Line broadening mechanisms in the low pressure laser-induced plasma

The spectral profiles of Ca and Rb lines have been studied in a laser induced plasma as a function of pressure (1–10 torr) and delay time with respect to the plasma initiation (1–10 μs). Measurements were made in a plasma induced by the 1064-nm output of a Nd:YAG laser on a calcium carbonate matrix, doped with Rb. Spectral profiles were measured in absorption using a narrow-band cw Ti:Sapphire laser. It was shown that in the case of a trace element (Rb in a CaCO₃ matrix), the broadening mechanism was Doppler-dominant, whereas for a major matrix component (Ca), resonance broadening was the main contributor to the line shape. The plasma was shown to be non-equilibrium provided by the difference between the kinetic (3000 K) and the excitation (8000 K) temperatures. The electron number density at delay times of 5–10 μs and pressures of 1–10 torr was estimated not to exceed 10¹⁵ cm⁻³. The number densities of Ca atoms in the ground and the excited (23 652 cm⁻¹) states were evaluated by measuring line width and peak absorption at 732.6 nm. They were found to be in the range of (1.5–2.2)×10¹⁷ cm⁻³ for the ground state and (1.5–33)×10¹¹ cm⁻³ for the excited state.     

Comparison of the properties of waterborne polyurethane/multiwalled carbon nanotube and acid‐treated multiwalled carbon nanotube composites prepared by in situ polymerization

A series of waterborne polyurethane (WBPU)/multiwalled carbon nanotube (CNT) and WBPU/nitric acid treated multiwalled carbon nanotube (A‐CNT) composites were prepared by in situ polymerization in an aqueous medium. The optimum nitric acid treatment time was about 0.5 h. The effects of the CNT and A‐CNT contents on the dynamic mechanical thermal properties, mechanical properties, hardness, electrical conductivity, and antistatic properties of the two kinds of composites were compared. The tensile strength and modulus, the glass‐transition temperatures of the soft and hard segments (T_gs and T_gh, respectively), and ΔT_g (T_gh − T_gs) of WBPU for both composites increased with increasing CNT and A‐CNT contents. However, these properties of the WBPU/A‐CNT composites were higher than those of the WBPU/CNT composites with the same CNT content. The electrical conductivities of the WBPU/CNT1.5 and WBPU/A‐CNT1.5 composites containing 1.5 wt % CNTs (8.0 × 10⁻⁴ and 1.1 × 10⁻³ S/cm) were nearly 8 and 9 orders of magnitude higher than that of WBPU (2.5 × 10⁻¹² S/cm), respectively. The half‐life of the electrostatic charge (τ_1/2) values of the WBPU/CNT0.1 and WBPU/A‐CNT0.1 composites containing 0.1 wt % CNTs were below 10 s, and the composites had good antistatic properties. From these results, A‐CNT was found to be a better reinforcer than CNT. These results suggest that WBPU/A‐CNT composites prepared by in situ polymerization have high potential as new materials for waterborne coatings with good physical, antistatic, and conductive properties. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 3973–3985, 2005     

Studies on characterization of nano CaCO3 prepared by the in situ deposition technique and its application in PP‐nano CaCO3 composites

The elegant approach of in situ deposition technique was used for the synthesis of nano CaCO₃. the nanosize of particles was confirmed by the X‐ray diffraction (XRD) technique. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was used for determination of the enthalpy. The nano CaCO₃ polypropylene (PP) composites were prepared by taking 2 and 10 wt % of different nanosizes (21–39 nm) of CaCO₃. Conversion of the α phase to β was observed in the case of 2 wt % of a 30‐nm sized amount of CaCO₃ in a PP composite. The decrement in ΔH and percent crystallinity, as well as the increment in melt temperature were recorded for 6 wt % nano CaCO₃ with a decrease in nanosize from 39 to 21 nm. The increment in tensile strength with an increase in the amount of nano CaCO₃ was observed, and the lower particle size showed greater improvement. The improvement in thermal and mechanical properties is because of the formation of a greater number of small spherulites uniformly present in the PP matrix. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 43: 107–113, 2004     

