Polymer conformation in mixed aqueous-polar organic solvents

The conformation of the common polysaccharide dextran has been investigated in mixed solvents at two different temperatures using viscosity measurements. In particular we considered binary mixtures of water with the polar organic solvents glycerol, formamide, dimethylsulfoxide, or ethanol. The intrinsic viscosity of dextran T500 in the different systems has been determined, and the solvent effects, as manifested in variations of the dextran intrinsic viscosity and coil radius, have been correlated to the surface tension and the fractional solubility parameters of the solvent mixture. The coil dimension changes observed in the different solvent mixtures are consistent with expectations from water-cosolvent-dextran interactions, especially as they pertain to hydrogen bonding.     

Polymer conformation at the polymer melt surface

Due to the symmetry which characterizes the surroundings of each chain segment in the amorphous melt all (but end) segments are equivalent in their embedment in space. Energetic interactions between segments are confined to segments in contact. Hence, in the presence of a surface only the segments actually in the surface layer will be affected and will have a statistical weight and Boltzmann factor different from segments in the bulk. The number of segments so involved is fixed, since the extent of the surface is controlled. The partition function is comprised of factors which depend neither upon the order of the segments in the chain nor upon the conformation of any particular chain. Only segments finding themselves in the surface contribute to the surface tension, with the largest contribution deriving from the density transition in the interface. This, at most temperatures, is confined to a lamella one segment layer, or less, thick. For polymer of high enough molecular weight end-effects can be neglected and no allowance for the presence of ends is made here. It is then possible to reach a representation of surface tension in reduced coordinates, as shown already by Posner and Sanchez. Changes in chain conformation near the surface are calculated.     

Statistical mechanical treatment of protein conformation. III. Prediction of protein conformation based on a three-state model.

The method proposed for the evaluation of statistical weights in paper I, and the three-state model [alpha-helical (alpha), extended (epsilon), and other (c) states] formulated in paper II, have been used to develop a procedure to predict the backbone conformations of proteins, based on the concept of the predominant role played by shortrange interactions in determining protein conformation. Conformational probability profiles, in which the probabilities of formation of three consecutive alpha-helical conformations (triad) and of four consecutive extended conformations (tetrad) have been defined relative to their average values over the whole molecule, are calculated for 19 proteins, of which 16 had been used in paper I to evaluate the set of statistical weights of the 20 naturally occurring amino acids. By comparing these conformational probability profiles to experimental x-ray observations, the following results have been obtained: 80% of the alpha-helical regions and 72% of the extended conformational regions have been predicted correctly for the 19 proteins. The percentage of residues predicted correctly is in the range of 53 to 90% for the alpha-helical conformation and in the range of 63 to 88% for the extended conformation for the 19 proteins in the two-state models [alpha-helical (alpha) and other (c) states, and extended (epsilon) and other (c) states]. In the three-state model, the percentage of residues predicted correctly is in the range of 47% to 77 for 19 proteins. These results suggest that the assumption of the dominance of short-range interactions, on which the predictive scheme is based, is a reasonable one. The present predictive method is compared with that of other authors.     

Polymer conformation via magnetic field modulation of delayed fluorescence

Magnetic-field modulation of delayed fluorescence from poly(2-vinylnaphthalen) in a low-temperature glass at 77 K is reported. The observations are interpreted in terms of local ordering of the naphthalene chromophores with their normal axes aligned approximately parallel to one another.     

A growth walk model for estimating the canonical partition function of interacting self-avoiding walk

We have explained in detail why the canonical partition function of interacting self-avoiding walk (ISAW) is exactly equivalent to the configurational average of the weights associated with growth walks, such as the interacting growth walk (IGW), if the average is taken over the entire genealogical tree of the walk. In this context, we have shown that it is not always possible to factor the density of states out of the canonical partition function if the local growth rule is temperature dependent. We have presented Monte Carlo results for IGWs on a diamond lattice in order to demonstrate that the actual set of IGW configurations available for study is temperature dependent even though the weighted averages lead to the expected thermodynamic behavior of ISAW.     

Polymer composites based on polyvinyl chloride

Binary and ternary polymer blends based on polyvinyl chloride with ethylene–propylene–diene rubber were studied. A comparative analysis of the effect of a low-molecular-weight plasticizer and high-molecular-weight thermoplastic additives on the deformation and strength characteristics of the composites and on the viscosity of their melt was made. The compatibilizing ability of the plasticizing additives and the possibility of the replacement of the low-molecular-weight plasticizer by the polymeric component were evaluated.     

