Chromia Scale Thermally Grown on Pure Chromium Under Controlled <Emphasis Type=Italic>p</Emphasis>(O<Subscript>2</Subscript>) Atmosphere: II—Spallation Investigation Using Photoelectrochemical Techniques at a Microscale

Pure chromium oxidized at 900 °C at low oxygen partial pressure (10^?12 atm) gives duplex Cr₂O₃ scale with an internal part made of equiaxed grains and exhibiting an n-type conduction, and an external part made of columnar grains and exhibiting a p-type conduction. Spalled regions occurring during cooling have been studied with photoelectrochemical techniques at a microscale. New information in the form of a specific image (structural quality image) could be obtained and revealed a level of structural defect density in the internal chromia subscale higher than that measured in the non-spalled region. The results complement the spallation scenario proposed in part I of this work.     

Non-equilibrium solute partitioning in a laser re-melted Al–Li–Cu alloy

Aluminum–lithium alloy AA2199 was rapidly solidified through the application of a laser re-melting process to determine the relationship between laser pulse energy and microsegregation during solidification. It was determined that laser pulse energies of the order of 0.125–0.5 J s resulted in a fine cellular solidification structure. Through comparison of the measured cell spacing with that predicted by the Kurz–Giovanola–Trivedi (KGT) model it was possible to estimate that solidification front velocities (SFV) of between 3 and 25 cm s^?1 occurred during solidification. The SFV calculated from the KGT model was then input into the continuous growth model for solute trapping developed by Aziz to predict the deviation from equilibrium partitioning during solidification for all pulse energy levels employed. The chemical profile of lithium within the re-melted samples was measured using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and compared with that expected for equilibrium segregation. Measurement of the lattice parameter via X-ray diffraction revealed that the solute trapping phenomenon resulted in the formation of a super-saturated solid solution, as is evident through a reduction of the lattice parameter from 4.0485 Å for the starting material to 4.0399 Å in the material re-melted with a pulse energy of 0.125 J.     

The three Rs of river ecosystem resilience: Resources,recruitment, and refugia

Resilience in river ecosystems requires that organisms must persist in the face of highly dynamic hydrological and geomorphological variations. Disturbance events such as floods and droughts are postulated to shape life history traits that support resilience, but river management and conservation would benefit from greater understanding of the emergent effects in communities of river organisms. We unify current knowledge of taxonomic‐, phylogenetic‐, and trait‐based aspects of river communities that might aid the identification and quantification of resilience mechanisms. Temporal variations in river productivity, physical connectivity, and environmental heterogeneity resulting from floods and droughts are highlighted as key characteristics that promote resilience in these dynamic ecosystems. Three community‐wide mechanisms that underlie resilience are (a) partitioning (competition/facilitation) of dynamically varying resources, (b) dispersal, recolonization, and recruitment promoted by connectivity, and (c) functional redundancy in communities promoted by resource heterogeneity and refugia. Along with taxonomic and phylogenetic identity, biological traits related to feeding specialization, dispersal ability, and habitat specialization mediate organism responses to disturbance. Measures of these factors might also enable assessment of the relative contributions of different mechanisms to community resilience. Interactions between abiotic drivers and biotic aspects of resource use, dispersal, and persistence have clear implications for river conservation and management. To support these management needs, we propose a set of taxonomic, phylogenetic, and life‐history trait metrics that might be used to measure resilience mechanisms. By identifying such indicators, our proposed framework can enable targeted management strategies to adapt river ecosystems to global change.     

Silver versus white sheet as a back reflector for microcrystalline silicon solar cells deposited on LPCVD‐ZnO electrodes of various textures

We compare the performance of two back reflector designs on the optoelectrical properties of microcrystalline silicon solar cells. The first one consists of a 5‐µm‐thick low‐pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD)‐ZnO electrode combined with a white sheet; the second one incorporates an Ag reflector deposited on a thin LPCVD‐ZnO layer (with thickness below 200 nm). For this latter design, the optical loss in the nano‐rough Ag reflector can be strongly reduced by smoothing the surface of the thin underlying ZnO layer, by means of an Ar‐plasma treatment. Because of its superior lateral conductivity, the thin‐ZnO/Ag back reflector design provides a higher fill factor than the dielectric back reflector design. When decreasing the roughness of the front electrode with respect to our standard front LPCVD‐ZnO layer, the electrical cell performance is improved; in addition, the implementation of the thin‐ZnO/Ag back reflector leads to a significant relative gain in light trapping. Applying this newly optimized combination of front and back electrodes, the conversion efficiency is improved from 8.9% up to 9.4%, for cells with an active‐layer thickness of only 1.1 µm. We thereby highlight the necessity to optimize simultaneously the front and back electrodes. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

