Graft chain propagation rate coefficients of acrylic acid in melt graft copolymerization with linear low density polyethylene

Graft chain propagation rate coefficients (k(p.g)) for grafting AA onto linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) in the melt in ESR tubes have been measured via Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy in the temperature range from 130 to 170 degrees C. To exclude the effect of homopolymerization on the grafting. the LLDPE was pre-irradiated in the air by electron beam to generate the peroxides and then treated with iodide solution to eliminating one kind of peroxides, hydroperoxide. The monomer conversion is determined by FTIR and the chain propagation free-radical concentration is deduced from the double integration of the well-resolved ESR spectra, consisting nine lines in the melt. The temperature dependence of k(p.g) is expressed:The magnitude of k(p.g) from FTIR and ESR analysis is in good agreement with the theoretical data deduced from ethylene-AA copolymerization, suggesting this method could reliably and directly provide the propagation rate coefficient. The comparison of k(p.g) with the data extrapolated from solution polymerization at modest temperature indicates that the extrapolated data might not be entirely fitting to discuss the kinetics behavior in the melt.

Column chromatographic purification free synthesis of long-chain monodisperse oligo(1,4-phenyleneethynylene)s: towards large-scale automatic synthesis of molecular wires

A facile, mild and rapid solid phase synthetic route free of column chromatographic purification to the synthesis of soluble monodisperse long-chain oligo(1,4-phenyleneethynylene)s is presented.

Synthesis, crystal structure and magnetic properties of a chain coordination polymer {[Cu4L2(H2O)] center dot H2O}(n)

A chain coordination polymer with the chemical formula {[Cu4L2(H2O)] (.) H2O)(n), has been synthesized by the assembly reaction of K(2)CuL(.)1.5H(2)O and Cu(OAC)(2)(H2O)-H-. with a 1:1 mole ratio in methanol., where H4L=2-hydroxy-3-[(E)-({2-[(2-hydroxybenzoyl)imino]ethyl I imino)methyl] benzoic acid, OAC(-) = CH3COO-. The crystal structure was determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis, the compound has chain molecular structure formed by dissymmetrical tetranuclear units. The magnetic measurements showed that Cu-Cu of the complex exhibit antiferromagnetic interactions, and satisfactory fittings to the observed magnetic susceptibility data were obtained by assuming a binuclear system, and further using molecular field approximation to deal with magnetic exchange interactions between binuclear systems.

Effect of chain-length dependence of interaction parameter on spinodals for polydisperse polymer blends

The chain-length dependence of the Flory-Huggins (FH) interaction parameter is introduced into the FH lattice theory for polydisperse polymer-blend systems. The spinodals are calculated for the model polymer blends with different chain lengths and distributions. It is found that all the related variables r(n), r(w), r(z), and chain-length distribution, have effects on the spinodals for polydisperse polymer blends.

Monte Carlo simulation of miscibility of polymer blends with repulsive interactions: effect of chain structure

The effects of the chain structure and the intramolecular interaction energy of an A/B copolymer on the miscibility of the binary blends of the copolymer and homopolymer C have been studied by means of a Monte Carlo simulation. In the system, the interactions between segments A, B and C are more repulsive than those between themselves. In order to study the effect of the chain structure of the A/B copolymer on the miscibility, the alternating, random and block copolymers were introduced in the simulations, respectively. The simulation results show that the miscibility of the binary blends strongly depends on the intramolecular interaction energy ((ε) over bar (AB)) between segments A and B within the A/B copolymers. The higher the repulsive interaction energy, the more miscible the A/B copolymer and homopolymer C are. For the diblock copolymer/homopolymer blends, they tend to form micro phase domains. However, the phase domains become so small that the blend can be considered as a homogeneous phase for the alternating copolymer/ homopolymer blends. Furthermore, the investigation of the average end-to-end distance ((h) over bar) in different systems indicates that the copolymer chains tend to coil with the decrease Of (ε) over bar (AB) whereas the (h) over bar of the homopolymer chains depends on the chain structure of the copolymers.

