Effect of β-Nucleating Agent on the Crystallization,Mechanical Properties,and Heat Resistance of Injection-Molded Isotactic Polypropylene

Injection-molded β-isotactic polypropylene (β-iPP) was prepared with a commercial β-nucleating agent (NT-A). The effect of NT-A on the crystallization, mechanical properties, and heat resistance of β-iPP was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD), polarized light microscopy (PLM), and mechanical and heat deflection tests. DSC and WAXD analysis showed that the content of β-crystals in the nucleated iPP was higher than that of pure iPP, and the content of β-crystals of the core was higher than that of the skin. PLM observations showed that injection-molded iPP had an obvious skin-core structure. NT-A induced abundant β-crystals and resulted in small spherulites which improved the Izod notched impact strength. When the content of NT-A was 0.075wt%, the Izod notched impact strength reached a maximum, 2.6 times more than that of pure iPP. The heat distortion temperature was also improved by NT-A.     

Epoxy/Silica Nanohybrids or Nanocomposites: Atomic Force Microscopy and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy Investigation of the Processing–Structure–Property Relationships

The structural and morphological features influencing the glass transition temperature of epoxy/silica nanohybrid and nanocomposite materials containing 25–30 phr of nanoscale silica phases are discussed in this letter to answer the questions related to the processing–structure–property relationships. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy are used to study the surface chemical structure and morphology of epoxy/silica nanohybrids and nanocomposites. Nanohybrids are synthesized via in situ sol-gel process, while the respective nanocomposites are prepared by mechanical blending of preformed silica nanoparticles into epoxy resin. Differential scanning calorimetry is used to determine glass transition temperature of different materials. The surface analytical characterizations reveal that in situ sol-gel process is more suitable for producing organic–inorganic hybrid materials with superior glass transition temperature owing to the achievement of stronger interfacial compatibility and greater crosslink density. A number of other factors affecting glass transition temperature are explored and discussed with reference to surface chemistry, microstructure, and morphology of epoxy/silica nanohybrids and nanocomposites, respectively.     

Microstructure and mechanical properties of nano-Y2O3 dispersed ferritic steel synthesized by mechanical alloying and consolidated by pulse plasma sintering

Ferritic steel with compositions 83.0Fe–13.5Cr–2.0Al–0.5Ti (alloy A), 79.0Fe–17.5Cr–2.0Al–0.5Ti (alloy B), 75.0Fe–21.5Cr–2.0Al–0.5Ti (alloy C) and 71.0Fe–25.5Cr–2.0Al–0.5Ti (alloy D) (all in wt%) each with a 1.0?wt% nano-Y₂O₃ dispersion were synthesized by mechanical alloying and consolidated by pulse plasma sintering at 600, 800 and 1000°C using a 75-MPa uniaxial pressure applied for 5?min and a 70-kA pulse current at 3?Hz pulse frequency. X-ray diffraction, scanning and transmission electron microscopy and energy disperse spectroscopy techniques have been used to characterize the microstructural and phase evolution of all the alloys at different stages of mechano-chemical synthesis and consolidation. Mechanical properties in terms of hardness, compressive strength, yield strength and Young's modulus were determined using a micro/nano-indenter and universal testing machine. All ferritic alloys recorded very high levels of compressive strength (850–2850?MPa), yield strength (500–1556?MPa), Young's modulus (175–250?GPa) and nanoindentation hardness (9.5–15.5?GPa), with up to 1–1.5 times greater strength than other oxide dispersion-strengthened ferritic steels (<1200?MPa). These extraordinary levels of mechanical properties can be attributed to the typical microstructure of uniform dispersion of 10–20-nm Y₂Ti₂O₇ or Y₂O₃ particles in a high-alloy ferritic matrix.     

Deformation and annealing behaviour of a low carbon high Mn TWIP steel microalloyed with Ti

ABSTRACT

A low carbon high Mn, Ti microalloyed dual phase TWIP steel has been processed through cold rolling and annealing. X-ray diffraction reveals the maximum austenite (≈92%) in HRACST sample whereas, the 50CD sample shows 29% ferrite. The microstructure of HRAC and HRACST samples reveal austenite grains with annealing twins and deformation induced ferrite (DIF). The higher amount of DIF along with deformation twins form during cold deformation. Annealing at 500°C shows recovery, whereas at 700°C shows partial recrystallisation and at 900°C reveals almost full recrystallisation. TEM microstructures of the 900°C for 30?min samples reveal annealing twins with TiC particle. Strong Brass {110}<112> and Goss{110}<001> texture components are observed in HRAC, HRACST and 50CD samples. Goss Twin (GT) {113}<332> and Copper Twin (Cu-T) {552}<115> components are observed in 50CD sample. Addition of Ti results in an average grain size of 20?μm. Maximum YS (1176?MPa) and UTS (1283?MPa) values with the lowest ductility of 11% have been obtained for the 50CD sample which is related to the formation of extensive deformation twin and a higher fraction of DIF. 700°C-30?min and 700°C-60?min samples show an increase in ductility (23% and 34%, respectively) with a marginal decrease in tensile strength (1054?MPa). Annealing at 900°C shows ductility restoration up to 60% with higher tensile strength compared to HRACST sample. Ductile fracture of HRAC and HRACST samples transform to brittle fracture in the 50CD sample. Annealing at 900°C for 30?min shows ductile fracture with some (Fe, Mn)S and TiC particles.     

