Nonisothermal bulk crystallization studies of high density polyethylene using light depolarizing microscopy

The quiescent nonisothermal bulk crystallization kinetics of two high-density polyethylene resins were investigated by a modified light-depolarizing microscopy (LDM) technique. The technique allows studies at average cooling rates up to 2500°C/min. The polymer was found to crystallize at a pseudo-isothermal temperature even at these very high cooling rates. The overall bulk crystallization rate increased rapidly as the cooling rate and supercooling increased. Crystallization kinetics was analyzed by Avrami analysis. Avrami exponents near 3 suggested spherical growth geometry and instantaneous nucleation at predetermined sites. Observation of spherulites by optical microscopy together with a number density of spherulites that changed little with increase in cooling rate or supercooling supported this model of crystallization behavior. Analysis of the half-time of crystallization based on the Lauritzen and Hoffman secondary nucleation theory indicated that the regime II-III transition was found to occur at a degree of supercooling of approximately 22°C. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 36: 681–692, 1998     

Aerosol optical properties and its direct radiative forcing over Tibetan Plateau from 2006 to 2017

Studies on optical properties of aerosols can reduce the uncertainty for modelling direct radiative forcing (DRF) and improve the accuracy for discussing aerosols effects on the Tibetan Plateau (TP) climate. This study investigated the spatiotemporal variation of aerosol optical and microphysical properties over TP based on OMI and MERRA2, and assessed the influence of aerosol optical properties on DRF at NamCo station (30°46.44′N, 90°59.31′E, 4730 m) in the central TP from 2006 to 2017 based on a long measurement of AERONET and the modelling of SBDART model. The results show that aerosol optical depth (AOD) exhibits obvious seasonal variation over TP, with higher AOD_500nm (>0.75) during spring and summer, and lower value (<0.25) in autumn and winter. The aerosol concentrations show a fluctuated rising from 1980 to 2000, significant increasing from 2000 to 2010 and slight declining trend after 2013. Based on sensitivity experiments, it is found that AOD and single scattering albedo (SSA) have more important impact on the DRF compared with α values and ASY. When AOD_440nm increases by 60%, DRF at the TOA and ATM is increased by 57.2% and 60.2%, respectively. When SSA_440nm increases by 20%, DRF at the TOA and ATM decreases by 121% and 96.7%, respectively.