The piezoresistance coefficients of copper and copper-nickel alloys

This paper attempts to further a better understanding of the piezoresistance coefficients by studying the piezoresistive effects in copper and copper-nickel alloys. The experimental evidence of isotropic piezoresistance coefficients (₁₁=₁₂) has been obtained for the annealed copper and copper-nickel alloys. The piezoresistance coefficients of the cold-worked copper and Cu₆₀Ni₄₀ alloy are of the tensor character (₁₁₁₂). A physical explanation has been given to the change of the ( _ij ) tensor.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

Liquid phase sintering of RE2O3: YSZ ceramics Part I Grain growth and expelling of the grain boundary glass phase

Experiments on silicate liquid phase sintering of YSZ ceramics with addition of 0.5 mol% of rare earth ions have been done in order to study the effect of these ions on the kinetics of grain growth and the expulsion of glass through the grain boundaries. Kinetics follow a third power law in the following order YPr>YPrEr>YY>YEr. The expelled glass does not spread over the ceramic grains and its mass is inversely related to grain size. Glass phase separation inside the grain boundaries is found to be a necessary condition for glass expulsion.     

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.     

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.     

A study of electron paramagnetic resonance and optical absorption in calcium manganese phosphate glasses containing praseodymium

This paper reports on electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and optical absorption studies for Mn ions in praseodymium calcium manganese phosphate glasses. The EPR spectra exhibit three resonance signals at g2.0, g3.3 and g4.8. A six line hyperfine structure spectrum centered at g2.0 has been observed in the EPR spectra of all the glasses at lower concentration of Mn ions. The effects of the concentration of Mn ions and praseodymium oxide on resonance signals have been studied. The temperature dependence of EPR signals were also studied. The intensity of the resonance signals decreases with increase in temperature whereas the linewidths are found to be independent of temperature. As temperature is increased small fluctuations in hyperfine splitting are observed. From the optical absorption spectrum, the crystal field parameters and optical band gap energy were evaluated. The optical band gap energy is found to depend quite sensitively on added manganese content. The theoretical values of optical basicity were also evaluated.     

Synthesis of SrCu1 /3Nb2 /3O3 from Strontium Cuprates and Niobates

The formation of the perovskite phase SrCu_1/3Nb_2/3O₃ in solid-state reactions between different strontium cuprates and niobates is studied. The effect of the starting reagents on the rate of SrCu_1/3Nb_2/3O₃ formation is analyzed. The reactions with the participation of SrCuO₂ are shown to proceed at a faster rate than those involving Sr₂CuO₃. The presence of excess SrO leads to the formation of by-products. Large strontium excesses inhibit the reaction.     

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.     

Slow crack growth analysis of brittle materials with finite thickness subjected to constant stress-rate flexural loading

A two-dimensional, numerical analysis of slow crack growth (SCG) was performed for brittle materials with finite thickness subjected to constant stress-rate (dynamic fatigue) loading in flexure. The numerical solution showed that the conventional, simple, one-dimensional analytical solution can be used with a maximum error of about 5% in determining the SCG parameters of a brittle material with the conditions of a normalized thickness (a ratio of specimen thickness to initial crack size) T>3.3 and of a SCG parameter n10. The change in crack shape from semicircular to elliptical configurations was significant particularly at both low stress rate and low T, attributed to predominant difference in stress intensity factor along the crack front. The numerical solution of SCG parameters was supported within the experimental range by the data obtained from constant stress-rate flexural testing for soda-lime glass microslides at ambient temperature.     

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.     

Mechanochemical Reactions in Mixtures of Lead Oxides

The mechanochemical processes, including mechanochemical synthesis of mixed-valence lead oxides, in mixtures of PbO, Pb₃O₄, and PbO₂were studied by x-ray diffraction. The results demonstrate that the reduction of Pb⁴⁺is accompanied by the formation of Pb₂O₃, Pb₃O₄, and possibly PbO_1.37. Phases of variable composition close in structure to minium, Pb₃O₄, are shown to coexist during mechanical processing. The structure of the metastable oxide Pb₃O_{4 – x} with Pb²⁺: Pb⁴⁺> 2 (@O_{4 – 2x} ) is tentatively determined. The sequence of the observed transformations is interpreted in terms of the model for the reaction zone, with consideration for primary and secondary interactions.     

New Types of Resistance Strain Gauges Made of Semiconductor Whiskers

We created resistance strain gauges on the basis of threadlike semiconductor monocrystals of tellurium and selenium and investigated their deformation characteristics under uniaxial tension and compression (up to ± 2.6·10^–3) and hydrostatic pressure (up to 5·10⁸ Pa). Their characteristics are compared with the parameters of resistance strain gauges made of p-type silicon. We developed electric contacts for selenium crystals and concluded that resistance strain gauges are promising for investigation of composite materials under triaxial compression.     

