Synthesis and characterization of alternating copolyimides containing aliphatic spacers

Summary Alternating copolyimides and homopolyimides of pyromellitic dianhydride and benzophenonetetracarboxylic dianhydride containing aliphatic spacers have been synthesized by the solution polycondensation of N,N-bis(isocyanatoalkyl)-1,2,4,5-benzenetetracarboxylic-1,2:4,5-diimides and N, N-bis(isocyanatoalkyl)-3,3: 4,4-diimides with pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA) and benzophenonetetracarboxylic dianhydride (BTDA) in dimethylacetamide. These polyimides are semicrystalline, thermally stable and soluble in polar aprotic solvents with inherent viscosities in the range 0.29 – 0.62 dL/g in m-cresol.NCL Communication No. 4896     

Synthesis and Properties of Soluble 3,3′,4,4′-Benzophenonetetracarboxylic Dianhydride Copolyimides Based on 1,1-Bis[4-(4-aminophenoxy)phenyl]-1-phenylethane and Commercial Dianhydrides

1,1-Bis[4-(4-aminophenoxy)phenyl]-1-phenylethane (BAPPE) is a useful monomer for preparing soluble polyimides, but polyimide synthesized from BAPPE and 3,3,4,4-benzophenonetetracarboxylic dianhydride (BTDA) shows poor solubility. Insoluble BTDA/BAPPE polyimide can copolymerize with soluble polyimides at certain molar ratios (m₂/m₁) to produce arbitrarily soluble copolyimides. To prepare soluble copolyimides, the smallest m₂/m₁ ratio changes due to the matching dianhydrides, depending on the structure of the dianhydride component. When polymers contain the same m₂/m₁ ratio, copolyimides formed through thermal imidization show poorer solubility than these formed through chemical imidization, and copolyimide cyclized at 250°C has a better solubility than that cyclized at 300°C; this is due to the formation of intermolecular linkages during the high-temperature thermal cyclization. Additional, these copolyimides are characterized by good mechanical properties together with good thermal stability, and a comparative study on the properties of the homopolyimide and copolyimide are also presented.     

Synthesis of new metal-containing side-chain monomers and polymers

New metal-containing vinyl monomers, hexyl-6-oxy-{4-[4-(4-carboxy cyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl phenyl)phenyl]benzoyloxy}methacrylate and hexyl-6-oxy-{4-[4-(4-ferrocenoyl phenyl)phenyl]benzoyloxy}methacrylate, and the corresponding homopolymers and random copolymers with hydroxy monomer hexyl-6-oxy-{4-[4-(4-hydroxyphenyl)phenyl]benzoyloxy}methacrylate were synthesized. The compounds were characterized by¹H NMR; their thermal behavior was investigated by means of differential scanning calorimetry. Monomers and polymers containing the ferrocene unit melt at lower temperatures than those derived from the cyclopentadienyl managanese tricarbonyl moiety. The melting temperatures of the monomers and polymers ranged from 399 to about 515 K, Both monomers and polymers failed to exhibit mesogenic behavior. Values ofM _n,M _w,M _w/M _n, and degree of polymerization were obtained by gel permeation chromatography. TheM _n ranged from 16,500 for the copolymer containing hexyl-6-oxy-{4-[4-(4-ferrocenoyl phenyl)phenyl] benzoyloxy}methacrylate and hydroxy monomer hexyl-6-oxy-{4-[4-(4-hydroxyphenyl)phenyl]benzoyloxy}methacrylate at a 1:3 ratio to 26,000 for the copolymer containing hexyl-6-oxy-{4-[4-(4-carboxy cyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl phenyl)phenyl]benzoyloxy}methacrylate and hydroxy monomer hexyl-6-oxy-{4-[4-(4-hydroxyphenyl)phenyl]benzoyloxy}methacrylate at a 1:3 ratio.M _w/M _n ranged from 1.6 in the case of the copolymer containing hexyl-6-oxy-{4-[4-(4-carboxy cyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl phenyl)phenyl]benzoyloxy}methacrylate and hydroxy monomer hexyl-6-oxy-{4-[4-(4-hydroxyphenyl)phenyl]benzoyloxy}methacrylate at a 1:3 ratio to 2.2 in the case of poly(hexyl-6-oxy{4-[4-(4-carboxy cyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl phenyl)phenyl]benzoyloxy}methacrylate).     

