Synthesis and comparative studies of xerogels,aerogels, and powders based on the ZrO<Subscript>2</Subscript>–Y<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>–СeO<Subscript>2</Subscript> system

The technology of liquid-phase synthesis of mesoporous xerogels and aerogels based on ZrO₂–Y₂O₃–CeO₂ is developed. Xerogels are obtained by the coprecipitation of hydroxides, while aerogels are obtained in accordance with the sol–gel technology: the average pore size is 1.5–17.2 nm and the specific surface area is 120–878 m²/g. Aerogels are characterized by a high degree of porosity: the pore volume attains 1–4 cm³/g. Based on precursor xerogels, nanopowders of a tetragonal solid solution of the (ZrО₂)_0.92(Y₂О₃)_0.03(CeО₂)_0.05 composition with a particle size of 5–9 nm and S _spec = 74 m²/g were fabricated. Due to the high values of their specific surface area, the synthesized xerogels and aerogels are promising as sorbents, catalysts, or catalyst supports.     

Modified track membranes with antibacterial properties

Microbiological contamination of polymeric membranes in the process of their exploitation is an essential problem of membrane technology. It results in the increase of manufacturing costs, destruction of membranes, operating life reduction and secondary contamination of water by the metabolism products of microorganisms. For the purpose of reduction of membrane biofouling and biodegradation investigation of adsorption of the guanidine containing oligomers on the surface of PET track membranes was conducted and their influence on the selectivity and antibacterial properties of the membranes was investigated. It was established that modified membranes have substantially higher resistance to biofouling.     

Controlling aerodynamic characteristics of airfoils by means of periodic pulsed energy supply

The possibility of controlling the aerodynamic characteristics of lifting airfoils by means of local periodic pulsed energy supply in transonic flight regimes has been studied. Using a numerical solution of two-dimensional nonstationary equations of gasdynamics, a change in the flow structure near a symmetric airfoil is determined as dependent on the amount of energy supplied to the lower side of the airfoil in a range of attack angles.     

Nonstationary flow in the model channel of a ramjet engine in pulse-periodic energy supply

A study has been made of the influence of the pulse-periodic supply of energy that is equal to the energy released in the combustion of hydrogen in air on the structure of supersonic flow in a channel of variable cross section, modeling the duct of a ramjet engine. The flow has been modeled on the basis of two-dimensional nonstationary gas-dynamic equations. Different flow regimes have been obtained depending on the configuration of the zones of energy supply and the excess-air coefficients. __________ Translated from Inzhenerno-Fizicheskii Zhurnal, Vol. 81, No. 3, pp. 464–469, May–June, 2008.     

Charge transfer in the presence of a layer of trapping centers in semiconductor SiC ionizing radiation detectors

The formation of a response signal in the presence of a layer of trapping centers in semiconductor SiC ionizing radiation detectors is considered on the basis of a new model. Since the trapping layer is situated near the detector surface, nuclear particles that possess long tracks partly generate a charge behind this layer. Under certain conditions, the proposed model leads to a paradoxical situation, in which the signal decreases with increasing bias voltage. The application of the model to results obtained using ion-doped 4H-SiC detectors provides a qualitative explanation for the experimentally observed increase in the signal with the temperature in the region of saturation with respect to the bias voltage (i.e., under the conditions of total charge transfer), which were previously unclear.     

Isotactic and syndiotactic polypropylene/multi-wall carbon nanotube composites: synthesis and properties

Isotactic polypropylene (iPP) and syndiotactic polypropylene (sPP) nanocomposites containing 0.1–3.5 wt.% multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) have been synthesized via in situ polymerization method with the use of C₂- and C_s- symmetry zirconocenes activated by methylaluminoxane (MAO) in liquid propylene medium. Fracture morphology studies by SEM reveal different MWCNT dispersion efficiency in various polymer matrices, which arises from the catalytic peculiarities of the composite synthesis. Considerable Young’s modulus enhancement of iPP and sPP (25–66%) takes place even at low MWCNT loadings (below 0.5 wt.%). The obtained nanocomposites can find use as efficient electromagnetic shielding materials and microwave absorbing filters due to relatively low permittivity values and considerable dielectric losses in microwave range. Calorimetry data demonstrate that MWCNTs exert evident influence as nucleating agents causing the rise of iPP and sPP crystallization temperature. Considerable retardation effect on iPP thermal oxidative degradation has been observed: the temperature of maximal weight loss rate rises by ~52 °C upon incorporating only 1.4 wt.% MWCNTs.