Modeling the extraction of bound rubber from silica-filled styrene-butadiene rubber with toluene

田村 由起子*; 荒川 勝利*; 竹中 幹人*; 中西 洋平*; 藤波 想*; 柴田 基樹*; 山本 勝宏*; 宮田 登*; 山田 雅子*; 瀬戸 秀紀*; et al.

Polymer, 333, p.128662_1 - 128662_8, 2025/08

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polymer.2025.128662

To investigate the relationship between the mechanical properties of silica-filled styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) and the amount of bound rubber at the filler/rubber interface, the polymer matrix was extracted from silica-filled SBR using toluene at room temperature. In this study, this extraction process was reproduced by leaching a thermally annealed SBR layer deposited on a Si substrate in toluene at room temperature, where the adsorption layer of the SBR was grown at the interface with the substrate by thermal annealing. The SBR adsorption layer on the Si substrate has two-layer structures consisting of an inner and outer adsorption layers, which correspond to the tightly and loosely bound rubbers on the filler surface of the silica-filled SBR, respectively. For the sample annealed for less than 6 h, the outer adsorption layer, loosely bound to the substrate, was easily leached in toluene for 5 min, leaving only the inner adsorption layer on the substrate. For the samples annealed for more than 24 h, a large portion of the outer adsorption layer remained on top of the inner adsorption layer as a terrace structure. However, even for the sample annealed for 24 h, treating with toluene for 24 h completely leached the outer adsorption layer from the inner adsorption layer, although the inner adsorption layer remained on the substrate. It was found that the loosely bound rubber in the silica-filled SBR could be easily extracted from the filler surface, along with the free polymer chains in the polymer matrix during extraction with toluene at room temperature. In contrast, the tightly bound rubber was not leached by toluene at room temperature. This may be because the interfacial polymer chains within approximately 1 nm of the substrate surface were strongly constrained to the substrate, and even toluene molecules were excluded.

Transverse asymmetry of individual rays in the La()La reaction

奥泉 舞桜*; Auton, C. J.*; 遠藤 駿典; 藤岡 宏之*; 広田 克也*; 猪野 隆*; 石崎 貢平*; 木村 敦; 北口 雅暁*; 古賀 淳*; et al.

Physical Review C, 111(3), p.034611_1 - 034611_6, 2025/03

https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.111.034611

The observed enhancement of Parity Violation in the vicinity of p-wave compound nuclear resonances for a variety of medium-heavy nuclei can be understood using the sp-mixing model. The sp-mixing model predicts several neutron energy-dependent angular correlations between the spin and momentum of neutron and -ray emitted from (n,) reactions. In this work, the correlation term in the La(,)La reaction was measured precisely and a significant transverse asymmetry was found in the transition to the excited states of La.

Surface depth analysis of chemical changes in random copolymer thin films composed of hydrophilic and hydrophobic silicon-based monomers induced by plasma treatment as studied by hard X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and neutron reflectivity measurements

山本 勝宏*; 今井 達也*; 河合 純希*; 伊藤 恵利*; 宮崎 司*; 宮田 登*; 山田 悟史*; 瀬戸 秀紀*; 青木 裕之

ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 16(48), p.66782 - 66791, 2024/11

https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.4c17393

In this study, a silicon-based copolymer, poly(tris(trimethylsiloxy)-3-methacryloxypropylsilane)-co-poly(N,N-dimethyl acrylamide), thin film was subjected to plasma surface treatment to make its surface hydrophilic (biocompatible). Neutron reflectivity (NR) measurement of the plasma-treated thin film showed a decrease in the film thickness (etching width: similar to 20 nm) and an increase in the scattering length density (SLD) near the surface (similar to 15 nm). The region with a considerably high SLD adsorbed water (DO) from its saturated vapor, indicating its superior surface hydrophilicity. Nevertheless of the hydrophilicity, the swelling of the thin film was suppressed. Hard X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (HAXPES) performed at various takeoff angles revealed that the thin-film surface (similar to 20 nm depth) underwent extensive oxidation. NR and HAXPES analysis quantitatively yielded the depth profiling of elemental compositions in a few tens of nm scale. Si oxidation and hydrogen elimination (probably CH groups) in the vicinity of the surface region increased the SLD and decreased the hydrophobicity. A combination of Soft X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and NR measurements revealed the surface chemical composition and mass density. It was considered that the surface near the film was chemically composed close to SiO, forming a gel-like (three-dimensional network) structure that is hydrophilic and suppresses swelling due to moisture, indicating it can be expected to maintain stable hydrophilicity on the film surface.

Neutron reflectivity study on the adsorption layer of polyethylene grown on Si substrate

下北 啓輔*; 山本 勝宏*; 宮田 登*; 柴田 基樹*; 中西 洋平*; 荒川 勝利*; 竹中 幹人*; 木田 拓充*; 徳満 勝久*; 田中 亮*; et al.

