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The identification of preferred binding domains within a host structure provides important insights into the function of materials. State-of-the-art reports mostly focus on crystallographic studies of empty and single component guest-loaded host structures to determine the location of guests. However, measurements of material properties (e.g., adsorption and breakthrough of substrates) are usually performed for a wide range of pressure (guest coverage) and/or using multi-component gas mixtures. Here we report the development of a multifunctional gas dosing system for use in X-ray powder diffraction studies on Beamline I11 at Diamond Light Source. This facility is fully automated and enables in situ crystallographic studies of host structures under (i) unlimited target gas loadings and (ii) loading of multi-component gas mixtures. A proof-of-concept study was conducted on a hydroxyl-decorated porous material MFM-300(V-III) under (i) five different CO2 pressures covering the isotherm range and (ii) the loading of equimolar mixtures of CO2/N-2. The study has successfully captured the structural dynamics underpinning CO2 uptake as a function of surface coverage. Moreover, MFM-300(V-III) was incorporated in a mixed matrix membrane (MMM) with PIM-1 in order to evaluate the CO2/N-2 separation potential of this material. Gas permeation measurements on the MMM show a great improvement over the bare PIM-1 polymer for CO2/N-2 separation based on the ideal selectivity.

Reliability and availability thus minimized cost-intensive downtime are mandatory for successful application of fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) structures in many industrial branches. Different approaches for Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) systems compete for industrial application. Nanoscale carbon particle filled polymer matrices exhibit good performance regarding structural integrity as well as spatial resolution to create functionally enhanced composites. Changes of electrical signal due to deformation of the modified polymer are used as corresponding piezoresistive signal (ÒSensingî). Major drawbacks like incompatibility of implementation strategies into existing manufacturing processes or insufficient sensor properties anticipate propagating implementation of nanocomposite SHM approaches especially in large structures. Therefore fundamental materialÕs knowledge for property tailoring combined with well-thought-out implementation strategies are necessary. The present contribution offers an overview over todayÕs research on nanocomposite based SHM trials from nanoscale material level to promising implementation strategies.

Many industrial gas separations in which membrane processes are feasible entail high water vapour contents, as in CO 2-separation from flue gas in carbon capture and storage (CCS), or in biogas/natural gas processing. Studying the effect of water vapour on gas permeability through polymeric membranes is essential for materials design and optimization of these membrane applications. In particular, for amine-based CO 2 selective facilitated transport membranes, water vapour is necessary for carrier-complex formation (Matsuyama et al., 1996; Deng and Hägg, 2010; Liu et al., 2008; Shishatskiy et al., 2010) [1-4]. But also conventional polymeric membrane materials can vary their permeation behaviour due to water-induced swelling (Potreck, 2009) [5]. Here we describe a simple approach to gas permeability measurement in the presence of water vapour, in the form of a modified constant volume/variable pressure method (pressure increase method).

High free volume polymers are characterized by much higher permeability and diffusivity for gases and vapors than commodity polymers. Polymers of intrinsic microporosity (PIMs), an important member of this class of polymers, are only soluble in a few solvents. This gives reason to expect stability in many solvents and an application in organic solvent nanofiltration (OSN) may be feasible. Thin film composite membranes of PIM-1 and PIM copolymers were developed on a polyacrylonitrile (PAN) porous support. For control of swelling, a simple, technically realizable method of cross-linking was produced by blending the PIM with polyethyleneimine, coating to give thin film composites (TFCs) and thermally or chemically cross-linking the separation layer on the supporting membrane. The TFCs were tested in OSN with the solvents n-heptane, toluene, chloroform, tetrahydrofuran, and alcohols, and compared to similarly crosslinked poly(trimethylsilyl propyne) TFCs and state of the art industrial Starmem (TM) 240 membranes. Better retention, a steeper retention curve and much higher fluxes were detected for the newly developed PIM TFC membranes.

Maintaining blood glucose concentrations and managing glycemic response is pivotal in diabetic patients. The objective of this study was to determine the safety of a Test Food (A) high in protein (52.6% protein, DMB), low in carbohydrate (14.2% NFE, DMB), and moderate in fiber (6.18% crude fiber, DMB)compared to a Control Food (B) with similar nutrient profile except a lower fiber level (1.08% crude fiber, DMB) in maintaining weight and glycemic control in cats with stable diabetes mellitus.