Vinyl‐type polymerization of norbornene by nickel(II) bisbenzimidazole catalysts

Novel nickel(II) bisbenzimidazole complexes were prepared via a three‐step synthetic procedure consisting of aniline/diacid condensation, ligand N‐alkylation, and metal complexation. The complexes were characterized by X‐ray crystallography and found to possess a pseudotetrahedral geometry. Upon activation with methylaluminoxane, these nickel bisbenzimidazoles did not polymerize simple olefins (e.g., ethylene, propylene, and 1‐butene) but were found to carry out the rapid and efficient polymerization of norbornene. The polynorbornene products were characterized by gel permeation chromatography/light scattering, ¹³C NMR, and IR, and their Mark–Houwink and dn/dc parameters were determined. The molecular weights of the polynorbornenes were very high (weight‐average molecular weight = 587,000–797,000 g/mol). ¹³C NMR suggested that the polymerization occurred via vinyl addition (i.e., a 2,3‐linked polymer); no ring‐opened product was observed. Thermogravimetric analysis indicated that the polynorbornenes were stable up to 400 °C under nitrogen. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 2095–2106, 2003     

Behaviors of the positive temperature coefficient of resistance of poly(styrene‐co‐n‐butylacrylate) filled with Ni‐plated core‐shell polymeric particles

Conductive composite films of poly(styrene‐co‐n‐butylacrylate) copolymers filled with low‐density, Ni‐plated core‐shell polymeric particles were prepared and their behaviors of positive temperature coefficient of resistance (PTCR) were investigated. When the conductive fillers in the composite film were loaded beyond the critical volume, 10 up to 25 vol %, composite films exhibited a unique electrical resistant transition behavior, which the electrical resistance rapidly increased by several orders of magnitude at the critical temperature. The PTCR transition temperature, in general, occurred before the glass transition temperature of polymer matrix. Further increased the conductive filler loading to 30 vol %, the overpacked conduction paths were formed in the entire composite and the PTCR effects became blurred. While the composite film treated with thermal cycle several times from room temperature up to 120 °C, the electrical resistivity increased accompanied with the shift of the PTCR transition to lower temperature. The reason might have been caused by the formed interfacial cracks within the composite film. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 45: 322–329, 2007     

Irradiation-induced reduction and luminescence properties of Sm doped in BaBPO5

Usually, Sm²⁺ ions could be reduced by heating the materials in reducing atmospheres. Exposure to ionizing radiations is also known to cause Sm³⁺→Sm²⁺ conversion. In this work, BaBPO₅ doped with the samarium ion was prepared by high temperature solid-state reaction. Sm²⁺ ions were obtained by two different reduction methods, i.e., heating in H₂ reduced atmosphere and X-ray irradiation. The measurements of X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscope (SEM) were investigated. It is found that the conversion of Sm³⁺→Sm²⁺ is very efficient in BaBPO₅ hosts after X-ray irradiation. Sm²⁺ ions under these two reduction methods exhibit different characteristics that were studied by measurements of luminescence and decay. The results showed that the luminescence properties of Sm²⁺ ions in BaBPO₅ were highly dependent on the sample preparation conditions.     

The phase structure of the two-dimensionalN=2 Wess-Zumino model

We construct a convergent cluster expansion for the two-dimensionalN=2 Wess-Zumino model, in a region of parameter space where there are multiple phase. As a result of this expansion, we are able to construct the infinite volume field theory and demonstrate exponential decay of correlations. We are also able to investigate the different phases of the model, develop the phase diagram, and show that the free energy of each phase vanishes.Supported in part by National Science Foundation grants DMS 90-08827, PHY/DMS 88-16214 and DMS 88-58073Supported in part by National Science Foundation Mathematical Sciences Postdoctoral Research Fellowship DMS 88-07291     

Codes Over the p-adic Integers

We study codes over the p-adic integers and correct errors in the existing literature. We show that MDS codes exist over the p-adics for all lengths, ranks and p. We show that self-dual codes exist over the 2-adics if and only if the length is a multiple of 8 and that self-dual codes exist over the p-adics with p odd if and only if the length is 0 (mod 4) for p ≡ 3 (mod 4) and 0 (mod 2) for p ≡ 1 (mod 4).     

Practical syntheses of [1,3,5]‐triazine dendritic molecules on solid supports

A practical and divergent synthesis of supported [1,3,5]‐triazine dendritic molecules on Wang resin, PEGA resin, SynPhase? Lanterns, and silica gel is described. The alkylamine linkers used allow derivatization with functionality for both synthetic (e.g., supported reagent and scavenger activity) and chemical biology applications. The use of supported intermediates allows differentiation of symmetric linkers without the need for protecting group chemistry. The synthetic route uses inexpensive, readily available starting materials in a straightforward and scaleable strategy. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 2248–2259, 2006     

Preparation and characterization of rigid poly(vinyl chloride)/MMT nanocomposites. II. XRD,morphological and mechanical characteristics

A Haake torque rheometer equipped with an internal mixer is used to study the influence of the amount of sodium montmorillonite (Na⁺‐MMT) and organically modified MMT (O‐MMT) on X‐ray diffraction (XRD), morphology, and mechanical characteristics of rigid poly (vinyl chloride) (PVC)/Na⁺‐MMT and PVC/O‐MMT nanocomposites, respectively. Results of XRD and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) indicate that MMT is partially encapsulated and intercalated in the rigid PVC/Na⁺‐MMT nanocomposites. However, results of XRD and TEM show MMT is partially intercalated and exfoliated in the rigid PVC/O‐MMT nanocomposites. Tensile strength, yield strength, and elongation at break of the rigid PVC/MMT nanocomposites were improved simultaneously with adding 1–3 wt % Na⁺‐MMT or O‐MMT with respect to that of pristine PVC. However, the addition of Na⁺‐MMT or O‐MMT should be kept as not more than 3 wt % to optimize the mechanical properties and the processing stability of the rigid PVC/MMT nanocomposites. SEM micrographs of the fractured surfaces of the rigid PVC/Na⁺‐MMT and PVC/O‐MMT nanocomposites both before and after tensile tests were also illustrated and compared. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 44: 2145–2154, 2006