Elution Temperatures of Polyethylene Copolymers in Temperature Rising Elution Fractionation (TREF): Comparison in Xylene and Trichlorobenzene Diluents

Temperature rising elution fractionation (TREF) became the preferred technique to characterize the short chain branching distribution of polyethylene copolymers. Due to technical limitations, preparative TREF (PTREF) is usually done in xylene, while trichlorobenzene is used in analytical TREF (ATREF). Attempts to correlate the TREF elution temperatures based on data published by different authors erroneously showed higher elution temperatures for xylene than for trichlorobenzene. Our study rectifies this error. The experiments were done in both solvents on the same analytical TREF instrument. For the analyzed polyethylene copolymers, we found that the average elution temperature in xylene is 3.7° ± 1°C lower than in trichlorobenzene.     

Progress on Fast Analytical Temperature Rising Elution Fractionation (ATREF) Technique for Practical Applications

Fast analytical temperature rising elution fractionation (ATREF) is a recently proposed method to evaluate the molecular structure of polyolefins with unimodal distributions. In this article, we compare the results obtained by this method and the classical slow cooling rate ATREF. An interpretation of previous results found in the literature is proposed in order to explain one of the limitations usually associated with this technique. Practical recommendations are given to build columns adapted to this technique and to efficiently adjust the method parameters.     

Characterization of Polyethylene Using Fast Analytical Temperature Rising Elution Fractionation with Triple Detection (ATREF 3D)

A commercially available gel permeation chromatograph with triple detection (GPC3D) was coupled with a gas chromatograph to obtain a fast analytical temperature rising fractionation system with triple detection (ATREF3D). On this hybrid instrument we developed a fast method for evaluating in one run, and with less than 0.5 mg of sample, the density, molecular weight, and the type of polyethylene. The method was evaluated with excellent results on commercial polyethylene resins typically used for film and packaging applications.     

High‐density polyethylene fractionation with supercritical propane

During the development of column extraction techniques, two methods of separation were identified. The first method is based on altering polymer solubility by varying the ratio of solvent in a solvent/nonsolvent mixture at a constant temperature above the polymer melting point (gradient solvent elution fractionation). This method fractionates polymers according to molecular weight. The second method is based on altering polymer solubility by varying solvent temperature (temperature rising elution fractionation—TREF). TREF fractionates semicrystalline polymers with respect to their crystallizability, independently of molecular weight effects. In the present article, supercritical propane will be used to fractionate a high‐density polyethylene sample by molecular weight and short chain branching. The main advantage of supercritical fluid fractionation is that large polymer fractions with narrow molecular weight distributions (isothermal fractionation) or narrow short chain branching distributions (isobaric fractionation) can be obtained without using hazardous organic chlorinated solvents. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 37: 553–560, 1999     

Block Index for Characterizing Olefin Block Copolymers

Summary: Olefin block copolymers produced by chain shuttling catalysis exhibit crystallinity characteristics that are distinct from what would be expected for typical random olefin copolymers with comparable monomer compositions produced from either ‘single-site’ or heterogeneous catalysis. Olefin block copolymers produced by chain shuttling catalysis have a statistical multiblock architecture. A unique structural feature of olefin-based block copolymers is that the intra-chain distribution of comonomer is segmented (statistically non-random). Fractionating an olefin block copolymer by preparative temperature rising elution fractionation, TREF, results in fractions that have much higher comonomer content than comparable fractions of a random copolymer collected at an equivalent TREF elution temperature. We have developed a “block index” methodology which quantifies the deviation from the expected monomer composition versus the analytical temperature rising elution fractionation, ATREF, elution temperature. When interpreted properly, this index indicates the degree to which the intra-chain comonomer distribution is segmented or blocked. The unique crystallization behavior of block copolymers determine the magnitude of the block index values because the highly crystalline segments along an otherwise non-crystalline chain tend to dominate the ATREF (and DSC) temperature distributions.     

