Quantum statistical effects in helium clusters

We discuss ground state and statistical properties of helium clusters with special emphasis to quantum statistical effects. We investigate the density of states of⁴He and³He clusters, their cooling due to evaporation as well as the role played by surface excitations in the superfluid motion.     

Effect of cooling rate on the crystal/mesophase polymorphism of polyamide 6

The solidification of the quiescent polyamide 6 (PA 6) melt has been analyzed as a function of the cooling rate in a wide range between 1.67 × 10⁻² and close to 2 × 10² K s⁻¹, by means of differential scanning calorimetry at a low cooling rate of up to about 1 K s⁻¹, and by the recording of continuous cooling curves and time-resolved X-ray diffraction on cooling at a higher rate. The performed experiments allowed for the first time to establish the relationship between the cooling rate, the crystallization temperature, and the X-ray structure of PA 6. The exclusive formation of monoclinic α-crystals is only detected if the crystallization temperature is higher than about 430 K or if the cooling rate is slower than about 5 K s⁻¹, respectively. The formation of α-crystals is increasingly replaced by the development of mesophase with increasing cooling rate, accompanied with a decrease of the temperature of crystallization/ordering. Finally, completely amorphous samples were obtained on cooling faster than about 10² K s⁻¹. The continuous decrease of the temperature of crystallization with increasing cooling rate, regardless of the specific structure formed, precludes a primary effect of the nucleation mechanism on the α-crystal/mesophase polymorphism of PA 6. A preliminary discussion of the effect of molar mass of PA 6 on the cooling rate-dependent polymorphism is also included.     

Crystallization of a polyamide 11/organo-modified montmorillonite nanocomposite at rapid cooling

Fast scanning chip calorimetry (FSC) has been used for analysis of the crystallization behavior of a polyamide 11/organo-modified montmorillonite (PA 11/OMMT) nanocomposite. The addition of OMMT leads to a significant increase of the crystallization temperature of the polymer matrix only on cooling faster than about 10⁰ K s^–1. In case of slow cooling at rates typically used in standard differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), the nucleating effect of OMMT on crystallization of PA 11 is negligible. The critical cooling rate to suppress crystallization of PA 11 and to completely vitrify the relaxed melt increases at least by one order of magnitude due to the addition of OMMT. Furthermore, the enthalpy of crystallization is nearly independent on the cooling conditions in the analyzed cooling rate range from 10^–2 to 2?×?10³ K s^–1 in PA 11/OMMT nanocomposites. Isothermal crystallization experiments confirmed that the nucleating effect of OMMT on the crystallization of PA 11 increases with supercooling, being therefore of particular importance at cooling conditions relevant in polymer processing. The evaluation of the kinetics of crystallization of the PA 11/OMMT nanocomposite by FSC and DSC in a wide range of cooling rates/supercooling has been completed by analysis of the effect of OMMT on the α/δ’ polymorphism of PA 11 and the spherulitic superstructure.     

Temporal evolution of the3H levels in the surface waters around the Almaraz Nuclear Power Plant

We have quantified the evolution during 1994 of the impact on the Tagus river of liquid releases of³H (51.3 TBq in the cited year), originating from the functioning of the Almaraz Nuclear Power Plant, and conditioned by the management of the cooling reservoir water. Taking into account, on the one hand, that tritiated water is hydrodynamically indistinguishable from untritiated water when both form part of the same mass of liquid, and, on the other, the practically null stratification and forced circulation of the water in the cited cooling reservoir, together with the hydrological fluxes interchanged between the said reservoir and the Tagus river (which is entirely regulated in the section under study and, because of prolonged drought, had a relatively small flow during the study period), we were able to model satisfactorily the temporal evolution of the³H activity in the cooling reservoir.     

High‐Performance Magnetic Refrigerant Featuring One‐Dimensional Gd‐O Chains and O‐Gd3 Triangles

Magnetic cooling at low temperature has attracted intensive interest in cryogenics research, which may become important as cooling medium for long‐wave photon detectors to support space exploration. Here, we report a Gd‐based quaternary magnetic refrigerant material, Gd₅BSi₂O₁₃, containing chains of face‐shared GdO₉ polyhedra and geometrically frustrated OGd₃ triangles. Magnetic measurements indicate that Gd₅BSi₂O₁₃ exhibits a large magnetocaloric effect (MCE) about 1.74 times that of the practical magnetic refrigerant GGG (−ΔS_m=67.0 J kg⁻¹ K⁻¹). We analyzed the origin of the large MCE by comparing Gd^III‐containing compounds with different structures and concentrations of Gd^III.     

