Deformational,swelling, and potentiometric behavior of ionized poly(methacrylic acid) gels. II. Experimental results

The deformational, swelling, and potentiometric behavior of poly(methacrylic acid) gels was measured as a function of the degree of crosslinking, ionic strength, and degree of ionization. The comparison of the stress–strain behavior with theoretical relations derived in the preceding part has shown that the relations are valid only if an increase is assumed in the number of monomeric units in the statistical chain segment with increasing degree of neutralization of the gel. This dependence is affected by the salt content in the swelling solution and is also dependent on the activity coefficient of counterions. The pK₀ values for an undissociated gel approach pK₀ = 5.0 and increase somewhat with degree of neutralization. The swelling equilibria are in qualitative agreement with theoretical assumptions; their quantitative agreement depends on the activity coefficient of counterions.     

Structural studies of ultrahigh-modulus linear polyethylene using nitric acid etching and gel permeation chromatography. I. Determination of the crystal size distribution

The technique of nitric acid etching followed by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) has been used to study the structure of ultrahigh-modulus linear polyethylene (LPE) tapes drawn to draw ratio λ of 20. For comparison, lower draw ratio (λ = 11) samples were also examined. The etching was carried out in fuming nitric acid at 60°C and the progress of the reaction was monitored by measuring weight loss and molecular weight distributions as a function of time over a period up to 25 days. Consistent with previous work by us and other workers, notably Porter and Peterlin and co-workers, the ultrahigh-modulus products exhibit an exceptional resistance to the acid attack, i.e., after 3 days their weight loss is still negligible while at lower draw ratios it could be as high as 30%. At longer times, however, the rate of weight loss becomes comparable for the two sets of samples, even if the absolute values are much smaller for the products of λ = 20. During the early stages of the etching treatment a rapid decrease in molecular weight and narrowing of the molecular weight distribution is observed in all cases. Eventually the molecular weight distribution becomes time independent, while the weight loss continues to increase. This stage coincides with the attack of the lateral surfaces of the crystals becoming the dominant process and it is considered that the observed molecular length distribution then reflects the distribution of crystal thicknesses. The values of the weight average crystal thickness derived from the GPC experiments (L?_w) are in very good agreement with those obtained from wide-angle x-ray determinations. Furthermore the ratio of weight-average to number-average crystal thickness (L?_w/L?_n) is about 2 for the high draw (λ = 20) samples, i.e., the value predicted by the simple statistical model proposed by Gibson, Davies, and Ward for the structure of ultrahigh-modulus LPE. It is therefore concluded that the nitric acid etching/GPC technique can be used for reliable measurements of crystal size and crystal size distribution in ultraoriented LPE.     

Multifunctional polycondensation and gelation: A kinetic approach

The size distributions of a number of multifunctional polycondensation systems have been derived from kinetic reaction schemes. The size distribution obtained for a self-condensing multifunctional monomer is equivalent to the classic distributions derived by Flory and Stockmayer, and distribution expressions for mixtures of monomers of different functionalities have also been obtained. Molecular weight expressions have also been calculated for the same systems. In some case, these are exactly the same as those calculated by others, and in some cases the expressions differ from those by others only in the kind of average used for the mean functionality of the mixed monomer systems, but in other cases, the differences are more marked. In gelation, comparison with a number of actual gel point data shows that although the critical point P_crit for gel formation calculated from P_crit = 2/f was generally closer to actually measured gel points than when P_crit = 1(f –1), neither method of calculating P_crit can be regarded as completely reliable. The cause of the divergence from theory is interpreted in terms of intramolcular reaction, and the nature of this type of reaction is discussed and comparisons made with other gelling systems.     

Pictorial representation of three-dimensional electron distributions through a perspective view of contour diagrams in a set of parallel planes

A method of graphically exhibiting detailed information about a three-dimensional electron distribution function f(x,y,z) is described. Contour lines f = constant are drawn on a set of equidistant parallel planes that intersect the distribution, and a perspective view of all contours on all planes is displayed. Representative examples are given.     

