Hybrid free radical/cationic frontal photopolymerizations

The irradiation of hybrid photopolymer systems consisting of a free radically polymerizable multifunctional acrylate monomer and a cationically polymerizable epoxide or oxetane monomer was conducted under conditions where only the free radical polymerization takes place. This results in the formation of a free‐standing polyacrylate network film containing quiescent oxonium ions along with the unreacted cyclic ether monomer. The subsequent application of a point source of heat to the film ignites a cationic ring‐opening frontal polymerization that emanates from that site and propagates to all portions of the irradiated sample. This article examines the impact of various molecular structural and experimental parameters on these novel hybrid frontal polymerizations that produce interpenetrating network polymers. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 4331–4340, 2007     

A refined stress-strain analysis in the load transfer zone of flat specimens of high-strength unidirectional composites in uniaxial tension 1. Theoretical analysis

With the use of an analytical approach developed, the influence of distribution of a tangential load on the stress concentration in uniaxially tensioned flat specimens of high-strength unidirectional composites near the grips of a testing machine is evaluated. In view of singularity of the analytical solution derived at the points of discontinuity of boundary conditions, for estimating the stress concentration, it is suggested to employ the averaged value of longitudinal stresses, which is calculated by means of an improper integral across the thickness of a near-surface layer. __________ Translated from Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 42, No. 6, pp. 787–796, November–December, 2006.     

Asymptotic estimation of states of linear nonautonomous systems with scalar output

For a linear nonautonomous system with one output, the existence conditions for an identifier that estimates the current state with exponential rate are established. An algorithm for constructing such an identifier is described and its dependence on small perturbations of coefficients is studied.     

The effect of gamma irradiation and shelf aging in air on the oxidation of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene

This study has investigated the effect of shelf aging, for up to one year in air, on the properties of gamma-irradiated ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE). A variety of techniques were used to characterize the properties of treated samples. Differential scanning calorimetery (DSC) was used to characterize the morphology. The extent of cross-linking in a polymer network was detected by swelling measurements. The durometer hardness test was used to measure the relative hardness of this material, and changes in density were also measured. Results from all these measurements were combined to explain the changes in the microstructure of the aged, irradiated UHMWPE. This study shows that crystallinity is increased with radiation dose and with aging due to chain scission, which leads to a reduction in the molecular weight of the material. This allows the chains to rearrange to form crystalline regions. Positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy confirms these conclusions. Fractional free volumes have been deduced from lifetime parameters, which correlate with the data obtained by the other techniques.     

Influence of octupole interactions on the behavior of negative-parity states at low spins

The energies of negative-parity levels based on two-particle states exhibit a nonlinear behavior at low spins versus the core-rotation energy because the alignment process has not yet been completed for them. This behavior of negative-parity levels in the low-spin region is satisfactorily described upon the inclusion of octupole-octupole interactions. This is demonstrated within the rotational model involving the Coriolis mixing of states for the even-even isotopes ^162–168Hf.     

Electronic structure and elastic moduli of the simple cubic fullerite C24—A new allotropic carbon modification

The energy band structure, equation of state, density of states, and elastic moduli of a new allotropic carbon modification, namely, fullerite C₂₄ with a simple cubic lattice (known previously as cubic graphite), are calculated by the full-potential linearized augmented-plane-wave (FLAPW) method with geometry optimization for the first time. The dependence of the total energy on the lattice constant exhibits a minimum for a ₀ = 0.60546 nm. In this case, the lengths of the C-C bonds between fullerene molecules, the lengths of the 6,6-bonds shared by hexagons, and the lengths of the 4,6-bonds shared by a square and a hexagon are equal to 0.1614, 0.1503, and 0.1637 nm, respectively. An analysis of the energy band structure and the density of states demonstrates that the simple cubic fullerite C₂₄ is a direct-band-gap insulator or a semiconductor with a band gap of 1.6 eV. The calculated bulk modulus B ₀ = 196 GPa and the elastic moduli C ₁₁ = 338 GPa, C ₁₂ = 139 GPa, and C ₄₄ = 30 GPa indicate that the fullerite under investigation is a mechanically stable material. The inference is made that the simple cubic fullerite C₂₄ is a new diamond-like molecular zeolite with a unique combination of properties, such as the porosity and nonpolarizability, on the one hand, and the mechanical strength, chemical inertness, and high thermal conductivity, on the other hand. The simple cubic fullerite C₂₄ can be considered a promising low-dielectric-constant (low-k) material (?₀ < 5.7) for use in fabricating interconnections and substrates intended for integrated circuits and nanoelectronics.     

Propagation of a focused light beam in a circuital system of tunnel-coupled waveguides

The propagation of a pencil beam in a circuital system of tunnel-coupled waveguides is considered. It is shown that the beam periodically focuses into a point when moving along the trajectory. A maximal number of waveguides supporting the propagation of the beam can be estimated in simple terms. The cross-sectional area of the waveguides can be subdivided into three zone with the beam pulsing only in the central one.     

Surface distortions of the magnetic structure of a uniaxial antiferromagnet: The “magnetic field-roughness” phase diagram

Magnetic-structure distortions induced by an external magnetic field near a rough surface of a uniaxial collinear antiferromagnet are analyzed using mathematical modeling. The “magnetic field-roughness” phase diagram of these distortions is constructed. It is demonstrated that, under specific conditions, the presence of atomic steps leads to the formation of domains in the surface layer of the antiferromagnet. In the case of a strong roughness, there arise static vortices at the surface and a 90° domain wall aligned parallel to the surface of the antiferromagnet.     

Structure of (Ba0.7Sr0.3)TiO3 films prepared by chemical solution deposition during crystallization on a sublayer

Barium strontium titanate (BST) films on Si-SiO₂-Ti-Pt substrates are prepared by chemical solution deposition upon crystallization on a sublayer. The structure of the BST films is investigated using transmission electron microscopy, high-resolution electron microscopy, and x-ray diffraction analysis.