Effect of the amounts of glycidyl methacrylate on the mechanical and dynamic properties of styrene–butadiene–glycidyl methacrylate terpolymer/silica composites

GMA-SBRs with GMA contents in the range of 0.06–0.71 wt.% were synthesized and used to evaluate the properties of the silica composites for fuel-efficient tires. The chemical structures of the GMA-SBRs were analyzed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H NMR), size exclusion chromatography (SEC), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). GMA-SBRs can enhance filler–rubber interaction through covalent bond formation between the silica filler and rubber molecules. After compounding, the cure characteristics and mechanical and dynamic properties of the GMA-SBR silica-filled composites were analyzed. The mechanical properties, including the Mooney viscosity, bound rubber, swelling ratio, and moduli, exhibited obvious differences with increasing GMA content. However, the optimum content of GMA in the GMA-SBR, in terms of dynamic properties such as the Payne effect which represents the change in dynamic modulus against the strain to determine the extent of filler flocculation and tan δ at 60 °C representing tire rolling resistance, was ~0.6 wt.%. These results are due to improved silica dispersion, resulting from increased covalent bond formation between GMA-SBR and the silica surface. This approach assists in the determination of functional group contents in functionalized emulsion styrene–butadiene rubber for fuel-efficient tires, leading to a decrease in vehicular greenhouse gas emission.     

Compatibilizing Action of a Poly(styrene–butadiene) Triblock Co-polymer in ABS/PET-G Blends

The morphology of blends of poly(acrylonitrile-co-butadiene-co-styrene) (ABS) and poly(ethylene terephthalate glycol) (PET-G) has been investigated with special reference to the effect of blend ratio and compatibilization. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) examination revealed different morphologies such as dispersed, cocontinuous and phase inverted depending on the composition, which indicates that the binary blends are immiscible and form a two-phase structure. Tensile properties decreased with increase in the ABS content while the impact strength reached an optimum at ca. 70% ABS. Influence of a triblock co-polymer based on styrene and butadiene (SBS) on morphology, mechanical measurements and failure topography was used as criterion of the compatibilization effect. The compatiblizing action of SBS was evidenced by the sharp decrease in domain size of the dispersed phase followed by an increase at higher concentrations. The conformation of the compatibilizer at the interface was further analyzed based on the area occupied by the compatibilizer at the blend interface. The results were in agreement with the theoretical predictions of Noolandi and Hong. The extent of interface adhesion in these blends was analyzed by examination of the fracture-surface morphology. Addition of SBS also improved notched impact, elongation-at-break, tensile strength and modulus of elasticity. These results confirm that SBS is an effective compatibilizer for ABS/PET-G blends.     

Synthesis and characterization of CdS nanocrystals in Maleic anhydride–Octene-1–Vinylbutyl Ether terpolymer matrix

A Maleic anhydride–Octene-1–Vinylbutyl Ether terpolymer was synthesized via the radical terpolymerization method in order to prepare a new matrix for CdS nanocrystal synthesis. CdS nanocrystals were synthesized through the reaction of thiourea with cadmium chloride. The synthesized terpolymer/CdS nanocrystal composites were characterized by several methods. Energy Dispersive X-ray analysis, Raman spectroscopy and powder X-ray diffraction methods. The room temperature UV–visible absorption spectra show a shift of the absorption edge towards higher energies. The band gap of the CdS nanocomposite is bigger than that of bulk CdS. Raman spectrum exhibits characteristic peaks of CdS. Images of the nanocomposite obtained with Atomic Force Microscopy and Transmission Electron Microscopy are the evidences of CdS nanocrystal formation in the terpolymer. Thermal investigation shows that the nanocomposite is more thermostable than the terpolymer which could be useful for application in thermo aggressive medium.     

Reduced aliasing formulations of the convective terms within the Navier–Stokes equations for a compressible fluid

The effect on aliasing errors of different formulations describing the cubically nonlinear convective terms within the discretized Navier–Stokes equations is examined in the presence of a non-trivial density spectrum. Fourier analysis shows that the existing skew-symmetric forms of the convective term result in reduced aliasing errors relative to the conservation form. Several formulations of the convective term, including a new formulation proposed for cubically nonlinear terms, are tested in direct numerical simulation (DNS) of decaying compressible isotropic turbulence both in chemically inert (small density fluctuations) and reactive cases (large density fluctuations) and for different degrees of resolution. In the DNS of reactive turbulent flow, the new cubic skew-symmetric form gives the most accurate results, consistent with the spectral error analysis, and at the lowest cost. In marginally resolved DNS and LES (poorly resolved by definition) the new cubic skew-symmetric form represents a robust convective formulation which minimizes both aliasing and computational cost while also allowing a reduction in the use of computationally expensive high-order dissipative filters.     

