Synthesis of well-defined random and block copolymers of 2-(1-adamantyl)-1,3-butadiene with isoprene via anionic polymerization

Anionic copolymerization of a mixture of 2-(1-adamantyl)-1,3-butadiene (1) and isoprene was carried out with sec-BuLi in cyclohexane at 40 °C. The resulting random copolymers possessed the predicted compositions and molecular weights based on the molar ratios between comonomers and initiator and the narrow molecular weight distributions. The both repeating units of poly(1) and polyisoprene contained 1,4-rich microstructures. The resulting copolymer having 1,4-polydiene units was completely converted into a novel saturated terpolymer, poly(ethylene-ran-propylene-ran-1-vinyladamantane) (P(E-ran-P-ran-VAd) by the hydrogenation with p-toluenesulfonhydrazide. The T_g values of hydrogenated polymers could be changed from ?66 °C to 122 °C by the feed molar ratio of comonomers. A novel well-defined saturated ABA triblock copolymer possessing all alternating polymer segments, P(E-alt-VAd)-b-P(E-alt-P)-b-P(E-alt-VAd), was similarly synthesized by the sequential copolymerization of 1 and isoprene and the following hydrogenation. The microphase separation behaviors of this new thermoplastic elastomer carrying bulky adamantyl groups in the hard end segments were analyzed by dynamic mechanical analysis and transmission electron microscopy.     

Novel hydrolyzable and biodegradable cationic gemini surfactants: 1,3-bis[(acyloxyalkyl)-dimethylammonio]-2-hydroxypropane dichloride

Novel cationic gemini surfactants, 1,3-bis[(acyloxyalkyl)dimethylammonio]-2-hydroxypropane dichloride, which possess hydrolyzable oxycarbonyl moieties in the lipophilic portions, were prepared. These surfactants showed much better micelle-forming ability, ability to lower surface tension, foaming ability, and foam stability than corresponding single-chain surfactants. Their surface properties were largely influenced by changing the position of the oxycarbonyl group in the lipophilic moiety. The critical micelle concentration decreased with a decreasing number of methylene units in the linking moiety between the ammonio and the oxycarbonyl groups within the comparison of lipophilic chains of the same length. These cationic gemini surfactants also showed good biodegradability.     

WAZA-ARI: computational dosimetry system for X-ray CT examinations. I. Radiation transport calculation for organ and tissue doses evaluation using JM phantom

A web system of WAZA-ARI is being developed to assess radiation dose to a patient in a computed tomography examination. WAZA-ARI uses one of organ dose data sets corresponding to the options selected by a user to describe examination conditions. The organ dose data have been derived by the Particle and Heavy Ion Transport code system, combined with Japanese male (JM) phantom. The configuration of JM phantom is adjusted to the averaged JM adult. In addition, a new phantom is introduced by removing arms from JM phantom to take into account for dose calculations in torso examinations. Some of the organ doses by JM phantom without arms are compared with results obtained by using a MIRD-type phantom, which was applied in some previous dosimetry systems.     

Shock structure deformation in plasma jet caused by strong magnetic field

The shock structure deformation in a plasma jet caused by a strong magnetic field was studied using an optical method. The plasma jet images in the enclosing vacuum chamber were taken with a digital single-lens reflex camera through a viewing window. Since the relative values of the measured light intensity are known to have a strong correlation with the number density of excited atoms, the vertical distribution of light intensity can be converted to a radial distribution of excited atom density using an Abel-inversion. The results of this conversion with a magnetic field were compared in the present experiments with those without the presence of a field. It is possible to obtain a smooth radial distribution of estimated number density using an approximate line. The density along the centerline increases obviously with the magnetic field. The minimal density point around the Mach disk was moved slightly upstream with the application of the field. The density distribution inside of the jet boundary was changed considerably by the application of the strong field. The jet boundary itself was not found to be affected significantly by the field although the boundary was found to be slightly contracted to the center axis with application of the field. It has been confirmed that the density distributions are mainly affected by the magnetic field at the corresponding location.     

Comparative study of hydrothermal treatment and thermal annealing effects on the properties of electrodeposited micro-columnar ZnO thin films

We report a comparison of the role played by different sample treatments, namely, a low-temperature hydrothermal treatment by hot H₂O vapor in an autoclave versus thermal annealing in air on the properties of ZnO films grown by electrochemical deposition (ECD). Scanning electron microscopy studies reveal a homogeneous micro-columnar morphology and changes in the film surface for the two different treatments. It is found that post-growth hydrothermal treatments of ECD ZnO films at 150 °C under an aqueous environment enhance their structural and optical properties (photoluminescence, transmission, Raman spectra, etc.) similar to thermal annealing in air at higher temperatures (> 200 °C). The modifications of the structural and optical properties of ZnO samples after thermal annealing in air in the temperature range of 150-600 °C are discussed. The removal of chlorine from the films by the hydrothermal treatment was evidenced which could be the main reason for the improvement of the film quality. The observation of the enhanced photoluminescence peak at 380 nm demonstrates the superior properties of the hydrothermally treated ZnO films as compared to the films annealed in air ambient at the same or higher temperature. This post-growth hydrothermal treatment would be useful for the realization of high performance optoelectronic devices on flexible supports which might not withstand at high temperature annealing treatments.     

