Thermal transitions of benzene in copolymers and interpenetrating polymer networks based on hydrophilic and hydrophobic components: Experimental evidence of hydrophobic interaction

Thermal transitions of benzene in a hydrophobic polymer network have been explained by us in terms of the phase diagram of the polymer‐solvent system. In this work, we executed a similar study on copolymers and interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) with controllable hydrophilic/hydrophobic ratios. Copolymers and IPNs were swollen with different amounts of benzene and subjected to cooling and heating scans with differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Synthesis of the IPNs was carried out in such a way that phase separation appeared, and three qualitatively different types of DSC thermograms were identified depending on the benzene content of IPN. Thermal transitions of benzene in the hydrophilic/hydrophobic copolymers can also be explained as a consequence of the phase diagram of the system, but an increase in the glass‐transition temperature of the system can be correlated with the interactions among the hydrophilic groups of the copolymer. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 41: 1713–1721, 2003     

Degradation induced variation of LC transition of poly(n-undecyl isocyanate)

The first-order thermal transitions including side-chain melting, crystal-LC, biphasic chimney-like, and isotropic transitions of poly(n-undecyl isocyanate) (PUDIC) were investigated by varying its thermal history. After annealing at 140 °C for different periods of time, it leads to different degrees of backbiting degradation into n-undecyl isocyanurate trimer which behaves as a solvent for the rest non-degraded/rigid PUDIC to change into a lyotropic LC from thermotropic transition. Based on the degree of degradation, various amounts of trimers are present and the PUDIC demonstrates different types of thermal transitions found in DSC thermograms due to the variation of the non-degraded PUDIC concentration in solvent trimers. Finally, a phase diagram includes all types of crystallines, LC, and isotropic regions can be drawn according to the DSC thermograms.     

On the α relaxation of the constrained amorphous phase in poly(ethylene)

The idea of coexistence of two different amorphous fractions in semi-crystalline poly(ethylene) (PE) is taken into consideration. Differential scanning calorimetry, dynamic mechanical thermal analysis and positron annihilation were used to study the effect of supermolecular structure on the glass transition associated with ‘semi-ordered’ amorphous phase. The arrangement of chains, located in this phase, is forced internally by the presence of crystalline domains. Influence of drawing, irradiation and annealing on thermodynamic and structural parameters was investigated. In a series of experiments the correlation between the glass transition, the α relaxation and the free volume of a semi-crystalline system was found. In order to better describe the relaxation, existence of two types of amorphous fractions was assumed. The relaxations are treated as a long-scale motion of macromolecule segments located into the ‘semi-ordered’ amorphous regions, or into the ‘real’ amorphous regions, and are labelled as α_c and α_g, respectively. The magnitudes of the loss peaks were quite sensitive to the free volume, which was found to increase by drawing and decrease by irradiation. Two different DSC traces were recorded for both glass transitions.     

Phase and structural transitions in vicinal water on protein surfaces by means of the DSC

This paper presents investigations of phase and structural transitions occurring in water adsorbed on the surface of bovine serum albumin (BSA) and on the so-called intelligentrs or smart silica gel surface covered with a chemically bonded BSA phase. Cyclic changes of heat flow (HF) were observed in the samples studied during cooling and heating of the measuring cell of the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) apparatus. These cyclic changes reflect structural transitions occurring in the water adsorbed on the surface at subambient and elevated temperatures. This is connected with cyclic changes (decay and reproduction) of ice-like structures existing in the adsorbed water layers. On the basis of quantitative investigations it appears that, depending on the direction of the cooling or heating process of the samples studied, the number of ice-like water structures in the surface film increases or decreases. It has been stated that the observed fluctuations occur spontaneously and suddenly in the whole volume of adsorbed water in different and not regular temperature ranges, especially at the paradoxical effect temperatures.Support from the Research Council (Dr. R. K. Gilpin and Dr. M. Jaroniec) of Kent State University (Ohio, USA) is acknowledged. The author thanks Dr. V. Tittlebach for providing the samples of pure BSA and silica gel with chemically, bonded BSA phase.     

