Taisuke Hayashi

The fibril structure of type V collagen triple-helical domain

Although the triple-helical structure of fibrillar collagen is regarded in general as being quite similar, each type of collagen molecule has inherent characteristics in the triple-helical domain. Few studies have ever been performed in terms of the aggregate structure of the triple-helical domain of fibrillar collagen. Reconstituted aggregates from the purified triple-helical domain of each type of fibrillar collagen might amplify the subtle differences in the structural characteristics of each type of collagen molecule. In this study, the reconstituted aggregate structure of pepsin-treated type V collagen (type Vp collagen), that is, virtually its triple-helical domain was characterized by transmission electron microscopy. Pepsin-treated type I (type Ip) and type II (type IIp) collagen were compared with type Vp collagen. Unique features of the aggregate structure of the triple-helical domain of the type V collagen can be summarized as follows:These results suggested that the lateral packing of the triple-helical domain of type V collagen is determined by its molecular structure. The characteristics of type Vp collagen fibrils might be explained by their characteristic amino acid composition. A significant feature of the triple-helical domain of type V collagen is the high content of glycosylated hydroxylysine residues. Molecular model building of the collagenous structure suggests that a change in surface roughness is conspicuous by incorporating the glycosylated hydroxylysine residues. More than a ten-fold content of bulky glycosylated hydroxylysine residues in type V collagen compared to that of type I might have a significant influence on both the intermolecular and interfibrillar interactions of the triple-helical domain of type V collagen molecule.

Effect of Titanium Carbide Inclusions on Morphology of Low-Carbon Steel Martensite

The effect of titanium carbide (TiC) on morphology of low-carbon steel martensite was studied by means of electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD). The nucleation and growth of new morphology subunits such as packet, block and sub-block are observed in the area surrounding of micron-sized TiC particles. The misorientation from a fitted orientation relationship between martensite and austenite near TiC particle is larger than the average misorientation with a localized characteristic. The position of new morphology subunits has a well correspondence with the area in vicinity of TiC particle, which has large misorientation. The micron-sized TiC particle plays a role of stress concentrator in austenite during martensitic transformation which suppresses growth of one martensite variant while stimulates nucleation and growth of another one.

Elastic and Thermal Expansion Anisotropy of Mo-Based 5-3 Silicides

Single crystals of (Mo0.8Nb0.2)5Si3, (Mo0.85W0.15)5Si3 and Mo5Si3 were grown and their thermal expansion along the a- and c-axes and single crystalline elastic property were investigated. An anisotropy ratio of coefficient of thermal expansion (ac/aa) is lower for (Mo0.8Nb0.2)5Si3, and higher for (Mo0.85W0.15)5Si3 at RT than that for Mo5Si3. However, the ac/aa for (Mo0.8Nb0.2)5Si3 increases with increasing temperature and the ac/aa of the three compounds is similar at 800°C. The values of isotropic average Young’s (E), bulk (K) and shear (G) moduli for (Mo0.8Nb0.2)5Si3 is the lowest and those for (Mo0.85W0.15)5Si3 is the highest in the three compounds. On the other hand, the difference of E between [100] and [001] increases when partial substitution of Mo by Nb occurs and it decreases when partial substitution of Mo by W occurs. Simply compared with the results of thermal expansion anisotropy, the result shows opposite tendency.

Three-Dimensional Approach to Observing Growth of Blocks and Packets in Fe-18Ni Maraging Steel

The present study aims to clarify the development of blocks and packets in lath martensite in Fe–18Ni maraging steel using three-dimensional observations. The specimens were step-quenched in order to clarify the sequential development of the three-dimensional morphology in a prior austenite grain. In a prior austenite grain, we found that five independent packets formed during the early stage of martensitic transformation. Four of the packets exist along the prior austenite grain boundaries and one packet grows from the boundary edge into the prior austenite grain. Each packet consists of a single block, although the fraction of martensitic transformation is 50.6%. The observed rules of the block-selection are as follows: (1) the blocks have near Kurdjumov–Sachs orientation relationship with adjacent austenite grains and elongated directions of the laths are parallel to adjacent grain boundaries and (2) transformation shear directions of the laths are parallel to adjacent grain boundaries.

Study of Metallurgy and Mechanical Property on Japanese Sword

Japanese sword has finer grain size and lath martensite in the microstructure of sharp edge amazingly. Nowadays these structures are considered to be one of the ideal structure at which are greatly aimed to strengthen or improve toughness of steels. Though the carbon content of its sharp edge is 0.70 mass %, there are no lenticular martensite and no micocracking in that area. As a result of bending test by actual sword specimen, one sword was finally bent, the other sword was broken. However it is found the sharp edge in Japanese sword has such a large bending strength 2500, 4600MPa respectively as modern, high performance tool steels and the difference of crack propagation under bending depends on the microstructure distribution and the grain size in cross section of Japanese sword.

Dielectric effect induced by the barrier layers in Ni-doped KTaO3

A dielectric constant of over 100 000, with dielectric loss of less than 0.1, was found in 1.0 mol. % Ni-doped KTaO3 (KT:1%Ni) single crystals, showing temperature and frequency stabilities favorable for capacitor applications. The dielectric constant was found to depend on the electrode material, and Ag electrodes markedly enhanced the dielectric properties. This result indicates that the giant effective dielectric constant is due to a non-Ohmic electrode contact with a semiconducting KT:1%Ni.

Three-dimensional observations of morphology of low-angle boundaries in ultra-low carbon lath martensite

The lath martensite structure contains hierarchical substructures, such as blocks, packets and prior austenite grains. Generally, high-angle grain boundaries in the lath martensite structure, i.e. block boundaries, are correlated to mechanical properties. On the other hand, low-angle grain boundaries play an important role in morphological development. However, it is difficult to understand their nature because of the difficulty associated with the characterization of the complex morphologies by two-dimensional techniques. This study aims to identify the morphologies of low-angle boundaries in ultra-low carbon lath martensite. A serial-sectioning method and electron backscatter diffraction analysis are utilized to reconstruct three-dimensional objects and analyse their grain boundaries. A packet comprizes two low-angle grain boundaries - sub-block and fine packet boundaries. Sub-blocks exhibit porous morphology, with two large sub-blocks predominantly occupying a block. Several fine packets with different habit planes from the surrounding regions are observed. Fine packets are present in blocks, which frequently share a close-packed direction with the neighbouring fine packets. In addition, fine packets are in contact with the sub-block boundaries.

Zeta potential measurements for determining polarization of ZnO films

We have investigated zeta potential measurements in order to estimate the polarization of zinc oxide (ZnO) and found that the sign and time dependence of zeta potential for ZnO{0001} wafers depend on their polarity, which is caused by an accumulation and a chemisorption of H+ or OH− counterions. The −c polarity of ZnO films on both Al2O3 and (0001) substrates was confirmed by zeta potential measurements. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and reflection high energy electron diffraction (RHEED) showed that the zeta measurements do not significantly degrade the film structure and surface morphology. These results should allow for the non-destructive determination of polarity at a lower cost and with a more understandable profile than that determined by conventional physical methods.