Dielectric and switching properties of a highly tilted AFLC material (S)-(+)-4-(1-methylheptyloxycarbonyl)-2,3-difluorophenyl 4′-[3-(2,2,3,3,4,4,4-heptafluorobutoxy)prop-1-oxy]biphenyl-4-carboxylate

Thermodynamic, dielectric, optical and switching parameters of a single-phase antiferroelectric (AF) liquid crystalline material (S)-(+)-4-(1-methylheptyloxycarbonyl)-2,3-difluorophenyl 4′-[3-(2,2,3,3,4,4,4-heptafluorobutoxy)prop-1-oxy]biphenyl-4-carboxylate have been studied. These studies show wide temperature range (~97.8°C–25.3°C) of AF SmC^*_A phase in the material. The dielectric studies have been carried out in the frequency range of 1 Hz–35 MHz under planar anchoring conditions of the molecules. The dielectric spectrum of the SmC^*_A phase exhibits three relaxation modes due to the collective as well as individual molecular processes. Relaxation frequencies of these modes lie in the range of kHz–MHz regions. Relative permittivity of the material (at 10 kHz) varies from ~8.8 at 98.8°C to 9.9 at 41.0°C. Maximum tilt of the molecule in the SmC^*_A phase is ~43°C. Spontaneous polarisation, switching time and rotational viscosity have also been determined. The maximum value of P_S is ~439 nC/cm² and switching time is the order of 1–5 millisecond, whereas viscosity is moderate.     

Non-Newtonian flow curves including lower and upper Newtonian regions for dilute and moderately concentrated polystyrene solutions

The non-Newtonian viscosity in steady flow was measured for solutions of polystyrene (M?_w/M?_n = 1.1) in diethyl phthalate at 30.0°C. In the moderately concentrated solutions, from 6.03 × 10^?2 to 5.62 × 10^?1g/cm³, the viscosity data modified by frictional parameters fit the Graessley theoretical curve for a narrow distribution polymer. The dilute solutions, from 3.26 × 10^?3 to 1.57 × 10^?2 g/cm³, were nonentangled systems whose non-Newtonian properties could be explained by the excluded volume effect as proposed by Fixman. On the basis of the non-Newtonian data, it was concluded that the solution of 3.30 × 10^?2 g/cm³ was a lower critical entanglement concentration, which was distinguished from the usual higher critical concentration for entanglement. This lower critical concentration was also found in the concentration dependence of the activation energy of flow and the absorbance at 310 nm.     

Mechanical relaxation in polypropylene as a function of polymorphism and degree of lamella orientation

Mechanical relaxation data as a function of temperature (ca. 1 Hz) have been obtained for several samples of isotactic polypropylene crystallized from the melt, which exhibit both α and β forms as well as varying degrees of lamella orientation. The samples ranged in morphology from an unoriented sample showing only the α form to one highly oriented having approximately 90 per cent the β form. Results for the logarithmic decrement Δ and loss modulus G″ are that the low temperature (ca. ?75°C) and glass temperature (ca. 0°C) relaxations show little or no sensitivity to orientation in the α form, but that the intensity of the two processes is different in the α form than in the β form for samples of nearly equal overall per cent crystallinity. In both Δ and G″, the low-temperature peak decreased and the glass temperature peak increased in intensity as the fraction of β form crystallinity present increased. Data for the high-temperature relaxation (ca. 80°C) indicate a dependence upon orientation and/or crystal form in addition to a dependence upon per cent crystallinity.     

Applications of the channel flow cell for UV-visible spectroelectrochemical studies. Part 2: Transient signals

The use of the channel flow cell for ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectroelectrochemical experiments has been developed to determine the diffusion coefficients of electrogenerated species by means of monitoring the transient absorbance response resulting from a potential step at a working electrode immediately upstream of the incident spectrophotometric beam. The technique is applied to measure the diffusion coefficient of tris(4-bromophenyl)amine (TBPA) radical cation in acetonitrile at 25°C. It is shown that the diffusion coefficient of electrogenerated TBPA radical cation (1.64 ± 0.02 × 10⁻⁵ cm² s⁻¹) is very close to that of the parent molecule (1.57 ± 0.03 × 10⁻⁵ cm² s⁻¹).     

