Image analysis for interfacial area and cocontinuity detection in polymer blends

A novel image processing method was developed to extract interfacial area concentration measurements from 2D micrographs of immiscible polymer blends. Although this method can be used for analyzing different types of 2D micrographs such as optical or transmission electron microscopy images, it was designed for analyzing scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images. The method operates by detecting edges within the images and using standard image processing operations to selectively eliminate false edges. SEM images of polyethylene oxide/polystyrene (PEO/PS) blends were analyzed using this image processing method to measure the amount of interfacial area in the samples. Interfacial area per unit volume exhibits maxima for blend compositions at the boundary between droplet and cocontinuous morphologies. In addition to the detection of cocontinuity, the interfacial area measurements facilitated by this method may be used in future investigations of blend dynamics, including coalescence, drop deformation, and blend rheology studies. These measurements may also be used to quantify the effects of compatibilizers on blend morphology.     

Sulfonated poly(ether ketone ketone) ionomers as proton exchange membranes

Sulfonated poly(ether ketone ketone) ionomers (SPEKK) with ion‐exchange capacities (IEC) between 0.2 and 3.4 meq/g were prepared by sulfonating PEKK with a mixture of concentrated and fuming sulfuric acids. Sulfonation occurs only on the phenyl rings attached to ether and ketone groups. The glass transition temperature of the dry SPEKK ionomers increased linearly with increasing IEC, and the ionomers were thermally stable to ～250°C, above which desulfonation occurred. Water‐swollen ionomers exhibited microphase separated morphologies, and the average correlation length determined by small angle X‐ray scattering increased with increasing IEC. The proton conductivity of hydrated SPEKK membranes measured by impedance spectroscopy ranged from ～10^–3 to 10^–1 S/cm as the IEC increased from ～1.0 to 2.4 meq/g. Single cell performance curves on membrane‐electrode assemblies (MEA) indicated that the SPEKK membranes approached the performance of Nafion? for an IEC of 2 meq/g. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 45:1081–1091, 2005. © 2005 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Effects of branching upon some surfactant properties of sulfated alcohols

A study was undertaken to determine the surfactant properties of various sulfated alcohols. Most notably, the Krafft point and the ability to emulsify decane were studied. A series of sulfated Guerbet alcohol and Guerbet alcohol alkoxylate sulfates with 16 carbon atoms and an analogous series based upon cetyl alcohol, a linear C₁₆, were studied as hydrophobes.     

A comparison of the ethoxylation of a fatty alcohol,fatty acid,and dimethiconol

Knowing that dimethiconols or silanols condense under acid or alkaline catalysis, a study was undertaken to determine if these compounds could be successfully ethoxylated under conditions similar to those used to ethoxylate fatty alcohols and acids. It was anticipated that the condensation reaction would take precedent over ethoxylation reaction. We determined that ethoxylation reaction occurs preferentially to condensation reaction. In addition, kinetics of ethoxylation are similar to kinetics observed when fatty alcohols are ethoxylated. This reaction gives rise to a new class of hydrolyzable silicone compounds that have applications in industrial as well as in personal-care products.     

AN EXOTHERMIC CONTINUOUS STIRRED TANK REACTOR IS FEEDBACK EQUIVALENT TO A LINEAR SYSTEM

This brief paper demonstrates the concept of linear feedback equivalence for an exothermic eontinu-ous stirred tank reactor with first order kinetics. Feedback control is achieved by finding a transformation for the nonlinear system which carries this system into a linear controllable system in Brunovsky canonical form. A linear state feedback controller is then designed which achieves control over a broad range of operating conditions. This example demonstrates how recent developments in nonlinear control theory can be applied to chemical systems without relying on the usual methods of local linearization.     

