Electroconductive Magnetorheological Suspensions: Production and Physical Processes

Production of magnetorheological suspensions based on silicon oil, stearic acid and iron nanocarbonil (CI) microparticles is achieved by the method of mechanical mixing. Magnetorheological suspensions with concentrations (in massic percentages) of 20%, 60% and 80% are produced, used in manufacturing magnetoresistors. It is shown in the paper that the magnetoresistors resistance is considerably influenced by the magnetic field intensity. By resistance measurements, characteristic magnitudes, which participate in the electric conductivity phenomenon in magnetorheological suspensions in magnetic field, are determined.     

High Dose trans-10,cis-12 CLA Increases Lean Body Mass in Hamsters, but Elevates Levels of Plasma Lipids and Liver Enzyme Biomarkers

The current study examined the efficacy of graded doses of c9,t11 and t10,c12 CLA isomers on body composition, energy expenditure, hepatic and serum lipid liver biomarkers in hamsters. Animals (n = 105) were randomized to seven treatments (control, 1, 2, 3% of c9,t11; 1, 2, 3% of t10,c12) for 28 days. After 28 days treatment, 1–3% of t10,c12 lowered (p < 0.05) body fat mass compared to the control group. The 1–3% t10,c12 and 3% c9,t11 fed groups showed higher (p < 0.05) lean mass compared to other groups. We observed unfavorable changes in plasma total cholesterol and non-HDL cholesterol levels in animals fed with 3% t10,c12 CLA isomers. The 2%, 3% t10,c12 groups presented elevated (p < 0.05) ALT levels. The present data suggest that a diet enriched with more than 2% t10, c12 led to liver malfunction and poses unfavorable changes on plasma lipid profiles. The 1% t10,c12 CLA lowered (p < 0.05) body fat mass and increased (p < 0.05) lean body mass. The c9,t11 CLA has less potent actions than t10,c12 CLA. We conclude that the actions of CLA on energy and lipid metabolism are form and dose dependent in the hamster model.     

Structural evolution of aging agar-gelatin co-hydrogels

Agar-gelatin co-hydrogel was investigated over a period of ≈30-days by dynamic light and small angle neutron scattering, and rheology to quantify changes occurring inside the hydrogel. Degree of non-ergodicity was extracted as a heterodyne contribution from the measured dynamic structure factor data. From the analysis of the data, we observed two relaxation modes namely fast and slow modes with relaxation times τ_f and τ_s whose dependence with aging time, t_a fall on a scaling behavior given by power-laws, τ_f  (t_a)^−1/5 and τ_s  (t_a)^3/5 respectively. Further the analysis showed the heterogeneity size (ξ_SANS) obtained from SANS also follows power-law behavior, ξ_SANS  (t_a)^−1/5. The data taken together revealed the “speeding up” of fast and “slowing down” of slow mode relaxation processes.     

Morphological characteristics of copper deposition on stainless steel cathodes

The results of a metallographic study of cathodic copper deposition on 316 stainless steel are presented. In magnetically assisted d.c. electrolysis, characteristic screen-type deposition patterns are observed. Simultaneous hydrogen evolution causes tunnel-type deposits at 30–45° to the horizontal.Nomenclature B _z magnetic flux density, vertical field lines pointing downwards - C electrolyte concentration - CVD cell voltage drop - i _c cathode current density - s cathode-anode separation distance - T temperature - t _e length of electrolysis time     

Synthesis, electrorheology and creep behavior of polyindole/polyethylene composites

