A critical analysis of the effect of crosslinking on the linear viscoelastic behavior of styrene–butadiene rubber and other elastomers

The linear viscoelastic behavior in dynamic shear and tensile creep at temperatures from −30 to 70 °C is measured for an styrene–butadiene rubber (SBR) elastomer cured with dicumyl peroxide to crosslinking densities between 0 and 23.5 × 10⁻⁵ mol/cm³. The G′, G″, and tan δ isotherms are analyzed by time–temperature superposition (TTS), where the tan δ master curves are consistent with those of Mancke and Ferry. However, to achieve the TTS in the lightly crosslinked SBR systems, an anomalous vertical shift is required in the narrow temperature region from 10 to 30 °C. The vertical shift factor in this temperature region is not the standard from rubber elasticity. No anomalous behavior is detected in the equilibrium modulus, which is a linear function of temperature in accordance with the classical theory of rubber elasticity. In contrast to SBR, standard vertical shifts are required to effect TTS for uncrosslinked polybutadiene and an ethylene propylene diene monomer elastomer. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys, 2013     

Quantum topology phase diagrams for molecules,clusters, and solids

The need to make more quantitative use of the total electronic charge density distribution is demonstrated in this short perspective. This is framed in the perspective of the ground breaking early work of Bader and coworkers, along with mathematicians who captured the essential nature of a molecule in a suitably compact form in real space. We see that this simple form is the Poincaré–Hopf relation for molecules and clusters and the Euler–Hopf relation in solids. Thom's theory of elementary catastrophes combined with the Poincaré–Hopf relation provides the inspiration for the new quantum topology. An alternative use of the Poincaré–Hopf relation, molecular recognition, is discussed. Quantum topology is then used to create a topology phase diagram for both molecules and solids. The author adds their perspectives of the huge potential of the quantum topology approach by demonstrating the ease with which new theoretical ideas can be generated. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Recovery performance and characteristics in shape memory effects of aliphatic polyether urethane

The analysis on the recovery performance and characteristics in shape memory effects is helpful for the optimal design and engineering applications of shape memory polymers and their composites. To investigate the relationships among recovery performance, material parameters, and loading conditions, by taking aliphatic polyether urethane as an example, the researchers simulate the shape memory behaviors numerically using a three‐dimensional viscoelastic model. The material parameters for this model are taken from stress relaxation tests, rather than dynamic mechanical analysis tests. Both the unconstrained and the constrained recovery behaviors during strain‐controlled shape memory processes are analyzed. The results reveal that the unconstrained recovery occurs at the same temperature regardless of the applied strain values. Another interesting result is that the shape recovery temperature in unconstrained recovery situations increases and the maximum recovery stress under constrained recovery conditions decreases with the increase of heating rates. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Viscoelastic phase diagram of fluorinated and grafted polymer films and proton‐exchange membranes for fuel cell applications

The influence of temperature and moisture activity on the viscoelastic behavior of fluorinated membranes for fuel cell applications was investigated. Uncrosslinked and crosslinked ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE)‐based proton‐conducting membranes were prepared by radiation grafting and subsequent sulfonation and their behavior was compared with ETFE base film and commercial Nafion^® NR212 membrane. Uniaxial tensile tests and stress relaxation tests at controlled temperature and relative humidity (RH) were carried out at 30 and 50 °C for 10% < RH < 90%. Grafted films were stiffer and exhibited stronger strain hardening when compared with ETFE. Similarly, both uncrosslinked and crosslinked membranes were stiffer and stronger than Nafion^®. Yield stress was found to decrease and moisture sensitivity to increase on sulfonation. The viscoelastic relaxation of the grafted films was found to obey a power‐law behavior with exponent equal to ?0.04 ± 0.01, a factor of almost 2 lower than ETFE, weakly influenced by moisture and temperature. Moreover, the grafted films presented a higher hygrothermal stability when compared with their membranes counterparts. In the case of membranes, a power‐law behavior at RH < 60% was also observed. However, a markedly different behavior was evident at RH > 60%, with an almost single relaxation time exponential. An exponential decrease of relaxation time with RH from 60 s to 10 s was obtained at RH ≥ 70% and 30 °C. The general behavior of grafted films observed at 30 °C was also obtained at 50 °C. However, an anomalous result was noticed for the membranes, with a higher modulus at 50 °C when compared with 30 °C. This behavior was explained by solvation of the sulfonic acid groups by water absorption creating hydrogen bonding within the clusters. A viscoelastic phase diagram was elaborated to map critical conditions (temperature and RH) for transitions in time‐dependent behavior, from power‐law scaling to exponential scaling. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2013, 51, 1139–1148     

Preliminary communication Liquid crystalline cardanyl β-D-glucopyranosides

Two novel aryl glycosides were synthesized, which varied in the extent of unsaturation in the lipophilic part, from plant/crop-based renewable resource materials. Their liquid crystalline properties were characterized by optical polarizing microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffraction. All the mesophases are identified as lamellar in structure.     

