DSC study on the effect of isocyanates and catalysts on the HTPB cure reaction

The urethane forming cure reactions of hydroxyl terminated polybutadiene (HTPB) binder with three different isocyanate curatives, viz., toluene diisocyanate (TDI), isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI) and 4,4-methylene bis(cyclohexyl isocyanate) (MCHI), were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The effect of two cure catalysts, viz., dibutyl tin dilaurate (DBTDL) and ferrric tris-acetylacetonate (FeAA) on the cure reactions was also studied. Cure kinetics was evaluated using the multiple heating rate Ozawa method. The reactivities of the three isocyanates and catalytic efficiencies were compared based on the DSC reaction temperatures, activation energies and rate constants. Viscosity build-up in these systems at isothermal temperature was also studied and compared with the results from DSC.     

A hybrid approach combining energy density analysis with the interaction energy decomposition method

We propose a new analysis technique for characterizing molecular interactions that combines an energy decomposition scheme, such as the Kitaura-Morokuma decomposition method, with energy density analysis, which partitions the total energy of the system into atomic contributions. The combined scheme, termed Interaction-EDA, enables us to estimate the local contribution of interaction energy components, such as electrostatic, exchange, polarization, and charge transfer. The evaluation of the local interaction energy is rather important in large systems. For a numerical assessment, the Interaction-EDA method is applied to the process of CO adsorption on Si(100) - (2 x 1) surface.     

Calculation of affinities of peptides for proteins

Several methodologies were employed to calculate the Gibbs standard free energy of binding for a collection of protein-ligand complexes, where the ligand is a peptide and the protein is representative for various protein families. Almost 40 protein-ligand complexes were employed for a continuum approach, which considers the protein and the peptide at the atomic level, but includes solvent as a polarizable continuum. Five protein-ligand complexes were employed for an all-atom approach that relies on a combination of the double decoupling method with thermodynamic integration and molecular dynamics. These affinities were also computed by means of the linear interaction energy method. Although it generally proved rather difficult to predict the absolute free energies correctly, for some protein families the experimental ranking order was correctly reproduced by the continuum and all-atom approach. Considerable attention has also been given to correctly analyze the affinities of charged peptides, where it is required to judge the effect of one or more ions that are being decoupled in an all-atom approach to preserve electroneutrality. The various methods are further judged upon their merits.     

A QM-MM interface between CHARMM and TURBOMOLE: implementation and application to systems in bulk phase and biologically active systems

The implementation of a hybrid QM-MM approach combining ab initio and density functional methods of TURBOMOLE with the molecular mechanics program package CHARMM is described. An interface has been created to allow data exchange between the two applications. With this method the efficient multiprocessor capabilities of TURBOMOLE can be utilized with CHARMM running as a single processor application. Therefore, features of nonparallel running code in CHARMM like the TRAVEL module for locating saddle points or VIBRAN for the calculation of second derivatives can be exploited by running the CPU intensive QM calculations in parallel. To test the methodology, several small systems are studied with both Hartree-Fock and density functional methods and varying QM-MM boundaries. Also, the computationally efficient RI-J method has been examined for use in QM-MM applications. A B(12) cofactor containing cobalt has been studied, to examine systems with a large QM region and transition metals. All tested methods perform satisfactory in comparison with pure quantum calculations. Additionally, algorithms for the characterization of saddle points have been tested for their potential use in QM-MM problems. The TRAVEL module of CHARMM has been applied to the Menshutkin reaction in the condensed phase, and a saddle point was located. This saddle point was verified by calculation of a steepest descent path connecting educt, transition state, and product, and by calculation of vibrational modes.     

Comments on the primary and scatter dose-spread kernels used for convolution methods

The basic primary and scatter dose-spread kernels used for convolution methods are usually produced by Monte Carlo simulations with the interaction point forced to the center of a large water phantom. However, it is still not clear whether such Monte Carlo based kernels allow accurate dose calculations with a wide range of field sizes and depths, especially in thorax phantoms. Using the differential primary and scatter concept, this paper proposes another type of basic kernel, with which perfectly accurate primary and scatter absorbed dose calculations can be performed under conditions that the beam is parallel, the incident beam intensity is uniform within and zero outside the field, and the primary beam attenuation coefficient along raylines is not a function of depth and off-axis distance.     

