Article

Free radical degradation of hydroxyethyl cellulose

Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Lund University, P.O. Box 124, SE-22100 Lund, Sweden; Department of Physical Chemistry 1, Lund University, P.O. Box 124, SE-22100 Lund, Sweden
Carbohydrate Polymers DOI:10.1016/j.carbpol.2005.08.013

ABSTRACT The degradation of hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) using sodium persulfate (NaPS) as free radical generator was studied at 60, 70 and 80 °C with different NaPS/HEC ratios. During the degradation reaction samples were withdrawn at regular intervals. The amount of persulfate remaining was analyzed by titration and the evolution of the HEC molecular weight distribution and viscosity was followed using size exclusion chromatography (SEC) and rheology, respectively. The results show how the molecular weight of HEC is decreased by varying the NaPS/HEC ratio, reaction time and temperature. It was found that the NaPS/HEC ratio must be kept low in order to maintain the control of the degradation process, since when the NaPS/HEC ratio was too high the degradation rate of HEC was too fast, and the molecular weight distribution became bimodal. Additionally, the decomposition rate of NaPS was found to be independent of pH in the range between pH 2 and 7.

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    Article: Non-fluorine precursor solutions for high critical current density REBa₂Cu₃O₇₋x̳ films
    Yoda Rante Patta
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    ABSTRACT: Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Materials Science and Engineering, 2008. This electronic version was submitted by the student author. The certified thesis is available in the Institute Archives and Special Collections. In title on t.p., double underscored "x" appears as subscript. Includes bibliographical references (p. 68-71). The past two decades have seen advancements in high temperature superconducting cables for use in applications such as electrical transmission lines, propulsion systems, and mobile power generation systems. This work describes the development of a non-fluorine precursor solution for YBCO films with high critical current densities (Jc). An aqueous nitrate precursor solution system was selected from three possible precursor solution systems. It was further developed to produce YBCO films with Jc > 1 MA/cm2. Films up to ~800 nm thickness were made, and Jc > 1 MA/cm2 was obtained for films of over ~400 nm thickness. The developed aqueous solution contained a rheology modifier (hydroxyethyl cellulose / HEC), nitrates of Y, Ba, and Cu, and chelating agents (polyethylene glycol / PEG and sucrose). The total organic content was ~12 wt% of the entire solution, and the total cation concentration was ~0.7 M. The rheology modifying polymer determined the thickness of the deposited films. This allowed for the deposition of films with higher thickness than would be dictated by the total dissolved cations alone. A low temperature decomposition process was developed based on analyses of the chemical reactions that take place in the precursor films as they were heated. This process produced smooth and defect-free intermediate films that were stable under ambient conditions. These films were then heat treated to convert them into YBCO films. Recommendations for future work include further improvements to the precursor solution, including more effective chelating agents and possible alternative solvent systems. Intermediate films thicker than 2.5 [mu]m still tended to have surface defects. (cont.) Additional in-depth thermal analysis would further show how these defects develop, and adjustments to the decomposition process could be made accordingly. High resolution plan-view and cross-sectional microstructures of the films between the precursor state and their converted forms is recommended. These future studies will be valuable in further improving the performance and thickness of films derived from the non-fluorine precursor solution developed in this thesis. Yoda Rante Patta. S.M.
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Keywords

bimodal
 
decomposition rate
 
degradation
 
degradation process
 
degradation rate
 
degradation reaction samples
 
different NaPS/HEC ratios
 
free radical generator
 
HEC molecular weight distribution
 
hydroxyethyl cellulose
 
molecular weight
 
molecular weight distribution
 
NaPS
 
NaPS/HEC ratio
 
reaction time
 
regular intervals
 
size exclusion chromatography
 
viscosity