Evaluation of short term–high intensity thermal degradation of graphite fiber reinforced laminates via ultrasonic spectroscopy

In certain fire situations, a structural or load‐bearing polymer matrix composite (PMC) may be exposed to excessive thermal loads that degrade the matrix. In this paper, we report the results of a study to assess the utility of ultrasonic spectroscopy as a means of assessing the residual physical and mechanical characteristics of PMCs exposed to excessive thermal loads. We show that the measured power spectra of ultrasonic energy correlates with performance of graphite fiber epoxy matrix composites exposed to thermal degradation. Unidirectional composites were exposed to short term–high intensity thermal loads at one end of the specimen. Thus, inducing a thermal gradient along the length of the specimen. Simultaneous thermogravimetric analysis–differential scanning calorimetry (TGA/DSC) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis of the aged specimens revealed a gradient in thermal degradation. The thermal loads induced substantial degradation of the composite. However, the amplitude of the power spectra is observed to increase gradually then sharply prior to its complete attenuation due to delaminations. Mode I fracture toughness tests correlate with the observed changes in the ultrasonic spectra. FTIR, TGA/DSC, fracture toughness, and ultrasonic spectral analysis all indicate the same critical temperature at which thermally induced damage sharply increased. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 37: 2601–2610, 1999     

Theoretical study of I2O

We present high-level density functional calculations (DFT) on the unknown I₂O molecule. The results suggest that the compound may be sufficiently stable for detection and synthesis. Our results also suggest that the DFT method is a reliable and computationally cheap alternative to G2, for estimating thermodynamic properties. The trends in relative stabilities within the HOX and X₂O series are discussed (X=halogen). © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 9:383–385, 1998     

Living bimetallic initiators for the preparation of triblock copolymers

The compound [(η-C₃H₅)Ni(OC(O)CF₃)]₂ ( I ), which has been used extensively as a butadiene polymerization catalyst and more recently as an isocyanide polymerization catalyst, has been successfully used in the preparation of polyisocyanide - polybutadiene block copolymers. Since both monomer polymerizations are living, this block copolymer synthesis is highly versatile with respect to polymer segment chain lengths and the types of monomers used. Because non-reciprocal end-group activities prevent the preparation of triblock copolymers of the type polyisocyanide-butadiene-polyisocyanide, bimetallic initiators possessing two allylnickel moieties linked through a central core have been prepared and used to synthesize these desirable triblock copolymers. These materials have been characterized by using gel-permeation chromatography, differential scanning calorimetry, ¹³C NMR and scanning electron microscopy.     

A Lactic Acid Bacteria Consortium Impacted the Content of Casein-Derived Biopeptides in Dried Fresh Cheese

This study aimed to define a consortium of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) that will bring added value to dried fresh cheese through specific probiotic properties and the synthesis of bioactive peptides (biopeptides). The designed LAB consortium consisted of three Lactobacillus strains: S-layer carrying Levilactobacillus brevis D6, exopolysaccharides producing Limosilactobacillus fermentum D12 and plantaricin expressing Lactiplantibacillus plantarum D13, and one Enterococcus strain, Enterococcus faecium ZGZA7-10. Chosen autochthonous LAB strains exhibited efficient adherence to the Caco-2 cell line and impacted faecal microbiota biodiversity. The cheese produced by the LAB consortium showed better physicochemical, textural and sensory properties than the cheese produced by a commercial starter culture. Liquid chromatography coupled with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MALDI-TOF/TOF) showed the presence of 18 specific biopeptides in dried fresh cheeses. Their identification and relative quantification was confirmed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) using multiple reaction monitoring (MRM). The results also showed that their synthesis resulted mainly from β-casein and also α-S1 casein degradation by proteolytic activities of the LAB consortium. The designed LAB consortium enhanced the functional value of the final product through impact on biopeptide concentrations and specific probiotic properties.     

Rapid Structure Determination of Bioactive 4″-Tetrahydrofurfuryl Macrozone Reaction Mixture Components by LC-SPE/Cryo NMR and MS

LC-SPE/cryo NMR and MS methodologies have been developed and employed for a rapid structure determination of 4″-tetrahydrofurfuryl macrozone reaction mixture components. Macrozones, novel conjugates of azithromycin, and thiosemicarbazones have shown very good in vitro antibacterial activities against susceptible and some resistant bacterial strains and are promising agents for further development. The post-column multiple trapping of the chromatographically separated reaction mixture components on the SPE cartridges increased the sensitivity and together with cryogenically cooled NMR probe made it possible to identify and structurally characterize main 4″-tetrahydrofurfuryl macrozone reaction mixture compounds including those present at very low concentration level. This approach has several advantages over a classical off-line procedure, efficiency and low solvent consumption being the two most important ones. All identified components were process-related. It has been demonstrated that two different kinds of compounds with respect to structure were identified, i.e., macrolide-related and thiosemicarbazone-related ones. This methodology can serve as a platform for reliable and effective macrolides reaction components structure profiling, serving as both isolation and identification tools.     

