Adhesion studies of latex film surfaces on the meso- and nanoscale

In this paper the effects of surface roughness and annealing temperature (T) of latex coating films on adhesion are discussed for the different stages of the film formation process. The surface free energy of latex films was assessed in terms of practical work of adhesion (W) (or adherence) using a custom-built adhesion-testing device (ATD), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and contact angle measurements. For preannealed latex films surface roughness averages (R_a) were determined from AFM height images and were related to the values of W obtained from ATD measurements at room temperature. The results obtained using these tests exhibiting surface behavior on different length scales indicate a dependence of the measured adhesion on surface roughness and temperature, as well as on the length scale of the measurements.First preannealed samples were studied, which were obtained by heat treatment above the respective glass transition temperatures (T_g). Increasing the temperature of preannealing resulted in a decrease of the adherence observed in ATD experiments at room temperature. However, on the nanoscale, using AFM, no significant variation of the adherence was observed. This observation can be explained by roughness arguments. Preannealing decreases roughness which results in lower adherence values measured by ATD while for essentially single asperity AFM experiments roughness has an insignificant effect. Specimens were also annealed over a constant period of time (90 min) at different temperatures. At the end of the heat treatment, adhesion was measured at the treatment temperature by ATD. The amplified effect of temperature observed in this case on adherence is attributed to the combination of roughness decrease and increasing test temperature. In a third set of experiments completely annealed samples were studied by ATD as well as by AFM as a function of temperature. With increasing T values ATD showed a decrease in adherence, which is attributed to a decreasing surface free energy of the annealed films at elevated T values. AFM, on the other hand, showed an opposite trend which is assigned to increasing penetration of the tip into the tip/wetting polymer samples versus increasing temperature. Finally, annealing isotherms as a function of time were investigated by ATD in situ at different temperatures. This last set of experiments allowed us to optimize annealing time and temperature to achieve complete curing.     

In search of 1,3-disila/germa/stannabicyclo[1.1.1]pentanes with short bridgehead-bridgehead distances and low ring strain energies

The strain energies and through-space distances between the two bridgehead E atoms of a selection of 1,3-dimethyl-1,3-ditetrelbicyclo[1.1.1]pentanes (tetrel E = Si, Ge or Sn) were examined by quantum chemical calculations at MP2 and B3LYP levels. The aim is to identify which bridges lead to short through-space E,E distances, and simultaneously, to as low strain as possible. A short E,E distance should improve through-space interaction, and a low strain should promote the thermal stability and possibly also facilitate their synthesis. The bridges examined included CH₂, CMe₂, CtBu₂, C(CH₂)n (n = 2–4), O, NMe, S, PMe, SiMe₂, GeMe₂, and SnMe₂. The calculations indicate that the phospha bridge is a good compromise providing reasonably low strain as well as E,E through-space distances which are only longer than normal E–E single bonds by factors of 1.06–1.10. This paper is dedicated to Professor Mitsuo Kira in recognition of his stimulating Si chemistry and his 2005 Wacker Award.     

Resolving Component Overlap in Multiwavelength Kinetic Spectroscopy: Application to Raman Scattering from Intermediates in Triplet-State Photoreactions

Abstract— Understanding of reaction mechanisms in photochemistry is advanced both by kinetic measurements to determine rates of reaction and by spectroscopic studies of the structures of precursors and photoproducts. When kinetics and spectroscopy are combined in a time-resolved, multiwavelength spectroscopic measurement on a reacting system, spectra and structures of intermediates can also be determined. In this paper, the application of multidimensional least-squares and factor analysis techniques for resolving overlapped spectra from intermediates in photochemical kinetics are discussed. The methods are employed specifically to resolve Raman spectra of intermediates in triplet-state photoreactions. By varying excitation intensity, spectra of excited-triplet states are resolved from ground states and solvent. By varying the concentration of a triplet quencher in the sample, the Raman spectrum of a sensitizer excited state (benzophe-none) can be resolved from those of acceptor-triplet states or radical photoproducts. Applications of these concepts in other areas of photochemical kinetics are addressed.     

