Crosslinked acrylic pressure‐sensitive adhesives. II. Effect of humidity on the crosslinking reaction

The effect of humidity during storage on the crosslinking reactions of isocyanate groups was investigated with attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy with pressure‐sensitive adhesives composed of poly[ethyl acrylate‐co‐(2‐ethylhexyl acrylate)‐co‐(2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate)] as a base resin and polyisocyanate as a crosslinker. A peak‐resolving analysis of the amide II region revealed four bands. According to an analysis of the Fourier transform infrared spectra of the model compounds, these four bands were assigned to free urethane linkages, hydrogen‐bonded urethane linkages, free urea linkages, and hydrogen‐bonded urea linkages. As expected, storage under humid conditions led to the formation of free and hydrogen‐bonded urea linkages corresponding to the promotion of isocyanate consumption. Peak resolution of the amide II region was found to be a reasonable way of monitoring urethane and urea linkages during crosslinking reactions. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 89: 3039–3045, 2003     

光纤接入网步入快速发展期

光纤接入一直是多年来人们不断追求的梦想和探索的技术方向，但由于成本、技术、需求等方面的障碍，至今还没有得到大规模推广与发展。然而，这种局面最近有了很大的改观，出现可迅速发展的势头。主要是因为一些国家政策的扶持、运营商竞争的需要、对收入的追求，以及设备本身价格的下降，光纤接入技术由于各种原因，至今尚未在全球广泛应用，但在日本、美国、瑞典和意大利等国都获得了较多的应用。在中国，光纤接入也有了良好的开端，将在大城市广泛应用，并逐渐推广到全国。     

Organic‐acid‐catalyzed sol–gel route for preparing poly(methyl methacrylate)–silica hybrid materials

In this study, a series of organic–inorganic hybrid sol–gel materials consisting of a poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) matrix and dispersed silica (SiO₂) particles were successfully prepared through an organic‐acid‐catalyzed sol–gel route with N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone as the mixing solvent. The as‐synthesized PMMA–SiO₂ nanocomposites were subsequently characterized with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The solid phase of organic camphor sulfonic acid was employed to catalyze the hydrolysis and condensation (i.e., sol–gel reactions) of tetraethyl orthosilicate in the PMMA matrix. The formation of the hybrid membranes was beneficial for the physical properties at low SiO₂ loadings, especially for enhanced mechanical strength and gas barrier properties, in comparison with the neat PMMA. The effects of material composition on the thermal stability, thermal conductivity, mechanical strength, molecular permeability, optical clarity, and surface morphology of the as‐prepared hybrid PMMA–SiO₂ nanocomposites in the form of membranes were investigated with thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, dynamic mechanical analysis, gas permeability analysis, ultraviolet–visible transmission spectroscopy, and atomic force microscopy, respectively. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008     

Synthesis and thermomechanical characterization of polyurethane elastomers extended with α,ω‐alkane diols

A series of polyurethane (PU) elastomers was prepared by the reaction of poly(?‐caprolactone) and 4,4′‐diphenylmethane diisocyanate, which was extended with a series of chain extenders (CEs) having 2–10 methylene units in their structure. The completion of the reaction was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The chemical structures of the synthesized PU samples were characterized with Fourier transform infrared, ¹H‐NMR, and ¹³C‐NMR spectroscopy, and the thermal properties were determined by thermogravimetric analysis, DSC, and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis techniques. The mechanical properties were also studied and are discussed. The thermogravimetric analysis and DSC analysis showed that CE length had a considerable effect on the thermal properties of the prepared samples. The dynamic mechanical thermal analysis and damping peaks were also affected by the number of methylene units in the CE length. The elastomer extended with 1,2‐ethane diol exhibited optimum thermal properties, whereas the elastomer based on 1,10‐decane diol displayed the worst thermal properties. Tensile strength and elongation at break decreased with increasing CE length, whereas hardness showed the opposite trend. The glass‐transition temperature moved toward lower temperatures with increasing CE length. The decrease in the glass‐transition temperature and tensile properties were interpreted in terms of decreasing hard segments and increasing chain flexibility. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008     

Fischer-Tropsch synthesis on Fe-Mn ultrafine catalysts

The Fischer-Tropsch (FT) synthesis on Fe-Mn ultrafine catalysts prepared by a special degradation method of Fe-Mn complexes is presented. The effects of preparation method and Mn content on the FT performance are examined and the active phases and the role of Mn are elucidated.     

