Chemically activated 1,1-dimethylcyclopropane from photolysis of isobutene–neopentane–diazomethane–oxygen mixtures

A study of the structural isomerization rate of chemically activated 1,1-dimethylcyclopropane from singlet methylene addition to the double bond of isobutene is reported. Singlet methylenes were produced from the 4358- and 3660-Å photolysis of diazomethane in the presence of added oxygen. Theoretical rates calculated via RRKM theory are in excellent agreement with experiment for calculations utilizing activated complex structures and critical energies consistent with known thermal Arrhenius parameters, and excitation energies consistent with previous determinations of ΔH(CH₂) + E*(CH₂) = 116.1 and 112.6 kcal/mole for diazomethane photolyses at 3660 and 4358 Å, respectively.     

The crystallization of polymer–diluent mixtures

A theory pertinent to the nucleation of polymer-diluent systems for molecules of finite molecular weight has been developed. These results have been applied to the crystallization from polyethylene-α-chloronaphthalene mixtures using molecular weight fractions of polyethylene ranging from 4,000 to 250,000. This analysis is carried out over the composition range extending from pure polymer to a polymer fraction of 0.30. According to this theory, the interfacial basal free energy decreases as either the molecular weight or diluent concentration decreases.     

The analysis of mixtures II–Pattern separation III–Pattern separnration

The work previously described has been extended and amplified. Product moment correlation coefficients are shown to be useful in separation of component spectra. The 'ab initio' analysis of a four component mixture is described.     

Chemiluminescence study of PS–PVME compatible mixtures

The oxidation of polystyrene (PS), poly(vinyl methyl ether) (PVME), and their mixtures has been studied by the chemiluminescence method. It was found that luminescence versus temperature curves had sharp inflections that shifted to higher temperatures with increasing PS content of the blends. A linear relationship was obtained between inflection temperatures and onsets of oxidation exotherms as measured by calorimetry. The inflection points for the mixtures also correlated linearly with the temperatures of thermally induced phase separation     

Velocity‐correlation analysis in polymer–solvent mixtures

The subject of this article is the combined interpretation of intradiffusion and mutual‐diffusion data for polymer–solvent mixtures in terms of integrals over velocity self‐correlation functions and velocity cross‐correlation functions. The combination of mutual‐diffusion, intradiffusion, and activity data allows the evaluation of velocity‐correlation coefficients (VCCs) and distinct‐diffusion coefficients in systems containing one monodisperse solute. This study is the first attempt to extend these approaches to polymers that are polydisperse solutes. Because of the polydispersity, this correlation analysis may become critical for polymers. Its application to polydisperse samples requires the reduction of intradiffusion and mutual‐diffusion coefficients to the same average. After such a reduction, the VCCs and distinct‐diffusion coefficients are evaluated for a homologous series of poly(ethylene glycol)s (PEGs). Attractive PEG–PEG interactions depend on the chain length and concentration of PEG. In this analysis, network formation in PEG–water systems appears to be a smooth process. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 40: 43–51, 2002     

Chemically activated 3-methyl-l-butene and 2-methyl-l-butene from photolysis of diazomethane–isobutene–neopentane–oxygen mixtures

An experimental study of the decomposition kinetics of chemically activated 2-methyl-l-butene and 3-methyl-l-butene produced from photolysis of diazomethane-isobutene-neopentane-oxygen mixtures is reported. The experimental rate constants for 3-methyl-l-butene decomposition were 1.74 ± 0.44 × 10⁸ sec^?1 and 1.01 ± 0.25 × 10⁸ sec^?1 at 3660 and 4358 Å, respectively. 2-Methyl-l-butene experimental decomposition rate constants were found to be 5.94 ± 0.59 × 10⁷ sec^?1 at 3660 Å and 3.42 ± 0.34 × 10⁷ sec^?1 at 4358 Å. Activated complex structures giving Arrhenius A-factors calculated from absolute rate theory of 10^{16.6 ± 0.5} sec^?1 for 3-methyl-l-butene and 10^{16.2 ± 0.4} sec^?1 for 2-methyl-l-butene, both calculated at 1000°K, were required to fit RRKM theory calculated rate constants to the experimental rate constants at reasonable E₀ and E* values. Corrected calculations (adjusted E₀ values) on previous results for 2-pentene decomposition gave an Arrhenius A-factor of 10^{16.45 ± 0.35} sec^?1 at 1000°K. The predicted A-factors for these three alkene decompositions giving resonance-stabilized methylully radicals are in good internal agreement. The fact that these A-factors are only slightly less than those for related alkane decompositions indicates that methylallylic resonance in the decomposition products leads to only a small amount of tightening in the corresponding activated complexes. This tightening is a significantly smaller factor than the large reduction in the critical energy due to resonance stabilization.     

