The wettability of polytetrafluoroethylene by aqueous solution of cetylpyridinium bromide and propanol mixtures

Measurements of advancing contact angles (θ) were carried out for aqueous solutions of cetylpyridinium bromide (CPBr) and propanol mixtures at constant CPBr concentration equal to 1 × 10⁻⁵, 1 × 10⁻⁴, 6 × 10⁻⁴, 1 × 10⁻³ M, respectively, on polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). The obtained results indicate that the wettability of PTFE by aqueous solutions of these mixtures depends on their composition and concentration. In contrast to Zisman, there is no linear dependence between the cos θ and surface tension of aqueous solutions of CPBr and propanol mixtures (γ_LV), but a linear relationship exists between the adhesion tension and the surface tension of aqueous solutions of CPBr and propanol mixtures which have a slope equal to −1, and between cos θ and the reciprocal of the surface tension of solution. The slope equal to −1 and the intercept on the cos θ axis close to −1 suggest that adsorption of CPBr and propanol mixtures and the orientation of their molecules at aqueous solution–air and PTFE–aqueous solution interfaces are the same. This also suggests that the work of solution adhesion to the PTFE surface does not depend on the concentration of propanol and CPBr. Extrapolation of the straight line to the point corresponding to the surface tension of solution, which completely spreads over the PTFE surface, gives the value of the critical surface tension of PTFE wetting equal to 24.84 mN/m. This value is higher than PTFE surface tension (20.24 mN/m) and the values of the critical surface tension of PTFE wetting determined by other investigators from the contact angle of nonpolar liquids (e.g. n-alkanes). The differences between the value of the critical surface tension obtained here and those which can be found in the literature were discussed on the basis of the simple thermodynamic rules. Using the measured values of the contact angles and Young equation the PTFE–aqueous solution interfacial tension was determined. The values of PTFE–aqueous solution interfacial tension were also calculated from Miller and co-workers equation in which the correction coefficient of nonideality of the surface monolayer was introduced. From comparison of the obtained values it appears that good agreement exists between the values of PTFE–solution interfacial tension calculated on the basis of Young and Miller and co-workers equations in the whole range of propanol concentration.     

Applicability of the Levich Equation for a Two-Phase Solution in the Rotating Disk Electrode System

The mass-transter characteristics of a two-phase system formed by mixing a fixed quantity (20 v/v%) of organic solvent with an aqueous ferricyanide electrolyte solution in an RDE system were studied. The Levich eqution, I₁ = 0.62 nFAC_bD^2/3v^?1/6_ω^1/2, was found to be applicable to the two-phase system with only a minor modification in the angular velocity (ω) at Reynolds numbers between 3–5 × 10⁴. The experimental results indicate that the interfacial tension is the most important variable for the two-phase system. One group of organic solvents with smaller interfacial tension, such as benzene or toluene, needs a modification of the Levich equation by replacing the observed angular velocity (ω_o) with the true angular velocity (ω_t) which was observed to be 1.1 times the observed angular velocity. For the other group with larger interfacial tension, such as n-hexane or cyclohexane, there is no need to modify the observed angular velocity. In other words, the Levich equation may be expressed as I₁ = 0.65 nFAC_bD^2/3v^?1/6ω^1/2 for two-phase solution if the interfacial tension is smaller than 37.0 dyne/cm.     

Concentration-dependence of faradaic currents and conductivity in a polystyrene sulfonic latex suspension

The conductivity, κ, in a suspension of polystyrene sulfonic latex without supporting electrolyte showed a linear dependence on the volume fraction, v_f, of the latex for v_f<0.03 with a finite intercept. In contrast, this deviated upward from the linear line for v_f>0.03. These variations were qualitatively consistent with the dependence of the voltammetric reduction current of H⁺ on v_f without supporting electrolyte. The current values were only a few percent of the theoretical diffusion-controlled current that could be observed in the suspension with supporting electrolyte. This fact indicates the electrostatic immobilization of the hydrogen ions by sulfonic latex particles. A plot of the current against κ at common values of v_f showed that the current for v_f>0.07 was smaller than the value predicted from the conductivity. This can be explained in terms of a combination of the increase in electrostatically unbounded H⁺ estimated by conductance measurements and electric migration in which the electrochemical depletion of [H⁺] also causes the depletion of the latex.     