Cooperative inclusion of sodium 1-pyrenesulfonate by γ-cyclodextrin

Summary The interaction of -cyclodextrin(-CD) with sodium 1-pyrenesulfonate(PS) was studied spectrophotometrically. -CD was found to cause much larger decrease in the absorption maxima of PS than -CD. The fluorescence spectra of PS in the presence of -CD showed excimer emission, while those of PS with -CD showed only monomer emission, indicating that -CD forms 12 (-CDPS) complexes in which two PS molecules are included in the -CD cavity in a face-to-face fashion. The binding isotherm showed a sigmoidal curve. The association constants were estimated by computer simulation of the binding curve. The 12 (CDPS) complex was found to be much more stable (K=10⁶ M^–1) than the 11 complex (K=1 M^–1). At high concentration of -CD another -CD cooperates in binding two PS molecules, resulting in the formation of a 22 complex.     

Properties ofSrMO 3-δ(M=Fe,Co) as oxygen electrodes in alkaline solution

Strontium ferrates and cobaltates with compositions SrFeO_3- (0.060.40) and SrCoO_3- (0.040.30) were synthesized. The dependence of the oxygen electrode properties on the value was examined in 1 mol dm^–3 KOH solution. In the SrFeO_3- series, the samples with 0.24<<0.29, showed the highest activity in both oxygen evolution and reduction reactions. In contrast, no strong dependence on the value was observed in SrCoO_3-, which also showed a high catalytic activity for oxygen evolution.     

Quasi‐Homogeneous and Pseudospin Modes of Zirconium‐Wire Combustion in Air

A novel experimental technique is proposed for examining the transition mechanism from quasihomogeneous to heterogeneous combustion — burning of a variablepitch spring. Depending on the pitch of aircombustible zirconium springs, two combustion modes are possible. Quasihomogeneous (layerbylayer) combustion is observed in the case of smallpitch springs; as the spring pitch increases, quasihomogeneous combustion transforms into heterogeneous (pseudospin) combustion. Conditions for the occurrence of various combustion modes, depending on the spring diameter and pitch, are studied.     

Synthesis of monocarboxylic polyoxyethylenes

Summary The various methods of synthesis which can be used to prepare -carboxy polyoxyethylenes are reviewed. The synthesis and the purification of -methoxy -carboxy polyoxyethylenes ( ) are reported. The process consists of the reaction of halogenoacetic acids with an -methoxy -sodium hydroxylate polyoxyethylene followed by a purification by extraction. ,-dimethoxy and -methoxy -ethyl carboxylate polyoxyethylenes were synthesized.     

Theoretical aspects of bonding in silicon compounds

Ab initio-calculated bond dissociation energies of Si=Si and C=C are discussed by means of atomic ionization energies and p-p() AO overlap. At the same time ring strain energies of C- as well as Si-rings are estimated by homodesmic reactions where, according to Baeyer, the two-membered rings C=C and Si=Si are chosen to be the first members of the respective series. Thus, a better understanding of the double bonds can be gained. In addition, the exceptional structural and spectroscopic behavior of the five-membered Si-ring is discussed. Finally, the strikingly different results obtained in computational studies of the initial step for polymerization of the systems O=C=O and O=Si=O are discussed.     

Characterization of some organic poly(aminiumphosphate)s

Summary Metachromatic reactions of MB and AO are studied with poly(aminium phosphate)s. The main band() at 665 m and 492 m for MB and AO are shifted to 580 m and 455 m respectively (-bands). The metachromatic values at different concentrations of poly(aminium phosphate)s are also reported. The dye association for MB with these polymer derivatives is investigated conductometrically as well. It is observed that MB can be at the most bind with the phosphate residue of polymer upto 11 molar ratio. The polymeric nature was further established by paper chromatographic technique in Terry's, Ebel's & Pfrengle's solvents.     

