Modification of surface properties of electrospun polyamide nanofibers by means of a perfluorinated acridine

Polyamide 6 (PA6) nanofibers were prepared from formic acid solutions by using electrospinning technique. The fibers were smooth, defects free and with diameters smaller than 200 nm. Small amounts of a perfluorinated acridine were added as dopant to the feed solution to modify the wettability of the fibers. The effect of doping on the contact angle values is well apparent. The contact angle values go from 50° of pure PA6 to 120° when 6% of acridine is added. A comparison between fibers and films of pure and doped polyamide 6 was carried out in order to determine the effect of morphology on wettability. Thermal annealing near the T_g of the polymer promoted the segregation of the molecules to the surface, reaching contact angles of 131° with smaller amounts (4%) of acridine. The surface segregation was also promoted by time aging.     

Continuous reaction system to investigate the dispersion polymerization of vinyl monomers in supercritical carbon dioxide

A laboratory‐scale continuous reaction system using a stirred tank reactor was assembled in our laboratory to study the dispersion polymerization of vinyl monomers in supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO₂). The apparatus was equipped with a suitable downstream separation section to collect solid particles entrained in the effluent stream from the reactor, whose monomer concentration could be measured online with a gas chromatograph. The dispersion polymerization of methyl methacrylate in scCO₂ was selected as a model process to be investigated in the apparatus. The experiments were performed at 65 °C and 25 MPa with 2,2′‐azobisisobutyronitrile as the initiator and a reactive polysiloxane macromonomer as a surfactant to investigate the effect of the mean residence time of the reaction mixture on the monomer conversion, polymerization rate, polymer molecular weight, and particle size distribution. The results were compared with those obtained in batch polymerizations carried out under similar operative conditions. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 4122–4135, 2006     

Components of the Hilbert scheme of smooth space curves with the expected number of moduli

For any d and g such that the Brill-Noether number (d,g,3) is negative, d20 and gf(d), where f(d)=d^3/2/(6·2^1/2) + lower order terms, there exists a regular component of H _d,g ³ (the closure in Hilb₃ of the open set parametrizing smooth, connected, non-degenerate curves in ₃) with the expected number of moduli. Moreover, examples of the fact that such components are not unique are given.     

Cartesian currents,weak diffeomorphisms and existence theorems in nonlinear elasticity

Summary In this paper we introduce some new classes of functions, among these a class of weak diffeomorphisms. In these classes we prove by direct methods the existence of minimizers for several kinds of variational integrals. In particular, we prove the existence of one-to-one orientation-preserving maps that minimize suitable energies associated with hyperelastic materials. The minimizers are also proved to satisfy equilibrium equations. Finally radial deformations are discussed in connection with cavitation.     

The CeCl3·7H2O-NaI system as promoter in the synthesis of functionalized trisubstituted alkenes via Knoevenagel condensation

The arylidene malonates with two different geminal carboxylate functions, a suitable class of substrates of several synthetic and pharmacological studies, are easily available through Knoevenagel condensation of ethyl tert-butyl malonate and different aromatic aldehydes. The results have increased the potentialities of CeCl₃·7H₂O-NaI system as a type of water-tolerant green Lewis acid promoter for carbon-carbon bond forming procedures.     

CHEMILUMINESCENCE FROM THE OXIDATION OF AUXIN DERIVATIVES

Abstract— The thiophenyl ester of indole-3-acetic acid and indole-3-acetonitrile produce chemiluminescence in aerated dimethylsulfoxide in the presence of potassium t -butoxide. The emitter is the aromatic aldehyde. In the case of acetonitrile, the other product expected from the cleavage of an intermediate dioxetane, cyanate/isocyanate, has also been identified. Other auxins also chemiluminesce under similar conditions, but the emitters have not been properly identified.
These systems are models for the peroxidase catalyzed oxidation of indole-3-acetic acid to indole-3-carboxaldehyde and as such support the earlier inference (Vidigal et al , 1975) that the excited aldehyde is generated in the enzymic process.
An additional result is the observation of an exciplex between excited indole-3-carboxaldehyde and the thiophenylester of indole-3-acetic acid. This appears to be the first case of chemical generation of an exciplex by a route other than radical ion reaction, presumably by the dioxetane route.     

Shape recognition of alkylammonium ions by 1,3-bridged calix[5]arene crown-6 ethers: endo- vs exo-cavity complexation

A series of tri-O-substituted 1,3-bridged calix[5]arene crown-6 ethers bearing alkyl, arylalkyl, alkoxyalkyl, and alkoxycarbonylmethyl residues at the lower rim and either (t)()Bu or H substituents at the upper rim have been synthesized. (1)H NMR studies have shown that p-tert-butylcalix[5]crowns, irrespective of the size and nature of their lower rim pendant groups, adopt preorganized conelike conformations, whereas p-H-calix[5]crowns with bulky substituents preferentially exist in solution as partial cone conformers (C(1) symmetry). Calix[5]crown derivatives behave as mono- or ditopic receptors for isomeric butylammonium ions, forming endo-cavity (inside the calixarene cup) and/or exo-cavity (at the crown ether moiety) 1:1 complexes according to the shape of the guest. These two binding modes can be clearly distinguished and monitored by (1)H NMR titration experiments.     

Effect of some organic solvents and acids on the laser-induced atomic fluorescence of tin in air-hydrogen flames

The effects of some organic solvents and acids on the atomic fluorescence of tin in air-hydrogen flames have been examined. Ketones and alcohols greatly reduced the florescence sensitivity in fuel rich air-hydrogen flame whereas organic acids generally enhanced the fluorescence signal. The depressive effect of organic solvents was found to be highly dependent on the fuel to oxidant ratio in the flame. An attempt has been made to explain these effects, on the basis of possible reactions occurring in the flame.On leave from Institute of Chemistry, University of the Punjab, Lahore 54590, PakistanOn leave from Department of Analytical Chemistry, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain