Water barrier characteristics of plasma polymers of perfluorocarbons

Perfluorocarbon monomers such as C₂F₄, C₂F₆, C₄F₁₀, and mixtures thereof with H₂, were subjected to plasma polymerization and deposited onto low-density polyethylene (LDPE) substrates. The effect of plasma conditions, surface characteristics, and surface dynamics of plasma polymers on their ability to improve the resistance to water vapor permeation was investigated. An optimum discharge energy density was found for a monomer which provided the greatest reduction water vapor permeability. Although all of the plasma polymers show higher hydrophobicity than polyethylene, the reduction in water vapor permeability is not uniquely related to water contact angle. The surface-dynamic stability of a plasma polymer surface was found to be the key factor in determining the barrier performance of the plasma polymer. The extent of change of surface-configuration after water immersion strongly correlated with the improvement in the water vapor permeation resistance. Plasma polymers with the higher surface-dynamic stability provided the better water barrier coating applied on LDPE films. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Essential independent sets and Hamiltonian cycles

An independent set S of a graph G is said to be essential if S has a pair of vertices distance two apart in G. We prove that if every essential independent set S of order k ≥ 2 in a k-connected graph of order p satisfies max {deg v:v ϵ S} ≥ ½ p, then g is hamiltonian. This generalizes the result of Fan (J. Combinatorial Theory B 37 (1984), 221–227). If we consider the essential independent sets of order k + 1 instead of k in the assumption of the above statement, we can no longer assure the existence a hamiltonian cycle. However, we can still give a lower bound to the length of a longest cycle. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Structure and properties of new olefin polymers

The relationship between molecular structures and physical properties of linear low density polyethylenes (LLDPEs) produced with single-site catalyst (SSC) was investigated. SSC polymerized LLDPE have excellent physical properties corresponding to its homogeneous molecular structure that had never been achieved by conventional Ziegler-Natta catalysts. It was found that some SSCs have the capability to produce LLDPEs with narrow molecular weight distribution but excellent melt properties. This result suggests that there exist long chain branches in these LLDPEs.     

Tolerance,bioaccumulation and biotransformation of arsenic in freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii)

Tolerance bioaccumulation and biotransformation of arsenic compounds by a freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) were investigated. M. rosenbergii was exposed to 10, 20, 30 and 35 μg As cm⁻³ of disodium arsenate [abbreviated as As(V)], 25, 50, 100 and 120 μg As cm⁻³ of methylarsonic acid (MMAA), or 100,200, 300 and 350 μg As cm⁻³ of dimethylarsinic acid (DMAA). Tolerances (50% lethal concentration: LC₅₀) of the prawn against As(V), MMAA, and DMAA were 30, 100, and 300 μg As cm⁻³, respectively. The prawn accumulated arsenic compounds directly from aqueous phase and biotransformed them in part. Both methylation and demethylation of the arsenicals were observed in vivo. Highly methylated and less toxic arsenicals were less accumulated in M. rosenbergii.     

Synthesis of functional polymers bearing pendant mono-and oligo-saccharide residues

The present paper focuses on (i) a new synthetic methodology to prepare vinyl ether-based synthetic glycoconjugates (glycopolymers) with well-controlled structure, and on (ii) the application of glycopolymers bearing modified disaccharide residue as thermotropic liquid crystalline (LC) materials. Two vinyl ethers (VEs) having pendant glucose residues with their hydroxyl functions protected by acetyl and isopropylidene groups, respectively, were found to undergo living cationic polymerization initiated by a HI/ZnI2-initiating system. Deprotection of the resultant monodisperse polymers led to water-soluble polymers bearing a pendant glucose residue. Sequential living block copolymerization of glucose-containing VE and alkyl VE, and subsequent deprotection afforded an amphiphilic block copolymer of well-controlled structure. Transmission electron microscopic observation of its cast thin film revealed microphase-separated surface morphologies that varied with varying segment composition ratio. A VE substituted with a heptadecanoated cellobiose pendant was independently prepared, and was cationically polymerized to give a thermotropic LC polymer. From X-ray analysis, the mesophase was assigned to a discotic columnar in type, in which each main chain, extended due to the steric repulsion between the neighboring bulky pendants, was surrounded by three discotic columns.     

Heteroarylthiomethylsilanes. Synthesis and application to heteroarylthiomethylation of carbonyl compounds [1]

Heteroarylthiomethyltrimethylsilanes bearing a 2-pyridyl, 2-imidazolyl, 5-tetrazolyl, or 2-pyrimidinyl group, readily prepared by the reaction of heteroarylmercaptans with halomethyltrimethylsilane in the presence of a base, are synthetic equivalents of heteroarylthiomethyl anions, otherwise inaccessible, and are effective reagents for the introduction of a heteroarythiomethyl group at a carbonyl carbon atom in the presence of a catalytic amount of tetrabutylammonium fluoride.     

Simultaneous detection of ammonia and humidity using transmission surface plasmon resonance technique

Abstract

Gas sensing by using the transmission surface plasmon resonance (T-SPR) technique was demonstrated. Polyacrylic acid (PAA)/5-nm-thick gold/40-nm-thick silver/polycarbonate grating substrate structure (Sensor A) responded to ammonia; however, it exhibited a strong humidity dependence. Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/5-nm-thick gold/40-nm-thick silver/polycarbonate grating substrate structure (Sensor B) as the sensing material was also prepared and it mainly responded to humidity. The T-SPR properties of Sensors A and B were observed simultaneously by a stacking arrangement that enabled us to obtain the responses by using a single spectrophotometer. The ammonia concentration under various humidity conditions could be accurately obtained by simultaneous measurement of Sensors A and B.