Miscibility and crystallization behavior of thermosetting polyimide thermoplastic polyimide blends

Compatibility, morphology, crystalline structure and mechanical properties of the blends of a thermosetting polyimide with thermoplastic polyimides consisting of dianhydrides of different lengths have been studied by the use of dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) techniques. The results of our research show that the blends change from compatible to semi-compatible when the difference between the length of the dianhydrides of the two components increases. Addition of a thermoplastic polyimide inhibits the crystallization of the thermosetting component. However, this effect decreases with increasing length of the dianhydrides and the distribution of the molecules of the thermoplastic polyimide component changes from interlamellar to interfibrillar. Impact strength and morphology of the fractured surfaces indicate that among the semiinterpenetrating polymer networks (semi-IPN) obtained the toughening effect of the partially compatible one is the best. The results are discussed in terms of charge transfer interaction between imide group and p-phenylene group.

Hydrogen permeation behavior and corrosion monitoring atmospheric of steel in cyclic wet-dry environment

Hydrogen permeation of 16Mn steel under a cyclic wet-dry condition was investigated by Devanathan-Stachurski's electrolytic cell with a membrane covered on the exit side by a nickel layer and the weight loss was measured for each wet-dry cycle. The results show that hydrogen permeation current change with different atmospheric environment: distilled water, seawater, and seawater containing 100 ppm H2S. The results show that seawater can induce an increase in the hydrogen permeation current due to the hydrolyzation reaction. And after the increase, equilibrium is reached due to the equilibrium of hydrolyzation reaction effect and the block of the rust layer. On the other hand, H2S contamination also can induce an increase in the maximum hydrogen permeation current due to the hydrolyzation reaction. And H2S contamination delays the time that hydrogen permeation is detected because of the formation of the FeS(1-x) film. The FeS(1-x) film can block the absorption of hydrogen onto the specimen surface. The surface potential change and the pH change of the metal surface control the hydrogen permeation current. And a clear linear correlation exists between the quantities of hydrogen permeated through the 16Mn steel and the weight loss. Based on the linear correlation, we monitored the corrosion rate by monitoring the hydrogen permeation current by a sensor outside. Good coherences were shown between results in laboratory and outside.

Breeding behavior under temporal risk of predation in male root voles (Microtus oeconomus)

We examined breeding behavior responses of male root votes (Microtus oeconomus) to temporal risk of predation by using acute and chronic exposure to predator odor. The 2 series of exposure experiments provided 2 types of temporal patterns of risk: continuous safety with a brief period of risk and Sustained risk with a brief period of safety. Male root votes that were acutely exposed to predator odor for I h suppressed their breeding behavior, but bred immediately after exposure to control odor for I h. Those chronically exposed to predator odor for 20 days maintained behavioral suppression during the 1-h period of exposure to control odor. Acutely exposed males did not change their physiological patterns of breeding, but those chronically exposed to predator odor had reduced testosterone concentration and epididymis index. Our results indicate that breeding behavior in a given situation depends on the overall patterns of risk experienced by male root votes, and the acute and chronic stress responses that affect reproduction are responsible for different behavioral responses to the 2 types of temporal patterns of risk. We also discuss the reasons for conflicting results about breeding suppression of votes between previous studies in the laboratory and the field.

Retention behavior of hydrophobic organic chemicals as a function of temperature in soil leaching column chromatography

To study the transport mechanism of hydrophobic organic chemicals (HOCs) and the energy change in soil/solvent system, a soil leaching column chromatographic (SLCC) experiment at an environmental temperature range of 20-40 degreesC was carried out, which utilized a reference soil (SP 14696) packed column and a methanol-water (1:4 by volume ratio) eluent. The transport process quickens with the increase of column temperature. The ratio of retention factors at 30 and 40 degreesC (k'(30)/k'(40)) ranged from 1.08 to 1.36. The lower enthalpy change of the solute transfer in SLCC (from eluent to soil) than in conventional reversed-phase liquid chromatography (e.g., from eluent to C-18) is consistent with the hypothesis that HOCs were dominantly and physically partitioned between solvent and soil. The results were also verified by the linear solvation energy relationships analysis. The chief factor controlling the retention was found to be the solute solvophobic partition, and the second important factor was the solute hydrogen-bond basicity, while the least important factors were the solute polarizability-dipolarity and hydrogen-bond acidity. With the increase of temperature, the contributions of the solute solvophobic partition and hydrogen-bond basicity gradually decrease, and the latter decreases faster than the former. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.