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Substantially monomer-free, electrically conductive organic polymers and/or organic conductors are dissolved or dispersed in a melt or solution of a thermoplastic matrix polymer or polymer mixture partially compatible therewith and having a solubility parameter >8.6 (cal/cm3)1/2, in order to obtain mouldable polymer blends. The latter are suitable for producing moulded articles, particularly for electrical conductors, semiconductors or photoconductors. A suitable apparatus for producing the polymer blends comprises an extruder or kneader, through whose barrel one or more sonotrodes project into the transformation zone.
1. Method for preparing a moldable polymer blend comprising the steps of
liquifying a thermoplastic matrix component selected from the group consisting of polymers and polymer mixtures, which component has a solubility parameter of greater than 8.6 (cal/cm3)1/2 and a surface tension of 35 dyn/cm or more; and
dispersing a conductive component in said liquified thermoplastic matrix component, said conductive component being selected from the group consisting of conductive polymers and organic conductors, so as to form a homogeneous blend.
2. Method according to claim 1 wherein said thermoplastic matrix component is a polymer selected from the group consisting of polyethers, polyesters, polyvinylidene chloride, polyvinylidene fluoride, polyamide, polycaprolactone, polyurethane, cellulose partially esterified with acetic, propionic or butyric acid, partially esterified polyvinyl alcohol, partially esterified polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, polyvinyl butyral polyacrylic acid, liquid crystalline polyesters, ionomers or polymers having polar functional groups, and polyacrylonitrile.
3. Method according to claim 2 wherein said thermoplastic matrix component is a copolymer or mixture of said polymers.
4. Method according to claim 1 wherein said thermoplastic matrix component is liquified by heating the component to a melt.
5. Method according to claim 1 wherein said thermoplastic matrix component is liquified by dissolution in a solvent, and after formation of said blend, the solvent is removed.
6. Method according to claim 5 wherein said solvent is selected from the group consisting of toluene, dimethyl formamide, butylacetate, and CH3 CN.
7. Method according to claim 1 wherein the conductive component comprises from 0.5 to 35% by weight of said blend.
8. Method according to claim 1 wherein the conductive component comprises at least 8% by weight of said blend.
9. Method according to claim 1 wherein said said conductive polymers are selected from the group consisting of polyacetylene, poly-1,3,5 . . . n-substituted polyacetylenes, acetylene copolymers, 1,3-tetramethylene-bridged polyenes, polyparaphenylenes, polypyrroles, polyphthalocyanines, polyanilines and polyperinaphthalines.
10. Method according to claim 1 wherein said organic conductors comprise non-polymeric organic complex salts or charge transfers complexes.
11. Method according to claim 10 wherein the organic conductor is a tetracyanoquinodimethane salt.
12. Method according to claim 1 wherein said components are subjected to ultrasonic shearing during formation of the blend.
13. Method according to claim 1 wherein said homogeneous blend has a different color appearance than either the thermoplastic matrix component and the conductive component.
14. Method according to claim 1 wherein said matrix component is polycaprolactone or cellulose propionate, and said conductive component is polyacetylene.
15. Method according to claim 1 wherein said matrix component is cellulose propionate, and said conductive component is poly-μ-cyano(phthalocyaninato)-cobalt(III).
16. Method according to claim 1 wherein said conductive component is n-doped or p-doped.
17. Method according to claim 16 wherein the conductive component is doped with a compound selected from the group consisting of:
iodine, antimony pentafluoride, arsenic pentafluoride, tetrafluoro boric acid, perchlorates, sulphurtrioxide, sulphonates, iron (III)-chloride, butyl-lithium, diphenyl-hexyl-lithium, and naphthalin sodium.
18. Method for preparing a moldable polymer blend comprising the steps of:
(a) dispersing a conductive component in a solvent under ultrasonic action, said conductive component comprising a conductive polymer or an organic conductor; and
(b) mixing a thermoplastic matrix component with said dispersed conductive component, said thermoplastic matrix component being selected from the group consisting of polymers and polymer mixtures, which matrix component has a solubility parameter of greater than 8.6 (cal/cm3)1/2 and a surface tension of 35 dyn/cm or more.
19. Method according to claim 18 comprising the further step of doping the conductive component with a compound selected from the group consisting of:
iodine, antimony pentafluoride, arsenic pentafluoride, tetrafluoro boric acid, perchlorates, sulphurtrioxide, sulphonates, iron (III)-chloride, butyl-lithium, diphenyl-hexyl-lithium, and naphthalin sodium.
20. Method according to claim 1, wherein the polymer blend is prepared under an inert gas atmosphere or vacuum.
The synthesis, as well as the chemical, electrical and photoelectrical characteristics of nonpolymeric and polymeric organic semiconductors and conductors have formed the subject of intense research. The state of present knowledge, as well as the in part differing opinions have been discussed in numerous works, cf G. Wegner, Angew. Chem. Vol. 93, pp. 352 to 371, 1981; M. Hanack, Naturwiss, Vol. 69, pp. 266 to 275, 1982; A. Heeger et al, Synthetic metals, Vol. 6, pp. 243 to 263, 1983; and K. Seeger, Angew. Makromol. Chem., Vol. 109/110, pp. 227 to 251, 1982.
The term "conductive polymers" is understood to mean polyconjugate systems, such as occur in polyacetylene (PAc), poly-1,3,5 . . . n-substituted polyacetylenes, acetylene copolymers, as well as 1,3-tetramethylene-bridged polyenes, e.g. polymers resulting from the polymerization of 1,6-heptadiene and similar polyacetylene derivatives. It also includes the various modifications of polyparaphenylenes (PPP), the different modifications of polypyrroles (PPy), the different modifications of polyphthalocyanines (PPhc) and other polymeric conductors, such as polyanilines, polyperinaphthalines etc. They can be present as such or as polymers complexed ("doped") with oxidizing or reducing substances. Complexing generally leads to an increase in the electrical conductivity by several decimal powers and into the metallic range.
The term "organic conductors" is understood to mean nonpolymeric, organic substances, particularly complex salts or charge transfer complexes, e.g. the different modifications of tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ) salts.
Conductive polymers are in part obtained as polycrystalline powders, film-like agglomerates or lumps of primary particles. As e.g. polyacetylene is neither soluble nor fusible, it constituted an important advance when Shirakawa was able to produce self-supporting, but very thin films by interfacial polymerization, whose characteristics are similar to those of thin polymer films. Tests carried out on these films concerning the morphology of polyacetylene led to a fibril theory, according to which the polyacetylene is assembled to give elongated fibres through which crystalline regions form in the fibre direction, in which the current flows along the fibre axis following doping (complexing).
The general opinion is that the conductivity is brought about by the high crystallinity and by the arrangement of the polyconjugate systems (optionally in complexed form). However, it has not as yet been adequately clarified whether the conductivity mechanism in polyenes and polyphenylenes, as well as polypyrroles is determined by electron transfers along the chain or at right angles to the chain direction, particularly as the morphology of conductive polymers has also not yet been clarified. In this connection, the inventor has proved that the primary particles of polyacetylene are always extremely fine spherical particles, which in part agglomerate to fibrillar secondary particles and in part agglomerate to non-directed foil-like film, cf B. Wessling, Makromol. Chem., Vol. 185, 1265-1275, 1984. By reference the contents of this paper form part of the disclosure of the present description.
The literature provides the following information concerning the physical characteristics and processability of conductive polymers and organic conductors:
High crystallinity, e.g. polycrystalline powders, in individual cases long needle-shaped crystals (for TCNQ, cf Hanack, 1982), or other macroscopic crystal shapes, e.g. in the case of polyphthalocyanines. In the case of polyacetylene, the size of the crystallites clearly does not exceed 100 Å (D. White et al, Polymer, Vol. 24, p. 805, 1983).
Polyconjugate polymers, are, in their basic state, insulators, as opposed to polymer-bridged charge transfer complexes, such as polyphthalocyanines (cf Hanack, loc. cit, pp. 269/270).
Optical appearance generally matt black (glossy or shining only if the synthesis was carried out on the smooth surfaces, cf the Shirakawa method for producing self-supporting "films", in which the side facing the glass is glossy and that remote from the glass matt). Polyphthalocyanines are non-glossy powders, which appear blue.
If, as a result of the synthesis conditions, macroscopically larger structures can be obtained, they are brittle (the exception being cis-polyacetylene). Due to their crystalline structure, charge transfer complexes are always very brittle substances, which are very difficult to process mechanically (Hanack, loc. cit, pp. 269/270). Much the same applies for uncomplexed and particularly complexed conductive polymers.
Conductive polymers and organic conductors are generally insoluble, infusible and not shapable, whilst in most cases being unstable relative to oxygen, moisture and elevated temperatures. If e.g. in the case of nonpolymeric or polymeric charge transfer complexes (TCNQ or PPhc), melting points can in fact be observed, they are close to the decomposition point, so that decomposition-free melting is either impossible or is only possible with great difficulty. To the extent that soluble derivatives exist in the case of the different conductive polymers, their conductivity is several decimal powers inferior compared with the insoluble non-modified substances. A thermoplastic deformation of conductive polymers and organic conductors has not as yet proved possible. Polypyrrole and certain representatives of the polyphthalocyanines are comparatively stable with respect to oxidative and thermal influences, cf Hanack, loc. cit; K. Kanazawa et al, J. Chem. Soc., Chem. Comm. 1979, pp. 854/855.
Hanack's 1982 statement that most organic conductors and conductive polymers were primarily produced under the standpoint of high conductivity, whilst ignoring their mechanical properties, stability and processability, still applies. The following statements are made regarding the physical characteristics of organic conductors and conductive polymers which are important for processability.