Design and synthesis of optically transparent calcium‐incorporated polymer complexes

Transparent thin films of calcium‐ion‐incorporated polymer composites were synthesized with calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) and polymers such as poly(acrylic acid) (PAA), poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), and methylcellulose. The homogeneous distribution of Ca²⁺ in the composite films was observed because of the high concentration of COO^? groups along the PAA backbone for the complexation of Ca²⁺ ions. The optical transparency of the composites depends on the weight percentages of the three polymers and the molar concentration of CaCO₃ in the composites. Maximum transparency was obtained for a composite film with a PAA/CaCO₃ ratio of 9:1. The results indicated that methylcellulose improved the film‐forming capabilities and that PEG improved the transparency of the composites. All polymer complexes were characterized with X‐ray diffraction, fourier transfer infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, dynamic mechanical analysis, and optical transparency measurements. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 4459–4465, 2004     

Effects of microscale calcium carbonate and nanoscale calcium carbonate on the fusion,thermal, and mechanical characterizations of rigid poly(vinyl chloride)/calcium carbonate composites

A Haake torque rheometer equipped with an internal mixer has been used to study the influence of microscale calcium carbonate (micro‐CaCO₃) and nanoscale calcium carbonate (nano‐CaCO₃) on the fusion, thermal, and mechanical characteristics of rigid poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC)/micro‐CaCO₃ and PVC/nano‐CaCO₃ composites, respectively. The fusion characteristics discussed in this article include the fusion time, fusion temperature, fusion torque, and fusion percolation threshold (FPT). The fusion time, fusion temperature, and FPT of rigid PVC/calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) composites increase with an increase in the addition of micro‐CaCO₃ or nano‐CaCO₃. In contrast, the fusion torque of rigid PVC/CaCO₃ composites decreases with an increase in the addition of micro‐CaCO₃ or nano‐CaCO₃. The results of thermal analysis show that the first thermal degradation onset temperature (T_onset) of rigid PVC/micro‐CaCO₃ is 7.5 °C lower than that of PVC. Meanwhile, the glass‐transition temperature (T_g) of rigid PVC/micro‐CaCO₃ is similar to that of PVC. However, T_onset and T_g of PVC/nano‐CaCO₃ composites can be increased by up to 30 and 4.4%, respectively, via blending with 10 phr nano‐CaCO₃. Mechanical testing results for PVC/micro‐CaCO₃ composites with the addition of 5–15 phr micro‐CaCO₃ and PVC/nano‐CaCO₃ composites with the addition of 5–20 phr nano‐CaCO₃ are better than those of PVC. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 44: 451–460, 2006     

Molecular motion,morphology, and thermal properties of multiwall carbon nanotube/polysilsesquioxane composite

Diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA)‐bridged polyorganosiloxane precursors have been prepared successfully by reacting diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A epoxy resin with 3‐aminopropyltriethoxysilane. Acid‐modified and unmodified multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) were dispersed in the diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A‐bridged polyorganosiloxane precursors and cured to prepare the carbon nanotube/diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A‐bridged polysilsesquioxane (MWCNT/DGEBA‐PSSQ) composites. The molecular motion of MWCNT/DGEBA‐PSSQ nanocomposites was studied by high‐resolution solid‐state ¹³C NMR. Acid‐modification can improve the affinity between MWCNT and the polymer matrix. The molecular motion of the DGEBA‐PSSQ decreased with acid‐modified MWCNT content. However, when unmodified MWCNT was used, the molecular motion of the DGEBA‐PSSQ was increased. SEM and TEM microphotographs confirm that acid‐modified MWCNT exhibits better dispersion than unmodified MWCNT in DGBEA‐PSSQ. The dynamic mechanical properties of acid‐modified MWCNT/DGBEA‐PSSQ composites are more favorable than those of unmodified MWCNT. T_g of the DGEBA‐PSSQ decreased from 174.0 °C (neat DGEBA‐PSSQ) to 159.0 °C (1 wt % unmodified MWCNT) and 156.0 °C (1 wt % acid‐modified MWCNT). The storage modulus (at 30 °C) of the DGEBA‐PSSQ increased from 1.23 × 10⁹ Pa (neat DGEBA‐PSSQ) to 1.65 × 10⁹ Pa (1 wt % acid‐modified MWCNT). However, when unmodified MWCNT was used, the storage modulus of the DGEBA‐PSSQ decreased to 6.88 × 10⁸ Pa (1 wt % unmodified MWCNT). At high temperature, above 150 °C, storage modulus of nanocomposites was higher than that of neat polymer system. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 46: 472–482, 2008     

