Formation of regular clusters through self-association of intramolecularly hypercrosslinked polystyrene-type nanosponges

Atactic polystyrene of M = 330,000 Da and M_w/M_n = 1.04 was subjected to chloromethylation. By the heating of chloromethylpolystyrene with SnCl₄ in a very dilute solution in ethylene dichloride, the polymeric coils were converted into intramolecularly hypercrosslinked macromolecules, nanosponges, of molecular weight of about 370,000 Da and a diameter of about 17 nm. When in solution, the nanosponges tend to reversibly self-assemble into regular clusters. Size exclusion chromatography and sedimentation analysis corroborate the suggestion that the clusters consist of 13 spherical subunits and thus acquire a molecular weight of about 5.0 × 10⁶ Da and a diameter of about 45 nm. © John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35: 3847–3852, 1997     

Advances in Modern Information Technologies for Data Analysis in CRYO-EM and XFEL Experiments

Crystallography Reports - A new approach to the organization of data pipelining in cryo-electron microscopy (Cryo-EM) and X-ray free-electron laser (XFEL) experiments is presented. This approach,...     

Heat propagation and stability in a small high Tc superconductor coil

Using a Bi-based small high T_c superconductor (HTSC) coil, we have studied its stability against a local disturbance and current-induced quench in the helium gas cooling condition. While the stability margin of HTSC coil against a local disturbance was very large, quench current was limited by a catastrophic temperature rise which originated from the nonlinear characteristic of the Joule heating. The crucial parameter for the quench becomes the nonlinear resistance in HTSC as a function of temperature and transport current. It has been shown that the dynamic characteristics of the quench can be described quantitatively by the simplified one-dimensional heat balance equation.     

Final dt stickingω s using the “survived moun method”

A new direct measurement of the final dt sticking probability _s using a special data analysis called the survived muon method is presented. The data were obtained at PSI using a high pressure ionization chamber with H/D/T gas mixtures. The method can provide information on final sticking dt +n independent of theoretical models of stripping and initial sticking. It was found: _s=(0.57±0.07±0.02)%. The experiment and the analysis method are discussed in detail.     

Experimental survey of the sticking problem in muon catalyzed dt fusion

The sticking process dt + n, which constitutes the most severe limit to the number of fusions which a muon can catalyze, is reviewed. Many attempts were made to determine by calculations and measurements the probability for initial sticking _s ⁰ (immediately after dt fusion) and for final sticking _s (after the came to rest). Previous results based on neutron disappearance rates and on the observation of -X-rays were controversial and also in some disagreement with theory. New data are reported from PSI on direct observation of final sticking, using a setup with the St. Petersburg ionization chamber. These data mark a significant improvement in reliability and may clarify questions concerning previous discrepancies. The new results is _s(0.56±0.04)%, lower than the theory prediction _s=(0.65±0.03)%, at medium density.     

Study of Inelastic $$\boldsymbol{A}$$ ( $$\boldsymbol{p,p^{\prime}}$$ ) $$\boldsymbol{X}$$ Reaction with $${}^{\mathbf{9}}$$ Be and $${}^{\mathbf{90}}$$ Zr Nuclei at 1 GeV

Physics of Atomic Nuclei - The secondary proton polarization and differential cross sections of the ( $$p,p^{\prime}$$ ) inelastic reaction on nuclei $${}^{9}$$ Be and $${}^{90}$$ Zr at the initial...     

Molecular dynamics simulation of the aggregation of colloidal particles

The spontaneous time evolution of systems containing N colloidal particles (N = 12, 24, 100) in a spherical cell of volume V at a constant volume fraction φ=0.1 was studied by a molecular dynamics method in the NVT ensemble. The starting velocities of the particles are allocated according to the Maxwell distribution at T=273 K.

Pairwise interaction of the particles was specified by molecular, electrostatic and elastic forces. The changes in the potential energy of the systems were calculated during the establishment of dynamic equilibrium. Coagulation takes place at sufficiently high values of the Hamaker constant. The value of the coefficient of Brownian diffusion, which is calculated from the half-time of coagulation, is found to be close to the known value for aqueous dispersions. The inclusion of electrostatic forces prevents coagulation.

The results obtained are in agreement with those obtained using theories of aggregate formation. Some structural characteristics of aggregates and stable systems are discussed.     

Nitrous Oxide: Production,Application, and Protection of the Environment

Russian Journal of General Chemistry - Natural and anthropogenic sources of nitrous oxide were considered, and their contribution to environmental pollution was determined. The effect of N2O on...     

Sol–gel transition and rheological properties of silica nanoparticle dispersions

Possible variants of the rheological behavior of silica model dispersions have been analyzed. Different types of interaction between the particles and a dispersion medium make it possible to obtain different systems from low-viscosity sols to gels. Proton-donor (water) and aprotic (dimethyl sulfoxide) media have been used for comparison. Dispersions in the aprotic medium behave as non-Newtonian viscous fluids exhibiting shear thinning or shear thickening depending on deformation rate. Aqueous dispersions are viscoelastic and viscoplastic objects that exhibit the shear thickening at stresses higher than the yield stress. The introduction of small amounts of poly(ethylene oxide) into the organic dispersion medium initiates gelation. An increase in the polymer content in the dispersion medium above the concentration corresponding to the formation of a macromolecular network promotes an increase in stiffness and strength of the gels. The rheological behavior of gels is influenced by the polymer molecular mass and its affinity for a solvent.