An improved interface model for molten corium-concrete interaction

In the field of research for Severe Accidents of PWRs, calculation results are needed to estimate when corium achieves basemat melt-through. In this framework, knowledge of the heat transfer coefficient as well as the temperature at the interface between the melt and the solid are key issues. It has been previously emphasized that physico-chemistry of the melt (composition) affects the temperature. However, the effect of gas sparging and liquid concrete release on the mechanical stability of the solid layer and on the interface temperature has not been analysed in detail. ARTEMIS 1D tests were launched to analyse the phenomenology at the interface. A general conclusion for all these tests is that a solid medium enriched in refractory species exists at the interface between the pool and the concrete.Tests 2 and 6, which are close to reactor representative conditions, could be well described with the assumption T_interface = T_liquidus. The analysis of tests 3 and 4 revealed that the interfacial medium is thicker by a factor of 4-5 times than calculated with the assumption of pure conduction heat transfer. Detailed analysis leads to the conclusion that the interfacial medium is made of a porous layer of refractory particles embedded in a liquid phase. The liquid density difference, between the porous medium and chimneys, results in recirculation of the liquid in the porous layer. This recirculation is responsible for a convective contribution to heat transfer through the porous layer. The convective heat flux is partly linked to cooling of the recirculating liquid, but also to its partial solidification. The solidification results in gradual plugging and enrichment of the porous layer in refractory species and in the increase of the resistance to heat transfer. The phenomena have been modelled and ARTEMIS tests 3 and 4 are well reproduced. The complete plugging of the porous medium, associated with thermodynamic equilibrium at the interface between the solid medium and the pool leads naturally to the solid crust model implemented in TOLBIAC-ICB. The latter model appears, thus, as a simplification of the porous medium approach described here.Thick interfacial layers, which have composition between refractory and corium mixture, have been observed in ACE and MACE tests with LCS (Limestone-Common Sand) or Limestone concrete and can be explained with the proposed model approach. For siliceous concrete, convection within a porous medium is not possible due to the large viscosity.     

Interactions of diuron with dissolved organic matter from organic amendments

Diuron is frequently detected in some drinking water reservoirs under the Burgundy vineyards, where organic amendments are applied. The environmental effect of these amendments on pesticide transport is ambiguous: on the one hand it could enhance their retention by increasing soil organic carbon content; on the other hand, dissolved organic matter (DOM) could facilitate their transport. Elutions were performed using columns packed with glass beads in order to investigate DOM-diuron interactions, and the possible co-transport of diuron and DOM. Four organic amendments (A, B, C and D) were tested; C and D were sampled at fresh (F) and mature (M) stages. An increase in diuron leaching was observed only for A and D_F amendments (up to 16% compared to the DOM-free blank samples), suggesting a DOM effect on diuron transport. These results could be explained by the higher DOM leaching for A and D_F compared to B, C_F, C_M and D_M increasing diuron-DOM interactions. These interactions seem to be related to the aromatic and aliphatic content of the DOM, determining formation of hydrogen and non-covalent bonds. The degree of organic matter maturity does not seem to have any effect with amendment C, while a reduction in diuron leaching is observed between D_F and D_M. After equilibrium dialysis measurement of diuron-DOM complexes, it appeared that less than 3% of the diuron applied corresponded to complexes with a molecular weight > 1000 Da. Complexes < 1000 Da could also take part in this facilitated transport.     

Dielectric and viscoelastic studies of curing epoxy-amine model systems

Summary The curing of different epoxy-amine model systems which present only gelification and/or vitrification processes has been followed with the evolution of their viscoelastic and electrical behaviours during the network formation. Some attempts are performed to correlate the significant evolution of the mechanical and electrical parameters with the physico-chemical changes of these well defined chemical systems during their hardening and complete curing.