Strong dependence on pressure of the performance of a Co/SiO2 catalyst in Fischer–Tropsch slurry reactor synthesis

A 10 wt% Co/SiO₂ catalyst was prepared by the incipient wet-impregnation method and tested in Fischer–Tropsch synthesis in a slurry reactor under conditions approaching industrial practice. The catalyst precursor was investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), temperature-programmed reduction (TPR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The XPS and XRD techniques revealed the presence of a crystalline Co₃O₄ spinel-type phase, while-in addition-TEM and XPS analyses pointed to the formation of another amorphous Co₃O₄ spinel phase, both species interacting weakly with the silica substrate. The influence of total pressure on the conversion, selectivity and stability of the catalyst was studied. Upon increasing the overall pressure from 20 to 40 bar, not only activity increased but also the catalyst are not deactivating. These results are explained in terms of an increase of gases solubility in the solvent, this increment of CO concentration in the liquid phase favours carbonyl species formation and the cobalt particles segregation that implies an increase in the metal surface area.     

Surface chemistry and mechanical property changes of wood‐flour/high‐density‐polyethylene composites after accelerated weathering

Although wood–plastic composites have become more accepted and used in recent years and are promoted as low‐maintenance, high‐durability building products, they do experience a color change and a loss in mechanical properties with accelerated weathering. In this study, we attempted to characterize the modulus‐of‐elasticity (MOE) loss of photostabilized high‐density polyethylene (HDPE) and composites of wood flour and high‐density polyethylene (WF/HDPE) with accelerated weathering. We then examined how weathering changed the surface chemistry of the composites and looked at whether or not the surface changes were related to the MOE loss. By examining surface chemistry changes, we hoped to begin to understand what caused the weathering changes. The materials were left unstabilized or were stabilized with either an ultraviolet absorber or pigment. After 1000 and 2000 h of accelerated weathering, the samples were tested for MOE loss. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was employed to monitor carbonyl and vinyl group formation at the surface. Changes in the HDPE crystallinity were also determined with FTIR techniques. It was determined that structural changes in the samples (carbonyl group formation, terminal vinyl group formation, and crystallinity changes) could not be reliably used to predict changes in MOE with a simple linear relationship. This indicated that the effects of crosslinking, chain scission, and crystallinity changes due to ultraviolet exposure and interfacial degradation due to moisture exposure were interrelated factors for the weathering of HDPE and WF/HDPE composites. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 94: 2263–2273, 2004     

Characterization of ramie yarn treated with sodium hydroxide and crosslinked by 1,2,3,4‐butanetetracarboxylic acid

Ramie yarns were treated with various concentrations of NaOH at room temperature and subsequently crosslinked with 1,2,3,4‐butanetetracarboxylic acid (BTCA). The microstructure and tensile properties of the treated yarns were characterized. X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and FTIR were used to study the crystalline structure of the resultant ramie yarns. The results showed that the maximum change in the structure of the alkali‐modified ramie took place at 16% NaOH, which would completely transform cellulose I to cellulose II. At the same time, the crystallinity index and fiber orientation decreased to the minimum value while the absorption properties were enhanced. The average degree of polymerization (DP ) of the treated ramie yarns slightly decreased after NaOH treatment. Tensile properties including tenacity, breaking elongation, and modulus of the treated yarns were also investigated. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to investigate the breakage of the treated yarns. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 91: 1857–1864, 2004     

Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis over Modified Cobalt Catalysts

The catalysts of Co/Zr-SiO2 were prepared by precipitation and the promoter of Pt was supported by impregnation. The reducibility of the cobalt oxide and the other physicochemical properties of the catalysts were characterized by TPR, TPD, BET and XPS. With the evaluation of the reduction temperature, the reduction degree increased but the surface area of the catalysts and the adsorption property for reactant CO distinctly decreased; The addition of Pt resulted in the improvement of the reducibility by decreasing the reduction temperature of cobalt oxide species. The FT-synthesis has been performed in a quartz fixed-bed reactor, and the experimental results showed that the best activity for promoted catalyst has been found at the reduction temperature of 400℃, in spite of its uncompleted reduction.     

RF sputter deposition of poly(tetrafluoroethylene) films as masking materials for silicon micromachining

Polymers have been studied extensively because of their wonderful array of properties. Their properties can be tailored by many means and can be made useful in many ways. Polymers can be crosslinked or branched and can provide different properties, such as conduction and passivation. This study dealt with the RF sputter deposition of poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE) films with the aim of using them as masking materials during the fabrication of various micromachined structures. The films were deposited on silicon substrates at different plasma powers (100, 150, and 200 W) for a constant deposition time (60 min). To test the masking properties, the deposited films were immersed in a 20 wt % aqueous KOH solution at 80°C for 60 min. The films showed lower contact angles and interfacial tension, and this indicated good adhesion of the films to the silicon substrates. Good adhesion is an essential quality of masking materials during micromachining. The structural properties of the as‐deposited and etched films were studied with Fourier transform infrared and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. These indicated that the bonding groups and binding energies of C? F and C? CF matched the reported values well. Furthermore, the presence of C? F and C? CF bonds, even after the etching of silicon substrates in highly alkaline KOH solutions for 60 min, showed that the PTFE films remained unchanged in the etchant and, therefore, could function as good masking materials during the fabrication of micromachined structures. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 91: 1183–1192, 2004