Combined effects of clay modifications and compatibilizers on the formation and physical properties of melt‐mixed polypropylene/clay nanocomposites

The melt mixing technique was used to prepare various polypropylene (PP)‐based (nano)composites. Two commercial organoclays (denoted 20A and 30B) served as the fillers for the PP matrix, and two different maleated (so‐called) compatibilizers (denoted PP‐MA and SMA) were employed as the third component. The results from X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscope (TEM) experiments revealed that 190 °C was an adequate temperature for preparing the nanocomposites. Nanocomposites were achieved only if specific pairs of organoclay and compatibilizer were simultaneously incorporated in the PP matrix. For example, PP/20A(5 wt %)/PP‐MA(10 wt %) and PP/30B(5 wt %)/SMA(5 wt %) composites exhibited nanoscaled dispersion of 20A or 30B in the PP matrix. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) results indicated that the organoclays served as nucleation agents for the PP matrix. Generally, their nucleation effectiveness increased with the addition of compatibilizers. The thermal stability enhancement of PP after adding 20A was confirmed with thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The enhancement became more evident as a suitable compatibilizer was further added. However, for the 30B‐included composites, thermal stability enhancement was not evident. The dynamic mechanical properties (i.e., storage modulus and loss modulus) of PP increased as the nanocomposites were formed; the properties increment corresponded to the organoclay dispersion status in the matrix. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 4139–4150, 2004     

Triorganosilyl Ethers of Benzaldehyde,m-Methoxybenzaldehyde and Anisoles

Synthesis of six new triorganosiloxybenzaldehydes, two m-methoxy-(triorganosiloxy)benzaldehydes, and seven methoxy(triorganosiloxy)benzenes are reported. From comparison of the stability of these compounds in the atmosphere, it is concluded that formyl group shows unfavorable influence and methoxy group shows favorable influence on the stability of these compounds. The oposite influences of these two groups on phenoxysilane linkage seems to connect with the oposite directiones of inductive effect of formyl group and resonance effect of methoxy group on the benzene ring.     

Synthesis and antimalarial effects of 2-(3,4-dichloroanilino)-7-[[[(dialkylamino)alkyl]amino]]-5-methyl-s-triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidines

3,4-Dichlorophenylisothioeyanate ( 10 ) was allowed to react with 2-methy1-2-thiopseudourea to give methyl 4-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)(dithioaltophanimidate ( 11 ) (41%), which upon treatment with hydrazine afforded 3-amino-5-(3,4-dichloroanilino)-s-triazole ( 12 ) (54-91%). Ring-closure with ethyl acetoacetale in acetic acid afforded 2-(3,4-dichloroanilino)-5-methyl-s-triazolo[ 1,5-α ]-pyrimidin-7-ol ( 13 ) (81%). Chlorination with phosphorus oxychloride gave 7-chloro-2-(3,4-dichloroanilino)-5-methyl-s-triazolo[1,5-α ]pyrimidine ( 14 ) (98%), which was condensed with various amines to yield the desired 2-(3,4-diehloroanilino)-7-¶[(dialkylamino)alkyl]arnino¶-5-methyl-s-triazolo[ 1,5-α]pyrimidines ( 6 a-d). The structures of the s-triazolo[ 1,5-α ]pyrimidines were based on nmr spectroscopy and ring stability considerations. Several of the amino-s-triazolo[ 1,5-α ]pyrimidines possessed antimalarial activity against P. berghei in mice.     

Formation of hydroxyl radical from the photolysis of frozen hydrogen peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide (HOOH) in ice and snow is an important chemical tracer for the oxidative capacities of past atmospheres. However, photolysis in ice and snow will destroy HOOH and form the hydroxyl radical (*OH), which can react with snowpack trace species. Reactions of *OH in snow and ice will affect the composition of both the overlying atmosphere (e.g., by the release of volatile species such as formaldehyde to the boundary layer) and the snow and ice (e.g., by the *OH-mediated destruction of trace organics). To help understand these impacts, we have measured the quantum yield of *OH from the photolysis of HOOH on ice. Our measured quantum yields (Phi(HOOH --> *OH)) are independent of ionic strength, pH, and wavelength, but are dependent upon temperature. This temperature dependence for both solution and ice data is best described by the relationship ln(Phi(HOOH --> *OH)) = -(684 +/- 17)(1/T) + (2.27 +/- 0.064) (where errors represent 1 standard error). The corresponding activation energy (Ea) for HOOH (5.7 kJ mol(-1)) is much smaller than that for nitrate photolysis, indicating that the photochemistry of HOOH is less affected by changes in temperature. Using our measured quantum yields, we calculate that the photolytic lifetimes of HOOH in surface snow grains under midday, summer solstice sunlight are approximately 140 h at representative sites on the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets. In addition, our calculations reveal that the majority of *OH radicals formed on polar snow grains are from HOOH photolysis, while nitrate photolysis is only a minor contributor. Similarly, HOOH appears to be much more important than nitrate as a photochemical source of *OH on cirrus ice clouds, where reactions of the photochemically formed hydroxyl radical could lead to the release of oxygenated volatile organic compounds to the upper troposphere.     

Isolation of a carbon nanohoop with M(o)bius topology

Carbon nanohoop,a class of constrained molecular architecture consisting of linked arene units,has attracted considerable interest from both experimental and th...     

Effects of Different Extraction Methods on Vanilla Aroma

To establish the analytic conditions for examining the aroma quality of vanilla pods, we compared different extraction methods and identified a suitable option. We utilized headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME), steam distillation (SD), simultaneous steam distillation (SDE) and alcoholic extraction combined with gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to identify volatile components of vanilla pods. A total of 84 volatile compounds were identified in this experiment, of which SDE could identify the most volatile compounds, with a total of 51 species, followed by HS-SPME, with a total of 28 species. Ten volatile compounds were identified by extraction with a minimum of 35% alcohol. HS-SPME extraction provided the highest total aroma peak areas, and the peak areas of aldehydes, furans, alcohols, monoterpenes and phenols compounds were several times higher than those of the other extraction methods. The results showed that the two technologies, SDE and HS-SPME, could be used together to facilitate analysis of vanilla pod aroma.     

The 23 K superconducting phase YPd2B2C

We have carried out a systematic structural, electric, and magnetic study on Y---Pd---B---C samples with different compositions with emphasis on the as-cast and annealed YPd₅B₃C_0.3 which was first reported to superconduct at 23 K by Cava et al. We found that the tetragonal body-centered YPd₂B₂C with lattice parameters a=3.71 Å and c=10.81 Å is the phase responsible for the 23 K superconductivity and that YPd₂B₂C is metastable, which is consistent with the suggestion made by Cava et al. [1]: it is not stable at high temperatures nor stabilizable by Ni doping, although its isostructural compound, YNi₂B₂C, exists. Two new phases with Y:Pd ratios of 1:7 and 2:3, respectively, have also bee detected.     

High frequency wavelength modulation spectroscopy with diode lasers

High frequency wavelength modulation spectroscopy with diode lasers is accomplished by dithering the drive current at RF frequencies as high as 250 MHz. This technique is useful for fast and sensitive detection of absorption lines in the near-and mid-infrared spectral regions. Detection of 300 MHz wide spectral features corresponding to 1% changes in transmission is accomplished in time intervals as short as 500 ns. A potential application is for fast reading of information contained in frequency domain optical memories based upon photochemical hole burning.