Gasless Combustion of Ti–Al Bimetallic Multilayer Nanofoils

Ti–Al multilayer foils were produced magnetron vacuum deposition. The microstructure period varied in the range of 5–110 nm, the number of layers was 150–4700, and the total thickness of a multilayer foil reached 15–20 m. The gasless combustion of the foils was studied. Steadystate and pulsating combustion regimes were revealed; combustion temperatures were determined for both regimes. It was shown that the most probable mechanism of the selfpropagating reaction is the diffusion of Al in Ti at a temperature close to the temperature of the transition.     

Microinterferometry of poly-p-phenyleneterephthalamide fibres dried at various temperatures

Conclusions Poly-p-phenyleneterephthalamide fibres which have been subjected to drying at various temperatures have been studied by use of the Biolar polarizing interference microscope.A significant change in the n(r) curves on change in temperature has been detected. Temperature elevation essentially does not show up in the axial orientation of the polymer macromolecules; however, the transverse orientation of the structural elements changes considerably.Translated from Khimicheskie Volokna, No. 3, pp. 40–41, May–June, 1989.     

Behavioral and neurosensory responses of the boll weevil,Anthonomus grandis Boh. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), to fluorinated analogs of aldehyde components of its pheromone

Competitive field tests with -fluorinated analogs of compounds III and IV (III--F and IV--F, respectively) of the boll weevil,Anthonomus grandis Boh., aggregation pheromone showed these compounds, when combined with the other pheromone components [(±)-I and II], to be as attractive as grandlure [(+)-I, II, and III+IV]. Dose-response curves constructed from electroantennograms of male boll weevils to serial stimulus loads of III, IV, III--F, IV--F, and the corresponding acyl fluorinated analogs (III-acyl-F and IV-acyl-F) showed the -fiuorinated analogs to be as active as the pheromone components (threshold=0.1 g), while the acyl fluorinated analogs had a 10-100 x higher threshold (=1-10 g). Single-neuron recordings showed that IV neurons and II neurons (Dickens, 1990) responded to IV--F and III--F, respectively, while IV-acyl-F and III-acyl-F were inactive. Since a previous study showed compounds I, II, and IV to be essential for behavioral responses in the field, it seems likely that the activity of the -fluorinated analogs observed here is due to the stimulation of IV neurons by IV--F as indicated in single neuron recordings.     

Hydrogenolysis of alkanes and olefin polymerization on the silica-supported zirconium hydrides: A comparative DFT study

The model reactions of ethylene polymerization and hydrogenolysis of linear alkanes (propane, n-butane, and n-pentane) on the silica-supported zirconium hydrides (Si–O)₃Zr^IVH, (Si–O)₂Zr^IVH₂, and (Si–O)₂Zr^IIIH were studied using the DFT approach. Catalytic processes under study were shown to occur involving different surface hydrides. The ethylene polymerization was found to proceed at comparable rates on the zirconium monohydrides, (Si–O)₃ZrH, and dihydrides, (Si–O)₂ZrH₂. Cleavage of linear alkanes on the monohydrides (Si–O)₃ZrH is thermodynamically unfavorable; however, the dihydrides (Si–O)₂ZrH₂ can act as catalysts of the process under mild conditions. Hydrides of the trivalent zirconium, (Si–O)₂Zr^IIIH, can also contribute to the hydrogenolysis reaction. A feature of all the systems studied is low regioselectivity of the corresponding processes.     

Crystallization of barium diborate glass

The conditions for crystallization of a new modification of barium diborate in the glass of stoichiometric composition are investigated. This modification is characterized using X-ray diffraction analysis. In order for the -BaO 2B₂O₃ modification to crystallize, the glass should be purified from dissolved gases and have an undisturbed fire-polished surface. Otherwise, the modification crystallizes under the same conditions. The melting temperature of the -BaO 2B₂O₃ modification is determined to be T _melt = 805°C. Upon heating, the modification in the form of a powder transforms into the modification, whereas the modification in the form of a polycrystalline monolithic sample remains stable up to the melting temperature.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Fizika i Khimiya Stekla, Polyakova, Pevzner.     

Beta-silicon carbide whisker-polymer composites

Summary The beta silicon carbide whiskers, as prepared by the Los Alamos Process, have been found to have conductivities as high as 300 (cm)^–1. Random, uniform incorporation of these whiskers in two high temperature polymers (polybenzimidazole and polypyrrone) in 10 and 20 wt% concentrations generated films with conductivities as high as 1 × 10^–9 (cm) and 1 × 10^–5 (cm)^–1 respectively. The polymers without the whiskers had conductivities in the 10^–10 to 10^–17 (cm)^–1 range.     