Whilst nonpolymeric organic conductors are crystallized from solutions of the two participating components and are in part still soluble in decomposition-free manner after their preparation, a solvent has not hitherto been found for conductive polymers either in the untreated or complexed form. The tests described by T. Matsumoto et al, J. Polym. Sci. A-2, Vol. 10, p. 23, 1972 with polyacetylene from polymerization induced by γ-radiation clearly did not relate to polyacetylene with the chemical uniformity as discussed here and as shown by IR-spectra, but instead related to non-uniform mixtures of different types of substituted, low molecular weight polyenes. The dissolving of polyacetylene in hot sulphuric acid (S. Miyata et al, Polym. J., Vol. 15, pp. 557 to 558, 1983) leads to strongly oxidized, chemically changed products (A. Pron, Polymer, Vol. 24, p. 1294ff, 1983).
Solvents have also not hitherto been described for other conductive polymers. Attempts have been made for polyphthalocyanines to increase the solubility by introducing ring substituents, e.g. tert.butyl groups, but the conductivity decreases by several decimal powers. T. Inabe et al, J. Chem. Soc., Chem. Comm, 1983, pp. 1984-85 describe the dissolving of polyphthalocyanine in trifluoromethane sulphonic acid, but give no information on the characteristics of the raw material recovered therefrom.
In addition, no solvents or processes are known enabling true, deposition-stable dispersions to be prepared. Although EP-OS 62,211 describes polyacetylene suspensions these are in fact only suspended, coarse polyacetylene particles, without deagglomeration of the tertiary or secondary structure of the particles.
Both in the untreated and complexed forms, all conductive polymers cannot be melted. Although differential thermal analysis of polyphthalocyanines gives certain indications of a melting behaviour, this is accompanied by immediate decomposition. Dynamoviscoelastic tests on polyacetylene (Shox-an Chen et al., Makromol. Chem. Rapid Comm., Vol. 4, pp. 503-506, 1983) show that between -100� and +350� C. there is neither a glass transition temperature nor a crystalline melting. Polyacetylene decomposition starts from approximately 350� C. The only phase transition in this range takes place at above 150� C. and is attributed to cis/trans-isomerization.
Admittedly, meltable or fusible conductive polymers have occasionally been described, but their conductivity was never satisfactory and was several decimal powers lower than in the case of the polymers under discussion here.
Numerous reports deal with the instability of conductive polymers. Polyacetylene is particularly sensitive to oxygen and it was reported that even when stored under an inert atmosphere and in the cold, the original polyacetylene characteristics were lost. For example, after a certain time it can no longer be stretched. Even when stored in an inert atmosphere, complexed polyacetylenes almost completely lose their excellent electrical properties after a short time. These phenomena are attributed to an oxidative decomposition and to crosslinking processes, which also occur in the case of cis/trans-isomerization (cf inter alia M. Rubner et al, J. Polym. Sci., Polym. Symp. Vol. 70, pp. 45-69, 1983). The instability of polymers from 1,6-heptadiene is described by H. Gibson, J. Am. Chem. Soc., Vol. 105, pp. 4417 to 4431, 1983. During heating in vacuo, this is rearranged into undefined, no longer conjugate polymers and comparable processes take place in the case of polyacetylene.
It has hitherto proved impossible to produce moulded articles from conductive polymers or organic conductors by the masters forming and shaping processes (Kunststoff-Taschenbuch, p. 58ff). This is directly linked with the fact that the polymers are infusible and insoluble. It has also proved impossible up to the present to produce true dispersions of these substances in organic solvents or in viscous polymers.
Cis-polyacetylene to a certain extent would appear to represent an exception in that immediately following production is to a limited extent "ductile", as described by M. Druy et al, J. Polym. Sci., Polym. Phys., Vol. 18, pp. 429-441, 1980. However, the ductility and stretchability is limited exclusively to the cis-isomer, the transisomer being brittle even in the absence of oxygen. A. MacDiarmid and A. Heeger, proceedings of a Nato ASI on Molecular Metals Les Arcs, 1979, plenary lecture, state that fresh "films" of both cis and trans-polyacetylene are flexible and easily stretchable, the latter being attributed to the partial orientation of the fibres. Shortly after synthesis, the cis-isomer also loses the ductility properties, even in the absence of oxygen, which have an extreme accelerating action on embrittlement. This is inter alia due to the fact that oxygen not only brings about an oxidative decomposition, but also leads to cis/transisomerization (J. Chien et al, J. Polym. Sci., Polym. Phys., Vol. 21, pp. 767 to 770, 1983). According to Druy, loc. cit., a volume increase unexpectedly occurs during stretching, which can be explained by the weak interfibrillar forces of attraction. It is also concluded from the stress-strain curves and the time behaviour that, even in the absence of oxygen, crosslinking processes take place, possibly due to the appearance of free radicals during cis/transisomerization.
As a result of these difficulties, shaping involves the use of methods which cannot be considered a master forming process. Thus, Shirakawa et al in EP-OS 26,235 describe the shaping of a gel-like polyacetylene with a solvent content of 5 to 95% by weight, which is moulded at temperatures between ambient temperature and 100� C., which leads to moulded articles which are subsequently dried. The same procedure is adopted by Kobayashi et al (GB-OS 2,072,197) whereby freshly polymerized cis-polyacetylene with comparatively high solvent contents is moulded and subsequently calendered. Before the drying process, the end product still contains approximately 5% of solvent.
A production of moulded articles, once again not by the master forming process, is described by Chien et al, Makromol. Chem. Rapid Comm., Vol. 4, pp. 5-10, 1983, who produced macroscopic polyacetylene strips by special polymerization methods.
J. Hocker et al (EP-OS 62,211) describe the production of moulded articles from polyacetylene-containing polymers, which are dissolved in a solvent containing macroscopic polyacetylene particles. Shaping takes place by removing the solvent. For accelerating suspension formation, optionally an Ultraturrax� stirrer is used, the fibrous structure of the particles being retained. The thus obtained moulded articles have only a comparatively low conductivity. The further EP-OS 84,330 of the same inventors also deals with attempts to obtain moulded articles from polyacetylene-containing plastics, without using a master forming process. Attempts are made in the examples to produce laminates with a (doped) polyacetylene layer, in that polyacetylene in the form of a suspension in an easily evaporatably solvent, such as methylene chloride, is sprayed onto a substrate. The thus obtained polyacetylene layer on a polymer or an organic carrier is subsequently coated with a further protective layer.
In the case of polypyrrole, DE-OS 3,227,914 describes a process, in which polypyrrole is moulded at temperatures of 150� to 300� C. and pressures of 50 to 150 bar. According to the examples, this process is suitable for producing multilayer laminates of nonconductive polymer films and polypyrrole films (as are directly obtained from electrochemical polymerization). Preferably, polypyrrole and the various copolymers thereof are pressed in film form onto polyester, polyethylene or polyacrylonitrile films or on polyurethane or polystyrene foam. There is clearly no shaping of the conductive polypyrrole and instead the thermoplastic flowability of the non-conductive polymer films permits the use thereof as binders. Homogeneous moulded articles from a continuous polypyrrole phase or moulded articles consisting solely of polypyrrole cannot be produced this way. A further disadvantage is that the process time under non-inert conditions is 2 to 10 minutes, non-conductive coatings forming on the surface and it is not possible to exclude chemical decomposition processes.
In order to obviate the aforementioned difficulties, many attempts have been made to incorporate conductive polymers or organic conductors into a polymer matrix and consequently achieve mouldability. Within the frame work of the work leading to the present invention, it has however been found that the subsequent incorporation of conductive polymers and organic conductors causes serious problems, because a homogeneous distribution is not obtained. In fact, the conductive polymers are present in the matrix in the form of macroscopic agglomerates (black spots) and in this way impair the mechanical characteristics thereof, without positively influencing the electrical characteristics to the desired extent.
This can largely be attributed to difficulties in the dispersion and a lack of compatibility between the conductive polymers or organic conductors and the matrix polymer. This is indirectly confirmed by the fact that no reference is made thereto in the technical literature. With the clear intention of obviating these problems, attempts have also been made to produce polymer blends by carrying out the polymerization of the conductive polymer in the carrier polymer matrix or the polymerization of the carrier polymer in a suspension containing conductive polymer particles. M. Galwin and G. Wnek, J. Polym. Sci. Polym. Chem., Vol 21., pp 2727 to 2737, 1983 polymerized acetylene on and in a LDPE film, which was impregnated with Ziegler-Natta catalysts. The mechanical characteristics were interesting, the polymer blend obtained can be doped with iodine from the gaseous phase, conductivity of >5 Siemens/cm being attainable with a polyacetylene proportion of more than approximately 10%. However, no information is given on the conductivity and other characteristics following further processing of the films via the thermoplastic phase or after processing the blend.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,359,411 has a similar objective and according to it TCNQ salts in the form of a crown ether complex are incorporated into a thermoplastic polymer matrix. Whilst the finished compound can be readily shaped and has good mechanical characteristics, the conductivity of max. 10-6 Siemens/cm is far from adequate and is several decimal powers below the value of the TCNQ salts.
Another procedure was adopted by T. Inabe et al, J. Chem. Soc. Chem. Comm. 1983, pp. 1084/1085 in that they prepared concentrated solutions of a polyphthalocyanin in trifluoromethane sulphonic acid and aramide fibers and spun the same in a water bath. This gave dopable fibres which, as expected, were extremely brittle, because the strength of aramide fibres is based on the special molecular orientation, which is disturbed by the incorporation of foreign substances.
Thus, conductive polymers and organic conductors together have a number of restricting disadvantages (insolubility, poor dispersibility, inadequate softening ranges or glass transition temperatures, non-existent melting points and lack of stability relative to oxygen, heat and in part crosslinking processes), which have hitherto prevented the industrial utilization thereof. In the present state of the art, these disadvantages, like the conductivity, are particularly due to the relatively high degree of crystallinity of the conductive polymers and organic conductors, as well as the in part considerable reactivity, particularly with respect to oxygen.
It would constitute an advance, if it proved possible to obtain stable dispersions of conductive polymers in thermoplastic polymers, because this would permit the shapability and the obtaining of morphological polymer blend structures optimizing the conductivity. The technical usability of polyacetylene and most conventional conductive polymers is particularly prevented by the fact that the electrical and in particular mechanical characteristics decrease very rapidly after a short time and in particular after complexing. It would therefore constitute an extraordinary advance, if it proved possible to form or mould conductive polymers, whilst both during and after the forming process achieving a stabilization against degradation by oxygen, moisture, heat and internal crosslinking processes.
It would be of great practical significance if it would be possible to disperse electrically conductive polymers and/or organic conductors in a thermoplastic matrix resulting on the one hand in a homogeneous distribution of the conductive polymer or organic conductor and on the other hand a micromorphology of the incorporated conductive polymer yielding the desired electrical properties of the entire polymer blend. It is accordingly an object of the invention to find a possibility to convert electrically conductive polymers and/or organic conductors such as PAc, PPP, PPy, PPhc or TCNQ charge transfer complexes etc. into formable polymer blends from which shaped bodies with good mechanical properties and increased electrical conductivity can be made, and to achieve at the same time a stabilisation against the various known degradation mechanisms, especially oxidation and cross-linking.
The invention relates to a process for producing mouldable polymer blends from electrically conductive organic polymers and/or organic conductors, as well as a matrix polymer, which is characterized in that substantially monomer-free, electrically conductive organic polymers and/or organic conductors are dissolved or dispersed in a melt or solution of a thermoplastic polymer or polymer mixture partially compatible therewith and having a solubility parameter of >8.6 (cal/cm3)1/2 until a homogeneous material has formed which, when visually observed, has a different colour from the conductive organic polymers and/or organic conductors and matrix polymers used, and optionally the solvent is then removed. The mass is called "homogeneous", if it appears homogeneous under an optical microscope up to an approximately 200 X magnification. Blends are considered to be homogeneous which, apart from a few rare coarser particles to be looked upon as faults, have an average particle size below 20 microns, preferably below 5 microns and in optimum cases around and below 1 microns e.g. 50 to 200 nm (electron-microscopically detectable).
Suitable matrix polymers are thermoplastic polymers with high solubility parameter and a surface tension of >35 dyn/cm such as polyethers, polyesters, polyvinylidene chloride or fluoride, polyamide, polycaprolactone, polyurethane, cellulose partially esterified with acetic, propionic or butyric acid, partially esterified polyvinyl alcohol or partially esterified polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, polyvinyl butyral, water-soluble or water-swellable polymers such as e.g. polyacrylic acid, liquid-crystalline polymers such as e.g. thermoplastic liquid-crystalline polyesters, ionomers or polymers having polar functional groups, polyacrylonitrile, copolymers thereof or mixtures of the aforementioned polymers. It is also possible to use reactive monomer and/or prepolymer mixtures, which can be completely polymerized to the matrix polymer after producing the dispersion. Examples are caprolactam, diol/dicarboxylic acid and diisocyanate/diol/polyester or polyether mixtures or other suitable reaction (injection) moulding materials.
For obtaining an optimum dispersion, it is important that the secondary and tertiary structures (agglomerates) obtained during the polymerization of the conductive polymers are extensively disintegrated, i.e. preferably down to the primary particles. It is important for producing the electrically conductive polymer blends, that the conductive particles are in contact and that for this purpose the concentration of the conductive polymer or organic conductor is above the volume concentration critical for the electrical conductivity, i.e. the so-called percolation point. A description of the physical laws of percolation in connection with the example of electrically conductive carbon black is given by K. Miyasaka J. Mat. Sci., Vol. 17, pp. 1610 to 1616, 1982.
The concentration is preferably in the vicinity of the interfacial--energy equilibrium, where the sum of the cohesion energy is equal to the sum of the adhesion energy and occurs through chain formation. This means in practice that the quantity of conductive polymers and/or organic conductors in the polymer blend can be between 3 and 35% by weight, as a function of the chosen material pairs and preferably the concentration is at least 8% by weight. The concentration may be still lower, i.e. between about 0.5 and 3% by weight, if it is desired to prepare antistatic mixtures.
The dispersion of the conductive polymer and/or organic conductor in the physical--chemical partially compatible matrix polymer according to the invention is largely achieved through the high interfacial energy between the participating substances. Thus, matrix polymers with a particularly high surface tension are used. In order to facilitate dispersion the matrix polymer is either melted accompanied by heating and shearing or is dissolved in a suitable solvent, which is then removed.
Polymers with low solubility parameters, such as polyolefins or olefin copolymers with a solubility parameter of <8.6 (cal/cm3)1/2 are less suitable according to the invention. Instead of a dispersion in the matrix polymer, agglomeration occurs, so that polycrystalline microcrystal needles or fibrils of approximately 5 to 50 microns form, which through contact with one another can lead to a conductivity of the polymer blend. Surprisingly, this is possible with amorphous powders of the conductive polymers if, in place of matrix polymers with high solubility parameters, those with low solubility parameters well below 8.6 (cal/cm3)1/2 are used, e.g. polyethylene, and ultrasonics are applied to the melt, so that the aforementioned microcrystal needles or fibrils form.
According to a further embodiment of the invention the organic conductor, e.g. a TCNQ charge transfer complex, is dissolved in a suitable matrix polymer, e.g. polycaprolactone, using solvents or applying a melt, optionally assisting the dissolution by ultrasonics and/or heat; by slowly cooling or tempering the conductor crystallizes in the form of thin needles in the melt or the solidifying polymer, said needles preferably contacting each other. Antistatic or electrically conductive moulded articles are obtained in this manner.
Chain-like strings or spherical primary particles form in the continuous polymer matrix and above the percolation point. This leads to a type of interfacial-energy equilibrium through the formation of the same number of contact points between the conductive polymer particles, as between the latter and the matrix polymer. Thus, the conductive particles form submicroscopic, widely branched conductor paths or a through conductor network.
The electrical conductivity of the organic polymers can be significantly increased by doping (complexing) before or after the production of the polymer blend. Complexing agents which are suitable are known per se, iodine, antimony or arsenic pentafluoride, tetrafluoro boric acid, perchlorates, sulphurtrioxide, sulphonates or metal salts and in particular iron(III)-chloride being particularly suitable for p-doping and butyl lithium, triphenylhexyl-lithium, naphthalin-sodium and the like being particularly suitable for n-doping.
In order to obtain special semiconductor characteristics, which can e.g. be used for optical information storage and processing, it is advantageous to incorporate into a polymer blend homogeneously p-doped and homogeneously n-doped predispersed conductive polymers in such a way that each p-doped particle, isolated by the matrix polymer is surrounded by n-doped particles and vice versa. Through the use of external energy sources, e.g. laser light, the particles can be excited in a clearly defined manner to give conductive, three-dimensional structures.
According to the invention, a homogeneous doping can be obtained, if doping (complexing) is performed with the doping agent (e.g. I2 or FeCl3) in a solution and under ultrasonic action. Either the completely polymerized and undoped conductive polymers, e.g. PAc or PPhc, or the monomers, e.g. pyrrole are used. When monomers are used, polymerization and doping simultaneously take place. It has been found that the homogeneously doped polymers give products, which are much more stable with respect to decomposition or distintegration (conductivity reduction). Doping under ultrasonic action can be performed in the presence or absence of the non-conducting matrix polymer.
The product is recovered by filtration, centrifugation and/or lyophilization.
It has also proved possible to subsequently homogenize and predisperse heterogeneously doped conductive polymers such as e.g. PPy powder synthesized by known methods, in that they are suspended in a neutral, alkaline or acid aqueous or organic suspension and exposed to the action of ultrasonics.
The doping of e.g. polyacetylene under the action of ultrasonics in a solution or dispersion leads to completely different characteristics (particularly more uniform doping, higher conductivity and crystallinity or greater extension of the crystallites, increased stability, improved processability) of the conductive polymers compared with doping of e.g. foils or films through gaseous complexing agents (J2, AsF5, etc) or suspended, macroscopically large particles (cf e.g. EP-OS 62,221) through dissolved complexing agents (e.g. FeCl3). If the latter process is called a "heterogeneous" doping process, then the presently found process can be called a "homogeneous" doping process. Homogeneously doped PAc in polymer blends, e.g. with cellulose propionate forms microscopically fine homogeneous, possibly liquid-crystalline particles or fibres of below 20 microns, which under the microscope through a polarization filter dark position appear bright and are highly conductive.
For increasing the processing stability, conventional antioxidants (e.g. phenolic antioxidants) and/or crosslinking inhibitors (e.g. phosphonites) can be added to the polymer blend in a quantity of preferably 0.01 to 0.5% by weight, together with other processing aids in a quantity of 1 to 5% by weight. Optionally, light-collecting, fluorescent dyes are added for producing photoconducting polymer blends. For the protection of the oxidation-sensitive conductive polymer, it is recommended to work under a protective gas or in vacuo when producing the polymer blend. The polymer blends produced according to the invention have the particular advantage that the conductive polymer is very well protected against oxidative decomposition and/or crosslinking both during dispersion and during the subsequent shaping process, as a result of the dispersion in the matrix polymer. This can be in particular optimized by the choice of matrix polymers with particularly low O2 and H2 O permeability coefficients.
The polymer blends according to the invention and the moulded articles produced therefrom have a different colour compared with the pulverulent starting substances or simple mechanical mixtures thereof. The colour is characteristic of the particular conductive polymer and can be measured on ultra-thin coatings. In the case of the polymer blend of polyacetylene and polycaprolactone the polyacetylene colour e.g. changes from black to deep blue, a sign of the conductive polymer being truly dispersed in the polymer matrix. Polychromism occurs in the case of poly-μ-cyano(phthalocyaninato)cobalt (III). For complete dispersion, accompanied by deagglomeration of the secondary particles of the conductive organic polymer in the thermoplastic matrix, either a particularly suitable matrix polymer having an optimum compatibility with the conductive polymer is used, or the melt or solution of the matrix polymer is exposed to ultrasonics. Alternatively, it is also possible to initially disperse the conductive polymer in the solvent under ultrasonic action and to only then add the matrix polymer. Ultrasonics has the advantage that the mixture is locally exposed to very high alternating pressures without macroscopic shearing stress occurring, the latter leading to a considerable mechano-chemical decomposition risk. Ultrasonics are preferably used for dispersion purposes when the compatibility of the carrier polymer with the conductive polymer to be dispersed or the interfacial energy is not sufficient for wetting the primary particles in this way alone and consequently break down the secondary and tertiary structures.
