Observation of negative differential resistance and single-electron tunneling in electromigrated break junctions

We observed a negative differential resistance (NDR) along with single-electron tunneling (SET) in the electron transport of electromigrated break junctions with metal-free tetraphenylporphyrin (H₂BSTBPP) at a temperature of 11 K. The NDR strongly depended on the applied gate voltages, and appeared only in the electron tunneling region of the Coulomb diamond. We could explain the mechanism of this new type of electron transport by a model assuming a molecular Coulomb island and local density of states of the source and the drain electrodes.     

Effective catalyst on SiO2 in ethanol CVD for growth of single-walled carbon nanotubes

We have compared catalytic activity of Co and Fe in a growth process of single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) by chemical vapor deposition using ethanol as a carbon source and SiO₂ as a catalyst-supporting material. Changes of the catalyst precursors (Co- and Fe acetate) in the growth process were carefully observed at three different stages: (i) after oxidation in air at 400 °C but before heating to the growth temperature (800 °C), (ii) after heating to the growth temperature in flowing Ar and H₂ but before starting the nanotube growth and (iii) after the growth process is over. During the growth of SWNT, the Co catalyst took the form of β-Co, resulting in a high yield growth. On the contrary, the Fe catalyst formed a silicate, Fe₂SiO₄, showing a poor catalytic ability. Our result shows that chemical reactions between the catalyst precursors and their supporting materials sensitively affect the catalytic ability.     

Development of a reconstitution technique for Charpy impact specimens by surface-activated joining for reactor pressure vessel surveillance

The reconstitution technique by surface-activated joining (SAJ) has been investigated for the reuse of undeformed portions of tested Charpy impact specimens. SAJ can be achieved by the removal of surface contamination by rotating one of the specimens in a vacuum while applying modest frictional force.

In this study, the temperature distribution during joining and hardness distribution after joining were measured. Charpy impact tests were then performed to evaluate the thermal and mechanical effects on Charpy specimens reconstituted by SAJ. The results showed that SAJ can be achieved with a hardened width of less than 1·5 mm, and on a width of less than 3 mm heating up above reactor operation temperatures, produced in either side of the joined interface. Charpy transition temperatures could be evaluated from the reconstituted Charpy specimens. It is concluded from comparison with other welding methods that the SAJ method is most suited for reconstituting irradiated surveillance specimens.     

Influence of the incorporation of fine calcium carbonate particles on the impact strength of polypropylene/polystyrene‐block‐poly(ethylene butene)‐block‐polystyrene blends

The Izod impact strength of two kinds of ternary composites was investigated. One consisted of polypropylene (PP), the triblock copolymer polystyrene‐block‐poly(ethylene butene)‐block‐polystyrene (SEBS), and calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) particles, and the other consisted of PP, carboxylated SEBS (C‐SEBS), and CaCO₃ particles. The mean size of the CaCO₃ particles was about 160 nm. According to scanning electron microscopy observations, the composite with SEBS showed a morphology in which SEBS domains and CaCO₃ particles were independently dispersed in the PP matrix. On the other hand, the composite with C‐SEBS showed a morphology in which CaCO₃ particles were encapsulated by C‐SEBS; that is, a core–shell structure was formed. The Izod impact strength of the composite with SEBS was higher than that of the composite with C‐SEBS and the PP/SEBS and PP/C‐SEBS binary blends. According to observations of the fractured surface, the stress‐whitened area was larger in the composite with SEBS than in the composite with C‐SEBS and the PP/SEBS and PP/C‐SEBS binary blends. The toughening mechanism of the composite, using nanometer‐sized CaCO₃ particles in combination with SEBS, was examined. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009     

Value creation in production: Reconsideration from interdisciplinary approaches

This paper presents reconsideration of value creation in production from various aspects of value viewpoints in several disciplines such as production engineering, social sciences, and human sciences. The focal point of investigations is value co-creation by the provision of products and services in and for society. In the past, some methods of social sciences and others proved to be useful in making production more efficient. At present, such methods must help to realise value creation. In fact, production must become more effective in response to human needs in social, economic, and environmental dimensions. Along with the theoretical apparatus, this paper presents some case studies indicating the importance of value creation in production, followed by future perspectives of value co-creation in production.     

Spring-bead animation of viscoelastic materials.

An interactive animation method for viscoelastic materials builds on Rouse's spring-bead model. Particles are connected one-dimensionally by spring forces to represent single polymer chains. The method approximates the collision's force between particles through the particle density's gradient. This model lets the viscoelasticity be changed dynamically by severing the interconnection of polymer chains.     

Thermal recovery of antioxidant activity from carnosol quinone,the main antioxidation product of carnosol

The antioxidant reaction of carnosol, a phenolic diterpene of sage and rosemary, produced ortho‐ and para‐quinone derivatives. Although the orthoquinone derivative of carnosol (CARQ) is stable in a lipophilic solution and has a very weak antioxidant activity, the thermal treatment of CARQ in lipid restored strong antioxidant activity. HPLC analysis of the thermal recovery reaction clarified that the strong activity was mainly due to the reproduced carnosol. A possible mechanism for the production of carnosol from CARQ is the self‐redox reaction of CARQ. Two of the oxidation products from CARQ in the thermal recovery reaction were identified to be rosmariquinone and dehydrorosmariquinone. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry     

Criteria for versatile GaN MOVPE tool: high growth rate GaN by atmosphericpressure growth

Growth rate has a direct impact on the productivity of nitride LED production. Atmospheric pressure growth of GaN with a growth rate as high as 10 μm/h and also Al_0.1Ga_0.9N growth of 1 μm/h by using 4 inch by 11 production scale MOVPE are described. XRD of (002) and (102) direction was 200 arcsec and 250 arcsec, respectively. Impact of the growth rate on productivity is discussed.     

Attenuation length of high energy neutrons through a thick concrete shield measured by activation detectors at CHARM

ABSTRACT

A deep-penetration shielding experiment was performed at the CERN High-energy AcceleRator Mixed-field (CHARM) facility. The protons (24 GeV/c) were injected into a 50-cm-thick copper target and the released neutrons were transmitted through a bulk concrete shield located vertically upward from the target, where they were measured with bismuth and aluminum activation detectors placed at various penetration distances in the shield. From the radionuclide production rate in the activation detectors, the attenuation profiles through the concrete shield were obtained for the reactions of ²⁰⁹Bi(n,xn)^210-x Bi(x = 4–9) and ²⁷Al(n,α)²⁴Na. The attenuation length of the high-energy neutrons through ordinary concrete was estimated as 120 g/cm², in good agreement with Monte Carlo simulations using simple slabs as a universal geometry implemented in Particle and Heavy Ion Transport System (PHITS) code. Proton energy dependence of attenuation length was also investigated with simulations by PHITS code and comparisons with the published data were discussed.