Tele‐Cocooning: Mobile Texting and Social Scope

The present study examines the tele‐cocooning hypothesis in the context of general trust using a nationally representative survey of Japanese youth. We find that although frequency of texting is positively correlated with general trust, this correlation is spuriously caused by how heavy mobile texters interpret the words “most people” in the general trust measurement. Heavy users assume that “most people” only refers to friends, family, and others going to the same school. When the effect of the “most people” assumption is controlled, the positive association between texting and general trust disappears. Further exploration of the data shows that heavy texting nevertheless has negative implications for social tolerance and social caution, both of which are theoretically proximate to general trust.     

灰色二层多目标线性规划问题及其解法

针对二层多目标线性规划问题,结合灰色系统的特性,提出了一般灰色二层多目标线性规划问题,并给出了模型的相关定义和定理.针对漂移型灰色二层多目标线性规划问题,提出一种具有全局收敛性质的求解算法.首先通过线性加权模理想点法把多目标转化为单目标;然后当可行域为非空紧集时,利用库恩塔克条件把双层转化为单层,再利用粒子群算法搜索单目标单层线性规划即可得到原问题的解;最后通过算例表明了该算法的有效性.     

Modified Indigo Method For Gaseous And Aqueous Ozone Analyses

The indigo method developed by Bader and Hoigné for aqueous ozone analysis was modified to allow for both gaseous and aqueous ozone determination. Gas or water samples were extracted with a gas-tight syringe containing a known volume of indigo reagent. The modified procedure provided a more consistent basis for gaseous and aqueous ozone determination allowing for more accurate ozone mass balance calculations. Direct gaseous ozone UV absorbance with molar absorptivity of 3,000 M^?1cm^?1 at 258 nm was used as primary standard to determine the molar absorptivity of the indigo reagent. The molar absorptivity of indigo reagent, assuming a 1:1 stoichiometric ratio for the reaction between indigo and ozone, was determined to be 23,150 ± 80 M^?1cm^?1, or approximately 16 percent higher than that of 20,000 M^?1cm^?1 suggested by Bader and Hoigné. An independently calibrated membrane-electrode ozone monitor showed good correlation with indigo method results using the molar absorptivity value determined in this study. The apparent molar absorptivity of aqueous ozone at the wavelength of 258 nm measured by the modified indigo method increased from 2,400 to 3,600 M^?1cm^?1 in the investigated ozone concentration range of 0.4 to 11.0 mg/L. This variation might have been caused by the inherent interference of unidentified ozone byproducts, which presence was supported with scanning spectra in the wavelength range of 200 to 300 nm.     

Cholesterol transport and uptake in miniature swine fed vegetable and animal fats and proteis. 1. Plasma lipoproteins and LDL clearance

In a 2×2 factorial arrangement, miniature pigs were fed four diets containing vegetable protein/fat (soybean) and animal protein (egg white)/fat (beef tallow) to demonstrate the effects of protein and fat source on total plasma cholesterol, lipoprotein distribution, low density lipoprotein (LDL) composition, and plasma clearance of LDL-cholesterol and protein. Beef tallow consumption resulted in greater plasma cholesterol concentration, decreased LDL-cholesterol concentration, and a lower LDL-cholesterol to LDL-protein ratio than did consumption of soybean oil. High density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol concentration was increased by beef tallow consumption. Cholesterol percentage by weight in LDL was significantly greater in pigs consuming soybean oil than those consuming beef tallow. Percentages by weight of protein, triglyceride and phospholipid in LDL were not significantly different in any group. Dietary protein source had no significant effect on total plasma cholesterol concentration, lipoprotein concentration or LDL composition. Egg white consumption decreased fractional catabolic rate and irreversible loss of LDL-cholesterol and LDL-protein when compared with consumption of soy protein. Dietary fat source had no consistent effect on LDL clearance from plasma. Dietary fat and protein seemed to influence lipoprotein metabolism by different mechanisms. Fat source altered lipoprotein concentration and LDL composition, whereas protein source affected the removal rate of LDL from plasma. Data taken from a dissertation submitted to Iowa State University by L. S. Walsh Hentges as partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Ph.D. degree. A preliminary paper, was presented at the meeting of the American Oil Chemists' Society in Dallas, Texas, May, 1984.