Magnetic interactions in transition metal clusters embedded in matrices prepared by LECBD technique

The synthesis of iron and cobalt clusters embedded in an insulating or metallic matrix have been realized by the co-deposition of both beams arriving at the same time on a 45°-tilted substrate. The nanoparticles were produced from an intense cluster beam of selected size (centered around 300 atoms per cluster) produced from a laser vaporization source. We used a Knudsen cell to evaporate the matrix. From the ratio of the deposition rates of both beams, we were able to adjust continuously the atomic concentration of clusters in the matrix from 3 to 70 %. The typical size distribution of embedded clusters determined from HRTEM observations on diluted samples revealed nanocrystallizedgrains with a very narrow size dispersion. Moreover, magnetoresistance (MR) and magnetization measurements versus temperature and concentration were performed. The results show clearly a magnetic threshold around 25 % Co-clusters content in matrix, corresponding to the transition from superparamagnetic to magnetically ordered state. This threshold is identical to the 3D-percolation threshold for connected particles. A maximum of MR ratio of 12 % at 4.2 K was obtained for Co_25%Ag_75% granular film at the onset of non negligible magnetic interactions between Co-particles. The magnetic properties of our systems, strongly correlated to the nucleation processes, allowed us to determine the variation of the cluster radius as a function of the concentration and of the matrix nature.     

Real dispersion of isolated fumed silica nanoparticles in highly filled PMMA prepared by high energy ball milling

Fumed silica nanoparticles with 14 nm of diameter were blended with poly(methylmethacrylate), PMMA, by means of a high energy ball milling process. AFM analysis revealed how this process of blending allows obtaining a very homogeneous dispersion of the nanoparticles within the PMMA. Furthermore, it was observed that the properties of the composite are highly dependent on the active milling time: (i) SEM inspection showed that the particle size of the silica-PMMA nanocomposite decreases and (ii) DSC analysis demonstrated that the Tg also decreases due to a reduction in the molecular weight of the PMMA caused by chain scission during the high energy blending process. Two Tg's were obtained in the case of the nanocomposite when milling times were higher than 6 h, one of them being even higher than that of the PMMA without being subjected to the HEBM process. This result was assigned to surface-induced molecular weight segregation near the nanoparticles surface. It has been demonstrated the possibility of preparing transparent nanocomposites with excellent moldability.     

Aggregation of nanosized colloidal silica in the presence of various alkali cations investigated by the electrospray technique

The slow aggregation process of a concentrated silica dispersion (Bindzil 40/220) in the presence of alkali chlorides (LiCl, NaCl, KCl, RbCl, and CsCl) was investigated by means of mobility measurements. At intervals during the aggregation, particles and aggregates were transferred from the liquid phase to the gas phase via electrospray (ES) and subsequently size selected and counted using a scanning mobility particle sizer (SMPS). This method enables the acquisition of particle and aggregate size distributions with a time resolution of minutes. To our knowledge, this is the first time that the method has been applied to study the process of colloidal aggregation. The obtained results indicate that, independent of the type of counterion, a sufficient dilution of the formed gel will cause the particles to redisperse. Hence, the silica particles are, at least initially, reversibly aggregated. The reversibility of the aggregation indicates additional non-DLVO repulsive steric interactions that are likely due to the presence of a gel layer at the surface. The size of the disintegrating aggregates was monitored as a function of the time after dilution. It was found that the most stable aggregates were formed by the ions that adsorb most strongly on the particle surface. This attractive effect was ascribed to an ion-ion correlation interaction.     

Binding behaviour of molecularly imprinted polymers prepared by a hierarchical approach in mesoporous silica beads of varying porosity

