Flexible Structures Based on a Short Pitch Cholesteric Liquid Crystals

We report on the realization and characterization of electro-responsive and pressure sensitive polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) conductive photonic structures combined with the reconfigurable properties of short pitch cholesteric liquid crystals (aligned in Grandjean configuration). By combining ion-implantation process and surface chemistry functionalization, we have overcome the insulating properties of PDMS and induced long range organization of cholesteric liquid crystals, thus controlling both diffraction and selective Bragg reflection of light by means of external perturbations (electric field, pressure). We have characterized our devices in terms of morphological, optical and electro-optical properties.     

Dielectric and optical properties of polymer-liquid crystal composite

Dielectric properties of polymer-liquid crystal mixture, having constituent polymer, poly-butyl methacrylate (PBMA) and liquid crystal, cholesteryl nonanoate, are reported as a function of frequency and temperature. The measurement has been done in a temperature range of 300-375 K and frequency range of 100 Hz-10 MHz. The dielectric permittivity and dielectric loss shows significant changes with the addition of polymer molecules in liquid crystal. The significant feature of composite formation is that the pure liquid crystal and polymer do not show dielectric relaxation in the frequency range covered, while the composite shows relaxation peak at a particular frequency. The optical transmittance of pure liquid crystal and composite has also been measured and compared.     

强流四脉冲电子束源实验研究

 为了进行强流多电子束源研究，对现有2MeV LIA 注入器进行了四脉冲改造，二极管脉冲电压约500kV。实验研究了天鹅绒阴极在四脉冲条件下的发射能力、传导电流负载效应以及阴极等离子体运动对阴极电子发射和束能量的影响。利用空间电荷限制流模型推算出阴极等离子体膨胀速率在1 ~4cm/μs之间。     

BF3-doped polyaniline: A novel conducting polymer

We review the unusual structural, transport and magnetic properties of highly conducting polyaniline, doped with boron trifluoride. Our studies establish the unique conducting state of this system, which is in distinct contrast with the conventional proton-doped polyaniline samples.     

Controlled structure and density of “living” polystyrene brushes on flat silica surfaces

Thin layers of polystyrene were grown from surface-grafted nitroxide initiators via controlled “living” free radical polymerization. The “reactive” Langmuir-Blodgett deposition method allowed an effective control of the initiator layer density leading to PS brushes with different and high grafting density and stretching. The influence of the grafting density on the layer structure was studied. Comparison with theoretical predictions for monodispersed brushes in bad solvent was discussed. The thickness was found to vary linearly with molecular weight and the density dependence was shown using wetting measurements. Special features of controlled radical nitroxide polymerization from a surface were discussed. A direct comparison of the molecular weight and polydispersity between surface and bulk polymers was made by de-grafting the brushes into a toluene/HF solution. Finally, some evidence of a “surface Fischer” effect was shown from re-initiated layers. Received 20 December 2001     

Continuous peeling extrusion of SEBS block copolymers

During continuous peeling, a central polymer rod free of visible defects was continuously extruded while being peeled at the die exit. Continuous peeling can occur at flow rates orders of magnitude higher than those at which initial surface cracking is observed. Thus, if continuous peeling can be controlled it may have potential industrial applications. The aim of this work was to study how different extrusion parameters (temperature, flow rate, die length and diameter) affect the presence of continuous peeling. The melt exiting the die has been filmed to link physical measurements and observations and to determine whether or not continuous peeling is present. Different criteria have been considered to represent the extrusion conditions under which continuous peeling may occur. Surface tension criteria can be used to try to predict the appearance and disappearance of continuous peeling. A correlation formula is also proposed for the rod diameter in terms of surface tension. Our results show that the ratio of the rod diameter to the die diameter is approximately 25% greater in the case of short-orifice dies (L/D ≈ 0) than for long capillaries (L/D ≈ 10). The correlations obtained allow analysis and discussion of flow regimes for possible applications.     

Theoretical and experimental approaches to kinetics at the collapse transition of a homopolymer

Summary We discuss some recent theoretical studies of the kinetics of the collapse transition in homopolymers. An isolated polymer is modelled using computer simulation, and a time-dependent mean-field theory. The mean-field theory is analysed analytically for early stages, and for short polymers the equations are studied numerically. The results of simulation and theory are compared yielding, we argue, a consistent physical picture. Quantitative comparisons are not yet given, but seem relatively promising. Paper presented at the I International Conference on Scaling Concepts and Complex Fluids, Copanello, Italy, July 4– 1994.     

Zero-temperature properties of randomly self-interacting polymers

We study the zero-temperature behavior of several simple models for randomly self-interacting polymers in one and 1+1 dimensions. Results are based on exact enumeration and closed-form expressions.     

Analysis of the crystallization kinetics in poly(ethylene oxide) by calorimetric measurements

Summary Differential scanning calorimetric measurements in the early stage of isothermal crystal growth of polyethylene oxide are analysed in the light of irreversible thermodynamics. An accurate evaluation of the equilibrium melting temperature is done by fitting the thermograms obtained at different undercoolings and referring to the activation energy values already known from the literature. Paper presented at the I International Conference on Scaling Concepts and Complex Fluids, Copanello, Italy, July 4–8, 1994.     

高压下某些导电高分子色散关系的研究

利用晶格动力学方法,研究在高压下几种导电高分子具有不同晶格链时的色散关系及其曲线的变化.链间耦合作用的减弱使横波与纵波的ω差值相应增大,且在BZ边界处拉开一个间隙,这是维度作用的结果.