Determination of the half-life of the spontaneous fission of240PU

Two metallic²⁴⁰Pu sources were certified as reference standards of spontaneous-fission activity and neutron flux. The certification results were used to determine the ratio T_αT_s&f of the alpha-decay and spontaneousfission half-lives of²⁴⁰Pu. The ratio was found to be (5.68+-0.11)·10^−8, which corresponds to T_s&f =(1.16+0.02)·1011 yr for an assumed value T_α=6563+7yr.Translated from Izmeritel'naya Tekhnika, No. 2, pp. 57–58, February, 1995.     

Study of the law of corresponding states of viscous properties of classical liquids

The law of corresponding states is studied for the coefficients of shear η* _S and volume η* _V viscosities of classical liquids (Ar, Kr, Xe, O₂, N₂, CH₄); the analytical expressions are derived on the basis of kinetic equations for one- and two-particle distribution functions. The reduced iso-frequency coefficients Φ(|r|) and g(|r|) for liquid Ar, Kr, Xe, O₂, N₂, and CH₄ are numerically calculated in a wide range of variations at the reduced temperatures T* and densities ρ*, which satisfy the law of corresponding states, at a definite choice of the intermolecular interaction potential η _S * and radial distribution function η _V *.     

Theory of magnetic cooling of a class of model paramagnets

We have recently conjectured within the framework of the approximate mean-field formalism a cooling process on adiabatic demagnetization of antiferromagnetic systems from accessible initial paramagnetic states of entropyS _i , applied external uniform constant magnetic field strengthH _i , and temperatureT _i , to paramagnetic final states of coordinatesS _f S _i ,H _f H _c , andT _f <T _c (0) orTT _c (0). HereT _c (0) is the spontaneous critical ordering temperature of the system in the absence of magnetic field, andH _c is its critical internal magnetic field strength arising from the relevant fundamental interactions between its constituent particles or spins, which prevents it at all temperatures from undergoing its ordering transformation. In the present work, the above conjecture acquires solid foundation through the exact formalism at very low temperatures of the paramagnetic phase of magnetized, anisotropic, spin–12 systems subject to antiferromagnetic Ising interactions.Work performed under the auspices of U.S. ERDA.     

Unified model of nucleation and growth of fatigue cracks. Part 1. Use of force parameters of fracture mechanics of materials in the stage of crack nucleation

According to the phenomenological model of nucleation of a fatigue macrocrack, the process is considered as a two-parameter process. The process is described by the local stress or strain range and a certain linear parameter of the material. We propose the corresponding parameters, namely, the local stress range Δσ _y ^* and the characteristic sized ^* of the prefracture zone. The formation of this zone is caused by the anomaly of the yield strength of the material in subsurface layers, the microstructure, the loading amplitude, the cyclic strain hardening, and the environment. The quantityd ^* is a constant of the material, which is independent of the geometry of notch and specimen. the boundary of the prefracture zone is considered as a macrobarrier that determines the growth of microstructurally short and physically small cracks. The moment when a physically small crack oversteps the boundary of the prefracture zone is defined by the quantitative criterion (a ₀=d ^*) of the initial sizea ₀ of a macrocrack in the material. The proposed dependences of (Δσ _y ^* ,N _i ),N _i ) and (d ^*,N _i ) can be regarded as a basis for the determination of characteristics of resistance of the material to the nucleation of a fatigue macrocrack. Karpenko Physicomechanical Institute, Ukrainian Academy of Sciences, L'viv. Translated from Fizyko-Khimichna Mekhanika Materialiv, Vol. 34, No. 1, pp. 7–21, January–February, 1998.     

