0000000000048592
AUTHOR
R. Triolo
Critical micellization density: A small-angle-scattering structural study of the monomer-aggregate transition of block copolymers in supercriticalCO2
In this paper we report a small-angle neutron-scattering investigation of micelle formation by the fluorocarbon-hydrocarbon block copolymer, polyvinyl acetate-b-poly (1,1,2,2-tetrahydroperfluoro-octyl acrylate) in supercritical CO{sub 2} (scCO{sub 2}) at 313 K. At high pressure the copolymer is in a monomeric state with a random coil structure, while at low pressure the polymer forms spherical aggregates stable in a wide range of thermodynamic conditions. By profiling pressure, a sharp monomer-micelle transition is obtained due to the tuning of the solvating ability of scCO{sub 2}. We confirm the previous finding that this aggregate-monomer transition is driven by the gradual penetration of…
Modelling small angle neutron scattering data from polymers in supercritical fluids
In this paper we report a SANS investigation of micelle formation by fluorocarbon-hydrocarbon block copolymers in supercritical CO2(scCO2) at 313K. A sharp unimer-micelle transition is obtained due to the tuning of the solvating ability of scCO2 by profiling pressure. At high pressure the copolymer is in a monomeric state with a random coil structure. By lowering the pressure aggregates are formed with the hydrocarbon segments forming the core and the fluorocarbon segments forming the corona of spherical aggregates. This aggregate-unimer transition is driven by the gradual penetration of CO2 molecules toward the core of the aggregate and is critically related to the density of the solvent, …
Heat capacities, volumes and solubilities of pentanol in aqueous alkyltrimethylammonium bromides
Apparent molar heat capacities and volumes of pentanol, 0.05m in decyl-, tetradecyl- and hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromides micellar solutions, were measured at 25°C. They were assumed to approach the standard infinite dilution values and rationalized by means of previously reported equations following which the distribution constant between the aqueous and the micellar phase, heat capacity, and volume of pentanol in both phases are simultaneously derived. The present results show that the volume of the micellar core does not seem to have a significant effect on the apparent molar volume and heat capacity of pentanol in the micellar phase and on the free energy of transfer of pentanol from…
Effects of isotopic substitution on the conformational properties of polymeric aqueous solutions
Abstract This work deals with a side-by-side comparison between the PEO conformational properties in H 2 O and D 2 O. The gyration radius, evaluated by SANS, the hydrodynamic radius, evaluated by PCS, and the Raman D-LAM band analysis furnish valuable information on the structural arrangement of the molecules. The findings clearly show different behavioural properties of the polymer in H 2 O and D 2 O.
Micelles formed from photochemically active amphiphiles: structural characterization by small-angle neutron scattering
Abstract A novel class of photochemically active amphiphiles has been synthesized containing a ketone moiety as a biradical or radical pair precursor on the hydrophobic tail of sodium sulfate surfactants. Alteration of the molecular structure of each ketone-containing surfactant allows for the systematic and predictable manipulation of the micellar size and shape, both of which are important in determining the coupling between the unpaired electrons confined within the micelle and the intraradical dynamics. The structure of the resulting aggregates has been analyzed by small-angle neutron scattering (SANS). The results show that the amphiphiles form ellipsoidal micelles with aggregation num…
Fractal approach in petrology: combining ultra small angle, small angle and intermediate angle neutron scattering
Ultra small angle neutron scattering (USANS) instruments have recently covered the gap between the size resolution available with conventional intermediate angle neutron scattering and small angle neutron scattering (SANS) instruments on one side and optical microscopy on the other side. New fields of investigations are now open and important areas of material science (ceramics, glass fibers, natural materials) and fundamental physics (phase transition, phase separation and critical phenomena) can be studied in bulk samples with an accuracy previously unobtainable owing to a combination of favourable features of the neutron-matter interaction: high penetrability of neutrons, even cold neutr…
QENS from polymer aggregates in supercritical CO2
Abstract We report QENS measurements from PS-b-PFOA aggregates in supercritical CO2. Line shapes are dominated by localized diffusive modes and segmental dynamics of the anchored, finite-length PFOA chains. For Q⩽0.6 A−1, we obtain effective diffusion coefficients of ≅0.8 10−6 cm2/s. At higher Q, a single component is not sufficient as shown by excess intensity on the flanks. For Q⩾1.5 A−1, the wings reflect contributions due to a distribution of faster, more localized chain modes.