It has been found that there are a few matrix polymer-conductive polymer pairs, which lead to a satisfactory dispersion without additional dispersion energy. These are undoped polyacetylene and polycaprolactone or cellulose propionate, as well as poly-μ-cyano(phthalocyaninato)-cobalt (III) and cellulose propionate. Other pairs, e.g. polypyrrole and cellulose propionate or polyvinylpyrrolidone, doped polyacetylene and cellulose propionate, poly-μ-cyano(phthalocyaninato) cobalt (III) and polyvinylpyrrolidone require ultrasonics as an additional dispersing energy source.
The conductive polymer should be free of monomer and preferably also free of oligomer.
The invention also relates to an apparatus for performing the process according to the invention using ultrasonics. It is an extruder characterized in that one or more sonotrodes project into the transformation zone through the barrel wall. The apparatus is illustrated by the attached drawings, wherein show:
FIG. 1 a longitudinal section through a screw extruder according to the invention.
FIG. 2 a section through a disk extruder according to the invention at right angles to the driving shaft.
FIG. 3 a section through a kneader (internal mixer) with a die.
A sonotrode is immersed in free-swinging manner in the mass for carrying out the inventive process of ultrasonics-supported dispersion of the conductive organic polymer and/or organic conductor in a melt or solution of the matrix polymer. A power supply, a converter, a booster (transducer) and the actual sonotrode are required for ultrasonics generation. These parts are matched to one another in such a way that the maximum oscillation energy is roughly 20 kHz per sonotrode at the sonotrode end face. The sonotrode can be made from aluminium or preferably titanium steel. The total power provided by the sonotrode or sonotrodes should be 5 to 30% of the drive power of the extruder motor.
In an embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention, the 135 mm long sonotrode 17 projects through the barrel wall 11 into the transformation zone 16 of a screw extruder. In the vicinity of sonotrode 17, the screw flights 14 are partly ground away, so that reduced height flights 15 are obtained, whilst a space is formed into which the sonotrode can project. The end face 18 of sonotrode 17 is arranged at right angles to the sonotrode axis.
At the booster end, the sonotrode is connected to the extruder, a barrier on the sonotrode at the zero passage of the oscillations (e.g. with half the length) prevents a possible advance of the melt to the booster.
On operating the apparatus, the starting materials are supplied under a protective gas atmosphere to the extruder by means of the charging hopper 13. The extruder is either filled with inert gas or is operated in vacuo in order to prevent oxidative decomposition of the conductive organic polymers and/or organic conductors.
According to a further embodiment, the apparatus according to the invention can also be a modified disk extruder. Such disk extruders are fundamentally known, cf Z. Tadmor et al, Plastics Engineering, Part I, pp. 20-25, 1979 and part II, 11-34-39, 1979. Such a disk extruder comprises a cylindrical casing 21 and a driven shaft 22, on which are arranged a plurality of parallel disks 24. Normally, mixing fingers project into the gaps between the disks and improve the thorough mixing of the components by shearing.
According to the invention, one or more of these mixing fingers are replaced by sonotrodes 27. It is advantageous in this case, if the end faces 28 of the sonotrodes 27 are at an angle to the sonotrode axis. Angles between 30� and 60�, preferably an angle of approximately 45� are suitable.
Here again, charging takes place by means of the supply hopper 23 under a protective gas atmosphere, whilst the actual apparatus can either be operated under a protective gas atmosphere or in vacuo, in order to exclude moisture and oxygen.
FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of the apparatus in the form of a pressure arm-operated kneader or internal mixer. Within the casing (kneading chamber) 31, the kneading blades 32 rotate in opposite directions about their shafts 33. Sonotrode 37 projects from above into the kneading chamber so that the sound pressure waves emanating from the end face 38 act on the material being kneaded.
The invention finally relates to the use of the polymer blends obtained with the aid of the inventive process for producing moulded articles, particularly for electrical components such as conductors, semiconductors or photoconductors. Using the polymer blends, it is possible e.g. to produce electrical components such as semiconductor relays, thyristors or the like, as well as batteries. Photovoltaic uses. e.g. in solar technology for directly producing electric power from light are also possible. Other uses are permanent antistatic packagings or components for information storage and processing.
It is not at present possible to provide an explanation for the invention and the surprising effects thereof. The following hypotheses could provide a possible explanation, without the invention being bound thereto:
All the conductive polymers form under conventional conditions of hetergeneous polymerization, sphere-like primary particles, which aggregate in an unordered manner.
These particles can only be reversibly separated under the specific conditions according to invention and on exceeding the percolation point re-agglomerate to give conductive, chain-like structures.
The conductivity mechanisms are the same in pure, unshaped crude conductive polymers comprising aggregated primary particles alone as in the homogeneous polymer blend above the percolation point.
Apart from the known causes of the instability, a further possibly decisive cause is that the known methods of heterogeneous doping lead to heterogeneous agglomerates which (e.g. by diffusion processes) attempt to become homogeneous and thereby destroy the internal structures.
An optimum case for a conductive polymer blend is consequently a homogeneously doped conductive polymer, which is homgeneously dispersed in ultra-finely divided form in the matrix polymer, the latter also exercising a protective function against possible oxygen attack.
The following examples serve to further illustrate the invention, without restricting the latter thereto.
0.185 g of black trans-polyacetylene with 2 mg of a phenolic antioxidant and 2 mg of phosphonite are dispersed in a solution of 1.67 g of polycaprolactone in 10 ml of dimethyl formamide under ultrasonic action, followed by the removal of the solvent. This led to an elastic, thermoplastically processable film, which is intense blue in transmitted light.
The complex of tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ) with N-methyl-quinoline was dissolved in dimethyl formamide with a green colour. Polycaprolactone was added to this solution in the ultrasonic bath. After removing the solvent, as a function of the complex concentration, black to dark green masses were obtained, which can be thermoplastically processed e.g. to films. The quantities used, dissolved in each case in 10 ml of dimethyl formamide, are given in the following table 1.
TABLE 1______________________________________TCNQ complex Polycapro- Conductivity% by weight (g) lactone (g) (S/cm) Remarks______________________________________2 0.040 1.960 3 � 10-8 transparent5 0.140 2.660 3 � 10-5 opaque10 0.279 2.511 1.6 � 10-5 opaque20 0.321 1.284 1.3 � 10-6 impermeable30 0.431 1.000 2 � 10-6 impermeable40 0.563 0.845 2 � 10-7 impermeable______________________________________
It is clear that the best conductivity is between 5 and 20% TCNQ complex. After removing the solvent, the complex is crystallized in the polymer matrix. The optical microscope reveals fine needles and larger crystalline particles and this is particularly marked with a TCNQ content of 5%.
The TCNQ-N-methylquinoline complex may be incorporated in polycaprolactone in the form of needles in an analogous manner. A dissolution of the needles could be achieved (a) by applying ultrasonics and/or (b) by heating the mass to 120� to 190� C. for 0.5 to 2 minutes. On slowly cooling the homogeneous melt, e.g. in the form of films, crystallization in the form of fine needles can be achieved resulting in similar conductivities as in Table 1.
9 g of polycaprolactone were melted in a round-bottomed flask and 1 g of polyacetylene (synthesized according to the Luttinger method, cf B. Wessling, Makrom, Chem. Vol. 185, pp. 1265-1275, 1984) was added under flowing nitrogen. An ultrasonic sonotrode is introduced directly into the melt for dispersion purposes and the mixture cooled after exposing to sound waves for 30 minutes. The solid mass obtained can be thermoplastically processed. A thin-pressed film thereof has a similar distribution to that of example 1 under the microscope. This elastic film also appears dark blue in transmitted light. An improvement to the distribution (=reduction of the number of larger undivided particles) is obtained, if the process is identically performed in a dispersion kneader whose die is constructed as a sonotrode (cf. FIG. 3).
A film obtained according to example 1, which contained 0.185 g (10%) polyacetylene in 1.66 g of polycaprolactone, was exposed for one day at ambient temperature to a nitrogen atmosphere saturated with iodine vapour. The initial conductivity of 6�10-8 Siemens/cm rose to 2�10-4 Siemens/cm.
50 g of cellulose propionate were added to a dispersion mixer and plasticized. 0.5 g of poly-μ-cyano (phthalocyaninato) cobalt (III) powder was then added. Once again under ultrasonic action, a very homogeneous dispersion was obtained, which could not be resolved even in the case of high magnifications in the optical microscope.
At 22� C., 50 g of alkyl sulphonate and 33.5 g of pyrrole were dissolved in 1500 ml of water, accompanied by stirring. The solution was buffered to pH 4. Within 90 minutes, 150 g of FeCl3 �6H2 O dissolved in 300 ml of water were added dropwise to said mixture. The product was filtered through a nutsch filter, washed three times with water and then dried. In order to obtain very fine particles, the synthesis was performed in a parallel test under ultrasonic action. In this case, the product was separated by centrifuging. The electrical conductivity was 1 to 10 Siemens/cm.
For subsequent treatment, the product obtained (approx. 50 g) was dispersed under ultrasonic action in 1n NaOH (1010 ml) and was exposed to sound waves for approximately 1 hour, after which the product was filtered and rinsed three times with water. The PPy lost approximately 50% of its weight. After drying, the PPy had a conductivity of 10-3 Siemens/cm. The basic-treated PPy was then again dispersed with ultrasonics, but in 1 liter of a mixture of 1 part 35% hydrochloric acid and 3 parts methanol. After filtering and washing three times with methanol, the product was dried and was found to have a conductivity of 10 Siemens/cm.
15 g of polyacetylene powder were suspended in 800 ml of toluene and transferred into a flask. This was followed by the addition of 200 ml of a solution of 20 g of iodine in toluene. The flask was sealed under nitrogen and provided with a reflux condenser, which was closed with a balloon. The flask was placed in an ultrasonic bath in such a way that violent turbulence was visible on exposure to sound waves. The reaction medium temperature rose to 50� to 60� C. The ultrasonics were switched off after 10 hours and it was allowed to stand for 1 day. During processing, filtration took place under nitrogen and it was rinsed several times with toluene, until it was no longer possible to detect iodine, and dried. A conductive PAc with a conductivity of up to 50 Siemens/cm was obtained.
