Theoretical and experimental approaches to kinetics at the collapse transition of a homopolymer

Summary We discuss some recent theoretical studies of the kinetics of the collapse transition in homopolymers. An isolated polymer is modelled using computer simulation, and a time-dependent mean-field theory. The mean-field theory is analysed analytically for early stages, and for short polymers the equations are studied numerically. The results of simulation and theory are compared yielding, we argue, a consistent physical picture. Quantitative comparisons are not yet given, but seem relatively promising. Paper presented at the I International Conference on Scaling Concepts and Complex Fluids, Copanello, Italy, July 4– 1994.     

Analysis of the crystallization kinetics in poly(ethylene oxide) by calorimetric measurements

Summary Differential scanning calorimetric measurements in the early stage of isothermal crystal growth of polyethylene oxide are analysed in the light of irreversible thermodynamics. An accurate evaluation of the equilibrium melting temperature is done by fitting the thermograms obtained at different undercoolings and referring to the activation energy values already known from the literature. Paper presented at the I International Conference on Scaling Concepts and Complex Fluids, Copanello, Italy, July 4–8, 1994.     

Lightly crosslinked,mesomorphic networks obtained through the reaction of dimeric,liquid‐crystalline epoxy–imine monomers and heptanedioic acid

We reacted various dimeric, liquid‐crystalline epoxy–imine monomers, differing in the length of the central aliphatic spacer or the dipolar moments, with heptanedioic acid. The resulting systems showed a liquid‐crystalline phase in some cases, depending on the dimer and on the reaction conditions. The systems were characterized with respect to their mesomorphic properties and then were submitted to dynamic mechanical thermal analysis in both fixed‐frequency and frequency‐sweep modes in the shear sandwich configuration. The arrangement in the liquid‐crystalline phase seemed to be mainly affected both by the polarization of the mesogen and by the reaction temperature, which favored the liquid‐crystalline arrangement when it was lying in the range of stability of the dimer mesophase. In agreement with other recent literature data, dynamic mechanical thermal analysis results suggested that the presence of the mesogen directly incorporated into the main chain increased the lifetimes of the elastic modes both in the isotropic phase and in the liquid‐crystalline phase with respect to side‐chain liquid‐crystalline elastomers and that the time–temperature superposition principle did not hold through the liquid‐crystalline‐to‐isotropic transition. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44:6270–6286, 2006     

Cyclolinear polysiloxanes. II. Crosslinking and characterization

The synthesis and characterization of two groups of novel networks prepared from cyclolinear polysiloxanes are described. The first group of networks from cyclolinear polysiloxanes (N‐CLPSs) was synthesized by the hydrosilation of vinyl‐terminated cyclolinear polyorganosiloxanes [prepared from diacetoxydiethyltetramethylcyclotetrasiloxane (D₄Et₂OAc₂) or diacetoxytriethylpentamethylcyclopentasiloxane (D₅Et₃OAc₂)] with a copolymer of dimethylsiloxane and methylhydrosiloxane as the crosslinking agent. Hydrosilation was effected with a platinum carbonyl catalyst with a cyclovinylsiloxane moderator. The second group of networks (N‐eCLPSs) was prepared similarly with extended cyclolinear polysiloxanes. The mechanical properties of the novel networks were comparable to those of polydimethylsiloxane networks (N‐PDMS). The oxygen permeabilities were similar to or slightly higher than that of N‐PDMS. The glass‐transition temperatures of D₄Et₂OAc₂‐ and D₅Et₃OAc₂‐based N‐CLPSs were ?67.8 and ?90.8 °C, respectively, whereas the incorporation of polydimethylsiloxane spacers into similar N‐eCLPSs lowered their glass‐transition temperatures to ?109.7 and ?115.0 °C. Upon heating to 800 °C in air, N‐CLPSs yielded more residue than N‐eCLPSs, which in turn yielded more residue than N‐PDMS. These results may have been due to the presence of T units in the cyclic siloxane units, which may have inhibited chain degradation or the formation of volatile products. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 4053–4062, 2006     