In this study, polyindole (PIN) and polyindole/polyethylene (PIN/PE) conducting composites, having various amounts of PIN, were synthesized by chemical polymerization using FeCl₃ as an oxidizing agent and taking the ratio of salt:monomer as 3:1. The samples of PIN and PIN/PE composites were characterized by FTIR, UV–vis, TGA, SEM, Gouy scale magnetic susceptibility, conductivity (1.2 × 10⁻³ S cm⁻¹ > σ > 1.96 × 10⁻⁶ S cm⁻¹, at T = 25 °C) and density measurements. FTIR analysis suggested a 2,3-propagation mechanism for PIN formation. The ground milled samples were subjected to particle size analysis by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and a micron-sized particle distribution was obtained. A series of volume fractions ( = 10–25%) were prepared from the materials in silicone oil (SO) and their sedimentation stabilities determined. The most stable composite [PIN(89%)/PE(11%)] against gravitational sedimentation was subjected to flow-rate measurements under externally applied electric field strength (E) and an electrorheological (ER) activity was observed; threshold energies (E_t) were calculated. The effects of volume fraction, shear rate, external E, frequency and temperature onto ER activities of the suspensions were investigated. Enhancement in the electric field viscosities and shear thinning viscoelastic behaviors were observed for all the samples studied. Recoverable viscoelastic deformations were determined from the creep tests under external E.     

Magnetic properties of La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 under the pressure and the transport property under the magnetic field

Polycrystalline La_0.7Sr_0.3MnO₃ sample (LSMO) was synthesized by the solid phase reaction; it exhibits the paramagnetic-ferromagnetic transition at T_c = 362 K at the ambient pressure; it is paramagnetic metallic state above T_c and the ferromagnetic metallic state below T_c. It was observed that the pressure effect depends on the temperature range: (a) In the paramagnetic region, the magnetization M hardly changes with the pressure P, that is, ΔM≈0. There exist the antiferromagnetic (AFM) coupled ferromagnetic clusters in the paramagnetic region, and the pressure enhances the AFM coupling. (b) In the temperature range around T_c, the pressure increases M, that is, ΔM > 0, with the concomitant increase in T_c; the average pressure coefficient dT_c/dP is 5.40 K/GPa at P = .74 GPa, much smaller than 15.47 and 15.90 K/GPa for La_0.7Ca_0.3MnO₃ and La_0.9Ca_0.1MnO₃, respectively, due to the different distortion degree of MnO₆ octahedra in Ca and Sr doped manganites. (c) In the temperature region below T_c, the pressure reduces M, that is, ΔM < 0. M is determined by the competition between the Mn³⁺-O-Mn⁴⁺ double exchange and the interparticle dipolar interaction. The pressure enhances the interparticle dipolar interaction, leading to a significant decrease in magnetization. The resistivity of LSMO exhibits the metallic behavior in the temperature range of 5 K~370 K; it decreases as the applied magnetic field H increases from 0 to 7 T, that is, the magnetoresistance effect which is more significant around T_c. The fitting to the low-temperature resistivity shows that the applied magnetic field reduces the scattering from the grain boundary, electron, phonon, and magnon, especially reduces the electron-electron scattering.     

Influence of the magnetic field on the electric conductivity of magnetorheological elastomers

In this paper one shows that magnetoresistors can be manufactured by processing silicone rubber, iron microparticles and graphite powders. The magnetic field dependence of the current flowing through the magnetoresistor, say I = I(H)_U, is measured for constant voltages. Functions established in this manner have been discussed both during and after polymerization.     

The magnetic,thermal transport properties,magnetothermal effect and critical behavior of Co3Sn2S2 single crystal

Through the magnetic/thermal transport measurements combined with the analyses of magnetocaloric effect and critical behavior of Co₃Sn₂S₂ single crystal, the main results we obtained are as follows: in the case of the magnetic field H//c-axis, Co₃Sn₂S₂ exhibits the phase-separation state below T_c in the low-field region (H < 500 Oe). T_c increases slightly from 174 to 177 K with an increase in H from 100 to 10 kOe. The second-order magnetic phase transition near T_c and the itinerant ferromagnetism below T_c are identified. The magnetization below T_c matches well with the three-dimensional Ising model, instead of the mean-field model. In the case of H//ab, T_c changes between 175 and 178 K with varying H. Noticeably, M above T_c exhibits a small positive value, instead of the null M as commonly expected in the paramagnetic region. An extra phase transition below 166 K is observed. The magnetic transition near T_c seems not to be the second-order phase transition. All results show a significant characteristic of anisotropic magnetic phase transition for the Co₃Sn₂S₂ single crystal. They support mutually those in previous reports, moreover, some new phenomena are also observed. They also provide the experimental evidences for the deep insight into the magnetic phase–transition behavior of Co₃Sn₂S₂.     

