Electrical properties of (Bi3.5La0.5)Ti3O12 thin-films prepared by liquid source misted chemical deposition

The ((Bi_3.5La_0.5)Ti₃O₁₂(BLT) thin-films used in this study were fabricated on a Pt(111)/SiO₂/Si(100) substrate by a Liquid Source Misted Chemical Deposition (LSMCD) technique. X-ray diffraction patterns showed that the BLT films were crystallized and no other phases were observed when annealed above 650 ‡C. Grain size and remnant polarizations increased with increase in the annealing temperature, while leakage current densities decreased. The remnant polarizations (Pr) increased from 2.0 to 4.8 and 19.0 μC/cm2 with increase in the annealing temperature from 650 to 700 and 750 ‡C, respectively. The BLT films annealed at 700 ‡C in O₂ showed a good fatigue resistance of reduced polarization by 10% after 10⁹ switching cycles when 9 V of bipolar voltage was applied at a frequency of 40 kHz.     

Solid-state NMR studies on phase behavior and motional mobility in binary blends of polystyrene and poly(cyclohexyl methacrylate)

The phase behavior and motional mobility in binary blends of polystyrene (PS) and poly(cyclohexyl methacrylate) (PCHMA) have been investigated by solid state ¹³C NMR techniques. The blend miscibility has been studied by examining the ¹H spin-relaxation times in the laboratory frame (T₁^H) and in the rotating frame (T_1ρ^H) for the PCHMA/PS blends with various compositions and pure components. The T_1ρ^H results show that PCHMA and PS are intimately mixed at the molecular level within the blends at all compositions. In addition, according to the results of carbon T_1ρ relaxation time measurements, we conclude that mixing is intimate enough to cause a reduction in local chain mobility for PS, but an increase in side chain mobility for PCHMA.     

Advanced underfill for high thermal reliability

The key to the success of flip‐chip technology lies in the availability of sucessful underfill materials. However, the reliability of flip‐chip technology using current underfill materials is generally found to be lower than that of conventional wire‐bond connection packaging materials such as epoxy molding compound (EMC) because of the high coefficients of thermal expansion (CTE) and moisture absorption of cured underfill material. In this study desbimide (DBMI), which has a low melting point (about 80°C), was used in the underfill materials as a cohardener. As a result, DBMI‐added underfill can show excellent thermal reliability, which is due to the superior properties of the CTE, the elastic modulus, and water resistance. When the properties of a 2 wt % DBMI‐added underfill were compared with those of a typical underfill (epoxy/anhydride), the CTE value was reduced to less than one‐half at the solder reflow temperature (about 200°C), the elastic modulus was reduced to less than one‐half in the temperature region below the glass‐transition temperature, and the water resistance was improved twofold. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 83: 2617–2624, 2002     

Synthesis and non‐isothermal crystallization behavior of poly(ethylene phthalate‐co‐terephthalate)s

A series of poly(ethylene phthalate‐co‐terephthalate)s were synthesized by melt polycondensation of ethylene glycol (EG) with dimethyl phthalate (DMP) and dimethyl terephthalate (DMT) in various proportions. The DMT‐rich polymers were obtained with reasonably high molecular weights, whereas the DMP‐rich polymers were synthesized with relatively low molecular weights due to steric effects associated with the highly kinked DMP monomer. The compositions and thermal properties of the polymers were determined. The copolymers containing DMP in amounts of ≤ 21 mol% were crystallizable, whereas the other polymers were not. All the polymers exhibited a single glass transition temperature. Analysis of the measured glass transition temperatures and crystal melting temperatures confirmed that the DMT‐rich copolymers are random copolymers. The non‐isothermal crystallization behaviors of the DMT‐rich copolymers were investigated by calorimetry and modified Avrami analysis. The Avrami exponents n were found to range from 2.7 to 3.8, suggesting that the copolymers crystallize via a heterogeneous nucleation and spherulitic growth mechanism; that is, the incorporation of DMP units as the minor component does not change the growth mechanism of the copolymers. In addition, the activation energies of the crystallizations of the copolymers were determined; the copolymers were found to have higher activation energies than the PET homopolymer. Polym. Eng. Sci. 44:1682–1691, 2004. © 2004 Society of Plastics Engineers.     

