Sinterability and properties of Ti(N1−x,O x ) y -(V,Ta)C-Ni sintered alloys having a golden colour

The effect of oxygen and carbide addition on the sinterability of TiN _y (0.42<y<1)-Ni alloys, in which part of the nitrogen is replaced by oxygen was investigated. It was found that sinterability increased as the oxygen and carbide content increased, but the strength of the resultant sintered alloys was significantly reduced due to the presence of Ni₃Ti and Ti₂O₃ phases when the oxygen content exceeded 50 mol %. The sintered alloy with the highest hardness was found whenx=0.7,y=0.78 and the (V,Ta)C content was 18% by weight and this alloy was characterized by having a low density, good corrosion resistance and the colour of gold.     

Synthesis of polymeric microspheres employing SPG emulsification technique

Relatively uniform polymeric microspheres, the coefficients of variation being close to 10%, were obtained by the BPO-initiated suspension polymerization of styrenic monomers. Unlike the conventional stirred-tank system, a particular microporous glass membrane (SPG) provided uniform monomer droplets continuously when monomer was allowed to permeate through the micropores. The monomer droplets were suspended in an aqueous solution containing the stabilizing agents, transferred to a stirred vessel, and polymerized. Up to 10μm spheres, of a far narrower size distribution than those obtained by conventional microsuspension polymerization spheres, were obtained. The initial droplet size and distribution were retained with the successful suppression of secondary particle nucleation by the addition of hydroquinone in the aueous phase. Crosslinked polystyrene spheres were also synthesized in the presence of various low-molecular-weight diluents. While a good solvent, toluene, was not so effective; poor solvents, n-heptane and n-heptane, easily yielded the microporous structure, the specific surface area being as high as 160 m²/g. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

The characteristics and measuring technique of refractory dissolved organic substances in urban runoff.

It is considered that refractory dissolved organic substances have caused an increase in the COD concentration in Lake Biwa in recent years. We investigated the organic matter in the first flush of stormwater runoff from a road in the watershed area of the lake, and studied the possibility of improvement in the water environment from that aspect. After percolating the stormwater through soil, we analyzed organic substances fractionated by using GPC-TC. And we examined the effect of removal of organic substances by comparing the peak height before and after percolation. In the result of the experiments, we found that soil infiltration reduced the refractory dissolved organic substance and we successfully designed a system for a simple and easy experimental facility to treat urban runoff.     

Formation of dityrosine and other fluorescent amino acids by reaction of amino acids with lipid hydroperoxides

Formation of fluorescence by the reaction of various amino acids with lipid hydroperoxides,i.e., linoleic acid 13-monohydroperoxide, methyl linoleate 13-monohydroperoxide and phosphatidylcholine hydroperoxide, in the presence of methemoglobin was investigated. Two types of fluorescence were produced: fluorescent dityrosine (3,3′-dityrosine) from tyrosine, and unidentified fluorophores with α- and ε-amino groups of various amino acids. While the former was stable after treatment with borohydride, the latter fluorophores were readily destroyed. The rate of dityrosine formation was rapid, and the yield of dityrosine was dependent on the concentrations of tyrosine and the lipid hydroperoxides. Butylated hydroxytoluene and tocopherol inhibited the formation of dityrosine, but did not affect the formation of fluorophores on the amino groups. Dityrosine appears to be formed by radical reaction of the lipid hydroperoxides, while the other fluorophores seem to be created by nonradical mechanisms.     

Effects of weak shear on hyperswollen lyotropic smectic liquid crystals

We have developed a Zimm-type viscometer specially designed for the simultaneous measurements of the structure factor and the viscosity of hyperswollen lyotropic liquid crystals under a very weak shear. We have investigated the shear effects on the layer undulation fluctuation in the lamellar structure and the transition from the anisotropic lamellar to the isotropic sponge phase. We have found a significant difference in the rheological properties between the lamellar and the sponge phase: The former exhibits non-Newtonian flow behavior, while the latter exhibits Newtonian behavior.Paper presented at the Twelfth Symposium on Thermophysical Properties, June 19–24, 1994, Boulder, Colorado, U.S.A.     

