Ethynedithiol‐based polyeneoligosulfides as active cathode materials for lithium‐sulfur batteries

Ethynedithiol‐based polyeneoligosulfides have been synthesized in 96% yield by the reaction of sodium acetylides (HC?CNa, NaC?CSNa) and elemental sulfur through the Na? C_sp bond in liquid ammonia with the following spontaneous polymerization of ethynedithiols (HSC?CSH) formed by the hydrolysis. The polyeneoligosulfides synthesized are brown powders (up to 77% sulfur content, mp 128–184°C), partially soluble in organic solvents. They are high‐resistance semiconductors (10^?13 to 10^?14 S cm^?1), possess paramagnetic (10¹⁷ to 10¹⁸ spin g^?1) and redox properties. The oligosulfides obtained, being redox systems capable of reversible redox processes, provide high values of discharge capacity (345–720 mA h g^?1) of rechargeable lithium‐sulfur batteries. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008     

Nonisothermal melt-crystallization kinetics of isotactic polypropylene synthesized with a metallocene catalyst and compounded with different quantities of an α nucleator

The nonisothermal crystallization kinetics of a metallocene-made isotactic polypropylene (m-iPP) and its compounds with 0.1 wt % and 0.3 wt % of a sorbitol derivative [1,3:2,4-bis(3,4-dimethylbenzylidene)sorbitol (DMDBS); an α nucleator] were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry at different cooling rates from the melt. The nucleation efficiency was proved by a significant increase in the crystallization temperatures (accompanied by a slight augmentation of the degree of crystallinity and a decrease in the crystal sizes). This increase in the crystallization temperatures led to higher amounts of fractional content in the γ polymorph, even though DMDBS was supposed to be a nucleator for the α form. The Avrami and Ozawa methods effectively described only the early stage of crystallization, whereas a combined Avrami–Ozawa method was valid for the whole crystallization process. The values of the exponent for this method decreased for nucleated samples in the later stage of crystallization, especially in the case of m-iPP with 0.3 wt % DMDBS added (m-iPP03). The activation energy of the process and the surface free energy were also estimated. The production of considerable proportions of the γ polymorph in m-iPP03 corresponded to higher values of the activation energy and lower values of the surface free energy. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008     

Effect of olive residue benzylation on the thermal and mechanical properties of poly(vinyl chloride)/olive residue composites

The changes in mechanical properties, the thermal stability, and the water absorption capacity of poly (vinyl chloride)/olive residue flour composites were studied as a function of various residue olive flour ratios, i.e., 0, 5, 15, and 25% by weight taking into account the effect of benzylation chemical treatment of the filler. The study showed that composite samples prepared with the untreated filler exhibited higher tensile modulus and hardness compared with the neat resin, whereas elongation and tensile strength were observed to decline. On the other hand, the PVC hardness was found to increase with addition of the untreated olive residue flour (ORF), however the composite samples prepared with the benzylated flour exhibited lower hardness than those prepared with untreated olive residue. Moreover, the amount of absorbed water depends on the amount of filler in the composite. The comparison of the results obtained from the samples of F5, F20, and F30 formulations between the untreated and treated ORF indicated a reduction in absorbed water for the composite samples containing treated ORF with benzyl chloride. As a result, the mechanical properties of the treated composites were improved. Furthermore, the thermal characterization of the different samples carried out by color change test and thermogravimetric analysis revealed an increase in the onset temperatures of decomposition for the treated composites. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008     

Sheet molding compound characterization using spiral flow

Sheet molding compound (SMC) is a fiber‐reinforced polymeric composite. It is often used in automotive, marine, and industrial applications over other materials because of its high strength to density ratio, resistance to corrosion, and low cost. There is a demand in the SMC industry to be able to characterize SMC processability. This is particularly true for heavy truck body panels, one of the fastest growing applications of SMC. Because of their large size and high strength requirement, the molding forces have a major influence in the molding cycle. Also because of the long flow paths involved, the ability of the paste to carry glass needs to be properly characterized when developing new SMC materials. In this article, we demonstrate the benefits of using spiral flow as a processability tester. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008     

