1. A quasi-interpenetrating network of polymer chains, the chains comprising:
(a) linear polyacrylamide (LPA) chains in the form of a main frame having a weight average molecular weight of approximately 0.05 million to approximately 25 million gmole, and a radius of gyration of approximately 10 nm to 350 nm; and
(b) polydimethylacrylamide (PDMA) chains prepared by polymerizing PDMA in the presence of the LPA main frame,
wherein the LPA and PDMA chains are entangled within one another and interpenetrate one another, and wherein the quasi-interpenetrating network has substantially no chemical cross-linking.
2. The network of claim 1 wherein the LPA main frame is formed by inverse microemulsion polymerization.
3. The network of claim 1 wherein the PDMA is polymerized by radical polymerization in the LPA main frame.
4. The network of claim 1 wherein the LPA main frame comprises LPA in a buffer solution, wherein the LPA has an overlap concentration of approximately 5\xd710\u22124 to 4.0\xd710\u22122 gml.
5. The network of claim 1 wherein the LPA main frame has an overlap concentration of approximately 1.2\xd710\u22123 gml in a buffer solution.
6. The network of claim 1 wherein the lower boundary of the weight-average molecular weight of the LPA is approximately 0.05 million, 0.1 million, 0.3 million, 1 million, 4 million, 6 million or 7 million gmole.
7. The network of claim 1 wherein the upper boundary of the range of the weight-average molecular weight of the LPA is approximately 8 million, 10 million, 15 million or 25 million gmole.
8. The network of claim 1 wherein the lower boundary of the range of the radius of gyration of the LPA is approximately 10 nm, 15 nm, 28 nm, 55 nm, 125 nm, 150 nm or 165 nm
9. The network of claim 1 wherein the upper boundary of the range of the radius of gyration of the LPA is approximately 180 nm, 210 nm, 250 nm or 350 nm.
10. The network of claim 1 wherein the LPA has a polydispersity index of from about 1.01 to 1.8.
11. The network of claim 10 wherein the lower boundary of the range of the polydispersity index of the LPA is approximately 1.01, 1.02, 1.05 or 1.1.
12. The network of claim 10 wherein the upper boundary of the range of the polydispersity index of the LPA is approximately 1.3, 1.5, 1.6 or 1.8.
13. A quasi-interpenetrating network of entangled polymer chains, the chains comprising:
(a) linear polyacrylamide (LPA) chains; and
(b) polydimethylacrylamide (PDMA) chains entangled in the LPA chains and interpenetrating the LPA chains,
wherein the LPA and the PDMA have weight-average molecular weight of approximately 0.1 million to approximately 20 million gmole, and radii of gyration of approximately 15 m to 320 nm, wherein the quasi-interpenetrating network has substantially no chemical cross-linking.
14. The network of claim 13 wherein the lower boundary of the range of the weight-average molecular weight is approximately 0.1 million, 0.5 million, 2 million or 6 million gmole.
15. The network of claim 13 wherein the upper boundary of the range of the weight-average molecular weight is approximately 7 million, 10 million, 16 million or 20 million gmole.
16. The network of claim 13 wherein the lower boundary of the range of the radii of gyration is approximately 10 nm, 15 nm, 40 nm, 80 mm or 150 mm.
17. The network of claim 13 wherein the upper boundary of the range of the radii of gyration is approximately 165 nm, 210 nm, 280 nm or 320 mm.
18. The network of claim 13 wherein the LPA and the PDMA each has a polydispersity index of from about 1.0 to 1.8.
19. The network of claim 13 wherein the LPA and the PDMA each have a polydispersity index of about 1.6.
20. The network of claim 13 wherein the network has an overlap concentration of approximately 5.0\xd710 \u22124 to 3.0\xd710\u22122 gml in a buffer solution.
21. The network of claim 13 wherein the ratio of the amount of LPA to the amount of PDMA is in the range of approximately 10:1 to 15:1 wherein the weight molecular weight range of the LPA is approximately from 6 million to 7 million gmole.
