Application of Molecular Weight and Particle Growth Measurements in Continuously Uniform Latices to Kinetic Studies of Styrene Emulsion Polymerization

It is possible to generate, in specially formulated styrene emulsion polymerizations, latices in which the monomer—polymer particles are uniform through all stages of growth. These latices are kinetically similar to their polydispersed counterparts and can therefore be used as model systems in generalized kinetic studies of emulsion polymerization. The most important feature of these systems is the fact that the particles are uniform throughout the reaction with regard to all intrinsic properties and rate processes, and the particles can be characterized by this complete, continuous uniformity. Certain remarkably simple, but precise, relationships exist between the overall, measurable kinetic parameters and the individual particle kinetic parameters, thereby resulting in a heretofore unrealized analytic accessibility. Molecular weight kinetic analyses are an order of magnitude more accurate than in non-uniform systems. Application of these continuously uniform systems in actual kinetic studies indicates an inconsistency in the current concepts of emulsion polymerization, i.e., the generation of polymer at a constant molecular weight is predicted while an increase of several fold is observed. Before the situation can be clarified, further studies with continuously uniform systems are needed to evaluate molecular weight development, molecular weight distribution, and molecular structure and also to re-evaluate the rate and diffusion processes which control these structural features.     

Emission studies of pyrene solutions

Emission spectra of pyrene in hexane have been obtained over a temperature range (from 130 to 260 K) that has not been explored before for concentrations ranging from 10^?4 mole/? to 2 × 10^?2 mole/?. A conventional and new approximation which does not depend on the experimental set-up response functions has been used for evaluating pyrene excimer association energy W_DM and other pyrene parameters. In both methods W_DM agrees quite satisfactorlly, at all concentrations used, with that reported in the literature and obtained by other techniques. However, both approximation fail to yield the right values of the rate parameters at concentrations ? 2 g/?. This set the upper limit of sample solubility to be at C = 2g/? for our range of temperature. Furthermore, the new approximation can probably be used at higher concentration (for higher range of temperature) and even may be used for other organic molecules. There was also no difference in the ratio of the excimer (I_D) to monomer (I_M) quantum yields when an intense laser beam was used as a source of excitation rather than a super-pressure Hg-lamp. This suggested that the concentrations we used might not be large enough. As a result, the laser beam would not create enough density of excited molecules to affect the ratio of I_D/I_M.     

A study of solar erythema radiation doses

Abstract —Using semi-empirical analytic formulas for the transmitted and scattered ultraviolet spectral irradiance at the ground (Green, A. E. S., T. Sawada and E. P. Shettle, Photochem. Photobiol. 19 , 251–259, 1974), we calculate erythema dose rates and daily erythema doses. Results are illustrated graphically, and for the purpose of photobiological applications are given in terms of approximate analytic forms, with parameters presented in tabular form. The relative erythema data assembled by W. W. Coblentz and R. Stair (U.S. Bureau of Standards J. Res. 12 , 13–14, 1934), as fit by an analytic form, is taken as a standard spectrum in our calculations. Other forms of erythema spectra are also compared.     

Chlorination of α-sulfonyl carbanions with hexachloroethane: A novel preparation of α-halosulfones

The cyclic sulfones1,2, and3 are lithiated in benzene with n-butyllithium. Lithiation is demonstrated to lead to α-mono, α,α′-di and/or α,α-di and α,α,α′ trimetallation. The lithiated sulfones are chlorinated with hexachloroethane (HCE). Some mechanistic aspects of the reaction of the lithiosulfones with vicinal dihalides are discussed.     

