Molecular‐Complex Formation of Syndiotactic Polystyrene with Stable Radical Molecules

Summary: The formation of a molecular‐complex crystalline phase of syndiotactic polystyrene (sPS) that contains a stable nitroxide radical compound, 2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperidinyl‐N‐oxyl (TEMPO), is confirmed by IR and electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy, X‐ray diffractometry, and thermogravimetric analysis. Through a guest exchange procedure assisted by a plasticizing agent, the original guest (chloroform) contained in the starting clathrate phase is completely replaced by TEMPO. Although the conformational regularity of the sPS helices in the resultant crystalline phase that contains TEMPO is similar to that in the starting clathrate phase, the host lattice expands in the 010 direction. The guest TEMPO molecules exhibit a significantly broadened ESR signal because of their highly concentrated state in the complex crystalline phase.

Thermogravimetric measurement of a powder sample of the sPS/TEMPO complex.     

Effects of the drawing form and draw ratio on the fiber structure and mechanical properties of CO2-laser-heated-drawn poly(ethylene terephthalate) fibers

The structure, mechanical properties, and thermomechanical properties of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) fibers obtained by laser-heated drawing were investigated in terms of their dependence on the draw ratio and feed speed and the differences between neck-drawn fibers and flow-drawn fibers. The long period at a draw ratio of 6.0 reached 19.0 nm, notably larger than at lower ratios, whereas the tilting angle of the laminar structure was constant at about 60°, regardless of the draw ratio. A maximum value of 15.0 GPa was attained for the initial modulus, and 1.07 GPa was attained for the tensile strength. A higher tensile strength orientation-induced crystallized fiber at the same initial modulus was obtained from higher molecular weight PET. The relationship between the compliance and molecular orientation of the amorphous phase was studied with a series model of crystalline and amorphous phases. The results revealed that, in the high-draw-ratio fibers, the compliance of the amorphous phase decreased with the draw ratio at a higher rate than indicated by extrapolation to intrinsic values. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 79–90, 2004     

Chemical modification of butyl rubber. II. Structure and properties of poly(ethylene oxide)-grafted butyl rubber

Poly(ethylene oxide)-grafted butyl rubbers (IIR-g-PEOs), which were synthesized from potassium salt of polyethylene glycol monomethyl ether (PEGM) and chlorinated butyl rubber, were found to behave like thermoplastic elastomers. The poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) content of these amphiphilic polymers was ca. 10 wt %, and their PEO lengths were 750, 2000, and 5000, respectively. The grafted segments of PEO in butyl rubber (IIR) aggregated to form the PEO domains in IIR matrix. At constant PEO content, the longer the PEO segment length, the larger the size and the crystallinity of PEO domains became. This PEO domain worked as a cross-linking site and a reinforcing filler. The degree of swelling in water of IIR-g-PEO film that was prepared from PEGM-5000 was largest, but its emulsification ability was smallest among them. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

ESR study of thermal history and dating of a stone tool

Electron spin resonance (ESR) of Fe³⁺ ions and of radiation-induced centers in quartz (E’, peroxy and Al centers) was studied to distinguish between burnt and unburnt stone tools and to determine their age. The yellow stone tool with a reddish edge discovered at the paleolithic site in Kamitakamori, northern Japan, was investigated. The ESR spectrum intensity of Fe³⁺ ions around g=4.3 and the color of the material changed at 600°C and 240°C, respectively, which indicates that the red part was heated at 240–600°C. The E′ center in the red part was used for dating because isochronal annealing experiments showed low thermal stability of the Al center and overlap of broad signals at g=2.0086 onto the peroxy center. Assuming the same efficiency of defect formation in the red part as of that in the laboratory-heated material at 450°C, the obtained age of 520–770 ka is in concordance with the ages of the tephra layers at the site.     

Successive methyl migrations occurring in the acid treatment of 1-epoxyethyl-1,2,2-trimethyl-cyclopentane derivative

Acid treatment of (IR, 3S,1′S)-1-(1′,2′-Epoxyethyl)-1,2,2-trimethyl-3-acetoxymethyl-cyclopentane $\text{6}$) has been shown to yield three products ($\text{8}$, $\text{9}$, $\text{10}$), among which $\text{8}$ and $\text{9}$ are 1-oxa-bicyclo[3.3.0]octane derivatives formed $\text{via}$ successive methyl migrations followed by an oxorane ring closure.     

A single-chain magnet formed by a twisted arrangement of ions with easy-plane magnetic anisotropy

A unique "single-chain quantum magnet" was formed by an alternating arrangement of high-spin FeII/low-spin FeIII ions. Although the predominant spin-carrier components (high-spin FeII) possess easy-plane magnetic anisotropy (D > 0), twisted arrangement of easy-planes along the chain axis defines a novel class of one-dimensional Ising system.     

Piezoelectric immuno sensor for the detection of candida albicans microbes

The system consists of an AT-cut quartz piezoelectric crystal, oscillator and frequency counter. The surface of the palladium-plated electrodes is oxidized anodically, and anti-Candida antibody is immobilized onto the surface. The crystal sensor is dipped into Candida suspension and the surface mass increase, caused by immuno-adsorption of Candida, is measured by the decrease in the resonant frequency of the crystal. The frequency shift is correlated with C. albicans concentrations in the range 10⁶?5 × 10⁸ cells cm^?3. The crystal sensor showed no response to Saccharomyces cerevisiae.     

Synthesis and Structure of Ba8Cu3In4N5 with Nitridocuprate Groups and One-Dimensional Infinite Indium Clusters

Single crystals of the quaternary compound Ba₈Cu₃In₄N₅ were prepared by heating Ba, Cu, and In in a Na flux at 1023 K under 7 MPa of N₂, and by slow cooling from this temperature. The crystal structure was analyzed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. It crystallizes in an orthorhombic cell (space group Immm (No. 71), Z=2) with a=4.0781(6), b=12.588(2), and c=19.804(3) Å at 298 K. The structural formula is expressed as Ba₈[CuN₂]₂ [CuN]In₄. Nitridocuprates of one-dimensional chains ¹_∞[CuN_2/2] and isolated units ⁰[CuN₂], and one-dimensional indium clusters ¹_∞[In₂In_4/2] are contained in the structure. A split-site model applied for the arrangement of ¹_∞[CuN_2/2] chains suggested that there is a short-bond, long-bond alternation of the Cu-N bondings. The electrical resistivity of Ba₈Cu₃In₄N₅ was 3.44 mΩ·cm at 298 K. A metallic temperature dependence of the resistivity was observed down to 10 K.