22. A quasi-interpenetrating network of entangled polymer chains produced by a method comprising:
(a) providing a solution comprising linear polyacrylamide (LPA) and a buffer, wherein the LPA has a weight average molecular weight of 0.05 million to 25 million gmole;
(b) providing a solution comprising polydimethylacrylamide (PDMA) and a buffer, wherein the PDMA has a weight average molecular weight of 100,000 to 25 million;
(c) mixing the LPAbuffer solution and PDMAbuffer solution in a stepwise fashion, wherein the LPAbuffer solution is one to fifteen times as concentrated as the PDMAbuffer solution, and the volume of the LPAbuffer solution is about one to fifty times the volume of the PDMA solution;
wherein a quasi-interpenetrating network of entangled, interpenetrating LPA and PDMA polymer chains is produced, where the quasi-interpenetrating network has substantially no chemical cross-linking.
23. The quasi-interpenetrating network of claim 22 wherein the lower boundary of the range of the weight average molecular weight of the LPA is 0.05, 0.1, 0.3 or 1 million gmole.
24. The quasi-interpenetrating network of claim 22 wherein the upper boundary of the range of the weight average molecular weight of the LPA is 4 million, 6 million, 7 million, 8 million, 10 million, 15 million or 20 million gmole.
25. The quasi-interpenetrating network of claim 22 wherein the lower boundary of the range of the weight average molecular weight of the PDMA is 100,000; 300,000; or 500,000 gmole.
26. The quasi-interpenetrating network of claim 22 wherein the upper boundary of the range of the weight average molecular weight of the PDMA is 1 million, 3 million, 10 million or 25 million gmole.
27. The quasi-interpenetrating network of claim 22 wherein the LPAbuffer solution has a concentration of approximately 1.0 to 12.0% gml.
28. The quasi-interpenetrating network of claim 22 wherein the PDMAbuffer solution has a concentration of approximately 0.1 to 3.0% gml.
29. In a method of separating charged molecular species, the method comprising causing a charged molecular species to migrate in a separation medium by the influence of an applied electric field, the improvement wherein the separation medium comprises an LPA polymer system and a PMDA polymer system wherein the polymer systems form a quasi-interpenetrating network.
30. The method according to claim 29 wherein the interpenetrating network is prepared by synthesizing an LPA main frame, and polymerizing a PDMA within the main frame.
31. The method according to claim 29 wherein the interpenetrating network is prepared by:
(a) providing a solution comprising LPA and a buffer, wherein the LPA has a weight average molecular weight of 0.05 million to 25 million gmole;
(b) providing a solution comprising PDMA and a buffer, wherein the PDMA has a weight average molecular weight of 100,000 to 25 million gmole; and
(c) mixing the LPAbuffer solution and PDMAbuffer solution in a stepwise fashion, wherein the LPAbuffer solution is one to fifteen times as concentrated as the PDMAbuffer solution, and the volume of the LPAbuffer solution is about one to fifty times the volume of the PDMA solution.
32. A quasi-interpenetrating network of polymer chains, the chains comprising:
(a) acrylamide (AM)dimethylacrylamide (DMA) random copolymer chains in the form of a main frame having a weight average molecular weight of approximately 0.05 million to approximately 2 million gmole, and a radius of gyration of approximately 10 nm to 80 nm; and
(b) polydimethylacrylamide (PDMA) chains prepared by polymerizing PDMA in the presence of the random copolymer main frame;
wherein the AMDMA and PDMA chains are entangled within one another, and interpenetrate one another, and wherein the quasi-interpenetrating network has substantially no chemical cross-linking.
33. The network of claim 32 wherein the random copolymer main frame is formed by radical polymerization.
34. The network of claim 32 wherein the PDMA is polymerized by radical polymerization in the random copolymer main frame.
35. The network of claim 32 wherein the random copolymer main frame comprises copolymers in a buffer solution, wherein the random copolymer has an overlap concentration of approximately 3\xd710\u22123 to 4.0\xd710\u22122 gml.