Ethylene/1‐octene copolymerization studies with in situ supported metallocene catalysts: Effect of polymerization parameters on the catalyst activity and polymer microstructure

Ethylene and 1‐octene copolymerizations were carried out with an in situ supported rac‐[dimethylsilylbis(methylbenzoindenyl)] zirconium dichloride catalyst. In a previous study, it was found that some in situ supported metallocenes produced polyethylene/α‐olefin copolymers with broad and bimodal short chain branching distributions and narrow molecular weight distributions. The ability to produce polyolefins with multimodal microstructural distributions in a single metallocene and a single reactor is attractive for producing polymers with balanced properties with simpler reactor technology. In this study, a factorial experimental design was carried out to examine the effects of the polymerization temperature and ethylene pressure, the presence of hydrogen and an alkylaluminum activator, and the level of the comonomer in the feed on the catalyst activity, short chain branching distribution, and molecular weight distribution of the polymer. The temperature had the most remarkable effect on the polymer microstructure. At high 1‐octene levels, the short chain branching distribution of the copolymer broadened significantly with decreasing temperature. Several factor interactions, including the hydrogen and alkylaluminum concentrations, were also observed, demonstrating the sensitivity of the catalyst to the polymerization conditions. For this catalyst system, the responses to the polymerization conditions are not easily predicted from typical polymerization mechanisms, and several two‐factor interactions seem to play an important role. Given the multiple‐site nature of the catalyst, it has been shown that predicting the polymerization activity and the resulting microstructure of the polymer is a challenging task. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 4426–4451, 2002     

Fast Heroin and Cocaine Analysis by GC–MS with Cold EI: The Important Role of Flow Programming

A fast GC–MS method was developed based on the use of GC–MS with Cold EI. This new method was applied for the analysis of the street drugs heroin and cocaine and it enabled 2 min chromatography time and 3 min full analysis cycle time. GC–MS with cold EI provides mass spectra with enhanced molecular ions that are library compatible (with increased identification probabilities) and allows the use of short, 5 m 0.25 mm ID columns, which facilitates fast GC–MS. A central ingredient of our unique cold EI-based fast GC–MS analysis method is the use of column flow programming from 1 up to 32 ml min^?1 column flow rate. Column flow programming can reduce the analysis time by about a factor of two and unlike temperature programs of GC ovens the carrier gas flow rate can be raised and lowered very quickly (in a few seconds). The fast GC–MS with Cold EI method is demonstrated by the analysis of heroin in its street drug powder and cocaine on paper money and it can be applied for other drugs of abuse as a general fast drugs analysis method.     

Time growing comparison for ZnO nanorod by using microwave irradiation method

In this study, zinc oxide (ZnO) nanorod were successfully prepared at different growth times (15, 30 and 60 min) using the microwave irradiation method. The ZnO nanorods were simply synthesized at a low temperature (90 °C) with low power microwave assisted heating (about 100 W) and a subsequent ageing process. The synthesized nanorod were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) and Ultraviolet–Visible spectroscopy (UV–Vis). The FESEM images showed nanorods with diameter ranging between 50 and 150 nm, and length of 150–550 nm. The XRD results indicate that ZnO nanorods of different time of growth exhibits pure wurtzite structure with lattice parameters of 3.2568 and 5.2125 Å. UV–Vis characterization showed that energy gap decreases with increase in time. The result also shows that growth of ZnO at 60 min produces an energy band gap of 3.15 eV. In general, the results of the study confirm that the microwave irradiation method is a promising low temperature, cheap and fast method for the production of ZnO nanostructures.     

Synthesis of Branched Polymer Architectures from Molecular Weight and Branching Distributions for Radical Polymerisation with Long‐Chain Branching,Accounting for Topology‐Controlled Random Scission

Branched polymers like LDPE are known to possess a wide range of architectures. In this paper a modelling approach is developed, describing the relation between architectures, chemistry and reactor conditions with the general objective of improving characterisation and controlling visco‐elastic properties. More specifically, the particular scission kinetics of branched molecules as strongly contrasting with linear scission is described. A new method to synthesise branched architectures is developed as an alternative to full Monte Carlo (MC) sampling. It employs MC sampling for coupling of primary polymers only. Graph theory is used as an efficient storage method containing all topological information of individual molecules. The algorithm synthesises molecules for any given combination of chain length (n) and number of branches (N). The explicit and detailed knowledge of branched architectures allows finding the correct topological scission kinetics. Distributions of fragment lengths and numbers of branches on fragments after scission are obtained, showing a preference for short and long fragments. Approximate functions describing this have been implemented in another model, predicting molecular weight (MWD) and degree of branching (DBD) distributions using a Galerkin finite element method. Topological scission is seen to give MWD broadening and a higher branching density for long chains. Distributions of longest end‐to‐end distances could be computed for all architectural alternatives for given n, N. In conclusion, it is demonstrated that this method yields distributions of architectures consistent with MWD/DBD for radical polymerisation with long‐chain branching and random scission.     

