Extension of the measuring range of balances

The basic principle of comparing the sample mass with the mass of a reference body in equilibrium gives the equal-armed beam balance a unique accuracy. Main parameters characterising the suitability of the instrument are measuring range, resolution and relative sensitivity (resolution/maximum load). The historical development of the values of these parameters achieved depended strongly on the practical need in those times. Technically unfavourable scales of the oldest Egyptian dynasties (~3000 BC) could resolve mass differences of 1 g and had a relative sensitivity of at least 10^–3. More sophisticated instruments from the 18^th Dynasty (~1567–1320 BC) achieved a relative sensitivity of 10^–4 independent of the size of the instrument. In 350 BC Aristotle clarified the theory of the lever and at about 250 BC Archimedes used the balance for density determinations of solids. The masterpiece of a hydrological balance was Al Chazini’s 'Balance of Wisdom’ built about 1120. Its relative sensitivity was 2⋅10^–5. Real progress took place when scientists like Lavoisier (1743–1794) founded modern chemistry. At the end of the 19^th century metrological balances reached a relative sensitivity of 10^–9 with a maximum load of several kilogrammes. That seems to be the high end of sensitivity of the classical mechanical beam balance with knife edges. Improvements took place by electrodynamic compensation (Emich, Gast). In 1909 Ehrenhaft and Millikan could weigh particles of 10^–15 g by means of electrostatic suspension. In 1957 Sauerbrey invented the oscillating quartz crystal balance. By observing the frequency shift of oscillating carbon nanotubes or of silica nanorods, masses or mass changes in the attogram or zeptogram have been observed recently.     

Memory effects in isothermal crystallization II. Isotactic polypropylene

The effects of temperature and duration of melting on the rate of isothermal crystallization of isotactic polypropylene were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Crystallization rates were found to decrease with increasing melt temperature and melting time. The results were discussed in the framework of the theoretical model of transient isothermal crystallization developed by the present authors [1]. The results suggest gradual destruction of predetermined nuclei with activation energyE _a=89±7 kJ/mole as a main mechanism of the observed effects.This work and Part I of this research [1] have been supported in part by Research Grant Number PB 1291/52/93/04 from State Committee for Scientific Research (KBN), Poland, and by 40% MURST founds, Italy.     

The thermal properties of complex, nanophase-separated macromolecules as revealed by temperature-modulated calorimetry

Linear, flexible macromolecules are long recognized as phase structures limited to micrometer and nanometer dimensions with covalent bonds crossing the interfaces. This special, usually non-equilibrium structure leads to unique properties and a multitude of changes for different thermal and mechanical histories. Analyses that enable the study of these properties are temperature-modulated calorimetry and related techniques which allow the separation of equilibrium and non-equilibrium responses. Research on these topics is reviewed and combined to a model for the nanophases. The new approach to the complex nanophase systems yields a better understanding of the relationship between structure and thermodynamic properties. Special emphasis is placed on the size and surface effects on the glass and melting transitions, the development of rigid-amorphous phases, and the reversible melting within the globally metastable structure.     

The high resolution infrared spectrum and laser Stark spectroscopy of thev8 band of propyne

The perpendicularv ₈ band lying in the 1000–1100 cm^–1 region has been studied from infrared and laser Stark, spectra. We were interested in the part of spectrum corresponding to the spectral range of the 9 m CO₂ laser lines. Assignments of rovibrational lines with J'<40 and K'<6 have been made. About 100 Stark resonances have been assigned to 12 rovibrational transitions. Effective molecular constants and dipole moment have been determined with high accuracy. A list of close resonances with CO₂ laser lines is given and may be used for optical pumping experiments.     

