EXAFS Analysis of Size-Constrained Semiconducting Materials

Semiconducting materials such as CdSe, CdS, PbS and GaP are included in crystalline zeolite Y and mordenite and structurally flexible ethylene-methacrylic acid copolymer solid matrices. EXAFS analysis reveals formation of species with dimensions of molecular size up to ca. 13 A in the crystalline hosts, while the polymer matrices allow agglomeration of larger semiconducting particles. Zeolite anchored structures are distinctively different to small particles with bulk crystal structure as usually found in colloidal systems

The influence of endogenous surfactant on the structure and drug-release properties of Eudragit NE30D-matrixes

The influence of an endogenous surfactant present in Eudragit NE30D on the structure and drug release (clenbuterol) properties of thin matrices has been examined. Both drug-free and drug-loaded matrices were found to be non-isotropic in structure, the former having a marbled appearance under the polarising light microscope, and the latter showing numerous needle-shaped crystals. At loading above approx. 10% w/w clenbuterol it was also possible to observe aggregates of the drug. Differential scanning calorimetry enabled the identification of melting peaks at approx. 50°C for the needle-shaped crystals and approx. 80°C for the larger drug aggregates. The former are composed of a surfactant used by the manufacturer for the synthesis of Eudragit NE30D by emulsion polymerization. This surfactant undergoes a phase separation from the polymer on storage at room temperature. It could, however, be extracted from the polymer by refluxing in water to yield an isotropic system. The extract showed a melting peak at 50°C and also UV, IR, NMR, and mass spectra in accordance with an o-substituted nonyl phenol surfactant. Matrices prepared from the purified Eudragit NE30D showed drug release rates of only one third the magnitude of those found with matrices prepared from the raw polymer. Substantially reduced scatter in the release data was also found with the purified polymer

Natural fiber reinforced polymer composites

The use of natural fibers as a reinforcement for various materials was recorded already in ancient Egypt; however, their rediscovery can be dated to the beginning of 20th century. Currentspecial issueisdevoted to theroleofnatural fibersas reinforcements for various biodegradable and nonbiodegradable polymer matrices. The application of natural fillers can be seen as an approach to adjust material performance of polymer composites supposing that filler/matrix interactions will be optimized and a hygroscopicity of natural fillers will be hindered. This special issue contains 16 papers that highlight a number of reasons for applications of natural fillers in polymer composites. In recent years the discussion about a balance in carbon footprint increased an attractiveness of natural fibers/fillers derived from agricultural sources predominantly from one-year plants

Towards a robust algorithm to determine topological domains from colocalization data

One of the most important tasks in understanding the complex spatial organization of the genome consists in extracting information about this spatial organization, the function and structure of chromatin topological domains from existing experimental data, in particular, from genome colocalization (Hi-C) matrices. Here we present an algorithm allowing to reveal the underlying hierarchical domain structure of a polymer conformation from analyzing the modularity of colocalization matrices. We also test this algorithm on several model polymer structures: equilibrium globules, random fractal globules and regular fractal (Peano) conformations. We define what we call a spectrum of cluster borders, and show that these spectra behave strikingly differently for equilibrium and fractal conformations, allowing us to suggest an additional criterion to identify fractal polymer conformations

Evaluation of experimental epoxy monomers

Future generation aircraft need higher performance polymer matrices to fully achieve the weight savings possible with composite materials. New resins are being formulated in an effort to understand basic polymer behavior and to develop improved resins. Some polymer/curing agent combinations that could be useful are difficult to process. In the area of epoxies, a major problem is that some components have physical properties which make them difficult to utilize as matrix resins. A previous study showed that the use of ultrasonic energy can be advantageous in the mixing of curing agents into a standard epoxy resin, such as MY 720 (Ciba-Geigy designation). This work is expanded to include three novel epoxides

Suppressing molecular motions for enhanced room-temperature phosphorescence of metal-free organic materials

Metal-free organic phosphorescent materials are attractive alternatives to the predominantly used organometallic phosphors but are generally dimmer and are relatively rare, as, without heavy-metal atoms, spin-orbit coupling is less efficient and phosphorescence usually cannot compete with radiationless relaxation processes. Here we present a general design rule and a method to effectively reduce radiationless transitions and hence greatly enhance phosphorescence efficiency of metal-free organic materials in a variety of amorphous polymer matrices, based on the restriction of molecular motions in the proximity of embedded phosphors. Covalent cross-linking between phosphors and polymer matrices via Diels-Alder click chemistry is devised as a method. A sharp increase in phosphorescence quantum efficiency is observed in a variety of polymer matrices with this method, which is ca. two to five times higher than that of phosphor-doped polymer systems having no such covalent linkage.ope

Ethynyl terminated ester oligomers and polymers therefrom

A new class of ethynyl-terminated oligomers and the process for preparing same are disclosed. Upon the application of heat, with or without a catalyst, the ethynyl groups react to provide crosslinking and chain extension to increase the polymer use temperature and improve the polymer solvent resistance. These improved polyesters are potentially useful in packaging, magnetic tapes, capacitors, industrial belting, protective coatings, structural adhesives and composite matrices

Styrene-divinylbenzene copolymers. Construction of porosity in styrene divinylbenzene matrices

Experimental data are presented describing the formation of porosity in styrene-divinylbenzene copolymers as a function of the organic components present during the suspension polymerization. The reaction system contains a mixture of diluents such as toluene and hexane, which results in matrices that differ significantly in pore structure from the porous resins so far known. From these data a model of the physical structure is proposed

On thermal phase structure of deformed Gross-Neveu model

We illustrate the phase structure of a deformed two-dimensional Gross-Neveu model which is defined by undeformed field contents plus deformed Pauli matrices. This deformation is based on two motives to find a more general polymer model and to estimate how $q$-deformed field theory affects on its effective potential. There found some regions where chiral symmetry breaking and restoration take place repeatedly as temperature increasing.Comment: 13 pages plus 6 figure