Reference Electrode for Ionic Liquids

Reference electrodes for room temperature ionic liquid (RTIL) applications were constructed that have a known and reproducible potential versus the ferrocene/ferrocenium couple. They are based on reference electrodes of the first kind, Ag/Ag⁺ couple type, or of the second kind, based on Ag/AgCl in M⁺Cl^?. The former uses AgNO₃ salt and the latter tetrabutylammonium chloride, Bu₄NCl, dissolved in acetonitrile which are then introduced to the ionic liquid of choice for a final concentration of 0.1 M. The reference electrodes can be easily and reproducibly constructed. An ionic contact of these reference systems with the test electrolyte was made using an asbestos fiber liquid junction. The internal compartment of the reference system was filled with the same ionic liquid as used for the electrochemical experiment. The performance of these reference electrodes was tested in selected ionic liquids using the ferrocene/ferrocenium redox couple. The stability, reproducibility, and temperature behavior of the two reference systems have been characterized in the following ionic liquids: 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (BMIBF₄), 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (BMI(CF₃SO₂)₂N), and 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate (BMIPF₆). It has been found that the formal potentials of the examined reference systems are stable over several days. There is a linear relationship for the temperature studied in the range from 25 to 60 °C.     

Thermophysical properties of azomethine ether main-chain liquid crystalline polymers at pressures to 200 MPa

This article reports on an experimental investigation of the equation of state and the transition behavior of main-chain thermotropic liquid crystalline polymers over a wide temperature range, and at pressures to 200 MPa. The materials studied were a series of azomethine ether polymers. A varying number n (= 4, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11) of methylene spacer units in the backbone provided systematic variation of the structure. Experimental techniques used included high-pressure dilatometry (PVT measurements) to 200 MPa, high-pressure differential thermal analysis, also to 200 MPa, and conventional (atmospheric-pressure) differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The equation of state of the materials can be well represented by the Tait equation in distinct regions, separated by a glass transition, T_g(P), a first-order transition to a nematic state, T_k-n(P), and a first-order transition to an isotropic melt state T_c(P). The atmospheric pressure values of T_k-n and T_c decreased with increasing number of spacer units and showed a clear odd-even effect. T_g and T_k-n both increased with pressure. The pressure dependence of T_c could not be observed due to the onset of degradation in the same temperature region. On isobaric cooling at 3°C/min, the crystallization from the nematic state occurred a few tens of degrees below T_k-n. This supercooling was independent of pressure for some materials, while for others it increased with increasing pressure. The values of the enthalpy and entropy associated with the first-order transition into the nematic state were lower than those of typical isotropic polymers at their melting transitions. The transition enthalpy did not have any systematic variation with increasing number of spacer units. Values of the transition enthalpy calculated from the Ciapeyron equation did not always agree with the values measured by DSC. This may be due to the two-phase nature of the low-temperature state. At the transition to the isotropic state, the transition enthalpy at P = 0 decreased with n and showed an odd-even effect. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Darstellung und Kristallstruktur von Calciumimid,CaNH

Synthesis and Crystal Structure of Calcium Imide, CaNH Single-crystals of calcium imide were obtained for the first time by the reaction of a mixture of calcium amide with sodium amide at 850°C in an autoclave for salt melts. After cooling the autoclave to room temperature the crystals are embedded in solid Na which was extracted by liquid ammonia. The structure of calcium imide was determined from single-crystal diffractometer data: space group Fm3 m, Z = 4, a = 5.143(1) Å, R/R_w = 0.032/0.028 mit N(F ${}_{\text{º}}^{\text{2}}$ ? 3σ(F ${}_{\text{º}}^{\text{2}}$ )) = 26, N(Var.) = 5. Ca and N atoms are arranged in the motif of the NaCl structure type. The hydrogen atoms of the imide groups are disordered within the Ca octahedra, and they occupy a six fold split position.     

Crystallization kinetics of copoly(ester imide)s derived from PBT,trimellitic anhydride,and aliphatic diamines

The crystallization kinetics of copoly(ester imide)s based on poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT), trimellitic anhydride, and diaminobutane (PEI-4), resp. diaminohexane (PEI-6) or diaminoethane (PEI-2) are investigated by means of time-resolved x-ray scattering employing synchrotron radiation. The PEI-4 and PEI-6 copolymers exhibit a remarkably high degree of crystallinity, which can be attributed to the formation of mixed crystals in the co-PEI-4 and to blockiness in the case of co-PEI-6. Whereas the pure PEI-4 forms large negatively birefringent spherulites, the co-PEI-4 and the PEI-6 homo- and copolymers form much smaller superstructures like axialites or ellipsoids. In the co-PEI-4 and co-PEI-6, the rate of crystallization is slower compared to the homopolymers due to the incorporation of the respective comonomer unit. The PEI-4 forms a second crystal modification upon drawing and subsequent crystallization, probably with a monoclinic unit cell. The PEI-6 crystallizes faster than PEI-4 due to the improved flexibility of the longer diamine component. In contrast, the crystallization of PEI-2 and its copolymers takes several hours and the equimolar co-PEI-2 remains completely amorphous.     

