Adhesion Properties of Acrylic Copolymers Modified with Si-Containing Copolymer

We made clear the cause of the increase in peel strength of pressure sensitive (PS) adhesives as a function of contact time, and investigated how to modify PS adhesives to maintain a low and constant peel strength for a long time. It was found that polar groups in the adhesive orient to the interface between the adhesive and the (stainless steel) metal substrate (SUS 304) so as to minimize interfacial free energy during adhesion, and the orientation increased affinity between the adhesive and the metal material and increased the peel strength as a result. The use of modifier which contained both P(MMA-co-SiMA) and PDMS showed an excellent modification effect, although modification with only PDMS or P(MMA-co-SiMA) was not sufficient. It was suggested that PDMS which migrated to the surface was extended uniformly over the surface by PDMS segments of P(MMA-co-SiMA) and that the enriched layer of PDMS on the adhesive surface worked as a barrier to prevent the orientation of polar groups in bulk. Therefore, low and constant peel strength could be achieved.     

A Moment Method for Evaporation Using a Logarithmic Size Distribution with the Smallest Size

A moment method of the log-normal distribution with the smallest size is applied to evaporation by newly introducing correction factors obtained from the error function. In this article, the improved moment method is tested for the evaporation, and is compared with the exact solutions calculated by the CIP semi-Lagrangian (CIP-SL) method. In small particle regime, the size distributions and the time histories of the total number and volume per unit volume are reproduced by the moment method for the evaporation near the smallest size. In large particle regime, however, the differences between the moment and exact solutions are larger with time, after the exact distribution spreads to the smallest size. This new moment solver can reproduce the evaporation near the smallest size even when large time step size is given, and thus is expected to be used for the parameterization of the evaporation of small particles in aerosol-transport model.     

Preparation of π-conjugated polymers consisting of 1-aminopyrrole and 4-amino-1,2,4-triazole units

π-Conjugated polymers based on 1-aminopyrrole and 4-amino-1,2,4-triazole were prepared. Pd-catalyzed organometallic polycondensation gave poly(arylene-ethynylene) (PAE)-type π-conjugated polymers consisting of BOC-protected 4-amino-1,2,4-triazole (Taz(BOC)) units (BOC = t-butoxycarbonyl). The number average molecular weights (M_n) were determined to be 5200–19,200 using GPC. An alternating copolymer of Taz(BOC) and bithiophene (Th–Th) units, P(Taz(BOC)-Th-Th)_n-Pd, with an M_n of 10,800 was also prepared by Pd-catalyzed organometallic polycondensation. (Taz(BOC)-Th-Th)_n-Pd showed a UV–Vis absorption peak at λ_max = 425 nm, which is reasonable for a π-conjugated five-membered ring polymer with a coplanar structure. The deprotection of the BOC group of the polymers proceeded at 200 °C; this BOC-deprotection was investigated using a model compound. The optical and electrochemical properties of the π-conjugated polymers are reported.     

A predictive thermodynamic model for the Brazilian gasoline

In Brazil, as in many other countries, the fuel quality control is made according to standard assays, which depend on some of the fuel properties, such as specific gravity, Reid vapor pressure and distillation curve. These properties are intimately related to the fuel composition and their prediction relies on the knowledge of its components characteristics. In Brazil, 25% (v/v) of anhydrous ethanol is added to the mixture of hydrocarbons that is usually called gasoline, according to the local regulations. In this work, the composition of the gasoline was obtained by gas chromatography as a small series of pseudo-components. Given the gasoline composition, its volatility properties and specific gravity were calculated using the Peng-Robinson equation of state with the Fisher-Gmehling mixing rule. The model provided excellent predictions for specific gravity, Reid vapor pressure and most of the distillation curve. However, important deviations are observed at the end of the distillation curve (90+%). These deviations are due to chemical alterations of the fuel caused by the high temperatures occurring at the end of the distillation curve. The model, as proposed, is efficient to forecast the fuel properties; as a consequence, it can be applied as a tool in the study of gasoline formulations and as an alternative tool in quality control.     

Porous Titania Ceramic Prepared by Mimicking Silicified Wood

A porous titania ceramic with a woodlike microstructure that was analogous to silicified wood was prepared. The production of "titanified wood" was performed using the following process: (i) introduction of titanium tetraisopropoxide into wood materials via vacuum infiltration, (ii) hydrolysis of the titanium tetraisopropoxide in the cell structure to form a titania gel, and (iii) firing at a temperature of 600°–1400°C in air. The resulting titania ceramic had the same external and internal forms of the original wood.     

Metal Complexes of π-Conjugated Polymers

π-Conjugated chelating polymers such as poly(2,2′-bipyridine-5,5′-diyl), poly(1,10-phenanthroline-3,8-diyl), and salophen polymers have been prepared by organometallic polycondensations. The obtained polymers form metal complexes with various metal species such as [Ru(bpy)₂]²⁺ and CuCl₂. Metal complexes of π-conjugated ligands are also polymerized by dehalogenative organometallic polycondensations. Some of the metal complexes of π-conjugated polymers exhibit electrical conducting nature and show catalytic activity for redox reactions.     

Mechanical Behavior of Shape Memory Alloys Under Complex Loading Conditions of Stress, Strain, and Temperature

The transformation behavior of shape memory alloys is simulated for complex loadings of stress, strain, and temperature. Calculations are made by using the ??Accommodation Model?? which is a constitutive model for shape memory alloys considering the accommodation behavior of the transformation strain. Calculated results are given for the superelastic behavior, the shape memory effect, the transformation behavior under temperature change with stress or strain holding, the structural behavior of a shape memory wire with a bias spring, etc. The effect of the plastic strain on the transformation strain is also investigated.     

Titanium Sheet Fabricated from Powder for Industrial Applications

In collaboration with Ametek and Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO), Oak Ridge National Laboratory has evaluated three different methods for converting titanium hydride?Cdehydride (HDH) powder into a thin-gauge titanium sheet from a roll-compacted preform. Methodologies include sintering, followed by cold rolling and annealing; direct hot rolling of the roll-compacted sheet; and hot rolling of multiple layers of roll-compacted sheet that are encapsulated in a steel can. Fabrication of fully consolidated sheet has been demonstrated using all three methods, and each processing route has the ability to produce a sheet that meets ASTM B265 specifications. However, not every method currently provides a sheet that can be highly formed without tearing. The degree of sintering between powder particles, postprocessing density, and the particle-to-particle boundary layer where compositional variations may exist have a significant effect on the ability to form the sheet into useful components. Uniaxial tensile test results, compositional analysis, bend testing, and biaxial testing of the titanium sheet produced from hydride?Cdehydride powder will be discussed. Multiple methods of fabrication and the resulting properties can then be assessed to determine the most effective and economical means of making components for industrial applications.     

An Improved Method for Preparing Dimethyl Disulfide Adducts for GC/MS Analysis

Dimethyl disulfide (DMDS) adducts are prepared from fatty acid methyl esters to locate the double-bond position in monoenoic fatty acids by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. We improved our original procedure for preparing DMDS adducts with a simple device that can be made in any laboratory using a glass pipette and silica based packing material, Extelut NT.