Hydrothermal synthesis of barium titanate fine particles from amorphous and crystalline titania

Barium titanate fine particles of cubic system were synthesized hydrothermally from aqueous barium hydroxide solutions with fine particles of either amorphous or crystalline (rutile) titania in suspension. The mean size of barium titanate particles prepared from amorphous titania ranged from 0.03 m to 0.11 m, depending on hydrothermal conditions. The particle size approximately agreed with the crystallite size (0.04–0.09 m). On the other hand, the mean size of barium titanate particles prepared from rutile titania ranged from 0.2 to 0.7 m, which was about six times as large as the crystallite size. The difference of sizes of barium titanate particles prepared might be ascribed to the difference in dissolution rates of amorphous or crystalline titania particles.Nomenclature mean particle size, m - BT barium to titanium molar ratio - d crystallite size, m - K shape factor appearing in Equation 3 - half value breadth of diffraction peak - lattice strain - Bragg diffraction angle, degree - wave length of X-ray, urn - _g geometric standard deviation defined by 84.1%-size/50%-size in a log normal size distribution     

Modelling of an electrolyte matrix for a phosphoric acid fuel cell

A simple model of an electrolyte matrix for use in a phosphoric acid fuel cell (PAFC) has been proposed. It has important features in the vertical direction. Acid absorbency, bubble pressure and current density as a function of porosity and pore-size distribution were calculated. The calculated values were compared with the real values obtained from a matrix made by rolling and tape casting. The tendency of the properties in the model concurred with the real matrix. Predictions were made for the best performance. The results were a porosity of 80%, a composition having 20% of 0.01–0.1 m pores and 75% of 0.1–1 m and 5% of 1–10 m pores, the thickness of the matrix being 100 m and the particle size 1.5 m. It is expected that these theoretical results could be helpful in making a real matrix.     

Single-Mode As–S Glass Fibers

Single-mode As–S glass fibers with a core diameter from 3 to 20 m and a clad diameter of 125 m are prepared by the double-crucible method. The cutoff wavelength of the fibers is 0.9–6 m. The lowest transmission losses in the fibers at 2.2–2.3 m are 100 dB/km, and their mean bending strength is 800–1000 MPa.     

Rupture of thin micropolar liquid film

Summary The rupture problem of a thin micropolar liquid film on a horizontal plane is studied. A nonlinear evolution equation is firstly derived for the film thickness,h(x, t), and then solved numerically. The results reveal that the rupture time of the film strongly increases with increase of the magnitude of the parameterR(=/). However, the analysis also shows that the micropolar coefficient, (=h ₀ ²/), has little influence on the stability of the film.     

The role of starting powder size on the compressive response of stand-alone plasma-sprayed alumina coatings

Cylindrical stand-alone tubes of plasma-sprayed alumina were tested in uniaxial compression at room temperature, using strain gages to monitor axial strains. The effect of lamella size on the mechanical response was investigated by employing different starting powders to fabricate samples. The average powder sizes investigated included 9 m, 19 m and 32 m alumina; the resulting effective lamella diameters were 10 m, 28 m, and 55 m, respectively. Similar stress-strain hysteresis was observed on unloading in all tubes, independent of lamella size. A strong correlation between the failure stress and the cumulative strain at failure was also observed for tubes fabricated from the three powders. For samples with approximately constant densities, tubes plasma sprayed with the 9 m powder exhibited greater moduli than tubes sprayed from either 19 or 32 m powders. This difference was attributed to the greater percentage of unmelted -Al₂O₃ in the coating.     

Pressureless sintering of β-SiC with Al2O3 additions

-SiC was pressureless sintered to 98% theoretical density using Al₂O₃ as a liquid-phase forming additive. The reaction between SiC and Al₂O₃ which results in gaseous products, was inhibited by using a pressurized CO gas or, alternatively, a sealed crucible. The densification behaviour and microstructural development of this material are described. The microstructure consists of fine elongated -SiC grains (maximum length 10 m and width 2–3 m) in a matrix of fine equi-axed grains (2–3 m) and plate-like grains (2–5m). The densification behaviour, composition and phases in the sintered product were studied as a function of the sintering parameters and the initial composition. Typically, 50% of the -phase was transformed to the -phase.     

