Browsing by Subject "Polymer blends"

Now showing 1 - 4 of 4

Open Access
Conducting polymer composites: polypyrrole and poly (vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate) copolymer
(John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1997) Balci, N.; Bayramli, E.; Toppare, L.
Composites of a polypyrrole (PPy) and poly (vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate) copolymer (PVC-PVA) were prepared both chemically and electrochemically. An insulating polymer was retained in the blend and the thermal stability of the polymer was enhanced by polymerizing pyrrole into the host matrix in both cases. The composites prepared electrochemically gave the best results in terms of conductivity and air stability. © 1997 John Wiley * Sons, Inc.
Open Access
The formation and characterization of cyclodextrin functionalized polystyrene nanofibers produced by electrospinning
(2009) Uyar, Tamer; Havelund, R.; Hacaloglu J.; Zhou X.; Besenbacher F.; Kingshott P.
Polystyrene (PS) nanofibers containing the inclusion complex forming beta-cyclodextrin (β-CD) were successfully produced by electrospinning aimed at developing functional fibrous nanowebs. By optimization of the electrospinning parameters, which included varying the relative concentration of PS and β-CD in the solutions, bead-free fibers were produced. Homogeneous solutions of β-CD and PS in dimethylformamide (DMF) were used with concentrations of PS varying from 10% to 25% (w/v, with respect to DMF), and β-CD concentrations of 1% to 50% (w/w, with respect to PS). The presence of β-CD facilitated the production of bead-free PS fibers even from lower polymer concentrations as a result of the higher conductivity of the PS/CD solutions. The morphology and the production of bead-free PS/CD fibers were highly dependent on the β-CD contents. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) and atomic force microscope (AFM) images showed that incorporation of β-CD yielded PS fibers with rougher surfaces. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and direct insertion probe pyrolysis mass spectroscopy (DP-MS) results confirmed the presence of β-CD in the PS fibers. X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectra of the fibers indicated that the β-CD molecules are distributed within the PS matrix without any phase separated crystalline aggregates up to 40% (w/w) β-CD loading. Furthermore, chemical analyses by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy studies confirm that β-CD molecules are located within the PS fiber matrix. Finally, preliminary investigations using x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and time-of-flight static secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-static-SIMS) show the presence of the cyclodextrin molecules in the outer molecular layers of the fiber surfaces. The XPS and ToF-SIMS findings indicate that cyclodextrin functionalized PS webs would have the potential to be used as molecular filters and/or nanofilters for the purposes of filtration/purification/separation owing to surface associated β-CD molecules which have inclusion complexation capability. © 2009 IOP Publishing Ltd.
Open Access
Noncovalent functionalization of mesoporous silica nanoparticles with amphiphilic peptides
(Royal Society of Chemistry, 2014) Sardan, M.; Yildirim, A.; Mumcuoglu, D.; Tekinay, A. B.; Güler, Mustafa O.
The surface of mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) has been modified for enhancing their cellular uptake, cell targeting, bioimaging, and controlled drug release. For this purpose, covalent anchorage on the silica surface was predominantly exploited with a wide range of bioactive molecules. Here, we describe a facile self-assembly method to prepare a hybrid peptide silica system composed of octyl-modified mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) and peptide amphiphiles (PAs). The hydrophobic organosilane surface of mesoporous silica was coated with amphiphilic peptide molecules. The peptide functionalized particles exhibited good cyto-compatibility with vascular smooth muscle and vascular endothelial cells. The peptide coating also improved the cellular uptake of particles up to 6.3 fold, which is promising for the development of highly efficient MSN based theranostic agents. © 2014 the Partner Organisations.
Open Access
Spectroscopic investigation of onset and enhancement of electrical conductivity in PVC/PANI composites and blends by γ-ray or UV irradiation
(American Chemical Society, 1998) Sevil, U. A.; Güven, O.; Süzer, S.
Electrical conductivity of blends and composites of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) with nonconducting polyaniline (PANI) increases when they are subjected to γ-rays or UV radiation. This is attributed to a radiation-induced dehydrochlorination (loss of HCl) of PVC, which in turn oxidizes (dopes) PANI within the PVC matrix causing the increase in electrical conductivity of these films. XPS, UV - vis - NIR and FTIR spectroscopic methods are used to characterize and verify this novel process. After the films are subjected to γ-rays (or UV radiation) the intensities in the XPS spectra of both -N+- and Cl- peaks increase, confirming the increase in charged species within the PVC matrix. Similar observations attributable to radiation-induced electrical conductivity are also observed in both the UV - vis - NIR and FTIR spectra. This radiation-induced conductivity can also be reversed to some extent by further exposing the films to NH3 vapors, where the oxidized centers are partially reduced (undoped). Several UV/NH3/UV cycles can be performed without much loss in conductivity- and/or conductivity-related spectroscopic features. The onset of the photoinduced conductivity both in PVC-only and PVC/PANI composite films is determined to be 300 nm (4.1 eV), which coincides with the first UV absorption band of PVC.