The following results were obtained with other solvents:
Toluene, after washing with DMF: 1 Siemens/cm
DMF: 0.5 Siemens/cm
Butyl acetate: 4 Siemens/cm
Complexing with FeCl3 in CH3 CN: 6 Siemens/cm.
The homogeneously doped PAc was incorporated in polycaprolactone (surface resistance 1012 Ω) in a dispersion kneader applying ultrasonics. Using 49.5 grams of polycaprolactone and 0.5 grams of PAc the following results were obtained (at a mass temperature of 60� C.): 15 minutes dispersion time: bluish, semi-transparent film with some dots, 1010 Ω, 60 minutes dispersion time: intense blue, semi-transparent film, almost free of dots, 109 Ω.
In accordance with example 1 and under ultrasonics 56 mg of poly-μ-cyano(phthalocyaninato)cobalt (III) in 4 mg of polycaprolactone were dispersed with the aid of 5 ml of dimethyl formamide. After removing the solvent, a film was obtained which, in incident light, appeared dark blue, appeared turquoise in transmitted light and appeared violet in laterally inciding light. The conductivity was only 5�10-11 Siemens/cm. Only a slight improvement to 3�10-10 Siemens/cm resulted from a concentration increase to 20%. This was due to the incomplete dispersion of the particles, as is apparent under the optical microscope on a thin-pressed film. The dispersion is obviously not in the interfacial-energy equilibrium.
According to example 3, polyacetylene was incorporated into a polyethylene melt. The mass obtained contained visually detectable black particles (spots) following extrusion. A film produced from the polymer bath had no blue colouring. Thus, polyethylene is normally an unsuitable matrix polymer for the purposes of the inventive process.
FIGS. 4 and 5 show the transition spectra of the polymer blend produced according to the invention, namely FIG. 3 for polypyrrole in cellulose propionate, FIG. 5 curve A 0.5% polyacetylene in cellulose propionate, curve B 0.44% poly-μ-cyano(phthalocyaninato)cobalt (III) in cellulose propionate.
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Seattle 911 -- A Police and Crime Blog
The latest news about Seattle police, Seattle shootings, thefts, arrests, fires, criminals and crimes
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Police: Man calls in Sea-Tac bomb threat to delay ex-girlfriend's flight
Police arrested a 26-year-old Lake City man whom they believe directed a bomb threat at a Sea-Tac flight boarded by his ex-girlfriend Wednesday morning, according to a Port of Seattle statement. Someone called in a threat against Southwest Airlines flight 149, scheduled to depart at 5:30 a.m. for Las Vegas, reports indicate. Authorities decided to […] [Read More]
Volunteers find human foot in sneaker at Centennial Park
Volunteers picking up trash at Centennial Park off Elliott Bay found a human foot washed up on the shore Tuesday morning, according to Port of Seattle police. The volunteers found the foot, fitted with a white New Balance sneaker, about 11 a.m. near the Pier 86 grain facility, spokesman Peter McGraw said. They called authorities, […] [Read More]
Crews rescue crane operator at Port of Seattle
A man in his 60s is resting at Harborview Medical Center after suffering from dehydration and heat exhaustion atop a crane at Port of Seattle's Terminal 5 Tuesday evening. The Seattle Fire Department's Technical Rescue Team used a rope to lower the man from his 140-foot high perch in a rescue basket, department spokesman Kyle […] [Read More]

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Video: Joan Nathan's Roast Chicken
James Beard Award-winning cookbook author Joan Nathan shows us how to prepare a fuss-free roast chicken in this video we caught over on The Tablet. More
James Beard Award-winning cookbook author Joan Nathan shows us how to prepare a fuss-free roast chicken in this video we caught over on The Tablet. More
I'd never really given much thought to why apple cake was synonymous with Jewish desserts until reading the intro to this Polish Hanukkah Apple Cake from Quiches, Kugels, and Couscous by Joan Nathan. As it turns out, the Jewish part comes from the fact that the cake is parve (made without dairy) and therefore acceptable in a meal served for the main course. More
Up until recently my repertoire of Hanukkah edibles consisted of potato latkes (obviously), jelly-filled doughnuts, and little bags of chocolate coins a.k.a. Hanukkah gelt. But while perusing Joan Nathan's Quiches, Kugels, and Couscous I came across a less familiar Hanukkah treat, Hutzel Wecken, a dense, fruit studded bread from the Alsace region of France. More
The lemon and orange zest permeates the meat with bright citrus, the cider vinegar and white wine add a slightly sour note, and the ginger lends the tiniest kick. And like any brisket recipe worth its salt, it comes out of the oven exactly two and a half hours later fork-tender, ready to be sliced, sauced, and served with the sweet carrots that have been cooking in the braising liquid. More
Since I was on the prowl for Hanukkah recipes in Joan Nathan's Quiches, Kugels, and Couscous, a good latke was the first order of business. Nathan has three different potato pancake preparations in the book, but for me, these Brandade Potato Latkes truly capture the spirit of a French-accented Hanukkah celebration. The recipe combines brandade, a whipped cod spread popular in the South of France with a mashed potato latke. More
This French version of chopped liver from Joan Nathan's Quiches, Kugels, and Couscous is a slightly more rustic version of the Jewish pâté, adding onions caramelized in chicken fat to the mix of roughly chopped livers and hard boiled eggs. The caramelized onions are a Polish touch and work wonders with the rich liver, adding a wonderfully deep sweetness that makes the livers somehow even more decadent. More
When it comes to cooking for the Jewish holidays, around here Joan Nathan is our go-to for the best of the best. And for this year's Hanukkah celebrations we are happy to bring you a week's worth of recipes from Nathan's latest, Quiches, Kugels, and Couscous, an absolutely gorgeous and fascinating new cookbook all about her search for Jewish cooking in France. Enter to win a copy here. More
When we wanted to find some seriously delicious recipes for Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish new year that begins tonight at sunset, we immediately reached out to Joan Nathan and Arthur "The Food Maven" Schwartz. Both Joan and Arthur have been our go-to sources for Jewish holiday cooking; their brisket and honey cake recipes continue to elicit oohs and ahhs from family members. Shanah Tovah! More
[Photograph: Robyn Lee] I'm going to 'fess up here. I don't fast the way you're supposed to on Yom Kippur, the Jewish day of repentance that begins on Sunday night. Not that I don't have plenty to repent for—it's just that I've decided to repent while eating. But even though I don't fast I still look forward to a traditional (or even untraditional) Break Fast meal. On Monday night we were invited to break the fast with some good friends of ours who live in our apartment building. They'll have a fantastic platter of smoked fish, bagels, and cream cheese, which is the traditional break fast meal in my experience. But to kick it up a notch, Jewish-style, we're... More
Apples and honey for a sweet new year. [Flickr: ForestForTrees] When we wanted to find some seriously delicious recipes for Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish new year, I immediately reached out to Joan Nathan, the queen (not named Esther) of Jewish cooking in this country. My wife and I have repeatedly cooked for both of our families from three of Joan's cookbooks: Jewish Cooking in America, Jewish Holiday Cookbook, and The New American Cooking. The finished dishes never fail to elicit oohs and ahhs, even from my brothers, who are certainly among the world's toughest lay food critics. Pay particular attention to Jim Cohen's Sephardic Brisket It will convince you that dried apricots and prunes are perfect complements to beef... More
This recipe, adapted from Joan Nathan's Jewish Cooking in America, comes straight from one of my favorite breakfast or brunch spots in New York, Barney Greengrass. There they make this recipe with sturgeon, nova (smoked salmon), and even whitefish. I... More
According to the Internet Food Association, Top Chef co-host Tom Colicchio was cooking at best-selling cookbook author (Jewish Cooking in America) Joan Nathan's house at one of the Art, Food, Hope dinners Alice Waters and Ayelet Waldman --> put together to benefit D.C. Central Kitchen and Martha's Table, when Nathan started to choke on a piece of food. Colicchio sprang into action and performed the Heimlich maneuver on Nathan. She was impressed: "He's strong." He's a triple threat, that Tom. He cooks (at least every other Tuesday these days), he hosts, and he saves lives. Plus, he even blogs these days. Our hero, and Joan's too, obviously. Related Meet & Eat: Tom Colicchio Who's Hotter: Young Colicchio or Young Bourdain?... More
5:57 PM: Mario Batali is not nervous. 6:01 PM: Jean-Georges Vongerichten looking dapper as usual. 6:05 PM: Cokie Roberts is an extraordinarily gracious and charming host.... More


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To begin, the dual airbag system ensures that if one inflation fails or one bag is damaged by trees, etc. you will still have at least one airbag fully inflated. Additionally, ABS is using new technology with their bag materials which creates a much lighter and much stronger bag. The airbag material is the same material used on zodiac boats which means that it is nearly impossible to shred if punctured. The trigger mechanism is a nearly fail safe pneumatic system that only takes approximately 18 pounds of force over 2 cm's to trigger inflation. Non-pnuematic systems can take up to 45 pounds of pressure over 6 inches in length trigger inflation. From my experience, once you're caught in an avalanche things happens so fast that the easier a trigger is to pull the better.
|Skiing at Mt. Baker Photo: Grant Gunderson
I also love the fact that the ABS is constructed of a base system that has the airbag safety system in it, and the actual backpack is zipped on allowing for different size packs to be attached. This, I believe, makes buying this pack a worthy investment because you are able to have different sized packs for different types of days. 90% of the time I use the Powder 15L, which fits my shovel, probe, some food, water, an extra pair of gloves, a thin layer, a few other small things, and my skins (at that point it's starting to get pretty tight). If I need more gear than this I would use the Vario 25L (or 40L). Please note that the Powder Line and the Vario Line are not interchangeable. I prefer the Powder Line because it is a little less bulky that the Vario system, but it is more limiting with only having the 5L and 15L as the two sizes. So, if you need that larger 40L the Vario would be the way to go.
