Influence of substituents on the kinetics of epoxy/aromatic diamine resin systems

Eleven different epoxy/diamine systems, including tetraglycidyl‐4,4′‐diaminodiphenylmethane (TGDDM), triglycidyl p‐aminophenol (TGAP), and diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) with 4,4′‐diaminodiphenylsulfone (DDS), diethyltoluenediamine (DETDA), dimethylthiotoluenediamine (DMTDA), and meta‐phenylenediamine (m‐PDA), were studied with near‐infrared spectroscopy at different temperatures. The reactivities of the epoxies were determined and found to be in the following order when reacted with the same amine: DGEBA > TGAP > TGDDM. When the primary amine was reacted with the same epoxy, the order was DETDA > DDS > DMTDA; for the secondary amine, the order was DETDA > DMTDA > DDS. The relative reaction rates of the secondary amine to the primary amine were compared and discussed in terms of the structural differences and the corresponding substitution effect. It was concluded that the increase in the secondary amine reactivity of DETDA and DMTDA was caused by the deconjugation of the benzene‐ring π electrons from the lone pair on the N atom. The overall order of the secondary amine relative reactivity was DMTDA > DETDA > DDS for the same epoxy and TGDDM > TGAP > DGEBA for the same amine. The m‐PDA systems had no significant positive or negative substitution effects. Molecular orbital calculations were performed, and the results showed the most significant deconjugation effect in the secondary amine of DETDA. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 3143–3156, 2004     

Curing kinetics of epoxy resins with hyperbranched polyesters as toughening agents

The effects of hyperbranched polyesters on the cure kinetics of diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) in the presence of m‐phenylene diamine were investigated with nonisothermal differential scanning calorimetry. The results showed that the addition of hyperbranched polyesters enhanced the cure reaction of DGEBA with m‐phenylene diamine, and this resulted in a reduction of the peak temperature of the curing curve and the activation energy because of the low viscosity and large number of terminal hydroxyl groups. However, when linear poly(ethylene glycol) was added, the activation energy of the blends also slightly decreased, whereas the peak temperature of the curing curve increased. The curing kinetics of the blends were calculated by the isoconversional method of Málek. The two‐parameter autocatalytic model (i.e., the ?esták–Berggren equation) was found to be the most adequate for describing the cure kinetics of the studied systems. The obtained nonisothermal differential scanning calorimetry curves showed results in agreement with those theoretically calculated. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 2649–2656, 2004     

Novel,environmentally friendly crosslinking system of an epoxy using an amino acid: Tryptophan‐cured diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A epoxy

Tryptophan, an amino acid, has been used as a novel, environmentally friendly curing agent instead of toxic curing agents to crosslink the diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) epoxy resin. The curing reaction of tryptophan/DGEBA mixtures of different ratios and the effect of the imidazole catalyst on the reaction have been evaluated. The optimum reaction ratio of DGEBA to tryptophan has been determined to be 3:1 with 1 wt % catalyst, and the curing mechanism of the novel reaction system has been studied and elucidated. In situ Fourier transform infrared spectra indicate that with the extraction of a hydrogen from NH₃⁺ in zwitterions from tryptophan, the formed nucleophilic primary amine and carboxylate anions of the tryptophan can readily participate in the ring‐opening reaction with epoxy. The secondary amine, formed from the primary amine, can further participate in the ring‐opening reaction with epoxy and form the crosslinked network. The crosslinked structure exhibits a reasonably high glass‐transition temperature and thermal stability. A catalyst‐initiated chain reaction mechanism is proposed for the curing reaction of the epoxy with zwitterion amino acid hardeners. The replacement of toxic curing agents with this novel, environmentally friendly curing agent is an important step toward a next‐generation green electronics industry. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 181–190, 2007     

Ultraviolet curing of acrylic systems: Real‐time Fourier transform infrared,mechanical, and fluorescence studies

The photopolymerization of acrylic‐based adhesives has been studied by Fourier transform infrared and fluorescence analysis in real time. Real‐time infrared spectroscopy reveals the influence of the nature of the photoinitiator on the kinetics of the reaction. Furthermore, the incident light intensity dependence of the polymerization rate shows that primary radical termination is the predominant mechanism during the initial stages of the curing of the acrylic system with bis(2,4,6‐trimethylbenzoyl) phenyl phosphine oxide (TMBAPO) as a photoinitiator. The fluorescence intensity of selected probes increases during the ultraviolet curing of the adhesive, sensing microenvironmental viscosity changes. Depending on the nature of the photoinitiator, different fluorescence–conversion curves are observed. For TMBAPO, the fluorescence increases more slowly during the initial stage because of the delay in the gel effect induced by primary radical termination. Mechanical tests have been carried out to determine the shear modulus over the course of the acrylic adhesive ultraviolet curing. In an attempt to extend the applications of the fluorescence probe method, we have undertaken comparisons between the fluorescence changes and shear modulus. Similar features in both curves confirm the feasibility of the fluorescence method for providing information about microstructural changes during network formation. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 4236–4244, 2002     