Use of an osteoinductive biomaterial as a bone morphogenetic protein carrier

A porous calcium phosphate ceramic, which induced bone formation in soft tissues of dogs, was termed as osteoinductive biomaterial and studied as a carrier of bone morphogenetic protein (rhBMP-2). Cylinder implants (ø 4×5 mm) impregnated with 0, 1, 10 and 40 g rhBMP-2 were implanted in dorsal muscles of rabbits for five weeks. Histological observation and histomorphometric analysis were performed on thin un-decalcified sections. No bone formation was detected in the implants without rhBMP-2, while mature lamellar bone was found inside the implants with 1 g rhBMP-2, both on the outer surface and inside the implants with 10 g and 40 g rhBMP-2. Little difference in formed bone was found between 1 g and 10 g rhBMP-2, but no difference was found between 10 g and 40 g rhBMP-2. A significant difference in bone marrow formation was found among 1, 10 and 40 g rhBMP-2. The more rhBMP-2, the more bone marrow formed. The present results indicate that osteoinductive biomaterial is a good carrier of BMP and high dose of BMP is not necessary for bone formation in clinic. © 2001 Kluwer Academic Publishers     

A nano-indentation study on the plasticity length scale effects in LIGA Ni MEMS structures

This paper presents the results of a nano-indentation study of the effects of strain gradient plasticity on the elastic-plastic deformation of LIGA Ni MEMS structures plated from sulfamate baths. Both Berkovich and North Star indenter tips were used in the study to investigate possible effects of residual indentation depth between the micro and nano scales on the hardness of LIGA Ni MEMS structures. A microstructural length scale parameter, l^ = 0.89 m, was determined for LIGA nickel films. This is shown to be consistent with a stretch gradient length scale parameter, l _s, of 0.36 m.     

Microstructure-property studies in friction-stir welded, Thixomolded magnesium alloy AM60

Thixomolded magnesium alloy AM60 plates joined by friction-stir welding were observed to be as strong or stronger than the unwelded base material. The thixotropic microstructures of the as-molded plates consisted of either 3% or 18% primary solid fraction of -Mg globules (45 m average size) in a eutectic mixture consisting of -Mg grains (10 m) surrounded by Mg₁₇Al₁₂ intermetallic grains in the -Mg grain boundaries (having an average size of 1–2 m). This complex, composite microstructure became a homogeneous (Mg + 6% Al)), recrystallized, equiaxed grain (10–15 m) microstructure in the weld zone.     

Preparation of barium titanate ultrafine particles from amorphous titania by a hydrothermal method and specific dielectric constants of sintered discs of the prepared particles

Barium titanate ultrafine particles were synthesized from amorphous titania by a hydrothermal method. The mean size of the barium titanate particles prepared at a hydrothermal treatment time of 4 h, was nearly equal to 0.04 5 m in the range of barium-to-titanium molar ratio (BT) 2, and approximately agreed well with the crystallite size. At a BT molar ratio of 1.0, the mean particle size increased to 0.2 m, while the crystallite size remained constant at 0.045 m. When the particle size ranged from 0.12–0.20 m, prepared for the BT molar ratio of 1.0–1.4, the specific dielectric constant for a sintered disc composed of these particles attained a value of 5000 or more. As the BT molar ratio increased to exceed 1.5, when the mean particle size decreased from 0.13 m to 0.045 m, the specific dielectric constant for the sintered disc was decreased greatly. The specific dielectric constant for the sintered disc can be correlated well with the size of the composing particles.     

Measurements of chemical potentials in superconducting tin whiskers

A superconductor / normal conductor potential probe pair was used to measure differences between the time-averaged electrochemical potentials _p of Cooper pairs and of quasiparticle excitations caused by a phase-slip center in several experimental situations. The results can only be understood by assuming that at a larger distance from the phase-slip center differs from the proposal of Skocpol, Beasley, and Tinkham by showing a swinging over or swinging below _p . We propose a modified slope of as a function of site. Possible explanations are discussed. The multiple-contact samples used also allow the study of the influence of phase-slip centers already present on the relaxation of nonequilibrium quasiparticles.     

