Effects of the type of crosslink on viscoelastic properties of natural rubber

The viscoelastic properties of various crosslinked natural rubbers, NR, were investigated by mechanical spectroscopy. The glass transition temperature, T_g, was found to be dependent on both the crosslink density and the crosslink type. Higher values of T_g were obtained for sulfur-crosslinked NR than for peroxide-crosslinked NR at the same crosslink density. The greater influence of the sulfur content on T_g may be attributed to polysulfidic crosslinks and cyclic sulfide structures favored at high sulfur contents. Sulfur-vulcanized NRs with monosulfidic crosslinks, favored at relatively high accelerator/sulfur ratios, have properties more similar to the peroxide-cured NR with simple carbon(SINGLE BOND)carbon crosslinks covalent bonds, resulting in only small shifts in T_g. A qualitative analysis of monosulfidic crosslinks and polysulfidic structures was performed with ¹³C solid-state NMR spectroscopy. The storage modulus, E′, in the rubbery plateau region increased with increasing crosslink density. However, the crosslink type did not influence the moduli values as much as it influenced the T_g values. Different methods of detecting the crosslink density were also discussed. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

The π N → e +e−N reaction close to the vector-meson production threshold

The π^? p→e ⁺ e ^? n and π⁺ n→e ⁺ e ^? p reaction cross sections are calculated below and in the vicinity of the vector-meson (?⁰,ω) production threshold. These processes are largely responsible for the emission of e ⁺e^? pairs in pion-nucleus reactions and contribute to the dilepton spectra observed in relativistic heavy ion collisions. They are dominated by the decay of low-lying baryon resonances into vector-meson-nucleon channels. The vector mesons materialize subsequently into e ⁺ e^? pairs. Using πN→?⁰ N and πN→ωN, amplitudes calculated in the center of mass energy interval 1.4 < √s<1.8 GeV, we compute the π^? p→e ⁺ e ^? n and π⁺ n→e ⁺ e ^? p reaction cross sections in these kinematics. Below the vector-meson production threshold, the π⁰?ω interference in the e ⁺ e^? channel appears largely destructive for the π^? p→e ⁺ e ^? n cross section and constructive for the π⁺ n→e ⁺ e ^? p cross section. The pion beam and the HADES detector at GSI offer a unique possibility to measure these effects. Such data would provide strong constraints on the coupling of vector-meson-nucleon channels to low-lying baryon resonances.     

A semiempirical MO study of the electronic structure and excited states of the Tris(2,2′-bipyridyl)Iron(II) and Tris(glyoxal-Bis-N-methylimine)iron(II)Ions

A semi-empirical SCF-MO method, the PEEL method, has been applied in an investigation of the electronic structure and excited states of two iron compounds, [Fe(II)-(GMI)₃]⁺⁺ and [Fe(II)-(bipy)₃]⁺⁺.The electronic absorption spectra have been recorded. The calculations show that it is necessary to account for the trigonal distortion and the covalency in order to explain these spectra quantitatively. Mössbauer measurements have also been performed. The calculated electronic population of the iron is in accord with Mössbauer isomer shift data, indicating that a realistic electron distribution has been obtained by the PEEL method.

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Zusammenfassung Eine semiempirische SCF-MO-Methode, die PEEL-Methode, wurde zur Untersuchung der Elektronenstruktur sowie von angeregten Zuständen der beiden Eisenverbindungen [Fe(II)-(GMI)₃]⁺⁺ und [Fe(II)-(bipy)₃]⁺⁺ angewendet.Die elektronischen Absorptionsspektren wurden aufgenommen. Die Berechnungen zeigen, daß die trigonale Verzerrung und die Kovalenz berücksichtigt werden müssen, um die Spektren quantitativ zu erklären. Mössbauer-Messungen wurden ebenfalls durchgeführt. Die berechnete Elektronenverteilung am Eisenatom ist in Übereinstimmung mit den Daten der Isomerenverschiebung der Mössbauer-Messungen, wodurch gezeigt wird, daß mit der PEEL-Methode eine realistische Elektronen-Verteilung erhalten wurde.

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Résumé Une méthode SCF-MO semi-empirique, la méthode PEEL, a été appliquée à une étude de la structure électronique et des états excités de deux composés ferreux: [Fe(II)-(bipy)₃]⁺⁺ et [Fe(II)-(GMI)₃]⁺⁺. Les spectres d'absorption électronique ont été enregistrés. Les calculs montrent qu'il est nécessaire de rendre compte de la distorsion trigonale et de la covalence pour expliquer ces spectres quantitativement.Des mesures de l'effet Mössbauer ont aussi été effectuées. La population électronique calculée du fer est en bon accord avec les données sur le déplacement isomérique de Mössbauer, ce qui indique que la méthode PEEL fournit une distribution électronique réaliste.

     

Khachiyan's linear programming algorithm

L. G. Khachiyan's polynomial time algorithm for determining whether a system of linear inequalities is satisfiable is presented together with a proof of its validity. The algorithm can be used to solve linear programs in polynomial time.     

Polarization contributions to the spin dependence of the effective interaction in neutron matter

We calculate the modification of the effective interaction of particles on the Fermi surface due to polarization contributions, with particular attention to spin-dependent forces. In addition to the standard spin-spin, tensor, and spin-orbit forces, spin nonconserving effective interactions are induced by screening in the particle-hole channels. Furthermore, a novel long-wavelength tensor force is generated. We compute the polarization contributions to second order in the low-momentum interaction V(low k) and find that the medium-induced spin-orbit interaction leads to a reduction of the 3P2 pairing gap for neutrons in the interior of neutron stars.     

Predictions of pulsed field gradient NMR echo-decays for molecules diffusing in various restrictive geometries. Simulations of diffusion propagators based on a finite element method

Pulsed field gradient NMR diffusometry is a promising tool for investigating structures of porous material through determinations of dynamic displacements of molecules in porous systems. A problem with this approach is the lack of closed analytical expressions for echo-decays in anything but idealized pore geometries. We present here an approach based on calculating the appropriate diffusion propagator by means of finite element calculations. The suggested method is quite general, and can be applied to arbitrary porous systems. The protocol for the calculations is outlined and we show results from some different cases: diffusion in confined geometries and in systems that are spatially inhomogeneous with respect to concentration.     

On the influence of the basis set superposition error on calculated vibrational frequencies

The relation between the so called basis set superposition error and intramolecular vibrational frequencies calculated at the Hartree Fock SCF level of approximation was investigated. A linear conformation of HF dimer was chosen as test system for the investigation. It was found that the direct basis set superposition error for the studied system is rather small. It was further found that the shifts are mainly determined by the geometry parameters of the system. AcknowledgementsJ. M. H.-R. wishes to thank the Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte for the award of a research grant.