Surface wetting behavior of the poly(styrene-b-isoprene-b-styrene) triblock copolymer with different chemical structures of the polyisoprene block chain

The relationship between the chemical structure of a block copolymer and its surface structure and properties is very important for the careful design of its outer surface layer. For this paper, a series of poly(styrene-b-isoprene-b-styrene) triblock copolymers (SIS), with different chemical structures in the polyisoprene block chain, were synthesized by anionic polymerization and their dynamic wetting behaviors were investigated. The dynamic contact angles of the polyisoprene homopolymer (PI) and the SIS were almost the same when the PI and the corresponding block in the SIS had similar chemical structures. The receding contact angle (θ_r) of SIS depended on the microstructure of the PI block chain, however, the advancing contact angles (θ_a) were almost the same regardless of the PI’s chemical structures. The receding contact angle (θ_r) of SIS containing 3,4-PI was far higher than that of SIS with 1,4-PI. Meanwhile, it gradually approached that of SIS with 1,4-PI as the of 3,4-PI content decreased or as the local temperature increased. Contact angle measurement is one of the most sensitive methods for providing information on the outer few angstroms of a polymer’s surface. Therefore, by designing SIS with different chemical structures in the PI block, it was confirmed that the properties and structure of the outermost layer of the SIS were controlled primarily by the PI block’s chemical structure. This demonstrates the possibility to modulate the surface structure and properties of SIS by adjusting the chemical structure of polyisoprene segment.     

The size of the proton

The root-mean-square (rms) charge radius r _p of the proton has so far been known only with a surprisingly low precision of about 1% from both electron scattering and precision spectroscopy of hydrogen. We have recently determined r _p by means of laser spectroscopy of the Lamb shift in the exotic “muonic hydrogen” atom. Here, the muon, which is the 200 times heavier cousin of the electron, orbits the proton with a 200 times smaller Bohr radius. This enhances the sensitivity to the proton’s finite size tremendously. Our new value r _p?=?0.84184 (67) fm is ten times more precise than the generally accepted CODATA-value, but it differs by 5 standard deviations from it. A lively discussion about possible solutions to the “proton size puzzle” has started. Our measurement, together with precise measurements of the 1S–2S transition in regular hydrogen and deuterium, also yields improved values of the Rydberg constant, R _?∞??=?10,973,731.568160 (16) m^???1.     

Critical condition of inner cylinder radius for sustaining rotating detonation waves in rotating detonation engine thruster

We describe the critical condition necessary for the inner cylinder radius of a rotating detonation engine (RDE) used for in-space rocket propulsion to sustain adequate thruster performance. Using gaseous C₂H₄ and O₂ as the propellant, we measured thrust and impulse of the RDE experimentally, varying in the inner cylinder radius r_i from 31 mm (typical annular configuration) to 0 (no-inner-cylinder configuration), while keeping the outer cylinder radius (r_o = 39 mm) and propellant injector position (r_inj = 35 mm) constant. In the experiments, we also performed high-speed imaging of self-luminescence in the combustion chamber and engine plume. In the case of relatively large inner cylinder radii (r_i = 23 and 31 mm), rotating detonation waves in the combustion chamber attached to the inner cylinder surface, whereas for relatively small inner cylinder radii (r_i = 0, 9, and 15 mm), rotating detonation waves were observed to detach from the inner cylinder surface. In these small inner radii cases, strong chemical luminescence was observed in the plume, probably due to the existence of soot. On the other hand, for cases where r_i = 15, 23, and 31 mm, the specific impulses were greater than 80% of the ideal value at correct expansion. Meanwhile, for cases r_i = 0 and 9 mm, the specific impulses were below 80% of the ideal expansion value. This was considered to be due to the imperfect detonation combustion (deflagration combustion) observed in small inner cylinder radius cases. Our results suggest that in our experimental conditions, r_i = 15 mm was close to the critical condition for sustaining rotating detonation in a suitable state for efficient thrust generation. This condition in the inner cylinder radius corresponds to a condition in the reduced unburned layer height of 4.5–6.5.     

