The influence of physical ageing on the electrical and swelling behaviour of ternary rubber vulcanizates

The effects of pre-annealing ageing time at 70 °C on the electrical properties and swelling behaviour in kerosene of a new tri-block rubber based on blends of natural rubber (NR) and different concentration ratios of both styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) and butyl rubber (IIR), all incorporating 40 phr (parts per hundred parts of rubber by weight) of high abrasion furnace (HAF) carbon black, were investigated.

It was found that the interspacing distance, d, between carbon particles or aggregates is greatly affected by physical ageing and also by the rubber ratios in the test specimens.

Moreover, the degree of swelling, Q (%), in kerosene was found to decrease with both physical ageing and IIR content of the specimen.     

Thermal dehydrochlorination of poly(vinyl chloride)—epoxidized butadiene/styrene triblock copolymer blends

The effect of the type of epoxidized butadiene/styrene block copolymer [ESBS; linear (B/S) or radial (E(B/S)_n), containing 0–27% of epoxy groups] on the thermal dehydrochlorination of poly (vinyl chloride) (PVC)-ESBS blends (ESBS content 10%) was investigated in the temperature range 170–180 °C, under a non-oxygen atmosphere. Thermal stability of the PVC-ESBS blends was estimated on the basis of induction time, t₀, and maximum rate of hydrochloride emission, V_max from the system. It was found that, for a similar degree of epoxidation of the SBS copolymer, the induction time i.e. the time after which emission of HCl begins, is longer in the series PVC < PVC-SBS < PVC-EB/S < PVC-E(B/S)_n, and the same is true for thermal stability. However, the maximum rate of emission of HCl is lowest in the case of PVC-EB/S blends, in the range of molar ratios from 0.5 to 2.0 × 1O⁻². On the basis of the dependence V_max = f(EB/VC), it was found that there is a certain content of epoxidized butadiene (EB) units in a mixture which causes the optimum stability of poly (vinyl chloride) during heating. During thermal destruction of the PVC-ESBS blends, the HC1 evolved undergoes addition both to epoxy fragments and to double bonds. The degree of conversion of EB units in time t₀ is 20% at 170 °C and 30% at 180 °C. The glass transition temperature, T_g, of PVC in the PVC-ESBS blends shifts towards higher temperatures by about 6–8 °C, proving the existence of crosslinking processes during moulding of the blends. The epoxidized butadiene/styrene radial block copolymer, E(B/S)_n, is a better thermal stabilizer of PVC than the linear EB/S copolymer.     

Effect of high-temperature curing on the crosslink structures and dynamic mechanical properties of gum and N330-filled natural rubber vulcanizates

The effects of high-temperature curing and overcuring on the cure characteristics, crosslink structure, physical properties and dynamic mechanical properties (DMPs) of gum and carbon black (N330) filled natural rubber (NR) vulcanizates cured with conventional (CV), semi-efficient (SEV) and efficient (EV) cure systems, which have about the same total crosslink densities under a moderate curing temperature of 150°C, were investigated. The gum NR vulcanizates cured with CV, SEV and EV curing systems have about the same glass transition temperature (T_g) and tan δ values below the temperature of about 0°C, but showed some apparent differences in the tan δ values increasing in the order CVG′ and tan δ values above T_g higher than those of the gum NR vulcanizates.

High-temperature curing and overcuring cause decreases to various extents in the cure plateau torque, Shore A hardness, 300% modulus and tensile strength, and lead to apparent changes in the DMPs. Typically, there is an increase in T_g of all three kinds of gum and N330-filled NR vulcanizates because of changes in the total crosslink densities and crosslink types. The CV vulcanizates show the most significant change in cure characteristics, physical properties and DMPs since the highest content of polysulfidic crosslinks appears in the CV vulcanizate, causing the highest level of reversion and having a dominant effect on the properties.     

Gradient expansion of the kinetic energy density functional: Local behavior of the kinetic energy density

Calculations with Hartree—Fock electron densities for the rare gas atoms He through Xe show that the gradient expansion for the kinetic energy functional, T[] = T₀[] + T₂[] + T₄[] + … = ∫t() dτ, approximates the kinetic energy by averaging over the shell structure present in the true local kinetic energy density, t(), and that the accuracy of the gradient expansion improves with increasing atomic number. Components of t(), t₀(), t₂() and t₄(), are exhibited and discussed. The defined function t() is everywhere positive.     

