The temperature window of minimum flow resistance in melt flow of polyethylene. Further studies on the effect of strain rate and branching

The existence of a narrow temperature window (150–153°C) of smooth extrudability coupled with a minimum in flow resistance (extrusion pressure) in high-molecular weight polyethylene (>4 × 10⁵ g mol^?1) was the subject of a previous article where it was associated with strain-induced formation of the mobile hexagonal mesophase. The new findings of this note show that this minimum in flow resistance only sets in above a critical strain rate; this is interpreted in terms of the requirement of a critical strain rate in order to stretch molecules to their fully extended configuration. Furthermore, this critical strain rate is shown to be higher for lower molecular weight materials, in agreement with a priori considerations. Additionally, the temperature at which the pressure minimum occurs in a polyethylene containing methyl branches shifts to a significantly lower value than that for the linear material. This is interpreted in terms of the ? CH₃ groups raising the crystal free energy, thereby lowering the temperature at which the transition to the hexagonal phase occurs.     

Characteristics and production of thermostable α-amylase

Thermostable α-amylases have application in a variety of industrial processes and enzymes from a substantial number of thermophilic bacteria and fungi have been screened and characterized to varying degrees. The characteristics of these enzymes are summarized in this review. The genetics of α-amylase production inBacillus subtilis is reviewed and classical and recombinant DNA approaches to increasing α-amylase production are discussed.     

Effect of methyl substituents on permeability and permselectivity of gases in polyimides prepared from methyl-substituted phenylenediamines

Permeability and solubility coefficients for H₂, CO₂, O₂, CO, N₂, and CH₄ in polyimides prepared from 6FDA and methyl-substituted phenylenediamines were measured to investigate effects of the substituents on gas permeability and permselectivity. The methyl substituents restrict internal rotation around the bonds between the phenyl rings and the imide rings. The rigidity and nonplanar structure of the polymer chain, and the bulkiness of methyl groups make chain packing inefficient, resulting in increases in both diffusion and solubility coefficients of the gases. Polyimides from tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine and trimethyl-m-phenylenediamine display very high permeability coefficients and very low permselectivity due to very high diffusion coefficients and very low diffusivity selectivity, as compared with the other polyimides having a similar fraction of free space. This suggests that these polyimides have high fractions of large-size free spaces.     

Determination of phenol and catechol concentrations with oxygen probes coated with immobilized enzymes or immobilized cells

The enzyme phenol 2-hydroxylase was immobilized on Sepharose and used in conjunction with an O₂ electrode for quantitating phenol. Similarly, catechol 1,2-oxygenase was used for quantitating catechol. A third probe was prepared by immobilization ofTrichosporon cutaneum cells rather than purified phenol 2-hydroxylase for phenol quantitation. The whole cell system gave results comparable to the immobilized enzyme system.     

The functional relationship between Baker’s yeast intracellular lysine and aeration rate and sodium chloride

The results of this study confirm the enhanced production of L-lysine bySaccharomyces cerevisiae during the fermentation of glucose at a 0.6M concentration of NaCl previously observed (8). Changes in NaCl concentration above or below 0.6M caused a drop in the maximum production of lysine. Fermentations run at 1.0, 1.4, and 1.8 VVM aeration rates and at 0.0, 0.3, 0.6, 0.9, and 1.2M NaCl concentrations gave the highest intracellular lysine yield at 0.6M and 1.4 VVM.     

Basic and Acidic Characteristics of Compounds of the 3-Amino-1-imino-1H-isoindole Series

The basic and acidic characteristics of N,N'-diaryl- and N,N'-dimethyl-substituted 3-amino-1-imino-1H-isoindoles, which are determined by electronic factors related to the nature of the substituents at the exocyclic nitrogen atoms, were studied. Electron-donating alkyl groups lead to an increase in the basicity of these compounds. The introduction of aryl groups containing electron-withdrawing substituents (NO₂, COMe) at the p-positions leads to significant weakening of the basic characteristics and strengthening of the acidic characteristics. The protonation and deprotonation and also methylation processes in the series of compounds were studied.     