Coprecipitation of microamounts of radionuclides on chitosans of various molecular weights in solutions

Coprecipitation of ²³³U, ²³⁹Pu, ²⁴¹Am, ¹⁵²Eu, ⁹⁰Sr, ⁹⁰Y, and ⁶⁰Co on chitosans of various molecular weights (MW) was studied. Low-molecular-weight chitosan (LMWC) with MW of 5 kDa (5 × 10³ g mol⁻¹) proved to be a more effective coprecipitant than high-molecular-weight chitosan (HMWC) with MW of 700 kDa (7 × 10⁵ g mol⁻¹). With HMWC, the degree of coprecipitation (α) was 80% for ¹⁵²Eu and ⁹⁰Y, 99% for ²³³U and ²⁴¹Am, and 85% for ²³⁹Pu. For ⁶⁰Co, α monotonically increased with an increase in the chitosan concentration in solution and reached 40% at [HMWC] = 5 g l⁻¹. For ⁹⁰Sr, α did not exceed 3% in the entire examined range of chitosan concentrations. With LMWC, the α values for An, ¹⁵²Eu, and ⁹⁰Y differed insignificantly (92–99%). For ⁶⁰Co and ⁹⁰Sr, α increased to 40% in the range of chitosan concentrations from 0 to 1 g l⁻¹. The presence of inorganic salts in solution considerably decreases α of UO₂²⁺ with chitosans but does not noticeably affect the behavior of Am, Pu, and Eu. The effect of salts on the efficiency of ²³³UO^2/2+ coprecipitation on HMWC decreases in the order Na₂SO₄ > NaCl > Na₂CO₃ > NaNO₃ > Na₃PO₄. Based on the results obtained, a procedure suitable for expedition conditions was developed for preconcentration of Pu from seawater on chitosan, with simultaneous separation of Pu from U, for radioecological monitoring of natural waters. The specific activity of Pu in samples of near-bottom seawater of gulfs of the Novaya Zemlya archipelago was (150–170) ± 20 mBq m⁻³. The results are well consistent with the published data.     

The variation of thermoelastic properties under conditions of variation of isotopic composition of diamond

The parameters of interatomic interaction in diamonds of ¹²C and ¹³C isotopes are determined. The parameters are determined by two methods, namely, from the elastic modulus (potential no. 1) and from the sublimation energy at T = 0 K (potential no. 2). Based on these parameters, the Debye model is used to calculate the isobaric temperature dependences of the thermoelastic properties for isotopically different diamonds, namely, the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE), the density, the elastic modulus B _T , and the specific heat capacity. It is demonstrated that the best agreement with the experimentally obtained dependences of the foregoing parameters is obtained when potential no. 1 is used in calculations. The values of CTE, density, and heat capacity increase in the case of transition from ¹²C diamond to ¹³C diamond. It is demonstrated that the inequality B _T (¹²C) < B _T (¹³C) is valid at T = 0 K, which is associated with the reduction of interatomic spacing in the case of transition from ¹²C diamond to ¹³C diamond. However, as the temperature increases, the volumetric isotopic effect in diamond decreases. It is found that the B _T (T) dependences for ¹²C and ¹³C diamonds intersect at a temperature below the Debye temperature. Therefore, at high temperatures, the elastic modulus for light-isotope diamond comes to exceed that for heavy-isotope diamond, B _T (¹²C) > B _T (¹³C). Experimental results are given which confirm this effect. The variation of the properties of isotopically different diamonds with increasing pressure is discussed.     

Investigation of Near-Critical States of Molybdenum by Method of Isentropic Expansion

In this work release isentropes of shocked porous molybdenum were investigated. Samples with an initial porosity m = ρ₀/ρ = 1.4 and 3.1 were studied to achieve near-critical entropy states of metal after shock compression. Compressed samples were expanded into helium with different initial pressures. The brightness temperature of the metal and the helium shock wave velocity were measured with a fast multichannel pyrometer. The helium shock wave velocity was used to determine the final pressure (P_S) of expansion of the metal and the velocity of metal expansion (W_S). Location of peculiarities on the P_S–W_S and P_S–T_P curves of the isentropes gives the location of their entrance into the two-phase region. Estimation of the molybdenum critical temperature and pressure was carried out on the basis of the experimental data. Paper presented at the Fifteenth Symposium on Thermophysical Properties, June 22–27, 2003, Boulder, Colorado, U.S.A.     