A model for SOFC anode performance

A model for anode performance of a planar anode-supported SOFC is developed. The model includes Butler–Volmer relation for the hydrogen oxidation, Ohm’s law for ionic current and equation of hydrogen mass balance in the anode channel. We show that the regime of anode operation depends on the relation between the cell current density j and the critical current density j_crit. Analytical solutions to the system of governing equations for the case of “low” (j<j_crit) and “high” (jj_crit) currents are derived. In the “low-current” regime the anode polarization voltage is proportional to cell current, which justifies the notion of anodic activation resistivity R_a. Full hydrogen utilization increases the value of R_a by a factor of 2. In the “high-current” regime polarization voltage depends on cell current logarithmically, with the effective Tafel slope being twice the kinetic value (doubling of Tafel slope). In this regime 100% hydrogen utilization leads to a constant 230-mV shift of polarization curve as a whole.     

Phase transition behavior and electrical properties of lead-free (1 − x)(0.98K0.5Na0.5NbO3–0.02LiTaO3)–x(0.96Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3–0.04BaTiO3) piezoelectric ceramics

Lead-free piezoelectric ceramics (1 − x)(0.98K_0.5Na_0.5NbO₃–0.02LiTaO₃)–x(0.96Bi_0.5Na_0.5TiO₃–0.04BaTiO₃) (KNN–LT–BNT–BT) with x = 0–0.10 have been synthesized by a conventional sintering technique. All samples possess pure perovskite structure, showing room temperature symmetries of orthorhombic at x < 0.02, and tetragonal at 0.05 ≤ x ≤ 0.10. A coexistence of orthorhombic and tetragonal phases in the composition range of 0.02 ≤ x < 0.05 in this system is caused by the temperature of the polymorphic phase transition (PPT) decreasing to around room temperature but not the behavior of the morphotropic phase boundary (MPB). The samples near the coexistence region exhibit improved properties, which are as follows: piezoelectric constant d₃₃ = 155 pC/N, remnant polarization P_r = 24.2 μC/cm², and coercive electric field E_c = 2 kV/mm. The results indicate that although this kind of ceramics displays good properties, further study is needed to promote the stabilities of the ceramics in order to utilize them in varying temperature environments.     

Comparison of Postprandial Oleic Acid, 9<Emphasis Type="Italic">c,</Emphasis>11<Emphasis Type="Italic">t</Emphasis> CLA and 10<Emphasis Type="Italic">t,</Emphasis>12<Emphasis Type="Italic">c</Emphasis> CLA Oxidation in Healthy Moderately Overweight Subjects

Few studies report the individual effect of 9c,11t- and 10t,12c-CLA on human energy metabolism. We compared the postprandial oxidative metabolism of 9c,11t- and 10t,12c-CLA and oleic acid (9c-18:1) in 22 healthy moderately overweight volunteers. After 24 weeks supplementation with 9c,11t-, 10t,12c-CLA or 9c-18:1 (3 g/day), subjects consumed a single oral bolus of the appropriate [1-¹³C]-labeled fatty acid. 8 h post-dose, cumulative oxidation was similar for 9c-18:1 and 10t,12c (P = 0.66), but significantly higher for 9c,11t (P < 0.01).     

Effect of <Emphasis Type="Italic">trans</Emphasis>8, <Emphasis Type="Italic">cis</Emphasis>10+<Emphasis Type="Italic">cis</Emphasis>9, <Emphasis Type="Italic">trans</Emphasis>11 Conjugated Linoleic Acid Mixture on Lipid Metabolism in 3T3-L1 Cells