An investigation of the interaction of potassium ions with poly(dimethylsiloxane)

The interactions of potassium ions with , -hydroxy-terminated and , -trimethylsilyl-terminated poly(dimethylsiloxanes) (PDMS) have been investigated. After mixing with potassium hydroxide followed by partial extraction, the , -hydroxy-terminated PDMS samples gave elastomeric materials which are thought to result from aggregation of terminal potassium silanolate ion pairs. Uniaxial tensile testing of these materials was carried out at 298 K. The , -trimethylsilyl-terminated PDMS, when mixed with potassium hydroxide, however, gave completely soluble material following identical solvent extraction procedures.     

Effects of crystallinity and supermolecular formations on the interfacial shear strength and adhesion in GF/PP composites

Aim of this study was to screen the morphological effects on the interfacial shear strength (i) in glass fibre (GF) reinforced isotactic polypropylene (iPP) model composites. i was determined by a modified single fibre pull-out technique. It was established that the relation between i (5–6 MPa) and the yield stress of the iPP (y30 MPa) is at about 1:6 and that the i values were not influenced by the mophological superstructure set under isothermal crystallization conditions. Increased i was only observed when specimens were produced non-isothermally, by quenching (i9 MPa). This improvement could not be related to thermal shrinkage stresses. The enhancement in i was attributed to better wetting and improved adhesion due to the enlarged amorphous PP (aPP)-phase. A schematic adhesion model considering the wetting behaviour of aPP and iPP was proposed.     

Polyimides based on “multiring” flexible diamines

The five benzene rings-containing (hereafter for convenience, referred to as five-ringrd) diamines ad-bis[4-(4-aminophenoxy)phenyl]-1,4 (or 1,3)-diisopropylbenzene (p- or m-3) were prepared by a nucleophilic substitution of ,-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-1, 4 (or 1,3)-diisopropylbenzene (p- or m-1) with p-chloronitrobenzene in the presence of K₂CO₃ and then hydro-reduced. The polyimides were synthesized from diamine 3 and various aromatic dianhydrides via the two-stage procedure that include ring-opening polyaddition in DMAc to give poly(amic acid)s, followed by thermal conversion to polyimides. The poly(amic acid)s had inherent viscosities of 0.63–1.54 dL/g depending on the dianhydrides used. Almost all the poly(amic acid)s could be solution-cast and thermally converted into transparent, flexible, and tough polyimide films. These polyimides have glass transition temperatures in the range of 186–290°C and almost no weight loss up to 500°C in air or nitrogen atmosphere. The polyimide obtained from pyromellitic dianhydride and diamine m-3 showed two endothermic peaks of 270 and 300°C on the diagram of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and the other polyimides showed no endotherms on their DSC traces.     

Synthesis of ternary Li–Mn–O phase at a temperature of 260 ∘C and electrochemical lithium insertion into the oxide

A lithium–manganese oxide, Li _x MnO₂ (x=0.30.6), has been synthesized by heating a mixture (Li/Mn ratio=0.30.8) of electrolytic manganese dioxide (EMD) and LiNO₃ in air at moderate temperature, 260 C. The formation of the Li–Mn–O phase was confirmed by X-ray diffraction, atomic absorption and electrochemical measurements. Electrochemical properties of the Li–Mn–O were examined in LiClO₄-propylene carbonate electrolyte solution. About 0.3 Li in Li _x MnO₂ (x=0.30.6) was removed on initial charging, resulting in characteristic two discharge plateaus around 3.5V and 2.8V vs Li/Li⁺. The Li _x MnO₂ synthesized by heating at Li/Mn ratio=0.5 demonstrated higher discharge capacity, about 250mAh (g of oxide)^–1 initially, and better cyclability as a positive electrode for lithium secondary battery use as compared to EMD.     