Rheology of (±)‐camphor‐10‐sulfonic acid doped polyaniline‐m‐cresol conducting gel nanocomposites

The rheological behavior of polyaniline‐(±champhor‐10‐sulfonic acid)_0.5‐m‐cresol [PANI‐CSA_0.5‐m‐cresol] gel nanocomposites (GNCs) with Na‐montmorillonite clay (intercalated tactoids) is studied. The shear viscosity exhibits Newtonian behavior for low shear rate (<2 × 10^?4 s^?1) and power law variation for higher shear rate. The zero shear viscosity (η₀) and the characteristic time (λ) increase but the power law index (n) decrease with increase in clay concentration. In the GNCs storage modulus (G′) and loss modulus (G″) are invariant with frequency in contrast to the pure gel. The G′ and G′ exhibit the gel behavior of the GNCs up to 105 °C in contrast to the melting for the pure gel at 75.7 °C. The percent increase of G′ of GNCs increases dramatically (619% in GNC‐5) with increasing clay concentration. The conductivity values are 10.5, 5.65, 5.51, and 4.75 S/cm for pure gel, GNC‐1, GNC‐3, and GNC‐5, respectively, promising their possible use in soft sensing devices. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 46: 28–40, 2008     

Polarized Raman scattering of concentrated solutions of poly(dimethyl siloxane) in benzene

Raman depolarization (ρ) measurements have been made over the temperature range 20 > T > 60°C for solutions of poly(dimethyl siloxane) (mol wt 7.7 × 10⁴ and 2.0 × 10⁴) for several concentrations up to 100%. The band studied was the highly polarized methyl stretch at 2907 cm^?1. Computer calculations of the probability p_t of a rotational isomer being trans allow the ρ values to be related to ΔG, the free energy of mixing. ΔG is plotted as a function of concentration and minima are observed at 60 ± 3% (mol wt = 7.7 × 10⁴) and 70 ± 3% (mol wt = 2 × 10⁴).     

Low glass transition temperature polymer electrolyte prepared from ionic liquid grafted polyethylene oxide

In this contribution, we report a new type of poly (ionic liquids) prepared by imidazolium ionic liquids directly grafting onto polyethylene oxide backbone. Different molecular weights of poly (ionic liquids) are obtained with a low glass transition temperature up to ?14 °C. The materials as polymer electrolyte achieve a high conductivity around 10^?5 S cm^?1 at 30 °C and close to 10^?3 S cm^?1 at 90 °C. High viscosity up to 4000 Pa s at room temperature would minimize the electrolytes leaking in electrochemical devices. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014 , 52, 2104–2110     

METAL ADHESIVE PROPERTIES OF POLYAMIDES HAVING 4,5-DI(1,4-PHENYLENE)-IMIDAZOLEDIYL STRUCTURE

Polyamides were synthesized by the direct polycondensation of aromatic diamines containing 4,5-imidazolediyl structure with aliphatic dicarboxylic acids, and the metal adhesive properties of these polymaides were studied. The inherent viscosity of the obtained polyamides was in the range of 0.28 to 0.71 dl g^?1. The decomposition temperatures (T _ds) of the obtained polyamides were above 400°C and their glass transition temperatures (T _gs) were from 168 to 198°C. These polyamides also showed good solubilities in polar solvents, such as N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP), N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc) and formic acid. A standard tensile test was performed in order to examine the adhesive property of these polyamides for stainless steel, and the obtained polyamides showed excellent tensile strengths, e.g. polyamide P1s derived from 4,5-di(4-aminophenyl)imidazole (DAPI) and sebasic acid had values of 212 kgf cm^?2 at 20°C, 183 kgf cm^?2 at 120°C, and 133 kgf cm^?2 at 180°C. A commercially available epoxy resin was also examined, and showed great tensile strength at 20°C. However, the strength of the epoxy resin was found to decrease with increasing temperature, whereas polyamide having 4,5-imidazolediyl structure retains its strength at temperatures of up to 180°C. In addition, the polyamide was also derived from 4,4″-diamino-o-terphenyl(DAOT) (rather than DAPI) and sebasic acid, and the properties of the polyamides derived, respectively from DAPI and DAOT were compared.     