These ABS backpacks are very durable (and I'm talking about the base system). My backpack went through some heavy forces in the avalanche so ABS did an integrity check on my pack. The pack was found to be completely intact and in perfect working condition, so I am still using the same base system.
The pack includes straps and an exterior helmet holder, so you can dangle stuff off if need be. The ski carry system is just okay (using the straps that are included), but it works and the pack is so awesome it is not the biggest deal to me. The waist buckle is strong and easy to use, I don't have to take my mittens off to lock and unlock the steel buckle.
ABS uses a nitrogen cartridge which makes it lighter and smaller than other brands. While some may scoff at the additional weight of an avy bag, the ABS pack does not feel heavy, it fits very snug on the body and I have never felt that my pack has extra weight to it when it's on my back.
Any kind of avalanche safety backpack is not the end all be all device that usurps the necessary knowledge to be in the backcountry, your sound judgement, and the other mandatory backcountry tools such as a transceiver, shovel, and probe. Rather, these backpacks are a last ditch effort if you find yourself in an unfortunate situation of being caught in an avalanche. Accidents can happen and these packs can help save your life. It saved mine.
If you would like to purchase this ABS backpack, or any of the other styles or colors of ABS packs, Backcountry.com carries them... Just click on the backpack below:


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The Bureau of Reclamation has awarded an $11 million contract to modify and upgrade six cranes at the Third Power Plant at Grand Coulee Dam.
Grand Coulee Dam is located on the Columbia River about 90 miles west of Spokane, Wash.
The contract was awarded to Dix Corporation, Spokane, Wash., USBR reported.
The work consists of modifying two gantry cranes on top of the dam and three bridge cranes and one gantry crane inside the Third Power Plant. The work includes removal of existing operator's controls, removal of all electrical equipment and wiring and design, fabrication, factory/field testing, furnishing and installing digital variable-frequency drive (VFD) control systems.
Work is expected to start April 12, 2011, and be completed around Nov.30, 2012.
The Bureau of Reclamation recently awarded New Mexico-based Gardner Zemke Company a $12.3 million contract to replace 15 transformers in the Left and Right power plants of the 6,809-MW Grand Coulee hydroelectric project.
For more hydropower news and information, click here


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Hemorrhoid (medical condition): Hemorrhoids are swollen blood vessels around the anus. They commonly occur after 50, with millions of ...more
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Hemorrhoid: pain caused by venous swelling at or inside the anal sphincter.
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Hemorrhoid: Varicosities of the hemorrhoidal venous plexuses.
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Hemorrhoid: Varicosities of the hemorrhoidal venous plexuses.
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Hemorrhoid: Another name for Hemorrhoids (or close medical condition association).
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Hemorrhoid: Hemorrhoid is listed as a type of (or associated with) the following medical conditions in our database:
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Hemorrhoids are swollen but normally present blood vessels in and around the anus and lower... (Source: excerpt from Hemorrhoids: NIDDK)
Hemorrhoid (symptom): Another name for Hemorrhoids.
»Introduction: Hemorrhoids
»Causes of Hemorrhoids
Hemorrhoid (symptom): A condition characterized by the prolapse of an anal cushion that may result...more »
Hemorrhoid (symptom): Hemorrhoids are swollen but normally present blood vessels in and around the anus and lower rectum that... (Source: excerpt from Hemorrhoids: NIDDK)
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Frazier is having surgery Tuesday and his rehab is expected to take between six and 12 months. He is eligible for a medical redshirt and PSU coach Pat Chambers said he expects Frazier to take it and return in 2013-14.
Chambers said the key for his 2-2 team is to not let the injury drag everyone down.
"We can't feel sorry for ourselves," he said. "We have to defend and compete and go out and play Penn State basketball."
"We've got to move forward," sophomore guard D.J. Newbill added. "We feel for Tim, but we have to keep working hard. The season has to go on."
Frazier led the Nittany Lions in scoring, rebounding, assists and steals as a junior.
The PSU training staff suspected the Achilles' injury while in Puerto Rico, but waited until the team returned to University Park to run tests. An MRI confirmed the rupture.


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|Jordan Staal did not practice on Monday and was seen around the facility with a limp but is a full participant in today's practice, after being off the ice for three days. As of now, expectations are he will play Friday night vs Dallas.
Staal back on the ice for today's practice
Penguins Player Updates
Staal back on the ice for today's practice
11:17am - Wed, Nov 9th, 2011 by DePaoli
Latest Player Updates
Penguins sign defenseman Niclas Andersen
6:34pm - Mon, Jun 15th, 2015 by DePaoli
Tom Kostopoulos signs AHL contract with Wilkes Barre
4:07pm - Wed, May 27th, 2015 by Inside Pittsburgh Sports
Veteran forward Tom Kostopoulos has resigned with the Wilkes Barre/Scranton Penguins, the team announced this afternoon. Kostopoulos signed an AHL contract. Kostopoulos, 36, enters his 17th professional season, ninth year in the Penguins organization. In 72 games this season, Kostopoulos had 16 goals and 44 points. In 630 NHL games with Pittsburgh, Los Angeles, Montreal, Carolina, Calgary and New Jersey, Kostopoulos has totaled 61 goals, 96 assists, 157 points and 723 penalty minutes. He has compiled 415 points (163G-252A) over 542 AHL contests between Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and Manchester.
Sidney Crosby to participate in World Championships
11:58am - Sun, Apr 26th, 2015 by DePaoli
Kasperi Kapanen off to hot start in AHL playoffs
10:22pm - Sat, Apr 25th, 2015 by Inside Pittsburgh Sports
Matthew Murray's 27-save shutout gives WBS Penguins a 2-0 series lead
10:09pm - Sat, Apr 25th, 2015 by Inside Pittsburgh Sports
Evgeni Malkin (5 SOG in series) has just 4 shot attempts over last two games
12:14am - Thu, Apr 23rd, 2015 by DePaoli
Penguins not counting on Christian Ehrhoff this post-season
11:38am - Mon, Apr 20th, 2015 by Inside Pittsburgh Sports
Max Lapierre 16-26 (62%) on defensive zone draws through two playoff games
12:09pm - Sun, Apr 19th, 2015 by Inside Pittsburgh Sports
Derrick Pouliot out vs Islanders
11:20am - Fri, Apr 10th, 2015 by Inside Pittsburgh Sports
|2014-2015 Stats: 34 GP - 2 Goals - 5 Assists - 7 Points - -11
Steve Downie expected back in lineup vs Islanders
11:38am - Thu, Apr 9th, 2015 by Inside Pittsburgh Sports
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NVIDIA Kills TR AoD benchmark !
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Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Highland, IN USA
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Originally posted by lukar
Why Did Admin delete all my posts?
It's part of their "thread-cleaning", they occassionally shut down some threads and go thru and delete what they feel to be useless/redundant stuff.
As hard as it is to believe, I lose an awful lot of good posts that way.
(BUT I'M NOT COMPLAINING!!!! Mods/admins can do that and nVnews is quite up front with the fact that they do....but I also trust their discretion and have never had a problem with them pulling down something that I feel should stay up, they use good judgement here.
Originally posted by serAph
lmao - just payed my first indepth visit to Rage3d's forums and saw maaannny familiar faces there - only with like 8x as many posts and stuff. I see where the anti-nvidia ppl came from... I dont think i have anything to say @ rage3d... and wont until I own an ATi card... so for the time being, Ill stick to my other forums.
A lot of us have had cards from both IHV's, there's still no place as good as Rage3D for finding out ATi info just like there isn't any better place than nVnews to keep abreast of nVidia....why is it so surprising that the serious enthusiasts belong to both?
Originally posted by Deathlike2
Rage3D is more than 2x extreme when it comes to NVidia-ATI issues... at least here and Beyond3D.. some ACTUAL discussion takes place...
I know the signal-to-noise ratio ain't always the best at Rage3D, but again I will say that there is no place better to get ATi information from. (Well, 'cept mebbe me....but that's where I get most of mine too.
[SIZE=1][I]"It was very important to us that NVIDIA did not know exactly where to aim. As a result they seem to have over-engineered in some aspects creating a power-hungry monster which is going to be very expensive for them to manufacture. We have a beautifully balanced piece of hardware that beats them on pure performance, cost, scalability, future mobile relevance, etc. That's all because they didn't know what to aim at."