Optical and electrical properties of conjugated oligo(arylenes)

New conductive soluble oligo(p-phenylene), oligo(thiophene), oligo(p-phenylene-thiophene) (4:1) (1:1) (1:4), oligo(p-phenylene-sulphide), oligo(p-phenylene-selenide), oligo(p-diphenylene-sulphide) and oligo(p-diphenylene selenide) were synthesized. Structural, optical and electrical characteristics of these oligomers have been determined. The optical and electrical properties are dependent on the oligomers' structures. The conductivities of these oligomers are low, between 10 and 10 S m . However, there is an increase after doping them with iodine. These soluble oligomers can be used for production of active components in opto-electronic devices.     

Density and Viscosity of the 1-Methylnaphthalene+2,2,4,4,6,8,8-Heptamethylnonane System from 293.15 to 353.15 K at Pressures up to 100 MPa

The dynamic viscosity of the binary mixture 1-methylnaphthalene+2,2,4,4,6,8,8-heptamethylnonane was measured in the temperature range 293.15 to 353.15K (in progressive 10K steps) at pressures of 0.1, 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100MPa. The composition of the system is described by nine molar fractions (0 to 1 in 0.125 progressive steps). The density was measured at pressures from 0.1 to 60MPa in progressive 5 MPa steps. The measurements of are used to determine the excess viscosity ^E and the excess activation energy of flow G ^E as a function of pressure, temperature, and composition. Some models have been used to represent the viscosity of this binary mixture.     

Spectra of the Transverse and Longitudinal Components of Electronic Transitions in As2Se3 in the Range 2–12 eV

The spectra of the transverse and longitudinal components of electronic transitions in As₂Se₃ in the range 2–12 eV for the E || a, E || b, and E || c polarizations are derived from experimental reflection spectra using Kramers–Kronig integral relations and combined Argand diagrams. The principal parameters of the components are determined: energy position E _i, half width H _i, and area S _i. The energy positions of the transverse components are shown to correlate with those of the longitudinal components.     

Adsorption of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and its effect on the consolidation of suspensions of nanocrystalline CeO2 particles

CeO₂ particles with an average size of 9 nm were synthesized under hydrothermal conditions. The adsorption of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) on to the particle surfaces was measured in aqueous suspensions in the pH range of 3.7 to 11.5. The amount of adsorbed PVP decreased significantly with increasing pH value. For suspensions prepared at a pH value of 3.7, complete adsorption occurred for 2.5 wt% of PVP added to the suspension. Further additions of PVP produced a gradual increase in the adsorption until a limiting value was reached when the total amount of PVP added to the suspension was 10 wt%. At this PVP concentration, 6 wt% of the PVP was adsorbed and 4 wt% remained free in solution. The effect of the adsorbed PVP on the microstructural homogeneity of films deposited by spin coating of suspensions was investigated. With no addition of PVP, crack-like voids were prevalent in the dried and sintered films. Crack-free films were obtained from suspensions containing 10 wt% of PVP. Higher PVP additions (25 wt%) produced an increase in the viscosity of the suspension but no observable change in the microstructural homogeneity of the films. The use of adsorbed polymers for steric stabilization coupled with data from the adsorption isotherms is shown to provide a rational approach to the deposition of homogeneous films from suspensions of nanocrystalline particles.     

Carrier Mobility in GaSb–V2Ga5and GaSb–GaV3Sb5 Eutectic Alloys

Experimental evidence is presented that semiconductor–metal eutectics with a low content of the metallic phase (4 vol %) are similar in electronic structure to inhomogeneous semiconductors. The microstructure of undoped and Te-doped GaSb–V₂Ga₅ and GaSb–GaV₃Sb₅ eutectic alloys is examined, and the Hall mobility of carriers in these alloys is determined. The anomalous temperature variation of Hall mobility in GaSb–V₂Ga₅ ( T ²) and GaSb–GaV₃Sb₅ ( T ⁵) is interpreted in terms of infinite clusters ofn-type metallic inclusions embedded in a p-type semiconductor matrix and interconnected through overlapping inhomogeneous interfaces. It seems likely that the difference in conductivity type between the semiconductor matrix and the infinite clusters gives rise to a random large-scale potential relief. Te compensation of GaSb in the eutectic alloys causes the Hall mobility to vary more rapidly with temperature, T ³ to T ¹⁰, which is interpreted as due to an increase in the amplitude of the random large-scale potential relief, the formation of infinite clusters, and partial compensation of unintentional acceptor doping in the semiconductor matrix.     

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.