The triplet state of positronium, o-Ps, is used as a probe to characterize a starch-20% w/w sucrose matrix as a function of temperature (T). A two-step decomposition (of sucrose, and then starch) starts at 440 K as shown by a decrease in the o-Ps intensity (I(3)) and lifetime (τ(3)), the latter also disclosing the occurrence of a glass transition. Upon sucrose decomposition, the matrix acquires properties (reduced size and density of nanoholes) that are different from those of pure starch. A model is successfully established, describing the variations of both I(3) and τ(3) with T and yields a glass transition temperature, T(g) = (446 ± 2) K, in spite of the concomitant sucrose decomposition. Unexpectedly, the starch volume fraction (as probed through thermal gravimetry) decreases with T at a higher rate than the free volume fraction (as probed through PALS).
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/c0cp00681e | DOI Listing |
Langmuir
January 2025
Institute of Advanced Manufacturing Technology, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changzhou 213164, People's Republic of China.
Thermoresponsive shape memory polymer (SMP) adhesives have demonstrated a high adhesion strength and large switching ratios on different substrates. However, a long response time to switch adhesion on or off is generally encountered. This study provides a fast adhesion switching method based on the temperature and rate dependence of adhesion within the glass-transition zone of an epoxy polymer.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFProc Natl Acad Sci U S A
January 2025
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011.
From molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of melt-quenching and thermal aging procedures in pure Ag, Cu, Ag-Cu binary alloys, and Cu-Zr binary alloys, we have identified two distinct amorphous phases for a metastable undercooled liquid: the homogeneous L-phase with low shear rigidity and the heterogenous G-phase with much higher shear rigidity and a heterogeneity length scale Λ. Here, we examine two-phase equilibration studies showing that the G-phase melts to form the L-phase above ~1,000 K, which then transforms to form the crystal (X) phase; however, below the melting point of the G-Phase (~990 K), the X- and G-phases do not transform into each other. We suggest the presence of a G-phase is likely responsible for embrittlement often observed in metallic glasses.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Phys Chem Lett
January 2025
Laboratory of Metal Physics and Technology, Department of Materials, ETH Zurich, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland.
The behavior of supercooled glass-forming metals depends on the cooperative atomic fluctuations caused by dynamic heterogeneities in the melt. These spatial and temporal heterogeneities form dynamic clusters, which are regions of cooperative rearrangement (CRR). In this study, the macroscopic kinetics and the correlation length , of the CRR, are derived for PtCuNiP and PdCuNiP metallic glass-formers by fast differential scanning calorimetry near the glass transition.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSoft Matter
January 2025
The Institute of Mathematical Sciences, C.I.T. Campus, Taramani, Chennai 600113, India.
The yielding response to an imposed oscillatory shear is investigated for a model two-dimensional dense glass composed of bidisperse, deformable polymer rings, with the ring stiffness being the control parameter. In the quiescent glassy state, the more flexible rings exhibit a broader spectrum of shape fluctuations, which becomes increasingly constrained with increasing ring stiffness. Under shear, the highly packed rings yield, the thermal assembly loses rigidity, with the threshold yield strain increasing significantly with decreasing ring stiffness.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSmall
January 2025
Department of Civil and Environment Engineering, University of Ulsan, Daehakro 93, Namgu, Ulsan, 44610, Republic of Korea.
The current lack of stable, scalable, and efficient coating technology dramatically limits the exploitation of solar-driven graphitic carbon nitride (CN) photocatalysts. Herein, a unique, efficient, and scalable method is reported to immobilize CN powder on various substrates ranging from Fluorine tin oxide (FTO), glass, Plexiglas, Al foil, Ti foil, and Granite stone, to even wood. The film shows an outstanding thickness of 212 µm, which is the highest value ever reported.
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