Lactobacillic and methyl-branched olefinic acids inByrsocarpus coccineus seed oil

A detailed investigation of the seed oil ofByrsocarpus coccineus Schum. and Thonn. has disclosedcis-11,12-methyleneoctadecanoic (lactobacillic) (13%) and two branched octadecenoic acids (0.1%). Other fatty acids in the oil are those normally associated with seed lipids except for an unusually high proportion (12%) ofcis-11-octadecenoic acid. Lactobacillic acid has long been known as a constituent of certain bacterial lipids, but this is the first report of its presence in a seed oil. The branched olefinic acids have not heretofore been found to occur in plants. Mention of firm names or trade products does not imply endorsement or recommendation by the Department of Agriculture over other firms or similar products not mentioned.     

Fatty acid composition of seed oils of the meliaceae,including one genus rich incis-vaccenic acid

The seed lipids of three species ofEntandraphragma (Meliaceae) contain the largest proportion (31–50%) ofcis-vaccenic acid ever found in nature. The acid is not indicative of the family as a whole and is found as a major fatty acid in the seed of only one additional species, besidesEntandraphragma, out of the 30 analyzed from this family. With the total oil comprising between 45 and 62% ofEntandraphragma seed, these species should be considered as a source of undecadioic acid for the production of nylon 11.     

Palmitoleic acid inRoureopsis obliquifoliata (Connaraceae) Seed oil

Roureopsis obliquifoliata Schellenberg seeds contain an oil (45% by weight) comprised primarily of 16-carbon fatty acids. Palmitic acid constitutes 50% of the fatty acids, palmitoleic acid 32%, and small amounts of the usual C₁₈ acids make up the remainder. Identifications were based on Chromatographic properties of the acids and their ozonolysis products.     

Detection of spermaceti in a hand cream

The presence of spermaceti, an embargoed item, was confirmed in a sample of hand cream detained by federal agents. The identification was based on chromatographic characteristics of the intact wax esters and of their component fatty acids and alcohols. These acids and alcohols were combined in a manner so closely resembling spermaceti that they undoubtedly came from this source.     

Myristicin. The major volatile component in mature seed ofPortenschlagia ramosissima

Portenschlagia ramosissima (Port.) vis. (Umbelliferae) seed contains 15% essential oils, 70% of which is the aromatic ether myristicin. These structural assignments were made from nuclear magnetic resonance, combined gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and infrared and ultraviolet data. GC-MS data also indicate the presence of pinene, cymene, terpinene, elemicin, methyl eugenol, and a variety of sesquiterpene hydrocarbons.     

Superposition of the notched strength of composite laminates

An improved macroscopic model for predicting the strength of a composite laminate containing a circular notch is developed. Two constants are introduced which uniquely determine the notch sensitivity of a given material. A superposition method for the notched strength of composite laminates is developed which allows data for arbitrary materials and laminate configurations to be superimposed upon a single master curve. The influence of material orthotropy upon notched strength is discussed. A relative notch sensitivity parameter is introduced which allows quantification of the notch sensitivity of a given composite material system, stacking sequence, or laminate configuration.     

Preparation and characterization of a number of amine salts of long-chain fatty acids

Summary Eighty-eight amine salts of long-chain fatty acids have been prepared, purified by solvent crystallization, and characterized. Forty-five of these were salts of palmitic acid. The rest included salts of capric, lauric, myristic, stearic, oleic, elaidic, and 12-hydroxystearic acids. A variety of aliphatic, aromatic, and heterocyclic amines, including primary, secondary, and tertiary amines, were investigated. The majority of these gave 1∶1 acid-amine compounds on solvent recrystallization of an equimolar mixture of acid and amine. Some of the amines gave no crystallizable salt, and with others the pure salt could not be obtained by this procedure. Under the same conditions the symmetrical alkyl, substituted alkyl, and aralkyl secondary amines investigated gave crystallizable compounds containg two molecules of fatty acid to one of amine. Molecular compounds of 2-aminopyridine with four molecules of saturated fatty acid were formed by recrystallization starting with a 1 to 4 amine-acid mixture. Surface-tension measurements were made for aqueous solutions of a few of the amine salts. One of the laboratories of the Southern Utilization Research and Development Division, Agricultural Research Service, U. S. Department of Agriculture.     

Fatty acid morpholides as plasticizers for vinyl chloride resins. III. Ternary compatibility-composition diagrams for the oleic-linoleic-stearic and oleic-linoleic-palmitic systems

A systematic investigation has been made of the effect of fatty acid composition on the compatibility of the corresponding mixed morpholides as plasticizers for vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer resins. Plasticizer evaluation data were obtained for the morpholides of lauric, palmitic, elaidic, and epoxyoleic acids and compared with the literature values for other fatty acid morpholides and morpholide mixtures. Ternary compatibility-composition diagrams have been constructured for the oleic-linoleic-stearic and the oleic-linoleic-palmitic morpholide systems. These diagrams make it possible to predict what adjustment, if any, must be made in the composition of any mixture of these fatty acids so that the corresponding morpholide mixture will be compatible. The diagrams will be useful in selecting the most appropriate and economical fatty acid sources from which to make compatible morpholide mixtures. Presented at the 52nd Annual Meeting, American Oil Chemists’ Society, St. Louis, Mo., May 1–3, 1961. One of the laboratories of the Southern Utilization Research and Development Division, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture.     

A generalized method for correcting instrument spreading in gel permeation chromatography

A general method of chromatogram correction for skewed instrument spreading in gel permeation chromatography is presented. The correction method is so general that there is no restriction on the shape of the spreading function. It admits nonsymmetric, non-Gaussian as well as nonconvolution type. Aspects of solution techniques are discussed and an illustrative example is given to elucidate the method.     

Carbon fiber structure and stability studies

A study has been made of the thermal-oxidative stability of several commercially available carbon fibers. Significant differences in the weight loss behavior were observed in air aging studies run on the bare fibers at 600°F (589 K). The stability of high temperature laminates, such as those based on NR-150 polyimide precursor solutions, was found to be directly affected by the stability of the reinforcing carbon fibers. In studies carried out to determine the reasons for carbon fiber instability, residual sodium sulfate was found to be the principle destabilizing factor. A mechanism whereby the sodium sulfate promotes the oxidation of carbon in the presence of air is proposed.