< .science >
I was actually able to follow along! His PhD explored and compared the stiffness and electrical conductivity of silicate clay nanocomposites, which was really cool because the papers he referenced for his background (these awesome people at Toyota) were the same ones I used to write a paper on this subject for my polymers class last year.
Basically silicates are layered structures with layers which allow proton exchange, which is promising for conductivity applications. He explored different clays and polymers, and the effect of processing temperature on each combination in terms of modulus. He also cleared up for me something I had been wondering for a long while (but which Professor Wagner asked before I got a chance): the definition of intercalated silicate layers. Nanoclay clumps aren't useful; complete exfoliation occurs when clay layers are separated by multiple polymer chains and no longer really retain periodicity. Intercalation, however, happens somewhere in the middle and has always seemed to me like a fuzzy definition. But according to Patro, it is a periodic structure with at least 5 layers where the period is larger than that in the original clay. I learned something! Which was good because by the end of the talk I was in way over my head.
< / science >
So that was the morning, mostly. I also got on the computer and processed all of the single-wall and half of the double-wall nanotube TEM images, then went for a quick lunch with XiaoMeng. We ran into Joel at the cafeteria, but refused to move and made him come to us :)
After lunch, I prepared some more TEM samples, then at 3:30 went to Charlie's (a dairy cafeteria on campus) for a meeting with Greta and the other kids in the program. It was great to meet everyone! I knew about half of the people from chilling in the basement, but some I had seen but not introduced myself to. We are fruit and pastry thingies and chatted until we all realized we should probably go back to work. I returned around 5 and worked for a solid hour and a half before leaving.
When I got back, I burned a CD of music for Nitzan, then went to wait for him to pick us up at 7:20 to go climbing. Us was Nitzan, me, Ran, the Australian dude Dave, and a German girl named Nina (who is new to rock climbing). This week we went to the bouldering place in Tel Aviv.
It. Was. Gorgeous. The holds were wonderful; rough, not sticky, clean. The routes ranged in difficulty from V0 to V6, and the map which showed them gave the rating and color, most of which I could read! There was a cave in the corner. I knocked off all the V0s and a few V1s while giving Nina a few tips. She was really good, and I think she wants to come climbing again.
We climbed until just before 10, when the place closes. I didn't want to leave, which Dave said meant I didn't climb hard enough. I didn't. I could have climbed for another 2 hours. I love this place! Nitzan was like, "I mean, bouldering is fun, but it's not climbing." And I was like, "But it's my favorite! It's like candy!" And he goes, "Exactly. It's like candy. But it's not food." Looks like they're still gonna teach me to lead next time we go back to the other place, which should be a lot of fun.
Got back to Rehovot then grabbed a burger with Dave, because neither of us had eaten in a while. We watched a soccer game which was going on and discussed his love of extreme sports (adventure racing, kayak water polo, etc), then returned to the dorm.
I chilled in the kitchen, blogging and beginning to work on my hebrew! I am borrowing Stephen's copy of a workbook thingie until mine arrives. It should be good.
The bouldering gym is pictured below; the guy in the cave is Ran. I am off to work. Enjoy!
2 comments:
hahahah, the < science> < / science > tags make me laugh. And of course I have no idea what you said between them...
wowwwww that place is cool.
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