Synthesis and biological activity of phthalimide‐based polymers containing 5‐fluorouracil

The attachment of anticancer agents to polymers is a promising approach towards reducing the toxic side‐effects and retaining the potent antitumour activity of these agents. A new tetrahydrophthalimido monomer containing 5‐fluorouracil (ETPFU) and its homopolymer and copolymers with acrylic acid (AA) and with vinyl acetate (VAc) have been synthesized and spectroscopically characterized. The ETPFU contents in poly(ETPFU‐co‐AA) and poly(ETPFU‐co‐VAc) obtained by elemental analysis were 21 mol% and 20 mol%, respectively. The average molecular weights of the polymers determined by gel permeation chromatography were as follows: M_n = 8900 g mol^?1, M_w = 13 300 g mol^?1, M_w/M_n = 1.5 for poly(ETPFU); M_n = 13 500 g mol^?1, M_w = 16 600 g mol^?1, M_w/M_n = 1.2 for poly(ETPFU‐co‐AA); M_n = 8300 g mol^?1, M_w = 11 600 g mol^?1, M_w/M_n = 1.4 poly(ETPFU‐co‐VAc). The in vitro cytotoxicity of the compounds against FM3A and U937 cancer cell lines increased in the following order: ETPFU > 5‐FU > poly(ETPFU) > poly(ETPFU‐co‐AA) > poly(ETPFU‐co‐VAc). The in vivo antitumour activities of all the polymers in Balb/C mice bearing the sarcoma 180 tumour cell line were greater than those of 5‐FU and monomer at the highest dose (800 mg kg^?1). © 2002 Society of Chemical Industry     

Preparation and characterization of modified polypropylene by using electron beam irradiation

The modification by electron beam irradiation was applied to polypropylene (PP). In this process it is tried to add low density polyethylene (LDPE) and talc in the blend to check effects on its rheological property and thermal stability. The decrease in T_m could be the result of chain scissioning which decrease the number of tie molecule in the amorphous regions and consequently weakens the laminar connections. LDPE incorporated sample was comparatively better in shear thinning effect, zero shear viscosity, and thermal stability. Power law index, n, was 0.30 and 0.89 for the modified PP with LDPE and pure PP, respectively.     

Newly-modeled graphene-based ternary nanocomposite for the magnetophotocatalytic reduction of CO2 with electrochemical performance

The development of CO₂ into hydrocarbon fuels has emerged as a green method that could help mitigate global warning. The novel structured photocatalyst is a promising material for use in a photocatalytic and magneto-electrochemical method that fosters the reduction of CO₂ by suppressing the recombination of electron−hole pairs and effectively transferring the electrons to the surface for the chemical reaction of CO₂ reduction. In our study, we have developed a novel-structured AgCuZnS₂–graphene–TiO₂ to analyze its catalytic activity toward the selective evolution of CO₂. The selectivity of each nanocomposite substantially enhanced the activity of the AgCuZnS₂–graphene–TiO₂ ternary nanocomposite due to the successful interaction, and the selectivity of the final product was improved to a value 3 times higher than that of the pure AgCuZnS₂ and 2 times higher than those of AgCuZnS₂–graphene and AgCuZnS₂–TiO₂ under ultra-violet (UV)-light (λ = 254 nm) irradiation in the photocatalytic process. The electrochemical CO₂ reduction test was also conducted to analyze the efficacy of the AgCuZnS₂–graphene–TiO₂ when used as a working electrode in laboratory electrochemical cells. The electrochemical process was conducted under different experimental conditions, such as various scan rates (mV·s^–1), under UV-light and with a 0.07 T magnetic-core. The evolution of CO₂ substantially improved under UV-light (λ = 254 nm) and with 0.07 T magnetic-core treatment; these improvements were attributed to the facts that the UV-light activated the electron-transfer pathway and the magnetic core controlled the pathway of electron-transmission/prevention to protect it from chaotic electron movement. Among all tested nanocomposites, AgCuZnS₂–graphene–TiO₂ absorbed the CO₂ most strongly and showed the best ability to transfer the electron to reduce the CO₂ to methanol. We believe that our newly-modeled ternary nanocomposite opens up new opportunities for the evolution of CO₂ to methanol through an electrochemical and photocatalytic process.     

Morphological,thermal, rheological,and mechanical properties of PP/EVOH blends compatibilized with PP‐g‐IA

We prepared some blends of polypropylene (PP) and ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH) with and without a compatibilizer. As a new compatibilizer, we synthesized polypropylene grafted with itaconic acid (PP‐g‐IA) using Brabender mixing system. We investigated the morphological, thermal, rheological, and mechanical properties of a compatibilized blends (PP/EVOH/PP‐g‐IA) and not compatibilized blends (PP/EVOH). Our experiments showed that carboxylic acid groups in PP‐g‐IA and hydroxyl group in EVOH formed strong in situ hydrogen bond in the compatibilized blends, resulting in better morphological and mechanical properties of the compatibilized blends than those of not compatibilized blends. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 56:1240–1247, 2016. © 2016 Society of Plastics Engineers     