The temperature dependence of the two positronium bubble states in liquid SF6

Positron lifetime measurements have been performed on liquid SF₆ in the temperature range from −45°C to 71°C (T_c = 45.65°C). The positron lifetime spectra were resolved into four lifetime components. In the order of increasing lifetimes the four lifetime components are associated with the decay of para-positronium (p-Ps), free positrons, ortho-positronium (o-Ps) from a small bubble state, and o-Ps from a large bubble state. The lifetime of o-Ps annihilating from the large bubble state τ₄ increases from 5.7 ns at −45°C to 19.5 ns at 53°C. The lifetime of o-Ps annihilating from the small bubble state τ₃ was found to be 2–2.5 ns in the main part of the temperature range studied. Apparently, this is the first observation of two different o-Ps states in a liquid. The intensity I₄ (I₃) increases (decreases) from 16.9% (16%) at −45°C to 47.2% (6.4%) at the critical point while above I₃ and I₄ are essentially temperature independent. The large Ps bubble state seems to be similar to the Ps bubble state found in most liquids.     

Ab initio structural trends and torsional sensitivity in n-hexane and comparisons with crystallographic structural results

The molecular structures of n-hexane were determined by RHF/4-21G ab initio geometry optimization at 30° grid points in its three-dimensional τ₁(C11–C8–C5–C1), τ₂(C14–C11–C8–C5), τ₃(C17–C14–C11–C8) conformational space. Of the resulting 12×12×12=1728 grid structures, 468 are symmetrically non-equivalent and were optimized constraining the torsions τ₁, τ₂, and τ₃ to the respective grid points, while all other structural parameters were relaxed without any constraints. From the results, complete parameter surfaces were constructed using natural cubic spline functions, which make it possible to calculate parameter gradients, |P|=[(∂P/∂τ_i)²+(∂P/∂τ_j)²]^1/2, where P is a C–C bond length or C–C–C angle. The parameter gradients provide an effective measure of the torsional sensitivity of the system and indicate that dynamic activities in one part of the molecule can significantly affect the density of states, and thus the contributions to vibrational entropy, in another part. This opens the possibility of dynamic entropic conformational steering in complex molecules; i.e. the generation of free energy contributions from dynamic effects of one part of a molecule on another. When the conformational trends in the calculated C–C bond lengths and C–C–C angles are compared with average parameters taken from some 900 crystallographic structures containing n-hexyl fragments or longer C–C bond sequences, some correlation between calculated and experimental trends in angles is found, in contrast to the bond lengths for which the two sets of data are in complete disagreement. The results confirm experiences often made in crystallography. That is, effects of temperature, crystal structure and packing, and molecular volume effects are manifested more clearly in bond lengths than bond angles which depend mainly on intramolecular properties. Frequency analyses of the τ₁, τ₂ and τ₃ torsional angles in the crystal structures show conformational steering in the sense that, if τ₁ is trans peri-planar (170°≤τ₁≤180°; −180°≤τ₁≤−170°), the values of τ₂ and τ₃ are clustered closely around the ideal gauche (±60°) and trans (±180°) positions. In contrast, when τ₁ is in the region (50°≤τ₁≤70°), there is a definite increase in the populations of τ₂ and τ₃ at −90 and −150°.     

A SAXS and swelling study of cured natural rubber/styrene–butadiene rubber blends

A small‐angle X‐ray scattering (SAXS) and swelling study of natural rubber and styrene–butadiene rubber blends (NR/SBR) is presented. To this aim, specimens of NR and SBR and blends with 75/25, 50/50, and 25/75 NR/SBR ratios (in phr) were prepared at a cure temperature of 433 K and the optimum cure time (t₁₀₀). This time was obtained from rheometer torque curves. The system of cure used in the samples was sulfur/n‐t‐butyl‐2‐benzothiazole sulfenamide. From swelling tests of the cured samples, information about the molecular weight of the network chain between chemical crosslinks was obtained. For all cured compounds, in the Lorentz plots built from SAXS scattering curves, a maximum of the scattering vector q around 0.14 Å^?1 was observed. However, the q position shows a linear‐like shift toward lower values when the SBR content in the SBR/NR blend increases. In pure NR or SBR the q values show a different tendency. The results obtained are discussed in terms of the existence of different levels of vulcanization for each single phase forming the blend and the existence of a third level of vulcanization located in the interfacial NR/SBR layer. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 47: 2320–2327, 2009     

Chemie der schweren carben-analogen R2M, M = Si, Ge, Sn : XVIII. Eine unerwartete Ge---C-Spaltung des als Dimethylgermylen-Speicher dienenden 7,7-Dimethyl-7-germanorbornadiens

