Strength properties of polymer mortar panels using methyl methacrylate solution of waste expanded polystyrene as binder

The present study examines the applicability of polymermortarpanels using a methylmethacrylate (MMA) solution of wasteexpandedpolystyrene (EPS) to develop effective recycling processes for the EPS, referring to the strengthproperties of a polymer-impregnated mortarpanel with almost the same performance as commercial products. An MMA solution of EPS is prepared by dissolving EPS in MMA, and unreinforced and steel fiber-reinforced polymermortars are mixed using the EPS-MMA-based solution as a liquid resin or binder. Polymermortarpanels (PMPs) using the EPS-MMA-based polymermortars without and with steel fiber and crimped wire cloth reinforcements and steel fiber-reinforced polymer-impregnated mortarpanel (PIMP) are prepared on trial, and tested for flexural behavior under four-point loading. The EPS-MMA-based PMPs are more ductile than the PIMP, and have a high load-bearing capacity. Consequently, they can replace PIMP in practical applications

Single crystal growth and anisotropy of CeRuPO

We report on the single crystal growth of the ferromagnetic Kondo lattice system CeRuPO using a Sn flux method. Magnetic susceptibility and electrical resistivity measurements indicate strong anisotropy of this structurally layered compound. They evidence that the magnetic moments order ferromagnetically along the c-direction of the tetragonal unit cell, whereas the crystal electric field (CEF) anisotropy favors the ab-plane. Therefore, CeRuPO presents the unusual case within rare earth systems, where the anisotropy of the interionic exchange interaction overcomes the single ion anisotropy due to the CEF interaction.Comment: 13 pages, 7 figures, high quality figures: http://www.cpfs.mpg.de/~krellner

Recent Status of Research and Development of Concrete-Polymer Composites in Japan

The present paper reviews the recent status of research and development activities of concrete-polymer composites such as polymer-modified concrete (mortar), polymer concrete (mortar) and polymer-impregnated concrete (mortar) in the Japanese construction industry. Polymer-modified concrete (mortar) comprise of repair systems for deteriorated reinforced concrete structures, strengthening (or retrofitting) methods and exfoliation (or delamination) prevention methods for existing reinforced concrete structures, liquid-applied membrane waterproofing systems, advanced polymeric admixtures such as high-grade redispersible polymer powders and  hardener-free epoxy resins, intelligent repair materials, application of accelerated curings, semiflexible pavements, and drainage pavements with photocatalyst. Polymer mortar and concrete are related to new liquid resins, setting shrinkage control, thermal properties and temperature dependence, lightweight or porous polymer mortars and concretes, artificial marble products and precast products. The polymer-impregnated mortar and concrete are mainly concerned with field polymer impregnation techniques using silane-based barrier penetrants

Molecular clouds towards RCW 49 and Westerlund 2; Evidence for cluster formation triggered by cloud-cloud collision

We have made CO(J=2-1) observations towards the HII region RCW 49 and its ionizing source, the rich stellar cluster Westerlund 2 (hereafter Wd2), with the NANTEN2 sub-mm telescope. These observations have revealed that two molecular clouds in velocity ranges of -11 to +9 km/s and 11 to 21 km/s respectively, show remarkably good spatial correlations with the Spitzer IRAC mid-infrared image of RCW 49, as well a velocity structures indicative of localized expansion around the bright central regions and stellar cluster. This strongly argues that the two clouds are physically associated with RCW 49. We obtain a new kinematic distance estimate to RCW 49 and Wd2 of 5.4^{+ 1.1}_{- 1.4} kpc, based on the mean velocity and velocity spread of the associated gas. We argue that acceleration of the gas by stellar winds from Wd2 is insufficient to explain the entire observed velocity dispersion of the molecular gas, and suggest a scenario in which a collision between the two clouds ~4 Myrs ago may have triggered the formation of the stellar cluster.Comment: A version with higher resolution figures is available from http://www.a.phys.nagoya-u.ac.jp/~naoko/research/apjl2009/fur09_rev_highreso.pd