Rheological properties of binary associating polymers

Dynamics of associating polymer solutions above the reversible gelation point are studied. Each macromolecule consists of a soluble backbone (B) and a small fraction of specific strongly interacting groups (A or C stickers) attached to B. A mixture of B–A and B–C associating polymers with 1:1 stoichiometric ratio is considered. As a result of AC association, the polymers reversibly gelate above the overlap concentration. It is shown that (1) the network strands are linear complexes (double chains) of B–A and B–C; (2) “diffusion” of the network junction points is characterized by an apparent activation energy, which can be significantly higher than the energy of one AC bond; (3) most importantly, the randomness of sticker distribution along the chain can significantly slow down the network relaxation leading to a markedly non-Maxwellian viscoelastic behavior. The theory elucidates the most essential features of rheological behavior of polysaccharide associating systems (with A = adamantyl moiety, C = β-cyclodextrin, B = either chitosan or hyaluronan) including similar behavior of G ^′ and G ^″ in a wide frequency range, strong temperature dependence of the characteristic frequency ω _x , and an extremely strong effect of added free stickers (fC) on the dynamics. This paper was presented at Annual European Rheology Conference (AERC) held in Hersonisos, Crete, Greece, April 27–29, 2006.     

Mise en evidence de la formation de R2MMR2 a partir de disila-1,2 et digerma-1,2 cyclohexenes-4

Intermediates with π-bonded Si or Ge are generated during gas phase pyrolysis of 1,2-disila- or 1,2-digerma-cyclohex-4-enes.Compounds such as R₂MMR₂ are successfully trapped by addition or [2 + 2] and [4 + 2] cycloadditions. These results were proved by mass spectrometry.     

Hydrolysis of oligosaccharides by polyelectrolytes

The hydrolysis of maltotriose, maltose, cellobiose and gentiobiose, at a concentration of 1% (w/v), have been investigated in 0.20 N sulphuric acid and 0.2 N polystyrene sulphonic acid. The apparent rate constants determined by high pressure liquid chromatography are compared and their dependence on temperature is given. The thermodynamic parameters of reaction with both acids are deduced. The catalytic effect of the polyacid, expressed by the ratio of the rate constants at a given temperature, is discussed in terms of the condensation of the counterions.     

The use of pyridine-2-azo-p-dimethylaniline as an indicator in glacial acetic acid

Pyridine-2-azo-p-dimethylaniline is suggested as an indicator in the titration of amines (aniline, butylamine, p-phenylenediamine and ethylenediamine) with perchloric acid in glacialacetic acid medium. The precision obtainable is much better than that with crystal violet indicator. The pyridine dye can also be used satisfactorily in the titration of sodium carbonate and sodium acetate.     

Characterization of dextransucrases fromLeuconostoc mesenteroides NRRL B-1299

Leuconostoc mesenteroides NRRL B-1299 dextransucrase was fractionated into soluble (SGT) and insoluble (IGT) enzyme preparations differing by their dextran content. In spite of this, they displayed the same Km for sucrose (10 g/L) and the same activation energy (35 kJ/mol). But the presence of cells and insoluble dextran led to the IGT behaving like an immobilized enzyme: stabilization against thermal denaturation and diffusional limitations at low substrate concentrations were observed. On the other hand, the behavior of SGT was influenced by the presence, in the preparation, of soluble dextran that reduced enzyme inhibition by excess substrate. SGT and IGT present very different pH profiles. In the presence of 4 g/L of soluble dextran, IGT was activated and displayed the same susceptibility to pH as SGT. The activation of IGT was highly dependent on the nature of the acceptor added but also on the pH of the reaction medium. IGT and SGT synthesize both soluble and insoluble polymer containing α(l → 2), α(l → 3), and α(l → 6) linkages. A larger amount of insoluble dextran is elaborated by SGT. The polymer structures, examined by¹³C NMR spectrometry, revealed that they differ mainly by their α(l → 3) linkage content (from 0 to 11%). This linkage seems to be partly responsible for the dextran insolubility and can be completely eliminated by carrying out the synthesis of soluble polymer at pH 7.4 with SGT.     

Controlled Chemical Modifications of Chitosan. Characterization and Investigation of Original Properties

The main techniques developed to characterize chitosan are recalled. The interaction of chitosan with oppositely charged surfactants was investigated giving very important surface activity effects. A few chemical modifications are described and the new properties obtained are mentioned: alkylation gives amphiphilic polymers having interesting thickening behavior; grafting cyclodextrin (chit‐CD) gives a polymer able to include hydrophobic molecules; grafting adamantane gives an amphiphilic polymer able to specifically interact with chit‐CD forming a temporary network with gel‐like behavior.

The viscosities of adamantane‐chitosan, cyclodextrin‐chitosan, and unmodified chitosan solutions studied here.     

A Large Deviations Principle Related to the Strong Arc-Sine Law

We show a large deviations principle for the family of random variables when t+, where B=(B _u ,u0) is a standard linear Brownian motion.     

Motion of an adhesive gel in a swelling gradient: a mechanism for cell locomotion

Motivated by the motion of nematode sperm cells, we present a model for the motion of an adhesive gel on a solid substrate. The gel polymerizes at the leading edge and depolymerizes at the rear. The motion results from a competition between a self-generated swelling gradient and the adhesion on the substrate. The resulting stress provokes the rupture of the adhesion points and allows for the motion. The model predicts an unusual force-velocity relation which depends in significant ways on the point of application of the force.     

Adsorption of hydrophobic polyelectrolytes onto oppositely charged surfaces

We present a scaling theory for the adsorption of a weakly charged polyelectrolyte chain in a poor solvent onto an oppositely charged surface. Depending on the fraction of charged monomers and on the solvent quality for uncharged monomers, the globule in the bulk of the solution has either a spherical conformation or a necklace structure. At sufficiently high surface charge density, a chain in the globular conformation adsorbs in a flat pancake conformation due to the Coulombic attraction to the oppositely charged surface. Different adsorption regimes are predicted depending on two screening lengths (the Debye screening length monitored by the salt concentration and the Gouy-Chapman length monitored by the surface charge density), on the degree of ionization of the polymer and on the solvent strength. At low bulk ionic strength, an increase in the surface charge density may induce a transition from an adsorbed necklace structure to a uniform pancake due to the enhanced screening of the intra-chain Coulombic repulsion by the counterions localized near the surface. Received 12 April 2001