Estimation scheme for level-dependent uncertainty of analytical result: application for determination of 1-hydroxypyrene in urine

The estimation scheme of uncertainty of determination of 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP) in urine was developed analysing the main stages of the analytical procedure: (1) preparation of 1-OHP standards, (2) creation of the calibration curve for the high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis method with the evaluation of recovery, (3) measuring procedure of aliquot of urine, (4) adjusting the pH of aliquot and hydrolysis with enzyme, (5) solid phase extraction, (6) concentration of the extract, (7) injection of the extract to chromatograph and analysing by the HPLC method, (8) calculation of 1-OHP mass from the calibration curve, (9) calculation of 1-OHP concentration in urine. The evaluation of the uncertainty is based on quantification of individual components. Combined uncertainty was calculated using the law of propagation of uncertainties according to the EURACHEM/CITAC guidelines. Level dependence of the uncertainty arises from the calibration curve. The limits of detection and quantification were found to be equal to 0.03 and 0.1 ng/mL, respectively. The calculated expanded level-dependent uncertainty covers 47–27–25% within the concentration range 0.03–0.1–0.4 ng/mL with the materials and equipment used. These parameters could easily be recalculated according to the proposed scheme if there are some changes in the analysis procedure.     

Infrared spectra of V(n)Bz(n+1) sandwich clusters: a theoretical study of size evolution

Results of density functional theory computations of infrared (IR) spectra of linear sandwich V(n)Bz(n+1), n = 1-6, complexes are presented. It is shown that the systematic changes in the spectra as a function of the complex size can be categorized and understood in terms of responses of the "parent" modes of the Bz molecule and the VBz complex. The analysis presented should be applicable to a broad class of linear sandwich systems.     

The trigonal–bipyramidal triiodo­thallium(III) complex [TlI3{(CH3)2SO}2]

The title compound, bis(dimethyl sulfoxide)triiodo­thallium(III), [TlI₃(C₂H₆OS)₂], was crystallized from equimolar amounts of Tl^II and I₂ in a dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) solution. After the initial redox reaction, the thallium(III)–iodo complex forms and precipitates as a DMSO solvate. In the crystal structure, Tl is surrounded by three iodide ligands in the equatorial plane and two O‐coordinated DMSO mol­ecules in the axial positions, forming a slightly distorted trigonal bipyramid. The complex lies on a twofold rotation axis, making the DMSO mol­ecules and two of the I atoms crystallographically equivalent.     

Probing buried carbon nanotubes within polymer-nanotube composite matrices by atomic force microscopy

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MW-CNT) inside a polyamide-6 (PA6)-MW-CNT composite were visualized by atomic force microscopy (i) in a field-assisted intermittent contact and (ii) in the tunneling (TUNA) mode. Individual buried MW-CNTs were clearly discerned within the PA6 matrix. An average diameter of 33 ± 5 nm of the MW-CNTs was determined based on field-assisted intermittent contact mode AFM images, which is consistent with the expected size of PA6-coated MW-CNTs. Single well dispersed MW-CNTs that are located in the sub-surface region of the composite were also observed in the TUNA mode. These new AFM approaches circumvent the tedious sample preparation based on ultramicrotoming required for high resolution electron microscopy studies to obtain “in-depth” morphological information and hence are expected to facilitate the analysis of CNT-based and other nanocomposites in the future.     

Preferred dimerization of tetra-tolyl- and tetra-tosylurea derivatives of flexible and rigidified calix[4]arenes

The dimerization of tetratolyl- and tetratosyl-urea derivatives 1 and 2, derived from a tetrapentoxy calix[4]arene in the cone conformation and of the corresponding tetra-urea derivatives 3 and 4, in which the cone conformation is rigidified by the two crown-3 tethers, have been studied. All six possible equimolar mixtures were examined by 1H NMR using CDCl3 and CD2Cl2 as solvents. While no heterodimers are found for the combinations 1/3 and 2/4 in either solvent, all remaining combinations lead to the (exclusive) formation of heterodimers in CD2Cl2. In CDCl3 heterodimers are only observed for the combinations of 3 with 2 or 4. These results are discussed in terms of entropic and enthalpic contributions and compared with MD-simulations in a box of chloroform solvent molecules.