Thermal properties of poly(styrene) containing brominated aryl phosphate additives

General purpose poly(styrene) is a large volume commodity polymer widely used in a range of applications. For many of these the presence of an additive to impart some flammability resistance is required. Most commonly, brominated aromatics are used for this purpose. As the polymer undergoes combustion these compounds decompose to generate bromine atoms and/or hydrogen bromide which escape to the gas phase and trap flame propagating radicals. While these species are effective in inhibiting flame propagation they present the opportunity for loss of halogen to the atmosphere. For this reason, the use of these compounds is being limited in some parts of the world. Phosphorus compounds, on the other had, impart a flame retarding influence by promoting char formation at the surface of the burning polymer. This prevents heat feedback to the polymer and consequent pyrolysis to generate fuel fragments. The combination of both bromine and phosphorus present in a single compound might generate a superior flame-retarding additive in that both modes of retardancy might be promoted simultaneously. Should this be the case smaller amounts of additive might be necessary to achieve a satisfactory level of flame retardancy. A series of such additives, brominated aryl phosphates, has been synthesized and fully characterized spectroscopically. Blends of these additives, at various levels, with poly(styrene) have been examined by DSC, TG and in the UL-94 flame test. The flammability of the polymer is dramatically diminished by the presence of the additive.     

Structural and electrical characterization of PZT on gold for micromachined piezoelectric membranes

Piezoelectric membranes have been fabricated that incorporate a gold bottom electrode with an adhesion layer of titanium–tungsten (10:90 wt. %). For solution-deposited acetic acid based lead zirconate titanate (HoAc-PZT) with a Zr:Ti ratio of 40:60, the film’s average piezoelectric coefficient, e₃₁, is -5.31 C/m², with a dielectric constant of 814 at 200 Hz, which is similar to values for platinum bottom electrodes. The PZT structure remains columnar on both types of bottom electrodes. Initial fabrication attempts resulted in cracking that initiated in the PZT layer of the structure. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy was utilized to establish how processing affects diffusion throughout the composite membrane structure. Crack-free membranes were fabricated and tested. This paper discusses the performance properties and piezoelectric fatigue results for these membranes. PACS 77.84.-s; 77.84.Lf     

Briaexcavatolides X-Z, three new briarane-related derivatives from the gorgonian coral Briareum excavatum

Three new polyoxygenated briarane-type diterpenoids, briaexcavatolides X-Z (1-3), have been isolated from the gorgonian coral Briareum excavatum. The structures, including the relative configurations of briaranes 1-3, were elucidated by spectroscopic methods, particularly in 1D and 2D NMR experiments. The configuration of briarane 1 was further supported by molecular mechanics calculations.     

Semiconducting organic polymer from polyacrylamide–Cu++ chelate and iodine

Semiconducting organic polymer was obtained by the modification of polyacrylamide (PAAm)–Cu⁺⁺ chelate with iodine in acetone. Favorable conditions for preparing the chelate effective for the conduction were investigated. Surface resistivities were affected by the amounts of cupric salts and iodine, satisfactory results being given by about 25 wt % of the salts based on PAAm and more than 1 wt % of iodine on the chelate. The conductivity was also varied with the degree of neutralization of the chelate in solution, and optimal values were obtained by addition of about an equimolar amount of potassium hydroxide to cupric salts. Effective structures of the polymer chelate in solution were assumed on the basis of the visible and the NMR spectra and potentiometric titration.     

Trace element exposure in man by instrumental neutron activation analysis of hair

A nondestructive instrumental neutron activation technique was used to analyze human hair samples collected from people living in metropolitan and rural areas in Korea. Samples were also collected from factory workers and cancer patients. Hair from metropolitan area residents contain higher concentrations of Ca, Mg, Zn, Cu, Na, Br, Mn, I and S than rural area residents. Concentrations of I and S from cancer patients, Mg, Zn, Al, Na, Mn and As from glassware workers were relatively higher. The results show that the trace element concentrations of the hair are possibly related to the trace element concentrations in the body.     

Nonenzymatic Glucose Detection with Good Selectivity Against Ascorbic Acid on a Highly Porous Gold Electrode Subjected to Amalgamation Treatment

A nonenzymatic glucose sensor with good selectivity for the ascorbic acid oxidation is presented. After the gold polycrystalline electrode was subjected to amalgamation treatment, two advantageous effects were observed. One is the enhancement of the surface roughness and the other is an increase in the catalytic current in the glucose oxidation. Besides the known first effect, the latter provided another advantageous effect in a fabrication of nonenzymatic glucose sensor. Using a gold electrode subjected to amalgamation treatment for 60 s, two calibration curves for glucose oxidation at two different potentials of ?0.1 V and 0.25 V were obtained and compared. At the potential of ?0.1 V, at which no ascorbic acid was oxidized and no interference effect was observed, a current sensitivity of 16 μA cm^?2 mM^?1 from zero to 10 mM glucose concentration range was obtained. At the other potential of 0.25 V, at which ascorbic acid was easily oxidized, a satisfactory calibration curve with negligible ascorbic acid interference was also obtained together with a more enhanced current sensitivity of 32 μA cm^?2 mM^?1.