Fabrication of Sr0.5Ba0.5Nb2O6 Nanocrystallite‐Precipitated Transparent Phosphate Glass‐Ceramics

Transparent (Sr_0.5Ba_0.5)Nb₂O₆ (SBN50) nanocrystallite‐precipitated phosphate glass‐ceramics were prepared by a conventional glass‐ceramic process. x(SrO–BaO–2Nb₂O₅) ? (100–4x)P₂O₅ (xSBNP) glasses with a refractive index of 1.9–2.0 exhibited high water resistance owing to the presence of Q⁰ and Q¹ phosphate units. Both bulk and surface crystallization of the SBN50 phase were observed in 20SBNP and 21SBNP glass‐ceramics. Although the nominal content of SBN50 crystals in the 21SBNP glass was larger than that in the 20SBNP glass, the latter exhibited better crystallinity of SBN50 and a higher number density of precipitated SBN nanocrystallites. By tuning the two‐step heat‐treatment and the chemical composition, transparent SBN50‐precipitated glass‐ceramics were successfully obtained. Given that no remarkable increase of the relative dielectric constants was observed after crystallization of the SBN50 nanocrystallites, it is postulated that the relative dielectric constant of the bulk is mainly governed by the amorphous phosphate region, and that the contribution of precipitation of the SBN50 nanocrystallites to the dielectric constant is not very significant in this system.     

Domain switching characteristics of lead zirconate titanate piezoelectric ceramics during mechanical compressive loading

To better understand the domain switching characteristics of lead zirconate titanate (PZT) ceramics, the orientations of domains have been directly investigated during loading and unloading using various experimental techniques. Upon loading, linear and non-linear fracture mechanics of the PZT ceramics are observed. The slope of the stress–strain response is attributed mainly to lattice strain and domain switching strain. During the loading process, electrical activity also occurs several times in the PZT ceramics. This activity is related to a lightning-like phenomenon and consists of a bright flash with a click. This electrogenerative event is caused by severe domain switching. The characteristics of domain switching and reverse switching are detected during the loading and unloading processes. The amount of domain switching depends on the grain, due to different stress levels. In addition, two patterns of 90° domain switching systems are characterized, namely (i) 90° turn about the tetragonal c-axis and (ii) 90° rotation of the tetragonal a-axis.     

Correlation between Macro- and Microstructural Changes in Ge:SiO2 and SiO2 Glasses under Intense Ultraviolet Irradiation

The photochemical transformation mechanism of defects in germanosilicate and silica glasses under ultraviolet (UV) laser irradiation has been investigated based on the changes in Raman spectra before and after irradiation. Two types of silica glasses, fused silica (type I) and dry synthetic silica (type IV), and germanosilicate optical fiber preforms were irradiated by intense UV photons from excimer lasers. Spectral changes in optical absorption and Raman spectra were examined to clarify a correlation between the microscopic defect formation and the macroscopic structural changes causing a photorefractive effect. Successive generation of E' centers through divalent centers is closely correlated with changes in Raman spectra, indicating that large structural changes in the glass network involved in this process would be the origin of photon-induced densification of the glasses. In addition, it has been proposed that the successive generation of E' centers is mediated by transient divalent centers converted from relaxed cation homobondings.     

Effect of chromatic components on facial skin whiteness

Although the color measurement of facial skin becomes more common in dermatology and cosmetics, little is known about the relationship between subjective color perception and colorimetric values in facial skin. In this study, the possible relationships among perceived whiteness and the metric lightness, chroma and hue angle of Japanese females' facial skin color were investigated. First, the perceived brightness of the facial skin of Japanese females was evaluated visually and compared with metric lightness, chroma and hue angle, and the effect of hue and chroma on the perceived brightness was discussed. Second, a psychophysical experiment on the whiteness of the facial images and synthesized skin color plate images was conducted for examining the effect of hue and chroma on the perceived whiteness more precisely and independently. The results of two experiments showed that in regard to the facial skin color of the Japanese female, metric lightness disagrees with perceived whiteness or brightness in a narrow lightness range. The reddish facial skin color appeared brighter or whiter than that of a yellowish one in high lightness regions, and the low‐chroma facial skin color appeared brighter or whiter than a high‐chroma one. However, in the color plate images, a change in perceived whiteness by hue could not be confirmed, and the change in perceived whiteness by chroma was weaker than that from facial images. These results indicated that a higher‐level process of face recognition affected whiteness perception, and the criterion of facial skin whiteness was determined by facial skin color distribution. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Col Res Appl, 2011;     