Structural Study on Water-induced Phase Transitions of Poly(ethylene imine) as Viewed from the Simultaneous Measurements of Wide-Angle X-ray Diffractions and DSC Thermograms

Thermal behavior of poly(ethylene imine) [PEI] has been studied using simultaneous WAXD/DSC measurement system. PEI exhibits water-induced and thermally-induced phase transitions among four kinds of crystalline hydrates: anhydrate (EI/water = 1/0), hemihydrate (1/0.5), sesquihydrate (1/1.5), and dihydrate (1/2). The chain conformation changes from a double helix in the anhydrate to a planar zigzag form in the three hydrates. The anhydrate melts at 60 °C while the hydrates melt differently in the temperature region of 70–110 °C. By means of the simultaneous WAXD/DSC measurements, complex DSC thermograms of PEI hydrates were characterized on the basis of X-ray diffractions obtained concurrently.     

Thermal transitions and structure of epoxy networks based on α, ω‐diamino terminated poly(propylene oxide)‐block‐poly(ethylene oxide)‐block‐poly(propylene oxide) swollen in water

Thermal transitions in epoxy networks prepared by reaction of α, ω‐diamino terminated poly(propylene oxide)‐block‐poly(ethylene oxide)‐block‐poly(propylene oxide) and diglycidyl ether of brominated Bisphenol A, swollen in water, were studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) in a broad temperature range (from ?100 °C to 20 °C). Networks of two different values of initial molar ratio of amino and epoxy groups were prepared, r (r = 1.00, 2.00), and swollen with different amounts of water up to equilibrium concentration values. The qualitatively different kinds of experimental thermograms have been obtained for two networks and classified according to the amount of water in the sample on the basis of the phase diagram of the system. Also, the concentration dependence of the curves in this diagram (glass transition, melting, and crystallization) as well as the fraction of noncrystallizable water supply some information about the morphology of the system. In this sense, the existence of a microphase separated structure of swollen networks is suggested. The structure consists of hydrophilic and hydrophobic domains and depends on the initial molar ratio of the reactive groups. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 43: 699–708, 2005     

Formation of porous poly(vinylidene fluoride) membranes with symmetric or asymmetric morphology by immersion precipitation in the water/TEP/PVDF system

The phase equilibrium boundaries of the membrane forming system, water/triethyl phosphate (TEP)/PVDF, at 25 °C were determined experimentally using cloud-point and equilibrium absorption methods. Based on the phase diagram, appropriate dope and bath compositions were selected to prepare microporous membranes by means of the isothermal immersion-precipitation technique. As a metastable casting dope with respect to crystallization was adopted, the formed membranes exhibited a uniform cross-section composed of interlocked crystal elements coexisting with the network of continuous pores, as was revealed by high resolution FESEM imaging. Morphologies of the membranes’ top surfaces were found to depend heavily on the bath strength, which was controlled by the TEP content. By changing the bath gradually from pure water to 70% TEP, the top surface evolved from a dense skin (asymmetric membrane) to a totally porous morphology (symmetric membrane). Wide angle X-ray diffraction analysis indicated that PVDF crystallized into α-type structure for all of the synthesized membranes. The crystallinity as determined from diffraction peak deconvolution was ≈65%, which value was confirmed by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). The obtained thermograms also showed a similar melting peak temperature (T_m ≈ 169 °C) for all membranes. Furthermore, water fluxes and tensile strengths of the membranes were measured. The results were found to correlate with the morphologies of the membranes.     

Pre-analytical method for NMR-based grape metabolic fingerprinting and chemometrics

Although metabolomics aims at profiling all the metabolites in organisms, data quality is quite dependent on the pre-analytical methods employed. In order to evaluate current methods, different pre-analytical methods were compared and used for the metabolic profiling of grapevine as a model plant. Five grape cultivars from Portugal in combination with chemometrics were analyzed in this study. A common extraction method with deuterated water and methanol was found effective in the case of amino acids, organic acids, and sugars. For secondary metabolites like phenolics, solid phase extraction with C-18 cartridges showed good results. Principal component analysis, in combination with NMR spectroscopy, was applied and showed clear distinction among the cultivars. Primary metabolites such as choline, sucrose, and leucine were found discriminating for ‘Alvarinho’, while elevated levels of alanine, valine, and acetate were found in ‘Arinto’ (white varieties). Among the red cultivars, higher signals for citrate and GABA in ‘Touriga Nacional’, succinate and fumarate in ‘Aragonês’, and malate, ascorbate, fructose and glucose in ‘Trincadeira’, were observed. Based on the phenolic profile, ‘Arinto’ was found with higher levels of phenolics as compared to ‘Alvarinho’. ‘Trincadeira’ showed lowest phenolics content while higher levels of flavonoids and phenylpropanoids were found in ‘Aragonês’ and ‘Touriga Nacional’, respectively. It is shown that the metabolite composition of the extract is highly affected by the extraction procedure and this consideration has to be taken in account for metabolomics studies.     

