Home About us Contact
|
Home About us Contact | ||
|
|
||
Macroscopic Properties (macroscopic + property)
Selected AbstractsRheological behavior of crystallizing palm oilEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF LIPID SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, Issue 10 2006Veerle De Graef Abstract The static isothermal crystallization of palm oil was studied by oscillatory rheology. The phase angle, complex modulus, storage modulus and loss modulus were followed as a function of the crystallization time. Various crystallization temperatures were applied, and the results obtained by oscillatory rheology were compared with crystallization data obtained by more classical techniques like differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and pulsed nuclear magnetic resonance (pNMR). It was shown that oscillatory rheology is a valuable complementary method to DSC and pNMR to evaluate primary crystallization. Like DSC and pNMR, oscillatory rheology is capable of differentiating whether crystallization occurs in a two-stage or a single-stage process. In addition, oscillatory measurements also allow the evaluation of aggregation, network formation and post-hardening events like sintering and thus provide information on the crystal network and the final macroscopic properties of the crystallized sample. [source] Influence of Al-Containing Interfacial Coatings on Carbon-Fiber/Bakelite Composite Thermal and Electrical Properties,ADVANCED ENGINEERING MATERIALS, Issue 5 2009Zeljko Pajkic Polymer-matrix (Bakelite®) composites were produced with coated short carbon fibers as a filler material and characterized in terms of their thermal, electrical, and mechanical properties. The influence of thin, Al-containing ceramic coatings on the composite material's macroscopic properties is discussed, as the composites with interfacial coatings show improvements in some properties, as compared to the ones with uncoated fibers. [source] Producing Supramolecular Functional Materials Based on Fiber Network ReconstructionADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 14 2009Shaokun Tang Abstract Here, the creation of new supramolecular functional materials based on the reconstruction of three-dimensional interconnecting self-organized nanofiber networks by a surfactant is reported. The system under investigation is N -lauroyl- L -glutamic acid di- n -butylamide in propylene glycol. The architecture of networks is implemented in terms of surfactants, e.g. sorbitan monolaurate. The elastic performance of the soft functional material is either weakened or strengthened (up to 300% for the current system) by reconstructing the topology of a fiber network. A topology transition of gel fiber network from spherulite-like to comb-like to spherulite-like is performed with the introduction of this surfactant. The Span 20 molecules are selectively adsorbed on the side surfaces of the crystalline fibers and promote the nucleation of side branches, giving rise to the transformation of the network architecture from spherulite-like topology to comb-like topology. At high surfactant concentrations, the occurrence of micelles may provide an increasing number of nucleation centers for spherulitic growth, leading to the reformation of spherulite-like topology. An analysis on fiber network topology supports and verifies a perfect agreement between the topological behavior and the rheological behavior of the functional materials. The approach identified in this study opens up a completely new avenue in designing and producing self-supporting supramolecular functional materials with designated macroscopic properties. [source] Challenges and Progress in High-Throughput Screening of Polymer Mechanical Properties by IndentationADVANCED MATERIALS, Issue 35 2009Johannes M. Kranenburg Abstract Depth-sensing or instrumented indentation is an experimental characterization approach well-suited for high-throughput investigation of mechanical properties of polymeric materials. This is due to both the precision of force and displacement, and to the small material volumes required for quantitative analysis. Recently, considerable progress in the throughput (number of distinct material samples analyzed per unit time) of indentation experiments has been achieved, particularly for studies of elastic properties. Future challenges include improving the agreement between various macroscopic properties (elastic modulus, creep compliance, loss tangent, onset of nonlinear elasticity, energy dissipation, etc.) and their counterpart properties obtained by indentation. Sample preparation constitutes a major factor for both the accuracy of the results and the speed and efficiency of experimental throughput. It is important to appreciate how this processing step may influence the mechanical properties, in particular the onset of nonlinear elastic or plastic deformation, and how the processing may affect the agreement between the indentation results and their macroscopic analogues. [source] Molecular surface electrostatic potentials in relation to noncovalent interactions in biological systemsINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF QUANTUM CHEMISTRY, Issue 6 2001Peter Politzer Abstract Noncovalent interactions are predominantly electrostatic in nature. It follows that an effective tool for their investigation and elucidation is the electrostatic potential on the molecular surface. We have shown that a variety of condensed phase macroscopic properties can be expressed quantitatively in terms of certain site-specific and global statistical quantities that characterize the overall pattern of the surface potential. We are now extending this approach to interactions in biological systems. Several applications will be discussed, including initial qualitative studies of dioxins, a series of anticonvulsants and some tetracyclines, the nucleotide bases, and a recent quantitative treatment of the anti-HIV activities of three groups of reverse transcriptase inhibitors. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2001 [source] ESR Imaging of Conduction Electrons in Organic ConductorsISRAEL JOURNAL OF CHEMISTRY, Issue 1 2008Elmar Dormann In organic conductors built from stacks of planar aromatic hydrocarbons the mobility of the conduction electrons perpendicular to the radical cation stacks is more than four orders of magnitude smaller than the respective along-the-stack value. Thus the macroscopic properties of real single crystals of such radical cation salts are strongly influenced by the distribution of inevitable defects. Therefore, spatial resolution is required for a meaningful interpretation of the ESR data. Various schemes for 2D and 3D ESR imaging have been realized in the radio frequency and microwave frequency range with a resolution down to 10 m,m. Spatial distribution of spin density, T1, T2, and spin diffusion coefficient D were recorded, often as a function of temperature. The conducting-chain length distribution was observed. Our first attempts for the imaging of the integral and the spatially distributed carrier motion caused by an applied electric current were successful. [source] Nondestructive characterization of ferrofluids by wide-angle synchrotron light diffraction: crystalline structure and size distribution of colloidal nanoparticlesJOURNAL OF APPLIED CRYSTALLOGRAPHY, Issue 5 2008Alexei Vorobiev The combination of magnetic and nonmagnetic interactions between the colloidal particles in ferrofluids results in various local inter-particle correlations that, in turn, change the macroscopic properties of the whole system. Therefore, characterization of the particle ensemble is a crucial point, allowing optimization of a ferrofluid for a particular application. Here it is shown how the crystal structure of the particles can be easily obtained in a fast synchrotron light diffraction experiment without any special treatment of the ferrofluid sample. Moreover, from the same diffraction patterns, such important parameters as particle mean size and dispersion are retrieved; these are compared with the corresponding parameters obtained from electron microscopy data. A particular problem of magnetite,maghemite transformation in nanoparticles stabilized by the surfactant shell is pointed out. [source] Influence of a novel castor-oil-derived additive on the mechanical properties and oxygen diffusivity of polystyreneJOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE, Issue 3 2010Markus Klinger Abstract Mechanical properties, densities, and oxygen diffusion coefficients have been measured in polystyrene samples (PS) as a function of additive loading. The additive employed is based on castor oil, and is a desirable alternative to phthalates. Tensile strength measurements indicate the additive renders PS stronger at low loadings, i.e. it antiplasticizes the material. In contrast, the additive plasticizes PS at high loadings. Specific volumes and oxygen diffusion coefficients do not show this dual behavior. Rather, one observes a monotonic decrease in density and oxygen diffusivity with an increase in additive loading. This suggests that the larger segmental motions responsible for the macroscopic properties of the polymer are influenced by the additive in a different manner than the local motions and confined changes in free volume that govern the mobility of oxygen. These data indicate that antiplasticization cannot be predicted solely from diffusivity and density measurements and, vice versa, trends in diffusivity cannot be deduced from mechanical measurements alone. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010 [source] Density functional theory for chemical engineering: From capillarity to soft materialsAICHE JOURNAL, Issue 3 2006Jianzhong Wu Abstract Understanding the microscopic structure and macroscopic properties of condensed matter from a molecular perspective is important for both traditional and modern chemical engineering. A cornerstone of such understanding is provided by statistical mechanics, which bridges the gap between molecular events and the structural and physiochemical properties of macro- and mesoscopic systems. With ever-increasing computer power, molecular simulations and ab initio quantum mechanics are promising to provide a nearly exact route to accomplishing the full potential of statistical mechanics. However, in light of their versatility for solving problems involving multiple length and timescales that are yet unreachable by direct simulations, phenomenological and semiempirical methods remain relevant for chemical engineering applications in the foreseeable future. Classical density functional theory offers a compromise: on the one hand, it is able to retain the theoretical rigor of statistical mechanics and, on the other hand, similar to a phenomenological method, it demands only modest computational cost for modeling the properties of uniform and inhomogeneous systems. Recent advances are summarized of classical density functional theory with emphasis on applications to quantitative modeling of the phase and interfacial behavior of condensed fluids and soft materials, including colloids, polymer solutions, nanocomposites, liquid crystals, and biological systems. Attention is also given to some potential applications of density functional theory to material fabrications and biomolecular engineering. © 2005 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2006 [source] Structure and drug release in a crosslinked poly(ethylene oxide) hydrogelJOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES, Issue 5 2007Boris Y. Shekunov Abstract Hydrogels are a continuously expanding class of pharmaceutical polymers designed for sustained or controlled drug release. The structure and intermolecular interactions in such systems define their macroscopic properties. The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanism of swelling, drug impregnation, and drug release from poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) gel crosslinked by urethane bonds. A combination of SAXS/WAXS/SANS techniques enabled us to determine the phase transition between lamellar and extended gel network, and to apply different descriptions of crystallinity, based on lamellar and crystal lattice structures. It is shown that even low (1,7% w/w) loading of model drugs acetaminophen and caffeine, produced significant disorder in the polymer matrix. This effect was particularly pronounced for acetaminophen due to its specific ability to form complexes with PEO. The drug-release profiles were analyzed using a general cubic equation, proposed for this work, which allowed us to determine the gel hydration velocity. The results indicate that the release profiles correlate inversely with the polymer crystallinity. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association J Pharm Sci 96: 1320,1330, 2007 [source] Measuring anisotropic thermal conduction in polyisobutylene following step shear strainsAICHE JOURNAL, Issue 3 2000Hadjira Iddir The connection between polymer chain orientation and several macroscopic properties in a polymer melt was studied using mechanical and optical techniques. Anisotropic thermal conductivity following shear deformation was measured using forced Rayleigh light scattering, the refractive index tensor is followed using birefringence measurements, and the stress was measured mechanically in a parallel-plate rheometer. The thermal diffusivity measured in the flow and neutral directions increased and decreased, respectively, immediately following the deformation. These quantities then relaxed to the equilibrium value on the time-scale of the stress-relaxation memory. Comparison of the difference between measured flow and neutral direction thermal diffusivities with the analogous flow-induced birefringence in the same deformation provided indirect evidence for a linear relation between stress and thermal diffusivity at two different values of strain. Mechanical measurements were used to characterize the memory of the fluid. [source] Shape-memory polymer networks from oligo(,-caprolactone)dimethacrylatesJOURNAL OF POLYMER SCIENCE (IN TWO SECTIONS), Issue 7 2005Andreas Lendlein Abstract Polymer networks showing a thermally induced shape-memory effect were prepared through the crosslinking of oligo(,-caprolactone)dimethacrylates under photocuring with or without an initiator. The influence of the molecular weight of the oligo(,-caprolactone)dimethacrylates and the initiator concentration on the macroscopic properties of the polymer networks was investigated. The isothermal and nonisothermal crystallization behavior of the polymer networks was evaluated as a basic principle of the functionalization process. Shape-memory properties such as the strain fixity and strain recovery rate were quantified with cyclic thermomechanical tensile experiments for different maximum elongations. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 1369,1381, 2005 [source] Middle school students' beliefs about matterJOURNAL OF RESEARCH IN SCIENCE TEACHING, Issue 5 2005Mary B. Nakhleh The objective of this study was to examine middle school students' developing understanding of the nature of matter and to compare middle school students' ideas to those of elementary schools students, as was done by Nakhleh and Samarapungavan [J Res Sci Teach 36(7):777,805, 1999]. Nine middle school students were interviewed using a scripted, semistructured interview. The interview probed students' understanding of the composition and particulate (atomic/molecular) structure of a variety of material substances; the relationship between particulate structure and macroscopic properties such as fluidity and malleability; as well as understanding of processes such as phase transition and dissolving. The results indicate that most of the middle school students interviewed knew that matter was composed of atoms and molecules and some of them were able to use this knowledge to explain some processes such as phase transitions of water. In contrast, almost no elementary students knew that matter was composed of atoms and molecules. However, the middle school students were unable to consistently explain material properties or processes based on their knowledge of material composition. In contrast to elementary school students, who had scientifically inaccurate but relatively consistent (macrocontinuous or macroparticulate) knowledge frameworks, the middle school students could not be classified as having consistent knowledge frameworks because their ideas were very fragmented. The fragmentation of middle school students' ideas about matter probably reflects the difficulty of assimilating the microscopic level scientific knowledge acquired through formal instruction into students' initial macroscopic knowledge frameworks. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source] GC-MS and 13C NMR Investigation of Lead Zirconate Titanate Precursor Sols for Fiber PreparationJOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CERAMIC SOCIETY, Issue 2 2007Mei Zhang Different macroscopic properties of PZT fibers have been obtained when using acetic acid and methacrylic acid to modify the PZT precursor. In order to clarify the role of the acids the molecular structure of the acidified PZT precursors was investigated and compared by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, Fourier transform infrared, 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy (solution and solid state 13C NMR) and the reason for obtaining long PZT fibers is discussed. The results indicate that when methacrylic acid was used, long gel and ceramic fibers have been obtained because strongly co-ordinating carboxylate groups of methacrylic acid were formed. Linear chains, like those of methacrylic acid propyl ester and methacrylic acetate, have been formed in the PZT precursor sols. In addition, after heat treatment the polymer decomposed quickly so that pure perovskite