Structural developments in synthetic rubbers during uniaxial deformation by in situ synchrotron X‐ray diffraction

The molecular orientation and strain‐induced crystallization of synthetic rubbers—polyisoprene rubber, polybutadiene rubber, and butyl rubber [poly(isobutylene isoprene)]—during uniaxial deformation were studied with in situ synchrotron wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction. The high intensity of the synchrotron X‐rays and the new data analysis method made it possible to estimate the mass fractions of the strain‐induced crystals and amorphous chain segments in both the oriented and unoriented states. Contrary to the conventional concept, the majority of the molecules (50–75%) remained in an unoriented amorphous state at high strains. Each synthetic rubber showed a different behavior of strain‐induced crystallization and molecular orientation during extension and retraction. Our results confirmed the occurence of strain‐induced networks in the synthetic rubbers due to the inhomogeneity of the crosslink distribution. The strain‐induced networks containing microfibrillar crystals and oriented amorphous tie chains were responsible for the ultimate mechanical properties. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 956–964, 2004     

Spurious Shell Closures in the Relativistic Mean Field Model

Following a previous systematic theoretical study of the ground-state properties of over 7000 nuclei from the proton drip line to the neutron drip line in the relativistic mean field model [Prog. Theor. Phys. 113 （2005） 785], which is in fair agreement with existing experimental data, we observe a few spurious shell closures, i.e. proton shell closures at Z = 58 and Z = 92. These spurious shell closures are found to persist in all the effective forces of the relativistic mean field model, e.g. TMA, NL3, PKDD and DD-ME2.     

Prompt Gamma-Ray Analysis of Rats

Prompt -ray analysis with the internal monostandard method was used to organs taken from rats. After B or Cd was administered, the B/H and Cd/H contents ratios were determined in the brain, kidney, and liver to study their distribution and metabolism. Boron was distributed in all organs but metabolized quickly. Cd was slowly accumulated in the liver and kidneys during the 65 hours studied but no Cd was detected in the brain.     

Determination of boron in the thin surface layer of a silicon wafer by instrumental charged particle activation analysis

Instrumental charged particle activation analysis (CPAA) for determining boron in a thin surface layer of silicon was developed. The nuclear reaction and incident energy were selected in order to minimize any interference from surface or bulk impurities. Thin boron film was used as a standard sample and its boron content was determined by neutron induced prompt -ray analysis. As a result, we were able to determine¹¹B and¹⁰B at 10¹⁵ atoms/cm² with an accuracy of better than 3% by 4 MeV proton and 7 MeV -bombardment, respectively. Each boron isotope could be determined down to 10¹³ atoms/cm². Our CPAA was applied to determine boron in a boron implanted silicon wafer of a SIMS standard sample.     

Prompt gamma-ray analysis using cold and thermal guided neutron beams

The extraction behavior of uranium(VI), plutonium(IV) and some fission products like zirconium(IV), ruthenium(III) and europium(III) from 3.5M nitric acid with -irradiated organic phase pre-equilibratedn-dodecane solutions of dihexyl derivatives of hexanamide (DHHA), octanamide (DHOA) and decanamide (DHDA) has been investigated as a function of absorbed dose upto 184·10⁴ Gy. The results indicate that the extraction of uranium(VI) decreases gradually with dose upto 72·10⁴ Gy and becomes almost constant thereafter, while, the extraction of plutonium(IV) decreases upto a dose of 20·10⁴ Gy and then increases rapidly up to a dose of 82·10⁴ Gy indicating synergistic effects of radiolytic products formed at higher doses. Extraction of zirconium(IV) increases gradually upto a dose of 72·10⁴ Gy. Europium(III) does not get extracted with any of these amides in the entire dose range (0–184·10⁴ Gy) studied, however, ruthenium shows insignificant increase in extraction with dose. The decrease inD values noticed in the case of plutonium and zirconium after the dose of 72·10⁴ Gy which was attributed to the third phase formation and emulsification. Infrared studies confirm the final products of radiolysis as the respective amines and carboxylic acids. The degraded amide contents have been estimated by quantitative IR spectrophotometric technique. Extraction data obtained for uranium(VI) and plutonium(IV) with TBP/n-dodecane system have also been compared under similar experimental conditions.     

Preparation and photolysis of polyamides having coumarin dimer component

The ring-opening polyaddition reaction of anti and syn head-to-head Coumarin dimers with diamines and the photocleavage behavior of the resulting polyamides were investigated. Anti head-to-head Coumarin dimer successfully reacted with aliphatic and aromatic diamines in an aprotic polar solvent to give corresponding high molecular weight polyamides. The polyamides showed good film forming ability and exhibited solubility behavior typical of polyelectrolytes. Furthermore, these polyamides were found to undergo exclusively asymmetric photocleavage on the cyclobutane rings in the polymer main chain to give a fumaramide unit with elimination of 2,2′-dihydroxystilbene. On the other hand, syn head-to-head Coumarin dimer gave only low molecular weight polyamides. These polymerization and photocleavage behaviors were elucidated in comparison with those of model reactions.     

Preparation and properties of rare-earth containing oxide fluoride glasses

The preparation of the rare earth containing oxide fluoride glasses LnF₃ (Ln; Y through Lu)-BaF₂-AlF₃-GeO₂ in which the nominal content of LnF₃ reached 60 mol% in maximum and their basic properties such as density, refractive index and glass transition temperature were investigated and summarized in detail. Especially, in order to discuss the local structure around the rare earth ion in the glass, the Judd-Ofelt analysis (discussion with Ω parameters) of the HoF₃-BaF₂-AlF₃-GeO₂ glasses was carried out. The unique fluorescent behavior and the magnetic properties of LnF₃-BaF₂-AlF₃-GeO₂ glasses (Ln = Tb and/or Sm) were also studied.