Solvent effects on the kinetics of gelation and the crosslink density of polysiloxane gels

A wide range of hydrocarbons were rapidly gelled by adding a polysiloxane copolymer in the presence of divinylbenzene and a platinum catalyst. The gel point was measured over a range of concentrations for hydrocarbons/solvents and organogels, using three separate methods: rheology, visual (tilt-tube) and FTIR. As the fraction of solvent was increased, the rate of reaction decreased, leading to an increase in the gelation time. The absolute value of the gel point depends upon the techniques used to measure it. For any particular system the gel point values always followed the order: rheology > visual > FTIR. The crosslink densities of the gel systems were determined using both swelling and thermomechanical analysis. The swelling measurements confirmed that the addition of large quantities of solvent markedly reduced the crosslink density of the obtained chemical gel networks, which helped in designing gels with suitable critical strength for effective field work. Also the effectiveness of gelation with the proposed gelling system for different hydrocarbons/solvents was evaluated, and discussed in relation to their dielectric properties.This paper is dedicated to Mike Owen on occasion of his winning the DeBruyn medal, the first silicon chemist to do so.     

Effects of the degree of surface modification on the rheological responses of precipitated silica suspensions in benzyl alcohol

Two types of precipitated silica powders modified by poly (dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) were suspended in benzyl alcohol and their rheological properties were investigated as a function of silica volume fraction, φ. The suspensions were classified into sol, pre-gel, and gel states based on the increase in φ. An increase in the degree of surface modification by PDMS caused gelation at higher φ. Plots of apparent shear viscosity against shear rate in the sol and pre-gel states of highly modified silica suspensions showed weak shear thickening behavior, while the same plots for silica suspensions with a low modification level exhibited shear thinning behavior. The dynamic moduli of hydrophobic suspensions in the pre-gel and gel states were dependent on the surface modification: the storage modulus G′ was larger than the loss modulus G″ in the linear region and these moduli increased with increasing φ, irrespective of the silica powder. The linear region of the φ range for the precipitated silica suspensions was wider than that for the fumed silica powders modified by PDMS suspended in benzyl alcohol, while the G′ value in the linear region for the precipitated silica suspensions was less than those for the fumed silica suspensions.     

Controlled association in suspensions of charged nanoparticles with a weak polyelectrolyte

The properties of high-pH suspensions of mixtures of silica with low-molecular-weight samples of the water-soluble polymer polyethylenimine (PEI) have been studied. At pH > 10 and low ionic strength, silica nanoparticles are stabilized by a negative surface charge, and PEI has only a very low positive charge. The adsorption of PEI induces a localized positive charge on the segments of polymer closest to the silica surface. The parts of the molecule furthest away from the surface have little charge because of the high pH of the medium. The polymer-covered particle remains negatively charged, imparting some electrostatic stabilization. Suspensions of silica and low-molecular-weight PEI are low-viscosity fluids immediately after mixing, but aggregation occurs leading to the eventual gelation (or sedimentation at lower concentrations) of these mixtures, indicating colloidal instability. The gelation time passes through a minimum with increasing surface coverage. The rate of gelation increases exponentially with molecular weight: for molecular weight > or = 10,000 Da PEI, the instability is so severe that uniform suspensions cannot be produced using simple mixing techniques. The gelation rates increase rapidly with temperature, ionic strength, and reduction in pH. The rate of gelation increases with increasing particle concentration at low surface coverage but decreases at high coverage as a consequence of a small increase in pH. Gels are broken by application of high shear into aggregates that re-gel more rapidly than the original discrete coated particles.     

部分水解聚丙烯酰胺弱凝胶交联动力学的流变学分析

用流变学方法对部分水解聚丙烯酰胺(HPAM)苯酚甲醛间苯二酚交联体系的弱凝胶化过程进行了研究,通过对基团转化率和高分子交联转化率的分析,发现凝胶化过程在接近凝胶点时,处于反应动力学的初期,这使得交联点增加的动力学是比较简单的.通过在不同聚合物浓度和交联剂浓度并在地层温度和矿化度条件下线性粘弹性行为的研究,得到了交联体系凝胶化动力学过程的完整数据,发现聚合物浓度与交联剂浓度对凝胶点与凝胶强度的影响比较类似,反映出交联点增加的共同动力学特征.复数粘度在一个诱导期后,是以指数上升的,类似一个一级反应的特征.产生交联的临界聚合物浓度约为250mg L左右.并提出了剪切粘度数学模型,可以描述凝胶化过程中流变性质的变化.     

