Interdiffusion/reaction at the polymer/polymer interface in multilayer systems probed by linear viscoelasticity coupled to FTIR and NMR measurements

This paper describes the experimental investigation of the interdiffusion/reaction mechanisms of asymmetric polymer-polymer interfaces. The study deals with the assessment of the chemical reactions occurring at the interface between two reactive polymers. A focal point of the investigation was to study these interfacial reactions by an array of techniques at very different space scales: from macroscopic viscoelastic investigations to IR and NMR spectroscopies at the molecular scale. The studied material pairs include PE-GMA/PA6 as the reactive system (RS) and PE/PA6 as the non-reactive one (NRS) - of coextruded multilayer polymers, i.e., after processing. The linear viscoelastic properties of the reactive multilayer systems were determined and the mechanisms were analyzed by NMR and FTIR measurements. Substantial reactions occurred during the rheological measurements and the results indicated the preferential formation of a copolymer at the interface, triggered by the neighboring layers. Moreover, the contribution of an interface/interphase effect was investigated along with the increase in the number of layers. The results showed that the variation in dynamic modulus of the multilayer system was a result of both diffusion and chemical reaction. Specific experiments were carried out to follow-up on the physicochemical phenomena, and the results were rationalized by comparing the obtained data with theoretical models. The effect of this interphase was quantified at a specific welding time and oscillation frequency thanks to rheological modeling. Because of the coupling between rheology and spectroscopical tools, potential reactions between the GMA functions and the amine/carboxylic polyamide chain ends were explored. The results highlighted that the main reaction mechanism was constituted by the crosslinking reaction between the GMA and carboxylic acid units, and not by that between GMA and amine end functions.     

Trench formation and lateral damage induced by gallium milling of silicon

Molecular dynamics simulations are performed to model the nanomachining of materials via focused ion beams (FIBs). The goal of this research is to investigate the fundamental dynamics which govern the interaction of FIB with materials which are vital to the semiconductor industry, namely silicon. Specifically, we focus on the formation of trenches/holes within the sample and the dynamics responsible for their characteristic v-shape, as well as the extent of lateral damage due to a gallium beam. These phenomena have been successfully modelled, with evidence that the lateral and subsurface damage created is much larger than the beam itself. The results presented here begin to elucidate the dynamics governing the spatial resolution of these experiments, and provide an idea of some of the technical issues associated with these beams.     

How Can Brane Inflation Solve the Fine-Tuning Problem?

Brane inflation can provide a promising framework for solving the fine-tuning problem in standard inflationary models. The aim of this paper is to illustrate the mechanism by which this can be achieved. By considering the supersymmetric two-stage inflation model we show that the initial fine-tuning of the coupling parameter can be controlled through a relation between the coupling parameter and the brane tension.     

Atom abstraction in the scattering of state-selected NO+(X1Sigma(+)) on O/Al(111)

The reactive scattering of state-selected NO+(X1Sigma(+)) on oxygen-covered Al(111) is explored at hyperthermal collision energies. Relative ion yields and mean translational energies of scattered NO-2 are presented as a function of oxygen exposure and NO+ collision energy. Above the 9+/-1 eV threshold for reaction, NO-2 products emerge with an average kinetic energy that depends linearly on incident NO+ energy. The formation of NO-2 is assigned to the direct, Eley-Rideal abstraction of an adsorbed O atom by an incident NO molecule.     

Synthesis and structure–property relationships of acrylic core–shell particle-toughened epoxy networks

The use of emulsion polymerization to prepare core–shell rubber (CSR) toughening particles with different shell thickness-to-core diameter ratios is described. The conditions leading to controlled particle size and morphology are discussed. The particle shell is crosslinked during the synthesis so that its integrity and morphology are maintained upon curing of the epoxy network. The mixing of the CSR particles with the reactive epoxy and the processing of toughened-epoxy networks are described. The characteristics of each phase and the mechanical properties of the materials are reported. The fracture parameters (K_lc, G_lc) are discussed in relation to the structure of the CSR-particles.     

