Fabrication of microporous membranes from melt extruded polypropylene precursor films via stretching: Effect of annealing

In this work, the effects of annealing conditions on the microstructure of polypropylene(PP) precursor films and further on the porous structure and permeability of stretched membranes were investigated. Combinations of WAXD, FTIR, DSC and DMA results clearly showed the crystalline orientation and crystallinity of the precursor film increased with annealing temperature, while the molecular chain entanglements in the amorphous phase decreased. Changes in the deformation behavior suggested more lamellar separation occurred for the films annealed at higher temperatures. Surface morphologies of the membranes examined by SEM revealed more pore number and uniform porous structure as the annealing temperature increased. In accordance with the SEM results, the permeability of the membranes increased with annealing temperature. On the other hand, it was found that 10 min was almost enough for the annealing process to obtain the microporous membranes with an optimal permeability.     

Local environment influence on the optical properties of block copolymers containing an epoxy-based azo-prepolymer

The aim of this contribution was the study of the influence of polymer matrix on the photo-induced orientation of azobenzene groups. Notably, an azo-prepolymer bearing hydroxyl groups was selectively confined in self-assembled phases of different block copolymers, randomly-epoxidized polystyrene-b-polybutadiene-b-polystyrene (SBSep) and polystyrene-b-poly-4-vinylpyridine (S4VP). The formation of hydrogen bonds between the azo-prepolymer and poly-4-vinylpyridine block, as well as the effect of the local environment surrounding the azo-prepolymer were investigated by Fourier transform infrared and ultraviolet–visible spectroscopies. In addition, the reversible optical storage properties of the developed materials were also studied. Birefringent properties of the systems based on S4VP were strongly enhanced by intermolecular interactions with the azo-prepolymer. Specifically, the maximum birefringence level attained by a system containing 13 wt% of azobenzene was around 2.3 × 10⁻² and its remaining birefringence was nearly three times higher than that of the neat azo-prepolymer. Furthermore, a morphological analysis of the designed materials was carried out by atomic force microscopy. Taking into account that the control of the microdomains ordering in block copolymer films is of current interest, special attention was focused on the influence of different variables on the arrangement of the block copolymer microdomains.     

Aligned Poly(ε‐caprolactone) Nanofibers Guide the Orientation and Migration of Human Pluripotent Stem Cell‐Derived Neurons,Astrocytes, and Oligodendrocyte Precursor Cells In Vitro

Stem cell transplantations for spinal cord injury (SCI) have been studied extensively for the past decade in order to replace the damaged tissue with human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC)‐derived neural cells. Transplanted cells may, however, benefit from supporting and guiding structures or scaffolds in order to remain viable and integrate into the host tissue. Biomaterials can be used as supporting scaffolds, as they mimic the characteristics of the natural cellular environment. In this study, hPSC‐derived neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) are cultured on aligned poly(ε‐caprolactone) nanofiber platforms, which guide cell orientation to resemble that of spinal cord in vivo. All cell types are shown to efficiently spread over the nanofiber platform and orient according to the fiber alignment. Human neurons and astrocytes require extracellular matrix molecule coating for the nanofibers, but OPCs grow on nanofibers without additional treatment. Furthermore, the nanofiber platform is combined with a 3D hydrogel scaffold with controlled thickness, and nanofiber‐mediated orientation of hPSC‐derived neurons is also demonstrated in a 3D environment. In this work, clinically relevant materials and substrates for nanofibers, fiber coatings, and hydrogel scaffolds are used and combined with cells suitable for developing functional cell grafts for SCI repair.

     

Realignment of Nanocrystal Aggregates into Single Crystals as a Result of Inherent Surface Stress

Crystallization by particle attachment is widely observed in both natural and synthetic environments. Although this form of nonclassical crystallization is generally described by oriented attachment, random aggregation of building blocks to give single‐crystal products is also observed, but the mechanism of crystallographic realignment is unknown. We herein reveal that random attachment during aggregation‐based growth initially produces a nonoriented growth front. Subsequent evolution of the orientation is driven by the inherent surface stress applied by the disordered surface layer and results in single‐crystal formation by grain‐boundary migration. This mechanism is corroborated by measurements of orientation rate versus external stress, which demonstrated a predictive relationship between the two. These findings advance our understandings about aggregation‐based growth via nanocrystal blocks and suggest an approach to material synthesis that takes advantage of stress‐induced coalignment.     

