Epoxy resins are used throughout the commercial field as coatings and adhesives. Commercially, these polymers are generally synthesized via the "Taffy Process" which involves the reaction of 4,4′ isopropylidene diphenol (Bis-A) with epichlorohydrin under basic conditions. They may also synthesized from the base catalyzed reaction of diglycidylether of Bis-A and Bis-A, which is referred to as the "Advancement Process". Both processes are complicated by a branching side reaction which consumes epoxy groups and upsets the stiochiometric control and hence influences the materials final molecular weight. A possible method to eliminate the side reaction and obtain high molecular weight polymers was investigated which involved the use of sterically hindered basic catalysts in a non-polar solvent to promote the reaction between the diglycidylether of Bis-A and Bis-A. Reactions conducted using quaternary ammonium hydroxides in diglyme solutions produced high molecular weight polymers. In contrast, trialkylamine catalyzed systems run under similar conditions only produced polymers of moderate molecular weights at best. A quantitative ¹H-NMR analysis for measuring the degree of branching in polyhydroxyethers has been developed. The ¹H-NMR analysis involved the derivatization of the polymers using trichloroacetyl isocyanate. This was performed in order to separate the methine proton into a branched and non-branched signal. Analysis of both polymers and oligomers synthesized by this method indicate that the degree of branching is less than 10% for all materials. However the low precision of the technique limited the analysis and the conclusion as to the best reaction conditions required to obtain the lowest amount of branching. The kinetics of crosslinking oligomeric epoxy resins with multifunctional isocyanates was also studied using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The reaction was modeled by using phenyl isocyanate and a low molecular weight epoxy resin synthesized from para t-butyl phenol and diglycidylether of Bis-A. Tin octoate proved to be the most effective catalyst for this reaction. / M.S.

This work is a study of the product formed by the reaction of magnesium on bromobenzene in the absence of a solvent, and the results of hydrolysing this product. 1. By refluxing bromo benzene and magnesium, reaction takes place to form phenylmagnesium bromide, di phenyl and terphenyl. The yield of phenyl magnesium bromide was found to be 24-30 %. 2. The quantity of di phenyl formed is several times the runount formed when ether is used as a solvent. 3. Terphenyl was isolated from this reaction. / M.S.

The results of this investigation check the earlier work done by Czapek (1) in which he isolated an aldehyde which he termed “Hadromal”, and indicated as possibly being coniferyl aldehyde. The work was extended considerably, however, to positively identify “Hadromal” as being coniferyl aldehyde and to show that it was the substance responsible for the color reactions of wood. A new method as found to isolate “Hadromal”, namely, forming a bisulfite addition product and decomposing this product in the presence of iso-propyl ether. The crystals of “Hadromal” could then be recovered from the iso-propyl ether and purified. By this method, it was possible to identify “Hadromal” as coniferyl aldehyde, and show it to be responsible for the color reactions of wood. If ligroin was used as the solvent in place of isopropyl ether, a yellow oil separated, which evidently had a prohibiting effect upon the formation of crystals of coniferyl aldehyde and which was difficult to separate from the crystals. This oil was present when iso-propyl ether was used, but in a much lesser quantity. This oil was found to contain guaiacol. Pinene and a small amount of resin. As some of the investigation, Risi and Labri (1), who disagreed with Czapek (2) and Hoffmeister (3) used ligroin as the solvent, it is possible that their conclusions that “Hadromal” was composed of guaiacol, furfural, and catechol might have been influenced by the presence of oil. Results of this investigation also show what most earlier investigators had predicted, with the exception of Hoffmeister (3), that “Hadromal” is present in woody tissue in extremely small amounts. / M.S.

M.S.

