Calculation of crystallite modulus of native cellulose

Summary A crystallite modulus of native cellulose along the chain axis has been calculated based on the X-ray analysed molecular conformation and the force constants used in the vibrational analysis. The calculated values are 172.9 GPa and 70.8 GPa for the cases with and without the intramolecular hydrogen bondings taken into account, respectively. The intramolecular hydrogen bondings have been found to play an important role on the determination of crystallite modulus and the chain deformation mechanism, based on the calculation of the strain energy distribution to the internal coordinates such as bond lengths, bond angles, and so on.     

Simulation of the primary process in photosynthetic reaction centre by monolayer with charge separation triad and antenna molecules

Simulation of photoelectric conversion in the photosynthetic reaction centre by a monomolecular layer assembly was successfully attained by using a newly synthesized linear A-S-D triad as a charge separation unit and an antenna pigment for light harvesting. The synthetic amphiphilic triad molecule has three functional moieties within a molecule, i.e. a hydrophilic electron acceptor viologen (A), a hydrophobic sensitizer perylene (S) and a hydrophobic electron donor ferrocene (D) moiety. The amphiphilic antenna molecule has a light-harvesting pyrene (H) moiety in the middle of the alkyl chain of fatty acid. Because of overlap of the emission spectrum of the antenna pyrene and the absorption spectrum of the sensitizer perylene moiety of the triad, light energies harvested by the antenna molecules were efficiently transferred to the sensitizer moiety of the triad and finally converted to electrical energies via multistep electron transfer across the monolayer through the charge separation unit of the triad molecule in the highly oriented monolayer assembly.     

Surface properties of perfluoroalkylethyl acrylate/n-alkyl acrylate copolymers

Wetting behavior of perfluoroalkylethyl acrylate (FA)/n-alkyl acrylate (AA) copolymers with the various length of side chains of the AAs is discussed from a standpoint of surface molecular mobility. The copolymerization reactivity ratio indicates that these polymers are random copolymers. The surface properties were studied by measuring dynamic contact angle, static contact angle and freeze-dried X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and the bulk properties by wide-angle X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry. The advancing contact angles for water were independent of side-chain length of AAs and were almost constant at 120°. We have attributed this phenomenon to the orientation of perfluoroalkyl groups (R_f groups, C_xF_2x+1) in air, which is independent of side-chain length of AAs. On the contrary, the receding contact angles showed small values of about 45° when n numbers below 8 and increased when n numbers above 12. This can be explained as follows. High wettability during the receding process at the n numbers below 8 results from regression of R_f groups at the water–solid interface caused by minimization of the interface free energy. The low wettability during the receding process at the n numbers above 12 shows that R_f groups cannot regress due to its crystallization. This mechanism is also supported by other measurements. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 73: 1741–1749, 1999     

Silicone-containing polymer blend electrolyte membranes for fuel cell applications

Polymer electrolyte membranes are developed from blends of chemically durable silicone-containing epoxy (Si-Epoxy) and proton conducting sulfonic polyimide (SPI). A charge-transfer (CT) complex is formed between electron-donating dihydroxynaphthalene units in Si-Epoxy, and electron-accepting naphthalenediimide units in SPI, as confirmed via X-ray diffraction and visible spectroscopy. The blend membranes show comparable mechanical strength to Nafion 211, but the elongation to break is much lower, indicating better resistance to deformation under strain stress, attributed to CT complex formation. The chemical durability of the blend membranes was much higher than pure SPI according to Fenton's test, also attributed to CT complex formation. Meanwhile, the proton conductivity is dependent on the sulfonic acid content of the SPI, which in turn affects the fuel cell performance. The maximum proton conductivity was measured to be 23.1 mS cm⁻¹ at 80°C and 90 %RH for a 1:1 blend, and the membranes were successfully incorporated into PEFCs.     

Thermal stabilization of penicillolysin, a thermolabile 19 kDa Zn2+-protease, obtained by site-directed mutagenesis

Penicillolysin is a member of the clan MX and the family of M35 proteases. The enzyme is a thermolabile Zn(2+)- protease from Penicillium citrinum with a unique substrate profile. We expressed recombinant penicillolysin in Aspergillus oryzae and generated several site-directed mutants, R33E/E60R, A167E and T81P, with the intention of exploring thermal stabilization of this protein. We based our choice of mutations on the structures of homologous thermally stable enzymes, deuterolysin (EC 3.4.24.39) from A.oryzae and a peptidyl-Lys metallopeptidase (GfMEP) from the edible mushroom Grifora frondsa. The resulting mutant proteins exhibited comparable catalytic efficiency to the wild-type enzyme and some showed a higher tolerance to temperature.     