Low-rate dynamic contact angles on poly(n-butyl methacrylate) and the determination of solid surface tensions

 Low-rate dynamic contact angles of 22 liquids on a poly(n-butyl methacrylate) (PnBMA) polymer are measured by an automated axisymmetric drop shape analysis-profile (ADSA-P). It is found that 16 liquids yielded non-constant contact angles, and/or dissolved the polymer on contact. From the experimental contact angles of the remaining 6 liquids, it is found that the liquid–vapor surface tension times cosine of the contact angle changes smoothly with the liquid–vapor surface tension, i.e. γ_lv cos θ depends only on γ_lv for a given solid surface (or solid surface tension). This contact angle pattern is in harmony with those from other inert and non-inert (polar and non-polar) surfaces [34–37, 45–47]. The solid–vapor surface tension calculated from the equation-of-state approach for solid-liquid interfacial tensions [14] is found to be 28.8 mJ/m², with a 95% confidence limit of ±0.5 mJ/m², from the experimental contact angles of the 6 liquids. Received: 12 September 1997 Accepted: 22 January 1998     

The structure and dynamic properties of mixed adsorption and penetration layers of α-dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine/β-lactoglobulin at water/fluid interfaces

The interfacial tensions of mixed α-dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC)/β-lactoglobulin layers at the chloroform/water interface have been measured by the pendent drop and drop volume techniques. In certain intervals, the adsorption kinetics of these mixed layers was strongly influenced by the concentrations of both protein and DPPC. However, at low protein concentration, C_{β-lactoglobulin}=0.1 mg l⁻¹, the adsorption rate of mixed interfacial layers was mainly controlled by the variation of the DPPC concentration. As C_{β-lactoglobulin} was increased to 0.8 mg l⁻¹, the interfacial activity was abruptly increased, and within the concentration range of C_DPPC=10⁻⁴–10⁻⁵ mol l⁻¹, the DPPC has very little effect on the whole adsorption process. In this case, the adsorption rate of mixed layers was mainly dominated by the protein adsorption. This phenomenon also happened as the protein concentration was further increased to 3.6 mg l⁻¹. When C_DPPC>3 · 10^–5 mol l⁻¹, the adsorption behaviour was very similar to that of the pure DPPC although the protein concentration was changed. The equilibrium interfacial tensions of the mixed layers are dramatically effected by the lipid as compared to the pure protein adsorption at the same concentration. It reveals the estimation of which composition of lipid and protein decreases the interfacial tension. The combination of Brewster angle microscopy (BAM) with a conventional LB trough was applied to investigate the morphology of the mixed DPPC/β-lactoglobulin layers at the air/water interface. The mixed insoluble monolayers were produced by spreading the lipid at the water surface and the protein adsorbed from the aqueous buffer subphase. The BAM images allow to visualise the protein penetration and distribution into the DPPC monolayer on compression of the complex film. It is shown that a homogeneous distribution of β-lactoglobulin in lipid layers preferentially happens in the liquid fluid state of the monolayer while the protein can be squeezed out at higher surface pressures.     

Free volumes in simple and polymeric liquids

Values of ε₀ν₀ the vaporization energy and volume in the hypothetical liquid state at 0°K., are derived for some simple polar and nonpolar molecules used as models for vinyl polymers. The following empirical relationship between the free volume fraction, f = (v ? v₀)/v, and the liquid compressibility coefficient β is demonstrated: ?f² ∝? This is applied to several vinyl polymer liquids near their glass transition temperatures, T_g, giving. f_g ? 0.17, if the “hard-core” volume v^* is considered to be independent of pressure and temperature, (i.e., v^* = v₀); or, f_g ?0.12, if the P,T dependence of v^* is considered to be the same as that of the glass. These agree with f_g values derived by Simha and Boyer from thermal expansion coefficients for the two analogous cases. An empirical viscosity-free volume equation of the Doolittle form: η = ATⁿe^b/f is applied to the glass transition, on assuming that this is an isoviscosity state and with the use of reported values for the expansion and compressibility coefficients and dT_g/dP for three polymers: polystyrene, poly(methyl methacrylate), and poly(vinyl acetate). Reasonable values of b/n are thus obtained. This viscosity equation is critically examined in the light of molecular theories of liquid viscosity.     

Rotational analysis of the v7,v11 (a′,a″) pair of bands of the infrared spectrum of the deuterium substituted propynal molecule C2H-CDO

The mid-infrared spectrum of the v₇,v₁₁ (a′,a″) pair of bands of the deuterium substituted propynal molecule C₂H-CDO was recorded at a resolution of about 0.08 cm⁻¹. An analysis of the pair of bands was completed using the method of simulation of the observed bands with synthetic spectra taking into account the effects of second order Coriolis interactions between the energy levels of the two bands. Best fit values for the changes in the rotational constants (A″ − A′), (B″ − B′) and (C″ − C′), the second order Coriolis constant ζ_7,11 and the δ_7,11 = v₁₁ − v₇ constant have been derived.     

