Optical Properties of Ca3Ga2Ge4O14 Crystals

The optical absorption, induced-absorption, luminescence, and excitation spectra and temperature-dependent luminescence intensity of thermochemically colored Ca₃Ga₂Ge₄O₁₄ crystals were measured. The results indicate that the induced-absorption bands at 34000–28000 and 28000–20000 cm^–1 and the emission band at 14800 cm^–1 are related to F-centers.     

Viscosity of the Grain-Boundary Phase and Sintering of TiB2-Modified Alumina

A model is proposed for the sintering of powders via the sliding of particles facilitated by a grain-boundary phase. Data on the initial-stage sintering kinetics of TiB₂-modified alumina are used to assess the temperature-dependent viscosity of the grain-boundary phase, formed by Al₂O₃, oxidation products of TiB₂, and impurities present on the surface of alumina particles. In the range 1570–1620 K, the temperature variation of viscosity is fitted well by the expression 25.9exp(143308/RT).     

Barium–Strontium and Nickel–Cobalt Solid-State Interdiffusion between Hexagonal W-Ferrites BaM2Fe16O27and SrM2Fe16O27 (M = Ni2+, Co2+)

The Ni, Co, Ba, and Sr profiles in the diffusion zones produced between hexagonal W-ferrites (BaCo₂Fe₁₆O₂₇/BaNi₂Fe₁₆O₂₇, SrCo₂Fe₁₆O₂₇/SrNi₂Fe₁₆O₂₇, SrCo₂Fe₁₆O₂₇/BaCo₂Fe₁₆O₂₇, and SrCo₂Fe₁₆O₂₇/BaNi₂Fe₁₆O₂₇) by annealing at 1520 K were used to evaluate the interdiffusion coefficients of the cations involved by the Boltzmann–Matano method over the whole composition range.     

Coherent Brillouin Spectroscopy in Solid Parahydrogen

We applied coherent Brillouin spectroscopy to solid parahydrogen, and measured the Brillouin spectra of longitudinal acoustic modes at 5.6K. It was found that the linewidth of these spectra is 1.5MHz. From the observed Brillouin shift and the crystal orientation, the elastic stiffness was determined as C ₁₁=0.355±0.016GPa and C ₃₃=0.432±0.022GPa.     

Densities of Sulfur Hexafluoride and Dinitrogen Monoxide over a Wide Temperature and Pressure Range in the Sub- and Supercritical States

Densities of sulfur hexafluoride (SF₆) and dinitrogen monoxide (N₂O) have been measured with a fully computer-controlled high-temperature high-pressure vibrating tube densimeter system in the sub- and supercritical states. The uncertainty in density measurement was estimated to be between ±0.2 and ±0.3kg·m^–3 depending on the temperature. With respect to accuracy, reliability, suitability, and time consumption, this system has significant advantages for measuring PT properties in the compressed liquid and supercritical states. The densities were measured for temperatures from 273 to 623K and at pressures up to 30MPa for SF₆ (442 data points) and from 273 to 473K and up to 40MPa for N₂O (251 data points), which encompassed density ranges between 142.9 and 1778.5kg·m^–3 for SF₆ and between 124.4 and 1051.1kg·m^–3 for N₂O. Furthermore, the liquid densities of SF₆ and N₂O were correlated with a new three-dimensional density correlation system (TRIDEN) and the complete set of PT data in the sub- and supercritical states were correlated with a virial-type equation of state. For checking the accuracy and suitability of the vibrating tube densimeter system, the experimental densities of SF₆ were compared with published data and with the results of a reference equation of state.     

Effect of Gamma Irradiation on the Piezoelectric Properties of K2Sr4Nb10O30–K6Li4Nb10O30 Solid Solutions

The effect of gamma irradiation on the dielectric ( ₃₃/₀, tan) and piezoelectric (d ₃₁, g ₃₁, K _p, Q _m) properties of ₂Sr₄Nb₁₀O₃₀–K₆Li₄Nb₁₀O₃₀ solid solutions (tetragonal tungsten bronze structure) was studied as a function of K₆Li₄Nb₁₀O₃₀ content. The results demonstrate that increasing the gamma dose to 9 × 10⁵ Gy reduces ₃₃/₀ and tan. With increasing Li⁺ content (filling of triangular channels), d ₃₁, g ₃₁, K _p, and Q _m increase. The results are interpreted in terms of the generation of stable defects and effective redistribution of the energy of gamma radiation over the ceramic sample.     