Methyl methacrylate polymerization initiated by triethylborane–peroxide mixtures

The polymerization of methyl methacrylate initiated by triethylborane or triethylborane–peroxide mixtures was studied. The rate of initiation by a mixture of triethylborane and tert-butyl peroxide was found to be first-order in peroxide. The order in triethylborane changes from one at low triethylborane/peroxide to nearly zero at high triethylborane/peroxide. The possibility of a mechanism involving a fast reaction followed by a slow reaction that would initiate the polymerization is discussed.     

Phase behavior of polylactides in solvent–nonsolvent mixtures

Isothermal phase diagrams for the semicrystalline poly-L-lactide (PLLA) and the amorphous poly-DL-lactide (PDLLA) in combination with several solvent–nonsolvent combinations (dioxane/water, dioxane/methanol, chloroform/methanol, and NMP/water) have been determined. The locations of the liquid–liquid miscibility gap, the solid–liquid miscibility gap and the vitrification boundary in the isothermal phase diagrams at 25°C were identified. The liquid–liquid miscibility gap for the systems with PLLA was located in the same composition range as the corresponding systems with PDLLA. For the systems containing PLLA solid–liquid demixing was thermodynamically preferred over liquid–liquid demixing. Attempts were made to correlate the experimental findings with predictions on the basis of the Flory-Huggins theory for ternary solutions using interaction parameters derived from independent experiments. Qualitative agreement was found between the theoretical predictions and the experimentally obtained liquid–liquid miscibility gap. No good agreement was found for the solid–liquid miscibility gap. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Free-radical polymerizations initiated by triethylaluminum–cuprous chloride mixtures

Methyl methacrylate was polymerized by triethylaluminum—cuprous chloride catalyst. A study of the polymerization kinetics indicated that the overall rate was represented by the equation, R_p = K[AlEt₃] [CuCl]^½ [M]². The overall activation energy was 16.5 kcal/mole. From ESR measurement and the results of copolymerization of methyl methacrylate with styrene, it was suggested that the catalytic system has the character of a radical initiator. A polymerization scheme was also proposed.     

Diffusion of water–acetic acid mixtures in epoxy

The solubility and diffusion of water–acetic acid solutions in epoxy resins has been studied by nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and spectroscopy (NMR), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and light microscopy (LM). These techniques revealed the progression of a sharp diffusion front at a rate proportional to the square root of time. Both the swelling and rate of diffusion are dependent on acid dilution. At higher acid concentrations, hydrogen bonds were present, which has been interpreted as formation of acid dimers. The results indicate that molecular interactions play a major role in controlling the solubility and diffusion processes. The observation that voids can be filled up with penetrant strongly support the interpretation that molecular interactions rather than concentration gradient are responsible for these effects. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 37: 3328–3336, 1999     

Kinetics of malachite green fading in water–ethanol–2‐propanol ternary mixtures

The rate constant of malachite green (MG⁺) alkaline fading was measured in water–ethanol–2‐propanol ternary mixtures. This reaction was studied under pseudo‐first‐order conditions at 283–303 K. It was observed that the observed reaction rate constants, k_obs, were increased in the presence of different weight percentages of ethanol and 2‐propanol. The fundamental rate constants of MG⁺ fading in these solutions were obtained by using the SESMORTAC model. In each series of experiments, the concentration of one alcohol was kept constant and the concentration of the second one was changed. It was observed that at the constant concentration of one alcohol and variable concentrations of the second one, with an increase in temperature, k₂ values decrease according to the trend of hydroxide ion nucleophilic parameter values and k₁ values increase. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 43: 441–453, 2011     

Polymer–monomer binary mixtures. I. Eutectic and epitaxial crystallization in poly(ϵ-caprolactone)–trioxane mixtures

Binary mixtures of a linear polyester (poly(?-caprolactone)) and a crystallizable monomer (trioxane) have been investigated by means of differential scanning calorimetry and optical and electron microscopy. The phase diagram indicates the existence of a eutectic at a temperature T_mE = 314°K and for a polymer volume fraction ?_2E = 0.70, values close to those predicated by the Flory–Huggins theory (using χ = 0.3). Microscopic studies reveal unusual morphologies: (1) In hypoeutectic mixtures, at room temperature, the solvent crystallizes as highly ramified or branched needles. When the remaining melt reaches the eutectic composition, transcrystallization of the polymer is induced by the epitaxial deposition (as established by electron diffraction) of polycaprolactone on the existing trioxane crystals, and leads to highly ordered structures. (2) In hypereutectic mixtures a predominantly spherulitic texture is observed. Blends of trioxane and several other linear polyesters are found to exhibit similar behavior.     

Separation of 2-butanol–water mixtures by pervaporation through PVA–NYL 66 blend membranes

Blend membranes of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and nylon 66 (NYL) were synthesized and crosslinked with glutaraldehyde (GA) and assessed for their suitability in dehydrating 2-butanol by pervaporation (PV). These blends were subjected to sorption studies to determine the extent of interaction and degree of swelling in pure liquids as well as binary mixtures. Wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) were carried out to investigate changes in crystallinity and thermal stability, respectively. The effect of experimental parameters such as feed water concentration, permeate pressure and barrier thickness on membrane flux and selectivity was evaluated. The membranes were found to have good potential for breaking the azeotrope of 27.6 wt.% water with a flux of 3.07 kg/m² h 10 μm and selectivity of 26.5. Selectivity was found to improve with decreasing feed water concentration and increasing membrane thickness, whereas opposite trends were observed in case of flux. Higher permeate pressure caused a reduction in both flux and selectivity. These effects were clearly elucidated.     