Study of the kinetics of decomposition of goethitein vacuo and pore structure of product particles

The kinetics of decomposition of-goethite were investigated, under vacuum conditions, in the temperature range 170–250° C. The experimental thermogravimetric traces were interpreted according to the shrinking core model for cylindrical particles. The Arrhenius plot of InK (kinetic constant) against 1/T yielded an activation energy of 119±9 kJ mol^–1 at 210° C. The highest specific area,S _BET=118.4±5.5 m² g^–1, of the reaction product-hematite, was obtained by decompsition at 225° C. Information about the formation of micropores and their evolution with temperature was also obtained.     

An Investigation of Evaporation of Lithium

The Knudsen effusion method with mass-spectrometric analysis of evaporation products is used to determine the composition and pressure of saturated vapor over liquid lithium in the temperature range from 627 to 893 K. The Li(l) = Li(g), 2Li(l) = Li₂(g), and Li₂(g) = 2Li(g) reactions are investigated. The measured values of partial pressure for Li and Li₂are used to calculate the values of enthalpy for these reactions at 0 K by the second, _r H ₀ ⁰(II), and third, _r H ₀ ⁰(III), laws of thermodynamics: _r H ₀ ⁰(II) = 157.9 ± 0.5, 214.2 ± 0.6, and 101.4 ± 1.1 kJ/mol, and _r H ₀ ⁰(III) = 157.5 ± 0.3, 213.9 ± 0.3, and 101.1 ± 0.6 kJ/mol, respectively.     

Some New Aspects of Chlorination of Fullerenes

Abstract

The effect of the reagent ratio, reaction time and power of the reagent on the product composition in chlorination of [60]fullerene was studied. Chlorofullerenes C₆₀Cl₆, C₆₀Cl₈, C₆₀Cl₁₀, C₆₀Cl₁₂, C₆₀Cl₁₄, and C₆₀Cl₂₆ were synthesized and characterized by chemical analysis, FTIR, ¹³C NMR, and MALDI TOF mass spectrometry. The experimental data supported the coexistence of several isomers of C₆₀Cl _n (n = 8, 10, 12, 14, 26); the mixtures were not separated so far. Semiempirical calculations (AM1, PM3) were used to analyze the addition patterns and resulted in the most favorable structures of C₆₀Cl_8–26. Chlorination of C₇₀ under various conditions invariably yielded C₇₀Cl₁₀.     

Estimation of the accuracy of measurements of the corrosion rate by the method of polarization resistance

The method of polarization resistance is extensively used for the determination of the rate of corrosion. At the same time, the accuracy of measurements of the corrosion rate performed with industrial corrosion meters is often not estimated. By using an indicator, we find the accuracy of the measurements of the corrosion rate for 20 steel placed in 1N H₂SO₄ and 0.01N Na₂SO₄ solutions and for 12Kh18N10T steel placed in 1N and 10N H₂SO₄ solutions.Kiev Polytechnic Institute, Kiev. Translated from Fiziko-Khimicheskaya Mekhanika Materialov, Vol. 31, No. 3. pp. 22–27, May–June, 1995.     

Comparative Assessment of Ambient Air Quality of Major Cities of Pakistan

The deterioration of ambient air quality is one of the emerging environmental problems in developing countries of South Asia. Unplanned urbanization, population growth, degradation of vegetation cover and industrial and vehicular emissions, particularly in urban areas, have resulted in substantial rise in the level of air pollutants and emission sources. This study focused on monitoring of different cities as per traffic volume and flow. Air quality monitoring was conducted on hourly basis to determine the major parameters; i.e. PM₁₀, NO_x, SO₂, CO by using fixed station for 8 h from 1:30 pm to 9:30 pm. All the measuring values were then compared with the National Environment Quality Standards (NEQS) and Air Quality Index (AQI). Results revealed that the concentration of PM₁₀ at the selected areas of these cities ranged from 156 to 390 μg/m³, CO ranged from 1.18 to 6.01 mg/m³, and NO_x ranged from 32.65 to 129.47 μg/m³. It was evident that all these concentration had been higher than the permissible limits of NEQS, whereas only SO₂ was found within the permissible limits (15.60–110.52 μg/m³⁾. Air Quality Index (AQI) of all the designated points of cities was also assessed, and most of the vehicular and commercial areas had shown unhealthy and severe conditions ranging from 191 to 320, respectively.

