Calibration curve establishment and fractionation temperature selection of polyethylene for preparative temperature rising elution fractionation

A series of copolymers of ethylene with 1-hexene synthesized using a metallocene catalyst are selected and mixed. The blend is fractionated via preparative temperature rising elution fractionation(P-TREF). All fractions are characterized via high-temperature gel permeation chromatography(GPC), 13 C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy(13C-NMR), and differential scanning calorimetry(DSC). The changes in the DSC melting peak temperatures of the fractions from P-TREF as a function of elution temperature are almost linear, thereby providing a reference through which the elution temperature of TREF experiments could be selected. Moreover, the standard calibration curve(ethylene/1-hexene) of P-TREF is established, which relates to the degree of short-chain branching of the fractions. The standard calibration curve of P-TREF is beneficial to study on the complicated branching structure of polyethylene. A convenient method for selecting the fractionation temperature for TREF experiments is elaborated. The polyethylene sample is fractionated via successive self-nucleation and annealing(SSA) thermal fractionation. A multiple-melting endotherm is obtained through the final DSC heating scan for the sample after SSA thermal fractionation. A series of fractionation temperatures are then selected through the relationship between the DSC melting peak temperature and TREF elution temperature.     

Analytical temperature rising elution fractionation of different polyethylene types using a column filled with carbon nanotubes

A high temperature gel permeation chromatograph (GPC) was coupled with a gas chromatograph (GC) oven to obtain an analytical temperature rising elution fractionation (TREF) system with evaporative light scattering detection. On this instrument, a new column partially filled with pristine carbon nanotubes (CNT) was tested by evaluating the elution profiles in function of temperature (thermograms) of different polyethylene (PE) types. By comparing these thermograms with those obtained with a traditional TREF column filled with metallic wires, the adsorption of polymer chains on the pristine CNT was clearly evidenced. The thermograms given by the column filled with CNT are similar with those provided by literature when chromatographic columns filled with porous graphitic carbon are used for this application, usually described as high temperature thermal gradient interaction chromatography (HT-TGIC).     

Effect of operation parameters on temperature rising elution fractionation and crystallization analysis fractionation

Crystallization analysis fractionation and temperature rising elution fractionation are two techniques used to estimate the chemical composition distributions of semicrystalline copolymers. This study investigates the cooling rate and cocrystallization effects for both techniques with a series of ethylene/1‐olefin copolymers and their blends. Ideally, both techniques should operate in the vicinity of thermodynamic equilibrium so that crystallization kinetic effects are avoided. The results show that, in fact, crystallization kinetic effects play an important role at the typical cooling rate used with both techniques. Cocrystallization is significant when fast cooling rates are used. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 41: 1762–1778, 2003     

Characterization of the microstructure of impact polypropylene alloys by preparative temperature rising elution fractionation

Two polypropylene alloys (Samples A and B), as impact polypropylene (PP) with similar ethylene contents and melt indices but different impact properties at low temperatures, are fractionated into eight fractions using preparative temperature rising elution fractionation. The microstructure of the original samples and their fractions are studied using high-temperature gel permeation chromatography, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry. The results indicate that the two alloys are mainly composed of four portions: ethylene–propylene random copolymer (EPR), ethylene–propylene segmented copolymer, ethylene–propylene block copolymer, and propylene homopolymer. Sample A contains more EPR and more fractions with higher isotacticity eluted at 120 and 140 °C than Sample B. The difference in the microstructure distributions of both PP alloys results in observable differences in their mechanical properties: Sample A has better impact toughness and possesses higher rigidity than Sample B. Sample A also exhibits better balance between toughness and stiffness.     

