Structural Modulations in Monoclinic Tricalcium Silicate Solid Solutions Doped with Zinc Oxide, M(I), M(II), and M(III)

Structural modulations in solid solutions of C₃S doped with various amounts of ZnO were investigated via the selected-area electron diffraction method. Three monoclinic modifications (M(I), M(II), and M(III)) were identified in the solid solutions. The modifications had pseudohexagonal subcells that were modulated to form supercells. Coordinates of the reflections attributable to the supercells could be expressed by the following linear combinations of vectors of the reciprocal lattices: m₁(−2 a */5.4 + 2 b */5.4 − 7 c */5.4) for M(I), m₂(− a */5 + b */5 − c *) for M(II), and m₃(− a */6 + b */6 + 7 c */6) for M(III), m₁ and m₂=±1 and ±2, and m₃=±1, ±2, and ± 3. All the monoclinic modifications possessed structural modulations of a one-dimensional type. The modulation waves could be detected as wavy contrasts by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy.     

The stability of monochlorotriazinyl reactive dyes on cellulose films in aqueous alkaline solutions containing peroxide bleaching agents

The stability of seven reactive (one difluoromonochloropyrimidinyl and six monochlorotriazinyl) dyes on cellulose immersed in sodium peroxoborate (PB) solution (UK–TO solution) containing tetraacetylethylenediamine (TAED) was examined using cellulosic films at 60 °C. The extent of dye loss that occurred from the dyed cellulosic films which were immersed in the UK–TO solution without detergent correlated closely to the ratings obtained using the BS 1006 UK–TO wash test. The dye loss that occurred from the dyed cellophane films was attributed to three contributions, namely, alkaline hydrolysis of dye–fibre bonds, oxidative fading of the dye chromophore by peroxides and cellulose degradation accelerated by PB and TAED. The alkaline hydrolysis of the dye–fibre bond and the extent of cellulose degradation in the UK–TO solution were the main contributions to the dye loss; dye oxidation was a minor factor in the dye loss mechanism. The physical bonding of the dye molecules reinforced the covalent dye–fibre bond stability towards the UK–TO solution.     

Oxidation of Low-Oxygen Silicon Carbide Fibers (Hi-Nicalon) in Carbon Dioxide

Polycarbosilane-derived low-oxygen SiC fibers, Hi-Nicalon, were heat-treated for 36 ks at temperatures from 1273 to 1773 K in CO₂ gas. The oxidation of the fibers was investigated through the examination of mass change, crystal phase, resistivity, morphology, and tensile strength. The mass gain, growth of β-SiC crystallites, reduction of resistivity of the fiber core, and formation of protective SiO₂ film were observed for the fibers after heat treatment in CO₂ gas. SiO₂ film crystallized into cristobalite above 1573 K. Despite the low oxygen potential of CO₂ gas ( p _O2= 1.22 Pa at 1273 K − 1.78 × 10² Pa at 1773 K), Hi-Nicalon fibers were passively oxidized at a high rate. There was a large loss of tensile strength in the as-oxidized state at higher temperatures because of imperfections in the SiO₂ film. On the other hand, the fiber cores showed better strength retention even after oxidation at 1773 K.     

Profiling and Imaging of Phospholipids in Brains of Abcd1‐Deficient Mice

ABCD1 is a gene responsible for X‐linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X‐ALD), and is critical for the transport of very long‐chain fatty acids (VLCFA) into peroxisomes and subsequent β‐oxidation. VLCFA‐containing lipids accumulate in X‐ALD patients, although the effect of ABCD1‐deficiency on each lipid species in the central nervous system has not been fully characterized. In this study, each phospholipid and lysophospholipid species in Abcd1‐deficient mice brains were profiled by liquid chromatography‐mass spectrometry. Among the phospholipid and lysophospholipid species that are significantly more enriched in Abcd1‐deficient mice brains, VLCFA were present in 75, 15, 5, 4, and 1 species of phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, sphingomyelin, lysophosphatidylcholine, and lysophosphatidylethanolamine, respectively. Most VLCFA were incorporated at the sn‐1 position of phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine. Among the phospholipid species that are significantly less enriched in Abcd1‐deficient mice brains, odd‐numbered saturated or mono‐unsaturated fatty acyl moieties are contained in all phosphatidylcholine species. In addition, a number of phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol, and phosphatidylserine species contained highly unsaturated fatty acyl moieties. Intriguingly, 44:1 phosphatidylcholine with VLCFA was mainly distributed in the gray matter, such as the cortex, but not in the white matter in the cerebrum and cerebellum. These results show that ABCD1‐deficiency causes metabolic alternation of long‐chain fatty acids and VLCFA. Moreover, our results imply a molecular mechanism for the incorporation of saturated or monounsaturated VLCFA into the sn‐1 position of phospholipids, and also indicate that the distribution of phospholipids with VLCFA may correlate with the development of X‐ALD.     

Distribution of carbon contamination in MgAl2O4 spinel occurring during spark-plasma-sintering (SPS) processing: I – Effect of heating rate and post-annealing

Carbon contamination from the carbon paper/dies during spark-plasma-sintering (SPS) processing was examined in the MgAl₂O₄ spinel. The carbon contamination sensitively changes with the heating rate during the SPS processing. At the high heating rate of 100 °C/min, the carbon contamination having organized structures occurred over almost the entire area from the surface to deep inside the SPSed spinel disk. In contrast, at the slow heating rate of 10 °C/min, the carbon contamination having disordered structures occurred only around the surface area. The carbon phases transform into high pressure CO/CO₂ gases by post-annealing in air and lead to pore formation along the grain junctions. The pore formation significantly occurs at the high heating rate due to the large amount of the contaminant carbon phases. This suggests that if once the carbon contamination was formed in the materials, it is very difficult to remove the carbon phases from the materials.     

Macro- and nanotribological properties of organosilane monolayers prepared by a chemical vapor adsorption method on silicon substrates

Organosilane monolayers are novel ultrathin films used to control the physicochemical properties, such as friction and wear, of solid surfaces. In this study, the authors prepared alkylsilane and fluoroalkylsilane monolayers with a series of chain lengths by a chemical vapor adsorption method. The monolayers tribological properties were investigated by lateral force microscope (LFM) and friction tester. LFM nanoscale measurements of tribological properties showed that alkylsilane monolayer gave lower lateral force than the Si substrate surface. The lateral force decreased as the length of the alkyl chain increased. On the macroscale, friction test revealed that the organosilane monolayers gave lower dynamic friction coefficients than the Si substrate surface in air at room temperature. The longer the alkyl chain, the greater the wear resistance of the organosilane monolayers. Friction experiments using tetradecane as a lubricant showed better tribological properties than were obtained in air. Furthermore, microscopically line-patterned two-component organosilane monolayers were prepared and their macroscopic friction behavior was investigated. Even though the height difference between the two-components was less than 1 nm, friction force anisotropy between the parallel and perpendicular directions against the line pattern was observed.