One of the most interesting methods for preparing molecularly imprinted polymers with controlled morphology consists in filling the pores of silica beads with an imprinting mixture, polymerizing it and dissolving the support, leaving porous imprinted beads that are the "negative image" of the silica beads. The main advantage of such an approach consists in the easy preparation of spherical imprinted polymeric particles with narrow diameter and pore size distribution, particularly indicated for chromatographic applications. In this approach it has been shown that the resulting morphology of polymeric beads depends essentially on the porosity and surface properties of the silica beads that act as microreactors for the thermopolymerization process. Anyway, it is not yet clear if the porosity of the silica beads influences the binding properties of the resulting imprinted beads. In this paper, we report the effect of different porosities of the starting mesoporous silica beads on the resulting binding properties of imprinted polymers with molecular recognition properties towards the fungicide carbendazim. The morphological properties of the imprinted beads prepared through this hierarchical approach were measured by nitrogen adsorption porosimetry and compared with a reference imprinted material prepared by bulk polymerization. The chromatographic behaviour of HPLC columns packed with the imprinted materials were examined by eluting increasing amounts of carbendazim and extracting the binding parameters through a peak profiling approach. The experimental results obtained show that the resulting binding properties of the imprinted beads are strongly affected by the polymerization approach used but not by the initial porosity of the silica beads, with the sole exception of the binding site density, which appears to be inversely proportional to them.     

Determination of trace metals in polymers by flameless atomic absorption with a solid sampling technique

A method for determining trace metals in polymers which combines flameless atomic absorption with a solid sampling technique is described. The method is applied to the analysis of iron, copper and chromium and is compared with results obtained from analysis of solutions of the polymers. Optimal conditions for achieving maximal accuracy and sensitivity are discussed. The effects of various matrix interferences and the heterogeneous distribution of trace metals in polymers are discussed.     

Photocrosslinking of polymers bearing epoxy or epithio groups by quinones in the solid state

Photocrosslinking of poly(glycidyl methacrylate) (PGMA) and a copolymer of 2,3-epithiopropyl methacrylate and methyl methacrylate [P(ETMA-co-MMA)] was studied in the solid state in the presence of various quinones. The efficiency of photocrosslinking was strongly dependent upon the structures of quinones and the kinds of polymers. For example, the alkyl-substituted quinones such as 2-ethyl-p-benzoquinone (EQ), 2-tert-butyl-p-benzoquinone (tBQ) and 2,5-di-tert-butyl-p-benzoquinone (2,5-dtBQ) did not induce photocrosslinking of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), whereas they acted as efficient photocrosslinking agents in PGMA and P(ETMA-co-MMA). The formation of charge transfer complexes did not play a principal role in this effective photocrosslinking, because the order of the photocrosslinking efficiency [EQ > tBQ > 2,5-dtBQ > p-benzoquinone (Q)] was not in agreement with that of the magnitude of the electron affinities of quinones, i.e., Q > EQ > tBQ > 2,5-dtBQ. Photopolymerization of propylene sulfide (PS) in the presence of tBQ or Q was also investigated. The presence of tBQ induced polymerization of PS upon UV irradiation. From these results, it was deduced that the photocrosslinking of P(ETMA-co-MMA) film containing tBQ proceeds via a cationic polymerization of epithio groups. A similar mechanism should be applicable to the photocrosslinking of PGMA film containing tBQ.     

Hydrodechlorination of chlorobenzene in the presence of Ni/Al2O3 prepared by laser electrodispersion and from a colloidal dispersion

The low-percentage Ni/Al₂O₃ catalysts with active metal contents of 0.0002–0.1 wt % were prepared using the laser electrodispersion (LED) method and by means of supporting from a colloidal dispersion (CD). Their composition and physicochemical properties were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and XPS. With the use of TEM, it was found that average size of nickel particles in the LED catalysts was smaller than that in the CD catalysts. According to XPS data, the supporting of a metal onto a substrate by the LED method makes it possible to obtain samples containing Ni metal with a low active metal content (0.03 wt %). They exhibited a high initial activity in the hydrodechlorination reaction of chlorobenzene in a vapor phase, which was performed in a flow system at temperatures of 100–350°C. The CD catalysts were active in this reaction only at temperatures of 300–350°C. Reductive treatment led to the deactivation of LED catalysts and increased the activity and stability of samples prepared by supporting from a CD. The possible reasons for the observed changes are considered.     