During thermolysis of the 7-germanorbornadiene 1 in chlorobenzene at 70°C in the presence of concentrated hydrochloric acid, besides the well-known formation of free germylene Me₂Ge and its consecutive product dimethylchlorogermane 2, the polar splitting of only one Ge---C bond in 1 has been observed for the first time. It does not yield Me₂Ge, but instead it rapidly forms the 1-germyl-1,4-dihydronaphthalene 3. The kinetics of this reaction at 53°C are of 2nd order, t_1/2 = 20 min, k = 0.22 l mol⁻¹ min⁻¹. At room temperature 3 is formed quantitatively. Also, at 70°C the slower formation of the germylene Me₂Ge from 1 can be suppressed completely if HCl gas is bubbled through the reaction mixture, thus favouring the rapid formation of 3. As a by-product the 1,2-dihydronaphthalene 5 is generated.     

Thermal stability of osmium mixed oxides I. CaOsO3 decomposition products: A new orthorhombic phase Ca2Os2O7

The thermal decomposition of CaOsO₃ by differential thermal analyses, thermogravimetry and X-ray powder diffraction has been studied. In nitrogen CaOsO₃ decomposes at 880 ± 10°C into CaO, osmium metal and oxygen due to the reaction CaOsO₃ → CaO + Os + O₂. In static air the decomposition occurs in three stages: 2CaOsO₃ + 1/2O₂ → Ca₂Os₂O₇ (in region 775–808°C), Ca₂Os₂O₇ → Ca₂Os₂O_6,5 + 1/4O₂ (at a temperature interval of 850–1000°C) and in the third stage Ca₂Os₂O_6,5 → 2CaO + OsO₄ ÷ 1/4 O₂ (at 1005 ± 5°C). The first intermediate Ca₂Os₂O₇ is isostructural with orthorhombic Ca₂Nb₂O₇ and its cell parameters are: a₀ = 3.745 Å, b₀ = 25.1 Å, c₀ = 5.492 Å, Z = 4, space group Cmcm or Cmc2. Ca₂Os₂O₇ exhibits metallic conductivity and its electrical resistivity is 4.6 × 10⁻² ohm-cm at 296K.     

Guide for Authors

The effects of epoxidized natural rubber (ENR) on the curing behaviors and adhesive strengths of an epoxy (diglycidyl ether of bisphenol-A) and dicyandiamide/2-methyl imidazole system are studied with differential thermal calorimetry (DSC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Instron tensile testing instrument. From DSC analyses of specimens prepared with unsealed aluminum pans, it is obtained that the reaction exotherm, the time to maximal curing rate, the glass transition temperature, the rate constant, and the reaction order of the epoxy system change with respect to the content of ENR added because of the reaction of ENR with the epoxy system. The results obtained from SEM micrographs indicate that the particle size of the rubber phase increases with increasing the curing temperature and the ENR content. The volume fraction of the separated rubber phase also follows the similar trend except at the high curing temperature which implying that the dissolution of epoxy resin in the ENR phase also depends on the curing temperature and the amount of ENR present. The lap shear strengths of specimens prepared with etched aluminum substrates increase with increasing the curing temperature because of a better cure at a higher temperature, but decrease with increasing the ENR content resulting from an adverse effect of ENR on the mechanical properties of the cured resins.     

(2,6-Diphenyl) phenyl methacrylate—2. Radical copolymerization with methyl methacrylate. The Tgs of its copolymers with an addendum on the polymerization of (2,6-diphenyl) phenyl acrylate

The radical copolymerization of (2,6-diphenyl) phenyl methacrylate (1) with methyl methacrylate in DMF with AIBN at 70°C has the reactivity ratios r₁ = 0.071 and r₂ = 1.42, from which Q₁ = 1.45 and e₁ = 1.20. The copolymers had M_ns in the range of 10,000–40,000 and T_gs ranging from 406 to 480 K from which the hypothetical T_g for poly-1 was deduced as 500 K (227°C). Unlike 1, (2,6-diphenyl) phenyl acrylate could be polymerized to oligomers with M_n of the order of 2500.     

