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Three new isopimaric acid diterpenoids, 6-oxoisopimaric acid (1), 6α-hydroxyisopimaric acid (2), and isopimara-7,9(11),15-trien-18-oic acid (4), together with two known isopimaric acid diterpenoids, isopimaric acid (3), and 8(14),15-isopimaradien-18-oic acid (5), were isolated from the bark of Cryptomeria japonica D. Don. Their structures were determined by analysis of spectroscopic data and comparison with the spectral data of known analogues. At the concentration of 50 μM, compounds 1–5 inhibited xanthine oxidase activity by 17.3, 16.5, 2.6, 30.5, and 24.5 %, respectively.

A new seco-abietanoid, 12-hydroxy-6,7-seco-abieta-8,11,13-triene-6,7-dioic acid (1), was isolated from the methanol extract of the bark of Cryptomeria japonica. The structure was established by spectroscopic analyses including 1D and 2D NMR (1H, 13C, COSY, HMQC, HMBC, and NOESY) and EI-MS and comparison with the data of known analogues.

Two new dimeric abietane-type diterpenoids, 12-hydroxyabieta-8,11,13-trien-7-α-yl 7-oxoabieta-8,11,13-trien-12-yl peroxide (trivial name japonicinol C, 1) and 12-hydroxyabieta-8,11,13-trien-7-α-yl 7-oxoabieta-5,8,11,13-tetraen-12-yl peroxide (trivial name japonicinol D, 3), together with two known dimeric abietane-type diterpenoids, obtusanol A (2) and 7-α-(2-butoxyethoxy)-12-hydroxyabieta-6-yl 6,7-dehydroabieta-8,11,13-trien-12-yl ether (4), were isolated from the methanol extract of the bark of Cryptomeria japonica. Their structures were established by mean of spectroscopic analysis and comparison of NMR data with those of known analogues. At a concentration of 50 μM, compounds 1–4 inhibited xanthine oxidase activity by 29.8, 39.3, 27.1, and 14.7 %, respectively. In addition, compounds 1 and 4 also showed 13.9 and 20.5 % inhibition toward angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), respectively.

Two new dimeric abietane-type diterpenoids, 12-hydroxyabieta-8,11,13-trien-7α-yl 7β-hydroxyisopimara-8(14),15-diene-18-peroxoate (trivial name japonicinol A, 1) and 6α,7α-O-(7,8-secoabieta-9(11),13-diene-8,12-dioxo-7-ylidene)ferruginol (trivial name japonicinol B, 3), together with three known dimeric abietane-type diterpenoids, sugikurojin J (2), sugikurojin B (4) and formosaninol (5), were isolated from the bark of Cryptomeria japonica D. Don. Structure elucidation was accomplished by spectroscopic methods, mainly 1D and 2D NMR and HREIMS, as well as by comparison of their NMR data with those of related known analogues. At the concentration of 50 μM, compounds 1–5 inhibited xanthine oxidase activity by 31.3, 23.4, 18.7, 17.3 and 24.4%, respectively. In addition, compound 4 also inhibited angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activity by 19.2%.

Three new 7-oxoabietane-type diterpenoids, 3-oxosugiol methyl ether (1), 18-hydroxysugiol (2), and 1β-hydroxysugiol (3), as well as two known 7-oxoabietane-type diterpenoids, 6α-hydroxysugiol (4) and 6α-acetoxysugiol (5), were isolated from the bark of Cryptomeria japonica D. Don. Their structures were elucidated mainly by NMR and HREIMS, as well as on comparison with the data of known analogues. At the concentration of 75 μM, compounds 2 and 5 exhibited 11.9 and 21.7% xanthine oxidase inhibitory activity, respectively.

Two new sesquarterpenoids, i.e. ferrugicadinol A (1) and ferrugicryptomeridiol (3), and one known sesquarterpenoid, ferrugicadinol (2) were isolated from the bark of Cryptomeria japonica D. Don. Their structures were identified by extensive spectral analysis and comparison with the data of known analogues.

Three new dimeric abietane-type diterpenoids, abieta-6,8,11,13-tetraen-12-yl 12-hydroxyabieta-8,11,13-trien-7&alpha, yl peroxide (1), abieta-6,8,11,13-tetraen-12-yl 12-hydroxyabieta-8,11,13-trien-7&beta, yl peroxide (2), and 12-hydroxyabieta-8,11,13-trien-7&beta, yl 7-oxoabieta-5,8,11,13-tetraen-12-yl peroxide (3), together with four known abietane-type diterpenoids (4&ndash, 7) were isolated from the methanol extract of the bark of Cryptomeria japonica. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analysis and comparison of NMR data with those of known analogues. At a concentration of 50 &mu, M, compounds 1, 2, and 3 showed 26.2%, 23.6%, and 35.7% inhibition towards xanthine oxidase enzyme, respectively. In addition, compound 3 also showed 24.9% inhibition toward angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE).

Three new abietane-type diterpenoids, 7α-butoxyabieta-8,12-diene-11,14-dione ( 1 ), 6α,7α-dihydroxyabieta-8,12-dien-11,14-dione ( 2 ), and 6α,7β-dihydroxyabieta- 8,12-diene-11,14-dione ( 3 ) were isolated from the bark of Cryptomeria japonica D. Don. Their structures were established by means of 1D and 2D NMR, IR, UV, and HR-EI-MS spectra and comparison with the data of known analogues.

Three new abietane-type diterpenoids, 7β-acetoxy-12-methoxyabieta-8,11,13-triene-6α,11-diol (1), 7α-acetoxy-12-methoxyabieta-8,11,13-triene-6α,11-diol (2), and 6α-acetoxy-12-methoxyabieta-8,11,13-triene-7α,11-diol (3), as well as two known abietane-type diterpenoids, 12-methoxyabieta-8,11,13-triene-6α,7β,11-triol (4) and 6α-acetoxy-12-methoxyabieta-8,11,13-triene-7β,11-diol (5), were isolated from the MeOH extract of the bark of Cryptomeria japonica. Their structures were determined by analysis of spectroscopic data and comparison of NMR data with those of related metabolites.

Three new abietane-type diterpenoids, 7β-acetoxy-12-methoxyabieta-8,11,13-triene-6α,11-diol (1), 7α-acetoxy-12-methoxyabieta-8,11,13-triene-6α,11-diol (2), and 6α-acetoxy-12-methoxyabieta-8,11,13-triene-7α,11-diol (3), as well as two known abietane-type diterpenoids, 12-methoxyabieta-8,11,13-triene-6α,7β,11-triol (4) and 6α-acetoxy-12-methoxyabieta-8,11,13-triene-7β,11-diol (5), were isolated from the MeOH extract of the bark of Cryptomeria japonica. Their structures were determined by analysis of spectroscopic data and comparison of NMR data with those of related metabolites.

This work proposes single crystal X-cut thin film Lithium Niobate (LN) resonators operating in a shear horizontal (SH 0 ) acoustic plate wave mode to achieve a high electromechanical coupling coefficient. In the fabrication process, we take advantage of the off-the-shelf single crystal X-cut LN dies on which surface micromachining technology is used to fabricate the devices. We design two fabrication process flows, each of which can be roughly divided into three parts. The first part is photolithography, primarily responsible for defining the electrodes and etching holes; this process for fabrication uses two masks. The second part is LN Reactive Ion Etching (RIE) process that defines the device edges. The third part is to etch the silicon dioxide beneath. Wet Hydro Fluoric (HF) chemistry is used to release the thin film structure. This study also reports measurement results of the SH 0 mode LN resonator with the high electromechanical coupling coefficient of 15.8%.

This work presents an elaborate analytical analysis and finite element geometry modeling to investigate the Temperature Coefficient of Frequency (TC F ) and resonator bandwidth (BW) for different orientations and modes of operation in Lithium Tantalate (LT) MEMS resonators. Optimum cut algorithm is used to find the ideal wafer orientation and the proposed algorithm is cross-verified using Finite Element Method. Length extension mode resonators operating in the fundamental mode transcend the performance of contour mode resonators. LT resonators with a wafer orientation of (90°, 41°, 60°) operating in the fundamental length extension mode yield close to zero TC F and when oriented along (90°, 44°, 60°) it provides a maximum BW of 2.67%. Best values of both BW and TC F can be achieved simultaneously in a very close range of wafer orientation.

Two new abietane-type diterpenoids, 15-hydroxy-12- O-methylsugiol (1) and 2a-hydroxy-12- O-methylsugiol (2) were isolated from the methanol extract of the bark of Cryptomeria japonica. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analysis and comparison of NMR data with those of known analogues. Compounds 2 showed 13.5% inhibition towards xanthine oxidase enzyme at the concentration of 75 μM

The different molar ratios of collagen/chitosan were used to be immobilized on polypropylene nonwoven fabrics grafted with N-isopropyl acrylamide (abbr. PP-g-NIPAAm-i-Col/Chi). For a controlled immobilizing time and NIPAAm concentration, the collagen/chitosan immobilized values and the antibacterial properties of PP-g-NIPAAm-i-Col/Chi increased with increasing amount of chitosan in the mixture of collagen/chitosan. The crosslinking reaction between the grafted polyNIPAAm and collagen/chitosan molecules was clearly confirmed by the examination of the spectra of the surface reflection infrared spectroscopy (IR). The values of water absorption and water diffusion coefficient of PP-g-NIPAAm-i-Col/Chi decreased with increase of the chitosan in the mixture of collagen/chitosan and the value of immobilized collagen/chitosan at the same pH value of buffering water. The PP-g-NIPAAm-i-Col/Chi have excellent water absorption, water permeability, and antibacterial properties and would be suitable for the healing of wounded skin area.

A novel method for preparing polyurethane/nano-clay composites was used in this study. The nano-clay was pre-mixed with the various components, such as diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI), 2,2-bis(hydroxymethyl) propionic acid (DMPA) or polytetramethyleneglycol (PTMG), of polyurethane (PU) polymer to prepare the composites. The PU/clay composites prepared by this method revealed that the values of the tensile strength at break, the elongation at break, the modulus and the surface roughness for the composite prepared from the pre-mixture of clay and PTMG (PU/clay-PTMG composite) were higher than those for the composite prepared from the pre-mixture of clay and MDI (PU/clay-MDI composite), the composite prepared from the pre-mixture of clay and DMPA (PU/clay-DMPA composite) and PU. The thickness of the crystals for PU/clay-MDI and PU/clay-DMPA composites was larger than that for PU and PU/clay-PTMG; whereas the layer distance of the crystals for PU/clay-MDI and PU/clay-DMPA composites was smaller than those for PU and PU/clay-PTMG. The values of glass transition temperature (Tg) of soft and hard segments were in the order of PU/clay-MDI > PU/clay-DMPA > PU > PU/clay-PTMG. Among the three PU/clay composites prepared by the pre-mixing procedure, PU/clay-MDI and PU/clay-DMPA composites showed significant gathering of the nano-clay in the PU matrix. A possible mechanism of the structural changes under tensile stress was speculated to explain the reason for the higher tensile strength and elongation at break of PU/clay-PTMG composite. The pre-mixing of clay-PTMG was a good procedure for the manufacture of the PU/clay composite, which had higher values of tensile strength and elongation at break.

A novel C(35)-terpene, designated as cryptotrione (1), with an unprecedented skeleton possessing an abietane diterpene with a unique bicyclic sesquiterpene, is identified from the bark of Cryptomeria japonica. The carbon skeleton of 1 represents a new structural entity, and this is an intriguing addition to the structurally diverse diterpene-sesquiterpene class. A unique biosynthetic pathway is proposed to support the production of this phytocompound. Notably, 1 exhibits anticancer activity with an IC(50) value of 6.44 +/- 2.23 microM.