Polymer electrolytes based on acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer

One of the approaches to improving the ionic conductivity and the mechanical strength of a solid polymer electrolyte is to use polymers in modified forms, such as polymer blends, copolymers and cross-linked polymers. In this study, a new polymer electrolyte based on the acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) copolymer has been prepared. The ionic conductivity, electrochemical stability and interfacial characteristics of the polymer electrolyte in contact with a lithium electrode have been investigated. The temperature dependence of the conductivity below 20 °C can be described by the Arrhenius equation, and above 20 °C by the VTF equation. Lithium passivation appeared to have taken place in the system. The conductivity and electrochemical characteristics of the system are somewhat similar to those of PAN-based polymer electrolytes. Received: 9 December 1998 / Accepted: 9 March 1999     

Statistical thermodynamics of polynuclear linear complexes with mixed valence states by means of the correlated walk

Expressions for the equilibrium electrode potential of linear N-nuclear complexes with homoredox centers were derived by the theory of the correlated walk as a function of the molar fraction of the oxidized moiety, the nearest-neighbor interaction energies and N. When the interaction energy was large in two-, three- and four-nuclear complexes, the expressions predicted two, three and four voltammetric peaks respectively owing to the formation of mixed valence states. The intuitive extension that the N-nuclear complex might exhibit N peaks was invalid. There were three peaks for any odd number of N. In contrast, four peaks appeared for any even number of N more than 4. For a polynuclear complex with N → ∞, the number of the peaks was reduced to two, as if the complex might be a binucleus. The log plot for the fraction vs. potential curve at large values of N deviated from a straight line. The averaged inverse slope was ca. 90 mV at 25°C. From the concentration distribution of a predominant species varying with the potential, the deviation of the log plot was ascribed to the coexistence of various isomers with different interaction energies. The difference in the voltammetric peak potential was approximately linear with the interaction energy for any N. Approximate equations for the potential difference for N= 2, 3 and 4 were obtained, and were applied to the experimental data available for polyferrocenes.     

Polymer blend complexes based on coordination chemistry

The preparation, rheology, and mechanical properties of a family of blends composed of transition-metal neutralized sulfonated ethylene-propylene-diene elastomers (S-EPDM) and styrene-4 vinylpyridine copolymers (SVP) are described. These polymeric materials contain relatively low levels of interacting groups (≤ 10 mol%), which are, however, sufficient for forming an intermolecular complex. A distinguishing characteristic of these blends is that the rheology and mechanical properties are strongly influenced by a coordination-type bonding between the transition metal and the basic nitrogen unit. As a result, markedly improved and enhanced physical properties are observed, especially when the stoichometric ratio of the interacting moieties are approached (SO/N = 1/1). This enhancement in properties is clearly exhibited in melt viscosity data, dynamic mechanical data, and thermal data. The blend morphology is also altered by complex formation, as is observed in scanning electron microscopy of the blends from which one of the ingredients was selectively extracted. At the stoichometric ratio, the blend of the olefinic elastomeric ionomer and the styrenic thermoplastic copolymer approaches a single-phase system. Such blends are otherwise completely immiscible when the coordination-type interacting groups are absent from either of the individual components. Accordingly, it was observed that nontransition-type (Na, Mg) counterions have only a marginal effect on the compatibility of these blends, as is the case in the completely unfunctionized blend components.     

End effects influence short model peptide conformation

Previously, we derived a P(II) propensity scale using N- and C-terminally blocked host-guest peptide model AcGGXGGNH(2) (X ≠ Gly) and concluded that P(II) represents a dominant conformation in the majority of this series of 19 peptides (Shi et al. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 2005, 102, 17964-17968). Recently, Schweitzer-Stenner and co-workers examined a series of eight short host-guest tripeptides with the sequence GXG (X = A, V, F, S, E, L, M, and K) in which both N- and C-ends were unblocked and reported major differences in P(II) content for F, V, and S compared to our scale (Hagarman et al. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2010, 132, 540-551). We have investigated four representative amino acids (X = A, V, F, and S) in three series of peptides (GXG, AcGXGNH(2), and AcGGXGGNH(2)) as a function of pH in this study. Our data show that P(II) content in the GXG series (X = A, V, F, and S) is pH-dependent and that the conformations of each amino acid differ markedly between the GXG and AcGXGNH(2)/AcGGXGGNH(2) series. Our results indicate that P(II) scales are sequence and context dependent and the presence of proximal charged end groups exerts a strong effect on P(II) population in short model peptides.     

