Self-assembled growth of MgO nanosheet arrays via a micro-arc oxidation technique

Unique magnesia (MgO) nanosheet arrays were fabricated via a promising micro-arc oxidation (MAO) technique on the surface of magnesium alloy. The non-uniform patterning of oxygen evolution on the sample surface and trapping of gas bubbles in the growing film are associated with the formations of the sheet and flower-like structures. These MgO structures may be useful in reinforcing composite materials or in further modifying other nanostructures.     

Derivation of quantum yields for visible emission transitions of Sm in heavy metal tellurite glass

Under the pumping of violet lighting emitting diode, quantum yields for multichannel transition emissions have been determined in Sm³⁺-doped heavy metal tellurite glass for the first time. For the derivation, the necessary fluorescence spectra were measured and calibrated in an integrating sphere connected to a CCD detector with a 400 μm-core optical fiber. The spectral power distribution of the sample was derived from the measured spectra first, and then the quantum yields of the visible emissions of Sm³⁺ were calculated based on the distribution. The total quantum yield for four emission transitions of Sm³⁺ in visible region is 4.07%. Integrating sphere with a CCD detector is proven to be a reliable and reproducible method to characterize luminescence and laser materials.     

Finite vertex primitive 2-arc regular graphs

A classification is given of finite graphs that are vertex primitive and 2-arc regular. The classification involves various new constructions of interesting 2-arc transitive graphs.     

Influence of preparation methods on structure and properties of PA6/PA66 blends: A comparison of melt‐mixing and in situ blending

The blends composed of polyamide 6 (PA6) and polyamide 66 (PA66) were obtained using two different preparation methods, one of which was the melt‐mixing through a twin‐screw extruder and the subsequent injection molding; and the other, the in situ blending through anionic polymerization of ε‐caprolactam in the presence of PA66. For the former, there existed a remarkable improvement in toughness but a drastic drop in strength and modulus; however, for the latter, a reverse but less significant trend of mechanical properties change appeared. Various characterizations were conducted, including the analyses of crystalline morphology, crystallographic form, and crystallization and melting behaviors using polarized optical microscopy (POM), wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction (WAXD), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), respectively; observation of morphology of fractured surface with scanning electron microscope (SEM); measurement of glass transition through dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA); and the intermolecular interaction as well as the interchange reaction between the two components by Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FT‐IR) and ¹³C solution NMR. The presence and absence of interchange reaction was verified for the in situ and melt‐mixed blends, respectively. It is believed that the transreaction resulted in a drop in glass transition temperature (T_g) for the in situ blends, contrary to an increase of T_g with increasing PA66 content for the melt‐mixed ones. And the two kinds of fabrication methods led to significant differences in the crystallographic form, spherulite size and crystalline content and perfection as well. Accordingly, it is attempted to explain the reasons for the opposite trends of changes in the mechanical properties for these two blends. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 45: 1176–1186, 2007     

Investigation on the isotherm of silica gel+water systems

This article presents results of the experimental investigation on the adsorption of the water vapor on silica gel. Two independent experimental methods has been used, viz. the constant-volume-variable-pressure (CVVP) system and variable pressure thermogravimetry (TG). Results from these two methods are compared with each other. Also the isosteric heat of adsorption of this system has been determined from the equilibrium data. The silica gels investigated here are Fuji Davison type 'A' and type 'RD'. Adsorption isotherm of water vapor have been measured under a variety of conditions all referring to chiller operation cycles, i.e. temperatures from 303 to 358 K and pressures from 500 to 7000 Pa. The data collected from the two independent experiments compare very favorably with each other and their trends are consistent with those of the adsorption chiller manufacturer. This lends significant weight to our experimental data on silica gel+water systems as being valuable to the adsorption chiller manufacturers and the scientific community. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Evidence that absorption in the π+ π− π− system in nuclear matter is stronger in the JP = 0− than in the JP = 1+ state

In the reaction π^? + A → π⁺π^?π^? + A at 15.1 GeV/c the coherently produced 3π mass spectrum has a broad peak around 1.1 GeV which consists mainly of a J^P = 1⁺ state and of a smaller fraction of 0^-. Comparing the observed dependence of the production of these diffractive states on the atomic weight A of the target nuclei with the optical model, we have studied the absorption of the produced states in nuclear matter. We have found the following values of the absorption cross-sections: σ₂(0^-) = 49_?7⁺⁹ mb and σ₂(1⁺) = 15.8_?1.3^+1.5 mb.     

The effect of crystallinity and crosslinking on the depression of the glass transition temperature in nylon 6 by water

The influence of crystallinity and crosslinking on the depression of the glass transition temperature in nylon 6 by water has been investigated by dynamic mechanical methods. Radiation crosslinking by high-energy electrons was effective in preventing morphological changes during the measurement of the incremental change in heat capacity (ΔC_p) at T_g, which was performed by differential scanning calorimetry. The experimentally determined value of ΔC_p, when normalized to account for the crystalline phase, was found to deviate from a linear two-phase relation and was reduced further than would be expected based on this model. It is proposed that nylon 6 is best described by a three-phase model which consists of a crystalline domain, a wholly amorphous domain, and an “intercrystalline” region. The importance of this in explaining the relatively large depression of T_g by small quantities of water is illustrated by applying equations derived to account for the compositional dependence of T_g in polymerdiluent mixtures, based on a classical thermodynamic interpretation of the glass transition phenomenon.