Magnetocaloric effect and multifunctional properties of Ni–Mn-based Heusler alloys

The studies of magnetocaloric properties, phase transitions, and phenomena related to magnetic heterogeneity in the vicinity of the martensitic transition (MT) in Ni–Mn–In and Ni–Mn–Ga off-stoichiometric Heusler alloys are summarized. The crystal structure, magnetocaloric effect (MCE), and magnetotransport properties were studied for the following alloys: Ni₅₀Mn_50−xIn_x, Ni_50−xCo_xMn₃₅In₁₅, Ni₅₀Mn_35−xCo_xIn₁₅, Ni₅₀Mn₃₅In₁₄Z (Z=Al, Ge), Ni₅₀Mn₃₅In_15−xSi_x, Ni_50−xCo_xMn_25+yGa_25−y, and Ni_50–xCo_xMn_32−yFeyGa₁₈. It was found that the magnetic entropy change, ΔS, associated with the inverse MCE in the vicinity of the temperature of the magneto-structural transition, TM, persists in a range of (125-5) J/(kg K) for a magnetic field change ΔH=5 T. The corresponding temperature varies with composition from 143 to 400 K. The MT in Ni₅₀Mn_50−xIn_x (x=13.5) results in a transition between two paramagnetic states. Associated with the paramagnetic austenite-paramagnetic martensite transition ΔS=24 J/(kg K) was detected for ΔH=5 T at T=350 K. The variation in composition of Ni₂MnGa can drastically change the magnetic state of the martensitic phase below and in the vicinity of TM. The presence of the martensitic phase with magnetic moment much smaller than that in the austenitic phase above TM leads to the large inverse MCE in the Ni₄₂Co₈Mn_32−yFeyGa₁₈ system. The adiabatic change of temperature (ΔT_ad) in the vicinity of TC and TM of Ni₅₀Mn₃₅In₁₅ and Ni₅₀Mn₃₅In₁₄Z (Z=Al, Ge) was found to be ΔT_ad=−2 K and 2 K for ΔH=1.8 T, respectively. It was observed that |ΔT_ad|≈1 K for ΔH=1 T for both types of transitions. The results on resistivity, magnetoresistance, Hall resistivity in some In-based alloys are discussed.     

Hierarchical Micro/Nanostructures of Natural Polymer for Release Process

In this paper the modeling of drug release process from hierarchical dispersed systems such as nano and microparticles prepared by thermal cross-linking of multiple emulsions is described. The presented model considers the diffusion of a drug through spherical eroding natural polymer matrix and diffusion-convection of the drug in the surrounding medium. Simulated release profiles were compared with experimental data of the drug release from microspheres of various structures. The differences in microspheres structure resulted from changes in mixing intensity of the external surrounding. The simulations of release profiles confirmed the importance of the internal structure of microspheres as well as an intensity of external mixing in the modeling of the controlled release process. The presented model allowed the mass of drug released to be determined with satisfactory agreement with experimental data after optimization of parameters describing internal microspheres structure. The proposed model describing release process of a drug from microspheres can be applied for simulation of release profiles with phasic behavior (primary/lag and continuous release). The model simulations were extended to drug release from nanoparticles with satisfactory results.     

聚四氢呋喃三元醇的合成及表征

合成了一种新的三元引发剂[C₂H₅C(CH₂OCH₂CH₂CO+ClO₄^-)₃],并用于制备聚四氢呋喃三元醇.用¹HNMR,FTIR和GPC法对聚合物的结构进行了表征.结果表明,产物中环状齐聚物的含量极低.对聚合物水解产物的分子量及分子量分布测定结果表明,产物为预期的三元醇,聚合反应过程中链转移可以忽略,聚合物的分子量可控.     

Interfacial Microcompartmentalization by Kinetic Control of Selective Interfacial Accumulation

Reported here is a 2D, interfacial microcompartmentalization strategy governed by 3D phase separation. In aqueous polyethylene glycol (PEG) solutions doped with biotinylated polymers, the polymers spontaneously accumulate in the interfacial layer between the oil-surfactant-water interface and the adjacent polymer phase. In aqueous two-phase systems, these polymers first accumulated in the interfacial layer separating two polymer solutions and then selectively migrated to the oil-PEG interfacial layer. By using polymers with varying photopolymerizable groups and crosslinking rates, kinetic control and capture of spatial organisation in a variety of compartmentalized macroscopic structures, without the need of creating barrier layers, was achieved. This selective interfacial accumulation provides an extension of 3D phase separation towards synthetic compartmentalization, and is also relevant for understanding intracellular organisation.     

