Indication of Heterogeneity in Chain-Segment Order of a PDMS Layer Grafted onto a Silica Surface by 1H Multiple-Quantum NMR

Bimodal 1H Double Quantum Build-Up Curves by Fourier and Laplace-like Transforms on Aged Cross-Linked Natural Rubber

The ¹H DQ Fourier and Laplace-like spectra for a series of cross-linked natural rubber (NR) samples naturally aged during six years are presented and characterized. The DQ build-up curves of these samples present two peaks which cannot be described by classical functions. The DQ Fourier spectra can be obtained after a numeric procedure which introduces a correction time which depends less on the chosen approximation, spin-½ and isolated CH₂ and CH₃ functional groups. The DQ Fourier spectra are well described by the distributions of the residual dipolar coupling correlated with the distribution of the end-to-end vector of the polymer network, and with the second and fourth van Vleck moments. The deconvolution of DQ Fourier spectra with a sum of four Gaussian variates show that the center and the width of Gaussian functions increase linearly with the increase in the cross-link density. The Laplace-like spectra for the natural aged NR DQ build-up curves are presented. The centers of four Gaussian distributions obtained via both methods are consistent. The differences between the Fourier and Laplace-like spectra consist mainly of the spectral resolution in the favor of Laplace-like spectra. The last one was used to discuss the effect of natural aging for cross-linked NR.

Rubber-Filler Interactions in Polyisoprene Filled with In Situ Generated Silica: A Solid State NMR Study

In this paper we used high- and low-resolution solid state Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) techniques to investigate a series of polyisoprene samples filled with silica generated in situ from tetraethoxysilane by sol-gel process. In particular, ¹H spin-lattice and spin-spin relaxation times allowed us to get insights into the dynamic properties of both the polymer bulk and the bound rubber, and to obtain a comparative estimate of the amount of bound rubber in samples prepared with different compositions and sol-gel reaction times. In all samples, three fractions with different mobility could be distinguished by ¹H T₂ and ascribed to loosely bound rubber, polymer bulk, and free chain ends. The amount of bound rubber was found to be dependent on sample preparation, and it resulted maximum in the sample showing the best dispersion of silica domains in the rubber matrix. The interpretation of the loosely bound rubber in terms of "glassy" behaviour was discussed, also on the basis of ¹H T₁ and T1ρ data.

Smoldering and Flame Resistant Textiles via Conformal Barrier Formation

A durable and flexible silicone-based backcoating (halogen free) is applied to the backside of an otherwise smoldering-prone and flammable fabric. When exposed to fire, cyclic siloxanes (produced by thermal decomposition of the backcoating) diffuse through the fabric in the gas phase. The following oxidation of the cyclic siloxanes forms a highly conformal and thermally stable coating that fully embeds all individual fibers and shields them from heat and oxidation. As a result, the combustion of the fabric is prevented. This is a novel fire retardant mechanism that discloses a powerful approach towards textiles and multifunctional flexible materials with combined smoldering/flaming ignition resistance and fire-barrier properties.

Segmental motions of poly(ethylene glycol) chains adsorbed on Laponite platelets in clay-based hydrogels: a NMR investigation

The segmental dynamics of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) chains adsorbed on the clay platelets within nanocomposite PEG/Laponite hydrogels was investigated over the tens of microseconds time scale, using combined solution and solid-state NMR approaches. In a first step, the time evolution of the molecular mobility displayed by the PEG chains following the addition to a Laponite aqueous dispersion was monitored during the aggregation of the clay disks and the hydrogel formation, by means of (1)H solution-state NMR. Part of the PEG repeat units were found to get strongly constrained during the gelation process. Comparisons between this time evolution of the PEG local dynamics in the PEG/Laponite/water systems and the increase of the macroscopic storage shear modulus, mainly governed by the assembling of the Laponite disks, indicate that the slowing down of the segmental motions arises from adsorbed PEG repeat units or chain portions strongly constrained between aggregated clay layers. In a second step, after completion of the gelation process, the molecular motions of the adsorbed PEG chains were probed by (1)H solid-state NMR spectroscopy. (1)H double-quantum experiments indicate that the adsorbed PEG repeat units, though reported to be frozen over a few tens of nanoseconds, still display significant reorientational motions over the tens of microseconds time scale. Using a comparison with a model system of amorphized PEG chains, the characteristic frequency of these segmental motions was found to range between 78.0 kHz and 100.7 MHz at 300 K. Interestingly, at this temperature, the level of reorientational motions detected for these adsorbed PEG chain portions was found to be as restricted as the one of bulk amorphous PEG chains, cooled at a slightly lower temperature (about 290 K).

