X-ray analysis with a highly oriented pyrolytic graphite-based von Hamos spectrometer

The feasibility of the realization of a HOPG-based von Hamos spectrometer with a high energy resolution is discussed on the basis of the acquired theoretical and experimental data. The spectrometer makes use of HOPG films, which can be deposited on a mould of any shape, including the cylindrical form. In this way focusing geometry of a von Hamos scheme can be easily realized. The mosaic structure of HOPG crystals leads to additional focusing known as mosaic focusing, which increases further the intensity. In spite of a relatively large value of the mosaic spread (typical value 0.4°), energy resolution over 1200 can be achieved. Possible applications include simultaneous registration of spectra in plasma diagnostic and spectroscopy.     

Selective retention of some polyaromatic hydrocarbons by highly crosslinked polymer networks

Highly crosslinked polymer networks were characterized in terms of structural differences based on the crosslinked network structures with their chromatographic molecular retentivity for some polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Because PAHs and some sterically bulky solutes were used in the chromatographic characterization, tiny differences in the crosslinked polymer networks were observed in terms of the chromatographic molecular retentivity. Ethylene dimethacrylate afforded molecular retentivity for anthracene, and this recognition ability changed with the polymerization time. In addition, 1,4‐butanediol dimethacrylate afforded molecular retentivity for pyrene, and this retentivity was larger than that for anthracene. The polymerization methods also affected the resulting polymer networks drastically. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 2556–2566, 2005     

Thermal behaviors of petn base polymer bonded explosives

The thermal behaviors of three pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN) base polymer bonded explosives (PBX), Detasheet A (EL506A, red) and Datasheet C (EL506C, yellow-green) that supply by DuPont Co., PBXN-301 were investigated using thermal techniques in this work. The thermal properties of PETN base polymer bonded explosives, such as vacuum thermal stability (VTS), time to ignition, auto-ignition and shelf life of PBX that calculation from Arrhenius equation by the length of time for 5% decomposition were also examined. By comparing the thermal properties, VTS and shelf life of PETN base polymer bonded explosives, the application and storage of Datasheet C (EL506C, yellow-green) should be considered carefully, owing to the ingredients of Datasheet C (EL506 C, yellow-green) containing nitrocellulose. Binders that using in this study seems play no significant effect on the decomposition for polymer bonded explosives, because the decomposition temperature of binders is always higher than that of PETN.     

Thermal and kinetic behaviors of pyrolytic carbon black and gas coal in co-combustion

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - In this study, a combustion study of tire pyrolytic carbon black (CBp), gas coal (GC), and their blends was carried out by thermogravimetric analysis...     

Thermal reduction of Pd molecular cluster precursors at highly ordered pyrolytic graphite surfaces

Highly ordered pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) surfaces were modified by the adsorption of Pd molecular precursors from solution. Two palladium-containing molecular precursors were studied, a mononuclear one and a trinuclear one, to compare their affinities and distributions at substrate surfaces. To obtain Pd nanoparticles, these neutral molecular precursors were reduced under a hydrogen atmosphere. Thermogravimetric analysis was carried out to establish the behavior of these precursors at various temperatures. Understanding the thermal stability of these compounds is very important to establish the appropriate conditions to form metallic Pd. The modified surface has been characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and atomic force microscopy; also, the reductive process was monitored by XPS. Remarkable differences were observed between the mononuclear and trinuclear compounds in terms of dispersion, particle size, and homogeneity. The preference of the trinuclear compound was to deposit at HOPG defects, in contrast to that of the mononuclear one, which was agglomeration on all surfaces. After the application of this technique, not only Pd nanoparticles but also Pd nanowires were obtained.     

Functionalized pyrolytic highly oriented graphite polymer film for surface‐assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry in environmental analysis

The pyrolytic highly oriented graphite polymer film (PGS) was first employed to analyze low‐mass analytes in environmental analysis by surface‐assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (SALDI‐MS). PGS is a synthetic uniform and highly oriented graphite polymer film with high thermal anisotropic conductivity. We have found that negative ion mode SALDI‐MS using oxidized PGS (PGS‐SALDI‐MS) can be used to detect [M–H]^? ions from perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and other perfluoroalkylcarboxylic acids when the PGS surface is modified with the cationic polymer polyethyleneimine (PEI). The signal intensity of PFOA when employing the PEI modification showed a ten‐fold increase over that obtained from desorption/ionization on porous silicon (DIOS). PFOA was quantified using PGS‐SALDI‐MS and the calibration curve showed a wide linear dynamic range of response (20–1000 ppb). The combination of atmospheric pressure ionization and PGS (AP‐PGS‐SALDI) showed greater signal intensity than vacuum PGS‐SALDI for deprotonated PFOA. Several other environmentally important chemicals, including perfluoroalkylsulfonic acid, pentachlorophenol, bisphenol A, 4‐hydroxy‐2‐chlorobiphenyl, and benzo[a]pyrene, were also successfully used to evaluate PGS‐SALDI‐MS. In addition, we found that nonafluoro‐1‐butanesulfonic acid was able to produce protonated peptides in positive ion PGS‐SALDI‐MS, but that perfluoropentanoic acid and trifluoroacetic acid were not. It is suggested that perfluoroalkylsulfonic acids are better protonating agents than perfluoroalkylcarboxylic acids in SALDI‐MS. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Study of a highly durable low-humidification membrane electrode assembly using crosslinked polyvinyl alcohol for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells

A low-humidification membrane electrode assembly (MEA) for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) is prepared by adding the hydrophilic polymer: polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) to the anode catalyst layer. Glutaraldehyde (GA) is employed as a crosslinking agent for PVA to prevent washing from the anode during cell operation. This is confirmed by an immersion test in deionized water for 2 h. A single cell test is conducted at 80 °C, ambient pressure, and 50 % relative humidity. Although MEA containing 1 wt% non-crosslinked PVA shows the best initial performance (788 mA cm^?2 at 0.6 V), a considerable performance decrease of 41 % is observed following a 100-h durability test. However, MEA containing 5 wt% crosslinked PVA demonstrates enhanced durability, with little performance decline after 100 h of constant current operation. This strongly suggests that crosslinked PVA plays a crucial role in a low-humidification MEA at low humidity levels.     

Synthesis of highly crosslinked monodisperse polymer particles: Effect of reaction parameters on the size and size distribution

Monodisperse polystyrene particles crosslinked with different concentrations of divinylbenzene were synthesized in the 3.2–9.1 μm size range by dispersion polymerization in an isopropyl alcohol/toluene mixed‐dispersion medium with poly(N‐vinylpyrrolidone) as a steric stabilizer and 2,2′‐azobisisobutyronitrile as a radical initiator. The effects of the reaction parameters such as the crosslinking agent concentration, media solvency (controlled by varying the amount of toluene addition), the initiator concentration, and the stabilizer concentration on the particle size and size distribution were investigated with reference particles with a monodisperse size distribution and crosslinked by 1.5 wt % divinylbenzene. The appropriate increase in media solvency was a prerequisite for preparing crosslinked particles without coagulated and/or odd‐shaped particles. The investigation of the effects of the polymerization parameters also shows that only specific sets of conditions produce particles with a monodisperse size distribution. The glass‐transition temperatures of the particles increased with increasing divinylbenzene concentration. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 4368–4377, 2002     

Thermal optical analysis and differential scanning calorimetry of chemically crosslinked polyethylene

Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermal optical analysis (TOA) were applied as part of a series of characterization methods to solid chemically crosslinked polyethylene insulation. The DSC was used to study the melting and recrystallization. The ΔH of fusion has a lower value than expected. The TOA shows premelting behavior and is more sensitive to crystalline charges, on cooling, than DSC.     

Thermal analysis of polymer layered silicate nanocomposites

It has been shown, for three different polymer layered silicate (PLS) nanocomposite systems, how differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) can identify the different reactions of homopolymerisation and of crosslinking that occur in the intra- and extra-gallery regions of these nanocomposites, respectively, and hence how DSC can be used to assess the cure conditions for optimising their nanostructure. The PLS nanocomposites are based upon: (i) diglycidyl ether of bisphenol-A (DGEBA) cured with a polyoxypropylene diamine; (ii) DGEBA cured with an –NH₂ terminated hyperbranched polymer (HBP); and (iii) tri-glycidyl p-amino phenol (TGAP) cured with a diamine. In each case, the existence of both intra- and extra-gallery reactions in the DSC cure curves, and whether they occur simultaneously or sequentially, and in what order, are identified and correlated with the nanostructure as observed by small angle X-ray scattering and transmission electron microscopy. In particular, it is shown that the intra-gallery reaction must precede the extra-gallery for significant exfoliation to occur. In accordance with this scenario, the TGAP/diamine system displays the greatest degree of exfoliation, the DGEBA/diamine system the least, with the DGEBA/HBP system intermediate. For those systems in which significant exfoliation occurs, the DSC cure curves also allow the optimum cure conditions, such as the isothermal cure temperature, to be determined.     

