Graphitic nanofillers in PMMA nanocomposites—An investigation of particle size and dispersion and their influence on nanocomposite properties

Mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties of graphite/PMMA composites have been evaluated as functions of particle size and dispersion of the graphitic nanofiller components via the use of three different graphitic nanofillers: “as received graphite” (ARG), “expanded graphite,” (EG) and “graphite nanoplatelets” (GNPs) EG, a graphitic materials with much lower density than ARG, was prepared from ARG flakes via an acid intercalation and thermal expansion. Subsequent sonication of EG in a liquid yielded GNPs as thin stacks of graphitic platelets with thicknesses of ～10 nm. Solution‐based processing was used to prepare PMMA composites with these three fillers. Dynamic mechanical analysis, thermal analysis, and electrical impedance measurements were carried out on the resulting composites, demonstrating that reduced particle size, high surface area, and increased surface roughness can significantly alter the graphite/polymer interface and enhance the mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties of the polymer matrix. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 45: 2097–2112, 2007     

Gas solubility of carbon dioxide in poly(lactic acid) at high pressures: Thermal treatment effect

The sorption of carbon dioxide in glassy Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) films was studied by quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) at high pressures. Two thermal treatments, melted and quenched, were performed in PLA with two different L:D contents, 80:20 and 98:2, films and compared with a third thermal protocol, annealed, and used in a previous work. The results obtained show that for pressures higher than 2 MPa, the carbon dioxide solubility is larger in PLA 80:20 than in PLA 98:2, indicating that the L:D plays a dominant role on this property. The thermal treatments only affect the gas solubility in PLA 98:2. Sorption isotherms at temperatures 303, 313, and 323 K, below the glass transition temperature of the polymer, and pressures up to 5 MPa were measured and analyzed with three different models, the dual‐mode sorption model, the Flory–Huggins equation, and a modified dual‐mode sorption model where the Henry's law term was substituted by the Flory–Huggins equation. This last model performs especially well for CO₂ in PLA 80:20, due to the convex upward curvature of the solubility isotherms for that system. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 45: 616–625, 2007     

On the approximation of convex functions by Bernstein-type operators

As a consequence of Jensen's inequality, centered operators of probabilistic type (also called Bernstein-type operators) approximate convex functions from above. Starting from this fact, we consider several pairs of classical operators and determine, in each case, which one is better to approximate convex functions. In almost all the discussed examples, the conclusion follows from a simple argument concerning composition of operators. However, when comparing Szász-Mirakyan operators with Bernstein operators over the positive semi-axis, the result is derived from the convex ordering of the involved probability distributions. Analogous results for non-centered operators are also considered.     

On solving energy-dependent partitioned eigenvalue problem by genetic algorithm: The case of real symmetric Hamiltonian matrices

An energy-dependent partitioning scheme is explored for extracting a small number of eigenvalues of a real symmetric matrix with the help of genetic algorithm. The proposed method is tested with matrices of different sizes (30 × 30 to 1000 × 1000). Comparison is made with Löwdin’s strategy for solving the problem. The relative advantages and disadvantages of the GA-based method are analyzed     

LD端抽运平直腔Nd:YVO4固态激光器的输出功率特性研究

对LD端抽运平直腔Nd:YVO₄固态激光器输出功率特性受激光器内在诸因素(热透镜效应、腔长、激活孔径等)的制约关系进行了研究.并用传播圆-变换圆图解分析方法给出了合理的解释，同时，对进一步提高其输出功率特性指出了方向. 关键词： 固体激光器 热透镜 变换圆 平直腔     

激光介质的多次吸收不均匀内热源模型

针对激光介质的内热源,以多次吸收作用为基础提出了适用于侧面双向泵浦板状激光介质的不均匀内热源模型,即多次吸收不均匀内热源模型,并与均匀内热源和一次吸收内热源模型进行了对比分析。研究表明,介质厚度及光吸收系数组成的无量纲参数不同时,三种内热源模型得到的内热源分布也有所不同。最后给出了内热源不均匀度及多次吸收模型与一次吸收模型之间的差异在不同目标值下的内热源模型适用准则。     

200MW非再热双抽供热机组变工况计算及工况图的绘制

工况图在热电厂的设计和运行中具有广泛的用途。本文根据引进型双抽非再热200MW供热机组的技术特点，通过编程在纯凝汽工况、单抽工业抽汽工况、单抽采暖抽汽工况和双抽供热等典型变工况计算的基础上，完成了当新蒸汽负荷、工业抽汽负荷和采暖抽汽负荷发生改变时的变工况计算，并绘制了该机组的运行工况图．     

Some applications of thermal field theory to quark-gluon plasma

We briefly introduce the thermal field theory within imaginary time formalism, the hard thermal loop perturbation theory and some of its applications to the physics of the quark-gluon plasma, possibly created in relativistic heavy-ion collisions     

Scientific legacy of Stanley Ruby

Stanley L. Ruby (1924–2004) made major contributions to Mössbauer spectroscopy and was the first to suggest the feasibility of observing the Mössbauer effect using synchrotron radiation. In this article we recall his scientific legacy that have inspired his scientific colleagues.     

Melting of heterogeneous vortex matter: The vortex ‘nanoliquid’

Disorder and porosity are parameters that strongly influence the physical behavior of materials, including their mechanical, electrical, magnetic and optical properties. Vortices in superconductors can provide important insight into the effects of disorder because their size is comparable to characteristic sizes of nanofabricated structures. Here we present experimental evidence for a novel form of vortex matter that consists of inter-connected nanodroplets of vortex liquid caged in the pores of a solid vortex structure, like a liquid permeated into a nanoporous solid skeleton. Our nanoporous skeleton is formed by vortices pinned by correlated disorder created by high-energy heavy ion irradiation. By sweeping the applied magnetic field, the number of vortices in the nanodroplets is varied continuously from a few to several hundred. Upon cooling, the caged nanodroplets freeze into ordered nanocrystals through either a first-order or a continuous transition, whereas at high temperatures a uniform liquid phase is formed upon delocalization-induced melting of the solid skeleton. This new vortex nanoliquid displays unique properties and symmetries that are distinct from both solid and liquid phases.