Higher-order correlated calculations based on fragment molecular orbital scheme

We have developed a new module for higher-order correlated methods up to coupled-cluster singles and doubles with perturbative triples (CCSD(T)). The matrix-matrix operations through the DGEMM routine were pursued for a number of contractions. This code was then incorporated into the ABINIT-MPX program for the fragment molecular orbital (FMO) calculations. Intra-fragment processings were parallelized with OpenMP in a node-wise fashion, whereas the message passing interface (MPI) was used for the fragment-wise parallelization over nodes. Our new implementation made the FMO-based higher-order calculations applicable to realistic proteins. We have performed several benchmark tests on the Earth Simulator (ES2), a massively parallel computer. For example, the FMO-CCSD(T)/6-31G job for the HIV-1 protease (198 amino acid residues)?Clopinavir complex was completed in 9.8?h with 512 processors (or 64 nodes). Another example was the influenza neuraminidase (386 residues) with oseltamivir calculated at the full fourth-order M?ller?CPlesset perturbation level (MP4), of which job timing was 10.3?h with 1024 processors. The applicability of the methods to commodity cluster computers was tested as well.     

A mathematical theory of the random walk model in chromatography

An exact mathematical treatment of the random walk model in chromatography is given in this paper. Various factors which can cause broadening of peaks, such as equilibium fluctuation, diffusion, size and structure of fixed phase particles, fluid velocity, flow around the particles, distribution ratio, column temperature and nonuniformity, etc., are all considered with a unified theory. Formulas of mean retention time and height of theoretical plate, containing all of the factors, are presented.     

Polymer chain conformation in the phase separation process of a binary liquid mixture

A polymer chain conformation change near the critical point of liquid-liquid phase separation was investigated. Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) labeled with a small amount of carbazolyl group for a fluorophore (P(NIPA-Cz)) was prepared. A ternary system of P(NIPA-Cz)+cyclohexane+methanol was investigated by the fluorescence spectroscopic technique. A mixed solvent of cyclohexane+methanol (CH/MeOH) shows phase separation at the upper critical solution temperature. Light scattering intensity, fluorescence emission intensity and fluorescence anisotropy ratio, as a function of temperature, were measured with quasi statically approaching to the critical demixing point. The fluorescence intensity of the carbazolyl groups attached to the polymer chain decreases with approaching to the critical temperature. This result suggests that the radius of gyration of the polymer decreases upon approaching to the critical demixing point of the solvent. We discuss the collapse and aggregation processes of the polymer based on the fluorescence quenching method. The rotational diffusion coefficient of carbazolyl groups attached to the polymer chain was estimated by the fluorescence depolarization technique. The rotational motion of carbazolyl groups is slowed down upon approaching the critical point.     

Polymer composites based on polythiourethane and fluorinated organomontmorillonite

Russian Journal of Applied Chemistry - The effect exerted on the mechanical properties and thermal oxidative stability of polythiourethane elastomers by new organomineral complexes based on...     

以聚氨酯为基材的互穿聚合物网络

本文以对聚氨酯为基材的互穿聚合物网络的混合程度、网络形成与相分离的相关性及所得ＩＰＮ形态与性质的关系进行了评述。此处ＩＰＮ包括相容和不相容体系，这为有效地改善ＩＰＮ性质提供了依据。     

A comparison between the bond-strength-coordination number fluctuation model and the random walk model of viscosity

We have studied the temperature dependence of the viscosity of some polymeric materials by using both, the bond-strength-coordination number fluctuation model and the random walk model. The results reveal that both models show an excellent agreement with the experimental data. For the random walk model, two equations corresponding to two temperature regimes (low-T and high-T) separated by the critical temperature T _c, which is difficult to determine, are needed to describe the temperature dependence of the viscosity of a fragile system, whereas for the bond-strength-coordination number fluctuation model, a single equation with clear physical meaning describes the temperature dependence of the viscosity of both, the fragile and strong systems. We have also studied the relationship between the normalized temperature range of cooperativity and the fragility index. A theoretical expression for the relationship has been derived based on the bond-strength-coordination number fluctuation model. The comparison with the experimental data shows a good agreement, leading to the conclusion that the kinetic properties of glass forming liquids and the cooperativity of molecular relaxations are correlated.     

