A New Equation between Surface Tensions and Solubility Parameters without Molar Volume Parameters Simultaneously Fitting Polymers and Solvents

Both surface tension and solubility parameter are decided by molecular interactions. There are several empirical equations describing their connection. However, at least two limitations exist for them: polymers cannot be treated and only apolar or weakly polar solvents can be fitted. We found when only the dispersive properties were considered, for 37 solvents and 22 polymers, a linear relationship exists between γ ^d and γ/δ^2/3 _d , fitted by a new equation. Compared with the previous equations, the value of the new equation is that most solvents and common polymers could be treated simultaneously. This equation will be of value for estimating the accuracy of reported surface tension data or solubility parameters of polymers.     

On the Populations of Neon Levels in the Low Temperature Plasma of a Hollow Cathode Discharge

Atomic levels population measurements constitute an essential contribution to various aspects of plasma research: balance and cross-section of inelastic processes, admixtures effects on level excitation mechanism, purposeful optimisation of plasma parameters etc. Atomic level populations in the negative glow of a hollow cathode discharge are of utmost interest in view of the peculiarities of the spectral source: a rich spectrum consisting of gas lines, lines of the cathode material and also lines of the substances introduced in the discharge; intensive atomic and ionic lines of high excitation potentials; small spectral linewidth, convenient for analytical purposes.     

Pressure dependence electrical resistivity in DVT grown molybdenum dichalcogenides

Abstract

Single crystals of MoS _x Se_2?x (x=0, 1, 2) have been grown by direct vapour transport method. Pressure-dependent d.c. electrical resistivity measurements have been carried out on the grown crystals to check the possibility of phase transition up to 8 GPa. However, no such transition is observed in the present case but a decrease in resistivity is found with increase in pressure. The observed results have been analysed and discussed on the basis of band structure.     

The impact of scaling on single event upset in 6T and 12T SRAMs from 130 to 22 nm CMOS technology

ABSTRACT

As transistor sizes scale down to nanometres dimensions, CMOS circuits become more sensitive to radiation. High-performance static random access memory (SRAM) cells are prone to radiation-induced single event upsets (SEU) which come from the natural space environment. The SEU generates a soft error in the transistor due to the strike of an ionizing particle. Thus, this paper compares the endurance of 12T SRAM and 6T SRAM circuit on 130 up to 22?nm CMOS technology towards SEU. Besides that, this paper discusses the trend of critical linear energy transfer (LET) and collected charge due to technology scaling for the respective circuit. The critical LET (LETcrit) and critical charge (Qcrit) of 6T are approximately 50% lower compared with 12T SRAMs.     

Crack growth on the basal plane in single crystal zinc: experiments and computations

Crack propagation on the basal planes in zinc was examined by means of in situ fracture testing of pre-cracked single crystals, with specific attention paid to the fracture mechanism. During quasistatic loading, crack propagation occurred in short bursts of dynamic crack extension followed by periods of arrests, the latter accompanied by plastic deformation and blunting of the crack-tip. In situ observations confirmed nucleation and propagation of microcracks on parallel basal planes and plastic deformation and failure of the linking ligaments. Pre-existing twins in the crack path serve as potent crack arrestors. The crystallographic orientation of the crack growth direction on the basal plane was found to influence both the fracture load as well as the deformation at the crack-tip, producing fracture surfaces of noticeably different appearances. Finite element analysis incorporating crystal plasticity was used to identify dominant slip systems and the stress distribution around the crack-tip in plane stress and plane strain. The computational results are helpful in rationalizing the experimental observations including the mechanism of crack propagation, the orientation dependence of crack-tip plasticity and the fracture surface morphology.     

Basal slip localization in zinc single crystals. The Considère analyses

The tensile and compression tests were performed on zinc single crystals oriented for slip in the basal slip system. During the first stage of the stress–strain curve, the localized necking was typical of strain localization in the tensile specimens. Single or multiple necks were formed along the specimen length. The range of temperatures and the strain rates for single necking of the sample was determined. The formation of such necking depends on strain hardening characteristics and can be predicted by the Considère criterion. On the other hand, propagation of the necked area along the sample length was not predictable by this criterion. Localized sliding and specimen kinking was indicative of the strain localization observed for different specimens compressed under the same conditions, i.e. temperature and strain rate. A decrease in the compression force and in the cross-sectional area with anvil displacements produced localized sliding. On the other hand, a continuous increase in the compression force was representative of tests leading to specimen kinking.     

Surface pressure in clusters and small particles—is it real?

Using the methods of statistical mechanics and applying the conditions of thermal equilibrium for an ensemble of interacting molecules, it is proved that there is no excess pressure, nor internal and surface stresses, in clusters and small particles that are not subjected to the action of external forces. With this premise taken into account the thermodynamics of spherical and faceted small particles is developed. In a particle-vapour system surrounded by a rigid impervious shell, Kelvin's and Thomson's formulae and Wulff's rule are derived. For a particle-melt system at a constant external pressure it is expected that the melting points of a particle and a bulk solid should be equal. It is noted that, if a particle is not subjected to the action of external fields or bodies, its molecules occupy their natural equilibrium positions, and it is from them that deformations and internal stresses should be counted off. These equilibrium positions differ from those occupied by the same molecules in a bulk solid, which is what usually gives rise to the illusions of the stressed state of a small particle and its deformation caused by the “uncompensated” surface forces.     

Phase transitions in LiKSO4: Low-temperature neutron diffraction results

Results of a detailed crystallographic study of the structural phase transitions in LiKSO₄, carried out using single crystal neutron diffraction at ambient and below-ambient temperatures (300–100 K), are presented. The study indicates two clear phase transitions at 205 K (from space group P6₃ to space group P31c), at 189 K (to space group Cc) and a third transition at about 130 K in the cooling cycle. The corresponding temperatures are 250 K, 200 K and 138 K in the heating cycle. The existence of twins, mixed phases, and extremely sluggish kinetics for the various phase transitions, as well as the structural details of the various phases in this mixed salt, can explain the apparent inconsistencies in the results of several experimental investigations reported in the literature.