The effect of the detergent cetyltrimethylammoniumchloride on the phase behaviour of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine: A high precision calorimetric study.

The influence of the linear, positively charged detergent cetyltrimethylammoniumchloride (CTAC1) on the well known phase behaviour of fully hydrated dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) has been studied along fourteen isopleths of the phase diagram using high sensitivity scanning microcalorimetry. Particular interest was focused towards the effects of very small amounts of detergent down to the region of 1 CTAC1 per 10⁴ DPPC-molecules.Even starting with such low concentrations distinct changes of the thermograms are detectable by high sensitivity DSC. Essentially, the phase diagram is cut into four domains between the two limiting cases of pure phospholipid multilamellar dispersion and isotropic solution of detergent micelles, respectively. At the present stage these four regions in the phase diagram are identified as follows : 1. 0–1 Mol % CTAC1: a modified lamellar phase 2. 1–50 Mol % CTAC1: a two-phase region with this modified lamellar phase coexisting with a newly formed detergent-rich phase. 3. 50–90 Mol % CTAC1: large mixed micelles. 4. > 90 Mol % CTAC1: an isotropic solution of small mixed phospholipid/detergent micelles.     

Structural and optical isomers of nonamethoxy cyclotriveratrylene: separation and physical characterization

The paper concerns the structural and optical isomers of nonamethoxy-tribenzocyclononene (compound 1). In the first part of the paper it is shown that 1 exists in two structural isomers: a rigid crown (c-1) with C3 symmetry and a flexible saddle (s-1) with C1 symmetry. The latter, not previously known, can be prepared from the as-synthesized c-1 by quenching a hot solution (or the melt) followed by HPLC separation. The crown/saddle equilibrium, isomerization kinetics, and associated thermodynamic parameters in various organic solvents are reported. Carbon-13 MAS NMR, X-ray diffraction, and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) of polycrystalline c-1 and s-1 racemates are also reported. The different melting points of the isomers and their rapid isomerization in the melt result in unconventional DSC thermograms involving multiple endothermic and exothermic transitions. The second part of the paper concerns the chiral properties of 1. Both the saddle and crown isomers are structurally chiral, but due to the fast pseudorotation of s-1 in solution, it cannot be separated into its enantiomers. Those of c-1 were separated by HPLC using a chiral column. Their X-ray structure and melting points differ considerably from those of the racemate. This and their fast racemization in the melt lead to complex DSC thermograms with multiple transitions. Solutions of the neat enantiomers exhibit a relatively small specific optical rotation. In the UV they show circular dichroism for the B1u and B2u transitions, with the latter exhibiting a clear couplet structure. Infrared and vibrational circular dichroism spectra of the enantiomers in solution are reported. Comparison of these spectra with quantum mechanical simulations provides unambiguous identification of the enantiomers.     

Facile and highly efficient method for the C-alkylation of 2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone to nitroalkenes under catalyst-free ‘on water’ conditions

C-Alkylation of 2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone to various nitroolefins was achieved under catalyst-free employing ‘on water’ conditions. The mechanism for the formation can be explained on the basis of dual activation of nitroalkene and 2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinones via hydrogen bonding. Simple reaction conditions, high yields of the products, and environmentally benign medium are attractive features of this method.     