Evidence suggests that minor isomers of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), such as trans8, cis10 CLA, can elicit unique biological effects of their own. In order to determine the effect of a mixture of t8, c10+c9, t11 CLA isomers on selected aspects of lipid metabolism, 3T3-L1 preadipocytes were differentiated for 8 days in the presence of 100 μM linoleic acid (LA); t8, c10+c9, t11 CLA; t10, c12+c9, t11 CLA or purified c9, t11 CLA. Whereas supplementation with c9, t11 and t10, c12+c9, t11 CLA resulted in cellular triglyceride (TG) concentrations of 3.4 ± 0.26 and 1.3 ± 0.11 μg TG/μg protein, respectively (P < 0.05), TG accumulation following treatment with CLA mixture t8, c10+c9, t11 was significantly intermediate (2.5 ± 0.22 μg TG/μg protein, P < 0.05) between the two other CLA treatments. However, these effects were not attributable to an alteration of the Δ⁹ desaturation index. Adiponectin content of adipocytes treated with t8, c10+c9, t11 mixture was similar to the individual isomer c9, t11 CLA, and both the t8, c10+c9, t11 and c9, t11 CLA groups were greater (P < 0.05) than in the t10, c12+c9, t11 CLA group. Overall, these results suggest that t8, c10+c9, t11 CLA mixture affects TG accumulation in 3T3-L1 cells differently from the c9, t11 and t10, c12 isomers. Furthermore, the reductions in TG accumulation occur without adversely affecting the adiponectin content of these cells.     

Synthesis and structure of Mu-33, a new layered aluminophosphate

Mu-33, a new layered aluminophosphate with an Al/P ratio of 0.66, was obtained from a quasi non-aqueous synthesis in which tert-butylformamide (tBF) was the main solvent and only limited amounts of water were present. During the synthesis, tBF decomposed and the resulting protonated tert-butylamine is occluded in the as-synthesized material. The approximate structure was determined from data collected on a microcrystal (200 × 25 × 5 μm³) at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) in Grenoble, but the quality of these data did not allow satisfactory refinement. Therefore the structure was refined using high-resolution powder diffraction data, also collected at the ESRF. The structure (P2₁/c, a = 9.8922(6) Å, b = 26.180(2) Å, c = 16.729(1) Å and β = 90.4(1)°) consists of anionic aluminophosphate layers that can be described as a six-ring honeycomb of alternating corner-sharing AlO₄ and PO₄ tetrahedra with additional P-atoms above and below the honeycomb layer bridging between Al-atoms. The tert-butylammonium ions and water molecules located in the interlayer spacing interact via hydrogen-bonds with the terminal oxygens of the P-atoms. The characterization of this new aluminophosphate by ¹³C, ³¹P, ¹H–³¹P heteronuclear correlation (HETCOR) and ²⁷Al 3QMAS solid state NMR spectroscopy is also reported.     

Uptake of cesium and strontium cations by potassium-depleted phlogopite

Phlogopite mica was equilibrated with 1.0 N sodium chloride (NaCl)–0.2 N sodium tetraphenylborate (NaTPB)–0.01 M disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) solution at room temperature resulting in an almost complete removal (92%) of the mica's interlayer K. X-ray powder diffraction analysis provides additional evidence that hydrated Na⁺ ions had almost completely replaced the interlayer K⁺. Following equilibration, the c-axis spacing of the mica increased from 10.0 Å to approximately 12.2 Å. Cesium and Sr ion exchange isotherms indicate that K-depleted phlogopite is highly selective for both elements, the Cs⁺ exchange capacity is 1.26 meq/g or 65% of the theoretical cation exchange capacity and the Sr²⁺ exchange capacity is 1.94 meq/g or 100% of the theoretical exchange capacity of the mica. Kielland plots indicated that the mica was selective for Cs⁺ when the equivalent exchange capacity of Cs⁺ in the exchanger phase (X¯_Cs) was < 0.66 and selective for Sr²⁺ when X¯_Sr < 0.41. At equivalent fractions greater than these levels, layer collapse and/or steric effects limit the diffusion of these ions into the interlayers of the mica. Analysis of the Cs⁺ equilibrated mica utilizing XRD indicated that a collapse of the c-axis spacing had occurred. Based on the high selectivity of < 45-μm K-depleted phlogopite for Sr²⁺ and Cs⁺, this material may prove useful as an inorganic ion exchanger for these radioactive isotopes.     