High residue contents indebted by platinum and silica synergistic action during the pyrolysis of silicone formulations

The synergistic role of platinum and silica as a way to increase the final residue of pyrolized silicone was investigated and explained, giving new interpretations. Conditions were first set to study the thermal degradation of silicones in the presence of platinum based on the simplest silicone/silica/platinum formulation. Numerous parameters, e.g., platinum and silica content or silica surface modifications, were varied to track their influences on the final residues. A thorough DSC study, together with SEM/EDX and Pyrolysis/GC-MS analyses, led us to propose a three-stage process. The key parameter governing thermal stability and final content of the residue is the conjugated actions of immobilizing/cross-linking PDMS chains. Silica particles tether silicone chains through physical interactions, i.e., hydrogen bonding, facilitating a platinum radically catalyzed cross-linking reaction. Practical implications and possible improvements on LSR formulations are finally given.

Segmental mobility in short-chain grafted-PDMS by homo- and heteronuclear residual dipolar couplings

Different homo- ((1)H-(1)H) and heteronuclear ((1)H-(13)C) multiple quantum solid-state NMR experiments were applied to a series of short poly (dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) chains grafted onto hydrophilic silica. The existence and clear separation of a strongly dipolar coupled region which is attributed to the silica-PDMS interface and a weakly dipolar coupled region attributed to the mobile chain portions outside the interface is evident in all experiments. In a sample series with different average chain lengths the residual dipolar couplings and with that the average order parameters are constant for the interface part and correlate for the mobile part linearly with the average chain length. Temperature dependent studies using (1)H double quantum experiments indicate the different stages of immobilization of the polymer chains. Solid-state NMR techniques therefore can give detailed information about the microscopic structure of this material and especially the effect of chain anchoring. It is also demonstrated that sample rotation influences the mobility of the mobile component and therefore the analysis of such materials should always be done under static conditions.

Molecular dynamic heterogeneity of confined lipid films by 1H magnetization-exchange nuclear magnetic resonance

The molecular dynamic heterogeneity of monolayer to submonolayer thin lecithin films confined to submicron cylindrical pores were investigated by 1H magnetization exchange nuclear magnetic resonance. In this experiment a z-magnetization gradient was generated by a double-quantum dipolar filter. The magnetization-exchange decay and buildup curves were interpreted with the help of a theoretical model based on the approximation of a one-dimensional spin-diffusion process in a three-domain morphology. The dynamic heterogeneity of the fatty acid chains and the effects of the surface area per molecule, the diameter of the pores, and the temperature were characterized with the help of local spin-diffusion coefficients. The effect of various parameters on the molecular dynamics of the mobile region of the fatty acid chains was quantified by introducing an ad hoc Gaussian distribution function of the 1H residual dipolar couplings. For the lipid films investigated in this study, the surface induced order and the geometrical confinement affect the chain dynamics of the entire molecule. Therefore, each part of the chain independently reflects the effect of surface coverage, pore size, and temperature.

Multispin moments edited by multiple-quantum NMR: application to elastomers

The spin system response to the five-pulse sequence used for measurements of double-quantum and triple-quantum buildup curves is evaluated in the initial excitation/reconversion regime. The multispin dipolar network that is present also in many soft solids like elastomers was considered. It is proved rigorously that the relevant quantity for analysis of double-quantum build-up curves in the initial regime is the second van Vleck moment. The higher-order moments edited by double-quantum as well as higher-order coherences in the multiple-quantum build-up experiments are different from van Vleck moments. These results can be applied to compare (1)H residual moments edited by double-quantum and triple-quantum experiments with those measured by other NMR methods. The sensitivity of multiple-quantum coherences to the changes in the values of residual dipolar couplings for cross-linked natural rubber under uniaxial elongation is also discussed. Under such conditions (1)H second van Vleck moments were measured for different elongation ratios of a cross-linked natural rubber. Moreover, (1)H triple-quantum edited moments were also measured for the same sample under uniaxial compression. The dependence of the second van Vleck moment and the time of the maximum of the double-quantum buildup curve on the cross-link density of natural rubber measured at low magnetic field was also investigated.

Enhanced sensitivity to residual dipolar couplings of elastomers by higher-order multiple-quantum NMR

The homonuclear and heteronuclear residual dipolar couplings in elastomers reflect changes in the cross-link density, temperature, the uniaxial and biaxial extension or compression as well as the presence of penetrant molecules. It is shown theoretically that for an isolated methyl group the relative changes in the intensity of the homonuclear double-quantum buildup curves in the initial time regime due to variation of the residual dipolar coupling strength is less sensitive than the changes in the triple-quantum filtered NMR signal when considering the same excitation/reconversion time. For a quadrupolar nucleus with spin I=2 the sensitivity enhancement was simulated for four-quantum, triple-quantum, and double-quantum buildup curves. In this case the four-quantum build-up curve shows the highest sensitivity to changes of spin couplings. This enhanced sensitivity to the residual dipolar couplings was tested experimentally by measuring 1H double-quantum, triple-quantum, and four-quantum buildup curves of differently cross-linked natural rubber samples. In the initial excitation/reconversion time regime, where the residual dipolar couplings can be measured model free, the relative changes in the intensity of the four-quantum buildup curves are about five times higher than those of the double-quantum coherences. For the first time proton four-quantum coherences were recorded for cross-linked elastomers.