Lightweight high-alumina kyanite -sillimanite refractories from self-compacting compositions

Conclusions A technology was developed and tested for the production of kyanite-sillimanite lightweight refractories from self-compacting compositions based on pearl polystyrene. With this method the drying time of the green product is 3–4 times shorter and the finished product does not require trimming. The apparent density of the new material is 0.6 g/cm³, and its properties conform to the specifications for the lightweight VGLDS-0.8-type products.The method is a promising one for the manufacture of configured and block-type refractory products.Translated from Ogneupory, No. 1, pp. 10–13, January, 1977.     

Rheology of coal-water slurries

The costs of preparation and burning of coal slurries, in particular, coal-water fuel (CWF), considerably exceed the cost of coal utilization according to the conventional technology. CWF technology projects suggest that additional expenditures will be compensated for by the profitability of their pipeline transport in the laminar regime. Energy consumptions for the preparation and pipeline or tanker transportations is determined to a considerable extent by the viscosity and stability of these slurries. Thus, the rheology of slurries has become a subject of comprehensive experimental study. The results of theoretical investigation of the rheology of concentrated slurries are reported. The theory adequately describes all of the experimental data relevant to the issue.     

Crystal formation involving 1-methylbenzimidazole in iodide/triiodide electrolytes for dye-sensitized solar cells

Nitrogen heterocyclic compounds, such as N-methylbenzimidazole (MBI), are commonly used as additives to electrolytes for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs), but the chemical transformation of additives in electrolyte solutions remains poorly understood. Solid crystalline compound (MBI)₆(MBI-H⁺)₂(I⁻)(I₃⁻) (1) was isolated from different electrolytes for DSCs containing MBI as additive. The crystal structure of 1 was determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. In the crystal structure, 1 contains neutral and protonated MBI fragments; iodide and triiodide anions form infinite chains along the crystallographic a-axis. The role of the solvent and additives in the crystallization process in electrolytes is discussed.