In this study, helium/oxygen/nitrogen (He/O2/N2)-plasma was used to etch/modify the surface of ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fiber. After coated with polyurethane (PU), the plasma treated UHMWPE fabrics were laminated. It was found that the values of peeling strength between the laminated UHMWPE fabrics treated with He/O2/N2-plasma were significantly higher (3–4 times) than that between pristine fabrics. The hydrophilic property and the value of the surface roughness of the UHMWPE fibers increased significantly after treated with He/O2/N2-plasma. The mechanism of the oxidation/degradation of the polymers on the surface of the UHMWPE fiber during He/O2/N2-plasma treatment was suggested. In addition, it was found that the higher content of functional groups (carbonyl, aldehyde, and carboxylic acid) on fiber surface and the higher value of surface roughness of the UHMWPE fiber treated with He/O2/N2-plasma could significantly improve the adhesion-strength of the laminated UHMWPE fabric. Especially, the micro-aperture on the surface of UHMWPE fiber caused by the strenuous etching of He/O2/N2-plasma treatment was also an important factor on improving the adhesion-strength between the laminated UHMWPE fabrics. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

In this study, argon plasma treatment was added to the traditional pad-dry-cure process between dry and cure treatment. This new process was assign as pad-dry-plasma-cure. The crosslinking agent was a mixture of dimethyloldihydroxyethyleneurea (DMDHEU) and acrylic acid (AA). The results showed that argon plasma treatment could increase the bonded crosslinking agent (nitrogen content). Dry crease recovery angle (DCRA), wet crease recovery angle (WCRA) and tensile strength retention (TSR) of pad-dry-plasma-cure-finished fabrics were higher than that of traditional pad-dry-cure finished fabrics at a given value of nitrogen content. Additionally, it was found that the number of crosslinks per anhydroglucose unit (CL/AGU) and the length of crosslinks of pad-dry-plasma-cure-finished fabrics were higher than that of traditional pad-dry-cure-finished fabrics at a same resin concentration in the pad bath. DCRA, WCRA and TSR values of pad-dry-plasma-cure-finished fabrics were higher than that of pad-dry-cure-finished fabrics at a same CL/AGU value. The pad-dry-plasma-cure process is thought to be excellent for improving the physical properties and decreasing the formaldehyde release of the finished cotton fabrics.

In this study, two bacteria and three odorous chemicals were employed to assess the antibacterial activity and the odor elimination abilities of fabric samples finished with nanometer titanium dioxide/nanometer silver/water-borne polyurethane (nano-TiO2/nano-Ag/WBPU) composite emulsions. It was found that the value of odor elimination, ultraviolet light transmission, and anti-bacteria for the mixture of nano-TiO2 and nano-Ag was higher than the summed value for the individual nanoTiO2 and nano-Ag. The odor elimination ability for individual nano-TiO2 was better than that for individual nano-Ag, but the anti-bacterial activity was found to follow the opposite trend. The mechanisms of the free radical formation for nano-TiO2Ag+ have been discussed, suggested and confirmed with the investigation of the energy gap and conductivity values for the individual and the mixed particles of nano-TiO2 and nano-Ag. The loss of the anti-bacterial activity for the fabrics finished with the mixture of nano-TiO2 and nano-Ag was less than 6% and 13% after 15 times’ washing and 3000 times’ abrasion, respectively. The practicability of the fabrics finished with nano-TiO2/nanoAg/WBPU composite emulsions was strongly supported by the excellent properties of odor elimination, anti-bacteria, washing fastness and abrasion resistance.

The wound dressing of acrylic acid-grafted and gamma-polyglutamic acid/chitosan-immobilized polypropylene non-woven fabric (PP-AAg-PGCi) was produced in this study. Gamma-polyglutamic acid (gamma-PGA) was first applied in this field to composed with chitosan. The PP-AAg-PGCi wound dressings were expected to enhance the water absorbing, water permeating and wound healing properties. The results showed that the immobilizing percentage, water absorbing value and water diffusion coefficient for PP-AAg-PGCi samples increased with the increase of the gamma-PGA in the immobilizing bath; whereas, decreased with the increase of the chitosan in the immobilizing bath. The immobilized chitosan was aggregating with the state of discontinuous and uneven mass materials on the surface of the immobilized gamma-PGA. The water absorbing, water permeating, and anti-bacterial properties of the PP-AAg-PGCi samples were much better than that of AA grafted and collagen/chitosan immobilized PP non-woven sample (PP-AAg-CCi) in our previous study. Anti-bacterial property for PP-AAg-PGCi samples was excellent. The effect on accelerating wound healing for PP-AAg-PGCi samples was strong. The product of the multi-layer material of PP-AAg-PGCi was expected to bestow better services for wound dressing.

The wound dressing of acrylic acid-grafted and chitosan/collagen-immobilized polypropylene non-woven fabric (PP–AAg–CCi) were produced. In this study, two kinds of chitosan obtained from the nourishment of Mucor (m-chitosan) and from commerce (c-chitosan) were used for comparison. It was found that the values of water absorbing and water diffusion coefficient for m-chitosan sample (PP–AAg–CmCi) were significantly higher than that for c-chitosan sample (PP–AAg–CcCi). The enhanced percentage on water absorbing value and water diffusion coefficient for PP–AAg–CmCi sample increased with the increasing of chitosan contained in the mixture of chitosan/collagen. The surface of the PP–AAg–CcCi sample was smooth; however, the surface of the PP–AAg–CmCi sample was rough and cracky/loose. The higher water adsorption and water diffusion properties were caused by the nature of agent for the PP–AAg–CmCi sample. The hydroxyl group contained on m-chitosan, which was prepared in this study, was higher than that contained on c-chitosan. The anti-bacterial properties of the PP–AAg–CmCi and PP–AAg–CcCi samples were all excellent. The products of the multi-layer material of PP–AAg–CmCi were expected to provide better services for wound dressing.

