The effect of fluorine-substituted acrylate monomers on the electro-optical and morphological properties of polymer dispersed liquid crystals

The effects of fluorinated acrylate monomers on the electro-optical and morphological properties of polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) films are reported. The partial fluorination of host polymer matrices resulted in improved optical properties and better defined morphologies. An enhancement in contrast ratio was observed for fluorinated systems containing trifluoroethyl acrylate (TFEA) and hexafluoroisopropyl acrylate (HFIPA). Conversely, the incorporation of methyl acrylate (MA), a chemically similar non-fluorinated acrylate, resulted in no appreciable change in contrast ratio and an increase in relaxation time. Scanning electron microscopy morphological studies were conducted to understand further the influence of fluorinated monomers in PDLC systems.     

A novel automated electrochemical ascorbic acid assay in the 24-well microtiter plate format

Automatic ascorbic acid (AA) voltammetry was established in 24-well microtiter plates. The assay used a movable assembly of a pencil rod working, an Ag/AgCl reference and a Pt counter electrode with differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) for concentration-dependent current generation. A computer was in command of electrode (z) and microtiter plate (x, y) positioning and timed potentiostat operation. Synchronization of these actions supported sequential approach of all wells and subsequent execution of electrode treatment procedures or AA voltammetry at defined intervals in a measuring cycle. DPV in well solutions offered a linear current/concentration range between 0.1 and 8.0 mM, a sensitivity of about 1 μA mM⁻¹ AA, and a detection limit of 50 μM. When used with a calibration curve or standard addition, automated voltammetry of samples with added known amounts of AA demonstrated good recovery rates. Also, the assay achieved the accurate determination of the AA content of vitamin C tablets, a fruit juice and an herbal tea extract. Robotic AA voltammetry has the advantage of conveniently handling multiple samples in a single measuring run without the continuous attention of laboratory personnel. It is a good option when the goal is cost-effective AA screening of sample libraries and has potential for applications in health care and the food processing, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries.     

Synthesis of B/Ga and B/In heteronuclear bidentate Lewis acids: formation of intramolecular pi-arene-gallium(III) and -indium(III) complexes

Reaction of 1,8-dilithionaphthalene x TMEDA (TMEDA=tetramethylethylenediamine) with dimesitylboron fluoride in diethyl ether followed by treatment with THF affords the Li(THF)(4) salt of dimesityl-1,8-naphthalenediylborate (1). Compound 1-Li(THF)(4) undergoes a ring-opening reaction with trimethyltin chloride to afford high yields of 1-(dimesitylboron)-8-(trimethyltin)naphthalenediyl (2), a compound in which a boryl and a stannyl moiety coexist at the peri positions of a naphthalene core. Compound 2 has been characterized by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and X-ray single-crystal analysis which reveal the existence of a sterically crowded structure. Compound 2 is a useful starting material for the synthesis of other heteronuclear naphthalene derivatives. Thus, the transmetalation reaction of 2 with GaCl(3) or InCl(3) in THF results in high yields of 1-(dichlorogallium)-8-(dimesitylboron)naphthalenediyl (3) and 1-(dichloroindium)-8-(dimesitylboron)naphthalenediyl (4), respectively. These unprecedented boron/gallium and boron/indium heteronuclear bidentate Lewis acids have been characterized by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and X-ray single-crystal analysis. Owing to the presence of a short contact between the ipso-carbon atom of a mesityl group and the heavy Group 13 element (C(ipso)bondGa 2.279(4) A for 3, C(ipso)bondIn 2.442(6) A for 4), compounds 3 and 4 are best described as intramolecular pi-arene complexes and are the first examples of such complexes. As shown by (1)H and (13)C NMR spectroscopy, this pi interaction subsists in solution.     

Combined electrical and rheological properties of shear induced multiwall carbon nanotube agglomerates in epoxy suspensions

In this work the rheological and electrical properties of semi-dilute carbon nanotube (CNT)–epoxy suspensions have been discussed. The suspensions are produced using two types of industrially available CNTs (Nanocyl 3150 and 7000) and using two different dispersion techniques, namely 3-roll milling and sonication. In-situ optical microscopic analysis and electrical conductivity measurements have been conducted. It is shown that despite using CNTs with similar aspect ratios, the dispersability of the raw material and the time stability of the suspensions are quite different. Additionally, viscosity measurements are used to evaluate the initial dispersion quality and time stability.     

System Identification with piecewise linear models in the frequency domain – application to an servopneumatic actuator

By means of a real world application a system identification method was investigated for nonlinear systems from input‐output measurements. This approach is based on a blended multiple model structure, which describes the global behaviour of the system over the whole operating range. Depending on the operating point twenty local linear blackbox models were identified in the frequency domain from a finite number of measurements of the inputs and outputs. A comparative study was made of a model, which have been derived using physical laws [4] and measurements of several process states to estimate unknown parameters.