Neutron spectrum parameters in irradiation channels of the Nigeria Research Reactor-1 (NIRR-1) for the <Emphasis Type="Italic">k</Emphasis><Subscript>0</Subscript>-NAA standardization

Summary The first nuclear research reactor in Nigeria has been commissioned for neutron activation analysis and limited radioisotope production. In order to extend its utilization to include the k₀-standardization method, the following neutron spectrum parameters in inner and outer irradiation channels were determined by the “Cd-ratio for multi-monitor method”: the thermal-to-epithermal flux ratio, f, and the epithermal flux shape factor, α. Neutron spectrum parameters determined in the inner irradiation channel B2, are: α = -0.052±0.002 and f = 19.2±0.5. For the outer irradiation channel B4, the neutron spectrum parameters were found to be α = +0.029±0.003 and f = 48.3±3.3. The results are compared with the neutron spectrum parameters of other reactor facilities with similar core configuration such as the Slowpoke and Miniature Neutron Source Reactor facilities available in the literature.     

The stability of silver iodide sols in the presence of polyacrylic acids of various molecular weights

Summary The effect of a series of polyacrylic acids, ranging in molecular weight from 1.67×10⁴ to 2.36×10⁶, on the stability of positively charged silver iodide particles has been examined. Flocculation of the sol occurred at a well defined concentration of polyacrylic acid,c _f , and a further increase in concentration of the polyelectrolyte caused restabilization of the sol. Over the range examinedc _f appeared to be related to the viscosity average molecular weight of the acid,M _v , by an equation of the form,c _f =a ·M _v ^{– b} wherea andb are constants.     

Fast evaluation of molecular auxiliary functions <Emphasis Type="Italic">A</Emphasis><Subscript>α</Subscript> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">B</Emphasis><Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis></Subscript> by analytical relations

Analytical relations through the initial values are derived for the molecular auxiliary functions A _α (x) and B _n (x), where α =n+ɛ, 0⩽ ɛ < 1 and n=0,1,2,.... These relations are useful in the fast calculation of multicenter molecular integrals over integer and noninteger n Slater type orbitals. It is shown that the formulas obtained are numerically stable for all values of n,ɛ and x.PACS No: 31.15.+q, 31.20.EjAMS subject classification: 81-V55, 81-V45     

Luminescence de l'europium divalent dans les composés α- et β-RbLu3F10

The effect of the crystal structure upon the luminescence of the divalent europium within the RbLu₃F₁₀ dimorphous matrix has been investigated. The obtained results essentially show that the difference between the rubidium coordination numbers in both α- and β-RbLu₃F₁₀ phases (15 or 16 and 8 or 10 respectively) is responsible for the change over from a 4f⁷ → 4f⁷ emission to a 4f⁶5d¹ → 4f⁷ emission.     

The oscillator strength in atomic absorption spectroscopy

The role of the oscillator strength, f, in the theory of atomic absorption is investigated. For a pure natural broadened absorption line, the peak absorption coefficient α_o is independent of the oscillator strength. The peak absorption coefficient becomes dependent on f only through additional broadening processes such as Doppler or collisional broadening. The peak cross section for resonance absorption, α₀/N₁, for a closed transition with equal statistical weights is given by σ₀ = 2πXXX² = ( )/[cn(ω₀)] (where XXX = and n(ω₀) is the spectral mode density of the radiation field at the resonance frequency ω₀) and physically represents the cross-sectional area per allowed mode of the radiation field per unit time per unit frequency interval, multiplied by a lineshape factor 2/π.A summary is presented of some recent determinations of oscillator strengths of atomic absorption lines, based on lifetime measurements made in this laboratory. The results are used to revise values of the theoretical characteristic mass for Ag, Al, Au, Ca, Cu, Mo, Na, Ti and V used in absolute analysis by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy.     

Synthesis and catalytic properties of novel ruthenium N-heterocyclic-carbene complexes

The reaction of [RuCl₂(p-cymene)]₂ with 1,3-dialkylimidazolinium salts 1a–f in the presence of a small excess of cesium carbonate yields chelated η⁶-arene, η¹-carbene ruthenium complexes 2a–f. All synthesised compounds were characterized by elemental analysis, NMR spectroscopy. The catalytic activity of RuCl₂(η⁶-arene, η¹-imidazolinylidene) complexes 2a–f was evaluated in the direct arylation of 2-phenylpyridine with chlorobenzene derivatives.     

Step-like change of the growth rate of primarily nucleated centres in the film formation of camphor

The theoretical time dependence of the surface coverage θ_f is derived for the case of film formation according to two-dimensional instantaneous nucleation and growth with a step-like change in the growth rate. By means of double potential step experiments it is shown that the experimental time dependence of θ_f for the formation of a camphor film can be described by the model considered.     

