Formation of crosslinked PTFE by radiation-induced solid-state polymerization of tetrafluoroethylene at low temperatures

Tetrafluoroethylene monomer (TFE) was polymerized with gamma rays at various temperatures. The thermal properties of product were measured by using a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) and the structure was analyzed by means of ¹⁹F high speed magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (¹⁹F NMR). It was found that, the PTFE obtained by the solid-state polymerization has been made clear to be crosslinked.     

Post-irradiation grafting of tetrafluoroethylene at low temperatures

Low-temperature postirradiation grafting of tetrafluoroethylene (TFE) to polyolefines and silicone elastomers was the subject of study. After preliminary dissolution of TFE in the polymer at 273°K the system was slowly cooled to 77°K. In this process a certain part of TFE in polyolefines (ethylene-propylene copolymer and polypropylene) is retained by the vitreous polymer matrix. When slowly heated after radiolysis at 77°K this system shows graft polymerization of dissolved TFE after T_g. The graft copolymer is soluble and its IR spectra contain absorption bands characteristic of polytetrafluoroethylene. In polydimethylsiloxane rubber (SKT) the dissolved TFE when frozen to 77°K remains sorbed between the SKT crystallites rather than in a separate phase. When these radiolyzed samples are heated the graft-polymerization occurs primarily over the temperature range between the TFE and SKT melting points. The technique provedes for 100–150% grafting of TFE. This method also permits grafting to silicone rubbers and to several other polymers and elastomers.     

Radiation polymerization of acrolein at low temperatures

Radiation polymerization of acrolein in the presence of the additives such as 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate, acrylic acid, and water at low temperatures (0–78°C) was studied. The polyacrolein resulting from the polymerization gave a small particlelike microsphere (0.5–5 μm in diameter). The rate of the polymerization reaction of acrolein appeared to be accelerated by the addition of a small amount of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate or acrylic acid. The particle size of the polyacrolein particle varied with the condition of the polymerization and increased or decreased with an increase in the addition concentration of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate or acrylic acid.     

Discrete breathers for understanding reconstructive mineral processes at low temperatures

Reconstructive transformations in layered silicates need a high temperature in order to be observed. However, very recently, some systems have been found where transformation can be studied at temperatures 600 degrees C below the lowest experimental results previously reported, including sol-gel methods. We explore the possible relation with the existence of intrinsic localized modes, known as discrete breathers. We construct a model for nonlinear vibrations within the cation layer, obtain their parameters, and calculate them numerically, obtaining their energies. Their statistics show that, although there are far less breathers than phonons, there are much more above the activation energy, making them good candidates to explain the reconstructive transformations at low temperatures.     

Initial stage in radiation polymerization of hydroxyethyl methacrylate-water system at low temperatures

The initial stage in the radiation polymerization of the hydroxyethyl methacrylate water system at low temperatures was studied. The polymerization was accelerated by the presence of water; the effect increased with rising temperature above T_g. The polymerization rate had a maximum near ?50°. The initiating and propagating radicals were identified by studies with ESR. Irradiated hydroxyethyl methacrylate at low temperatures gave a 7-line spectrum, which was assigned to the initiating radical having equivalent protons. This spectrum was changed to a 9-line spectrum at ?120 to ?100°; it was assigned to the propagating radical. The temperature dependence of the ESR spectrum of irradiated hydroxyethyl methacrylate-water systems was studied to examine the effect of water on the propagating radical.     

Radiation-induced polymerization of tetrafluoroethylene and 1,2,3,4,5-pentafluorostyrene at high pressure

Tetrafluoroethylene (A) and 1,2,3,4,5-pentafluorostyrene (B) were irradiated at 15°C at autogenous pressure by use of 30–92 mole-% A and at 5000 atm by use of 42–99.9 mole-% A. The high-pressure results indicate that the reactivity ratio r_A for monomer addition to A-ended radicals is 0.005; the other reactivity ratio r_B appears to vary from 15 to 60 generally increasing with the A content of the charge. At autogenous pressure r_A is small, but a precise determination is not possible because of the very low polymerization rate when the A content of the charge is high. However, if r_A is less than 0.01, then values of r_B vary from 15 to 50, again generally increasing with the A content of the charge. Mixtures of A and B exhibit positive deviations from Raoult's Law. Activity coefficients were measured at autogeneous pressure and used in an attempt to correct r_B for the nonideality of solution. The range of r_B was reduced only slightly to 8–27, and charges with high A contents now generally gave low values of r_B; consequently, this approach was not regarded as a success. Another attempt was made to account for the apparent variation in r_B by ascribing influence to the penultimate units of the radicals. Improved agreement between theoretical and observed compositions resulted, but significant discrepancies remained unexplained. Rate data agreed well with those calculated from a theoretical copolymer rate equation using values of r_A and r_B of 0.0045 and 40, respectively. The equation predicts an almost proportional decrease in rate with increasing proportions of A in the charge from 0 to 99 mole-% A.     

