The infra-red spectra and molecular configurations of polyamides

Transient Confinement of the Quaternary Tetramethylammonium Tetrafluoroborate Salt in Nylon 6,6 Fibres: Structural Developments for High Performance Properties

A temporary confinement of the quaternary tetramethylammonium tetrafluoroborate (TMA BF₄) salt among polyamide molecules has been used for the preparation of aliphatic polyamide nylon 6,6 fibres with high-modulus and high-strength properties. In this method, the suppression or the weakening of the hydrogen bonds between the nylon 6,6 segments has been applied during the conventional low-speed melt spinning process. Thereafter, after the complete hot-drawing stage, the quaternary ammonium salt is fully extracted from the drawn 3 wt.% salt-confined fibres and the nascent fibres are, subsequently, thermally stabilized. The structural developments that are acquired in the confined-nylon 6,6 fibres are ascribed to the developments of the overall fibres' properties due to the confinement process. Surprisingly, unlike the neat nylon 6,6 fibres, the X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns of the as-spun salt-confined fibres have shown diminishing of the (110)/(010) diffraction plane that obtained pseudohexagonal-like β' structural phase. Moreover, the β' pseudohexagonal-like to α triclinic phase transitions took-place due to the hot-drawing stage (draw-induced phase transitions). Interestingly, the hot-drawing of the as-spun salt-confined nylon 6,6 fibres achieved the same maximum draw ratio of 5.5 at all of the drawing temperatures of 120, 140 and 160 °C. The developments that happened produced the improved values of 43.32 cN/dtex for the tensile-modulus and 6.99 cN/dtex for the tensile-strength of the reverted fibres. The influences of the TMA BF₄ salt on the structural developments of the crystal orientations, on the morphological structures and on the improvements of the tensile properties of the nylon 6,6 fibres have been intensively studied.

Crystal transition and thermal behavior of Nylon 12

The polyamide 12 (PA12) with different crystal forms is prepared with three crystallization paths. The crystal structures and corresponding thermal properties are systematically investigated. The results reveal that an α-form and a mixed (α + γ)-form of PA12 can be obtained by casting at 30°C and (40–80°C), respectively. Meanwhile, the γ-form of PA12 can be obtained by both casting at 90°C and slow melt cooling. However, the γ′-form is obtained only by melt quenching. Both the γ and γ′ forms of PA12 exhibit a single melting peak, whereas the α-form exhibits two melting peaks. The higher peak is attributed to the melting of γ-PA12, which originates from the melting–recrystallization of the α-PA12. It is found that the tensile properties of PA12 depend on the crystal forms. Both the γ and γ′-PA12 are strong and tough polymer materials, while α-PA12 is a strong but brittle polymer material.

Rediscovery of nylon upgraded by interactive biorenewable nano-fillers

Inorganic nanomaterials can only stiffen nylon with a significant loss of its toughness and ductility. Furthermore, they are not eco-friendly. In this study, the facile tuning of nylon's mechanical properties from stiff to tough was achieved, using cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) and chitosan nanowhiskers (CSW) as biorenewable fillers. The interaction between the matrix and filler was controlled by varying the types of fillers and the employed processing methods, including in situ interfacial polymerization and post-solution blending. Particularly with CSW, the in situ-incorporated filler with a 0.4 wt% loading strengthened nylon and led to a 1.9-fold increase in its Young's modulus (2.6 GPa) and a 1.7-fold increase in its ultimate tensile strength (106 MPa), whereas the solution-blended filler with a 0.3 wt% loading toughened the polymer with a 2.1-fold increase (104 MJ m^-3). Compared with inorganic nanocomposites, these interactive biofiller-nanocomposites are unrivaled in their reinforcing performance when normalized by filler content. This stiff-to-tough tuning trend is more pronounced in the CSW system than in the CNC system. Covalent polymer grafts on the amine surface of CSW enhanced interfacial interactions in the in situ method, whereas its cationic surface charges plasticized the polymer matrix in the blending method. This proteinaceous composite-mimicking all-organic nylon nanocomposite opens new possibilities in the field of reinforced engineering plastics.

Stability of CH3NCO in astronomical ices under energetic processing. A laboratory study

Methyl isocyanate (CH3NCO) was recently found in hot cores and suggested on comet 67P/CG. The incorporation of this molecule into astrochemical networks requires data on its formation and destruction. In this work, ices of pure CH3NCO and of CH3NCO(4-5%)/H2O mixtures deposited at 20 K were irradiated with a UV D2 lamp (120-400 nm) and bombarded by 5 keV electrons to mimic the secondary electrons produced by cosmic rays (CRs). The destruction of CH3NCO was studied using IR spectroscopy. After processing, the νa-NCO band of CH3NCO disappeared and IR bands corresponding to CO, CO2, OCN- and HCN/CN- appeared instead. The products of photon and electron processing were very similar. Destruction cross sections and half-life doses were derived from the measurements. Water ice provides a good shield against UV irradiation (half-life dose of ~ 64 eV molecule-1 for CH3NCO in water-ice), but not so good against high-energy electrons (half-life dose ~ 18 eV molecule-1). It was also found that CH3NCO does not react with H2O over the 20-200 K temperature range. These results indicate that hypothetical CH3NCO in the ices of dense clouds should be stable against UV photons and relatively stable against CRs over the lifetime of a cloud (~ 107 yr), and could sublime in the hot core phase. On the surface of a Kuiper belt object (the original location of comet 67P/CG) the molecule would be swiftly destroyed, both by photons and CRs, but embedded below just 10 μm of water-ice, the molecule could survive for ~ 109 yr.

