Physical aging of a polyetherimide: Creep and DSC measurements

Creep and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurements have been used to study the physical aging behavior of a polyetherimide. Isothermal aging temperatures ranged from 160°C to T_g with aging times ranging from 10 min to 8 days. The only measurable effect of physical aging on the short-time creep curves is a shift of the creep compliance to longer times. Andrade plots of the compliance versus the cube root of time are linear at short times with the slope β decreasing with increasing aging time to a constant value once equilibrium is reached. Log β³ is related directly to the degree to which the creep curves shift to longer times with physical aging, and is used in this work as a measure of physical aging. A reduced curve of log β³ versus log aging time is obtained for the aging temperatures investigated by appropriate vertical and horizontal shifts. The enthalpy change during aging increases linearly with the logarithm of the aging time, t_a, leveling off at equilibrium at values which increase with decreasing aging temperature. Hence, both nonequilibrium and equilibrium temperature shift factors can be calculated from the DSC data. Good agreement is observed between the equilibrium temperature shift factors obtained from the creep and DSC data. The temperature dependence of the nonequilibrium temperature shift factors is found to be an order of magnitude smaller than that of the equilibrium shift factors. The time scales to reach equilibrium for enthalpy and for mechanical measurements are found to be the same within experimental error. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

The effect of crystallinity on chain mobility and free volume in the amorphous regions of a miscible polycarbonate/polyester blend

Homopolymers and blends of polycarbonate/ThermX have been investigated by differential scanning calorimetry, dynamic mechanical analysis, density measurements, and positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy. The study focuses on the chain mobility and free volume in the amorphous miscible regions of the blends and how this mobility and free volume are affected by increasing crystallinity. It is proposed that judicious annealing, which results in increasing crystallinity (while avoiding ageing or transesterification), induces a constraint on the amorphous region leading to an increase in T_g and coalescence of free volume sites. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

CH2CHOH2+ + PN: a proton-transfer triple play

Quantum chemical calculations are used to explore the proton-transfer reactivity of O-protonated vinyl alcohol, CH2CHOH2+, with phosphorus nitride, PN. This reaction is relevant to the chemical evolution of interstellar clouds, since O-protonated vinyl alcohol has been postulated (and tentatively identified) as a product of the association reaction between interstellar H3O+ and C2H2, while PN is the most widespread and abundant phosphorus-containing molecule seen in astrophysical environments. Furthermore, the reaction exhibits an unusual mechanistic feature, namely, an extended "proton-transport catalysis" mechanism, which we characterize here as a "proton-transfer triple play". The reaction proceeds initially by proton transfer from CH2CHOH2+ to PN, then from PNH+ to CH2CHOH, and finally from CH3CHOH+ to PN, where the emphasized atom indicates the resultant site of protonation/deprotonation. Thus, the ultimate overall bimolecular proton-transfer reaction is expected to occur as CH2CHOH2+ + PN --> CH3CHO + PNH+; that is, the apparent favored product channel exhibits not only proton transfer but also keto/enol tautomerization. The triple-play mechanism can be rationalized in terms of the proton affinities of vinyl alcohol, acetaldehyde, and phosphorus nitride, which here are satisfactorily reproduced by high-level ab initio calculations. Other neutrals with a proton affinity appropriate for the possible triple-play mechanism converting CH2CHOH2+ to CH3CHO are also identified, with a view to encouraging experimental investigation of this mechanism.     

Assembly of colloidal particles into microwires using an alternating electric field

We have investigated the dielectrophoretic assembly of colloidal gold, carbon black, and carbon nanotubes into electrical wires. The resulting microwires have diameters less than 1 microm, with lengths ranging from 5 microm to 3 mm. Current-voltage curves for these wires indicate an ohmic response, where the resistance is determined by the type of colloid and by the frequency of the alternating field used to grow the wires. The predicted frequency dependence of dielectrophoresis is confirmed by experiment. Measurements of the threshold voltage for initial wire growth are also presented. These experiments demonstrate that a variety of nanoparticles can be assembled into microwires for sensor applications.     