Initiation of free-radical polymerization of acetylene monomers with molecular chlorine at low temperatures

The reactions of molecular chlorine with phenylacetylene (PA) and para-diethinylbenzene (p-DEB) at low temperatures (77–210 K) were studied by electronic paramagnetic resonance (EPR), size exclusion chromatography, double bond analysis (DBA), calorimetry, and UV, visible, and IR spectroscopy. The low-temperature (100–210 K) reactions of molecular chlorine without high-energy chemical (HEC) effects formed radicals capable of oligomerizations and polymerizations. A readily soluble polymer para-diethinylbenzene having no spatial cross-linkages (but possibly having a branched structure) was obtained. Polymerization occurred in direct contact with chlorine. It accelerated near the melting point (T _m) of chlorine and proceeded vigorously along with chlorination at T _m = 172 K. The occurrence of low-temperature polymerization without HEC treatment points to the high reactivity of the reagents. From the viewpoint of applications, low-temperature oligomerization or polymerization of monomers with molecular chlorine can afford oligomers or polymers with definite properties, which cannot be obtained by other initiation procedures.     

Emulsion polymerization of tetrafluoroethylene and isobutylene

Interpolymers of tetrafluoroethylene and isobutylene containing approximately equimolar amounts of each monomer have been prepared by emulsion polymerization. Also prepared were compositions containing small amounts of other monomers such as acrylic acid. The characterization of these products is discussed, as is the preparation of both “ionomer” and iminated derivatives of the carboxylated terpolymers.     

Chlorination of lignin at low temperatures

A high reactivity of the olefinic double bonds of the lignin (Lg) macromolecule in the reaction with molecular chlorine has been found which has permitted the chlorination of Lg to be carried out under cryogenic conditions at 150–250 K. The process takes place by a radical-chain mechanism with a length of the kinetic chain of approximately 1000 units. The bulk of the chlorine is consumed in the olefinic chains of the Lg. Other reaction products besides chlorolignin are hydrogen chloride and phenoxyl radicals, which have singlet ESR spectrum (ΔH=1.0−1.2 mT) and are retained in the chlorinated samples of Lg to ∼250 K. Institute of Chemical Physics, Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Chernogolovka, Moscow Province. Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 5, pp. 671–676, September–October, 1990.     

Radiation-induced polymerization at high pressure of 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene in bulk and with tetrafluoroethylene

The radiation-induced polymerization of 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene was studied as a function of temperature (22–100°C) and pressure (autogenous to 10⁴ atm). Rates have varied 100-fold for the same reaction conditions probably because of trace impurities. The most rapidly polymerizing material has a rate of 4.5%/hr at 6000 atm, 22°C, and 1500 rad/hr. The activation enthalpy and volume are 4 kcal/mole and ?13 cc/mole, respectively. Rates are proportional to the square root of the radiation intensity. Degrees of polymerization varied between 2 × 10³ and 2 × 10⁶. In copolymerization with tetrafluoroethylene the reactivity ratios at 22°C and 5000 atm are 0.37 (the ratio for addition to the tetrafluoroethylene-ended radical) and 5.4 (the ratio for addition to the tetrafluoropropene-ended radical). Comparison of ratios for the copolymerization of other fluorinej-containing monomers with tetrafluoroethylene shows that they generally disfavor incorporation of the latter.     

Molecular weight distributions in radiation-induced polymerization. III. γ-Ray-induced polymerization of styrene at low temperatures

The kinetics of the γ-radiation-induced polymerization of styrene was studied at radiation intensities of 8 × 10⁴, 2.4 × 10⁵, 3.1 × 10⁵, and 8.3 × 10⁵ rad/hr over a temperature range of ?10°C to 30°C. The water content of the irradiated samples varied from 1.0 × 10^?3 to 7.5 × 10^?3 mole/l. The power dependence of the rate of polymerization on the dose rate at ?10°C varied from 0.53 to 0.71 as the water content of the sample varied from 7.5 × 10^?3 to 1.0 × 10^?3 mole/l. A value of 3.1 kcal/mole was determined for the overall activation energy. Molecular weight distribution studies by gel-permeation chromatography indicated the presence of two distinct peaks. The contribution of each peak was dependent on specific experimental parameters. Kinetic data and molecular weight distribution data indicate the coexistence of two propagating species. Analysis of the data strongly suggests that a free-radical mechanism and a cationic mechanism are involved.     