State and prospects of development of domestic equipment for manufacture of needle-punched,nonwoven materials from polymer melts

Conclusions Domestic equipment has been devised for the production of needle-punched nonwoven geotextile materials from second-grade polycaproamide or fibre-forming polypropylene.The geotextile materials produced are promising for use in construction of roads, foundations of buildings, in hydrotechnology, and in land reclamation.Promising trends in the development of equipment for preparing spun nonwoven materials have been noted (light-duty needle-punched or heat-bonded materials, bulky spun articles, etc.).Coworkers of the Kemerovskii and Kamenskii Khimvolokno IAs the Khimtekstil'mash SIA, the VNIISV, the GIPROtyumenneftegaz, the SoyuzdorNII, and the Plastpolimer SIA took part in this work.Translated from Khimicheskie Volokna, No. 4, pp. 8–10, July–August, 1989.     

Phenomenological model of the scale effect of the strength of polymer fibers

A new derivation of the scale effect equation for polymer fibers is proposed. The equation is: AL ^–, where is the average strength of the fiber; L is the length of the fiber; A and are coefficients. The equation was obtained from the general premises of scale effect theory without indication of the concrete form of the probability function F(S).Ukrainian Scientific-Research Institute of Polymer Fibers, Kiev. Translated from Khimicheskie Volokna, No. 4, pp. 34–36, July–August, 1992.     

Ignition of β‐Azidoethanol Droplets in Air

The behavior of a droplet of azidoethanol, a liquid explosive, in heated air was studied. It was shown that droplet ignition is a gasphase process limited by heat release due to the vaporphase oxidation of azidoethanol. An increase in the ambient temperature with distance from the ignition limit eads to enhancement of the role of the thermal decomposition of azidoethanol molecules. In the range of ambient temperatures of 560–620 K, the droplet ignition is determined by the kinetics of the parallel reactions — the gasphase oxidation and thermal decomposition of azidoethanol.     

Sugars in Mediterranean Floral Nectars: An Ecological and Evolutionary Approach

High-pressure liquid chromatography analyses of 73 plant species showed that the nectars of phrygana (East Mediterranean garrigue) mainly contain sucrose, glucose, and fructose, and traces of 10 minor sugars. Although the sucrose/hexose ratio was not related to plant life habit, ecological constraints had a detectable effect in shaping sugar composition. This was detected by distinguishing the phryganic plant species into spring–summer and winter flowering, with the distinction made on the basis of the water deficit in the study area. Plants flowering in spring–summer had a higher rate of high sucrose (i.e., sucrose/hexose ratio 0.5; 60.8% of the plant species) vs. low hexose nectars (i.e., ratio <0.5; 39.2%). The ratio was reversed in winter flowering species (36.4% vs. 63.6% with high sucrose and high hexose, respectively). Sucrose/hexose ratios were associated with plant family. The highest values were those of Lamiaceae, which differed significantly from the low sucrose Liliaceae and Apiaceae. Based on recorded plant–pollinator interactions in the community, the present data provide evidence of a partitioning of nectar resources by the existing pollinator guilds within the community, based on the sugar profiles of nectar (all sucrose/hexose ratios for all interactions). Among all major groups, bees and wasps (aculeates) preferred high sucrose nectars, which differed significantly from syrphids, anthomyid a.o. flies, and beetles that visited low sucrose nectars. Similarly, butterflies visited lower sucrose nectars compared to bees. Within families, only Megachilidae could be clearly characterized as high sucrose consumers, differing in this respect from all the remaining insect groups including most other bee families. This confirms previous findings that Megachilidae have a key position in Mediterranean communities where they probably constitute a selective factor for high sucrose nectars.     

Living cationic polymerization of vinyl ethers with a functional group

Summary Living polymerizations of 2-vinyloxyethyl methacrylate and 2-vinyloxyethyl cinnamate were successfully performed with a mixture of hydrogen iodide and iodine (HI/I₂) as an initiating system in toluene at –15 to –40 °C, Although the two monomers have an unsaturated ester pendant group, their living polymerizations proceeded exclusively via the vinyloxyl group without undesirable side reactions of the pendant group. The product polymers had a very narrow molecular weight distribution (Mw/Mn 1.1), and {Mn} directly proportional to monomer conversion. For both vinyloxyethyl monomers, the addition of a new feed of monomer to a polymerization mixture led to an increase in polymer molecular weight which was again proportional to the conversion.     

