Light scattering studies on crystallization in polyethylene terephthalate

The light scattering from the spherulites of polyethylene terephthalate grown near the glass transition temperature has been investigated. The Hv scattering profiles can be reproduced by the sum of the ideal spherulite scattering with the distribution of spherulite radius and the isotropic scattering from randomly oriented crystallites. The ratio of optical anisotropies in the isotropic scattering to the ideal spherulite scattering is obtained by the method established to eliminate the effects of the number density of spherulites and the coefficient depending on the experimental conditions. It is found that the anisotropy ratio is almost independent of the crystallization time and of temperature above 106 °C, while it is larger at a crystallization temperature of 103 °C. The spherulitic structure is discussed in terms of the anisotropy ratio.     

Synthesis of hydrous SnO2 and SnO2-coated TiO2 powders by the homogeneous precipitation method and their characterization

Hydrous SnO₂ and SnO₂-coated TiO₂ powders were synthesized by the homogeneous precipitation method using urea and the products were characterized by X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetry, differential thermal analysis, scanning electron microscopy and energy- dispersive X-ray microanalysis. Electrical conductivities were measured with an impedance analyser. Hydrous SnO₂ powder prepared under conditions without SO ₄ ^2– ions was a bulky product containing 75 wt% of water. The addition of SO ₄ ^2– ions to the solution changed bulky hydrous SnO₂ to a dense product; approximately spherical particles were obtained with an average particle size of 0.14 ± 0.03 m. with 13.5 wt % of absorbed water. Antimony-doped hydrous SnO₂ prepared under conditions with SO ₄ ^2– ions consisted of approximately spherical particles with an average particle size of 0.17 ± 0.04 m with 15.0 wt % of absorbed water. Hydrous SnO₂-coated TiO₂ powders with a good dispersion state and with various Sn/Ti ratios were prepared under conditions with SO ₄ ^2– ions. All the as-prepared coated powders were white, but the products doped with Sb³⁺ ions were turned to pale blue by heat treatment at 600° C for 1 h and their electrical conductivities increased by orders of about 3.0 in comparison with those of the other two.     

Preparation of Self-Standing, Submillimeter-Thick Porous Titania Films with Anatase Nanocrystallites Using Evaporation-Induced Self-Assembly

Self-standing transparent submillimeter-thick (∼0.34 mm) mesoporous titania films were prepared using the evaporation-induced self-assembly (EISA) of a triblock copolymer template and titanium tetraethoxide. Performing EISA at low temperature and low humidity improved the transparency and continuity of the films. As synthesized films had a well-defined hexagonal mesostructure and the existence of both amorphous titania and anatase nanocrystallites (2 nm) was confirmed. The films that were calcined at 400°C were composed of anatase nanocrystallites (14–16 nm) and had a BET surface area of 90 m² g⁻¹ with 13-nm pores. The films were characterized using XRD, FE-SEM, TEM, and N² adsorption–desorption measurements. An erratum to this article can be found at     

Evaluating card-based protocols in terms of execution time

International Journal of Information Security - Card-based cryptography is an attractive and unconventional computation model; it provides secure computing methods using a deck of physical cards....     

Factors associated with serum magnesium and vascular stiffness in maintenance hemodialysis patients

Introduction : We evaluated the associated factors of serum magnesium in patients on maintenance hemodialysis (MHD). Furthermore, we evaluated the relationship between low serum magnesium and arteriosclerosis in these patients. Methods : In 129 patients on MHD, we evaluated the blood levels of magnesium, brachial‐ankle pulse wave velocity (ba‐PWV), ankle‐brachial index (ABI), and intima‐media thickness of the common carotid artery (IMT). Findings : In MHD patients, the serum level of magnesium was significantly correlated with age, calcium, TNF‐α, albumin, and ba‐PWV but not with ABI or IMT. In the multiple regression analysis, albumin (P = 0.0001, β = 0.31) and calcium (P = 0.029, β = 0.18) were selected as significant predictors of the magnesium level in MHD patients. Furthermore, the serum level of magnesium, as well as systolic blood pressure (P = 0.0001, β = 0.32) and age (P = 0.005, β = 0.25), were selected as significant (P = 0.012, β = ?0.22) predictors of ba‐PWV in MHD patients. Discussion : In MHD patients, the serum magnesium level was associated with the serum levels of calcium and albumin. Furthermore, a low serum magnesium level in MHD patients was associated with the index of vascular stiffness.     

Evaluation of environmentally friendly lubricants for cold forging

The authors proposed double-layer-type environmentally friendly lubricants, which were composed of an undercoat, superior in adhering to a material, and an overcoat, superior in reducing the friction between the material and the die. The performance of these lubricants for cold forging was evaluated by the ring compression test, the combined forward rod-backward can extrusion-type friction test and the combined forward conical can-backward straight can extrusion-type friction test. The double-layer-type lubricants showed comparable friction characteristics and anti-pick-up properties to a conversion coating lubricant, when the film thickness and surface treatment before coating were improved. In a practical application by cold multistage forging, the double-layer-type lubricants showed a similar performance to a conversion coating lubricant.     

Transistor Paint: Environmentally Stable N‐alkyldithienopyrrole and Bithiazole‐Based Copolymer Thin‐Film Transistors Show Reproducible High Mobilities without Annealing

New solution processable 4‐(2‐hexyldecan)‐4H‐bisthieno[2,3‐d:3′,2′‐b]pyrrole and 4,4′‐dialkyl‐2,2′‐bithiazole‐based copolymers (PBTzDTPs) are synthesized with excellent FET performance. These novel copolymers have considerable potential in printable electronics as they have high charge carrier mobilities, excellent air stability, good solution processibility, and no requirement for post‐deposition thermal annealing, all requirements for this field of application. The thin film transistors fabricated from PBTzDTPs achieve field effect mobilities as high as 0.14 cm² V^?1 s^?1 with current on/off ratios up to 10⁶ without thermal annealing. In addition, the devices exhibit stable performance in air, showing no significant degradation over 60 days. Moreover, the polymers described here provide an excellent example of the systems in which higher mobility performance does not require higher crystalline, long‐range ordered structures. Such a system appears to be particularly promising for rapid fabrication techniques, where kinetic conditions usually prevent the development of long‐range order.     

Effects of solid lubricants in backward extrusion

In the present paper, some solid lubricants were tested in backward extrusion friction tests with flat-headed punches using aluminium at room temperature. The results showed that anti-seizure ability was improved when wax was added to the solid lubricant samples. In addition, a water-based graphite lubricant and an ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMW-PE) lubricant were tested using aluminium workpieces heated to 500°C. The lubricity of the UHMW-PE lubricant was found to be superior to that of the graphite lubricant.     

Experimental study on method of estimating strength of weld metal in steel structure

We conducted the welding experiment using three kinds of test piece, actual size, diaphragm and butt joint. Then, we examined the influence on strength, cooling time and carbon equivalent of weld metal by welding conditions on the different test pieces. We calculated an estimate of cooling time and chemical components. Consequently, we concluded that the strength of weld metal can be estimated by heat input, interpass temperature, carbon equivarent of welding wire and shape of test piece.