Temperature and molecular weight dependence of interfacial tension between immiscible polymer pairs by the square gradient theory combined with the Flory–Orwoll–Vrij equation-of-state theory

Interfacial tension between immiscible polymer pairs was predicted by using a square gradient theory in conjunction with the Flory–Orwoll–Vrij equation-of-state expression for the free energy of mixing. The contact interaction parameter was determined by fitting the equation-of-state theory to experimental cloud points taken from the literature, and the square gradient coefficient was estimated from the relation derived from a scattering function. The modified square gradient theory could successfully predict both the magnitude and temperature dependence of interfacial tension between polystyrene and poly(methyl methacrylate), although no adjustable parameters were used in calculating interfacial tension. The molecular weight dependence of interfacial tension was also successfully predicted. The contribution of free volume on interfacial tension is analyzed for two systems: polystyrene/poly(methyl methacrylate) and polystyrene/poly(dimethyl siloxane) blends. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 36: 2683–2689, 1998     

Interaction between anionic and cationic gemini surfactants at air/water interface and in aqueous bulk solution

The mixture of the anionic O,O′-bis(sodium 2-lauricate)-p-benzenediol (C₁₁pPHCNa) and cationic (oligoona)alkanediyl-α, ω-bis(dimethyldodecylammonium bromide) (C₁₂-2-E_x-C₁₂·2Br) gemini surfactants has been investigated by surface tension and pyrene fluorescence. The results show that the surface tension γ drops faster with total surfactant concentration C_T for α₁ = 0.1 or 0.3 than for α₁ = 0.7 or 0.9, where α₁ is the mole fraction of C₁₁pPHCNa in the bulk solution on a surfactant-only basis. The fast drop in γ for α₁ < 0.5 indicates strong adsorption at the air/water interface owing to the interaction between oppositely charged components, resulting in the formation of the adsorption double layers in the subsurface. The slow descent in γ for α₁ > 0.5 is attributed to the pre-aggregation in the solution before the critical micelle concentration cmc. A possible mechanism is proposed.     

Synthesis of novel dibenzo-2,6,9-triazabicyclo[3.3.1]nonanes from <Emphasis Type="Italic">o</Emphasis>-tosylamino- and <Emphasis Type="Italic">o</Emphasis>-mesylaminobenzaldehydes

Condensation of o-tosylaminobenzaldehyde with γ-aminobutyric, 4-aminophenylthioacetic, and p-aminobenzoic acids and β-alanine gave 6,12-epimino-5,11-ditosyl-5,6,11,12-tetrahydrodibenzo[b, f]-1,5-diazocines with carboxyl-containing substituents at the bridging N atoms. The structures of three products were examined by X-ray diffraction analysis. Condensation of o-mesylaminobenzaldehyde (prepared by the McFadyen-Stevens reaction) with NH₄OAc and primary amines afforded 6,12-epimino-5,11-dimesyl-5,6,11,12-tetrahydrodibenzo[b, f]-1,5-diazocine derivatives.__________Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 10, pp. 2165–2171, October, 2004.     

Low‐rate dynamic contact angles on poly(methyl methacrylate/ethyl methacrylate, 30/70) and the determination of solid surface tensions

Low‐rate dynamic contact angles of 12 liquids on a poly(methyl methacrylate/ethyl methacrylate, 30/70) P(MMA/EMA, 30/70) copolymer were measured by an automated axisymmetric drop shape analysis‐profile (ADSA‐P). It was found that five liquids yield nonconstant contact angles, and/or dissolve the polymer on contact. From the experimental contact angles of the remaining seven liquids, it is found that the liquid–vapor surface tension times cosine of the contact angle changes smoothly with the liquid–vapor surface tension (i.e., γ_l|Kv cos θ depends only on γ_l|Kv for a given solid surface or solid surface tension). This contact angle pattern is in harmony with those from other methacrylate polymer surfaces previously studied.^45,50 The solid–vapor surface tension calculated from the equation‐of‐state approach for solid–liquid interfacial tensions¹⁴ is found to be 35.1 mJ/m², with a 95% confidence limit of ± 0.3 mJ/m², from the experimental contact angles of the seven liquids. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 37: 2039–2051, 1999     

Chain structure and entanglement

It is shown that the entanglement junction may be modeled as a binary hooking contact of Kuhn nodes between two chains. The entanglement behavior is thus determined by chain tortuosity and given by N_v = (1/β)C, where N_v is the number of real or virtual skeletal bonds in an entanglement strand, C_∞ is the characteristic ratio, α = 2 is the number of hooks involved at an entanglement junction, and β = 1/3 is the fraction of binary hooking configurations out of all possible configurations at a binary nodal contact. In other words, we have N_v = 3C, which is verified experimentally for 44 polymers, covering a wide variety of skeletal, pendant, and stereoisomeric (tacticity) structures. Since C_∞ may be estimated by group additivity, the present equation may be used to predict the entanglement behavior from chemical structure.