness of about 100 nm were prepared by spreading the solution on water surface. The overlapped composite membrane showed a characteristic aggregation structure in which the polymer matrix exists as a three-dimensional spongy network and the liquid crystal domains werc observed. Tne surface modification for the overlapped membranes was carried out by means of plasma-polymerization with the monomers of fluorocarbon compounds. Both Arrhenius plots of permeability coefficients for oxygen ((?)_O_2) in the membrane samples before and after modification showed significant increase in the vicinity of the T_(KN) of EBBA.     

Aggregation states and molecular motion of polymer ultrathin films prepared at the air/water interface

Surface structure and dynamics in three different polymeric ultrathin systems, such as organosilane monolayers, poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) brushes and poly(amido amine) dendrimer monolayers are discussed.     

Synthesis and characterization of novel trigonal bipyramidal technetium(III) mixed-ligand complexes with SES/S/P coordination (E = O, N(CH3), S)

Five-coordinate oxotechnetium(V) mixed-ligand complexes [TcO(SES)(S-p-C6H4-OMe)], where SES is a tridentate dithiolato fragment of the type -S(CH2)2E(CH2)2S- (E = O, 1; E = S, 2; E = NMe, 3) are converted via reduction-substitution reactions in the presence of PMe2Ph into the corresponding five-coordinate Tc(III) complexes [Tc(SES)(S-p-C6H4-OMe)(PMe2Ph)] (E = O, 4; E = S, 5; E = NMe, 6). Rearrangement of the original square pyramidal "3 + 1" oxo species to the trigonal bipyramidal "3 + 1 + 1" Tc(III) complexes occurs by placing the three thiolate donors on the basal plane, the phosphine phosphorus, and the heteroatom of the tridentate ligand at the apexes of the bipyramid. These Tc(III) complexes are diamagnetic species, thereby allowing multinuclear NMR characterization in solution, which confirm their structures to be identical to those observed in the solid state via X-ray determinations.     

Chelated hydrazido(3-)rhenium(V) complexes: on the way to the nitrido-M(V) core (M = Tc, Re)

Neutral and asymmetrical hydrazido(3-)rhenium(V) heterocomplexes of the type [Re(eta(2)-L(4))(L(n))(PPh(3))] (eta(2)-L(4) = NNC(SCH(3))S; H(2)L(1) = S-methyl beta-N-((2-hydroxyphenyl)ethylidene)dithiocarbazate, 1, H(2)L(2) = S-methyl beta-N-((2-hydroxyphenyl)methylidene)dithiocarbazate, 2) are prepared via ligand-exchange reactions in ethanolic solutions starting from [Re(V)(O)Cl(4)](-) in the presence of PPh(3) or from [Re(V)(O)Cl(3)(PPh(3))(2)]. The distorted octahedral coordination sphere of these compounds is saturated by a chelated hydrazido group, a facially ligated ONS Schiff base, and PPh(3). Reduction-substitution reactions starting from [NH(4)][Re(VII)O(4)] in acidic ethanolic mixtures containing PPh(3) and H(2)L(n) (or its dithiocarbazic acid precursor H(3)L(4)) produce another example of chelated hydrazido(3-) rhenium(V) derivative, namely [Re(eta(2)-L(4))Cl(2)(PPh(3))(2)], 3. On the contrary, the N-methyl-substituted dithiocarbazic acid H(2)L(3) reacts with perrhenate to give the known nitrido complex [Re(N)Cl(2)(PPh(3))(2)]. Rhenium(V) complexes incorporating the robust eta(2)-hydrazido moiety represent key intermediates helpful for the comprehension of the reaction pathway which generates nitridorhenium(V) species starting from oxo precursors. An essential requirement for the stabilization of such chelated hydrazido-Re(V) units is the triple deprotonation at the hydrazine nitrogens, thereby providing efficient pi-electron circulation in the resulting five-membered ring. The thermal stability of these units is affected by the nature of the anchoring donor, thione sulfur ensuring stronger chelation than nitrogen and oxygen. The eta(2)-hydrazido complexes are characterized by conventional physicochemical techniques, including the X-ray crystal structure determination of 1 and 3.     