In this study, diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI), 2,2-bis(hydroxymethy)-propionic acid (DMPA), and polytetramethyleneglycol (PTMG) were employed to polymerize the low molecular weight polyurethane (LMWPU). The mole ratios for the LMWPUs were 4.0:1.5:0.5, 4.0:1.0:1.0, and 4.0:0.5:1.5, respectively. The three LMWPUs were dissolved in lithium chloride/tetrahydrofuran (UCV THF) to prepare the finishing solutions. The water retaining values of the treated non-woven fabrics with the solutions increased by the increase of the component of the PTMG contained in LMWPU. This higher content of PTMG in LMWPU resulted in a lower add-on value and a lower degree of the blocking deposited in the gaps among fibers. Both of these could significantly improve the water retaining property. The water retaining values for the LMWPU solutions were dramatically higher than those for commercial water soluble polyurethane and LMWPU emulsions. The functional groups of LMWPU were confirmed with the analyses of the spectra of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The average molecular weights of the three LMMTUs ranged from 2000 to 3800 g/mole and the average particle sizes ranged from 140 to 1140 nm. The degree of polymer crystals obtained from LMWPU solutions is lower, which could also significantly improve the water retaining property.

In this study, the effect of argon-plasma treatment on the grafting of methyl diallyl ammonium salt (MDAA) onto polyamide-6 film and the anti-bacterial and surface properties of the plasma- and graft-treated film were investigated. The grafting amounts of MDAA caused by argon-plasma treatment increased with the increase in the plasma exposure time and plasma power. The analyses of Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA) spectra revealed that the epoxy and vinyl groups of MDAA could be grafted on the argon-plasma treated polyamide-6 film. The survey spectra of ESCA, the patterns of atomic force microscopy (AFM), and the spectra from scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were employed to certify the surface modification of argon-plasma treated and the argon-plasma treated/MDAA grafted polyamide-6 films. Argon-plasma treatment could generate the functional group and increase the roughness on the surface of polyamide-6 film. This phenomenon could enhance the grafting effect of MDAA. The anti-bacterial property of argon-plasma treated/MDAA grafted polyamide-6 film was excellent. This argon-plasma treated/MDAA grafted polyamide-6 film was expected to be applied on the field of packing. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Various concentrations of heparin were employed in this study to immobilize on the acrylic acid-grafted and collagen/chitosan-immobilized polypropylene (PP-AAg-CCi) nonwoven fabric to improve the water absorbing and permeating properties. The immobilized heparin was verified by analyzing of the spectra of surface reflection infrared spectroscopy. It was found that the values of water absorbing and water diffusion coefficient for the PP-AAg-CCi sample immobilized with heparin (PP-AAg-CCHi) were significantly higher than those for the PP-AAg-CCi. The bacteria inhibition percentage and bacteria inhibition zone for the PP-AAg-CCHi were excellently. The pore and agent distribution for PP-AAg-CCi were examined with scanning electron microscope photographs. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008

Defect concentrations in SiCOH low-k dielectrics deposited on high-resistivity silicon substrates were measured with Electron Spin Resonance (ESR). CP4 and HF treatmentswere used in order to eliminate dangling bonds from the backside of the silicon substrate as well as the sample edges. Two kinds of defects with characteristic g = 2.0054–2.0050 and g=2.0018–2.0020were detected in pristine samples and quantified using Lorentzian fitting. The defect with the g factor of 2.0054–2.0050 is likely to be fromthe silicon-dangling bonds. The defect with the g factor of 2.0018–2.0020 is most likely from carbon-related centers. Upon exposure to VUV synchrotron radiation (hν = 12 eV), the concentration of the silicon-dangling bonds is found to increase significantly. ispartof: Thin Solid Films vol:616 pages:23-26 status: published

Cotton fabrics were crosslinked with dimethyloldihydroxyethyleneurea (DMDHEU) alone and DMDHEU/alpha-amino acids. The results showed that the values of nitrogen content, dry crease recovery angle and wet crease recovery angle of the crosslinked fabrics were ranked as DMDHEU > DMDHEU/aspartic acid > DMDHEU/glycine > DMDHEU/arginine under the same concentration of crosslinking agent. The reaction rate constant was also in the rank of DMDHEU > DMDHEU/aspartic acid > DMDHEU/glycine > DMDHEU/arginine. This rank agreed with the number of amine groups on the alpha-amino acids. From the data of free energies of activation, we found that the alpha-amino acids could affect the crosslinking reaction. The transition state complex for DMDHEU alone was significantly different from those for DMDHEU/ alpha-amino acids. From infrared spectra, the interaction between alpha-amino acids and aluminum ion was confirmed. The mechanisms of the interaction between alpha-amino acids and aluminum ion and the condensation reaction mechanisms between DMDHEU and alpha-amino acids are suggested in this study. The higher the number of carboxylic acid groups contained in the alpha-amino acids, the higher the crease recovery angle and reaction rate constant.

Three low-molecular-weight polyurethanes (LMWPU) containing various amounts of carboxylic acid were synthesized and applied on the nonwoven fabric for the improvement of water remaining property. The chemical structure of the LMWPUs was confirmed with 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR. The molecular weights of those three LMWPUs ranged from 3100 to 4200 g/mol. The results showed that the add-on values were increased with the increasing of the content of 2,2-bis(hydroxymethyl)propionic acid in LMWPU at a same resin concentration in padding bath. However, the water remaining values were decreased with the increasing of the content of 2,2-bis(hydroxymethyl)propionic acid in LMWPU for a given add-on value. The thermal properties, such as thermo-degradation and the values of Tg and Tm of the polymers, could not affect the water remaining property of the treated fabrics. The analyses of X-ray diffraction patterns and polarizing microscope observations showed that LMWPU with higher content of polytetramethyleneglycol had higher amorphous region. This phenomenon clearly supported that the values of water remaining were strongly affected by the amorphous region of the LMWPU polymers. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008

The nanometer titanium dioxide (TiO2), succinic acid (SUA), and the mixture of nano- TiO2 and SUA were dispersed or dissolved in pure water, then irradiated with UV at the wavelength of 254 nm under stirring for different time periods respectively. The pH and conductivity values and UV-vis spectra of those solutions were recorded immediately. The powders obtained from the filtrated and vacuum dried from those solutions were examined with Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy and Wide Angle X-Ray Diffraction meter. It shows that the crystalline structure and IR and UV-vis spectra of SUA adsorbed on nano-TiO2 particles are changed. The photo-reduced succinic acid in the presence of nanometer titanium dioxide under UV irradiation can create aldehyde group on SUA and free radical of SUA to improve the catalytic effects of crosslinking reaction between SUA and cotton cellulose.