熔体插层聚合物/粘土纳米复合材料

对国内外熔体插层法制备聚合物／粘土纳米复合材料(PCN)的研究进展进行了综述。介绍了影响PCN结构形态的各种因素；对熔体插层法制备PCN的热力学、动力学研究进行了总结；详细讨论了熔体插层的机理研究及理论模型。并对熔体插层法制备PCN提出了展望。     

Polymer materials based on ethylene copolymers with substituted norbornene

The copolymers of ethylene with 5-ethylidene-2-norbornene containing 10–65% of the cyclic comonomer have been prepared with the use of three ansa-metallocene catalysts, namely, Et[Ind]₂ZrCl₂-methylaluminoxane, Et[IndH₄]₂ZrCl₂-methylaluminoxane, and Me₂Si[Ind]₂ZrCl₂-methylaluminoxane. Side groups >C=CH-CH₃ capable of participation in the ozonolysis reaction have been incorporated into polymer chains via the copolymerization of ethylene with the cyclic comonomer. As evidenced by DSC, and X-ray diffraction, and very cold neutron scattering measurements of the supramolecular structure of the copolymers, the enrichment of the copolymer with the cyclic comonomer causes transformation of the ethylene-5-ethylidene-2-norbornene copolymer from the semicrystalline state to the amorphous state. This effect is accompanied by an increase in the density and optical transparency of the material and a rise in its glass transition temperature. Among the copolymers under study, the highest T _g (83°C) is exhibited by the copolymer synthesized with the Et[Ind]₂ZrCl₂-methylaluminoxane catalyst and containing 30 mol % 5-ethylidene-2-norbornene.     

Polymer blends based on the β-modification of polypropylene

iPP/sPP, iPP/rPP, iPP/PVDF and iPP/PA-6 blends, and their β-nucleated forms were prepared in the present study. The components of iPP/sPP and iPP/rPP blends are compatible in the molten state. The phase structure of the melt of iPP/PVDF and iPP/PA-6 blends is heterogeneous. The melting and crystallisation characteristics as well as the structure and polymorphic composition of these blends were studied by polarised light microscopy (PLM) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). When semicrystalline polymers are added to iPP, the most important factor of the formation a blend with β-crystalline phase is the α-nucleation effect of the second polymer. In the case of polymers with an α-nucleating effect, the temperature range of their crystallisation should be lower than that of β-iPP. β-nucleated iPP/PVDF and iPP/PA-6 blends are extreme examples showing that completely β-iPP matrix can not form even in the presence of a highly effective β-nucleant, because of the strong α-nucleating ability and higher crystallisation temperature range of PVDF and PA-6. We found that the β-crystallisation tendency of random propylene copolymers can be enhanced by adding an iPP homopolymer.     

Solvent dependence of PII conformation in model alanine peptides

Alanine residues in two model peptides, the pentapeptide AcGGAGGNH(2) and the 11mer AcO(2)A(7)O(2)NH(2), have been reported to have substantial PII conformation in water. The PII structure in both peptides is sensitive to solvent. In the presence of the organic solvent TFE, the conformation of the pentamer changes from PII to internally H-bonded gamma or beta turns, while the chain with seven alanines forms alpha helix. The PII structure in the 11mer is more stable than that in the shorter peptide as the TFE concentration increases. For the pentamer, a comparison of short-chain aliphatic alcohols to water shows that the PII content decreases in the order water > methanol > ethanol > 2-propanol, linearly according to empirical scales of solvent polarity. Thus, depending on the extent of local solvation as folding progresses, the peptide backbone as modeled by alanine oligomers shifts from PII to internally H-bonded (gamma or beta turn) conformations and to alpha helix in longer segments. On the other hand, the PII content of AcO(2)A(7)O(2)NH(2) increases significantly in the presence of guanidine, as does that of oligoproline peptides, while detergent sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) favors alpha helix in this peptide. The shorter peptide does not show a parallel increase in PII with guanidine.