Novel organic azides were prepared, viz., derivatives of xanthone and fluorane (formulas I and II), and their photolysis initiated by radiation (lambda = 365 nm) was studied in ethanol and dimethylformamide (DMF) solutions in terms of IR and UV spectra (Scheme A, Figs. 1-4). A 15% methyl methacylate (MMA) solution in DMF was photopolymerized in the presence of the azides, benzoin and xanthone, and also in the bulk (to eliminate solvent effects) at 30 +/-1 degreesC in an argon atmosphere. The kinetics of the reaction was followed by dilatometry: The rate of polymerization of MMA photoinitiated with xanthone and fluorane azides was found to be higher than that run in the presence of xanthone and lower than that run in the presence of benzoin (Table 1, Fig. 5). Incorporation of a second azide group into the carbonyl photoinitiator (xanthone) resulted ill higher reaction rates as compared with the rate observed in the presence of the monoazides. Discontinuation of irradiation was followed by the "dark" polymerization effect. The process was first accelerated and then decelerated. With xanthone or benzoin, no such effect was found to occur. The energy of activation of the "dark" polymerization with 2-azidoxanthone was estimated at 43 kJ/mol over 22-42 degreesC. The durable effect of the "dark" polymerization and its temperature dependence were also observed in the bulk polymerization (Fig. 12). The aromatic azides containing no carbonyl group (e.g, azidobenzene, p,p,p ' -diazidobiyphenyl, p,p ' -diazidodiphenylmethane) failed to initiate photopolymerization under the present experimental conditions.

The group of poly(ester imide)s characterized by various chemical structure has been synthesized by reaction of carboxyimides (or their chlorides) and diols (or their derivatives). Some properties of the obtained polymers were examined. Among them the adhesion to glass, through reluctance and thermal resistance were tested. The quality of model nematic liquid crystal alignment of the polyimide layers by using the interference wedge method was tested. The relationship between the chemical structure of examined polyimide aligning layers and their properties was discussed.

A review covering methods for preparing microcapsules, including Author's own works on preparation of microcapsules that expand on heating. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and IR spectroscopy were used to characterize (Figs. 2, 4) the product of microencapsulation of n-hexane on radical emulsion terpolymerization of acrylonitrile, methyl methacrylate and vinylidene chloride, initiated with lauroyl peroxide and additionally with azobisisobutyronitrile which was used as a solid porophor. The resulting microcapsules could be used in paper composites for producing suitably convex Braille characters.

The first steps in the design, investigations and possible applications of multifunctional macromolecules exhibiting one-way direct exciton conductivity are presented. Some problems that appeared during the formation of these systems are discussed.

The liquid crystallinity of polyimide layers was thought to enhance the alignment of nematic liquid crystals (NLC) in the liquid crystal display (LCD). The asymmetric units introduced from trimellitic anhydride into the polyimide structure led to smectic or nematic phases of the resulting poly(ester imide)s (PESI). Dicarboxyimides, dicarboxyimides and dicarboxyimide chlorides were prepared by reacting trimellitic or selected tetracarboxylic acid anhydrides with omega-amino acids (Tables 1 and 2) by reacting (i) the synthesized carboxyimides with selected diols (Table 3), (ii) carboxyimide chlorides with diols (Scheme 2), (iii) transesterifying carboxyimides with hydroquinone diacetate to prepare about 30 polymers of varying chemical structures. The layer-forming ability of a 0.5% poly(ester imide) solution in DMF was evaluated in terms of specific viscosity (Ubbelohde instrument, 25 degrees C), eta = 0.1-0.3; M was rather low; good films were obtained, 5-10 mu m thick. TGA (Derivatograph MOM, Hungary) at 5 degrees C/min over 0-1000 degrees C, showed the length of the aliphatic chain between the carbonyl and the imide groups to affect the thermal resistance only slightly. Boetius hot-stage (polarized light) disclosed the mesophase range over 60-160 degrees C in eight polymers. DSC (Setaram DSC92, 5 degrees C/min, air) was used to establish the thermal and liquid-crystalline properties of the polyimides. The interference wedge method (Fig. 1) and the model nematic 6-CHBT, used to study the alignment depth (Table 4), showed the polyimides to align NCL quite well (Fig. 3), the alignment being the deeper the more mesogenic are the polymers used as the orienting films.