Fractionation of ethylene/1‐pentene copolymers using a combination of SEC‐FTIR and SEC‐HPer DSC

The short chain branching distribution (SCBD) and thermal properties of ethylene/1‐pentene copolymers were studied using SEC‐FTIR and SEC‐HPer DSC. The copolymers, synthesized with Cp₂ZrCl₂/MAO, were fractionated using size exclusion chromatography (SEC). The infrared analysis of the fractions showed that the copolymers had—on average—higher 1‐pentene concentration in the low molecular weight range. Furthermore, the thermal properties of the SEC deposits of these copolymers on a Germanium disc were studied using high performance differential scanning calorimetry (HPer DSC). Single SEC separations were used to accumulate fractions in the microgram range that were directly analyzed with regard to their thermal properties, thus allowing us to study SCBD as well as thermal behavior simultaneously. When these fractions (with masses ranging from 10–80 μg) were analyzed using HPer DSC, good melting and crystallization temperature distributions were obtained, proving that HPer DSC can be used as a complementary method to SEC‐FTIR. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 45: 2956–2965, 2007     

Fast preparation of nanocrystalline cellulose by microwave-assisted hydrolysis

In this work we report on the procedure for fast and controlled preparation of nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) from commercially available microcrystalline cellulose using microwave-assisted hydrolysis. By varying the sulfuric acid concentration and hydrolysis temperature, an average hydrodynamic diameter of NCC between 126 and 1,310 nm with corresponding yields between 16 and 82 %, respectively, was obtained in a very short reaction time of 10 min. An additional advantage of the described procedure is its high reproducibility and ability to fine-tune the average NCC particle size by adjusting the reaction conditions, i.e., the sulfuric acid concentration and/or reaction temperature.     

Simple Characterization of Green-Synthesized Silver Nanoparticles by Capillary Electrophoresis

The development of methodologies for the characterization of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) synthesized using natural products has received increasing attention, especially to monitoring its stability and size for further application. In this paper, a capillary electrophoretic (CE) method is presented for characterization of AgNPs synthesized using honey or glucose as reducing agents. A simple electrolyte solution composed of 20 mM sodium borate and 20 mM sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS) at pH 8.5 was used for separation of AgNPs within a short analysis time (<12 min). The obtained results were compared with the traditional characterization techniques, such as transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS), showing satisfactory correlation in terms of size distribution. In addition, valuable information about electrophoretic mobility and zeta potential values of AgNPs was obtained by applying the CE-UV/Vis method. Thus, the proposed methodology represents a straightforward tool for the fast and cost-effective characterization of AgNPs within a single analysis, employing minimal amounts of reagents and samples.     

Physico-Chemical Characterization of Poly(vinyl Chloride). IV. Branching

Degree of branching in PVC as a function of its temperature of polymerization has been determined by the catalytic hydrogenation (LiAlH₄) of the polymer followed by IR measurements. The samples used were prepared at 55, 90, 130, and 160°C. A branching calibration curve (ACH₃ /ACH₂ vs CH₃/CH₂) was established for linear hydrocarbons, and was found to follow the relation, ACH₃/ACH₂ = 20(CH₃ /CH₂). This equation was used to characterize the branching indices of PVC samples studied. Branching values in units of 100(CH₃ /CH₂) were as follows: 55°C (1.92), 90°C (1.95), 130°C (2.61), and 160°C (2.96). These results are in agreement with the theoretical prediction that the degree of branching in PVC should decrease with the lowering of its temperature of polymerization because the energy of activation for the propagation step is smaller than that for chain the transfer step.     