Sorption efficiency of a new sorbent towards uranyl: phosphonic acid grafted Merrifield resin

A novel sorbent resin consisting of a Phosphonic Acid grafted on Merrifield Resin (PA-MR) for the extraction of uranyl from nitrate media is described. The sorption behaviour of uranyl cation on PA-MR was investigated using batch equilibrium technique. The effects of parameters such as shaking speed, pH levels, contact time, metal concentrations, ionic strength and temperature were reported. The results show that the sorption capacity increases with increasing both initial uranyl ion concentration and temperature and decreases with increasing ionic strength. Therefore, the optimum condition for the present study should be using 6.6 mg adsorbent per 1.0 mg uranyl in solution with pH 3.6 and shaking at 250 rpm for 180 min. The adsorption behavior of the system was also investigated and found to be in line with Langmuir isotherm. The kinetic data was well described by the pseudo second-order. Thermodynamics data leads to endothermic process ∆H = + 31.03 kJ⁻¹ mol⁻¹, ∆S = + 146.64 J mol⁻¹ K⁻¹ and ∆G = −11.96 kJ mol⁻¹ at 20 K. ∆G decreased to negatives values with increasing temperature indicating that the process was more favoured at high temperature.     

Molecular orbital investigation of the protonated H2X2AlNHn(CH3)3-n+ (X = F, Cl, and Br; n = 0-3) complexes

Structures of protonated alane-Lewis base donor-acceptor complexes H2X2AlNHn(CH3)(3-n)+ (X = F, Cl, and Br; n = 0-3) as well as their neutral parents were investigated. All the monocations H2X2AlNHn(CH3)(3-n)+ are Al-H protonated involving hypercoordinated alane with a three-center two-electron bond and adopt the C(s) symmetry arrangement. The energetic results show that the protonated alane-Lewis complexes are more stable than the neutral ones. They also show that this stability decreases on descending in the corresponding periodic table column from fluorine to bromine atoms. The calculated protonation energies of HX2AlNHn(CH3)(3-n) to form H2X2AlNHn(CH3)(3-n)+ were found to be highly exothermic. The possible dissociation of the cations H2X2AlNHn(CH3)(3-n)+ into X2AlNHn(CH3)(3-n)+ and molecular H2 is calculated to be endothermic.     

A sensor based on silver nanoparticles synthesized on carbon graphite sheets for the electrochemical detection of nitrofurazone: Application: Tap water,commercial milk and human urine

Nitrofurazone is a nitrofuran-family synthetic chemical that has been used to treat bacterial infections since 1993. Silver nanoparticles synthesized by the thermal technique on graphite carbon sheets under optimal conditions were used to develop a highly sensitive electrochemical sensor. The main experimental characteristics are optimized to assure that this sensor functions correctly. Scanning electron microscope, X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy were used to determine the chemical composition and morphology of the prepared pastes. With a maximal reduction peak of La nitrofurazone observed at ?0.57V/Ag-NPs@CPE versus Ag/AgCl, this sensor demonstrated good electrocatalytic activity for the reduction of La nitrofurazone. The influence of phosphate buffer solution pH indicates that the numbers of protons and electrons in the reaction at the surface of our constructed sensor were the same. The LOD and LOQ were calculated to be 1.2 × 10^?8 M and 1.3 × 10^?7 M, respectively. Using the differential pulse voltammetry technique, the calibration curve was established in the concentration range of 10^?4 M to 2 × 10^?7 M. Our Ag-NPs@CPE sensors were evaluated in order to detect nitrofurazone in real contaminated samples tap water, commercial milk, and human urine, in particular. The electroanalysis results show a very high recovery rate of more than 96% on average, permitting us to determine that our sensors are functional under optimum working conditions.     

Origin of semiconductor and half-metallic behaviors in the perovskite materials RbXF3 (X = Co,Mn, Fe or V): A GGA + U approach

In this paper, we study and discuss the structural, and electronic properties of the RbXF3 (X = Co, Mn, V or Fe) Perovskite Materials using the Density Functional Theory (DFT). Also, the origin of both semi-conductor (SM) and half-metallic (HM) characters have been outlined. The density functional theory (DFT) has been applied to illustrate the physical properties of the RbXF₃ (X = Co, Mn, Fe or V) perovskite materials. The generalized gradient approximation introduced by Perdew–Burke and Ernzerhof (GGA-PBE) with Hubbard correction has been used for modeling the physical properties of the RbXF₃ (X = Co, Mn, V or Fe) perovskite compounds. The total and partial densities of states of each solar perovskite RbVF₃ (X = Co, Mn, Fe or V) material have been illustrated and discussed. In addition, the contribution of the different elements: Rb, Co, Mn, Fe, V and F, has been investigated revealing the most contributing ones in the valance and conduction bands. The magnetic behavior of the studied solar perovskites RbVF₃ (X = Co, Mn, Fe or V) materials, has been outlined. It is found that the perovskites RbCoF₃ and RbFeF₃ are half-metallic, while the materials RbMnF₃ and RbVF₃ exhibit a semi-conductor behavior.