Time dependence of viscosity of dilute polyisobutylene solutions

Summary Shearing at constant gradient of polyisobutylene (PIB) solutions in viscous polybutene oils results in time dependent changes of their viscosities. Two PIB fractions (M=8·10⁶ and 3.8·10⁶) have been studied in a variety of solvents, covering the viscosity range from 5 to 0.5·10⁻² poise. The overall phenomenon is similar to that already observed for polymethylmethacrylate, polystyrene, and polyethylene oxide solutions in Aroclor. Results have been discussed in terms of polymer molecular weight and concentration, solvent viscosity and gradient. The systems investigated are free from strong polar interactions and tendency toward molecular aggregation; time dependent changes of viscosity are therefore observable also for true molecularly dispersed solutions.

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Zusammenfassung Scherung mit konstantem Geschwindigkeitsgradienten von Polyisobutylen (PIB)-L?sungen in viskosen Polybuten-?len ergibt zeitabh?ngige ?nderungen ihrer Viskosit?ten. Zwei PIB-Fraktionen (M=8·10⁶ und 3,8·10⁶) wurden in einer Vielzahl von L?sungsmitteln untersucht, die den Viskosit?tsbereich von 5 bis 0,5·10⁻² Poise überdeckten. Das ph?nomenologische Erscheinungsbild ist ?hnlich dem schon beobachteten für Polymethylmethacrylat, Polystyrol und Poly?thylenoxid-L?sungen in Aroclor. Die Ergebnisse wurden hinsichtlich des Polymer-Molekulargewichts und der Konzentration, der L?sungsmittelviskosit?t und des Gradienten diskutiert. Die untersuchten Systeme sind frei von starken polaren Wechselwirkungen und von Tendenzen in Richtung auf molekulare Aggregation. Zeitabh?ngige ?nderungen der Viskosit?t sind deshalb auch für wahre molekulardisperse L?sungen beobachtbar.

     

The influence of preparation method of OC1OC6-PPV films on the photo-oxidation process

Poly(p-phenylene vinylene) (PPV) derivatives are well known for their applications in polymer light emitting diodes (PLEDs). PPV derivatives are highly susceptible to photo-oxidation though, which is mainly caused by the scission of the vinyl double bond on the polymer backbone. In this work, we show that Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) films are less degraded than cast films of a PPV derivative (OC₁OC₆-PPV). Both films had similar thickness (∼50 nm) to allow for a more realistic comparison. Degradation was monitored with UV-vis and FTIR spectroscopies. The results indicated that cast films were completely degraded in ca. 400 min, while LB took longer time, i.e. about four times the values for the cast films. The differences can be attributed to the more compact morphology in the LB than in the cast films. With a compact morphology the diffusion of oxygen in the LB film is hampered and this causes a delay in the degradation process.     

Electrolytes for quasi solid‐state dye‐sensitized solar cells based on block copolymers

The first use of PS_n‐b‐PEO_m‐b‐PS_n block copolymers (PS = polystyrene, PEO = poly(ethylene oxide)) as solid hosts for iodine/iodide electrolytes in dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) is described. Using the benchmark photosensitizer N719, DSSC based on the quasi solid‐state electrolytes afforded efficiencies up to 6.7%, to be compared with an efficiency of 7.3% obtained in similar conditions with a conventional iodine/iodide liquid electrolyte. By varying the PS:PEO relative volume ratio in the block copolymers different properties and morphologies were obtained. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014 , 52, 719–727     

Bounds for the Kirchhoff index via majorization techniques

Using a majorization technique that identifies the maximal and minimal vectors of a variety of subsets of ${\mathbb{R}^{n}}$ , we find upper and lower bounds for the Kirchhoff index K(G) of an arbitrary simple connected graph G that improve those existing in the literature. Specifically we show that $$K(G) \geq \frac{n}{d_{1}} \left[ \frac{1}{1+\frac{\sigma}{\sqrt{n-1}}} + \frac{(n-2)^{2}}{n-1-\frac{\sigma}{\sqrt{n-1}}}\right] ,$$ where d ₁ is the largest degree among all vertices in G, $$\sigma ^{2} = \frac{2}{n} \sum_{(i, j) \in E} \frac{1}{d_{i}d_{j}} = \left( \frac{2}{n}\right) R_{-1}(G),$$ and R _?1(G) is the general Randi? index of G for ${\alpha =-1}$ . Also we show that $$K(G) \leq \frac{n}{d_{n}}\left( \frac{n-k-2}{1-\lambda _{2}}+\frac{k}{2}+\frac{1}{\theta}\right) ,$$ where d _n is the smallest degree, ${\lambda _{2}}$ is the second eigenvalue of the transition probability of the random walk on G, $$k = \left \lfloor \frac{\lambda _{2} \left( n-1\right) +1}{\lambda _{2}+1}\right\rfloor {\rm and}\quad\theta = \lambda _{2} \left( n-k-2\right) -k+2.$$      

Electrostatic pull-in instability for tweezer architectures

Meccanica - The work investigates the static pull-in instability of electrostatically actuated tweezers with tubular electrodes. At a critical voltage, named pull-in voltage, the attraction force...     

Interlaboratory Study to Improve the Quality Control of Methylmercury Determination in Sediment

The results are presented of an interlaboratory study on methylmercury (MeHg) in sediment carried out by a group of European laboratories within the framework of a project managed by the EC Standards, Measurements and Testing Programme (formerly BCR). The aim of this exercise was to evaluate the performance of current methods used for MeHg determination in sediment in order to improve the state-of-the-art prior to the certification of a candidate reference material. The paper describes the organization of the interlaboratory study, the preparation of the sediment material used, the techniques evaluated and the results obtained by the participating laboratories. The outcome of the collaborative project showed that certification could be contemplated, providing that certain analytical techniques were optimized, especially with regard to extraction methods.