Iodine-initiated,solid-state copolymerization of tetraoxane with 1,3-dioxolane in the presence of methylal. VIII. Mechanical properties of copolymer

Copolymers obtained by the solid-state copolymerization of tetraoxane with 1,3-dioxolane were pelletized using a vent-type extruder and the mechanical properties were measured. The mechanical properties were found to be largely influenced by the distributions of molecular weight and ethylene oxide, which were controlled by the addition method of the 1,3-dioxolane–methylal solution into polymeric system. The mechanical properties of the copolymers were also found to be intermediate between those of Duracon M90 and Delrin 500.     

Growth mechanism of Si nodules on BPSG

Si nodules that appear in the metal electrodes of integrated circuits often reduce their reliability. The growth process of Si nodules generated on boro-phospho silicate glass (BPSG) in the Al-1 wt.% Si film electrode has been investigated. The Al-1 wt.% Si films sputter deposited on BPSG films were annealed at 723 K for 30 min according to the usual integrated circuit procedure. Scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy observations revealed that the Si nodules seemed to precipitate along Al grain boundaries particularly on the BPSG film and their shape appeared pyramidal. To make clear the mechanism of the growth of the Si nodule on the BPSG film, the interface between the Si nodule and the BPSG film was investigated in detail by transmission electron microscopy, electron diffraction and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. As the result, it was found that there existed an amorphous silicon oxide region in the central part of the interface under the Si nodule. The amorphous silicon oxide is considered to be formed by diffusion of oxygen from the BPSG film to the Si nodule during the annealing. The amorphous silicon oxide may act as an embryo for the formation of the Si nodule and the migration of Si atoms dissolved in Al towards the embryo seems to enhance the growth of the Si nodule.     

Fine architecture of the splenic terminal vascular bed as revealed by arterial and venous pressure-loading perfusion fixation

The three-dimensional fine architecture of the red pulp of human and animal spleens, which as fixed by a modified version of the arterial and venous pressure-loading perfusion fixation (AVPL perfusion fixation) method, is demonstrated by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. In the human spleen, changes in splenomegalias associated with hereditary spherocytosis and chronic portal hypertension are also introduced in addition to the normal architecture of the red pulp of spleens removed from patients with stomach cancer. The AVPL perfusion fixation of these spleens clearly visualized complicated three-dimensional fine architecture of the red pulp and provided much important information on in situ morphology and dynamic change of the terminal vascular bed, including venous pressure-dependent size change of the stomata and three-dimensional shapes of the capillary terminal, with positive proof of their opening into the cordal reticular tissue. In studies of the spleen associated with portal hypertension, the AVPL perfusion fixation is considered a necessary technique for analysis of the structural deviation closely relating to a very high venous pressure.     

Photo-induced change in wettability and binding ability of azoaromatic polymers

Photochromic polymers containing p-phenylazoacrylanilide were synthesized and the photo-induced hydrophobicity change on the surface of the polymer film was studied by measuring water wettability. The wettability increased with UV irradiation and returned to the original value with visible light irradiation. This photo-induced reversible change in wettability was considered to be caused by the large change of dipole moment across the azo bonds due to the isomerization of azo dye from trans to cis form. Furthermore, the photoresponsive polymeric adsorbent prepared from the azo polymer having adsorption behavior of a low molecular weight compound was studied. The binding ability of this polymeric adsorbent was decreased by UV irradiation. These results were attributed to the decreased hydrophobic interaction between the adsorbent and the adsorbate.     

Paths and distance functions on three-dimensional digitized pictures

We present in this note a formula to calculate the length of a path between two arbitrary voxels of a digitized three-dimension (3D) picture. Distance functions on the 3D digitized space are derived using the resulting formula.     

Piezoelectric properties in (K0.5Bi0.5)TiO 3-(Na0.5Bi0.5)TiO3-BaTiO 3 lead-free ceramics

Lead-free piezoelectric ceramics with compositions around the morphotropic phase boundary (MPB) x(Na_0.5Bi_0.5)TiO _3-y(K_0.5Bi_0.5)TiO₃-zBaTiO ₃ [x + y + z = 1; y:z = 2:1] were synthesized using conventional, solid-state processing. Dielectric maximum temperatures of 280degC and 262degC were found for tetragonal 0.79(Na_0.5Bi_0.5)TiO₃-0.14(K_0.5 Bi_0.5)TiO₃-0.07BaTiO$ d3 (BNBK79) and MPB composition 0.88(Na_0.5Bi_0.5)TiO₃-0.08(K _0.5Bi_0.5)TiO₃-0.04BaTiO$ d3 (BNBK88), with depolarization temperatures of 224degC and 162degC, respectively. Piezoelectric coefficients d₃₃ were found to be 135 pC/N and 170 pC/N for BNBK79 and BNBK88, and the piezoelectric d₃₁ was determined to be -37 pC/N and -51 pC/N, demonstrating strong anisotropy. Coercive field values were found to be 37 kV/cm and 29 kV/cm for BNBK79 and BNBK88, respectively. The remanent polarization of BNBK88 (~40 muC/cm²) was larger than that of BNBK79 (~29 muC/cm²). The piezoelectric, electromechanical, and high-field strain behaviors also were studied as a function of temperature and discussed     

