Ethylene oxide-based materials

Moad, G., Dean, K., Edmond, L., Kukaleva, N., Li, G., Mayadunne, R. T. A., Rfaender, R., Schneider, A., Simon, G., and Wermter, H. 2005. Non-ionic, poly(ethylene oxide)-based surfactants as intercalants/dispersants/exfoliants for p>oly(propylene)-clay nanocomposites. Macromolectdar Materials and Engineering 291 37-52. 

Ehsseeff, J., McIntosh, W., Anseth, K., Riley, S., Ragan, P., Langer, R., 2000. Photoencapsulation of chondrocytes in poly(ethylene oxide)-based semi-interpenetrating networks. Journal of Biomedical Materials Research 51 (2), 164—171. 

Abstract The development of new materials that can be apphed as solid electrolytes has led to the creation of modern systems of energy generation and storage. Among different poly(ethylene oxide)-based electrolytes, natural polymers, snch as hydroxyethylcellnlose, hydroxypropylcellulose or carboxymethylcellulose, starch and chitosan or proteins like gelatin, are also proposed. After salt or acid addition, the transparent membranes show ionic conductivity values of 10 S/cm and can be apphed with good stability results to electrochromic devices. 

For the most part, additives control the appHcation or theological properties of a paint. These additives include materials for latex paints such as hydroxyethylceUulose, hydrophobicaHy modified alkah-soluble emulsions, and hydrophobicaHy modified ethylene oxide urethanes. Solvent-based alkyd paints typically use castor oil derivatives and attapulgite and bentonite clays. The volume soHds of a paint is an equally important physical property affecting the apphcation and theological properties. Without adequate volume soHds, the desired appHcation and theological properties may be impossible to achieve, no matter how much or many additives are incorporated into the paint. 

Poly(ethylene oxide) associates in solution with certain electrolytes (48—52). For example, high molecular weight species of poly(ethylene oxide) readily dissolve in methanol that contains 0.5 wt % KI, although the resin does not remain in methanol solution at room temperature. This salting-in effect has been attributed to ion binding, which prevents coagulation in the nonsolvent. Complexes with electrolytes, in particular lithium salts, have received widespread attention on account of the potential for using these materials in a polymeric battery. The performance of soHd electrolytes based on poly(ethylene oxide) in terms of ion transport and conductivity has been discussed (53—58). The use of complexes of poly(ethylene oxide) in analytical chemistry has also been reviewed (59). 

It is necessary to determine the bioburden and make cycle verification studies when ethylene oxide sterilization is used, as it is for other sterilization methods. The manufacturer of hospital sterilization equipment provides cycle recommendations based on the expected bioburden and the consideration of an appropriate safety factor. In ethylene oxide sterilization, it is necessary to determine if residues of the stefilant are absorbed by the sterilized article, and to examine the possible formation of other potentially toxic materials as a result of reaction with ethylene oxide. 

Equation 20 is the rate-controlling step. The reaction rate of the hydrophobes decreases in the order primary alcohols > phenols > carboxylic acids (84). With alkylphenols and carboxylates, buildup of polyadducts begins after the starting material has been completely converted to the monoadduct, reflecting the increased acid strengths of these hydrophobes over the alcohols. Polymerization continues until all ethylene oxide has reacted. Beyond formation of the monoadduct, reactivity is essentially independent of chain length. The effectiveness of ethoxylation catalysts increases with base strength. In practice, ratios of 0.005—0.05 1 mol of NaOH, KOH, or NaOCH to alcohol are frequendy used. 

Emulsion polymerizations of vinyl acetate in the presence of ethylene oxide- or propylene oxide-based surfactants and protective coUoids also are characterized by the formation of graft copolymers of vinyl acetate on these materials. This was also observed in mixed systems of hydroxyethyl cellulose and nonylphenol ethoxylates. The oxyethylene chain groups supply the specific site of transfer (111). The concentration of insoluble (grafted) polymer decreases with increase in surfactant ratio, and (max) is observed at an ethoxylation degree of 8 (112). 

A second type of soHd ionic conductors based around polyether compounds such as poly(ethylene oxide) [25322-68-3] (PEO) has been discovered (24) and characterized. These materials foUow equations 23—31 as opposed to the electronically conducting polyacetylene [26571-64-2] and polyaniline type materials. The polyethers can complex and stabilize lithium ions in organic media. They also dissolve salts such as LiClO to produce conducting soHd solutions. The use of these materials in rechargeable lithium batteries has been proposed (25). 

Biological. Several recent patents have claimed the production of ethylene oxide from a wide variety of raw materials using enzymatic catalysts (221—224). However, no commercial production routes based on biological mechanisms have been proposed. 

Ethylene oxide is used in the manufacture of raw materials and can be used to sterilize the surface of finished products and containers. Unfortunately, ethylene oxide is a genotoxic carcinogen and its use is not accepted without justification. In any event, tight controls are required on residues of ethylene oxide and its halohydrin-related substances. For raw materials the amount of these residues is limited to 1 and 50 pig/g, respectively for finished products 1 and 50 pg/g, respectively (with any affected ingredients subject to the control limits for raw materials) and for containers, based on simulated use, 1 and 50 pg/mL container volume, respectively. 

