Grafting of vinyl monomers onto sisal fiber in aqueous solution

Graft copolymerization of acrylonitrile (AN) onto sisal fibers (chemically modified) was studied using the Mn(III)/EDTA redox system in aqueous solution. The effects of time, monomer (AN), metal ion [Mn(III)] substrate [ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA)], temperature, and acid concentration on graft yield have been studied. The effects of thiourea on the graft yield has also been studied. A suitable mechanism is proposed.     

Working group report: Astroparticle and neutrino physics

The working group on astroparticle and neutrino physics at WHEPP-9 covered a wide range of topics. The main topics were neutrino physics at INO, neutrino astronomy and recent constraints on dark energy coming from cosmological observations of large scale structure and CMB anisotropy.     

Lateral shear interferometry with holo shear lens

A simple method for obtaining lateral shear using holo shear lenses (HSL) has been discussed. This simple device which produces lateral shears in the orthogonal directions has been used for lens testing. The holo shear lens is placed at or near the focus of the lens to be tested. It has also been shown that HSL can be used in speckle shear interferometry as it performs both the functions of shearing and imaging.     

A new approach for heavy ion fusion spin distribution

The method of optical model analysis of generalized elastic scattering angular distributions (GESA) has been applied to heavy ion scattering to derive fusion spin distributions. This method is used to reproduce the coupled channel fusion spin distributions. When applied to experimental data, particularly to the fissile systems like¹⁶O +²³²Th, the method gives large mean square spin values in agreement with “anomalous” values derived from experimental fission fragment anisotropies.     

Effect of Al on the electrochemical corrosion behaviour of Pb free Sn-8.5 Zn-0.5 Ag-XAl-0.5 Ga solder in 3.5% NaCl solution

The effect of Al on the electrochemical corrosion behaviour of Pb-free Sn-8.5 Zn-0.5 Ag-XAl-0.5 Ga solder in 3.5% NaCl solution was investigated by using potentiodynamic polarization techniques. The X content in the solder varied from 0.1 to 3 wt.%. Polarization studies revealed that an increase in Al content upto 1.5 wt.% decreased the corrosion current density (I_corr), corrosion rate of the solder and shifted the corrosion potential (E_corr) towards more noble values. However, higher content of Al, i.e. 3 (wt.%) in the five-element solder enhanced the corrosion rate and resulted in a significant increase in the E_corr towards more negative values. Passivation behaviour was noticed in all the solders having varying Al content, but the passive film formed at 1.5 wt.% Al was most stable due to its low passivation current density (i_p) and low critical current density (i_cc) value in comparison to the other solders. XPS and Auger depth profile results revealed that the passive film consisted of oxides/hydroxides of Al and Zn formed on the surface of the solder with Sn being formed in the subsequent layer. Considerable aluminium segregation occurred towards the surface principally as Al₂O₃/Al(OH)₃ with increase in Al content to 1.5 wt.% in the five element solder. The formation of Al₂O₃ seemed to prevent the oxidation of zinc on the surface of the solder.     

Astrophysical constraints on particle properties

I summarize some astrophysical phenomenon like gamma ray bursters, astrophysical proof of the existence of blackholes, Active galactic nuclei — as high energy neutrino sources, and some unsolved issues in supernova. I touch on the aspects where novel particle properties (like neutrino mass and magnetic moment) are invoked to understand the astronomical observations.     

Effects of admixtures of potassium bromide on the thermal decomposition of potassium bromate

The effects of admixtures of potassium bromide (2.5% and 5%) on the thermal decomposition of potassium bromate were studied within the temperature range 653–683 K. The fraction decomposed() vs. time (t) relations revealed (i) initial gas evolution, (ii) acceleratory and (iii) decay steps. The data were analysed on the basis of the first-order law with two rate constantsk ₁ andk ₂,k ₁ being the rate constant for the initial, slow first-order process (0.02, 0.26), andk ₂ being the rate constant for the subsequent faster process, holding within the range 0.21 to 0.98. Upon increase of the concentration of added potassium bromide to 5%, the range for the slow and faster processes became 0.01 to 0.16 and 0.1 to 0.98, respectively. At a given temperature,k ₁ increased with increasing bromide concentration, whereask ₂ almost identical for pure potassium bromate and its mixtures (2.5% and 5% bromide).