Phase-transition temperatures and piezoelectric properties of (Bi/sub 1/2/Li/sub 1/2/)TiO/sub 3/-(Bi/sub 1/2/K/sub 1/2/)TiO/sub 3/ lead-free ferroelectric ceramics

The phase-transition temperatures and piezoelectric properties of x(Bi_1/2Na_1/2)TiO_3-y(Bi_1/2Li_1/2)TiO_3-z(Bi_1/2K_1/2)TiO₃ [x + y + z = 1] (abbreviated as BNLKT100y-100z) ceramics were investigated. These ceramics were prepared using a conventional ceramic fabrication process. The phase-transition temperatures such as depolarization temperatures T_d, rhombohedral-tetragonal phase transition temperature T_R-T, and dielectric-maximum temperature T_m were determined using electrical measurements such as dielectric and piezoelectric properties. The X-ray powder diffraction patterns of BNLKT100y-100z show the morphotropic phase boundary (MPB) between rhombohedral and tetragonal at approximately z = 0.20, and the piezoelectric properties show the maximum at the MPB. The electromechanical coupling factor &33, piezoelectric constant d₃₃ and T_d of BNLKT4-20 and BNLKT8-20 were 0.603, 176 pC/N, and 171degC, and 0.590, 190 pC/N, and 115degC, respectively. In addition, the relationship between d₃₃ and T_d of tetragonal side and rhombohedral side for BNLKT4-100z and BNLKT8-100z were presented. Considering both high T_d and high d₃₃, the tetragonal side of BNLKT4-100z is thought to be the superior composition. The d₃₃ and T_d of BNLKT4-28 were 135 pC/N and 218degC, respectively. Moreover, this study revealed that the variation of Td is related to the variation of lattice distortion such as rhombohedrality 90-alpha and tetragonality c/a.     

Flow analysis method for determining the concentration of methanol and ethanol in the gas phase using the nitrite formation reaction

This paper presents a flow determination method for low molecular weight alcohols (methanol, ethanol) in the gas phase using the nitrite formation reaction, which was developed from an earlier method using a glass bottle. In this method, the ambient air and nitrogen dioxide (1,000 ppmv) were allowed to continuously flow in a glass tube, which had been filled with 10 g of Pyrex glass beads. The flow rates of the ambient air and nitrogen dioxide were 30 and 20 cm3/min, respectively. The gas-phase alkyl nitrites produced by the dark reaction of atmospheric alcohols and nitrogen dioxide on the Pyrex glass beads were then analyzed by gas chromatography with an electron capture detector. The alcohol concentrations of the samples were calculated using a calibrated conversion factor for each alcohol to its nitrite. The detection limits for the methanol and ethanol are 0.7 and 0.5 ppbv, respectively. This flow method was used to determine the atmospheric alcohol concentrations and was found to have the advantages of a short sampling time and simple quantitative procedure compared with the previously reported method (glass bottle method). The feasibility of this method was also established.     

Dynamic Performance Analysis of Self-Controlled Synchronous Motor Speed Control Systems

The dynamic performance of speed control systems containing a self-controlled synchronous motor is analyzed in detail considering two practical types of position sensor used in this motor. The dynamic responses of a basic speed control system with a speed feedback loop are first analyzed for the case when the speed reference signal is stepped up. It is shown that the system is apt to become unstable when an armature voltage sensing type position sensor is used. Then it is clarified that this drawback is improved greatly by introducing a current feedback loop in the system. Finally the dynamic responses of a speed control system with a margin angle control loop are analyzed, and a method of securing safe commutation of the inverter during transients is proposed.     

Cationic Copolymer‐Chaperoned 2D–3D Reversible Conversion of Lipid Membranes

Nanosheets have thicknesses on the order of nanometers and planar dimensions in the micrometer range. Nanomaterials that are capable of converting reversibly between 2D nanosheets and 3D structures in response to specific triggers can enable construction of nanodevices. Supra‐molecular lipid nanosheets and their triggered conversions to 3D structures including vesicles and cups are reported. They are produced from lipid vesicles upon addition of amphiphilic peptides and cationic copolymers that act as peptide chaperones. By regulation of the chaperoning activity of the copolymer, 2D to 3D conversions are reversibly triggered, allowing tuning of lipid bilayer structures and functionalities.