The vane method and kinetic modeling: shear rheology of nanofibrillated cellulose suspensions

We conduct rheological characterization of nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) suspensions, a highly non-Newtonian complex fluid, at several concentrations. Special care is taken to cope with the prevalent problems of time scale issues, wall depletion and confinement effects. We do this by combining the wide-gap vane geometry, extremely long measurement times, and modeling. We take into account the wide-gap related stress heterogeneity by extending upon mainstream methods and apply a gap correction. Furthermore, we rationalize the experimental data through a simple viscous structural model. With these tools we find that, owing to the small size of the particles subjected to Brownian motion, the NFC suspensions exhibit a critical shear rate, where the flow curve experiences a turning point. This makes the steady state of these suspensions at low shear rates non-unique. To optimize various mixing and pumping applications, such history dependent tendency of NFC suspensions to shear band needs to be taken into account.     

Generation of an N→B Ladder‐type Structure by Regioselective Hydroboration of an Alkenyl‐Functionalized Quaterpyridine

An unusual reactivity of 2‐(1‐alkenyl)‐pyridines towards hydroboration with 9H‐borabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane (9H‐BBN) has been employed to selectively introduce two borane groups into a conjugated quaterpyridine. Quantitative conversion of the substrate was observed with exclusive regioselectivity. A molecular structure that allows intramolecular N→B coordination was generated. The effect of the ladder formation on the molecular structure and the electronic properties of the conjugated system have been investigated. The synthetic strategy demonstrated herein offers a facile access to N→B ladder‐type structures from readily available substrates, and allows to simultaneously introduce several boron centers under mild conditions.     

Synthese, 13C-NMR-Spektren und räumliche Struktur von ‘Push-Pull’-Diacetylenen

Synthesis, ¹³C-NMR Spectra, and X-Ray Investigation of ‘Push-Pull’ Diacetylenes Phenyl-substituted ‘push-pull’ diacetylenes 1f and 1g have been prepared by acetylation and benzoylation of the appropriate lithiodiynylamines 4 (Scheme 2). ¹³C-NMR spectra of diacetylenes 1a–g (Table 1) are discussed with respect to the expected polarisation of the diacetylene unit by ‘push’ and ‘pull’ substituents. X-Ray investigations of 1c , 1e , and 1f have been performed in view of the planned solid-state polymerisation of ‘push-pull’ diacetylenes. In the crystalline state, diacetylenes 1c and 1f are stacked, however, the stacking parameters do not allow a solid-state polymerisation.     

Polygonal finite element formulations for 2d linear-elastic FE problems

Polygonal finite elements provide great flexibility meshing complex structures and for the refinement of meshes. The actual task in the development of these elements is to offer adequate and secure numerical results compared with regular finite elements at low computational costs. Particulary, finding an efficient and appropriate interpolation of the arbitrary element domain exhibits strong difficulties. Based on the general interpolant equation three element formulations are shown that use different interpolation strategies. The elements' performances are shown with a numerical example considering 2d linear elasticity. The results of the different element formulations are compared among each other, with analytical as well as with regular elements' results. (© 2009 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)