High spin spectroscopy of 139Pr

The high spin states in N=80 ¹³⁹Pr have been investigated by in-beam γ-spectroscopic techniques following the reaction ¹³⁰Te (¹⁴N, 5n) reaction at E=75 MeV, using a gamma detector array, consisting of seven 23% compton-suppressed high purity germanium detectors and a multiplicity ball of fourteen bismuth germanate elements. Based on γ-γ coincidence data, the level scheme of ¹³⁹Pr has been considerably extended up to 7.2 MeV excitation. Tentative spin-parity assignments are done for the newly proposed levels on the basis of the DCO ratios corresponding to strong gates and the available information from the earlier light ion experiments.     

Modeling Biological Systems: The Belousov–Zhabotinsky Reaction

In this essay I examine the ways in which the Belousov–Zhabotinsky (BZ) reaction is being used by biologists to model a variety of biological systems and processes. The BZ reaction is characterized as a functional model of biological phenomena. It is able to play this role because, though based on very different substrates, the model and system modeled are examples of the same type of excitable medium. Lessons are drawn from this case about the relationships between the sciences of chemistry and biology.     

Transparency enhancement in semicrystalline PEEK through variation of polymer morphology

We report a processing window in which transparent semicrystalline poly(ether ether ketone) (PEEK) can be produced. The transparent PEEK film reported is 100 μm in thickness and has light transmittance of 54%; while ordinary semicrystalline PEEK film of the same thickness and degree of crystallinity, but produced outside the processing window, is virtually opaque (with the light transmittance close to 0%). First processing conditions for producing the transparent PEEK film are discussed, and second characterization of the transparent PEEK film is detailed. Results suggest that the main processing condition for developing the transparent PEEK film is forming temperature, defined as the highest temperature that the film is exposed to during thermal treatment. Using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and small-angle x-ray scattering (SAXS), we characterized morphology of the PEEK films. TEM shows that the morphology in the transparent PEEK film has a locally oriented lamellar structure, instead of the commonly observed spherulites or sheaves. DSC results suggest that the new morphology is formed in the melt with a high density of residual crystals that act as nucleating agents during the crystallization process, which is known as a self-seeding effect. SAXS spectra show that specimens with higher forming temperature produce broader diffraction peak at larger Q value that is defined as 4π sin θ/λ. We conclude from the study that the light transmittance enhancement is morphology related, and can be achieved through control of processing conditions. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Molecular simulation of thermophysical properties of aromatic polymers containing oxetane ring in the main chain

Molecular simulation techniques have been applied to newly synthesized aromatic polymers, containing oxetane rings in the main chain, to characterize the shape of rod‐like macromolecules. Single chains and periodic unit cells of a series of aromatic polymers with degree of polymerization 15 were used in the simulations, in accordance with the experimentally obtained one. The total potential energy was minimized and then NVE and NPT molecular dynamics simulations were performed for 1,000 ps at 11 temperatures between 10 and 1,000 K. The coefficient of asymmetry was calculated from the computer‐generated structures. The predictive capability of the NPT molecular dynamics simulation and Polymer Properties modules of Cerius² were used to estimate the orientational properties (order parameter), glass transition temperature, cohesive energy, and decomposition temperature of the polymers simulated. In general, there is a good‐to‐excellent agreement between simulated results and available experimental data of the above investigated properties. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 37: 2334–2352, 1999     

Experimental Critical-Exponent Values for Fluids

After a review of the history and an assessment of the current status of the subject, we present light-scattering data to determine the critical correlation-function exponents for an aqueous electrolyte solution yielding the experimental values γ=1.238±0.012, ν=0.629±0.003, η=0.032±0.013. We conclude the paper with some comments concerning the temperature dependence of non-asymptotic effective critical-exponent values of fluids.     

TIME-TEMPERATURE-MISCIBILITY AND MORPHOLOGY OF POLYOLEFIN BLENDS

Miscibility and crystallization have been studied for polypropylene-polyethylene and polyethylene-polyethyleneblends. In the case of the polypropylene blends the composition of interest is 20% polypropylene. At this composition thepolypropylene has been found to be soluble in linear low density polyethylene but insoluble in high, low and very lowdensity polyethylenes. The miscibility has been concluded from the crystallization kinetics and polarised optical microscopywith a hot stage. Polyethylene-polyethylene blends have been formed from polymers with similar average branching contentbut where they have different melting temperatures. Important consequences are to introduce long branches into apolyethylene that only has short branches, and to modify the morphology of a polyethylenes so that haze, gloss and strainhardening are improved. Polyethylene blends must be developed after careful consideration of the branch content anddistribution within each of the constituents. It is not sufficient to simply blend polyethylenes, with the desired range ofproperties, without regard to the miscibility of the blend composition.     