Skotheim et al. [286, 357, 362] have performed in situ electrochemistry and XPS measurements using a solid polymer electrolyte (based on poly (ethylene oxide) (PEO) [363]), which provides a large window of electrochemical stability and overcomes many of the problems associated with UHV electrochemistrty. The use of PEO as an electrolyte has also been investigated by Prosperi et al. [364] who found slow diffusion of the dopant at room temperature as would be expected, and Watanabe et al. have also produced polypyrrole/solid polymer electrolyte composites [365], The electrochemistry of chemically prepared polypyrrole powders has also been investigated using carbon paste electrodes [356, 366] with similar results to those found for electrochemically-prepared material. 

As an anionic surfactant, a synthetic alkylate-base sulfonate containing about 60 % active material (Synacto 476) was used. To make it compatible with the injection water considered (composition in Table I) containing 1500 ppm Ca++ and Mg++ ions, a nonionic cosurfactant was combined with it, i.e. an unsaturated ethoxylated fatty alcohol with 8 ethylene oxide groups (Genapol). Their main characteristics and properties are listed in Table II. 

Freeder, B. G. et al., J. Loss Prev. Process Ind., 1988, 1, 164-168 Accidental contamination of a 90 kg cylinder of ethylene oxide with a little sodium hydroxide solution led to explosive failure of the cylinder over 8 hours later [1], Based on later studies of the kinetics and heat release of the poly condensation reaction, it was estimated that after 8 hours and 1 min, some 12.7% of the oxide had condensed with an increase in temperature from 20 to 100°C. At this point the heat release rate was calculated to be 2.1 MJ/min, and 100 s later the temperature and heat release rate would be 160° and 1.67 MJ/s respectively, with 28% condensation. Complete reaction would have been attained some 16 s later at a temperature of 700°C [2], Precautions designed to prevent explosive polymerisation of ethylene oxide are discussed, including rigid exclusion of acids covalent halides, such as aluminium chloride, iron(III) chloride, tin(IV) chloride basic materials like alkali hydroxides, ammonia, amines, metallic potassium and catalytically active solids such as aluminium oxide, iron oxide, or rust [1] A comparative study of the runaway exothermic polymerisation of ethylene oxide and of propylene oxide by 10 wt% of solutions of sodium hydroxide of various concentrations has been done using ARC. Results below show onset temperatures/corrected adiabatic exotherm/maximum pressure attained and heat of polymerisation for the least (0.125 M) and most (1 M) concentrated alkali solutions used as catalysts. 

Mineral separations, 15 442 Minerals industry, size of, 16 598 Mineral sludge dewatering efficiency, poly(ethylene oxide) in, 10 688 Mineral solids, hybrid materials based on, 13 541... 

Many polymer-salt complexes based on PEO can be obtained as crystalline or amorphous phases depending on the composition, temperature and method of preparation. The crystalline polymer-salt complexes invariably exhibit inferior conductivity to the amorphous complexes above their glass transition temperatures, where segments of the polymer are in rapid motion. This indicates the importance of polymer segmental motion in ion transport. The high conductivity of the amorphous phase is vividly seen in the temperature-dependent conductivity of poly(ethylene oxide) complexes of metal salts. Fig. 5.3, for which a metastable amorphous phase can be prepared and compared with the corresponding crystalline material (Stainer, Hardy, Whitmore and Shriver, 1984). For systems where the amorphous and crystalline polymer-salt coexist, NMR also indicates that ion transport occurs predominantly in the amorphous phase. An early observation by Armand and later confirmed by others was that the... 

While Wright and co-workers were the first group of researchers to discover that the ether-based polymer poly (ethylene oxide) (PEG) was able to dissolve inorganic salts and exhibit ion conduction at room temperature, " it was the suggestion from Armand et al. that placed these novel materials at the center stage of lithium electrolyte research for more than a decade.The number of comprehensive reviews on this subject could serve as an indicator of the general enthusiasm for these materials during the period. ... 

Much the same happens if the prepolymers contain basic (tertiary) amino groups—e.g., diols based on primary amines extended with propylene and ethylene oxide and similar materials. The amine nitrogen reacts with the oxidizer, releasing ammonia, and is itself converted to the ammonium ion. Ensuing ionic interaction raises the viscosity of the batch to the point where it becomes unmixable (see also later section on moisture embrittlement). 

Ethylene oxide is an important fuel for FAEs and has proved its potential as one of the best fuels for them. It has wide explosive limits and low boiling point (10.5 °C) which facilitates its vaporization faster at room temperature and results in the formation of a cloud with air which is detonated. However, EO has a tendency to polymerize during storage thereby decreasing its shelf-life as well as the performance of EO-based weapons. The phenomenon of polymerization of EO, effect of temperature and materials of construction of weapons on polymerization and retardation of EO polymerization by the addition of well-known anti-oxidants have been studied by Agrawal et al. [293]. The addition of anti-oxidants retards EO polymerization and enhances the shelf-life of EO but does not meet the requirements of the Services, stipulating a shelf-life of minimum 10 years for... 

The large volume solvents, trichloroethylene and perchloroethylene, are still chiefly made from acetylene, but appreciable amounts of the former are derived from ethylene. The competitive situation between these source materials runs through the whole chlorinated hydrocarbon picture, and extends on to other compound classes as well—for example, acrylonitrile is just on the threshold of a severalfold expansion, as demand grows for synthetic fibers based thereon. Acrylonitrile can be made either from ethylene oxide and hydrogen cyanide, from acetylene and hydrogen cyanide, or from allylamines. The ethylene oxide route is reported to be the only one in current commercial use, but new facilities now under construction will involve the addition of hydrogen cyanide to acetylene (27). 

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