Effects of heat on physicochemical properties of whey protein-stabilised emulsions

The effect of heating has been studied for whey protein-stabilised oil-in-water emulsions (25.0% (w/w) soybean oil, 3.0% (w/w) whey protein isolate, pH 7.0). These emulsions were heated between 55 and 95 °C as a function of time and the effect on particle size distribution, adsorbed protein amount, protein conformation and rheological properties was determined. Heating the emulsions as a function of temperature for 25 min resulted in an increase of the mean diameter (d₃₂) and shear viscosity with a maximum at 75 °C. Heating of the emulsions at different temperatures as a function of time in all cases resulted in a curve with a maximum for d₃₂. A maximum increase of d₃₂ was observed after about 45 min at 75 °C and after 6–8 min at 90 °C. Similar trends were observed with viscosity measurements. Confocal scanning laser micrographs showed that after 8 min of heating at 90 °C large, loose aggregates of oil droplets were formed, while after 20 min of heating compact aggregates of two or three emulsion droplets remained. An increase of the adsorbed amount of protein was found with increasing heating temperature. Plateau values were reached after 10 min of heating at 75 °C and after 5 min of heating at 90 °C. Based on these results we concluded that in the whole process of aggregation of whey protein-stabilised emulsions an essential role is played by the non-adsorbed protein fraction, that the kinetics of the aggregation of whey protein-stabilised emulsions follow similar trends as those for heated whey protein solutions and that upon prolonged heating rearrangements take place leading to deaggregation of initially formed large, loose aggregates of emulsion droplets into smaller, more compact ones.     

Structure and conformation of 2,3,4-triphenyl-1-oxa-4-azabutadiene

2,3,4-triphenyl-1-oxa-4-azabutadine (C20H15NO) has been studied by X-ray analysis and AM1 molecular orbital methods. It crystallises in the triclinic space group P-1 with a=9.414(3), b=10.479(3), c=8.385(2) Å, =103.31(3)°, β=97.10(3)°, γ=74.09(1)°, V=772.5(4) ų, Z=2, D_c=1.227 gcm⁻³, and μ(MoK)=0.075 mm⁻¹ and F₀₀₀=300. The structure was solved by direct methods and refined to R=0.043 for 2672 reflections [I>2σ(I)]. The conformational analysis of the title compound were investigated by semi-empirical quantum mechanical AM1 calculations. The minimum conformation energies were calculated as a function of the three torsion angles θ₁(O(1)C(7)C(8)N(1)), θ₂(C(8)N(1)C(15)C(16)) and θ₃(C(14)C(9)C(8)N(1)). The results are compared with the X-ray results. C=O and C=N groups are twisted about each other by 95.5(2)°.     

Hydrothermal Synthesis and Thermal Stability of Natural Mineral Lindgrenite

IntroductionSynthesis of natural minerals is helpful for tracingthe geological origin of mineral formation and forverifying the quality of minerals. The investigations onthe conditions for mineral formation, such as pressure,temperature, and starting mate…     

Accelerated oxidative ageing of polypropylene fibers in aqueous medium under high oxygen pressure as studied by thermal analysis

Stabilised polypropylene fibres of 28 μm diameter have been exposed at 80 °C under 5 MPa oxygen pressure, in dry conditions, in pure water and in alkaline medium. Their residual stability is determined from the temperature T_ox of the onset of the oxidation exotherm, measured by differential scanning calorimetry at 10 K min⁻¹ scanning rate. The time t_ex to reach the characteristics of unstabilised samples (T_ox=175 °C) is of the order of 220 (dry conditions), 160 h (water) and 80 h (alkaline medium), whereas it is of the order of 750 h at 110 °C in classical tests made at atmospheric pressure. This increase of ageing rate is discussed in terms of kinetic effect of O₂ pressure and efficiency of the liquid medium to extract stabilisers.     

Microwave spectrum and conformation of isopropyl fluoroformate

The microwave spectrum of isopropyl fluoroformate is characterized by intense a-type R-branch transitions from one conformational species. The rotational constants of the ground state, A₀ = 4967.0(8) MHz, B₀ = 1704.69(2) MHz, C₀ = 1468.86(1) MHz and κ = −0.8651(2) are consistent with a τ₁ (O=COC) = 0°, τ₂(COCH) ˜35° structure. This structure can be viewed as a combination of the two conformational species found in ethyl fluoroformate. Two vibrational satellites having rotational constants A₀ = 4963(5) MHz, B₀ = 1694.11(7) MHz. C₀ = 1471.43(4) MHz and A₀=4998(6) MHz, B₀ = 1705.21(7) MHz, C₀ = 1471.10(4) MHz have been assigned.     