Ethylene and 1‐hexene copolymerization with CO‐prereduced phillips CrOx/SiO2 catalyst in the presence of Al–alkyl cocatalyst

Phillips catalyst has been contributing to about 40% of world high‐density polyethylene production because of its ability to give products with unique microstructures like broad molecular weight distribution as well as short and long chain branches. Even after 50 years' effort, some crucial problems concerning the nature of active sites, polymerization, and branching mechanisms are still kept mysterious. In this work, ethylene and 1‐hexene copolymerization with Phillips catalyst prereduced by CO was carried out in the presence of triethyl aluminum (TEA) cocatalyst. The microstructures of polymers were investigated by ¹³C NMR and gel permeation chromatography (GPC) methods. A hybrid‐type kinetics was found for both homo‐ and copolymerization kinetics, which indicated that there existed two types of active sites namely site A and site B. Site A with instant activation, high activity, and fast decay was transformed from a metathesis site, namely Cr(II) site, coordinated with CO or CO₂ through desorption of CO or CO₂ by TEA, which contributed to the formation of short chain branches, especially methyl branches. Site B with slow activation, low activity, and slow decay was generated from reduction of residual chromate (VI) by TEA. Both 1‐hexene and TEA can decrease the molecular weight of polyethylene as well as enhance short chain branching. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 4632–4641, 2005     

Evaluation of Philips and Ziegler-Natta high-density polyethylene degradation during processing in an internal mixer using the chain scission and branching distribution function analysis

The oxidative and thermo-mechanical degradation of HDPE was studied during processing in an internal mixer under two conditions: totally and partially filled chambers, which provides lower and higher concentrations of oxygen, respectively. Two types of HDPEs, Phillips and Ziegler-Natta, having different levels of terminal vinyl unsaturations were analyzed. Materials were processed at 160, 200, and 240 °C. Standard rheograms using a partially filled chamber showed that the torque is much more unstable in comparison to a totally filled chamber which provides an environment depleted of oxygen. Carbonyl and transvinylene group concentrations increased, whereas vinyl group concentration decreased with temperature and oxygen availability. Average number of chain scission and branching (n_s) was calculated from MWD curves and its plotting versus functional groups' concentration showed that chain scission or branching takes place depending upon oxygen content and vinyl groups' consumption. Chain scission and branching distribution function (CSBDF) values showed that longer chains undergo chain scission easier than shorter ones due to their higher probability of entanglements. This yields macroradicals that react with the vinyl terminal unsaturations of other chains producing chain branching. Shorter chains are more mobile, not suffering scission but instead are used for grafting the macroradicals, increasing the molecular weight. Increase in the oxygen concentration, temperature, and vinyl end groups' content facilitates the thermo-mechanical degradation reducing the amount of both, longer chains via chain scission and shorter chains via chain branching, narrowing the polydispersity. Phillips HDPE produces a higher level of chain branching than the Ziegler-Natta's type at the same processing condition.     

Crystallization and melting of narrow composition distribution polyethylenes: Investigation and implications of crystal thickening

The crystal structure produced during the isothermal crystallization of polyethylene (PE) copolymers with a broad range of comonomer concentrations was determined by the measurement of the melting endotherms directly after crystallization. PE copolymers with higher concentrations of short‐chain branches (≥10 branches per 1000 total carbon atoms) exhibited strong resistance to crystal thickening during isothermal crystallization. Negligible thickening, estimated to be only about 0.1 nm in 10 min of isothermal crystallization, was observed. The side‐chain branches apparently acted as limiting points of chain incorporation into the crystals, which exhibited great resistance to the modification of their position, that is, crystal thickening. Even with long periods (up to 8 h) of isothermal storage, crystal thickening was very small or negligible, about 0.3 nm. The crystal thickness was calculated from differential scanning calorimetry data. The behavior of copolymers with lower branching concentrations and the unbranched PE homopolymer was quite different from that of the copolymers with higher branching. Polymers with low or no branching exhibited the initial crystallization of a thinner crystal population, which thickened substantially with increasing time. The thickening observed for these lower or unbranched polymers was an order of magnitude larger, that is, 1.6–2.0 nm in 10 min of isothermal crystallization. Copolymers with higher concentrations of branching had relatively short sequence lengths of ethylene units between branch points, and this resulted in strong control over the crystal thickness by the branch points and great resistance to crystal thickening, even with long times of isothermal crystallization. Copolymers with low concentrations of branching had relatively long sequence lengths of ethylene units between branch points, and this resulted in little control over the crystal thickness by the branch points and rapid crystal thickening upon isothermal crystallization. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 41: 235–246, 2003     

