Drawing and dynamic-mechanical behavior of syndiotactic polystyrene an introduction

The drawing behavior of syndiotactic polystyrene was analyzed at different temperatures. Amorphous films were used and, depending on drawing temperature, strain-induced or thermal-induced cold crystallization was observed. This phenomenon, when present, greatly affects the drawing behavior. The dynamic-mechanical behavior of drawn samples was analyzed, and the obtained results indicate that the glass transition is affected by drawing, and that the effect depends drastically on the drawing temperature. Particularly interesting is the dynamic behavior at high temperature where the elastic modulus is weakly affected by temperature also near the melting point.     

Log-Sobolev inequalities for semi-direct product operators and applications

In this paper, we prove some type of logarithmic Sobolev inequalities (with parameters) for operators in semi-direct product forms (see Sect. 1 for a precise definition). This generalizes the tensorization procedure for this type of inequalities and allows to deal with some operators with varying coefficients. We provide many examples of applications and obtain ultracontractive bounds for some of these operators by using appropriate Hardy’s type inequalities necessary for our method. This theory is developed in the setting of carré du champ with diffusion property.     

Synthesis and characterization of gold nanoparticles stabilized by palladium(II) phosphine thiol

This work is focused on the synthesis of innovative hybrids made by linking gold nanoparticles to protected organometallic Pd(II) thiolate. The organometallic protected Pd(II) thiolate, i.e. trans-thioacetate-ethynylphenyl-bis(tributylphosphine)palladium(II) has been synthesized, in situ deprotected and linked to Au nanoparticles. In this way new hybrid, with a direct link between Pd(II) and Au nanoparticles through a single S bridge, has been isolated. The combination of the organometallic Pd(II) thiol with gold nanoparticles allows the enhancement and tailoring of electronic and optical properties of the new organic-inorganic nano-compound. Single-crystal gold nanoparticles, uniform in shape and size were obtained by applying a modified two-phase method (improved Brust-Schiffrin reaction). In addition, the chemical environment of the Au nanoparticles was investigated and a covalent bonding between Au nanoparticles and the organometallic thiols was observed.     

Weighted Strichartz estimates for the Schrödinger and wave equations on Damek–Ricci spaces

We prove Strichartz estimates for radial solutions of the Schrödinger and wave equations on Damek–Ricci spaces, and in particular on symmetric spaces of noncompact type and rank one, using the perturbative theory with potentials. The curvature of the noncompact manifold has an influence on the dispersive properties, and indeed we obtain Strichartz estimates with weights at spatial infinity, which are stronger than the standard ones in the flat case.     

Nano-hybrids incorporation into poly(ε-caprolactone) for multifunctional applications: Mechanical and barrier properties

Intercalation compounds of ZnAl-Layered Double Hydroxide (LDH) with Benzoate (Bz), 2,4-dichlorobenzoate (BzDC), para-hydroxybenzoate (p-BzOH) and ortho-hydroxybenzoate (o-BzOH) anions, have been prepared via anion exchange procedure. The obtained inorganic-organic nano-hybrids were incorporated by High Energy Ball Milling (HEBM) into polycaprolactone (PCL), processed on laboratory scale and thin films were obtained. X-ray diffraction analyses of the samples indicated that both the nature and the position of the aromatic ring substituents affect the value of the interlayer distance and the hydrogen bonds of the nano-hybrids. Physical and barrier properties of water vapor were conducted on all the nanocomposite films, showing the influence of the exfoliation on the mechanical and barrier properties. A preliminary study on the release kinetic of the Bz anions bound to LDH was also performed, enlightening very good perspectives in the field of controlled release of active species.     

Surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) on silver colloids for the identification of ancient textile dyes. Part II: pomegranate and sumac

The effectiveness of surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) spectrocsopy on Ag colloids has been successfully demonstrated for the identification of a yellow dye in two ancient wool threads found in the Royal Tumulus of In Aghelachem, Libyan Sahara, belonging to the Garamantian period (2nd–3rd century A.D.). High‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) highlighted the presence of ellagic acid in the extracts from the threads, excluding other chromophores. This result, together with the abundance of malic acid detected by gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry (GC‐MS), suggested the possible use of pomegranate rind or sumac berries as source of the yellow dye, both plants being documented in the Fezzan area during the Garamantian period. HPLC analyses and SERS spectra acquired on the extracts of the ancient threads were therefore compared with those obtained from pomegranate and sumac extracts of the corresponding fruits and reference dyed wool samples, allowing us to identify the yellow dye as deriving from pomegranate (Punica granatum L.). SERS spectra of ellagic acid and dyes extracted from pomegranate rind and sumac berries are reported here for the first time. A methodological improvement is also presented, based on the use of NaClO₄ as aggregating agent, that leads to a significant increase of the signal‐to‐noise ratio in the SERS spectra. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

On the wave equation with a large rough potential

We prove an optimal dispersive L^∞ decay estimate for a three-dimensional wave equation perturbed with a large nonsmooth potential belonging to a particular Kato class. The proof is based on a spectral representation of the solution and suitable resolvent estimates for the perturbed operator.     

Crystallization kinetics and morphology of the mesomorphic form of syndiotactic polypropylene

For the first time the kinetics of formation of syndiotactic polypropylene mesophase close to 0 °C through differential scanning calorimetry has been investigated. The calorimetric data have been analyzed through the well‐known Avrami analysis. We have obtained Avrami coefficients less or at most equal to 2, which are likely to indicate a nearly bidimensionality of the crystallites. The morphology of the mesophase, not known up to now, has been examined through atomic force microscopy (AFM): lamellar structures have been observed. The fractal dimension of the AFM images has been evaluated through the box counting method. It resulted about 2, in a very good agreement with the calculated Avrami coefficients. An infrared and diffractometer analysis on samples kept for increasing times at 0 °C has also been performed to confirm the calorimetric data. The experimental results allow one to better clarify the kinetics of mesophase‐formation. It has been found that a time of 3 h at 0 °C is actually necessary for the complete crystallization of the trans‐planar mesophase, a longer time is needed to stabilize the mesophase domains when the sample is extracted from 0 °C at room temperature. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 45: 936–944, 2007