SYNOPSISCore excitation spectra of selected small molecule analogue species have been acquired to assist interpretation of the core excitation spectra of model methylenediphenyldiisocyanate (MDI) polyurethane polymers. Oscillator strength spectra for C Is and 0 Is core excitation of diethyl ether and diisopropyl ether; C Is, N Is, and 0 IS core excitation of urea, Nphenyl urea, N,N-diphenyl urea, ethyl carbamate, N-phenyl carbamate, N-phenyl N-methyl carbamate, and benzyl carbamate have been derived from gas phase electron energy loss spectra (EELS). Extended Huckel Molecular Orbital (EHMO) calculations are used to assist assignment and to interpret the effect of *-electron delocalization on the gas phase spectra. Functional group identification by core excitation is explored for the purpose of using core excitation spectra for microanalysis of polyurethane polymers. 0 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.Keywords: polyurethanes core excitation spectroscopy NEXAFS EELS EHMO molecular models of polymer subunits I NTRO DU CTlO NPart I of this series of articles' explored the use of core excitation spectroscopy for compositional analysis of polyurethane polymers. In particular, transitions characteristic of various functional groups were identified in order to gain insight into how spatially resolved core excitation spectroscopy could be used to identify segregated species in polyurethane foams. Compositional information is required to provide an improved understanding of phase separation processes in polyurethanes and to assist in the correlation of phase separation effects with ultimate polymer performance. Core excitation spectroscopy' is well suited to this sort of problem since the spectral features are very sensitive to local chemical structure and since very high spatial res-
The effect of magnetic fields on the orientation and properties of 4,4'-bis(2,3-epoxypropoxy)-alpha-methylstilbene cured with sulfanilamide has been studied. This epoxy system is initially isotropic and forms a smectic A phase upon curing. A magnetic field was applied during the cure reaction, resulting in alignment of the molecules along the direction of the applied field. Measurement of the orientation parameter of the fully cured material by wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS) showed that orientation improved with an increase in field strength. The orientation parameters of the smectic layer normals calculated from the inner reflection of the WAXS pattern attained a maximum level of approximately 0.8 at a field strength of approximately 12 T. The orientation parameters calculated from the outer reflection of the WAXS pattern were considerably lower, possibly due to the presence of amorphous regions associated with domain boundaries or the loss of molecular alignment within the smectic layers due to topological restrictions of the cross-linking sites. Orientation resulted in an anisotropic linear thermal expansion coefficient after curing, although the overall volumetric expansion was constant. The elastic tensile modulus increased with the square of the orientation parameter, attaining a maximum value of 8.1 GPa, compared to 3.1 GPa for the unoriented material. The change in modulus with orientation could be fit with a simple model for the modulus of anisotropic materials.
Scanning transmission X-ray microscopy (STXM) and atomic force microscopy have been used to study the morphology and chemical composition of macrophase-segregated block copolymers in plaque formulations based on water-blown flexible polyurethane foams. Although there has been a large body of indirect evidence indicating that the observed macrophase-segregated features in water-rich polyurethane foams are due principally to urea components, this work provides the first direct, spatially resolved spectroscopic proof to support this hypothesis. The STXM results are consistent with a segregation model where urea segments segregate, forming enriched phases with the majority of the polyetherpolyol and urethane groups at the chain ends of the urea hard segments. Chemical mapping of the urea, urethane, and polyether distribution about the urea-rich segregated phases showed that the urea concentration changes gradually (across several hundred nanometers) in a butylene oxide-based foam. This mapping also showed the urea-rich segregated phases present as a partial network in an ethylene oxide/propylene oxide sample.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
customersupport@researchsolutions.com
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Copyright © 2025 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.