Photodegradation mechanism and stabilization of polyphenylene oxide and rigid‐rod polymers

Poly(2,4‐dimethyl‐1,4‐phenylene oxide) (PPO), poly(benzo[1,2‐d:5,4‐d′]bisoxazole‐2,6‐diyl‐1,4‐phenylene) (PBO) and poly(benzo[1,2‐d:4,5‐d′]bisthiazole‐2,6‐diyl‐1,4‐phenylene) (PBZT), which are polymers with extended conjugated structures, undergo a self‐sensitized photo‐induced electron‐transfer reaction. A second component is not required. This article presents many similar observations on these polymers when they are exposed to light and evidence to support the proposed photo‐induced electron‐transfer mechanism. Methods to stabilize these polymers against photo‐oxidation are also described. Workers investigating other conjugated polymeric systems may find the experimental methods, observations and polymer stabilization approaches discussed in this review useful. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry     

Mechanical properties and thermal stability of rice husk ash filled epoxy foams

Mechanical properties and thermal stability of epoxy foams filled with white and black rice husk ash were studied. Epoxy foams were prepared from a commercial system and filled with different amounts of both the ashes (0, 6.8, 12.8, 18.0, and 22.7 wt %). The incorporation of both the ashes modified the final morphology of the foam, decreasing the average cell size and increasing the number of cells per volume unit. For all filler percentages used, the specific modulus and strength results showed that the white ash is more effective as reinforcing agent than the black ash. The initial degradation temperature was not affected by the content and type of ash used as the filler. The integral procedure decomposition temperature, weight loss, and char residue results were related to the ash type and atmosphere used in the thermogravimetric analysis. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2006     

Novel blood-compatible waterborne polyurethane using chitosan as an extender

A series of novel block polymers of polyurethane (PU) and chitosan have been prepared in two steps. The first step is the preparation of PU prepolymer, obtained from polytetramethylene oxide glycol (PTMO, M_n = 1000), isophrone diisocyanate (IPDI), and 2,2′-dimethylol propionic acid (DMPA), followed by ionizing PU prepolymer with triethylamine (TEA). The second step involves PU chain-extended by water-soluble chitosan of low molecular weight (M_n = 5000) by self-emulsion polymerization method. The sizes of the latex particles, morphology, and copolymer architecture have been characterized by dynamic light scattering (DLS), general tensile test, infrared spectroscopy (IR), surface contact angle measurement, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Furthermore, it shows that the addition of chitosan remarkably increases anticoagulative property of PU elastomers confirmed by the recalcification time. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008     

Optically tuned superconductive-dielectric resonators with whispering-gallery modes

An analytical method is presented for calculating the resonant frequency andQ-factor of a superconducting dielectric disk resonator operating in millimeter-wave regime with whispering-gallery mode. Resonant frequency shift due to the optical generation of quasi-particles in superconducting film is investigated as a function of photon flux. An optically tunable resonant frequency of about 500 MHz is estimated, and good agreement is found between numerical results and experimental ones.     

贮存稳定的聚氨酯干式复合胶粘剂的研究

研制了一种具有高固含量、低粘度的干式复合用双组分聚氨酯胶粘剂，考察了聚酯多元醇，扩链剂丙三醇／乙二醇（摩尔比）、NCO／OH（摩尔比），双组分胶配比以及缓凝剂等因素对该胶粘剂性能的影响，并用红外光谱对胶的固化过程进行了表征。结果表明，该胶粘剂具有较高的粘接强度，优良的低温流动性和贮存稳定性。     

Benzylation of thiophene using zinc and iron chloride modified montmorillinite clay

Montmorillinite clays, modified with either Zn(II) or Fe(III) chlorides have been used to catalyze the Friedel-Crafts alkylation of thiophene. High yields (ca. 80%) of 2- and 3-benzylthiophene mixtures were obtained using either catalyst in chlorobenzene or nitrobenzene solvent at 80°C. The ratio of 2–3-products was found to be controlled by their relative stability. Reactions were most rapid in nitrobenzene solution (<5 min) and resulted in formation of the 2-isomer as the only mono-substituted product. This is believed to be the first example in which an alkylation of thiophene has been limited to one regio-isomer.     

Pultruded fibre reinforced polyurethane composites II. Effect of processing parameters on mechanical and thermal properties

This paper presents a novel process for the fabrication of pultruded polyurethane (PU) composites. The effects of the processing parameters on the mechanical properties (flexural strength and flexural modulus, etc.) and thermal properties (HDT) of the fibre reinforced PU composites by pultrusion have been studied. The processing parameters investigated include pulling rate (in-line speed), die temperature, filler type and content, and post-cure time and temperature. Results show that the composites possessed various optimum pulling rates at different die temperatures. On the basis of the DSC diagram, the swelling ratio, the mechanical properties and the thermal properties of composites, the optimum die temperature can be determined. It is found that the mechanical and thermal properties increase with filler content for various types of filler. The mechanical and thermal properties increase at a suitable post-cure temperature and time. Furthermore, the properties which decreased due to the degradation of composite materials for a long post-cure time will be discussed.     

蒙脱土-有机硅复合改性硅烷化聚氨酯密封胶

采用2,4-甲苯二异氰酸酯、聚醚多元醇、蒙脱土、有机硅(α,ω-二羟基聚二甲基硅氧烷)和硅烷偶联剂为原料,制备了有机蒙脱土/聚醚多元醇复合物(OMMT/330N)-有机硅复合改性的硅烷化聚氨酯(SPU)密封胶。通过广角X射线衍射、透射电子显微镜和傅里叶变换红外光谱手段表征了蒙脱土在复合材料中的分散情况,表征结果显示,有机蒙脱土以平均层间距不小于4.12nm的宽分布分散在SPU基体中。同时对密封胶的力学性能进行测试,测试结果表明,经OMMT/330N-有机硅复合改性的SPU密封胶具有性能互补效果,当添加质量分数为5%(基于330N)的OMMT和8%的有机硅时,复合改性的SPU密封胶的拉伸强度和断裂伸长率比纯SPU密封胶提高了65.8%和71.6%。     

Spline-regression estimation of the influence of exposure dose on cancer probability

Spline regression is used to analyze the influence of radiation on the cancer probability in a group of participants of Chernobyl accident mitigation, depending on the exposure dose. A new method is proposed to approximate modified polygons by linear splines with two nodes. An algorithm for the identification of a transition point is outlined. __________ Translated from Kibernetika i Sistemnyi Analiz, No. 3, pp. 168–176, May–June 2006.