Synthesis and electrical–magnetic properties of polyaniline composites

Composites of polyaniline (PANI) with both conducting and ferromagnetic feature were synthesized by an improved method proposed by the authors. The electrical and ferromagnetic properties of the composites were measured as a function of the concentration of KOH solution used during polymerization. The conductivity of the composites at room temperature decreases with the increase of the concentration of KOH; the maximum conductivity of 8.0 × 10⁻¹ S/cm can be obtained when 25 wt % of concentration of KOH was used. For a high concentration of KOH, ferromagnetic properties of the composites including a high saturated magnetization (∼ 10.0 emu/g) depending on the concentration of KOH solution and a lower coercive force (H_c ≈ 0) independent of the concentration of KOH solution were observed. It has been demonstrated that magnetic particles (Fe₃O₄) with nanometer size in the composites can be attributed to the ferromagnetic properties of the composites observed. For a lower concentration of KOH solution, on the other hand, the magnetic properties of the composites can be decomposed to Curie susceptibility χ_c depending on the temperature and Pauli susceptibility χ_P independent of the temperature. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 36: 2799–2805, 1998     

Yttrium Doped Copper (II) Oxide Hole Transport Material as Efficient Thin Film Transistor

This work reports development of yttrium doped copper oxide (Y−CuO) as a new hole transport material with supplemented optoelectronic character. The pure and Y-doped CuO thin films are developed through a solid-state method at 200 °C and recognized as high performance p-channel inorganic thin-film transistors (TFTs). CuO is formed by oxidative decomposition of copper acetylacetonate, yielding 100 nm thick and conductive (40.9 S cm⁻¹) compact films with a band gap of 2.47 eV and charge carrier density of ∼1.44×10¹⁹ cm⁻³. Yttrium doping generates denser films, Cu₂Y₂O₅ phase in the lattice, with a wide band gap of 2.63 eV. The electrical conductivity increases nine-fold on 2 % Y addition to CuO, and the carrier density increases to 2.97×10²¹ cm⁻³, the highest reported so far. The TFT devices perform remarkably with high field-effect mobility (μ_sat) of 3.45 cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹ and 5.3 cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹, and considerably high current-on/off ratios of 0.11×10⁴ and 9.21×10⁴, for CuO and Y−CuO films, respectively (at −1 V operating voltage). A very small width hysteresis, 0.01 V for CuO and 1.92 V for 1 % Y−CuO, depict good bias stability. Both the devices work in enhancement mode with stable output characteristics for multiple forward sweeps (5 to −60 V) at −1V_g.     

Study of carbonaceous clusters in irradiated polycarbonate with UV–vis spectroscopy