On the estimation of extra-column contributions to band broadening through measurements on an authentic chromatogram

The time constant, τ, is determined from the tail of an authentic HPLC peak through a plot of In U versus time, t, according to the relation expected at low recorder deflexions, U. The value obtained, τ = 2.43 s, is one order of magnitude larger than an ordinary recorder time constant, which is quite normal for LC detectors. It agrees with the value, τ = 2.44 s, needed theoretically to distort a Gaussian-shaped peak so as to obtain the experiment-ally found second moment, σ² = 11.13 s,² and the experimental difference between first moment t and peak retention time t_max, t – t_max = 0.78 s. The determination is therefore regarded as a demonstration of the variance addition rule where σ is the second moment of the non-distorted peak. The column contribution version is also considered. This equation was appliied earlier to an estimation of extra-column contributions to band broadening with the aid of the “abt” concept. An explicitly k-(capacity ratio)-dependent expression for the mass exchange contribution, σ is derived from Golay's equation for capillary columns, but the validity of the Golay equation is under discussion.     

ZnO Nanoparticles of Rubia cordifolia Extract Formulation Developed and Optimized with QbD Application,Considering Ex Vivo Skin Permeation,Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Properties

The objective of the current research is to develop ZnO-Manjistha extract (ZnO-MJE) nanoparticles (NPs) and to investigate their transdermal delivery as well as antimicrobial and antioxidant activity. The optimized formulation was further evaluated based on different parameters. The ZnO-MJE-NPs were prepared by mixing 10 mM ZnSO₄·7H₂O and 0.8% w/v NaOH in distilled water. To the above, a solution of 10 mL MJE (10 mg) in 50 mL of zinc sulfate was added. Box–Behnken design (Design-Expert software 12.0.1.0) was used for the optimization of ZnO-MJE-NP formulations. The ZnO-MJE-NPs were evaluated for their physicochemical characterization, in vitro release activity, ex vivo permeation across rat skin, antimicrobial activity using sterilized agar media, and antioxidant activity by the DPPH free radical method. The optimized ZnO-MJE-NP formulation (F13) showed a particle size of 257.1 ± 0.76 nm, PDI value of 0.289 ± 0.003, and entrapment efficiency of 79 ± 0.33%. Drug release kinetic models showed that the formulation followed the Korsmeyer–Peppas model with a drug release of 34.50 ± 2.56 at pH 7.4 in 24 h. In ex vivo studies ZnO-MJE-NPs-opt permeation was 63.26%. The antibacterial activity was found to be enhanced in ZnO-MJE-NPs-opt and antioxidant activity was found to be highest (93.14 ± 4.05%) at 100 µg/mL concentrations. The ZnO-MJE-NPs-opt formulation showed prolonged release of the MJE and intensified permeation. Moreover, the formulation was found to show significantly (p < 0.05) better antimicrobial and antioxidant activity as compared to conventional suspension formulations.     

On-line measurement of the RMS radius of gyration and molecular weight of polyimide precursor fractions eluting from a size-exclusion chromatograph

The recent introduction of multiangle light-scattering detectors for size-exclusion chromatography has made possible the measurement of the root mean square radius of gyration (R_g) and molecular weight (M) of polymer fractions eluting from a size-exclusion chromatography column. The characterization of the dimensions of a polymer may be accomplished with only a few milligrams. The dimensions of a polyimide precursor prepared by the condensation of the meta-diethyl ester of pyromellitic dianhydride with para-phenylene diamine have been measured with this technique. The dependence of R_g on M across the distribution is compared with that predicted for a freely rotating chain, and with other similar polymers measured with hydrodynamic techniques.     

