Wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry study of the crystallization of poly(ethylene naphthalate), poly(butylene naphthalate), and their copolymers

The crystallization behavior of a series of poly(ethylene‐co‐butylene naphthalate) (PEBN) random copolymers was studied. Wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction (WAXD) patterns showed that the crystallization of these copolymers could occur over the entire range of compositions. This resulted in the formation of poly(ethylene naphthalate) or poly(butylene naphthalate) crystals, depending on the composition of the copolymers. Sharp diffraction peaks were observed, except for 50/50 PEBN. Eutectic behavior was also observed. This showed isodimorphic cocrystallization of the PEBN copolymers. The variation of the enthalpy of fusion of the copolymers with the composition was estimated. The isothermal and nonisothermal crystallization kinetics were studied. The crystallization rates were found to decrease as the comonomer unit content increased. The tensile properties were also measured and were found to decrease as the butylene naphthalate content of the copolymers increased. For initially amorphous specimens, orientation was proved by WAXD patterns after drawing, but no crystalline reflections were observed. However, the fast crystallization of drawn specimens occurred when they were heated above the glass‐transition temperature. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 843–860, 2004     

The interaction between poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) and salts in aqueous media: The “salting-out” phenomenon as studied by attenuated total reflection/fourier transform infrared spectroscopy

The effect of two strong salting-out salts (Na₂SO₄ and K₂SO₄) on the temperature-induced phase-separation process in aqueous solutions of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPA) was examined by attenuated total reflectance/Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and viscosity measurements. On the basis of these measurements, a detailed scenario of the phase-separation process was deduced. The phase-separation scenario of solutions containing PNIPA and water was altered in the presence of sulfate ions. Here, the sulfate ions induced partial intrachain collapse, manifested by a relatively compact structure well below the lower critical solution temperature. This led to a more gradual, smooth phase transition, with temperature-resolved intrachain collapse and interchain aggregation and a lesser extent of hysteresis. Although at the macrolevel one may not be able to differentiate among various scenarios altering the solvent into a poor solvent, the aforementioned microlevel measurements provided a way to expose the difference between raising the temperature and adding cosolutes. Follow-up studies on the effect of salting-in salts will be presented. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 33–46, 2004     

Novel fixed‐site–carrier polyvinylamine membrane for carbon dioxide capture

Fixed‐site–carrier membranes were prepared for the facilitated transport of CO₂ by casting polyvinylamine (PVAm) on various supports, such as poly(ether sulfone) (PES), polyacrylonitrile (PAN), cellulose acetate (CA), and polysulfone (PSO). The cast PVAm on the support was crosslinked by various methods with glutaraldehyde, hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, and ammonium fluoride. Among the membranes tested, the PVAm cast on polysulfone and crosslinked by ammonium fluoride showed the highest selectivity of CO₂ over CH₄ (>1000). The permeance of CO₂ was then measured to be 0.014 m³ (STP)/(m² bar h) for a 20 μm thick membrane. The effect of the molecular weight of PVAm and feed pressure on the permeance was also investigated. The selectivity increased remarkably with increasing molecular weight and decreased slightly with increased pressure in the range of 1 to 4 bar. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 4326–4336, 2004     

Behavior of cellulose in NaOH/Urea aqueous solution characterized by light scattering and viscometry

Cellulose was dissolved in 6 wt % NaOH/4 wt % urea aqueous solution, which was proven by a ¹³C NMR spectrum to be a direct solvent of cellulose rather than a derivative aqueous solution system. Dilute solution behavior of cellulose in a NaOH/urea aqueous solution system was examined by laser light scattering and viscometry. The Mark–Houwink equation for cellulose in 6 wt % NaOH/4 wt % urea aqueous solution at 25 °C was [η] = 2.45 × 10^?2 weight‐average molecular weight (M_w)^0.815 (mL g^?1) in the M_w region from 3.2 × 10⁴ to 12.9 × 10⁴. The persistence length (q), molar mass per unit contour length (M_L), and characteristic ratio (C_∞) of cellulose in the dilute solution were 6.0 nm, 350 nm^?1, and 20.9, respectively, which agreed with the Yamakawa–Fujii theory of the wormlike chain. The results indicated that the cellulose molecules exist as semiflexible chains in the aqueous solution and were more extended than in cadoxen. This work provided a novel, simple, and nonpollution solvent system that can be used to investigate the dilute solution properties and molecular weight of cellulose. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 347–353, 2004     