邻苯二甲酸在异丙醇-水混合溶剂中电离热力学性质的研究

The first thermodynamic dissociation constants of o-phthalic acid were determined at five temperatures from 278.15 to 318.15 K in 10, 14.93 and 20 wt% isopropanol-water solvent mixtures, by precise e. m. f. measurements of hydrogen-silver chlorld electrodes in cells without liquid junction. On the basis of Pitzer's theory, the method of polynomial approximation was used to determine the dissociation constants of H_2P and the results obtained were compared with traditional extrapolation according to the extended Debye-Huckel equation Results obtained from both methods agree within experimental error. The dependence of the first thermodynamic dissociation constant on temperature was given as a function of the thermodynamic temperature T by the empirical equation: pK_1=A_0+A_1/T+A_2/T. The thermodynamic quantities of dissociation in the mixed solvents have been calculated, and the results have been discussed.     

Lattice-BGK approach to simulating granular flows

Many continuum theories for granular flow produce an equation of motion for the fluctuating kinetic energy density (granular temperature) that accounts for the energy lost in inelastic collisions. Apart from the presence of an extra dissipative term, this equation is very similar in form to the usual temperature equation in hydrodynamics. It is shown how a lattice-kinetic model based on the Bhatnagar-Gross-Krook (BGK) equation that was previously derived for a miscible two-component fluid may be modified to model the continuum equations for granular flow. This is done by noting that the variable corresponding to the concentration of one species follows an equation that is essentially analogous to the granular temperature equation. A simulation of an unforced granular fluid using the modified model reproduces the phenomenon of clustering instability, namely the spontaneous agglomeration of particles into dense clusters, which occurs generically in all granular flows. The success of the continuum theory in capturing the gross features of this basic phenomenon is discussed. Some shear flow simulations are also presented.     

Characterization of the organization in shear layers via the Proper Orthogonal Decomposition

Experiments are performed in an incompressible plane turbulent mixing layer, using various hot wire rake configurations. From these experiments, the Proper Orthogonal Decomposition is applied for kernels where the space-time correlation tensor is evaluated over different spatial meshes and velocity components configurations. The resulting decompositions are then discussed in terms of characterization of the organization of the flow for various scalar or vectorial approaches of the POD. An incrtial range law is evidenced. The instantaneous contribution of the first modes of the POD to the organization of the flow is analyzed. A dynamical behavior for the organization of the flow is observed from the correlation between the first two modes contribution.     

A global pinching theorem for compact surfaces inS 3 with constant mean curvature

LetM be a compact minimal surface inS ³. Y. J. Hsu^[5] proved that if S₂22, thenM is either the equatorial sphere or the Clifford torus, whereS is the square of the length of the second fundamental form ofM, ·₂ denotes theL ²-norm onM. In this paper, we generalize Hsu's result to any compact surfaces inS ³ with constant mean curvature.Supported by NSFH.     

Spreading of viscous droplets on a non viscous liquid

Some polymer melts (of high viscosity ) can wet completely the surface of a non miscible, simple liquid. We discuss here the laws of spreading for a macroscopic droplet of this type, when the internal friction of the droplet dominates. We predict a droplet radius increasing liket ^1/4 wheret is the spreading time, or equivalently a droplet curvature decreasing liket ^–1. The droplet should be surrounded by a precursor film, which is not discussed in the present note.     

飞行时间质谱仪中Ni^＋与酯分子束流的气相反应及机理

在一个石英反应室内，让激光解离的Ｎｉ＾＋与连续喷入的酯类化合物分子束流反应，生成的产物离子经飞行时间质谱仪检测，研究了Ｎｉ＾＋与乙酸乙酯、乙酸丙烯酯、乙酸乙烯酯、乙酸丁酯的气相反应。根据如下机理满意的解释了发生的反应：（１）Ｎｉ＾＋与酯形成激发态络合物；（２）β－Ｈ迁移至烃氧基的氧上形成Ｎｉ＾＋的双配体化合物离子；（３）失去一中性配体分子得Ｎｉ＾＋的单配体化合物离子。由酯的ΔＨ离和Ｄ（Ｎｉ＾＋－Ａ