Effect of molecular weight on two smectic polyesters

The liquid crystalline transitions of two kinds of smectic polyesters with different molecular weights were investigated by DSC, polarized microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The molecular weight affects the transitions significantly for these two kinds of polyesters. With a high enough molecular weight, both poly (pentamethylenep,p-bibenzoate) and poly(hexamethylenep,p-bibenzoate) exhibit an enantiotropic smectic phase, but the two endothermic transition peaks of the DSC heating curve seem to overlap. The polyesters tend to exhibit a monotropic smectic phase as the molecular weight decreases. From the DSC cooling curve, the isotropic-smectic transition can be seen more clearly. As the molecular weight decreases, the smectic order decrease significantly. The molecular weight affects the transitions in a different way for these two different kinds of polyesters.     

Synthesis and characterization of new aromatic polyimides containing well‐defined conjugation units

A series of aromatic polyimides composed of well‐defined conjugation units were synthesized form 5,5′‐bis(4‐aminophenyl)‐2,2′‐bifuryl (PFDA) and 2,2′‐bis(furyl) benzidine (FurylBZ) with various dianhydrides. The synthesized polyimides emit blue to green light with a quantum yield of 7.3–14.9%, depending on the polymer backbone. In particular, PFDA‐based polymers exhibit extremely narrow photo‐luminescence. The structure, thermal stability, refractive index and dielectric properties of the polymer films were also determined.     

A novel layered Li [Li0.12NizMg0.32−zMn0.56]O2 cathode material for lithium-ion batteries

Layered Li[Li_0.12Ni_zMg_0.32−zMn_0.56]O₂ oxide cathodes containing lithium atoms in the transition metal layers were synthesized and characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), galvanostatic cycling, and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The Li[Li_0.12Ni_zMg_0.32−zMn_0.56]O₂ cathodes deliver a specific discharge capacity of about 190 mAh/g at room temperature and 236 mAh/g at 55 °C when cycled between 2.7 and 4.6 V versus Li/Li⁺. Excellent capacity retention and smooth potential profiles at room and elevated temperatures over extended cycles suggest that this material does not convert into a spinel structure.     

Synthesis and properties of fluorinated aromatic poly(amide imide)s based on 4,4′‐bis(4‐amino‐2‐trifluoromethylphenoxy)benzophenone and various bis(trimellitimide)s

A CF₃‐containing diamine, 4,4′‐bis(4‐amino‐2‐trifluoromethylphenoxy)benzophenone ( 2 ), was synthesized from 4,4′‐dihydroxybenzophenone and 2‐chloro‐5‐nitrobenzotrifluoride. Imide‐containing diacids ( 3 and 5B_a – 5B_g ) were prepared by the condensation reaction of aromatic diamines and trimellitic anhydride. Then, two series of novel soluble aromatic poly(amide imide)s (PAIs; 6A_a – 6A_k and 6B_a – 6B_g ) were synthesized from a diamine ( 4A_a – 4A_k or 2 ) with the imide‐containing diacids ( 3 and 5B_a – 5B_g ) via direct polycondensation with triphenyl phosphate and pyridine. The aromatic PAIs had inherent viscosities of 0.74–1.76 dL/g. All of the synthesized polymers showed excellent solubility in amide‐type solvents, such as N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone and N,N‐dimethylacetamide (DMAc), and afforded transparent and tough films by DMAc solvent casting. These polymer films had tensile strengths of 90–113 MPa, elongations at break of 8–15%, and initial moduli of 2.0–2.9 GPa. The glass‐transition temperatures of the aromatic PAIs were in the range 242–279°C. They had 10% weight losses at temperatures above 500°C and showed excellent thermal stabilities. The 6B series exhibited less coloring and showed lower yellowness index values than the corresponding 6A series. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 102:3641–3653, 2006     

Study on the polymerization of ϵ‐caprolactam in the interlamellar spaces of [TEACOOH]–montmorillonite intercalations complex and its characterization

The polymerization of ?‐caprolactam between the interlamellar spaces of the [TEACOOH]–montmorillonite intercalations complex was attempted using Na–montmorillonite and 10‐carboxy‐n‐decyltriethylammonium bromide to achieve [TEACOOH]–polycaprolactam–montmorillonite, in which montmorillonite (inorganic polymer) is chemically bonded with the polycaprolactam (organic polymer). The results of X‐ray and IR analysis for the samples obtained after polymerization showed that the polymerization reaction has been successfully accomplished. For the purpose of studying the polymeric reaction product more precisely, we have isolated the polymerized product from the silicate layers and analyzed it with X‐ray diffractometer and IR spectrometer. Comparison of the results of X‐ray and IR analysis between the isolated polymer and the polymer that was synthesized by the reaction of ?‐caprolactam only with the organic cation without montmorillonite showed that both obtained polymers are the same compounds. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 88: 1904–1910, 2003     

Thermal and thermomechanical properties of poly(ethylene oxide) networks produced with silica and organic crosslinking agents