Correlation of the elution behavior in temperature rising elution fractionation and melting in the solid‐state and in the presence of a diluent of polyethylene copolymers

Compositionally homogeneous poly(ethylene‐α‐olefin) random copolymers with 1‐butene and 1‐hexene comonomers have been studied. The melting of solution‐crystallized specimens of these copolymers in the presence of trichlorobenzene as a diluent with differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) is well correlated with analytical temperature rising elution fractionation (A‐TREF) elution temperature profiles. This indicates that the A‐TREF experiment is essentially a diluent melting experiment. Furthermore, the correction of the corresponding solid‐state melting endotherms of these copolymers with Flory's diluent melting equation yields curves that also correlate very well with the DSC diluent melting curves and the A‐TREF elution temperature profiles. Values of χ, the Flory–Huggins interaction parameter, are determined for these copolymers in trichlorobenzene. χ decreases as short‐chain branching increases. The A‐TREF elution temperature profiles of one of these copolymers are the same, within experimental error, for dilute‐solution crystallizations of the copolymer performed over an extremely broad time schedule (10 s to 3 days). This indicates the profound effect of the branches, as limiting points of the ethylene sequences, in controlling the crystal thickness distribution, which in turn controls the melting point in the presence of the diluent, or the elution temperature from the A‐TREF. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 39: 2819–2832, 2001     

Stereochemical heterogeneity of biodegradable poly(L‐lactide) homopolymer as revealed by temperature rising elution fractionation and successive self‐nucleation/annealing thermal fractionation

Commercial poly(L ‐lactide) is typically heterogeneous in chain structure due to the existence of a small amount of D ‐lactyl units that are produced by the racemization reactions during the synthesis. In this article, the stereochemical heterogeneity of two commercial poly(L ‐lactide) was investigated with temperature rising elution fractionation (TREF) and successive self‐nucleation/annealing (SSA) thermal fractionation. For both samples, three fractions were collected and characterized with rotatory power analysis and DSC. The fractions show distinct optical purity and DSC results, which reflect the structure differences among them directly. After SSA treatment, the observation of multiple endotherms for each physically separated fraction confirms the fractionated sample contains a heterogeneous intermolecular and intramolecular distribution of defects. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys, 2012     

Structures and syntheses of four Np sulfate chain structures: Divergence from U crystal chemistry

Four Np⁵⁺ sulfates, X₄[(NpO₂)(SO₄)₂]Cl (X=K, Rb) (KS1, RbS1), Na₃[(NpO₂)(SO₄)₂](H₂O)_2.5 (NaS1), and CaZn₂[(NpO₂)₂(SO₄)₄](H₂O)₁₀ (CaZnS1) were synthesized by evaporation of solutions derived from hydrothermal treatment. Their structures were solved by direct methods and refined on the basis of F² for all unique data collected with MoKα radiation and a CCD-based detector to agreement indices (KS1, RbS1, NaS1, CaZnS1) R₁=0.0237, 0.0593, 0.0363, 0.0265 calculated for 2617, 2944, 2635, 2572 unique observed reflections, respectively. KS1 crystallizes in space group P2/n, a=10.0873(4), b=4.5354(2), c=14.3518(6), β=103.383(1)°, , Z=2. RbS1 is also monoclinic, P2/n, with a=10.5375(8), b=4.6151(3), c=16.0680(12), β=103.184(1)°, , Z=2. NaS1 is monoclinic, P2₁/m, with a=7.6615(5), b=7.0184(4), c=11.0070(7), β=90.787(1)°, , Z=4. CaZnS1 is monoclinic, P2₁/m, with a=8.321(2), b=7.0520(2), c=10.743(3), β=91.758(5)°, , Z=2. The structures of KS1 and RbS1 contain chains of edge-sharing neptunyl hexagonal bipyramids, with sulfate tetrahedra attached to either side of the chain by sharing edges with the bipyramids. NaS1 and CaZnS1 both contain chains of neptunyl pentagonal bipyramids and sulfate tetrahedra in which each bipyramid is linked to four tetrahedra, three by sharing vertices and one by sharing an edge. Bipyramids are bridged by sharing vertices with sulfate tetrahedra. Each of these structures exhibits significant departures from those of uranyl sulfates.     