Synthesis of polystyrene/poly(butyl acrylate) core–shell latex and its surface morphology

A polystyrene (PS)/poly(butyl acrylate) (PBA) composite emulsion was produced by seeded emulsion polymerization of butyl acrylate (BA) with PS seed particles which were prepared by emulsifier‐free polymerization of styrene with potassium persulfate (KPS) under a nitrogen atmosphere at 70°C for 24 h with stirring at 60 rpm and swelled with the BA monomer in an ethanol/water medium. The structure of the PS/PBA composite particles was confirmed by the presence of the characteristic absorption band attributed to PS and PBA from FTIR spectra. The particles for pure PS and PS/PBA with a low content of the BA monomer were almost spherical and regular. As the BA monomer content was increased, the particle size of the PS/PBA composite particles became larger, and more golf ball‐like particles were produced. The surface morphology of the PS/PBA composite particles was investigated by AFM and SEM. The T_g's attributed to PS and PBA in the PS/PBA composite particles were found at 110 and ?49°C, respectively. The thermal degradation of the pure PS and PS/PBA composite particles occurred in one and two steps, respectively. With an increasing amount of PBA, the initial thermal decomposition temperature increased. On the contrary the residual weight at 450°C decreased with an increasing amount of PBA. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 88: 595–601, 2003     

Durable antimicrobial treatment of cotton fabrics using N‐(2‐hydroxy)propyl‐3‐trimethylammonium chitosan chloride and polycarboxylic acids

N‐(2‐hydroxy)propyl‐3‐trimethylammonium chitosan chloride (HTCC), a water‐soluble chitosan quaternary ammonium derivative, was used as an antimicrobial agent for cotton fabrics. HTCC has a lower minimum inhibition concentration (MIC) against Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Escherichia coli compared to that of chitosan; however, the imparted antimicrobial activity is lost on laundering. Thus crosslinking agents were utilized to obtain a durable antimicrobial treatment by immobilizing HTCC. Several crosslinkers such as dimethyloldihydroxyethylene urea (DMDHEU), butanetetracarboxylic acid (BTCA), and citric acid (CA) were used with HTCC to improve the laundering durability of HTCC treatment by covalent bond formation between the crosslinker, HTCC and cellulose. The polycarboxylic acid treatment was superior to the DMDHEU treatment in terms of prolonged antimicrobial activity of the treated cotton after successive laundering. Also, the cotton treated with HTCC and BTCA showed improved durable press properties without excessive deterioration in mechanical strength or whiteness when compared to the citric acid treatment. With the addition of only 0.1% HTCC to BTCA solutions, the treated fabrics showed durable antimicrobial activity up to 20 laundering cycles. The wrinkle recovery angle and strength retention of the treated fabrics were not adversely affected with the addition of HTCC. Therefore, BTCA can be used with HTCC in one bath to impart durability of antimicrobial activity along with durable press properties to cotton fabric. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 88: 1567–1572, 2003     

Synthesis and properties of poly(amide–imide)s based on N,N′‐bis(4‐carboxyphenyl)‐4,4′‐oxydiphthalimide,p‐aminobenzoic acid and various aromatic diamines