Grafting of silica during the processing of silica‐filled SBR: Comparison between length and content of the silane

The treatment of nanoscopic silica grafted in the blend during the processing of silica‐filled styrene butadiene rubber was performed with silane, introduced at different concentrations, or at a constant concentration with a given length of alkyl chain. From swelling measurements in water and in solvent, the maximum silane content that can be grafted has been calculated as a function of the length of the silane alkyl chains as well as their efficiency to cover the silica surface. The found values are close to the values found in the literature for grafting in solution. Moreover, a direct correspondence between the length of the silane alkyl chains and their concentration has been deduced. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 44: 143–152, 2006     

Tributyltin hydride-mediated straightforward synthesis of a new isoxazolo-benzazulene ring system

Tributyltin hydride-mediated straightforward synthesis of a new isoxazolo-benzazulene system from the derivatives afforded by the Baylis-Hillman reaction of 3-(2-bromophenyl)-4-isoxazolecarbaldehydes is described.     

Supramolecular structures of macromolecules containing bipyridine–copper(I) complexes as revealed from transmission electron microscopy studies

Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) studies on bipyridine (bpy) containing block copolymer systems showed the formation of nanoscopic polymer–ion complexes through complexation with copper(I) ions which segregated to highly ordered columnar domains of mesoscopic dimensions. The domains, i.e. stacks of [(bpy)₂Cu(I)] complex moieties could be visualized by complementary TEM techniques. First, electron energy loss spectra (EELS) showed the absorption edges of copper and nitrogen, which are specific for the bipyridine copper complexes. The element spectroscopic imaging (ESI) technique allowed the imaging of the net copper and net nitrogen distribution, and the coinciding pictures exhibited a microphase separated system in the case of a 3-block copolymer with complexed end segments. High resolution elastic bright field images showed interference lines with a line to line distance of about 8 A which could be related to the Cu–Cu distance in staggered Cu(I)–bipyridine complexes. Received: 6 August 1997 Accepted: 28 April 1998     

Synthesis, Characterization, and Biological Activity of n-Tributyltin Derivatives of Pharmaceutically Active Carboxylates

Summary.  Tributyltin(IV) derivatives of six different pharmaceutically active carboxylates were synthesized. The complexes were characterized by different analytical techniques (elemental analysis; infrared, NMR, and mass spectroscopy). ¹¹⁹Sn NMR data were also recorded in six different coordinating and non-coordinating solvents. The antibacterial activities of the compounds were tested using ten different bacteria relative to the reference drugs ampicillin and cephalexin. Received September 20, 2001. Accepted (revised) December 6, 2001     

An investigation of the properties of poly(dimethylsiloxane)-bioinspired silica hybrids

Elastomers typically require the incorporation of reinforcing fillers in order to improve their mechanical properties. For commercial silicone systems silica and titania are typically used as fillers. Fumed and precipitated silica are made on an industrial scale for many applications; however, we have shown recently that biological and synthetic macromolecules can generate new silica structures using a bioinspired route. Herein we have incorporated bioinspired silica fillers into poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) elastomers and investigated their mechanical, morphological and thermal properties as a function of filler loading. The equilibrium stress-strain characteristics of the PDMS-bioinspired silica hybrids were determined as a function of bioinspired filler loading and the Mooney-Rivlin constants (2C₁ and 2C₂) were calculated. The thermal characteristics, in particular glass transition temperatures (T_g) and melting points (T_m), of the PDMS-bioinspired silica hybrids were characterized using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The thermal stability of these hybrid materials were investigated using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The morphology of the samples was characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the filler dispersion was characterized using ultra small angle X-ray scattering (USAXS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Although spherical silica particles were used here, we have demonstrated elsewhere that this bioinspired synthetic route also enables highly asymmetric silica structures to be prepared such as fibres and sheets. This methodology therefore offers the interesting possibility of preparing new hybrid systems where the properties are highly anisotropic.