Two-stage latexes of polystyrene acrylates

ABSTRACT

The modification of decomposition rate of the potassium persulfate initiator during the synthesis of “two-stage latexes” polystyrene-ethyl acrylate (EtA) of butyl acrylale (BuA) and of 2-ethylhexyl acrylate (EHA) is studied. This rate is minimum for BuA and maximum for EHA, in good agreement with the value of solubility parameters. The appearance of poryacrvlaf.es determines the existence of water bonded to the polar polymer. The amount of water bonded increases in the sequence PEtA?PBuA?PEHA, function of the modification of the diameters of the particles resulted from the latexes obtained.     

Growth and thermoelectric properties of FeSb<Subscript>2</Subscript> films produced by pulsed laser deposition

Thermoelectric FeSb₂ films were produced by pulsed laser deposition on silica substrates in a low-pressure Ar environment. The growth conditions for near phase-pure FeSb₂ films were confirmed to be optimized at a substrate temperature of 425°C, an Ar pressure of 2 Pa, and deposition time of 3 h by ablating specifically prepared compound targets made of Fe and Sb powders in atomic ratio of 1:4. The thermoelectric transport properties of FeSb₂ films were investigated. Pulsed laser deposition was demonstrated as a method for production of good-quality FeSb₂ films.     

Templating Ag on DNA/polymer hybrid nanowires: Control of the metal growth morphology using functional monomers

Ag nanowires and nanoparticles have been formed on hybrid λ-DNA/conducting polymer templates. The strong, but non-covalent, interaction of the conducting polymer with the double helix allowed us to incorporate chemical functionalities (alkynyl) into the DNA/conducting polymer strands by synthesis of functional monomers. Oxidative polymerisation of alkynyl-thienylpyrrole in the presence of λ-DNA produced conductive nanowires bearing alkyne groups; we show, using a combination of AFM, cAFM and EFM phase measurements that the alkyne functionality strong influences the subsequent templating reaction of Tollens’ reagent to produce uniform conductive nanowires comprised of many connected Ag clusters.     

Study on metal complexes of chelating resins bearing iminodiacetate groups

Cu(II), Co(II) and Ni(II) complexes of chelating resins (CR) bearing iminodiacetate (IDA) ligands were prepared. The CR-metal complexes were characterized by FT-IR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermal behavior (TG and DTG) under nitrogen atmosphere, and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR). FT-IR spectra of the CR-metal complexes showed the characteristic bands of CR were still present but red-shifted after the metal complexation, and new bands assigned to Me-N bonds were observed. Thermal behavior of the metal-CR complexes supported the metal complexation, metal complexation leading to the decrease of the thermal stability of the CR, the lowest thermal stability being found when the highest amount of Cu(II) was loaded. Based on the EPR results and the thermal behavior of Cu(II)-CR complexes, the scheme for the complexation of Cu(II) on the CR was suggested.     

Conformational changes of strong polycations in the presence of divalent counterions and their influence upon the flocculation efficiency

The interaction between strong polycations, which possess the ammonium quaternary centers attached to an acrylic macromolecular chain derived from poly(N,N-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate) (polycations Q_x), and divalent counterions was investigated by viscometry and turbidimetry. Conformational changes of polycations were influenced by the polycation charge density, counterion nature (SO₄²⁻ or S₂O₈²⁻) and concentration. The morphology of the polycation layers deposited onto silicon wafers has been studied by tapping mode atomic force microscopy, a strong influence of the polycation and ammonium persulfate concentration on the surface topography being observed. The optimum flocculation concentration of polycation decreased and the flocculation window increased in the presence of S₂O₈²⁻, in the destabilization of kaolin model dispersion. Removal of Congo Red from aqueous solution by the complex system formed between polycations and divalent counterions was also investigated. The behavior of polycations Q_x in separation processes was compared with that of one polycation containing 95 mol% N,N-dimethyl-2-hydroxypropyleneammonium chloride units in the backbone (PCA₅).     

