Modification of Butadiene -Acrylonitrile Rubber/ Poly(Vinyl Chloride) Blend Using Natural Rubber, Styrene-Butadiene Rubber, and Polybutadiene Rubber

Natural rubber, styrene-butadiene rubber, and polybutadiene rubber were used to replace part of the butadieneacrylonitrile rubber in a 70/30 butadiene-acrylonitrile rubber/ poly(vinyl chloride) blend. Such replacement up to 15% of the total weight of the blend improved the mechanical properties, while decreasing the cost of the blend. Styrenebutadiene rubber could replace butadiene-acrylonitrile rubber up to 30% of the total weight of the blend without deterioration in the mechanical properties.

Optimization of pH and direct imaging conditions of complexed methylene blue sensitized poly(vinyl chloride) films

Significant results of our experimental investigations on the dependence of pH on real time transmission characteristics on recording media fabricated by doping PVC with complexed methylene blue are presented. The optimum pH value for faster bleaching was found to be 4 . 5. In typical applications, the illumination from one side, normal to the surface of this material, initiates a chemical sequence that records the incident light pattern in the polymer. Thus direct imaging can be successfully done on this sample. The recorded letters were very legible with good contrast and no scattering centres. Diffraction efficiency measurements were also carried out on this material.

Complex permittivity and conductivity of poly aniline at microwave frequencies

Dielectric properties of polyaniline at different frequencies were studied. Cavity perturbation technique was employed for the study. Poly aniline in the powder and pelletised forms were prepared under different environmental conditions. Different samples of poly aniline exhibit high conductivity. However, the conductivity of samples prepared under different environmental conditions is found to vary. All the samples in the powder form have high conductivity irrespective of the method of preparation. The high conductivity at microwave frequency makes it possible to be used for developing microwave components like filters.

Photoacoustic study on photobleaching of Rhodamine 6G doped in poly(methyl methacrylate)

The photobleaching of the lasing dye Rhodamine 6G embedded in the solid matrix poly(methyl methacrylate) was investigated using a photoacoustic technique. Chopped laser radiation from an argon ion laser at four different wavelengths was used for the study. Experimental results indicate that the photobleaching rate is directly proportional to the incident laser power while it decreases with increase in concentration of the dye molecules. In the present case we have not observed any dependence of photobleaching on the chopping frequency. One-photon absorption is found to be responsible for the photobleaching of the dye within the selected range of laser power

Photoacoustic study on photobleaching of Rhodamine 6G doped in poly(methyl methacrylate)

The photobleaching of the lasing dye Rhodamine 6G embedded in the solid matrix poly(methyl methacrylate) was investigated using a photoacoustic technique. Chopped laser radiation from an argon ion laser at four different wavelengths was used for the study. Experimental results indicate that the photobleaching rate is directly proportional to the incident laser power while it decreases with increase in concentration of the dye molecules. In the present case we have not observed any dependence of photobleaching on the chopping frequency. One-photon absorption is found to be responsible for the photobleaching of the dye within the selected range of laser power.

Organocatalysis by poly(amidoamine) dendrimers; Knoevenagel and Mannich reactions catalyzed in water

Knoevenagel condensation between carbonyl compounds and active methylene compounds as well as three component Mannich reaction between aldehydes, ketones and amines proceeded smoothly in water with good to excellent yield and high selectivity in the presence of zero and first generation poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimers. The products and the catalyst were separated by simple biphasic extraction. The catalyst was found to be reusable.

Photophysical and Electrochemical Investigations on Photoconducting Poly(6-tert-butyl-3,4-dihydro-2H- 1,3-benzoxazine)

Poly(6-tert-butyl-3,4-dihydro-2H-1,3-benzoxazine) was synthesized by thermally activated cationic ring opening polymerization. The structure of the polymer was confirmed by spectral and thermal studies. The highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) were estimated using cyclic voltammetry and optical absorption. Modulated photocurrent measurement technique was employed to study the spectral and field dependence of photocurrent. Photocurrent of the order of 1.5 micro A/m2 was obtained for polymer at a biasing electric field of 40 V/mico m.

