CRYSTALLIZATION KINETICS OF SYNDIOTACTIC POLYPROPYLENE STUDIED BY TIME-DEPENDENT LIGHT ATTENUATION

Crystallization kinetics of syndiotactic polypropylene(sPP)was observed by light attenuation measurements. The initial stages of temperature dependent sPP crystallization fall in the range of Rayleigh scattering and Rayleigh-Debye- Gans scattering.Initial time and growth time of crystallization were obtained,and the trend of crystallization temperature dependent linear attenuation coefficient on the radius and the index of the refraction of the spherulite were evaluated.

Light attenuation cross-section of black carbon in an urban atmosphere in northern China

Fine particulate matter （PM2.5） samples were collected over two years in Xi＇an, China to investigate the relationships between the aerosol composition and the light absorption efficiency of black carbon （BC）. Real-time light attenuation of BC at 880 nm was measured with an aethalometer. The mass concentrations and elemental carbon （EC） contents of PM2.5 were obtained, and light attenuation cross-sections （σATN） of PM2.5 BC were derived. The mass of EC contributed -5% to PM2.5 on average. BC σATN exhibited pronounced seasonal variability with values averaging 18.6, 24.2,16.4, and 26.0 m^2/g for the spring, summer, autumn, and winter, respectively, while averaging 23.0 m^2/g overall. σATN varied inversely with the ratios of EC/PM2.5, EC/[SO4^2- ], and EC/[NO3-]. This study of the variability in σATN illustrates the complexity of the interactions among the aerosol constituents in northern China and documents certain effects of the high EC, dust, sulfate and nitrate loadings on light attenuation.

Attenuation characteristics of a light attenuator combined by polarizers with different extinction ratios

This paper deals with a systematical analysis and an algorithm of attenuation characteristics of a light attenuator combined by n pieces of polarizers （n-LACP） whose extinction ratios are different from each other. The attenuation ratio expression of a two-LACP is deduced. We find that the monotonic attenuation interval depends on the first polarizer and that the attenuation range depends on the second one. For the three-LACP, a method for obtaining a monotonic attenuation interval is proposed. Moreover, the attenuation ratio expression is demonstrated. Analysis and experiment show that when the initial status of the three-LACP is at the maximum output, if the second or third polarizer rotates alone, the minimum attenuation ratios can reach K2^-1 and K3^-1, respectively, and if the first polarizer rotates, a minimum attenuation ratio of K2^-1K3^-1 can be obtained （K1, K2 and K3 represent the extinction ratios of the three polarizers in turn）. Furthermore, the attenuation ratio expression of n-LACP and the relevant attenuation characteristics are proposed. The minimum attenuation ratio of an n-LACP is （K2K3 ... Kn）-1.

Tracking leaf area index and coefficient of light extinction over the harvesting cycle of black wattle

The amount of photosynthetic radiation inter- cepted by a crop is a function of the incident solar radiation on the plants, the leaf area index （LAI）, and the light extinction coefficient （k）. We quantified LAI and k in stands of black wattle （Acacia mearnsii De Wild.） over a 7-year growth cycle at two locations in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Our study was conducted in commercial stands in agroecological regions with high densities of black wattle plantations. LAI was calculated as the ratio between the leaf area of a tree and its planting space, and k was derived from Beer＇s law. LAI depends on the planting site and stand age. Between the two sites, the LAI was similar over time, the amount of variation differed. Values of k depended only on stand age, with the highest average observed for stands up to 5 years old. The trend of k during the plantation cycle was inversely proportional to LAI and was correlated with LAI, leaf area, leaf dry mass, canopy volume, height, branches dry mass, total dry mass, and crown diameter.

