A new approach to anisotropic conductive networks

A liquid-crystalline bifunctional monomer with two different reactive moieties was prepared by esterification of 4-(6-(acryloyloxy)hexyloxy)benzoic acid and 4-[11-(3-thienyl)undecyloxy]-4′-hydroxybiphenyl. A mesogenic side-chain polyacrylate containing a thienyl moiety at the extremity of its side chain was obtained by radical polymerization of the monomer. The subsequent reaction of the thienyl moiety with FeCl₃ leads to the formation of an anisotropic network with a poly(thiophene) unit. Received: 17 January 1997/Accepted: 5 March 1997     

Preparation of High-Purity ZrSiO4 Powder Using Sol–Gel Processing and Mechanical Properties of the Sintered Body

Effects of the concentration of ZrOCl₂, calcination temperature, heating rate, and the size of secondary particles after hydrolysis on the preparation of high-purity ZrSiO₄ fine powders from ZrOCl₂.8H ₂ O (0.2 M to 1.7 M ) and equimolar colloidal SiO₂ using sol–gel processing have been studied. Mechanical properties of the sintered ZrSiO₄ from the high-purity ZrSiO₄ powders have been also investigated. Single-phase ZrSiO₄ fine powders were synthesized at 1300°C by forming ZrSiO₄ precursors having a Zr–O–Si bond, which was found in all the hydrolysis solutions, and by controlling a secondary particle size after hydrolysis. The conversion rate of ZrSiO₄ precursor gels to ZrSiO₄ powders from concentrations other than 0.4 M ZrOCl₂.8H₂O increased when the heating rate was high, whereupon the crystallization of unreacted ZrO₂ and SiO₂ was depressed and the propagation and increase of ZrSiO₄ nuclei in the gels were accelerated. The density of the ZrSiO₄ sintered bodies, manufactured by firing the ZrSiO₄ compacts at 1600° to 1700°C, was more than 95% of the theoretical density, and the grain size ranged around 2 to 4 μm. The mechanical strength was 320 MPa (room temperature to 1400°C), and the thermal shock resistance was superior to that of mullite and alumina, with fairly high stability at higher temperatures.     

Synthesis and gelation of fluoroalkyl end‐capped copolymers containing glucosyl segments: Application to new fluorinated conductive polymer electrolytes

Fluoroalkyl end‐capped copolymers containing glucosyl segments were prepared by the copolymerizations of fluoroalkanoyl peroxides with 2‐glucosyoxyethyl methacrylate (GEMA) and comonomers such as acrylic acid (ACA) and methacrylate monomer‐containing poly(oxyethylene) units (PME). Under the non‐cross‐linked conditions, fluoroalkyl end‐capped GEMA–ACA and GEMA–PME copolymers were found to cause a gelation in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), where the aggregations of end‐capped fluoroalkyl segments and the hydrogen‐bonding interaction between hydroxyl segments are involved in establishing a physical gel network, although the corresponding nonfluorinated GEMA copolymers could cause no gelation in DMSO. More interestingly, it was demonstrated that these fluorinated polymeric gelling electrolytes containing lithium salts exhibit a considerably high ionic conductivity of 10^?3 S/cm level at room temperature. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 85: 2833–2838, 2002     

Carbon nanocage: a large-pore cage-type mesoporous carbon material as an adsorbent for biomolecules

Novel large pore cage type mesoporous carbons, carbon nanocages, abbreviated as CKT (carbon from KIT-5) using three dimensional large cage type face centered cubic Fm3m mesoporous silica materials (KIT-5) as inorganic templates prepared at different temperature were synthesized and characterized. The specific pore volume and the specific surface area of the carbon nanocage materials are much higher as compared to CMK-3 mesoporous carbon. Adsorption of amino acid (histidine), flavonoid (catechin), vitamin (vitamin E, α-tocopherol), endocrine disrupter (nonylphenol), and enzyme (lysozyme) over the carbon nanocage materials was also studied. Interestingly, carbon nanocage materials showed an unusual adsorption capacity of catechin in aqueous solution. The CKT carbon nanocage materials also exhibited higher adsorption capabilities of other biomolecules used in this study as compared with the CMK-3 mesoporous carbon.     

Polymeric reaction of acrylic polymer–monomer system irradiated by low-energy electron beam. II. Effect of ester structure of acrylic polymer

Polymeric reactions of polyacrylate–benzyl acrylate (BzA) systems induced by a low-energy electron beam were investigated by changing the species of polyacrylates added to the system. The gel fraction, the proportion of BzA units incorporated into gel by infrared (IR) analysis, and the molecular weight and its distribution curves by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) were examined to elucidate the reaction mechanism for the polymer–monomer system. The GPC curves were detected by both ultraviolet (UV) and refractive index (RI). As the UV-detected GPC curves represent the benzyl groups of graft polymers and homo polymers, the polymerization reactions can be followed by GPC. Ester structures of acrylic polymers were varied in order to examine how much the ester group affects such individual reactions as crosslinking, graft polymerizations, and homopolymerizations. In the case of both polyisobutylacrylate–BzA and poly(isoamyl acrylate)–BzA systems, the crosslinking and graft reactions predominated, while in the case of poly(t-butyl acrylate)–BzA systems, homopolymerization was the main reaction. These results can be explained by the structure and reactivity of polymer radicals and viscosity of the system.     