Nonstabilized azomethine ylides in the synthesis of aryl cucurbitine derivatives

Nonstabilized azomethine ylides react with 4-arylidene-2-phenyloxazol-5(4H)-ones to form diazaspiro[4.4]nonenes, which were hydrolyzed to aryl cucurbitine derivatives in 35–67% overall yield.     

Synthesis of novel thermosetting imide compounds having phenylethynyl carbonyl groups at both terminal ends and production of new network polymers based on the imide compounds

A novel thermosetting imide compound having a respective phenylethynyl carbonyl group at both terminal ends was newly synthesized from an acid anhydride having a phenylethynyl carbonyl group and various diamine compounds. The thermosetting behavior of the obtained novel thermosetting imide compound having phenylethynyl carbonyl groups was analyzed through differential scanning calorimetry measurements and infrared spectroscopic analysis. As a result, it became clear that a curing reaction of phenylethynyl carbonyl groups proceeds at approximately 200°C and that the curing reaction thereof proceeds at a temperature that is lower by 150°C or more compared with that of phenylethynyl groups. Examination of the polymerization reaction of the imide compounds having phenylethynyl carbonyl groups using model compounds revealed that a reaction that imparted an alkene C=C and polycyclic aromatic structure progressed. Moreover, a network polymer obtained from a thermosetting imide compound having respective phenylethynyl carbonyl groups at both terminal ends exhibited extremely superior heat resistance and thermal decomposition resistance. These superior thermal properties are thought to be due to the strong molecular interaction (molecular packing) that results from the polycyclic aromatic structures and alkenes produced through polymerization of the phenylethynyl carbonyl groups and to the suppression of the movement of the molecular chains.     

Organosoluble,low dielectric constant and highly transparent fluorinated pyridine-containing poly(ether imide)s derived from new diamine: 4-(4-trifluoromethyl)phenyl-2,6-bis[4-(4-amino-2-trifluoromethylphenoxy)phenyl]pyridine

A new aromatic diamine, 4-(4-trifluoromethyl)phenyl-2,6-bis[4-(4-amino-2-trifluoromethylphenoxy)phenyl]pyridine, was synthesized by a modified Chichibabin reaction of 4-(4-nitro-2-trifluoromethylphenoxy)acetophenone with 4-triflouromethylbenzaldehyde, followed by catalytic reduction. A series of fluorinated pyridine-containing aromatic poly(ether imide)s (PEIs) were prepared from the diamine monomer with various aromatic dianhydrides via conventional two-step thermal imidization method. The resulting PEIs had inherent viscosities values of 0.68–0.90 dL/g, and could be cast and thermally converted into transparent, flexible, and tough polymer films. These PEIs were predominantly amorphous, had good solubility in common solvents such as NMP, DMAc and m-cresol at room temperature, and displayed excellent thermal stability with the glass transition temperatures of 258–315?°C, the temperatures at 5% weight loss of 550–585?°C, and the residue of higher than 55% at 750?°C in nitrogen. Moreover, the PEIs films showed outstanding mechanical properties with tensile strengths of 74.8–103.5?MPa, tensile moduli of 1.08–1.45?GPa, and elongations at break of 10.6–24.4%. These PEIs also exhibited low dielectric constants of 2.81–2.98 (1?MHz) and water uptake 0.39–0.68%, as well as high optical transparency with the UV cutoff wavelength in the 350–378?nm range and the wavelength of 80% transparency in the range of 412–510?nm.     

Development of biobased polyurethane‐imides from maleinized cottonseed oil and castor oil

An eco‐friendly coating system, which is largely biobased, has been developed from castor and cottonseed oil. Cottonseed oil was functionalized with maleic anhydride by “ene” reaction to give maleinized cottonseed oil (MACSO); the anhydride groups were reacted with isocyanates to yield –NCO terminated polyurethane prepolymer. The prepolymer was further chain extended with hydroxyl groups of castor oil to give polyurethane‐imides (PUIs). The cross‐linked films thus obtained had good mechanical properties, and the imide groups in the backbone improved the corrosion resistance of PUIs as revealed by potentiodynamic polarization study. With increasing content of MACSO, thermal stability, glass transition temperatures (T_g), tensile strength, and corrosion resistance of resulting PUIs significantly increased.