Thermal properties of diene elastomers

The paper presents the results of investigating the effect of the macromolecule chemical structure and the spatial network structure of butadiene (BR), butadiene-styrene (SBR) and butadiene-acrylonitrile (NBR) rubbers on their thermal properties. The rubbers were cross-linked by the conventional method by means of dicumyl peroxide or sulfur as well as by the non-conventional way using iodoform (CH₃I). The rubber and their vulcanizates were assessed by the derivatographic method (under air) and by means of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) under inert gas. The thermal cross-linking degree of the polydienes and the efficiency of the cross-linking processes, dependent on both the chemical structure of elastomer macromolecules and their spatial network structure were determined. The cross-linking of elastomers with iodoform changes the thermal properties of polymers, significantly increasing their glass transition temperature during both sample heating and cooling, which results from the increase in mutual interaction of macromolecules connected with their modification with iodine compounds.     

Stability-Indicating HPLC Method for the Determination of Cefcapene Pivoxil

The stability-indicating LC assay method was developed and validated for quantitative determination of cefcapene pivoxil in the presence of degradation products formed during forced degradation studies. An isocratic RP-HPLC method was developed with a Lichrospher RP-18 (250 mm × 4.6 mm, 5 μm) column and the mobile phase composed of 45 volumes of acetonitrile and 55 volumes of mixture composed of citric acid 10 mmol L^?1 and potassium chloride 18 mmol L^?1. The flow rate of the mobile phase was 1 mL min^?1. Detection wavelength was 270 nm and temperature was 30 °C. Cefcapene pivoxil, similar to other cephalosporins, was subjected to stress conditions of degradation in aqueous solutions including hydrolysis, oxidation, and thermal degradation. The method was validated with regard to linearity, accuracy, precision, selectivity, and robustness. The method was applied successfully for the determination of cefcapene pivoxil during kinetic studies in aqueous solutions (pH and thermal degradation) and in solid state (oxidative, thermal, and radiolytic degradation).     

Kinetics of Polymerization of 1,3-Dioxolan Initiated by C6H5COSbF,and (C6H5)3C+SbF8 Salts

Polymerizations of 1,3-dioxolan initiated by oxycarbenium salt CeHsCO⁺SbFe^? and triphenylmethylium salt (C6H₅)₃C⁺SbF₆ ^? proceed with induction periods. C₆H₅CO⁺SbF6 initiates polymerization by a direct addition, while initiation with (C₆H₅CO⁺SbFe^?proceeds through the intermediately formed 1,3-dioxolan-2-ylium salt. Kinetic analysis of polymerization of 1,3-dioxolan, initiated by oxycarbenium salt or triphenylmethylium salt revealed that, in spite of different chemisty of initiation, both processes proceed with a slow initiation on monomer and fast initiation on polymer. The pertinent kinetic equations were derived and it was found, that the rate constant of propagation (k) does not depend on the structure of initiator used, being equal to 25 ± 5 liter/mole-sec (0°C, CH₂Cl₂ or CH₃NO₂).     

Thermal stability and flammability of nanocomposites made of diene rubbers and modified halloysite nanotubes

This paper presents a method of modification of halloysite with the use of aqueous solutions of halogens and an alcoholic solution of boric acid. The effect of modified nanoadditives on the thermal properties, flammability, and fire hazard of peroxide and sulfur vulcanizates of butadiene–acrylonitrile (NBR) and butadiene–styrene (SBR) rubbers was described and assessed. The test results obtained by spectrometric methods, oxygen index, and cone calorimeter were interpreted from the point of view of the chemical structure of the investigated diene elastomers and the particular method of halloysite modification. The analysis of values obtained by the method of cone calorimetry it confirms that most NBR and SBR vulcanizates filled with modified halloysite are more resistant to fire when compared with material without modification. In addition, the modified halloysite are crucial in making self-extinguishing elastomeric materials.     

Bisquare robust polynomial fitting method for dimple distortion minimization in surface quality analysis

In this paper, the bisquare robust polynomial fitting (BSRPF) method for surface texture features assessment was proposed. Plateau-honed cylinder liner bronze surfaces with additionally burnished microcavities (defined as dimple, holes, and/or cavities) were taken into consideration. Analyzed details were measured with stylus (Talyscan 150) or white light interferometer (Talysurf CCI Lite) methods. It was assumed that application of commonly used (in surface contact and noncontact measurement technology) polynomial fitting procedures did not allow to extract required features; distortion of microreservoir dimples for oil consumption assessment was falsely estimated when valleys were near edge or on the edge located. Application of bisquare robust polynomial fitting method caused a minimization of microflattens of dimples irrespective of valley distribution; the biggest degree of polynomial fitting method applied, the minimal distortions of oil reservoirs were noticed. The valley size (depth and width) and valley-to-valley distance were also taken into account.     

The synthesis and properties of fluoro-substituted analogues of 4-butyl-4′-[(4-butylphenyl)ethynyl]biphenyls

The synthesis of 4-butyl-4′-[(4-butyl-2,6-difluorophenyl)ethynyl]biphenyl and its higher fluorinated analogues is presented and discussed. Correlations between molecular structure and mesomorphic properties for presented compounds as well as other known from the literature analogues have been drawn. The dielectric study of four synthesised compounds and their mixtures are presented and discussed. Trifluoro-substituted analogues are trade off between low dielectric anisotropy of difluorinated compounds and lower clearing points of tetrafluorinated ones.     

On the influence of the chiral side linking bridge type upon the synclinic vs. anticlinic balance in the case of 2′,3′-difluoroterphenyl derivatives

A homologous series of new ferro- and antiferroelectric liquid crystals, containing 2′,3′-difluorosubstituted terphenyl core as a mesogenic core, has been recently synthesised. Synthetic routes and mesomorphic properties were described. Liquid crystal phases were preliminarily determined by thermomicroscopic and microcalorimetric measurements and verified by dielectric measurements and miscibility methods. Temperatures and enthalpies of phase transitions are given.     

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry analysis of atom transfer radical polymerization macroinitiators derived from poly(3-ethyl-3-hydroxymethyloxetane)

The matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight analysis of macroinitiators for atom transfer radical polymerization prepared by the functionalization of a multihydroxyl, highly branched polyether, poly(3-ethyl-3-hydroxymethyloxetane), allows the exact determination of the macroinitiator functionality, providing information on the number of bromine atoms in individual macromolecules, in contrast to NMR analysis, which gives average values. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 608–614, 2004     

Functionalized polymeric stationary phases for ion chromatography

Synthesis and properties of the multilayered stationary phases, which contain quaternary amine functional groups for the analysis of anions by ion chromatography, are described. The bonded phases were characterized by elemental analysis, solid-state (13)C NMR spectroscopy and chromatographic methods. The surface of 1,4-di(2-hydroxy-3-methacryloyloxypropoxy)phenol (solid support) was coated with polymeric layers formed by condensation polymerization of primary amine with diepoxide. Each layer of the anion exchange stationary phase consists of copolymer of methylamine (MA) and 1,4-butanedioldiglycidyl ether (BDDE). A series of stationary phases with different numbers of polymerized layers were tested. The separation of an inorganic anions sample (F(-), Cl(-), NO(2)(-), Br(-), NO(3)(-), additionally HPO(4)(2-) and SO(4)(2-)) was performed. In the measurement, a hydroxide, carbonate, bicarbonate and their mixture were used as mobile phases.