A facile LED backlight in situ imaging technique to investigate sub-micron level processing

Many laboratory experimental techniques used for investigating fine fluid structure, such as fiber spinning, microfluidic flow, and electrospinning, require high quality images with good contrast. Common processes of observation and image recording rely heavily on highly technical light and camera setups which can be difficult to operate in some processing conditions and expensive as well. Here, we report a facile technique using LED backlight imaging to investigate ultrathin fluid profile in two different processes, melt electrospinning and tubeless siphoning. The setup comprises of a simple LED light source facing toward the camera, directly shining into the camera lens. The object under investigation was placed between the camera and the light source. The high-quality captured images and video recordings enable the precise analysis of the cone diameter and jet solidification in case of melt electrospinning, and extensional behavior profiles for tubeless siphoning. The LED backlight setup with high resolution camera is a useful tool to investigate sub-micron scale dimensions in fiber spinning, microfluidic flow, solution electrospinning, contact angle measurement for surface properties analysis, etc.     

Synthesis and properties of ultralow dielectric porous polyimide films containing adamantane

A series of novel ultralow dielectric porous polyimide (PI) films containing adamantane groups was prepared via the thermolysis of polyethylene glycol (PEG) oligomers mixed into PI matrix. Scanning electron microscopy results indicated that the porous PI films showed closed pores with an average diameter of 120 ± 10 nm. Good thermal properties with 5% weight loss temperature of 499 °C in air atmosphere and glass transition temperature in excess of 310 °C were shown for porous PI films. Notably, the ultralow dielectric constant of porous PI films with 1.85 at 1 MHz was obtained and revealed via broadband dielectric spectroscopy. The effects of the chemical structure of the PI matrix and PEG content on the decomposition behavior of PEG and the performance of porous films were investigated. Wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction results indicated that the PI matrix with large d‐spacing generated weaker interactions between the PEG and PI backbone than those of PI matrix with small d‐spacing. As a result, the PEG for the PI matrix with large d‐spacing was completely decomposed. As indicated by the broadband dielectric spectroscopy results, lower dielectric porous PI films were prepared when the PEG contents in the PI matrix increased from 0 to 20 wt %. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2018 , 56, 549–559     

Polymerization via the Ugi‐reaction using aromatic monomers

The highly modular Ugi four‐component reaction (Ugi‐4CR) was used to directly obtain polymers of high molar mass bearing aromatic residues in the backbone. By using at least two bifunctional monomers, the Ugi‐4CR can be employed to synthesize polymers through a polycondensation under mild conditions in the absence of catalysts. This highly versatile approach allows the creation of vast libraries of molecules by a comparably small pool of compounds. We investigated the six different possible types of the Ugi four‐component polymerization (Ugi‐4CP) to generate polyamides using commercially available monomers without further purification. After substantial adjustments of reaction parameters, we were able to obtain a polymer of high molar mass, albeit only for one out of the six types of the Ugi‐4CP. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2015 , 53, 1680–1686     

Synthesis and properties of renewable nonisocyanate polyurethanes (NIPUs) from dimethylcarbonate

Novel fully renewable AA‐BB type nonisocyanate polyurethanes (NIPUs) were synthesized using the transurethanization approach. Dicarbamate monomers were prepared by the reaction of a diamine with an excess of dimethylcarbonate (DMC), in presence of 1,5,7‐triazabicyclo[4.4.0]dec‐5‐ene (TBD) as catalyst. Then, the dicarbamate was reacted with a diol to afford the polymer, in presence of TBD or K₂CO₃ as catalyst. Several renewable diamines and diols were tested. The two steps were conducted under neat conditions. The obtained materials exhibited T_g values varying from ?38 to 42 ° C, T_m values varying from 42 to 204 °C , and thermal stabilities above 200 ° C. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2015 , 53, 1351–1359     

Aryloxy ‘biometal’ complexes as efficient catalysts for the synthesis of poly(butylene adipate terephthalate)

A comparative study of catalytic activity of aryloxy complexes of Mg, Zn and Al in the synthesis of poly(butylene adipate terephthalate) demonstrated the preference of Al-based catalyst containing two bulky substituents in ortho-position of phenol ligand in terms of higher values of PBAT MW and lower yields of cyclic diester side product.     

Cyclic poly(lactide)s via the ROPPOC method catalyzed by alkyl‐ or aryltin chlorides

A comparison of tributyltin chloride, dibutyltin dichloride, and butyltin trichloride as catalysts of ring‐opening polymerizations (ROPs) of l‐lactides at 160 °C in bulk reveals increasing reactivity in the above order, but only the least reactive catalysts, Bu₃SnCl, yield a uniform reaction product, namely cyclic poly(L‐lactide)s with weight average molecular weights (M_w's) in the range of 40,000–80,000. A comparison of dimethyltin , dibutyltin , and diphenyltin dichlorides resulted in the following order of reactivity: Me₂SnCl₂ < Bu₂SnCl₂ < <Ph₂SnCl₂. In this series also, the most reactive catalyst yields cyclic polylactides, but the extent of cyclization varies with the molecular weight. The formation of cyclic polylactides is explained by ROP combined with simultaneous polycondensation involving end‐to‐end cyclization (ROPPOC method). ROP of meso‐lactide at 80 or 60 °C yields even‐numbered linear chains as main products, a result supporting the ROPPOC mechanism. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019 , 57, 952–960     