Eine neue Methode zur Ermittlung der Zusammensetzung schwacher Komplexe

Zusammenfassung Die Zusammensetzung schwacher Komplexe der Form AB _n — wobei n auch ein Bruch sein kann — läßt sich mit den heute üblichen Methoden nur ungenau oder sogar überhaupt nicht ermitteln. Es wird eine neue Methode beschrieben, bei der zu einer konstanten Menge der Komponente A steigende Mengen der Komponente B hinzugesetzt werden und eine, der Menge des gebildeten Komplexes AB _n proportionale Größe beobachtet wird. Aus den Meßwerten werden bestimmte Funktionen gebildet, die in einem passend gewählten Koordinatensystem nur dann als gerade Linien erscheinen, wenn ein Parameter identisch mit dem Werte n ist.Es werden Beispiele für die Ermittlung der Zusammensetzungsverhältnisse 11, 12 und 13 gebracht.Die Methode ist nicht nur bei schwachen Komplexen, sondern auch bei stärker dissoziierten Verbindungen anwendbar. Auch die Koeffizienten einer Redoxgleichung lassen sich in speziellen Fällen auf diese Weise ermitteln.Für die Durchführung dieser Arbeit wurden dankenswerterweise Forschungsmittel aus dem ERP-Sondervermögen bereitgestellt.Dem Verbande der Chemischen Industrie und der Deutschen Forschungsgemeinschaft, die diese Arbeit unterstützt haben, danke ich bestens.     

Double-layer and pseudocapacitance types of electrochemical capacitors and their applications to the development of hybrid devices

The basis of the complementary use of electrochemical capacitors (so-called supercapacitors) in hybrid electric power generation by rechargeable batteries and fuel cells is explored. Electrochemical capacitors are of two types: one where the interfacial double-layer capacitance of high specific area carbon materials is the basis of electric charge storage (as ions and electrons); and the other where pseudocapacitance, associated with electrosorption and surface redox processes at high-area electrode materials, e.g. RuO₂, or at conducting polymers, provides the basis of charge storage. The former, double-layer, type of capacitance stores charge non-faradaically while the latter type, pseudocapacitance, stores charge indirectly through faradaic chemical processes but its electrical behaviour is like that of a capacitor. Two types of hybrid battery/capacitor system are recognized: one based on combination of an electrochemical capacitor cell with a rechargeable battery or a fuel cell in a load-leveling function, e.g. in an electric vehicle power train; and the other based on combination of a faradaic battery-type electrode coupled internally with a capacitative electrode in a two-electrode hybrid module (termed an asymmetric capacitor). Optimization of operation of such systems in terms of balancing of active masses, of power and charge densities, and choice of maximum but limited states-of-discharge, is treated.     

Potentiometric Determination of Ascorbic Acid: Estimation of Its Contribution to the Total Antioxidant Capacity of Plant Materials

It was found that an iodine-modified platinum electrode gives a linear potentiometric response to 1.0 × 10^–5 to 1.0 × 10^–3 M ascorbic acid in model solutions. Ascorbic acid in some preparations was determined by potentiometry. The contribution of ascorbic acid to the total antioxidant capacity of aqueous extracts of hips, hop cones, and lemon juice was estimated.     

Entangled polymers in condensed phases

We present Monte Carlo results on a model of polymers in a condensed phase, over a range of monomer densities. We imagine cutting a cube out of the system. This cube will typically have several polymer molecules running through its interior, and starting and ending on the boundary. These subchains will be mutually entangled and we present a way to assess the extent of entanglement complexity as a function of the monomer density and the number of subchains in the cube. The model is a set of k self-avoiding and mutually avoiding walks, properly embedded in the cube.     

New aspects of thermal analysis,Part I. Resolution of DSC and means for its optimization

The definitions of the temperature resolution, the so-called resolution of DSC instruments given in literature are discussed. A new definition of the resolution for DSC instruments is presented and outlined. The main characteristic introduced in this new definition is a minimum between two caloric events as a prerequisite of an existing resolution. Possible candidates of test substances have been evaluated. The oligomer n-hexatriacontane is revealing an interesting phenomenon, namely a lambda transition which is in the peak temperature only 2 K lower than the melting temperature of 76°C. The substance was selected as an ideal test substance for the quantification of the resolution of DSC instruments. The lambda transition is a second order process which may reach under certain conditions the saturation of the occurring molecular dislocation within 0.2 K, and after saturation the heat flow rate drops sharply down. Investigations concerning the main characteristics of n-hexatriacontane in respect to the temperatures of transition (lambda transition and melting), to the involved enthalpies, and to the resolution factors were performed as functions of the sample mass and the heating rate. The importance of relevant evaluation procedures increasing the resolution factors of DSC curves are discussed and these procedures are integrated into the testing of the resolution. The necessity for widening the experimental scope from instruments to evaluation procedures is forced by the existence of instruments with built-in signal treatments based on electronic devices and software procedures. A comparison with literature data is outlined for all of the mentioned characteristic values of n-hexatriacontane. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.