Appearance and development of polyconjugated structures in heat treatment of polyacrylonitrile fibres

The changes in the electrophysical and paramagnetic characteristics of PAN fibres during their heat treatment are similar to the corresponding changes in heat treatment of other polymer [10]; the character of these changes allows tracking the appearance and development of a polyconjugated structure in heat treatment of PAN fibres with the characteristic mobility of the -electrons and ability to form paramagnetic centers.Avtor Scientific and Industrial Association, Mytishchi. Translated from Khimicheskie Volokna, No. 6, pp. 13–16, November–December, 1993.     

Time-resolved studies of electronic transport in Si and Ge polymer dielectrics

Time of flight drift mobility studies of alkyl- and aryl-substituted Si and Ge polymers are described. Three key results are emphasized: (1) elucidation of the mechanism of electronic transport in the glassy state; (2) identification of the attribute of a given chemical impurity which governs its activity as a trap for transiting charge carriers—this is intimately related to the mechanism of chemical modification of drift mobility by doping; and (3) delineation of the impact on transport behavior of thermal transitions including that underlying thermochromism in certain aliphatic polysilylenes.This review was presented at the Second International Topical Workshop, Advances in Silicon-Based Polymer Science.     

Blackheaded fireworm: Laboratory and field studies of its sex pheromone

Electroantennogram (EAG) responses of maleRhopobota naevana (Hübner), the blackheaded fireworm, to all of the monoene straightchain 12- and 14-carbon alcohols and acetates implicated (Z)-11-tetradecenl-1-ol (Z11–14OH) and its acetate (Z11–14Ac) as sex pheromone components.Z11–14Ac produced the strongest EAG response of all compounds tested. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis of extract of female sex pheromone glands (SPG) confirmed the presence ofZ11–14OH (125 pg/female) andZ11–14Ac (600 pg/female) (all other monoenes had different retention times). In field tests, traps baited withZ11–14OH alone captured males, but traps baited withZ11–14Ac alone did not. Traps baited with a combination ofZ11–14OH andZ11–14Ac in various ratios did not produce better trap catches thanZ11–14OH alone. (Z)-9-Dodecen-1-ol acetate (Z9–12Ac), reported by others to be a field attractant, did not produce trap catch in our tests, but in combination withZ11–14 OH (982 in septa corresponding to 95:5 in vapor,Z11–14OH toZ9–12AC) produced a sevenfold increase in catch overZ11–14OH alone. IfZ9–12AC had been present in extract of SPG at 2–5% ofZ11–14OH, it would not have been detected in our GC-MS experiment. Rhopobota naevana (Hübner) Lepidoptera: Tortricidae: Olethreutinae.     

Convective Combustion of “Gasless” Systems

A convective mechanism of combustion is proposed to explain the anomalously high burning rate of titanium–soot and titanium–soot–polystyrene gasless systems under conditions of onedimensional filtration of impurity gases. An analysis of experimental and theoretical works shows that the convective mechanism of combustion under conditions of impurity gas release may be ensured by the motion of the melted layer of one of the reagents under the action of the pressure difference of impurity gases. Physical and mathematical models of the process are formulated. It is found that a free volume, which is not occupied by the burden, is necessary for an accelerating regime of combustion. It is shows that the front velocity and the gas pressure increase exponentially at the initial stage of combustion and also if the free volume is greater than the specimen volume. Analytical expressions for the mean convective burning rate are derived. Consideration of the model formulated in the present paper offers an explanation of the differences in the burning laws of gasless systems, which are observed in experiments under conditions of counterflow, cocurrent, and twosided filtration of impurity gases.     

Characterization of phosphorus availability in selected New Zealand grassland soils