Molecular weight distribution in random branching of polymer chains

Analytical expressions for the average molecular weights of randomly branched polymer molecules with any primary chain distribution are developed. A full molecular weight distribution (MWD) function is also derived for the case where primary chains conform to the most probable distribution. This MWD function can be separated into the fractional MWDs containing k branch points; therefore, very detailed information on the structure of randomly branched polymers can be obtained. The average molecular weights of the polymer fraction containing k branch points are linear functions of the number of branch points k, and the distribution becomes narrower as k increases. The heterogeneity in the distribution of branch points can make the weight-average degree of polymerization larger, although it is impossible to form a gel molecule only via branches (T-shaped junctions) without assistance of crosslinkages (H-shaped junctions).     

Kinetics of high-intensity electron-beam polymerization of a divinyl urethane

The kinetics of high-intensity electron beam-induced polymerization of di(2′-methacryloxyethyl)-4-m-phenylenediurethane during the network formation has been studied up to complete gelation and up to 56% conversion of unsaturation. From experimentally determined gel fractions, rate of disappearance of unsaturation, kinetic chain length, and intensity dependence, it is proposed that the polymerization takes place in a swollen network where the growing chains undergo unimolecular termination, and where gel-gel reaction is prohibited. The rate expression derived is: In [α(1 ? g)^0.545] = In α0 ? 2.51 k_ik_pt/k_t where α is the total unsaturation and g is the gel fraction. The value of k_p/k_t is found to be 2.1 and that of G_R, the free radical yield per 100 eV absorbed, to be 16; these high values are ascribed to the high viscosity of the polymerizing system.     

Theoretical consideration of the molecular mass distribution of starlike polymers formed by attachment of linear polymers to dendritic cores

Star‐shaped polymers can be synthesized by condensation of linear polymers to dendritic cores. The distribution of molecular masses of such hybrid star polymers and the factors influencing it have been investigated by calculations based on population balance equations and Laplace transformations. Moreover, the expressions for numerical calculations of molecular mass distributions have been derived for both Poisson and Schultz–Zimm types of initial molecular mass distributions. According to the calculation results, the molecular mass distribution of the star polymers is strongly dependent on the distribution of the length of linear polymers. Beyond this, the molecular mass development is affected by several parameters that describe the reaction degree of dendritic cores, thus, by the fraction of all functional groups of dendritic cores involved in grafting, denoted by p; the average branching degree of one starlike molecule, represented by ρ; or the fraction of dendritic molecules becoming the cores of star polymers, expressed by p/ρ, provided the star molecule contains only one core. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 39: 2751–2758, 2001     

Influence de la structure sur l'hydrolyse des N-pyrrolylmethylene-2 anilines

Hydrolysis of the imine function of a series of Schiff bases derived from pyrrole-2-carboxaldehyde and substituted anilines (X = H, p-OCH₃, p-OC₂H₅, p-CH₃, p-Cl, p-Br, m-CN, m-NO₂, p-NO₂) was studied in all of the pH ranges. The hydrolysis curves log k_abs (mn^?1) = f(pH) were established in buffered aqueous methanol by polarography or amperometry. The shapes of the curves obtained for pH > 5 indicates that N-pyrrolylmethylene-2 anilines hydrolyse according to the same mechanism as N-benzylidene anilines. The particular stability of these products for pH < 5 permits one to obtain complete hydrolysis curves in acid media. A very good Hammett correlation (k_obs = + 1,73) has been established from the maxima which appear for strong acidity. This stability is interpreted as due to the specific electron-donating effect of the pyrrole nucleus. The influence of the structural parameter X on the morphology of the curves log k_abs = f(pH) and on the hydrolysis mechanism of the imine function is discussed in all of the pH ranges.     

