Melting behaviors,crystallization kinetics,and spherulitic morphologies of poly(butylene succinate) and its copolyester modified with rosin maleopimaric acid anhydride

This article investigated the melting behaviors, crystallization kinetics, and spherulitic morphologies of poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) and its copolyester (PBSR) modified with rosin maleopimaric acid anhydride, using wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), and polarized optical microscope. Subsequent DSC scans of isothermally crystallized PBS and PBSR exhibited two melting endotherms, respectively, which was due to the melt‐recrystallization process occurring during the DSC scans. The equilibrium melting point of PBSR (125.9 °C) was lower than that of PBS (139 °C). The commonly used Avrami equation was used to describe the isothermal crystallization kinetics. For nonisothermal crystallization studies, the model combining Avrami equation and Ozawa equation was employed. The result showed a consistent trend in the crystallization process. The crystallization rate was decreased, the perfection of crystals was decreased, the recrystallization was reduced, and the spherulitic morphologies were changed when the huge hydrogenated phenanthrene ring was added into the chain of PBS. The activation energy (ΔE) for the isothermal crystallization process determined by Arrhenius method was 255.9 kJ/mol for PBS and 345.7 kJ/mol for PBSR. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 44: 900–913, 2006     

Corner view on the crown domain

In this paper we raise a question about the boundary of the crown domain of a Riemannian symmetric space X. In case X is of Hermitian type we give an affirmative answer.     

Rebuilding of metal components with laser cladding forming

Laser cladding forming (LCF) is a novel powerful tool for the repairing of metal components. Rebuilding of V-grooves on medium carbon steel substrates has been carried out with laser cladding forming technique using stainless steel powder as the cladding material. Microstructure of the deposited layers has been characterized using optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis (EDAX), electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Mechanical properties of the rebuilt V-groove samples have been evaluated by tensile and impacting tests and microhardness measurement. Experimental results show that good fusion bonding between the rebuilt layers and the substrate has been formed, and the microstructure of the cladding layers is mainly composed of fine, dense and defect-free epitaxial columnar dendrites. Due to the effect of grain size refinement, the tensile strength, impacting toughness, elongation and microhardness of the rebuilt samples have been greatly enhanced compared to those of the substrate. Microhardness is also very uniform throughout the rebuilt regions. With the growth of the deposited layers, the microhardness increases gradually. The good ductility of the deposited regions is verified by the SEM fracture analysis.     

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.     

Preparation and Characterization of a Cobalt‐Containing Mono‐Phosphine Ligand and its Coordinated Molybdenum Complex

A cobalt‐containing monodentate phosphine [(μ₂‐PPh₂CH₂PPh₂‐κ²P)Co₂(CO)₄][μ₂‐η²‐PhC≡CP(i‐Pr)₂] 2f , was prepared from the reaction of (μ₂‐PPh₂CH₂PPh₂‐κ²P)Co₂(CO)₆ 1 with PhC≡CP(i‐Pr)₂. It was accompanied by an oxidized compound, [(μ₂‐PPh₂CH₂PPh₂‐κ²P)Co₂(CO)₄][μ₂‐η²‐PhC≡CP(=O)(i‐Pr₂)] 2fo during the chromatographic process. Further reaction of 2f with Mo(CO)₆ resulted in the formation of a 2f ‐ligated molybdenum complex 4 , [(μ₂‐PPh₂CH₂PPh₂‐κ²P)Co₂(CO)₄][μ₂‐η²‐PhC≡CP(i‐Pr₂)‐κP]‐Mo(CO)₅.     

Catalytic enantioselective Mukaiyama aldol reaction via a chiral indium(III)-pybox complex

A chiral indium(III) complex prepared from indium triflate and a pybox ligand has been developed to give good yields and enantioselectivities (up to 92% ee) in the addition of (1-methoxy-2-methyl-propenyloxy)-trimethylsilane to various aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes via the Mukaiyama aldol reaction.     

A procedure for measuring the flexibility of single wood-pulp fibres

A way of determining the flexibility of wood-pulp fibres is developed, which involves i) a precise measurement of the topology of single-fibres by using a confocal laser scanning microscope and ii) the measurement of the elastic modulus of the fibres by using a single-fibre fatigue cell. Reported in this paper are the initial results of tests carried out on black spruce fibres, which have been subjected to three different levels of mechanical refining energy, namely ∼1100, 2300, and 3500 kWh/t. It is found that the fibre flexibility rises significantly between the first and second energy levels, but it does not change to the same degree between the second and third ones. The described procedure of measuring the flexibility of fibres may be used to establish the appropriate refiner energy necessary for the production of a specific grade of paper. Russian translation published in Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 42, No. 1, pp. 115–128, January–February, 2006.