The thermal behavior of mechanically activated galena by thermogravimetry analysis

The thermal decompositions of mechanically activated and nonactivated galenas were studied by thermogravimetry analysis (TGA) at the heating rate of 10 K min⁻¹ in argon. Results indicate that the initial temperature of thermal decomposition (abbreviated as T _di) in the TGA curves for different galenas decreases gradually with increased grinding time. The specific granulometric surface area (S _G), the structural disorder, and the content of elemental sulfur of mechanically activated galenas were analyzed by an X-ray diffraction (XRD) laser particle-size analyzer, XRD analysis, and the gravimetric method, respectively, which shows that the specific granulometric surface area of mechanically activated galenas remains almost constant after a certain grinding time, but the lattice distortions (ε) rise, the crystallite sizes (D) decrease, and the elemental sulfur contents of mechanically activated galenas increase with increased grinding time. The results imply that the decrease of the initial temperature of thermal decomposition in the TGA curves for mechanically activated galenas is mainly caused by the increase of lattice distortions, and the formation of new dangling bonds resulted from the production of elemental sulfur of mechanically activated galenas with increased grinding time. Finally, the differences in the thermal-decomposition reactivity between nonactivated and mechanically activated galenas were also discussed.     

Kinetics of chlorination of tantalum pentoxide in mixture with sucrose carbon by chlorine gas

The mechanism and kinetics of β-Ta₂O₅ chlorination, mixed with sucrose carbon, have been studied by a thermogravimetric technique. The investigated temperature range was 500 °C to 850 °C. The reactants and reaction residues were analyzed by scanning electronic microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller method for surface area (BET). The effect of various experimental parameters was studied, such as carbon percentage, temperature, chlorine partial pressure, and flow, use of the multiple sample method, and carbon previous oxidation. The carbon percentage and previous treatment have an effect on the system reactivity. The temperature has a marked effect on the reaction rate. In the 500 °C to 600 °C temperature interval, the apparent activation energy is 144 kJ/mol of oxide, while at higher temperatures, the activation energy decreases. With high chorine partial pressures, the order of reaction is near zero. The kinetic contractile plate model, X=kt, considering carbon oxidation as the controlling stage, is the one with the best fit to the experimental data. A probable mechanism for the carbochlorination of β-Ta₂O₅ is proposed: (1) activation of chlorine on the carbon surface, (2) chlorination of Ta₂O₅, (3) oxidation of carbon, and (4) recrystallization of β-Ta₂O₅.     

Formal techniques for performance analysis: blending SAN and PEPA

In this paper we consider two performance modelling techniques from the perspectives of model construction, generation of an underlying continuous time Markov process, and the potential for reduction in the Markov process. Such careful comparison of modelling techniques allows us to appreciate the strengths and weaknesses of different approaches, and facilitates cross-fertilization between them. In the present case we take a characteristic of one formalism, functional rates in Stochastic Automata Networks, and introduce it to the other formalism, Performance Evaluation Process Algebra. We investigate the benefits of this cross-fertilization, particularly from the perspectives of Markov process generation and reduction.     

Simultaneous translation of lectures and speeches

With increasing globalization, communication across language and cultural boundaries is becoming an essential requirement of doing business, delivering education, and providing public services. Due to the considerable cost of human translation services, only a small fraction of text documents and an even smaller percentage of spoken encounters, such as international meetings and conferences, are translated, with most resorting to the use of a common language (e.g. English) or not taking place at all. Technology may provide a potentially revolutionary way out if real-time, domain-independent, simultaneous speech translation can be realized. In this paper, we present a simultaneous speech translation system based on statistical recognition and translation technology. We discuss the technology, various system improvements and propose mechanisms for user-friendly delivery of the result. Over extensive component and end-to-end system evaluations and comparisons with human translation performance, we conclude that machines can already deliver comprehensible simultaneous translation output. Moreover, while machine performance is affected by recognition errors (and thus can be improved), human performance is limited by the cognitive challenge of performing the task in real time.     

Calciothermic reduction of titanium oxide in molten CaCl<Subscript>2</Subscript>

Titanium oxides were reduced to metallic titanium using the liquid calcium floating on the molten CaCl₂. A part of Ca dissolved into CaCl₂ and reacted with TiO₂ settled below CaCl₂. The by-product CaO also dissolved by about 20 mol pct into CaCl₂, which was effective in reducing the oxygen concentration in the obtained Ti particles. The compositional region in the Ca-CaCl₂-CaO system was examined for the less oxygen contamination in Ti and the better handling in leaching. A large amount of the residual calcium oxidized the titanium powder in leaching. The metallic Ti powder less than 1000 mass ppm oxygen could be obtained only for 3.6 ks using 5 to 7 mol pct Ca-CaCl₂ at 1173 K. The powder was slightly sintered like sponge, and contained approximately 1500 ppm Ca. The anatase phae, the intermediate product in the refining process of TiO₂, could be also supplied as raw material as well as rutile.