Tailoring the morphology and properties of waterborne polyurethanes by the procedure of cellulose nanocrystal incorporation

Polyurethane waterborne synthesis was performed using a two-step method, commonly referred to as a prepolymer method. Nanocomposites based on waterborne polyurethane and cellulose nanocrystals were prepared by the prepolymer method by altering the mode and step in which the nanofillers were incorporated during the polyurethane formation. The morphology, structural, thermal, and mechanical properties of the resulting nanocomposite films were evaluated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and tensile tests. FTIR results indicated that the degree of interaction between the nanofillers and the WPU through hydrogen bonds could be controlled by the method of cellulose nanocrystal incorporation. Data obtained from SAXS experiments showed that the cellulose nanocrystals as well as the step of the reaction in which they are added influenced the morphology of the polyurethane. The reinforcing effect of CNCs on the nanocomposites depends on their morphology.     

A novel kind of dimmer (excimer)-induced-AIE compound 2-phenylisothiazolo[5,4-b]pyridin-3(2H)-one as high selective bisulfite anion probe

An interesting dimmer (excimer)-induced-AIE characteristic of 2-phenylisothiazolo[5,4-b]pyridin-3(2H)-one was observed. By using a ring-opening reaction, we developed a novel fluorescent probe based on sub-micron particles of 2-phenylisothiazolo[5,4-b]pyridin-3(2H)-one in water.     

Preparation,Crystal Structure,and Thermal Decomposition of the Intriguing Five‐coordinated Compound [Cu(IMI)4Cl]Cl (IMI = Imidazole)

The intriguing multi‐ligand compound [Cu(IMI)₄Cl]Cl ( 1 ) with the ligand imidazole (IMI) was synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis and FT‐IR spectroscopy. The crystal structure was determined by X‐ray single crystal diffraction and the crystallographic data showed that the compound belongs to the monoclinic P2₁/n space group [α = 8.847(2) Å, b = 13.210(3) Å, c = 13.870(3) Å, and β = 90.164(3)°]. Furthermore, the Cu^II ion is five‐coordinated by four nitrogen atoms from four imidazole ligands and a chlorine atom. The thermal decomposition mechanism was determined based on differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric (TG‐DTG) analysis. The non‐isothermal kinetics parameters were calculated by the Kissinger's method and Ozawa's method, respectively. The energy of combustion, enthalpy of formation, critical temperature of thermal explosion, entropy of activation (ΔS^≠), enthalpy of activation (ΔH^≠), and free energy of activation (ΔG^≠) were measured and calculated.     

Microstructure and Magnetic Properties of Carbon‐Coated Nanoparticles

Abstract

In the present work, microstructure and superparamagnetic properties of two types of carbon‐coated magnetic Ni and Fe nanoparticles [Ni(C) and Fe(C)] are reviewed. High‐resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), electron diffraction (SAED), and x‐ray diffraction (XRD) analyses have been used to reveal the distinct structural morphologies of Ni and Fe nanoparticles. Moreover, novel carbon‐coated Ni nanoparticle assemblies offer us great opportunities for studying the mechanism of superparamagnetism in particle assemblies. Magnetization measurements [M(T) and M(H) curves] for assemblies of Ni nanoparticles indicate that modified superparamagnetic properties at T > T _B, have been found in the assemblies of Ni(C) particles. The blocking temperature, T _B, is determined to be near 115K under a certain applied field. Above T _B, the magnetization M(H, T) can be described by the classical Langevin function L using the relation, M/M _s (T = 0) = coth (μH/kT) ? kT/μH. It is suggested that these assemblies of carbon‐coated Ni nanoparticles have typical single‐domain, field‐dependent superparamagnetic relaxation properties. Finally, Mössbauer spectra and hyperfine magnetic fields at room temperature for the assemblies of Fe(C) nanoparticles confirm their distinct nanophases that were detected by structural analysis. Modified superparamagnetic relaxation is observed in the assemblies of Fe(C) nanoparticles, which is attributed to the nanocrystalline nature of the carbon‐coated nanoparticles.     

Determination of Drop Sizes in Annular Gas/Liquid Flows in Vertical and Horizontal Pipes

Measurement of drop sizes play vital role in applications dealing with gas/liquid flow mixtures. In the present work, drop sizes in vertical and horizontal pipe flows were determined using Malvern 2600HSD system that applies laser diffraction method. From the analysis of the experimental data obtained at two different pipe orientations, two separate expressions were developed to determine Sauter mean diameter, d ₃₂. Except for the 20 m/s superficial gas velocity in vertical flow case, a good agreement was found between the developed expressions and the experimental data.     

