In situ polymer nanocomposites: Effect of nanoparticles on the interfacial region

Composites based on the blends of polyurethane and poly(methyl methacrylate) of various composition were synthesized in situ in the presence of various amounts of nanoparticles (fumed silica). From thermophysical measurements it was found that, during reaction, phase separation and evolution of two phases occur. The temperature transitions in the systems and their positions depend on the blend composition and on various amounts of nanoparticles. Using scanning differential calorimetry from the changing of heat capacity increments the fraction of an intermediate region between two main phases has been estimated. For the first time it was observed that in nanocomposites in the temperature region between two main relaxation transitions, there appears a third transition, which was related to the adsorption layers formed by both components at the interface of the nanoparticles. The appearance of such intermediate regions increases essentially the fraction of an interfacial region in the system.     

Evaluation of reinforcement on the mechanical behavior of partially bonded fiber/matrix interface

This paper aims at introducing a new natural composite used as soil stabilizer with particular application in geotechnical engineering. The fibers introduced in the present study could be used as effective soil reinforcement. This research proves the feasibility of the use of modified jute/polypropylene in lime and cement composites and studies their effects on the tensile and compressive strength of the matrix. In general, the optimal mechanical performance of natural composites and durability depends on the optimization of the interfacial bond between natural fiber and matrix. Since the fibers and matrices are chemically different, strong adhesion at their interfaces is needed for an effective transfer of stress and bond distribution throughout an interface. In this paper a theoretical approach for the identification of elastic modulus in composite interfaces is proposed in detail with a reasonable error. The theoretical approach is based on the method using a sum of least squares criterion. The approach is applied through optimization techniques, using analytical sensitivities and correlating adhesion with Young's modulus. The validity and potentiality of the proposed technique is discussed and the results demonstrated the versatility, accuracy, and efficiency of the presented approach. The applied method also appears to be a simple way of predicting the modulus of elasticity in composite interfaces. This leads to a discussion of the most promising stabilization methods for soil reinforcement and the outlook for the future.     

A Self-Similar Dynamics in Viscous Spheres

We study the evolution of radiating and viscous fluid spheres assuming an additional homothetic symmetry on the spherically symmetric space-time. We match a very simple solution to the symmetry equations with the exterior one (Vaidya). We then obtain a system of two ordinary differential equations which rule the dynamics, and find a self-similar collapse which is shear-free and with a barotropic equation of state. Considering a huge set of initial self-similar dynamics states, we work out a model with an acceptable physical behavior.     

Inhomogeneous Universe Models with Varying Cosmological Term

The evolution of a class of inhomogeneous spherically symmetric universe models possessing a varying cosmological term and a material fluid, with an adiabatic index either constant or not, is studied.     

On the Dynamics of Two Oscillating Cosmic Strings

We present the spacetime interval of thenonradiated cosmic string oscillating as standing waves.The influence of string oscillations on the dynamics ofa probe cosmic thread that performs free oscillations and moves in its vicinity, isdiscussed.     

The Relation of Generalized Scalar-Tensor Theory with the 5D Space-Time-Matter Theory

The relationship between cosmological solutionsof five-dimensional Space-Time-Matter (STM) theory anda Generalized Scalar-Tensor (GST) theory is investigatedin which the cosmological term Lambda depends not only on a scalar field but also onits time derivative .Identification of these solutions allows us to solve forthe functional form of the cosmological term, and mayhave relevance for the early Universe.     

Testing the Equivalence Principle in the Quantum Regime

We consider possible tests of the Einstein Equivalence Principle for physical systems in which quantum-mechanical vacuum energies cannot be neglected. Specific tests include a search for the manifestation of non-metric effects in Lamb-shift transitions of hydrogenic atoms and in anomalous magnetic moments of massive leptons. We discuss how current experiments already set bounds on the violation of the equivalence principle in this sector and how new (high-precision) measurements of these quantities could provide further information to this end.     

Formation of Composites in the System of Organic Europium Complexes–Silica

Lanthanide doped sol–gel glasses are an attractive type of luminescent material which can be processed at ambient temperatures. However, it is very difficult to obtain a uniform distribution of the complexes in glass materials because of their strong tendency to cluster formation. This problem can be solved by covalently linking of lanthanide complexes to silica matrix. In our work such materials were obtained by the sol–gel method of hydrolysis and polycondensation of tetramethoxysilane with europium complexes containing trimethoxysilyl groups. For this purpose we synthesized a novel ligand — (N-3-trimethoxysilylpropyl)-N′-1,10-phenanthroline-5-yl-thiocarbamide — and corresponding complexes [Eu(tta)₃phen′]Cl₃ and [Eu(pta)₃phen′]Cl₃. Our approach enabled us to simplify the synthetic procedure. A number of uniform samples showing intense luminescence have been obtained and the concentration dependence of their luminescence has been studied.     

Simulating the Performance of Michelson- and Sagnac-based Laser Interferometric Gravitational Wave Detectors in the Presence of Mirror Tilt and Curvature Errors

We model the behaviour of single-bounce delay-line dual recycled Sagnac-based interferometer and compare its performance with that of single-bounce Michelson-based system. Geometric imperfections such as mirror tilt and curvature mismatch can strongly influence the performance of the Sagnac device due to the inherently smaller free spectral range (FSR) and higher order mode spacing. This leads to a greater number of higher order modes near, or within the signal band in the signal recycling cavity of the instrument. The important consequence of that is, in general, a greater sensitivity of a Sagnac system to nonideal parameters and imperfections of various kind affecting the performance of a real interferometer. A number of optical configurations have also been examined numerically to determine the best possible optical arrangement, in the presence of such geometric imperfections. We show that there is an optimum choice for the nominal radius of curvature of the end mirrors which results from balancing the loss due to mirror tilt against that due to curvature mismatch.     

C70X2(X=H,F, Cl)的稳定性和电子光谱

用INDO方法研究C70H2四种异构体的稳定性, 表明其最稳定异构体为1, 9-C70H2和7, 8-C70H2, 两者能量差为16.3KJ.mol^-^1, 与实验值及ab initio计算值接近; 光谱计算表明, 其特征吸收峰与实验值一致。在此基础上预测C70F2和C70Cl2的稳定性和电子光谱, 表明C70F2四种异构体的稳定性顺序与C70H2一致, 而C70Cl2则以21, 42-异构体最为稳定。二者的电子光谱与C70H2极其相似只是在500nm以上有细微差别。