Shear induced molecular alignments of a side-chain liquid crystalline polyacetylene containing biphenyl mesogens

Mesomorphic properties of a side chain liquid crystalline polyacetylene, poly(11-{[(4'-heptyloxy-4-biphenylyl)carbonyl]oxy}-1-undecyne) (PA9EO7), are investigated using polarized optical microscope, X-ray diffraction, and transmission electron microscope. Polymer PA9EO7 forms enantiotropic smectic A and smectic B phases. It also exhibits an additional high order smectic phase, a sandwich structure consisting of different molecular packing of biphenyl mesogenic moieties from that of alkyl spacers and terminals, when it is prepared from its toluene solution. Shearing the polymer film at its smectic A phase generates banded texture with the alignment of the backbones parallel to the direction of shear force. While at its high order smectic phase, the mesogen pendants of the polymer are arranged parallel to the direction of shear. The different mesomorphic behaviors arise from different molecular alignments influenced by the fluidity.

Nanometer scale mechanical study on well defined nanostructured chain aggregation of polyethylene

Two kinds of polyethylene chain aggregation with chain axis perpendicular and parallel to the supported substrate were designed and successfully obtained from melt under an electric field and by melt-drawn method

An unusual organic-inorganic chain-like hybrid complex [(CuCl)(2)(o-phen)](infinity) (o-phen=o-phenanthroline)

A novel organic-inorganic hybrid complex [(CuCl)(2) (o-phen)](infinity) 1 (o-phen = o-phenanthroline) has been hydrothermally synthesized and structurally characterized by elemental analyses, XPS spectrum, TG analysis, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Compound I crystallizes in the monoclinic system, space group P2(1)/n, a = 3.7285(7) Angstrom, b = 19.603(4) Angstrom, c = 16.757(3) Angstrom, beta = 95.83(3)degrees, V = 1218.4(4) Angstrom(3), Z = 4, lambda(MoKalpha) = 0.71073 Angstrom (R(F) = 0.0643 for 2559 reflections). Data were collected on an R-axis RAPID diffractometer at 293 K in the range of 1.60 < θ < 27.48degrees. The title compound exhibits a one-dimensional chain-like scaffolding constructed by the unusual [Cu3Cl3] hexagon motifs by, sharing opposite edges. Only Cu(1) sites of the [Cu3Cl3] hexagon are coordinated with N donors of o-phen groups. Furthermore, the three-dimensional supermolecular architecture is formed by C-H...Cl hydrogen bonds between o-phen groups and CuCl chains.

Liquid crystalline phases, microtwinning in crystals and helical chirality transformations in a main-chain chiral liquid crystalline polyester

A main-chain nonracemic chiral liquid crystalline polymer was synthesized from (R)-(-)4'-{w-[2-(p-hydroxy-o-nitrophenyloxy)-1-propyloxy]-1-decyloxyl-4-biphenylcarboxylic acid. This polymer contained 10 methylene units in each chemical repeating unit and was abbreviated PET(R*-10). On the basis of differential scanning calorimetry, wide-angle X-ray diffraction, and polarized light microscopy experiments, chiral smectic C (S-C*) and chiral smectic A (S-A*) phases were identified. Both flat-elongated and helical lamellar crystal morphologies were observed in transmission electron microscopy. Of particular interest was the flat-elongated lamellar crystals were constructed via microtwinning of an orthorhombic cell with dimensions of a = 1.42 nm, b = 1.28 nm, and c = 3.04 nm. On the other hand, the helical lamellar crystals were exclusively left-handed, which was opposite to the right-handed helical crystals grown in PET(R*-9) and PET(R*-11) (having 9 and 11 methylene units, respectively). Note that these three polymers had identical right-handed chiral centers (R*-). Therefore, a single methylene unit difference on the polymer backbones on an atomic length scale substantially changed the chirality of the crystals in the micrometer length scale. Furthermore, aggregates of these helical crystals in PET(R*-10) did not generate banded spherulites in polarized light microscopy. Possible reasons for this change and loss of helical senses (handedness) on different length scales in chirality transferring processes were discussed.