Structural temperature-induced transitions in polar Langmuir-Blodgett films of p-(p-octadecyloxyphenylazo)benzenesulfonamide

We have studied the temperature dependence of the pyroelectric coefficient, dielectric constant and spacings of polar LB-films building from molecules of p-(p-octadecyloxyphenylazo)benzenesulfonamide (18-OABS) with a large dipole moment. The films were deposited by the Langmuir-Schaefer method. A significant pyroelectric effect in the films proved them to be polar. The periodicity of structure in films was approximately equal to the length of the molecules used. An irreversible transition at 90°C from polar to nonpolar phase has been observed in these films. At this transition the structural period of the films changes (39Å ⟹ 69Å). Also these LB-films exhibited several structure transitions. The films did not show a single solid-to-liquid transition but were liquid-crystalline. In the liquidcrystal state the films have several smectic mesophases. Transitions to the mesophases take place at 124°C (69Å ⇔︁ 63Å) and at 136°C (63Å ⇔︁ 41Å). During the transitions the structural periods of the films and the value of dielectric constant change.     

Vibrational study of H3OUO2PO4·3 H2O (HUP) and related compounds. Phase transitions and conductivity mechanism: Part II,H3OUO2PO4·3 H2O

Infrared and Raman spectra of polycrystalline H₃OUO₂PO₄·3 H₂O (HUP) and its D and P¹⁸O₄ derivatives, in the form of dense transparent disks and wet powder, have been investigated at various temperatures in the 100–300 K region. The bands due to framework vibrations are similar to those of KUP, whereas those for the protonic species are different. OH stretching and bending bands of the oxonium ion have been identified at 2920, 1740 and 1160 cm^?1 in the low-temperature spectrum of HUP. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and infrared (IR) intensity investigations show a phase transition between 274 and 260 K. The mechanism of the phase transition consists, as in the case of KUP, of ordering of the protonic species, which induces ordering of PO₄ tetrahedra. The ordering can be influenced by excess water content, stacking faults and stress (ferroelastic behaviour is evidenced). The conductivity mechanism in HUP is discussed.     

Infrared study of H+(H2O)nβ″ alumina

Infrared spectra of H⁺(H₂O)_nβ″ alumina show than the dehydrated samples contain H₃O⁺ ions as dominant species while the hydrated ones consists mainly of H₃O⁺ and H₅O⁺₂ entities. Oxonium ions can occupy many different positions more or less distant form the ideal prismatic sites. This structural disorder in the conductivity plane is believed to be the main factor responsible for the high conductivity of the material.     

Molecular orientation and the tensile strength of polystyrene

The tensile strengths of uniaxially oriented polystyrene films with molecular orientation determined by IR spectroscopy are compared. Two different orientation methods involving different time and temperature regimes are employed. It is found that the tensile strength is a unique function of the degree of orientation of the molecular segments of the polystyrene carbon chain irrespective of the means used to orient the specimens and increases linearly with increase in the degree of molecular orientation of the polymer. The experimental dependence is in satisfactory agreement with the results of a theoretical analysis.A. F. Ioffe Physico Technical Institute, Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Leningrad. Translated from Mekhanika Polimerov, No. 4, pp. 612–615, July–August, 1969.     

Spectroscopic measurements in nitrogen arcs with respect to local thermodynamic equilibrium

A wall-stabilized nitrogen arc at atmospheric pressure was studied spectroscopically in the current range from 20 to 70 A with the aim of detecting departures from LTE. Measurements of the relative intensity of several N(I) lines showed that the populations of the upper excited states are in equilibrium for currents greater than approx. 25 A. Comparisons of the excitation temperatures obtained from relative intensities with the electron temperature and with the temperature curves calculated for different departures from LTE show that deviations from equilibrium are small at the arc center for electron densities above approx. 4 × 10¹⁶ cm^-3. Deviations between the radial profiles of the electron and excitation temperatures were observed for currents between 35 and 55 A.