Ozone Generator for Small Capacity Ozone Generation by using a Ceramic Transformer

Construction and experimental results of an ozone generator using a ceramic transformer as a high voltage power supply are described. The ceramic transformer has such characteristics that the higher voltage step up ratio and lower input impedance are obtained against higher load impedance. It gives a benefit of current self-regulation. The ozone generator consists of an oscillator, ceramic transformer, four times voltage rectifier and needle-plane electrodes. The corona discharge can be kept constant continuously by the functions of the ceramic transformer with out any current regulating circuits. Thus, the ozone generator has a simple construction. The amount of generated ozone is variable from 0.5 “ppm” to 2.0 “ppm” and can be adjusted by varying the input voltage to the ceramic transformer. This kind of ozone generator is suitable for deodorization and sterilization in home kitchens, and shoe cases and refrigerators.     

Analysis of low NO emission in high temperature air combustion for pulverized coal

High temperature air combustion experiments for pulverized coal in a large-scale furnace have been done before and shown that the NO emission in the high temperature air combustion is significantly lower than that in the normal temperature air combustion. This paper numerically studies the NO evolution in the large-scale experiments with a simplified chemical reaction model. Through an analysis of numerical results a low NO emission mechanism in the high temperature air combustion has been presented. If the HCN concentration is high, the NO generation is fast. But, the high HCN and NO concentrations together will make NO destruction fast. It is found that, by properly arranging flow patterns, the high HCN and NO concentrations can be obtained in the vicinity of primary air nozzle. Thus, the generation and destruction of NO can reach an equilibrium point so that the net NO emission rate is low.     

Radiation-grafting of acrylic acid onto ultrahigh molecular,high-strength polyethylene fibers

Radiation-induced grafting of acrylic acid onto ultrahigh molecular weight (UHMW) high-strength polyethylene fibers to impart heat resistance and dyeability was undertaken. A preirradiation method was employed for grafting in an aqueous solution of acrylic acid containing a small amount of Mohr's salt as inhibitor. The grafting rate for UHMW high-strength polyethylene fibers is one-tenth of that for high-density polyethylene fibers currently in use, and one-hundredth, for high-density polyethylene film. It has become clear that the preirradiation dose should be as low as 1 Mrad to keep the high strength of the starting fibers. The starting UHMW high-strength polyethylene fiber begins to shrink remarkably at around 145°C, showing a maximum shrinkage of 90%, and then breaks at 154°C. When a 24% acrylic acid graft is converted to calcium salt, the grafted fiber retains the fiber form even at 300°C and gives only a maximum shrinkage of 11%. The less than 1% acrylic acid graft UHMW high-strength polyethylene fibers and their calcium salt can be dyed to a deep shade with cationic dyes, whereas the starting fibers cannot be dyed with usual dyes including the cationic dye. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Sequestration of Dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) and Acrylate from the Green Alga <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ulva</Emphasis> Spp. by the Sea Hare <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aplysia juliana</Emphasis>

Many animals sequester secondary metabolites from their food. In this study, we hypothesized that the sea hare Aplysia juliana sequesters secondary metabolites from green algae. To test this, we performed NMR-based metabolomic analysis on methanol extracts of Ulva spp. and A. juliana. Another sea hare, Bursatella leachii, which mainly feeds on another type of alga, was added to this analysis as an outgroup. Two body parts of the sea hares, skin and digestive glands, were used in the analysis. Principal component analysis (PCA) on the NMR data of these samples detected biomarkers common to Ulva spp. and A. juliana. This result indicates sequestration of secondary metabolites by the herbivore from the plants. The biomarker metabolites were identified as dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) and acrylate, which were concentrated in skin of A. juliana and were released from the skin of live animals when physically stressed. Thus, our NMR-based metabolomic study revealed sequestration of algae-derived secondary metabolites in skin of A. Juliana, and in the discharge of the metabolites under conditions that mimic attack by predators.     

Dynamic simulation of the helium refrigerator/liquefier for LHD

A real-time dynamic simulation has been carried out for the 10 kW class helium refrigerator/liquefier of Large Helical Device (LHD) at National Institute for Fusion Science (NIFS). The refrigerator consists of eight screw compressors, seven expansion turbines, fourteen heat exchangers and a 20 m³ liquid helium reservoir. A simulation model was implemented to Cryogenic Process REal-time SimulaTor (C-PREST), developed as a platform for the plant process study and optimization. Validity of the simulation model has been confirmed based on the design values as well as the results of commissioning tests. This paper describes the cooldown process and expansion turbine trips during the operation. Difficulties of dynamic simulation for the large cryoplant are also discussed.