Influence of organic modifiers on morphology and crystallization of poly(ϵ‐caprolactone)/synthetic clay intercalated nanocomposites

ε‐caprolactone was polymerized in the presence of neat montmorillonite or organomontmorillonites to obtain a variety of poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PCL)‐based systems loaded with 10 wt % of the silicates. The materials were thoroughly investigated by different X‐ray scattering techniques to determine factors affecting structure of the systems. For one of the nanocomposites it was found that varying the temperature in the range corresponding to crystallization of PCL causes reversible changes in the interlayer distance of the organoclay. Extensive experimental and literature studies on this phenomenon provided clues indicating that this effect might be a result of two‐dimensional ordering of PCL chains inside the galleries of the silicate. Small angle X‐ray scattering and wide angle X‐ray scattering investigation of filaments oriented above melting point of PCL revealed that polymer lamellae were oriented perpendicularly to particles of unmodified silicate, while in PCL/organoclay systems they were found parallel to clay tactoids. Calorimetric and microscopic studies shown that clay particles are effective nucleating agents. In the nanocomposites, PCL crystallized 20‐fold faster than in the neat polymer. The crystallization rate in nanocomposites was also significantly higher than in microcomposite. Further research provided an insight how the presence of the filler affects crystalline fraction and spherulitic structure of the polymer matrix in the investigated systems. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 45: 2350–2367, 2007     

Comparative study of breakthrough volumes BTV on various sorbents

Summary Breakthrough volumes on ten sorbents (Chromosorb 102, 104, 105 and 106, Porapak R and S, XAD-2, XAD-7, Tenax GC and Carbosphere) have been determined for vapours of 15 volatile organic compounds (halogenated hydrocarbons, alcohols, etc.). The volumes were determined by an indirect method employing typical chromatographic parameters such as retention volume and peak width.The method seems to be useful for preliminary estimation of adsorption capacity of various sorbents. It is not suitable, however, for the investigation of the effect of various parameters on the breakthrough volume.

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Vergleichende Untersuchung des Durchbruchsvolumens an verschiedenen Sorbentien

Zusammenfassung An 10 verschiedenen Sorbentien (Chromosorb 102, 104, 105, 106; Porapak R und S; XAD-2; XAD-7; Tenax GC; Carbosphere) wurden für 15 flüchtige organische Verbindungen (halogenierte Kohlenwasserstoffe, Alkohole u. a.) die Durchbruchsvolumina bestimmt. Es wurde dafür ein indirektes Verfahren mit typischen chromatographischen Parametern (Retentionsvolumen, Peakbreite) benutzt. Die Methode erscheint nützlich für die vorläufige Abschätzung der Adsorptionskapazität von Sorbentien, eignet sich jedoch nicht für die Untersuchung des Einflusses verschiedener Parameter auf das Durchbruchsvolumen.

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Part of this research was supported by Institute of Oceanology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Gdask, grant MR. I-15.     

Hydrogen bonding in linear (LiH)2

Ab initio LCAO MO SCF calculations are reported on the linear form of LiH dimer. The properties and structure of the Li-H-Li linkage are discussed in the light of hydrogen bonding.     

The electronic effects of substituents at the acyl carbon in the gas-phase elimination kinetics of tert-butyl α-substituted acetates

The gas-phase eliminations of several tert-butyl esters, in a static system and in vessels seasoned with allyl bromide, have been studied in the temperature range of 171.5–280.1°C and the pressure range of 23–98 torr. The rate coefficients for the homogeneous unimolecular elimination of these esters are given by the following Arrhenius equations: for tert-butyl pivalate, log k₁(s^?1) = (13.44 ± 0.30) ? (169.1 ± 3.1) kJ · mol^?1 (2.303RT)^?1; for tert-butyl trichloroacetate, log k₁(s^?1) = (12.41 ± 0.08) ? (141.1 ± 0.7) kJ · mol^?1 (2.303RT)^?1; and for tert-butyl cyanoacetate log k₁(s^?1) = (11.31 ± 0.44) ? (137.8 ± 4.1) kJ · mol^?1 (2.303RT)^?1. The data of this work together with those reported in the literature yield a good linear relationship when plotting log k/k₀ vs. σ* values (ρ* = 0.635, correlation coefficient r = 0.972, and intercept = 0.048 at 250°C). The positive ρ* value suggests that the movement of negative charge to the acyl carbon in the transition state is rate determining. The present results along with previous investigations ratify the generalization that electron-withdrawing substituents at the acyl side of ethyl, isopropyl, and tert-butyl esters enhance the elimination rates, while electron-releasing groups tend to reduce them. The negative nature of the acyl carbon and the polarity in the transition state increases slightly from primary to tertiary esters.     

STUDIES ON FLAVINS IN ORGANIC SOLVENTS-I*. SPECTRAL CHARACTERISTICS OF RIBOFLAVIN,RIBOFLAVIN TETRABUTYRATE AND LUMICHROME

Abstract— The absorption and fluorescence spectra of riboflavin, riboflavin tetrabutyrate and lumichrome have been studied in organic solvents of different polarity including ethanol, acetone, dioxane, pyridine, acetic acid and in cyclohexane-dioxane mixtures. The molar extinction coefficients of the compounds were measured and the character of solvent sensitive changes observed in the absorption spectra are discussed. The effect of hydrogen bonding and/or intramolecular charge transfer complex are proposed as possible explanation. Changes in the shape of fluorescence emission spectra are less evident; in the case of riboflavin tetrabutyrate, mirror symmetry to the shape of the longest wavelength maximum was observed in low-polar solvents. Quantum yields of fluorescence are higher the lower the polarity of the solvent used; the value for riboflavin tetrabutyrate is greater than for riboflavin. Changes were also observed in the fluorescence emission spectra of lumichrome in solvents of different polarity. Fairly good agreement was demonstrated for positions of the observed absorption maxima of riboflavin in 98% dioxane, riboflavin tetrabutyrate and lumichrome in 80% cyclohexane in mixture with dioxane and the values calculated from energies of molecular orbitals of flavins computed by B. Pullman and A. Pullman.