Synthesis and magnetorheological characteristics of ribbon‐like,polypyrrole‐coated carbonyl iron suspensions under oscillatory shear

One of the crucial problems of classical magnetorheological (MR) fluids is their high rate of sedimentation. This disadvantage may be substantially eliminated using core‐shell particles. The aim of this study is to prepare spherical carbonyl iron (CI) particles coated with conducing polymer polypyrrole (PPy) with ribbon‐like morphology. Scanning electron microscopy proved the formation of the ribbon‐like layer onto CI particles while Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy confirmed the chemical structure of PPy. The magnetic properties observed via vibrating sample magnetometer showed decreased magnetization saturation of core‐shell‐structured particles due to the existence of non‐magnetic surface layer. MR measurements performed under oscillatory shear flow as a function of the applied magnetic flux density, temperature, and particle concentration showed that core‐shell particle‐based MR suspension exhibits sufficient MR performance for practical applications. Moreover, the suspension stability is promoted significantly when core‐shell particles are used as a dispersed phase. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013     

Dewetting and Adsorption in Homopolymer Films Containing Triblock Copolymers: Role of Chain Architecture and Anchoring Block Molar Fraction

Triblock copolymer additives are found to stabilize thin-film dewetting of B-type homopolymers with degree of polymerization (DOP) P deposited on silicon oxide. The triblock copolymers’ architectures are ABA and BAB, where A and B represent anchoring and nonadsorbing blocks with DOP's N _A and N _B, respectively. Upon adding 1 vol.% of the ABA additive, dewetting is only observed for anchoring block molar fractions, f _A, below 4%. Dewetting is arrested in films containing 1 vol.% ABA, BAB, or AB that have similar values of f _A ～ 8%, showing that chain architecture is not the only indicator of a successful additive. Compared with films containing diblock copolymers, the interfacial excess, z*, of triblock copolymers at the melt/substrate interface is relatively small as measured by low-energy forward-recoil spectrometry. Because adsorbed copolymers can reduce the capillary driving force for dewetting and participate in entanglements with matrix chains, the higher coverage and grafting density observed for diblock copolymers suggests that diblocks are more effective than triblocks in improving thin-film stability.     

Graphitic Carbon in Snow

We collected several samples of fresh snow from the areas of southern New Mexico and western Texas. Samples were analyzed to determine graphitic carbon content of snow in rural and urban areas and to compare these present values with those obtained from deep ice core samples several thousand years old. To model the optical properties of snow grains containing carbon we used several different versions of effective medium approximations. Calculations are compared with microwave analog measurements to determine which of these approximations can reasonably well predict the properties of mixtures such as snow and carbon. Suggestions regarding which of the effective medium approximations that should not be used are presented.     

EXTRACTION SYSTEMS USING BIS-1,2-0ICARBCILYLC0BALTATE ANO POLYOXONIUM COMPOUNDS FOR LANTHANIOE SEPARATIONS

ABSTRACT

The extraction of rare earths (lanthanides, Y, Sc) by voluminous bis-1,2-dicarbollylcobaltate anions disolved in nitrobenzene and in a nitrobenzene - carbon tetrachloride mixture has been investigated and the exchange extraction constants for both solvents, individual extraction constants anddG for ion transfer across the water - nitrobenzene phase boundary has been determined. Extraction decreases with increasing atomic number of the lanthanide.

The influence of several polyoxonium compounds on the distribution ratios and the extraction selectivity has been investigated. In the extraction systems with bis-1,2-dicarbollylcobaltate - 18-crown-6 in nitrobenzene, synergism was found for the light lanthanides but antagonism was observed for the heavy ones. The overall separation factor is Ctla/10 compared to in the absence of crown la/²     

Dyeing of leather with microencapsulated acid dye

CI Acid Black 210 was microencapsulated into liposomic systems, and the effects of the microencapsulation on dyebath exhaustion, depth of shade, colour fastness properties and through‐dyeing of chrome‐tanned leather were studied. In comparison with the original dyestuff form, the microencapsulated dye showed a deeper shade and a greater depth of through‐dyeing. Exhaustion and colour fastness values were the same.     