Real-time X-ray scattering study during heating of oriented injection-molded polyethylene

Highly oriented linear polyethylene was prepared by elongational flow injection molding. The changes in crystal orientation were investigated as a function of temperature by real-time wide-angle X-ray diffraction. Additionally, the influence of molecular weight upon the microstructure and the changes in orientation, during heating near the melting point, and after cooling have been examined. A shish-kebab structure is inferred for the high molecular weight samples (M_w≥10⁵) from SAXS observations, while for samples with M_w<10⁵ only an oriented lamellar structure is found. Consequently, a higher thermal stability is shown by the higher molecular weight samples. Furthermore, a recovery of crystal orientation on rapid cooling of the samples from the melt is only observed for samples with M_w≥10⁵. The results are discussed in terms of a preferential recrystallization of chain-folded lamellae, on cooling, onto the shish fibrils which survive at high temperature.     

The influence of different variables on the electrochemical behavior of mild steel in circulating cooling water containing aggressive anionic species

Cyclic voltammetric, potentiodynamic anodic polarization and current–time transient studies were carried out on mild steel in circulating cooling water containing Cl⁻ and SO₄⁻² ions under the effect of different variables such as coolant flow, the availability of oxygen, cooling system temperature, and cooling system pH. The anodic excursion span of mild steel in cooling corrosive solution was characterized by the occurrence of a well-defined anodic peak (A1), while the reverse sweep was characterized by the appearance of two cathodic peaks (C1 and C2). The presence of Cl⁻ and SO₄⁻² ions in cooling water enhance the active dissolution of mild steel and tend to breakdown the passive film and induce pitting attack. The data reveal that increasing flow rate and temperature of cooling solution enhances the anodic peak current density (j _A1) and shifts the pitting potential (E _pit) towards more active values. It is seen that the peak current density of the anodic peak A1 increases and the pitting potential (E _pit) displaced in the noble direction in the aerated solution compared that in de-aerated solution. The pitting corrosion of mild steel by Cl⁻ and SO₄⁻² ions initiates more readily in acidic medium (pH 2.0). It was found that the incubation time (t _i) increase and in turn the pitting corrosion decrease in the order: pH 10 > pH 6.8 > pH 2.0.     

氩蒸气在球形固体颗粒上异质核化的分子动力学模拟

异质核化在大气中广泛存在, 但是其微观核化机理鲜为人知, 本文应用分子动力学方法模拟过热氩蒸气在纳米球形固体颗粒物上异质核化的动态特性, 讨论不同的冷却率对核化过程中系综温度、团簇分布、团簇大小以及核化速率的影响. 结果显示, 系综内蒸气的核化温度随着冷却率的增加而降低, 预先存在的球形固体颗粒在团簇的形成阶段起着重要的作用, 而且存在一个临界冷却率1.80×10^-9J·s^-1. 在该冷却率下, 在异质核化系综内均质核化出现, 并与异质核化共存, 但是异质核化在整个核化过程中仍然占主导地位.     

Rapid solidification of cobalt melt by molecular dynamics simulation

Molecular dynamics simulation was applied to investigating the evolvement rule of cobalt melt microstructure during solidification at different cooling rates. The cooling rate for the formation of amorphous phase is determined by analyzing the radial distribution function, the H–A bond-type index and the mean square displacement. The simulation results showed that the nucleation undercooling increases with the initial temperature, and in the undercooling versus temperature curve, there are two inflection points. Besides, when the initial temperature reaches 2450 K, the undercooling will be stabilized at 1061 K. As the cooling rate is less than 1.0?×?10^11.0 K s^?1, the FCC and HCP crystal structures will be obtained. Amorphous structure will be obtained if the cooling rate is more than 1.0?×?10^13.0 K s^?1. If the cooling rate of the Co melt is between 1.0?×?10^11.0 and 1.0?×?10^13.0 K s^?1, the crystal and amorphous structures will be coexistent, which indicates that the critical cooling rate of crystal–amorphous transition is 1.0?×?10^11.0 K s^?1.

     

Implementation of low temperature physical changes on silicone elastomers to achieve sensitivity gains through CPMAS NMR

Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (NMR) has been used on several occasions to investigate the biodurability of silicone elastomers used in silicone breast implants. In all of these cases conclusions have been convoluted by lack of sensitivity. We have improved the sensitivity of solid state NMR characterizations of silicone elastomers used in silicone breast implants by changing the physical state of the elastomer. This was achieved by cooling the sample to −90 ^∘C, below its crystalline transition temperatures, and acquiring ²⁹Si Cross Polarization MAS (CPMAS) NMR. This approach yielded signal to noise enhancements as high as 8.5 fold for the elastomer backbone and modest improvements for (CH₃)₂RSiO_1/2 and silica filler signals.     

