Synthesis and characterization of poly(methyl methacrylate)‐block‐poly(methylphenylsilane)‐ block‐poly(methyl methacrylate) by atom transfer radical polymerization

ABA block copolymers of methyl methacrylate and methylphenylsilane were synthesized with a methodology based on atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). The reaction of samples of α,ω‐dihalopoly(methylphenylsilane) with 2‐hydroxyethyl‐2‐methyl‐2‐bromoproprionate gave suitable macroinitiators for the ATRP of methyl methacrylate. The latter procedure was carried out at 95 °C in a xylene solution with CuBr and 2,2‐bipyridine as the initiating system. The rate of the polymerization was first‐order with respect to monomer conversion. The block copolymers were characterized with ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy and size exclusion chromatography, and differential scanning calorimetry was used to obtain preliminary evidence of phase separation in the copolymer products. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 30–40, 2003     

Enhancement of the emission yield of silicon nanocrystals in silica due to surface passivation

The ability of surface passivation to enhance the photoluminescence (PL) emission of Si nanocrystals in SiO₂ has been investigated. Silicon precipitation in implanted samples takes place in a time scale of few minutes at 1100°C. For longer annealing at the same temperature, the PL intensity of the Si nanocrystals increases and eventually reaches saturation, while it correlates inversely with the amount of Si dangling bonds at the Si–SiO₂ interface (P_b centers), as measured by electron spin resonance. This combined behavior is independent on the silica matrix properties, implantation profiles and annealing atmosphere and duration. The observation that the light emission enhancement is directly related to the annealing of P_b centers is confirmed by treatment in forming gas. This mild hydrogenation at much lower temperature (450°C) leads to a complete passivation of the P_b defects, increasing at the same time the PL yield and the lifetime.     

Dog and tricks: some mathematics for students of graphics

This paper describes how parametric cubic splines and cubicBezier curves may be used in designing a two dimensional shape.A simple aerofoil shape is designed using both methods. Themathematics is described and the shape drawn using Excel. Theeffect of varying parameters is shown in both methods.     

Applications of electronic speckle interferometry (ESI) techniques for spacecraft structural components

Laser-based electronic speckle interferometry (ESI) techniques, viz., electronic speckle pattern interferometry (ESPI) and electronic speckle shearographic interferometry (ESSI) are used for testing of spacecraft structural components. The combined ESPI and ESSI system developed in house was successfully used for the non-destructive evaluation (NDE) of honeycomb sandwich panels and propellant tanks of Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). Debonds between face sheet and the honeycomb core were identified using (i) thermal and (ii) dual vacuum stressing methods. On-line NDE of the propellant tanks under internal pressure loading for identification of the minute cracks and thickness reduction areas were successfully implemented by ESI.     

The Six and Eight-Vertex Models Revisited

Elliott Lieb's ice-type models opened up the whole field of solvable models in statistical mechanics. Here we discuss the “commuting transfer matrix” T,Qequations for these models, writing them in a more explicit and transparent notation that we believe offers new insights. The approach manifests the relationship between the six-vertex and chiral Potts models, and between the eight-vertex and Kashiwara–Miwa models.