Potential applications of poly(vinyl alcohol)‐congo red aqueous solutions and hydrogels as liquids for hydraulic fracturing

The authors report on the viscoelastic characterization of guar hydrogels obtained through complexation reactions with borax ions. These gels are compared with hydrogels obtained from poly(vinyl alcohol) of different degree of hydrolysis through complexation reactions with congo red. The effect of the degree of hydrolysis and both, the concentration of PVA and the concentration of congo red, on the viscoelastic properties of the hydrogels is analyzed. The potential use of the PVA‐based hydrogels as hydraulic fracturing liquids is discussed in relation to the commonly used fracturing liquid based on the guar–borax system. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008     

Investigation of the thermal, mechanical, and fracture properties of alumina-epoxy composites

A combination of dynamic shear rheology, thermomechanical analysis (TMA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Near-Edge X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (NEXAFS), and fracture toughness testing was utilized to characterize the thermal, mechanical, chemical, and fracture properties of alumina (α-Al₂O₃)-filled epoxy resins as a function of average filler size, size distribution, particle shape, loading, and epoxy crosslink density. In general the cured properties of the filled composites were robust. Small changes in particle size, shape, and size distribution had little impact on the final properties. Resin crosslink density and filler loading were the most critical variables, causing changes in all properties. However, most applications could likely tolerate small changes in these variables also. SEM and NEXAFS characterization of the fracture surfaces revealed that the fracture occurs at the filler interface and the interfacial epoxy composition is similar to the bulk resin, indicating a weak epoxy-alumina interaction. These results are critical for implementation of particulate-filled polymer composites in practical applications because relaxed material specifications and handling procedures can be incorporated in production environments to improve efficiency.     

Temperature Dependence of the Magnetic Properties of Amorphous Fe-Me-Si-B Alloys

Alloying of amorphous Fe-Me-Si-B metallic compositions with nickel and molybdenum results in a decrease in the values of saturation magnetization in fields with a magnetic intensity of 0.72 MA/m. The same alloying additions decrease the temperature of formation of new magnetic Fe₃B-type phases, which are stable up to 873 ± 5 K.     

Determinants of health knowledge: An investigation of age, gender, abilities, personality, and interests.

Ten areas of health knowledge were investigated in 2 studies, 1 of college students (N=169) and 1 of adults from the community (ages 19-70; N=176). Measures assessed knowledge of aging, orthopedic/ dermatological concerns, common illnesses, childhood/early life, serious illnesses, mental health, nutrition, reproduction, safety, and treatment of illness/disease. Significant gender differences favoring women were found for most areas of health knowledge, especially reproduction and early life. Results showed that cognitive ability accounted for the most variance in health knowledge with nonability (personality and interest traits) and demographic variables accounting for smaller but significant amounts of variance across most knowledge domains. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Gender moderates the relationship between testosterone and marital interaction.

Higher testosterone levels are related to assertiveness and dominance. Given the relevance of those behavioral correlates to spouses' daily transactions, links between testosterone levels and marital interaction were explored among 92 newlywed couples. Marital problem-solving and social support transactions were assessed, and saliva was collected and assayed for testosterone. Whether marital behavior was related to husbands' and wives' testosterone levels was examined. The link between spouses' testosterone and their behavior was contingent on the partner's testosterone levels. Husbands exhibited more adaptive problem-solving behaviors and social support provision when husbands and wives were concordant for lower testosterone levels. In contrast, wives exhibited more adaptive support provision when spouses had discordant testosterone levels such that wives had higher levels and husbands had lower levels. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Nonequilibrium nonstoichiometry in ionic compounds

Ionic substances under normal conditions are stoichiometric compounds with phase diagrams featuring no homogeneity regions. Crystals grown under nonequilibrium conditions, in particular, under significant centrifugal acceleration, are characterized by nonstoichiometric compositions (e.g., K_2−x Br_1.07). In this way, it is possible to obtain nonequilibrium nonstoichiometric ionic compounds possessing certain homogeneity regions. Nonstoichiometric crystals of KCl, KBr, and KI grown under various accelerations ranging within (1.3–100.0)×10³ g exhibit insignificant variations in the lattice constants and a significant increase in micro-hardness with acceleration.