Hydrogen on WO3(001)

Ultraviolet photoemission measurements of the (001) surface of WO₃ show that after exposure to atomic hydrogen new states appear in the energy gap region at 2.3 and 0.9 eV below the Fermi energy. A peak at 2.2 eV was also produced by hydrogen ion bombardment. To investigate whether these surface effects were due to the formation of hydrogen tungsten bronze H_xWO₃, comparison was made with spectra from the electronically similar sodium bronze. The form of the spectra were different both in the valence band and energy gap regions indicating that hydrogen adsorption or loss of oxygen from the surface rather than formation of H_xWO₃ is the major effect.     

Effect of the ionic aggregation on the crystallisation behavior of poly(ethylene) part of ionomer

The influence of ionic interaction on the melt-crystallization behavior of the ethylene ionomer was studied using modulated DSC (MDSC^TM), wide angle X-ray scattering (XRD) and hot stage microscopy. The kinetics of the crystallization process of the ionomer was evaluated using isothermal differential scanning calorimetry (iso-DSC). Wide-angle X-ray scattering was used to examine the d spacing of poly(ethylene) part. The crystallinity of the poly(ethylene) part of ionomer measured from XRD is found to be 24%, which is comparable to that obtained from MDSC^TM. Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) results show that the clusters and multiplets exist in the ionomer, and the cluster is about 127Ĺ. The kinetics of crystallization process obtained using Avrami equation shows that the crystallization process is fundamentally similar to poly(ethylene) as it goes through nucleation and propagation stages of the crystals. However, the morphology of the crystal appears to be different and influenced by clusters (platelike and/or needle-shaped) as evident from Avrami constant. This is different from the poly(ethylene) (which is spherulitic in nature) due to polar cluster and hydrophobic PE melt interaction. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Structural and thermal interpretation of the synergy and interactions between the fire retardants magnesium hydroxide and zinc borate

The mechanism of cooperative action of commercial fire retardants is interpreted as resulting from specific chemical reaction and phase changes. This investigation focuses on the thermally initiated interactions between two forms of commercially available fire retardant compounds. The fire performance of a polyolefin with a metal hydroxide fire retardant, magnesium hydroxide, can significantly reduce the heat release rate through absorption of heat during conversion to its metal oxide. Formation of water, followed by vaporisation, decreases heat and dilutes volatiles from polymer degradation. The second form of fire retardant compounds are zinc borates (2ZnO·3B₂O₃·3H₂O and 4ZnO·B₂O₃·H₂O), that undergo dehydration with increasing temperature. Differential thermal analysis and wide-angle X-ray spectroscopy indicated that various structural changes occurred during heating. Endothermic transitions were observed for all components, while zinc borate (2ZnO·3B₂O₃·3H₂O) showed an exothermic crystallisation transition at relatively high temperature. The exotherm was modified by the development of a new crystalline phase, magnesium orthoborate (3MgO·B₂O₃) that formed on reaction with magnesium oxide (MgO) at temperatures greater than 500 °C. Formation of crystalline zinc oxide (ZnO) was also detected. From zinc borate (4ZnO·B₂O₃·H₂O), ZnO was primarily formed. No new crystalline phases were observed in the presence of MgO over the temperature range investigated.     

Separation and identification of multicomponent mixture by thin-layer chromatography coupled with Fourier transform-infrared microscopy

A fast and convenient method based on coupled thin-layer chromatography (TLC) with Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) microscopy has been established for separation and identification of multicomponent mixtures. In this study, the method was developed and consummated with more perfect TLC spots transferral process and consistent FTIR testing conditions. A newly developed technique, solid-phase extract (SPE) was introduced for sample pre-treatment instead of using traditional column chromatography. It is a new field for SPE that has already been widely applied in many other fields. It not only overcomes the backwards (low separation efficiency, time consuming and solvent consumption) of column chromatography but also makes it much easier to choose an optimum TLC sheet and to set suitable TLC loading. With all the above-mentioned modifications and supplements, the analytical method of coupled TLC with FTIR microscopy for separation and identification of multicomponent mixtures becomes more convenient and more efficient. In addition, a very complex sample (a die-cast release agent) was used as an example to demonstrate the technique.