Synthesis of casein-g-poly(methyl acrylate). II

The synthesis of casein-g-poly(methyl acrylate) was studied using the potassium peroxydisulfate–ascorbic acid redox system. The effect of synthetic variables has been investigated in the light of rates of conversion of monomer, graft copolymerization and homopolymerization, percent grafting, and grafting efficiency. The results are compared with the system initiated by pure potassium peroxydisulfate alone.     

Synthesis and dissociation of amine‐blocked diisocyanates and polyurethane prepolymers

Substituted N‐methylanilines are shown to act as blocking agents for toluenediisocyanate. N‐methylaniline‐, N‐methyl‐p‐anisidine‐ and N‐methyl‐p‐nitroaniline‐blocked toluene diisocyanates have been prepared and characterized by FTIR, ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR spectroscopies, and nitrogen content analysis. A new method for determining the minimum deblocking temperature of the blocked isocyanate is described. The method has advantages in that it can be used to find the minimum deblocking temperature of even non‐volatile blocking agents. The minimum deblocking temperature of the adducts is found to be in the following order: N‐methyl‐p‐anisidine–TDI adduct < N‐methyaniline–TDI adduct < N‐methyl‐p‐nitroaniline–TDI adduct. The anilines exhibit the same trend when they block a polyurethane prepolymer prepared using polypropylene glycol of molecular weight 2000 g mol^?1 and tolylene‐2,6‐diisocyanate. The deblocking temperatures are lower in the case of blocked prepolymers than in the blocked adducts. The blocked adducts and prepolymers are reacted with pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA) in dimethylpropylene urea (DMPU) and the evolution of carbon dioxide is monitored to study the completion of imidization. The reaction time is in accordance with the deblocking ability of the adducts. The regeneration of the blocking agent is confirmed by gas chromatography. © 2002 Society of Chemical Industry     

AB‐type crosslinked polymer networks from vinyl terminated polyurethane and poly(methyl methacrylate)

Vinyl terminated polyurethanes (VTPUs) were prepared by endcapping isocyanate terminated prepolymers with vinylbenzyl alcohol (VBA). AB‐type crosslinked polymer (ABCP) networks were generated by crosslinking the telechelic polyurethane with methyl methacrylate (MMA) in the presence of 2,2′‐azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as free radical initiator. The spectral, thermal and mechanical properties of ABCPs were studied using Fourier Transform IR, thermogravimetry, dynamic mechanical analysis and stress‐strain analysis. The FTIR results confirm the formation of VBA, TP and ABCPs. Thermal behaviour of crosslinked polymers showed no significant weight loss up to 300 °C, indicating improved thermal stability. Dynamic mechanical tests revealed confinement of phase separation and good damping behaviour for the crosslinked networks. Stress‐strain analysis showed that tensile strength increases with increasing amounts of methyl methacrylate. © 2001 Society of Chemical Industry     

A normal intensity level of psycho-physiological stress can benefit working memory performance at high load

In recent years, the effects of stress on adaptation and human performance have received considerable attention in medical literature and in occupational fields. In this study, we employed an acute psycho-physiological laboratory stressor, which is similar to real life stressful conditions and is capable of reliably eliciting the normal range of stress effects. The primary goal of the present study was to investigate whether the effect of stress on working memory performance depends on the number of images that need to be maintained (memory load), and the duration of the retention interval. By manipulating the number of images and the length of the retention interval of the modified Stenberg working memory test, we altered the task difficulty and examined the consequent effects on behavior. Twelve young students were submitted to a stressful condition one day and a control condition on another day. The stressor used included a physiological factor (socially evaluated cold pressor test) and a psychosocial factor (modified version of trier social stress test). The sympathetic nervous system and hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis activation were assessed by heart rate and salivary cortisol. It was found that this procedure, which involves exposure to a normal intensity level of psycho-physiological stress, can demonstrate the beneficial effect of stress on reaction time without decreasing accuracy at high memory loads, but not at low memory loads.     

Development of polyurethane‐based sheets by phase inversion method for therapeutic footwear applications: Synthesis,fabrication, and characterization

It has been proved that polyurethane (PU) foam and viscoelastic PUs are offering better cushioning and shock absorption properties than other materials such as foam rubbers, polyethylene, ethylene vinyl acetate, and polyvinyl chloride which are used currently as insole materials in therapeutic footwear for diabetic and orthopedic patients to “offload” or redistribute high pressure under the foot. The aim of this research work was to prepare viscoelastic materials based on PUs having the highest degree of phase separation that provides for the elastomeric nature of these polymers. Polymer structures with a high concentration of amide groups can be made with the addition of hydrazine or a diacid hydrazide to a diisocyanate. We had prepared various PUs by chain extending the isocyanate‐terminated prepolymer with terepthalic dihydrazide, 5‐hydroxy isothalic dihydrazide, and 1,4‐butanediol. Polymers were developed into sheets by phase inversion method using dimethyl formamide as solvent and water as nonsolvent. To improve the mechanical properties of PU sheets the polymer solution was blended with polyester‐based PU Desmopan 8078 (CPU) in 1 : 1 ratio and the solution mixture was developed into sheet by the same method. Further PU sheets based on only CPU were also developed with various concentrations of PU. The synthesized PU and their blends with CPU were characterized by infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, thermo gravimetric analysis, gel permeation chromatography, and dynamic mechanical analysis. Morphological characteristics of PU sheets were studied by scanning electron microscopy. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009     

Effect of compatibilizer on morphology and mechanical properties of TPU/SAN blends

Melt blends of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) and Poly(styrene‐co‐acrylonitrile), (SAN) of various compositions were prepared using a two‐roll mill. Two blends of composition 70:30 and 50:50 TPU/SAN were selected for compatibility studies. The compatibility effect of SMA on these incompatible blends was studied. The morphology and physical properties of blends were investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier transform infrared spectra (FTIR) and mechanical properties. TPU/SAN/SMA 70:30:5 showed better compatibility than other blend ratios.     