Synthesis and Characterization of New Copoly(arylene ether)s Containing Naphthalene or Naphthalene/1,3,4-Oxadiazole Units

Summary Series of new copoly(arylene ether)s containing naphthalene or naphthalene/1,3,4-oxadiazole units have been obtained by polycondensation in solution starting from the following systems of monomers: 1,5 or 2,6-bis(4-fluorobenzenesulfonyl) naphthalene / 2,6-bis(4-fluorobenzoyl)naphthalene, 1,5 or 2,6-bis(4-fluorobenzen sulfonyl)naphthalene / 2,2-(oxydi-4,1-phenylene)bis[5-(4-fluorophenyl)-1,3,4- oxadiazole] and 2,6 bis-(4 fluorobenzoyl)naphthalene/2,2-(oxydi-4,1-phenylene)bis [5-(4-fluorophenyl)- 1,3,4-0xadiazole]. Hydroquinone and 4,4dihydroxy benzophenone have been used as aromatic dihydroxy compounds. The copolymers, obtained in quantitative yields, possessed inherent viscosities in the range 0.28-0.58 dl g^-1, had good thermal stability (10% weight loss temperatures were above 460°C both in nitrogen and air) and high glass transition temperatures (in the range 190-210°C). They have been characterized by infrared analyses, GPC and wide-angle X-ray diffraction. The copolymer property-structure relationships were studied and the properties have been compared with those of the corresponding homopolymers.     

Mechanical Sensitivity and Detonation Parameters of Aluminized Explosives

Experiments were performed to study the effect of the species particle size and structure of aluminized mixture samples on the sensitivity and detonation parameters of HMX, nitroguanidine, bis(2,2,2trinitroethyl)nitramine, and their mixtures with an Al powder with a mean particle size of 0.1 – 150 m. The addition of ultrafine Al to HMX and bis (2,2,2trinitroethyl)nitramine substantially increases the sensitivity to mechanical effects and decreases the detonation velocity. In compositions with nitroguanidine, the detonation velocity practically does not vary. For nitroguanidine, the width of the chemicalreaction zone and Chapman–Jouguet parameters were determined by recording the detonationpressure profiles. The pressure profiles for bis(2,2,2trinitroethyl)nitramine show that detonation decomposition can occur in two stages. A twopeak detonationwave structure was detected for mixtures of HMX with Al. Temperature measurements indicate that Al interacts with detonation products in the immediate proximity to the front. The highest temperature was recorded for compositions containing ultrafine aluminum and an aluminum dust.     

Ethynylene-disilanylene copolymers

Polymers of structure (SiR₂SiR₂-C C-SiR₂SiR₂-C C) _n , in which ethynylene units alternate with disilylene units, have been prepared by two routes: (a) condensation of dichlorodisilanes with dilithium derivatives of 1,2-diethynyldisilanes and (b) ring-opening polymerization of strained cyclic disilanylene-acetylnes, (SiR₂SiR₂C C)₂. The polymers display UV absorption near 240 nm indicative of – conjugation between the Si₂ and the C C moieties. Polymers with R=R=n-Bu or R=n-Bu, R=Ph, undergo solid-state transitions to form liquid crystalline mesophases resembling those observed for many poly(silylenes). Single crystals were obtained for the polymer with R=R=CH₃, by precipitation from dilute cyclohexane solution. The solid-state properties and structures of this family of polymers are discussed.This paper was presented at the Second International Topical Workshop, Advances in Silicon-Based Polymer Science.     

Temporal patterns of sex pheromone titers and release rates inHolomelina lamae (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae)

Six hydrocarbon components (2-methylhexadecane,n-heptadecane, 2-methylheptadecane, 2-methyloctadecane,n-nonadecane, and 2-methylnonadecane) were identified in sex-pheromone gland extracts and in airborne collections ofHolomelina lamae. Low variability in the ratio of components among individuals indicates tight regulation of blend composition. Minor changes were evident in the quantity and ratio of the blend as a function of time of day. Based on gland extracts, the total quantity of the six components increased from day 1 (X = 6299 ng) to day 4 (X = 7498 ng) and subsequently decreased. No significant correlations were found between total gland contents and wet or dry weights of moths. Emission rates ofH. lamae females were determined from pheromone adsorbed onto Porapak Q. Quantities released peaked shortly after the onset of calling and decreased rapidly as calling continued. Peak release rates ranged from 13 to 350 ng/10 min, and from 37 to 835 ng/60 min. Noncalling females did not emit detectable quantities of pheromone. Based on release rates and the rate of pulsation of the abdominal tip, the average amount released per pulse is not constant. The mean ratio of components released (0.787.45 84.802.842.591.53) was not very different from the ratio of components in gland extracts of 2-day-old females (0.704.1990.12 1.651.911.42). We propose that the blend is atomized rather than volatilized from the gland, thus retaining nearly the same ratios in the female's effluvium as in her gland.     