Bio‐based nanocomposites from functionalized plant oils and layered silicate

Some discovery work was done on the synthesis of clay nanocomposites based on renewable plant oils. Functionalized triglycerides, such as acrylated epoxidized soybean oil, maleinized acrylated epoxidized soybean oil, and soybean oil pentaerythritol maleates, combined with styrene were used as the polymer matrix. The miscibility of these monomers and clay organomodifier was assessed by solubility parameters. The formation of nanocomposites was confirmed by both X‐ray data and transmission electron microscopy. The morphology showed a mix of intercalated and partially exfoliated sheets. The flexural modulus increased 30% at only 4 vol % clay content, but there was no significant effect on flexural strength, glass‐transition temperature, and thermal stability. Property enhancement was related to the degree of exfoliation that depends on both the polarity and flexibility of the monomers. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 1441–1450, 2004     

Relationship between the dynamic softening transition and wet sliding friction of elastomer compounds

For properly chosen elastomer compounds, thermorheological characterization is combined with an examination of the variation of the wet sliding friction with temperature. A conceptual argument leads to the assumption that the wet sliding friction should maximize at the energy dissipation peak associated with the dynamic softening transition at a characteristic frequency determined by the sliding speed and the effective smallest surface asperity scale. The dynamic softening transition is characterized with the peak in tan δ/G′ⁿ, where tan δ is the loss tangent, G′ is the elastic modulus, and n is a constant between 0 and 1. The William–Landel–Ferry transform is uncritically applied for extrapolating the position of the peak in tan δ/G′ⁿ at high frequencies. Even based on the criterion of tan δ, the results obtained on a concrete surface indicate that the effective smallest asperity scale is of order of 100 μm. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 2467–2478, 2004     

Differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis investigation of the thermal properties and degradation of some radiation‐grafted films and membranes

The influence of irradiation and grafting on the crystallinity of three base polymers has been investigated with differential scanning calorimetry. Grafting has the largest effect on the base polymer crystallinity and results in a reduction of the crystallinity. The thermal degradation of the base polymers and grafted films has been investigated with thermogravimetric analysis. The extent of the fluorination of the base polymer, the irradiation method, and the graft level all influence the thermal degradation and its activation energy. It is proposed that the variation of the chain lengths of the grafted polystyrene chains is actually a primary underlying factor responsible for the influence of these various parameters on the degradation process. The first results of a comparative thermal analysis of some fuel‐cell membranes are also presented, and the promise and shortcomings of this method are discussed. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 2612–2624, 2004     

RuH2和RuN2电子组态与光谱性质的从头计算

用量子化学从头算方法在B3LYP/6 311G 的水平上 ,研究了RuH2 和RuN2 可能的电子组态和光谱性质 .结果表明 ,RuH2 的3 B2 和5Σ-态对应于静电作用的物理吸附态 .RuN2 的一重态和三重态的计算结果跟钌单晶面上的实验值相接近 .而RuN2 在C∞v对称性时 ,五重态5Σ-的计算频率比实验值稍低 .在C2v对称性时 ,五重态的计算频率值则更低 ,3 B2 和5A1态不能稳定存在     

(Nd_(1-x)Er_x)_2Co_(15.5)V_(1.5)的结构转变与磁性

利用电弧熔炼制备了 (Nd1 xErx) 2 Co1 5 5V1 5(x=0— 1 0 )化合物样品 .通过x射线衍射分析和磁性测量研究了Er替代Nd2 Co1 5 5V1 5中的Nd时对化合物结构和磁性的影响 .研究结果表明 ,低Er含量 (x <0 4 ) ,化合物为Th2 Zn1 7型结构 ;高Er含量时 (x >0 5 ) ,化合物转变为Th2 Ni1 7结构 ;Er含量为x =0 4和 0 5时 ,两种结构共存 .两种结构的晶胞参数a ,c和晶胞体积V随着Er含量的增加都呈现递减的趋势 .随着Er含量的增加 ,(Nd1 xErx) 2 Co1 5 5V1 5化合物的居里温度和饱和磁化强度都单调下降 .(Nd1 xErx) 2 Co1 5 5V1 5化合物的室温各向异性由低Er含量时的易锥型转变为高Er含量时的易轴型 .x =0— 0 5的化合物在温度升高时发生自旋重取向转变 ,自旋重取向温度Tsr随Er含量的增加而减小     

Yb:FAP和Yb:C_3S_2-FAP晶体光谱的温度特性和选择激发

报导了Yb :FAP和Yb :C3S2 _FAP晶体在不同温度下的吸收光谱和荧光光谱实验结果 ,研究发现由于电子_声子近共振耦合作用 ,Yb :FAP和Yb :C3S2 _FAP晶体均存在有明显的振动谱 ,Yb :FAP晶体的零声子线在低温下还劈裂为相差 10cm- 1 的两条线 .采用激光选择激发技术研究了Yb3 离子在FAP和C3S2 _FAP晶体中的格位特征 ,结果表明Yb3 离子在这两种基质中都只占据Ca(Ⅱ )格位 ,但由于CaF2 的挥发 ,导致了Ca(Ⅱ )格位的局部畸变 .