The thermal and thermomechanical properties of two series of poly(ethylene oxide) networks (NPEOs) were investigated as a function of the chain length between crosslink sites (M_c) and the concentration of LiClO₄ (C_L) in the NPEOs. The two series of networks were produced with silica and organic crosslinking agents and, therefore, had crosslink sites of different natures: one was an inorganic silicate network (silica NPEO), and the other was an organic polar group (organic NPEO). The crosslink sites in both series of networks were commonly covalently bonded to the poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) phase through a urethane group in the NPEOs. The glass‐transition temperatures (T_g's) of the PEO phases in the NPEOs, according to differential scanning calorimetry, increased with a decrease in M_c and were higher in the silica NPEOs than in the organic NPEOs under the same M_c conditions. The difference in T_g between the two series of networks with the same M_c values increased with decreasing M_c. These results suggested that the interaction of crosslink sites with the PEO phase was stronger in the silica NPEOs than in the organic NPEOs. The addition of LiClO₄ to the NPEOs resulted in T_g of the PEO phase in the NPEOs being elevated and increased according to the increase in C_L. The increase of T_g of the PEO phase according to the increase of C_L in the NPEOs was retarded or saturated at high values of C_L, and this indicated that the limit of solubility of the salt in the polymer was attained. The retardation or saturation of the increase of T_g was also observed in dynamic mechanical analyses. The curves of the loss factor tan δ and temperatures from the dynamic mechanical analyses for the NPEOs with high values of C_L showed shoulders or double peaks indicating the existence of the second phase in the polymer networks. In the curves of tan δ for salt‐complexed NPEOs with high values of C_L, silica NPEOs showed a shoulder of low intensity, but organic NPEOs showed a distinguished second peak becoming stronger with increasing C_L. The results of the T_g behavior and tan δ curves suggested that the salt solubility in the NPEOs was limited and that the salt solubility of PEO in the silica NPEOs was higher than that in the organic NPEOs. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 90: 270–277, 2003     

TCS技术12头纺生产涤纶FDY工艺探讨

采用热管纺丝 (TCS)技术 12头纺生产涤纶FDY ,替代传统的热导丝辊式生产涤纶FDY的模式 ,具有短流程、低能耗、易维修、少投入、高效益等特点。本文对采用TCS技术 12头纺生产 76dtex 2 4f涤纶FDY的纺丝工艺 ,及它们对生产、产品质量的影响进行了探讨。纺丝速度为 480 0m min ,热管温度控制在 170～ 175℃时 ,产品质量良好     

Low‐temperature photoinitiation solution polymerization behavior of N‐vinylcarbazole in tetrahydrofuran

N‐Vinylcarbazole (VCZ) was solution‐polymerized in tetrahydrofuran (THF) at ?20, 0, and 20°C using the photoinitiation method; the effects of the amount of solvent, polymerization temperature, and photoinitiator concentration were investigated. On the whole, the experimental results corresponded to predicted ones. Low polymerization temperature using photoinitiation proved to be successful in obtaining poly(N‐vinylcarbazole) (PVCZ) of a high molecular weight with a smaller temperature rise during polymerization; nevertheless of free radical polymerization by 2,2′‐azobis(2,4‐dimethylvaleronitrile) (ADMVN). The photo‐solution polymerization rate of VCZ in THF was proportional to the 0.47 power of ADMVN concentration. The molecular weight was higher and the molecular weight distribution was narrower with PVCZ polymerized at lower temperatures. For PVCZ prepared in THF at ?20°C using a photoinitiator concentration of 0.00005 mol/mol of VCZ, a weight‐average molecular weight of 510,000 was obtained, with a polydispersity index of 1.73, and a degree of lightness converged to about 99%. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 86: 3667–3672, 2002     

Development of a bio‐based composite material from soybean oil and keratin fibers

A novel bio‐based composite material, suitable for electronic as well as automotive and aeronautical applications, was developed from soybean oils and keratin feather fibers (KF). This environmentally friendly, low‐cost composite can be a substitute for petroleum‐based composite materials. Keratin fibers are a hollow, light, and tough material and are compatible with several soybean (S) resins, such as acrylated epoxidized soybean oil (AESO). The new KFS lightweight composites have a density ρ ≈ 1 g/cm³, when the KF volume fraction is 30%. The hollow keratin fibers were not filled by resin infusion and the composite retained a significant volume of air in the hollow structure of the fibers. Due to the retained air, the dielectric constant, k, of the composite material was in the range of 1.7–2.7, depending on the fiber volume fraction, and these values are significantly lower than the conventional silicon dioxide or epoxy, or polymer dielectric insulators. The coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of the 30 wt % composite was 67.4 ppm/°C; this value is low enough for electronic application and similar to the value of silicon materials or polyimides used in printed circuit boards. The water absorption of the AESO polymer was 0.5 wt % at equilibrium and the diffusion coefficient in the KFS composites was dependent on the keratin fiber content. The incorporation of keratin fibers in the soy oil polymer enhanced the mechanical properties such as storage modulus, fracture toughness, and flexural properties, ca. 100% increase at 30 vol %. The fracture energy of a single keratin fiber in the composite was determined to be about 3 kJ/m² with a fracture stress of about 100–200 MPa. Considerable improvements in the KFS composite properties should be possible by optimization of the resin structure and fiber selection. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 95: 1524–1538, 2005     

Properties and crystallization kinetics of poly(ether ether ketone)‐co‐poly(ether ether ketone ketone) block copolymers

A series of block copolymers composed of poly(ether ether ketone) (PEEK) and poly(ether ether ketone ketone) (PEEKK) components were prepared from their corresponding oligomers via a nucleophlilic aromatic substitution reaction. Various properties of the copolymers were investigated with differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and a tensile testing machine. The results show that the copolymers exhibited no phase separation and that the relationship between the glass‐transition temperature (T_g) and the compositions of the copolymers approximately followed the formula T_g = T_g1X₁ + T_g2X₂, where T_g1 and T_g2 are the glass‐transition‐temperature values of PEEK and PEEKK, respectively, and X₁ and X₂ are the corresponding molar fractions of the PEEK and PEEKK segments in the copolymers, respectively. These copolymers showed good tensile properties. The crystallization kinetics of the copolymers were studied. The Avrami equation was used to describe the isothermal crystallization process. The nonisothermal crystallization was described by modified Avrami analysis by Jeziorny and by a combination of the Avrami and Ozawa equations. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 97: 1652–1658, 2005