Relation between interfacial shear strength and compressive strength of carbon fiber/epoxy resin composite strands

The mechanism with which the fiber-matrix interfacial strength exerts its influence on the compressive strength of fiber reinforced composites has been studied by measuring the axial compressive strength of carbon fiber/epoxy resin unidirectional composite strands having different levels of interfacial shear strength. The composite strands are used for experiments in order to investigate the compressive strength which is not affected by the delamination taking place at a weak interlayer of the laminated composites. The interfacial strength is varied by applying various degrees of liquid-phase surface treatment to the fibers. The efficiency of the compressive strength of the fibers utilized in the strength of the composite strands is estimated by measuring the compressive strength of the single carbon filaments with a micro-compression test. The compressive strength of the composite strands does not increase monotonically with increasing interfacial shear strength but showes lower values at higher interfacial shear strengths. With increasing interfacial shear strength, the suppression of the interfacial failure in the misaligned fiber region increases the compressive strength, while at higher interfacial shear strengths, the enhancement of the crack sensitivity decreases the compressive strength.     

Crystallization Behavior of the System Poly(L-lactic Acid) and Pentaerythrityl Tetrabromide

Differential scanning calorimetry has been used to study the thermal crystallization of poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) and pentaerythrityl tetrabromide mixtures at different compositions. The melting temperature-composition phase diagram of the system reveals that PLLA forms a simple eutectic with pentaerythrityl tetrabromide, with a eutectic composition of 46% (w/w) of PLLA and a eutectic temperature of 422 K. Investigation of the microstructures obtained after removal of the diluent from the eutectic using scanning electron microscopy shows that the simultaneous crystallization of PLLA and the diluent proceeded in such a way that the diluent rods are the leading phases.     

Synthesis of a Calix[4]crown‐6 Cone Conformer‐Based Oligomer and its Metal Cation Extraction Abilities

A new calixcrown‐6 oligomer 5 was synthesized by reacting a 1,3‐distal di‐amino derivative of cone p‐tert‐butylcalix[4]crown‐6 with malonyl dichloride. Extraction studies with precursor monomers 2 and 3 and oligomer 5 showed differences in their metal cation extraction behavior and selectivity. Precursors monomers 2 and 3 were selective for Hg²⁺; whereas, oligomer 5 showed high affinity towards both alkali (Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, and Cs⁺) and heavy metal cations (Cu²⁺, Cd²⁺, Hg²⁺ and Pb²⁺).     

Further Studies on the Anionic Copolymerization of Styrene and Glycidyl Methacrylate in Toluene

Sequential anionic copolymerization of styrene and glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) was performed with the protection of argon under normal pressure, where styrene, GMA, toluene, THF, n-butyllithium and a small amount of lithium chloride (LiCl) were used as first monomer, second monomer, solvent, polar reagent, initiator and additive, respectively. Polystyrene-b-poly(glycidyl methacrylate) diblock copolymers (PS-b-PGMA) with well-defined structure and narrow molecular weight distribution were prepared by the copolymerization reaction of poly(styryl)lithium with GMA under certain temperatures. The copolymers were characterized using gel permeation chromatography (GPC), ¹H-NMR, ¹³C-NMR, thin layer chromatography (TLC) and hydrochloric acid-dioxane argentimetric methods. The effects of additives, copolymerization temperature and THF dosage on the copolymerization were studied. No chain transfer reaction of anionic polymerization of styrene in toluene was observed. Slightly broader molecular weight distribution of PS-b-PGMA was observed with the increase the GMA repeat units. Using THF/toluene blend solvent could reduce the polydispersity index (M _w /M _n ) and dissolve the copolymer better than toluene alone. Lower temperature (< -40°C) and LiCl are required to prepare PS-b-PGMA with narrower molecular weight distribution.     

Strong covalent bonding modulated graphene oxide/epoxy interfacial enhancement and advanced corrosion resistance

Abstract

Chemically functionalized graphene oxide [multi-amino functionalized graphene oxide (MAGO)] was achieved by building covalent bonds between graphene oxide (GO) and a small molecule containing benzene structure and multi-amino groups. Fourier transform infrared, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photo electron spectroscopy and TEM-EDX results certified that the molecule was successfully grafted onto GO nanosheets. Subsequently, functionalized GO was incorporated into waterborne epoxy (EP) coating through ball-milling method. This molecular design can significantly improve the dispersion of MAGO in EP matrix, as well as the compatibility and interaction between MAGO and EP. Compared with GO/EP, the water absorption of MAGO/EP decreased from 4.38 to 2.59%, the adhesion strength of MAGO/EP increased from 4.72 to 6.32?MPa after immersion of 40?days in 3.5% NaCl solution. Incorporation of 1?wt% of MAGO into EP matrix prominently improved the long-term corrosion resistance. The impedance modulus of GO/EP coating decreased by four orders after 40 days immersion, while that of MAGO/EP coating only decreased by one order. The impedance modulus was still 1.47?×?10⁸ Ω cm², and two-time constant wasn’t detected for MAGO/EP coating. This research developed a novel green anticorrosion coating with enhanced durability for metal protection.     