Synthesis and comparative study of the heterocyclic rings on liquid crystalline properties of 2,5-aryl-1,3,4-oxa(thia)diazole derivatives containing furan and thiophene units

A series of heterocyclic liquid crystalline compounds containing 1,3,4-oxadiazole/thiadiazole, furan and thiophene units were synthesised and characterised by means of electrospray ionisation-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), high-resolution mass spectroscopy (HRMS), ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and ¹³C NMR. The thermal behaviours were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and polarised optical microscopy (POM). The effect of the 1,3,4-oxadiazole, 1,3,4-thiadiazole, furan, thiophene and benzene rings on the liquid crystalline properties was discussed briefly in context with the geometrical and electronic factors. The results showed that the tendency to form mesophases follows the sequence: 1,4-disustituted benzene >2,5-disubstituted thiophene >2,5-disustituted furan and 1,3,4-thiadiazole >1,3,4-oxadiazole.     

Phase transitions,optical, dielectric and viscoelastic properties of colloidal suspensions of BaTiO3 nanoparticles and cyanobiphenyl liquid crystals

We report experimental studies on the phase transitions and physical properties of colloidal suspensions of BaTiO₃ nanoparticles and two cyanobiphenyl liquid crystals (4-pentyl-4?-cyanobiphenyl and 4-octyl-4?-cyanobiphenyl). From the differential scanning calorimetric measurements, we show that the nanoparticles have antagonistic effect on the isotropic to nematic and nematic to smectic-A phase transitions. The birefringence, dielectric anisotropy and splay elastic constant remain almost unchanged, whereas the bend elastic constant and rotational viscosity decrease considerably. The experimental results are discussed based on the possible contribution of BaTiO₃ nanoparticles and free surfactant molecules in the suspensions.     

补偿效应研究的一个新视角

补偿效应与Arrhenius方程关系密切。本文为补偿效应研究提供了新视野。用几何图象分析了Arrhenius方程,指出过去认为此方程只表示速率与温度关系是不全面的,忽视了速率常数与活化能关系的研究。从图形看出,指前因子与活化能本身就具有互补关系,虽仅限于每两个不同活化能的情况。反应是一自组织过程。补偿效应的成立有必要条件和充分条件。欲实现补偿效应,从协同学角度考虑,E/T作为参变量必需小于一阈值,以使反应起活。并有一自变量做系列改变,以使A、E随其相似地连续变化,从而连通所有A、E的内在联系,1/T-lnk图中诸直线交于一点。指数分布是非均匀体系最具有普遍意义的分布函数。概率分析指出,补偿效应是A、E在固体表面和内部均呈相似指数分布的产物。对催化反应与非催化反应有普适性。在速率常数中体现为结构分布概率因子及能量分布概率因子。     

带有端烷烃链的超支化聚酯的受限结晶及动态黏弹行为

以三羟甲基丙烷(TMP)为核,二羟甲基丙酸(DMPA)为支化单体,通过熔融缩聚法合成了第3代端羟基脂肪族超支化聚酯,并用十八酸对其进行端基改性,采用广角X射线衍射(WAXD)、示差扫描量热分析(DSC)及红外光谱(FTIR)研究了不同端基改性程度的超支化聚酯的结晶熔融行为及端烷烃链的构象和堆积结构随温度的变化,采用旋转流变仪研究了端烷烃链对脂肪族超支化聚酯熔体动态黏弹行为的影响.结果表明,这类改性超支化聚酯的结晶归因于长链端烷烃的有序排列,改性程度越高,衍射峰强度越大.受限结晶的端烷烃链在升温后并不能完全转变为无序的结构状态,改性超支化聚酯在"熔点"以上仍有部分有序结构存在.超支化聚酯的线性黏弹区随着端基改性程度的增大而逐渐变短,超支化聚酯的弹性逐渐增大,剪切变稀越明显.动态流变测试中所出现的现象与改性超支化聚酯中端烷烃链的受限密切相关.