The synthesis of ion containing copolymers by emulsion copolymerization of polar vinyl monomers with ionic vinyl monomers has been studied. The copolymerization of n-butyl acrylate with sodium-pstyrene sulfonate proved to be particularly rapid. With the proper choice of chain transfer agent soluble polymers with enhanced rubbery plateaus have been synthesized. The best conditions for the polymerizations were a reaction temperature of 70°C and reaction times up to 8 hours with TWEEN 20 used as the emulsifier. Analysis of the copolymer composition by UV spectroscopy, and potentionmetric titration was not possible due to the vastly different solubility characteristics of the components of this system. This prevented the use of homopolymer blends as standards for these techniques. The study of the copolymerization kinetics of this system was very difficult due to the coagulation of the polymer latex. The rate of copolymerization was nevertheless shown to be very rapid. The synthesis of the sulfonated styrene monomer by a literature procedure led to the formation of a covalent sulfonamide instead of the desired ionic sulfonate. This product was substantiated by l_H and 13_C NMR infrared, mass spectral, and melting point data. Study of the physical properties of these polymers by differential scanning calorimetry and thermal mechanical analysis showed them to have only a low temperature acrylate glass transition with an enhanced rubbery plateau due to the ionic pseudo crosslinking. Stress-strain measurements showed that this pseudo crosslinking gives enhanced tensile properties (modulus, tensile strength) in the ion-containing polymers. / M.S.

The purpose of this work is to find a method of determining the average particle size in samples of clays and ceramical materials, and to attempt to classify their physical properties according to the size of the particles. Such data should be useful to compare the properties of clays, to match different samples for uniformity, and to better control processes where clays are used, as for instance in manufacture of paper, rubber, and burned wear. / M.S.

The object of this investigation was to determine, if possible, whether or not the magnesium ion concentration in the backfill has a significant effect upon the current efficiency of a pure magnesium anode when used to protect a steel cathode. Accordinging to H.A. Robinson, there should normally be no effect, but he indicated that there is room for doubt in some cases. It may be concluded, from the results obtained in this experimental work, that the current efficiency of magnesium anodes, when used as cathodic protectors of steel, is generally unaffected by changes in the concentration of magnesium sulfate in the backfill. It may be further stated that the presence of manganese ion also has no effect upon the current efficiency. The results indicate the possibility that current efficiency is appreciably affected by changes in the current density at the anode. It is suggested that further work be done in the study of this effect. It is further suggested that a wide variety of backfill conditions, for example, soils of different pH, be used in conjunction with this study. / M.S.

In this course of their work J. Risi and A. Labrie (1) found that guaiacol and vanillin were among the products derived from the sap of the sugar maple. By using a five percent sucrose solution and equal quantities of vanillin and guaiacol, a little calcium malate and manganese acetate, they obtained an amorphous powder possessing no odor of vanillin or guaiacol but having an odor greatly resembling the odor of the extracts of the sugar maple. This work is an investigation of the actual products of the reactions involved and the mechanism pertaining thereto. It is proposed to study this problem by carrying out the experiment of Risi and Labrie except that the constituents guaiacol, vanillin and sucrose will be used first one at a time, then two at a time and finally all together in an effort to determine the reaction and its mechanism. The following conclusions have been drawn from the work done: 1. The author has been unable to duplicate the work of Risi and Labrie by following their brief directions. 2. Several modifications of their procedure failed to produce the product described. 3. No change was found when each component was used alone in any of the modifications. 4. No change was found when the components were used two at a time in any of the modifications used. 5. No change was found using all three components in any of the modifications used. / M.S.

M.S.

Ferrous sulfate, commercially known as copperas, is a by-product of many industries such as the steel industry where steel is “pickled” in sulfuric acid previous to galvanizing, and in ore refining where sulfuric acid is used to remove undesirable impurities consisting chiefly of iron materials. One of the chief uses of copperas is as a coagulant in water treatment. Crude copperas, as produced, does not meet these specifications and must be refined and reworked before it is suitable for use. Consequently, in many instances no attempt is made to make further use of the copperas and it is dumped aside as refuse. It is the purpose of this investigation to use this crude copperas to produce an iron salt suitable for use as a coagulant. Crude copperas can be used to make a solution of ferric chloride by reacting it with calcium chloride, filtering off the precipitate of calcium sulfate, and oxidizing the ferrous iron to ferric iron with chlorine gas. The calcium content of the ferric chloride solution is low enough so that the hardness of water treated with i it will not be appreciably increased. / M.S.