Two kinds of alpha-amino acids were used to combine with dimethylol-dihydroxyethyleneurea (DMDHEU) as crosslinking agents. It was found that the values of equilibrium dye absorption, dyeing rate constant and the structural diffusion resistance constant for various combinations of crosslinking agents were in the rank of DMDHEU-glutamic acid > DMDHEU-aspartic acid > DMDHEU alone at the same dyeing temperature. The activation energies of dyeing for the three crosslinked fabrics were ranked as follows: DMDHEU > DMDHEU-aspartic acid > DMDHEU-glutamic acid. The patterns of fiber cross-section obtained by scanning electron microscopy showed that the degree of the swelling of the DMDHEU crosslinked fiber was somewhat lower than that of DMDHEU-alpha-amino acid crosslinked fibers. From this it was concluded that the fabrics crosslinked with the DMDHEU-alpha-amino acid combinations had a larger pore structure.

Dimethyloldihydroxyethyleneurea and acrylic acid crosslinking agent was used to treat the cotton fabric with a pad-dry-plasma-cure process. Rate constants and structural diffusion resistance constants for the pad-dry-plasma-cure treated fabrics were lower than those for pad-dry-cure fabrics treated at the same resin concentration, and the values of dye absorption and equilibrium absorption of the plasma-treated fabrics were also lower than those for non-plasma-treated fabrics. However, the activation energies for the pad-dry-plasma-cure process were higher than that for the pad-dry-cure process. The anti-bacterial ability of the pad-dry-plasma-cure and pad-dry-plasma-cure with copper after-treatment fabrics were higher than that of pad-dry-cure and pad-dry-cure with copper after-treatment fabrics. The surface distribution of crosslinking agent for pad-dry-plasma-cure process was higher than for the pad-dry-cure process.

We used quasi-nanometer zirconium carbide (ZrC) and a polyurethane (PU) resin under roller pressure to form a composite film and found that the tensile strength at break, elongation at break, and modulus gradually decreased with increasing ultraviolet (UV)-irradiation time for films of both PU and the PU/ZrC composite. However, this phenomenon was significantly higher for the PU film than for the ZrC/PU composite film. The construction of the PU film changed after UV irradiation, but that of the PU/ZrC composite film was almost unchanged. The degradation of PU molecules occurred in the absence of ZrC particles after irradiation with UV light but almost did not occur in the presence of ZrC particles. This was confirmed with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and gel permeation chromatography analyses. It was suggested that polymer radicals which formed through the photooxidation of UV irradiation and free radicals which formed through the photoreduction of nanometer ZrC/UV irradiation interacted to form a dead polymer to stop the degradation; simultaneously, the chemical bonding between polymer molecules could be re-formed from free radicals created by photooxidation and photoreduction and thus reduce the mobility of PU molecules, thereby raising the glass-transition and melting temperatures of the soft segment. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 102: 4842–4849, 2006

Serine and glycine are selected as coreactants to combine with dimethylol-dihydroxyethyleneurea (DMDHEU). We found that the pore structures of DMDHEU-crosslinked cottons are changed. DMDHEU alone has lower values of equilibrium absorption, structural diffusion resistance constant, and rate constant, but higher value of activation energy than do DMDHEU–serine and DMDHEU–glycine. On the other hand, DMDHEU–serine has higher values of structural diffusion resistance constant and lower values of equilibrium absorption and rate constant than does DMDHEU–glycine; however, the hydroxyl group contained in serine has the higher affinity toward direct dye resulting in the decrease in the value of activation energy. The expansion patterns of cross section show that the degree of the expansion of the DMDHEU-crosslinked fiber is lower than that of the DMDHEU–serine- and DMDHEU–glycine-crosslinked fibers. The distribution of crosslinking agents on the crosslinked fabrics reveals the slightly higher surface distribution of DMDHEU–serine and DMDHEU–glycine. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 102: 1578–1584, 2006

Four different carboxylic acids (1,2,3,4-butane tetracarboxylic acid (BTCA), maleic acid (MA), succinic acid (SUA), and citric acid (CA)) were used as crosslinking agents for finished cotton fabrics in the presence of nanometer titanium dioxide catalyst under the irradiation of ultraviolet (UV) light and/or an electronic field (EF). We find that the dry crease recovery angle, wet crease recovery angle, and softness improvement percentages of the treated fabrics for all the crosslinking agents are gradually increased with the increasing of irradiation time period, but the TSR values decreased in all cases. The crease recovery and softness properties for the various crosslinking agents are ranked as BTCA > MA > CA > SUA at a given UV irradiation time period. The addition of EF treatment on the UV-irradiated fabrics improves the catalytic effects significantly. The spectra of Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometry reveal the crosslinking reaction between the carboxylic acid group of citric acid and the hydroxyl group of methylcellulose; this reaction could form ester and ether groups in the presence of nanometer TiO 2 catalyst under UV irradiation and UV irradiation and EF treatment. The pictures of scanning electron microscopy and the electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis survey spectra show the surface deposition of acid crosslinking agents on the finished fibers and the crosslinking reaction between citric acid and cellulose molecule catalyzed with nanometer titanium dioxide under the irradiation of UV only and under the irradiation of UV and the treatment of EF separately.

