Prognostication of aging of polymeric composite materials

Experimental data demonstrate that a study of accelerated aging can enable prognostication of the working capacity and storage life of polymeric formulations used in aircraft components on the basis of changes in thermogravimetric constants of these polymeric formulations.     

Cosmic γ-ray bursts: Observations and modeling

It is now commonly accepted that cosmic γ-ray bursts (GRBs) are of cosmological origin. This conclusion is based on the statistical analysis of GRBs and the measurements of line redshifts in GRB optical afterglows, i.e., in the so-called long GRBs. In this review, the models of radiation and models of GRB sources are considered. In most of these models, if not in all of them, the isotropic radiation cannot provide the energy release necessary for the appearance of a cosmological GRB. No correlation is noted between the redshift, the GRB-spectrum shape, and the total detected energy. The comparison between data obtained in the Soviet experiment KONUS and the American experiment BATSE shows that they substantially differ in statistical properties and the detection of hard x-ray lines. The investigation of hard gamma (0.1–10 GeV) afterglows, the measurement of prompt optical spectra during the GRB detection, and the further investigation of hard x-ray lines is of obvious importance for gaining insight into the GRB origin. Observations of two bright optical GRB afterglows point to the fact that an initially bright optical flare is directly related to the GRB itself, and the subsequent weak and much more continuous optical radiation is of a different nature. The results of observations of optical GRB afterglows are discussed. They point to the fact that the GRBs originate in distant galaxies with a high matter density, where intense star formation takes place. The interaction of the cosmological GRB radiation with a dense surrounding molecular cloud results in the appearance of long-duration (up to 10 years) weak optical afterglows associated with the heating and reradiation of gas. Results of 2D numerical simulation of the heating and reradiation of gas in various variants of the relative disposition of GRB and molecular clouds are presented. In conclusion, the possible relation between the so-called short GRBs and recurrent sources of soft γ rays in our Galaxy, the so-called “soft gamma repeaters,” is discussed.     

Influence of the counterion size on swelling and collapse of polyelectrolyte gel

A theory that predicts the effect of the counterion size on the swelling and collapse of a weakly charged polyelectrolyte gel was developed. In addition to excluded-volume interactions between monomer units of the gel, the theory involves the counterion-monomer unit and counterion-counterion interactions in terms of the virial approximation. The character of interactions between different units in the system varies from repulsion to attraction depending on the type of solvent, counterion, and dielectric permittivity of the solvent. For solvents with a low permittivity, the effect of condensation of counterions resulting in the formation of ion pairs is taken into account.     

Studies on calcium‐containing poly(urethane ether)s

The calcium salt of mono(hydroxyethoxyethyl)phthalate [Ca(HEEP)₂] was synthesized by the reaction of diethylene glycol, phthalic anhydride, and calcium acetate. Calcium‐containing poly(urethane ether)s (PUEs) were synthesized by the reaction of hexamethylene diisocyanate (HMDI) or tolylene 2,4‐diisocyanate (TDI) with a mixture of Ca(HEEP)₂ and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG₃₀₀ or PEG₄₀₀) with di‐n‐butyltin dilaurate as a catalyst. A series of calcium‐containing PUEs of different compositions were synthesized with Ca(HEEP)₂/PEG₃₀₀ (or PEG₄₀₀)/diisocyanate (HMDI or TDI) molar ratios of 2:2:4, 3:1:4, and 1:3:4 so that the coating properties of the PUEs could be studied. Blank PUEs without calcium‐containing ionic diols were also prepared by the reaction of PEG₃₀₀ or PEG₄₀₀ with HMDI or TDI. The PUEs were well characterized by Fourier transform infrared, ¹H and ¹³C NMR, solid‐state cross‐polarity/magic‐angle‐spinning ¹³C NMR, viscosity, solubility, and X‐ray diffraction studies. The thermal properties of the polymers were also studied with thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry. The PUEs were applied as top coats on acrylic‐coated leather, and their physicomechanical properties were also studied. The coating properties of PUEs, such as the tensile strength, elongation at break, tear strength, water vapor permeability, flexing endurance, cold crack resistance, abrasion resistance, color fastness, and adhesive strength, were better than the standard values. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 2865–2878, 2003     

Diffraction of the Electromagnetic Wave on a Small Obstacle of Elliptic Form in a Layer

The problem on the diffraction of the electromagnetic plane wave on a small obstacle included in a layer is investigated. The obstacle is assumed to be an elliptic cylinder whose diameter and focal distance are small in comparison with the length of the incident wave. It is proved that the small obstacle radiates as a point source, and its amplitude is proportional to the area of the cross-section and the jumps of the dielectric and magnetic constants on the interfaces. Bibliography: 5 titles.     

Chaos-controlling technique for suppressing self-modulation in backward-wave tubes

A method for suppressing self-modulation in backward-wave tubes is proposed. Additional delay is introduced into the feedback circuit, owing to which the output signal amplitude affects the electron beam current that enters into the interaction space. Numerical simulations demonstrate that the operating current in the single-frequency oscillation mode may be increased roughly twofold.     

Influence of the Interaction between Two Neighboring Periodically Curved Fibers on the Stress Distribution in a Composite Material

A method is developed for a stress analysis in an infinite elastic body containing two neighboring periodically cophasaly curved fibers located along two parallel lines. The stress distribution is studied when the body is loaded at infinity by uniformly distributed normal forces in the fiber direction. The investigation is carried out within the framework of a piecewise homogeneous body model with the use of exact three-dimensional equations of elasticity theory. Numerical results related to the stress distribution considered and the influence of interaction between the fibers on this distribution are given.