Pt black powder as a heat exchanger at ultralow temperature

We have studied a series of Pt black sinters. They were produced under different pressure and temperature conditions, resulting in packing fractions ranging from 40 up to 60%. The samples were sintered to a highly polished copper surface of 2.0×1.3 cm² with a thickness from 25 m up to 1 mm. Dependent on the presintering temperature a specific surface area between 90 m²/cm³ and 180 m²/cm³ is found. The electrical resistivity was about 114 ·cm at room temperature and 50 ·cm at 4.2 K for 40% density and 56 ·cm and 23 ·cm for 60% density, respectively. The microscopic structure of several samples was characterized by electron microscopy and neutron diffraction techniques. A porosity around 0.5 m and an anisotropic particle size of only 70 Å was found. This indicates that this material can well be used as a heat exchanger at ultralow temperature.     

Magnetic Co2Y ferrite, Ba2Co2Fe12O22 fibres produced by a blow spun process

Gel fibres of Co2Y,Ba2Co2Fe12O22, were blow spun from an aqueous inorganic sol and calcined at temperatures of up to 1200°C. The ceramic fibres were shown by X-ray diffraction to form crystalline Co2Y at 1000°C, and surface area and porosity measurements indicated an unusually high degree of sintering at this temperature. The fibres also demonstrated a small grain size of 1–3 m across the hexagonal plane and 0.1–0.3 m thickness at 1000°C. This only increased to 3 m in diameter and 1 m thickness even at temperature up to 1200°C. The fibrous nature combined with the improved microstructures could be an important factor in improving the magnetic properties of this material.     

Constitution of the Ni3Cr-Ni3Al-Ni3W system

Isothermal sections of the Ni-Cr-Al-W system have been investigated at 75 at % Ni and temperatures of 1523 and 1273 K, by means of phase compositional analysis, X-ray diffraction and microscopical examination. The alloys studied lay in the range 2.5 to 10 at % Cr, 12.5 to 20 at% Al, 2.5 to 6.25 at % W, The phases formed were, and the bcc solid solution based on tungsten (designated ₂). The maximum extent of the region was found to be 3 at % each of chromium and tungsten. Preferential partitioning of tungsten to occurred. Study of an Ni-10Cr-12.5Al-2.5W alloy aged at 1273 and 1073 K, after quenching from 1573 K, showed that changes in and compositions and lattice parameters occur as a function of ageing time.     

Absolute frequency measurements of lasers in submillimeter and infrared ranges

Conclusion The investigations into lasers constructed in the submillimeter and infrared regions showed satisfactory results for their use in absolute frequency measurements. The fast-response nonlinear elements — W=Si and W=Ni point diodes — have been tested in the multiplier-mixer mode from 337 to 10 exclusively. The frequencies have been measured of the molecular lasers HCN (=337 ), D₂O (=84 ), H₂O (=28 ) and the P(14) CO₂ (=10.53 ) and R(30) (=10.18 ) lines. The measurement error of 5·10^–7 was determined by the indeterminacies of fixing the peak of the laser generation lines. An increase of the measurement accuracy will be achieved by the mutual tying in of the laser frequencies to one another.Translated from Izmeritel'naya Tekhnika, No. 10, pp. 59–61, October, 1976.     

Heat Exchange on the Front Surface of a Blunt Body in a High‐Speed Flow Containing Low‐Inertia Particles

The method and results of an experimental investigation of the heat exchange on the front surface of a sphere in a supersonic flow containing particles of diameter d = 0.12–2.4 m and hollow particles of d = 160 m are presented. It has been revealed that in the case where even very small particles of d = 0.15 m are contained in an undisturbed flow and their concentration is low (of the order of a percent), the heat flux in the region of the critical point of the model markedly increases. A comparison of the experimental data with the data of calculations of the heat exchange in the region of the forward critical point which are based on the theory of a twophase laminar boundary layer has been made. A glow near the surface of the model was observed in the experiments conducted in total darkness.     

Initial permeability studies on A13+ and Cr3+ substituted Ni–Zn ferrites

The chemical formula of the samples investigated is Ni0.7Zn0.3Alx/CrxFe2-xO4, where x=0.00, 0.05, 0.10, 0.15, 0.20 and 0.25. The samples were obtained by the usual ceramic technology from high-purity oxides. The initial permeability was calculated from the inductance measurements with a torroidal core of 100 turns, using the formula L=0.0046 iN2h log d2/d1. The initial permeability i decreases in Ni0.7Zn0.3Alx/CrxFe2-xO4 with increase in Al3+/Cr3+. The decrease in i is attributed to a decrease of grain size D from 4.9 m to 4.4 m with Al3+ and to 1.9 m with Cr3+ and to variations in the anisotropy constant K1. The main contribution to the variation of permeability with content of Al3+/Cr3+ in the system is the effect each of them has on domain wall motion. The trivalent substituents (Al3+/Cr3+) cause impedance to the domain wall motion, which increases as the content of these ions increases. Al3+ has a stronger effect than Cr3+. The initial permeability components and do not exhibit much variation with temperature, except near Tc, where they fall sharply. The maximum of near Tc has been attributed to a damping effect of domain wall motion. © 1998 Chapman & Hall     