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Zusammenfassung Im Temperaturbereich von 653–683 K wurde der Einfluß von Beimengen von Kaliumbromid (2,5% und 5%) auf die thermische Zersetzung von Kaliumbromat untersucht. Die Funktion der zersetzten Menge () in Abhängigkeit von der Zeit (t) weist eine anfängliche Gasentwicklung(i), eine beschleunigte(ii) und eine abklingende Stufe(iii) auf. Die Daten wurden auf der Grundlage einer Kinetik erster Ordnung mit den zwei Geschwindigkeitskonstantenk ₁ undk ₂ durchgeführt, wobeik ₁ die Geschwindigkeitskonstante für den einleitenden, langsameren Schritt erster Ordnung ist (0,02, 0,26) undk ₂ die Geschwindigkeitskonstante für den darauffolgenden schnelleren Vorgang mit Werten zwischen 0,21 und 0,98. Bei Erhöhung der Konzentration von Kaliumbromid auf 5% betrug der Bereich für den langsameren und den schnelleren Vorgang 0,01 bis 0,16 bzw. 0,10 bis 0,98. Bei gegebener Temperatur steigtk ₁ mit zunehmender Kaliumbromidkonzentration an, währendk ₂ für reines Kaliumbromat und seine Mischungen mit 2,5% und 5% Kaliumbromid fast identisch bleibt.

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653–683 (2,5 5%) . , . k ₁ k ₂, ( 0,02 0,26), - 0,21–0,98. 5% k ₁ k ₂ , , 0,01–0,16 0,1–0,98. k ₁, , k ₂ , (2,5 5%) .

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The work is dedicated to the memory of the late Prof. S. R. Mohanty.     

Sulfinimine-mediated asymmetric synthesis of 1,3-disubstituted tetrahydroisoquinolines: a stereoselective synthesis of cis- and trans-6,8-dimethoxy-1,3-dimethyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline

[reaction: see text] The highly diastereoselective addition of lateral lithiated o-tolunitriles to sulfinimines followed by treatment of the resulting sulfinamide with MeLi, hydrolysis, and reduction represents a concise new methodology for the asymmetric synthesis of 1,3-disubstituted tetrahydroisoquinolines.     

Bio-based tri-functional epoxy resin (TEIA) blend cured with anhydride (MHHPA) based cross-linker: Thermal,mechanical and morphological characterization

A novel renewable resource based tri-functional epoxy resin from itaconic acid (TEIA) was blended with petroleum based epoxy resin (DGEBA) and fabricated at different ratios. Then, it was by thermally cured with methylhexahydrophthalic anhydride (MHHPA) in presence of 2-methylimidazole (2-MI) catalyst. The tensile, modulus, strength of virgin epoxy resin (41.97 MPa, 2222 MPa) increased to 47.59 MPa, 2515 MPa, respectively, with the addition of 30% of TEIA. The fracture toughness parameter, critical stress intensity factor (K_IC) revealed enhancement of toughness in the TEIA bio-based blends system. The thermomechanical properties of TEIA (tri-functional epoxy resin from itaconic acid) modified petroleum-epoxy networks were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). The fracture morphology was also studied by the scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy respectively.     

On the Debye-Waller factor of hexagonal ice: a computer simulation study

We investigate by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations the temperature dependence of the Debye-Waller (DW) factor of hexagonal ice with 25 different proton-disordered configurations. Each initial configuration is composed of 288 water molecules with no net dipole moment. The intermolecular interaction of water is described by TIP4P potential. Each production run of the simulation is 15 ns or longer. We observe a change in slope of the DW factor around 200 K, which cannot be explained within the framework of either classical or quantum harmonic approximation. Configurations generated by MD simulations are subjected to the steepest descent energy minimization. Analysis of the local energy minimum structures reveals that water molecules above 200 K jump to other lattice sites via some local energy minimum structures which contain some water molecules sitting on the locations other than the lattice sites. As time evolves, these defect molecules move back and forth to the lattice sites yielding defect-free structures. Those motions are responsible for the unusual increase in the DW factor at high temperatures. In making a transition from an energy-minimum structure to another one, a small number of water molecules are involved in a highly cooperative fashion. The larger DW factor at higher temperature arises from jump-like motions of water molecules among these locally stable configurations which may or may not be a family of the proton-disordered ice forms satisfying the "ice rule".