Preparation of microporous carbon films from fluorinated aromatic polyimides

Pyrolysis and carbonization behaviors of fluorinated aromatic polyimide films synthesized from fluorinated dianhydrides and diamines were investigated by thermogravimetric and mass spectrometric measurements. Evolution of fluorine compound gases and related species was observed during the pyrolysis in the temperature range from 450 to 700 °C, in addition to the evolution of CO and CO₂ due to the imide ring degradation. By the carbonization of these fluorinated polyimides at 600-1000 °C, highly microporous carbons were obtained without any activation process, of which adsorption/desorption isotherm of N₂ gas was typical type I and pore size distribution was sharp at around 0.55 nm in width. Surface area increased with increasing fluorine content in the repeating unit of fluorinated polyimide: the polyimide with the highest fluorine content of 31.3 mass% gave a high microporous surface area of 1342 m² g⁻¹ and micropore volume of 0.44 mL g⁻¹.     

Concentration of sodium chloride in aqueous solution by chlorodifluoromethane gas hydrate

The decomposition temperature and pressure (quadruple point) of chlorodifluoromethane (R22) gas hydrate in aqueous sodium chloride (NaCl) solution was measured at different NaCl concentrations in the solution as a phase diagram. The operative concentration curve of NaCl was obtained as a function of temperature. The maximum decomposition temperature of R22 hydrate was about 290 K at 0.9 MPa pressure, and it decreased as the NaCl concentration increased in the solution. R22 hydrate caused supercooling, and the supercooling occurrence temperature was much lower than the decomposition temperature. The ultrasonic charge reduced the supercooling of hydration effectively even though the ultrasonic charge did not change the decomposition temperature at all. The concentration experimental results from the several NaCl solutions having different NaCl concentrations were in good agreement with the theoretical operative concentration curve for NaCl.     

Analysis and evaluation of the ionic interaction of the novel soft contact lenses using the zwitterionic polymer gel

In the zwitterionic polymer gel which has cationic and anionic groups inside, it forms a complex to producing stability by adding thermal energy. We reported the behavior induced by the ionic interaction of them and the impact that a nonionic surfactant could exert on the complex formation. We had heating experiments of the zwitterionic polymer gel in PBS with a nonionic surfactant added. We analyzed DSC and measured the diameter, stress and flexure of heated the gel. As the result, it has been demonstrated that formation of strong ionic interactions inside the gel can be achieved by heating them in a solution containing the nonionic surfactant. It has been also demonstrated that the ratio of bound water is increased within the gel, promising an enhanced strength. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009     

Synthesis of silica hybrid nanoparticles modified with photofunctional polymers and construction of colloidal crystals

Photofunctional polymer as silane coupling agent (PFD) was prepared by free radical copolymerization of 4‐vinylbenzyl N,N‐diethyldithiocarbamate (VBDC) and methyl methacrylate (MMA) in the presence of (3‐mercaptopropyl)trimethoxysilane (MPMS) as chain transfer agent. Next, silane (SiO₂; the average diameter D_n = 192 nm) nanoparticles was surface‐modified with PFD and 3‐(trimethoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate (γ‐MPS) by covalent bond formed between silanol groups and silane coupling agents. The PFD and γ‐MPS functionalizations changed the silica surface into hydrophobic nature and provided grafting initiation sites and methacrylate terminal groups respectively. We performed the construction of hybrid nanocomposites by using these modified SiO₂ nanoparticles. It was found from electron microscopy observations that SiO₂ particles were packed into repeating cubic arrangements in a poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) matrix such as colloidal crystals. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009