A two-component,non-aqueous route to silica gel

A new means for generating silica gel has been developed. Simple two component systems comprising tetraalkoxysilanes and strong carboxylic acids such as formic acid can react rapidly to give transparent monolithic gels. The acid serves as solvent, water source, and catalyst for both hydrolysis and condensation. Water need not be present as an initial reactant; it is generated in situ during the reaction. The gelation reaction is at least two orders of magnitude faster than those conducted in conventional acid-catalyzed aqueous systems at comparable pH*. Kinetic evidence indicates a lowering of the activation energy of condensation reactions, believed to be associated with reaction of silyl carboxylates and silanol groups. Physical properties of the dry gels such as bulk density more closely resemble conventional acid-catalyzed gels than those associated with other rapidly gelling systems. Dry gels often exhibit porosity so fine that nitrogen (at 77°K) is not absorbed at significant rates. Independent evidence of porosity arises from comparison of skeletal and bulk densities, sample immersion in water and adsorption isotherms of CO₂.     

Synthesis of Silica Aerogels: Influence of the Supercritical CO2 on the Sol-Gel Process

The synthesis of silica aerogels was modified by addition of supercritical CO₂ during the sol-gel process. It was shown, that CO₂ acts as a catalyst and accelerates the gelation significantly. This effect was studied under a multitude of experimental conditions. The influence of the precursor concentration, temperature and the nature of the catalysts and solvent on the gel formation in presence of CO₂ was studied. Several gels obtained by this method were dried and transparent silica aerogels were produced.     

In situ small-angle neutron scattering and rheological measurements of shear-induced gelation

The microscopic structure of shear-induced gels for a mixed solution of 2-hydroxyethyl cellulose and nanometer-size spherical droplets has been investigated by in situ small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) with a Couette geometry as a function of shear rate gamma. With increasing gamma, the viscosity increased rapidly at gamma approximately 4.0 s(-1), followed by a shear thinning. After cessation of shear, the system exhibited an extraordinarily large steady viscosity. This phenomenon was observed as a shear-induced sol-gel transition. Real-time SANS measurements showed an increase in the scattering intensity exclusively at low scattering angle region. However, neither orientation of polymer chains nor droplet deformation was detected and the SANS patterns remained isotropic irrespective of gamma. It took about a few days for the gel to recover its original sol state. A possible mechanism of gelation is proposed from the viewpoint of shear-induced percolation transition.     

聚碳酸酯熔体在氮气环境中的增黏效应及其机理研究

双酚A型聚碳酸酯(PC)在高温加工过程中容易降解, 表现为黄变和黏度逐渐下降. 本文研究结果表明, 某些PC在N₂气保护下有可能出现熔体增黏效应. 借助动态流变实验研究了7种PC的熔体增黏行为, 利用高效液相色谱(HPLC)和核磁共振波谱(NMR)分析了分子结构演变规律. 结果表明, 与光气法PC熔体黏度先下降后缓慢上升不同, 酯交换法PC熔体随着检测时间的延长黏度上升, 熔体强度增大, 出现更严重的剪切变稀现象. 分子结构表征证实, 在无氧条件下PC分子链发生了支化或交联反应, 形成了高分子量凝胶物. 酯交换法PC在高温下的凝胶化速度比光气法PC高, 导致低频区出现较高的剪切黏度. 我们推测, 端羟基含量可能是造成不同PC凝胶化差异的主要因素.     

Dynamic thickening investigation of the gelation process of PAM/PEI system at high temperature and high pressure

The gelation process of organically polymer gel was investigated by dynamic thickening measurements. Rheological measurements were used to evaluate the viscosity of the gel. During the gelation process, high temperature resulted in higher rate of crosslinking. Rigid and stable gel was formed in neutral and alkaline media, and the higher of the pH value, the faster of the gelation process. However, gel could not be formed in acid condition. Moreover, the rate of crosslinking increased with the increase of concentration of polymer and crosslinker. The addition of NH₄Cl elongated the gelation time significantly, but played a negative role in the gel strength, while a rigid gel was formed in the presence of Sodium acetate or trisodium citrate dehydrate. This paper summarizes the results and discusses how various parameters affect the gelation process of the gel.     

Preparation of transparent,monolithic silica xerogels with low density

A new process to make monolithic and transparent silica xerogels with similar properties as silica aerogels by drying at ambient pressure has been studied. The xerogels are produced by strengthening the gel structure by additional precipitation of silica after the initial gelation. The additional precipitation of silica is achieved by ageing the alcogels in solutions of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) and the aging is followed by a relatively rapid drying (<48 h) at ambient pressure. Due to the increased strength of the alcogels it is shown that the shrinkage during drying can be reduced and hence low density xerogels are obtained even if new monomers are added.     