The formation of carbonaceous clusters in ion‐irradiated polymer films was investigated extensively. Information about these clusters may be obtained with ultraviolet–visible (UV–vis) spectroscopy. The optical band gap (E_g), calculated from the absorption edge of the UV spectra of these polymers, can be correlated to the number of carbon atoms (N) in a cluster with the modified Tauc equation. The structure of the cluster is also related to E_g; for example, a six‐membered‐benzene‐ring‐type structure has an E_g of ≈5.3 eV, whereas a buckminsterfullerene‐type structure has an E_g of ≈4.9 eV. These clusters are responsible for the electrical conductivity in these films. In this work, polycarbonate films (20 μm thick) were irradiated with 45‐MeV Li ions at fluences of 1 × 10¹² to 1 × 10¹³ cm⁻² and were characterized with UV–vis spectroscopy and impedance measurements. The E_g values, calculated from the absorption edge in the 280–315‐nm region with the Tauc relation, varied from 4.39 to 4.35 eV for the pristine and various irradiated samples, respectively. The cluster size showed a range of 60–62 carbon atoms per cluster. The sheet conductivity (σ_dc) and loss (tan δ) values of 10⁻¹⁶ Ω⁻¹cm⁻¹ and 10⁻³ for the pristine sample changed to 10⁻¹⁵ Ω⁻¹cm⁻¹ and 10⁻², respectively, for the irradiated samples. This increase in the values of σ_dc and tan δ may be correlated to the increase in the size of the carbonaceous clusters. This study provides insight into the mechanism of electrical conductivity in irradiated polymers. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 38: 1589–1594, 2000     

Direct borohydride fuel cell performance using hydroxide-conducting polymeric nanocomposite electrolytes

Solid electrolyte membranes based on alkali-doped polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and PVA/carbon nanotubes (PVA/CNTs) are used in direct borohydride fuel cells (DBFCs). As 0.05 wt % of CNT is incorporated into the PVA matrix, the polymer crystallinity is decreased from 42.4% to 38.0% and the fractional free volume increases from 2.48% to 3.53%. The KOH-doped PVA/CNT exhibits the highest ionic conductivity of 0.0805 S cm⁻¹, because of the increased polymer free volume (which promotes vehicular OH⁻ transport) and the presence of CNT (which serves as the conducting microchannels). Sodium borohydride (NaBH₄) in NaOH solution and potassium borohydride (KBH₄) in KOH mixture are fed into the cells. The power density of the KBH₄-based DBFC is almost twice that of the NaBH₄-based DBFC (184 vs. 92 mW cm⁻²) due to less KBH₄ permeability through the films, higher conductivity of the KOH-doped PVA composites than those in the sodium counterpart, and probably higher electro-catalytic kinetics. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2013, 51, 1779–1789, 2013     

New technique for the determination of trace noble metal content in geological and process materials

A new two-step sample preparation technique is proposed for the instrumental determination of trace quantities of noble metals (NM) in refractory geological and process materials. The decomposition procedure is based on the oxidizing fluorination of samples with subsequent sulfatization (OFS) of the sample melt or cake. Fluorination of samples is accomplished using a mixture of KHF₂+KBrF₄ or KHF₂+BrF₃ depending on the ratio of sample mass to oxidizing mixture. Both cakes and melts can result using this procedure. Sulfatization of resulting fluorides is completed using concentrated sulfuric acid heated to 550 °C. Validation studies using certified geostandard reference materials (GSO VP-2, ZH-3, Matte RTP, HO-1, SARM-7) have shown that the proposed method is fast, convenient and most often produces non-hygroscopic homogeneous residues suitable for analysis by atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) and atomic emission spectrometry (AES). Results obtained for NM concentrations in reference materials agreed with certified concentration ranges and results obtained using other methods of analysis. The OFS procedure combined with direct current plasma d.c. plasma AES achieved the following limits of detection (LOD) for the noble metals: Ag, Au, Pd, 1–2×10⁻⁶; Pt, 5×10⁻⁶; and Ru, Rh, Ir, Os, 1–3×10⁻⁷ wt.%. Using graphite furnace AAS (GFAAS) combined extraction pre-concentration the following LODs for NMs were achieved: Pt, Ru, 1×10⁻⁶; Pd, Rh, 1×10⁻⁷; and Au, Ag, 1−2×10⁻⁸ wt.%. The relative standard deviation for NM determinations (S_r) was dependent on NM concentration and sample type, but commonly was in the range of 3–15% for d.c. plasma AES and 5–30% for GFAAS.     