Temperature effects on the properties of Ge thin films

The effects of substrate temperature (T_s) on the properties of vacuum evaporated p-type Ge thin films have been investigated for 25s<400°C. Increase in the substrate temperature improves the crystallinity and increases the grain size resulting a gradual change from amorphous to polycrystalline structure which was attained above a substrate temperature of 225°C. Low resistive (1×10^–2 ohm-cm) and high mobility (280 cm²/V·s) films were obtained at T_s=400°C. It has been observed that the conduction mechanism in polycrystalline films was dominated successively by hopping, tunneling and thermionic emission as the sample temperature was increased from 40 to 400 K. In amorphous samples, conduction was described in terms of different hopping mechanisms.     

Synthesis, crystal structure and X-ray powder diffraction data of the phosphor matrix 4SrO·7Al2O3

The white phosphor matrix 4SrO·7Al₂O₃ has been synthesized by firing the appropriate mixture of SrCO₃, Al(OH)₃ and H₃BO₃ in the molar ratios 1:3.5:0.135 at 1300°C for 4–7 h. The crystal structure of 4SrO·7Al₂O₃ has been determined as a orthorhombic Pmma space group with a=24.7451(2)Å, b=8.4735(6)Å, c=4.8808(1)Å, V=1023.41(3)ų, Z=2, and D=3.66 g cm^–3 by the Rietveld analysis. The refinement figures of merit are R_p=8.26, R_wp=11.60, R_bragg=4.44 and s=2.61 for 844 reflections with 2<119.94°. And the corresponding X-ray powder diffraction data are presented for search/match analysis.     

Fractal Surfaces of ZrO2 , WO3 , and CeO2 Powders

The surface fractal properties of ZrO₂, WO₃, and CeO₂ powders prepared by the thermal decomposition of ZrO(NO₃)₂, (NH₄)₄W₅O₁₇, and (NH₄)₂Ce(NO₃)₆, respectively, were studied by mercury porosimetry. The results demonstrate that these oxides may, in principle, have fractal surfaces owing to topochemical processes of the type A(s) B(s) + C(g). The surface fractal dimension of individual crystallites and their aggregates are determined.     

Macroscopic volume changes of PVF2 undergoing uniaxial tension and creep

Uniaxial tension and creep tests were performed on apolar cristalline PVF₂ at room temperature and above the high glassy transition temperature (T_g=40°C and T_g=60°C), for different strain-rates (tension) or applied stresses (creep). Volume changes were simultaneously measured to study cavitation damage occuring in this polymer when strained. Damage mechanisms were explicated. Influence of experimental conditions such as strain-rate or temperature was studied: onset of cavitation is delayed and volume changes more pronounced when molecular motions in amorphous phase are hindered, for lower temperature or higher strain-rates. This work brings elements for a better comprehension of PVF₂ global mechanical behaviour as damage is very linked to yield or creep studies.     

Internally Consistent Thermodynamic Description of Three-Component Liquid-Metal Systems at High Temperatures in the Entire Region of Concentration Triangle

A method is suggested for the investigation of the thermodynamic properties of ternary liquid-metal alloys at high temperatures in the entire region of concentration triangle. The method is demonstrated for a Na–K–Cs ternary system. Data are obtained for the enthalpy and Gibbs energy of formation of alloy in the temperature range of 200 T 1200 K and concentration range of 0 x _{i (j, k)} 1. The results reveal a very fine effect associated with the temperature rise, namely, the inversion of excess partial Gibbs energy G¯ _i ^*= RTln _i ( _i is the activity coefficient of the liquid component) and the change of sign of deviation of partial pressure, as well as of total pressure, from the respective values in accordance with Raoult's law. The obtained results may be used to interpret the available literature data on independent measurements of the saturation pressure.     

On the Existence of Ternary Magnetic Phases in the In–Cr–Te System

Phase relations along the In₂Te₃–Cr₃Te₄ join of the In–Cr–Te system were investigated by differential thermal analysis, x-ray diffraction, and microstructural analysis, and the 600°C section of the InTe–CrTe–Te phase diagram was mapped out. Under the conditions of this study, the compounds InCr₂Te₄, In₂CrTe₄, and InCrTe₃ were not obtained. The only ternary compound identified is In₂Cr₆Te₁₁.     