Studies on Heat Diffusion in Selected Conducting Polymers using Probe Beam Deflection and Photoacoustic Techniques

In the present study, radio frequency plasma polymerization technique is used to prepare thin films of polyaniline, polypyrrole, poly N-methyl pyrrole and polythiophene. The thermal characterization of these films is carried out using transverse probe beam deflection method. Electrical conductivity and band gaps are also determined. The effect of iodine doping on electrical conductivity and the rate of heat diffusion is explored.Bulk samples of poyaniline and polypyrrole in powder form are synthesized by chemical route. Open photoacoustic cell configuration is employed for the thermal characterization of these samples. The effect of acid doping on heat diffusion in these bulk samples of polyaniline is also investigated. The variation of electrical conductivity of doped polyaniline and polypyrrole with temperature is also studied for drawing conclusion on the nature of conduction in these samples. In order to improve the processability of polyaniline and polypyrrole, these polymers are incorporated into a host matrix of poly vinyl chloride. Measurements of thermal diffusivity and electrical conductivity of these samples are carried out to investigate the variation of these quantities as a function of the content of polyvinyl chloride.

Microwave studies of a poly vinyl acetate (PVA)-based phantom for applications in medical imaging

A phantom that exhibits complex dielectric properties similar to low-water-content biological tissues over the electromagnetic spectrum of 2000–3000 MHz has been synthesized from carbon black, graphite powder, and poly vinyl acetate (PVA)-based adhesive. The material overcomes various problems that are inherent in conventional phantoms such as decomposition and deterioration due to the invasion of bacteria or mold. The absorption coefficients of the material for various concentrations of carbon and graphite are studied. A combination of 50% poly-vinyl-acetate-based adhesive, 20% carbon, and 30% graphite exhibits a high absorption coefficient, which suggests another application of the material as a good microwave absorber for the interior lining of tomographic chamber in microwave imaging. The cavity-perturbation technique is adopted to study the dielectric properties of the material.

Investigations on the mechanism of carrier transport in plasma polymerized pyrrole thin films

Plasma polymerization is found to be an excellent technique for the preparation of good quality, pinhole-free, polymer thin films from different monomer precursors. The present work describes the preparation and characterization of polypyrrole (PPy) thin films by ac plasma polymerization technique in their pristine and in situ iodine doped forms. The electrical conductivity studies of the aluminiumpolymeraluminium (AlpolymerAl) structures have been carried out and a space charge limited conduction (SCLC) mechanism is identified as the most probable mechanism of carrier transport in these polymer films. The electrical conductivity shows an enhanced value in the iodine doped sample. The reduction of optical band gap by iodine doping is correlated with the observed conductivity results.

Studies on Methylene Blue Sensitized Poly(Vinyl Alcohol): Effect of Molecular Weight of the Polymer and Crosslinking Agents on its Holographic Properties

Dept.of Polymer Science and Rubber Technology,Cochin University of Science and Technology

Complex permittivity and conductivity of poly aniline at microwave frequencies

Dielectric properties of polyaniline at different frequencies were studied. Cavity perturbation technique was employed for the study. Poly aniline in the powder and pelletised forms were prepared under different environmental conditions. Different samples of poly aniline exhibit high conductivity. However. the conductivity of samples prepared under different environmental conditions is found to vary. All the samples in the powder form have high conductivity irrespective of the method of preparation. The high conductivity at microwave frequency makes it possible to be used for developing microwave components like filters.

Synthesis And Characterization Ofpolystyrene Supportedcatalytically Active Poly(Amidoamine) Dendrimer-Palladium Nanoparticle Conjugates

Poly(amidoamine) dendrimers were synthesized on cross-linked aminomethyl polystyrene. Palladium complexes of supported dendrimers prepared by ligand exchange method were reduced to dendrimernanoparticle conjugates supported on polystyrene resin. The supported nanoparticles were used as heterogeneous catalysts for the Suzuki coupling between aryl boronic acids and aryl halides. Various factors affecting the catalysts performance were studied. Higher generation dendrimers gave well-defined nanoparticles without agglomeration and these particles showed good catalytic performance