Molecular Characteristics of Poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) Separated from Nanocomposite Gels by Removal of Clay from the Polymer/Clay Network

The extraordinary mechanical and swelling/deswelling properties of nanocomposite (NC) gels are attributed to their unique organic (polymer)/inorganic (clay) network structure. In this study, poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPA) was successfully separated from an NC gel network by decomposing the clay (hectorite) using hydrofluoric acid (HF). A very low HF concentration (0.2 wt.‐%) was adequate for the decomposition of the clay without causing any damage to PNIPA. The separated PNIPA had a high (=5.5 × 10⁶ g · mol⁻¹). Also, was almost constant regardless of the clay concentration (C_clay = 1–25 × 10⁻² mol · l⁻¹), even though the properties of the NC gel varied widely over this C_clay range. Comparisons of NC gels, PNIPA, and SiO₂‐NC gels indicated that the clay platelets specifically play an important role in NC gels.

     

LES of transient flows controlled by DBD plasma actuator over a stalled airfoil

Large-eddy simulations (LES) are employed to understand the flow field over a NACA 0015 airfoil controlled by a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma actuator. The Suzen body force model is utilised to introduce the effect of the DBD plasma actuator. The Reynolds number is fixed at 63,000. Transient processes arising due to non-dimensional excitation frequencies of one and six are discussed. The time required to establish flow authority is between four and six characteristic times, independent of the excitation frequency. If the separation is suppressed, the initial flow conditions do not affect the quasi-steady state, and the lift coefficient of the higher frequency case converges very quickly. The transient states can be categorised into following three stages: (1) the lift and drag decreasing stage, (2) the lift recovery stage, and (3) the lift and drag converging stage. The development of vortices and their influence on control is delineated. The simulations show that in the initial transient state, separation of flow suppression is closely related to the development spanwise vortices while during the later, quasi-steady state, three-dimensional vortices become more important.     

Fabrication of 3-in GaN substrates by hydride vapor phase epitaxy using void-assisted separation method

By using the hydride vapor phase epitaxy and a void-assisted separation method, freestanding 3-in GaN substrates were successfully fabricated for the first time, and the process showed an excellent reproducibility. A thick GaN layer 3.2 in in diameter was easily separated from the base substrate. No cracks were generated during the separation process. The dislocation density was of the order of 10⁶ cm^–2. The carrier density was approximately 1×10¹⁸ cm^–3 and the mobility was 3.4×10² cm² V^–1 s^–1. The concentrations of impurities, estimated by secondary-ion mass spectrometry, were below the limit of detection, except for Si. The Si concentration was approximately 1×10¹⁸ cm^–3, which is in good agreement with the carrier density.     

Topologically induced surface electron state on Si(1 1 1) surfaces

First-principle electronic structure calculation reveals the appearance of a new class of surface state on hydrogenated and clean Si(1 1 1) surfaces. The states are found to exhibit different characteristics to conventional surface electron states in terms of the peculiar distribution of the wavefunction depending on the wavenumber. In addition, the state results in flat dispersion bands in a part of the surface Brillouin zone having energy of about 8 eV below the top of the valence band. An analytic expression based on the tight-binding approximation corroborates the surface electron state results from the delicate balance of the electron transfer among the atoms situated near the surface. The obtained results give a possible extension and generalization of the edge state in graphite ribbons with zigzag edges.     

Adjacent track interference analysis of shielded perpendicular writers

In order to achieve high track density in perpendicular recording, write-field leakage from the main pole to adjacent tracks needs to be minimized. We used a 3-D finite-element method to investigate the optimal writer design, which minimizes fringing fields. We also confirmed the results using experimentally by studying adjacent track interference (ATI) on a spinstand. According to both modeling and experimental data, we found that ATI performance can be clearly improved with a wrap-around-shielded (WAS) writer while maintaining enough write-ability. In order to reduce the fringing field, a WAS having thick throat, high permeability and high saturated magnetic flux density was required. We also confirmed that variations of ATI performance due to flare length distributions can be effectively suppressed with the WAS writer.     

3D Monte Carlo simulations on the aggregate structures of a suspension composed of cubic hematite particles

In the previous study, from the viewpoint of surface modification technology, we considered a quasi-2D suspension in thermodynamic equilibrium in order to investigate the characteristics of magnetic cubic particles on a material surface. The present study has been expanded to include 3D Monte Carlo simulations of a suspension of magnetic cubic particles in order to discuss a regime change in the structures of cubic particle aggregates. We attempt to elucidate the dependence of a regime change in the aggregate structures on a variety of factors. The main results obtained here are summarised as follows. If the magnetic interaction strength is sufficiently large, closely packed clusters are formed by repeat and expansion of a cluster unit composed of eight particles, which may be the most preferred configuration as it gives rise to a minimum energy. A regime change in the internal structure of aggregates appears in a narrow range with increasing magnetic interaction strength. As the applied magnetic field strength is increased, closely packed clusters collapse and are transformed into wall-like clusters that are formed along the magnetic field direction. An increase in the volumetric fraction of particles induces a regime change from thick chain-like clusters to the formation of wall-like clusters.     

Synthesis of Uniquely Branched Polyethylene by Anilinonaphthoquinone Ligated Nickel Complex Activated with Tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane

Summary: A novel nickel complex ligated with 2‐(2,6‐diisopropylanilino)‐1,4‐naphthoquinone ( 1 ) was synthesized. The molecular structure of 1 determined by X‐ray analysis was a square‐planar geometry. Complex 1 conducted ethylene polymerization at 40 °C in a low activity to give linear polyethylene. On the other hand, 1 activated with 4 eq. of B(C₆F₅)₃ was highly active for ethylene polymerization and gave a polymer possessing short chain branches of methyl, ethyl and propyl groups formed by a chain walking mechanism, as well as long chain branches, of which the content was almost the same as the total content of short chain branches. These results suggest that the macromonomer formed via β‐hydride elimination should have effectively copolymerized with ethylene to give the long chain branches in the B(C₆F₅)₃‐activated system.

     

稀释稳定剂对有机过氧化物热分解的压力效应

小型密闭压力试验;压力行为;稀释稳定剂对有机过氧化物热分解的压力效应