An extrusion fluidic driving method for continuous-flow polymerase chain reaction on a microfluidic chip

A novel extrusion driving protocol was developed based on micro-fabricated polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) pneumatic valves. High efficiency liquid transfer was performed by using entirely overlapping control channels and fluid channels. A 0.5-s time is sufficient for the transfer of 9 μL sample solution between two chambers in the microchip with a nitrogen pressure of 70 kPa. The driving method was used in a microfluidic polymerase chain reaction (PCR) system, and rapid cycling of the PCR mixture in a closed loop was achieved. The amplification of DNA was demonstrated via both three-stage and two-stage PCR thermal cycling on the microchips resulting in significant reduction of the PCR time. The amplifications of 144-bp and 200-bp DNA fragments were achieved within 24 min using a three-stage protocol with 30 thermal cycles, and 130-bp DNA fragments within 12 min by using 20 thermal cycles in the two-stage system, compared to about 2 h in benchtop PCR with the same number of thermal cycles.     

The influence of short‐chain branching on the morphology and structure of polyethylene single crystals

The influence of short‐chain branching on the formation of single crystals at constant supercooling is systematically studied in a series of metallocene catalyzed high‐molecular‐weight polyethylene samples. A strong effect of short‐chain branching on the morphology and structure of single crystals is reported. An increase of the axial ratio with short‐chain branching content, together with a characteristic curvature of the (110) crystal faces are observed. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that this observation is reported in high‐molecular‐weight polyethylene. The curvature can be explained by a continuous increase in the step initiation—step propagation rates ratio with short‐chain branching, that is, nucleation events are favored against stem propagation by the presence of chain defects. Micro‐diffraction and WAXS results clearly indicate that all samples crystallize in the orthorhombic form. An increase of the unit cell parameter a₀ is detected, an effect that is more pronounced than in the case of single crystals with ethyl and propyl branches. The changes observed are compatible with an expanded lattice due to the presence of branches at the surface folding. A decrease in crystal thickness with branching content is observed as determined from shadow measurements by TEM. The results are in agreement with additional SAXS results performed in single crystal mats and with indirect calorimetry measurements. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2015 , 53, 1751–1762     

Photoluminescence investigation of MPA–ZnS QDs interaction with selenite ion

The interaction between water-soluble zinc sulfide quantum dots (ZnS QDs) and selenite ion was investigated by photoluminescence method. The water-soluble ZnS QDs were synthesized using a simple and fast procedure based on the co-precipitation of nanoparticles in an aqueous solution in the presence of 3-mercaptopropionic acid (MPA), as the capping agent. Fluorescence intensity for MPA–ZnS QDs, with a strong fluorescent emission at about 430 nm, decreased in the presence of selenite. The influence of the effective parameters including pH and temperature was investigated. The results showed that under the optimum conditions, the fluorescence intensity change of QDs was linearly proportional to the selenite concentration in the range 4.0 × 10^?5–7.2 × 10^?4 mol L^?1. Moreover, the quenching mechanism was discussed to be a static quenching procedure.     

Chemometric Resolution for Rapid Determination of Prometryn in Leek Samples Using GC–MS

Much effort has been made to analyze the pesticides in foods or vegetables due to the interferences in the sample matrix. In this work, taking the determination of prometryn in leek samples as an example, a simple method is proposed for fast analysis of the components in real samples using GC–MS and chemometric resolution. The purification step in preparing the samples was simplified, and a short capillary column and fast temperature program were employed in GC–MS measurement. Although the measured signal is composed of overlapped peaks with the interferences and background, the signal of prometryn can be extracted by chemometric resolution. Six leek samples from different markets were analyzed within an elution time of 6 min. Compared with the results by the standard method, the results by the proposed method were found to be reliable.