     

The Distribution of the Maximum Sum of Rank

In this paper a c-sample slippage analogue of the Wilcoxon [11] test is considered. Given a sample of size n for each of c populations, the test rejects the hypothesis that the c populations are identical when max_1≤i≤c σ _k r _ik > λ, where r _i1, …, r _in are the ranks of the observations from the i-th population in the combined sample of size cn. The small and large sample distributions of the test statistic are derived. Tables of the exact distribution are given for c = 2(1)5, n = 2(1)5. Tables of critical values are given for c = 2(1)6, n = 2(1)8 for values of α = 0.001, 0.005, 0.01, 0.025, 0.05, 0.10, and 0.20.     

Design of submerged turbulent jets of gases of different densities

We present results of a theoretical and experimental investigation of submerged gas jets in the range of density variations ( _j/ _e=0.05–10).Translated from Inzhenerno-Fizicheskii Zhurnal, Vol. 36, No. 4, pp. 715–720, April, 1979.     

Prediction of standard compressive strength of cement by means of accelerated testing

The present study was undertaken with a view to an accelerated testing method which would permit prediction of standard compressive strength of cement within 24 hours at most. Test specimens were 11.3×11.3 mm dry cement cylindrical compacts (average porosity 22.6% and 26.8%) cured, for 24 hours at 21°C or for 3 hours at 100°C, in distilled water or in a super-satured lime solution. A linear relation was established between the cement and the compact strength for all the four curing regimes studied. The 24 hour curing in distilled water at 21°C, however, was considered preferable, permitting strength prediction within ±11.5 kg per sq.cm at 95% confidence level. Further study on cements with a wider range of properties will be needed, however, before the method can be recommended as a substitute for current standard procedures.

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Résumé On a entrepris cette étude en vue d'obtenir une méthode d'essais accélérés qui permettrait de prédire dans un délai de24 heures au plus la résistance normale en compression du ciment. Les éprouvettes étaient des agglomérés de ciment sec (porosité moyenne: 22,6 et 22,−%) conservés24 heures à21°C ou3 heures à100°C, dans de l'eau distillée ou dans une solution de chaux sursaturée. On a établi une relation linéaire entre le ciment et la résistance à l'état compacté pour les4 régimes de conservation étudiés. Il est apparu que la conservation de24 heures en eau distillée à21°C était préférable, permettant de prédire la résistance à+ou −11,5 kg/cm² près pour une crédibilité de 95%. D'autres études sur les ciments portant sur une gamme plus large de propriétés seraient cependant nécessaires avant que la méthode puisse être recommandée comme un substitut des méthodes normales ordinaires.

     

Analysis of different approaches to the study of microelectrochemical heterogeneity of materials

We investigated systems of steel 20 with nickel and zinc coating in a 3% NaCl solution, distilled water, and a 45 · 10⁻³% H₂SO₄ + 0.14 H₂O₂ + 5 · 10⁻⁶% K₂Cr₂O₇ solution using capillary probes filled with these environments. After their use, errors in measurements in the volume of the electrolyte are absent. The low conductance of the electrolyte and the dissolution of the metal in the active state are necessary conditions for adequate measurements of local electrode potentials. It is established that the accuracy of local microelectrochemical measurements in an electrolyte drop is higher than that in an electrolyte film. Translated from Fizyko-Khimichna Mekhanika Materialiv, Vol. 44, No. 3, pp. 126–129, May–June, 2008.     