Silarylene-containing oligo(ether-amide)s based on bis(4-(4-amino phenoxy)phenyl)dimethylsilane. Effect of the dicarboxylic acid structure on some properties

Inherent viscosity and MALDI-TOF analyses suggest the formation of oligomeric chains with sequences A–B, (A–B)₂ and (A–B)₃. The properties and therefore the eventual applications of these materials are modulated by the flexibility and the aromatic content of the chains.

Area selective molecular layer deposition of polyurea films

Patterned organic thin films with submicrometer features are of great importance in applications such as nanoelectronics and optoelectronics. We present here a new approach for creating patterned organic films using area selective molecular layer deposition (MLD). MLD is a technique that allows for conformal deposition of nanoscale organic thin films with exceptional control over vertical thickness and composition. By expanding the technique to allow for area selective MLD, lateral patterning of the film can be achieved. In this work, polyurea thin films were deposited by alternating pulses of 1,4-phenylenediisocyanate (PDIC) and ethylenediamine (ED) in a layer-by-layer fashion with a linear growth rate of 5.3 Å/cycle. Studies were carried out to determine whether self-assembled monolayer (SAM) formed from octadecyltrichlorosilane (ODTS) could block MLD on silicon substrates. Results show that the MLD process is impeded by the SAM. To test lateral patterning in MLD, SAMs were patterned onto silicon substrates using two different approaches. In one approach, SiO2-coated Si(100) substrates were patterned with an ODTS SAM by soft lithography in a well-controlled environment. In the second approach, patterned ODTS SAM was formed on H-Si/SiO2 patterned wafers by employing the chemically selective adsorption of ODTS on SiO2 over H-Si. Auger electron spectroscopy results revealed that the polyurea film is deposited predominantly on the ODTS-free regions of both patterned substrates, indicating sufficient blocking of MLD by the ODTS SAM layer to replicate the pattern. The method we describe here offers a novel approach for fabricating high quality, three-dimensional organic structures.

Vibrational and scaled quantum chemical study of O,O-dimethyl S-methylcarbamoylmethyl phosphorodithioate, dimethoate

Infrared and Raman spectra of O,O-dimethyl S-methylcarbamoylmethylphosphorodithioate, dimethoate, have been recorded. Density functional theory, DFT, with the B3LYP functional was used for the optimization of the ground state geometry and simulation of the infrared and Raman spectra of this molecule. Calculated geometrical parameters fit very well with the experimental ones. Based on the recorded data, the DFT results and a normal coordinate analysis based on a scaled quantum mechanical (SQM) force field approach, a complete vibrational assignment was made for the first time.

2D IR provides evidence for mobile water molecules in beta-amyloid fibrils

The motion of water molecules close to amide groups causes their vibrational frequencies to vary rapidly in time. These variations are uniquely sensed by 2-dimensional infrared spectroscopy (2D IR). Here, it is proposed from 2-dimensional experiments on fibrils of amyloid beta (Abeta)40 that there are water molecules in the fibrils. The spatial locations of the water (D(2)O) were inferred from the responses of 18 amide modes of Abeta40 labeled with (13)C = (18)O. Fast frequency variations were found for residues L17 and V18 and for the apposed residues L34 and V36, suggesting cavities or channels containing mobile water molecules can form between the 2 sheets. Spectroscopic analysis showed that there are 1.2 water molecules per strand in the fibrils. The (13)C = (18)O substitution of 1 residue per strand creates a linear array of isotopologs along the fibril axis that manifests clearly identifiable vibrational transitions. Here, it is shown from the distributions of amide-I' vibrational frequencies that the regularity of these chains is strongly residue dependent and in most cases the distorted regions are also those associated with the putative mobile water molecules. It is proposed that Abeta40 fibrils contain structurally significant mobile water molecules within the intersheet region.