Cyclopolymerization of 3-phenyl[5]ferrocenophane-1,5-dimethylene: Synthesis and electronic properties of a polyferrocenophane

Radical cyclopolymerization of 3-phenyl[5]ferrocenophane-1,5-dimethylene ( 2 ) and copolymerization with styrene gave polymers ( 3 and 4 ) with [3]ferrocenophane moieties pendant to the backbone. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) on polymer 3 in CH₂Cl₂ showed two oxidation waves at −0.13 and +0.05 V (versus ferrocene/ferrocenium) and CV on copolymer 4 showed one oxidation potential at −0.03 V. CV on 3 in dimethylacetamide showed only one oxidation potential at −0.10 V. Near-IR spectroscopy of partially oxidized 3 showed a broad intervalence band at ca. 2000 nm, indicative of low-energy barriers to electron hopping. Conductivity measurements on 3 and poly(vinylferrocene) (PVFc) oxidatively doped with iodine vapors under an argon atmosphere showed a maximum conductivity ca. 5 × 10⁻⁵ S/cm before the samples cracked, while 4 exhibited a maximum conductivity of 1.6 × 10⁻⁶ S/cm. On iodine doping under ambient conditions, polymers 3 , 4 , and PVFc showed maximum conductivities of 7.6 × 10⁻⁴, 9.5 × 10⁻⁵, and 5.5 × 10⁻⁵ S/cm, respectively. Conductivity measurement were also performed on samples of 3 ⁺BF₄⁻ with oxidation levels ranging from 8 to 56%. Conductivities of these samples ranged from ca. 10⁻¹⁰ to 10⁻⁹ S/cm under vacuum and ca. 10⁻⁶ S/cm under ambient conditions, indicating that atmospheric moisture has a strong effect on the conductivity. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35 : 3365–3376, 1997     

New aromatic benzazole polymers. I. Benzobisthiazole and benzobisoxazole polymers with main-chain triarylamino units

Thermally stable, nonrigid-rod poly(benzobisthiazoles), (R)TPA-PBZT , where R = H, Me, NMe₂, and OH, and poly(benzobisoxazoles), (R)TPA-PBO , where R = Me, NMe₂ containing electron-rich triarylamine groups with various para-substituents (Rs) on the pendent phenyl ring, were synthesized from either 2,5-diamino-1,4-benzenedithiol dihydrochloride or 2,4-diamino-1,5-benzenediol dihydrochloride and the respective triarylamine-based dinitrile or diacid monomer in polyphosphoric acid. Whereas (R)TPA-PBZT polymers were obtained in moderate molecular weights, analogous (R)TPA-PBO polymers were only prepared in low molecular weights. No lyotropic behaviors, characteristic of the unmodified rigid-rod benzazole polymers, as evidenced by the absence of either stir opalescence or birefringence under crosspolarizers, were observed for these homopolymers at about 10 wt % polymer concentration. Among these polymers, only (Me)TPA-PBZT and (NMe₂)TPA-PBZT formed cast films with good mechanical integrity. In their pristine state, their film conductivity values were in the range of 10⁻¹⁰–10⁻⁹ S/cm at room temperature. Upon exposure to iodine vapor, their conductivities were increased to the maximal values of 5.0 × 10⁻⁵ S/cm ( (Me)TPA-PBZT ) and 4.1 × 10⁻⁴ S/cm ( (NMe₂)TPA-PBZT ). © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35 : 1909–1924, 1997     

Synthesis and characterization of perfluoro quaternary ammonium anion exchange membranes

In this study, new alkaline exchange membranes were prepared from the perfluorinated 3M ionomer with various quaternary ammonium cations attached with sulfonamide linkage. The degree of functionalization varied depending on the cation species, resulting in different ion exchange capacities (IECs), 0.33–0.72 meq g⁻¹. There was evidence of polymer degradation when the films were exposed to hydroxide, and hence all membrane characterization was performed in the chloride form. Conductivity was dependent on cation species and IEC, E_a = 36–59 kJ mol⁻¹. Diffusion of water through the membrane was relatively high 1.6 × 10⁻⁵ cm² s⁻¹ and indicated restriction over a range of diffusion times, 6–700 ms. Water uptake (WU) in the membranes was generally low and the hydration level varied based on cation species, λ = 6–11. Small-angle scattering experiments suggested ionic aggregation, 37–42 Å, independent of cation species but slight differences in long-range order with cation species. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2013, 51, 1761–1769, 2013     

