Light-stabilization of polymeric materials by grafted UV-cured coatings

The weathering resistance of organic materials has been substantially increased by protecting their surface with a photocured coating containing both a UV absorber (UVA) and a radical scavenger (HALS). A kinetic study by real-time IR spectroscopy has shown that HALS have no effect on the cure rate, whereas UV absorbers slow down the cure process, due to their radiation inner filter effect. 3D analysis of the depth of cure profile revealed an incomplete cure at the coating/substrate interface, leading to adhesion failure. To prevent this detrimental effect, the UV-cured coating was photochemically grafted onto the substrate. The polymer material was first coated with a thin layer of a benzophenone solution in a diacrylate monomer. Polymer radicals, generated by hydrogen abstraction from the substrate by the excited benzophenone molecules, effectively initiate the polymerization of the acrylate functions, thus ensuring a chemical bonding between the coating and the substrate. The grafting reaction was characterized by ATR spectroscopy analysis and by surface energy measurements. Excellent adhesion was achieved by applying to the treated substrate a photocurable acrylate coating, containing the light stabilizers, because of the copolymerization reaction taking place with the unreacted acrylate double bonds of the base coat, upon UV exposure. The efficiency of this on-line stabilization process has been demonstrated on poly(vinyl chloride) that was made eight times more resistant to accelerated weathering. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J. Polym. Sci. A Polym. Chem. 36: 2571–2580, 1998     

Octadecylamine as chemical modifier for tuned hydrophobicity of surface modified cellulose: toward organophilic cellulose nanocrystals

Cellulose - A novel, environmentally friendly and simple method for chemical functionalization of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) to produce organophilic cellulose nanocrystals (CNC-ODA) is herein...     

Surface modification of polyolefins by photografting of acrylic monomers

High-speed surface modification of polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) films has been achieved by liquid phase photograft polymerisation of acrylic acid (AA) and hydroxypropyl acrylate (HPA). Benzophenone was used as photoinitiator to generate polymer radicals at the surface of the polyolefin film. The grafting reaction was carried out in aqueous solution or with the neat monomer, which was laminated between two PP films, in the presence of air. Under the intense illumination of a UV-curing line, acrylic acid was grafted within seconds to polypropylene films or fabrics, which were thus made hydrophilic. Direct evidence of surface grafting was obtained through infrared spectroscopy analysis and surface energy measurements. This continuous photografting process proved to be very efficient to improve the adhesion of UV-cured acrylate coatings on polyolefin-made materials.     

Solid catalysts for the production of fine chemicals: the use of natural phosphate alone and doped base catalysts for the synthesis of unsaturated arylsulfones

The inexpensive natural phosphate, both alone and doped with potassium fluoride, is a new basic catalyst for the synthesis of α,β-unsaturated arylsulfones. Activation by water and benzyltriethylammonium chloride has also been investigated. When using an ammonium salt, natural phosphate doped with potassium fluoride is an excellent solid support for the synthesis of α,β-unsaturated arylsulfones, leading to excellent yields in a few minutes.     

Lewis Acid–Doped Natural Phosphate: New Catalysts for the One‐Pot Synthesis of 3,4‐Dihydropyrimdin‐2(1H)‐one

Inexpensive and readily available natural phosphate doped with metal halides is used to efficiently catalyze the three‐component condensation reaction of an aldehyde, a beta‐keto ester, and urea to afford the corresponding dihydropyrimidin‐2(1H)‐ones in high yields.     

Natural microphosphate as a catalyst for Knoevenagel condensation: specific surface effect

The effect of specific surface of natural phosphate on Knoevenagel condensations involving aldehydes and activated methylene is studied. The best catalytic activities were observed with catalyst micronised (NPm). This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Nanostructured Pyrophosphate Na2PdP2O7‐Catalyzed Suzuki‐Miyaura Cross‐Coupling Under Microwave Irradiation

Nanostructured palladium pyrophosphate (Na₂PdP₂O₇) catalyst was synthesized and well characterized by using different techniques (TGA, XRD, SEM, TEM....). This nanocatalyst exhibited excellent catalytic activity in the synthesis of biaryl compounds via Suzuki‐Miyaura cross‐coupling to produce their corresponding products in good to excellent yields under mild conditions. The catalyst is recyclable and was recycled for four runs for the reaction of 4‐bromoacetophenone with phenylboronic acid without appreciable loss of its catalytic activity.