Determination of the root-mean-square radius of the deuteron from present-day experimental data on neutron-proton scattering

The correlation between the root-mean-square matter radius of the deuteron, r _m , and its effective radius, ρ, is investigated. A parabolic relationship between these two quantities makes it possible to determine the root-mean-square radius r _m to within 0.01% if the effective radius ρ is known. The matter (r _m ), structural (r _d ), and charge (r _ch) radii of the deuteron are found with the aid of modern experimental results for phase shifts from the SAID nucleon-nucleon database, and their values are fully consistent with their counterparts deduced by using the experimental value of the effective deuteron radius due to Borbély and his coauthors. The charge-radius value of 2.124(6) fm, which was obtained with the aid of the SAID nucleon-nucleon database, and the charge-radius value of 2.126(12) fm, which was obtained with the aid of the experimental value of the effective radius ρ, are in very good agreement with the present-day chargeradius value of 2.128(11) fm, which was deduced by Sick and Trautmann by processing world-average experimental data on elastic electron scattering by deuterons with allowance for Coulomb distortions.     

The permanent magnet systems generating strong stray fields with large localization region

Three systems of permanent magnets, which produce strong magnetic stray fields (SFs) with H>B_r=4πM_r were studied in this work. Remarkable feature of the developed systems is localization of the strong fields in large region with linear dimension Δr comparable to characteristic magnet dimension a. The first system composed of uniformly magnetized magnets generates sufficiently homogeneous strong SFs, which amounts up to 1.5 of magnets induction B_r. The second system with nonuniform magnetization is represented by cylindrical and hemispheric magnets their magnetization vector directed at every point along the radius. Such distribution of magnetization is assumed to be the consequence of magnet radial crystal texture resulting in a high uniaxial anisotropy field H_K. It is shown that maximal SFs can exist on the flat surface of cylindrical magnet at the distance r from its axis and their limiting value equals to 4πM_r ln(2a/r). Here, the localization region of the fields is comparable to diameter of cylindrical magnet Δr≈2R. As for the hemisphere its SFs are less than corresponding SFs for the cylinder. The third so-called quasi-nonuniform system consists of uniformly magnetized cylindrical sectors their magnetization vector is directed along the sector bisectrix. The strong SFs and their localization region are calculated in details for this case. The passage to radial magnetized cylinder is considered.     

Resonant scattering of light in a near-black-hole metric

We show that low-energy photon scattering from a body with radius R slightly larger than its Schwarzschild radius r _s resembles black-hole absorption. This absorption occurs via capture resulting in one of the many long-lived, densely packed resonances that populate the continuum. The lifetimes and density of these meta-stable states tend to infinity in the limit r _s →R. We determine the energy-averaged cross section for particle capture into these resonances and show that it is equal to the absorption cross section for a Schwarzschild black hole. Thus a non-singular static metric may trap photons for arbitrarily long times, making it appear completely ‘black’ before the actual formation of a black hole.     

Dependence of lattice constants and bulk moduli on pseudopotential properties

Using a nearly-free-electron model and model pseudopotentials, an analytical relation between the Wigner-Seitz radius for a metal, r_ws, and the core radius of the model pseudopotential, r_c is derived. In addition, a semi-empirical formula for the bulk moduli is obtained.     

Determination of the deuteron mean square radius

Three new methods are applied to the problem of extracting the deuteron rms matter radius from the experimental ratio of (e, d) to (e, p) scattering. A new value r_Ed = 1.953 (3) fm is obtained. The asymptotic method also yields 〈r⁴〉 = 54.5 ± 0.3 fm⁴ and 〈r⁶〉 = 1914 ± 20 fm⁶. Potential models of the deuteron are apparently unable to explain this r_Ed simultaneously with the low energy effective-range parameters of the neutron-proton system.     

Fermi momentum in an electron fluid

The Fermi momentum of an electron fluid with Coulomb interaction is determined as a function of density and temperature. Due to the many body interaction, the actual Fermi momentum decreases withr _s faster than the case without interaction, wherer _s is the electron radius measured in the units of the Bohr radius. This depression effect is enhanced at lower temperatures.     