Kinetic analysis and modelling of PET macromolecular changes during its mechanical recycling by extrusion

The rheometer cavity has been chosen to analyze, in carefully controlled exposure conditions, the PET macromolecular changes generated during its mechanical recycling by extrusion. Isothermal ageing experiments at 280 °C, under constant or variable oxygen partial pressures (between 0% and 21% of the atmospheric pressure), have allowed us to establish that two types of oxidative macromolecular changes take place successively in an extruder reactor. Chain scissions predominate in the “strongly oxygenated” zones (at the feeder and die), whereas chain couplings (mainly chain branching) predominate in “poorly oxygenated” zones (in the middle of the reactor). Thus, it appears that the relative predominance of both types of modifications is closely related to the extruder geometry and size (in particular, the feeder and die sections and the screw length). A kinetic model of thermal ageing of molten PET has been built to check these assumptions. It describes satisfyingly all the rheometric results obtained in the present study.     

Comparison of the elution curves of pure components and their mixture and prediction of elution curves by a theoretical plate model in preparative gas-liquid chromatography

Summary Two close-boiling materials, diethyl ether (DEE) and dichloromethane (DCM), were separated to investigate the effects of the pure components and the mixture on elution in preparative gas-liquid chromatography.Nitrogen was used as the carrier gas, and the chromatographic column (1 cm I.D. and 0.75m length) was packed with Chromosorb A with different quantities of dinonyl phthalate stationary phase and particle sizes. Below ca. 7% (by wt.) of feed concentration, the experimental elution curves of pure DEE and DCM were almost the same as those of the mixture, and the theoretical plate model can be used successfully to predict the elution curves.     

Separation of epigallocatechin and flavonoids from Hypericum perforatum L. by high-speed counter-current chromatography and preparative high-performance liquid chromatography

High-speed counter-current chromatography (HSCCC) and preparative high-performance liquid chromatography (prep-HPLC) were successively used for the separation of epigallocatechin and flavonoids from Hypericum perforatum L. The two-phase solvent system composed of ethyl acetate–methanol–water (10:1:10, v/v) was used for HSCCC. About 900 mg of the crude extract was separated by HSCCC, yielding 7.8 mg of quercitrin at a purity of over 97%, 12.6 mg of quercetin at a purity of over 93%, and 38.9 mg of a mixture of hyperoside, isoquercitrin and miquelianin constituting over 97% of the fraction. A mixture of epigallocatechin and avicularin pooled from three HSCCC runs, a total amount of 54.3 mg, was further separated by prep-HPLC yielding 23.4 mg of epigallocatechin and 15.3 mg of avicularin each at a purity of over 97%.     

Study of the abnormal late co-elution phenomenon of low density polyethylene in size exclusion chromatography using high temperature size exclusion chromatography and high temperature asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation

The elution behaviour of linear and branched polyethylene samples in SEC was studied. For the branched samples an abnormal late co-elution of large and small macromolecules manifests itself as an abnormal re-increase of the molar mass and the radius of gyration values detected with multi angle light scattering at high elution volumes in SEC. The late co-elution of small and large macromolecules cannot be explained by the SEC mechanism alone. The influence of several experimental parameters on the late co-elution was studied. It was found that the type of SEC column and the flow rate have a significant influence. The late eluting part of the sample was fractionated and separated by HT-SEC- and HT-AF4-MALS. The different results of both methods have been discussed with the aim to find possible explanations for the late elution. The experiments indicate that especially large branched structures show an increased tendency for the phenomenon.     

Development of an efficient method for the preparative isolation and purification of chlorophyll a from a marine dinoflagellate Amphidinium carterae by high-speed counter-current chromatography coupled with reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography

In our research into chlorophylls of marine dinoflagellates, chlorophyll a was separated rapidly from the hexane extract of Amphidinium carterae in three steps. The first step was silica gel column chromatography, where elution was performed with 0–50% ethyl acetate in n-hexane. The second was high-speed counter-current chromatography using a two-phase solvent system consisting of n-hexane–ethyl acetate–methanol–water (5:5:5:1, v/v), and the third step was preparative reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography using a solvent system of acetone–water (89:11, v/v). HPLC analysis showed that the purity of chlorophyll a from the second step was over 83%, and after the third it was over 99%. Thirty milligrams of chlorophyll a was isolated from a crude sample of 250 mg of chlorophylls, and its structure was identified by analyzing its MS, ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR spectra.     