Synthesis, Characterization and Properties of Novel Star-Shaped π-Conjugated Oligomers with Triphenylamine Core

Four new star‐shaped π‐conjugated oligomers ( TPA‐CZ3 , TPA‐TPA3 , TPA‐PTZ3 and TPA‐BT3 ) with triphenylamine as a core and different electron‐donating ability groups, carbazole, triphenylamine, phenothiazine and bithiophene, as peripheral units have been designed and synthesized via the Heck reaction. These oligomers show good solubility in common organic solvents. Their photophysical, electrochemical, electronic structure and charge transfer properties between these star‐shaped π‐conjugated oligomers and N,N′‐bis(1‐ethylpropyl)‐3,4:9,10‐perylene bis(tetracarboxyl diimide) (EP‐PDI) have been investigated by UV‐vis absorption spectra, photoluminescence (PL) spectra, cyclic voltammetry (CV) measurement, theoretical calculations and fluorescence quenching. The results show that the absorptions and fluorescences of TPA‐CZ3 , TPA‐TPA3 and TPA‐PTZ3 are red shifted with the electron‐donating ability of the peripheral unit increasing from carbazole to triphenylamine and phenothiazine. In addition, although the bithiophene group has a weaker electron‐donating ability than carbazole, triphenylamine and phenothiazine, the absorption and fluorescence of TPA‐BT3 have a red shift than those of TPA‐CZ3 , TPA‐TPA3 and TPA‐PTZ3 because TPA‐BT3 has a longer conjugation length than TPA‐CZ3 , TPA‐TPA3 and TPA‐PTZ3 . The triphenylamine core and the peripheral units can constitute a large conjugated structure. The fluorescence quenching properties indicate that efficient charge transfer can happen between the star‐shaped oligomers and EP‐PDI.     

Solvent‐Free Aerobic Chemoselective Oxidation of β‐Ionone catalyzed by N‐Hydroxyphthalimide/Co(acac)2

β‐Ionone was oxidized with O₂ under solvent‐free conditions catalyzed by an N‐hydroxyphthalimide/Co(acac)₂ system in mild conditions with high conversion and excellent selectivity to oxo‐β‐ionone or 5,6‐epoxy‐β‐ionone in different reaction conditions, respectively.     

Bonding of Hydroxyl and Epoxy Groups on Graphene： Insights from Density Functional Calculations

Density functional theory and GGA-PW91 exchange correlation function were performed to simulate the bonding behavior of hydroxyl and epoxy groups on the graphene surface. We compared the different binding energies for two epoxy groups, as well as one hydroxyl group and one epoxy group on all possible positions within a 6-fold ring, respectively. The calculated results suggest that two oxygen-containing groups always tend to bind with the neighboring carbon atoms at the opposite sides. Moreover, two hydroxyl groups on the meta position are unstable, and one of the hydroxyl groups easily migrates to the para position. In contrast to the disperse arrangement, the aggregation of multiply hydroxyl groups largely enhances the binding energy of every hydroxyl group. It is worth noting that the binding sites and hydrogen bonds play an important role in stability. Our work further points out the number of oxygen-containing groups and the location of oxide region largely influence the electronic properties of graphene oxide.     

On the induced‐fit mechanism of substrate‐enzyme binding structures of nylon‐oligomer hydrolase

We present a detailed computational investigation of the induced‐fit motion in a nylon‐oligomer hydrolase (NylB) upon substrate binding. To this aim, we resort on the recently introduced parallel cascade selection molecular dynamics approach, allowing for an accelerated access to the set of conformational changes from an open‐ to a closed‐state structure to form the enzyme‐substrate complex in a specific induce‐fit mechanism. The structural investigation is quantitatively complemented by free energy analyses within the umbrella sampling algorithm accompanied by weighted histogram analysis. We find that the stabilization free energy is about 1.4 kcal/mol, whereas the highest free energy barrier to be overcome is about 2.3 kcal/mol. Conversely, the energetic contribution for the substrate binding is about 20 kcal/mol, as estimated from Generalized Born/Surface Area. This means that the open‐close induced‐fit motion could occur frequently once the substrate binds to the open state of NylB. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.