Microstructural evolution of SiC joints soldered using Zn–Al filler metals with the assistance of ultrasound

SiC ceramics were successfully soldered with the assistance of ultrasound. Two kinds of filler metals, namely non-eutectic Zn–5Al–3Cu and eutectic Zn–5Al alloys, were used. The effects of ultrasonic action on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the soldered joints were investigated. The results showed that ultrasound could promote the wetting and bonding between the SiC ceramic and filler metals within tens of seconds. For the Zn–5Al–3Cu solder, a fully grain-refined structure in the bond layer was obtained as the ultrasonic action time increased. This may lead to a substantial enhancement in the strength of the soldered joints. For the Zn–5Al solder, the shear strength of the soldered joints was only ∼102 MPa when the ultrasonic action time was shorter, and fractures occurred in the brittle lamellar eutectic phases in the center of the bond layer. With increasing ultrasonic action time, the lamellar eutectic phase in the bond layer of SiC joints could be completely transformed to a fine non-lamellar eutectic structure. Meanwhile, the grains in the bond layer were obviously refined. Those results led to the remarkable enhancement of the shear strength of the joints (∼138 MPa) using the Zn–5Al solder, which had approached that enhancement using the Zn–5Al–3Cu solder. The enhanced mechanical properties of the joints were attributed to the significant refinement of the grains and the change in the eutectic structure in the bond layer. Prolonged enhanced heterogeneous nucleation triggered by ultrasonic cavitation is the predominant refinement mechanism of the bond metals of the SiC joints.     

Electroneutrality in the Lekner–Sperb method

A slightly different derivation of the Lekner–Sperb method for partially periodic boundary conditions is given in this note. This derivation allows one to take explicitly into account the electroneutrality of systems and give the exact value of a constant that was determined numerically in the past.     

Half-monopole in the Weinberg–Salam model

We present new axially symmetric half-monopole configuration of the SU(2)×U(1) Weinberg–Salam model of electromagnetic and weak interactions. The half-monopole configuration possesses net magnetic charge 2π/e$2\pi /e$ which is half the magnetic charge of a Cho–Maison monopole. The electromagnetic gauge potential is singular along the negative z$z$-axis. However the total energy is finite and increases only logarithmically with increasing Higgs field self-coupling constant λ^1/2${\lambda }^{1/2}$ at sin²θ_W=0.2312${sin}^2{\theta }_W=0.2312$. In the U(1) magnetic field, the half-monopole is just a one dimensional finite length line magnetic charge extending from the origin r=0$r=0$ and lying along the negative z$z$-axis. In the SU(2) ’t Hooft magnetic field, it is a point magnetic charge located at r=0$r=0$. The half-monopole possesses magnetic dipole moment that decreases exponentially fast with increasing Higgs field self-coupling constant λ^1/2${\lambda }^{1/2}$ at sin²θ_W=0.2312${sin}^2{\theta }_W=0.2312$.     

Physical basis for the symmetries in the Friedmann–Robertson–Walker metric

Modern cosmological theory is based on the Friedmann–Robertson–Walker (FRW) metric. Often written in terms of co-moving coordinates, this well-known solution to Einstein’s equations owes its elegant and highly practical formulation to the cosmological principle and Weyl’s postulate, upon which it is founded. However, there is physics behind such symmetries, and not all of it has yet been recognized. In this paper, we derive the FRW metric coefficients from the general form of the spherically symmetric line element and demonstrate that, because the co-moving frame also happens to be in free fall, the symmetries in FRW are valid only for a medium with zero active mass. In other words, the spacetime of a perfect fluid in cosmology may be correctly written as FRW only when its equation of state is ρ+3p = 0, in terms of the total pressure p and total energy density ρ. There is now compelling observational support for this conclusion, including the Alcock–Paczy´nski test, which shows that only an FRW cosmology with zero active mass is consistent with the latest model-independent baryon acoustic oscillation data.     

An exact solution for polaron in the nonlinear lattice in the Su–Schrieffer–Heeger approximation

The exact solution for a polaron in a lattice with cubic nonlinearity is obtained. The electron–phonon interaction is taken into account in the Su–Schrieffer–Heeger approximation. The system of nonlinear differential equations in partial derivatives, obtained in the continuum approximation, is exactly integrable at a certain ratio between the parameters of nonlinearity, α, and the electron–phonon interaction, χ. An approximate solution is obtained for arbitrary values of α and χ. A good agreement between the analytical results with the numerical simulation is observed at not too large values of parameters α and χ, where the continuum approximation is valid. Stable solutions also exist at higher values of these parameters.     