Viscoelasticity of Shear Thickening Fluid Based on Silica Nanoparticles Dispersing in 1-butyl-3-methylimidizolium Tetrafluoroborate

The viscoelasticity of shear thickening fluid (STF), a crucial property in the protective composite applications, with different silica nanoparticle concentrations in ionic liquid, 1-butyl-3-methylimidizolium tetrafluoroborate ([C₄min]BF₄), was studied at different temperatures and with shear frequencies through oscillatory shear, respectively. All STFs present strain thickening behavior. With increasing silica nanoparticle concentration, the critical shear strain for the onset of strain thickening decreased, while the complex viscosity, storage modulus, and loss modulus increased significantly. The critical shear strain increased with an increase of temperature, while the complex viscosity, storage modulus, and loss modulus decreased notably. The critical shear strain was constant with increasing the frequency of strain, while the complex viscosity decreases slightly. The storage modulus and loss modulus were independent with frequency in the strain thickening region. Nanoparticle clusters leading to strain thickening were demonstrated. The viscoelastic response of STFs to varying silica nanoparticle content, temperature, and frequency investigated here will help to design the specific application of STFs in soft protective composites and damping devices.     

盐酸含量对光固化聚氨酯丙烯酸酯/SiO2杂化材料结构和性能的影响

由正硅酸乙酯水解制得的SiO2溶胶，在以γ—甲基丙烯酰氧丙基三甲氧基硅烷(TMSPM)为偶联剂的体系中，经溶胶-凝胶法制备了透明的光固化聚氨酯丙烯酸酯杂化材料[(PUA—TMSPM)／SiO2]。研究了盐酸浓度对(PUA-TMSPM)／SiO2结构与性能的影响。结果表明：随着pH值减小，硅溶胶体系和(PUA-TM-SPM)／SiO2杂化体系的热稳定性增大；盐酸摩尔分数XHCl的增加使(PUA-TMSPM)／SiO2光固化膜表面的两相界面结合更紧密，涂层变得更致密，并导致膜的硬度和耐磨性提高。     

Variation of Microenvironment around Auramine O Molecules Doped in Silica Prepared from Tetramethoxysilane

Silica gel doped with Auramine O (AuO), which is known as a microscopic viscosity probe through fluorescence spectra, was prepared by the sol-gel method using tetramethoxysilane (TMOS) as a starting alkoxide. Fluorescence spectra from the starting solution to the dry gel were measured to pursue the variation of microscopic viscosity around the AuO molecules during the sol-gel process. The fluorescence intensity of AuO did not change at the gelation point, indicating that the microscopic viscosity around AuO did not change during the sol-to-gel transformation. The intensity was, however, increased largely in the drying process; the internal motion of AuO molecules became largely restricted by the surrounded silica matrix during the drying process.     

Rheology and morphology of linear polyurethane and poly(methyl methacrylate) blends formed in situ

The rheological properties and morphology of flow during the in situ formation of linear polyurethane and poly(methyl methacrylate) blends of various compositions are studied. At a certain conversion of the components, the initial homogeneous blend undergoes phase separation, as evidenced by the nonadditive dependence of the logarithm of viscosity on blend composition. For individual components, the gel points correspond to appreciably different conversions. For components in blends of various compositions, this difference is less pronounced and associated with the kinetic conditions of blend formation. The morphology of flow of the reaction blend over the time (or conversion) between the onset of phase separation and gelation during flow with a high shear rate is determined by the blend composition and the ratio between the viscosity of the dispersion phase and the matrix.     

旋转模塑过程中PVC溶胶物理凝胶化转变的有限元分析

采用有限元法,数值模拟了成型过程中镍制模具和PVC材料的非稳态温度场,进而得到了PVC材料结构参数的时间演变和空间分布规律,再由结构-性能关系获得了PVC材料的溶胶黏度及其演变特点,在此基础上比较分析了不同增塑剂对PVC材料物理凝胶化转变过程的影响.结果表明,由于热阻不同,靠近模具壁的PVC溶胶升温速率较大,首先发生凝胶化转变;加热过程中,PVC材料的黏度首先降低至最小值,凝胶化转变开始后,PVC树脂和增塑剂之间的相互作用增强,材料黏度迅速升高;不同增塑剂对材料结构参数和溶胶黏度的演变规律有着不同影响.     

Studies on formaldehyde condensation resins. XIII. Gelation of acetoguanamine–formaldehyde resin

The gelation reaction of acetoguanamine with formaldehyde was investigated in the light of the gelation theory for tetrafunctional amino resins described in the previous paper. The gel time and extents of reaction of formaldehyde, amino groups, and imino groups varied with the molar ratio in the feed, but values of K (the ratio of the rate constant for condensation to that for addition) and k (the ratio of the rate constant for addition of the imino group to that of the amino group) were nearly constant. When the catalyst concentration was increased, the gel time, extents of reaction of each functional group, and the values of K and k varied; in particular K increased markedly. From the results of varying the molar ratio and concentration of acidic catalyst, it was found that the number of methylol groups per molecule of acetoguanamine at the gel point was influenced by the reaction conditions but the number of methylene linkages per molecular of acetoguanamine was nearly constant at about 0.6, regardless of reaction conditions. The number-average molecular weights up to the gel point varied with the reaction conditions, but at the gel point they were all nearly constant at about 385.     

