Toughening of epoxies via craze-like damage

The fracture behavior of a core-shell rubber (CSR) modified epoxy is investigated using both fracture mechanics and microscopy tools. The CSR-modified epoxy is found to be toughened via numerous line-array cavitations of the CSR particles, followed by plastic flow of the epoxy matrix. The toughening effect via the above craze-like damage process is found to be as effective as that of the well-known widespread rubber cavitation/matrix shear yielding mechanisms. The conditions for triggering the craze-like damage appear to be both stress state and rubber concentration dependent. The type of rubber tougheners utilized also plays a critical role in triggering this rather unusual craze-like damage in epoxy systems. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Synthesis, spectroscopic, and structural studies on transition metal complexes involving homoleptic tripodal selenoether and telluroether coordination

The reaction of [MCl2(NCMe)2] (M = Pd or Pt) with 2 molar equiv of MeC(CH2ER)3 (E = Se, R = Me; E = Te, R = Me or Ph) and 2 molar equiv of TlPF6 affords the bis ligand complexes [M(MeC(CH2ER)3)2][PF6]2. The crystal structure of [Pt(MeC(CH2SeMe)3)2][PF6]2 (C16H36F12P2PtSe6, a = 12.272(10) A, b = 18.563(9) A, c = 15.285(7) A, beta = 113.18(3) degrees, monoclinic, P2(1)/n, Z = 4) confirms distorted square planar Se4 coordination at Pt(II), derived from two bidentate tripod selenoethers with the remaining arm not coordinated and directed away from the metal center. Solution NMR studies indicate that these species are fluxional and that the telluroether complexes are rather unstable in solution. The octahedral bis tripod complexes [Ru(MeC(CH2SMe)3)2][CF3-SO3]2 and [Ru(MeC(CH2TePh)3)2][CF3SO3]2 are obtained from [Ru(dmf)6][CF3SO3]3 and tripod ligand in EtOH solution. The thioether complex (C18H36F6O6RuS8, a = 8.658(3) A, b = 11.533(3) A, c = 8.659(2) A, alpha = 108.33(2) degrees, beta = 91.53(3) degrees, gamma = 106.01(2) degrees, triclinic, P1, Z = 1) is isostructural with its selenoether analogue, involving two facially coordinated trithioether ligands in the syn configuration. NMR spectroscopy confirms that this configuration is retained in solution for all of the bis tripod Ru(II) complexes. These low-spin d6 complexes show unusually high ligand field splittings. The hexaselenoether Rh(III) complex [Rh(MeC(CH2SeMe)3)2][PF6]3 was obtained by treatment of [Rh(H2O)6]3+ with 2 molar equiv of MeC(CH2SeMe)3 in aqueous MeOH in the presence of excess PF6- anion, while the iridium(III) analogue [Ir(MeC(CH2SeMe)3)2][PF6]3 was obtained via the reaction of the Ir(I) precursor [IrCl(C8H14)2]2 with the selenoether tripod in MeOH/aqueous HBF4. NMR studies reveal different invertomers in solution for both the Rh and Ir species. The Cu(I) complexes [Cu(MeC(CH2ER)3)2]PF6 were obtained from [Cu(NCMe)4]PF6 and tripod ligand in CH2Cl2 solution. The corresponding Ag(I) species [Ag(MeC(CH2TeR)3)2]CF3SO3 (R = Me or Ph) were obtained from Ag[CF3SO3] and tripod telluroether. In contrast, a similar reaction with 2 molar equiv of MeC(CH2SeMe)3 afforded only the 1:1 complex [Ag(MeC(CH2SeMe)3)]CF3SO3. The structure of this species (C9H18AgF3O3SSe3, a = 8.120(3) A, b = 15.374(3) A, c = 14.071(2) A, beta = 93.86(2) degrees, monoclinic, P2(1)/n, Z = 4) reveals a distorted trigonal planar geometry at Ag(I) derived from one bidentate selenoether and one monodentate selenoether. These units are then linked to adjacent Ag(I) ions to give a one-dimensional linear chain cation.