could be obtained at low temperature in the PZT fibers. When acetic acid was used short fibers were obtained. Acetic acid may act as chelate agent to form oxo acetate in the precursors; this oxo acetate nature also resulted in PZT fibers drawing. However, the longest gel and ceramic fibers have been prepared from precursors with methacrylic acid. [source] A Nonequilibrium Statistical Mechanical Model of Structural Relaxation in GlassJOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CERAMIC SOCIETY, Issue 3 2006John C. Mauro We derive a new model of structural relaxation in glass based on nonequilibrium statistical mechanics and the Stillinger model of inherent structures. Our model follows the evolution of a system from its equilibrium liquid state through an arbitrary cooling path and allows for the computation of macroscopic properties as a function of time. Using this new model, we have numerically demonstrated for the first time the connection between the topography of a potential energy landscape in 1-D and its corresponding fragility. [source] Automated Raman Spectroscopy as a Tool for the High-Throughput Characterization of Molecular Structure and Mechanical Properties of PolyethylenesMACROMOLECULAR RAPID COMMUNICATIONS, Issue 1 2003Claus Gabriel Abstract Raman spectroscopy, which does not require a time-consuming sample preparation, is described as an analytical tool for the high-throughput characterization of polyethylenes. The content of comonomer and the amount of methyl groups per 1,000 carbon atoms of polyethylenes can be predicted from Raman spectra using multivariate data analysis. In addition, macroscopic properties, such as density and elastic modulus as well as yield stress, can be derived from Raman spectra. Raman spectra of selected metallocene-catalyzed polyethylenes of different comonomer content. [source] Piezoresponse imaging and local characterization of ferroelectric domains in Pb(Zn1/3Nb2/3)O3,7%PbTiO3 single crystalsPHYSICA STATUS SOLIDI - RAPID RESEARCH LETTERS, Issue 2 2007H. R. Zeng Abstract Ferroelectric domain structures of (001)-oriented Pb(Zn1/3Nb2/3)O3,7%PbTiO3 (PZN-7%PT) single crystals were visualized and characterized by piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM). Locally regular domain configurations are found to be possibly related to the stable macroscopic properties in the PZN-7%PT single crystals. Nanoscale piezoresponse hysteresis loops measured by PFM tip revealed no evidence of local domain switching behavior in the PZN-7%PT single crystal. (© 2007 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source] Hydration of polysaccharide hyaluronan observed by IR spectrometry.BIOPOLYMERS, Issue 1 2003Abstract This article is the first one in a series dedicated to the study of hyaluronan as observed by IR spectrometry. The goal is to determine its hydration mechanism and the structural changes this mechanism implies. Hyaluronan is a natural polysaccharide that is widely used in biomedical applications and cosmetics. Its macroscopic properties are significantly dependent on its degree of hydration. In this article we record the IR spectrum of a several micron thick dried film and deduce that four or five residual H2O molecules remain around each disaccharide repeat unit in the dried film. We then compare the spectra of sodium hyaluronan and its acid form to assign vibrational bands linked to the carboxylate group. We proceed with a qualitative analysis of the spectral changes induced by changes of temperature and hygroscopicity, two independent parameters that act by modifying the hydrogen bond network of the sample. This enables us to assign most of the vibrational bands of the hydrophilic groups and to distinguish the bands that are due to these hydrophilic groups when they are or are not hydrogen bonded. It constitutes a prerequisite for the quantitative analysis of hydration spectra that will be described in the following articles of this series. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers (Biospectroscopy) 72: 10,20, 2003 [source] Self-Assembly of Two-Component Gels: Stoichiometric Control and Component SelectionCHEMISTRY - A EUROPEAN JOURNAL, Issue 2 2009Andrew Abstract Two-component systems capable of self-assembling into soft gel-phase materials are of considerable interest due to their tunability and versatility. This paper investigates two-component gels based on a combination of a L -lysine-based dendron and a rigid diamine spacer (1,4-diaminobenzene or 1,4-diaminocyclohexane). The networked gelator was investigated using thermal measurements, circular dichroism, NMR spectroscopy and small angle neutron scattering (SANS) giving insight into the macroscopic properties, nanostructure and molecular-scale organisation. Surprisingly, all of these techniques confirmed that irrespective of the molar ratio of the components employed, the "solid-like" gel network always consisted of a 1:1 mixture of dendron/diamine. Additionally, the gel network was able to tolerate a significant excess of diamine in the "liquid-like" phase before being disrupted. In the light of this observation, we investigated the ability of the gel network structure to evolve from mixtures of different aromatic diamines present in excess. We found that these two-component gels assembled in a component-selective manner, with the dendron preferentially recognising 1,4 - diaminobenzene (>70,%), when similar competitor diamines (1,2- and 1,3-diaminobenzene) are present. Furthermore, NMR relaxation measurements demonstrated that the gel based on 1,4-diaminobenzene was better able to form a selective ternary complex with pyrene than the gel based on 1,4-diaminocyclohexane, indicative of controlled and selective ,,, interactions within a three-component assembly. As such, the results in this paper demonstrate how component selection processes in two-component gel systems can control hierarchical self-assembly. [source] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||