Toughening of epoxies via craze-like damage

The fracture behavior of a core-shell rubber (CSR) modified epoxy is investigated using both fracture mechanics and microscopy tools. The CSR-modified epoxy is found to be toughened via numerous line-array cavitations of the CSR particles, followed by plastic flow of the epoxy matrix. The toughening effect via the above craze-like damage process is found to be as effective as that of the well-known widespread rubber cavitation/matrix shear yielding mechanisms. The conditions for triggering the craze-like damage appear to be both stress state and rubber concentration dependent. The type of rubber tougheners utilized also plays a critical role in triggering this rather unusual craze-like damage in epoxy systems. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

EXTRARETINAL PHOTORECEPTION IN CHICKENS: ENTRAINMENT OF THE CIRCADIAN LOCOMOTOR ACTIVITY RHYTHM

Abstract— The Circadian locomotor activity rhythm of blinded chickens entrained to, or was synchron ized by, light in light dark cycles.     

Control of methanol oxidation by ionic behavior in supercritical water

In supercritical water the rate of methanol oxidation was controlled by ionic behavior as follows: the oxidation rate of methanol decreased with increasing proton and hydroxide ion concentration, possibly due to stabilization of the reactant, while that of CO was suppressed by added protons and enhanced by added hydroxide ions.     

Gel permeation chromatographic analysis of polyurethane prepolymer synthesis kinetics II. The effects of stoichiometry and type of diisocyanate

The kinetics of formation of polyurethane prepolymers is studied by an analytical technique which involves reactive quenching of the isocyanate, separation of the oligomeric species by GPC, and measurement by UV absorbance of the quenched moieties. The precision of the kinetic parameters and the ratios of the oligomers are determined. The effect of changes in reactant stoichiometry on the ratio of oligomers is measured and compared to the value predicted by an equation from Flory. Toluene diisocyanate is shown to give fewer high oligomers than predicted, while methylene diphenylene diisocyanate gives nearly the predicted values. Tetramethylxylene diisocyanate gives more high oligomers than predicted, an unexpected but possibly important result. Catalyst is shown to increase the reaction rate of the last by more than 200 times. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Fracture mechanisms in rigid core-shell particle modified high performance epoxies

The fracture mechanisms of a high performance epoxy system modified with two types of preformed rigid core-shell particles (RCSP) were investigated. The use of the preformed RCSP anables the control of the dispersion of the toughener phase in the epoxy, which, in turn, allows the mechanical properties of the modified epoxy to be optimized. The toughening effect via the RCSP modification is found to be as good as that via the core-shell rubber modification. The moduli andT _g of these RCSP-modified epoxies are virtually unaltered via the RCSP modification, when compared with the neat epoxy resin equivalent. The toughening mechanisms in these toughened systems appear to be predominantly crack deflection, crack bifurcation, and microcracking. Approaches for effective toughening of high performance polymers via rigid polymers are discussed.     

Enthalpies of Dilution of Aqueous Solutions of NaOH, KOH, and CsOH at 300, 325, and 350°C

Dilution enthalpies, measured using isothermal flow calorimetry, are reported for aqueous solutions of KOH and CsOH at 300°C and 11.0 MPa, 325°C and 14.8 MPa, and for aqueous solutions of NaOH, KOH, and CsOH at 350°C and 17.6 MPa. Previously collected dilution enthalpies for aqueous solutions of NaOH at 300°C and 9.3 MPa and at 325°C and 12.4 MPa were included when fitting the Pitzer parameters. The concentration range of the hydroxide solutions was 0.5–0.02 molal. Parameters for the Pitzer excess Gibbs ion-interaction equation were determined from the fits of the experimental heat data. Equilibrium constants, enthalpy changes, entropy changes, and heat capacity changes for alkali metal ion association with hydroxide ion were estimated from the heat data. For all systems, the enthalpy changes and entropy changes were positive and had accelerating increases with temperature. The resulting equilibrium constants show significant, but smaller, increases with temperature.     

SPECTRAL PERTURBATIONS OF THE AEQUOREA GREEN-FLUORESCENT PROTEIN

Abstract— In the jellyfish Aequorea, the green-fluorescent protein (GFP) functions as the in vivo bio-luminescence emitter via energy transfer from the photoprotein aequorin. Accumulated evidence has indicated that the Aequorea GFP is a relatively inflexible protein. Present evidence, however, indicates that the chromophore environment is readily accessible to a variety of external perturbants. Native Aequorea GFP has an absorbance maximum at 395 nm and a shoulder at 470 nm. In low ionic strength buffer at neutral pH and room temperature the 395/470 nm absorbance ratio is about 2.0. We show that this ratio is highly variable depending upon temperature, ionic strength, protein concentration, and pH. A maximum ratio of 6.5 (at a protein concentration of 18.6 mg/m/) and minimum of 0.42 (at a pH of 12.2) have been measured. In the latter case, the resulting absorption and excitation spectra resemble those of Renilla GFP in spectral shape (but not wavelength maximum). In all cases as the perturbant is varied the resulting spectra pass through a sharp isosbestic point, suggesting a relatively simple two-state mechanism. These spectral perturbations are fully reversible. On the basis of these results, we suggest that the chromophore binding site is conformationally flexible. pH-Dependent changes in the near-UV and visible circular dichroism spectra plus spectrophotometric titration of tyrosine residues lend additional support to this hypothesis.