The Quenched Instationary Polymerization System, 5. The Peak Broadness as an Invariant Quantity of the Number,Molar Mass and Hyper Distributions

The total number, molar mass and hyper distributions generated by quenched instationary polymerization techniques are dominated by the radical chain length distribution (RCLD) whereas the contribution from the polymer chain length distribution (PCLD) is in most cases negligible. For the determination of the rate constant of propagation (k_p) the location of different extraordinary points of the distribution curves is determined by the use of the first and second derivatives. For the number, molar mass and hyper distributions these points are related in an unambiguous way to k_p[M]t_x and can be used to extract k_p. The choice of t_x (duration of the dark period, or an initiation period, or the sum of different periods) depends on the experimental conditions (δ‐pulse, incomplete pre‐effect, combination of periods differing in initiation extent) and is essential for the proper determination of k_p. The broadness of appearing peaks (introduced as the difference between two successive points of inflections) turned out to remain the same irrespective which type of distribution curve was analyzed. Analytical expressions for the peak broadness were derived for different types of quenched instationary polymerization conditions. For δ‐pulse initiation the broadness of the Poisson peak depends simply on the number of propagation steps that occurred whereas for non‐δ‐pulse initiation conditions the peak broadness is governed by the corresponding duration of the initiation period.     

General description of the structure of branched polymers

A multidimensional distribution function is defined to describe the branching structure of branched homopolymers such as starch and polyacrylates. Averages of this function give distributions which can be measured using, for example, the number and weight distributions as a function of hydrodynamic volume from size‐exclusion chromatography and field‐flow fractionation, and two‐dimensional separation methods. This provides means to plot data to obtain physically meaningful quantities, and to test mechanistic postulates for the (bio)synthesis, of branched polymers. A simple enzyme‐kinetic model for a reduced form of this multidimensional distribution for starch biosynthesis is derived and solved. One application is to derive number distributions for the molecular weight distribution of debranched glycogen. Fitting this to experiment gives estimates of this ratio for two forms of glycogen. We propose that number distributions from size separation for starch (which, it is pointed out, are obtained directly from in‐line viscometric detection) have a simple and meaningful form when plotted as ln(number distribution) against V_h^p, where V_h is hydrodynamic volume, and p a parameter of order unity determined from multiple‐detection size separation measurements. The new function is also used to propose a two‐dimensional experiment which can yield an unambiguous measurement of the amylose: amylopectin ratio in starch. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 3914–3930, 2009     

Absolute propagation rate coefficients in radical polymerization from gel permeation chromatography of polymers produced by intermittent initiation

The pulsed laser polymerization technique is now a well accepted method to determine propagation rate coefficients for radical polymerization from molar mass distributions resulting from intermittent initiation. A simplified apparatus for the periodic photoinitiation is used which is much less expensive than the laser equipment. The usefulness of the simplified equipment was proved by the determination of k_p for styrene at technically relevant temperatures up to 130°C for the first time. Furthermore, careful inspection of the molar mass distribution (mmd) reveals that depending on the reaction conditions, inflection points (L_i) can not only be found at integer multiples of k_p • t_o • [M] but also at 0.5ⁱ • k_p • t_o • [M], i = 1, 2, 3, … . A rule to find the inflection points leading to correct values for k_p is proposed. It is shown that the shape of the mmd inter alia depends on the amount of primary radical termination compared to the termination reaction between growing chains. With dominant primary termination, the maxima of the distribution will give the correct k_p, whereas in the absence of primary termination the inflection points should be used. Experimental conditions like initiator concentration, light intensity etc. may influence the position of the L_i at least to some extent, and so may give a small but principal error or uncertainty in k_p. A new mathematical method for the time-dependent simulation of the resulting mmd is presented which allows the calculations being performed on a PC within an acceptable time.     