The dehydroxylation of basic aluminum sulfate: An infrared emission spectroscopic study

The tridecameric aluminum polymer [AlO₄Al₁₂(OH)₂₄(H₂O)₁₂]⁷⁺ was prepared by forced hydrolysis of Al³⁺ up to an OH/Al molar ratio of 2.2. Upon addition of sulfate, the tridecamer crystallized as the monoclinic basic aluminum sulfate Na_0.1[AlO₄Al₁₂(OH)₂₄(H₂O)₁₂](SO₄)_3.55. The dehydroxylation of the basic aluminum sulfate has been studied by Fourier transform in-situ infrared emission spectroscopy over a temperature range of 200° to 750°C at 50°C intervals. The spectrum is characterized by the sulfate ν₁ (1024 cm⁻¹), ν₃ doublet (1117 and 1168 cm⁻¹) and the ν₄ doublet (568 and 611 cm⁻¹) modes. Furthermore, minor bands assigned to nitrate are observed. Upon heating from ≈350° to 400°C major changes are observed, especially in the bandwidth and band intensities. The bands in the hydroxyl stretching region due to the Al₁₃ group disappear, whereas the bands around 1050 cm⁻¹ display various changes in bandwidths, intensities and positions associated with the dehydration and dehydroxylation of the basic sulfate and the changing of the structure into an aluminum oxosulfate. The nitrate bands diminish upon heating.     

Molecular structure of 3-methylthiophene studied by gas electron diffraction combined with microwave spectroscopic data

The molecular structure of 3-methylthiophene has been determined by gas electron diffraction (GED) combined with microwave (MW) spectroscopic data. Ab initio calculations at the HF/3–21G* level were carried out and used as structural constraints in the data analysis. The torsional vibration of the methyl group was treated as a large-amplitude motion. The structural parameters were determined to be: r_{g(S---C2) = 1.719(2) Å}, r_{g(C2=C3) = 1.370(3) Å}, r_{g(C3---C6) = 1.497(6) Å}, r_{g(C2---H) = 1.101(5) Å}, CSC = 91.6(2)°, SC₂C₃ = 113.3(5)°, SC₅C₄ = 111.3(3)°, C₂C₃C₆ = 123.2(11)° and C₃C₆H = 112(2)°. The values of r(S---C₂) - r(S=C₅) and r(C₂=C₃)-r(C₄ =C₅) were fixed at the 3–21G* value of 0.002 Å. Parenthesized values are the estimated limits of error (3σ) referring to the last significant digit.     

Regioselective addition of protic acids to tricarbonyliron complexes of 2,3,5,6-tetrakis(methylene)-7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane. Crystal structure of (C10H10O)Fe2(CO)6

The main product of the thermal reaction between the title oxatetraene (I) and Fe₂(CO)₉ in ether/pentane is the bimetallic complex (C₁₀H₁₀O)Fe₂(CO)₆-diexo (II), which has C_2υ symmetry both in the solid state (X-ray analysis) and in solution. Whereas the protonation of the free ligand leads usually to polymerisation, the addition of a protic acid such as CF₃CO₂H to II proceeds cleanly at 0°C giving first a (η 3-allyl)Fe(CO)₃O₂CCF₃ complex (III). The intermediate III adds a second equivalent of acid in a slower step (k₂/k₁ = 0.1, CF₃CO₂D/CHCl₃, 0°C) giving the trans-bis(η³-allyl) isomer IV with high regioselectivity. The addition of CF₃CO₂D yields the corresponding deuteriomethylallyliron tricarbonyl trifluoroacetates III′ and IV′. No further deuterium incorporation is observed at 0°C, thus confirming the kinetic control of the regioselective double addition of protic acid to II.     

Structures and conformations of trifluoromethanesulfonic anhydride, (CF3SO2)2O, and bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)difluoromethane, (CF3SO2)2CF2

The geometric structures and conformational properties of trifluoromethanesulfonic anhydride, (CF₃SO₂)₂O, and bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)difluoromethane, (CF₃SO₂)₂CF₂ have been studied by gas electron diffraction (GED) and ab initio calculations (HF/3–21G*). The calculations predict for both systems two stable conformers with C₂ symmetry and one with C₁ symmetry. In both compounds structures with C₂ symmetry and dihedral angles SOSC ≈ 100° ((CF₃SO₂)₂O) and SCSC≈ 150° ((CF₃SO₂)₂CF₂ are lowest in energy. According to the GED analyses the dominant conformer of (CF₃SO₂)₂O₂ possesses C₂ symmetry with SOSC dihedral angles of 99.1(14)°. The presence of up to 30% of the two other conformers cannot be excluded; for (CF₃SO₂)₂CF₂ only one conformer with C₂ symmetry and SCSC dihedral angles of 143(2)° is observed. A complete set of geometric parameters is given.