Laser irradiation of oligosiloxane copolymer thin films functionalized with side chain bulky carbosilane moieties

Linear oligosiloxanes functionalized with bulky side chain tris(trimethylsilyl)hexyl (TTSH) substituents were transformed into cross-linked materials by UV 193 nm excimer pulsed laser ablation. The process occurred without any catalyst, by reactions of radicals formed in UV laser induced photolysis of side tris(trimethylsilyl)hexyl groups. Chemical changes were monitored by FTIR, LC/UV, GC/MS and solubility tests.     

PARTITION BETWEEN α-METHYL AND α-METHYLENE PROTONS IN 1H NMR SPECTRA OF COAL TARS

Cut-off points between protons in a-methyl and or-methylene groups were proposed for the evaluation of 'H NMR spectra of coal tars. The position of the cut-off points depended on the proton aromaticity and related structural features of the samples. Equations for the calculation of the cut-off points as a function of proton and carbon aromaticity, and atomic H/C ratio were proposed for the range of proton aromaticity between 0.2 and 0.6.     

ALIPHATIC C-H BOND RESPONSES IN THE 900-700 cm-1 REGION OF THE FTIR SPECTRA OF COAL TARS

Four bituminous coals were comprehensively separated by column chromatography into a number of fractions. Four aromatic hydrocarbon fractions of each tar were analyzed by FTIR spectroscopy, and the 900-700 cm^-1 spectral region was evaluated. This spectral region was found to be composed of at least 14 separate bands, which were resolved by using self-deconvolution and curve-fitting procedures. The bands near 821 cm^-1, 791 cm^-1, and 784 cm^-1 were proposed to originate from rocking vibrations of aliphatic C-H bonds. For the tar samples with a proton aromaticity between 0.21 and 0.37, these bands account for on average 12% of the total integral intensity of the 900-700 cm^-1 region. This percentage cannot likely be neglected in a correct quantitative evaluation of the region and calculation of the aromatic hydrogen concentration. However, a correct resolution of the bands can be very difficult in the FTIR spectra of a complex material, such as coal.     

Fractionation of a statistical copolymer in a demixing-solvent system: Theory and experiment

It has been shown that, under specific conditions, a demixing-solvent fractionation according to chemical composition can be applied to statistical copolymers. Formally, identical expressions have been derived for the distribution of a copolymer between coexisting phases in precipitation (sol-gel) and demixing-solvent fractionations. Theory predicts that the effects of molar mass and chemical composition cannot be separated in either of the phaseequilibrium fractionations. With demixing solvents, the partition coefficient depends steeply on copolymer composition, which enables one, e.g., to separate homopolymers from a blend. Multistep demixing-solvent fractionation of a copolymer may proceed only in specific cases, e.g., immediately below the maximum of the coexistence curve. A feasibility study was performed with a chemically heterogeneous statistical copolymer of styrene and 2-methoxyethyl methacrylate; the experimental results have confirmed the theoretical predictions. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Heat transfer evaluation of impingement cooling in hot rolling of shaped steels

The accuracy of mathematical modelling is strongly influenced by the boundary conditions assumed. A shape rolling mill was instrumented to provide on-line temperature measurements during hot rolling of steels. An inverse heat conduction technique was used to convert the measurement data to surface heat fluxes and heat transfer coefficients. The heat transfer coefficient or heat flux could then be used as the necessary boundary condition for the computation of temperature field in the entire roll and workpiece by means of conventional heat transfer analysis. The heat transfer phenomena involved and the influence of the major operating parameters on the heat transfer results have also been discussed. Finally, the paper has shown that the numerical evaluation procedure adopted has at least the same influence on the results as the accuracy of temperature sensors and the properness of experiment design.     

Matters Concerned with Development of Autonomous Cogeneration Energy Complexes on the Basis of Microhydropower Plants

In connection with the depletion of the world reserves of fuel resources and growing environmental safety requirements for power-generating facilities, the article presents a review analysis of the present state of conventional power supply systems in Russia and in the European Union countries (for the latter, the Czech Republic is taken as an example). We consider promising lines of research in the fields of energy conservation and development of efficient and environmentally clean energy sources and specific features of their process circuit solutions and technical embodiment as well as solutions necessary for putting new technologies into use in the real energy sector. In the conventional power industry, facilities implemented according to the principle of combined generation of electricity and heat—so-called cogeneration—have received wide use. Such facilities can be constructed not only on the basis of fuel engine units (gas turbines, diesel–generators, etc.) but also using renewable energy sources. It is pointed out that, with the modern scientific-technical level, the line involving the use—within combined power supply systems—of power-generating facilities having minimal negative impact on the environment has been developed to an insufficient extent. The article considers the modern state of hydraulic power engineering for estimating the possibility of using hydropower resources for development of investigations in this field. Prerequisites for constructing combined, first of all, autonomous energy sources of the micro power capacity class (up to 100 kW), in particular, a cogeneration power complex on the basis of a microhydropower plant, are considered. The results from design-theoretical and experimental investigations into the cogeneration complex structural components are outlined; a basic circuit solution for such energy source aimed at independently supplying electricity and heat for a consumer is shown, and promising ways for further improving the proposed technical solution and making it more efficient are pointed out.     