Statistische methoden zur ermittlung der verteilung der molekülgrössen in hochpolymeren systemen aus experimentalergebnissen der fraktionierten fällung. IV. Berücksichtigung der polydispersität der fraktionen

The relation between the most important statistical parameters of the number frequency h(P) determining the kinetics of polymerization and the molecular weight distribution H(P) is explained. The polydispersity g_w of H corresponds to the non-uniformity of H(= U). For calculating g_w, a correction formula (22) is derived which takes into account the averaged polydispersity α of the fractions. By this means, the asymmetry of h is also calculated. As explained in an earlier investigation, it is possible to determine the type of distribution function in the SWN step diagram. If this type is known, it is furthermore possible to calculate the correction quantity α according to the equilibrium theory of G. V. Schulz. The α unequivocally depends on the distribution function, the volume quotient φ of the sol and the gel, and on the parameter k of the function type, if the number X of the fractions lies between 5 and 20 and the single fractions show approximately the same mass. As an example, it is shown that then the quantity k, which is characteristic for the type of the reaction, can be calculated from the experimental data with an error of only a few per cent, and α² has a value below 0.1. Although, with a fractionation column, α² generally shows lower values, in favorable cases even down to 0.03, the uncertainty in the determination of the parameter k is, for many practical reasons, generally not lower compared with the uncertainty observed in precipitation fractionations using our new method.     

Molecular mass distributions of star‐branched polycondensates

Of late much attention has been paid to star‐branched polymers, being a good reference model for branched polymers, in general. Usually, monodisperse or narrow disperse polymers are analysed. Knowledge of molecular mass distributions is a key factor in the analysis and study of these systems. Star‐branched polycondensates can be synthesised by reaction of a difunctional ( AB ) monomer with a compound RA _f . Weight and number molecular mass distributions of star‐branched polycondensates have been studied in relation to the initial molar ratio between R and the AB monomer (α), the average molecular mass per arm (β) and the number of arms (f ). Simple probability density functions can be derived at, if molecules are split into – R (without core R ) and + R (with core R ). This enables further the representation in molecular mass units next to the representation in monomer units. Proper choice of α, β and f can either give narrower or broader distributions compared to the most probable distribution, which is the theoretical distribution for the pure AB polymer (α = 0). The resulting polymer might either have a uni‐modal or a bi‐modal molecular mass distribution.     

Mass spectrometric investigation of the equilibrium gas-phase composition over InI3 at elevated temperatures

Mass spectra of the saturated vapour and partial pressures of different species over solid InI₃ were measured between 350 and 450 K with a mass spectrometric Knudsen effusion technique. By measuring appearance energies (AE) for different ions in the mass spectra, it was proved that InI₃ evaporates congruently from the solid phase as InI_3(g) and In₂I_6(g). Values of AE for In₂I_n⁺ ions (n = 0–5) increase as n decreases, showing an interesting periodicity with In? I bond strengths. For these measurements an improved deconvolution of the ionization efficiency curves by fast Fourier transformation, using a combined Maxwellian and Gaussian electron energy distribution, was performed. By measuring ion abundances as a function of temperature, the Clausius–Clapeyron plots for all ions appearing in the mass spectra were drawn.     

Tetraphenylethane iniferters. II. Toluene diisocyanate-based polyurethane iniferter for “living” radical polymerization of acrylonitrile

A novel polyurethane iniferter, synthesized from equal moles of toluene diisocyanate and 1,1,2,2-tetraphenyl-1,2-ethanediol, was used to polymerize acrylonitrile to assess whether it proceeded via a “living” radical polymerization mechanism. From the kinetic results, the rate of polymerization could be expressed as R_pα[BPT]^0.96[AN]^1.64. The increase of number-average molecular weight with increase of both conversion and polymerization time, the bimodal molecular weight distribution in gel permeation chromatography and the increase of molecular weight in the post-polymerization of polyacrylonitrile confirm that the present tetraphenylethane-based polyurethane iniferter follows a “living” radical polymerization mechanism. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Mass transfer and fluid flow visualization in packed and fluidized beds by the adsorption method

Mass transfer coefficient (j _D ) between fluid and column wall in liquid packed and fluidized beds of spherical inert particle has been studied experimentally using adsorption method. Experiments were conducted in column 40 mm in diameter for packed and fluidized beds. In all runs mass transfer rates were determined in presence of spherical glass particles 2.06 mm in diameter. This paper introduced adsorption method as very suitable method for studies of mass transfer and for fluid flow visualization. The adsorption method is based on the dynamic adsorption of an organic dye onto a surface covered with a thin layer of a porous adsorbent. Local and average mass transfer coefficients were determinated from the surface color intensity of the foils of silica gel. Correlation j _D = f(Re) was derived using mass transfer coefficients data. The article is published in the original.     