36. The network of claim 32 wherein the copolymer main frame has an overlap concentration of approximately 1\xd710\u22122 gml in a buffer solution.
37. The network of claim 32 wherein the lower boundary of the weight-average molecular weight range of the random copolymer is approximately 0.05 million, 0.1 million, or 0.3 million gmole.
38. The network of claim 32 wherein the upper boundary of the weight-average molecular weight range of the random copolymer is approximately 0.5 million, 1 million, or 2 million gmole.
39. The network of claim 32 wherein the lower boundary of the range of the radius of gyration of the copolymer is approximately 10 nm, 15 nm, or 30 nm.
40. The network of claim 32 wherein the upper boundary of the range of the radius of gyration of the copolymer is approximately 40 nm, 55 nm or 80 mm.
41. The network of claim 32 wherein the random copolymer has a polydispersity index of from about 1.1 to 2.0.
42. The network of claim 32 wherein the ratio of the amount of AM to the amount of DMA is in the range of approximately 5:1 to 50:1 wherein the weight molecular weight range of the random copolymer is approximately from 0.05 million to 2 million gmole.
43. A quasi-interpenetrating network of entangled polymer chains produced by a method comprising:
(a) providing a solution comprising AMDMA random copolymer and a buffer, wherein the AMDMA random copolymer has a weight average molecular weight of 0.05 million to 2 million gmole;
(b) providing a solution comprising polydimethylacrylamide (PDMA) and a buffer, wherein the PDMA has a weight average molecular weight of 0.05 million to 25 million gmole;
(c) mixing the copolymerbuffer solution and PDMAbuffer solution in a stepwise fashion, wherein the copolymerbuffer solution is one to fifty times as concentrated as the PDMAbuffer solution, and the volume of the copolymerbuffer solution is about one to twenty times the volume of the PDMA solution;
wherein a quasi-interpenetrating network of entangled copolymer and PDMA polymer chains is produced, wherein the quasi-IPN has substantially no chemical cross-linking.
44. The quasi-interpenetrating network of claim 43 wherein the lower boundary of the range of the weight average molecular weight of the copolymer is 0.05 million, 0.1 million, or 0.3 million gmole.
45. The quasi-interpenetrating network of claim 43 wherein the upper boundary of the range of the weight average molecular weight of the copolymer is 0.5 million, 1 million, 1.5 million, or 2 million gmole.
46. The quasi-interpenetrating network of claim 43 wherein the lower boundary of the range of the weight average molecular weight of the PDMA is 50,000; 100,000; or 200,000 gmole.
47. The quasi-interpenetrating network of claim 43 wherein the upper boundary of the range of the weight average molecular weight of the PDMA is 500,000, 1 million, 3 million, 5 million, 10 million, or 25 million.
48. The quasi-interpenetrating network of claim 43 wherein the copolymerbuffer solution has a concentration of approximately 5.0 to 20.0% gml.
49. The quasi-interpenetrating network of claim 43 wherein the PDMAbuffer solution has a concentration of approximately 0.1 to 1.0% gml.
50. In a method of separating charged molecular species, the method comprising causing a charged molecular species to migrate in a separation medium by the influence of an applied electric field, the improvement wherein the separation medium comprises an AMDMA random copolymer and a PMDA polymer wherein the polymer systems form a quasi-interpenetrating network.
51. The method according to claim 50 wherein the interpenetrating network is prepared by synthesizing an AMDMA random copolymer main frame, and polymerizing a PDMA within the main frame.