Competitive adsorption and desorption of a bi-solute mixture: effect of activated carbon type

This study aims to clarify the effects of carbon activation type and physical form on the extent of adsorption capacity and desorption capacity of a bi-solute mixture of phenol and 2-chlorophenol (2-CP). For this purpose, two different PACs; thermally activated Norit SA4 and chemically activated Norit CA1, and their granular countertypes with similar physical characteristics, thermally activated Norit PKDA and chemically activated Norit CAgran, were used. The thermally activated carbons were better adsorbers for phenol and 2-CP compared with chemically activated carbons, but adsorption was more reversible in the latter case. 2-CP was adsorbed preferentially by each type of activated carbon, but adsorption of phenol was strongly suppressed in the presence of 2-CP. The simplified ideal adsorbed solution (SIAS) model underestimated the 2-CP loadings and overestimated the phenol loadings. However, the improved and modified forms of the SIAS model could better predict the competitive adsorption. The type of carbon activation was decisive in the application of these models. For each activated carbon type, phenol was desorbed more readily in the bi-solute case, but desorption of 2-CP was less compared with single-solute. This was attributed to higher energies of 2-CP adsorption.     

激光等离子体反应生成的AgP+n、AumP+n的结构分析

原子簇化合物的合成方法,由于条件限制,只有B、C、St等非金属元素与过渡金属袈基化合物等较为成熟．贵金属原子簇的合成则较困难．然而,应用激光等离子体反应,可使周期表内几乎所有元素都生成原子簇,为原子簇的生成与研究提供了一条新途径．该方法生成的原子簇在飞行时间质谱仪上可记录到一系列信号,某些信号呈现区域极大（或被称为‘匈数’吵］．郑兰芬等用纯化的红磷粉分别与金粉、银粉混合,在激光等离子作源飞行时间质谱仪上得到一系列谱图【2］：ig与P作用只得到单核xg与P形成的lgy：iE离子簇．谱图较简单,＊沪X最大可达叱叱…     

Influence of SMA content on the electro-optical properties of polymer-dispersed liquid crystal prepared by monodisperse poly(MMA-co-SMA)/LC microcapsules

Monodisperse poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) particles containing various concentrations of stearyl methacrylate (SMA) were prepared, and a liquid crystal (LC) was swollen into the particles using a solute co-diffusion method (SCM). Phase separation behaviors between the polymer and LC were monitored by utilizing an optical and a polarized microscope (OM/POM). The monodisperse LC microcapsules were then applied to a polymer-dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC), and the electro-optical properties were investigated. As a result, the threshold and driving voltages were improved when the SMA content increased. The long alkyl chains of SMA in the capsules should exist at the interface of the LC and polymer resulting in an enhancement of phase separation between the polymer and LC, which largely influences the electro-optical properties of PDLC.     

On the difference between hydrogen fluoride and hydrogen chloride crystals

The geometrical and energetical parameters of hydrogen fluoride and hydrogen chloride crystals are calculated using the periodic Hartree–Fock method with 6-31G and 6-31G(d,p) basis sets. The comparison of the stabilisation energies reveals that HCl crystals are about 75% less stable than HF crystals. The activation energy for collective proton movements are computed and discussed in view of data of isolated infinite chains. The barriers of 13.1 and 40.0 kcal mol⁻¹ at 6-31G(d,p) level are found for HF and HCl crystals.     

Synthesis, crystal structure and thermoelectric properties of a new carbide Zr2[Al3.56Si0.44]C5

A new quaternary layered carbide, Zr₂[Al_3.56Si_0.44]C₅, has been synthesized and characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and thermopower and electrical conductivity measurements. The crystal structure was successfully determined using direct methods, and further refined by the Rietveld method. The crystal is trigonal (space group R3m, Z=3) with lattice dimensions of a=0.331059(5), c=4.09450(5) nm and V=0.38864(1) nm³. The final reliability indices calculated from the Rietveld refinement were R_wp=6.24%, R_p=4.21% and R_B=0.82%. The crystal structure is composed of electroconductive NaCl-type ZrC slabs separated by Al₄C₃-type [Al_3.56Si_0.44]C₃ layers. This material had thermoelectric properties superior to those of the ternary layered carbides Zr₂Al₃C₄ and Zr₃Al₃C₅, with the power factor reaching 7.6×10⁻⁵W m⁻¹ K⁻².