Investigation of clustering in light nuclei by means of relativistic-multifragmentation processes

New results concerning the topology of the fragmentation of relativistic nuclei ⁷Li and ¹⁰B are presented. A program is proposed for studying the cluster structure of stable and radioactive nuclei. The use of emulsions in the investigation of nuclear clustering in the fragmentation of light nuclei at energies are in excess of 1 GeV per nucleon is discussed.     

Synthesis and structural characterization of novel,fluorinated poly(phthalazinone ether)s containing perfluorophenylene moieties

The synthesis and structural characterization of a series of novel, fluorinated poly(phthalazinone ether)s containing perfluorophenylene moieties are described. The monomers, 4‐(4′‐hydroxyaryl)phthalazin‐1(2H)‐ones ( 2a – 2d ), were conveniently and efficiently synthesized from phenols and phthalic anhydride in two steps via 2‐(4′‐hydroxybenzoyl)benzoic acids, which were first obtained by the Friedel–Crafts reaction in good yields and with high stereoselectivity and were then converted into 2a – 2d by fusion with hydrazine. All the polymers were prepared by nucleophilic aromatic substitution (S_NAr) polycondensation between the compounds perfluorobiphenyl and 4‐(4′‐hydroxyaryl)phthalazin‐1(2H)‐ones ( 2a ‐ 2d ). The resulting fluorinated polymers were readily soluble in common organic solvents (e.g., CHCl₃, tetrahydrofuran, dimethylformamide, dimethyl sulfoxide, N‐methylpyrrolidone, etc.) at room temperature. Their weight‐average molecular weights and the polydispersities ranged from (7.96–18.25) × 10³ to 1.31–2.71, respectively. Their glass‐transition temperatures varied from 213 to 263 °C. They were all stable up to 390 °C both in air and in argon. The 5% weight‐loss temperatures of these polymers in air and argon ranged from 393–487 to 437–509 °C, respectively. Wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction studies indicated they were all amorphous and could be attributed to the presence of kink nonplanar moiety, phenyl phthalazinone along the polymer backbone. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 925–932, 2004     

Tetrafunctional initiators for cationic polymerization of olefins

3,3′,5,5′‐Tetrakis(2‐chloro‐2‐propyl)biphenyl (biphenyl tetracumyl chloride, BPTCC) and 1,3‐bis[3,5‐bis(2‐chloro‐2‐propyl)phenoxy]propane (diphenoxypropane tetracumyl chloride, DPPTCC) were synthesized as initiators for quasiliving cationic polymerization of isobutylene (IB). In the synthesis of BPTCC, tetrafunctionality was achieved via the coupling of dimethyl 5‐bromoisophthalate (DMBI) using nickel dibromide bis(triphenylphosphine) and zinc in the presence of a base; in the synthesis of DPPTCC, two equivalents of dimethyl 5‐hydroxyisophthalate were linked via reaction with 1,3‐dibromopropane in the presence of potassium carbonate. Both initiators were used to initiate the polymerization of IB under quasiliving cationic polymerization conditions. PIB initiated from BPTCC revealed a chain end/molecule value (as determined by ¹H‐NMR) of 3.85, verifying the nearly exclusive production of 4‐arm polyisobutylene (PIB). GPC analysis revealed a narrow peak representing the target four‐arm PIB, with a slight shoulder at high elution volumes (low molecular weights). GPC analysis of the PIB initiated by DPPTCC revealed multimodal distributions, suggesting the formation of two‐, three‐, and four‐arm star polymers during the polymerization. This behavior was attributed to Friedel–Crafts alkylation of the initiator core after the addition of one IB unit, which was activated by the electron‐donating oxytrimethyleneoxy linking moiety. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 5942–5953, 2004     

Plasticized microporous poly(vinylidene fluoride) separators for lithium‐ion batteries. II. Poly(vinylidene fluoride) dense membrane swelling behavior in a liquid electrolyte—characterization of the swelling kinetics

Some microporous poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVdF) separators for lithium‐ion batteries, used in liquid organic electrolytes based on a mixture of carbonate solvents and lithium salt LiPF₆, were characterized by the study of the swelling phenomena on dense PVdF membranes. Various aspects of the kinetics of the carbonate solvents and the solvent mixture sorption in dense PVdF slabs were studied at different temperatures. Non‐Fickian behavior, characterized by S‐shaped sorption curves, was highlighted, and a salt effect, which resulted in two‐stage sorption, was studied. Diffusion coefficients and activation energies were calculated for the Fickian portions of the sorption curves, that is, at short times and low swelling ratios. A strong influence of the different interaction parameters was shown for the swelling kinetics. This study proved that the swelling of microporous PVdF membranes could be considered instantaneous. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 544–552, 2004     