Magnetic properties of CNX whiskers

Carbon–nitrogen whiskers have been prepared by pyrolysis of 1,2-diaminopropane at 950 °C or of allylamine at 900 °C followed by quenching. They are scrolls of carbon film typically 250 nm thick and up to 1 mm long with about five layers in a structure like a “cigare russe” or “brandy snap”, about 50 μm in diameter. Approximately 8 wt% of nitrogen is incorporated into the carbon films, which are practically amorphous, exhibiting a broad diffraction peak at d = 0.34 nm. The whiskers are on the border of metallic conductivity with a resistivity of about 10⁻⁶ Ωm, and they may show either a positive or a negative temperature coefficient of resistance. The pyrolysis produces either whiskers, soot or both. Magnetization measurements of the whiskers made from 1,2-diaminopropane reveal a large diamagnetic susceptibility of χ = −170 × 10⁻⁹ m³  kg⁻¹ and a small ferromagnetic component of unknown origin with σ_S of up to 0.2 A m² kg⁻¹, whereas the soot shows a purely diamagnetic signal, with χ ≈ −40 × 10⁻⁹ m³ kg⁻¹.     

Temperature and field dependencies of galvanomagnetic effects in graphite

In zero magnetic field the electrical resistivity, ρ(0, T), of highly-oriented-pyrolytic (polycrystalline) graphite decreases monotonically with decreasing temperature, becoming nearly constant below about 4 Kelvin. However, in an applied field, B_z, the transverse resistivity component, ρ_xx(B_z, T), goes through a maximum as a function of temperature at about 25°K. The size of the maximum increases as the field increases. A natural single crystal of graphite also exibits a maximum, but it is modified by Shubnikov-de Haas oscillations of ρ_xx. We show that the maximum of ρ_xx at fixed field is directly related to the unexpected field dependence of ρ_xx at low temperatures reported in earlier work, where it was observed that the transverse conductivity component, σ_xx(- 1/ρ_xx), decreases more slowly with field than expected on the basis of a simple two-band model. Calculations of the field and temperature dependence of σ_xx in graphite are needed, for fields just below and in the quantum limit.     

Superconducting and normal state properties of the A3C60 compounds

This report is a critical review of the measurements and their interpretations of the normal and superconducting state of the A₃C₆₀ compounds, where A = alkali atom. These compounds are highly ionic [A⁺]₃ · [C₆₀]³⁻ and form fcc lattices (cryolite structure) which locate the C₆₀ icosahedra in sites of local cubic symmetry, thereby preserving the degeneracy of the t_lu orbitals, allowing for the formation of a narrow half-filled band of a width comparable to or smaller than the different molecular excitation energies. The T_c -s of the more than a dozen compounds synthesized so far span the range 2–33 K; the variation of T_c with pressure and from material to material is assessed as an empirical T_c lattice parameter relation, suggestive that the attraction responsible for the Cooper pair formation is a local property of the C₆₀ molecules and variations of the density of state ρ(_f) at the Fermi level (i.e., band width) determine T_c. The superconducting parameters, λ_L and ξ₀ determined from critical field and μSR measurements, favoring a local pairing image, are marginally supportive of the expected density of state variations. The so far available ¹³C nuclear relaxation, susceptibility and ESR measurements in the normal state manifest several features more related to the complex correlated nature of the C₆₀ molecules than free electron band effects of the simple lattice they are arranged in. The paper emphasizes these unusual characteristics.     

Kinetics of Phase Separation in Poly(ɛ-caprolactone)/Poly(ethylene glycol) Blends

The poly(ɛ-caprolactone)/poly(ethylene glycol) (PCL/PEG) blends reveal a miscibility window of upper critical solution temperature (UCST) character. The kinetics of liquid–liquid phase separation (LLPS) for the blends of PCL/PEG is investigated by time-resolved small angle light scattering (TRSALS). The time evolution of scattering profile is analyzed by linear Cahn–Hilliard theory for early stage of spinodal decomposition (SD). The evolution of the maximum intensity I_m(t) and the corresponding wavenumber q_m(t) obey the power-law scheme (I_m(t)∼t^β and q_m(t)∼t^−α). A relation of β=3α in late stage is obtained almost the same scaling exponents with β≅1 and α≅1/3 for various quenching depths. The α≅1/3 implied that a coarsening mechanism at the late stage of phase separation may proceed with Ostwald ripening or Brownian coalescence process. Besides, the intermediate and late stages of SD can be scaled into a universal from represented well by Furukawa’s structure factor. The percolation to cluster transition is accompanied with α∼0.13→1/3 from intermediate to late stage of SD for the off-critical mixture of PCL/PEG (4/6) blend. In this study, the experimental result demonstrates that the crystallization is a viable mechanism to lock phase-separated structure of the blends. The competition between phase separation and crystallization has been suggested to determine the final morphology.     

