Twin-Related Tetragonal Variants in Yttria Partially Stabilized Zirconia

Crystals of yttria partially stabilized zirconia were grown by the arc-image floating-zone technique and studied by transmission electron microscopy. Crystals annealed at 1700°C consist of tetragonal precipitates and a cubic matrix. The platelike domains in a precipitate are twin-related tetragonal variants stacked alternately parallel to the (011) twin plane. The axial relations between the tetragonal precipitate and the cubic matrix are [100]_tetragonal|[100]_cubic, [011]_tetragonal|[011]_cubic.     

Electrical resistivity and Seebeck coefficient of La1−x M x MnO3 (M = Ca,Sr) single crystals

The temperature dependence of the electrical resistivity and Seebeck coefficient was measured on single crystals of La_1–x Ca _x MnO₃(0 <x 0.3) and La_1–x Sr _x MnO 3 (0 <x 0.4) grown by the arc-image floating zone method. The electrical conduction for La_1–x crystals withx 0.2 was of the activation type aboveT _c and of the degenerate type belowT _c, while that for the crystal withx = 0.1 was of the activation type over the whole measured temperature range between –170 and 400°C. The conduction behaviour of La_{1– x} Sr _x MnO₃ was essentially the same as that of La_1–x Ca _x MnO₃ except that the conduction of the crystals withx = 0.3 and 0.4 was of the degenerate type aboveT _c. A distinct difference in Seebeck data was observed between the calcium and the strontium compounds.     

Effect of Silicon Dioxide on the Thermal Diffusivity of Aluminum Nitride Ceramics

The thermal diffusivity of AlN ceramics was significantly decreased by the addition of SiO₂. The AlN ceramics with 4 wt% SiO₂ could not be densified by pressureless sintering in the temperature range 1400° to 1800°C. The thermal diffusivity of these samples was very low because of their porous structure. The AlN ceramics containing 2, 4, and 8 wt% SiO₂ were densified by hot-pressing and also had low thermal diffusivity. In these samples, the grains of the 27R polytype that resulted from the reaction between AlN and SiO₂ were dispersed, obstructing the conduction of heat. The relation between the amount of 27R polytype and the thermal diffusivity of the AlN ceramics was determined.     

Predicting the Life Span of Dies Used for Soft Magnetic Core Motors

This paper describes a method of predicting the life span of the dies used in motor manufacture from soft magnetic composites (SMCs). In the present study, a clawtooth motor was used. The method involves performing a stress analysis of a die followed by fatigue testing of test pieces. In the analysis, the SMC was assumed to be in powder form and its yield function was derived by a simple method. In addition to the analysis, we describe a simpler and more effective method in which the properties of the SMC are treated as boundary conditions. In the fatigue tests, we used test pieces that simulated the shape and construction material of the die. To predict the life span of the die, we evaluate the SN diagram, which represents the relationship between the maximum stress and fatigue life with respect to the stress generated in the die. The life expectancy of a new die, which is about 100 cycles of use, is found to agree substantially with its actual life. Furthermore, we explain how to extend the life span of a die to the targeted life span, namely, more than 200,000 cycles of use, by changing its shape to reduce stress.     

Development and applications of a compact hybrid tabletop terawatt chirped-pulse amplification Ti:sapphire-Nd:glass laser for x-ray lasing and harmonic generation

A hybrid tabletop (2 m x 3 m) terawatt chirped-pulse amplification Ti:sapphire-Nd:glass laser (1054 nm, 475 fs, 500 mJ, 9 x 10(17) W cm(-2)) has been developed for laser-matter experiments. An overall gain factor of 10(10) was achieved for the laser. The results of laser applications in the studies of soft-x-ray Ni-like Mo 18.9-nm lasing and of harmonic generation from solid surfaces are presented.     