Theoretical study of sorption-induced bending of polypyrrole films

Polypyrrole films containing perchlorate were electrochemically synthesized and the bending and recovery motion of the films obtained has been investigated. It was found that the thickness of the film and ambient relative humidity (RH) were crucial to the motion of film: An increase of the film thickness decreased the displacement of the bending but increased the bending stress. On the other hand, an increase of the ambient RH decreased both functions. The motion of film was caused by the difference of expansion on both sides of the film owing to anisotropic sorption of water vapor, which could be expressed by the diffusion-limited bending model. The diffusion coefficients calculated from the bending and recovery motion at 25°C, RH 50% were 12.2 × 10⁻⁸ cm² s⁻¹ and 3.5 × 10⁻⁸ cm² s⁻¹, respectively. The maximum expansion of the film surface calculated from the bending curve was about 0.36%. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J. Polym. Sci. B Polym. Phys. 36: 2237–2246, 1998     

Kinetics of the gas-phase reactions of indan,indene, fluorene,and 9,10-dihydroanthracene with OH radicals,NO3 radicals,and O3

The kinetics of the gas-phase reactions of OH radicals, NO₃ radicals, and O₃ with indan, indene, fluorene, and 9,10-dihydroanthracene have been studied at 297 ± 2 K and atmospheric pressure of air. The rate constants, or upper limits thereof, for the O₃ reactions were (in cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ units): indan, < 3 × 10⁻¹⁹; indene, (1.7 ± 0.5) × 10⁻¹⁶, fluorene, < 2 × 10⁻¹⁹; and 9,10-dihydroanthracene, (9.0 ± 2.0) × 10⁻¹⁹. Using a relative rate method, the rate constants for the OH radical and NO₃ radical reactions, respectively, were (in cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ units): indan, (1.9 ± 0.5) × 10⁻¹¹ and (6.6 ± 2.0) × 10⁻¹⁵; indene, (7.8 ± 2.0) × 10⁻¹¹ and (4.1 ± 1.5) × 10⁻¹²; fluorene, (1.6 ± 0.5) × 10⁻¹¹ and (3.5 ± 1.2) × 10⁻¹⁴; and 9,10-dihydroanthracene, (2.3 ± 0.6) × 10⁻¹¹ and (1.2 ± 0.4) × 10⁻¹². These kinetic data were used to assess the relative contributions of the various reaction pathways. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 29: 299–309, 1997.     

Supramolecular complexes of poly(3‐Hexylthiophene)‐block (and random)‐poly[3‐(2‐(6‐carboxyhexyl)methyl)thiophene] copolymers with perylene bisimide

Block and random copolymers of poly(3‐hexylthiophene) and poly[3‐(2‐(6‐carboxyhexyl)methyl)thiophene] with side‐chain carboxylic functionality ((P3HT‐b‐P3COOH) and (P3HT‐r‐P3COOH) were developed by Grignard Metathesis (GRIM) polymerization. The carboxylic functionality was introduced in the side chain via the oxazoline route. Both the block and random polythiophene copolymers were complexed with pyridine functionalized perylene bisimide to obtain supramolecular block and random polymer complexes. The complex formation in both systems was confirmed by ¹H NMR, WXRD and SAXS studies. An expansion of d spacing upon complex formation was observed in both the block and random copolymer, which could be traced by WXRD. Hole and electron mobilities measured for the supramolecular complexes indicated values which were higher by an order of magnitude for the supramolecular block complex (μ_h ≈ 2.9 × 10⁻⁴ cm²/Vs; μ_e ≈ 3.1 × 10⁻⁶ cm²/Vs) as compared to the random (μ_h ≈ 1.4 × 10⁻⁵ cm²/Vs; μ_e ≈ 4.7 × 10⁻⁷ cm²/Vs) copolymer. These results are indicative of the higher degree of disorder prevailing in the films of random copolymer system compared to the block copolymer. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2018 , 56, 1574–1583     