Measurement of time-dependent strains of concrete

The present recommendation defines a method for measuring the time-dependent strain in hardened concrete specimens that are either load-free or are subjected to a uniform compressive force kept constant over a long period. It states the definitions of autogenous shrinkage and drying shrinkage, basic creep and drying creep, instantaneous strain at a given age, and recovery. It gives the specifications for testing and measuring devices and describes, in an appendix, three types of apparatus for creep tests. The present recommendation applies to the case of concretes containing light, normal, and heavy aggregates, when the maximum size of these aggregates does not exceed 50 mm. The draft of this document has been prepared by the members of Subcommittee 4: Standardized Test Methods for Creep and Shrinkage: Paul Acker (Chairman), Z.P. Bažant, J. C. Chern, C. Huet, F.H. Wittmann. Also consulted were: F. Alou, G. Fagerlund, T.C. Hansen, M. Mamillan, P. Schwesinger, F. Ulm. The text presented hereunder is a draft for general consideration. Comments should be sent to the TC Chairman, Prof. Zdeněk P. Bažant, Northwestern University, WP Murphy Professor of Civil Engineering, 2145 Sheridan Road, A131, Evanston, IL 60208, USA, Fax: +1 847 467 1078, e-mail: z-bazant@nwu.edu before April 1, 1999. TC MEMBERSHIP:Chairman: Zdeněk P. Bažant, USA;Secretary: Bernard Espion, Belgium;Members: Paul Acker, France; Luis Agullo, Spain; Michel Auperin, France; Ignacio Carol, Spain; Domingo J. Carreira, USA; Jose M. R. Catarino, Portugal; Jenn-Chuan Chern, Taiwan; Mario A. Chiorino, Italy; John W. Dougill, UK; Christian Huet, Switzerland; Terje Kanstad, Norway; Jin-Keun Kim, Korea; Vladimir Kristek, Czech Republic; Harold S. Muller, Germany; Byung Hwan Oh, Korea; Josko Ozbolt, Germany; Stuart Reid, Australia; H. W. Reinhardt, Germany; Peter Schwesinger, Germany; Bretislav Teply, Czech Republic; Heinrich Trost, Germany; Tatsuya Tsubaki, Japan; R. F. Warner, Australia; Folker H. Wittmann, Switzerland; Yunping Xi, USA; J. F. Young, USA.     

Synthesis of Spinel MnCo2O4 by Thermal Decomposition of Carbonates and Kinetics of Thermal Decomposition of Precursor

The cubic MnCo₂O₄ was prepared by calcining MnCO₃-2CoCO₃?1.5H₂O above 600 ^°C in air. The precursor and its calcined products were characterized by thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and vibrating sample magnetometer. The result showed that high-crystallized MnCo₂O₄ with cubic structure [space group Fd-3m(227)] was obtained when the precursor was calcined above 600 ^°C in air for 6 h. Magnetic characterization indicated that cubic MnCo₂O₄ behaved weak magnetic behavior at room temperature. The thermal process of the precursor in air experienced three steps, which are: first, the dehydration of 1.5 water molecules, then the decomposition of MnCO₃-2CoCO₃ into cubic MnO₂ and cubic Co₃O₄, and at last the reaction of MnO₂ with Co₃O₄ into cubic MnCo₂O₄. Based on the KAS equation, the values of the activation energies associated with the thermal process of MnCO₃-2CoCO₃?1.5H₂O were determined.     

Conditions for existence of exact solutions of the problem of a fusing wedge

A well-defined condition, determining the values of the aperture angles of a fusing wedge, is presented for exact solutions of the single-phase problem of a fusing wedge that were obtained earlier and are written for these values. The critical orientation of the fusing wedge to the axis of fusion when the written solution degenerates is indicated.Notation , , _n , _n , _n A ₁,A ₂,B auxiliary variables - P _n ,Q _n ,S _n ,T _n polynomials - k, m, n, i natural numbers - , _k angles between the normals to the surfaces forming the fusing wedge - z the axis in a Cartesian coordinate system - U temperature at points of the body infinitely remote from the fusing boundary Voronezh Institute of Technology, Voronezh, Russia. Translated from Inzhenerno-Fizicheskii Zhurnal, Vol. 66, No. 6, pp. 750–753, June, 1994.