Dynamics and instabilities of lipid bilayer membrane shapes

Biological membranes undergo constant shape remodeling involving the formation of highly curved structures. The lipid bilayer represents the fundamental architecture of the cellular membrane with its shapes determined by the Helfrich curvature bending energy. However, the dynamics of bilayer shape transitions, especially their modulation by membrane proteins, and the resulting shape instabilities, are still not well understood. Here, we review in a unifying manner several theories that describe the fluctuations (i.e. undulations) of bilayer shapes as well as their local coupling with lipid or protein density variation. The coupling between local membrane curvature and lipid density gives rise to a ‘slipping mode’ in addition to the conventional ‘bending mode’ for damping the membrane fluctuation. This leads to a number of interesting experimental phenomena regarding bilayer shape dynamics. More importantly, curvature-inducing proteins can couple with membrane shape and eventually render the membrane unstable. A criterion for membrane shape instability is derived from a linear stability analysis. The instability criterion reemphasizes the importance of membrane tension in regulating the stability and dynamics of membrane geometry. Recent progresses in understanding the role of membrane tension in regulating dynamical cellular processes are also reviewed. Protein density is emphasized as a key factor in regulating membrane shape transitions: a threshold density of curvature coupling proteins is required for inducing membrane morphology transitions.     

Fully automated immunoassay for detection of prostate-specific antigen using nano-magnetic beads and micro-polystyrene bead composites, 'Beads on Beads'

Magnetic beads have served as a conventional bioassay platform in biotechnology. In this study, a fully automated immunoassay was performed using novel nano- and microbead-composites constructed by assembling nano-magnetic beads onto polystyrene microbeads, designated ‘Beads on Beads’. Nano-sized bacterial magnetic particles (BacMPs) displaying the immunoglobulin G (IgG)-binding domain of protein A (ZZ domain) were used for the construction of ‘Beads on Beads’ via the interaction of biotin-streptavidin. The efficient assembly of ‘Beads on Beads’ was performed by gradual addition of biotin-labeled BacMPs onto streptavidin-coated polystyrene microbeads. Approximately 2000 BacMPs were uniformly assembled on a single microbead without aggregation. The constructed ‘Beads on Beads’ were magnetized and separated from the suspension by using an automated magnetic separation system with a higher efficiency than BacMPs alone. Furthermore, fully automated detection of prostate-specific antigens was performed with the detection limit of 1.48 ng mL⁻¹. From this preliminary assay, it can be seen that ‘Beads on Beads’ could be a powerful tool in the development of high-throughput, fully automated multiplexed bioassays.     

The calorimetric calibration of differential scanning calorimetry cells

In this paper it is shown that in many cases enthalpy determinations can be carried out with a precision <1%. The influences of various sample and instrumental properties are described. The enthalpies of 24 compounds with 30 phase changes (polymorphic transitions or melting points) were redetermined. Twelve of the compounds with 15 transitions in the temperature range 0?670°C are selected and recommended for calorimetric DSC calibration. The linearization of the calibration curve as stated by the manufacturer of the instrument employed was fully confirmed.     

Effect of the permeants/polymer interactions on the pervaporative separation properties of the P(VDF-co-HFP) membrane

In this paper, the acetone-cast poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (P(VDF-co-HFP)) membranes were prepared by isothermally vacuum-dried at 60 °C and were employed in pervaporation of methyl acetate (MeAc) or ethyl acetate (EtAc) dissolved water solutions. DSC study on the swelling process indicated that two states of both MeAc and EtAc in their swollen P(VDF-co-HFP) membranes might exist which were the ‘bound state’ and ‘bulk state’. In addition, relative to the pure EtAc, the pure MeAc had stronger interaction with the P(VDF-co-HFP) membrane, making for its higher solubility in and lower diffusivity through the membrane. However, there is a competition between the organic permeants/water interactions and the organic permeants/polymer interactions when the P(VDF-co-HFP) membrane was tested for its pervaporative separating properties. With respect to MeAc in its water mixtures, EtAc in its water mixtures had higher solubility in the membrane instead because of its weaker interaction with water. As a result, better separating properties (higher permeate flux and separation factor) when the P(VDF-co-HFP) membrane was in pervaporation of the EtAc/water mixtures were obtained.     