52. The method according to claim 50 wherein the interpenetrating network is prepared by:
(a) providing a solution comprising AMDMA random copolymer and a buffer, wherein the AMDMA random copolymer has a weight average molecular weight of 0.05 million to 2 million gmole;
(b) providing a solution comprising PDMA and a buffer, wherein the PDMA has a weight average molecular weight of 50,000 to 25 million gmole; and
(c) mixing the copolymerbuffer solution and PDMAbuffer solution in a stepwise fashion, wherein the copolymerbuffer solution is one to fifty times as concentrated as the PDMAbuffer solution, and the volume of the copolymerbuffer solution is about one to twenty times the volume of the PDMA solution;
wherein a quasi-interpenetrating network of entangled copolymer and PDMA polymer chains is produced, wherein the quasi-interpenetrating network has substantially no chemical cross-linking.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A network communications device, comprising:
a modem; and
a computing platform, said computing platform coupled to the modem via a bus, said network communications device being operative to transfer data from the platform to the modem via the bus at an initial data rate and being operative to adjust the data rate of the bus based at least in part upon a network communications data transfer rate between the modem and a network.
2. The network communications device of claim 1, wherein the data rate of the bus comprises an isochronous data rate.
3. The network communications device of claim 1, wherein the connection between the modem and the network comprises a digital subscriber line (DSL) connection.
4. The network communications device of claim 1, wherein the bus comprises a universal serial bus (USB).
5. The network communications device of claim 1, wherein the network communications device being operative to set the initial data rate of the bus at a rate greater than the network communications data transfer rate.
6. The network communications device of claim 1, wherein the network communications device being operative to set the initial data rate of the bus at a rate less than the network communications data transfer rate.
7. The network communications device of claim 1, wherein the network communications device is operative to set the data rate of the bus to an initial value and is operative to reduce the data rate of the bus if the network communications data transfer rate is less than the initial value of the data rate of the bus.
8. The network communications device of claim 1, wherein the network communications device is operative to set the data rate of the bus to an initial data rate and is operative to raise the data rate of the bus if the network communications data transfer rate is greater than the initial value of the data rate of the bus.
9. A method comprising:
transferring data to a modem via the bus at a data transfer rate;
measuring a network communications transfer data rate between the modem and a network; and
adjusting the data transfer rate of the bus based at least in part on the measured network communications data transfer rate.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein transferring data to the modem via the bus comprises transferring data at an initial data transfer rate.
11. The method of claim 9, wherein the data rate of the bus comprises an isochronous data rate.
12. The method of claim 9, wherein the bus comprises a universal serial bus.
13. The method of claim 9, wherein the connection between the modem and the network comprises a digital subscriber line (DSL) connection.
14. The method of claim 9, wherein adjusting the data transfer rate of the bus based at least in part on the measured network communications data transfer rate comprises reducing the data rate of the bus if the measured network communications data transfer rate is less than the data transfer rate of the bus.
15. The method of claim 9, wherein adjusting the data transfer rate of the bus based at least in part on the measured network communications data transfer rate comprises increasing the data rate of the bus if the measured network communications data transfer rate is more than the data transfer rate of the bus.
16. An article comprising:
a storage medium, having stored thereon instructions that, when executed, result in improved utilization of a bus for transferring data to a modem by:
transferring data to the modem via the bus at a data transfer rate;
measuring a network communications transfer data rate between the modem and a network; and
adjusting the data transfer rate of the bus based at least in part on the measured network communications data transfer rate.
17. The article of claim 16, wherein said instructions, when executed, result in transferring data to the modern via the bus at an initial data transfer rate.
18. The article of claim 16, wherein said instructions, when executed, result in the data rate of the bus comprising an isochronous data rate.
19. The article of claim 16, wherein said instructions, when executed, result in the bus comprising a universal serial bus.
20. The article of claim 16, wherein said instructions, when executed, result in adjusting the data transfer rate of the bus based at least in part on the measured network communications data transfer rate by reducing the data rate of the bus if the measured network communications data transfer rate is less than the data transfer rate of the bus.
21. The article of claim 16, wherein said instructions, when executed, result in adjusting the data transfer rate of the bus based at least in part on the measured network communications data transfer rate by increasing the data rate of the bus if the measured network communications data transfer rate is more than the data transfer rate of the bus.