Computer simulation of human iodothyronine deiodinase single-chain antibody

Iodothyronine plays a major role in growth, basic metabolism and organ formation. It has an extremely limited source in the body. In this thesis, we designed iodothyronine(T4) as hapten. Then a single chain antibody displayed on phange was obtained from a human phage displaying a single chain antibody library. The specific genes of E3 was subcloned in P-5E vector. According to its amino acid sequences, we simulate its three dimention structure by computer. It has never been reported in PDB.

Non-isothermal crystallization behavior and kinetics of metallocene short chain branched polyethylene

The non-isothermal crystallization behavior and kinetics of metallocene short chain branched polyethylene were investigated via DSC at cooling rates from 2.5 to 20 degreesC/min, and subsequent heating at rate of 10 degreesC/min. To verify the effect of molecular weight and branching content on crystallization, three group samples were chosen: (1) linear polyethylene with low molecular weight and high molecular weight; (2) low molecular weight polyethylene with low branching content and high branching content; (3) high molecular weight polyethylene with low branching content and high branching content. The results show that crystallization temperature, crystallinity, melting temperature and crystallization rate are highly branching content-dependent. Molecular weight effect is less important, compared to branching content. A dramatic decrease of crystallization temperature, crystallinity, crystallization rate and melting temperature was observed for branched samples. The non-isothermal kinetics was analyzed via the methods, developed by Gupta and Mo Zhi-shen, and good agreement was obtained.

Compatibilization by main-chain thermotropic liquid crystalline ionomer of blends of PBT/PP

The miscibility and mechanical properties of the blends of polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) and polypropylene (PP) with a liquid crystalline ionomer (LCI) containing a sulfonate group on the terminal unit as a compatibilizer were assessed. SEM and optical microscopy (POM) were used to examine the morphology of blends of PBT/PP compatibilized by LCI. DSC and TGA were used to discuss the thermal properties of PBT/PP blends with LCI and without LCI. The experimental results revealed that the LCI component affect, to a great extent, the miscibility and crystallization process and mechanical property of PBT/PP blends, The fact is that increasing LCI did improve miscibility of PBT/PP blends and the addition of 1% LCI to the PBT/PP blends increased the ultimate tensile strength and the ultimate elongation.

Compatibilization of side-chain, thermotropic, liquid-crystalline ionomers to blends of polyamide-1010 and polypropylene

A novel side-chain, liquid-crystalline ionomer (SLCI) with a poly(methyl hydrosiloxane) main chain and side chains containing sulfonic acid groups was used in blends of polyamide-1010 (PA1010) and polypropylene (PP) as a compatibilizer. The morphological structure, thermal behavior, and liquid-crystalline properties of the blends were investigated by Fourier transform infrared, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, and scanning electron microscopy. The morphological structure of the interface of the blends containing SLCI was improved with respect to the blend without SLCI. The compatibilization effect of greater than 8 wt % SLCI for the two phases, PA1010 and PP, was better than the effects of other SLCI contents in the blends.

Improved thermal fractionation technique for chain structure analysis of ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymers

In this report, we describe an improved thermal fractionation technique used to characterize the polydispersity of crystalline ethylene sequence length (CESL) of ethylene/alpha -olefin copolymers. After stepwise isothermal crystallization, the crystalline ethylene sequences are sorted into groups by their lengths. The CESLs are estimated using melting points of known hydrocarbons. The content of each group is determined using the calibrated peak area. The statistical terms: the arithmetic mean (L) over bar (n), the weighted mean (L) over bar (w) and the broadness index I = (L) over bar (w)/(L) over bar (n) are used to describe the distribution of CESL. Results show that improved thermal fractionation technique can quantitatively characterize the polydispersity of CESL with a high degree of accuracy.