The AC electrical characterization of the solid-state reaction derived CaSnO3

The potential of CaSnO₃ (calcium metastannate) for its application as a capacitor component possessing small temperature coefficient of capacitance (TCC) in electrical systems, is examined via the ac small-signal measurements. The ac electrical data were acquired on these samples sintered at various combinations of temperature-time frames (1200°CT1350°C; 24 ht60 h) in the frequency range from 5 Hz to 13 MHz. The measurements were carried out over the temperature range 25–300°C. The electrical response was found to exhibit relaxation processes in more than one complex plane formalism in a simultaneous fashion. The resistance of the sintered samples was dominated by the grain boundaries. The capacitance showed almost linear behavior in this measurement temperature range. The resulting electrical behavior has been discussed with the evolved microstructure in the sintered bodies.     

Influence of pore volume on laser performance of Nd : YAG ceramics

For present study, 1.1 at% Nd-doped YAG ceramics with a controlled pore volume (150–930 vol ppm) were fabricated by a solid-state reaction method using high-purity powders. The scattering coefficients of Nd:YAG ceramics, obtained from Fresnel' equation, increased simply with increases in the pore volume. The cw laser output power of Nd:YAG ceramics was clearly related to the scattering coefficients of the specimens examined in the present works, which in turn were affected on the pore volume. The effective scattering coefficients of Nd:YAG ceramics with a pore volume of 150 vol ppm were nearly equivalent to those of a 0.9 at%Nd:YAG single crystal by Czochralski method. As the exciting power was increased under excitation by an 808-nm diode laser, however, the laser output power of the Nd:YAG ceramics exceeded that of the Nd:YAG single crystal because of the fairly large amount of Nd additives. The lasing performance of the Nd:YAG ceramics changed drastically with change in pore volume. On the other hand, lasing performance was not affected by the existence of grain boundaries in the polycrystalline Nd:YAG ceramics.     

Interlaminar Fracture Toughness of CF/PEI and GF/PEI Composites at Elevated Temperatures

An experimental study has been conducted to assess temperature effects on mode-I and mode-II interlaminar fracture toughness of carbon fibre/polyetherimide (CF/PEI) and glass fibre/polyetherimide (GF/PEI) thermoplastic composites. Mode-I double cantilever beam (DCB) and mode-II end notched flexure (ENF) tests were carried out in a temperature range from 25 to 130°C. For both composite systems, the initiation toughness, G _IC,ini and G _IIC,ini, of mode-I and mode-II interlaminar fracture decreased with an increase in temperature, while the propagation toughness, G _IC,prop and G _IIC,prop, displayed a reverse trend. Three main mechanisms were identified to contribute to the interlaminar fracture toughness, namely matrix deformation, fibre/matrix interfacial failure and fibre bridging during the delamination process. At delamination initiation, the weakened fibre/matrix interface at elevated temperatures plays an overriding role with the delamination growth initiating at the fibre/matrix interface, rather than from a blunt crack tip introduced by the insert film, leading to low values of G _IC,ini and G _IIC,ini. On the other hand, during delamination propagation, enhanced matrix deformation at elevated temperatures and fibre bridging promoted by weakened fibre/matrix interface result in greater G _IC,prop values. Meanwhile enhanced matrix toughness and ductility at elevated temperatures also increase the stability of mode-II crack growth.     

Zero Sound Attenuation Near the Quantum Limit in Normal Liquid 3He Close to the Superfluid Transition

The zero sound attenuation of normal liquid ³He has been studied over a range of temperatures from slightly above the superfluid transition temperature, T _c, to approximately 10mK at the constant pressures of 1 and 5bar. Using longitudinal LiNbO₃ transducers, operating both on and off resonance, the experiment was performed at 15 discrete frequencies located in several broadband frequency windows, including 16–25, 60–70, and 105–111MHz. The results are compared to Landau's prediction for the attenuation of zero sound in the quantum limit, (k _B Tk _B T _F), where ₀(P,T, )= (P) T ²{1+(/2k _B T)²}. Calibration of the received zero sound signals was performed by measuring the temperature dependence of the first sound attenuation from 30 to 800mK at those same frequencies and pressures. The data are compared to previous results.     

Zr surface diffusion in tetragonal yttria stabilized zirconia

The value for surface diffusivity of Zr tetragonal ZrO₂–3mol% Y₂O₃ has been calculated from measurements of surface area reduction and pore growth in powder compacts during sintering. The surface diffusivity thereby obtained can be described by D =5.52×10⁵ exp[–531(kJ mol^-1)/RT] m²/s, which is in reasonable agreement with values calculated by prior researchers from direct TEM observation of neck growth between touching particles.     

