Studies of dielectric relaxation in natural fiber–polymer composites

Polymer composites of a polyester resin matrix filled with short palm tree lignocellulosic fibers were studies by means of dielectric spectroscopy in the frequency range 0, 1–100 kHz and temperature interval from 40 °C to 200 °C. Three relaxations processes were identified, namely the orientation polarization imputed to the presence of polar water molecules in Palm fiber, the relaxation process associated with conductivity occurring as a result of the carriers charges diffusion noted for high temperature above glass transition and low frequencies, and the interfacial relaxation that is attributable to the accumulation of charges at the Palm fibers/polyester interfaces.     

Enhancement of multiatom non-classical correlations and quantum state transfer in atom–cavity–fiber system

Taking the advantage of parity kicks pulses, we investigate the non-classical correlation dynamics and quantum state transfer in an atom–cavity–fiber system, which consists of two identical subsystems, each subsystem comprising of multiple two-level atoms trapped in two remote single-model optical cavities that are linked by an optical fiber. It is found that the non-classical correlations and the fidelity of quantum state transfer(between the atoms) can be greatly improved by the parity kicks pulses. In particular, with decrease of the time intervals between two consecutive pulses, perfect non-classical correlation transfer and entangled state transfer can be achieved.     

Effect of fiber surface treatments on the fiber–matrix interaction in banana fiber reinforced polyester composites

Cellulosic fibers have been used as cost-cutting fillers in plastic industry. Among the various factors, the final performance of the composite materials depends to a large extent on the adhesion between the polymer matrix and the reinforcement and therefore on the quality of the interface. To achieve optimum performance of the end product, sufficient interaction between the matrix resin and the cellulosic material is desired. This is often achieved by surface modification of the resin or the filler. Banana fiber, the cellulosic fibers obtained from the pseudo-stem of banana plant (Musa sepientum) is a bast fiber with relatively good mechanical properties. The fiber surface was modified chemically to bring about improved interfacial interaction between the fiber and the polyester matrix. Various silanes and alkali were used to modify the fiber surface. Modified surfaces were characterized by SEM and FTIR. The polarity parameters of the chemically modified fibers were investigated using the solvatochromic technique. The results were further confirmed by electrokinetic measurements. Chemical modification was found to have a profound effect on the fiber–matrix interactions. The improved fiber–matrix interaction is evident from the enhanced tensile and flexural properties. The lower impact properties of the treated composites compared to the untreated composites further point to the improved fiber–matrix adhesion. In order to know more about the fiber–matrix adhesion, fractured surfaces of the failed composites where further investigated by SEM. Of the various chemical treatments, simple alkali treatment with NaOH of 1% concentration was found to be the most effective. The fiber–matrix interactions were found to be dependent on the polarity of the modified fiber surface.     

Correlation of the mechanical properties to the fiber–matrix adhesion of Nextel 312™ fiber/BN/Blackglas™ composites

Boron nitride (BN)-coated aluminoborosilicate (Nextel? 312) fibers, produced via ammonia nitridation, along with 'as-received' and 'desized' fibers, were composited in a silicon oxycarbide (Blackglas?) matrix. The mechanical properties, failure properties, and fiber–matrix interfacial chemistry of the composite were investigated. BN treated fiber composites show a 90% improvement in flexural strength and substantial increases in shear strength (short beam shear and Iosipescu) over the 'as-received' fiber composite. The composite fabricated with 'desized' fibers underwent spontaneous delamination during pyrolization, precluding mechanical testing. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy of the starting materials and of composite fracture surfaces combined with scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy indicate that the locus of failure of the BN-coated fiber composite occurs at the matrix/BN coating interface.     

Investigations on ultrafast welding of glass–glass and glass–silicon

Using ultrafast laser radiation glass substrates are welded with glass and silicon plates. The pump beam is focused by a microscope objective with large NA=0.4 (beam diameter 4 μm) into the glass. After partial absorption of the optical energy, the glass is heated and melted. Procedures for high-quality welding of glass–glass and glass–silicon substrates with high-repetition ultra-fast laser radiation have been derived at the repetition rate 700 kHz. The dependencies of the dimension and geometry of the welding seam on scan velocity, repetition rate and pulse energy have been investigated defining a process window. Adding a noninterferometric technique for quantitative phase detection with the welding setup, the interaction zone of the welding seam for the welding partners glass–glass is detected. A change in refractive index is induced by heating and compression of the glass and has been detected by phase detection up to 2 μs after irradiation with 100 fs time resolution.     

Tunable mechanical properties of MWCNT–glass fiber fabric reinforced epoxy composites by controlling MWCNTs dispersing conditions

A novel, simple and cost-effective method, which is capable of easily tailoring the dispersion of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), was developed here to fabricate the MWCNT–glass fiber fabric (MWCNT–GFf) multiscale composites with tunable mechanical properties. MWCNTs were dispersed into the commercial GFfs through the combined effect of the ultrasound and amino silane (AS) firstly, followed by a resin infusion process. By tuning the ultrasonic power and AS concentration, it is possible to control the MWCNTs dispersion level and subsequently mechanical properties of resultant composite. Making use of optimal dispersion conditions, which involves the optimal combination of ultrasonic power and AS concentration, the interlaminar shear strength of MWCNT–GFf reinforced composites was dramatically increased by 40.5%, and the storage modulus in the glassy region and rubbery region was improved by 27.7% and 125.0%, respectively. The work demonstrates the great promise of this novel method toward practical, industrial application in manufacturing fiber-reinforced composites with superior mechanical properties.     

