Improvement of the properties of polyarylate reinforced with liquid crystalline polymers

Blends of polyarylate of bisphenol A, PAr, with two commercial main chain liquid crystalline polymers, Vectra A950 and Vectra B950, are studied. From dynamic viscoelastic measurements it is deduced that both systems (PAr/Vectra A950 and PAr/Vectra B950) are immiscible and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micrographs show the presence of spherical domains of the liquid crystalline polymer when PAr constitutes the matrix. Extrusion capillary measurements reveal that, under conditions of temperature and shear rate similar to those of processing, the viscosity is reduced to approximately 10% of its value when the content of liquid crystalline polymer is only 20%. This great improvement of the rheological properties is observed in both PAr/Vectra A950 and PAr/Vectra B950 blends. The effect of draw ratio on Young's modulus for different compositions is also analyzed, pointing out the reinforcing action of both liquid crystalline polymers on polyarylate: for instance, 20% of Vectra B950 in the blend gives rise to a 700% increase of the modulus of fibres prepared at a draw ratio of 50. SEM of the extrudates reveals that the spherical domains are elongated at the entrance of the capillary giving rise to a microfibrillar morphology which is related to the excellent rheological and mechanical properties of the blends.     

Thermoanalytical procedures to identify the morphology of polycrystalline materials

Polypropylenes of differing morphologies were examined by differential thermal analysis. The problems of reordering during the programmed heating are discussed. Four potential procedures by which the reordering could be inhibited are considered, and three of these are experimentally assessed. Their advantages and deficiencies are identified. Two pretreatments, an etching and a crosslinking, are recognised as able to qualitatively characterise the initial morphology, with a preference for the former. A test to identify the occurrence of reordering is identified. In celebration of the 60^th birthday of Dr. Andrew K. Galwey     

Solved and unsolved problems in surface structure determination

The range of surface structural problems of interest in understanding the physics and chemistry of solid surfaces is reviewed with reference to the available methods and their strengths and limitations. Key challenges being addressed currently concern the achievable precision of measurements and their physical and chemical significance, and the complexity of the problems which may be solved. Past progress and future problems are illustrated with a series of examples ranging from the relaxation of simple clean metal surfaces through complex semiconductor reconstructions to large molecular adsorption and coadsorption systems and complex adsorbate-induced reconstructions. The strengths and limitations of scanning tunnelling microscopy as a complement to true quantitative structural methods are discussed, as is the role of chemical state specificity and elemental specificity in solving complex molecular adsorbate systems.     

Band bending at the Si(1 1 1)–SiO2 interface induced by low-energy ion bombardment

Experiments employing photoreflectance spectroscopy have uncovered band bending due to electrically active defects at the Si(1 1 1)–SiO₂ interface after sub-keV Ar⁺ ion bombardment. The band bending of about 0.5 eV resembles that for Si(1 0 0)–SiO₂, and both interfaces exhibit two kinetic regimes for the evolution of band bending upon annealing due to defects healing. The healing takes place about an order of magnitude more quickly at the (1 1 1) interface, however, probably because of less fully saturated bonding and higher compressive stress.     

Morphology of Nylon-6 blends with styrenic polymers

The morphology of blends of styrenic polymers in a matrix of 75% Nylon-6 prepared in a Brabender Plasti-Corder was examined by scanning electron microscopy. Styrene/acrylonitrile copolymers (SAN) form smaller particles as the AN level increases owing to the corresponding decrease in the SAN–polyamide interfacial tension. Various styrenic polymers containing functional groups, maleic anhydride or oxazoline type, that can react with Nylon-6 during melt processing were added to the SAN phase which also led to a decrease in the particle size owing to the graft copolymer formed in situ. The effects of functional group type, amount of functional groups per chain, amount of functional polymer added, and the miscibility of the styrene/maleic anhydride (SMA) and SAN copolymers on the morphology of the styrenic phase in the Nylon-6 matrix are described. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Sulfur adsorption on Fe(1 1 0): a DFT study

The adsorption of atomic S on the Fe(1 1 0) surface is examined using density functional theory (DFT). Three different adsorption sites are considered, including the atop, hollow and bridge sites and the S is adsorbed at a quarter monolayer coverage in a p(2 × 2) arrangement. The hollow site is found to be the most stable, followed by the bridge and atop sites. At all three sites, S adsorption results in relatively minor surface reconstruction, with the most significant being that for the hollow site, with lateral displacements of 0.09 Å. Comparisons between S-adsorbed and pure Fe surfaces revealed reductions in the magnetic moments of surface-layer Fe atoms in the vicinity of the S. At the hollow site, the presence of S causes an increase in the surface Fe d-orbital density of states between 4 and 5 eV. However, S adsorption has no significant effect on the structure and magnetic properties of the lower substrate layers.     

