Study of theK + K − π+ π− system centrally produced in the reactions π+ p→π+(K + K − π+ π−)p andpp→p(K + K − π+ π−)p at 85 GeV/c

The reactions π⁺ p→π⁺(K ⁺ K ^? π⁺ π^? p andpp→p(K ⁺ K ^? π⁺ π^?)p where the (K ⁺ K ^? π⁺ π^?) system is centrally produced have been studied at 85 GeV/c. 48% of the final state proceeds through single or double vector meson resonant production i.e.,K ^*0(890) (37%), ? (4%),ρ ⁰ (7%). Evidence is found for associatedK ^*0 (890) \(\bar K\) ^*o (890) production (6.4±1.1%) with a cross section ten times higher than that found for associated ? ? production in the same experiment.     

A measurement of $K^{*\pm}$ production in the hyperon beam experiment at CERN

We report on a measurement of the differential cross sections of inclusive production in and neutron beams. A strong leading particle effect was observed for production by . The measured –distributions are compared with calculations based on the Lund model (PYTHIA) and the quark-gluon string model. Received: 6 August 2001 / Revised version: 3 September 2001 / Published online: 5 October 2001     

Stability of a model alkali-soluble associative polymer in the presence of a weak and a strong base

 Hydrophobically modified alkali-soluble emulsion (HASE) polymer is solubilized by the addition of a base. When the pH is increased to greater than 6.5, methacrylic acids on the polymer backbone are neutralized and the carboxylated latex polymer goes into solution causing a large increase in the viscosity due to inter-molecular associations of the hydrophobes. The stability of the viscosity of the polymer solution at pH in the range 9–10 was studied in the presence of a strong (NaOH) and a weak [1-amino-1-methylpropanol (AMP)] base. No change in the viscosity or the moduli was observed for the polymer in AMP. Reduction in the viscous and elastic properties of the polymer solution in NaOH was observed after 4 weeks. Such small changes are detectable using the superposition of oscillation on the steady shear technique. The decrease in the viscoelastic properties is attributed to the hydrolysis reaction of the urethane groups of the macromonomer, which resulted in a decrease in the number of hydrophobes per polymer chain. It is recommended that a weak base be used to neutralise the HASE polymer in order to avoid the possibility of compositional changes in the polymer after neutralisation for more than 6 weeks. Received: 19 May 1998 Accepted in revised form: 26 October 1998     

Isotope ratio monitoring gas chromatography/Mass spectrometry of D/H by high temperature conversion isotope ratio mass spectrometry

Of all the elements, hydrogen has the largest naturally occurring variations in the ratio of its stable isotopes (D/H). It is for this reason that there has been a strong desire to add hydrogen to the list of elements amenable to isotope ratio monitoring gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (irm-GC/MS). In irm-GC/MS the sample is entrained in helium as the carrier gas, which is also ionized and separated in the isotope ratio mass spectrometer (IRMS). Because of the low abundance of deuterium in nature, precise and accurate on-line monitoring of D/H ratios with an IRMS requires that low energy helium ions be kept out of the m/z 3 collector, which requires the use of an energy filter. A clean mass 3 (HD(+.)) signal which is independent of a large helium load in the electron impact ion source is essential in order to reach the sensitivity required for D/H analysis of capillary GC peaks. A new IRMS system, the DELTA(plus)XL(trade mark), has been designed for high precision, high accuracy measurements of transient signals of hydrogen gas. It incorporates a retardation lens integrated into the m/z 3 Faraday cup collector. Following GC separation, the hydrogen bound in organic compounds must be quantitatively converted into H(2) gas prior to analysis in the IRMS. Quantitative conversion is achieved by high temperature conversion (TC) at temperatures >1400 degrees C. Measurements of D/H ratios of individual organic compounds in complicated natural mixtures can now be made to a precision of 2 per thousand (delta notation) or, better, with typical sample amounts of approximately 200 ng per compound. Initial applications have focused on compounds of interest to petroleum research (biomarkers and natural gas components), food and flavor control (vanillin and ethanol), and metabolic studies (fatty acids and steroids). Copyright 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Functional polymers. XXVII: 2[2-hydroxy-4-acryloxy(methacryloxy)phenyl]2H-benzotriazole: Monomers,polymers, and copolymers

2(2,4-Dihydroxyphenyl)2H-benzotriazole has been prepared in about 50% yield by condensation ofo-nitrobenzenediazonium chloride with resorcinol followed by reductive cyclization of the initially obtained azo compound with zinc and sodium hydroxide. The condensation of the diazonium salt had to be carried out under carefully controlled conditions and in acidic medium, otherwise bis-condensation occurred which, after reductive cyclization, yielded 2(2,4-dihydroxyphenyl)1,3-2H-dibenzotriazole. 2(2,4-Dihydroxyphenyl)2H-benzotriazole was allowed to react with acryloyl or methacryloyl chloride. Monoacylation in the 4-position occurred by interfacial acylation technique and 2[2-hydroxy-4-acryloxy (or 4-methacryloxy)]2H-benzotriazole was obtained in over 60% yield. The two monomers were homopolymerized and copolymerized with styrene, methyl methacrylate, andn-butyl acrylate to polymers of high molecular weight. Incorporation of 2[2-hydroxy-4-acryloxy (or 4-methacryloxy)]2H-benzotriazole into the copolymer was from 1 to 10 mol% of the comonomer mixture. The ultraviolet spectra of monomers, homo- and copolymers were also determined.This paper is dedicated to Professor Dr.Karl Schlögl on the occasion of his 60th birthday with our warmest wishes.     