Quasiparticles in the multicomponent Zhang–Hansson–Kivelson model

We study the vortex solutions in a multicomponent Zhang–Hansson–Kivelson model for the fractional quantum Hall effect, at the self-dual point. Vortices with minimal free energy represent Laughlin quasiholes. We find at least two classes of solutions, distinguished by their global invariance, or by the number of conserved charges.     

Generalized Null-Ellipsometry in the Polarizer–Sample–Analyzer Scheme

Optics and Spectroscopy - The null ellipsometry technique of generalized ellipsometry based on using a compensator-free polarizer–sample–analyzer scheme for the case of incidence of an...     

High-Temperature superconductivity in the Y–Ba–Cu–O system

High-temperature superconductivity in the Y-Ba-Cu-O system has been discussed with special reference to the identification and characterization of the pure monophasic compound responsible for the superconductivity. The crucial role of oxygen has been examined in the light of the structure and thermogravimetric analysis.     

Q-balls in the Wick–Cutkosky model

In the present paper Q-ball solutions in the Wick–Cutkosky model are examined in detail. A remarkable feature of the Wick–Cutkosky model is that it admits analytical treatment for the most part of the analysis of Q-balls, which allows one to use this simple model to demonstrate some peculiar properties of Q-balls. In particular, a method for estimating the binding energy of a Q-ball is proposed. This method is tested on the Wick–Cutkosky model taking into account the well-known results obtained for this model earlier.     

Solid–state diffusion–controlled growth of the phases in the Au–Sn system

The solid state diffusion-controlled growth of the phases is studied for the Au–Sn system in the range of room temperature to 200 °C using bulk and electroplated diffusion couples. The number of product phases in the interdiffusion zone decreases with the decrease in annealing temperature. These phases grow with significantly high rates even at the room temperature. The growth rate of the AuSn₄ phase is observed to be higher in the case of electroplated diffusion couple because of the relatively small grains and hence high contribution of the grain boundary diffusion when compared to the bulk diffusion couple. The diffraction pattern analysis indicates the same equilibrium crystal structure of the phases in these two types of diffusion couples. The analysis in the AuSn₄ phase relating the estimated tracer diffusion coefficients with grain size, crystal structure, the homologous temperature of experiments and the concept of the sublattice diffusion mechanism in the intermetallic compounds indicate that Au diffuses mainly via the grain boundaries, whereas Sn diffuses via both the grain boundaries and the lattice.     

Peakon–antipeakon interaction in the Dullin–Gottwald–Holm equation

In this Letter, we obtain a two-peakon solution to a special Dullin–Gottwald–Holm equation explicitly by direct computation, and then discuss the peakon–antipeakon interaction in this equation. Our results show that, like the Camassa–Holm equation, during the soliton absorption time, the peakon–antipeakon in this equation is essentially a single-peaked, double-cornered wave. However, the two corners may travel in opposite direction for some ω, which is different from that in the Camassa–Holm equation.     

Decagonal quasicrystal in the Al–Pd–Mn system

Abstract

A stable decagonal quasicrystal in Al₇₀Pd_30?xMn_x alloys (x = 10–20) was examined by electron diffraction and high-resolution electron microscopy. The decagonal quasicrystalline grains are formed with definite crystallographic relationships to adjacent icosahedral and Al₃Mn crystalline grains. The structure of the decagonal phase, which is formed as the main phase at near Al₇₀Pd₁₀Mn₂₀ composition, is a mixture of decagonal quasicrystalline regions with some linear phason strain and microcrystalline regions. The structures of both regions may be interpreted in terms of quasiperiodic and periodic tilings, constructed with two types of bond lengths, S (about 2 nm) and L (= τ · S, where τ is the Golden ratio), of the same atom cluster with decagonal symmetry.     

Monopoles in the presence of the Chern–Simons term via the Julia–Toulouse approach

We study QED₃ with magnetic-like defects using the Julia–Toulouse condensation mechanism (JTM) introduced in [F. Quevedo, C.A. Trugenberger, Nucl. Phys. B 501 (1997) 143, arXiv:hep-th/9604196]. By a careful treatment of the symmetries we suggest a geometrical interpretation for distinct debatable issues in the MCS-monopole system: (i) the induction of the non-conserved electric current together with the Chern–Simons term (CS), (ii) the deconfinement transition and, (iii) the computation of the fermionic determinant in the presence of Dirac string singularities. The JTM leads to proper interpretation of the non-conserved current as originating from Dirac brane symmetry breaking. The mechanism behind this symmetry breaking is clarified. The physical origin of the deconfinement transition becomes evident in the low energy effective theory induced by the JTM. The proper procedure to compute the fermionic determinant in the presence of Dirac branes will be presented. A byproduct of this approach is the possible appearance of statistical transmutation and the clarification for the different quantization rules for the topological mass.