Emulsifier-free emulsion polymerization of tetrafluoroethylene by radiation. III. Simultaneous formation of hydrofluoric acid

Simultaneous formation of hydrofluoric acid (HF) in the radiation-induced polymerization of tetrafluoroethylene (TFE) was investigated. HF concentration in PTFE latex was determined mainly by conductometric titration with 0.01 and 0.001N NaOH. The amount of HF formed is almost independent of agitation speed and the amount of n-hexadecane added and is maximal at ca. 70°C corresponding to the rate of polymerization. The rate of HF formation increases with the initial pressure of TFE monomer and dose rate and decreases with polymerization or TFE consumption. This fact suggests that HF is formed mainly by TFE reactions and not by the degradation of PTFE. The mechanism of HF formation in this reaction system in the absence of oxygen is shown in the following two schemes: scheme I is the reaction of TFE with primary radicals (OH·, H·, e) from the radiolysis of water; scheme II is the reaction of water with the species from the radiolysis of TFE. On the assumption that HF is formed only according to scheme I, the G value of HF formation G(HF)_calc can be calculated as 11.25. All observed G values G(HF)_obs are larger than G(HF)_calc. When the polymerization is carried out at 20 kg/cm² under various dose rates, G(HF)_obs increases with the dose rate. When the polymerization is carried out at 3.0 × 10⁴ rad/hr under various pressures, G(HF)_obs decreases with the decrease in pressure from 20 to 2 kg/cm² and is fairly close to G(HG)_calc at 2 kg/cm². This indicates that HF formation is due mainly to scheme II at high pressure (in the presence of enough TFE) and to scheme I as the pressure is lowered.     

Preparation and Pyroelectric Properties of Poly(pentafluorostyrene)-r-Poly(4-vinylaniline) Copolymer Films

Abstract: In this study poly(pentafluorostyrene)-ran-poly(4-vinylaniline) (PPFS-r-PVA) was synthesized by solution polymerization with AIBN utilized as an initiator. The dilute THF solution of the resultant copolymer was spin-coated onto clean Ag/Si(100) substrates, and then the copolymer film was electrically poled at 85 °C for 30 min using a plane poling method with a poling voltage of 7.0 kV. The pyroelectric coefficient was determined by a digital integral method and carried out with a charge integral instrument. It was observed that the average pyroelectric coefficient of the resultant PPFS-r-PVA was 20.4 µC/cm²K in the range of 20–45 °C, and the average dielectric loss is about 0.2298 between 3.2 × 10⁴–1.0 × 10⁶ Hz.     

Desorption behavior of a surfactant in a linear low‐density polyethylene blend at elevated temperatures

The desorption behavior of a surfactant in a linear low‐density polyethylene (LLDPE) blend at elevated temperatures of 50, 70, and 80 °C was studied with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The composition of the LLDPE blend was 70:30 LLDPE/low‐density polyethylene. Three different specimens (II, III, and IV) were prepared with various compositions of a small molecular penetrant, sorbitan palmitate (SPAN‐40), and a migration controller, poly(ethylene acrylic acid) (EAA), in the LLDPE blend. The calculated diffusion coefficient (D) of SPAN‐40 in specimens II, III, and IV, between 50 and 80 °C, varied from 1.74 × 10^?11 to 6.79 × 10^?11 cm²/s, from 1.10 × 10^?11 to 5.75 × 10^?11 cm²/s, and from 0.58 × 10^?11 to 4.75 × 10^?11 cm²/s, respectively. In addition, the calculated activation energies (E_D) of specimens II, III, and IV, from the plotting of ln D versus 1/T between 50 and 80 °C, were 42.9, 52.7, and 65.6 kJ/mol, respectively. These values were different from those obtained between 25 and 50 °C and were believed to have been influenced by the interference of Tinuvin (a UV stabilizer) at elevated temperatures higher than 50 °C. Although the desorption rate of SPAN‐40 increased with the temperature and decreased with the EAA content, the observed spectral behavior did not depend on the temperature and time. For all specimens stored over 50 °C, the peak at 1739 cm^?1 decreased in a few days and subsequently increased with a peak shift toward 1730 cm^?1. This arose from the carbonyl stretching vibration of Tinuvin, possibly because of oxidation or degradation at elevated temperatures. In addition, the incorporation of EAA into the LLDPE blend suppressed the desorption rate of SPAN‐40 and retarded the appearance of the 1730 cm^?1 peak. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 1114–1126, 2004     

Electrochemical Characterization of Myoglobin‐Polylysine Films at a Temperature Range of 6–80 °C

This work demonstrated for the first time that myoglobin cross‐linked in polylysine films is electrochemically active at 6 °C. At 6 °C, these protein films exhibited reversible reduction/oxidation peaks which are characteristic of Fe^III/Fe^II redox couple. The estimated current function densities (J=1.6×10^?4 C/V cm²), surface concentrations (Γ_T=0.10 nmol/cm²) and standard electron transfer constant (k_s=13.86 s^?1) at 6 °C for the data taken at a scan rate of 0.1 V/s were similar to those which were obtained at 10, 15 and 23 °C. Basically, this study shows a possible electrocatalytic application of these myoglobin/polylysine films, for example in low temperature sensing applications.     