Interrelationships between 3-T-MRI-derived cortical and trabecular bone structure parameters and quantitative-computed-tomography-derivedbone mineral density

Recently, 3-T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been introduced for bone imaging. Through higher signal-to-noise ratios, as compared to 1.5-T MRI, it promises to be a more powerful tool for the assessment of cortical and trabecular bone measures. The goal of our study was to compare MRI-derived cortical and trabecular bone measures to quantitative computed tomography (QCT)-derived bone mineral density (BMD). Using 3-T MRI in 51 postmenopausal women, apparent (app.) measures of bone volume/total volume, trabecular number (Tb.N), trabecular thickness (Tb.Th) and trabecular separation were derived at the distal radius, distal tibia and calcaneus. Cortical thickness (Ct.Th) was calculated at the distal radius and distal tibia. These measures were compared to QCT-derived BMD of the spine, hip and radius. Significant correlations (^?P<.05; ^??P<.001; ^???P<.0001) were found between spine BMD- and MRI-derived Ct.Th (r_radius=.55, ^?P<.05; r_tibia=.67, ^???P<.0001) and app. Tb.N (r_radius=.33, ^?P<.05; r_tibia=.35, ^?P<.05) at the radius and tibia. Furthermore, within the first 10 mm at the radius, an inverse correlation for Ct.Th and app. BV/TV (r_6mm=−.56, P<.001; r_10mm=−.36, P<.05) and app. Tb.Th (r_6mm=−.54, P<.001; r_10mm=−.41, P<.05) was found.     

Adjustable wettability of paperboard by liquid flame spray nanoparticle deposition

Liquid flame spray process (LFS) was used for depositing TiO_x and SiO_x nanoparticles on paperboard to control wetting properties of the surface. By the LFS process it is possible to create either superhydrophobic or superhydrophilic surfaces. Changes in the wettability are related to structural properties of the surface, which were characterized using scanning electron microscope (SEM) and atomic force microscope (AFM). The surface properties can be ascribed as a correlation between wetting properties of the paperboard and the surface texture created by nanoparticles. Surfaces can be produced inline in a one step roll-to-roll process without need for additional modifications. Furthermore, functional surfaces with adjustable hydrophilicity or hydrophobicity can be fabricated simply by choosing appropriate liquid precursors.     

Photoproduction of π+ from9Be

The reaction⁹Be(γ, π ⁺)⁹Li has been studied with bremsstrahlung in the energy range 100–800 MeV employing the radioactivity method. The cross section curve deduced is compared with an impulse approximation calculation including a volume and a surface production model. In the energy region 200–300 MeV the experimental cross section, approximately 7 (μb, is best reproduced by the surface production model with a cut-off parameterr ₀ equal to 2.8 fm, i.e. somewhat larger than the r.m.s. radius of⁹Be.     

Line energy,line tension and drop size

The relation between drop radius, r, the force to move the three phase contact line and the advancing and receding contact angles θ_A and θ_R is studied. To keep the line energy (energy per 2πr, also named line tension) independent of r, the modified Young equation predicts that the advancing and receding contact angles, θ_A and θ_R, change considerably with r. As shown by many investigators, θ_A and θ_R change negligibly, if at all, with r. We quantify recent evidences showing that the line energy is a function of the Laplace pressure and show that this way the modified Young equation is correct and still θ_A and θ_R should hardly change with r. According to our model, the small surface deformation associated with the unsatisfied normal component of the Young equation results in higher intermolecular interactions at the three phase contact line which corresponds to a higher retention force. This time increasing effect is supported by recent experiments.     

Quantum-statistical conductance theory of nonideal plasmas by use of the force-force correlation function method

Using the formalism of force-force correlation functions developed recently, the Spitzer formula for the conductance is generalized by taking into account the following effects: (1) dynamical screening; (2) ion-ion correlations by the ion structure factor; (3) deviations from Coulomb's interaction law; (4) influence of the Debye-Onsager relaxation effect; (5) quantum effects.It is shown that all these effects decrease the conductance in comparison with the values predicted by the Spitzer theory and lead to a more reasonable agreement with the experimental data in the region μ = e²/r_DkT ? 1 (r_D - Debye radius).Electron-electron interactions are treated by a systematic perturbative expansion of the force-force correlation function with the help of the Matsubara Green's function technique.     