Microhardness studies of chain-extended PE. I. Correlations to microstructure

The hardness–microstructure correlation of various polyethylene (PE) samples crystallized at high pressure from the melt (chain-extended), with different molecular weights, has been investigated and compared to melt crystallized samples at atmospheric pressure (chain-folded). The hardness, H, of melt crystallized PE is confirmed to increase linearly with the logarithm of the annealing time, t_a, at a constant annealing temperature. The H increase with t_a is discussed in terms of the crystallinity and crystalline lamellar thickness variation. Unusually high hardness values are obtained for samples crystallized or annealed at high pressure as a consequence of the resulting high degree of crystallinity and large crystalline lamellar thickness values. However, it is shown that the high surface free energy value of the chain-extended crystals considerably lowers the hardness values from that of an ideal infinitely thick PE crystal. Analysis of the crystal hardness and the melting temperature data of different polymeric materials emphasizes the close existing relationship between both quantities. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 37: 3151–3158, 1999     

Rheological properties of hydrophobically modified alkali-soluble polymers—effects of ethylene–oxide chain length

The rheological properties of hydrophobic alkali-soluble associative polymers (HASE) were studied using controlled rate (Mettler LS40) and controlled stress (TA CSL 500) rheometers. The effects of pH and polymer concentrations on the rheological properties of three HASE model polymer systems (i.e., HASE 5141, 5134, and 5142, with a degree of ethoxylation of 2.5, 10, and 40 mol, respectively) and a reference polymer without associative hydrophobes (MAAEA) were examined. As the pH is increased by addition of ammonia to greater than 5–6, the carboxyl groups ionize to carboxylate ions and the polymers become water soluble. The HASE polymers thicken mainly by hydrophobic association. Viscosity can increase by two to three orders of magnitude as pH is raised to 9. The degree of ethoxylation in the macromonomer controls the nature of the hydrophobic association junctions by altering the flexibility and hydrophobicity of the macromonomer. Optimum thickening efficiency is observed in the system with approximately 10 mol of an ethylene–oxide spacer between the polymer backbone and the macromonomer. Viscoelastic study shows that the maximum thickening efficiency also corresponds to the dominant elastic property observed in the system with 10 mol of EO. All the model systems except the control system without hydrophobe exhibit strain thickening of the viscous and elastic components. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J. Polym. Sci. B Polym. Phys. 36: 2275–2290, 1998     

A permanganic etchant for polyolefines

A permanganic etchant has been developed which reveals lamellar and other fine detail in surfaces of at least three crystalline polyolefines, viz., polyethylene (of both high and low density), isotactic polypropylene, and isotactic poly(4-methylpentene-1). In typical treatments of high-density polyethylene ca. 2 μm of material is removed with defective regions suffering preferential attack. The etchant also discriminates between lamellar orientations, eating deeper where side surfaces of laminae are exposed than on fold surfaces, and between different polymers, attacking isotactic polypropylene more strongly than polyethylene. Comparison with other techniques authenticates the detail exposed and samples appear to be otherwise unaltered by their treatment. Besides normal imaging, it is also possible to use etched samples for transmission diffraction studies in the electron microscope. The method has very considerable application for revealing lamellar details in crystalline polyolefines (which can be chosen to be representative or selective according to the nature of the surface used). Examples are given of a wide variety of melt-crystallized morphologies for the three polymers cited and also of lamellae in a drawn polyethylene sample. It is pointed out that permanganic etching is complementary to the technique of chlorosulfonation used to stain polyethylene in a similar way as bright field microscopy is to dark field.     

Controlled assembly of luminescent racks based on heteroleptic dinuclear lanthanide complexes

Luminescent lanthanide racks are formed in solution through supramolecular assembly of lanthanide ions with a rigid bis-didentate sensitiser ligand and octadentate aminopolycarboxylate ligands.     

Production of high transverse momentum prompt photons and neutral pions in proton-proton interactions at 280 GeV/c

The inclusive cross sections for production of prompt photons and π⁰ s by 280 GeV/c protons incident on a liquid hydrogen target, have been measured forp _T in the range 4.0 to 6.5 GeV/c and for |x _F |<0.45. A quantitative comparison of the prompt photon cross section with next-to-leading order QCD predictions using Duke and Owens structure functions is performed. Phenomenological fits to the π⁰ and prompt photon cross sections are given.