Complexes of Silver(I) Ions and Silver Phosphate Nanoparticles with Hyaluronic Acid and/or Chitosan as Promising Antimicrobial Agents for Vascular Grafts

Polymers are currently widely used to replace a variety of natural materials with respect to their favourable physical and chemical properties, and due to their economic advantage. One of the most important branches of application of polymers is the production of different products for medical use. In this case, it is necessary to face a significant disadvantage of polymer products due to possible and very common colonization of the surface by various microorganisms that can pose a potential danger to the patient. One of the possible solutions is to prepare polymer with antibacterial/antimicrobial properties that is resistant to bacterial colonization. The aim of this study was to contribute to the development of antimicrobial polymeric material ideal for covering vascular implants with subsequent use in transplant surgery. Therefore, the complexes of polymeric substances (hyaluronic acid and chitosan) with silver nitrate or silver phosphate nanoparticles were created, and their effects on gram-positive bacterial culture of Staphylococcus aureus were monitored. Stages of formation of complexes of silver nitrate and silver phosphate nanoparticles with polymeric compounds were characterized using electrochemical and spectrophotometric methods. Furthermore, the antimicrobial activity of complexes was determined using the methods of determination of growth curves and zones of inhibition. The results of this study revealed that the complex of chitosan, with silver phosphate nanoparticles, was the most suitable in order to have an antibacterial effect on bacterial culture of Staphylococcus aureus. Formation of this complex was under way at low concentrations of chitosan. The results of electrochemical determination corresponded with the results of spectrophotometric methods and verified good interaction and formation of the complex. The complex has an outstanding antibacterial effect and this effect was of several orders higher compared to other investigated complexes.     

Preparation of dehydroxylated and delaminated talc: Meta-talc

The roentgen-amorphous delaminated and dehydroxylated phase was prepared applying intensive milling procedure and subsequent thermal treatment of talc. Due to the similarity in properties and in thermal behavior of this material with roentgen-amorphous delaminated and dehydroxylated kaolinite phase, i.e. meta-kaolinite, the name meta-talc was suggested for this material. The properties and the behavior during thermal treatment were investigated using thermal analysis, x-ray diffraction analysis, infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The suggested procedure changes the activation energy of dehydroxylation, the behavior during thermal treatment and the phase composition of the product. The kinetics and thermodynamics of the thermal transition were evaluated using Kissinger equation and Eyering law.     

The influence of structure order on the kinetics of dehydroxylation of kaolinite

The structural order of kaolinite is an important factor that shows a substantial effect on the processes which take place during the thermal treatment of kaolin. The influence of structural order on the dehydroxylation process was investigated by simultaneous thermogravimetry and differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA). The thermal analysis was performed on the samples with gradually decreasing structural order prepared by milling procedure. The apparent activation energy of dehydroxylation process decreases with decreasing structural order according to the exponential function. The extrapolation of experimental data leads to the estimation of apparent activation energy of 76.6 kJ mol^?1 and of frequency factor of 0.12 × 10⁴ s^?1 related to completely disordered form of kaolinite, while the ordered form shows the apparent activation energy of 216.17 kJ mol^?1 and the frequency factor of 9.26 × 10⁴ s^?1. The relationships between features such as the infrared pattern of treated material, the degree of structural order and the apparent activation energy were established.     

How the interactions with humic acids affect the mobility of ionic dyes in hydrogels – Results from diffusion cells

The complexation of charged compounds by humic acids represents the process of exceptional environmental importance. Nevertheless, traditional methods utilized in the complexation studies do not address the way, how these interactions affect the transport of ions in humic-rich environments. To overcome this dilemma, the diffusion cells technique is proposed as an innovative reactivity mapping technique. Using this method, the diffusion of methylene blue was studied in aqueous solutions and in agarose gels with and without the addition of humic acids. Experimental results clearly illustrate the immobilizing effects of humic acids on the transport of methylene blue in gels. The partitioning of methylene blue at the solution-gel interface and the specific interactions between methylene blue and humic acids is discussed on the basis of experimental data. Effective structural parameters of hydrogels (effective porosity, tortuosity factor) were calculated, as well as some standard diffusion and interaction parameters (diffusion and partition coefficients and apparent equilibrium constants).