Mean field theory for a reversibly crosslinked polymer network

We present a mean field theory for melts and solutions of reversibly crosslinked polymers. In our model, crosslinks are considered as local bonds between two monomers. For a blend of A+B+AB polymers, we assume reversible crosslinks between the copolymers AB with a crosslink strength z and interaction weights ω(A) and ω(B) for monomers of type A and B, respectively. The usual mean field model for polymer blends without reversible crosslinks is recovered if z vanishes. With or without crosslinks, the A+B+AB blend can form a lamellar phase with A and B rich regions. If reversible crosslinks are enabled and ω(A) differs strongly from ω(B), the lamellar nanophase separation of A and B monomers is accompanied by a similar segregation of crosslinked and noncrosslinked polymers. If ω(A) and ω(B) are equal, crosslinked copolymers are well mixed with the homopolymers. For a homopolymer solution with reversible crosslinks between the polymers, our calculations show that polymers and solvent molecules are separated macroscopically if the Flory-Huggins interaction parameter and the crosslink strength are suitably high or if the volume fraction of polymers or the chain length are suitably low.     

Thermal analysis of polystyrenes crosslinked by p-di(chloromethyl)benzene

Series of progressively crosslinked polystyrene have been prepared by the reaction off linear polystyrene with p-di(chloromethyl)benzene in dichloroethylene solution with stannic chloride as catalyst. By using a DTA technique it has been shown that the glass transition temperature T_g increases with crosslinking very much faster than is accounted for purely by increase in molecular weight. This type of crosslink is only about half as effective in increasing T_g as are crosslinks introduced by copolymerization of styrene with divinylbenzene. Thermal analysis by use of the thermal volatilization analysis (TVA) technique shows that stability, as measured by the evolution of volatile products, decreases as crosslinking progresses, and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) confirms this.     

Preparation and properties of a POSS-containing organic-inorganic hybrid crosslinked polymer

A novel POSS-containing organic-inorganic hybrid crosslinked polymer was prepared by hydrosilylation reaction of octahydridosilsesquioxane (T8H8) with 4,4'-bis(4-allyloxybenzoyloxy)phenyl (diene A). Its structure and property was character-ized by FTIR, 29Si NMR, TGA and ellipsometer, respectively. The results show that the hybrid polymer possesses high thermal stability and low dielectric constant of 1.97 at optical frequencies.     

Electrophilic substitution of highly crosslinked polystyrene resins

A number of polystyrene resins with nominal crosslink ratios of 5–40% have been prepared, chlorobenzoylated and chloromethylated. The degrees of functionalization achieved are dependent on the crosslink ratios of the resins. Analysis of the results obtained from specific reaction conditions suggests that substitution occurs preferentially on unencumbered pendant aromatic groups rather than on those already carrying an ethyl or additional polymer chain substituent.     

Viscoelasticity of crosslinked epoxy polymer in the transition region

The dynamic mechanical properties of highly crosslinked epoxyamine polymer networks with nonrandomly distributed crosslinks were investigated. The transition temperatures of these polymers can be correlated with the number of CH₂ groups between crosslink junctions in the aliphatic amine portions of the network. The steepness of the modulus-temperature curve is also a function of crosslink density. This is in contrast with the case of natural rubber crosslinked by sulfur or by electron irradiation, where the modulus-temperature curves have similar shapes although the glass transition temperature increases with the degree of crosslinking. An empirical distribution function, similar to the one used by Tobolsky for stress relaxation distributions, was used to describe the temperature dispersion of the dynamic moduli. Two parameters, h_g and h_r, are used to characterize the steepness of the dispersion curve below and above the transition temperature, respectively. It is tentatively concluded that h_g correlates with the length of the CH₂ sequences in the amine portion of the polymer. The quantity h_r may be related perhaps to the motion involving the trifunctional nitrogen junction.     

Arrays of double-decker porphyrins on highly oriented pyrolytic graphite

Three double-decker complexes of cerium(IV) were synthesized, which commonly have a 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-docosyloxyphenyl)porphyrin (C22OPP) moiety as one of the two tetrapyrrole rings. The three complexes-Ce(Pc)(C22OPP), Ce(C22OPP)2, and Ce(BPEPP)(C22OPP)-are distinguished by the other rings, which are Pc (=phthalocyanine), C22OPP, and BPEPP (=5,15-bis[4-(phenylethynyl)phenyl]porphyrin), respectively. The rate of inter-ring rotation of Ce(BPEPP)(C22OPP) was estimated to be approximately 3 s(-1) in solution at room temperature. These complexes assemble into ordered arrays at the interface of 1-phenyloctane and the highly oriented pyrolytic graphite surface, owing to the affinity of the long alkyl chains toward the surface, as revealed by means of scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) with molecular resolution. The shape of the upper ring is reflected in the STM image. Thus, Ce(Pc)(C22OPP), Ce(C22OPP)2, and Ce(BPEPP)(C22OPP) were observed as circular, square, and elliptic features, respectively. Possible molecular arrangements in the array of Ce(BPEPP)(C22OPP) are proposed by comparing STM images and molecular models. In the mixed arrays of Ce(BPEPP)(C22OPP) and H2(C22OPP), the double-decker complexes were distinguished by brighter features. Competitive adsorption experiments showed that the adsorption of Ce(BPEPP)(C22OPP) is less favorable than that of H2(C22OPP) by DeltaG(app) = 2.7 kJ mol(-1). Ce(BPEPP)(C22OPP) molecules appeared elliptic when placed within their own row, while they appeared isotropic when flanked by H2(C22OPP) molecules. Implications of the differences in the observed shapes to the inter-ring rotation are discussed.     