Hydrogen bonding and rate enhancement in the photoinduced polymerization of telechelic urethane methacrylates based on a cycloaliphatic system: Tricyclodecane dimethanol

A new class of telechelic urethane methacrylic crosslinkers, based on a cycloaliphatic system (tricyclodecane dimethanol and tricyclodecane monomethanol), was synthesized. The synthesis was achieved by a two‐step condensation of 1,6‐hexamethylene diisocyanate or isophorone diisocyanate with tricyclodecane dimethanol and capping with hydroxyethyl methacrylate. Samples of hexanediol diacrylate, tricyclodecane monomethacrylate, and tricyclodecane dimethacrylate were used as non‐hydrogen‐bonding monomers for comparative studies of the curing kinetics. The photopolymerization of these telechelic systems was investigated with UV irradiation in the presence of 2,2‐diethoxy acetophenone as the photoinitiator, and the kinetics were followed by the monitoring of the double‐bond conversion at 815 cm^?1 with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The hydrogen‐bonded crosslinkers had higher double‐bond conversions than their non‐hydrogen‐bonded counterparts under identical conditions. The higher cure rate could be explained by hydrogen‐bonding preassociation in these systems, which brought the methacrylate double bonds within close proximity. The temperature effects on the hydrogen bonding were also investigated. A decrease in the extent of the double‐bond conversion with increasing temperature was observed for the hydrogen‐bonded crosslinker, in contrast to an increased conversion with temperature for hexanediol diacrylate and tricyclodecane dimethacrylate. This was directly indicative of a reduction of hydrogen bonding at elevated temperatures leading to lower conversions. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 4384–4395, 2006     

Accessibility of the gel phase in macroporous network polymers: A comparison of the fluorescence probe and inverse steric exclusion chromatography techniques

Two independent methods of analysis were employed to evaluate accessibility of the gel phase in macroporous network polymers. Fluorescence probes, covalented incorporated into the gel during polymerization, can provide a qualitative assessment of accessible surface area from an analysis of the solvatochromic shift of fluorescence emission. These findings are corroborated by inverse steric exclusion chromatography (ISEC). The data permits quantification of the polymers surface character in the solvated state. The results call attention to the inadequacy of dry surface area technique (e.g., BET analysis) in providing information of this type.     

The size and number of local free volumes in polypropylenes: A positron lifetime and PVT study

The temperature dependence of the mean size of local free volumes in an amorphous atactic (aPP) and a semicrystalline syndiotactic polypropylene (sPP), and an amorphous ethylene‐propylene copolymer (E‐co‐P48) has been studied. Pressure‐volume‐temperature (PVT) experiments were performed for aPP, from which the hole fraction h of the Simha‐Somcynsky theory and the number density of holes were estimated. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 41: 3089–3093, 2003     

Self‐Deprotonation and Colorization of 1,3‐Bis(dicyanomethylidene)indan in Polar Media: A Facile Route to a Minimal Polymethine Dye for NIR Fluorescence Imaging

Colorless 1,3‐bis(dicyanomethylidene)indan is an organic acid (pK_a≈3.0) that turns blue in polar media owing to self‐deprotonation. Moreover, its colored conjugate base shows potential as a minimal anionic polymethine dye for probing biomolecules in cells and in vivo through noncovalent complexation and near‐infrared fluorescence signaling.     