Characteristics and performance of gas chromatographic detectors with glass capillary columns

A comparison of the characteristics and Performance of the flame ionization, electron capture, and flame photometric detectors with capillary columns is described. Factors which may affect the limits of detection, linearity, chromatographic peak shape, and other detector performance characteristics are discussed and compared with the results of a model derived for the behavior of concentration and mass flow-rate dependent chromatographic detectors used with capillary GC systems. Examples are given of highly complex and labile mixtures such as pesticide residues and products from coal hydrogenation.     

Thermal and rheological properties of miscible polyethersulfone/polyimide blends

Blends of an aromatic polyethersulfone (commercial name Victrex) and a polyimide (commercial name Matrimid 5218), the condensation product of 3,3′,4,4′-benzophenone tetracarboxylic dianhydride and 5(6)-amino-1-(4′-aminophenyl)-1,3,3′-trimethylindane, were studied by differential scanning calorimetry, dynamic mechanical analysis, and rheological techniques. The blends appeared to be miscible over the whole range of compositions when cast as films or precipitated from solution in a number of solvents. After annealing above the apparent phase boundary, located above T_g, the blends were irreversibly phase separated indicating that the observed phase boundary does not represent a true state of equilibrium. Only a narrow “processing window” was found for blends containing up to 20 wt % polyimide. Rheological measurements in this range of compositions indicated that blending polyethersulfone with polyimide increases the complex viscosity and the elastic modulus of the blends. For blends containing more than 10 wt % polyimide, abrupt changes in the rheological properties were observed at temperatures above the phase boundary. These changes may be consistent with the formation of a network structure (due to phase separation and/or crosslinking). Blends containing less than 10 wt % polyimide exhibited stable rheological properties after heating at 320°C for 20 min, indicating the existence of thermodynamic equilibrium.     

Simulation of positron and electron elastic mean free path and diffusion angle on DNA nucleobases from 10 eV to 100 keV

Positron and electron interaction collisions in living cells are efficiently simulated by Monte Carlo (MC) codes where huge data tables are needed. Present study provides detailed results of charged particles elastic interactions needed in MC on DNA nucleobases (adenine, thymine, cytosine and guanine, deoxyribose, and phosphoric acid). Indeed, electron and positron elastic cross sections, elastic mean free paths, and elastic angular distributions P(θ) are calculated from 10 eV to 100 keV using a corrected form of the independent atom method taking into account the geometry of the biomolecule. Our calculated results are compared with theoretical data available in the literature in absence of experimental data, in particular for positron. Moreover, our numerical results are presented in analytic format modeled to be used for fast sampling in the MC simulation of elastic collisions; particularly, we provide a useful analytic expression for sampling the elastic diffusion angle. For positron collisions on adenine, the relative error between numerical and analytic elastic diffusion angles is not exceeding 2% in the energy full range 10 eV to 100 keV.     

Continuous production of lactic acid from glucose and lactose in a cell-recycle reactor

Growth and lactic acid production ofLactobacillus delbreuckii were compared using glucose and lactose as carbon sources. A continuous-flow stirred-tank fermenter was coupled with a cross-flow filtration unit to permit operation at high-cell concentrations. At steady state, yeast extract requirements for lactic-acid production were lower when glucose was used as a substrate than with lactose fermentation. Once steady state was obtained, with glucose feed, it was possible to lower the yeast extract concentration without affecting biomass concentration and lactic acid production. The lacticacid concentration that inhibited cell growth and lactic acid production was found to depend on the choice of a carbon substrate.     

Characterization of nano-composite oxide ceramics and monitoring of oxide thin film growth by laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy

Multi-component oxide ceramics and epitaxial oxide thin films are analyzed by laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS). Furthermore, pulsed-laser deposition (PLD) of thin films is investigated by long-term monitoring of the optical plasma emission. Both nano-composite high-temperature superconductors (HTS) consisting of YBa₂Cu₃O_7 − δ bulk and Y₂Ba₄MCuO_x (M-2411, M = Ag, Nb) nano-particles, and semiconducting ZnO doped with Aluminum and Lithium are ablated by nano-second laser pulses. The plasma emission is recorded using grating spectrometers with intensified gated detectors. The LIBS signals of nano-particles correlate with the nominal content of the M-2411 phase (0–15 mol%) and reveal a strong signal of Ytterbium impurity (3–35 ppm). In situ monitoring of the PLD process shows element signals that are stable for more than 10,000 laser pulses for both HTS and ZnO ceramics. The relative concentration of elements in thin films and ceramics as determined by LIBS is almost the same.     

