Porous Glass-Ceramics with a Skeleton of the Fast-Lithium-Conducting Crystal Li1+xTi2−xAlx(PO4)3

Porous glass-ceramics with a skeleton of the fast-lithium-conducting crystal Li_{1+ x} Ti_{2− x} Al _x (PO₄)₃ (where x = 0.3–0.5) were prepared by crystallization of glasses in the Li₂O─CaO─TiO₂─Al₂O₃–P₂O₅ system and subsequent acid leaching of the resulting dense glass-ceramics composed of the interlocking of Li_{1+ x} Ti_{2− x} Al _x (PO₄)₃ and β-Ca₃(PO₄)₂ phases. The median pore diameter and surface area of the resulting porous Li_{1+ x} Ti_{2− x} Al _x (PO₄)₃ glass-ceramics were approximately 0.2 μm and 50 m²/g, respectively. The electrical conductivity of the porous glass-ceramics after heating in LiNO₃ aqueous solution was 8 × 10⁻⁵ S/cm at 300 K or 2 × 10⁻² S/cm at 600 K.     

Band Gap Modification of Diamond Photonic Crystals by Changing the Volume Fraction of the Dielectric Lattice

Photonic crystals with a diamond structure of epoxy lattices in which TiO₂-based ceramic particles are dispersed were fabricated by stereolithography. The periodicity of the lattice was designed to reflect electromagnetic waves in the gigahertz range. The volume fraction (β) of the dielectric lattice medium was modified from 14% to 33% by changing the rod diameter of the lattice. The photonic band gap was observed along Γ-L 〈111〉, Γ-X 〈100〉, and Γ-K 〈110〉 directions and the complete photonic band gap was formed at over β= 20%. The width of the forbidden gap increased gradually when the β increased over 14%, and reached 2.4 GHz at β= 33%. These results agreed with the band calculation using the plane wave expansion method.     

混合制冷工质核态沸腾的传热研究

Heat transfer coefficients in nucleate pool boiling were measured on a horizontal copper surface for refrigerants, HFC-134a, HFC-32, and HFC-125, their binary and ternary mixtures under saturated conditions at 0.9MPa. Compared to pure components, both binary and ternary mixtures showed lower heat transfer coefficients.This deterioration was more pronounced as heat flux was increased. Experimental data were compared with some empirical and semi-empirical correlations available in literature. For binary mixture, the accuracy of the correlations varied considerably with mixtures and the heat flux. Experimental data for HFC-32/134a/125 were also compared with available correlated equation obtained by Thome. For ternary mixture, the boiling range of binary mixture composed by the pure fluids with the lowest and the medium boiling points, and their concentration difference had important effects on boiling heat transfer coefficients.     

Built-in Nanostructures in Transparent Oxides for Novel Photonic and Electronic Functions Materials

We review distinct photonic/electronic properties originating from built-in nanostructures in transparent oxide-based materials, emphasizing potential of nanostructures hidden in crystal structure. Materials focused on are oxychalcogenides LaCuOCh (Ch = chalcogen ion) and homologous oxides InGaO₃(ZnO)_m(m = integer) having naturally formed multi-quantum well structures and 12CaO· 7Al₂O₃ (C12A7) with a unique nanoporous structure. Novel functions and devices arising from the built-in nanostructure are: (1) modulation doping of positive holes and room-temperature stable exciton in LaCuOCh, (2) high-performance transparent field-effect transistor fabricated in InGaO₃(ZnO)₅ epitaxial thin films, and (3) conversion of insulator to persistent electronic conductor by carrier doping in 12CaO·7Al₂O₃ (C12A7).     

Impact fracture behavior of ethylene ionomer and structural change after stretching

We carried out tensile impact test and very low speed tensile test on ethylene‐based Ionomers (E/15wt %MAA) to clarify the relation between impact toughness and high‐ordered structure. We also studied the changes in high‐ordered structure under deformation by observing Differential Scanning Calorimetory (DSC) and Small‐Angle X‐ray Scattering (SAXS) of fractured surface. Na Ionomers showed ductile fracture in both high speed tensile impact (3 m/s) and very low speed tensile (2 mm/min). The disappearance of secondary melting point (Ti) in Na Ionomers was due to the destruction of ordered structure surrounding the ionic aggregate. Similar behavior was observed in 60% (or less) neutralized Zn Ionomers. However, 80% neutralized Zn Ionomer showed brittle failure in high‐speed tensile impact, and Ti did not disappear. SAXS studies of Na and Zn Ionomers after fracture, show no change both after molding (no aging) and after aging. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 81: 1712–1720, 2001     

Effect of Ga2O3 on Sintering and Phase Stability of Sc2O3‐Doped Tetragonal Zirconia Prepared via Aqueous Solution Route

The effects of the presence of Ga₂O₃ on low‐temperature sintering and the phase stability of 4, 5, and 6 mol% Sc₂O₃‐doped tetragonal zirconia ceramics (4ScSZ, 5ScSZ, and 6ScSZ, respectively) were investigated. A series of zirconia sintered bodies with compositions (ZrO₂)_0.99?x(Sc₂O₃)_x(Ga₂O₃)_0.01, x = 0.04, 0.05, and 0.06 was fabricated by sintering at 1000°C to 1500°C for 1 h using fine powders that were prepared via the combination of homogeneous precipitation method and hydrolysis technique using monoclinic zirconia sols synthesized through the forced hydrolysis of an aqueous solution of zirconium oxychloride at 100°C for 168 h. The presence of 1 mol% Ga₂O₃ was effective in reducing sintering temperature necessary to fabricate dense bodies and enabled to obtain dense sintered bodies via sintering at 1100°C for 1 h. The phase stability, that is, low‐temperature degradation behavior of the resultant zirconia ceramics was determined under hydrothermal condition. The zirconia ceramics codoped with 1 mol% Ga₂O₃ and 6 mol% Sc₂O₃ (1Ga6ScZ) fabricated via sintering at 1300°C for 1 h showed high phase stability without the appearance of monoclinic zirconia phase, that is the tetragonal‐to‐monoclinic phase transformation was not observed in the 1Ga6ScZ after treatment under hydrothermal condition at 150°C for 30 h.     