Distinctive MS/MS Fragmentation Pathways of Glycopeptide‐Generated Oxonium Ions Provide Evidence of the Glycan Structure

Post‐translational glycosylation of proteins play key roles in cellular processes and the site‐specific characterisation of glycan structures is critical to understanding these events. Given the challenges regarding identification of glycan isomers, glycoproteomic studies generally rely on the assumption of conserved biosynthetic pathways. However, in a recent study, we found characteristically different HexNAc oxonium ion fragmentation patterns that depend on glycan structure. Such patterns could be used to distinguish between glycopeptide structural isomers. To acquire a mechanistic insight, deuterium‐labelled glycopeptides were prepared and analysed. We found that the HexNAc‐derived m/z 126 and 144 oxonium ions, differing in mass by H₂O, had completely different structures and that high‐mannose N‐glycopeptides generated abundant Hex‐derived oxonium ions. We describe the oxonium ion decomposition mechanisms and the relative abundance of oxonium ions as a function of collision energy for a number of well‐defined glycan structures, which provide important information for future glycoproteomic studies.     

Polymerization of higher linear α‐olefins with (CH3)2Si(2‐methylbenz[e]indenyl)2ZrCl2

Poly‐α‐olefins ranging from poly‐1‐pentene to poly‐1‐octadecene with narrow polydispersities were synthesized with (CH₃)₂Si(2‐methylbenz[e]indenyl)₂ZrCl₂ and methylaluminoxane at polymerization temperatures (T_p 's) ranging from −15 to 180 °C and were characterized by gel permeation chromatography, NMR spectroscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry. The molar masses of the homopolymers obtained with (CH₃)₂Si(2‐methylbenz[e]indenyl)₂ZrCl₂ were notably higher than those of poly‐α‐olefins synthesized with other zirconium‐based metallocenes under similar conditions. The temperature dependence of the molar mass distribution of the poly‐α‐olefins can be described by a common exponential decay function regardless of the investigated monomer. At T_p 's ranging from 20 to 100 °C, moderate isotacticity prevailed, but outside this temperature range, the polymers were less stereoregular. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 2333–2339, 2000     

Spontaneous fission yields for 238U in molybdenum measured in Archaean zircons

The relative cumulative fission yields of ^95,97,98,100Mo produced by spontaneous fission of ²³⁸U contained in Archaean zircons, were measured by sensitive thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS). The relative yields for ^95,97,98,100Mo are 0.58 : 1.08 : 1.04 : 1.0, respectively. Combined with mass spectrometrically-determined ^{99,101,102,104}Ru fission yields,¹ the mass distribution from 95￡A￡104 can be delineated. Assuming an “absolute” fission yield of 6.1±0.4% for the cumulative fission yield at mass 97, it is possible to express the Mo and Ru relative spontaneous fission yields for ²³⁸U as “absolute” values. There is no evidence for a significant isotope anomaly at mass 98. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Scaling Properties and Structure of Aerogels

Young’s modulus as well as solid thermal and electrical conductivity of aerogels have been observed to scale with density. No quantitative explanations were available up to now for these experimental findings. To establish a quantitive relationship between morphological and topological features of fractal gel networks, a simulation procedure is introduced that allows to produce three-dimensional gel structures, from which two important parameters can be extracted: i) the fraction α of interconnected mass of the gel network and ii) the ratio γ of Pythagorean distance to minimum path length on the gel backbone. Surprisingly the product αγ, which enters important macroscopic parameters such as elasticity or solid thermal (and electrical) conductivity, was found to scale with an exponent that is only a function of the mass fractal dimensionD. Also, an analytical relation between modulus and conductivity can be derived.