Effect of nanotube functionalization on the properties of single‐walled carbon nanotube/polyurethane composites

A commercially available aliphatic thermoplastic polyurethane formulated with a methylene bis(cyclohexyl) diisocyanate hard segment and a poly(tetramethylene oxide) soft segment and chain‐extended with 1,4‐butanediol was dissolved in dimethylformamide and mixed with dispersed single‐walled carbon nanotubes. The properties of composites made with unfunctionalized nanotubes were compared with the properties of composites made with nanotubes functionalized to contain hydroxyl groups. Functionalization almost eliminated the conductivity of the tubes according to the conductivity of the composites above the percolation threshold. In most cases, functionalized and unfunctionalized tubes yielded composites with statistically identical mechanical properties. However, composites made with functionalized tubes did have a slightly higher modulus in the rubbery plateau region at higher nanotube fractions. Small‐angle X‐ray scattering patterns indicated that the dispersion reached a plateau in the unfunctionalized composites that was consistent with the plateau in the rubbery plateau region. The room‐temperature modulus and tensile strength increase was proportionally higher than almost all increases seen previously in thermoplastic polyurethanes; however, the increase was still an order of magnitude below what has been reported for the best nanotube–polymer systems. Nanotube addition increased the hard‐segment glass transition temperature slightly, whereas the soft‐segment glass transition was so diffuse that no conclusions could be drawn. Unfunctionalized tubes suppressed the crystallization of the hard segment; whereas functionalized tubes had no effect. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 45: 490–501, 2007     

Kinetics and mechanism of free-surface vaporization of zinc, cadmium and mercury oxides analyzed by the third-law method

On the basis of critical comparison of experimental and theoretical values of the E parameter and investigation of the retardation effect of oxygen on the evaporation rate of ZnO, CdO and HgO, it was concluded that the dissociative evaporation of ZnO and HgO proceeds with releasing of atomic oxygen (O) as a primary product of decomposition. By contrast, the mechanism of dissociative evaporation of CdO corresponds to the equilibrium reaction with releasing of molecular oxygen (O₂) as a primary product of decomposition. As was shown, this difference in mechanisms is not related with interatomic OO distances in these oxides. From the analysis of crystal structure for 12 different oxides, which evaporate with releasing of atomic oxygen, and for 13 compounds, which evaporate with releasing of molecular oxygen, it was revealed that the first mechanism is observed for all oxides with the cubic crystal structure. It was proposed that a decisive role in this difference belongs to a local symmetry in the position of O atoms.     

燃煤过程痕量元素动力学机理的研究进展

由于痕量元素在煤中的含量低微、检测困难,加之其原子量一般较大,可能的反应途径多,使得相关的反应机理研究难度极大。本文结合作者的研究成果,介绍了煤燃烧过程中痕量元素化学反应动力学的国内外研究进展,包括痕量元素化学动力学机理的建立;相关的典型实验、计算模拟及其实验验证、动力学机理模型的简化;痕量元素反应动力学机理的完善和发展,包括采用简单碰撞理论、活化络合物理论(亦称过渡态理论,或绝对反应速率理论)对痕量元素化学反应动力学机理的修正;最后指出煤燃烧过程中痕量元素动力学研究的若干方向是: (1)痕量元素反应动力学模型数据库的建立;(2)煤燃烧过程中,主量元素和次量元素的动力学机理的完善; (3)各痕量元素之间动力学研究的开展; (4)实际燃烧过程中痕量元素动力学行为的研究。     

Numerical analysis of reversible A B C reaction-diffusion systems

We develop an effective numerical method of studying large-time properties of reversible reaction-diffusion systems of type A + B ↔ C with initially separated reactants. Using it we find that there are three types of asymptotic reaction zones. In particular we show that the reaction rate can be locally negative and concentrations of species A and B can be nonmonotonic functions of the space coordinate x, locally significantly exceeding their initial values. Received 6 June 2002 / Received in final form 20 January 2003 Published online 7 May 2003     

Simplified and complex modeling of self-sustained discharge-pumped,Ne-buffered XeCl laser kinetics

Two simple kinetic models of a Ne-buffered XeCl laser discharge are presented based on different simplifications of the chemical kinetics of a complex model that recently appeared in the literature. When applied to the study of a small-volume XeCl laser, the results of both simple and complex models are in satisfactory agreement with the experiments. Shifting to a larger-volume laser, both models show problems due to loss of stability of the discharge. A one-dimensional modelling is performed, and it is found that different assumptions on the kinetics of the NeXe⁺ ion in the discharge lead to completely different results as regards the effect of a preionization-triggered instability.     