Investigations on white spirit and acetone permeation resistance of modified polyamide and nylon 6 clay (MPANYC) blends and their corresponding polyethylene/MPANYC bottles were reported in this study. The white spirit and acetone permeation resistance of MPANYC sheets improve consistently with increasing NYC contents present in MPANYC resins after blending nylon 6 clay (NYC) in modified polyamide (MPA) resins. However, the order of barrier improvement of the PE/MPANYC and PE/NYC bottle specimens is not corresponding to the order of barrier improvement of the MPANYC and/or NYC barrier resins added in PE. The blow-molded PE/NYC bottle specimen exhibits similarly worse white spirit and acetone solvent permeation resistance as the PE bottle specimen, wherein no clearly formed NYC laminas but only dispersed NYC droplets or agglomerates were found on the fracture surfaces of the PE/NYC bottles. However, after blending optimum compositions of MPANYC in PE, the PE/MPANYC bottles with demarcated MPANYC laminas exhibit significantly better white spirit and acetone permeation resistance than the PE/MPA bottle, wherein the white spirit and acetone permeation rates of the PE/MPA8NYC1 bottle are about 1.3 and 1.4 times slower than those of the PE/MPA bottle, respectively. In order to understand these interesting barrier properties of PE/MPANYC and PE/NYC bottles, rheological, thermal, wide angle X-ray diffraction and morphological properties of the base MPANYC and NYC resins and their corresponding morphology present in the blow-molded bottles were investigated.

The blending and barrier properties of the MPAEVOH blends of modified polyamide (MPA) and ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVOH) were systematically in- vestigated in this study. After blending MPA in EVOH resin, a noticeable "negative deviation" was found on the plot of the oxygen permeation rate versus MPA content when the MPA contents present in MPAEVOH resins reach about 80 wt %. The peak tempera- tures associated with the main melting endotherm of MPA and EVOH reduce significantly with increasing the EVOH and MPA contents present in MPAEVOH resins, respectively. The melting endotherm and X-ray diffraction peak associated with EVOH crystal phases disappear gradually as the MPA contents present in MPAEVOH increase. In fact, the melting endotherm and X-ray scattering peak corresponding to EVOH crystals almost disappear as the EVOH contents present in MPAEVOH specimens are less than 20 wt %. Further Fourier-Transform Infrared (FT-IR) investigations indicate that the strengths of intermolecular hydrogen bonds of MPAEVOH specimens reduce significantly as the MPA contents increase, wherein the self-associated hydroxyl-hydroxyl bonds within EVOH resins almost disappear as the EVOH contents reduce to be less than about 20 wt %. As expected, the average sizes of the free volume holes of MPAEVOH specimens increase significantly as the MPA contents increase. However, somewhat surprisingly, a clear negative deviation was found on the plot of the numbers and fractional free volumes of free volume holes against the MPA contents as the EVOH contents are close to about 20 wt %. The interesting barrier properties of the MPA, EVOH, and MPAEVOH specimens were investigated in terms of the free volume and intermolecular interaction properties in the amorphous phases of MPAEVOH specimens described above. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J

Four different carboxylic acids, 1,2,3,4-butane tetracarboxylic acid (BTCA), maleic acid (MA), succinic acid (SUA), and citric acid (CA), were used as crosslinking agents to treat cotton fabrics in the presence of nanometer titanium dioxide (TiO2) as a catalyst under UV irradiation. The dry crease recovery angle (DCRA) and wet crease recovery angle (WCRA) values of the treated fabrics were ranked BTCA > MA > CA > SUA and the tensile strength retention (TSR) values were ranked BTCA CA ≒ SUA; and at a given value of the TSR, the WCRA and DCRA values were both ranked in the order BTCA > MA > CA > SUA. The softness values of the carboxylic acid treated fabrics in the presence of nanometer TiO2 catalyst were all better than that of the untreated fabric. Surface deposition of the treated fabrics for BTCA, which contains one vinyl double bond and four carboxylic acid groups, was higher than that for CA, which contains no vinyl double bond. IR spectra and electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis survey spectra showed the ester bond crosslink between the cellulose molecule and the various acids used in this study. The values of DCRA, WCRA, and add-on of the CA crosslinked fabrics for the mixed catalysts were in the order ZrO2/TiO2 < SiO2/TiO2 < Ag/TiO2. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 97: 2450–2456, 2005

Serine and glycine were used to combine with dimethyloldihydroxyethyleneurea (DMDHEU) as crosslinking agents to study the physical properties of the crosslinked fabrics and the reaction kinetics, and find that the bound nitrogen is in the series of DMDHEU >> DMDHEU-serine > DMDHEU-glycine at the same resin concentration. The results also show that the wet crease recovery angle (WCRA) value of the treated fabrics for the three crosslinking agent systems is in the series of DMDHEU-serine > DMDHEU-glycine > DMDHEU alone at a given dry crease recovery angle (DCRA). The DCRA values of the treated fabrics for DMDHEU alone are higher than those for DMDHEU-α-amino acids for a given value of tensile strength retention (TSR). WCRA values for the various treated fabrics is in the rank of DMDHEU-serine > DMDHEU alone > DMDHEU-glycine at the same TSR. Rate constants for the various crosslinking agents are in the series of DMDHEU-glycine > DMDHEU-serine > DMDHEU alone at the given heated temperatures. Energies needed to crosslink and the values of enthalpies and entropies of activation are all DMDHEU-glycine > DMDHEU-serine > DMDHEU alone. Infrared ray (IR) spectra strongly suggest the reaction between DMDHEU and serine and the reaction between the hydroxyl group (cellulose) and serine can occur in the pad-dry-cure process, but only a little for the latter. The reaction between the functional groups of serine and the aluminum ion to form a complex also confirm with IR spectrum.

