Stress-optical properties of poly(oxypropylene) networks

Strain birefringence of poly(oxypropylene) was studied using several poly(oxypropylene) model networks of different crosslink densities. Most of the measurements were carried out in elongation, in both the unswollen and the swollen states, over the temperature range 10–70°C. The optical configuration parameter was found to be Δa = (4.33 ± 0.09) × 10^?24 cm³ at 25°C with a very small temperature coefficient. Theoretical calculations based on rotational isomeric state theory were employed to interpret the experimental data. The results indicate the intermolecular correlations to be low for this polymer, and, contrary to other systems, the stress-optical coefficient C decreased with increasing average molecular weight between crosslinks. This fact was attributed to the end-group effect introduced by the crosslinking agent.     

Birefringence and glass transition temperatures of poly(diethylene glycol terephthalate) networks

A series of polymer networks were prepared by trifunctionally endlinking poly(diethylene glycol terephthalate). The elastomeric properties of these materials were studied at constant temperature using experiments that involve both the elastic force and birefringence. Whereas the stress-strain isotherms show an anomalous increase in the modulus at very high elongation ratios, a downturn appears in the birefringence-strain isotherms at the same extensibilities. These results suggest that the upturn that appears in the force should be attributed to maximum chain extensibility rather than to strain-induced crystallization. A variety of additional thermoelastic experiments were carried out on these networks, to elucidate the dependence of the glass transition temperature on strain. It was found that for the elongation ratios at which the networks exhibit Gaussian behavior, the free-volume effects on the glass transition temperature T_g (decreasing T_g with increasing free volume) offset the conformational effects (increasing T_g with decreasing entropy). However, the contrary occurs in the region where the stress increases anomalously with increasing strain.     

Cobalt-mediated macrocyclizations. Facile synthesis of 2-oxo pyridinophanes via [2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition of alpha, omega-diynes and isocyanates

[reaction: see text] Cobalt-mediated [2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition of alpha,omega-diynes and isocyanates provides a direct approach to macrocyclic 2-oxopyridinophanes. This macrocyclization process, which proceeded most efficiently with aliphatic isocyanates, was conveniently performed at a moderate temperature (85 degrees C) without irradiation or syringe-pump addition.     

Elasticity of model poly(oxypropylene) networks

The equilibrium stress-strain properties and the swelling behavior of moderately cross-linked model networks of poly(oxypropylene) were studied. Results were in general agreement with the theory of rubber elasticity due to Flory. However, data on the highly cross-linked networks (M?_c ≈ 725) could not be satisfactorily described by the recent theories of elasticity or swelling. This is believed to be primarily due to the marked non-Gaussian character of the very short network chains and the substantial chemical modification of the polymer by the cross-linking moiety which inevitably occurs at high cross-link densities.     

Model networks of end-linked polydimethylsiloxane chains. XI. Use of very short network chains to improve ultimate properties

Elastomeric networks were prepared by tetrafunctionally end-linking mixtures of various proportions of relatively long and very short polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) chains. The former had a number-average molecular weight of 18,500 and the latter either 660 or 220 g mole^?1. The series of (unfilled) bimodal networks thus prepared were studied in elongation to the rupture point at 25°C, and in swelling equilibrium in benzene at room temperature. Elasticity constants characterizing the Gaussian regions of the stress–strain isotherms, and values of the degree of equilibrium swelling were used to evaluate the most recent molecular theories of rubberlike elasticity. The isotherms also gave values of the elongation at which the modulus begins to increase anomalously because of limited chain extensibility, and values of the elongation and nominal stress at the point of rupture. These results were interpreted in terms of the known configurational characteristics of the constituent PDMS chains. Values of the energy or work required for rupture were used as an overall measure of the “toughness” of the networks. The very short chains were found to give a marked increase in toughness, through an increase in ultimate strength without the usual corresponding decrease in maximum extensibility. A variety of additional experiments will be required in order to elucidate the molecular origins of this important effect.     

Chemical composition and electronic structure of anodic passive films on low-C 13CrNiMo stainless steel

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - Mott–Schottky analysis and electrochemical and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) measurements were performed on passive films formed on low-C...     

Optimal covering of C(60) fullerene by rare gases

Putative global energy minima of clusters formed by the adsorption of rare gases on a C(60) fullerene molecule, C(60)X(N) (X=Ne, Ar, Kr, Xe; N ≤ 70), are found using basin-hopping global optimization in an empirical potential energy surface. The association energies per rare gas atom as a function of N present two noticeable minima for Ne and Ar and just one for Kr and Xe. The minimum with the smallest N is the deepest one and corresponds to an optimal packing monolayer structure; the other one gives a monolayer with maximum packing. For Kr and Xe, optimal and maximum packing structures coincide. By using an isotropic average form of the X-C(60) interaction, we have established the relevance of the C(60) surface corrugation on the cluster structures. Quantum effects are relevant for Ne clusters. The adsorption of these rare gases on C(60) follows patterns that differ significantly from the ones found recently for He by means of experimental and theoretical methods.     

An algorithm for computing the centered Hausdorff measures of self-similar sets

We provide an algorithm for computing the centered Hausdorff measures of self-similar sets satisfying the strong separation condition. We prove the convergence of the algorithm and test its utility on some examples.     

Spectral self-imaging effect by time-domain multilevel phase modulation of a periodic pulse train

We propose and analyze a novel (to our knowledge) approach to implement the spectral self-imaging effect of optical frequency combs. The technique is based on time-domain multilevel phase-only modulation of a periodic optical pulse train. The method admits both infinite- and finite-duration periodic pulse sequences. We show that the fractional spectral self-imaging effect allows one to reduce by an integer factor the comb frequency spacing. Numerical simulation results support our theoretical analysis.