The first specific antibody against cytotoxic polyacetylenic alcohol, panaxynol

Antitumor polyacetylenic alcohol, panaxynol, was isolated and purified from a powder of the root of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer. Panaxynol inhibited the growth of various kinds of cultured tumor cell lines in a dose-dependent manner. In this paper we demonstrated the first specific antibody production against panaxynol. Anti-panaxynol antibody was elicited in rabbits by immunization with panaxynol hemisuccinate-bovine serum albumin conjugate (panaxynol hemisuccinate-BSA conjugate). An enzyme immunoassay (EIA) for the determination of panaxynol was established using a double-antibody technique. The EIA was highly specific against panaxynol although the antibody showed a minimal cross-reactivity with other types of polyacetylenic alcohol, i.e. panaxydol (12.0%) and panaxytriol (0.77%). Panaxynol at a concentration as low as 6.4 ng/ml can be detected. Using this assay we reconfirmed the rapid consumption of panaxynol by target tumor cells in an in vitro-culture system. The anti-panaxynol antibody may be a valuable tool for studies of the biological properties of polyacetylenic compounds.     

Hydrothermal upgrading of wood biomass: Influence of the addition of K2CO3 and cellulose/lignin ratio

The hydrothermal treatment of two different wood biomass samples such as cherry (hard wood) and cypress (soft wood), whose composition is different i.e. lignin, cellulose and hemicellulose were performed at 280 °C for 15 min with aq. K₂CO₃ with different concentrations (0–1 M). The soft wood biomass contains higher lignin content than hard wood biomass. The cellulose rich cherry wood biomass produced higher proportion of acetic acid than cypress. The lignin rich cypress produced the hydrocarbons with major portion of phenolic hydrocarbons and derivatives than cherry. The total oil yields from both cherry and cypress wood biomass produced 50 wt% of liquid hydrocarbons at 280 °C for 15 min with 0.5 M K₂CO₃ solution. The volatility distribution of liquid hydrocarbons showed the characteristic features of soft and hard wood biomasses.     

Effect of functional group of ferrocene redox substance on the transport properties of newly designed ion exchange membrane prepared from polymer gel

A different newly designed cationic exchange polymer membrane and anionic exchange polymer membrane were introduced, and also the transport properties of these polymeric membranes were investigated in this study. The transport properties of these polymer membranes in contact with ferrocene redox derivatives were estimated by using electrochemical techniques such as cyclicvoltammetry, chronopotentiometry, and chronoamperometry techniques, respectively. The used ferrocene redox substances, which have different functional groups, were (Ferrocenylmethyl) trimethylamonium iodide, FcMA, Ferrocenedimethanol, FcDM, and Ferrocene carboxylic acid, FcCA. It indicated that the performance of a membrane depended on the content of polymer gel, anionic exchange polymer site (20 wt % and 50 wt %) or cationic polymer exchange site (20 wt % and 50 wt %), and the efficiency of the functional groups of cationic and anionic exchange polymer site as well. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008     

Effect of 8 MeV electron irradiation on electrical properties of CuInSe2 thin films

Radiation damages due to 8 MeV electron irradiation in electrical properties of CuInSe₂ thin films have been investigated. The n-type CuInSe₂ films in which the carrier concentration was about 3×10¹⁶ cm⁻³, were epitaxially grown on a GaAs(0 0 1) substrate by RF diode sputtering. No significant change in the electrical properties was observed under the electron fluence <3×10¹⁶ e cm⁻². As the electron fluence exceeded 10¹⁷ e cm⁻², both the carrier concentration and Hall mobility slightly decreased. The carrier removal rate was estimated to be about 0.8 cm⁻¹, which is slightly lower than that of III–V compound materials.