Ground-state properties of jellium metals with low electron densities

The ground state of a three-dimensional electron gas is theoretically investigated within the framework of the local spin density approximation with the Perdew–Zunger exchange-correlation energy. The system has been found to be in a one- or two-dimensional crystal state, when the Wigner sphere radius r_s has an intermediate value. At r_s=60, a triangular lattice with the lattice spacing 96.10 is the lowest energy state among fluids, 1D, 2D, and 3D crystals.     

Quasi-wetting on a sphere

Wetting phenomena on a sphere of radius R are studied in the context of the Sullivan model. Neither a first nor a continuous transition is found for finite R. Only in the strict limit of R→∞ a second-order transition appears. For temperatures T higher than the wetting temperature in a flat geometry, T^∞_w, the thickness l of the enhanced density layer, which forms on the surface of the sphere, is for large R proportional to In R.     

The effect of Me-Ti inter-atomic interactions on wetting in CaF2/(Me-Ti) systems: Ab-initio considerations

CaF₂ is a thermodynamically stable, non-reactive compound, displaying a relatively high contact angle with pure liquid metals. A remarkable decrease of this contact angle takes place when small amounts of Ti are added to liquid In, while a relatively small change of the contact angle is observed when it was added to liquid Sn. In order to understand the reason for this different behavior, ab-initio calculations were carried out in the framework of Density Functional Theory. The effect of the In-Ti and Sn-Ti inter-atomic interactions in the vicinity of CaF₂(1 1 1) slab is discussed using the results of modest calculations for several Me-Ti configurations on CaF₂(1 1 1) slabs. The results of the calculations indicate that the level of the interaction between the Me and the Ti atom affects the (Me-Ti)/CaF₂ interface composition, the interfacial energy and the wetting behavior.For the system with stronger inter-atomic attraction in the melt (Sn-Ti alloys), Ti atoms prefer to be surrounded by Sn atoms, and only weakly affect the metal/substrate interfacial energy and, thus the observed contact angle. However, for weak inter-atomic attraction (In-Ti alloys) an enhanced Ti adsorption at the metal/substrate interface takes place and leads to decrease the interfacial energy and improved wetting. The differences in the wetting behavior for these systems are discussed in terms of the total energy of each system, the electron charge re-distribution and the electron Density of States.     

Critical point wetting: The effect of hydrodynamical and steric interfacial interactions

It is shown for the first time that the capillary waves and hydrodynamic correlations in an adsorbed film of a simple fluid provide incomplete wetting in some vicinity of the critical point T_c. On approaching T_c the film thickness grows infinitely and the wetting angle tends to zero due to the steric repulsion between the film-bulk fluid interface and the substrate.     

On the importance of long range summation of oscillatory interactions in Monte Carlo modeling

Kinetic and standard Monte Carlo (kMC and sMC) simulation of the system, where a pair-interaction energy is an oscillatory function of interatomic distance, requires a very careful selection of a cutoff radius r_cut of the pair-interactions. As an example, the homoepitaxy of Cu on Cu(1 1 1) is investigated. The surface-state mediated interaction between the Cu adatoms has a very long range and oscillates between attraction and repulsion as a function of the adatom-adatom distance. The simulations reveal that, at 15 K and 0.03 monolayer coverage, the Cu adatoms self-assemble into a dilute nanostructure with a weak local hexagonal order, where the average separation between adatoms equals 11.7 Å. The nanostructure consists of islands and chains of adatoms. The simulated structure of adlayer surprisingly strongly depends on the cutoff radius applied to the Monte Carlo model. The tendency to the dilute island formation strengthens and weakens with the same periodicity vs. r_cut as the pair-interaction energy vs. interatomic distance. The submonolayer morphology stabilizes when r_cut becomes longer than 50 Å.     

The inner charge defect method as an analog to the quantum defect method

A method is proposed for the calculation of one-electron wave functions for excited bound and free atomic states. For the interaction potential between the outer electron and the atomic core, we have adopted the following potential: V(r) = q₀/r for r < r₀ and V(r) = -1/r for r > r₀, where r₀ is approximately equal to the core radius, q₀(∈, 1) = Δq + 1, and Δq > 0 is the inner charge defect. It is shown, for atomic argon, that the method has about the same accuracy as those of Bates and Damgard and Brugess and Seaton.