A novel injectable poly(epsilon-caprolactone)/calcium sulfate system for bone regeneration: synthesis and characterization

A novel poly(epsilon-caprolactone)/calcium sulfate system was prepared and characterized in order to enhance calcium sulfate (gypsum) performance as bone graft substitute overcoming its brittleness and fast resorption rate. A poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL) photo-crosslinkable derivative (PCLf) was synthesized by reaction of a low molecular weight PCL diol with methacryloyl chloride and confirmed by FT-IR and 1H NMR analyses. An injectable and easy mouldable mixture of PCLf and calcium sulfate hemi-hydrate (PCLf/CHS) was obtained. Thermal analyses and solvent extraction proved the occurrence of PCLf photo-crosslinking, even in the presence of CHS, in a time suitable for clinical applications. Swelling studies demonstrated that the encapsulation of the inorganic filler increases network hydrophilicity making it more permeable to water. Scanning electron microscopy, performed on crosslinked PCLf/CHS and on the same material after incubation in a PBS solution, showed the feasibility to obtain, in situ, gypsum entrapped into a degradable polymeric network. In vitro cytotoxicity tests, performed according to ISO 10993-5, proved that the developed system was not cytotoxic supporting its potential use in tissue engineering as a new, injectable, photocurable bone graft material. SEM micrograph of calcium sulfate di-hydrate (gypsum) entrapped in the PCL network.     

Synthesis and polymerization of new di‐octadecyl ester derivatives of α‐hydroxymethyl acrylate: A structure‐property correlation for their copolymers with methyl methacrylate

New ether dimer (ED‐Od) and diester (ODE) derivatives of α‐hydroxymethylacrylate, each having two octadecyl side chains, were synthesized and (co)polymerized to evaluate the effects of differences in the structures of the monomers on final (co)polymer properties, particularly glass transition temperature. The free radical polymerizations of both monomers yielded high‐molecular weight polymers. Cyclopolymer formation of ED‐Od was confirmed by ¹³C NMR analysis and the cyclization efficiency (0.95 or greater) was found to be as high as the cyclization efficiencies of the cyclopolymerizations of ether dimers of various alkyl α‐hydroxymethylacrylates synthesized previously. Copolymers of both ED‐Od and ODE with methyl methacrylate (MMA) showed significant T_g decreases over PMMA due to octadecyl side groups causing “internal” plasticization. Comparison of the T_g's of the copolymers of octadecyl methacrylate, ED‐Od and ODE with MMA revealed that the impacts of these monomers on depression of T_g's are identical. That is, the magnitude of decrease in T_g's was quantitatively related to the number of the octadecyl side groups in the copolymers rather than their placement on the same or randomly incorporated repeat units. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 7785–7793, 2008     

A calorimetric and computational study of the thermochemistry of halogenated 1-phenylpyrrole derivatives

The standard molar enthalpies of formation, in the crystalline phase, of three halogenated 1-phenylpyrrole derivatives, namely 1-(4-fluorophenyl)pyrrole, 1-(4-chlorophenyl)pyrrole, and 1-(4-iodophenyl)pyrrole were derived from the respective enthalpies of combustion, measured by rotating-bomb combustion calorimetry. Their enthalpies of sublimation, at T = 298.15 K, were obtained from the Knudsen mass-loss effusion technique. From these two experimental parameters, the standard molar enthalpies of formation, in the gaseous phase, at T = 298.15 K, of 1-(4-fluorophenyl)pyrrole, 1-(4-chlorophenyl)pyrrole, and 1-(4-iodophenyl)pyrrole were calculated, respectively, as (26.2 ± 2.4) kJ · mol⁻¹, (196.2 ± 2.5) kJ · mol⁻¹, and (311.5 ± 2.4) kJ · mol⁻¹.The gas-phase enthalpies of formation of both fluorine and chlorine compounds were estimated by G3(MP2)//B3LYP computations. For the iodine compound, the B3LYP/6-311G(d):ECP46MDF approach was employed. Additionally, the DFT calculations were extended to estimate the enthalpy of formation of the bromine derivative, 1-(4-bromophenyl)pyrrole, performed at the B3LYP/6-311G(d) level of theory.     

Fluorene copolymers containing bithiophene/2,5‐ or 2,6‐pyridine units: A study of their optical,electrochemical, and electroluminescence properties

