Femtosecond laser-based fabrication of a new model material to study fracture

The ductile fracture process consists of the nucleation, growth and coalescence of voids in a material. Predictive models of ductility require a complete understanding of the coalescence event. However, coalescence occurs over very small strains and is therefore difficult to observe experimentally. We have addressed this by developing a new class of model material. It consists of femtosecond laser drilled holes and diffusion bonded metallic sheets, which can be mechanically tested in situ either by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) or by X-raycomputed tomography (XRCT). The fabrication steps are presented and the model material is characterized by optical and electron microscopy, nanoindentation and tomography. The heat affected zone around the laser holes is found to be harder than the unaffected material and consists of nano-scale grains. Finally we show that the coalescence event is well captured using both SEM and XRCT. The fabrication method is adaptable to a wide range of materials and enables one to produce 2D and 3D arrays of holes or cracks with controlled size, volume fraction and distribution. PACS  62.20.Mk; 62.25.+g; 79.20.Ds     

Synthesis of rhodium(II) pyrazolate complexes: Crystal structure of tetra-μ-3,5-dimethylpyrazolato dirhodium(II) bis-acetonitrile, (Rh-Rh)

The reaction of Rh₂(O₂CMe)₄ with the sodium salt of 3,5-dimethylpyrazole (3,5-Me₂pzH) in acetonitrile gives Rh₂(3,5-Me₂pz)₄ · 2MeCN. This yellow diamagnetic compound on heating gives Rh(3,5-Me₂pz)₄ which in turn forms adducts with different unidentate ligands, L, to give Rh₂(3,5-Me₂pz)₄ · 2L. The binuclear tetra bridged structure has been established for the acetonitrile complex by X-ray diffraction. The Rh-Rh distance is 2.353(3) Å and the Rh-N (acetonitrile) distance is 2.202(5) Å. Some unsubstituted pyrazolates have been made.     

Determination of cyanogen and cyanogen chloride using gas chromatography with a flame ionisation detector

Summary The response of a flame ionisation detector (FID) to cyanogen ((CN)₂) and cyanogen chloride (CNCI) has been studied. The lower limits of detection for (CN)₂ and CNCl were 6×10⁻¹² moles and 2×10⁻¹¹ moles respectively. In a comparative study a thermal conductivity detector gave as its lower limit of detection for both (CN)₂ and CNCl 4×10⁻¹¹ moles. Both detectors showed excellent linearity over the range 0 to 10 micromoles. The ratio of the gradients of the FID calibrations (CN)₂/CNCI were found to be approximately two suggesting the response depended on the cyanide group. The response and stability of the FID was investigated as a function of air and hydrogen flow-rates. The response increased with increasing air flow-rate for both (CN)₂ and CNCI up to 300cm³min⁻¹, thereafter no significant increase was observed. On raising the hydrogen flow from 10 to 25cm³min⁻¹ only a slight increase in the sensitivity of the FID towards both (CN)₂ and CNCI was observed. At higher flow rates the response for (CN)₂ increased markedly whereas at the same flow rates the response for CNCI increased only slightly.     

Direct synthesis of guanidines using di(imidazole-1-yl)methanimine

A direct synthetic approach to guanidine compounds is reported here using di(imidazole-1-yl)methanimine and di(imidazole-1-yl)cyanomethanimine as guanylating reagents.     

Fused silica capillary column GC/MS for the analysis of priority pollutants

Operational characteristics have been determined for fused silica capillary column (FSCC) GC/MS as applied to “extractable” priority polutants. Chromatographic data show excellent relative retention time (RRT) intralaboratory precision and interlaboratory accuracy when multiple internal standards are empolyed. Potential chromatographic problems, such as column overload and “double peaking”, are addressed. Response factor relative standard deviations (RSD) at 50 ng for most of the extractable priority pollutants over the long term indicated precise determination (i.e. RSD generally ≤ 10%). Linearity was demonstrated over two orders of magnitude for FSCC GC/MS analysis of compounds with relatively low and high RF (response factor) values. Potential quantitative problems, such as saturation, are discussed. For certain aromatic priority pollutants interlaboratory RF agreement was observed. This was noted as perhaps the most important property of FSCC GC/MS analysis when the multiple internal standard approach is utilized. Determinations of extractable priority pollutants are directly compared for paced column GC/MS and FSCC GC/MS analysis of separate and composited extracts. For six extracts analyzed in triplicate, the latter configuration was shown to produce more consistent results. In view of the superior analysis logistics of composite extract FSCC GC/MS analysis, this approach was established as the preferred method for the analysis of priority pollutants classified as extractable.     

Selection of internal standards for quantitative analysis by matrix-assisted laser desorption-ionization (MALDI) time-of-flight mass spectrometry

The selection of an appropriate internal standard (IS) for quantification by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry is critical for the successful application of quantitative MALDI. Selection of the IS depends on the chemical similarity of the analyte and IS and the mass separation of the analyte and IS as a function of instrumental peak resolution. For the quantification of bovine insulin, a series of internal standards including horse heart cytochrome C, bovine insulin chain B, des-pentapeptide human insulin, and des-octapeptide porcine insulin was investigated. Des-pentapeptide human insulin was found to be the most appropriate internal standard (relative standard deviation of the standard curve slope = 2.99%, correlation coefficient = 0.988 in the range of 0.5-0.4 μmol/L). Two methods for measuring of the MALDI signal intensity were evaluated, direct peak integration following subtraction of a linear background and non-linear least squares curve fitting. The results obtained with these methods were equivalent.