Relationship between crystallization of the PDMS block and morphology of poly(butadiene-b-dimethylsiloxane)

Studies using transmission electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and X-ray diffraction showed correlations between the crystallization behavior of the polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) block and the morphology of the block copolymer poly(butadiene-b-dimethylsiloxane) (PB-PDMS). When the PDMS component existed as spheres dispersed in a PB matrix, the crystallization rate of the PDMS block was lower than when the PDMS phase existed in rod or cylinder form.     

Morphology and properties of polycaprolactone-poly(dimethyl siloxane)-polycaprolactone triblock copolymers

The molecular structure, crystallization, solid-state morphology, thermal properties, and phase behavior of two copolymers consisting of a poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) mid-block coupled to polycaprolactone (PCL) end-blocks were investigated. Both copolymers (which differ only in the molecular lengths of the PCL end-blocks) were found to be lamellar systems, whose core consists of PCL chains having the same crystal structure as PCL homopolymer, and whose amorphous interlayers contain the PDMS blocks and the PCL noncrystalline segments. From x-ray and electron-microscopy results, it is expected that the PCL blocks may be folded once in the longer copolymer and not at all in the shorter. As a result of their differing PCL lengths, the former crystallizes as regular PCL spherulites (at a growth rate reduced with respect to PCL homopolymer), whereas the latter yields only defective, immature axialites of low overall crystallinity. Electron diffraction showed that these spherulites grow preferentially along b crystallographic axis and that the PCL crystalline stems are arranged perpendicularly to their lamellae. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Controlling the electrical characteristics of Au/n‐Si structure with and without (biphenyl‐CoPc) and (OHSubs‐ZnPc) interfacial layers at room temperature

In order to interpret well whether or not the organic or polymer interfacial layer is effective on performance of the conventional Au/n‐Si (metal semiconductor [MS]) type Schottky barrier diodes (SBDs), in respect to ideality factor (n ), leakage current, rectifying rate (RR ), series and shunt resistances (R_s , R_sh ) and surface states (N_ss ) at room temperature, both Au/biphenyl‐CoPc/n‐Si (MPS₁) and Au/OHSubs‐ZnPc/n‐Si (MPS₂) type SBDs were fabricated. The electrical characteristics of these devices have been investigated and compared by using forward and reverse bias current–voltage (I–V ) characteristics in the voltage range of (?4 V)–(4 V) for with and without (biphenyl‐CoPc) and (OHSubs‐ZnPc) interfacial layers at room temperature. The main electrical parameters of these diodes such as reverse saturation current (I₀ ), ideality factor (n ), zero‐bias barrier height (Φ_B0 ), RR , R_s and R_sh were found as 1.14 × 10^?5 A, 5.8, 0.6 eV, 362, 44 Ω and 15.9 kΩ for reference sample (MS), 7.05 × 10^?10 A, 3.8, 0.84 eV, 2360, 115 Ω and 270 kΩ for MPS1 and 2.16 × 10^?7 A, 4.8, 0.7 eV, 3903, 62 Ω and 242 kΩ for MPS₂, respectively. It is clear that all of these parameters considerably change by using an organic interfacial layer. The energy density distribution profile of N_ss was found for each sample by taking into account the voltage dependence of effective barrier height (Φ_e ) and ideality factor, and they were compared. Experimental results confirmed that the use of biphenyl‐CoPc and OHSubs‐ZnPc interfacial layer has led to an important increase in the performance of the conventional of MS type SBD. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.