Synthesis and characterization of six-coordinate "3 + 2" mixed-ligand oxorhenium complexes with the o-diphenylphosphinophenolato ligand and tridentate coligands of different N and S donor atom combinations

A series of octahedral six-coordinate oxorhenium(V) mixed ligand complexes containing the common [ReO(L)]2+ fragment (L = o-OC6H4P(C6H5)2] have been synthesized and characterized. Hence, it was shown that the [ReO(L)]2+ moiety can accommodate a variety of tridentate ligands containing a central amine group amenable to deprotonation and different combinations of lateral groups, such as ethylamine, substituted ethylamine, ethylthiol, and ethylthioether arms. In particular, by reaction of equimolar amounts of the pertinent HLn ligands with the [(n-C4H9)4N][ReOCl3(L)] precursor in refluxing acetonitrile/methanol or dichloromethane/methanol mixtures, the following series of [ReO(Ln)(L)]+/0 oxorhenium(V) complexes has been generated: ReO[[N(CH2CH2NH2)2][o-OC6H4P(C6H5)2]]Cl (1); ReO[[C2H5)2NCH2CH2NCH2CH2S][o-OC6H4P5)2]] (2); ReO[[(CH2)4NCH2CH2NCH2CH2S][o-OC6H4P(C6H4P(C6H5)2]] (3); and ReO[[C2H5SCH2CH2NCH2CH2S][o-OC6H4P(C6H5)2]] (4). The complexes are closed-shell 18-electron oxorhenium species, which adopt octahedral geometries both in solution and in the solid state, as established by conventional physicochemical techniques including multinuclear NMR and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses.     

Portable X-ray fluorescence device reveals the artistic palette of Carlo Bononi,Baroque artist from Ferrara

The principal aim of the in situ X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis on the canvas “The Coronation of the Virgin” was to characterise the colour palette of Carlo Bononi (Ferrara, 1580–1632), a lesser-known artist of the early Baroque period in Ferrara. More than 100 points were collected by means of an XRF spectrometer, but the presence of many overlapping painted layers left some doubts about the preparation and the background layers. The scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectrometer analysis on two samples resolved some of these doubts. The results obtained indicate the use of typical 17th century pigments, such as lead white, vermilion, azurite and a copper-based green. For yellow pigments, the artist used the yellow ochre in some cases, while in others he used lead-tin yellow. We also individuated at least three different shades of umber. Almost all the pigments have been identified and they are the first step in establishing the technical apparatus necessary to understand the modus operandi of the Ferrarese artist.     

Interfacial Interaction of Polymer/Liquid Crystal Molecules and Electrooptical Properties of their Composite Systems

Polymer/liquid crystal composite films were prepared from a solution of polymer and nematic liquid crystal (LC) by a solvent casting method. The phase-separated structure of the composite film was controlled by the solvent evaporation rate. The light-scattering profile of a poly(diisopropyl fumarate)/LC: 40/60 w/w solution during solvent evaporation exhibited a periodic structure, indicating that the phase-separated structure was formed by spinodal decomposition. The aggregation structure of the composite film was investigated with a scanning electron microscope (SEM). SEM observation of the composite film suggested the presence of periodicity and dual connectivity of polymer and LC phases. The faster the solvent was evaporated, the smaller the LC channel (domain) size in the composite film. The composite film, composed of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and a nematic LC (E44) with a positive dielectric anisotropy, exhibited remarkable and reversible light-scattering-light-transmission switching, under the modulation of an ac electric field. The light-scattering state was dependent on such optical heterogeneities as spatial distribution of the nematic directors and/or mismatching in the refractive indices of the components. The electrooptical behavior of the composite film was strongly dependent on the LC channel (domain) size in the composite film. The transmittance increased and the rise and decay response times (τ_R and τ_D), decreased and increased, respectively, with an increase in the size of the LC channel (domain).

The electrooptical switching properties for the polymer/LC composite film should be influenced by miscibility between the polymer and the LC phases. The miscibility between both phases was evaluated from a distribution of relaxation time for interfacial polarization. The anchoring effect was also investigated by measuring the nonlinearity of the dielectric constant for the composite system.