-R.Huddy[/I] [/SIZE]
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text: Practice Facilitation as a Resource for Practice Improvement Practice facilitation, sometimes also referred to as quality improvement coaching, is an approach to supporting improvement in primary care practices that focuses on building organizational capacity for continuous improvement (Knox, 2010). As a practice facilitator, you will establish a long-term relationship with your practices, becoming a resource for ongoing quality improvement (QI) and evidence translation.This module provides a brief overview of practice facilitation. For a more indepth discussion, see Developing and Running a Primary Care Practice Facilitation Program: A How-to Guide (Knox, et al., 2011). The guide can be accessed at: http://www.pcmh.ahrq.gov/portal/server.pt/community/pcmh__home/1483/pcmh_implementing_the_pcmh___practice_facilitation_v2.Who Are Practice Facilitators?Practice facilitators (also known as a practice coaches, QI coaches, and practice enhancement assistants) are specially trained individuals who work with primary care practices "to make meaningful changes designed to improve patients' outcomes. [They] help physicians and quality improvement teams develop the skills they need to adapt clinical evidence to the specific circumstance of their practice environment" (DeWalt, et al., 2010). As a practice facilitator, you need competencies in four areas:Interpersonal skills to build support for and facilitate change;Methods for accessing and using data to drive change;QI and change management strategies; andHealth information technology (IT) optimization.In addition, you will need expertise in the specific content of an intervention (e.g., patient-centered medical home [PCMH] transformation, guideline implementation).Practice facilitators work with primary care practices "to make meaningful changes designed to improve patients' outcomes.—DeWalt, et al., 2010Practice facilitators are generalists who support QI and other related activities in a practice or health care organization. They may work alone or lead a practice facilitation team made up of the facilitator, a health IT expert, and a data manager, as well as additional experts. These may include individuals with expertise in specific clinical or technical content required by the intervention.You may also engage physicians, chief executive officers, nursing staff, and others from practices that have already worked with a practice facilitator or that have already undergone improvement in the desired areas to serve as peer mentors to the practice. For example, let's say you are supporting implementation of advanced access (a method of shortening wait times for appointments). In addition to providing general facilitation support to your practice, you may engage a consultant with expertise in this area as a member of your practice facilitation team. This consultant can provide support to a practice undergoing this specialized transformation.When a team approach is indicated, as generalist and lead facilitator, you will form and manage this team to ensure that a practice has the resources it needs to make the desired changes. Your role will be to identify individuals with the needed expertise, engage them, and then manage the team to ensure it meets the needs of the practice and is also used in the most cost-effective manner.Figure 1.1. Four core competencies of practice facilitators Facilitation GoalsThe goal of your work with practices is to build their capacity for continuous quality improvement and their ability to implement new evidence-based treatments and bring health service models into practice. The ultimate aim of all of these activities is to improve patient outcomes and experience and lower the overall costs of care.To build these capacities, as a facilitator, you will help your practices establish QI teams, create improvement plans, assess practice systems and processes, develop performance monitoring systems, and use strategies such as benchmarking to motivate practices to change and compare their performance to other similar groups. You will provide training to your practices on QI approaches such as the Model for Improvement and assist them in using methods such as Plan Do Study Act cycles to test, spread, and sustain changes in the practice. You will also provide training to your practices on the contents of specific improvements or engage experts such as academic detailers to provide this training.You will also:Map workflows and assist practices in redesigning them to support desired changes.Help staff modify policies and procedures to ensure sustainability of changes.Identify exemplar processes in your practices and spread them to others.Identify resources your practices need to implement improvements that extend beyond the scope of your skills or the particular facilitation intervention.Help practices integrate all of the improvement work occurring within them into a cohesive whole.Form and maintain a long-term relationship with your practices.In addition to your work building capacity for change in the practice, you will work toward specific improvement goals. These improvement goals may be:Determined by the practice;Determined by your facilitation program; orAs often is the case, specified by the funder for the intervention.These goals can vary significantly in their complexity. Some are tightly focused on improving care for a specific condition, such as implementing treatment guidelines for chronic kidney disease. Others are focused on whole practice transformation, such as implementing tenets of PCMHs or the Care Model (go to Module 16). The scope and complexity of the desired changes will dictate the type and intensity of support you will need to provide to the practice.Facilitation Intensity and LengthFacilitation interventions vary in length and number of support hours delivered. These are typically linked to the particular goals being pursued in the intervention and the existing capacity of the practice at the start of the intervention. Complex improvement goals will require more hours of support and a longer delivery schedule; goals that are more narrowly focused or are smaller in scope will require fewer hours or shorter duration.Practices with higher levels of capacity for improvement will require less support, and therefore a less intensive intervention schedule. Practices with little existing capacity for improvement will require more. Efforts to introduce a particular practice guideline might require only a few months of support. Whole practice transformation such as that required by the PCMH may require a year or more. That said, intensity of services often depends on funding realities.As a practice facilitator, you will provide support to your practices based on the particular facilitation process and intervention model your program is using. Within this framework, you will want to tailor your approach to suit the needs of each practice based on its size, organizational structure, patient population, geographic location, and health care context.Ideally, you will form a long-term relationship with the practices that extends beyond a single project or QI initiative. In the best sense of the word, you will become a long-term resource for the practice, not employed by them but available to them as needed to support implementation of new health service models, treatments, and improvements to patient care.Onsite and Virtual FacilitationExperts consider some degree of onsite support, with a predictable schedule of onsite visits by the facilitator, to be almost essential to successful facilitation as it helps to establish and maintain an effective working relationship between you and your practice. Some interventions will need intensive onsite support while others may allow for a combination of onsite and virtual support. Virtual support can include check-in sessions and trainings on basic information on QI and new models of clinical care delivery. Onsite support is more appropriate for activities such as:Internal capacity building for ongoing QI, practice assessment, and data collection,Workflow mapping and redesign,Implementation of complex changes, andConflict resolution. What Practice Facilitators DoPractice facilitators help promote a culture of learning and QI within practices and set the stage for continuous quality improvement that extends beyond the period of active facilitation. Practice facilitators can be thought of as "catalysts for change," supporting transformation at the individual, team, organizational, and systems levels (Department of Health and Community Services, 2006). In addition to general skills in QI, change management, data collection, and optimization of health IT systems, some may acquire expertise in specialized areas such as supporting attainment of meaningful use of health IT to improve patient care. Table 1.1 lists some of the key activities practice facilitators undertake when working with their practices.Evidence on Practice FacilitationWhile some believe practice facilitation is a relatively new approach to supporting practice improvement, its origins can be traced back at least 20 years. It was used from 1982 to 1984 in the Oxford Prevention of Heart Attack and Stroke Project in England as the primary intervention to help clinicians improve screening for cardiovascular disease (Fullard, et al., 1984; Department of Health and Community Services, 2006). Evaluations of the project demonstrated the value of facilitation support for improving clinical processes and cardiovascular care.Following this early success, England became an early adopter of practice facilitation and used it as part of a comprehensive approach to support primary care. In the 1990s, Australia, Canada, the Netherlands, and the United States also began using the facilitation model to support practice improvement (Nagykaldi, et al., 2005).Since then, organizations such as practice-based research networks, State health departments, professional associations, and health plans have begun using practice facilitation to support QI, as well as knowledge generation and discovery in primary care practices. Settings range from small, private practices to large multispecialty group practices, from urban to rural to frontier settings, and from safety net to non-safety net providers. The common element of all practice facilitation programs is the use of specially trained individuals who establish long-term relationships with practices and work to help them implement the targeted improvements.EffectivenessThe evidence base demonstrating the effectiveness of practice facilitation as a method for improving primary care practice is growing. Nagykaldi, Mold, and Aspy completed the first review of practice facilitation in 2005. Analyzing 25 studies of practice improvement conducted between 1966 and 1984, the authors found that practice facilitation contributed to increases in the delivery rates of preventive services. It also improved relationships and communication among providers, assisted clinicians with chronic disease management, provided professional education, and facilitated system-level improvements. However, the part directly attributable to practice facilitation could not be determined, as most of the studies included practice facilitation as one part of a multicomponent intervention.More recently, Baskerville, Liddy, and Hogg (2012) published a meta-analytic review of 22 studies involving 1,429 practices in which they found evidence of the effectiveness of practice facilitation compared to nonintervention controls. Primary care practices receiving practice facilitation were almost three times as likely as control practices to adopt evidence-based guidelines.The researchers also shed light on factors associated with greater practice facilitation effect. For example, the researchers found that as the number of practices supported by a facilitator increased, the effect size of facilitation decreased. In addition, practice facilitation interventions delivering a higher dose of support (e.g., total number of hours and duration of the intervention) were also associated with larger effects.Sustainability of ChangeStudies have also examined the sustainability of changes implemented using practice facilitation support. While an early study found that the effects were not sustained past the intervention period (McCowan, et al., 1997), multiple studies conducted since then have found that the effects of practice facilitation were sustained for as long as 12 months postintervention (Dietrich, et al., 1994; Hogg, et al., 2002; Stange, et al., 2003; Hogg, et al., 2008).As early as 1995, Bryce and colleagues evaluated the impact of an audit facilitator on patterns of diagnosis and treatment of childhood asthma in 12 practices. At a 2-year followup, there were significant increases in asthma consultations, new diagnoses of asthma, and reaffirmation of past diagnoses in intervention versus control practices.Cost BenefitOthers have looked at the cost effectiveness of practice facilitation. Hogg, Baskerville, and Lemelin (2005) examined the cost savings associated with practice facilitation in reducing inappropriate and increasing appropriate screening tests in 22 primary care practices serving approximately 100,000 patients. The team conducted a cost-consequences analysis. Within the Canadian context, the intervention resulted in an annual savings per physician of $3,687 and per facilitator of $63,911. The estimated return on intervention investment was 40 percent.Patient-Centered Medical Home ImplementationMost recently, researchers have studied the impact of practice facilitation on efforts to meet PCMH criteria. The National Demonstration Project (NDP) study compared two implementation approaches: facilitated and self-directed. Thirty-six family practices were selected for the study that were deemed ready and highly motivated to adopt the NDP model of the PCMH. The practices were randomly assigned to self-directed or facilitated change conditions. The practice facilitation intervention was mainly delivered remotely with one or two onsite visits over the course of the study.The research team found that facilitation increased the practices' capability to make and sustain change and increased their adaptive reserve, their organizational capacity to engage in ongoing QI (Nutting, et al., 2010). Differences in actual PCMH implementation were not significant by group. This likely reflects the fact that both groups were already highly motivated and ready to change and the practice facilitation intervention was primarily virtual, so of relatively low intensity.ReferencesBaskerville NB, Liddy C, Hogg W. Systematic review and meta-analysis of practice facilitation within primary care settings. Ann Fam Med 2012;10(1):63-74.Department of Health and Community Services, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. Guiding facilitation in the Canadian context: enhancing primary health care. St. John's, Newfoundland: Department of Health and Community Services; 2006.DeWalt D, Powell J, Mainwaring B, et al. Practice coaching program manual. Washington, DC: Aligning Forces for Quality (AF4Q), George Washington University Medical Center; 2010.Dietrich A, Sox C, Tosteson T, et al. Durability of improved physician early detection of cancer after conclusion of intervention support. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 1994;3:335-40.Fullard E, Fowler G, Gray M. Facilitating prevention in primary care. BMJ (Clin Res Ed) 1984;289(6458):1585-7.Hogg W, Baskerville N, and Lemelin, J. Cost savings associated with improving appropriate and reducing inappropriate preventive care: cost-consequences analysis. BMC Health Serv Res 2005;5:20.Hogg W, Baskerville N, Nykiforuk C, et al. Improved preventive care in family practices with outreach facilitation: understanding success and failure. J Health Serv Res Policy 2002:7,195-201.Hogg W, Lemelin J, Moroz I, et al. Improving prevention in primary care: evaluating the sustainability of outreach facilitation. Can Fam Physician 2008;54:712-20.Knox L, ed. Report on the AHRQ 2010 consensus meeting on practice facilitation for primary care improvement. (Prepared by LA Net under Contract No. HHSA2902007100110.) Rockville, MD: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality; 2010.Knox L, Taylor EF, Geonnotti K, et al. Developing and running a primary care practice facilitation program: a how-to guide (Prepared by Mathematica Policy Research under Contract No. HHSA290200900019I TO5.) Rockville, MD: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality; December 2011. AHRQ Publication No. 12-0011.McCowan C, Neville R, Crombie I, et al. The facilitator effect: results from a four-year follow-up of children with asthma. Br J Gen Prac 1997;47,156-60.Nagykaldi Z, Mold J, Aspy C. Practice facilitators: a review of the literature. Fam Med 2005;37:581-8.Nutting P, Crabtree B, Stewart E, et al. Effect of facilitation on practice outcomes in the National Demonstration Project Model of the patient-centered medical home. Ann Fam Med 2010;8:S33-S44; S92.Stange K, Goodwin M, Zyzanski S, et al. Sustainability of a practice-individualized preventive service delivery intervention. Am J Prev Med 2003;25(4):296-300. Page last reviewed May 2013 Internet Citation: Practice Facilitation as a Resource for Practice Improvement. May 2013. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. http://www.ahrq.gov/professionals/prevention-chronic-care/improve/system/pfhandbook/mod1.html


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"I thought it was time to do something else."
