Molecular Weight Effect on Latex Film Formation from Polystyrene Particles: A Photon Transmission Study

The photon transmission method was used to probe the time evolution of film formation from latex particles. Two different latex films were prepared from high molecular weight (HM) and low molecular weight (LM) polystyrene particles at room temperature and were annealed at various temperatures in 2.5-min time intervals above the glass transition. The increase in the transmitted photon intensity (Itr) is attributed to the increase in "crossing density" at the junction surface. The Prager-Tirrell model was employed to interpret the increase in crossing density at the junction surface. The back and forth activation energies were measured for HM and LM films and found to be around 59 and 87 kcal/mol for a reptating polymer chain across the junction surface. Monte Carlo simulations were performed for photon transmission through a rectangular lattice. The number of transmitted photons (Ntr) was calculated as a function of the mean free path of photons. It was observed that Ntr, similar to Itr, increases as the square of the mean free path of photons is increased. Copyright 1999 Academic Press.     

Electrical,optical and fluorescence percolations in P(VAc-co-BuA)/MWCNT composite films

Effects of multiwall carbon nanotube (MWCNT) addition on the electrical conductivities, optical transparencies and fluorescence emissions of poly(vinyl acetate-co-butyl acrylate) (P(VAc-co-BuA))/MWCNT composite films were studied. Optical transmission, fluorescence emission and two point probe resistivity techniques were used to determine the variations of the optical, fluorescence and electrical properties of the composites, respectively. Transmitted photon intensity (I _tr), fluorescence emission intensity (I _fl) and surface resistivity (ρ _s) of the composite films were monitored as a function of MWCNT mass fraction (M) at room temperature. All these measured quantities of the composites were decreased by increasing the content of MWCNT in the composite. The conductivity and the optical results were attributed to the classical and site percolation theories, respectively. The fluorescence results, however, possessed both the site and classical percolation theories at low and high MWCNT content regions, respectively.     

The manufacture of microencapsulated phase change materials suitable for the design of thermally enhanced fabrics

Thermal comfort of a fabric is one of the important tasks of the designers that require an engineering approach. In this study, we first aimed to establish a manufacturing technique based on in situ polymerization in order to accomplish the microencapsulation of phase change materials (PCMs) that can ultimately be used in different textile applications, i.e. incorporating such products into the multi-component non-conventional fabrics. This method is suitable for the laboratory-scale work as well as the industrial-scale one, considering some important issues like energy and time savings. Four types of polyurea-formaldehyde microcapsules containing different waxes and a control group of 100% shell material were produced and then examined by DSC, particle size and SEM analyses. Furthermore, we also focused on the contributions of microencapsulated PCMs to the thermal performances of fabrics of certain passive insulation characteristics for the given cold weather and physical activity conditions, based on the model developed for a multi-layer fabric system.     

On the Semisimilarity and Consemisimilarity of Split Quaternions

In this study, we introduce the concept of semisimilarity and consemisimilarity of split quaternions. Moreover, we examine the solvability conditions and general solutions of systems \({xay=b,ybx=a {\rm and} \widetilde{x}ay=b,\widetilde{y}bx=a}\) in split quaternions. If there exist x and y that satisfy first equations system, then a and b are said to be semisimilar, if there exist x and y that satisfy second equations system, then a and b are said to be consemisimilar.     

Void closure and interdiffusion processes during latex film formation from surfactant-free polystyrene particles: a fluorescence study

This study reports a steady state fluorescence (SSF) technique for studying film formation from surfactant-free polystyrene (PS) latex particles. The latex films were prepared from pyrene (P)-labeled PS particles at room temperature and annealed at elevated temperatures for 5-, 10-, 20-, and 30-min time intervals above the glass transition (T(g)) temperature of polystyrene. During the annealing processes, the transparency of the film changed considerably. Scattered light (I(sc)) and fluorescence intensity (I(0P)) from P were measured after each annealing step to monitor the stages of film formation. Evolution of transparency of latex films were monitored using photon transmission intensity, I(tr). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to detect variation in the physical structure of annealed films. Onset temperature for film formation, T(0), void closure, T(v), and healing temperatures, T(h), were determined and corresponding activation energies were measured. Void closure and interdiffusion stages were modeled and related activation energies were determined.     

Critical properties for gelation in free-radical crosslinking copolymerization

A kinetic model was used to predict the molecular weight developments and the critical properties in free-radical crosslinking copolymerization. The predictions of the model were compared to the experimental data reported previously. Agreement of the kinetic model with experiments is satisfactory for both low and high crosslinker contents. The model parameters indicate increasing extent of shielding of pendant vinyl groups as the reaction proceeds due to the increasing number of multiple crosslinkages. The calculation results indicate that the real critical exponents can only be observed in the region ε < 10⁻²–10⁻³ where experimental studies are very difficult. Outside of this region, the apparent critical exponent γ describing the divergence of the weight-average molecular weight was found to deviate from the classical value due to the conversion dependent kinetics of free-radical crosslinking copolymerization.     

Oxygen Diffusion into Multiwalled Carbon Nanotube Doped Polystrene Latex Films Using Fluorescence Technique

This study examines the oxygen diffusion into polystyrene (PS) latex/multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWNT) nanocomposite films (PS/MWNT) consisting of various amounts of MWNT via steady state fluorescence technique (SSF). PS/MWNT films were prepared from the mixture of MWNT and pyrene (P)-labeled PS latexes at various compositions at room temperature. These films were then annealed at 170 °C above glass transition (T_g) temperature of PS. Fluorescence quenching measurements were performed for each film separately to evaluate the effect of MWNT content on oxygen diffusion. The Stern-Volmer equation for fluorescence quenching is combined with Fick’s law for diffusion to derive the mathematical expressions. Diffusion coefficients (D) were produced and found to be increased from 1.1?×?10^?12 to 41?×?10^?12 cm²s^?1 with increasing MWNT content. This increase was explained via the existence of large amounts of pores in composite films which facilitate oxygen penetration into the structure.     

Critical Exponents of Photoinitiated Gelation at Different Light Intensities

A photo-differential scanning calorimetric (Photo-DSC) technique was used to study the photoinitiated radical polymerization of a 75% epoxy diacrylate (EA) and 25% tripropyleneglycoldiacrylate (TPGDA) mixture with 2-mercaptothioxanthone (TX-SH) as photoinitiator by using different light intensities. Photopolymerization reactions were carried out under identical conditions of temperature and initiator concentration. It was observed that all conversion curves during gelation at various UV light intensities present good sigmoidal behavior as predicted by the percolation model. Observations around the critical time, called the glass transition point (t_g), taken for polymerization to reach the maximum rate (Rp _max) show that the gel fraction exponents β obeyed the universal percolation picture. On the other hand, Rp _max, t _g, and final conversion values were found to be dependent on the UV light intensity.