Molded micro- and mesoporous carbon/silica composite from rice husk and beet sugar

A molded carbon/silica composite with high micro- and mesoporosity, as well as a high bulk density, was fabricated by activating a disk-molded precursor made from carbonized rice husk (RH) and beet sugar (BS) at 875 °C in CO₂. The pore structure of the RH- and BS-based carbon/silica composite (RBC) was analysed in relation to the bulk density. An activation time of 2.0 h provided the largest BET specific surface area (1027 m²/g) and total pore volume (0.68 cm³/g) and a low bulk density (0.54 g/cm³). An RBC that was first activated for 1 h was immersed again in BS syrup and then activated in CO₂ for 1 h. This two-step activation process provided both a high bulk density (0.69 g/cm³) and a highly textured structure (BET specific surface area, 943 m²/g; total pore volume, 0.56 cm³/g). The immersion in BS syrup was useful for improving the texture without reducing the bulk density, in comparison to one-step activation for 1.0 h. The suspension of the RBCs was basic because of the residual inorganic compounds of potassium and calcium. However, the basicity of the suspension was alleviated by washing the RBCs with water.     

Energy efficiency and renewable energy under extreme conditions: Case studies from Antarctica

This article showcases a range of small and large scale energy efficiency and renewable energy deployments at Antarctic research stations and field camps. Due to the cold and harsh environment, significant amounts of fuel are needed to support humans working and living in Antarctica. The purchase, transportation and storage of large amounts of fossil fuel entail significant economic costs and environmental risks and have motivated developments in energy efficiency and renewable energy deployment. Over the past three decades, improved building design, behavioral change, cogeneration, solar collectors, solar panels and wind turbines have been found to be effective in Antarctica, demonstrating that harsh environmental conditions and technological barriers do not have to limit the deployment of energy efficiency and renewable energy. The ambition to run entire stations or field camps on 100% renewable energy is increasingly common and feasible. While the power requirements of Antarctic research stations are small compared to urban installations on other continents, these case studies clearly demonstrate that if energy efficiency and renewable energy can be deployed widely on the coldest, darkest and most remote continent of the world, their deployment should be more widespread and encouraged on other continents.     

Subtotal cor triatrium with left partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection--successful correction in an infant

This report concerns a 10-month-old infant with subtotal cor triatrium associated with left sided partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection to the innominate vein. In the operation, we found that the fossa ovalis existed between the right atrium and the accessory atrial chamber. We performed a radical operation which consisted of a resection of the intra-left-atrial diaphragma and a anastomosis of the vertical vein to the left atrium. His postoperative course was uneventful, and the result was satisfactory. We have presented and reviewed our case, and then discussed the embryogenesis and the hemodynamics. To our knowledge, our case represents the first successful surgical repair of this combination of defects in Japan.     

Application of an Ion-Packing Model Based on Defect Clusters to Zirconia Solid Solutions: I, Modeling and Local Structure of Solid Solutions

Oxygen vacancies can be introduced into zirconia solid solution ZrO₂–MO _u ( u = 1 and 1.5) to maintain electroneutrality. Recently, the local structures around Zr⁴⁺ and M^{2 u +} ions in ZrO₂–MO _u solid solutions have been studied through EXAFS spectroscopy, diffuse scattering analysis, and single-crystal structure analysis. The present study constructs an ion-packing model for zirconia solid solutions based on some defect cluster models. The decrease of cell volume with the occurrence of vacancies is assumed to be expressed by decreasing the coordination number (CN) of cations around the vacancy. The distribution of CNs in a solid solution was calculated from a certain defect cluster model. The average interatomic distances, the average CN, and the short-range order parameters were calculated using this distribution of CNs. The local structures calculated from the model were compared with experimental data in the systems ZrO₂–MO_1.5 (M = Y, Gd, Yb, and Ca). In the ZrO₂–YO_1.5 system, the r (s–O) interatomic distance, where s represents Zr⁴⁺ or Y³⁺ and O represents O²⁻, decreased with Y content and therefore vacancy content. The probability of finding Y³⁺ around a vacancy increases with increasing yttria content from a comparison of the calculated results with the ones from recent EXAFS studies. The present model can qualitatively explain compositional and size dependences of the dopant on various local structures.     

High-performance antireflective coatings with a porous nanoparticle layer for visible wavelengths

Ghosts and flares are well-known problems that are caused by reflections from lens surfaces when we take photographs. It is more difficult to prevent such stray light in a digital camera than in a film camera because of high reflectance from the low-pass filter and diffraction from the image sensor. To prevent such stray light, we introduce an ultralow refractive index layer into the antireflective (AR) coatings. We used the solgel method to form porous fluoride layers with ultralow refractive indices, and we succeeded in developing a unique process to form AR coatings with superior performance.