Rheological and diffusion properties of a dextran-con A polymer in the presence of Insulin and Magnesium

Previous work carried out in our laboratories has focused on the formation and investigation of a dextran and concanavalin A (con A) based gel, which has the ability to alter its conformational structure in the presence and absence of free and terminal glucoses such that a gel–sol phase transition occurs. Here we report the diffusion and rheological investigations in to the effects of the addition of insulin and varyingconcentrations of magnesium chloride hexahydrate (Mg₂Cl₂6H₂O) at 20 and 37 °C. Rheological examination of glucose-sensitive (dextran-con A) gels were conducted using a cone and plate viscometer used in continual rotation and oscillatory modes. The results are interpreted in terms of the structure of the gel network and suggest rheological assessment provides an effective method of assessing the properties of gel systems. The subsequent testing of such formulations in in-vitro diffusion experiments revealed a reduction in the rate of diffusivity in the insulin marker, poly R-478 dye. The performance of this self-regulating drug delivery system has been examined and the addition of insulin and magnesium chloride may alter the way in which the gel operates as a drug delivery device and in the delivery of insulin. This may have implications for other ligands.     

X-ray investigation of the role of the mixed emulsifier in the structure formation in o/w creams

The aim of this research work was to clarify the role of the mixed emulsifier in the structure formation and water binding mode in the case of o/w creams prepared with different surfactants. The swelling behavior of mixed emulsifiers was examined by means of direct investigation methods such as transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction. The detailed structure image of the creams was created with the help of the latter. The influence of the structure of the hydrophilic gel phase, and the structural changes during storage were studied with rheological methods. On the basis of the results, it can be stated that the investigated creams had different structures from those mentioned in the literature: surfactant did not create a mixed bilayer with the structure to furnish fatty amphiphile; instead, micelles were formed. These results correlated well with the results of the rheological tests.     

ABS blends with phenoxy: morphology,thermal, mechanical and rheological properties

Blends of ABS (acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene) with phenoxy(poly(hydroxyether bisphenol A)) were prepared using a Branender single screw extruder. Scanning and transmission electron micrographs (SEM, TEM) showed a typical two-phase morphology; particle-in-matrix (90/10) (ABS/phenoxy by weight), 70/30, 10/90), island/sea (30/70) and co-continuous (50/50) morphologies. The glass transition temperature (T_g) of SAN was almost unchanged in the blends, while the T_g of phenoxy increased by about 5 °C in the blends. The synergistic effect of tensile modulus and strength was noted in ABS-rich blends, where a drastic drop of ductility was seen, and the results were interpreted in terms of rubber particle migration form SAN to phenoxy phase, which was visualized by TEM. Melt viscosity showed yield in ABS-rich blends, and generally followed the log additivity.     

Role of montmorillonite in flame retardancy of ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer

The effects of non-treated (MMT), organophilic (OMM), and olefin/silicone polymer intercalated (IMM) montmorillonites on the thermal stability of ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) and on the flammability of magnesium hydroxide filled EVA were studied. The influence of various treatments on the delamination of montmorillonites in EVA was detected by rheological measurements and by Raman microscopy. The latter was a unique method for rapid detection of the dispersion also in highly filled EVA. Enhancement of thermo-oxidative stability of EVA and flame-retarded EVA could be observed by thermal analysis in the presence of variously treated montmorillonites. The flame-retardant efficiency of magnesium hydroxide was improved by simultaneous application of MMT and IMM. The increased performance of magnesium hydroxide was explained by the rheological effect of the IMM, catalytic effect of MMT and chemical interactions of montmorillonites with the metal hydroxide.     

STRUCTURING ＆ RHEOLOGY OF MOLTEN POLYMER／CLAY NANOCOMPOSITES

The evolution and the origin of “solid-like state” in molten polymer/clay nanocomposites are studied. Using polypropylene/clay hybrid (PPCH) with sufficient maleic anhydride modified PP (PP-MA) as compatibilizer, well exfoliation yet solid-like state was achieved after annealing in molten state. Comprehensive linear viscoelasticity and non-linear rheological behaviors together with WAXD and TEM are studied on PPCH at various dispersion stages focusing on time,temperature and deformation dependencies of the “solid-like” state in molten nanocomposites. Based on these, it is revealed that the solid-structure is developed gradually along with annealing through the stages of inter-layer expansion by PP-MA,the diffusion and association of exfoliated silicate platelets, the formation of band/chain structure and, finally, a percolated clay associated network, which is responsible for the melt rigidity or solid-like state. The network will be broken down by melt frozen/crystallization and weakened at large shear or strong flow and, even more surprisingly, may be disrupted by using trace amount of silane coupling agent which may block the edge interaction of platelets. The solid-like structure causes characteristic non-linear rheological behaviors, e.g. residual stress after step shear, abnormal huge stress overshoots in step flows and, most remarkably, the negative first normal stress functions in steady shear or step flows. The rheological and structural arguments challenge the existing models of strengthened entangled polymer network by tethered polymer chains connecting clay particles or by chains in confined melts or frictional interaction among tactoids. A scheme of percolated networking of associated clay platelets, which may in band form of edge connecting exfoliated platelets, is suggested to explain previous experimental results.     