液态金属快速结晶的热力学驱动力

采用超高真空无容器悬浮熔炼技术使液态Ｆｅ和Ｎｉ的过冷度分别达２００和２３５Ｋ，借助量热法测定出其比热各为４８．６和４０．５Ｊ·ｍｏｌ~（－１）·Ｋ~（－１）．据此精确计算出深过冷Ｆｅ和Ｎｉ快速结晶的热力学驱动力△Ｇ_（ＬＳ），并与Ｔｕｒｎｂｕｌｌ模型和Ｄｕｂｅｙ－Ｒａｍａｃｈａｎｄｒａｒａｏ模型的近似计算结果相比较，发现这两种近似模型在过冷度超过１００Ｋ时均产生大于１％的偏差．进一步分析发现，△Ｇ_（ＬＳ）的计算偏差对深过冷液态金属中晶体形核率的影响极大，因此快速凝固研究中应尽可能精确计算△Ｇ_（ＬＳ）．     

Numerical investigation on flow through porous media in the post‐infusion process

During the vacuum‐assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM) processing, the post‐infusion behavior after complete wet‐out and before gelation of the resin is critical for the development of the thickness and fiber volume fraction distribution in the cured composite part. The pressure gradient developed during infusion results in a thickness gradient due to the flexible nature of the bagging approach. After full infusion, the resin typically bleeds into a vacuum trap, allowing redistribution of pressure and preform thickness. In this study, a non‐rigid control volume is used to formulate a set of governing equations for analysis of the post‐infusion process. The model is used to investigate the effects of processing parameters and different processing scenarios on resin flow, resin pressure, and thickness variation of the composite laminate. This work provides a tool for optimization of the VARTM process to reduce final part variability. POLYM. COMPOS., 2009. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Statistical characteristics of out‐of‐plane permeability for plain‐woven structure

Since out‐of‐plane permeability of fiber preforms is a function of the number and arrangement of stacked layers, either many layers of preforms or numerous experiments are required to obtain an exact out‐of‐plane permeability experimentally. The reason is that there exist nesting and phase shifting when the preforms are laid up. From a statistical viewpoint, the effect of the number of preform layers on the out‐of‐plane permeability was analyzed by adopting an analytical model proposed in this study. Numerical simulation for a unit‐cell constructed based on geometry of the preform was carried out to validate the analytical model as well as experimental measurements of the permeability. POLYM. COMPOS., 2009. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Epoxidation of Propylene with Hydrogen Peroxide Over TS-1 Catalyst Synthesized in the Presence of Polystyrene

Titanium silicalite-1 (TS-1) catalyst was synthesized in the presence of polystyrene (PS) particles (denoted as TS-1_PS catalyst) for use in the epoxidation of propylene with hydrogen peroxide. For the purpose of comparison, TS-1 catalyst was also synthesized by a conventional method (in the absence of polystyrene particles). In the epoxidation of propylene, the TS-1_PS catalyst showed a higher conversion of hydrogen peroxide and a higher selectivity for propylene oxide (PO) than the TS-1 catalyst. Consequently, the TS-1_PS catalyst showed a higher yield for PO than the TS-1 catalyst. Characterization results showed that the high catalytic performance of TS-1_PS was attributed to the enhanced hydrophobic property of the catalyst and the suppressed formation of anatase TiO₂ in the catalyst.     

Prediction of residual stress and viscoelastic deformation of film insert molded parts

Film insert molding (FIM) has been modeled numerically to predict residual stress and viscoelastic deformation of the part. Nonisothermal three dimensional flow analysis for filling, packing, and cooling stages was carried out by using a commercial software. It was assumed that the inserted film was solid throughout the entire molding procedure although remelting could occur at the interface with the substrate. The flow analysis results, e.g., temperature, stress, and density distribution in the substrate domain, were transported to a finite element stress analysis program for viscoelastic stress analysis. Deflection of the FIM part was obtained as soon as the part was ejected from the mold by assuming isotropic elastic material. The residual stress distribution in the FIM part was acquired by removing the constraints along the boundary of the molded part. Viscoelastic deformation of the FIM part was predicted by performing viscoelastic stress analysis in order to understand long term behavior of the FIM part when exposed to room temperature. Durability of automotive and electronic parts produced by the film injection molding can be predicted by the procedure adopted in this study. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2008. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Phase Transformation Sequence from Kaolinite to Mullite Investigated by an Energy-Filtering Transmission Electron Microscope

The phase transformation from kaolinite to mullite was examined with new electron diffraction data obtained using an energy-filtering transmission electron microscope. Kaolinite was finally transformed to mullite and cristobalite through several steps of endothermic and exothermic reactions, which resulted in metakaolinite, a microcrystalline spinel-type phase and amorphous silica. Metakaolinite maintained its short-range order even at 920°C. The spinel-type phase resulted from a topotactic transformation of metakaolinite. Mullite first appeared at around 940°C, showing no clear crystallographic relationships to the parent metakaolinite structure. It coexisted with metakaolinite and the spinel-type phase produced previously. The first strong exothermic peak on the DTA curve was mainly due to the extraction of amorphous silica from metakaolinite and the gradual nucleation of the mullite phase. The initially formed spinel-type and mullite phases were suggested to be Al-rich, but to progressively gain Si in their structures at higher temperatures. The spinel-type phase decomposed completely through a second weak exothermic reaction, promoting the crystallization of cristobalite from amorphous silica, and the growth of mullite.