Toward large tubular helices based on the polymerization of tri(benzamide)s

Herein we present the synthesis and polycondensation of mono‐ and di‐N‐protected, bis‐substituted tri(benzamide)s with the aim to create large, tubular helices. We synthesized 2,4‐dimethoxy and 2,5‐bis‐TEGylated aminobenzoic acid derivatives as bent and linear monomers and introduced p‐methoxybenzyl (PMB) amide protecting groups to the oligobenzamide backbone. An iterative coupling strategy allowed for sequence control, giving rise to oligomers consisting of one bent and two linear monomers. The resulting meta‐para‐para‐linked aromatic trimers carried either one or two PMB‐protecting groups. With high organosolubility and flexibility, this synthetic strategy generated suitable precursors for subsequent polycondensation reactions. After polymerization, treatment with acid triggered the cleavage of the N‐protecting groups. We hypothesize that the hydrogen bonding pattern generated along the polyaramide backbone could lead to the formation of a helical polymer. A drastic change in hydrodynamic volume was observed by gel permeation chromatography and dissolution in a chiral solvent lead to the observation of a circular dichroism signal for this polymer. The results of the polycondensations of N‐protected oligobenzamides are reported herein. The formation of macrocycles as well as polymers could also be observed, giving a highly interesting insight into the underlying mechanism of the polycondensation of flexible, oligobenzamide‐based oligomers. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016 , 54, 1731–1741     

Synthesis,characterization, thermal stability,conductivity, and band gaps of substitute oligo/polyamines or polyphenol

In this study, the oxidative polycondensation reaction conditions of 3,5‐dichloroaniline (DCA), 3,4,5‐trimethoxyaniline (TMA), 3,5‐bis(trifluoromethyl)aniline (BTFMA), and 4‐{[(3,5‐dichlorophenyl)imino]methyl}phenol (DCPIMP) were studied by using NaOCl oxidant in an aqueous alkaline medium between 40 and 90°C. The structures of the synthesized monomer and polymer were confirmed by FT‐IR, Ultraviolet–visible (UV–vis), ¹H‐NMR, and ¹³C‐NMR and elemental analysis. The characterization was made by TGA–DTA, size exclusion chromatography (SEC), and solubility tests. At the optimum reaction conditions, the yields of oligo‐3,5‐dichloroaniline (ODCA), poly‐3,4,5‐trimethoxy aniline (PTMA), oligo‐3,5‐bis(trifluoromethyl)aniline (OBTFMA), and poly‐4‐{[(3,5‐dichlorophenyl) imino]methyl} phenol (PDCPIMP) were found to be 98, 48, 80, and 83% in using NaOCl oxidant. According to the SEC analysis, the number‐average molecular weight (M_n), weight‐average molecular weight (M_w) and polydispersity index (PDI) values of ODCA, PTMA, and OBTFMA were found to be 2200, 3800 g mol^?1, and 1.727; 4700, 7500 g mol^?1, and 1.596; and 1690, 1950 g mol^?1, and 1.154, respectively. According to TG analysis, the weight losses of ODCA, PTMA, OBTFMA, and PDCPIMP were found to be 78.55, 54.18, 99.38, and 59.70% at 1000°C, respectively. PTMA showed higher stability against thermal decomposition. Electrical conductivity of the polymers was measured, showing that the polymer is a typical semiconductor. The highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO), the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) and electrochemical band gaps ( ) of ODCA, PTMA, OBTFMA, and PDCPIMP were calculated from their absorption edges of cyclic voltammograms. The optical band gaps (E_g) values of all compounds were calculated from UV–vis measurements. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

不同分子量的高密度聚乙烯与茂金属线型低密度聚乙烯的相容性

采用动态流变学测试和结晶动力学的方法研究了两种分子量的高密度聚乙烯(HDPE)与茂金属线型低密度聚乙烯(m-LLDPE)共混体系的相容性.流变学研究表明,HDPE/m-LLDPE共混物在低ω区域lgG′-lgω关系曲线偏离线性规律,在熔融态为非均相体系.DSC分析发现HDPE/m-LLDPE共混物体系中HDPE的熔点随着m-LLDPE含量的增多而逐渐下降,说明HDPE与m-LLDPE二者具有机械相容性.当HDPE在m-LLDPE的熔体中等温结晶,分子量较高的HDPE结晶速率与纯HDPE相近,m-LLDPE的含量变化对Avrami指数n的影响不大;分子量较低的HDPE指数n和半结晶时间t1/2随m-LLDPE含量的增加逐渐增大,结晶速率随着m-LLDPE含量的增加逐渐下降,表明熔融态的m-LLDPE和HDPE存在着较强的分子间相互作用,二者具有一定的相容性.     

Spatial variation of superconducting properties of Gd123 Bulk superconductors with magnetic particles addition

Magnetic flux trapping and the homogeneity of the flux pinning are essential problems in the practical application of high-temperature superconductors. We have conducted study on the role of addition of soft magnetic Fe-B alloy particles contribute to the enhancement of the critical current density (J_c) under wide-range of magnetic field. Magnetic flux trapping was enhanced in Gd123 bulk superconductor with suitable amount of magnetic particles addition. In addition, it can be effective as pinning center enhance the J_c of the bulk in both the a–b growth sector and the c-growth sector under magnetic field. However, the T_c of the Gd123 bulk was decreased obviously by addition of magnetic particles. The study on the spatial variation of superconducting properties indicates that the performance of the upper part of the bulk is better than the bottom. By comparing the superconducting properties of the Gd123 bulk with magnetic particles addition and without magnetic particles addition, we concluded that there is a trace of the formation of homogeneous pinning properties in the magnetic particles addition Gd123 bulk.