Electrocatalysis of chlorine evolution on different materials and its influence on the performance of an electrochemical reactor for indirect oxidation of pollutants

Two different Ti/Pt–Ir materials (commercial and home made) and Ti/PdO + Co₃O₄ were investigated for their electrocatalytic properties versus Cl₂ evolution reaction. The materials were used in a batch electrochemical reactor to treat biologically recalcitrant di-azo compound. An electrochemically driven oxidation, mediated by a Cl₂/Cl⁻ couple, proved efficient for destruction of this complex organic molecule, causing cleavage of the conjugated double bonds and destruction of unsatured bonds. Both Ti/Pt–Ir materials performed well; lower kinetics obtained with the Ti/PdO + Co₃O₄ anode was caused by adsorption of the model compound, evidenced in preliminary voltammetric measurements. The dye oxidation reaction followed the second order kinetics with partial orders in the model compound and (time varying) chlorine concentrations equal to one. Specific energy consumption of 3.12 kWh m⁻³ proved the process more economic than the homogeneous phase oxidation.     

The focusing magnetic resonance system with a new type of supersonic atomic beam source

A focusing magnetic resonance system (MRS) with a new type of supersonic atomic - and molecular - beam source is suggested. The beam sources used in the MRS are discussed and the main operation principles of the suggested supersonic beam source as well as the advantages of this type of source over the rest are shown. An optimization procedure for the magnetic resonance system with the effect of the finite source size taken into account is considered. Numerical results are given and analyzed. The MRS with the new type of beam source possesses higher transmission with low background and is simpler and cheeper in construction as compared to the conventional systems.     

Counterface topographical effects on the wear of polyetheretherketone and a polyetheretherketone-carbon fiber composite

The unlubricated sliding wear behavior of non-reinforced polyetheretherketone (PEEK) and a PEEK-carbon fiber (PEEK-C_f) composite was investigated under lightly loaded conditions against mild steel counterfaces. The results showed the occurrence of a relative minimum in wear for the non-reinforced PEEK-mild steel system, resulting from interfacial film formation. In addition, the wear particle morphology changed substantially as the counterface became rougher. For PEEK on abraded mild steel, attempts were made to correlate the wear rate with the average asperity radius model of Hollander and Lancaster. The PEEK-C_f composite, when compared under similar experimental conditions, also displayed a relative minimum in wear; however, it occurred against rougher counterfaces compared with those corresponding to the non-reinforced PEEK. In this case, the relative wear and transferred wear debris morphology reflected the addition of the carbon fibers.     

A new method for the electro-optical measuring of fast high voltage pulses

This report describes a new method for measuring fast high voltage electric pulses based on one particular application of the Kerr effect. This work was carried out in order to further the development of optical particle detectors. At the present time with our method, the minimum risetime of the measured pulse reaches the nanosecond domain while the maximum voltage is limited only by the physical dimension of the electro-optical transducer.The measuring principle chosen requires a new calibration method in order to reconstruct the observed signal.The use of nitrobenzol as the active liquid allows the continuous modification of the cell sensitivity over a ratio of 1 to 3 without changing the geometry of the cell.     

System Operational Evaluation of Mine Monitoring Systems

In the testing of mine monitoring systems, a software package was developed for the mine monitoring test facility designed at West Virginia University. The software establishes delay times of sensor input to annunciation for single alarms and multiple simultaneous alarms. The alarm measurement techniques for the test fixture are described, as is the software developed to analyze and graph monitoring system response data. Also included is the analysis capability of the facility, the criteria for evaluating mine monitoring systems, and typical test data from a sample system.     

Structure observations by high-resolution electron microscopy of Ni-B melt-spun alloys (B<30 at%)

The microstructure of a series of Ni-B alloys (15 at%3B phase (a=0.44 nm,b=0.52 nm,c=0.66 nm) is expected. High-resolution electron microscopy images of Ni-25 at% B rapidly quenched indicate that a two-phase structure is observed. A metastable phase is observed with a periodicity of 1.0 nm. HREM images and EELS analyses led us to propose the structure of this metastable phase. This phase (Ni₅B₂) is correlated with the monoclinic Hägg carbide Fe₅C₂. Depending on the velocity of the substrate and on the boron concentration, a variety of microstructures has been observed from a faulted to a semi-amorphous structure. The structures are related to the solidification behaviour and the heat flow in the undercooled melt. Particular attention was paid to the eutectic Ni-Ni₃B composition.     

Interfacial strength and chemistry of additive-free silicon nitride ceramics brazed with aluminium

Two kinds of additive-free silicon nitride ceramics were brazed with aluminium; one was with as-ground faying surfaces and the other was with faying surfaces heat-treated at 1073K for 1.8 ksec in air. The heat-treatment of the silicon nitride ceramics formed a silicon oxynitride layer on the faying surfaces and increased the brazing strength of the joints. A silica-alumina non-crystalline layer and a β′-sialon layer were formed successively from the aluminium side at the interface of the joints. The heat-treatment which made the former layer thicker is a necessary process in making reliable, strong brazed joints.     

Grain boundary resistivity in Y-TZP materials as a function of thermal history

Grain-boundary resistivity in yttria-containing tetragonal zirconia polycrystalline (Y-TZP) materials dominates the total resistivity. Impedance measurements combined with microstructural studies suggest that post-sintering heat treatments (in particular the cooling rate) influence the location of the grain-boundary phase which, in turn, has a significant effect on the grain-boundary resistivity. Higher cooling rates from the sintering temperature lead to reduction in the grain-boundary resistivity. In both alumina-containing and relatively pure tetragonal zirconia polycrystals, post-sintering heat treatments have a less conspicuous effect. The activation energy associated with the grain-boundary resistivity was independent of the post-sintering heat treatments but was 25 to 30 kJ mol^–1 higher than that for the oxygen-ion conduction within the grains at low temperatures.