Swelling of Water/Nonionic Surfactant Lamellar Liquid Crystals: A Model

A model is presented to provide quantitative measures to estimate the trends of the change in the penetration of the added component into the polar part of the amphiphile layer in lamellar liquid crystals of water and ethoxylated surfactants with added water (or polar solvents). The total thickness of the bi‐layer is treated as composed of an aqueous layer, of a layer of the polar groups from the surfactant and of the hydrocarbon chains of the latter. A fraction α of the added water is assumed penetrating the polar group layer leading to its expansion. The evaluation is built on the fact that experimental determinations of the interlayer spacing in the overwhelming majority of cases show a first order linear dependence on the ratio of added water. In the model this linearity is obtained by variation of the degree of penetration of water. The model indicated a reduction in the degree of penetration with added water, which is a rational trend. The model demonstrates the earlier interpretation of a structure, whose interlayer spacing is invariant with water contents as nonswelling; for example, in which all added water penetrates the amhiphile layer, is not appropriate. The model demonstrates the constancy of the interlayer spacing to be a consequence of a balance between the expansion of the amphiphile layer and the increase of a “free water” layer.     

CexTi1-xO2复合氧化物表面结构和体相结构的演变

利用X射线衍射、N₂吸附等温线、X射线光电子能谱、X射线吸收谱、H₂-程序升温还原、甲基橙选择化学吸附和等电点测定等方法研究了共沉淀方法制备的一系列Ce_xTi_1-xO₂复合氧化物的结构. 成功发展了甲基橙选择化学吸附和等电点方法研究Ce_xTi_1-xO₂复合氧化物的最外层表面结构, 并定义了“等价CeO₂表面覆盖度”来描述Ce_xTi_1-xO₂复合氧化物的最外层表面结构. Ce_xTi_1-xO₂复合氧化物 (x ≥ 0.7)形成立方萤石相固溶体, Ce_0.3Ti_0.7O₂表现出纯的单斜相, 而其它复合氧化物表现出混合相. Ce_xTi_1-xO₂复合氧化物最外层表面结构的演变行为不同于其体相结构.Ce_0.7Ti_0.3O₂立方萤石相固溶体最外层表面已经部分形成了单斜相Ce_0.3Ti_0.7O₂, 随Ce含量的降低, 单斜相Ce_0.3Ti_0.7O₂从最外层表面向体相生长. Ce_xTi_1-xO₂复合氧化物立方萤石相固溶体和单斜相Ce_0.3Ti_0.7O₂分别在相对较低和较高的温度表现出好的还原性能. 上述结果提供了全面和深层次的Ce_xTi_1-xO₂复合氧化物结构信息.     

Synthesis and Crystal Structure of （E）-2-phenyl-6,7dihydrobenzofuran-4（5H）-one O-cyanomethyl Oxime

A pair of E/Z-isomers of 2-phenyl-6,7-dihydrobenzofuran-4（5H）-one O-cyanomethyl oxime,C16H14N2O2,as potential drugs for treating peptic ulcer and other acid-related diseases have been synthesized and characterized by IR,MS and NMR spectra.Meanwhile,the crystal of IIIa was obtained and determined by X-ray single-crystal diffraction.Crystal data： monoclinic system,space group P21 /c,a = 8.423（8）,b = 19.596（16）,c = 8.770（8）,β = 107.750（12）°,V = 1379（2）3,Z = 4,F（000） = 560,Dc = 1.283 g/cm3,μ = 0.086 mm 1,R = 0.0681 and wR = 0.2029 for 14472 independent reflections（Rint = 0.0782） and 2428 observed ones（I 2σ（I））.     

Synthesis, Crystal Structure and Antiproliferative Activity of 2,2-Dimethyl-4-oxochroman-3-ylmorpholine-4-carbodithioate

The crystal structure of the new title compound 2,2-dimethyl-4-oxochroman-3-ylmorpholine-4-carbodithioate(C16H19NO3S2,Mr = 337.44) has been prepared and determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction.The crystal is of triclinic,space group P1 with a = 9.5518(7),b = 9.7172(7),c = 11.0220(8),α = 67.08(1),β = 74.66(1),= 61.31(1)°,V = 822.72(10)3,Z = 2,Dc = 1.362 g/cm3,F(000) = 356,μ = 0.092 mm-1,MoKa radiation(λ = 0.71073),R = 0.0515 and wR = 0.1389 for 2623 observed reflections with I > 2(I).X-ray diffraction analysis reveals that the chroman ring adopts a half-chair conformation while the morpholine ring shows a chair conformation.Intramolecular and intermolecular C-H···S and C-H···O hydrogen bonds together with π-π interations are found in the structure.The result of MTT assay shows the title compound displays good antiproliferative activity against two human cancer cell lines.     

A small-angle X-ray scattering study of nanoparticle assembly in an aligned nematic liquid crystal

The assembly of colloidal particles in a nematic liquid crystal has been investigated using small-angle X-ray scattering. The structure and orientation of nanoparticle assemblies in bulk samples of aligned nematic liquid crystal have been determined. The method offers some advantages over optical microscopy, which is usually restricted to investigations of thin cells and micron-sized particles. The scattering from chains of particles has been calculated, and comparison with experimental results has shown that suspensions of 48 and 105 nm diameter silica nanoparticles formed highly ordered structures perpendicular to the liquid crystal director, consistent with quadrupolar defect-induced assembly.