Analysis of micro-failure behaviors in hybrid fiber model composites

Micro-failure modes and statistical fragment lengths in the hybrid fiber and non-hybrid reference composites in the uniaxial tension were investigated. Similiar to the reference experiments, fibers in hybrid strong interface/medium interface fiber composites display a decrease in aspect ratio and an increase in interfacial shear stress (IFSS) with the increase of inter-fiber spacing. While for the fibers with weak interfaces in the hybrid strong interface/weak interface fiber composites, the aspect ratio increases and IFSS decreases with enlargement of inter-fiber spacing, which is contrary to other systems. Finite element numerical analysis was used to interpret the special phenomena.

Syntheses of chromium(III) complexes with Schiff-base ligands and their catalytic behaviors for ethylene polymerization

A series of chromium(III) complexes LCrCl3 (4a-c) bearing chelating 2,2'-iminodiphenyisulfide ligands [L = (2-ArMeC=NAr)(2)S] was synthesized in good yields from the corresponding ligands and CrCl3.(THF). Using modified methylaluminoxane (MMAO) as a cocatalyst, these complexes display moderate activities towards ethylene polymerization, and produce highly linear polyethylenes with broad molecular weight distribution. Polymer yields, catalyst activities and the molecular weights, as well as the molecular weight distributions of the polymers can be controlled over a wide range by the variation of the structures of the chromium(III) complexes and the polymerization parameters, such as Al/Cr molar ratio, reaction temperature and ethylene pressure.

Numerical simulation of mesoscopic mechanical behaviors of gradual multi-fiber-reinforced polymer matrix composites

To simulate the deformation and the fracture of gradual multi-fiber-reinforced matrix composites, a numerical simulation method for the mesoscopic mechanical behaviors was developed on the basis of the finite element and the Monte Carlo methods. The results indicate that the strength of a composite increases if the variability of statistical fiber strengths is decreased.

Melting behaviors, isothermal and non-isothermal crystallization kinetics of nylon 1212

Isothermal crystallization, subsequent melting behavior and non-isothermal crystallization of nylon 1212 samples have been investigated in the temperature range of 160-171 degreesC using a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC). Subsequent DSC scans of isothermally crystallized samples exhibited three melting endotherms. The commonly used Avrami equation and that modified by Jeziorny were used, respectively, to fit the primary stage of isothermal and non-isothermal crystallizations of nylon 1212. The Avrami exponent n was evaluated, and was found to be in the range of 1.56-2.03 for isothermal crystallization, and of 2.38-3.05 for non-isothermal crystallization. The activation energies (DeltaE) were determined to be 284.5 KJ/mol and 102.63 KJ/mol, respectively, for the isothermal and non-isothermal crystallization processes by the Arrhenius' and the Kissinger's methods.

Crystallization and melting behaviors of PPC-BS/PVA blends

The isothermal crystallization and melting behaviors of poly(propylene carbonate) end-capped with benzenesulfonyl/poly (vinyl alcohol) (PPC-BS/PVA) blends over rich PVA composition range were first investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). PPS-BS/PVA interaction parameter, chi(12), calculated from equilibrium melting temperature depression was -0.44, revealing miscibility of PPC-BS with PVA in the melt and favorable interactions. The temperature dependence of crystallization rate constant at initial crystallization stage was analyzed using the modified Lauritzen-Hoffman expression. The chain width, a(0), the thickness of a monomolecular layer, b(0), the fold and lateral surface-free energies, sigma(e) and sigma, and the work of chain folding, q, for neat PVA were first reckoned to be 4.50 Angstrom, 4.78 Angstrom, 76.0 erg.cm(-2), and 4.70 kcal.mol(-1), respectively. The values of sigma(e) and q for PVA in PPC-BS/PVA blends exhibited a maximum in the neighborhood of 10/90 PPC-BS/PV, respectively.

Investigation of electrochemical charging behaviors of "naked" gold nanoparticles ensembles in aqueous media

Gold nanopartides were Immobilized onto the electrode surface by simple self-assembly technique. Interestingly, the ensembles of these nanopartides exhibit quantized charging behaviors in aqueous solution. Possible mechanism for such behaviors was proposed.

Fabrication and electrochemical behaviors of multilayers composed of heteropholyanions and poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) on 4-aminothiophenol modified gold electrodes

Multilayer films composed of heteropolyanions (HPAS, SiMo11 VO405-) and cationic polymer poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) on 4-aminothiophenol self-assembled-monolayer were fabricated by electrochemical growth. Growth processes of the composite films were characterized by cyclic voltammetry. The results prove the third redox peak of Mo increases more rapidly, otherwise the other Mo redox peaks increase very slowly when the number of layers of heteropolyanions is greater. The peak potentials of composite films shift linearly to negative position with higher pH, which implies that protons are involved in the redox processes of HPA. The investigation of electrocatalytic behaviors of composite films shows a good catalytic activity for the reductions of HNO2 and BrO3-. Catalytic currents increase with increasing number of layers of heteropolyanions, moreover, the catalytic currents have a good linear relationship with the concentrations of BrO3-.

Morphology, crystallization behaviors, and mechanical properties of PA1010/HIPS and PA1010/HIPS-g-MA blends

The binary blends of polyamide 1010 (PA1010) with the high-impact polystyrene (HIPS)/maleic anhydride (MA) graft copolymer (HIPS-g-MA) and with HIPS were prepared using a wide composition range. Different blend morphologies were observed by scanning electron microscopy according to the nature and content of PA1010 used. Compared with the PA1010/HIPS binary blends, the domain sizes of dispersed-phase particles in PA1010/HIPS-g-MA blends were much smaller than that in PA1010/HIPS blends at the same compositions. It was found that the tensile properties of PA1010/HIPS-g-MA blends were obviously better than that of PA 1010/HIPS blends. Wide-angle xray diffraction analyses were performed to confirm that the number of hydrogen bonds in the PA1010 phase decreased in the blends of PA1010/HIPS-g-MA. These behaviors could be attributed to the chemical interactions between the two components and good dispersion in PA1010/HIPS-g-MA blends.

