A one-site polarizable model for liquid chloroform: COS/C

A one-site polarizable liquid chloroform model based on the charge-on-spring method is presented. It consists of five van der Waals sites and point charges, with one polarizable center on the carbon atom. The partial charges were adjusted to fit the gas-phase dipole moment of chloroform, and the Lennard–Jones parameters were varied to reproduce the density and the heat of vapourization of liquid chloroform. In this way, a simple polarizable model for liquid chloroform was obtained that correctly describes a variety of its thermodynamic, dynamic and dielectric properties, while the computational costs are only a factor of 2 higher than for a similar non-polarizable chloroform model. The model is simpler than two previously developed polarizable chloroform models, with four or five polarizable sites. The developed COS/C model is expected to show realistic behaviour of chloroform molecules in response to changes in electric field strength or the dielectric environment and should be applicable in simulations of biomolecules in conjunction with the GROMOS biomolecular force field.     

The bond force constants of graphene and benzene calculated by density functional theory

Stretching (k_r) and bending (k_θ) bond force constants appropriate to describe the bond stiffness of graphene and benzene are calculated using density functional theory. The effect of employing different exchange-correlation functionals for the calculation of k_r and k_θ is discussed using the generalised gradient approximation (GGA) and the local density approximation (LDA). For benzene, k_r = 7.93 mdyn Å^-1 and k_θ = 0.859 mdyn Å rad^-2 using LDA, while k_r = 7.67 mdyn Å^-1 and k_θ = 0.875 mdyn Å rad^-2 using GGA. For graphene, k_r = 7.40 mdyn Å^-1 and k_θ = 0.769 mdyn Å rad^-2 using LDA, while k_r = 6.88 mdyn Å^-1 and k_θ = 0.776 mdyn Å rad^-2 using GGA. This means the difference between the bond force constants for benzene and graphene can be as large as ～12%. The comparison between these two systems allows for elucidation of the effect of periodicity and substitution of carbon atoms by hydrogen in the stiffness of C–C bonds. This effect can be explained by a different redistribution of the charge density when the systems are subjected to strain. The parameters k_r and k_θ computed here can serve as an input to molecular mechanics or finite element codes of larger carbon molecules, which in the past had frequently assumed the same bond force constants for graphene, benzene or carbon nanotubes.     

An effective force field for molecular dynamics simulations of dimethyl sulfone

A rigid five-site united atom model for dimethyl sulfone (DMSO₂) compatible with the GROMOS force field is parametrized and tested. The parameters were optimized with respect to experimental quantities such as liquid density, heat of vaporization, shear viscosity and excess free energy. Good agreement with pure component properties is achieved except for the static dielectric permittivity which is calculated too low. Together with the SPC model for water the new DMSO₂ model was used to study aqueous mixtures at low concentrations and compared to aqueous mixtures of DMSO. It is concluded that interaction parameters for sulfoxide oxygen are not directly transferable to sulfonyl oxygen.     

Vibrational Behaviour of the CrO3- 4 Anion in Different Crystalline Environments

The powder-infrared spectra of different crystalline compounds containing the tetrahedral Cro^3- ₄, anion have been recorded and analyzed with the aid of the site symmetry rules. In some cases Raman data are also reported. The effect of the different crystalline environments is discussed in detail and comparisons with isostructural phases are also made. A definitive assignment for the internal vibrations of the CrO^3- ₄, ion is proposed and a new set of force constants has been calculated fron a modified valence force field.     

Carbon-13 NMR Study of 2,4,6-Triaryl Pyridinium Salts

The carbon-13 chemical shift of seventeen N-substituted 2,4,6-triphenyl pyridinium salts (TPP) and N-substituted 2,4,6-triaryl pyridinium (TsPP) salts have been determined.     

Improving the adhesion between a aqueous PU and a polyamide fibre with silane

Glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane (GPS) and γ-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (APS) were used to modify the surface chemistry of polyamide fibre. The surface chemistry was characterised using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The silanol functional group was designed to be introduced on the surface of polyamide fibre to increase its chemical activity by N-alkylation of GPS and hydrolysis of APS, and to improve the poor interfacial adhesion between a polyamide 66 fibre and an aqueous polyurethane polymer adhesive. The microbond test was used to measure the interfacial shear strength between the waterborne PU adhesive and the polyamide fibre. It has been found that APS hydrolysis and GPS-alkylated fibre surface can be used to improve the interfacial adhesion of polyamide fibre to PU. The IFSS can be improved by N-alkylation of GPS from 5.0 to 8.4?MPa. After water immersion at 50?°C for 48?h, then drying, the IFSS increased to 8.8?MPa due to the plasticisation of PU in water. Better interfacial adhesion was also observed by the hydrolysis of APS, but not significantly improved by this method due to the relatively weak hydrogen bond at the interface between APS and polyamide fibre.     

Evaluation of the mechanical properties of PMC interface using slice compression test — Analysis of transfer mechanism of interfacial shear stress

Properties of the fiber/matrix interface in SiO₂/epoxy and SiC/epoxy composite are investigated using the slice compression test (SCT) for the single fiber, where the specimen is loaded and unloaded between a plate which has different mechanical properties. It is found that the interfacial debonding proceeds from the polished surface at a soft plate side and that the fiber protrusion occurs after unloading. The fiber-protrusion length is directly measured at each applied stress level using a scanning electron microscope. Interfacial shear-sliding stress is obtained based on the constant shear-sliding stress analysis employing the obtained protrusion length. It is demonstrated that the value of interfacial shear-sliding stress shows good agreement with that obtained from another technique, the push-out test, on the same system. The relation between the fiber-protrusion length and applied stress is proportional to a certain extent. From this result, it is analytically pointed out that the applied stress has a limiting value in this SCT because of Poisson's effect. Also, two interfacial debonding criteria, which are determined analytically for the PMC, are discussed.     

Effect of surface treatment condition on interfacial degradation behavior in GFRP under acidic conditions

Interfacial degradation behavior of E-glass cloth reinforced vinyl ester resin under acidic conditions has been investigated. Specimens with different surface treatment conditions were prepared. Mode I fracture toughness tests were performed using DCB specimen, and the effect of surface treatment condition and immersion time on the crack propagation behavior is discussed. The crack propagation behavior changes as a function of the condition of the silane coupling agent and the immersion time due to the degradation of the interphase. A technique is proposed to evaluate the interfacial property. The change of fracture toughness of interphase and resin as a function of immersion time is studied by the crack propagation behavior and the fracture toughness of interphase and resin evaluated by this technique. The fracture toughness of interphase decreases rapidly with immersion in acidic solution.     

Properties of laminate composites reinforced with glass fabrics treated with sol-gel transition silicate gel

Glass fabric was treated with sol-gel transition silicate gel to modify the composite interface. Micro roughness on the surface of the glass fabric was observed clearly by the atomic force microscope (AFM) at the surface of glass fabric which had been treated with a base catalytic silicate gel (b-SGSi). The specific surface area of this glass was 1.4 times that of the original glass fabric. The double cantilever beam (DCB) test was carried out on glass epoxy laminate composites, using b-SGSi glass fabrics and standard glass fabrics. In this test, the former laminate showed two fracture modes, stable and unstable crack growth, whereas the latter laminate showed only stable crack growth. In reference to the fracture toughness of the stable crack growth, the former laminate is about 1.4 times greater than that of the latter laminate. It was suspected that the difference was caused by the different interface bonding strength in the composite. The interfacial bonding was also tested by the soldering iron test and substantiated the superiority of b-SGSi glass fabric to standard glass.