Is (−)-Catechin a Novel Weapon of Spotted Knapweed (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Centaurea stoebe</Emphasis>)?

The novel weapons hypothesis states that some invasive weed species owe part of their success as invaders to allelopathy mediated by allelochemicals that are new to the native species. Presumably, no resistance has evolved among the native species to this new allelochemical (i.e., the novel weapon). In their native habitat, however, the plants that co-evolved with these invasive species have theoretically evolved defenses that obviate the allelochemical advantage. Previous studies have claimed that catechin is such a novel weapon of spotted knapweed (Centaurea stoebe = C. maculosa), an invasive species in the non-native habitat of North America. These studies indicated that (−)-catechin is more phytotoxic than (+)-catechin. Other studies have not found sufficient catechin in field soils to support this theory. We report that (−)-catechin and (+)-catechin are essentially equal, but poorly phytotoxic to a variety of plant species in bioassays without soil. In a dose/response experiment with Montana soils, we found the lowest dose for a growth reduction of two native Montana grasses (Koeleria macrantha and Festuca idahoensis) by a racemic mixture of (±)-catechin that ranged from about 25 to 50 mM, concentrations, orders of magnitude higher than expected in nature. Autoclaving the soil before adding the catechin did not affect the activity of catechin. We found (−)-catechin to be a potent antioxidant, in contrast to a previous claim that it acts as an allelochemical by causing oxidative stress. Our findings suggest that catechin is not a novel weapon of spotted knapweed and that other allelochemical(s) or alternative mechanisms must be found to explain the success of this species as an invader in North America.     

Emulsifying properties of gum kondagogu (Cochlospermum gossypium), a natural biopolymer

BACKGROUND: Natural polymers are widely used as emulsifying agents in the food and pharmaceutical industries because of their low cost, biocompatibility and non‐toxic nature. In the present study, emulsifying properties of the novel natural biopolymer gum kondagogu (GKG) were investigated. GKG solutions of different concentrations (0.1–0.6% w/v) were prepared in water and emulsified with liquid paraffin oil (40% v/v) in a high‐speed homogeniser. Flow properties of the emulsions were measured using a rheometer. Emulsion stability and droplet size distribution were determined by visual observation, photomicrography and laser‐scattering particle size distribution analysis. RESULTS: The emulsions prepared with GKG showed pseudoplastic behaviour. The size of oil droplets and the viscosity of emulsions at concentrations of 0.4–0.6% w/v showed little change over time (up to 30 days), indicating that the emulsions were stable. Measurements of the zeta potential of emulsions adjusted to different pH, with and without added electrolyte, showed that the stabilisation of emulsions with GKG was due to mutual repulsion between electrical double layers of particles and adsorption of macromolecules on oil droplets. CONCLUSION: The results of this experimental investigation show that GKG is a good emulsifying agent even at low concentrations, with many potential applications in the food and pharmaceutical industries. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry     

Describing and quantifying the chemical composition distribution in unimodal and multimodal ZN‐polyethylene using CRYSTAF

A new approach in describing and quantifying the chemical composition distribution (CCD) in Ziegler–Natta‐polyethylene copolymers was developed by using crystallization analysis fractionation (Crystaf). Copolymers of ethylene and α‐olefins (1‐butene and 1‐hexene) polymerized with different ZN catalyst systems were analyzed. Distinct differences in the CCD between the different polymer types (catalyst‐cocatalyst system and comonomer type) were observed and could be quantified. Same approach was applied to 2‐dimensional fractionation technique, cross fractionation chromatography, to describe and quantify the CCD of multimodal polyethylene copolymers. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016 , 133, 43089.     

Electrical and dielectric properties of bismuth holmium cobalt titanate (BiHoCoTiO<Subscript>6</Subscript>): a complex double perovskite

A lead-free bismuth holmium cobalt titanate multiferroic(BiHoCoTiO₆) was synthesized at high temperatures by a solid-state reaction (a mixed oxide) route. Structural analysis of the compound is performed using X-ray diffraction data and an orthorhombic crystal system is suggested for the material. Study of room temperature scanning electron microigrapgh exhibited better morphology for the material. The uniform distribution of the small rod-type of grains with dimension of 1–2 µm length and 0.2–0.3 µm diameters was visible. Analysis of temperature-frequency dielectric data exhibited two dielectric anomalies or phase transitions: first transition temperature(t_c1) at 175?°C and the second one at 325?^°C. Study of frequency and temperature dependence of resistive characteristics (performed using complex impedance spectroscopy) has shown significant contributions of grains and grain boundaries, which in turn, helps in understanding the electrical conduction mechanism and microstructure behaviour of the material in a better way. The impedance or Nyquist plots were modelled with an equivalent circuit containing capacitance, resistance and related parameters due to grain (bulk), grain boundaries and capacitance. The transport properties, AC conductivity and electrical modulus of the material were also investigated and reported here.