Influence of film preparation procedures on the crystallinity, morphology and mechanical properties of LLDPE films

Influence of various film preparation procedures on the crystallinity, morphology and mechanical properties of pure linear low-density polyethylene and its calcite filled composite films has been studied using differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), wide-angle X-ray diffractometer (WAXRD), atomic force microscope (AFM) and ultimate tensile testing machine (UTM). The film preparation procedures include variation in cooling rates such as quenching, force (fan) and natural cooling and in techniques such as extrusion followed by melt squeezing and compression molding. The heat of fusion (from DSC), the degree of crystallinity (from WAXRD) and the crystallite size (from WAXRD and AFM) are found to be the highest for naturally cooled specimen, followed by fan cooled and quenched ones. The AFM images of surface topology exhibit stacked lamellar morphology for forcefully cooled (fan cooled and quenching) samples and spherulitic ‘lozenges’ for naturally cooled ones. The Young’s modulus and yield stress (from UTM) are the highest for naturally cooled samples, followed by fan cooled and quenched ones. Amongst the calcite filled composites, the ‘base film’, which is prepared by extrusion followed by melt squeezing and natural cooling, exhibits the lowest heat of fusion, degree of crystallinity and Young’s modulus, but the highest yield stress, elongation at break and tensile strength compared to the compression molded ones.     

Precise determination of melting and boiling points by differential thermal analysis and differential scanning calorimetry

The theory, operation and instrumentation of differential thermal analysis (DTA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) are sufficiently well developed to determine melting and boiling points with a high degree of certainty and reproducibility. However, certain precautions must be taken if data of maximum value are to be obtained. Sampling techniques, encapsulation, instrumental parameters and theoretical considerations will be treated in detail.In addition to the very small amount of material required for a melting or boiling point determination, DTA and DSC have other advantages. If certain precautions are observed it is possible to use several equations from classical thermodynamics to obtain absolute purity. A complete Cox Chart of a pure liquid can be obtained and the heat of vaporization determined in a few hours. Complex solid phase diagrams are easily studied. The success or failure of fractionation techniques can be predicted from single thermograms if several phase transitions are present.     

Calorimetric analysis of thermal phase transitions in functionalized microgels

Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) is used to investigate the thermal phase transitions of a range of N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM)-based, carboxylic acid-functionalized microgels with well-defined radial and chain functional group distributions. The transition enthalpies of protonated microgels can be correlated with the hydrophobicity of the functional comonomer, while the transition enthalpies for ionized microgels can be correlated with the degree of microgel deswelling achieved across the thermal phase transition. The peak widths at half-height vary inversely with the average length of NIPAM blocks in each of the microgels, as calculated using a kinetic copolymerization model. Deconvolution of the asymmetric DSC thermograms is accomplished using a two-transition model, thought to relate to core-shell-type transitions induced by the significant local heterogeneities within the functionalized microgels. The ratio between the two transition temperatures of these deconvoluted peaks is a useful quantitative probe of the radial functional group distribution. An additional, low-temperature transition is also observed in the thermogram of the vinylacetic acid-functionalized microgel, indicative of the occurrence of local chain rearrangements prior to the macroscopic phase transition in this microgel. Complementary light scattering analysis suggests that microphase separation may account for this additional transition peak.     

Microchip device for rapid screening and fingerprint identification of phenolic pollutants

A new microchip protocol has been developed for rapid measurements of the ‘total’ content of phenolic compounds, as well as for a detailed fingerprint identification of the ‘individual’ ones. The protocol involves the use of a microchip flow-injection analysis for fast screening and early detection of phenols and switching to the separation (fingerprint) mode once such compounds are detected. This is readily accomplished by exchanging the run buffers in the separation channel. While operating with an acidic run buffer (pH 5) offers high speed flow-injection measurements of the ‘total’ phenolic content, on chip switching to a basic buffer (pH 8) leads to ionization of the phenolic compounds and to their effective separation and detection. Under optimum conditions, assay rates of about 120 and 18 samples/h can be realized for the ‘total’ and ‘individual’ measurements, respectively. The effect of the buffer pH, switching (washing) time, applied voltages and other relevant variables, is described. The concept is illustrated in connection to amperometric detection and is attractive for a wide range of environmental-monitoring applications.     

DSC研制及KNO3、Sn、Bi、Zn相变温度和相变焓测定

According to Watson′s DSC principle, a new design of electric circuit of DSC was proposed, Referring to the instrument constraction of DSC of Perkin-Elmer corporation, a new instrument construction of DSC was designed.This new electric circuit and this new instrument construction can overcome the shortcomings in de- sign of DSC of Perkin-Elmer corporation, Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the new electric circuit. The temperatures and enthalpies of phase transitions of stan- dard materials were measured by using the new DSC. The experimental results are shown in table 1.