Spectroscopic properties of neodymium-doped tellurite glass fiber

Nd~(3+)-doped tellurite glass and a single mode tellurite glass fiber with a core diameter of 8 μm were prepared in this work. The 1.33-μm emission from the ~4F_(3/2)→~4I_(13/2) transition of Nd~(3+) with a spectral bandwidth of 55 nm in tellurite glass fiber is observed. The lifetime of 164 μs of ~4F_(3/2) level and quantum efficiency of about 100% are obtained.     

Banana fiber strands–reinforced polymer matrix composites

Banana fiber (BF)-reinforced low-density polyethylene (LDPE) unidirectional composites were fabricated by the compression molding process with 40 wt% fiber loading. The fibers were modified with methylacrylate (MA) mixed with methanol (MeOH) along with 2% benzyl peroxide under thermal curing method at different temperatures (50–90 °C) for different curing times (10–50 min) in order to have better compatibility with the matrix. The effect of fiber surface modification on the mechanical properties (tensile and impact properties) of the composites were evaluated. Monomer concentration, curing temperature, and curing time were optimized in terms of polymer loading and mechanical properties. The mechanical properties were found to be improved based on the improved interaction between the reinforcement and the matrix. Optimized BFs were again treated with 2–5 wt% starch solutions and composites made of 4% starch treated BF showed the highest mechanical properties than that of MA treated composites. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was performed to get an insight into the morphology of the composites. Water uptake and soil degradation test of the composites were also investigated.     

Improving the properties of polypropylene–wood flour composites by utilization of maleated adhesion promoters

Polymer composites filled with natural organic fillers have gained a significant interest during the last few years, because of several advantages they can offer compared with properties of inorganic-mineral fillers. However, these composites (based, in most cases, on polyolefins) often show a reduction in some mechanical properties. This is mainly due to the problems regarding dispersion of the polar filler particles in the non-polar polymer matrix and their interfacial adhesion with polymer chains. In this work, polypropylene–wood flour composites were prepared and the effect of the addition of a maleated polypropylene was investigated. The two materials were compounded by an industrial co-rotating twin screw extruder, with two different compositions, without and with addition of Licomont AR504^® (maleic anhydride-grafted polypropylene wax). The extruded material was then compression molded, which provided the specimens for tensile and impact tests. Water uptake was measured; the morphology of the fracture surfaces of the samples coming out from mechanical tests was investigated through SEM analysis. Rheological characterization was carried out as well. The addition of the adhesion promoter allowed a decrease in water uptake; mechanical properties were improved as well, especially elastic modulus and tensile strength; impact strength increased in the case of unnotched samples, while notched ones did not show remarkable differences. SEM analysis of the fracture surfaces also showed an overall change in the morphology as a consequence of the utilization of the adhesion promoter.     

Fabrication and sensing characteristics of intrinsic Fabry–Perot interferometers in fiber tapers

This Letter presents intrinsic Fabry–Perot interferometers in the fiber tapers fabricated by the femtosecond laser micromachining technique. The sensing of temperatures as high as 1000°C based on the fiber device is characterized, with a sensitivity of 15.28 pm∕°C. A nearly linear refractive index sensing is also obtained by using the fringe visibility to characterize, with a sensitivity of 73.05 dB∕RIU. These intrinsic Fabry–Perot interferometers in fiber tapers may be useful in applications of high-temperature and linear refractive index sensing.     

Enhancement of extreme ultraviolet radiations from a laser-produced plasma using copper–tungsten alloy

Continuous extreme ultraviolet (EUV) emission intensity from a laser-produced plasma in the wavelength between 40 and 200 nm for a copper–tungsten alloy target was observed to be 1.3 times higher than that for a tungsten target. Using the alloy target, low-opacity regions of one material were filled with high-opacity regions of another material. This opacity effect resulted in the increase of a calculated Rosseland mean opacity compared with either of the constituents, which may explain the increase of the EUV emission intensity.     

Formation and its mechanism of copper metal layers at surface by annealing in reduced atmosphere in CuO–Li2O–Nb2O5–SiO2 glass

A trace amount (0.5 mol%) of CuO-doped 40Li₂O–32Nb₂O₅–28SiO₂ glass (mol%) exhibits the formation of copper metal layers at the glass surface by annealing at temperatures (530 °C) below the glass transition temperature (544 °C) in the reduced atmosphere of 7% H₂–93%Ar. The coordination state of copper ions is examined from optical absorption and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectrum measurements, indicating the formation of Si–OH and Si–H bonds due to the diffusion of hydrogen into the inside of the glass and the reduction of Cu⁺ and Cu²⁺ ions. The mechanism of the formation of copper metals at the surface is proposed, in which the key points are the reduction of Cu²⁺ to Cu⁺ ions due to the hydrogen and the migration of Cu⁺ ions in the interior of the glass to the surface. The first finding on copper metal layers at the glass surface might have a potential for practical applications such as electrodes in glass.     