Acoustic behaviour and equation of state of amorphous ethylene–vinyl acetate copolymer studied by means of high-pressure Brillouin scattering spectroscopy

The determination of the equation of state (EOS) of amorphous materials is very important for fundamental understanding of the glass transition and applications as well. Simultaneous observation of both longitudinal and transverse acoustic modes by Brillouin scattering spectroscopy has been one of the major methods to obtain EOS of amorphous materials. However, the transverse acoustic mode is hardly seen from some of the amorphous polymers, which makes it difficult to derive EOS. The temperature and pressure dependences of the acoustic properties of amorphous ethylene–vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymer were measured by using high-pressure Brillouin scattering spectroscopy. The temperature variation induced large changes in the frequency shift and linewidth of the longitudinal acoustic mode due to strong coupling between the structural relaxation process and the propagating density fluctuations. The residual linewidth in the glassy state was attributed to the remnant intramolecular motions of EVA, the activation energy of which was estimated to be ～3.30 ± 0.27 kcal/mol. The pressure–density relationship of EVA could be obtained for the first time by measuring the refractive index and using the Lorentz–Lorenz equation. The density and the refractive index exhibited monotonic increase up to approximately 12 GPa. The strong reduction of the acoustic damping at low pressures below ～3 GPa was attributed to the collapsing free volume in EVA. The present study clearly shows that measuring the refractive index by high-pressure Brillouin spectroscopy may be an alternative method to get the EOS of polymeric materials whose transverse acoustic mode is too weak to be observed.     

无限群分次环的Smash Product的理想交性质

Ｇ是群，Ｒ是Ｇ－分次环．本文将有限群Ｇ分次环Ｒ与Ｇ的ｓｍａｓｈｐｒｏｄｕｃｔＲ＃Ｇ￣＊的理想交性质推广到无限群的情形．证明了：Ｇ是无限群，Ｒ是非奇异Ｇ－分次环．Ｒ与Ｇ的广义ｓｍａｓｈｐｒｏｄｕｃｔＲ＃Ｇ￣＊有理想交性质的充要条件，对任意０≠ａ＿ｅ∈Ｒ＿ｅ．     

快凝Pd82Si18合金原子团簇的演化特性及遗传机制

采用分子动力学(MD)模拟计算,对Pd82Si18合金快凝过程中基本原子团簇的遗传特性、演化趋势和结构稳定性进行了研究.团簇类型指数法(CTIM)分析表明:非晶固体中Si原子为中心的(102/14418/1551)双帽阿基米德反棱柱(BSAP)团簇数目占据优势.快凝过程中,BSAP结构团簇具有最大的遗传分数,并且其他以Si原子为中心的Kasper团簇大多都会向BSAP结构团簇转变.通过对Si原子为中心的Kasper基本团簇电子性质第一性原理计算发现,体系中BSAP团簇的结合能最低,结构稳定性较高,与分子动力学计算结果一致.     

石墨烯纳米网电导特性的能带机理：第一原理计算

通过第一原理电子结构计算来研究有序多孔纳米网的电导特性变化的能带机理.能带结构分析结果表明:石墨烯纳米网超晶格(3m,3n)(m和n为整数)的电子本征态在布里渊区中心点发生四重简并;碳空位孔洞规则排列形成的石墨烯纳米网具有由简并态分裂形成的宽度可调带隙,无论石墨烯的两个子晶格是否对等.在具有磁性网孔阵列的石墨烯纳米网中,反铁磁耦合使对称子晶格的反演对称性增加了一项量子限制条件,导致能带结构在K点的二重简并态分裂成带隙.通过控制网孔密度能够有效调节石墨烯纳米网的带隙宽度,为实现新一代石墨烯纳米电子器件提供了理论依据.     

Characterization of a Marshall-Olkin type class of distributions

Summary A class of bivariate distributions that generalize Marshall-Olkin's one is characterized through a functional equation which involves two associative operations. The obtained distributions concentrate positive mass on the linex=y when the two associative operations coincide; otherwise a positive mass is concentrated on a continuous monotone function. Work performed while the authors were members of CNR-GNAFA.