Effect of elongational flow on morphology and properties of polymer/CNTs nanocomposite fibers

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been attracting increasing interest for the fabrication of polymer‐based nanocomposites because of their excellent properties. Traditional methods for the preparation of polymer/CNTs nanocomposites are in situ polymerization, solution blending, and melt mixing. The achievement of a good CNT dispersion and a percolation network is important in order to obtain better mechanical and electrical properties. However, the rheological behavior of polymer/CNTs systems, in particular regarding the extensional flow, has not been much investigated so far. In this work we present, for the first time, rheological data in non‐isothermal extensional flow and an investigation on the effect of the extensional flow upon the final properties of several polymer/CNTs systems was carried out as well. Extensional flow led to higher mechanical properties and higher melt strength, but only a slightly reduced breaking stretching ratio. This result could be particularly interesting in the view of potential industrial applications such as film blowing and spinning. Morphological analyses also showed higher degrees of dispersion and variation in the CNTs final dimensions. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Fe3O4 nanoparticles/ethyl acetoacetate system for the efficient catalytic oxidation of aldehydes to carboxylic acids

A new methodology for the oxidation of aldehydes promoted by commercially available Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles (Fe₃O₄ NPs) activated by ethyl acetoacetate was developed. The use of ethyl acetoacetate as additive was crucial to achieve high reactivities. All reactions were realized under solvent free conditions, using air or tBuOOH as oxidants. Finally, the separation and reuse of the magnetically recoverable nanoparticles make this methodology very practical, simple and economical.     

Rheological,mechanical, thermal and electrical properties of UHMWPE/CNC composites

Cellulose - In this work, composites of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) and various loadings of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) were prepared exploiting different methods. Besides,...     

On the determining equations for the nonclassical reductions of the heat and Burgers' equation

The determining equations for the nonclassical reductions of the heat and Burgers' equations are considered. It is shown that both systems belong to a Burgers' equation hierarchy. Each system is written in terms of the same matrix Burgers' equation that is linearized via a matrix Hopf–Cole transformation. In essence, it is shown that both systems can be solved simultaneously. Their respective solutions are then presented in a very compact form.     

Partitioning projective geometries into Segre varieties

Using suitable subgroups of Singer cyclic groups we prove some properties of regular spreads and Segre varieties, which in turn yield a necessary and sufficient condition for partitioning a finite projective space into such varieties.In ricordo di Giuseppe TalliniResearch performed within the activity of G.N.S.A.G.A. of C.N.R. with the support of the Italian Ministry for Research and Technology     

Vibrational spectral fingerprinting for chemical recognition of biominerals

Pathologies associated with calcified tissue, such as osteoporosis, demand in vivo and/or in situ spectroscopic analysis to assess the role of chemical substitutions in the inorganic component. High energy X-ray or NMR spectroscopies are impractical or damaging in biomedical conditions. Low energy spectroscopies, such as IR and Raman techniques, are often the best alternative. In apatite biominerals, the vibrational signatures of the phosphate group are generally used as fingerprint of the materials although they provide only limited information. Here, we have used first principles calculations to unravel the complexity of the complete vibrational spectra of apatites. We determined the spectroscopic features of all the phonon modes of fluoroapatite, hydroxy-apatite, and carbonated fluoroapatite beyond the analysis of the phosphate groups, focusing on the effect of local corrections induced by the crystalline environment and the specific mineral composition. This provides a clear and unique reference to discriminate structural and chemical variations in biominerals, opening the way to a widespread application of non-invasive spectroscopies for in vivo diagnostics, and biomedical analysis.     

Enzymatic synthesis of carnosine derivatives catalysed by Burkholderia cepacia lipase

A new enzymatic synthesis of α,β-dipeptides has been developed with particular focus on the preparation of carnosine (β-alanyl-α-histidine) and analogues. The lipase PS-D from Burkholderia cepacia has been used as a catalyst for the formation of the peptide bond starting from a β-lactam and a protected α-amino acid.     

Nonclassical Symmetries for Nonlinear Diffusion and Absorption

Nonclassical symmetry methods are used to study the nonlinear diffusion equation with a nonlinear source. In particular, exponential and power law diffusivities are examined and we obtain mathematical forms of the source term which permit nonclassical symmetry reductions. In addition to the known source terms obtained by classical symmetry methods, we find new source terms which admit symmetry reductions. We also deduce a class of nonclassical symmetries which are valid for arbitrary diffusivity and deduce corresponding new solution types. This is an important result since previously only traveling wave solutions were known to exist for arbitrary diffusivity. A number of examples are considered and new exact solutions are constructed.