Additional male mediterranean fruitfly (Ceratitis capitata wied.) Attractants from Angelica seed oil (Angelica archangelica L.)

Two sesquiterpene hydrocarbons, -copaene and -ylangene, were isolated from bioactive fractions of angelica seed oil and were shown by field bioassays to be attractive to the male Mediterranean fruit fly. Their relative attractiveness, compared with the(+)-and (–)--copaene enantiomers, are: (+)--copaene>angelica -copaene>angelica -ylangene>(–)--copaene. The enantiomer ratios for the two compounds are: -copaene, 61.4% (+), 38.6% (–); -ylangene, 91.9% (+), 8.1% (–).trans--Bergamotene was also isolated from the same fractions, but in sufficient quantity for bioassay [enantiomer ratio: 95.7% (+), 4.3% (–)].     

Syntheses and properties of polyimides based on bis(p-aminophenoxy)biphenyls

Three biphenyl unit-containing diamines,4,4-bis(p-aminophenoxy)biphenyl (III_a), 2,2-bis(p-aminophenoxy)biphenyl (III_b), and 3,3,5,5-tetramethyl-4,4-bis(p-aminophenoxy)biphenyl (III_c), were prepared by the chlorodisplacement ofp-chloronitrobenzene with 4,4-biphenol (I_a), 2,2-biphenol (I_b), and 3,3,5,5-tetramethyl-4,4-biphenol (I_c), respectively, giving the corresponding bis(nitrophenoxy) compounds II_a-c, followed by catalytic reduction with palladium (Pd) and hydrazine. Three series of polyimidesp-PI,o-PI, and Me-PI were prepared from diamines III_a-c and aromatic tetracarboxylic dianhydrides via a two-stage procedure that included ring-opening polyaddition to give poly(amic acid)s followed by thermal cyclodehydration to polyimides. The resultant three series of poly(amic acid)s had inherent viscosities of 1.09–2.83, 0.78–1.93, and 1.55–3.09 dL/g, respectively. Almost all the poly(amic acid)s could be solution-cast and thermally converted into transparent, flexible, and tough polyimide films. All the polyimides were characterized by solubility, tensile test, wide-angle X-ray scattering measurements, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Effects of the structures of aromatic diamines and dianhydrides on the properties of polyimides were investigated.     

Weak Gel Behaviour of Poly(vinyl alcohol)-Borax Aqueous Solutions

Thermal transition of PVA-borax aqueous gels with a PVA concentration of 60 g/L and a borax concentration of 0.28 M was investigated at temperatures ranging from 15 to 60C using static light scattering (SLS), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and dynamic viscoelasticity measurements. Three relaxation modes, i.e. two fast and one slow relaxation modes, were observed from DLS measurements. Two fast relaxation modes located around 10^–310¹ sec, with one fast mode (_f1) being scattering vector q-dependent and the other fast mode (_f2, with _f2>_f1) being q-independent. The _f1 mode was attributed to the gel mode whilst the _f2 mode could be due to the hydrodynamics of intra-molecular hydrophobic domains formed by uncharged segments of polymer backbones. The slow relaxation mode with relaxation time located around 10¹10³ sec in DLS data was due to the motion of aggregated clusters and was observed only at temperatures above 40C. The amplitude and relaxation time of slow mode decrease as temperature is increased from 40 to 60C. At temperatures below 40C, no slow relaxation mode was observed. The SLS measurements showed PVA-borax-water system had fractal dimensions D _f2.4 and D _f2.0 as temperature was below and above 40C, respectively. The simple tilting test indicated gel behaviour for the PVA-borax aqueous system at temperatures below 40C with a creep flow after a long time exposure in the gravity field. But the dynamic viscoelasticity measurements demonstrated a solution behaviour for PVA/borax/water at temperatures below 40C, the critical gel point behaviour for G() and G() was not observed in this system as those reported for chemical crosslinked gels. These results suggest that the PVA-borax aqueous system is a thermoreversible weak gel.