The literature data. made us synthesize a series of salicylideneanilines; they were identified by NMR, IR and UV-VIS spectra. A HyperChem routine was used to compare the spectra recorded with those resulting from quantum-mechanical modelling; the correlation coefficient obtained was 0.99. The triboelectric charge and its value were examined and the effect of the compounds prepared on the electric charge of selected dielectric polymer-polyester resin (PET type) was studied. A relationship was established between the triboelectric charge and the chemical structure of the compounds examined; the substituent effect in salicylideneanilines on the triboelectric properties was studied. Computer calculations showed the properties evaluated for the compounds by quantum-mechanical calculations (energy of electrostatic interactions (CCR), van der Waals interactions (vdW), dipole moment (MD) and electronic energy (EE)) to correlate well with the triboelectric data. A salicylideneaniline, 5%, added to PET increased substantially the triboelectric charge of the PET; p-nitrososalicylideneaniline was the most efficient compound in that respect.

The monomers for poly(ester imides) synthesis have been prepared from selected anhydrides and amino acids. The group of poly(ester imides) has been synthesized by reaction of carboxyimides (or their chlorides) and diols (or their derivatives). Thermal stability of selected polyimide samples has been tested. The liquid-crystalline properties have been evaluated by DSC method. The depth of nematic liquid crystal alignment of the polyimide layers using the interference wedge method has been examined. The relationship between the chemical structure of synthesized poly(ester imides) and some of their properties is discussed.

This paper describes some results of an artificial and natural aging of polystyrene-based materials. Two mechanisms of aging–thermal destruction and photooxidation are discussed. There are two means of stabilization: with additives and with chemically bonded stabilizers. The second way is preferable because it gives a solution to the compatibility problem. New monomers as intrachain stabilizers are proposed: methacrylic esters of aminophenol derivatives, with acylamino and imide groups, can be readily copolymerized with styrene. Their monomer units in the chain can increase the thermal stability of styrene polymers and copolymers at high temperatures. Also, they can act as photostabilizers due to the processes of the intramolecular energy transfer between the aromatic systems in the monomer unit. Such stabilization is not accompanied by any chemical changes in the system when the last one is illuminated.

The xerographic carrier is a particulate material composed of a magnetic core surrounded by a polymer. Two types of magnetic materials, magnetic oxides and ferrite, and nine polymers were studied in the carrier preparation process. The carriers produced with the magnetic oxides had the higher absolute triboelectric charge than those obtained with ferrite, but the latter showed better service properties and could be used in two-component xerographic developers. On the other hand, the large electrostatic charge and the high degree of comminution render the former carriers suitable for the production of single-component color xerography developers. The triboelectric charge of the carrier was also studied in relation to the nature of the polymer applied. A method was developed to prepare carrier grains of desired spherical shapes and liquidity.

The triboelectric properties of powdered polyester compositions containing complex compounds of 8-hydroxyquinoline with transition metals (Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn) were investigated. These studies aimed at determining the applicability of the resin as the main component of the developing powder (toner) in xerography. The effect was determined of the metal used on the value and the sign of the electrostatic charge of the synthesized complexes and of the powdered composition comprising thermoplastic poly(ethylene terephthalate) and the organometallic compounds. The complex compounds were found to exert an advantageous effect of the uniformity of distribution and stabilization of the triboelectric charge in the polymer composition.

Schiff dibases have been prepared from aromatic and aliphatic diamines and a selected aldehyde or ketone. These dibases were made to react with pyromellitic anhydride to yield eight polyimides (polypyromellitimides). Adhesion to glass and thermal resistance of the polyimides were examined and discussed in relation to polyimide's structure.

Ten polypyromellitimides, seventeen poly(imide esters) and six poly(imide amides) have been synthesized. The stability of 0.5% solutions of the poly(amic acids) in DMF, and the hardness, adhesion to glass and quality of nematic liquid crystal alignment of the polyimide layers using the interference wedge method have been tested. The relationship between the chemical structure of polyimides and their properties, especially the alignment depth, is discussed.