Effect of solid/solution ratio on apatite formation from CaSiO<Subscript>3</Subscript> ceramics in simulated body fluid

The effect of the solid/solution (S/S) ratio on apatite formation from CaSiO₃ ceramics in simulated body fluid (SBF) was investigated. CaSiO₃ ceramics with a Ca/Si ratio of 0.91 were prepared by sintering CaSiO₃ powder coprecipitated from ethanol solutions of Ca(NO₃)₂⋅4H₂O and Si(OC₂H₅)₄ using NH₄OH as the precipitant. These ceramics were reacted with SBF at S/S ratios of 1.0, 2.5 and 8.3 mg/ml at 36.5 ^∘C for various times. Formation of apatite was observed at all the S/S ratios after soaking for 1 day. The amount and microstructure of the apatite obtained at a S/S ratio of 8.3 mg/ml, however, differed largely from the product formed at the other two S/S ratios. The apatite formed at S/S = 8.3 mg/ml was of smaller particle size, formed in smaller amount and with less preferred orientation of the (00l) of apatite crystals compared with those formed at S/S = 1.0 and 2.5 mg/ml. An increase of Ca and decrease of the P components occurred in the soaked SBF at S/S = 8.3 mg/ml, the changes being much more marked than with the other two S/S ratios. These differences in the concentration changes in SBF at different S/S ratios are attributed to the difference in the apatite formation from the CaSiO₃ ceramics.     

Vibrations of probe used for the defect detection of helical heating tubes in a fast breeder reactor: Part 2. Vibration analysis and numerical simulations

A detection of a defect of a helical heating tube installed in the fast breeder reactor “Monju” in Japan is done by a feeding of an eddy current testing (ECT) probe with magnetic sensor into the tube. An undesirable vibration of the ECT probe always happens under a certain condition and makes the inspection difficult. Several characteristics of the vibration have been made clear by some experiments using a mock-up, but the essential factor of the vibration is still unclear. In this paper, a numerical simulation of the vibration is implemented on the assumption that the vibration is caused by Coulomb friction. An analytical model, which is obtained as a lumped mass model, is a large-scale non-linear vibration system and many computational costs are ordinarily required to carry out the simulations. The Transfer Influence Coefficient Method is applied so that the simulation is efficiently carried out. The results of simulation qualitatively agree well with the experimental results. It confirms the validity of the assumption that the vibration is caused by Coulomb friction.     

In-Situ Coating of Zeolite Na-A on Al2O3-SiO2 Glass Fibers

In-situ coating of zeolite Na-A crystals on Al₂O₃-SiO₂ glass fibers was investigated by a low temperature chemical process. The glass fibers were reacted with various concentrations of NaOH solutions at 60–110°C for various times. The surface of glass fibers was first leached by the solution but crystals of zeolite Na-A precipitated on the glass fibers after a certain reaction time because the concentrations of Si and Al components in the solution increased by dissolution of the glass fibers. The precipitated zeolite was identified to be Na-A type but nosean-cancrinite-type phase and/or hydroxysodalite coexisted with zeolite Na-A at longer reaction times. With higher concentration of NaOH solution, the formation rate of zeolite Na-A was faster, the formation temperature was lower and the grain size was smaller ca. 2–3 m. Dense zeolite Na-A coatings were produced when the glass fibers were reacted in 4 M NaOH solution at 60°C for 18 h. The amount of zeolite Na-A formed on the fibers was about 20 mass%.     

Characterization of electrode/electrolyte interface using in situ X-ray reflectometry and LiNi0.8Co0.2O2 epitaxial film electrode synthesized by pulsed laser deposition method

An in situ experimental technique was developed for detecting structure changes at the electrode/electrolyte interface of lithium cell using synchrotron X-ray reflectometry and two-dimensional model electrodes with a restricted lattice plane. The electrode was constructed with an epitaxial film of LiNi_0.8Co_0.2O₂ synthesized by the pulsed laser deposition method. The orientation of the epitaxial film depends on the substrate plane; the 2D layer of LiNi_0.8Co_0.2O₂ is parallel to the SrTiO₃ (1 1 1) substrate ((0 0 3)_{LiCo0.2Ni0.8O2}//(1 1 1)SrTiO₃), while the 2D layer is perpendicular to the SrTiO₃ (1 1 0) substrate ((1 1 0)_{LiCo0.2Ni0.8O2}//(1 1 0)SrTiO₃). These films provided an ideal reaction field suitable for detecting structure changes at the electrode/electrolyte interface during the electrochemical reaction. The X-ray reflectometry indicated a formation of a thin-film layer at the LiNi_0.8Co_0.2O₂ (1 1 0)/electrolyte interface during the first charge-discharge cycle, while the LiNi_0.8Co_0.2O₂ (0 0 3) surface showed an increase in the surface roughness without forming the surface thin-film layer. The reaction mechanism at the electrode/electrolyte interface is discussed based on our new experimental technique for lithium batteries.     

Estimation of infiltration and surface run-off characteristics of radionuclides from gamma dose rate change after rain

A method to estimate the infiltration and surface run-off characteristics of radionuclides on three types of ground surface from gamma dose rate change due to rain has been developed. We proposed the estimation methods based on the differences in the dose rate increases between monitoring stations caused by different attenuation of gamma ray due to infiltration and by the different run-off characteristics. The gamma dose rate data used for the estimation were measured at near-by monitoring stations in which the ground type around the detector differed from each other. Rain events were selected by the criteria in which ²¹⁴Pb and ²¹⁴Bi deposition amounts are considered to be uniform with in the area in which objective monitoring stations are deployed. We also calculated the surface concentration considering both infiltration and surface run-off processes. As a result, it was shown that the calculated surface concentration was about 40% larger than that considering neither processes of the infiltration and surface run-off.     

Development of optimization model for power system operation,outline of model design and verification of output

Osaka Gas Co., Ltd., jointly with NTT DATA Mathematical Systems Inc., has developed unit‐commitment model for optimizing dispatch of power generation units. Main purpose of this development is to simulate the future world of electric power system in accordance with national energy policy aiming to introduce large amount of renewable energy as well as vitalized cross‐border power exchange via PX market to enhance economically‐efficient power system operation. The model incorporates not only constraints of supply‐demand balance but also constraints of operating reserves, regulation reserves, maximum CO2‐emissions, etc.     

Effect of chemical oxidation for nano-size γ-Fe2O3 as lithium battery cathode

Surface treatment of nano-crystalline γ-Fe₂O₃ was examined to improve its electrochemical performances for lithium battery. Removal of residual phases on the surface by chemical oxidation with NO₂BF₄ was confirmed by TG measurement and FT-IR spectroscopy, and the process improved charge–discharge characteristics; higher capacity and better reversibility were obtained. The charge–discharge mechanism was studied by X-ray diffraction measurement and Mössbauer spectroscopy. The reversible charge–discharge reaction of the nano-size γ-Fe₂O₃ was proceeded by a phase transition between the spinel and the disordered rock-salt type, which was previously claimed to be an irreversible process for the bulk materials. The nano-size effect of the phase transitions and the charge–discharge mechanism will be discussed.     

NIFS research activities and other Japanese fusion research programs

The research activities in Japanese universities and other national laboratories are outlined. Several fusion programs based on multi-path research concepts have been carried out in Japanese universities. The biggest project among them is the Large Helical Device (LHD) which is now under construction in the National Institute for Fusion Science (NIFS). The basic research activities in these universities complement the large tokamak research program of the Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute (JAERI).