Flammability and thermal degradation of epoxy acrylate modified with phosphorus‐containing compounds

A series of UV‐curable flame retardant resins was obtained using epoxy acrylate (EA) modified with 1‐oxo‐4‐hydroxymethyl‐2,6,7‐trioxa‐1‐phosphabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (PEPA). The flammability was characterized by limiting the oxygen index (LOI), UL 94 and cone calorimeter, and the thermal degradation of the flame retardant resins was studied using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and real time Fourier transform infrared (RTFTIR). The results indicated that the flame retardant efficiency increases and the heat release rate (HRR) decreases greatly with the content of PEPA. The TG data showed that the modified epoxy acrylates (MEAs) have lower initial decomposition temperatures and higher char residues than pure EA. The RTFTIR study indicates that the MEAs have lower thermal oxidative stability than the pure EA. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis,characterization, and degradation of poly(ethylene‐b‐ε‐caprolactone) diblock copolymer

Poly(ethylene‐b‐ε‐caprolactone) (PE‐b‐PCL) diblock copolymers were synthesized by ring‐opening polymerization (ROP) of ε‐caprolactone (CL) with α‐hydroxyl‐ω‐methyl polyethylene (PE‐OH) as a macroinitiator and ammonium decamolybdate (NH₄)₈[Mo₁₀O₃₄] as a catalyst. Polymerization was conducted in bulk (130–150°C) with high yield (87–97%). Block copolymers with different compositions were obtained and characterized by ¹H and ¹³C NMR, MALDI‐TOF, SAXS, and DSC. End‐group analysis by NMR and MALDI‐TOF indicates the formation of α‐hydroxyl‐ω‐methyl PE‐b‐PCL. The PE‐b‐PCL degradation was studied using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and alkaline hydrolysis. The PCL block was hydrolyzed by NaOH (4M), without any effect on the PE segment. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Thermal risk assessment and rankings for reaction hazards in process safety

Thermal degradation of copolymers, prepared from glycidyl methacrylate and acrylonitrile in varying molar ratios using 2,2′-azobisisobutyronitrile as an initiator, was studied by thermogravimetry, derivative thermogravimetry, differential thermal analysis and mass spectrometry. The fragmentation patterns in the mass-spectra were interpretable by comparison with the known degradation patterns of the related materials. Thermal kinetic parameters, including activation energies and order of reaction of the degradation of the prepared copolymers, were calculated from their thermoanalytical data. These parameters suggest an overall increase in thermal stability with increasing content of acrylonitrile in the copolymers.     

Thermal degradation of butyl acrylate-methyl acrylate-acrylic acid-copolymers

The thermal degradation of copolymers based on butyl acrylate-methyl acrylate-acrylic acid used as acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesives, especially for bonding of plasticizer containing materials, has been investigated using thermogravimetry and pyrolysis-gas chromatography at 250°C. It was observed that during the pyrolysis of butyl acrylate-methyl acrylate-acrylic acid copolymers unsaturated monomers as methyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate, butyl acrylate and butyl methacrylate were formed. During the side-chain butyl acrylate-methyl-acrylate-acrylic acid-copolymer degradation the presence of methyl alcohol and butyl alcohol was observed.     

The Influence of Pendant Hydroxyl Groups on Enzymatic Degradation and Drug Delivery of Amphiphilic Poly[glycidol‐block‐(ε‐caprolactone)] Copolymers

An amphiphilic diblock copolymer PG‐b‐PCL with well‐controlled structure and pendant hydroxyl groups along hydrophilic block was synthesized by sequential anionic ring‐opening polymerization. The micellization and drug release of PG‐b‐PCL copolymers using pyrene as a fluorescence probe were investigated for determining the influences of copolymer composition and lipase concentration on drug loading capacity and controlled release behavior. The biodegradation of PG‐b‐PCL copolymers was studied with microspheres as research samples. It has been concluded that the polar hydroxyl groups along each repeat unit of hydrophilic PG block in PG‐b‐PCL copolymer have great influences on drug encapsulation, drug release, and enzymatic degradation of micelles and microspheres.

     

The effects of microbial degradation on ignitable liquids

The identification of ignitable liquid residues in fire debris is a key finding for determining the cause and origin of a suspicious fire. However, the complex mixtures of organic compounds that comprise ignitable liquids are susceptible to microbiological attack following collection of the sample. Biodegradation can result in selective removal of many of the compounds required for identification of an ignitable liquid. Such degradation has been found to occur rapidly in substrates such as soil, rotting wood, or other organic matter. Furthermore, fire debris evidence must often be stored for extended periods at room temperature prior to analysis due to case backlogs and available evidence storage. Hence, extensive damage to ignitable liquid residues by microbes poses a significant threat to subsequent laboratory work. In this work, the effects of microbial degradation of ignitable liquids in soil have been evaluated as a function of time. Key findings include the loss of n-alkanes, particularly C₉–C₁₆, which showed the most dramatic decrease in gasoline as well as the petroleum distillates, while branched alkanes remained unchanged. Monosubstituted benzenes also showed the most dramatic loss in gasoline. In the heavy petroleum distillates, n-alkanes with even carbon numbers were degraded more than n-alkanes with odd carbon numbers. Figure A “fully involved” house fire in Indianapolis, IN

The effects of copper ions on the catalytical degradation of azo dye acid chrome blue K

The effects of Cu²⁺ on the catalytical degradation of acid chrome blue K (ACBK) in UV-TiO₂ and H₂O₂ processes were studied. In these two processes, Cu²⁺ markedly depressed the catalytical degradation of ACBK by its interaction with ACBK. Through this interaction, the new complex Cu(ACBK)₂ formed. The formation of this new complex was favorable to protect some groups in ACBK from the oxidation of reactive oxygen generated in UV-TiO₂ and H₂O₂ processes, and consequently had suppressing effects on degradation of ACBK. In addition, Cu²⁺ also inhibited the degradation of ACBK in UV-TiO₂ process by influencing the adsorption of ACBK on the surface of TiO₂ particles.