Determination of the rate of rapid lipid transfer induced by poly(ethylene glycol) using the SLM Fourier transform phase and modulation spectrofluorometer

Rate constants were determined for the transfer of the fluorescent lipid probe 1-palmitoyl-2-[[2-[4-(6-phenyl-trans-1,3,5-hexatrienyl)phenyl]ethyl] oxy]carbonyl]-3-sn-phosphatidylcholine (DPHpPC) between large, unilamellar extrusion vesicles composed either of dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine (DPPC) or of DPPC mixed with a small amount (0.5 mol%) of lyso phosphatidylcholine (Lyso PC). Transfer of the lipid probe in the presence of varying concentrations of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) was monitored using the SLM 48000-MHF Multi-Harmonic Fourier Transform phase and modulation spectrofluorometer to collect multifrequency phase and modulation fluorescence data sets on a subsecond time scale. The unique ability of this instrument to yield accurate fluorescence lifetime data on this time scale allowed transfer to be detected in terms of a time-dependent change in the fluorescent lifetime distribution associated with the lipid-like DPHpPC probe. This probe demonstrates two short fluoresence decay times (ca. 1.1–1.4 and 4.3–4.8 ns) in a probe-rich environment but a single long lifetime (ca. 7 ns) in a probe-poor environment. A simple two-state model for initial lipid transfer was used to analyze the multifrequency data sets collected over a 4-s time frame to obtain the time rate of change of the concentrations of donor and acceptor probe populations following rapid mixing of vesicles with PEG. The ability to measure fluorescence lifetimes on this time scale has allowed us to show that the of rate of lipid transfer increased dramatically at 35% PEG in both fusing and nonfusing vesicle systems. These results are interpreted in terms of a distinct interbilayer structure associated with intimate bilayer contact induced by high and potentially fusogenic concentrations of PEG.     

Side‐chain crystallization behavior of graft copolymers consisting of an amorphous main chain and crystalline side chains. II. Poly(n‐hexyl methacrylate)‐graft‐poly(ethylene glycol)

The phase behavior and crystallization of graft copolymers consisting of poly(n‐hexyl methacrylate) (PHMA) as an amorphous main chain and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) as crystallizable side chains (HMAx with 15 ≤ x ≤ 73, where x represents the weight percentage of PEG) were investigated. Small‐angle X‐ray scattering profiles measured above the melting temperature of PEG suggested that a microdomain structure with segregated PHMA and PEG domains was formed in HMA40 and HMA46. This phase behavior was qualitatively described by a calculated phase diagram based on the mean‐field theory. Because of the segregation of PEG into microdomains, the crystallization temperature of the PEG side chains in HMAx was higher than that in poly(methyl acrylate)‐graft‐poly(ethylene glycol) having a similar value of x, which was considered to be in a disordered state above the melting temperature. In HMAx with x ≤ 40, PEG crystallization was strongly restricted, probably because the PEG microdomains were isolated in the PHMA matrix. As a result, the growth of PEG spherulite was not observed because the PEG crystallization occurred after vitrification of the PHMA segregated domains. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 45: 129–137, 2007     

Synthesis and characterization of poly(higher‐α‐olefin)s with a nickel(α‐diimine)/methylaluminoxane catalyst system: Effect of chain running on the polymer properties

Homopolymerization of octadecene‐1 at different reaction conditions has been studied. Significant chain running can be seen at higher polymerization temperatures. Interestingly, insertion of octadecene‐1 into a sterically hindered nickel‐cation/carbon (secondary) bond is observed. The microstructure of the polymer was established using NMR spectroscopy. The effects of chain running on polymer melting, crystallization behavior, and dynamic mechanical thermal properties were studied using DSC and DMTA. The extent of chain running (i.e., 2,ω‐, 1,ω‐enchainments) decreases with an increase in the carbon number of α‐olefins. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 191–210, 2007     

Chemical component exchange and transport phenomena accompanying phase transformations in minerals and materials

Chemical component exchange and transport phenomena accompanying the multistage phase transformations of several silicate and aluminosilicate-phosphate glasses and borates as model systems are considered. It is demonstrated that the component transport limitations modify the role of chemical affinity influence and determine the sequence of new compound formation.The work was supported by grant P040703406 from the National Committee of Scientific Research of Poland.     

Form of the Spectra of Nucleus Dimensions in First-Order Phase Transitions

We study a generalization of the analytic theory of first-order phase transitions to the cases of arbitrary droplet growth, of nonisothermal processes, and of heterogeneous centers in the system. We show that in all these cases, the spectra of droplet dimensions are similar. The same forms of the spectra are also obtained for the stationary condensation process in a spatially inhomogeneous system.