Two alternating copolymers, poly[(2,5‐di(2‐thienyl)‐pyridine‐5,5′‐diyl)‐alt‐(9,9‐dioctylfluorene‐2,7‐diyl)], PFO‐TPy25T, and poly[(2,6‐di(2‐thienyl)‐pyridine‐5,5′‐diyl)‐alt‐(9,9‐dioctylfluorene‐2,7‐diyl)], PFO‐TPy26T, were synthesized by the Pd‐catalyzed Suzuki polymerization method. The pyridine units are present as trimeric monomers in these copolymers and have different connectivities to their two neighboring thiophenes, para‐ and meta‐linkages. We investigated the variations in the optical and electrochemical properties of the copolymers that arise from these different connectivities. The two polymers exhibit 5% weight loss above 410 °C and high glass transition temperatures (T_g: 113 °C for PFO‐TPy25T, 142 °C for PFO‐TPy26T). The UV–vis absorption maximum peaks of PFO‐TPy25T and PFO‐TPy26T in the solid state were found to be 449 and 398 nm respectively, with photoluminescence maximum peaks in the solid state of 573 and 490 nm respectively. Using cyclic voltammetry, we determined their energy band gaps: 3.08 eV for PFO‐TPy25T and 3.49 eV for PFO‐TPy25T. The cyclic voltammetry study of these polymers revealed that there are some differences. The electroluminescence (EL) properties of the copolymers were measured for the device configuration of ITO/PEDOT/polymers/Ca/Al. The device fabricated with the polymer containing 2,5‐pyridine exhibits pale orange emission, whereas the device fabricated with the polymer containing 2,6‐pyridine exhibits pale blue emission. The EL device fabricated with PFO‐TPy25T has a higher brightness (2010 cd/m²) and external quantum efficiency (0.1%) than the PFO‐TPy26T device (260 cd/m², 0.008%), because it has a smaller energy barrier to the injection of charges from PEDOT and Ca into the HOMO and LUMO levels. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 4611–4620, 2006     

Independent components analysis coupled with 3D-front-face fluorescence spectroscopy to study the interaction between plastic food packaging and olive oil

Olive oil is one of the most valued sources of fats in the Mediterranean diet. Its storage was generally done using glass or metallic packaging materials. Nowadays, plastic packaging has gained worldwide spread for the storage of olive oil. However, plastics are not inert and interaction phenomena may occur between packaging materials and olive oil. In this study, extra virgin olive oil samples were submitted to accelerated interaction conditions, in contact with polypropylene (PP) and polylactide (PLA) plastic packaging materials. 3D-front-face fluorescence spectroscopy, being a simple, fast and non destructive analytical technique, was used to study this interaction. Independent components analysis (ICA) was used to analyze raw 3D-front-face fluorescence spectra of olive oil. ICA was able to highlight a probable effect of a migration of substances with antioxidant activity. The signals extracted by ICA corresponded to natural olive oil fluorophores (tocopherols and polyphenols) as well as newly formed ones which were tentatively identified as fluorescent oxidation products. Based on the extracted fluorescent signals, olive oil in contact with plastics had slower aging rates in comparison with reference oils. Peroxide and free acidity values validated the results obtained by ICA, related to olive oil oxidation rates. Sorbed olive oil in plastic was also quantified given that this sorption could induce a swelling of the polymer thus promoting migration.     

Determination of the rheological behavior of epoxy–amine thermosets by dynamic mechanical analysis: Isothermal methods versus nonisothermal methods

The reticulation process of an epoxy resin using an amine as a cure agent was studied at different temperatures and concentrations of the cure agent with dynamic mechanical thermal analysis. The study was performed under both isothermal and nonisothermal conditions, and a temperature–time–transformation diagram was obtained. The measurements from the two modes gave similar results, although the nonisothermal mode required fewer experiments. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 41: 1965–1977, 2003     

Exploration of high‐resolution ultrasonic spectroscopy as an analytical tool to study demixing and remixing in poly(N‐isopropyl acrylamide)/water solutions

The ultrasonic properties of poly(N‐isopropyl acrylamide) (PNIPAM)/water solutions, determined with high‐resolution ultrasonic spectroscopy (HR‐US), change during demixing and remixing. All HR‐US measurements are discussed with respect to modulated temperature differential scanning calorimetry results. The lower critical solution temperature type of phase behavior, in combination with the glass‐transition/composition curve of PNIPAM/water, determines the evolution of the ultrasonic signals. Three different temperature regions can be distinguished: a homogeneous region and a heterogeneous region, the latter subdivided into zones without and with interference of partial vitrification of the PNIPAM‐rich phase. During phase separation, the ultrasonic velocity decreases because of a change in the hydration structure around the polymer chains, whereas the ultrasonic attenuation increases as aggregation sets in. Isothermal measurements clearly show time dependence for both the velocity and the attenuation. The observed timescales are different and can be related to a changing polymer/water interphase and aggregate formation, respectively. Partial vitrification of the PNIPAM‐rich phase slows the demixing kinetics and especially the remixing kinetics. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 43: 1283–1295, 2005     

Feasibility study on qualitative and quantitative analysis in tea by near infrared spectroscopy with multivariate calibration