Sensors for control of water transparency in optical and microwave ranges

In the face of deteriorating environmental conditions in the world,water quality control is an urgent task.It can be solved by creating sensors with high accuracy and low cost,which requires the development of fundamentally new radiophysical methods that take advantage of the optical,microwave and millimeter wavelengths that have a significantly greater sensitivity to low concentrations of pollutants and a lower inertia.The article presents prototypes of measuring cells of the microwave and optical ranges as well as the results of an experimental study of water of various degrees of pollution with their help.The results show that the use of the highly sensitive method of capillary-waveguide resonance makes it possible to detect the presence of micro impurities in water with concentrations up to0.1%and to identify water even from sources of various natural origins.In addition,the use of measurements at several frequencies in the optical range will make it possible to solve the problem of creating water control sensors with high sensitivity to pollution and low cost.It can be concluded that the possibility of complex use of multiwave sensors(optical,infrared and microwave ranges)allows to increase the sensitivity and reliability of water quality assessment.

Secchi Disc and Lago de la Repubfica, Eastern Paraguay

The Secchi disc is used to obtain the water transparency D and a value for the attenuation coefficient Kt according to Kt = Cx.D1 where C is a factor estimated supposedly as a constant. Lago de la Republica, a small reservoir seated on basaltic residual soil laterites rich in secondary sesquioxides of Fe, AI, etc of the Alto Parana Formation, after rainfalls incorporates significant amount of sediments rich in iron compounds easily hydrolyzed to produce colloidal hydrated ferric oxides. After some heavy rainfalls, advantage was taken to look for the effect of such compounds onto transparency and light attenuation coefficient of the lake water and their relationship.

Significant broadband extinction abilities of bioaerosols

Bioaerosol, an important constituent of the atmosphere, can directly affect light radiation characteristics due to absorption and scattering effects. Current research lacks a reasonable explanation for the extinction abilities of bioaerosols in a broadband. Herein, we measured the reflectance spectra of 12 com m on biomaterials and calculated their complex refractive indexes. The peaks of the imaginary part of the complex refractive indexes are located at wavelengths of approximately 0.7, 2.7, 6.1 and 9.5μm. Based on photographs of the floating structures of bioaerosols, we constructed a model for calculating the extinction abilities of bioaerosols in the wavelength range of 240 nm to 14 (im. Taking AN02 spores as an example, absorption was found to account for more than 90% of the total extinction. In addition, the theoretical calculations and experimental data of transmittance corresponding to the smoke box show that bioaerosol exhibits significant broadband extinction ability from UV to IR bands, which provides new directions for the development of broadband light attenuation materials.

Quantification of particle separation using electrostatically charged spray mist in a dust chamber

In order to improve the efficiency of reducing fine dust emissions from diffuse sources,the commonly used water mist can be electrostatically charged.Thus,the attraction between particles and droplets increases due to electrostatic field forces.In the experimental investigations carried out,an electrostatic two-fluid nozzle was used to generate a charged spray mist according to the principle of charging by induction.In a chamber,dispersed dust was precipitated with the spray mist,while detecting the laser light attenuation.By means of comparative measurements it could be shown that faster sedimentation and separation takes place through electrostatic attraction.Parameter variations regarding the use of compressed air and water were investigated and the sedimentation time of the particle-droplet mixture in the chamber was shown.A size distribution was then calculated from the laser light attenuation,which shows that the proportion of small particles decreases with spray application.Furthermore,the influence of the polarity of droplets and solid particles on the reduction measure was determined.

Fast calibration methods using cosmic rays for a neutron detection array

An overall irradiation and calibration technique was introduced and applied to a test scintillation detector array. An integral conversion method was used to reduce the nonlinearity of the time difference spectrum, and to improve the position determination especially for positions close to the two ends of a long scintillation bar. An overall position resolution of about 3.0 cm （FWHM） was extracted from the residual analysis method and verified by a direct measurement. Energy calibration was also realized by selecting cosmic rays at different incident angles. The bulk light attenuation lengths for the four test bars were also determined. It is demonstrated that these methods are especially efficient for calibrating large and complex detector arrays