Selective Cation Exchange in Substituted Tobermorites

Selective cation exchange in tobermorites with three levels of Al³⁺ and Na⁺ substitution for Si⁴⁺ has been investigated. The cation exchange selectivity for a tobermorite with 2 mol% Al³⁺ and 0 mol% Na⁺ substitution increased as follows: Mg²⁺ > Ba²⁺ > Sr²⁺. Cation exchange in the above tobermorite is postulated to take place mainly from edge and planar surface sites and apparently from interlayer Ca²⁺ sites. Tobermorites with 10 and 15 mol% Al³⁺ (and Na⁺) substitution have additional Na⁺ exchange sites in the interlayers and show the following selectivity: Ba²⁺ > Sr²⁺ > Mg²⁺. The cation exchange selectivity in the substituted tobermorites can be explained by the hydrated radii of cations and the steric limitations of the ion exchange cavity in tobermorite; the latter was determined by ²⁷Al and ²⁹Si magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. These basic selective cation exchange studies of substituted tobermorites are of relevance in nuclear waste treatment and disposal.     

单向纤维复合材料的偏轴实验方法开发与评价(英文)

This study presents an integrated method suitable for off-axis tension and compression testing in unidirectional composites,and its application to the testing of in-plane shear characterization.A new rotating-grip test fixture,incorporating the attractive features of the existing pinned-end fixture and hydraulic wedge grips,has been developed.The proposed gripping system consists of two sets of jaw faces,each with a pair of self-aligning bearings that allows for loading in the axial and radial directions.Fi...     

Nonisothermal gravimetric investigation on kinetics of reduction of magnesia by aluminum

An investigation of the reduction of magnesia by aluminum was carried out using a nonisothermal gravimetric technique under an argon atmosphere, in the temperature range from 1273 to 1873 K. The mixture of magnesia and aluminum powders was formed into a pellet under various isostatic pressures. It was found that magnesia is reduced by aluminum to form magnesium and spinel at first, and then the excess aluminum reacts with spinel slowly. The temperature at which the reaction starts increases with an increasing heating rate. The reaction rate is also affected by pellet-forming conditions. A kinetic model is proposed to explain the experimental results. The activation energy of the reduction of magnesia by aluminum is 151.2 kJ/mol. Good agreement between calculated and experimental results is obtained.     

Hydrogen storage and thermal conductivity properties of Mg-based materials with different structures

Mg-based hydrogen storage materials can be very promising candidates for stationary energy storage application due to the high energy density and low cost of Mg. Hydrogen storage kinetics and thermal conductivity are two important factors for the material development for this kind of application. Here we studied several types of Mg-based materials with different structure-micrometer scale Mg powders, Mg nanoparticles, single crystal Mg, nanocrystalline Mg₅₀Co₅₀ BCC alloy and Mg thin film samples. It seems the Mg materials with good kinetics usually are the ones with nanostructure and tend to show poor thermal conductivity due to electron/phonon scattering resulting from more interfaces and boundaries in nanomaterials. Based on this work, good crystallinity Mg phase incorporated in carbon nano framework could be one promising option for energy storage.     

Effect of Hydrothermal Waves on Evaporation Distribution During Drop Evaporation

The objective of this study is to clarify physical mechanisms involved in the evaporation of small (a few microliters) sessile drops. We aim to understand the relation between local thermal information at the solid–liquid interface and overall evaporation. An infrared (IR) camera and a charge-coupled device (CCD) camera were used to determine the temperature and heat flux distribution at the solid–liquid interface and the profile of the evaporating drop, respectively. The temperature distribution at the solid–liquid interface was determined using a multilayer substrate consisting of a silicon wafer coated with a thin thermal insulator that is partially transparent to IR. The liquids used were water and FC-72. The evaporation rate of water drops was found to occur mostly at the contact line. However, the heat transfer distribution at the liquid–solid interface was relatively uniform, indicating the heat transferred from the wall must be transported within the drop to the contact line. The mechanisms by which this occurs have yet to be determined. In contrast, the evaporation rate of FC-72 drops where hydrothermal waves were present was found to be proportional to the liquid–vapor interface area rather than the circumference of the drop, indicating a more uniform distribution of evaporation.