Effect of structure on glass transition temperature of amine crosslinked epoxies

About 40 epoxide-amine network polymers with glass transition temperatures ranging from 0 to 232°C were investigated, about one-third being reported for the first time. The glass transition temperature T_gl of the corresponding linear copolymers was first calculated by use of an additivity law whose physical validity was carefully checked. Then the contribution of crosslink mers was determined, and various physical and empirical approaches of the effect of crosslinking on T_g were compared. The results gave evidence in favor of the DiMarzio approach. A predictive relationship based on these considerations is proposed.     

Courants caractéristiques et analyse de SEREigen currents and RCS analysis

In this Note, we return to the theory of characteristic modes which was introduced 30 years ago for electromagnetic scattering problems. A simple mathematical framework is proposed and complete definitions are given. The potential interest of this theory in terms of Radar Cross Section (RCS) analysis is then discussed, especially in the low frequency case. Finally, a 3-D example is presented to illustrate the efficiency of this decomposition. To cite this article: Y. Morel et al., C. R. Mecanique 332 (2004).     

Irreversible and reversible phase transitions of alkyl monolayers. Gas chromatographic evidence of polar solvent influence on the adsorbing properties of the layer

Summary Further to Gilpin's observations in liquid chromatography of the irreversible transformation of alkyl grafts, following the replacement of an organic mobile phase by an aqueous one, we describe some gas chromatographic experiments which lead to similar (log V_s, I/T) plots, as a consequence of the same solvent release process.We use paraffin films on siliceous supports or hydroxylated liquid substrates or C₂₂-alkyl bonded silica. These experiments demonstrate that this irreversible transition and the melting-like reversible transition are completely different phenomena. They confirm the existence of at least three kinds of monomeric alkyl films.     

Interfacial tension and fluorine evolution on a carbon anode

During electrolysis of molten KF-2HF, strongly adherent fluorine bubbles are generated at the surface of carbon anode. The current was passing even if the horizontal anode was fully covered with gas film. The formation and growth of gas bubbles were studied by transient electrochemical techniques. It was observed that the fluorine bubbles do not have the spherical cap shape predicted by the classical theory. The curvature radius of the interface profile is not constant, the edge of the bubble being flat with a contact angle close to zero. The results are interpreted in the frame of a model which takes into account the predominant role of the interfacial properties.     

Role of elemental fluorine in nuclear field

The preparation of fluorine gas by Henri Moissan by electrolysis of molten fluorides can be considered as one of the most important discoveries during the last centuries. Indeed, in addition to its use in many industrial fields (microelectronic, surface cleaning, pharmacology, medicine, …), fluorine gas is strongly involved in nuclear field for the preparation of UF₆. The latter allows the natural uranium enrichment via the gaseous diffusion process. Due to the increase of the energy demand in industrialised and emergent countries, the production of UF₆ and consequently of F₂ should increase drastically during the next decades. The aim of this paper is to summarise the evolution of the process to produce fluorine from its discovery to the present process. Few aspects on the researches done for a better understanding of the fluorine evolution reaction are presented. The use of fluorine in the nuclear field is also discussed.     

Preparation of Re(I)- and (99m)Tc(I)-metallocarboranes in water under weakly basic reaction conditions

A new method for the preparation of Re- and (99m)Tc-metallocarboranes in water under mild reaction conditions was developed. Three nido-carborane ligands were reacted with [Re(CO)(3)Br(3)](2)(-) in the presence of aqueous potassium fluoride to give the corresponding eta(5)-Re(CO)(3)-carborane complexes. The use of KF as a base afforded the desired Re-metallocarboranes in good yields while avoiding the formation of Re clusters, which are byproducts commonly observed when reactions are carried out in the presence of strong aqueous bases. The reaction was also performed at the tracer level producing the first (99m)Tc-carborane complex, which was isolated in 80% radiochemical yield following a simple Sep-Pak purification process. The resulting organometallic complex was stable to cysteine and histidine challenges for more than 24 h.     

An Absence of Non-specific Immune Response towards para-Sulphonato-calix[n]arenes

The effects of para-Sulphonato-calix[4]arene, para-Sulphonato-calix[6]arene and para-Sulphonato-calix[8]arene on the activation of NADPH oxidase in neutrophils has been studied. All three molecules do not induce NADPH oxidase activation, and hence do not stimulate neutrophils. Measurement of cell viability demonstrates that these three water-soluble calix[n]arene derivatives are not cytotoxic.     

Mechanistic study of thermal behavior and combustion performance of epoxy resins: I homopolymerized TGDDM

Tetraglycidyl 4,4′-diaminodiphenylmethane (TGDDM) undergoes homopolymerization on heating. Intramolecular reactions which compete with crosslinking favor the formation of cyclic structures with increasing thermal and fire resistance of the resin, whereas physical mechanical properties tend to decrease. The mechanism of thermal decomposition of TGDDM is studied by thermogravimetry, differential scanning calorimetry and thermal volatilization analysis with characterization of volatiles evolved and residue left. Thermal degradation of poly-(TGDDM) starts at 260°C with elimination of water from secondary alcoholic groups which is a typical pathway for epoxy resin degradation. Resulting unsaturations weaken bonds in the β-position and provoke the first chain breaking at allyl–amine and allyl–either bonds. With increasing temperature, saturated alkyl–ether bonds and alkyl carbon–carbon bonds are broken first, followed by the most stable alkyl–aryl bonds at T>365°C. The combustion performance of TGDDM is discussed on the basis of the thermal degradation behavior.     

Competitive Complexation of Lanthanide Cations by Xylitol and Nitrate Anion in Aqueous Solution: A Microcalorimetric Investigation

The apparent equilibrium constants and enthalpies of complexation of Nd³⁺, Sm³⁺, Eu³⁺, and Gd³⁺ by xylitol in aqueous solutions containing NaNO₃ at an ionic strength of 2.0 mol-kg^–1 have been determined by microcalorimetry at 25°C. Since nitrate anion weakly complexes the lanthanide cations, these values are analyzed in terms of competition between xylitol and NO ₃ ^- The method leads to the apparent equilibrium constants and enthalpies of complexation of the lanthanide cations by NO ₃ ^- at this particular ionic strength. Despite the difficulties encountered in characterizing rather weak associations, the results are, whenever comparison is possible, in good agreement with those obtained by direct microcalorimetry. The advantage of this competition method is that it can be used when the enthalpic effects are too weak and insufficiently concentration dependent for direct microcalorimetric determination. In the present case, it allows us to thermodynamically characterize the formation of SmNO ₃ ²⁺ and EuNO ₃ ²⁺ , processes we have not been able to study directly.