The morphology of block copolymer micelles in supercritical carbon dioxide by small-angle neutron and x-ray scattering
Above its critical point, carbon dioxide forms a super-critical fluid, which promises to be an environmentally responsible replacement for the organic solvents traditionally used in polymerizations. Many lipophilic polymers such as polystyrene (PS) are insoluble in CO2, though polymerizations may be accomplished via the use of PS-fluoropolymer stabilizers, which act as emulsifying agents. Small-angle neutron and X-ray scattering have been used to show that these molecules form micelles with a CO2-phobic PS core and a CO2-philic fluoropolymer corona. When the PS block was fixed in length and the fluorinated corona block was varied, the number of block copolymer molecules per micelle (six to …
Critical Micelle Density for the Self-Assembly of Block Copolymer Surfactants in Supercritical Carbon Dioxide
The parameters which influence the self-assembly of molecules in solution include the temperature and solvent quality, and this study illustrates the use of these variables to regulate the degree of association of block copolymer amphiphiles in highly compressible supercritical carbon dioxide. Small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) has been used to examine the association behavior of a block copolymer containing a CO2-phobic moiety, poly(vinyl acetate), and a CO2-philic block, poly(1,1-dihydroperfluoro-octylacrylate). By adjustment of the density of the medium through pressure and temperature profiling, the self-assembly can be reversibly controlled from unimers to core−shell spherical micel…
Fractal approach in petrology: Combining ultra small angle (USANS), and small angle neutron scattering (SANS)
Ultra small angle neutron scattering instruments have recently covered the gap between the size resolution available with conventional intermediate angle neutron scattering and small angle neutron scattering instruments on one side and optical microscopy on the other side. Rocks showing fractal behavior in over two decades of momentum transfer and seven orders of magnitude of intensity are examined and fractal parameters are extracted from the combined USANS and SANS curves.
On the nature of morphological features in phase-separated (PEO)nNaSCN mixtures: a SAXS investigation
Abstract The SAXS technique is used to throw light on the morphology of phase-separated poly(ethylene oxide)n–sodium thiocyanate [(PEO)nNaSCN] mixtures. A temperature-dependent investigation is reported for (PEO)4.5NaSCN. (PEO)nNaSCN mixtures show a complex phase behaviour. At the investigated composition, a crystalline complex (CC) is formed between PEO and NaSCN. The considered composition is representative of thermodynamic states where three different phases coexist simultaneously: crystalline PEO (CPEO), amorphous PEO (APEO) and crystalline complex (CC). Various SAXS data analysis approaches are presented to understand the nature of these coexisting phases. Invariant analysis shows a bi…
QENS from polymeric micelles in supercritical CO[sub 2]
We report QENS measurements from PS-b-PFOA aggregates in supercritical CO2. These consist of dense cores of CO2-insoluble polystyrene surrounded by a ‘corona’ of PFOA surfactant molecules whose CO2-philic groups interface with supercritical CO2. Lineshapes are dominated by localized diffusive modes and segmental dynamics of the anchored, finite-length PFOA chains. For Q∼0.6 A−1, we obtain effective diffusion coefficients of ≈0.8×10−6 cm2/sec. At higher Q, a single component is not sufficient as shown by excess intensity on the flanks. For Q>1.5 A−1, the wings reflect contributions due to a distribution of faster, more localized chain modes.
Classical ionic fluids in the mean spherical approximation
The recently obtained analytical solution of the mean spherical approximation has been used to calculate thermodynamic and structural properties of aqueous solutions of asymmetric electrolytes. The same approximation has also been used to calculate structure functions of pure and mixed molten salts. The agreement between experimental or “quasi-experimental” structure functions and those obtained within the framework of the MSA is quite good especially when the ionic radii are obtained by fitting the long wavelength limit of the structure functions to the isothermal compressibility of the system, under the condition that the diameter ratio is the same as in the crystal.
Volumes, heat capacities and solubilities of amyl compounds in decyltrimethylammonium bromide aqueous solutions
Apparent molar heat capacities and volumes of amylamine (PentNH2) 0.02m, capronitrile (PentCN) 0.02m and nitropentane (PentNO2) 0.009m in decyltrimethylammonium bromide (DeTAB) micellar solutions, in water and in octane were measured at 25°C. By assuming that their concentration approaches the standard infinite dilution state, heat capacities and volumes were rationalized by means of previously reported equations following which the distribution constant between the aqueous and the micellar phase and heat capacity and volume of the additives in both phases are simultaneously derived. The present results are compared to those we have previously obtained for pentanol (PentOH). The thermodynam…