Action des trihalogenures de chrome sur le graphite: Synthese et etude des composes graphite-chlorure chromique

As indicated by Croft[1], then Leparlier[2] the insertion of chromium trichloride can be carried out with difficulty leading in all cases to inhomogeneous products. Chromium tribromide[3] and chromium tri-iodide[4] cannot be intercalated.Figure 1 shows the quantity of chromium trichloride fixed by natural graphite (250 < θ < 500μ) as a function of the temperature for one week of reaction. The insertion whose effect is to dislocate the large diameter crystallites (Fig. 2) only takes place on the periphery of the pyrographite samples (Fig. 3). Heated in vacuum, the graphite-CrCl₃ products dissociate only at relatively high temperatures (Fig. 4). Study of the X-ray data presented in Table 1 indicates that the products of formulae comprised between C₂₂CrCl₃ and C₂₉CrCl₃ are third stage compounds ( ). The quantity of free graphite increases as that of the inserted halogenide decreases (Fig. 6). The product of average composition C₂₁CrCl₃ obtained on large crystallites (1 < θ < 2 mm) is in reality a mixture of both second and third stages, although the X-ray diagram carried out on the fine portion obtained by dislocations of the large grains reveals only a second stage of c-axis periodicity . Contrary to the graphite-FeCl₃ compounds[13,14], the powdered graphite-CrCl₃ products could not be prepared in pure stage states[15].Both X-ray diffraction (Fig. 7) and electron microdiffraction (Fig. 8) data show that the chromium trichloride layers conserve their own structure. The two hexagonal sublattices, one corresponding to the graphite ( ), the other to the intercalated trichloride ( ) are turned by an angle of 30° as in the case of graphite-FeCl₃ compounds[12],Studies carried out on single crystals allowed us to determine the relative disposition along the c-axis of the carbon layers A and the halogenide layers α. In the first stage graphite-FeCl₃ products, the photographs (Fig. 9) lead unambiguously to the sequence AαAα…In the third stage graphite-CrCl₃ compounds (Fig. 10) analysis of the rotating crystal photographs do not allow us to choose between the two sequences AαABAαA and AαAAAαA…Thermomagnetic curves of the rich products (Fig. 11) show that the magnetic behaviour of the intercalated chromium chloride is close to that of the free chloride: the extrapolated Curie-Weiss temperature (27 ± 3°K) is in the neighbourhood of that the halogenide (32°K); the magnetic moment of the chrome ion (3.60 μ_B) is very similar to that of Cr³⁺ ions (3.85 μ_B) measured on CrCl₃.     

Electron spin resonance of transparent alumina ceramics fabricated by spark plasma sintering

Transparent α‐alumina ceramics are fabricated using spark plasma sintering. Paramagnetic defects related to the optical properties of the ceramics have been investigated using electron spin resonance (ESR) analyses. An isotropic ESR signal at g = 2.003 (S = 1/2) with a linewidth of 0.5 mT is formed during sintering. The g = 2.003 signal intensity has a weak correlation with the absorbance in the visible region but does not correlate with the real in‐line transmission (RIT) at 650 nm. An ESR signal with a fine structure attributed to Fe³⁺ was detected in both the α‐Al₂O₃ starting powder and the sintered ceramic samples. The degree of c‐axis orientation of the grains has been determined using the Fe³⁺ signal intensity, which depends on the angle between the directions of the c‐axis and the applied magnetic field. The ESR analysis indicated that the c‐axis tends to be oriented in the direction of the sintering pressure. The degree of c‐axis orientation was found to correlate with the RIT in highly densified ceramics.