The Existing Methods and Novel Approaches in Mycotoxins’ Detection

Mycotoxins represent a wide range of secondary, naturally occurring and practically unavoidable fungal metabolites. They contaminate various agricultural commodities like cereals, maize, peanuts, fruits, and feed at any stage in pre- or post-harvest conditions. Consumption of mycotoxin-contaminated food and feed can cause acute or chronic toxicity in human and animals. The risk that is posed to public health have prompted the need to develop methods of analysis and detection of mycotoxins in food products. Mycotoxins wide range of structural diversity, high chemical stability, and low concentrations in tested samples require robust, effective, and comprehensible detection methods. This review summarizes current methods, such as chromatographic and immunochemical techniques, as well as novel, alternative approaches like biosensors, electronic noses, or molecularly imprinted polymers that have been successfully applied in detection and identification of various mycotoxins in food commodities. In order to highlight the significance of sampling and sample treatment in the analytical process, these steps have been comprehensively described.     

PAN composite membrane with different solvent affinities controlled by surface modification methods

Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) composite membranes with surface properties designed by either a chemical modification with ethylenediamine (EDA), or layer‐by‐layer (LbL) polyelectrolyte adsorption were investigated in this paper. Fourier‐transformed infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and streaming potential measurements showed that the first step of the reaction with EDA in gas phase was the formation of ammonium salts with the reactive carboxylic groups present on the surface of the starting membrane. Part of the ammonium carboxylate groups was transformed in secondary amide linkages by a heat‐induced reaction. Poly(sodium styrenesulfonate) (NaPSS) and a polycation containing about 95 mol % of N,N‐dimethyl‐2‐hydroxypropyleneammonium chloride units in the backbone (PCA₅) were used as opposite polyions in the LbL film construction. The adsorbed polyion amount per every layer was controlled by the nature and concentration of the supporting electrolyte in polyelectrolyte deposition solution (NaBr and KBr). An almost linear increase of the adsorbed polyion amount versus the layer pair number was observed. The swelling degree (SD) in pure alcohols of the LbL‐modified PAN composite membrane decreased with the increase of the solvent polarity and with the decrease of the pore volume by pore filling with polyelectrolyte complex multilayer. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 4161–4171, 2005     

Thermochemically induced binding of methyl orange to polycations containing primary amine groups

The thermochemical transformation of electrostatically formed complexes of methyl orange (MO) with polycations containing primary amine groups such as ammonium salts afforded new polymers with a high concentration of covalently bound 4‐N,N‐dimethylaminoazobenzene groups in the side chain. Poly(allylamine hydrochloride) and poly(β‐aminoethylene acrylamide hydrochloride) were employed as support polycations for MO. The transformation of sulfonate–ammonium ion pairs into sulfonamide bonds, via heating at an elevated temperature, was supported by the polymer properties before and after the thermal treatment. The polymer structure changes were monitored with elemental analysis, Fourier transform infrared, ¹H NMR, and ultraviolet–visible absorption spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. The spacer length between the backbone and azobenzene structures used as side chains strongly influenced the polymer properties before and after the heat‐induced reaction. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 5898–5908, 2006     

Amidoalkylation of heteroaromatic compounds with adducts of acyl chlorides and 3,4-dihydroisoquinoline and isoquinoline

The N-acyliminium intermediates of 3,4-dihydroisoquinoline and salts of isoquinoline with acyl chlorides were successfully used as amidoalkylating reagents toward synthesis of heterocyclic aromatics as indole, pyrrole, thiophene and pyrazine.     

Polyelectrolyte complexes. V. Solid‐state properties of some polycation/azo dye complexes controlled by the dye structure

The solid‐state properties of some polycation/azo dye complexes according to the dye structure were studied in this work. One polycation contained about 95 mol % N,N‐dimethyl‐2‐hydroxypropyleneammonium chloride units in the backbone (PCA₅), and eight azo dyes, different in either the number of sulfonic groups or their distribution, were used as opposite components. The selected azo dyes were as Crystal Scarlet, Congo Red, Crocein Scarlet MOO, Ponceau SS, Amaranth, Ponceau S, Direct Blue 1, and Direct Red 80. Information on the compensation degree of the oppositely charges was obtained by the elemental analysis of the solid‐state polycation/dye complexes (the experimental contents of chlorine, nitrogen, and sulfur were compared with the calculated values). Differential scanning calorimetry was employed to probe the strength of the intermolecular interactions in the PCA₅/dye complexes. Wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction was used to assess the supramolecular order of the solid‐state complexes. The physical properties of the PCA₅/azo dye complexes (the complex stoichiometry, glass‐transition temperature, decomposition temperature, and degree of supramolecular order) were influenced mainly by the dye structure but also by the polycation concentration and the presence of NaCl. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 264–272, 2003