Synthesis and crystal structure of two copper complexes with one-dimensional chain structures bridged by bipyridine ligands

Two copper complexes {[Cu(phen)(azpy)(H₂O)(ClO₄)](ClO₄)}_n1 (phen=1,10-phenthroline, azpy=4,4′-azobispyridine) and {[Cu(phen)(bpe)(H₂O)(ClO₄)](ClO₄)}_n2 (bpe=trans-1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethylene), have been synthesized and characterized. The X-ray analysis reveals that copper ion has distorted square pyramidal coordination environments in the complexes 1 and 2. The copper is coordinated by two N atoms of phen, two N atoms from two bridging ligand azpy in 1 and from two bridging ligand bpe in 2, one O atom of coordinated water. Due to Jahn Teller distortion the sixth site in 1 and 2 is occupied by one O atom from one perchlorate anion. Copper ions are linked to each other through bridging ligand azpy in 1 and bridging ligand bpe in 2 to form one-dimensional chain. Variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility studies show that there is a weak antiferromagnetic interaction between the Copper ions in 1 and 2.     

Preparative isolation and purification of trans-3,5,4'-trihydroxystilbene-4'-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside and (+)catechin from Rheum tanguticum Maxim. ex Balf. using high-speed counter-current chromatography by stepwise elution and stepwise increasing the flow-rate of the mobile phase

Preparative high-speed counter-current chromatography (HSCCC) was successfully used for isolation and purification of trans-3,5,4'-trihydroxystilbene-4'-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (compound 1) and (+)catechin (compound 2) from Rheum tanguticum Maxim. ex Balf. by stepwise elution with a pair of two-phase solvent system composed of ethyl acetate-ethanol-water (25:1:25, v/v) and (5:1:5, v/v), and stepwise increasing the flow-rate of the mobile phase from 0.8 to 2.0 mlmin(-1) after 5 h. The preparative HSCCC separation was performed on 250 mg of crude extract yielding pure compound 1 (10.2 mg) and compound 2 (26.7 mg) all at purities of over 96% in a single run. The structures of the two compounds have been elucidated by means of spectroscopic methods including MS and 1H, 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.     

On the formation of the interlayer between Ni-P coating and AZ33 magnesium alloy substrate by means of in situ SEM observation

Pre-treatment process is the key step for electroless plating. Once a suitable pre-treatment film is in place, the desired metals can be plated. In this paper, Ni-P coating was successfully prepared on AZ33 magnesium alloy with Mg（OH）2 pre-treatment film by electroless plating. To investigate the role of MgF2 in Ni-P coating, the deposition procedures between Mg（OH）2 pre-treatment film and Mg（OH）2-MgF2 pre-treatment film （a traditional process） were compared. The surface morphology variations of coatings were observed with scanning electron microscopy and the compositions were analyzed by energy dispersive spectrometry. The results showed that during the plating, both MgF2 and Ni-P deposited at the initial stage, and MgF2 distributed in the bottom of the coating, forming a transitional interlayer with Ni- P. According to the heat quench test, a poor adhesion of the coating mainly occurred between the MgF2 and Ni-P coating.     

脂肪醛和脂肪酮的沸点与分子结构关系的拓扑化学研究

根据分子拓扑学原理,通过采用信息量丰富的染色分子图代替隐氢图,借助于距离矩阵表征分子图中顶点的连接性和标识分子图中顶点性质的差异,发展了一种适用于含杂原子分子体系结构性能研究的新方法,据此探讨了脂肪醛和脂肪酮的沸点与分子结构之间的关系,提出一个既能合理表征结构性能关系、又能预测沸点的定量关系式。结果表明,沸点预测值与实验值的一致性令人满意,平均误差0.21%。     

Synthesis of optically active conjugated polymers containing platinum in the main chain: Control of the higher‐order structures by substituents and solvents