Influence of superheated water on the hydrogen bonding and crystallography of piperazine-based (Co)polyamides

Here we demonstrate that superheated water is a solvent for polyamide 2,14 and piperazine-based copolyamides up to a piperazine content of 62 mol %. The incorporation of piperazine allows for a variation of the hydrogen bond density without altering the crystal structure (i.e., the piperazine units cocrystallize with the PA2,14 units (Hoffmann, S.; Vanhaecht, B.; Devroede, J.; Bras, W.; Koning, C. E.; Rastogi, S. Macromolecules 2005, 38, 1797-1803). It is shown that the crystallization of PA2,14 from superheated water greatly influences the crystal structure. Water molecules incorporated in the PA2,14 crystal lattice cause a slip on the hydrogen bonded planes, resulting in a coexistence of a triclinic and a monoclinic crystal structure. On heating above the Brill transition, the water molecules exit from the lattice, restoring the triclinic crystal structure. With increasing piperazine content, and hence decreasing hydrogen bond density, the dissolution temperature decreases. It is only possible to grow single crystals from superheated water up to a piperazine content of 62 mol %. For these single crystals, the incorporation of water molecules in the vicinity of the amide group is seen by the presence of COO- stretch vibrations with FTIR spectroscopy. These vibrations disappear on heating above the Brill transition temperature, and the water molecules leave the amide groups. For copolyamides with more than 62 mol % piperazine, no Brill transition is observed, no single crystals can be grown from water, and no water molecules are observed in the vicinity of the amide groups (Vinken, E.; Terry, A. E.; Hoffmann, S.; Vanhaecht, B.; Koning, C. E.; Rastogi, S. Macromolecules 2006, 39, 2546-2552). The high piperazine content (co)polyamides have fewer hydrogen bond donors and are therefore less likely to have interactions with the water molecules. This work demonstrates the relation among the Brill transition, the dissolution of polyamide in superheated water, and its influence on the hydrogen bonds and the amide groups.

Infrared and Raman spectroscopy study of alkyl hydroxamic acid and alkyl hydroxamate isomers

The isomeric structures of alkyl hydroxamic acid, as well as its potassium salt, sodium salt, and an alcohol complex, have been characterized in the solid, liquid, and gaseous states by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and FT-Raman spectroscopy. Raman spectroscopy provides insight into the long-standing debate over the isomeric composition of hydroxamates in the solid state and in an aqueous basic solution. IR and Raman results are not consistent with the enol isomer existing in the solid or liquid states of octyl or decyl hydroxamic acid, potassium hydroxamate, and sodium hydroxamate. The infrared and Raman spectra of these compounds provide clear and convincing evidence regarding their chemical structure, mainly from amide-type carbonyl, NH bending, and OH/NH stretching bands. Vibrational spectroscopy is sensitive to polar (FT-IR) and non-polar (FT-Raman) vibrations and the influence of ionic and hydrogen bonding on these vibrations, and these abilities are particularly useful for characterizing keto versus enol and trans versus cis conformations in alkyl hydroxamic acid and its salts. Evolved gas analysis (EGA) in a nitrogen gas environment of alkyl hydroxamic acid and its salts is also discussed. EGA data reveal that water is not incorporated into the solid-state crystal structure of alkyl hydroxamic acid or the potassium salt; however, the sodium salt form is found to have a stable hydrate conformer that is shown to affect the Z isomer (NH trans to carbonyl, OH cis to carbonyl) IR absorbance bands. EGA data also indicates results that could be of interest to bio-pharmaceutical applications involving nitric oxide donation.

Dynamic properties of bacteriorhodopsin in purple membranes upon heat treatment

Reversible temperature-dependent conformational changes in bacteriorhodopsin of the purple membranes from Halobacterium halobium have been studied by the method of deuterium exchange. A noticeable increase in the mobility of structured peptide groups in bacteriorhodopsin was revealed upon reorganization of the supermolecular structure at about 60 degrees C. In the supermolecular structure formed, bacteriorhodopsin molecules have no contacts with external medium at 75-80 degrees C. Membrane destruction results in a drastic increase in molecular mobility within the narrow temperature range 100-110 degrees C. The effects observed are induced by predenaturation changes in the bacteriorhodopsin structure and rearrangements in the structure of a protein-lipid complex. The temperature dependence of the number of peptide groups involved in reversible conformational rearrangements is in good agreement with the microcalorimetry data.

Effect of water on the structure of bacteriorhodopsin and photochemical processes in purple membranes

Visible and infrared spectra of bacteriorhodopsin films under different humidities at room and low temperatures are investigated. On dehydration of purple membranes at room temperatures an additional chromophore state with the absorption band at 506 nm is revealed. The photocycle of purple membranes in the dry state is devoid of the 550 nm intermediate and involves the long-lived intermediate at 412 nm. As water is removed, the 550 nm intermediate becomes undetectable. The analysis of the infrared spectra shows that dehydration does not affect the ordering of the main network of the interpeptide hydrogen bonds which stabilizes the alpha-helical conformation (slightly distorted in the intial humid dark- and light-adapted state); light adaptation (cis-trans isomerization) of bacteriorhodopsin results in an increase of sorbed water in purple membranes. Dehydration of purple membranes decreases the reaction rate of cis-trans isomerization.