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     

Molecular mass determination of polyamic acid ionic salt by size-exclusion chromatography

A methodology was developed for the determination of molecular weight aveages of polyamic acid ionic salt (PAS) by size-exclusion chromatography (SEC). Polystyrene standards were used for calibration and THF-DMF 1:1 by volume containing 0.06 M LiBr and 0.06 M H3PO4 was used as the mobile phase. The proposed methodology was found to be reproducible.     

Modeling and simulation of the CLS cryogenic system

This paper presents results pertaining to the numerical modeling of the cryogenic system at the Canadian Light Source. The cryogenic system consists of a cryostat that houses a Radio Frequency (RF) cavity used for boosting the energy of an electron beam. For consistent operation of the RF cavity, it must be kept immersed in liquid helium at a constant level with the pressure in the gas space maintained to an accuracy of ±1 mbar. An improvement to the cryostat model suggested in [3] using control volumes is described. The model and numerical method developed for the liquid helium supply and gaseous helium return lines are validated using two different cases, viz., the liquid helium flow rate from the liquid helium transfer line and the gaseous helium flow rate from the cryostat for various heater power input settings. The numerical method described here is significantly more accurate, efficient, and flexible than that used in [1] based on an iterative bisection method.     

Some extensions of fan's best approximation theorem

A well-known Ky Fan's best approximation theorem which has been of great importance in nonlinear analysis, game theory, and minimax theorems is extended to a class of factorizable multifunctions.     

Bismaleimide/rice husk silica reinforced composites

Silica derived from the renewable resource rice husk is modified using stearic acid and N-[4-(chlorocarbonyl)phenyl]maleimide. These materials are used as fillers in the bismaleimide, 4,4′-bismaleimidodiphenylmethane (BMIM), and thermally cured. The thermogravimetric (TG) curves for polyBMIM/silica composites showed no pronounced changes compared to the TG curve for the pure polyBMIM. Kissinger–Akahira–Sunose, Flynn–Wall–Ozawa, and Friedman methods are used to compute the activation energy (E _a) for degradation. Silica and surface-modified silica using stearic acid dispersed by ultrasonication increase the activation energy for degradation and show considerable influence on the thermal stability of cured BMIM. The long alkyl chain present in the stearic acid modified silica and the bulky spacer present in the chemically modified silica definitely alter the degradation process of cured BMIM. The SEM studies indicated uniform dispersion of the silica particles in the polyBMIM.     

Fixed-Point Theorems for Generalized Nonexpansive Mappings

Using the concept of asymptotic center we obtain the existence of fixed points having preassigned location for a wider class of asymptotic nonexpansive mappings in a uniformly convex Banach space. This generalization leads us to get a recent result of Alfuraidan and Khamsi for continuous monotone asymptotic nonexpansive mappings as well as the classical fixed-point result of Geobel and Kirk for asymptotic nonexpansive mappings in a uniformly convex Banach space. Also we prove a fixed-point theorem for order preserving continuous maps on a quasiordered closed convex subset of a uniformly convex Banach sapce having monotone norm.     

Best Proximity Point Theorems for Asymptotically Relatively Nonexpansive Mappings

Let (A, B) be a nonempty bounded closed convex proximal parallel pair in a nearly uniformly convex Banach space and T: A ∪ B → A ∪ B be a continuous and asymptotically relatively nonexpansive map. We prove that there exists x ∈ A ∪ B such that ‖x ? Tx‖ = dist(A, B) whenever T(A) ? B, T(B) ? A. Also, we establish that if T(A) ? A and T(B) ? B, then there exist x ∈ A and y ∈ B such that Tx = x, Ty = y and ‖x ? y‖ = dist(A, B). We prove the aforementioned results when the pair (A, B) has the rectangle property and property UC. In the case of A = B, we obtain, as a particular case of our results, the basic fixed point theorem for asymptotically nonexpansive maps by Goebel and Kirk.     

Effect of substitution and planarity of the ligand on DNA/BSA interaction, free radical scavenging and cytotoxicity of diamagnetic Ni(II) complexes: a systematic investigation

Four new bivalent nickel hydrazone complexes have been synthesised from the reactions of [NiCl(2)(PPh(3))(2)] with H(2)L {L = dianion of the hydrazones derived from the condensation of salicylaldehyde or o-hydroxy acetophenone with p-toluic acid hydrazide (H(2)L(1)) (1), (H(2)L(2)) (2) and o-hydroxy acetophenone or o-hydroxy naphthaldehyde with benzhydrazide (H(2)L(3)) (3) and (H(2)L(4)) (4)} and formulated as [Ni(L(1))(PPh(3))] (5), [Ni(L(2))(PPh(3))] (6), [Ni(L(3))(PPh(3))] (7) and [Ni(L(4))(PPh(3))] (8). Structural characterization of complexes 5-8 were accomplished by using various physico-chemical techniques. In order to study the influence of substitution in the ligand and its planarity on the biological activity of complexes 5-8 containing them, suitable hydrazone ligands 1-4 have been selected in this study. Single crystal diffraction data of complexes 5, 7 and 8 proved the geometry of the complexes to be distorted square planar with a 1 : 1 ratio between the metal ion and the coordinated hydrazones. To provide more insight on the mode of action of complexes 5-8 under biological conditions, additional experiments involving their interaction with calf thymus DNA (CT DNA) and bovine serum albumin (BSA) were monitored by UV-visible and fluorescence titrations respectively. Further, the ligands 1-4 and corresponding nickel(ii) chelates 5-8 have been tested for their scavenging effect towards OH and O(2)(-) radicals. The effect of complexes 5-8 to arrest the growth of HeLa and Hep-2 tumour cell lines has been studied along with the cell viability against the non-cancerous NIH 3T3 cells under in vitro conditions.     

Synthesis, crystal structure, electrochemistry and studies on protein binding, antioxidant and biocidal activities of Ni(II) and Co(II) hydrazone complexes

Bivalent transition metal hydrazone complexes of the composition [Ni(L₁)₂] (1), [Co(L₁)₂] (2), [Ni(L₂)₂] (3) and [Co(L₂)₂] (4) have been synthesised from the reactions of [MCl₂(PPh₃)₂] (where M = Ni or Co) with hydrazones derived from 2-acetyl pyridine and carboxylic acid hydrazides of benzhydrazide (HL₁) or thiophene-2-carboxylic acid hydrazide (HL₂), respectively. Structure of the ligands HL₁ and HL₂ and their corresponding complexes with Ni(II) and Co(II) ions were proposed based on the elemental analysis, infrared and ¹H NMR spectral methods. Single crystal X-ray diffraction study of complex 1 revealed a distorted octahedral geometry around the metal ion provided by two units of the ligand. To explore the potential medicinal value of the new complexes, binding interaction of all the complexes with bovine serum albumin (BSA) was studied at normal physiological conditions using fluorescence and UV-Vis spectral techniques. The number of binding sites (n) and binding constant (K_a) were calculated according to the double logarithm regression equation. The results of synchronous fluorescence spectrum showed that binding of metal hydrazones with BSA induced conformational changes in BSA. The in vitro antioxidant and antimicrobial potentials of the new chelates were also carried out.