Crosslinking of amidated polybutadiene with resole. I

Various liquid polybutadiene derivatives were examined as modifiers to improve the brittleness of phenolic resins. Amidated polybutadienes obtained from a maleinated polybutadiene and ammonia had the highest curing tendency when they were reacted with resole under mild conditions. The cured resins were homogeneous and the brittleness of the phenolic resins was remarkably improved. Crosslinking efficiency was closely related to the succinamic acid group of the amidated polybutadiene. Thermal behavior of the succinamic acid group was also related to the effects of curing temperature and curing time on crosslinking. From these observations, cross-condensation between the succinamic acid group of an amidated polybutadiene and resole seemed to have occurred to a great extent than the self-condensation of resole itself and oxidative crosslinking of the amidated polybutadiene.     

A simplified cascade current‐source inverter interconnected to a single‐phase three‐wire distribution system and its application to electric energy storage systems with batteries

A novel current source inverter system interconnected to the single‐phase grid is proposed. It has the same construction as the conventional three‐phase current source inverter that is interconnected to the single‐phase three‐wire distribution system. Though the proposed circuit has no output transformer, it can be equivalently performed as the single‐phase double cascade inverter by diverting the pole transformer in the utility system. By controlling the appropriate scheme, the output currents can be obtained as the five‐level waveforms and their distortions can be decreased sufficiently. It is applied to the interactive electric energy storage system with batteries and the basic discharging characteristics are discussed experimentally. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 150(2): 50–61, 2005; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.10380     

Highly reliable a‐IGZO TFTs on a plastic substrate for flexible AMOLED displays

We have successfully reduced threshold voltage shifts of amorphous In–Ga–Zn–O thin‐film transistors (a‐IGZO TFTs) on transparent polyimide films against bias‐temperature stress below 100 mV, which is equivalent to those on glass substrates. This high reliability was achieved by dense IGZO thin films and annealing temperature below 300 °C. We have reduced bulk defects of IGZO thin films and interface defects between gate insulator and IGZO thin film by optimizing deposition conditions of IGZO thin films and annealing conditions. Furthermore, a 3.0‐in. flexible active‐matrix organic light‐emitting diode was demonstrated with the highly reliable a‐IGZO TFT backplane on polyimide film. The polyimide film coating process is compatible with mass‐production lines. We believe that flexible organic light‐emitting diode displays can be mass produced using a‐IGZO TFT backplane on polyimide films.     

Growth of Al2O3 whiskers by vapour-phase reactions

Needle-like or wool-like Al₂O₃ whiskers can be grown on a substrate by the hydrolysis of aluminium fluoride vapour. Effects of the growth conditions on the morphology of the crystals and growth processes of the whisker were investigated, and the optimum growth condition of whiskers was examined. Adequate vapour pressure conditions of the reactant gases for the growth of the wool-like whisker were found to be . Aluminium oxyfluoride was assumed to be the most probable intermediate species for the growth of Al₂O₃ whiskers. A variety of crystal morphologies are also shown and described with respect to the experimental conditions.     

Effect of Composition on the Oxygen Tracer Diffusion in Transparent Yttrium Aluminium Garnet (YAG) Ceramics

The grain boundary structure and oxygen tracer diffusion in transparent yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) ceramics varying from 2% excess of Y₂O₃ to 0.5% excess of Al₂O₃ were studied. The characterization of the specimens is as follows: (i) For the Y₂O₃-excess specimen, a second phase (yttrium aluminum perovskite: YAP) containing silicon in the grain boundary was found, (ii) For the Al₂O₃-excess specimen, both aluminum-rich particles (alumina) and a silicon-rich segregant layer were observed in the grain boundary. The volume diffusion of the oxygen tracer is little influenced by the excess composition. In contrast, the grain boundary diffusion of the oxygen tracer is suppressed in the Y₂O₃-excess specimens, compared to Al₂O₃-excess specimens. These differences are thought to result from the chemical reaction between the second phase and the intergranular liquid phase during the sintering.     

Formation and Crystallization of Yttrium Aluminosilicate Glasses Containing Calcium Oxide

Formation of yttrium aluminosilicate glasses containing calcium oxide from batches melted at 1550°C was investigated. Densities and thermal expansion coeflcients were measured for some glasses. In a specific compositional region, crystals with a needlelike habit were observed in the glass matrix. A crystal in the form of a tubular hexagonal prism was identified as Ca₄Y₆0(Si0₄)₆.     

Charged ultrafiltration membrane for permeation of proteins

Polyacrylonitrile-g-poly(N,N-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate) was synthesized photochemically and quaternized. The positively charged membranes made from the quaternized graftcopolymer showed high ultrafiltration rate for water by adding poly(vinyl alcohol) to casting solution and washing it out after the casting. In buffered saline solution, the permeability of the membranes was very small at pH below isoelectric point of albumin but increased markedly at higher pH. On the other hand, the permeability for γ-globulin was very small and did not show any pH dependence.     

Synthesis and electrode performance of layered nickel dioxide containing alkaline ions

Several polymorphs of layered nickel dioxide were prepared by using the chemical insertion of alkaline ions into Li_0.10NiO₂. We used aqueous AOH (A = Li, Na, K) solutions as reducing agents. Sodium and potassium insertion resulted in hydrated layered compounds that can be classified as γ-NiOOH with high crystallinity, while lithium insertion occurred without hydration. We discuss the coordination environment around the A⁺ ions for these inserted compounds. The thermal behavior, analyzed using high temperature (HT) X-ray diffraction (XRD) and thermogravimetric (TG) measurements, indicated that heating the hydrate at 150 °C yielded its dehydrate. The electrode performance of the nickelate was studied in lithium cells. We discuss the effect of interlayer water on cell rechargeability and the similarity between these nickelate and hydrated manganese dioxide (birnessite).     

Phosphonitrilic chloride: 37. Reaction of 1,1-diamino-3,3,5,5-tetrakis (2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy) cyclotriphosphazene with organosilanes

The Spiro compound N₃P₃(OCH₂CF₃)₄(NH)₂Si(CH₃)₂ formed by reaction of 1,1-diamino-3,3,5,5-tetrakis(2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy)cyclotriphosphazene N₃P₃(OCH₂CF₃)₄(NH₂)₂ and dimethyldichlorosilane Cl₂Si(CH₃)₂ is a yellow or orange coloured oil soluble in organic solvents, vapourized at 160°C without decomposition, and not hydrolysed appreciably in boiling water. Linear compounds are formed by reaction of N₃P₃(OCH₂CF₃)₄(NH₂)₂ with diphenyldichlorosilane or phenyltrichlorosilane owing to hindrance of the phenyl radical. These compounds are amorphous or tacky solids, soluble in organic solvents and stable to water.     

Synthesis of High Density and Transparent Forsterite Ceramics Using Nano-Sized Precursors and Their Dielectric Properties

Forsterite (Mg₂SiO₄) ceramics were prepared using Mg(OH)₂ and SiO₂ as precursors, and the effect of powder characteristics of Mg(OH)₂ on calcination and sintering was investigated. The use of highly dispersed Mg(OH)₂ powder (HD powder) resulted in a lower calcination temperature. Forsterite powder of high homogeneity and small particle size prepared from the HD powder enabled synthesis of high-density forsterite ceramics by ordinary sintering without applying external pressure. Moreover, transparent forsterite ceramics were successfully synthesized through addition of excess Mg to the precursors to compensate for Mg evaporated during the sintering process. Subsequent dielectric measurements revealed that the transparent forsterite ceramics had a very low dielectric loss (tan δ<10⁻⁴).