Toughness mechanism of polypropylene/elastomer/filler composites

The toughening mechanisms of polypropylene filled with elastomer and calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) particles were studied. Polypropylene/elastomer/CaCO₃ composites were prepared on a twin‐screw extruder with a particle concentration of 0–32 vol %. The experiments included tensile tests, notched Izod impact tests, scanning electron microscopy, and dynamic mechanical analysis. Scanning electron microscopy showed that the elastomer and CaCO₃ particles dispersed separately in the matrix. The modulus of the composites increased, whereas the yield stress decreased with the filler concentration. The impact resistance showed a large improvement with the CaCO₃ concentration. At the same composition (80/10/10 w/w/w), three types of CaCO₃ particles with average diameters of 0.05, 0.6, and 1.0 μm improved the impact fracture energies comparatively. The encapsulation structure of the filler by the grafting elastomer had a detrimental effect on the impact properties because of the strong adhesion between the elastomer and filler and the increasing ligament thickness. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 43: 1113–1123, 2005     

Kinetics of the gas-phase reactions of the oh radical with selected glycol ethers,glycols, and alcohols

Using a relative rate method, rate constants have been measured for the gas-phase reactions of the OH radical with 1-hexanol, 1-methoxy-2-propanol, 2-butoxyethanol, 1,2-ethanediol, and 1,2-propanediol at 296±2 K, of (in units of 10⁻¹² cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹): 15.8±3.5; 20.9±3.1; 29.4±4.3; 14.7±2.6; and 21.5±4.0, respectively, where the error limits include the estimated overall uncertainties in the rate constants for the reference compounds. These OH radical reaction rate constants are higher than certain of the literature values, by up to a factor of 2. Rate constants were also measured for the reactions of 1-methoxy-2-propanol and 2-butoxyethanol with NO₃ radicals and O₃, with respective NO₃ radical and O₃ reaction rate constants (in cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ units) of: 1-methoxy-2-propanol, (1.7±0.7)×10⁻¹⁵, and <1.1×10⁻¹⁹; and 2-butoxyethanol, (3.0±1.2)×10⁻¹⁵, and <1.1×10⁻¹⁹. The dominant tropospheric loss process for the alcohols, glycols, and glycol ethers studied here is calculated to be by reaction with the OH radical, with lifetimes of 0.4–0.8 day for a 24 h average OH radical concentration of 1.0×10⁶ molecule cm⁻³. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 30: 533–540, 1998     

Temperature‐dependent desorption of surfactants in LLDPE blend films

The temperature‐dependent desorption behavior of surfactants in linear low‐density polyethylene (LLDPE) blend films was studied with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy at 25, 40, and 50 °C. The LLDPE/low‐density polyethylene blend was 70/30. Three different specimens (labeled II, III, and IV) were prepared with various compositions of the surfactant, sorbitan palmitate (SPAN‐40), and the migration controller, poly(ethylene acrylic acid) (EAA). The calculated diffusion coefficients of SPAN‐40 in specimens II, III, and IV at 25, 40, and 50 °C varied from 9.6 × 10⁻¹² to 17.4 × 10⁻¹² cm²/s, from 5.5 × 10⁻¹² to 11.0 × 10⁻¹² cm²/s, and from 3.1 × 10⁻¹² to 5.8 × 10⁻¹² cm²/s, respectively. In addition, the activation energies of specimens II, III, and IV measured between 25 and 50 °C were 18.74, 19.42, and 20.14, respectively. Hence, the desorption rate of the surfactant increased with the temperature and decreased with an addition of EAA, but the activation energy increased with EAA. The diffusion kinetics, analyzed with a plot of the integrated intensity ratio as a function of time, log(I_t/I_∞) versus log t, at 25, 40, and 50 °C obeyed Fickian diffusion behavior. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 39: 218–227, 2001