Some rheological properties of highly crosslinked polysiloxanes

Seven crosslinked polydimethylsiloxanes were prepared from carboxyl-terminated siloxane oligomers of different average lengths and a trifunctional imine. The 10-sec torsion modulus was measured as a function of temperature, and compression-deflection data were obtained on swollen specimens. Polymer-solvent interaction parameters were calculated from equilibrium swelling ratios and modulus data. The plots of modulus versus temperature show two distinct transitions for all the crosslinked polymers. The low-temperature transition corresponds to the siloxane chains, whereas the high-temperature transition should be attributed to the portion of the network chain derived from the crosslinking agent and the organic part of the oligosiloxane. On shortening the siloxane blocks, both transitions shift to successively higher temperatures and higher modulus levels. However, the siloxane transition temperature shows only a limited rise even when the average block length becomes quite small. The low siloxane polymers seem to exhibit two swelling maxima, each corresponding to one of the constituents. The studied materials from nonrandom copolymeric structures typical of block polymers. Such microphase systems can probably be expected in crosslinked polymers whenever the crosslinking agent participates significantly in the network chains and its compatibility with the flexible chains species is poor.     

Thermal analysis techniques for characterization of polymer materials

Routine DSC and TGA techniques, used to characterise polymer thermal stability, have been further used for assessment of comparative thermal stability of various polymer materials and for prediction of material lifetimes. The following materials were investigated: (1) commercial and experimental polymer materials - results for poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) and bisphenol A polycarbonate (PC) are presented; (2) a polydimethylsiloxane-polytetrafluoroethylene (SIL-PTFE) coating system; and (3) commercially available linear low density polyethylene (PE-LLD), unmodified and modified chemically and physically. The plot of reciprocal temperature of initial decomposition 1/T_di vs log heating rate β has been recommended for assessment of comparative thermal stability. The lifetime of polymer materials was calculated from the plots of log time-to-failure, log t_f, vs reciprocal temperature 1/T, where t_f values were obtained using T_di from TGA measurements or directly from the oxidation induction time (OIT) data as criteria for initial deterioration of polymer thermal stability. The following sequences of increasing thermal stability were found for investigated materials:

(1)

PVC ? PC;

(2)

SIL < SIL-PTFE 20% < SIL-PTFE 50% ? PTFE;

(3)

(B) PE-LLD, grafted < (A) PE-LLD, unmodified < (C) PE-LLD, filled.

The lifetime of polymer materials predicted from the plots of log t_f vs 1/T are in reasonable agreement with experimental data and users' observations, e.g. approximately 1 year for PC and unmodified PE-LLD both at 373 K (100 °C) and for PVC at temperature of outdoor conditions about 298 K (25 °C).     

Morphology controls of the melt blending in a novel highly crosslinked bismaleimide system

A novel bismaleimide of 2,2-bis[4-(4-maleimidophenoxy)phenyl]propane (BMIP) with a broad working-temperature-range for the melt blending was successfully synthesized. BMIP possesses a considerably broad working-temperature-range from 75 °C to 250 °C, prior to undergoing cure reactions to form a highly crosslinked network. The morphology types of cured BMIP/clay hybrids can be controlled by varying the shearing temperatures and the contents of the clay. The conditions necessary for achieving an exfoliated or an intercalated BMIP/clay hybrid were thoroughly investigated via X-ray diffractometry, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). All the uncured samples prepared at different shearing temperatures and with an adequate amount of MMT-C (above 3 phr) exhibited an intercalated form of morphology. However, the crosslinking reactions for specified samples prepared at relatively elevated shearing temperatures (above 120 °C) and with a relatively low content of clay (below 15 phr) resulted in morphology changes from the intercalated form to the exfoliated form of morphology. There exists an isotropically mechanical property for the cured matrix of the exfoliated hybrids whereas there exists an anisotropically mechanical property for the cured matrix of the intercalated hybrids.