Langmuir, 40(30), p.15758 - 15766, 2024/07

https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.langmuir.4c01584

To investigate the structure of the interface between polyethylene films and substrates, the neutron reflectivity (NR) of deuterated polyethylene (dPE) thin films deposited on Si substrates was measured, demonstrating water accumulation at the interface, even under ambient conditions. After leaching the thermally annealed dPE films in hot p-xylene, NR measurements were conducted on the layers remaining on the substrate, clearly revealing that the adsorption layer of dPE grew during annealing and consisted of two layers, an inner adsorption layer and an outer adsorption layer, as previously proposed for amorphous polymers. The inner adsorption layer was approximately 3.7 nm thick with a density comparable to that of the bulk. The outer adsorption layer was several nanometers thick and appeared to grow insufficiently on top of the inner adsorption layer under the annealing conditions examined in this study. This study clarifying the growth of the adsorption layer of polyethylene at the interface with an inorganic substrate is useful for improving the performance of polymer/inorganic filler nanocomposites due to the wide utility of crystalline polyolefins as polymer matrix materials in nanocomposites.

Analyses of hierarchical structures in SBR rubber by using contrast-variation SANS; Effects of a silane coupling agent

中西 洋平*; 柴田 基樹*; 澤田 諭*; 近藤 寛朗*; 元川 竜平; 熊田 高之; 山本 勝宏*; 三田 一樹*; 宮崎 司*; 竹中 幹人*

Polymer, 306, p.127209_1 - 127209_7, 2024/06

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polymer.2024.127209

Adding silane coupling agents to rubber/silica particles systems improves their mechanical properties and the dispersion of the particles. The improvement is believed to be attributed to the enhanced adsorption of rubber molecules on the surface of silica particles by the silane coupling agent. However, the enhancement of the adsorption by silane coupling agent has not been clarified quantitatively yet. In this study, we have investigated the difference in (i) the adsorption of rubber on silica surfaces and (ii) the aggregation of silica particles in rubber/silica particle systems with and without silane coupling agents by using contrast variation neutron scattering (CV-SANS). The CVSANS results quantitatively clarified the adsorption layer's thickness and the degree of aggregation for both systems. In the case of the system without silane coupling agents, the adsorption layers do not exist around the particles, and the particles tend to aggregate. On the other hand, the adsorption layers of about 5.3 nm are formed on the surface of the particles in the system with silane coupling agents, and the addition of silane coupling agents suppressed the aggregation.

Latent ion tracks were finally observed in diamond

雨倉 宏*; Chettah, A.*; 鳴海 一雅*; 千葉 敦也*; 平野 貴美*; 山田 圭介*; 山本 春也*; Leino, A. A.*; Djurabekova, F.*; Nordlund, K.*; et al.

Nature Communications (Internet), 15, p.1786_1 - 1786_10, 2024/02

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-45934-4

高い電子的阻止能領域の照射条件で高エネルギー重イオンを固体に照射すると、イオンの飛跡に沿って潜在イオントラックと呼ばれる柱状の損傷領域が形成される。イオントラックは、多くの物質中で形成されていることが知られているが、ダイヤモンドにおいて観察された例は皆無であった。高エネルギー(GeV)のウランイオンにおいてさえ、観察された例はない。本研究では、2-9MeV Cフラーレンイオンを照射したダイヤモンドにおいて、初めてイオントラックが観察された。高分解能電子顕微鏡による観察により、イオントラックの内部がアモルファス化していることが示唆され、さらに、電子エネルギー損失分光法による分析によって、グラファイト由来の-結合の信号が検知された。分子動力学法に基づく計算シミュレーションで、上記の実験結果を再現することに成功した。

Structural changes of polystyrene particles in subcritical and supercritical water revealed by in situ small-angle neutron scattering

柴田 基樹*; 中西 洋平*; 阿部 淳*; 有馬 寛*; 岩瀬 裕希*; 柴山 充弘*; 元川 竜平; 熊田 高之; 高田 慎一; 山本 勝宏*; et al.

Polymer Journal, 55(11), p.1165 - 1170, 2023/11

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41428-023-00817-1

Marine ecosystem degradation due to micro plastics is a significant environmental problem, as acknowledged by Sustainable Development Goal 14. Decomposition of plastics using near critical or supercritical water is one of the promising methods to reduce micro plastics. To attain the optimization of the method for improving environmental friendliness, it is necessary to clarify the structural change of materials during the process. We, thus, investigated the decomposition processes of polystyrene particles dispersed in deuterated water (DO) during heating under near critical or supercritical conditions by using in situ small-angle neutron scattering. Under subcritical conditions, the PS particles were swollen by DO due to increased compatibility with temperature. Near the critical point in subcritical conditions, the cleavage of PS chains in the particles occurred, so that the swollen ratio was much enhanced though the PS particles kept their shapes. In a supercritical condition, the PS particles were degraded into oil including oligomers or monomers and the phase-separated structures with styrene-rich and DO-rich regions.

