Novel SiC synthesis method applicable to SiC solid phase sintering

Most of the present production processes of SiC sintered bodies require some powder mixing using a mechanical milling process (ball milling, and so on). In this case, relatively long hours are required, and there is the problem of contamination during the preparation process. To avoid these problems, we developed a new process for obtaining a self-sinterable, stoichiometric SiC powder, whose precursor material is water-soluble; the precursor material was synthesized from aqueous silica and citric acid containing a small amount of aluminum compound. In order to obtain the stoichiometric SiC composition, the above aqueous precursor material was adequately cured in air (200°C-400°C); subsequently carbonization reaction (~800°C) in nitrogen atmosphere, carbothermal reduction (~1600°C) in argon atmosphere, and pressureless sintering (~1900°C) were performed. Among these processes, the curing process (cross-linking process) is very important for obtaining the equivalent composition (silica and carbon) for the subsequent carbothermal reduction. In this study, the adequate curing temperature and suitable preparation condition for the carbothermal reduction were investigated for the production of stoichiometric self-sinterable SiC powder. The pressureless sintered body achieved using the obtained SiC powder demonstrated a desirable trans-crystalline fracture behavior.     

Electron cyclotron resonance plasma production by using pulse mode microwaves and dependences of ion beam current and plasma parameters on the pulse condition

We measure the ion beam current and the plasma parameters by using the pulse mode microwave operation in the first stage of a tandem type ECRIS. The time averaged extracted ion beam current in the pulse mode operation is larger than that of the cw mode operation with the same averaged microwave power. The electron density n(e) in the pulse mode is higher and the electron temperature T(e) is lower than those of the cw mode operation. These plasma parameters are considered to cause in the increase of the ion beam current and are suitable to produce molecular or cluster ions.     

A proposal of a temporal semantics aware linked data information retrieval framework

Temporal features, such as an explicit date and time or a time-specific event, employ concise semantics for any kind of information retrieval. Therefore, temporal features should be suitable for linked data information retrieval. However, we have found that most linked data information retrieval techniques pay little attention to the power of temporal feature inclusion. We propose a keyword-based linked data information retrieval framework ‘ that can incorporate temporal features and give more concise results. The evaluation of our system performance indicates that it is promising.     

Synthesis of highly active superacids of SO4/ZrO2 with Ir,Pt, Rh,Ru, Os,and Pd substances for reaction of butane

Highly acidic catalysts stronger than the SO₄/ZrO₂ superacid with an acid strength of Ho –16.04 were obtained by kneading Zr(OH)₄ with ammonium sulfate together with chlorides of Ir, Pt, Rh, Ru, Os, and Pd followed by calcining in air at 600°C, the metal concentration being equivalent to Pt of 7.5 wt% based on the hydroxide. The catalysts with Ir and Pt materials were highest in activity for the skeletal isomerization of butane to isobutane. The present catalysts were not obtained by treating the crystallized oxide, ZrO₂ calcined at 700°C, but the amorphous form followed by calcination to the crystallization.Superacids by metal oxides, VI. For previous publication in this series see ref. [1].     

Homolog of a-factor receptor gene in Saccharomyces exiguus

Homologs of Saccharomyces cerevisiae STE3, a -factor receptor gene were detected from S. exiguus NFRI 3539 by low stringency Southern hybridization. This strain might have at least two types of homolog. One of these homologs, designated as e-STE3 was cloned. Its nucleotide sequence revealed 60% identity to STE3. The putative protein coding region consisted of 453 amino acid residues. The amino acid sequence identity between STE3 and e-STE3 was 62%, and that of the N-terminal 303 amino acid residues considered to be the pheromone binding domain was 79%. The e-STE3 sequence submitted to the DDBJ/EMBL/GenBank data libraries is available under Accession Number AB003086. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Estimation method for the light extraction efficiency of light-emitting elements with a rigorous grating diffraction theory

The light extraction efficiency of a light-emitting element with microstructured surface is analyzed with a rigorous grating diffraction theory. The grating theory reveals an improvement of extraction efficiency due to diffraction of light by the surface microstructure. The simulation results show that the improvement of extraction efficiency is due mainly to the reflected diffraction rather than to the transmitted diffraction. A part of total-internal-reflection light is diffracted into directions at less than the critical angle. Extraction efficiency is improved by multiple reflection and diffraction of light in a high-refractive-index layer. We propose a simple design method for an efficient surface microstructure from the viewpoint of reflected diffraction.     

Formation of Exclusive Al2O3 Scale on Nb and Nb-Rich Alloys by Two-Step Oxygen–Aluminum Diffusion Process

External Al₂O₃ scale formation behavior by a diffusion aluminizing process on Nb and Nb–X (X?=?Mo, Re, and Ta) alloys with different oxygen solubilities was investigated. The oxygen content in Nb and Nb–X alloys was controlled by oxygen diffusion treatment at 1,100?°C using Nb/NbO mixture. Nb–aluminide, NbAl₃ and Nb₂Al, layers were developed on the low-oxygen Nb substrate by an aluminum diffusion treatment using Al/Al₂O₃/NH₄Cl mixture at 1,100?°C; whereas an adhesive Al₂O₃ scale developed on the Nb substrate with higher oxygen content. The alloy oxygen content decreased by an addition of Ta, Mo and Re, in this order, and the decrease in alloy oxygen content resulted in the transition of Al₂O₃ formation from external scale to internal precipitates. This transition was not observed when low Al activity powder mixture, Ni50Al/Al₂O₃/NH₄Cl, was used for Al diffusion process, and only external Al₂O₃ scale was developed on all samples. In the present study, the effects of oxygen solubility limit, oxygen content, and the activity of Al in diffusion process on the formation of Al₂O₃ scale will be discussed.