Improvement of vascular dysfunction and blood lipids of insulin-resistant rats by a marine oil-based phytosterol compound

The syndrome that is characterized by obesity, insulin resistance, and hyperlipidemia is increasingly prevalent in all prosperous societies. It is now recognized as a major contributor to cardiovascular disease. Vascular dysfunction in the form of hypercontractility and impaired nitric oxide-mediated relaxation is a significant component of cardiovascular disease, predisposing to ischemic events. The JCR:LA-cp strain of rats exhibits all major aspects of the obesity/insulin resistance syndrome, including vascular dysfunction and ischemic lesions of the heart. Dietary lipid intake may have a marked effect on plasma lipid levels and, potentially, on vascular disease. We have investigated the effects of a novel preparation, ONC101 (a phytosterol esterified with fish oil), on plasma lipids and vascular function in the insulin-resistant JCR:LA-cp rat. Treatment of obese male rats with ONC101 from 8 to 12 wk of age resulted in no change in plasma lipid concentrations at 0.5 g/kg body weight. At the higher dose of 2.6 g/kg, plasma TG fell 50% (1.26 vs. 2.59 mmol/L, P<0.002) and cholesterol esters were significantly reduced (1.34 vs. 1.61 mmol/l, P<0.002). Food intake and body weights were unaffected by ONC101 treatment. At the low dose of 86 mg/kg, the hypercontractility of aortic rings in response to phenylephrine was normalized and the relaxant response to acetylcholine was significantly improved. The results indicate that ONC101 at high doses has significant hypolipidemic effects and, at very low doses, has beneficial effects on endothelial and vascular smooth muscle cell function. Deceased, June 22, 2001.     

<Superscript>57</Superscript>Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy of synthesized ɛ-Fe<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> nanoparticles

Magnetic nanoparticles have promising applications in many areas, for example optics, electronics, biology, medicine, etc. The primary goal of this study was to synthesize nanoparticles of magnetic ?-Fe₂O₃ embedded in amorphous SiO₂. The structure and properties of the final product have been found to depend strongly on the initial conditions of preparation. The Mössbauer spectroscopy analysis of the samples was complemented by the study of X-ray powder diffraction, magnetic measurements, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy.     

Application of ultrasonic methods to determine elastic anisotropy of polycrystalline copper processed by equal-channel angular pressing

Anisotropy of elastic properties of ultrafine-grained polycrystalline copper after one, two and four passes of equal-channel angular pressing (ECAP) is investigated by means of ultrasonic methods. For each material, Young’s and shear moduli in the principal processing directions are evaluated and the symmetry and orientation of the anisotropy are identified. The relation between the determined symmetry and the processing mechanisms is discussed. It is shown that the material after one and two passes of ECAP exhibits a measurable anisotropy, while the material after the fourth pass behaves isotropically. Within the discussion, it is shown that the origin of the observed anisotropy may be attributed to the spatial arrangement of grain boundaries rather than to the crystallographic texture. In the light of this conclusion, the obtained results correspond well with optical and transmission electron microscopy observations of the microstructures of ECAPed materials documented in the literature.     

Self-assembled polyaniline 12-tungstophosphate micro/nanostructures

Polyaniline (PANI) micro/nanostructures were synthesized by the external-template-free oxidative polymerization of aniline in aqueous solution of 12-tungstophosphoric acid (WPA), using ammonium peroxydisulfate (APS) as an oxidant and starting the oxidation of aniline from slightly acidic media (pH 5.4–5.9). The effect of the initial weight ratio of WPA to aniline on molecular structure, morphology, and physicochemical properties of polyaniline 12-tungstophosphate (PANI-WPA) was investigated by FTIR, Raman and inductively coupled plasma optical emission (ICP-OES) spectroscopies, elemental analysis, X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), scanning and transmission electron microscopies (SEM and TEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential thermal analysis (DTA), and conductivity measurements. The morphological change of polymerization products during a single polymerization process, from non-conducting submicro-/microspherical oligoaniline intermediates to semiconducting PANI-WPA consisted of self-assembled nanotubes and/or nanorods co-existing with submicro-/microspheres, has been revealed by SEM and TEM. The average diameter of nanorods in PANI-WPA samples decreased with increasing the initial WPA/aniline weight ratio. The incorporation of 12-tungstophosphate counter-ions into PANI matrix has been proved by FTIR, Raman and ICP-OES spectroscopies, TGA and DTA analysis. Electrical conductivity of PANI-WPA increased in the range (2.5–5.3) × 10^?3 S cm^?1 with the increase of the initial WPA/aniline weight ratio. The presence of branched structures and phenazine units besides the ordinary paramagnetic and diamagnetic emeraldine salt structural features in PANI-WPA was proved by FTIR and Raman spectroscopies.