Nucleation of branches in elastomeric polypropylene

The formation of a crosshatched morphology during crystallization of an isotactic polypropylene with low crystallinity is studied in detail. Here, a lamella seems to grow through another nearly perpendicular lamella that was crystallized before. The crystallization was observed with in situ scanning force microscopy with a temporal resolution of 3 min per image. After crystallization the volume structure was imaged by nanotomography. A detailed scheme for the nucleation of branches is proposed.     

Ennoblement of stainless steel in natural seawater – A new explanation

The ennoblement of corrosion potential (E_corr) of passive metal immersed in seawater was investigated with electrochemical technology and epifluorescence microscopy. The in situ observation showed that the bacteria number increased on the metal surface according to an exponential law which was in the same way with the ennoblement of E_corr. At the same time, the anodic polarization current of high‐Mo stainless steel decreased in the initial days. According to the mix‐potential theory and the characteristics of polarization curves of high‐Mo steel in natural seawater, the ennoblement of corrosion potential may be induced by the decrease of the passive current density.     

Highly oriented star-like patterns observed on GaSe epilayers grown on Si(111)

Epitaxial lamellar gallium selenide (GaSe) semiconductors have been grown on trench-patterned silicon (Si) substrates by molecular beam epitaxy. An intriguing star-like patterned morphology was identified by atomic force microscopy on these epilayers. This non-trivial feature can be correlated with the accumulation of stacking faults of two concurrent epitaxial domains around self-oriented triangular pits developed earlier on the Si(111) surface by the chemical etching. Crystallographic considerations show how the stars can be formed.     

Sintering studies of nano-crystalline zinc oxide

Sintering and grain growth of nano-crystalline undoped ZnO has been studied in detail over a wide range of temperature and holding time. Below 800 °C, sintering of over 70% theoretical density is not observed, irrespective of particle size. At 900 °C for 6 h, the nano-crystalline sample sinters to 99% of theoretical density whereas the density for as received sample is 93% of theoretical density. However, at 1300 °C or higher, the densification is found to be much faster and after a few hours becomes independent of holding time. Grain growth studies reveal a similar feature of attaining saturation over holding time. The average saturated grain size is found to be ∼1.5 and ∼2.2 μm at 800 and 900 °C, respectively, while at 1300 °C or higher, it is in between 12 and 13 μm.     

Growth of β-FeSi2 layers deposited from a molten salt

β-FeSi₂ layers have been successfully grown using a molten salt method for the first time. It was found that single phase and homogeneous β-FeSi₂ layers with a columnar domain structure can be grown on FeSi substrates. The layer thickness was demonstrated to be controllable by the growth temperature and time, and was diffusion controlled. It was shown that the layers were void- and crack-free compared to similar layers grown on Fe substrates: this difference is explained in terms of Fe diffusion. This vacuum-free simple growth technique is useful for the fabrication of large area semiconductor devices at low cost.     

Response of inertinites from some Australian coals to non-catalytic hydrogenation in tetralin

Inertinite concentrates from three Australian bituminous coals were hydrogenated at various temperatures ranging from 350 to 475 °C in the presence of tetralin without any added catalyst. Both conversion yields and microscopic observations of the benzene-extracted hydrogenation residues have revealed that the hydrogenation of the inertinite macerals becomes significant only > 400 °C, whereas the dissolution-hydrogenation of the accompanying vitrinite macerals occurs mainly between 350 and 400 °C. The major reaction pathway for the inertinite particles in the hydrogenation process appears to be one of initial mild carbonization followed by hydrogenation. A simplified reaction scheme is proposed which describes the reaction pathway involved in the hydrogenation of inertinite.     

Synthesis of selenium nanoparticles in the presence of silk fibroin

This paper describes a solution-phase approach to the synthesis of selenium nanoparticles by reducing selenious acid solution with ascorbic acid in the presence of silk fibroin. The monodispersed spherical selenium colloid particles obtained were very stable in silk fibroin solution and characterized by Atomic force microscopy and X-ray techniques. The influences of temperature and ultrasonication on the morphology of selenium nanoparticles were also discussed. The experiments showed that the selenium nanoparticles with various morphologies could be obtained under different temperatures and the appropriate ultrasonication time was 60 min. This result indicated that the silk fibroin molecules intimately associated with the surface of the selenium particles and controlled the growth particles.     

石蜡微胶囊中脲醛树脂壁材渗透性的研究

利用差示扫描量热法研究了石蜡微胶囊中脲醛树脂壁材对水及甲苯的渗透性 ,结果表明 ,水不能透过脲醛树脂壁材 ,而甲苯则易透过脲醛树脂壁材。因此 ,该石蜡微胶囊不能用于芳香族溶剂存在的场合。     

Modelling and analysis of 3-D arrangements of particles by point processes with examples of application to biological data obtained by confocal scanning light microscopy

Within the concept of point processes, a review is presented of quantities which can be used in studies of three-dimensional (3-D) aggregates of particles. Suitable characteristics and estimators are given for both unmarked and marked point processes. To demonstrate the feasibility of such quantitative approaches, an application in histology, dealing with 3-D arrangements of cell nuclei in rat liver, is described. Using a confocal scanning light microscope, 3-D images are recorded and image analysis used to obtain the coordinates of the centroid, together with the volume and DNA content, of each cell nucleus. Examples of results are given, using both unmarked and marked point processes. In the latter case, cell type, nuclear volume and ploidy group are suitable marks.     

A portable cryo-storage system for low-temperature scanning electron microscopy,suitable for international transport of cryo-specimens

A cryo-specimen storage system for low-temperature scanning electron microscopy (LTSEM) specimens is described, which: liberates multi-specimen experiments from sampling restrictions imposed by the rate at which LTSEM specimens can be examined in the SEM; provides security against experiment loss resulting from breakdown of the SEM or cryo-system; enables collection of specimens in the field or in laboratories remote from the SEM laboratory; and facilitates international air transport of LTSEM specimens. The components of the system, which has a capacity of 98 stub-mounted specimens, are readily made in a laboratory workshop. The details of the design may be altered to suit particular specimen types or experimental approaches.