强磁场对四苯基卟啉及其Co(Ⅱ)/Zn(Ⅱ)配合物的影响

为研究强磁场对卟啉类化合物的影响,以四苯基卟啉(TPP)为研究对象,比较分析了无外加磁场和强磁场条件下TPP的结晶,及Co~(2+)、Zn~(2+)与TPP的配位反应。采用X射线粉末衍射测试不同磁场强度下获得的TPP晶体,紫外分光光度计快速测定了不同磁场强度下配合物产率,并分析了配位反应的动力学。TPP的结晶度随磁场强度的增强而提高,晶体尺寸随磁场强度的增加而增大;随磁场的增强,四苯基钴卟啉(CoTPP)和四苯基锌卟啉(ZnTPP)的产率下降,但两者的反应动力学不受磁场影响,其反应速率随磁场强度提高而下降。由研究结果可知,强磁场有利于四苯基卟啉的结晶取向,四苯基卟啉在溶液中垂直于磁场取向是配位反应速率降低的主要原因,随磁场强度的增加,四苯基卟啉的取向程度提高。     

A theoretical investigation on optimal structures of ethane clusters (C2H6)n with n ≤ 25 and their building-up principle

Geometry optimization of ethane clusters (C(2)H(6))(n) in the range of n ≤ 25 is carried out with a Morse potential. A heuristic method based on perturbations of geometries is used to locate global minima of the clusters. The following perturbations are carried out: (1) the molecule or group with the highest energy is moved to the interior of a cluster, (2) it is moved to stable positions on the surface of a cluster, and (3) orientations of one and two molecules are randomly modified. The geometry obtained after each perturbation is optimized by a quasi-Newton method. The global minimum of the dimer is consistent with that previously reported. The putative global minima of the clusters with 3 ≤ n ≤ 25 are first proposed and their building-up principle is discussed.     

γ-射线辐照对尼龙6纤维结构的影响

<正> 过去的大多数研究表明,高能射线辐照会引起聚乙烯及聚丙烯等稀烃类聚合物分子链交联及降解,而且会导致结晶度下降。张利华等人最近的研究表明,对于尼龙1010塑料,仅当辐照剂量高到一定程度后,辐照才会破坏结晶。此外,Stowe等人曾经研究过近紫外线对尼龙66纤维结构的影响,结果表明,在空气气氛中的近紫外辐照主要导致尼龙66纤维降解,并使纤维结晶度提高。有关高能射线辐照对高度取向的合成纤维结构及性能的影响的研究尚不多见。本工作将讨论γ-射线对于尼龙6纤维结构的影响。     

取向PET薄膜偶极热松弛的研究

用纵拉、先纵后横、纵-横-纵等拉伸方式得到了各种平面取向程度的PET薄膜。短路热释电流温谱显示α峰随平面取向度增大向高温线性移动。被冻结的大分子主链链段偶极热松弛活化能随反式构象含量增大呈线性下降。热松弛时间常数则随反式构象含量增大而增长。     

Effect of Rough Nanoparticle Orientation on DLVO Energy Interaction

This study investigated the effect of the orientation of rough nanoparticles on Derjaguin and Landau, Verwey and Overbeek (DLVO) energy interaction. Rippled sphere model was used to survey van der Waals attraction energy and repulsive double-layer interaction energy between nanoparticles. The effect of particle size, asperity size, number of asperities, and concentration was studied for different orientations. Spherical coordinates were used to evaluate the effect of changes in orientation under controlled conditions. Surface element integral method was used to calculate DLVO energy interactions between rough particles at specific orientations. The DLVO energy results show that a change in orientation significantly affected the stability of the nanoparticles. The stability of dispersion varied as the contact surface between nanoparticles changed.     

Improving the softness of BOPP films: From laboratory investigation to industrial processing

Young's modulus of biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP) films prepared with homemade film stretcher was investigated,which can be used to indicate the softness of fihns.It was found that the modulus of films was decreased by about 69％ as the content of polyethylene (PE) added into polypropylene (PP) reached 30％.Also,increasing draw temperature can induce lower stress level during stretching,which may lead to the formation of crystals with low orientation level and thus decreased modulus of films.Based on laboratory study,BOPP films produced on commercial line were studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC),wide and small-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS,SAXS) with varying contents of PE.SAXS results show that the crystals are oriented in both machine direction (MD) and transverse direction (TD),and the crystals are more oriented in TD than MD according to the WAXS results for all films.Also,the orientation parameter of crystal along TD increases from 0.68 to 0.83 as the contents of PE increase from 0％ to 25％.Meanwhile,the modulus of films in MD declines with increase of PE contents generally,improving the film softness.Orientation of crystals is thus an effective structure parameter to adjust the film softness.The relationship of processing-structure-property is also established.