Preparation and rheological characterization of poly(n-butyl methacrylate)/montmorillonite composites

Intercalated nanocomposites constituted of poly(butyl methacrylate) (PBMA) as the matrix and an organically modified montmorillonite as the nanosize filler were prepared and rheologically characterized in detail. The rheological behavior of the composites showed dependence on both temperature and clay content. For composites of low clay contents, the steady shear viscosity showed a Newtonian plateau in the low shear rate region at low temperatures and the plateau was replaced by a shear-thinning curve when the temperature was raised. For composites of higher clay contents, strong shear-thinning behavior were observed at all shear rates and all temperatures. The viscoelastic data of the composites showed unusual terminal behavior of a decreasing terminal slope at low frequencies with increasing temperature and clay loading. X-ray diffraction spectra showed that annealing process at higher temperatures shifted the Bragg reflection peaks to a lower angle and broadened the peaks, which provided the evidence for the existence of a temperature-induced solid-like structure that was responsible for the shear thinning and the unusual terminal viscoelastic behavior.     

ABA／PET液晶共聚酯酰胺的结构与性能

研究了对象基苯甲酸（ＡＢＡ）／聚对苯二甲酸乙二酯（ＰＥＴ）液晶共聚酯酰胺的晶体结构，以及热性能、流变学和力学性质。广角Ｘ射线衍射研究结果表明ＡＢＡ链节的引入使ＰＥＴ的晶态结构发生畸变，但大部分结晶衍射峰仍然存在。随着ＡＢＡ含量的增加，各晶面间距基本不变，微晶尺寸显著增大，结晶度急剧降低。差示扫描量热分析和热失重结果表明共聚酯胺具有优良的热稳定性，并且随着ＡＢＡ含量的增加，共聚物的热稳定性提高，共聚     

部分水解聚丙烯酰胺弱凝胶交联动力学的流变学分析

用流变学方法对部分水解聚丙烯酰胺(HPAM)苯酚甲醛间苯二酚交联体系的弱凝胶化过程进行了研究,通过对基团转化率和高分子交联转化率的分析,发现凝胶化过程在接近凝胶点时,处于反应动力学的初期,这使得交联点增加的动力学是比较简单的.通过在不同聚合物浓度和交联剂浓度并在地层温度和矿化度条件下线性粘弹性行为的研究,得到了交联体系凝胶化动力学过程的完整数据,发现聚合物浓度与交联剂浓度对凝胶点与凝胶强度的影响比较类似,反映出交联点增加的共同动力学特征.复数粘度在一个诱导期后,是以指数上升的,类似一个一级反应的特征.产生交联的临界聚合物浓度约为250mg L左右.并提出了剪切粘度数学模型,可以描述凝胶化过程中流变性质的变化.     

热致液晶共聚酯酰胺／PET共混物的流变性能和原位增强特性

采用Ｉｎｓｔｒｏｎ３２１１型毛细管流变仪研究了ＰＥＡ／ＰＥＴ共混物的流变性能，据此探讨共混物熔体的可纺性，讨论了共混物配比与复合纤维力学性能的关系，并且偏光显微镜，扫描电镜研究纤维的结构。结果表明，共混物的表观粘度低于ＰＥＴ的粘度，当ＰＥＡ为１０％，共混物的表观粘度达到最小值；且ＰＥＡ含量低于１０％时，共混物的可纺性即，表现出良好的原位增强效果。     

Influence of mechanical properties of pectin films on charge density and charge density distribution in pectin macromolecule

The hydration and mechanical properties of citrus pectin films were examined in conditions relevant to those in the plant cell wall. The pectins used for this study varied in the degree of esterification (DE) (high or low) and charge distribution on the backbone (random or block). The hydration of the films was controlled in an osmotic pressure experiment using polyethylene glycol solutions (PEG 20000). Hysteresis tests at constant deformation rate (stress vs deformation) were used for investigating the mechanical behaviour of films. Mechanical and hydration properties of pectin films were examined as a function of charge density, charge density distribution and counterion environment—K⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺. Swelling decreased with increasing counterion concentration. The effect is stronger in the case of Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ for low esterified pectins and therefore crosslinks from divalent ions could be assumed. The crosslink effect is confirmed in mechanical experiments where an increase in the film tensile modulus is observed with increasing counterion concentration. It is shown for the first time that in case of highly concentrated pectin solutions Mg²⁺ cations also act as a crosslinker for pectin macromolecules.