Rheooptical investigation of the crystallization of poly(ethylene terephthalate) under tensile strain

The crystallization of poly(ethylene terephthalate) under uniaxial tensile strain at different extension rates was investigated with optical polarimetry in a temperature range between the glass-transition temperature and the quiescent crystallization temperature. The evolution of the optical properties of the polymer, including the turbidity, birefringence, and dichroism, were monitored simultaneously with the mechanical parameters. To complete the semicrystalline microstructure characterization of the polymer under strain, an online wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) technique was used in separate experiments, which were performed under the same thermomechanical conditions. For real-time measurements, a high-energy synchrotron radiation source was used. The optical properties provided information about both the crystalline and amorphous phases, whereas the WAXD patterns essentially gave information about the crystalline phase. The two experimental techniques were then used in a complementary way to characterize the semicrystalline microstructure. Significant deviations from the stress-optical rule were found. This was attributed to both transient effects and the appearance of crystallites, which consisted of highly oriented molecular segments that could contribute to the optical anisotropy but not necessarily to the stress. The behavior of the optical dichroism was found to be qualitatively different from that of the birefringence. The latter monotonically increased with the strain, whereas the former first increased with the strain, passed through a maximum, and then decreased to a steady-state value. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 1915–1927, 2004     

Plasticized microporous poly(vinylidene fluoride) separators for lithium-ion batteries. III. Gel properties and irreversible modifications of poly(vinylidene fluoride) membranes under swelling in liquid electrolytes

Microporous poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVdF) separators for lithium-ion batteries, used in liquid organic electrolytes, have been characterized with respect to the swelling phenomena on dense PVdF membranes (obtained through hot pressing). In the first and second parts of this study, we have described the swelling equilibria and swelling kinetics of dense PVdF. Here the thermal properties of PVdF gels and their irreversible modifications induced by swelling are characterized. Particular attention is paid to crystallinity modifications, polymer plasticization, and membrane degradation. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 2308–2317, 2004     

Bio‐based nanocomposites from functionalized plant oils and layered silicate

Some discovery work was done on the synthesis of clay nanocomposites based on renewable plant oils. Functionalized triglycerides, such as acrylated epoxidized soybean oil, maleinized acrylated epoxidized soybean oil, and soybean oil pentaerythritol maleates, combined with styrene were used as the polymer matrix. The miscibility of these monomers and clay organomodifier was assessed by solubility parameters. The formation of nanocomposites was confirmed by both X‐ray data and transmission electron microscopy. The morphology showed a mix of intercalated and partially exfoliated sheets. The flexural modulus increased 30% at only 4 vol % clay content, but there was no significant effect on flexural strength, glass‐transition temperature, and thermal stability. Property enhancement was related to the degree of exfoliation that depends on both the polarity and flexibility of the monomers. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 1441–1450, 2004     

Estimation of kinetics parameters for the adsorption of human serum albumin onto hydroxyapatite-modified silver electrodes by piezoelectric quartz crystal impedance analysis.

The adsorption of human serum albumin onto hydroxyapatite-modified silver electrodes has been in situ investigated by utilizing the piezoelectric quartz crystal impedance technique. The changes of equivalent circuit parameters were used to interpret the adsorption process. A kinetic model of two consecutive steps was derived to describe the process and compared with a first-order kinetic model by using residual analysis. The experimental data of frequency shift fitted to the model and kinetics parameters, k1, k2, psi1, psi2 and qr, were obtained. All fitted results were in reasonable agreement with the corresponding experimental results. Two adsorption constants (7.19 kJ mol(-1) and 22.89 kJ mol(-1)) were calculated according to the Arrhenius formula.     

0.8W/80K直线驱动斯特林制冷机的研制

介绍了一种 0 .8W/ 80 K分置式斯特林制冷机。该制冷机采用当前国外先进的直线电机驱动 ,双活塞对称布置结构。该制冷机已通过军品所要求的环境试验 ,输入功率小于 4 0 W(DC)情况下 ,其 +6 0℃高温环境下制冷量≥ 0 .5 W/ 80 K ,带载 0 .5 W工况下 MTTF已突破 2 0 0 0小时。文中主要论述了其工作原理、结构特点、试验情况。     

Symmetric presentations of Abelian groups

We characterise the abelianisation of a group that has a presentation for which the set of relations is invariant under the full symmetric group acting on the set of generators. This improves a result of Emerson.