Nanostructural studies on monoelaidin-water systems at low temperatures

In recent years, lipid based nanostructures have increasingly been used as model membranes to study various complex biological processes. For better understanding of such phenomena, it is essential to gain as much information as possible for model lipid structures under physiological conditions. In this paper, we focus on one of such lipids--monoelaidin (ME)--for its polymorphic nanostructures under varying conditions of temperature and water content. In the recent contribution (Soft Matter, 2010, 6, 3191), we have reported the phase diagram of ME above 30 °C and compared with the phase behavior of other lipids including monoolein (MO), monovaccenin (MV), and monolinolein (ML). Remarkable phase behavior of ME, stabilizing three bicontinuous cubic phases, motivates its study at low temperatures. Current studies concentrate on the low-temperature (<30 °C) behavior of ME and subsequent reconstruction of its phase diagram over the entire temperature-water composition space (temperature, 0-76 °C; and water content, 0-70%). The polymorphs found for the monoelaidin-water system include three bicontinuous cubic phases, i.e., Ia3d, Pn3m, and Im3m, and lamellar phases which exhibit two crystalline (L(c1) and L(c0)), two gel (L(β) and L(β*)), and a fluid lamellar (L(α)) states. The fluid isotropic phase (L(2)) was observed only for lower hydrations (<20%), whereas hexagonal phase (H(2)) was not found under studied conditions. Nanostructural parameters of these phases as a function of temperature and water content are presented together with some molecular level calculations. This study might be crucial for perception of the lyotropic phase behavior as well as for designing nanostructural assemblies for potential applications.     

On sample positioning at low temperatures

A method is presented to measure the position of a small solid sample which is suspended by thin copper wires, from a microbalance, in a dewar that has been described earlier [1]. The shrinkage of the wires at low temperatures is reproducible to within ± 0.15 mm.     

Monodisperse CdSe nanorods at low temperatures

A new synthetic method is presented that allows the preparation of highly monodisperse CdSe nanorods (so called quantum rods) at relatively low temperatures (160 degrees C). This method is characterized by a high aspect ratio of the particles and affords good reproducibility. The morphology of the resulting nanorods was examined by means of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and the electro-optic properties by means of fluorescence spectroscopy. The conditions of the reaction of nanoparticle growth were examined by varying the concentration of the organometallic precursors, the growth temperature, and the growth time. The experimental findings correspond well with previously published semiempirical pseudo-potential calculations.     

Adsorption of hydrogen on zeolite NaA at low temperatures

A volumetric method was used to measure the hydrogen adsorption isotherms at 23–100°K and from 10^–2 to 65 kPa. A thermodynamic analysis was carried out for the experimental results, which were compared with literature data.Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 9, pp. 2140–2142, September, 1990.     

Adsorption of neon on zeolite NaA at low temperatures

A volumetric method was used to measure the adsorption isotherms of neon at from 28 to 100 K and from 10^–2 Pa to 65 kPa. A thermodynamic analysis was carried out for the experimental data and these results were compared with literature data.Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 9, pp. 2137–2139, September, 1990.     

低温下生物柴油的胶凝特性研究

利用流变仪在小振幅振荡剪切模式下对地沟油、花生油和大豆油生物柴油的胶凝特性进行了研究。结果表明,低温下生物柴油不仅具有冷却胶凝特性,还表现出明显的等温胶凝特性。分析了冷却速率和剪应力对地沟油生物柴油胶凝特性的影响。结果表明,静态降温时降温速率越大,生物柴油的胶凝温度越低,降温及恒温静置过程中同一温度下的胶凝结构越弱。相同降温速率下,生物柴油的胶凝结构和胶凝温度随剪应力的增加而降低,但经受不同剪应力作用的生物柴油恒温静置后胶凝结构相差不大。降温过程中施加的剪应力较小时,冷却胶凝结构随降温速率的增大而降低;剪应力较大时,冷却胶凝结构随降温速率的增大而加强。不管施加的剪应力多大,等温胶凝结构随降温速率的增大而加强。     

Thermodynamic behaviors of polyampholytes at low temperatures

The thermodynamic properties of 6-mer polyampholyte chains were simulated with the multicanonical Monte Carlo method in a three-dimensional off-lattice model. The results demonstrate that the number of the charged monomers on the chain and the sequence significantly affect the transition behaviors of polyampholyte chains. In the case of the random distribution of the charged monomers, two oppositely charged monomers act as two stickers during a collapse process, due to which the movement of monomers is suppressed and the chains can more directly reach their solid state. Interestingly, in a proper arrangement of the charged monomers, the chains may have a proteinlike nondegenerate state, i.e., the chain is designable. The transition of such polyampholyte chains appears to be of a two-state, all-or-none type.     

Solution photochemistry of o-hydroxybenzophenone at low temperatures

The decay of triplet o-hydroxybenzophenone takes place with a lifetime of 24 ns in methanol at 175 K and is proposed to involve the interconversion of the intermolecularly hydrogen bonded (anti) conformer into a short-lived syn species.     

FT-IR spectra of proteins at low temperatures

Infrared spectra of several globular proteins have been recorded in fluid solutions (hydro-alcoholic mixtures) in the temperature range –110° C to 30° C. In the case of hemoglobin, which has a highly ordered secondary structure, smaller spectral changes are observed which are compatible with distortions of its helices. In contrast to this,-casein, a protein with mostly unordered structure, undergoes a much larger change whereby low temperature induces folding of the protein chains.Issued as NRCC No. 28929