Appropriate evaluation of phosphorus (P) availability in soil is aprerequisite for ensuring the productivity and long-term sustainable managementof agroecosystems. Fifteen soils presently under grassland were collected fromdifferent areas of New Zealand and soil P availability was assessed by isotopicexchange kinetics (IEK) and related to P forms obtained by chemicalfractionation (sequential extraction). Concentrations of total P determined inthe 15 soils ranged from 375 to 2607 mg kg^–1(mean1104 mg kg^–1). Mean concentrations of inorganic P(Pi) extracted by sequential extraction with ammonium chloride, sodiumbicarbonate, sodium hydroxide (first), hydrochloric acid and sodium hydroxide(second) were 1.2, 41, 205, 113 and 23 mg kg^–1,respectively. Mean concentrations of organic P (Po) extracted by sodiumbicarbonate, sodium hydroxide (first) and sodium hydroxide (second) were 133,417 and 105 mg kg^–1, respectively. Similarly,results from IEK analysis showed that the intensity (water soluble Pi (Cp)),capacity (R/r₁ and n), and quantity (E value,isotopically exchangeable P pools (E_{1 min},E_{1 min–24 h},E_{24 h–3 m},E_{>3 m})) factors varied markedlyamongst soils. Thus Cp concentrations ranged from 0.02–1.90 mgL^–1, while concentrations of Pi determined in theE_{1 min}, E_{1 min–24},E_{24 h–3 m},E_{>3 m} pools were 2–29 (mean 10), 10–321(76), 11–745 (152), and 8–498 (177) mgkg^–1, respectively. The corresponding values forR/r₁ and n were 1.0–17.7 (mean 4.5) and0.10–0.50 (mean 0.37), respectively. Regression analysis revealed that Cpconcentrations were exponentially and inversely proportional toR/r₁,n and P sorption index (PSI)(R²=0.806(P<0.01), 0.852 (P<0.01) and 0.660(P<0.01), respectively). Cluster analysis identified twobroad groups of soils, namely those with low P availability (mean Cp0.11 mg L^–1, E_{1 min} Pi 5mg kg^–1, R/r₁ 3.9,n 0.44), and those with high P availability (mean Cp 1.33mg L^–1, E_{1 min} Pi 20mg kg^–1, R/r₁ 1.21,n 0.16). Correlation analysis indicated thatE_{1 min} P i was significantly correlated with bicarbonateextractable Pi (BPi, R²=0.37,P<0.05) and thesum of ammonium chloride extractable Pi (APi) and BPi(R²=0.38,P<0.05). However, the concentration of Pi in theE_{1 min} pool was generally lower than the sum of APi andBPi. Sodium hydroxide extractable Pi (N₁Pi) was significantlycorrelated with the sum of the E_{1 min},E_{1 min–24 h},E_{24 h–3 m} Pi pools(R₂=0.974, P<0.01),indicating that N₁Pi fractioncould be considered as representing potentially available soil P for pasturespecies over a growing season.     

Intermediate angle scattering functions and local chain configurations of semicrystalline and amorphous polymers

Summary Molecular scattering functions at intermediate scattering vectors, of =(4/ sin/2) in the range 0.03 to 1.0Å^–1, are found to be extremely sensitive to the local configurations of polymer chains in both semicrystalline and amorphous states. Available experimental results of intermediate angle neutron scattering (IANS) from melt-crystallized polyethylene and isotactic polypropylene provide compelling evidence that adjacent re-entry is rare. The rotational isomeric state model satisfactorily accounts for IANS and chain dimensions of polycarbonate in the amorphous state.     

Properties ofSrMO 3-δ(M=Fe,Co) as oxygen electrodes in alkaline solution

Strontium ferrates and cobaltates with compositions SrFeO_3- (0.060.40) and SrCoO_3- (0.040.30) were synthesized. The dependence of the oxygen electrode properties on the value was examined in 1 mol dm^–3 KOH solution. In the SrFeO_3- series, the samples with 0.24<<0.29, showed the highest activity in both oxygen evolution and reduction reactions. In contrast, no strong dependence on the value was observed in SrCoO_3-, which also showed a high catalytic activity for oxygen evolution.     

Periodic nonuniformity in diameter of elementary polyacrylonitrile fibres along yarn length

Conclusions -- Periodic fluctuations in linear density (amplitude 0.004–0.006 tex) of elementary filaments of polyacrylonitrile tows have been detected with a wavelength of 25.6 cm, which apparently are connected with a resonance phenomenon in spinning.-- It has been suggested that the resonance mechanism may be explained on the basis of a concept of lengthwise elastic turbulence derived by the authors.Translated from Khimicheskie Volokna, No. 4, pp. 40–42, July–August, 1991.     

Excited states of polysilanes: High-resolution spectroscopy and molecular modeling

High-resolution spectroscopy at low temperatures (1.5–77 K) is used to study the electronic properties of the low-temperature phase of poly-di-n-hexyl-silane in solution. The absorption spectra exhibit an unexpected sensitivity to sample preparation. Experiments probing the energy transfer dynamics are reported and a model for the electronic excitation and the disorder reigning in the polymer is presented.This paper is from the Second International Topical Workshop, Advances in Silicon-Based Science.