On additives, morphological evolution and dielectric breakdown in low density polyethylene

A series of low density polyethylene systems has been studied with respect to structural evolution and short-term dielectric breakdown behaviour. All materials were based upon a single polymer, that is commonly used in high voltage applications, but with different additives. In all three of these systems, multiple melting transitions were observed, as a result of molecular fractionation effects during crystallization. In the virgin polymer, a space-filling banded spherulitic morphology was found to develop at low temperatures (102 °C and below) whereas, at higher temperatures, only a few isolated axialites were observed. Inclusion of the antioxidant resulted in greatly increased nucleation densities, such that, at low temperatures, no evidence of spherulitic organisation remained. At higher temperatures, sheaf-like lamellar aggregates developed, which were much smaller and much more numerous than in the case of the virgin polymer. Further addition of dicumyl peroxide (DCP) resulted in the rapid formation of a crosslinked network at 200 °C. Some crosslinking also occurred at 150 °C, but over a much longer timescale. Where extensive crosslinking occurred prior to crystallization, the resulting gel inhibited structural development, such that only a few small, isolated sheaves were able to form at 102 °C. In view of the principal application area of this material, the breakdown strength of each of the above systems was then measured and the whole data set was analysed statistically. When structural factors were considered alongside the statistics, no clear trends emerged to indicate that either the compositional or morphological variations were reflected in the short-term electrical failure processes.     

Some new results on superimposed codes

A (w,r) cover‐free family is a family of subsets of a finite set such that no intersection of w members of the family is covered by a union of r others. A (w,r) superimposed code is the incidence matrix of such a family. Such a family also arises in cryptography as the concept of key distribution pattern. In the present paper, we give some new results on superimposed codes. First we construct superimposed codes from super‐simple designs which give us results better than superimposed codes constructed by other known methods. Next we prove the uniqueness of the (1,2) superimposed code of size 9 × 12, the (2,2) superimposed code of size 14 × 8, and the (2,3) superimposed code of size 30 × 10. Finally, we improve numerical values of upper bounds for the asymptotic rate of some (w,r) superimposed codes. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Effects of B′-site transition metal on the properties of double perovskites Sr2FeMO6 (M=Mo, W): B′ 4d-5d system

The crystal structure, magnetic and magnetotransport properties of the variation of B′-site transition metal in Sr₂FeMO₆ (M=Mo, W) with double perovskites structure have been investigated systematically. Measurements of magnetization vs. temperature at H=5 T show that Sr₂FeMoO₆ is a ferromagnet and Sr₂FeWO₆ is an antiferromagnet with T_N∼35 K. Additionally, the large magnetoresistance ratio (MR) of ∼22% (H=3 T) at room temperature (RT) was observed in the Sr₂FeWO₆ compound. However, the Sr₂FeMoO₆ compound did not show any significant MR even at high fields and RT (MR∼1%; H=3 T and 300 K). The implications of these findings are supported by band structure calculations to explain the interaction between the 4d(Mo) and 5d(W) orbitals of transition metal ions and oxygen ions.     

Comparison of two models for managing reliability growth during product design

Relying on reliability growth testing to improve system designis neither usually effective nor efficient. Instead it is importantto design in reliability. This requires models to estimate reliabilitygrowth in the design that can be used to assess whether goalreliability will be achieved within the target timescale forthe design process. Many models have been developed for analysisof reliability growth on test, but there has been much lessattention given to reliability growth in design. This paperdescribes and compares two models: one motivated by the practicalengineering process; the other by extending the reasoning ofstatistical reliability growth modelling. Both models are referencedin the recently revised edition of international standard IEC61164. However, there has been no reported evaluation of theirproperties. Therefore, this paper explores the commonalitiesand differences between these models through an assessment oftheir logic and their application to an industrial example.Recommendations are given for the use of reliability growthmodels to aid management of the design process and to informproduct development.     

Derivation of fluorine-containing pyridine dicarboxylates. II. Elaboration at the 4-position

In response to the bio-activity found in fluorine-containing 4-alkyl-3, 5-pyridinedicarboxylates, a series of novel 4-substituted derivatives, not directly available by Hantzsch sequences, were prepared. Starting 4-alkylpyridines, 1 , were converted via enamine 2 to materials 3–8 . Derivatives 9–16 in turn were derived from aldehyde 3 , while acid derivatives 28–36 were prepared from 14 . Addition of oxygen, sulfur, and carbenoids effected conversion of 4-allylpyridine 16 to epoxy and cyclopropyl derivative 16–22 . A number of neighboring group effects were noted, including those forming the fused-ring systems 23-27 .     

Effects of sodium salicylate on the febrile response and increased levels of cyclic AMP in cerebrospinal fluid during endogenous pyrogen-induced fever in rabbits

To further evaluate the causality between endogenous pyrogen (EP)-induced fever and cyclic adenosine-3',5'-monophosphate (cyclic AMP) level, the effects of sodium salicylate (SS) on the febrile response and increased levels of cyclic AMP in both cerebrospinal fluid (c.s.f.) and plasma during EP-induced fever in rabbits were observed. The results suggest that cyclic AMP is probably involved in the central mediation of EP-induced fever and that increased concentration of cyclic AMP in c.s.f. associated with EP-induced fever is not the result of temperature elevation but appears to be caused by the increased synthesis in the central nervous system. In addition it is confirmed that blood is impossibly a contributory source of increased cyclic AMP in c.s.f. during EP fever, and that SS may act subsequent to the increase in cyclic AMP.     

Structure and superconductivity in FexCu1−xBa2YCu2O7+y superconductors synthesized by high pressure

Comprehensive studies of X-ray diffraction, oxygen content, superconductivity and Mössbauer effect have been made on Fe_xCu_1−xBa₂YCu₂O_7+y superconductors (0.00≤x≤0.70) synthesized by ambient (AM) and high pressure (HP). Results indicate that all the HP-samples have tetragonal structure, smaller lattice parameter c and unit-cell volume than the AM-samples. The studies of oxygen content, and Mössbauer spectroscopy indicate that the HP-samples have higher oxygen content, carrier concentration and average valence of Fe than the AM-samples. Moreover, for the HP-samples more Fe atoms located in CuO_x chains have fivefold-oxygen coordination. These are important reasons for the enhancement of T_c in the HP-samples.     

Liquid–gas critical phenomena under confinement: small-angle neutron scattering studies of CO2 in aerogel

Small angle neutron scattering (SANS) is a well-established technique for investigating the behavior of confined binary liquid solutions, as it can probe the correlation length and susceptibility in pores on length scales 1 – 100 nm. We applied SANS to explore the influence of confinement on critical behavior of an individual fluid carbon dioxide (CO₂) in a highly porous aerogel. The results demonstrate that quenched disorder induced by aerogel significantly depresses density fluctuations. Despite the negligible volume occupied by aerogel (< 4%), the macroscopic phase separation of confined CO₂ into coexisting liquid and gaseous phases is suppressed and below the critical temperature of the bulk fluid frozen methastable microdomains are formed. Experimental data show that critical adsorption is as important as the effect of confinement in defining the behavior of confined fluids.