Heat capacity anomalies of associated liquid–alkane mixtures near the liquid–liquid critical point

The isobaric heat capacity for a set of critical binary mixtures composed by an associated liquid and an alkane was measured near the liquid–liquid critical point. From a careful analysis of experimental data, nonuniversal quantities such as critical temperatures and critical amplitudes were obtained. To obtain microscopic parameters that may characterise the critical behaviour of the studied systems, the critical amplitude of the correlation length was determined via two-scale factor universality. Useful insights into the influence of the molecular structure of the alkanes as well as the self-associating capability of the polar liquid on the aforementioned nonuniversal quantities are obtained.     

Positive ion–molecule reactions in OCS/hydrocarbon mixtures

The positive ion–molecule reactions of OCS have been investigated in an ion cyclotron resonance spectrometer. A variety of reactions in OCS/hydrocarbon mixtures have been investigated for various C₁? C₄ hydrocarbons—alkanes, alkenes and alkynes. The formation of organosulfur ions is found in reactions in OCS/hydrocarbon (C_n) mixtures with n <4. Formation of organosulfur ions is observed from hydrocarbon ions reacting with OCS and [OCS]⁺˙ and S⁺˙ reacting with the hydrocarbons. The proton affinity of OCS has been determined to be 688.7±8 kJ mol^?1 while that of CS₂ is measured to be 712.1±8 kJ mol^?1. Comparison with the proton affinity of CO₂ shows that the proton affinity increases as sulfur is substituted for oxygen.     

Polyelectrolyte/surfactant mixtures at the air–solution interface

This review presents some of the recent developments in our understanding of the behaviour of polyelectrolyte/surfactant mixtures at the air–solution interface. The existence of a strong surface polyelectrolyte/surfactant interaction results in a complex pattern of surface adsorption. Recent studies, using a range of surface sensitive techniques, which include ellipsometry, neutron and X-ray reflectivity, surface tension and interfacial rheology, have considerably enhanced the understanding of their surface behaviour, which can be rationalized in terms of the competition between the formation of surface active polymer/surfactant complexes and solution polymer/surfactant micelle complexes.     

Ti–Ni–Pd dense membranes—The effect of the gas mixtures on the hydrogen permeation

In this experimental work the influence of co-existing gases on the hydrogen permeation through a Ti–Ni–Pd membrane was studied. It was found that nitrogen, carbon dioxide and helium do not influence the hydrogen permeation through the dense membrane. However, carbon monoxide influences the hydrogen flux at each temperature investigated (400–500 °C). The results show that for low CO concentration (i.e. at H₂ upstream >80%), the hydrogen flux through the membrane decreases faster than linearly, while, at H₂ upstream <80%, the slope is linear but smaller than the theoretical one.     

Thin film deposition from plasmas of tetramethylsilane–helium–argon mixtures with oxygen and with nitrogen

Films were produced by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) of tetramethylsilane (TMS)–helium–argon mixtures with either oxygen or nitrogen in a vacuum system fed with radiofrequency power. Actinometric optical emission spectroscopy was used to determine trends in the concentrations of plasma species of interest (H, CH, O, CO, and CN) as a function of the ratio of the inorganic reactive gas (oxygen or nitrogen) to the monomer (TMS) in the system feed. As the ratio of oxygen to TMS in the feed is increased, the degree of oxygenation of the deposited material, as revealed by transmission infrared spectroscopy, is also increased. Similarly, the degree of nitrogenation of the films increases with increasing nitrogen to monomer ratio in the feed. Strong correlations exist between the plasma concentrations of the above-mentioned plasma species and film structure and composition. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 36: 1873–1879, 1998     

Adsorption of polyamides and polyamide–silane mixtures at glass surfaces

The individual and combined adsorption behavior of polyamides and two different silanes to multicomponent glass surfaces was probed with a combination of x‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and static contact angle measurements. Samples were analyzed with and without solvent rinsing to separate the weakly bound (physisorbed) and more strongly bound (chemisorbed) species. High‐resolution XPS on N 1s revealed that the polyamides adsorb to the glass surfaces via protonated amine species at the acidic (OH) sites on the glass surface. Angle‐resolved XPS confirmed this by showing that the alkyl portion of the polymer is oriented away from the glass interface. In competitive coadsorption studies it was found that amino‐terminated silanes preferentially adsorb to the glass surface, relegating the polyamide to a physisorbed outer layer. When mercaptoterminated silanes were competitively coadsorbed the polyamide was preferentially adsorbed even when present at a concentration twenty times less than that of the silane. Altogether, this work reveals the strong interaction between surface silanols and amino‐functionalized organics. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.