Rheological properties of poly(ethylene glycol) solutions and gels

By the interaction of a water–glycol solution of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) with calcium chloride dihydrate, a gel was produced. It was determined that, below a certain shear rate, this gel is a Newtonian fluid; however, above a certain shear rate, which depends on the gel viscosity, the properties of this gel are anomalous: the gel flow instantaneously completely stops. The viscosity of the gels was found to exponentially increase with increasing concentration of the cross-linking metal at constant PEG concentration. The density of the gels linearly increases with increasing concentration of the cross-linking metal at constant PEG concentration.     

Gelation of β-lactoglobulin in the presence of propylene glycol alginate: kinetics and gel properties

The role of the non-gelling polysaccharide, propyleneglycol alginate (PGA), on the dynamics of gelation and gel properties of β-lactoglobulin (β-lg) under conditions where the protein alone does not gel (6%) was analyzed. To this end, the kinetics of gelation, aggregation and denaturation of β-lg in the mixed systems (pH 7) were studied at different temperatures (64–88 °C). The presence of PGA increased thermal stability of β-lg. The rate of β-lg denaturation was decreased and the onset and peak denaturation temperatures increased by 2.2–2.4 °C. PGA promoted the formation of larger aggregates that continued to grow in time. An average aggregate diameter of approximately 300 nm is reached at the gel point in the mixed β-lg+PGA systems, irrespective of the heating temperature. Comparing the activation energies for the aggregation (193 kJ/mol), denaturation (422 kJ/mol) and formation of the primary gel structure (1/t_gel) (256 kJ/mol) processes in the mixed protein–polysaccharide system, it can be concluded that the rate determining step in the formation of the primary gel structure would be the aggregation of protein. E_a values for the processes after the gel point (solid phase gelation) suggest a diffusion limited process because of the high viscosity of the solid gelling matrix. The characteristics of the mixed β-lg+PGA gels in terms of rheological and textural parameters, water loss and microstructure were studied as a function of heating temperature and time. The extent of aggregation and the type of interactions involved, prior to denaturation seem to be very important in determining the gel structure and its properties.     

Strain-Dependent Rheological Model and Pressure Wave Prediction for Shut in and Restart of Waxy Oil Pipelines

Waxy oil gelation and rheology is investigated and modeled using strain-dependent viscosity correlations. Rotational rheometry shows a sharp viscosity increase upon gel formation. High creeping flow viscosities are observed at small deformation conditions prior to yielding. A new strain-dependent rheological model, following analogous formulation to the Carreau–Yasuda shear rate-dependent model, captures viscosity reduction associated with yielding. In addition, shear viscosity and extensional viscosity are investigated using a capillary rheometry method. Distinct shear-thinning behavior is observed in the shear mode of deformation, while distinct tension-thinning behavior is observed in the extensional mode of deformation for the model fluid systems. High Trouton ratios are obtained for the gelled model fluid systems, confirming strongly non-Newtonian fluid rheology. Finally, axial pressure wave profiles are computed at real pipeline dimensions for idealized moderate yield stress fluids using a computationally efficient 1D pipeline simulator. The Rønningsen time-dependent gel degradation model is used to emulate the fluid rheology in the simulator. Axial stress localization phenomena are shown to depend on the overall magnitude of gel degradation as established by the reduction in yield value. A high degree of gel degradation serves to afford flow commencement in a timely manner.     

Colloidal particle size of fumed silica dispersed in solution and the particle size effect on silica gelation and some electrochemical behaviour in gelled electrolyte

Commercial-grade fumed silica was dispersed by mechanical shearing and/or ultrasonic force to produce dispersed silica particles with different sizes. The light-scattering technique and a diagrammatic method of extrapolation used to eliminate the influence of particle interaction were applied to determine the size of the particles. Then, the effect of particle size on the gelation of fumed silica in sulphuric acid medium, as well as some electrochemical properties, such as ion transfer and redox capacities of lead, in the gelled electrolyte were examined. The results showed that the size of dispersed particles affected the gelation of fumed silica itself: with increasing size, the thixotropy of the system increased and the gelling time decreased, particularly for those particles obtained only by simple stirring. The strength of the gel increased with increasing particle size. At an identical silica content, the increase in particle size led to a decrease in the density of the particles: this weakened the three-dimensional structure of the silica particle network and reduced the efficiency of ion transfer. However, the effect of silica particle size on the redox capacities of lead was negligible.