Effects of Atmospheric Composition on the Molecular Structure of Synthesized Silicon Oxycarbides

The dependence of silicon oxycarbides' chemical composition and molecular structure on their reaction conditions was tested by varying the atmosphere under which pyrolysis was performed. To obtain the silicon oxycarbides, densely cross‐linked silicone resin particles with an averaged diameter of 2 μm were pyrolyzed in various atmospheres of H₂, Ar, and CO₂, in the temperature range 700°C–1100°C. The residual mass of resin after pyrolysis was almost constant at 700°C, although their apparent colors varied distinctly. The sample obtained from the H₂ atmosphere was white, whereas that obtained from the CO₂ atmosphere was dark brown. Fourier‐transform infrared (FT‐IR) spectra of the residues suggested that the Si–O–Si network evolution was accelerated in the CO₂ atmosphere. Beyond 800°C, the chemical compositions of the compounds obtained from a H₂ atmosphere increasingly approached near‐stoichiometric SiO₂–xSiC composition with increasing the pyrolysis temperature. Compounds from a CO₂ atmosphere approached a composition of SiO₂–xC with no free SiC as the pyrolysis temperature increased. In the products from an Ar atmosphere, SiO₂–xSiC–yC compositions were typically obtained. The observed effects of the pyrolysis atmosphere on the resulting chemical compositions were analyzed in terms of thermodynamic calculations. Electron spin resonance (ESR) spectra revealed broad and intense signals from products obtained from either Ar or CO₂. Estimating from the signal intensity, the residual spin concentrations were in the range 10¹⁸–10¹⁹ g^?1. Meanwhile, the spectra from the samples obtained in H₂ showed weak and sharp signals with estimated spin concentrations ranging from 10¹⁶–10¹⁷ g^?1. This signal attenuation may have been due to the hydrogen capping of dangling bond formed during pyrolysis.     

Epitaxially grown free-standing diamond platelet

We obtained an epitaxially grown free-standing diamond platelet utilizing epitaxial diamond film formed on a {100} iridium surface using a d.c. plasma CVD process. Iridium was selected as a suitable substrate material for the heteroepitaxy of diamond based on original criteria. Confocal Raman spectroscopy revealed that the diamond platelet contained little or no non-diamond carbon. The obtained diamond platelet is transparent to visible light and cleavable along the 110 direction on the surface. The angles between the top surface and the cross-sectional surfaces are approximately 55°, almost equal to the theoretical angle of 54.74° between {100} and {111} planes in cubic crystals. Therefore, the cross-sectional surfaces would be {111} planes of a typical facet for single-crystalline diamond. This means that the diamond platelet we have formed has relatively good crystallinity.     

Novel vitamin E derivative with 4-substituted resorcinol moiety has both antioxidant and tyrosinase inhibitory properties

A novel vitamin E derivative, (6″-hydroxy-2″,5″,7″,8″-tetramethylchroman-2″-yl) methyl 3-(2′,4′-dihydroxyphenyl)propionate (TM4R), which has a chromanoxyl ring and 4-substituted resorcinol moieties, was synthesized; and its inhibitory effects on tyrosinase, antioxidant ability, and lightening effect of ultraviolet B (UVB)-induced hyperpigmentation were estimated. TM4R showed potent inhibitory activity on tyrosinase, which is the rate-limiting enzyme in melanogenesis. The scavenging activities of TM4R on 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl and hydroxyl radicals were found to be nearly the same as those of α-tocopherol. Furthermore, an efficient lightening effect was observed following topical application of TM4R to UVB-stimulated hyperpigmented dorsal skin of brownish guinea pigs. These results suggest that TM4R may be a candidate for an efficient whitening agent, possibly by inhibiting tyrosinase activity and biological reactions caused by reactive oxygen species.     

Temperature and Stress Distributions in a Hollow Cylinder of Functionally Graded Material: The Case of Temperature-Independent Material Properties

We have presented a numerical technique for analyzing one-dimensional transient temperature distributions in a circular hollow cylinder that was composed of functionally graded ceramic–metal-based materials, without considering the temperature-dependent material properties. The functionally graded material (FGM) cylinder was assumed to be initially in a steady state of gradient temperature; the ceramic inner surface was exposed to high temperature, and the metallic outer surface, which was associated with its in-service performance, was exposed to low temperature. Then, the FGM cylinder was cooled rapidly on the ceramic surface of the cylinder, using a cold medium. The transient temperature and related thermal stresses in the FGM cylinder were analyzed numerically for a model of the mullite–molybdenum FGM system. The technique for analyzing the temperature distribution is quite simple and widely applicable for various boundary conditions of FGMs, in comparison with methods that have been proposed recently by other researchers.