This study attempted the feasibility to use near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy as a rapid analysis method to qualitative and quantitative assessment of the tea quality. NIR spectroscopy with soft independent modeling of class analogy (SIMCA) method was proposed to identify rapidly tea varieties in this paper. In the experiment, four tea varieties from Longjing, Biluochun, Qihong and Tieguanyin were studied. The better results were achieved following as: the identification rate equals to 90% only for Longjing in training set; 80% only for Biluochun in test set; while, the remaining equal to 100%. A partial least squares (PLS) algorithm is used to predict the content of caffeine and total polyphenols in tea. The models are calibrated by cross-validation and the best number of PLS factors was achieved according to the lowest root mean square error of cross-validation (RMSECV). The correlation coefficients and the root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP) in the test set were used as the evaluation parameters for the models as follows: R = 0.9688, RMSEP = 0.0836% for the caffeine; R = 0.9299, RMSEP = 1.1138% for total polyphenols. The overall results demonstrate that NIR spectroscopy with multivariate calibration could be successfully applied as a rapid method not only to identify the tea varieties but also to determine simultaneously some chemical compositions contents in tea.     

Interaction of Zinc Oxide and Copper Oxide Nanoparticles with Chlorophyll: A Fluorescence Quenching Study

The present study aims to investigate the interactions of zinc oxide nanoparticles and copper oxide nanoparticles with the major photosynthetic pigment chlorophyll using ultraviolet-visible, steady state, and time resolved laser induced fluorescence spectroscopy. The steady state fluorescence measurements show that zinc oxide and copper oxide nanoparticles quench the fluorescence of chlorophyll in concentration-dependent manner. The Stern-Volmer plot for the chlorophyll-zinc oxide nanoparticles is linear, and the value of quenching constant has been observed to increase with temperature indicating the possibility of dynamic quenching. A decrease in the lifetime of chlorophyll with increase in the concentration of zinc oxide nanoparticles confirms the involvement of dynamic quenching in the chlorophyll–zinc oxide nanoparticle interaction. In the case of copper oxide nanoparticles, the Stern-Volmer plot deviates from linearity observed in the form of upward curvature depicting the presence of both static and dynamic quenching. In addition, the lifetime of chlorophyll decreases with increase in the concentration of copper oxide nanoparticles displaying the dominance of dynamic quenching in the chlorophyll-copper oxide nanoparticle interaction. The decrease observed in the value of binding constant with increasing temperature and negative values of change in enthalpy, entropy, and Gibb’s free energy indicates that van der Waal and hydrogen bonding are the prominent forces during the interaction of chlorophyll with both zinc oxide and copper oxide nanoparticles and that the process is spontaneous and exothermic. The interaction of zinc oxide and copper oxide nanoparticles with chlorophyll occurs through electron transfer mechanism. The obtained results are useful in understanding the sensitization processes involving chlorophyll and zinc oxide and copper oxide nanoparticles.     

Laser-induced fluorescence and infrared spectroscopic studies on the specific solvation of tris(1-(2-thienyl)-4,4,4-trifluoro-1,3-butanedionato)europium(III) in an ionic liquid

The extraction constant and the two-phase stability constant (K_D,Mβ₃) of tris(2-thenoyltrifluoroacetonato)europium(III) between 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide ([C₄mim][Tf₂N]) as an ionic liquid and an aqueous phase were determined by considering the extraction equilibria including anionic tetrakis(2-thenoyltrifluoroacetonato)europate(III). Specific solute-solvent interactions between the neutral Eu(III) chelate and [C₄mim][Tf₂N] molecules were revealed from the relationships between the distribution constant of the enol form of 2-thenoyltrifluoroacetone (Htta) as a proton chelate and the distribution constant (K_D,M) of the neutral Eu(III) chelate because the [C₄mim][Tf₂N] system gave the high K_D,Mβ₃ value compared with those in conventional molecular solvents such as benzene and 1,2-dichloroethane. The coordination environment of Eu³⁺ in the neutral Eu(III) chelate in [C₄mim][Tf₂N] was investigated by time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy and infrared absorption spectroscopy. Both methods consistently indicated that not only the Eu(III) chelate extracted but also Eu(tta)₃(H₂O)₃ synthesized as a solid crystal were almost completely dehydrated in [C₄mim][Tf₂N] saturated with water. Consequently, the higher K_D,M or extractability of the neutral Eu(III) chelate in the [C₄mim][Tf₂N] system can be ascribed to the dehydration of the Eu(III) chelate, which is caused by the specific solvation with [C₄mim][Tf₂N] molecules.