Studies on nickel coated carbon fibres and their composites

Uniform and continuous coating of nickel was given to the carbon fibres by cementation, electroless or electroplating techniques. The coating thickness was ranged between 0.2 and 0.6 m for all the three methods used. Coating thickness less than 0.2 m showed discontinuous coating of nickel over the fibre surface. Beyond 0.6 m thickness, nickel deposited in den-drite form over the continuous coating. For continuously coated fibres, the ultimate tensile properties of electroless coated fibres were near to uncoated carbon fibres suggesting adherent and defect free coating; while fibres coated by electrolytic and cementation process exhibited lower ultimate tensile strength (UTS) properties. The tensile fracture of the cementation coated fibres suggested degradation of the fibres. In composites, prepared by dispersing the coated fibres in pure aluminium matrix, no appreciable fibre-metal interaction was observed. NiAl₃ intermetallics were observed around and adjacent to the carbon fibres. Sometimes carbon fibres were found embedded in massive NiAl₃ intermetallics suggesting that fibre surface can also act as nucleating centre for these precipitates.     

Particle size control of 1,3,5-triamino-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene by recrystallization from DMSO

Batches of up to 46g of the insensitive explosive 1,3,5-triamino-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene (TATB) have been recrystallized from DMSO in an effort to prepare larger particle-size material for recycling previously-used TATB and also for use in special formulations. The first part of the study investigated the conditions required to shift the particle-size distribution maximum from 50–70 m to several hundred micrometres in diameter. Distributions peaking at 200–246 m were successfully produced by varying the cooldown rate and degree of agitation during cooling. The second part of the study emphasized regeneration of the standard 50–70 m distribution from submicron size (ultrafine TATB) particles. The distributions peaking at 76–88 m, 27–31 m, and 15–17 m, successfully bracketed the target particle sizes, were grown by changing the degree of solution saturation. The choice of saturation temperature for the TATB/DMSO solution was based on earlier small-scale recrystallization and solubility work.     

Effect of phase transitions in copper-germanium thin film alloys on their electrical resistivity

An investigation was carried out to study the phase transitions in Cu-Ge thin films (80–200 nm in thickness) containing 0, 5, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45 and 50 at% Ge, and the corresponding effects on electrical resistivity. For these films, the phase transitions were found to follow the sequence: -phase (disordered face centred cubic, fcc, solid solution); 5 at% Ge -phase (disordered hexagonal close packed, hcp); 15 at% Ge -phase + ₁-phase (ordered orthorhombic, Cu₃Ge); 20 at% Ge ₁-phase; 25 at% Ge (₁-phase + progressively increasing proportions of a disordered Ge-rich solid solution); 30–50 at% Ge. Germanium was found to have no marked effect on grain size of all films studied excluding grain boundaries as electron scattering centres. Transition of the -phase into the -phase was found to occur in a highly coherent manner, which could be related to the reduced stacking fault energy of Cu by the addition of Ge. Most evidence pointed out that the initial increase in resistivity within the -phase range was related to hcp scattering centres, which could be associated with a localized high concentration of Ge. At 15 at% Ge, the resistivity reached a maximum value of about 50 cm associated with the complete transformation of -phase into the -phase. With continued increase in Ge concentration, the resistivity was found to gradually decrease reaching a minimum value of about 10 at 25 at% Ge, which was correlated with complete transition of the -phase into the ordered ₁-phase (Cu₃Ge). It was shown that the superlattice of Cu₃Ge could directly be derived from the disordered -phase by minor atom rearrangement on the [0 0 0 1]_hcp plane. Even though, minor proportions of a Ge-rich solid solution containing a small concentration of Cu were formed at Ge concentrations above 25 at%, the minimum resistivity of 10 cm was maintained as the Ge concentration was increased to 35 at%. Subsequently, the resistivity was increased reaching about 46 cm at 50 at% Ge.