Transparent polycrystalline alumina obtained by SPS: Green bodies processing effect

Starting from a commercial slurry of high purity α-Al₂O₃, freeze-dried powders, cast, filter-pressed or cold isostatically pressed samples were produced. Resulting powders or green bodies showing different particles packing were densified by spark plasma sintering (SPS) to obtain transparent polycrystalline α-Al₂O₃. Microstructure and real in-line transmittance (RIT) after SPS were dependent on the particles packing quality. Avoiding large agglomerates, narrowing the pore size distribution, reducing the most-frequent pore size (D_mode) and avoiding macroscopic heterogeneities within the green bodies enabled high RIT values to be achieved in the visible and near-infrared spectrum. However, a limit was achieved in the preparation of green bodies for which reducing the D_mode had no more influence on the optical behaviour of samples sintered by SPS. Finally, pure α-Al₂O₃ samples presenting a high RIT_640 nm value of 53% were produced from all the green bodies obtained by the following techniques: filter-pressing, slip casting and cold isostatic pressing.     

Modeling heterogeneous photocatalytic inactivation of E. coli using suspended and immobilized TiO2 reactors

A study was carried out to develop a kinetic model of the photocatalytic inactivation of Escherichia coli using different TiO₂ catalysts. The model developed is based on a reaction scheme that involves effectively coupling mass‐transfer fluxes between bacteria and catalyst surface on one hand and bacterial degradation reaction on the other. The photocatalytic results were derived from experiments led in a batch reactor under both dark and Ultra Violet (UV) irradiation conditions. Using a reference catalyst, the robustness of the developed model was tested under solar conditions. The experimental data validated the model as successfully able to reproduce evolutions in the viable bacteria concentration in the range of parameters studied without any further adjustment of the kinetic parameters. The model was used to simulate the bacterial degradation kinetics under different working conditions to describe the partitioning of both bacterial adhesion and photocatalytic reaction in the solution to be treated © 2015 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 61: 2532–2542, 2015     

Phosphonic acid‐containing polysulfones as anticorrosive layers

As a part of research work to elaborate polymeric materials for metal corrosion protection, we have developed a new family of phosphonic acid‐containing polymers. The synthesis and the characterization of polysulfones bearing alkyl phosphonate ester side groups are first described. These polymers are synthesized by direct polycondensation of a phosphonate ester‐containing bisphenol by aromatic nucleophilic substitution. The physicochemical properties of the resulting polymers are described. Acidic hydrolysis of phosphonate esters results in the formation of phosphonic acid groups. A series of phosphonic acid‐containing polysulfones is therefore obtained and characterized. A preliminary evaluation of the anticorrosive properties of these polymers is described. In 0.25M Na₂SO₄ solution, the corrosion rate of a polymer‐coated mild steel sample is much lower than of the free metal substrate. These results suggest that phosphonic acid‐containing polysulfones might be interesting as anticorrosive coatings. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 41890.     

Mechanical Behavior of Nanostructured and Microstructured Explosives

Nanostructured hexolites (40/60), (60/40), (80/20) and microstructured hexolite (60/40) powders are pressed by uniaxial compression to obtain explosive charges. This kind of composition is often used for the synthesis of detonation nanodiamonds. The morphology, density and cohesion of the resulting pellets are analyzed in the light of the different used compression parameters. This study allows optimizing the compression parameters to obtain well suited explosive charges from nanostructured explosive components. A good cohesion of the nanostructured explosive pellets could be obtained with increasing the temperature used for the compression. Another very important point is that the nanostructuring of the composites is maintained for every compression.     

The Influence of Blend Ratio on the Morphology,Mechanical, Thermal,and Rheological Properties of PP/LDPE Blends

This paper reports on how the blend ratio and morphology influence the mechanical, thermal, thermomechanical, and rheological properties of poly(propylene) (PP)/low density polyethylene (LDPE) blends. The blend morphology is composed of the major matrix phase and the minor phase, with subinclusions of the major matrix existing within the minor phase. Blends containing low amounts (<20 wt%) of either phase exhibit partial miscibility but the phases are immiscible at higher contents. Partial miscibility of the blends is revealed by scanning electron microscopy studies showing fibril‐like structures and confirmed by rheology. The tensile modulus of the blends decreases with increasing amounts of LDPE, but low LDPE contents exhibit positive deviation from the mixing rule of mixture due to partial compatibility. The crystallinity of PP is affected less than that of LDPE in the blends. Thermomechanical and rheological properties of neat polymers are significantly influenced by blending. The blend ratio and morphology influence impact strength and elongation at break, and the result demonstrates that the 80/20 PP/LDPE blend offers a balance among the mechanical and material properties that are essential for flexible packaging applications.