Two dicarboxylic acids (maleic acid and tartaric acid) were used in conjunction with DMDHEU as the crosslinking agents to treat cotton fabric samples. The treated fabrics then were dyed with direct red 81. The results show that the values of the dye absorption, equilibrium absorption, rate constants, and the pore index of structural diffusion resistance constant for the various crosslinking agents are ranked as DMDHEU-tartaric acid > DMDHEU-maleic acid > DMDHEU alone at the same dyeing temperature. The activation energies for the three crosslinked fabrics are in the rank of DMDHEU > DMDHEU-maleic acid > DMDHEU-tartaric acid. The CL length values for the various crosslinking agent systems are in the series of DMDHEU-tartaric acid > DMDHEU-maleic acid > DMDHEU alone for a given number of CL/AGU. The values of the pore index of structural diffusion resistance constant and dyeing rate constant are increased with the increase of CL length. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 97: 143–148, 2005

Three metallic salts were used to posttreat dimethyloldihydroxyethyleneurea (DMDHEU)/aerylic acid (AA) crosslinked cotton fabrics, and the results showed that at a given value of the tensile strength retention (TSR), the dry crease recovery angle (DCRA) and wet crease recovery angle (WCRA) of the crosslinked and posttreated fabrics were higher than those of the DMDHEU-AA-treated fabrics, and those of the crosslinked and posttreated fabrics were in the order of Ag + > Cu +2 > Al +3 . The DCRA and TSR values for the crosslinked and posttreated fabrics were higher than those for the DMDHEU-AA-crosslinked fabrics, and those for the crosslinked and posttreated fabrics were in the order of Ag + > Cu +2 > Al +3 ; however, WCRA values for the crosslinked and posttreated fabrics were lower than those for the DMDHEU-AA-crosslinked fabrics, and those for the crosslinked and posttreated fabrics were ranked as Ag + > Cu +2 > Al +3 at a given number of crosslinks per anhydroglucose unit. IR spectra clearly revealed the different interactions and bonding states between the hydroxyl group of the cellulose and the various metallic ions and the strength of the interaction. All crosslinked and posttreated fabric samples showed good odor absorption and antibacterial and washing-fastness properties.

A steeped procedure was introduced to the durable press finishing process in this study to study some physical properties, the crosslinking structure, and the pore structure. The results showed that the values of the dry and wet crease recovery angles of fabrics treated with the steep–pad–dry–cure process were higher than those of fabrics treated with the pad–dry–cure process, and those phenomena increased with higher steeped temperatures and longer times. The lengths of the crosslinks for the steep–pad–dry–cure process were higher than those for the pad–dry–cure process at a given number of crosslinks per anhydroglucose unit. The fabrics treated with the steep–pad–dry–cure process had higher values of the dye absorption, rate constant, and structural diffusion resistance constant than those treated with the pad–dry–cure process at the same dyeing temperature; however, they had lower values of the equilibrium absorption and activation energy than those treated with the pad–dry–cure process. The results of thin-layer chromatography, H-NMR, 13C-NMR, and IR analyses suggested that self-condensation between the crosslinking agents occurred during the steeped procedure. Additionally, the steep–pad–dry–cure-treated fabric had more inner agent distribution than the pad–dry–cure-treated fabric. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 98: 2555–2562, 2005

The various weight ratios of collagen/chitosan were used to immobilize the various grafted amounts of acrylic acid (AA) grafted polypropylene nonwoven fabric. For a given value of grafting percentage of AA and the immobilizing time period, the values of the immobilizing percentage of collagen/chitosan are increased with the increasing of chitosan contained in the mixtures of collagen/chitosan. The antibacterial properties are also increased with the increasing of chitosan in the mixtures of collagen/chitosan and the immobilizing percentage of collagen/chitosan. The crosslinking reaction between the AA-grafted PP nonwoven fabrics and collagen/chitosan with glutaraldehyde are clearly sustained by examination from the spectra of the surface reflection infrared spectroscopy (IR). The values of water uptake and water diffusion coefficients are decreased with the increasing of chitosan in the mixtures of collagen/chitosan and the immobilizing percentages of collagen/chitosan at the same pH value of buffering water. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 98: 391–400, 2005

Two kinds of alpha-amino acids are used to combine with dimethylol-dihydroxyethyleneurea (DMDHEU) as crosslinking agents, and the specific rate constants and other activation parameters are discussed. From the results, we find that the rate constants for the various crosslinking agent systems are in the order of DMDHEU > DMDHEU-aspartic acid > DMDHEU-glutamic acid. The energies needed to crosslink are in the rank of DMDHEU-glutamic acid > DMDHEU-aspartic acid > DMDHEU. The values of enthalpy and entropy for DMDHEU are lower than those for DMDHEU-alpha-amino acids, and enthalpy values for DMDHEU are significantly lower than those for DMDHEU-alpha-amino acids. The data of various activation parameters reveal that the reaction state of DMDHEU-alpha-amino acids is different from that of DMDHEU. Additionally, the reactions between aluminum sulfate and aspartic acid are confirmed by infrared spectra.

We have used three different processes to treat cotton fabrics with different combined weight ratios of dimethylolethyleneurea (DMEU) and dimethylol-N,N'-dimethylene-tris ethyleneurea (DMDME3EU) as crosslinking agents, and have found that a two-step process of pad(DMDME3EU)-dry-cure-pad(DMEU)-dry-cure yields higher dry crease recovery angles (DCRA), wet crease recovery angles (WCRA), and equilibrium direct dye adsorption values than the other two processes of pad(DMEU)-dry-cure-pad(DMDME3EU)-dry-cure and pad- (mixture of DMEU and DMDME3EU)-dry-cure at the same nitrogen content and a combined ratio of equal concentrations of the two agents. The process of pad(DMDME3EU)-dry-cure- pad(DMEU)-dry-cure also yields higher DCRA values for a given wet crease recovery angle and tensile strength retention and an even crosslinking agent distribution in/on the treated fabrics. At the same time, the DCRA and WCRA values for the pad(DMDME3EU)-dry-cure- pad(DMEU)-dry-cure process are higher than those for the other two processes at a given number of crosslinks per anhydroglucose unit.

