Improved Compatibility of Styrene-Maleic Anhydride Copolymer/Polyethylene Blends Through Reactive Mixing

Abstract

To improve the compatibility of styrene-maleic anhydride copolymer/low density polyethylene (SMA/LDPE) blends, LDPE grafted with 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate-isophorone diisocyanate (LDPE-g-HI) was prepared and blended with SMA of which anhydride was converted to carboxylic acid (SMAAc). The infrared spectra of LDPE-g-HI established the presence of isocyanate group. In the blend morphology, some adhesions between the two phases and much finer dispersions were observed in the SMAAc/LDPE-g-HI blends, indicating that chemical reactions took place during the melt blending. The lower heat capacity change at the glass transition temperature demonstrated that chemical bonds were produced in the SMAAc/LDPE-g-HI blends. From the results of the rheological test, it was found that strong positive deviation from the mixing rule occurred in viscosity for the SMAAc/LDPE-g-HI blends, concerning with good adhesion and finer dispersions. In the measurement of tensile property, the improved mechanical properties for the SMAAc/LDPE-g-HI blends were shown.     

Synthesis of Cationic Dumbbell-shaped Fullerene Nanostructures as Potential Photodynamic Sensitizers

A design of novel hydrophilic tetracationic dumbbell-shaped [60]fullerene nanostructures was made by balancing the hydrophilicity and hydrophobicity characteristics of the fullerene adduct for their potential application as photodynamic sensitizers in the PDT treatment. A sequential protection-deprotection reaction pathway was applied for the functional differentiation between primary and secondary amine moieties of pentaethylene hexamine. Synthesis of the target molecule involves two key steps of unsymmetrical esterification and amidation of malonic acid and subsequent fullerenation. The synthetic strategy was accomplished using mild reaction conditions in the intermediate molecule preparation and led a moderate overall product yield.     

Anion Recognition by Urea Derivatives of Anthraquinone: Dihydrogen Phosphate Ion Selective Neutral Receptors

Three urea derivatives of anthraquinone were synthesized and they showed a high selectivity for dihydrogen phosphate ions.     

A Mild and Efficient Tetrahydropyranylation of Alcohols

Triphenylphosphine (TPP)-iodotrimethylsilane (TMSI) was found to be a convenient and highly effective catalyst for the tetrahydropyranylation of aliphatic and aromatic alcohols with dihydropyran in dichloromethane at ambient temperature.