Dielectric spectroscopy of nanocomposites based on iPP and aPS treated in the water solutions of alkali metal salts

In this paper, a new simple and environmentally friendly treatment technique for obtaining polymer nanocomposites with appropriate dielectric properties has been presented. Sheets of isotactic polypropylene and atactic polystyrene were immersed in 3 saturated water solutions of alkali metal salts (LiCl, NaCl, and KCl) at 2 fixed temperatures (23°C and 90°C), and 3 DC electrical potentials (+4 kV, −4 kV, and ground potential) were applied. A quantification of alkali metals in the polymer sheets was conducted by inductively coupled plasma optic emission spectrometry. The obtained concentration values were from 7.38·10⁻⁹ mol/cm³ to 1.25·10⁻⁷ mol/cm³. The qualitative analysis of potassium distribution in the polymer matrix was conducted by time‐of‐flight secondary ion mass spectrometry cross‐sectional record. The relative dielectric constant (ε′) of samples was investigated in the frequency range from 20 Hz to 9 MHz at the constant temperature of 22°C. Stable values of ε′ in fully measured frequency range were observed for both pure and treated samples. Next, the results of the dielectric spectroscopy measurements were compared and established the kind of treatment that provided the highest value of ε′. The relationship between the concentrations of alkali metals and the values of relative dielectric constant was determined for the samples obtained by a treatment at 90°C and +4 kV.     

Small‐angle X‐ray scattering study of a weak polyelectrolyte in water

Small‐angle X‐ray scattering (SAXS) was used to obtain solution parameters of a weak polyelectrolyte in water in the absence of any additives, such as neutralizing agents or salt. Poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) was used as a weak polyelectrolyte from which SAXS data were obtained in the dilute region of 1–10 mg cm^?3. An intrinsic viscosity of 15.7 dL g^?1 was obtained from a plot of reciprocal reduced viscosities versus the concentration. The application of the SAXS data, that is, the contour length (L = 1.97 × 10⁴ Å), the persistence length (a* = 58.5 Å), and the molecular weight (M = 5.9 × 10⁵ Da), to the Yamakawa–Fujii equation suggested that PAA in water at 25 °C could be described as a wormlike chain having a cylindrical body of d = 6 Å. An end‐to‐end distance (r = 1.6 × 10³ Å) was calculated from r = 2a*L ? 2(a*)². The nonisotropic expansion factor (α = 2.9) was calculated for PAA expanding from the random coil in dioxane at 30 °C (Θ temperature) to the wormlike chain in water at 25 °C. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 41: 1263–1272, 2003     

Charge transport properties of triphenylamine‐pendant polypeptide

The structurally ordered polymer, triphenylamine‐pendant polypeptide (PATPA: poly[γ‐4‐(N,N‐diphenylamino‐phenyl)‐L ‐glutamine]), was prepared in order to obtain high hole mobility and high thermal stability. The hole mobility obtained for PATPA (ca. 10⁻⁵ cm²/Vsec) at room temperature is higher than that for poly(N‐vinylcarbazole) (PVK) (ca. 10⁻⁷ cm²/Vsec) or that of carbazole‐pendant polypeptide (PCLG) (ca. 10⁻⁸ cm²/Vsec). These results are supported by thermally stimulated current (TSC) measurements because the TSC can be correlated with the mobility. The glass‐transition temperature (T_g) of PATPA was estimated to be about 130° by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). From these results, PATPA is an alternative candidate as a photoconductive polymer with high thermal stability and high hole mobility. The ordered structure along the main chain is thought to facilitate hole transport. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 38: 362–368, 2000     

Solution and thermal properties of poly(1,3-dioxocane)

Poly( 1,3-dioxocane) was synthesized by cationic ring-opening polymerization with triphenyl-methane hexafluoroantimoniate as the initiator and was studied with regard to its solubility, unperturbed chain dimensions, and thermal transitions. The intrinsic viscosity and Flory-Huggins interaction parameter were used to determine the solubility parameter, δ_p = 9.6 cal^1/2cm^?3/2, a value that agrees with that calculated empirically. Fractions were obtained from the solvent/non-solvent system benzene/methanol at 25°C. The number-average molecular weight M_n and intrinsic viscosity [η] were measured in toluene at 25°C. The relation [η] = 1.45₉. 10^?4 M_n^0.79 was found. A value of 5.3 was obtained for the characteristic ratio 〈r²〉₀/nl². Results are correlated with the main thermal transitions of this polyformal.     