Two dicarboxylic acids were used to join with dimethyloldihydroxyethyleneurea (DMDHEU) as crosslinking agents to treated cotton fabrics. These results reveal that the dry crease recovery angle values of the treated fabrics for DMDHEU-maleic acid are higher than those for DMDHEU-tartaric acid at a given wet crease recovery angle and tensile strength retention. The IR spectra show that the reaction between the -OH of DMDHEU and cellulose and the vinyl groups of maleic acids occurred. The cross section of the DMDHEU-maleic acid and DMDHEU-tartaric acid treated fibers and the energies of activation and other data of reaction kinetics for DMDHEU-maleic acid and DMDHEU-tartaric acid strongly suggest that the reaction of vinyl groups of maleic acid with cellulose molecules can take place during the pad/dry-cure process. Additionally, the surface distribution of crosslinking agent on the finished fabrics for DMDHEU-maleic acid is slightly lower than that for DMDHEU-tartaric acid.

The oxygen permeation resistance of polyethylene (PE), polyethylene/ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer (PE/EVOH), polyethylene/modified ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer (PE/MEVOH), and polyethylene/modified polyamide–ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer (PE/MPAEVOH) bottles was investigated. The oxygen permeation resistance improved significantly after the blending of ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVOH) barrier resins in PE matrices during blow molding; less demarcated EVOH laminas were found on the fracture surfaces of the PE/EVOH bottles. Surprisingly, the oxygen permeation resistance of the PE/MEVOH bottles decreased significantly, although more clearly defined modified ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer (MEVOH) laminas were found for the PE/MEVOH bottles as the compatibilizer precursor contents present in the MEVOH resins increased. In contrast, after the blending of modified polyamide (MPA) in EVOH resins, more demarcated modified polyamide–ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer (MPAEVOH) laminar structures were observed in the PE/MPAEVOH bottles as the MPA contents present in the MPAEVOH resins increased. In fact, with proper MPAEVOH compositions, the oxygen permeation resistance of the PE/MPAEVOH bottles was even better than that of the PE/EVOH bottles. These interesting oxygen barrier and morphological properties of the PE, PE/EVOH, PE/MEVOH, and PE/MPAEVOH bottles were investigated in terms of the free volumes, barrier properties, and molecular interactions in the amorphous-phase structures of the barrier resins present in their corresponding bottles. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 92: 2528–2537, 2004

We used three kinds of alkyl diallyl ammonium salts (methyl, ethyl, and propyl) in combination with dimethyloldihydroxyethyleneurea (DMDHEU) as crosslinking agents. The nitrogen content, dry crease recovery angle (DCRA), moisture regain, and wicking height for the DMDHEU/alkyl diallyl ammonium salts were in the order of CH3 > C2H5 > C3H7, but the wet crease recovery angle (WCRA) and tensile strength retention (TSR) were in the opposite order at the same resin concentration. For the same DCRA and TSR, the WCRA values for only DMDHEU were lower than those for DMDHEU/alkyl diallyl ammonium salts, and the WCRA values for DMDHEU/alkyl diallyl ammonium salts were in the order of C3H7 > C2H5 > CH3. Both the OH group of the cellulose and DMDHEU could react with the vinyl or epoxy groups of the alkyl diallyl ammonium salts during the pad–dry–cure process. The surface migration for DMDHEU/alkyl diallyl ammonium salts was in the order of CH3 > C2H5 > C3H7. Fabrics treated with DMDHEU/alkyl diallyl ammonium salts showed good antibacterial properties. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 90: 1662–1669, 2003

We have used alpha-amino acids (aspartic acid and glutamic acid) to join with dimethyloldihydroxyethyleneurea (DMDHEU) as crosslinking agents, and have found that at a given resin concentration, the wet crease recovery angle (WCRA) and tensile strength retention (TSR) values of the treated fabrics are in the order of DMDHEU- glutamic acid > DMDHEU-aspartic acid > DMDHEU; however, the dry crease recovery angle (DCRA) values are in the inverse rank. Nitrogen content and wicking height (wH) values for the various finished fabrics rank as DMDHEU-aspartic acid > DMDHEU- glutamic acid > DMDHEU. We have also found that the WCRA and DCRA of DMDHEU- alone treated fabrics are lower than those of the DMDHEU-alpha-amino-acid treated fabrics, and are ranked as DMDHEU-glutamic acid > DMDHEU-aspartic acid > DMDHEL' alone at a given TSR. The reaction between the —OH of DMDHEU and the amino and acid groups of alpha-amino acids in a pad-dry-cure process are confirmed by IR spectra. Surface distribution of the crosslinking agent on the finished fabrics is similar for DMDHEU alone and DMDHEU-alpha-amino acid.

In this study, we pretreat aramid (Nomex®) yarns with ethylene diamine (EDA), diethylene triamine (DETA), and triethylene tetramine (TETA) under different conditions and study some physical properties. The values of changes in tensile strength retention ΔTSR increase and then decrease, and basic dye uptake [D] f and wicking height WH increase with increased pretreating temperature, time period, and amine concentration. The rank of the minus values of Δ TSR for the pretreated fibers is EDA > DETA > TETA. but the tendencies of the plus values of ΔTSR and of [ D] f, WH, and shrinkage are inverse at a given pretreating temperature, time period, and amine concentration. The glass transition temperatures and densities of the crystals are ranked as EDA > DETA > TETA. Surface etching on TETA pretreated fibers is more obvious than on EDA pretreated fibers. The polymer chains of aramid fibers may rearrange through shrinkage of the fibers during pretreatment, and some degradation of the Nomex polymer chains may occur at higher amine concentrations.

Phytochemical investigation of the methanol extract of the bark of Cryptomeria japonica has led to the isolation of two new abietane-type diterpenoids, 7a-(2’-butoxyethoxy)deoxocryptojaponol (1) and 7p-(2’-butoxyethoxy)deoxocryptojaponol (2). Their structures were established by means of 1D and 2D NMR spectra and HR-EI-MS, as well as on comparison with the reported data.