Polymerization-induced self-assembly of amino-acid-based nano-objects by reversible addition–fragmentation chain-transfer dispersion polymerization

A series of amino-acid-based amphiphilic diblock copolymer nano-objects having different morphologies were developed by reversible addition–fragmentation chain-transfer (RAFT) dispersion polymerization of styrene (St) in methanol. This was mediated by six different hydrophilic poly(N-acryloyl amino acid) macro-chain transfer agents (CTAs), including three carboxylic-acid-containing ones, poly(N-acryloyl-l -proline) (PAProOH), poly(N-acryloyl-4-trans-hydroxy-l -proline) (PAHypOH), and poly(N-acryloyl-l -threonine) (PAThrOH) prepared by RAFT polymerization, and their methyl ester forms, PAProOMe, PAHypOMe, and PAThrOMe. The effects of polymerization conditions on RAFT dispersion polymerization of St using a dithiocarbamate-terminated PAProOH was investigated. A systematic study of the effects of monomer conversion and concentration afforded the formation of various morphologies (i.e., spheres, worms, and vesicles). The effects of hydrogen-bonding and ionic interactions of the macro-CTAs on the assembled structures of the nano-objects were evaluated using six different macro-CTAs. Transforming the products from methanol to water via dialysis produced amino-acid-based block copolymer nano-objects, exhibiting pH-responsive morphological change, in aqueous solution.     

Reflection of plane waves in generalized thermoelasticity of type III with nonlocal effect

The generalized thermoelasticity theory based upon the Green and Naghdi model III of thermoelasticity as well as the Eringen's nonlocal elasticity model is used to study the propagation of harmonic plane waves in a nonlocal thermoelastic medium. We found two sets of coupled longitudinal waves, which are dispersive in nature and experience attenuation. In addition to the coupled waves, there also exists one independent vertically shear-type wave, which is dispersive but experiences no attenuation. All these waves are found to be influenced by the elastic nonlocality parameter. Furthermore, the shear-type wave is found to face a critical frequency, while the coupled longitudinal waves may face critical frequencies conditionally. The problem of reflection of the thermoelastic waves at the stress-free insulated and isothermal boundary of a homogeneous, isotropic nonlocal thermoelastic half-space has also been investigated. The formulae for various reflection coefficients and their respective energy ratios are determined in various cases. For a particular material, the effects of the angular frequency and the elastic nonlocal parameter have been shown on phase speeds and the attenuation coefficients of the propagating waves. The effect of the elastic nonlocality on the reflection coefficients and the energy ratios has been observed and depicted graphically. Finally, analysis of the various results has been interpreted.     

Facile synthesis of temperature-sensitive ABA triblock copolymers by dispersion RAFT polymerization

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Influence of metal ion on chelate–aryl stacking interactions

CCSD(T)/CBS and DFT methods are employed to study the stacking interactions of acetylacetonate‐type (acac‐type) chelates of nickel, palladium, and platinum with benzene. The strongest chelate–aryl stacking interactions are formed by nickel and palladium chelate, with interaction energies of −5.75 kcal mol⁻¹ and −5.73 kcal mol⁻¹, while the interaction of platinum chelate is weaker, with interaction energy of −5.36 kcal mol⁻¹. These interaction energies are significantly stronger than stacking of two benzenes, −2.73 kcal mol⁻¹. The strongest nickel and palladium chelate–aryl interactions are with benzene center above the metal area, while the strongest platinum chelate–aryl interaction is with the benzene center above the C2 atom of the acac‐type chelate ring. These preferences arise from very different electrostatic potentials above the metal ions, ranging from very positive above nickel to slightly negative above platinum. While the differences in electrostatic potentials above metal atoms cause different geometries with the most stable interaction among the three metals, the dispersion (correlation energy) component is the largest contribution to the total interaction energy for all three metals.     

