Insect antifeedant properties of anthranoids from the genusVismia

Vismiones and ferruginins, representatives of a new class of lypophilic anthranoids from the genusVismia were found to inhibit feeding in larvae of species ofSpodoptera, Heliothis, and inLocusta migratoria.     

Direct observation of freeze-thaw instability of latex coatings via high pressure freezing and cryogenic SEM

Despite its industrial importance, the subject of freeze-thaw (F/T) stability of latex coatings has not been studied extensively. There is also a lack of fundamental understanding about the process and the mechanisms through which a coating becomes destabilized. High pressure (2100 bar) freezing fixes the state of water-suspended particles of polymer binder and inorganic pigments without the growth of ice crystals during freezing that produce artifacts in direct imaging scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of fracture surfaces of frozen coatings. We show that by incorporating copolymerizable functional monomers, it is possible to achieve F/T stability in polymer latexes and in low-VOC paints, as judged by the microstructures revealed by the cryogenic SEM technique. Particle coalescence as well as pigment segregation in F/T unstable systems are visualized. In order to achieve F/T stability in paints, latex particles must not flocculate and should provide protection to inorganic pigment and extender particles. Because of the unique capabilities of the cryogenic SEM, we are able to separate the effects of freezing and thawing, and study the influence of the rate of freezing and thawing on F/T stability. Destabilization can be caused by either freezing or thawing. A slow freezing process is more detrimental to F/T stability than a fast freezing process; the latter actually preserves suspension stability during freezing. Presented at the 82nd Annual Meeting of the Federation of Societies for Coatings Technology, October 27–29, 2004 in Chicago, IL. Tied for first place in The John A. Gordon Best Paper Competition.     

Ethanol and (−)-α-Pinene: Attractant Kairomones for Bark and Ambrosia Beetles in the Southeastern US

In 2002–2004, we examined the flight responses of 49 species of native and exotic bark and ambrosia beetles (Coleoptera: Scolytidae and Platypodidae) to traps baited with ethanol and/or (−)-α-pinene in the southeastern US. Eight field trials were conducted in mature pine stands in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. Funnel traps baited with ethanol lures (release rate, about 0.6 g/day at 25–28°C) were attractive to ten species of ambrosia beetles (Ambrosiodmus tachygraphus, Anisandrus sayi, Dryoxylon onoharaensum, Monarthrum mali, Xyleborinus saxesenii, Xyleborus affinis, Xyleborus ferrugineus, Xylosandrus compactus, Xylosandrus crassiusculus, and Xylosandrus germanus) and two species of bark beetles (Cryptocarenus heveae and Hypothenemus sp.). Traps baited with (−)-α-pinene lures (release rate, 2–6 g/day at 25–28°C) were attractive to five bark beetle species (Dendroctonus terebrans, Hylastes porculus, Hylastes salebrosus, Hylastes tenuis, and Ips grandicollis) and one platypodid ambrosia beetle species (Myoplatypus flavicornis). Ethanol enhanced responses of some species (Xyleborus pubescens, H. porculus, H. salebrosus, H. tenuis, and Pityophthorus cariniceps) to traps baited with (−)-α-pinene in some locations. (−)-α-Pinene interrupted the response of some ambrosia beetle species to traps baited with ethanol, but only the response of D. onoharaensum was interrupted consistently at most locations. Of 23 species of ambrosia beetles captured in our field trials, nine were exotic and accounted for 70–97% of total catches of ambrosia beetles. Our results provide support for the continued use of separate traps baited with ethanol alone and ethanol with (−)-α-pinene to detect and monitor common bark and ambrosia beetles from the southeastern region of the US.     

Novel polyurethane coating technology through glycidyl carbamate chemistry

Glycidyl carbamate chemistry combines the excellent properties of polyurethanes with the crosslinking chemistry of epoxy resins. Glycidyl carbamate functional oligomers were synthesized by the reaction of polyfunctional isocyanate oligomers and glycidol. The oligomers were formulated into coatings with several amine functional crosslinkers at varying stoichiometric ratios and cured at different temperatures. Properties such as solvent resistance, hardness, and impact resistance were dependent on the composition and cure conditions. Most coatings had an excellent combination of properties. Studies were carried out to determine the kinetics of the curing reaction of the glycidyl carbamate functional oligomers with multifunctional and model amines. Detailed kinetic analysis of the curing reactions was also undertaken. The results indicated that the glycidyl carbamate functional group is more reactive than a glycidyl ether group. Presented at the 82nd Annual Meeting of the Federation of Societies for Coatings Technology, on October 27–29, 2004, in Chicago, IL.     

Highly moisture-proof polysilsesquioxane coating prepared via facile sol-gel process

A highly moisture-proof polysilsesquioxane coating was obtained from a new bis-silylated precursor, which was synthesized from 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) and m-xylylene diisocyanate (m-XDI) in tetrahydrofuran (THF) and verified by ¹H MAS NMR. For direct comparison purposes, an SiO₂ coating was also prepared by the Stöber method using tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) as the reactant. Interestingly, the coating obtained from the polysilsesquioxane sol exhibited a much higher moisture resistance capability than its counterpart, which was attributed to its more compact feature between nanoparticles as characterized by N₂ absorption experiment and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Furthermore, its high transparency of about 92% showed potential for application in the protection of optical crystals.