With those words, Schools Superintendent Frank Alvarez brought the curtain down on his nearly nine years at the helm of the Montclair School District.
The decision to walk off the stage by one of the longest tenured superintendents in the district's modern history came as a complete surprise but it wasn't a spur-of-the-moment choice.
"It's a very tough decision," Alvarez told The Times in an interview in his office Tuesday morning, shortly after the district released a prepared statement announcing the move.
"This is purely a matter of personal choice," Alvarez explained. "People shouldn't read anything into this decision.
"Eight-plus years is a long time. I'm leaving because basically I feel it's time to go. I enjoy tremendously what I do. People are just shocked that it's happened this way, especially with two more years left on my contract."


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Here we go again. If we are to believe the political pundits and campaign strategists, the next race for the White House is well underway. Republicans like New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida and U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin are being touted as likely candidates for president in 2016.
On the other side of the aisle, political watchers are combing through former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's tweets for signs that she will make the next race for the White House. Radio talk show hosts are already honing their insults for a Clinton campaign. As I said earlier, here we go again.
In addition to the speculation over who will run for president, there is an ongoing debate over how we elect a president in this country. There is a movement under way to change the way Electoral College votes are divided up in a presidential election. Currently, when voters go to the polls to pick a president, they are actually selecting a slate of "electors" who represent each state. These electors combine to form the Electoral College.
Electors are usually strong and loyal supporters of their political party, but can never be sitting members of Congress. They are generally free agents, as only 29 states require electors to vote as they have pledged, and many constitutional scholars believe those requirements would not stand in a court challenge.
After the election, the party that wins the most votes in each state appoints all the electors for that state. This is known as a "winner-take-all" or "unit rule" of electors. The only exceptions to this rule are in Maine and Nebraska.
The Electoral College process has come under intense scrutiny and debate since the 2000 presidential election when former Vice President Al Gore won the popular vote, but George W. Bush captured the Electoral College vote. That election was the first time in more than a century that the candidate finishing first in the popular vote did not win the election for the White House.
Gore surprised many last year when he told an interviewer he now favors replacing the Electoral College process with a new plan known as the National Popular Vote. Supporters of this campaign want to allow a state to cast its electoral votes for the winner of the national popular vote, regardless of the winner in that state. This method could only be used when states boasting a total of at least 270 electoral votes — the minimum for victory — make the same pledge.
National Popular Vote bills have passed in legislatures of several states. Legal scholars say the idea is an extreme long shot, but may be easier than trying to amend the U.S. Constitution, which takes approval by Congress and then ratification by 38 states.
Although pollsters say 60 percent of Americans support scrapping the Electoral College, I doubt many Americans truly understand the consequences of doing so. The National Popular Vote movement is nothing more than a back-door effort to amend the Constitution. This nation's Founders established a specific procedure for amending the Constitution and this is not it.
Robert Houk is Opinion page editor for the Johnson City Press. He can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Falcons Tie For Title at Snowman Getaway
Feb. 25, 2014
The Air Force golf team captured its second tournament title of the season Tuesday by tying Illinois State for the championship of the Snowman Getaway Tournament at the Palm Valley Golf Club in Goodyear, Ariz. The Falcons, who also won the season-opening Falcon Invitational, shot a two-under par 286 in the final round for a three-round total of 849 (-15). Illinois State, meanwhile, fired a 15-under par 273 on Tuesday tie the Falcons. No playoff was played due to travel schedules.
Individually, two Air Force players finished in the top 10. Senior Kyle Westmoreland tied for fourth place at -9 (207) after shooting an even-par 72 on Tuesday. Fellow senior Jack Howard equaled his best career finish (2013 Falcon Invitational) with a seventh-place tie at -8 (208) after a two-under par 70 in the final round.
Senior Philip Colwell tied for 50th at +4 (220) with a one-over par 73 while senior Miguel Macias finished in a tie for 65th place at +8 (224) after shooting a one-under par 71 on Tuesday. Freshman Andy Germann did not play on Tuesday after falling ill Monday evening. Freshman Sunwoo Choi tied for 83rd (+12, 228) and junior Blake Edwards tied for 89th (+14, 230) playing as individuals.
The Falcons return to action next weekend at the University of South Florida Invitational in Tampa, Fla. The three-day tournament begins on Sunday, March 2.


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Sirius XM Partners With Parents Magazine For Radio Show
Sirius XM Radio (NASDAQ: SIRI) and Parents magazine announced the launch of "Parents Radio," a limited-run six week series featuring top editors from Parents as well as a wide range of experts discussing thought-provoking parenting news, tackling common parenthood problems and offering expert advice on health, child behavior and family relationships. The show will include calls from parents across the country and listeners can also ask questions interactively via Facebook and Twitter.
Content such as this is unique and sets the satellite radio provider apart from other services as well as terrestrial radio. With a wide reaching audience the company is gaining more and more influence on how and where we get our audio entertainment. "Parents Radio" will launch Saturday, April 14 at 10am ET and air every Saturday through May 19 from 10 – 11am ET on Sirius XM Stars channel 107.
Each week Parents Editor-in-Chief Dana Points and Deputy Editor Diane Debrovner will be joined by fellow mom, host and radio veteran Wesley Weissberg. Together, the three hosts have six kids worth of parenting experience to share via hilarious stories, honest and entertaining commiserating and "it worked for me" advice.
The hosts will be joined by leading doctors, authors, psychologists and bloggers to discuss everything from eating healthy as a family to avoiding baby-naming regret. Expert guests will include Dr. Michael Thompson, bestselling author of Raising Cain, Jenny Rosenstrach, food blogger and author of Dinner: A Love Story and Pamela Redmond Satran, baby naming expert behind the popular website Nameberry.
"We are thrilled to bring the Parents brand to life on Sirius XM and expand the real-time discussion with our audience that is already vigorous on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest," says Carey Witmer, Executive Vice President, President, Meredith Parents Network. "Listeners will be able to connect with our editors and guest experts to discuss the day's hottest parenthood topics, ask questions and offer their own mom-to-mom solutions. Millennial moms expect to access a brand on all platforms, and 'Parents Radio' is another opportunity for us to engage and inspire them with trusted content wherever they go."
"We are very excited to bring the invaluable information and expertise from Parents magazine directly to our listeners," said Scott Greenstein, President and Chief Content Officer, Sirius XM. "Just in time for Mother's Day, the experts of 'Parents Radio' will share authoritative, candid, helpful and entertaining dialogue with parents across the country."


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Three Putnam athletes awarded memorial scholarships
HURRICANE -- The first Richard "Dick" Green Memorial Scholarships have been awarded to three Putnam County athletes.
Green, known as an ardent soccer promoter and coach, died Aug. 25, 2012. The scholarship fund was established to recognize Green's contributions by awarding scholarships to players who exemplify the values he both lived and coached, according to a news release.
Green served many years as a recreation league coach, a travel team coach and girl's high school soccer team coach at Hurricane. After retiring, he remained active as the assistant coach for both Poca and Nitro High School Ladies Soccer Programs.
"Green instilled in many young women character traits that will serve them the rest of their lives; i.e. hard work, sportsmanship, teamwork, and goal setting," the release states. "He made hard work fun and passed to them his love of soccer each and every day. 'You have to work hard to play hard. You have to play hard to win.'"
The Richard "Dick" Green Memorial Scholarship recognizes young women who demonstrate their love of soccer and represent the values Green emphasized when coaching. The player must be in good academic standing having a minimum overall GPA 3.0, played a minimum of three consecutive high school seasons, and be from one of the three teams he coached (Hurricane, Poca and Nitro High Schools).
The educational scholarships are awarded on a one time basis to higher education bound individuals, without regard to race, color, religion or national origin. The scholarships are also not based on financial need. Each candidate submitted a written application; including an essay on "How has your life been influenced by soccer," and a letter of recommendation from the individual's coach.
The 2013 Recipients of the The Richard (Dick) Green Memorial Scholarship are:
Hurricane High School: Taylor Nichole Morton
Nitro High School: Annie Margaret Johnson
Poca High School: Marissa Elaine Perkins
The Foundation is a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization. The Board of Directors consists of volunteers who knew Green and his love of soccer. Funds to support the scholarships are raised through private donations and Richard "Dick" Green Memorial Soccer Tournaments and Soccer Camps.