Molecular dimensions of polydipropylsiloxamer

The molecular dimensions of polydipropylsiloxamer were studied by intrinsic viscosity measurements in toluene and in 2-pentanone. The relationships between the molecualr weight and the intrinsic viscosity were found to be: [η]_25°C., toluene = 4.35 × 10^?4 M^0.58; [η]_θ(10°C.), toluene = 1.09 × 10^?3 M^0.5; [η]_θ(76°C.), 2-pentanone = 8.71 × 10^?4 M^0.5. This held reasonably well for molecular weights from 25,000 to 3000,000. The root-mean-square end-to-end length ratio, (r₀² /M)^1/2 as calculated from the constant K, exceeds the free rotation value by approximately 100%. The disparity is greater than that found with polydimethylsiloxamer, indicating a lower degree of flexibility for the polydipropylsiloxamer. This is largely due to the short range steric interaction between near neighboring units of the chain. Gel permeation chromatography was also employed to demonstrate the lower degree of flexibility for polydipropylsiloxamer as compared with polydimethylsiloxamer.     

Interatomic potential for the X1Σ state of Be2, revisited

An extended geminal model has been applied to determine the interatomic potential for the X¹Σ state of Be₂. By adopting a (23s, 10p, 8d, 6f, 3g, 2h) uncontracted Gaussian‐type basis, the following spectroscopic parameters are obtained: R_e = 4.633 a.u. (4.63 a.u.), D_e = 945 ± 15 cm (790 ± 30 cm), G(1)–G(0) = 221.7 cm^?1 (223.8 ± 2 cm^?1), G(2)–G(1) = 175.0 cm^?1 (169 ± 3 cm^?1), G(3)–G(2) = 123.1 cm^?1 (122 ± 3 cm^?1), and G(4)–G(3) = 80.8 cm^?1 (79 ± 3 cm^?1), experimental values in parentheses. The calculated binding energy is substantially higher than the accepted experimental value. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2005     

Properties of amorphous and crystallizable hydrocarbon polymers. I. Melt rheology of fractions of linear polyethylene

The dynamic moduli G′(ω) and G″(ω) for two groups of linear polyethylene fractions (reported M _w/M _n < 1.2) were measured in the melt state using the eccentric rotating disk method. Values of zero shear viscosity η₀ were obtained and compared with published results on similar fractions. Molecular weight data were converted to a common basis through intrinsic viscosities in trichlorobenzene (TCB) at 135°C. With recent data on M _w (light scattering) vs. [η]_TCB, for linear polyethylene, the relationship at 190°C, η₀ = 3.40 × 10^?14(M _w)^3.60, was obtained. The flow activation energy E_a was 6.4 kcal (T = 140–195°C). The plateau modulus G at 190°C was determined from the area under the loss modulus peak in one high-molecular-weight sample. The value obtained, G = 1.5₈ × 10⁷ dyn/cm², corresponds to an apparent molecular weight between entanglements of 1850. The storage compliance J′(ω) becomes anomalously large at low frequencies. The recoverable compliance J could not be determined for any of the fractions.     

Properties of amorphous and crystallizable hydrocarbon polymers. IV. Melt rheology of linear and star-branched hydrogenated polybutadiene

Some results on the melt rheology of hydrogenated polybutadiene (HPB) with narrow-molecular-weight distribution are reported and compared with the corresponding properties of the precursor polybutadienes (PBD) and fractions of linear polyethylene (PE). In linear samples the dynamic moduli obeyed frequency-temperature superposition. The relationship between melt viscosity and intrinsic viscosity at 190°C for HPB was indistinguishable from that for PE, but their flow activation energies were slightly different (E_a = 7.2 kcal for HPB and 6.4 kcal for PE). Like PE, but unlike the PBD precursors, the dynamic storage modulus at low frequencies was anomalous. Otherwise, the dynamic moduli of HPB and its PBD precursor were essentially superposable. Plateau moduli from different samples were somewhat variable around an average of G = 2.3₁ × 10⁷ dyn/cm². The dynamic moduli for the HPB stars, unlike their PBD precursors, did not obey temperature-frequency superposition. At high frequencies the temperature coefficient approached that for linear HPB, but it increased with decreasing frequency, reaching limiting values which depended on the arm length. The flow activation energy ranged from 9 kcal to more than 15 kcal as arm length increased.