Fully crosslinked poly(styrene‐co‐divinylbenzene) microspheres by precipitation polymerization and their superior thermal properties

Fully crosslinked, stable poly(styrene‐co‐divinylbenzene) microspheres, which are composed of various concentrations of divilylbenzene from 5 to 75 mol % based on styrene monomer, were prepared without a significant particle coagulation by the precipitation polymerization. The number‐average particle diameter ranged from 3.5 to 2.8 μm and decreased with an increasing concentration of divinylbenzene in monomer. In addition, the coefficient of variation of the microspheres was slightly reduced with the increasing concentration of divinylbenzene. The circularity and the measured specific surface area indicated that lesser particles are coagulated because of the improved stability of individual particles at a high divinylbenzene concentration and that the resulting particles have a smooth surface without micropores. The glass‐transition temperature was not observed for all microspheres formed from the range of divinylbenzene concentrations. In addition, the onset of the thermal‐degradation temperature was increased from 339.8 to 376.9 °C upon higher contents of divinylbenzene. On the basis of the DSC and thermogravimetric data, the polymer microspheres prepared by the precipitation polymerization possessed a fully crosslinked structure and highly enhanced thermal stability. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 835–845, 2004     

Activation volumes of wall-motion and nucleation processes in Co-based ferromagnetic multilayer films

Activation volumes of the wall-motion and nucleation processes in Co-based multilayer films were characterized from time-resolved domain evolution patterns. These activation volumes were both sensitive to the multilayer structure as well as the film preparation condition. The two activation volumes were generally unequal with each other and the inequality directly influenced on magnetization reversal behavior.     

N-heterocyclic carbene-silver complexes: Potential conductive materials for silver pastes in electronic applications

New organosilver complexes, silver(I) tetraalkylbis(benzimidazolidene) halide [1a-3a] and silver(I) dimethyl-N,N′-hexyl(imidazolyl) bromide [4a], were synthesized and incorporated into electroconductive silver pastes. Complex 3a had a 15-fold higher conductivity than conventional silver salt pastes, specifically silver(I) hexanoate, and exhibited a smooth, homogeneous surface after reductive heat-treatment of the silver paste. While the conductivity of silver(I) hexanoate can be increased by up to 33% by the addition of a supporting silver source, such as Ag₂O, the conductivity of 3a was markedly decreased by Ag₂O treatment. Thus, 3a can be used in silver pastes with moderate conductivity and can reduce the amount of conventional silver supporting materials without loss of electroconductivity.     

Existence of self-dual non-topological solutions in the Chern–Simons Higgs model

In this paper we investigate the existence of non-topological solutions of the Chern–Simons Higgs model in R². A long standing problem for this equation is: Given N vortex points and β>8π(N+1), does there exist a non-topological solution in R² such that the total magnetic flux is equal to β/2? In this paper, we prove the existence of such a solution if . We apply the bubbling analysis and the Leray–Schauder degree theory to solve this problem.     

Operation of cusptron at fundamental and harmonic cyclotronfrequencies

Microwave radiation at the fundamental and harmonic electron cyclotron frequencies generated by a cusptron oscillator is reported. A low-energy, axis-rotating beam of 28-30 kV, 0.8-3.5 A, 4 μs, and 60 pps interacts with a single RF mode, both in a circular cavity and in a six-vane circuit by the negative mass instability. In fundamental and second-harmonic frequency generation with a circular circuit, the independently excited modes are TE₁₁s and TE₂₁s, with radiation power of more than 1.8 kW and an electronic efficiency of approximately 7.5%. Employing a six-vane circuit, microwave radiation of 6.0 GHz (sixth harmonic) and 3.9 GHz (fourth harmonic) is also independently generated with more than 10.4 and 4.0 kW radiation power, respectively. Corresponding electronic efficiencies are approximately 10.0 and 9.5%     

Tunneling in the loss of hydrogen chloride from isopropyl chloride cation

The unimolecular dissociation of isopropyl chloride cation has been investigated using mass-analyzed ion kinetic energy spectrometry. The C3H6*+ ion was the only product ion in the metastable dissociation. The kinetic energy release distribution for the HCl loss was determined. Ab initio molecular orbital calculations were performed at the MP2/6-311++G(d,p) level together with single point energy calculations at the QCSID(T)/6-311++G(2d,2p) level. The calculations show that the molecular ion rearranges to an ion-dipole complex prior to loss of HCl via a transition state containing a four-membered ring. The rearrangement involves H atom transfer. On the basis of the potential energy surface obtained for the loss of HCl and Cl*, the rate constants were calculated by transition-state statistical theories with considering tunneling effect. From the calculated result, it is proposed that the observed HCl loss would occur via tunneling through the barrier for isomerization to the ion-dipole complex, CH3CHCH2*+...HCl.     

In vivo high‐resolution synchrotron radiation imaging of collagen‐induced arthritis in a rodent model

In vivo microstructures of the affected feet of collagen‐induced arthritic (CIA) mice were examined using a high‐resolution synchrotron radiation (SR) X‐ray refraction technique with a polychromatic beam issued from a bending magnet. The CIA models were obtained from six‐week‐old DBA/1J mice that were immunized with bovine type II collagen and grouped as grades 0–3 according to a clinical scoring for the severity of arthritis. An X‐ray shadow of a specimen was converted into a visual image on the surface of a CdWO₄ scintillator that was magnified using a microscopic objective lens before being captured with a digital charge‐coupled‐device camera. Various changes in the joint microstructure, including cartilage destruction, periosteal born formation, articular bone thinning and erosion, marrow invasion by pannus progression, and widening joint space, were clearly identified at each level of arthritis severity with an equivalent pixel size of 2.7 µm. These high‐resolution features of destruction in the CIA models have not previously been available from any other conventional imaging modalities except histological light microscopy. However, thickening of the synovial membrane was not resolved in composite images by the SR refraction imaging method. In conclusion, in vivo SR X‐ray microscopic imaging may have potential as a diagnostic tool in small animals that does not require a histochemical preparation stage in examining microstructural changes in joints affected with arthritis. The findings from the SR images are comparable with standard histopathology findings.