Formation of Concentrated Nanoemulsions by Extreme Shear

Abstract

We have systematically investigated the production of “nanoemulsions,” droplets of one liquid phase in another immiscible liquid phase that have diameters less than 100 nm. Our approach relies on a combination of extreme shear due to multipass, high‐pressure microfluidic injection and systematic control of the emulsion's composition. By repeatedly shearing a silicone oil‐in‐water emulsion in an inhomogeneous extensional shear flow, the multipass approach enables us to reduce the droplet polydispersity and average radius. Using dynamic light scattering, we study the changes in the average radius, ?a?, as a function of the number of passes, driving injection pressure (i.e., shear rate), droplet volume fraction, surfactant concentration, and droplet oil viscosity. The smallest nanoemulsion that we obtain has ?a?=18 nm. At large droplet volume fractions φ≥0.65, we observe phase inversion, rather than a reduction in the droplet size. This provides evidence that droplet coalescence can occur during extreme shear, even when a significant excess of a strongly stabilizing surfactant is present.     

Effects of Ethanol on the Stability of Pigment Colloidal Dispersion

The effects of ethanol on the thickness and ionization of adsorbed polymer layer on pigment were investigated. The results showed that the thickness of adsorbed polymer layer decreased with the increase of the ethanol concentration, and then the pigment particles aggregated when the concentration of ethanol is higher than 40%. The zeta potentials became more negative with the increasing of the ethanol concentration, and then changed reversely when the ethanol concentration was higher than 16%. The thickness and structure of adsorbed polymer layer on the particle determined the stability of pigment dispersion.     

Dispersion Mechanism of Superfine SiC Particles in the Different Condition Liquid

SiC@A1(OH)₃-Y(OH)₃ core-shell composite particles are synthesized by co-precipitation method for strengthening the antioxidation of SiC at high temperature. To reach better A1(OH)₃-Y(OH)₃ composite shell and higher coating ratio on the SiC particles surfaces, SiC particles must be adequately dispersed in the SiC suspension during the coating process. The dispersion mechanism of SiC particles is investigated by the sedimentation method. Through test and analysis, the optimum conditions of the dispersion of SiC particles in the SiC suspension are sedimentating for 10 minutes, ultrasonic dispersion for 10 minutes, the lower SiC concentration, pH = 9, the dispersant content for the 2% volume of SiC suspension and using the polyelectrolyte dispersant, respectively.     

The State of NaOH in NaOH/Poly(Sodium Acrylate) Composite

NaOH/poly(sodium acrylate) composites were prepared by in situ polymerization of acrylic acid with an overneutralization level by adding excess NaOH. The composites were studied by XRD, IR and ²³Na MAS NMR spectroscopy. The results showed that the high neutralization degree (>100%) may lead to a complete polymerization. Both XRD and ²³Na MAS NMR spectra did not show any peaks of phase-separated NaOH or Na₂CO₃ until the neutralization degree was up to 217.5%. It can be presumed that the aggregates of Na⁺ ions can contain approximately two Na⁺ units for every carboxyl group before the phase separation.     

Polymer colloids formed by polyelectrolyte complexation of vinyl polymers and polysaccharides in aqueous solution

The polyelectrolyte complex formed from the polyanion and polycation was studied by turbidimetry, static and electrophoretic light scattering, and elementary analysis. Sodium salts of polyacrylate (PA) and heparin (Hep) were chosen as the polyanion, and hydrochloric salts of poly(vinyl amine) (PVA) and chitosan (Chts) as the polycation. Although these vinyl polymers and polysaccharides have remarkably different backbone chemical structures and linear charge densities, all the four combinations PA-PVA, PA-Chts, Hep-PVA, and Hep-Chts provide almost stoichiometric polyelectrolyte complexes which are slightly charged owing to the adsorption of the excess polyelectrolyte component onto the neutral complex. The charges stabilize the complex colloids in aqueous solution of a non-stoichiometric mixture, and the aggregation number of the complex colloids increases with approaching to the stoichiometric mixing ratio. The mixing ratio dependence of the aggregation number for the four complexes is explained by the model proposed in the previous study.