Growth and scintillation properties of Yb doped aluminate, vanadate and silicate single crystals

For the purpose of quick screening for charge transfer (CT) transitions of Yb³⁺ in various hosts, (Lu_1−xYb_x)₃Al₅O₁₂ (Yb:LuAG) with x=0.05, 0.15, 0.30 and (Y_1−xYb_x)AlO₃ (Yb:YAP) with x=0.05, 0.10, 0.30 were grown by the micro-pulling-down method. (Y,Yb)VO₄ with strong wetting was grown by edge defined film-fed growth method and materials, which require moderate temperature gradient, such as Ca₈(La,Yb)₂(PO₄)₆O₂ and (Gd,Yb)₂SiO₅ were grown by Czochralski method. Strong dependence of the CT luminescence decay time and intensity on temperature was observed for Yb-doped LuAG and YAP. Super fast decay with 0.85 ns decay time was observed in Yb(30%) doped YAP at room temperature. Though the emission intensity is weak at room temperature, it exceeds several times that of PbWO₄. In addition, CT luminescence of Yb:YAP occurs at longer wavelength than in BaF₂, which enables the usage of glass-based photomultiplier for the detection. In addition, higher stopping power will be expected due to the higher density host compared with BaF₂.     

Coupled-wave analysis of vector holograms. 3. Effects of intrinsic distribution of optical axis in anisotropic media

We investigated theoretically the interference of two counterpropagating polarized light beams in optically anisotropic media whose optical axis is in the film plane and is gradually rotated around the thickness direction. Results indicated that pure polarization modulation without intensity variation is obtained in the inhomogeneous media when the total angle of the rotation is much smaller than the total retardation. Reflective anisotropic gratings recorded by the polarization modulation were formulated as the perturbation of the dielectric tensor, and diffraction properties were studied using coupled-wave analysis (CWA) and a numerical method. By assuming that the period of the intrinsic distribution is substantially larger than that of the induced one, we demonstrated that CWA estimates the diffraction efficiency and the polarization state of the diffracted light with high accuracy.     

Single-Crystal Growth and Anisotropy of the Tetragonal 1-2-3 Type Superconductor Ca0.5La1.25Ba1.25Cu3Oy

Single crystals of the tetragonal 1-2-3 type cuprate Ca_0.5La_1.25Ba_1.25Cu₃Oy have been grown by the travelling-solvent floating-zone method. The crystal structure has been determined to belong to the tetragonal P4/mmm by the single-crystal x-ray diffraction for several crystals with different oxygen-contents. The superconducting transition temperature T _c has increased up to 75 K by the annealing in 1000 bar of O₂. Temperature dependences of the resistivities _ab , _c and also the angular dependence of _ab in various constant magnetic fields have been measured. The anisotropic parameter has been estimated as 6.2, which is similar to that of YBa₂Cu₃O₇.     

The effect of second principal stress on the fatigue propagation of mode I surface crack in Al2O3/Al alloy composites

Using a plate made of A2017-T6 metal matrix composites reinforced with 10 volume % and 20 volume % Al₂O₃ particles and Al alloy possesses the same composition as matrix alloy, the crack propagation rate da/dN of a mode I surface crack by the simultaneous action of plane bending and cyclic torsion are studied. And the effects of crack tip opening stress σ_top, crack opening displacement COD, biaxial stress ratio C (=second principal stress/first principal stress) and the surface roughness of crack section are examined. When stress intensity factor range ΔK is lower than the specific level, da/dN decreases with the increase of volume fraction of Al₂O₃ in C=0 and C=−0.55. But, da/dN of Al alloy becomes minimum in C=−1 and the effect of Al₂O₃ particles disappears. σ_top rises with the increase of volume fraction of Al₂O₃ particles and the decline of C. On the other hand, COD doesn’t always rise with the decline of C. These phenomena can be explained by the residual compressive stress formed at the surface layer of the specimen by the fatigue test and the surface roughness of crack section.     

A simple diagnostic method for plasma jet in strong magnetic field

An experimental study was carried out to examine the effect of strong magnetic field on the characteristics of argon plasma jet. An approximate expression was introduced to the distribution of emission line intensity and the color intensity. The distribution of the emission intensity was compared to that of the color intensity. The modified profiles of the spectral intensity agree well with those of the color intensity. The two-point analysis, that is, a calculation method with only two selected wavelengths in Boltzmann plots, was selected in the evaluation of excitation temperature because the calculation becomes significantly simple. The lateral distribution of excitation temperature obtained from the modified intensity becomes more accurate than that without the approximation. The radial distributions of excitation temperature based on the Abel inversion can be determined by the present approximation. It is found that the simple diagnostic method can utilize for understanding the characteristics on plasma jet.