Synthesis and characterization of reactive liquid crystalline Schiff bases,Rh(I) complexes,and their derived polymers

Two series of salicylaldimines have been synthesized that consist of model compounds with terminal methylenic chains and reactive compounds in which the terminal chains have been modified with acrylate groups. The dicarbonylrhodium(I) complexes of these systems were prepared by reacting the ligands with the dimer [RhCl(cod)]₂ and CO. Characterization of the metal‐containing acrylates by ¹H NMR spectroscopy revealed that the Rh(I) can coordinate to the terminal double bond to produce pentacoordinated complexes. Furthermore, investigation of the mesogenic properties of the complexes revealed that the bulkiness of the metallic center requires the presence of at least a three‐ring aromatic core to avoid the suppression of liquid crystallinity. The study was extended to include the side‐chain polymers obtained from the acrylate‐functionalized Schiff bases. Chelation of the preformed polyacrylate with low percentages of Rh(I) emerged as the best strategy to prepare Rh(I)‐containing polyacrylates. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 4466–4477, 2000     

Photoinduced optical anisotropy in azobenzene containing block copolymer–homopolymer blends. Influence of microstructure and molecular weight

Microstructure in two diblock methacrylic azo polymers and in some of their blends with PMMA of different molecular weights as well as their photoinduced anisotropy have been investigated. The block copolymers have similar structure but different azo content and degree of polymerization. A synthetic strategy based on a controlled radical polymerization (ATRP) of polymeric blocks and their coupling by click chemistry has been applied to obtain an azo block copolymer of high molecular weight. Microphase segregation has been observed in the block copolymers and in most of the blends. In blends of the block copolymer with lower degree of polymerization (Block 1) azo microdomains change from lamellar to spherical morphology when the azo content decreases from 24 to 3 wt.%. In the block copolymer with higher degree of polymerization (Block 2) and its blends, down to 3 wt.% azo content, spherical azo microdomains have been found. A decrease of the order parameter (η) and the photoinduced birefringence normalized to the azo content (|Δn|_norm) has been found in blends of Block 1 when the azo content decreases. However, |Δn|_norm and η values similar to those in the azo homopolymer have been observed in Block 2 and its blends. These blends can be used to lower the azo content while keeping a photoinduced response similar to that in the azo homopolymer.     

On one approach to a posteriori error estimates for evolution problems solved by the method of lines

Summary. In this paper, we describe a new technique for a posteriori error estimates suitable to parabolic and hyperbolic equations solved by the method of lines. One of our goals is to apply known estimates derived for elliptic problems to evolution equations. We apply the new technique to three distinct problems: a general nonlinear parabolic problem with a strongly monotonic elliptic operator, a linear nonstationary convection-diffusion problem, and a linear second order hyperbolic problem. The error is measured with the aid of the -norm in the space-time cylinder combined with a special time-weighted energy norm. Theory as well as computational results are presented. Received September 2, 1999 / Revised version received March 6, 2000 / Published online March 20, 2001     

SmCP-networked films obtained by in situ photopolymerization of neat reactive banana-shaped liquid crystals

The synthesis and characterization of reactive banana-shaped compounds have been carried out, and their ability to be photopolymerized in their SmCP mesophase has been assessed. The presence of a SmCP liquid crystalline phase in these compounds has been confirmed by X-ray studies. The polymerization of these molecules has been demonstrated by calorimetric techniques as well as by the preparation and characterization of SmCP-ordered free films that are mechanically stable at room temperature. Furthermore, polymerized films exhibit second harmonic generation activity at room temperature in the absence of an electric field.     

Thermal Stability Study of Fe-Ni-Based Alloys Determination of T-HR-T and T-T-T diagrams

The low-temperature parts of the temperature-heating rate-transformation (T-HR-T) and temperature-time transformation (T-T-T) diagrams were obtained for crystallization processes. A knowledge of the kinetic model governing crystallization is not needed because both transformation curves can be obtained from non-isothermal calorimetric experiments. The calorimetric study was performed by means of differential scanning calorimetry. The method was applied to analyse crystallization processes of Fe-Ni-based amorphous alloys prepared by melt spinning. The compositions studied were Fe₄₀Ni₄₀P₁₄Si₆, Fe₄₀Ni₄₀P₁₀Si₁₀ and Fe₄₀Ni₄₀P₆Si₁₄. A good concordance was observed between the experimental T-HR-T curves obtained by calculation and the experimental data, which verifies the reliability of the method. In the T-T-T diagrams, the agreement was good in process B1, while in processes A1 and C1 there are small differences that could be related to different crystallization products obtained in isothermal/non-isothermal experiments. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.