核燃料再処理施設におけるグローブボックス用グローブの物性調査; 定期交換したグローブの物性と使用可能年数の推測

山本 昌彦; 西田 直樹; 小林 大輔; 根本 良*; 林 宏幸*; 北尾 貴彦; 久野 剛彦

JAEA-Technology 2023-004, 30 Pages, 2023/06

JAEA-Technology-2023-004.pdf:1.94MB

日本原子力研究開発機構の東海再処理施設において核燃料物質の取り扱いに使用するグローブボックス用グローブ(以下、「グローブ」という。)は、内部規則にて使用期限が定められており、グローブボックスに取り付け後、異常の有無に係わらず最長4年で交換している。一方、グローブの材質は合成ゴムであることから、使用環境(使用頻度、薬品、放射線量等)によってその劣化度合は異なる。そこで、本件では使用環境毎にグローブを分類し、その物性値を測定すること等により、グローブの劣化状況に応じた使用可能年数の技術的評価手法を確立するとともに、グローブの使用可能な年数を推測した。外観上の異常もなく定期交換したグローブについて、測定した物性値は、新品のグローブの納品時に確認している受入基準値を満足し、新品のグローブと同等の物理的特性を有していることが分かった。このため、使用期限を迎えたこれらグローブは、新品のグローブの最長使用年数である4年を追加した合計8年間の使用が可能であると考えられた。また、グローブの物性値と使用年数をプロットして外挿線を作成した結果、使用年数8年における物性値は、過去にグローブの破損等が報告されている物性値よりも安全側の値を示し、非管理区域の倉庫にて8年及び23年間保管した長期保管グローブの物性値と有意な差は見られなかった。これらより、東海再処理施設におけるグローブの最長使用年数は8年と設定した。なお、グローブの点検頻度、項目は従来の実施内容から変更せず、異常が確認されれば使用年数に関係なく速やかに交換される管理であることから、使用年数を8年に延長した場合でもグローブ使用に伴う安全性の低下(リスクの上昇)は生じない。また、使用年数の延長に伴い、グローブの購入費、グローブ交換等の作業労力、廃棄物発生量を従来よりもそれぞれ約4割低減させることができ、定期のグローブ交換に伴う汚染発生のリスク、作業者の被ばくのリスクも低減され、グローブ管理の効率化・合理化が図られた。

Ferromagnetic crossover within the ferromagnetic order of UTe

Opletal, P.; 酒井 宏典; 芳賀 芳範; 常盤 欣文; 山本 悦嗣; 神戸 振作; 徳永 陽

Journal of the Physical Society of Japan, 92(3), p.034704_1 - 034704_5, 2023/03

https://doi.org/10.7566/JPSJ.92.034704

UTeの単結晶の物理的性質を調べた。UTeが3つの非等価な結晶ウランサイトを持つ六方晶構造を持つことを確認した。常磁性モーメントは、すべてのサイトで一様なモーメントを仮定すると、ウランサイトあたり約1と推定される。強磁性相転移は=48Kで発生し、面内磁化は急激に増加するが、面外成分はあまり増加しない。磁場冷却条件下で温度がさらに以下に低下すると、面外成分はT=26K付近で急激に増加する。対照的に、T付近で面内成分はほとんど変化しない。比熱測定では、T付近に型の異常がないことが示されているため、これらの振る舞いは、秩序した磁気モーメントの再配向、もしくは複数のウランサイトの連続した逐次磁気転移を示唆している。

Japanese Evaluated Nuclear Data Library version 5; JENDL-5

岩本 修; 岩本 信之; 国枝 賢; 湊 太志; 中山 梓介; 安部 豊*; 椿原 康介*; 奥村 森*; 石塚 知香子*; 吉田 正*; et al.

Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology, 60(1), p.1 - 60, 2023/01

https://doi.org/10.1080/00223131.2022.2141903

The fifth version of Japanese Evaluated Nuclear Data Library, JENDL-5, was developed. JENDL-5 aimed to meet a variety of needs not only from nuclear reactors but also from other applications such as accelerators. Most of the JENDL special purpose files published so far were integrated into JENDL-5 with revisions. JENDL-5 consists of 11 sublibraries: (1) Neutron, (2) Thermal scattering law, (3) Fission product yield, (4) Decay data, (5) Proton, (6) Deuteron, (7) Alpha-particle, (8) Photonuclear, (9) Photo-atomic, (10) Electro-atomic, and (11) Atomic relaxation. The neutron reaction data for a large number of nuclei in JENDL-4.0 were updated ranging from light to heavy ones, including major and minor actinides which affect nuclear reactor calculations. In addition, the number of nuclei of neutron reaction data stored in JENDL-5 was largely increased; the neutron data covered not only all of naturally existing nuclei but also their neighbor ones with half-lives longer than 1 day. JENDL-5 included the originally evaluated data of thermal scattering law and fission product yield for the first time. Light charged-particle and photon induced reaction data were also included for the first time as the JENDL general purpose file.