Gravitational field strength and generalized Komar integral

We define a gravitational field strength in theories of the Einstein-Cartan type admitting a Killing vector. This field strength is a second rank, antisymmetric, divergence-free tensor, whose (Komar) integral over a closed 2-surface gives a physically meaningful quantity. We find conditions on the Lagrange density of the theory which ensure the existence of such a tensor, and show that they are satisfied forN=2-supergravity and for a special case of the bosonic sector ofN=4-supergravity. We discuss a possible application of the generalized Komar integral in the theory of stationary black holes. We also consider the field strength problem in Kaluza-Klein theory, where the application to black holes is particularly interesting.     

Raman- und infrorofspektroskopische Untersuchungen on Alkylderivaten der Arsensäure. V1 Die Schwingungsspektren der Dimethyl- und Diäthylarsinsäure sowie deren Reaktionsprodukte mit Chlorwasserstoff

RAMAN and IR Spectroscopic Investigation on Alkyl Derivatives of Arsenic-Acid. V. Vibrational Spectra of Dimethyl and Diethyl Arsinic Acid and their Reaction Products with HCl The RAMAN and IR spectra of (CH₃)₂AsO₂H–partially deuterated–and (C₂H₅)₂AsO₂H and of the reaction products of these acids with HCl (solid and in concentrated aqueous solution) are discussed. The symmetry of the R₂AsO₂H skeleton is C_s. of the [R₂As(OH)₂]+ ion very probably C_2v. Whereas (CH₃)₂AsO₂H gives with HCl only a compound (CH₃)₂ACO₂H · HCl (connected by H bonds), the weaker (C₂H₅)₂AsO₂H is able to form a salt [(C₂H₅)₂As(OH)₂]Cl. The H bonds in the substances are discussed.     

Magnetic coupling and intermetallic electron transfer in the heterodinuclear bioctahedral complexes MW(III)Cl(9)(n-) (M = V(II), Cr(III), Mn(IV)): tweaking the balance between ferromagnetism and antiferromagnetism

Density functional theory (DFT) calculations have been used to investigate the effect of intermetallic electron transfer on the mode of magnetic coupling in the face-shared bimetallic complexes MWCl(9)(n-) (M = V, Cr, Mn; all with a nominal d(3) valence electronic configuration on each metal atom). These calculations illustrate a simple rule: when the oxidation state of M is lower than that of W, antiferromagnetic coupling is preferred, while ferromagnetism (via crossed exchange pathways) is favored when M has the higher oxidation state. This underlying trend in intermetallic interactions is seen to depend on the interplay among ligand field splitting, spin polarization splitting of alpha- and beta-spin orbitals, and the relative energies of the M and W valence d orbitals, and is mirrored in the results seen in a wider survey of mixed-metal, face-shared complexes.     

Direct determination of the enantiomeric purity of oxyphenonium using chiral HPLC with post-column extraction detection

Summary A method is described for the determination of the enantiomeric purity (enantiomeric excess) of the anticholinergic drug oxyphenonium. The method for this quaternary ammonium compound is based on the direct HPLC analysis with a chiral stationary phase. Two kinds of 1-acid glycoprotein-bonded phases were used.For the detection a post-column extraction with fluorescence detection of the ion-pair counter ion dimethoxyantracene sulphonate was used.     

Influence of cysteine to cysteic acid oxidation on the collision-activated decomposition of protonated peptides: Evidence for intraionic interactions

Oxidation of cysteine residues to cysteic acids in C-terminal arginine-eontaining peptides (such as those derived by tryptic digestion of proteins) strongly promotes the formation of multiple members of the Y? series of fragment ions following low energy collision-activated decomposition (CAD) of the protonated peptides, Removal of the arginine residue abolishes the effect, which is also attenuated by conversion of the arginine to dimethylpyrim-idylornithine. The data indicate the importance of an intraionic interaction between the cysteic acid and arginine side-chains. Low energy CAD of peptides which include cysteic acid and histidine residues, also provides evidence for intraionic interactions. It is proposed that these findings are consistent with the general hypothesis that an increased heterogeneity (with respect to location of charge) of the protonated peptide precursor ion population is beneficial to the generation of a high yield of product ions via several charge-directed, low energy fragmentation pathways. Furthermore, these data emphasize the significance of gas-phase conformations of protonated peptides in determining fragmentation pathways.