Studies on thermal and morphological properties of 1,1-bis(3-methyl-4-cyanatophenyl)cyclohexane-epoxy-bismaleimide matrices

A new cyanate ester monomer, 1,1-bis(3-methyl-4-cyanatophenyl)cyclohexane has been synthesized and characterized. Epoxy modified with 4, 8 and 12% (by weight) of cyanate ester were made using epoxy resin and 1,1-bis(3-methyl-4-cyanatophenyl)cyclohexane and cured by using diaminodiphenylmethane. The cyanate ester modified epoxy matrix systems were further modified with 4, 8 and 12% (by weight) of bismaleimide (N,N′-bismaleimido-4,4′-diphenylmethane). The formation of oxazolidinone and isocyanurate during cure reaction of epoxy and cyanate ester blend was confirmed by IR spectral studies. Bismaleimide-cyanate ester-epoxy matrices were characterized using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and heat deflection temperature (HDT) analysis. Thermal studies indicate that the introduction of cyanate ester into epoxy resin improves the thermal degradation studies at the expense of glass transition temperature. Whereas the incorporation of bismaleimide into epoxy resin enhances the thermal properties according to its percentage content. However, the introduction of both cyanate ester and bismaleimide influences the thermal properties according to their percentage content. DSC thermogram of cyanate ester modified epoxy and bismaleimide modified epoxy show unimodel reaction exotherms. The thermal degradation temperature and heat distortion temperature of the cured bismaleimide modified epoxy and cyanate ester-epoxy systems increased with increasing bismaleimide content. The morphology of the bismaleimide modified epoxy and cyanate ester-epoxy systems were also studied by scanning electron microscopy. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Nanostructured polymetallaynes of controlled length: Synthesis and characterization of oligomers and polymers from 1,1′‐bis‐(ethynyl)4,4′‐biphenyl bridging Pt(II) or Pd(II) centers

The reactivity of square planar palladium(II) and platinum(II) complexes in trans or cis configuration, namely trans or cis‐[dichlorobis(tributylphosphine)platinum(II)] and trans‐[dichlorobis(tributylphosphine)palladium(II)] with 1,1′‐bis(ethynyl) 4,4′‐biphenyl, DEBP, leading to π‐conjugated organometallic oligomeric and polymeric metallaynes, was investigated by a systematic variation of the reaction conditions. The formation of polymers and oligomers with defined chain length [? M(PBu₃)₂ (C?C? C₆H₄? C₆H₄? C?C? )]_n (n = 3–10 for the oligomers, n = 20–50 for the polymers) depends on the configuration of the precursor Pt(II) and Pd(II) complexes, the presence/absence of the catalyst CuI, and the reaction time. A series of model reactions monitored by XPS, GPC, and NMR ³¹P spectroscopy showed the route to modulate the chain growth. As expected, the nature of the transition metal (Pt or Pd) and the molecular weight of the polymers markedly influence the photophysical characteristics of the polymetallaynes, such as optical absorption and emission behavior. Polymetallaynes with nanostructured morphology could be obtained by a simple casting procedure of polymer solutions. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 3311–3329, 2007     

一种高性能数字显微图像分析系统

给出了基于Windows操作系统的24位真彩色通用的高性能显微图像检测与分析软件系统，它采用先进的图像处理和形态分析算法，能对各种显微图像进行处理、分析和检测；并具有友好的操作界面、性能稳定等特点，可为材料、冶金、医药、生物、化工等相关领域的用户提供便捷的显微图像分析及处理测量工具。     

双金属氰化络合物催化剂的形态及其对催化剂活性的影响

合成了多个基于钴氰化锌的双金属氰化络合物(DMC)催化剂,并对催化剂的结晶形态进行了表征.考察了制备过程中,有机配体及其引入方式,温度,搅拌速度对DMC催化剂形态的影响.其中有机配体对DMC催化剂形态的影响是最主要的.有机配体中富电子原子的电负性的强弱和数量共同影响着DMC催化剂的形态.该类原子的电负性越强,得到的DMC催化剂的结晶性越差,无定型部分的比例越高,并且单个原子的电负性强弱比该类原子的数量在此间的影响更大.而在有机配体预先存在的情况下,该沉淀体系则更有利于无定型部分的产生.在30℃左右的沉淀反应温度下,得到的DMC催化剂的无定型部分比例最高.在有机配体存在的情况下,搅拌速度对DMC催化剂形态的影响有限.并且发现存在于有机配体中的DMC催化剂随着时间的推移,形态会发生变化.初步揭示了DMC催化剂的形态与其催化活性间的关系.而无定型态的DMC催化剂更有利于PO的聚合.