A study on the catalytic behaviors of concentrated heteropolyacid solution - I. A novel catalyst for isobutane alkylation with butene

The catalytic behaviors of a novel liquid acid catalyst (composed of heteropolyacid and acetic acid) for alkylation of isobutane with butene was investigated. As a solvent acetic acid had a synergistic effect. It enhanced the acid strength of HPA and its stability. The conditions for the formation of the catalytically active phase were studied systematically. The content of crystal water of HPA and the quantity of solvent affect the formation of active phase and the catalytic activity. Catalytically active phase consists of HPA, acetic acid and hydrocarbon produced from the reaction, as well as traces of water from the crystal water of HPA. This catalyst system is comparable to the sulfuric acid in catalytic activity.

Study of the catalytic behaviors of concentrated heteropolyacid solution. I. A novel catalyst for isobutane alkylation with butenes

A novel liquid acid catalyst, composed of heteropolyacid and acetic acid for the alkylation of isobutane with butenes is reported. The conditions for the formation of catalytic active phase as well as its catalytic behaviors in alkylation of isobutane with butenes have been studied. It was found that acetic acid, as a solvent, exerts a synergistic effect on the acid strength of heteropolyacid, and the contents of crystal water in HPAs have influence over the formation of active phase and the catalytic activity. This novel catalyst is comparable to the sulfuric acid in catalytic activity.

Influence of intermolecular entanglements on the glass transition and structural relaxation behaviors of macromolecules. 2. Polystyrene and phenolphthalein poly(ether sulfone)

The effect of entanglements on the glass transition and structural relaxation behaviors has been studied for polystyrene (PS) and phenolphthalein poly(ether sulfone) (PES-C) samples by fast evaporation of the solution of concentrations varying from above the overlapping concentration to far below it, and compared to the results we have studied previously in PC. It has been found that for all the polymers we have studied, in the concentrated solution region, the T-g of the samples obtained from solution are independent of the change of concentration and are very close to that of normal bulk samples, whereas in the dilute solution region the T-g of the samples decrease with the logarithm of decreasing concentration. The critical concentrations that divide the two distinct regions for the three polymers are 0.9% g/mL for PC, 0.1% g/mL for PS, and 1% g/mL for PES-C. The decrease of T-g of the samples is interpreted by the decrease of intermolecular entanglements as the isolation of polymer chains, and the entanglement of polymer chains restrained the mobility of the segments. The structural relaxation behavior of the polymers is also found to be different from that of normal bulk samples. The enthalpies of single-chain samples are lower than that of the bulk ones, which correspond to the lower glass transition temperature; the peaks are lower and broader, and the relaxed enthalpy is much lower as compared to that of bulk samples. In the three polymers we have studied, the influence of change of entanglements on both the decrease in glass transition temperature and relaxed enthalpy is the most significant for PS and the least for PES-C. It is indicated that the interactions in the flexible polymers are weak; thus, the restraint of the entanglements on the mobility of the segments plays a more important role in the flexible polymers, and the change of entanglement in the flexible polymers has a more significant influence on the physical properties.

Photoreduction behaviors of microperoxidase-11 adsorbed on the roughened silver electrodes

It was found that microperoxidase-ll (MP-II) can undergo photoreduction at the bale roughened silver electrode. No photoreduction happens at the roughened silver electrode modified with mercaptoundecanoic carboxylic acid/poly-lysine. The photoreduction mechanism is discussed.

Influence of entanglements an the glass transition and structural relaxation behaviors of macromolecules. 1. Polycarbonate

We obtained the single-chain polycarbonate sample, by a new fast evaporation method and found that the polycarbonate sample obtained by this method is completely amorphous, while the polycarbonate sample obtained by other methods all have a certain degree of crystallinity. The glass transition temperature (T-g) of the sample decreases with the decreasing of concentration when the concentration of the prepared solution is below the critical value. The critical concentration we obtained from the T-g dependence of concentration is 0.9% g/mL and is in accord with that obtained by viscometry and light scattering methods directly from the solution. The structural relaxation behavior is found also different from that of a normal bulk sample of polycarbonate. The enthalpic peak of the single-chain sample is lower: than that of the bulk one, which corresponds to the lower glass transition temperature. The peak of the single-chain sample is lower and broader, and the relaxed enthalpy is much lower compared with that of the bulk sample. These results have been explained in terms of the effect of entanglement on the mobility of the segments in polymer and the compact conformation in the single-chain sample.

Investigation on the Voltammetric Behaviors in Planar Bilayer Lipid Membranes

In the TCNQ-modified BLM, the voltammetric response is different due to the different methods used to prepare the membrane forming solution. The direct and indirect dissolved methods result in irreversible and reversible responses respectively. These results can be explained by the different styles of the orientation of TCNQ in the membrane. The reversible response is controlled by the diffusion of electroactive species in the interior of the membrane. When MB is used to modify the BLM, very complex voltammograms are obtained. The intersection of the voltammetric curves can be regarded to be owing to the appearance of new phase in the membrane caused by MB. But it disappears at lower scan rate. Peak current increases with decreasing scan rate. This indicates that the resistance of the membrane at lower scan rate is lower than that at higher scan rate. Asymmetric curve of MB incorporated BLM is ascribed to the different rates of redox reaction at the two membrane/solution interfaces.