Superconductivity in amorphous thin films of tin–copper

The properties of the superconducting state in the amorphous Sn_1?xCu_x thin films were characterized. The concentration of copper changes in the range from 0.08 to 0.41. The calculations were conducted in the framework of the strong-coupling formalism, wherein the Eliashberg functions determined in the tunnel experiment were used. The value of the Coulomb pseudopotential equal to 0.1 was adopted. It will be shown that the critical temperature (T_C) decreases from 7 to 3.9 K. The ratio, R_Δ = 2Δ(0)/k_BT_C, differs from the BCS value: R_Δ ∈ <4.4, 3.95>, where Δ(0) represents the order parameter. Similarly behave the ratios: R_C = ΔC(T_C)/C^N(T_C) ∈ <2.2, 1.75> and R_H = T_CC^N(T_C)/H²_C(0) ∈ <0.141, 0.154>. The parameter ΔC(T_C) is the specific heat jump, C^N(T_C) denotes the specific heat of the normal state and H_C(0) is the thermodynamic critical field.     

Structural and magneto-transport properties of LCMO–STO composites

A manganite matrix-based composite series, (1 ? x)La_0.67Ca_0.33MnO₃(LCMO) ? (x)SrTiO₃ (STO), has been prepared by the solid state route. Influence of STO phase on structural and magneto-transport properties of LCMO phase has been investigated. By X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and Fourier transform of infrared spectroscopy, we find that there is no interdiffusion between the LCMO and STO phases. Measurements of resistivity on these samples reveal that the parent sample shows a distinct metal–insulator (M–I) transition of intrinsic type at a temperature close to the Curie temperature, whereas composite samples show two possible transitions, intrinsic as well as extrinsic. The series exhibits a conduction threshold at x = x _m ～ 20%, up to which extrinsic M–I transition temperature decreases along with an increase in extrinsic magnetoresistance; whereas, above x _m these trends of variation are reversed.     

Measurement of the energy transfer and upconversion constants in Er–Yb-doped phosphate glass

A simple method to measure the ytterbium-to-erbium energy transfer and the co-operative upconversion constants in a phosphate laser glass is proposed. The technique is based on the experimental acquisition of the luminescence decay from the Er3+ 4I13/2 metastable level at 1.5m as a function of time and on a suitable fit of the experimental data. The fitting procedure relies on a simplified model of the Er–Yb system and makes use of a numerical solution of the rate equations to describe the dynamics of the populations, showing considerable sensitivity to the fitting parameters. The results obtained are in fairly good agreement with previous data reported in the literature.     

Controllable fabrication of self-organized nano-multilayers in copper–carbon films

In order to clarify the influence of methane concentration and deposition time on self-organized nano-multilayers,three serial copper-carbon films have been prepared at various methane concentrations with different deposition times using a facile magnetron sputtering deposition system. The ratios of methane concentration(CH4/Ar+CH4) used in the experiments are 20%, 40%, and 60%, and the deposition times are 5 minutes, 20 minutes, and 40 minutes, respectively.Despite the difference in the growth conditions, self-organizing multilayered copper-carbon films are prepared at different deposition times by changing methane concentration. The film composition and microstructure are investigated by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS), x-ray diffraction(XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy(FESEM), and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy(HRTEM). By comparing the composition and microstructure of three serial films, the optimal growth conditions and compositions for self-organizing nano-multilayers in copper-carbon film are acquired. The results demonstrate that the self-organized nano-multilayered structure prefers to form in two conditions during the deposition process. One is that the methane should be curbed at low concentration for long deposition time,and the other condition is that the methane should be controlled at high concentration for short deposition time. In particular, nano-multilayered structure is self-organized in the copper-carbon film with copper concentration of 10-25 at.%.Furthermore, an interesting microstructure transition phenomenon is observed in copper-carbon films, that is, the nanomultilayered structure is gradually replaced by a nano-composite structure with deposition time and finally covered by amorphous carbon.     

Chirality-asymmetry force between ɑ-quartz and copper block

The chirality-asymmetry macroscopic force mediated by light pseudoscalar particles between α -quartz and some achiral matter is studied. If this force between achiral source mass and α -quartz with some chirality is attractive, it will become repulsive when the chirality of the α -quartz crystal is changed. According to the tested limits of the coupling constant g_s g_p /\hbar c< 1.5× 10^-24 at the Compton wavelength λ = 10^-3 m, the force (F) between a 0.08× 0.08× 0.002 m³ block of α -quartz and a 0.08× 0.08× 0.01 m³ copper block with a separation being 0.5× 10^-3 \mbox{m} in between, is estimated from the published data at less than 4.64× 10^-24 N, i.e. F < 4.64× 10^-24 N.