Ferroelectric Lead Zirconate Titanate Films Prepared by Spray Pyrolysis of Carboxylate Solutions

Ferroelectric PbTi_0.6Zr_0.4O₃films 0.5–1.5 m in thickness were produced on platinum substrates by spray pyrolysis of carboxylate solutions. The optimized compositions of the precursor solutions, containing methacrylic acid and ethylene glycol, are stable under normal conditions, allow the annealing temperature to be reduced, and lead to higher quality film surfaces and large grains. The film exhibit the following electrical properties: T _C= 360–460°C, _max= 1750 at T _C, tan = 0.02–0.1 at 1 kHz and room temperature, P _{s max} = 18 C/cm², P _{r max} = 15 C/cm²at 50 Hz, and E _c= 42–120 kV/cm.     

Synthesis and dielectric properties of pyrochlore solid solutions in the Bi2O3-ZnO-Nb2O5-TiO2 system

Phase studies of solid solutions based on (Bi_1.5Zn_0.5)(Ti_1.5Nb_0.5)O₇ revealed extended regions of pyrochlore formation in the Bi₂O₃-ZnO-TiO₂-Nb₂O₅ system. At room temperature and 1 MHz (Bi_1.5Zn_0.5)(Ti_1.5Nb_0.5)O₇ has a high permittivity ( = 200), low dielectric loss (tan<1·10^–4) and a temperature coefficient of the permittivity, , = –1300ppm/K. Pyrochlore solid solutions based on (Bi_1.5Zn_0.5)(Ti_1.5Nb_0.5)O₇ can be formed with (Bi_2–xZn_x)(Ti_{2– x} Nb_x)O₇ (0.35x1.0) and with (Bi_1.5 Zn_0.5–y/3Ti_1.5+yNb_0.5–2y/3) O₇ (–1.5y0.75). Investigations of the dielectric characteristics showed that the high temperature dependence of the permittivity of (Bi_1.5 Zn_0.5)(Ti_1.5Nb_0.5)O₇ can be significantly modified by changing the composition of the pyrochlore within these regions of solid solubility. Below room temperature several of these compositions also exhibit a diffuse frequency dependent maximum in their permittivity characteristic of a transition to a relaxor type ferroelectric state. A third region of high permittivity pyrochlores with (Bi_1.5+2zZn_0.25–z Ti_2.25–z)O₇ (0.0z<0.15) was also identified in the Bi₂O₃-ZnO-TiO₂ sub system.     

The separation of the fracture energy in metallic materials

The total plastic strain energy which is consumed during fracture of a plain-sided CT specimen is separated into several components. These are the energies required for deforming the specimen until the point of fracture initiation, for forming the flat-fracture surfaces, for forming the shear-lip fracture surfaces, and for the lateral contraction and the blunting at the side-surfaces, W _lat. Characteristic crack growth resistance terms, R _flat and R _slant, are determined describing the energies dissipated in a unit area of flat-fracture and slant-fracture surface, respectively. R _flat is further subdivided into the term R _surf, to form the micro-ductile fracture surface, and into the subsurface term, R _sub, which produces the global crack opening angle. Two different approaches are used to determine the fracture energy components. The first approach is a single-specimen technique for recording the total crack growth resistance (also called energy dissipation rate). Plain-sided and side-grooved specimens are tested. The second approach rests on the fact that the local plastic deformation energy can be evaluated from the shape of the fracture surfaces. A digital image analysis system is used to generate height models from stereophotograms of corresponding fracture surface regions on the two specimen halves. Two materials are investigated: a solution annealed maraging steel V720 and a nitrogen alloyed ferritic-austenitic duplex steel A905. For the steel V720 the following values are measured: J _i=65kJ/m², R _surf=20kJ/m², R _flat=280kJ/m², R _slant=1000kJ/m², W _lat=30J. For the steel A905 which has no shear lips, the measured values are: J _i=190kJ/m², R _flat=1000kJ/m², and W _lat=45J. Apart from materials characterization, these values could be useful for predicting the influence of specimen geometry and size on the crack growth resistance curves. Key words: Elastic-plastic fracture mechanics, fracture energy, energy dissipation rate, fracture surface analysis.