Preparation of high molecular weight polyurethane particles by nonaqueous emulsion polyaddition

A versatile nonaqueous emulsion polyaddition process for the one-step fabrication of spherical polyurethane nanoparticles is presented. Three different emulsion systems were used consisting of N,N′-dimethylformamide (DMF) dispersed in n-hexane, acetonitrile dispersed in cyclohexane, and acetonitrile dispersed in tetradecane. After successful stabilization of the emulsion systems by using a poly(isoprene)-poly(methylmethacrylate) block copolymer, the fabrication of the polyurethanes was carried out within the dispersed polar phase. The polyurethane particles showed average diameters as small as 35 nm. Additionally, infrared (IR) characterization revealed that the formation of any urea, which decreases the mechanical properties of the polyurethanes, was prevented during the polyaddition. This was attributed to the anhydrous reaction conditions. Gel permeation chromatography (GPC) analysis demonstrated the average molecular weights (M _n) of the polyurethanes to be as high as 16,500 g/mol, corresponding to conversions of 0.98. Comparable molecular weights and conversions have not previously been achieved without the formation of urea.     

The synthesis and characterization of a new (<Emphasis Type="Italic">E,E</Emphasis>)-dioxime containing 13-membered dithiadiazamacrocyclic moieties and its mononuclear complexes

A new (E,E)-dioxime, (6Z,7Z)-15,16-dihydro-14H-dibenzo[b,h][1,10,4, 7]dithiadiazacyclotride-cine-6,7(5H,8H)-dionedioxime (H ₂ L) has been synthesized by reacting cyanogen-di-N-oxide (2) with 2,2′-[propane-1,3-diylbis(thio)]dianiline (1). Mononuclear complexes (4) and (5) of this ligand have been synthesized by reacting the vic-dioxime (H₂L) with NiCl₂ · 6H₂O and CoCl₂ · 6H₂O, respectively. The BF ₂ ⁺ capped Ni(II) and Co(III) complexes (6) and (7) of the dioxime have been synthesized from (4) and (5). The new compounds were characterized by a combination of elemental analysis, ¹H- and ¹³C-n.m.r, i.r. and m.s. spectral data.     

Polymer dispersions from catalytic polymerization in aqueous systems

By contrast to traditional free radical emulsion polymerization, catalytic polymerization allows for polymer microstructure control. In terms of polymerizable monomers, both techniques are largely complementary. Since the beginning of this decade, an increasing number of reports on polyolefin, polybutadiene, polyalkenamer, polynorbornene, polyketone, and polyacetylene dispersions prepared by catalytic polymerization in disperse aqueous systems has appeared. This contribution reviews the preparation of these dispersions, their colloidal properties, particle formation mechanisms, particle morphologies, and polymer microstructures.     

Thermal behavior of polyacrylonitrile polymers synthesized under different conditions and comonomer compositions

Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) polymers are used as precursors for carbon fiber production. This process requires an oxidative stabilization step, which can be studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). In this sense, thermal behavior of PAN based terpolymers by different polymerization processes, compositions and itaconic acid concentrations in the reaction media were investigated. The obtained results showed that the addition of itaconic acid and methyl acrylate as comonomers resulted a lower heat flow during the process comparing to the PAN homopolymer. It suggested that these comonomers aid the oxidative stabilization stage for all studied process. The redox system polymerization at 40°C resulted in a lower heat flow. Itaconic acid decreases slightly initial and peak temperatures of the terpolymer and heat flow until concentration of 3y. The cyclization temperature decreases when MAis incorporated into the terpolymer compared to the MMA terpolymer and increases when MAA is the acidic monomer. Among terpolymers the AN/MA/AA polymer showed the best thermal behavior for carbon fiber producing.     

Resonance Raman spectra of tris(acetylacetonato)iron(III) and ruthenium(III) complexes and their solvent effect

The resonance Raman spectra of tris(acetylacetonatoiron(III)) and ruthenium(III) complexes in various solvents and in water-acetonitrile (W-AN) mixtures were measured. The resonance Raman spectra of both complexes indicated peaks near 460 and around 1580 cm^–1. Thev(C-O) peak (around 1580 cm^–1) is shifted to low frequency with an increase in the dielectric constant _T of the solvents, whereas thev(M-O) (M=Fe and Ru, near 460 cm^–1) are constant, independent of _T. It implies that the C-O bond in the acac^– ligand is lengthened by the polarizability effect of the solvents, while both the Fe-O and Ru-O bonds, which are located in the inside of the complexes, are not influenced by the solvents indicating that the interaction does not depend on the properties of individual solvent molecules but on those of the aggregate.     