Synthesis of new linear polymers containing phosphorus atom in the main chain by the radical polyaddition: Addition polymers of phenylphosphine with 1,4-divinylbenzene or 1,4-diisopropenylbenzene and their properties

A polyaddition of phenylphosphine (PH) to 1,4-divinylbenzene (DVB) or 1,4-diisopropenylbenzene (DIPB) was carried out by radical initiations or UV irradiation at 60–80°C in toluene under a nitrogen atmosphere. The soluble polymer with higher molecular weight () was obtained in a high yield with AIBN initiator for 95 h in the presence of 5% excess of PH to DVB (monomer feed ratio [DVB]₀/[PH]₀ = 1/1.05). On the other hand, a polyaddition of PH to DIPB proceeded much slower than the case of DVB, but the high polymer was obtained in a high yield by choosing polyaddition conditions such as polyaddition temperature and initiator concentration. From ¹H-NMR, IR analyses, and phosphorus content of the polymers, it was characterized that both polymers have the alternating structure consisting of PH and DVB or DIPB units in 1 : 1 ratio. The glass transition and decomposition temperatures of both polymers under a nitrogen atmosphere were almost similar: 15–30°C and 380–385°C, respectively; but, the polymers were oxidized by heating under an atmosphere of air. The polymers had a self-extinguishing property and the polymer blend of the flammable polymers such as polystyrene and polyethylene with the phosphorus-containing polymers exhibited an excellent flame resistance. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

CZE separations of basic proteins at low pH in fused silica capillaries with surfaces modified by silane derivatization and/or adsorption of polar polymers

Mixtures of several basic proteins have been used to test CZE capillaries with surfaces modified by new pretreatment procedures; the performance obtained has been compared with that achieved using capillaries treated by procedures described in the literature. It has been shown that addition of non-ionic polyvinylalcohols (PVA) to CZE buffer solutions deactivates even bare, i.e. untreated, fused silica surfaces and renders them suitable for separations of basic proteins. The performance obtained from such surfaces was comparable with that of capillaries modified by the more elaborate procedures of etching, silanol derivatization, and/or adsorptive coating (again with polymers). A home-made device is described which enables derivatization and coating reactions to be performed on fused silica capillaries under an inert atmosphere, i.e. one free from oxygen and water.     

Polystyrene‐graft‐poly(ethylene oxide) copolymers prepared by macromonomer technique in dispersion. I. Liquid chromatographic separation of product mixtures

Products of the radical dispersion copolymerization of methacryloyl‐terminated poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) macromonomer and styrene were separated and characterized by size exclusion chromatography (SEC), full adsorption‐desorption (FAD)/SEC coupling and eluent gradient liquid adsorption chromatography (LAC). In dimethylformamide, which is a good solvent for PEO side chains but a poor solvent for polystyrene (PS), amphiphilic PS‐graft‐PEO copolymers formed aggregates, which were very stable at room temperature even upon substantial dilution. The aggregates disappeared at high temperature or in tetrahydrofuran (THF), which is a good solvent for both homopolymers and for PS‐graft‐PEO. FAD/SEC procedure allowed separation of homo‐PS from graft‐copolymer and determination of both its amount and molar mass. Effective molar mass of graft‐copolymer was estimated directly from the SEC calibration curve determined with PS standards. Presence of larger amount of the homo‐PS in the final graft‐copolymer products was also confirmed with LAC measurements. The results indicate that there are at least two or maybe three polymerization loci; namely the continuous phase, the particle surface layer and the particle core. The graft copolymers are produced mainly in the continuous phase while PS or copolymer rich in styrene units is formed mostly in the core of monomer‐swollen particles. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 2284–2291, 2000     

Sulfur-containing optically active polymers. V. Synthesis and chiroptical properties of optically active poly(γ-ketosulfide)s prepared by polyaddition of 1,3-dimercaptobenzene to 4,4-dimethyl-2,5-cyclohexadien-1-one or to trans,trans-2,5-heptadien-3-one in the presence of chiral amines

Optically active poly(γ-ketosulfide)s having the asymmetric centers disposed along the main chain have been prepared by step polyaddition of 1,3-dimercaptobenzene to 4,4-dimethyl-2,5-cyclohexadiene-1-one, or to trans, trans-2,5-heptadiene-3-one, in the presence of catalytic amounts of chiral amines. The extent of asymmetric induction on the resulting polymeric product is found to be higher when the alicyclic ketone reagent is employed and is enhanced by lowering the catalyst concentration. The comparison of stereochemical features and chiroptical properties of appropriate low molecular weight analogues with those of the polymeric derivatives indicates that a comparable asymmetric induction occurs in polymers and model compounds, and that the former systems do not display appreciable evidence of ordered secondary structures, in agreement with a low stereoregularity degree along the macromolecular backbone. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.