     

Structure–Activity Relationships of JMV4463, a Vectorized Cathepsin D Inhibitor with Antiproliferative Properties: The Unique Role of the AMPA‐Based Vector

Cathepsin D (CathD) is overexpressed and secreted by several solid tumors and stimulates their growth, the mechanism of which is still not understood. In this context, the pepstatin bioconjugate JMV4463 [Ac‐arg‐O₂Oc‐(Val)₃‐Sta‐Ala‐Sta‐(AMPA)₄‐NH₂; O₂Oc=8‐amino‐3,6‐dioxaoctanoyl, Sta=statine, AMPA=ortho‐aminomethylphenylacetyl], containing a new kind of cell‐penetrating vector, was previously shown to exhibit potent antiproliferative effects in vitro and to delay the onset of tumors in vivo. In this study, we performed a structure–activity relationship analysis to evaluate the significance of the inhibitor and vector moieties of JMV4463. By modifying both statine residues of pepstatin we found that the antiproliferative activity is correlated with CathD inhibition, supporting a major role of the catalytic activity of intracellular CathD in cancer cell proliferation. Replacing the vector composed of four AMPA units with other vectors was found to abolish cytotoxicity, although all of the conjugates enabled pepstatin transport into cells. In addition, the AMPA₄ vector must be localized at the C terminus of the bioconjugate. The unexpected importance of the vector structure and position for cytotoxic action suggests that AMPA₄ enables pepstatin to inhibit the proteolysis of critical CathD substrates involved in cell proliferation via a unique mechanism of action.     

Method to characterize the fire behavior of materials assemblies

The fire behavior of various large samples polymers assemblies is an under‐researched topic. In fire risk assessment, the resultant heat release rate of burning different combustibles has to be known. To highlight interactions between components, 2 types of configurations were tested: juxtaposed and layered materials, using a specific radiant panel setup. For juxtaposed assemblies, results indicated that the more flammable component acted as an accelerator for the global combustion kinetics. For layered assemblies, 2 main phenomena were evidenced: the front material acted as a shield delaying the combustion of the backside material and the presence of a backside material induced a thermal thickening that slowed down the combustion of the front material. The experimental burning behaviors of the assembly were compared with a simulated one calculated from the superposition principle. This method was described by introducing a time offset and/or a slowdown factor in the model, confirmed with the use of different assemblies.     

New alginate foams: Box‐Behnken design of their manufacturing; fire retardant and thermal insulating properties

A new method for preparing alginate foams with progressive release of copper in the presence of sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS, foaming agent) has been designed. Copper acts as the ionotropic gelling agent through the reaction of copper carbonate with gluconolactone. The process does not require freeze‐drying contrarily to the conventional method used for preparing macroporous alginate foams. The new materials investigated in this study have remarkable thermal properties, including thermal conductivity lower than 0.041 W m^?1 K^?1 and low heat release (below 2 kJ g^?1), which allows labeling these foams self‐extinguishing materials. An experimental design methodology, based on a Box‐Behnken plan with three parameters and three levels, is successfully used for evaluating the impact of the amounts of alginate, SLS, and copper carbonate on the productivity, apparent density, and shrinking at air‐drying. It yielded an optimization of the process for the manufacturing of light, and stable/rigid insulating and thermally stable materials. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018 , 135, 45868.     

The effect of aluminum alkyls and BHT‐H on reaction kinetics of silica supported metallocenes and polymer properties in slurry phase ethylene polymerization

In slurry and gas phase catalytic ethylene polymerization processes, aluminum alkyl (AlR₃) compounds are usually present inside the reactor and their role either as co‐catalyst or scavenger is of considerable importance. Silica supported metallocene/methyl aluminoxane (MAO) catalysts show specific interactions with AlR₃ compounds. Therefore, this study shows an attempt to analyze and compare the effect of concentration as well as type of commonly used AlR₃ on slurry phase ethylene homopolymerization kinetics of silica supported (n‐BuCp)₂ZrCl₂/MAO catalyst. The obtained results indicate that the lower the concentration of smaller AlR₃ compounds, the higher the instantaneous catalytic activity. Concerning the polymer particle size distributions, a rise in fines generation has been observed with increasing AlR₃ content inside the reactor. Finally, it has been shown that the addition of 2,6‐di‐tert‐butyl‐4‐methylphenol (a substituted phenol) into the reactor containing AlR₃ reduces the influence of AlR₃ compounds on the reaction kinetics of silica supported metallocene/MAO catalysts. Polyethylene properties remain similar in all the studied scenarios. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018 , 135, 45670.     

Influence of the growth conditions on the defect density of single-walled carbon nanotubes

The influence of the temperature and precursor pressure on the defect density of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) grown by catalytic chemical vapor deposition was studied for several catalyst–precursor couples. The SWCNT defect density was assessed by studying the Raman D band. In situ Raman monitoring was used to determine experimental conditions allowing the preparation of samples free of pyrolytic carbon and not altered by air exposure. The most striking feature is that the Arrhenius plots of the I_G/I_D ratio systematically display a convex shape, i.e. the apparent activation energy decreases with increasing temperature. From HRTEM observations and oxidation experiments, this evolution of the D band features is ascribed to the catalytic growth of long SWCNTs with few defects at high temperature and of short and defective SWCNTs and carbon structures at low temperature. The convex Arrhenius behavior is well accounted by two kinetic models: (i) a model considering a change of intermediate states as a function of the temperature (for instance due to a phase transition of the catalyst particle or a change of intermediate carbon species) and (ii) a model considering a high-temperature process of defect creation (for instance by reaction with reactive gas species).