Stoichiometric polyelectrolyte complexes as comb copolymers

The collapse behavior of a single comblike copolymer chain has been studied by Monte Carlo simulations. It has been supposed that the solvent is good for the side chains but the solvent quality for the backbone chain changes. It has been shown that depending on the structural parameters of the comb copolymer (the lengths of the backbone and side chains, grafting density of the side chains) various thermodynamically stable morphologies of the collapsed backbone chain can be realized. In addition to ordinary spherical globule we have observed elongated structures as well as necklace-like conformations. The proposed model can be used to describe conformational behavior of stoichiometric complexes between block copolymers with a polyelectrolyte short block and oppositely charged linear homopolymers.     

In<Subscript>0.22</Subscript>SnS<Subscript>0.33</Subscript>(OH)<Subscript>4</Subscript> nanolayers synthesized by the layer-by-layer technique

The possibility of the synthesis of In_0.22SnS_0.33(OH)₄ nanolayers on the silica surface by the layer-by-layer technique was demonstrated. The synthesized layers were studied by ellipsometry, X-ray spectral microanalysis, and electronic and IR Fourier spectroscopy.     

Electrophysical and acoustic properties of magnetic elastomers structured by an external magnetic field

Magnetoactive elastomers are promising for use in designing of magnetically operated devices for signal processing and sensors. The results from studying the electrophysical and acoustic properties of new magnetoactive elastomers structured by a nonuniform magnetic field are presented. It is shown that the prestructuring of the magnetic disperse filler by a magnetic field during composite synthesis substantially improves the coefficient of the transmission of electromagnetic radiation through the sample. The effect gets stronger as the mass fraction of filler increases. As the filler concentration grows, the transmission coefficient falls by 50%, and the ref lection coefficient grows by a factor of 150%. The longitudinal elastic modulus and the density vary within the ranges of 1.4–1.8 GPa and 2485–3362 kg m^–3, respectively, depending on the magnetic filler concentration and the sample’s structuring. The obtained results demonstrate the potential of usinf structured magnetoactive elastomers as radar absorbing materials.     

Magnetoactive elastomer based on magnetically hard filler: Synthesis and study of viscoelastic and damping properties

This work is focused on the magnetic response of magnetoactive elastomer (MAE) based on silicone polymer matrices filled with magnetic particles of magnetically hard NdFeB-alloy. Viscoelastic properties of MAE were studied by the method of oscillation shear. After magnetization in an external magnetic field of 2 T MAE samples demonstrate more than two-time increase in the storage and loss moduli and 25% increase in the loss factor. Performed study of the damping properties of the materials has shown that the oscillation time of the pendulum hammering the magnetized sample is in two times shorter than in case of the non-magnetized sample. Viscoelastic and damping properties of MAE are defined by magnetic interactions between the magnetized particles of the magnetic filler.     

Collapse of polyelectrolyte networks induced by their interaction with an oppositely charged surfactant. Theory

A very simple theory of swelling and collapse of weakly charged polyelectrolyte networks in the solution of an oppositely charged surfactant has been developed. The following contributions to the free energy were taken into account: free energy of volume interaction and of elastic deformation of the network chains, free energy connected with micelle formation and free energy of translational motion of all mobile ions in the system (translational entropy). Both the cases of a solution of charged surfactant and that of a mixed solution of charged and neutral surfactant components have been taken into account. It has been shown that the behaviour of the network depends on the total surfactant concentration in the system and corresponds to one of the three following regimes: At low concentration, micelles inside the network are not formed and the behaviour of the polymer network is similar to that of a network swelling in the solution of a lowmolecular-weight salt (regime 1). In the second regime, surfactant concentration inside the network exceeds the critical micelle concentration and micelles are formed; in this regime the network collapses because surfactant molecules, aggregated in micelles, cease to create “exerting” osmotic pressure in the network sample. In the third regime, at very high surfactant concentration, formation of additional micelles inside the network ceases, and the network dimensions coincide with those of the corresponding neutral network.     

A study of multilayered dielectric lead oxide and cryolite coatings

Multilayered dielectric mirrors and light filters made of lead oxide and cryolite were prepared. A detailed study of the time-dependent optical characteristics of the light filters was carried out.We are grateful to A. P. Shvaike for kindly supplying the purified lead oxide.     

Conformal behavior of a single chain <Emphasis Type="Italic">AB</Emphasis> block copolymer with mobile <Emphasis Type="Italic">B</Emphasis>-blocks

Monte-Carlo computer modeling was used to investigate the conformal behavior of a single chain AB block copolymer with mobile hydrophobic B-blocks and hydrophilic A-links. The formation of a “tailed globule” was observed with an increase of the energy of attraction between hydrophobic links. A comparison between the collapsing of a chain with mobile blocks and the behavior of regular and random block copolymers of the same structure was conducted.     

Rheological properties of sulfur-containing hyperbranched polycarbosilanes and related magnetic compositions

Russian Chemical Bulletin - The rheological properties of hyperbranched polycarbosilanes with butyl and decyl terminal groups and their sulfur-containing analogs were compared. The use of various...