Versatile Lightweight Polymer Composites

Abstract

Knowledge of polymer composites goes back to antiquity, yet their most spectacular boom, from a scientific point of view, began during the 1960s when their microstructure was studied as it relates to their properties. Modern technology demands newer materials in place of conventional engineering materials. Although concrete is an excellent building material, its use is subject to certain limitations. These include its relatively low tensile strength, a tendency to crack with changes in temperature coupled with moisture absorption, and deterioration due to chemical and physical attack under various environmental conditions. Polymer composites, on the other hand, have outstanding strength and durability which offer several advantages over those of conventional materials.     

An ionic liquid-based sensor for diclofenac determination in water

This paper details a miniaturised, solid state ion-selective electrode selective for diclofenac. The sensor comprises a novel ionic liquid electroactive material – an imidazolium–diclofenac ion associate. The ion associate is present in a plasticised poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) membrane on planar carbon electrodes, with an intermediate poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) layer. The sensitivity and selectivity of the sensor were determined using chronopotentiometric methods. In response to diclofenac, a slope of ?53.3 ± 3.6 mV/dec was observed. A limit of detection of 2.90 × 10^?3 g L^?1 is reported, with a linear range of 3.18 × 10^?3 g L^?1 to 3.18 g L^?1. The sensors show good selectivity towards diclofenac against pertinent interferent molecules, with a response time of <15 s.     

Polyimidines. XI. Polyimidines from 3,3′,4,4′-benzophenonetetracarboxylic dianhydride and 4,4′-(hexafluoroisopropylidene) diphthalic anhydride

Two new bis(benzylidenephthalide)monomers were synthesized by melt condensation of phenylacetic acid with 3,3′,4,4′-benzophenonetetracarboxylic dianhydride (BTDA) and with 4,4′-(hexafluoroisopropylidene)diphthalic anhydride (6FDA). A mixture of three isomers for each monomer was obtained and polymerized with diamines to produce new polyimidines. Polymerizations were conducted with m-xylylenediamine (MXDA) or 4,4′-oxydianiline (ODA) in quantitative yields for the undehydrated intermediate. Inherent viscosities ranged from 0.17 to 0.35 dL/g in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) or N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP). These intermediate poly(hydroxylactams) were thermally dehydrated to polyimidines which exhibited a 10% weight loss, as high as 546°C in nitrogen. Inherent viscosities of the dehydrated (cured) polyimidines ranged from 0.14 to 0.20 dL/g in NMP. Brittle films could be cast from NMP solutions.     

Non aggregated colloidal silver nanoparticles for surface enhanced resonance Raman spectroscopy

Silver nanoparticles with a tuneable λ max were produced as colloids by heterogeneous nucleation. The synthesis process is both fast and repeatable, producing stable PVA capped nanoparticles. The colloid's effectiveness in the SERRS system was investigated using Rhodamine 6G, R6G, Crystal Violet, CV, and Malachite Green, MG, as probe molecules. A clear sensing trend was observed, where the Raman signal emitted was significantly enhanced by the addition of silver nanoparticles. A build up of signal intensity is observed until an optimum ratio is achieved, followed by a decline in signal intensity as the concentration of nanoparticles is further increased. The sensing trend appeared to be dependant on the structure of these model molecules with similarly structured compounds exhibiting similar trends. Thus a maximum enhancement with the Ag: analyte molar ratio of ～ 5.56: 1, was seen for CV and MG whereas R6G had a maximum enhancement at the Ag: analyte molar ratio of ～ 2.25: 1.     

New mechanism for positronium formation on a silicon surface

We describe experiments in which positronium (Ps) is emitted from the surface of p-doped Si(100), following positron implantation. The observed emission rate is proportional to a Boltzmann factor exp{-E(A)/kT}, which is dependent on the temperature T of the sample and a characteristic energy E(A)=(0.253±0.004) eV. Surprisingly, however, the Ps emission energy has a constant value of ～0.16 eV, much greater than kT. This observation suggests the spontaneous emission of energetic Ps from a short-lived metastable state that becomes thermally accessible to available surface electrons once the positron is present. A likely candidate for this entity is an electron-positron state analogous to the surface exciton observed on p-Si(100) c(4×2) by Weinelt et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 92, 126801 (2004)].     

Photoemission of positronium from Si

We have observed that the amount of positronium (Ps) emitted from the surface of p-Si(100) is substantially increased if the sample is irradiated with 532 nm laser light just prior to the implantation of positrons. The energy of the emitted Ps has a constant value of ～0.16 eV and is independent of the Si temperature and the applied laser fluence, while the photoemission yield depends on both of these parameters. These observations are consistent with Ps production via a previously observed excitonlike positron surface state that is populated in response to the production of electron-hole pairs in the Si. Possible applications of Ps photoemission include probing surface electron dynamics on Si, the generation of ultrashort Ps or positron pulses using ps lasers, and efficient production of Ps in cryogenic environments.     

Efficient production of Rydberg positronium

We demonstrate experimentally the production of Rydberg positronium (Ps) atoms in a two-step process, comprising incoherent laser excitation, first to the 2(3)P state and then to states with principal quantum numbers ranging from 10 to 25. We find that excitation of 2(3)P atoms to Rydberg levels occurs very efficiently (~90%) and that the ~25% overall efficiency of the production of Rydberg atoms is determined almost entirely by the spectral overlap of the primary excitation laser and the Doppler broadened width of the 1 (3)S-2(3)P transition. The observed efficiency of Rydberg Ps production can be explained if stimulated emission back to the 2P states is suppressed, for example, by intermixing of the Rydberg state Stark sublevels. The efficient production of long-lived Rydberg Ps in a high magnetic field may make it possible to perform direct measurements of the gravitational free fall of Ps.     

Sticking coefficient of nitrogen on solid N2 at low temperatures

The sticking coefficient of nitrogen gas on a thick solid nitrogen film on a copper cold finger was studied at low temperature. For surface temperatures of about 12 K the sticking coefficient is measured to be 99.0 ± 0.6%. Our result implies that it will be possible to make a intense and high brightness slow positron source starting from a small diameter deposit of the gaseous positron emitter ¹³N₂ produced in the reaction ¹²C(d,n)¹³N.