Surface Modification of Spruce and Fir Sawn-Timber by Charring in the Traditional Japanese Method-Yakisugi.

The traditional Japanese method of wood surface charring was studied. To perform the surface charring, three sawn Norway spruce and Silver fir wood boards of dimension 190 × 24 × 4000 mm3 were tied together to act as a chimney and charred in a short time (3-4 min) with open flame at a temperature above 500 °C. Temperature inside the chimney was recorded on the three different positions during the charring process. Surface temperature of spruce increased from 0 °C to 500 °C in approx. 120-300 s while fir increased in approx. 100-250 s. The thickness of the charred layer and the resulting cupping effect were investigated at the different heights of the chimney to evaluate its variability. Temperature achieved during the charring process was sufficient to get a significant charred layer of 2.5 and 4.5 mm on average for spruce and fir samples, respectively. The analyzed samples showed a significant cupping effect to the charred side with no difference between the annual ring orientation of sawn boards. Spruce exhibit a more significant cupping effect when compared to fir, i.e., 3.2-6 mm and 2.2-4.5 mm, respectively. Furthermore, the pH values of charred samples increased significantly, which could be an indication of improved resistance against wood-decay fungi. For better insight into the traditional charring method, further studies should be carried out to execute the charring process in a consistent quality and therefore fully exploit its potential.

Unconventional Antiferromagnetic Quantum Critical Point in Ba(Fe_{0.97}Cr_{0.03})_{2}(As_{1-x}P_{x})_{2}.

We have systematically studied physical properties of Ba(Fe_{0.97}Cr_{0.03})_{2}(As_{1-x}P_{x})_{2}, where superconductivity in BaFe_{2}(As_{1-x}P_{x})_{2} is fully suppressed by just 3% of Cr substitution of Fe. A quantum critical point is revealed at x∼0.42, where non-Fermi-liquid behaviors similar to those in BaFe_{2}(As_{1-x}P_{x})_{2} are observed. Neutron diffraction and inelastic neutron scattering measurements suggest that the quantum critical point is associated with the antiferromagnetic order, which is not of conventional spin-density-wave type as evidenced by the ω/T scaling of spin excitations. On the other hand, no divergence of low-temperature nematic susceptibility is observed when x is decreased to 0.42 from higher doping level, demonstrating that there are no nematic quantum critical fluctuations. Our results suggest that non-Fermi-liquid behaviors in iron-based superconductors can be solely resulted from the antiferromagnetic quantum critical fluctuations, which cast doubts on the role of nematic fluctuations played in the normal-state properties in iron-based superconductors.

Sorption-Related Characteristics of Surface Charred Spruce Wood.

Surface charring of wood is a one-sided thermal modification process that can be used to create a hydrophobic, durable surface to exterior claddings. Spruce (Picea abies L.) wood samples were charred with a hot plate and several time-temperature combinations while using simultaneous surface compression. Temperature profile, water sorption, cupping after water exposure and density profile were measured. Furthermore, changes in the microstructure and surface functional groups were investigated by scanning electron microscopy and photoacoustic FT-IR spectroscopy. Results show that surface charring notably improves the hydrophobicity measured by contact angle, water floating and dynamic vapour sorption. Increased holding time during charring reduced the sorption but at the same time increased the dimensional instability measured by cupping. The density profile showed a shifting density peak with more severe modification regimes, indicating a more porous surface. The PAS-FTIR showed increased aromaticity of the surface that was also present in the pyrolysis zone beneath the surface in samples modified with longer holding time. Higher modification temperature affected the sorption as well as cupping positively but it is possible similar results can be obtained with lower temperature and longer holding time.

Robust upward dispersion of the neutron spin resonance in the heavy fermion superconductor Ce1-xYbxCoIn5.

The neutron spin resonance is a collective magnetic excitation that appears in the unconventional copper oxide, iron pnictide and heavy fermion superconductors. Although the resonance is commonly associated with a spin-exciton due to the d(s±)-wave symmetry of the superconducting order parameter, it has also been proposed to be a magnon-like excitation appearing in the superconducting state. Here we use inelastic neutron scattering to demonstrate that the resonance in the heavy fermion superconductor Ce1-xYbxCoIn5 with x=0, 0.05 and 0.3 has a ring-like upward dispersion that is robust against Yb-doping. By comparing our experimental data with a random phase approximation calculation using the electronic structure and the momentum dependence of the -wave superconducting gap determined from scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM) for CeCoIn5, we conclude that the robust upward-dispersing resonance mode in Ce1-xYbxCoIn5 is inconsistent with the downward dispersion predicted within the spin-exciton scenario.