Physical gelation of melamine formaldehyde resin solutions. II. A combined light-scattering and low-resolution relaxation proton NMR study

The kinetics of physical gelation in aqueous melamine formaldehyde (MF) resin solutions were studied with the aid of low-resolution ¹H NMR T₂ relaxation experiments in combination with both static and dynamic light-scattering measurements. The investigations were conducted on a series of MF resins with increasing degrees of condensation. We show that MF aggregates (aided by hydrogen bonds) were immediately formed upon cooling from reaction to room temperature, that is, storage temperature. Surprisingly, the growth of these aggregates, which eventually led to the formation of a physical gel, did not have a major effect on molecular mobility. By means of light-scattering experiments, we were able to monitor the increase of the size of MF aggregates as a function of storage time. The physically gelled MF solutions were subjected to heating and subsequent cooling runs and again studied by light-scattering and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) experiments. MF aggregates were destroyed, depending on the degree of condensation, in the temperature range 35–60 °C according to NMR, and 40–75 °C as determined by light scattering. The process of physical gelation was reversible; upon subsequent cooling, the MF aggregates were formed anew. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 37: 3307–3318, 1999     

Non-destructive determination of uranium and thorium in geological materials by resonance-neutron activation analysis

A simple method is described for the determination of uranium and thorium in gological materials. The samples are irradiated in a reactor with resonance and fast neutrons behind a cadmium filter. Compared with an irradiation with the whole reactor neutron spectrum, the matrix activities are reduced to about 1%, those of uranium (²³⁹Np) and thorium (²³³Pa) to about only 50 and 25%, respectively. This relative diminution of matrix activities allows the γ-measurement of²³⁹Np and²³³Pa as early as after two days' cooling time; in samples with high uranium contents the determination of²³³Pa requires one month's cooling time. This non-destructive procedure yields a detection limit of 0.1 ppm for uranium and thorium in samples of 200 mg, with an error of ±5%. Dedicated to ProfessorW. Borchert on the occasion of his 60th birthday.     

Observation of single Ca ions for trace isotope analysis

We developed an ion trap — laser cooling system for observing the laser induced fluorescence (LIF) of a single ion, in the view of utilizing it for the trace isotope analysis of Ca. We observed stepwise LIF signals, which correspond to the numbers of trapped ⁴⁰Ca⁺ ions (⁴⁰Ca/Ca = 96.9%). The detection efficiency was evaluated and the observation of single ions demonstrated the experimental feasibility of trace isotope analysis. Furthermore, as the next step towards trace isotope analysis, we report observation of the even calcium isotopes, ⁴⁴Ca (⁴⁴Ca/Ca = 2.09%) and ⁴⁸Ca (⁴⁸Ca/Ca = 0.187%), without the use of a selective loading method.     

Effect of cooling rate on the microstructure and solidification characteristics of Al2024 alloy using computer-aided thermal analysis technique

The aim of this work was to investigate the effect of different cooling rates on the microstructure and solidification parameters of 2024 aluminum alloy. Solidification characteristics are recognized from the cooling curve and its first and second derivative curves which have been plotted using thermal analysis technique. In this study, a mold having high cooling rate was designed and used to simulate the direct-chill casting process. The results of thermal analysis show that the characteristic parameters of Al2024 alloy are influenced by cooling rate. The cooling rates used in the present study range from 0.4 to 17.5 °C s^?1. Increasing the cooling rate affects the undercooling parameters both in liquidus and eutectic solidification regions. Investigations showed that solidification parameters such as nucleation temperature, recalescence undercooling temperature, and range of solidification temperature are influenced by variation of cooling rates. Microstructural evaluation was carried out to present the correlation between the cooling rate and dendrite arm spacing.     

Selective parent ion axialization for improved efficiency of collision-induced dissociation in laser desorption-ionization fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry

We have systematically established the excitation frequency, amplitude, duration, and buffer gas pressure for optimal axialization efficiency and mass selectivity of quadrupolar excitation-collisional cooling for isolation of parent ions for collision-induced dissociation in Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry. For example, at high quadrupolar excitation amplitude, ion axialization efficiency and selectivity are optimal when the applied quadrupolar excitation frequency is lower than the unperturbed ion cyclotron frequency by up to several hundred hertz. Moreover, at high buffer gas pressure (10^?6 Torr), quadrupolar excitation duration can be quite short because of efficient collisional cooling of the cyclotron motion produced by magnetron-to-cyclotron conversion. Efficiency, detected signal magnitude, and mass resolving power for collision-induced dissociation (CID) product ions are significantly enhanced by prior parent ion axialization. With this method, we use argon CID to show that C ₉₄ ⁺ (m/z 1128) formed by Nd:YAG laser desorption-ionization behaves as a closed-cage structure.     

