Studies on calcium‐containing poly(urethane ether)s

The calcium salt of mono(hydroxyethoxyethyl)phthalate [Ca(HEEP)₂] was synthesized by the reaction of diethylene glycol, phthalic anhydride, and calcium acetate. Calcium‐containing poly(urethane ether)s (PUEs) were synthesized by the reaction of hexamethylene diisocyanate (HMDI) or tolylene 2,4‐diisocyanate (TDI) with a mixture of Ca(HEEP)₂ and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG₃₀₀ or PEG₄₀₀) with di‐n‐butyltin dilaurate as a catalyst. A series of calcium‐containing PUEs of different compositions were synthesized with Ca(HEEP)₂/PEG₃₀₀ (or PEG₄₀₀)/diisocyanate (HMDI or TDI) molar ratios of 2:2:4, 3:1:4, and 1:3:4 so that the coating properties of the PUEs could be studied. Blank PUEs without calcium‐containing ionic diols were also prepared by the reaction of PEG₃₀₀ or PEG₄₀₀ with HMDI or TDI. The PUEs were well characterized by Fourier transform infrared, ¹H and ¹³C NMR, solid‐state cross‐polarity/magic‐angle‐spinning ¹³C NMR, viscosity, solubility, and X‐ray diffraction studies. The thermal properties of the polymers were also studied with thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry. The PUEs were applied as top coats on acrylic‐coated leather, and their physicomechanical properties were also studied. The coating properties of PUEs, such as the tensile strength, elongation at break, tear strength, water vapor permeability, flexing endurance, cold crack resistance, abrasion resistance, color fastness, and adhesive strength, were better than the standard values. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 2865–2878, 2003     

线性常微分方程的保线性变换及其应用

研究了线性常微分方程的保线性变换，得到任意两个二阶线性常微分方程等价的条件，并用于求解一类二阶线性变系数齐次常微分方程．对数学物理方法教学中怎样通过适当的变换把给定的二阶线性变系数齐次常微分方程化为可解的方程给出了合理解释。     

Eigenvalue and stability of singular differential delay systems

The eigenvalue and the stability of singular differential systems with delay are considered. Firstly we investigate some properties of the eigenvalue, then give the exact exponential estimation for the fundamental solution, and finally discuss the necessary and sufficient condition of uniform asymptotic stability.     

Novel acrylic macromonomer with amphiphilic character derived from Triton X‐100: Radical copolymerization with methyl methacrylate and thermal properties

This article explores the synthesis of a novel methacrylic macromonomer with an amphiphilic character derived from poly(ethylene glycol) tert‐octylphenyl ether (MT) and its respective homopolymer. To know their reactivity in radical copolymerization reactions with methyl methacrylate (MMA), a model monomer (MTm) was synthesized to determine the reactivity ratios and compare them with the low molar fractions of copolymers of MT with MMA because they were difficult to isolate. They were r_MTm = 0.97 and r_MMA = 0.95. The compositional diagrams when representing the weight fraction of MT and MTm in the feed and the copolymer suggested that a clear correlation exists between the experimental points of the model monomer MTm and the macromonomer MT ones, suggesting that the length of the side poly(ethylene oxide) chain does not affect the reactivity of the methacrylic double bond in the prepared monomers for this type of polymerization reaction. The reactivity ratios of the copolymers have a tendency for the formation of random or Bernoullian copolymers. The glass‐transition temperatures (T_g's) of the prepared copolymers were determined by differential scanning calorimetry, deviated from the Fox equation, and discussed on the basis of treatments that consider the influence of the monomeric units along the copolymer chains, determining the T_g of the corresponding alternating dyads. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 1641–1649, 2003     

Fermi, Majorana and the Statistical Model of Atoms

We give an account of the appearance and first developments of the statistical model of atoms proposed by Thomas and Fermi, focusing on the main results achieved by Fermi and his group in Rome. Particular attention is addressed to the unknown contribution to this subject by Majorana, anticipating some important results reached later by leading physicists.     

Dynamic mechanical thermal analysis transitions of partially and fully substituted cellulose fatty esters

The main transitions of cellulose fatty esters with different degrees of substitution (DSs) were investigated with dynamic mechanical thermal analysis. Two distinct main relaxations were observed in partially substituted cellulose esters (PSCEs). They were attributed to the glass‐transition temperature and to the chain local motion of the aliphatic substituents. The temperatures of both transitions decreased when DS or the number of carbon atoms (n) of the acyl substituent increased. Conversely, all the transitions of fully substituted cellulose esters occurred within a narrow temperature range, and they did not vary significantly with n. This phenomenon was explained by the formation of a crystalline phase of the fatty substituents. The presence of few residual OH groups in PSCEs was responsible for a large increase in the storage bending modulus, and it eliminated the effect of n on damping. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 41: 281–288, 2003     

On the origin of irreproducible behaviour of Na1−xLixNbO3 solid solutions

The irreproducibility of electrical properties of Na_0.88Li_0.12NbO₃ solid solution on thermal cycling reported by M.A.L. Nobre and S. Lanfredi is explained by gradual decomposition of the supersaturated solid solution below ca. 800 °C.     

EPR investigations of oxidation effects in (V1−xMox)2−δO3

Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) investigations has been carried out on the new family of molybdenum doped vanadium sesquioxides (V_1−xMo_x)_2−δO₃. The oxidation effects were monitored from the rate of paramagnetic V⁴⁺ created when the sample is exposed to the air. The effects of the oxidation time, sample temperature, and annealing at 1000 °C under a diluted hydrogen atmosphere on the EPR signal features are analyzed. The V⁴⁺ concentration in the oxidized samples is determined and the relaxation effects driven by the conduction electrons are pointed out from the thermal behaviour of the EPR line features. EPR spectra of all the oxidized samples also reveal a small ferromagnetic contribution strongly correlated with the V⁴⁺ content.     

Phase transition in iodine: a chemical picture

The phase transition under pressure in iodine is analyzed using the electron localization function (ELF), explaining that the increase of the c/a ratio under compression is due to the presence of the lone pairs.A probabilistic interpretation is given for ELF.     

A study on anisotropy of L2 to L3 Coster-Kronig transition (f23) for Th and U elements

The Coster-Kronig transition, f₂₃, was determined using differential fluorescence cross sections of L_l X-ray for Th and U. The targets were irradiated an Am-241 radioisotope at the different incident angle. The L_l X-rays were counted with a Si (Li) detector at the different scattering angle varying from 60° to 90° at 10° intervals. For each angle, the Coster-Kronig transition probability, f₂₃, was found. An obtained Coster-Kronig transition probability value was fitted versus emission angle. According to present results we can say that the Coster-Kronig transition probability, f₂₃, shows isotropic distribution.