A new diimide–diacid monomer, N,N′‐bis(4‐carboxyphenyl)‐4,4′‐oxydiphthalimide (I), was prepared by azeotropic condensation of 4,4′‐oxydiphthalic anhydride (ODPA) and p‐aminobenzoic acid (p‐ABA) at a 1:2 molar ratio in a polar solvent mixed with toluene. A series of poly(amide–imide)s (PAI, III_a–m) was synthesized from the diimide–diacid I (or I′, diacid chloride of I) and various aromatic diamines by direct polycondensation (or low temperature polycondensation) using triphenyl phosphite and pyridine as condensing agents. It was found that only III_k–m having a meta‐structure at two terminals of the diamine could afford good quality, creasable films by solution‐casting; other PAIs III using diamine with para‐linkage at terminals were insoluble and crystalline; though III_g–i contained the soluble group of the diamine moieties, their solvent‐cast films were brittle. In order to improve their to solubility and film quality, copoly(amide–imide)s (Co‐PAIs) based on I and mixtures of p‐ABA and aromatic diamines were synthesized. When on equimolar of p‐ABA (m = 1) was mixed, most of Co‐PAIs IV had improved solubility and high inherent viscosities in the range 0.9–1.5 dl g^?1; however, their films were still brittle. With m = 3, series V was obtained, and all members exhibited high toughness. The solubility, film‐forming ability, crystallinity, and thermal properties of the resultant poly(amide–imide)s were investigated. © 2002 Society of Chemical Industry     

Lamellar Thickness of a Syndiotactic Polystyrene Determined from Small-angle X-ray Scattering and Transmission Electron Microscopy

Extensive morphological studies on a syndiotactic polystyrene (sPS) sample prepared from compression molding were carried out using small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). SAXS was conducted at 25C as well as at 150C to enhance the scattering contrast in order to obtain more reliable morphological parameters. The compression-molded sample was crystallized into a orthorhombic crystal lattice characterized by wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD). A similar weight fraction of crystallinity, ca. 0.37, was obtained from both WAXD and differential scanning calorimetry measurements.In addition to the scattering peak at a scattering vector of ca. 0.36 nm^–1 attributable to the presence of lamellar/amorphous layers, anomalous scattering at the zero angle was found from the SAXS intensity profiles. Based on the Debye–Bueche theory, the scattering profile of this peculiar zero-angle scattering was deduced and was subtracted from the raw intensity profile to obtain the intensity profile exclusively associated with the lamellar/amorphous structure. A consistent long period was obtained for SAXS measured either at 25 or 150C, provided that the appropriate subtraction of intensities due to the zero-angle scattering was conducted. Moreover, the lamellar thickness deduced from the one-dimensional correlation function was in good agreement with TEM results. A difference scattering pattern derived from SAXS measured at 150 and 25C was obtained and a comparison of the morphological parameters was provided as well.     

Continuous ethanol production from wood hydrolysate by chemostat and total cell retention culture

Chemostat and total cell retention cultures with internal filter system ofSaecharomyc.es cerevisiae H1-7 were carried out to produce ethanol from wood hydrolysate. Maximum ethanol productivity obtained in a chemostat with the aeration rate of 1 vvm was 3.79 g/(L·h). This was 20% higher than that in a chemostat without aeration. However, the substrate was not completely consumed at the dilution rate with the maximum productivity. The realistic productivity, which has higher than 99% conversion rate of substrate, was. 2.95 g/(L·h). The maximum productivity in the total cell retention culture was 6.65 g/(L·h) at the dilution rate of 0.19 h¹ and the residual glucose concentration was negligible.     

Adhesion properties of UV crosslinked polystyrene-block-polybutadiene-block-polystyrene copolymer and tackifier mixture

The peel and tack properties of mixtures of polystyrene-block-polybutadiene-block-polystyrene (SBS) and a tackifier were investigated after these were crosslinked by ultraviolet (UV) irradiation at various amounts of benzophenone (BP) as a photoinitiator and trimethylolpropane mercaptopropionate (TRIS) as a crosslinking agent.The degree of crosslinking of polybutadiene (PB) block in the SBS mixture was qualitatively estimated from the amount of gel fraction as well as the change in the glass transition temperature of the PB block. The crosslinking of the PB block was done within 3 min after UV irradiation and the peel strength of crosslinked specimens was as low as 45[percnt] of specimens without crosslinking. Nano-tack and bulk tack properties as well as the surface tension of mixtures were measured depending upon amounts of BP and TRIS.