Dating Archaeological Strata in the Magna Mater Temple Using Solid‐state Voltammetric Analysis of Leaded Bronze Coins

The application of solid state electrochemistry techniques for dating archaeological strata using lead‐containing bronze coins is described. The proposed methodology was applied to samples coming from the Roman archaeological site of Magna Mater Temple (Rome, Italy) occurring in different strata dating back between the second half and the end of the 4^th century A.D. and the 20^th century. The voltammetric signatures of copper and lead corrosion products in contact with aqueous acetate buffer, as well as the catalytic effects produced on the hydrogen evolution reaction, were used for establishing the age of different strata and dating coins belonging to unknown age. Voltammetric data were consistent with a theoretical approximation based on a potential rate law for the corrosion process.     

Selectivity effects related to the diversity of active sites operating on nanostructured multifunctional catalysts

The goal of the present study was to gain a better understanding of the selectivity of processes over multifunctional catalysts exhibiting diversity of operating active sites. The concept is that the concurrent performance of different types of active sites may provoke effects on the process selectivity comparable to the effects resulting from the kinetic regularities and activation energies of the occurring reactions. Accordingly, in the kinetic model the authors introduce specific parameters reflecting the contribution of distinct types of active sites, facilitating different reaction routes. Reasons are adduced how suchlike parameters serve to account the impact of various reaction routes occurring on different types of sites. The suggested approach links the deactivation-caused selectivity changes to dissimilarities in the vulnerability of different types of active sites. This work relates the probabilities for action of different types of sites to the size of active-phase islands. Various reaction mechanism patterns are modeled to examine relevant selectivity effects.     

Polymer chemistry in flow: New polymers,beads, capsules,and fibers

The union between polymer science and microfluidics is reviewed. Fluids in microreactors allow the synthesis of a wide range of polymeric materials with unique properties. We begin by discussing the important fluid dynamics that dominate the behavior of fluids on the micrometer scale. We then progress through a comprehensive analysis of the polymeric materials synthesized to date. This highlight concludes with an overview of the methods used to make microreactors. We enthusiastically endorse microreactors as a powerful approach to making materials with controlled properties, although we have tried to provide a critical eye to help the nonexpert enter the field. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 6505–6533, 2006     

Polyaniline films containing palladium microparticles for electrocatalytic purposes

The deposition of palladium as microparticles on electrogenerated polyaniline (PAni) films accomplished by metal electroless precipitation or by electrodeposition has been used to prepare stable polymer-modified electrode systems. Its general morphology, metal particles size and distribution were obtained by AFM analysis. The PAni/Pd microparticles electrodes have been evaluated for their catalytic activity towards hydrogenation reactions upon organic compounds reduction using 4-nitro-benzaldehyde. Studies on rotating ring-disk electrodes have shown that relatively low Pd loadings are required to obtain effective electrocatalytic activity, provided a good metal particles dispersion of about 100 nm diameter is observed. Dedicated to Professor M. A. Vorotyntsev on the occasion of his 60th birthday     

Synthesis of pentafluorophenyl(meth)acrylate polymers: New precursor polymers for the synthesis of multifunctional materials

Pentafluorophenyl acrylate and -methacrylate were polymerized using AIBN as a thermal initiator. The obtained polymers were soluble polymeric active esters that could be used for the preparation of multifunctional polymers. The reactivity of poly(pentafluorophenylacrylate) and poly(pentafluorophenylmethacrylate) towards primary and secondary amines, as well as alcohols was investigated in a quantitative way. Both poly(active esters) reacted satisfactorily with aliphatic primary and secondary amines but only low conversion was found in the case of aromatic amines. Conversions of only 30% were reached when poly(pentafluorophenylacrylate) was treated with one equivalent of alcohol under base catalysis. In time resolved FT-IR studies the rate constants of the polymer analogous reactions were determined.     

Influence of fluorine-containing lubricant on properties of NR/BR rubber

K95 experimental lubricant being a product of fluorine reaction with a blend of mutually soluble poly(fluorine alcohols) and poly(fluorine esters) with molecular weight 240-900 g/mol was studied as an additive for rubber compounds based on blend of NR and BR. It was thermally stable till 270-300 °C. For comparison, it was tested simultaneously with homogenizing agent, Struktol MS40. Lubricant K95 added in a quantity of 0.5 wt% reduced the viscosity of rubber compound; it also improved compound flow in the mold. Mechanical properties of cured rubber not decrease while resistance to abrasion and fatigue increased. K95 participated in forming strong physical junctions (lower molecular weight between junctions of thermally stable network) while Struktol MS40 reduced the networking degree of rubber. As a result, it acts a multifunctional additive for NR/BR rubber.