Fehlordnung von Wüstit

Erörterung der Zusammenhänge zwischen physikalisch-chemischen Eigenschaften und der Fehlordnung kristalliner Stoffe. Übersicht über die bisherigen Ergebnisse von Untersuchungen zur Fehlordnung von Wüstit und über die daraus abgeleiteten Modelle. Erläuterung eigener Röntgenbeugungsmessungen und thermogravimetrischer Untersuchungen. Beschreibung eines Modells für die Fehlordnung des Wüstits im Temperaturbereich von rd. 970 bis 1370 K. Ermittlung der Temperaturabhängigkeit der Gleichgewichtskonstante für die Bildung von ?Komplexdefekten?.     

Flexural creep of long fiber-reinforced thermoplastic composites: Effect of processing-dependent fiber variables on creep response

Flexural creep properties were studied as a function of fiber weight fraction and processing-induced fiber alignment in extrusion/compression-molded, long fiber-reinforced thermoplastic (LFT) nylon 6/6, polypropylene, and high-density polyethylene and their 10 wt.% and 40 wt.% E-glass fiber reinforced LFT composites. The residual fiber lengths and probability distribution parameters were near-equal, regardless of the initial fiber length and processing. Creep compliances decreased with increasing fiber weight fraction, and clear influence of fiber alignment was found in model parameters. Processing-induced fiber alignment imaged using X-ray radiography, was correlated with the creep compliances of strategically sectioned specimens, and tested as per ASTM D-2990. Longitudinal fibers aided in lowering the creep compliance, and the range in compliance decreased with lower preferential fiber alignment. Creep compliances from flexural creep tests and dynamic mechanical analysis/static creep tests were combined using time–temperature–stress superposition (TTSSP) to construct long-term master curves that correlated closely with long-term tests.     

Polyurethane-POSS hybrids: Molecular dynamics studies

A series of hybrid polyurethane-POSS materials have been synthesized on the basis of poly(tetramethylene glycol) (Terathane 1400^®) as soft component, 4,4′-methylenebis(phenylisocyanate) (MDI) as hard component, and 1,4-butanediol as chain extender. POSS particles properly modified have been tethered on the main chain by substitution of the chain extender to weight fractions up to 10%. AFM measurements indicate the formation of POSS crystallites in the PU matrix, extended structures at low POSS content and more regular, smaller structures at higher POSS content. A detailed investigation of molecular mobility by means of Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Thermally Stimulated Depolarization Currents (TSDC) and, mainly, Broadband Dielectric Relaxation Spectroscopy (DRS) has been conducted in all samples of the series and in addition in neat Terathane, as reference. Four relaxations have been studied in detail: two secondary relaxations γ and β, the segmental α relaxation (dynamic glass transition) and an α′ relaxation slower than α associated with crystallinity in neat Terathane and with the presence of hard microdomains in the polyurethane and the hybrids. Secondary relaxations remain unaffected by POSS. The glass transition temperature rises by a few degrees and, in consistency with that, segmental dynamics slightly slows down with increasing POSS content. In addition, the dielectric strength of the segmental relaxation decreases with increasing POSS content, suggesting that a fraction of polymer is immobilized, making no contribution to the relaxation. These results are discussed in relation to morphology.     

Morphology of hematite to magnetite reduction zone

The reduction process of hematite to magnetite results in distinct changes in morphology of magnetite. These changes depend on structural properties of parent hematite and reduction conditions. The reduction experiments were performed in 3% CO and 97% CO₂ gas mixture at 450 and 850°C on selected crystals of natural hematite. The phase composition and morphological characteristics of the reduced layer were determined on the basis of microscopic analysis. Singular blasts or blastoidal colonies of magnetite were formed in 450°C on the boundaries of the hematite grains. They began to grow and joined the layer. Magnetite formed at 450°C is distinctly microporous. Cracks and desintegration of hematite grains appear together with reduction of hematite. At 850°C nucleation of the magnetite is quite different then at 450°C. The formation of singular magnetite lamellae or a palisade of crystallographically oriented magnetite lamellae were observed. Their growth results in the formation of the magnetite layer. Tunnel-shaped pores in magnetite layer show the same direction as lamellar front of reduction.     

In Vivo Micro‐CT Imaging of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells Labeled with Gold‐Poly‐l‐Lysine Nanocomplexes

Developing in vivo cell tracking is an important prerequisite for further development of cell‐based therapy. So far, few computed tomography (CT) cell tracking studies have been described due to its notoriously low sensitivity and lack of efficient labeling protocols. A simple method is presented to render human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) sufficiently radiopaque by complexing 40 nm citrate‐stabilized gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) with poly‐l ‐lysine (PLL) and rhodamine B isothiocyanate (RITC). AuNP‐PLL‐RITC labeling does not affect cellular viability, proliferation, or downstream cell differentiation into adipocytes and osteocytes. Labeled hMSCs can be clearly visualized in vitro and in vivo with a micro‐CT scanner, with a detection limit of ≈2 × 10⁴ cells per µL in vivo. Calculated Hounsfield unit values are 2.27 per pg of intracellular Au, as measured with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrophotometry, and are linear over a wide range of cell concentrations. This linear CT attenuation is observed for both naked AuNPs and those that were taken up by hMSCs, indicating that the number of labeled cells can be quantified similar to the use of radioactive or fluorine tracers. This approach for CT cell tracking may find applications in CT image‐guided interventions and fluoroscopic procedures commonly used for the injection of cellular therapeutics.