Assessment of corrosion resistance of surface-coated galvanized steel by analysis of the AC impedance spectra measured on the salt-spray-tested specimen

In the present work, corrosion resistance of surface-coated galvanized steel was quantitatively determined by an analysis of the alternating current (AC) impedance spectra measured on the salt-spray-tested specimen. To evaluate the corrosion resistance of the surface-coated galvanized steel, AC impedance spectroscopy was performed on the salt-spray-tested specimen previously exposed to salt-sprayed corrosive environment. From the analysis of the impedance spectra, the area fraction transient of white rust θ ₂(t) was theoretically derived from the equivalent circuit equation by using two fitting parameters. The values of the two fitting parameters were determined by fitting the empirical transient equations to the area fraction of the resin coating layer and to the total resistance obtained from the impedance spectra measured, respectively. From the analyses of θ ₂(t) for four kinds of surface-coated galvanized steels with various resin coating layers, it is indicated that as the values of the two fitting parameters decrease in the order of CP, GI, OD and OM (commercial trade names) specimens, the corrosion resistance increases in that order as well. Furthermore, from the quantitative comparison of the two fitting parameters with the polarization resistance of the upper resin coating layer R _p determined from the potentiodynamic polarization curve, it is suggested that the two fitting parameters decrease in value as well with increasing R _p.     

Second Dissociation Constant of H<Subscript>2</Subscript>Te and the Absorption Spectra of HTe<Superscript>–</Superscript>, Te<Superscript>2–</Superscript> and Te<Subscript>2</Subscript><Superscript>2–</Superscript> in Aqueous Solution

We have measured the second acid dissociation constant, K _2a , at several ionic strengths for hydrogen telluride (H₂Te) using the Charge Transfer to Solvent (CTTS) uv spectra of its anions HTe⁻ and Te²⁻. Since it is produced in our solutions, we have also determined the spectra of Te₂ ²⁻ both in the uv and in the visible regions. At 25 ^∘C, K _2a = (1.28 ± 0.02) × 10⁻¹² by extrapolation to zero ionic strength. Its value at an ionic strength equal to 0.5 mol.dm^-3 was estimated to be (8.7 ± 0.2) × 10⁻¹². The solution thermodynamics of these species are also discussed and comparisons are made to related acids.     

Carbon dioxide fixation by microalgae photosynthesis using actual flue gas discharged from a boiler

To mitigate CO₂ discharged from thermal power plants, studies on CO₂ fixation by the photosynthesis of microalgae using actual exhaust gas have been carried out. The results are as follows.

Standard molar enthalpy of formation of CH<Subscript>3</Subscript>(CH<Subscript>3</Subscript>SCH<Subscript>2</Subscript>)SO,methyl methylthiomethyl sulfoxide

Summary The standard molar enthalpy of formation of methyl methylthiomethyl sulfoxide, CH₃(CH₃SCH₂)SO, at T=298.15 K in the liquid state was determined to be -199.4±1.5 kJ mol^-1 by means of oxygen rotating-bomb combustion calorimetry.     

Thermokinetics on the reaction of formation of Dy[(C<Subscript>5</Subscript>H<Subscript>8</Subscript>NS<Subscript>2</Subscript>)<Subscript>3</Subscript>(C<Subscript>12</Subscript>H<Subscript>8</Subscript>N<Subscript>2</Subscript>)]

The enthalpy change of formation of the reaction of hydrous dysprosium chloride with ammonium pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate (APDC) and 1,10-phenanthroline (o-phen?H₂O) in absolute ethanol at 298.15 K has been determined as (-16.12 ± 0.05) kJ?mol^-1 by a microcalormeter. Thermodynamic parameters (the activation enthalpy, the activation entropy and the activation free energy), rate constant and kinetics parameters (the apparent activation energy, the pre-exponential constant and the reaction order) of the reaction have also been calculated. The enthalpy change of the solid-phase reaction at 298.15 K has been obtained as (53.59 ± 0.29) kJ?mol^t-1 by a thermochemistry cycle. The values of the enthalpy change of formation both in liquid-phase and solid-phase reaction indicated that the complex could only be synthesized in liquid-phase reaction.