The Sonogashira–Hagihara coupling polymerization of d ‐hydroxyphenylglycine‐derived diiodo monomers 1–4 and platinum‐containing diethynyl monomer 5 gave the corresponding polymers [poly( 1–5 )–( 2–5 )] with number‐average molecular weights of 19,000–25,000 quantitatively. The polymers were soluble in CHCl₃, CH₂Cl₂, THF, and DMF. CD and UV–vis spectroscopic analysis revealed that amide‐substituted polymers [poly( 1–5 ) and poly( 2–5 )] formed chiral higher‐order structures in solution, while ester‐substituted polymers [poly( 3–5 ) and poly( 4–5 )] did not. Poly( 1–5 ) formed one‐handed helices in THF/toluene mixtures, while it formed chiral aggregates in THF/MeOH mixtures. Poly( 1–5 ) emitted fluorescence with quantum yields ranging from 0.8 to 1.3%. The polymers usually aggregated in the solid state. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2015 , 53, 2452–2461     

Metal phosphonates containing pyridyl N-oxide groups: Syntheses of Cd{(2-C5H4NO)CH(OH)PO3}(H2O)2 and Zn{(4-C5H4NO)CH(OH)PO3} with chain and layer structures

This paper reports the syntheses and characterization of two phosphonate compounds Cd{(2-C₅H₄NO)CH(OH)PO₃}(H₂O)₂ (1) and Zn{(4-C₅H₄NO)CH(OH)PO₃} (2) based on hydroxy(2-pyridyl N-oxide)methylphosphonic and hydroxy(4-pyridyl N-oxide)methylphosphonic acids. Compound 1 has a chain structure in which dimers of edge-shared {CdO₆} octahedra are linked by {CPO₃} tetrahedra through corner-sharing. The pyridyl rings reside on the two sides of the inorganic chain. Compound 2 has a layer structure where the inorganic chains made up of corner-sharing {ZnO₄} and {CPO₃} tetrahedra are covalently connected by pyridyl N-oxide groups. Crystal data for 1: triclinic, space group , a=6.834(1) Å, b=7.539(1) Å, c=10.595(2) Å, α=84.628(3)°, β=74.975(4)°, γ=69.953(4)°. For 2: triclinic, space group , a=5.219(1) Å, b=8.808(2) Å, c=9.270(2) Å, α=105.618(5)°, β=95.179(4)°, γ=94.699(4)°.     

Properties and morphology of recycled poly(ethylene terephthalate)/bisphenol a polycarbonate/poly(styrene‐b‐(ethylene‐co‐butylene)‐b‐styrene) blends by low‐temperature solid‐state extrusion

Among the various methods available for recycling plastics waste, blending technology is a straightforward and relatively simple method for recycling. In this paper, a new blending technology, low‐temperature solid‐state extrusion, was discussed. Several recycled poly(terephthalate ethylene)/bisphenol a polycarbonate/poly(styrene‐b‐(ethylene‐co‐butylene)‐b‐styrene) blends (R‐PET/PC/SEBS blends) have been prepared by this technology. The results show that thermal and hydrolytic degradation of R‐PET is improved when extruding temperature was between the glass transition temperature (T_g) and cold crystallization temperature (T_cc). Elongation at break and notched impact strength were increased evidently, from 15.9% to 103.6, and from 8.6 kJ/m² to 20.4 kJ/m², respectively. The appropriate rotating speed of screws was between 100 and 150 rpm. At the same time, the appropriate rotating speed of the screws brings a suitable shear viscosity ratio of R‐PET and PC, which is of advantage to blending of R‐PET and PC together with SEBS. Dispersion of minor phase, PC and SEBS, became finer and smaller, to about 1 µm. Chain extender, Methylenediphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) can react with the end‐carboxyl group and end‐hydroxyl group of R‐PET. FT‐IR spectra testified that the reactions have been happened in the extruding process. A chain extending reaction not only increased the molecular weight of PET and PC, but also can synthesize PET‐g‐PC copolymer to act as a reactive compatilizer. An SEM micrograph shows that a micro‐fiber structure of PET was formed in the blend sample. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.