Electrical and infrared dielectrical properties of silica aerogels and of silica-aerogel-based composites

In this contribution we have studied the key electrical parameters of silica aerogels and of silica-aerogel-based composites, namely the dielectric constants , the dielectric losses tan (at 1 kHz), and the breakdown fields E _b (at 50 Hz). For low-density bulk silica aerogels we find =1.25 and tan =0.0005. E _b is about 500 kV/cm in quasi-homogeneous fields, and of the order of MV/cm in strongly inhomogeneous fields. The dielectric constants of partially densified aerogels increase linearly with density; their dielectric losses are relatively large and their breakdown fields are comparativiely low. The same results are found for aerogels in the form of settled materials, i.e. aerogel granules and powders in air. Acrylate-based aerogel composites with volume fractions larger than 70% have low dielectric constants but their losses are at least 10 times higher than those of low-density aerogels. These materials sustain high local fields in the MV/cm region, while in quasihomogeneous fields, breakdown occurs at about 100 kV/cm. Based on the present results and the interplay with other physical properties (low mechanical resistance, low thermal conductivity, adsorption of water, etc.), silica aerogels and silica aerogel-acrylate-based composites are predicted to have a low potential for electrical insulation.     

O(N) vector model with twisted boundary conditions

Prompted by a recent article of Chakravarty, we reexamine theO(N) vector model with twisted boundary conditions ind dimensions in the various frameworks of the =d–2 expansion, the =4–d expansion, and the large-N expansion. These continuum models describe the physics below the critical temperatureT _c and nearT _c of a latticeO(N) spin model. We determine the effect of the twisting on finite-size scaling functions, for various geometries.On leave from G. Nadjakov Institute of Solid State Physics, 1784 Sofia, Bulgaria.     

Synthesen von Heterocyclen, 72. Mitt.: 4-Phenyl-3,4-dihydro-carbostyrile aus α-Cyanzimtsäureamiden

Zusammenfassung Bei der Reaktion vonSchiffschen Basen mit Cyanacetylchlorid entstehen über labile Addukte -Cyanzimtsäure-anilide, die in Gegenwart von AlCl₃ zu Derivaten des 3-Cyan-4-phenyl-3,4-dihydrocarbostyrils reagieren. Aus diesen kann durch Verseifung die Cyangruppe eliminiert werden.

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The reaction of azomethines with cyanoacetyl chloride leads via instable adducts to -cyanocinnamic anilides, which with AlCl₃ undergo cyclisation to derivatives of 3-cyano-4-phenyl-3,4-dihydrocarbostyrils. The cyano group in these compounds can be removed by hydrolysis and decarboxylation.

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Herrn KollegenO. Hromatka, Wien, mit den besten Wünschen zum 60. Geburtstag.