The effect of mixing methods on the dispersion of carbon nanotubes during the solvent-free processing of multiwalled carbon nanotube/epoxy composites

Several solvent-free processing methods to disperse multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) in bisphenol F-based epoxy resin were investigated, including the use of a microfluidizer (MF), planetary shear mixer (PSM), ultrasonication (US) and combinations. The processed mixture was cured with diethyl toluene diamine. Three complimentary techniques were used to characterize the dispersion of the MWCNTs in cured composite samples: optical microscopy, micro Raman spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). For sample MF + PSM, optical micrographs and Raman images showed reduced agglomeration and a homogeneous distribution of MWCNTs in the epoxy matrix. SEM analysis of fractured specimen after tensile testing revealed breakage of nanotubes along the fracture surface of the composite. A comparison of the MWCNT dispersion in the epoxy samples processed using different methods showed that a combination of MF and PSM processing yields a more homogeneous sample than the PSM or US + PSM processed samples. Mechanical testing of the composites showed about 15% improvement in the tensile strength of samples processed by the MF + PSM method over other methods. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) results showed a small decrease in the onset degradation temperature for poorly dispersed samples produced by PSM compared with the well-mixed samples (MF + PSM). These results strongly suggest that the MF + PSM processing method yield better-dispersed and stronger MWCNT/epoxy composites. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys, 2013     

Hexa-Coordinated Silicon Complexes Derived from Regioisomeric Aminotriphenylethanols and Their use as Dopants for Liquid Crystals

Abstract

Tridentate imine ligands that are obtained from the chiral, regioisomeric amino alcohols 2-amino-1,1,2-triphenyethanol and 2-amino-1,2,2-triphenylethanol serve for the formation of bis-chelated silicon complexes. Whereas the complex based on the former amino alcohol is obtained as a diastereomeric mixture, the complex that is derived from 2-amino-1,2,2-triphenylethanol forms in a completely diastereoselective manner, and its configuration is determined as (A,R,R), according to a crystal structure analysis. The new silicon complexes are found to be efficient dopants for the conversion of nematic liquid crystals into cholesteric phases.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT     

Spectral Assignment of Phenanthrene Derivatives Based on 6H-Dibenzo[C,E][1,2] Oxaphosphinine 6-Oxide by NMR and Quantum Chemical Calculations

Abstract

Organophosphorus compounds such as 6H-dibenzo[c,e][1,2]oxaphosphinine 6-oxide (DOPO, 1) and its derivatives are important and versatile compounds for a broad field of applications. However, a thorough spectral assignment is often subordinate to its chemical properties. This article presents and unambiguously attributes the ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra of DOPO (1), selected products yielded from the Atherton–Todd reaction (2–4), DOPO-HQ (5) as well as sulfur derivatives (6–7) via a set of 1D- and 2D-NMR experiments. The complex P-C and P-H coupling patterns are discussed and compared with the derivatives possessing different chemical environments around the phosphorus atom. In addition, we compared our results with density functional theory calculations. Even though the prediction of NMR data of organophosphorus compounds via molecular modeling is limited, this study presents a method that yields good results for this class of heterocycles. This knowledge should help to quickly assign NMR spectroscopic data of other DOPO (1) derivatives and can be extrapolated to organophosphorus compounds in general.

Supplemental materials are available for this article. Go to the publisher's online edition of Phosphorus, Sulfur, and Silicon and the Related Elements for the following free supplemental resource: NMR Spectra of Compounds 1-7 (Figures S1 - S15).     

Synthesis of Benzaldehyde‐Functionalized Glycans: A Novel Approach Towards Glyco‐SAMs as a Tool for Surface Plasmon Resonance Studies

In recent years the interest in tools for investigating carbohydrate–protein (CPI) and carbohydrate‐carbohydrate interactions (CCI) has increased significantly. For the investigation of CPI and CCI, several techniques employing different linking methods are available. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) imaging is a most appropriate tool for analyzing the formation of self‐assembled monolayers (SAM) of carbohydrate derivatives, which can mimic the glycocalyx. In contrast to the SPR imaging methods used previously to analyze CPI and CCI, the novel approach reported herein allows a facile and rapid synthesis of linker spacers and carbohydrate derivatives and enhances the binding event by controlling the amount and orientation of ligand. For immobilization on biorepulsive amino‐functionalized SPR chips by reductive amination, diverse aldehyde‐functionalized glycan structures (glucose, galactose, mannose, glucosamine, cellobiose, lactose, and lactosamine) have been synthesized in several facile steps that include olefin metathesis. Effective immobilization and the first binding studies are presented for the lectin concanavalin A.     

Dielectric,thermal, and mechanical properties of CeO2‐filled HDPE composites for microwave substrate applications

Cerium oxide‐filled high density polyethylene (HDPE) composites for microwave substrate applications were prepared by sigma‐blend technique. The HDPE was used as the matrix and the dispersion of CeO₂ in the composite was varied up to 0.5 by volume fraction, and the dielectric properties were studied at 1 MHz and microwave frequencies. The variations of thermal conductivity (k_eff), coefficient of thermal expansion (α_c) and Vicker's microhardness with the volume fraction of the filler were also measured. The relative permittivity (ε_eff) and dielectric loss (tan δ) were found to increase with increase in CeO₂ content. For 0.4 volume fraction loading of the ceramic, the composite had ε_eff = 5.7, tan δ = 0.0068 (at 7 GHz), k_eff = 2.6 W/m °C, α_c = 98.5 ppm/°C, Vicker's microhardness of 18 kg/mm² and tensile strength of 14.6 MPa. Different theoretical approaches have been used to predict the effective permittivity, thermal conductivity, and coefficient of thermal expansion of composite systems and the results were compared with the experimental data. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 48: 998–1008, 2010