Effect of cooling rate and Al content on solidification characteristics of AZ magnesium alloys using cooling curve thermal analysis

The solidification behavior of AZ Magnesium alloys in various cooling conditions was investigated using a computer-aided cooling curve thermal analysis method. In each case, the cooling curve and its first and second derivative curves have been plotted using accurate thermal analysis equipment and solidification characteristics were recognized from these curves. The cooling rates used in the present study range from 0.22 to 8.13 °C s^?1. The results of thermal analysis show that the solidification parameters of AZ alloys such as nucleation temperature (T _N,α), nucleation undercooling (?T _N,α), recalescence undercooling (?T _R,α), range of solidification temperature (?T _S) and total solidification time (t _f) are influenced by variation of cooling rate. Also, the effect of Al content on these parameters was studied. Microstructural evaluation was carried out to determine the correlation between the cooling rate and secondary dendrite arm spacing.     

Polymorphism and melt crystallisation of racemic betaxolol, a β-adrenergic antagonist drug

We report the polymorphic behaviour, in melt cooling experiments, of racemic betaxolol, a low aqueous solubility selective β₁-adrenergic antagonist drug with a flexible molecular structure. A multidisciplinary approach is employed, using thermal analysis (differential scanning calorimetry, polarised light thermomicroscopy), spectroscopic methods (infrared spectroscopy, magic angle spinning ¹H NMR) and X-ray powder diffraction. A glass phase is obtained, T _g ~ ?10 °C, on cooling the melt, unless the cooling rate is ≤0.5 °C min^?1, while a new metastable form, polymorph II, T _fus = 33 °C, is generated in subsequent heating runs in a two step process. Although either partial crystallisation from the melt in the first step or the formation of an intermediate, metastable, low ordered phase may explain these observations, our results favour the second hypothesis. The stable polymorph I, T _fus = 69 °C, which crystallizes on further heating after form II melting, has also been obtained either from polymorph II or from the molten phase, on standing at 25 °C. The racemic betaxolol crystalline phases are found to exhibit some degree of disorder.     

Dynamic disorder in a pentacoordinate silicon complex with 2,2′‐diazenediyldiphenol

The crystal structure of (2,2′‐diazenediyldiphenolato‐κ³O,N,O′)dimethylsilicon, C₁₄H₁₄N₂O₂Si, determined at four temperatures, reveals a dynamic disorder as a result of a flipping of the orientation of the C—N=N—C unit. The population of the two conformers in the single crystal depends on the temperature and cooling rate. It is possible to minimize the disorder by cooling the crystal slowly.     

Influence of cooling rate on crystallisation kinetics on microstructure of cast zinc alloys

In this study, the change of the cooling rate in the range of about 0.1–1 °C s^?1 and the addition of Sr on the crystallization kinetics of the cast zinc alloys of the ZnAlCu type, as well as its relation to the microstructure were also investigated. Therefore, the aim of the rapid crystallisation is the achievement of materials with better properties, which can be obtained by refinement of the dendritic or eutectic microstructure, elimination of segregation, or creation of metastable phases and their morphology changes. In the investigated alloys, the change of cooling rate of 1 °C s^?1 has caused microstructure’s refinement as well as increase in hardness. Increase in the cooling rate causes also morphology changes of the η + α eutectic, and makes generally a global overcooling of the alloy as well as change in the temperatures at the beginning of crystallization T _DN and of the alloy crystallization T _S. The presented investigations concerning the electron microscopy methods, including transmission electron microscopy, allow revealing the crystallographic structure, based on the d-spacing changes, as well as the diffraction method used for phase determination, which is a helpful tool for the explanation of the important points in the thermo-derivative analysis curve, where the relation between the amount of phase and the occurrence of new phases can be determined.     

Temperature calibration of heat flux DSC's on cooling

The temperature calibration of a TA Instruments 3200-2920 DSC has been performed on cooling using the isotropic → nematic, isotropic → cholesteric and other liquid crystal → liquid crystal transitions of thermally stable, high purity liquid crystals. The thermal stability of these liquid crystals has been verified by measuring the temperature of the mentioned transitions during cyclic heating and cooling experiments. Correspondence has been established between the real and indicated temperature during cooling for all combinations of heating and cooling rates of practical interest: correction values were determined to the indicated temperature in order to obtain the real temperature on cooling. These correction values were calculated as the average from the temperatures of four or five different liquid crystal transitions for each heating-cooling rate combination. The accuracy of the temperature calibration on cooling is ca. 0.2?C for heating and cooling rates up to 20?C min^?1.