Determination of the liquidus of the ternary system Cu-Sn-Ti

The liquidus surface of the ternary system Cu-Sn-Ti was established by determining the primary crystallizing phases as well as the phase reactions involving the liquid phase. The τ ₁CuSn₃Ti₅ and Ti₆Sn₅ have a wide field in terms of the primary composition. The primary crystallization of the τ ₂CuSnTi phase was observed in alloys containing 26 or more at.% Sn and up to 10 at.% Ti. In the tin-rich corner, the liquid phase solidifies in a ternary eutectic reaction.     

Determination of the liquidus of the ternary system Cu-Sn-Ti

The liquidus surface of the ternary system Cu-Sn-Ti was established by determining the primary crystallizing phases as well as the phase reactions involving the liquid phase. The τ ₁CuSn₃Ti₅ and Ti₆Sn₅ have a wide field in terms of the primary composition. The primary crystallization of the τ ₂CuSnTi phase was observed in alloys containing 26 or more at.% Sn and up to 10 at.% Ti. In the tin-rich corner, the liquid phase solidifies in a ternary eutectic reaction.     

Non-Destructive Evaluation Method of Pharmaceutical Tablet by Terahertz-Time-Domain Spectroscopy: Application to Sound-Alike Medicines

To evaluate terahertz time-domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS) as a promising tool for discriminating pharmaceutical tablets, THz-TDS has been applied for discrimination between pharmaceutical tablets with sound-alike names. Two sets of medicine tablets with sound-alike names, that is, Amaryl and Almarl, Zyloric and Zantac, are examined in this study. Based on the difference in THz absorption spectra, we have succeeded in distinguishing between sound-alike medicine tablets clearly for each set. The results in this study suggest that THz-TDS is a useful tool that is indispensable for medical security maintenance, such as a non-destructive way to prevent mix-up of medicine.     

Hydraulic performance and chemical compatibility of a powdered Na-bentonite geosynthetic clay liner permeated with mine drainage

The hydraulic and chemical compatibility of a geosynthetic clay liner (GCL), containing powdered Na-bentonite, was evaluated against artificial acid rock drainage (ARD) in terms of the swell index, hydraulic conductivity and heavy metal retention. Six artificial ARDs with an approximate pH of 3 and different metal concentrations (electrical conductivity, EC, ranging between 75 and 1000 mS/m; ionic strength ranging between 8 and 400 mM) were used in the experiments. The results of free swelling tests showed that high metal concentrations (EC higher than 70 mS/m) negatively impact the swell volume by lowering it. The hydraulic conductivity of the GCL permeated with distilled water was 1.2 × 10^?11 m/s, falling in the range of 7.9 × 10^?12 to 1.1 × 10^?10 m/s when prehydrated with distilled water and permeated with ARDs. The ion exchange and metal precipitation appeared to be the main mechanisms controlling the metal attenuation on the bentonite. The ion exchange mechanism starts with the release of Na from the bentonite and the sorption of the bi- and tri-metals present in the ARDs onto the bentonite. After the depletion of Na, the ion exchange reaction proceeds with the desorption of Ca and Mg from the bentonite and the sorption of cations present in the ARDs onto the bentonite layers. The depletion of Na from the bentonite and the subsequent release of Ca and Mg correlate to the sudden drop in pH and a gradual increase or equilibration of the hydraulic conductivity. It is possible to say that, after this point, hydraulic and chemical equilibrium is reached. From the overall results, the tested GCL showed acceptably low hydraulic conductivity and the potential to attenuate heavy metals present in ARDs.     

Elastic Properties of Titanium Monoboride Measured by Nanoindentation

In order to measure the elastic properties of titanium monoboride (TiB), which are not well known, a Ti/TiB composite with 95% volume fraction of TiB was fabricated by the powder metallurgy route. After compacting mixed Ti+TiB₂ powders by a hot unidirectional pressure (1200°C, 25 MPa, 60 min, <10⁻² Pa), annealing at 1200°C was performed for 48 h, after which the main phase in the material was TiB. The elastic properties of TiB were directly measured by using the nanoindentation technique. The polycrystalline modulus and hardness of the TiB were 450 and 27.5 GPa, respectively.     

Accumulation of neurons differentiated from mouse embryonic stem cells in particular areas of culture plate surface

Nanoscale magnetic beads coated with nerve growth factor (NGF) allow us to accumulate neurons differentiated from mouse ES cells in a selected area of the culture plate surface using a magnet. Neurons with neurite outgrowths within a particular area expressed TrkA and incorporated beads in the soma.     

Effect of ozone on corrosion behavior of mild steel in seawater

The effect of ozone on corrosion of mild steel in flowing seawater was investigated by using immersion test and electrochemical techniques including potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. It is found that the weight loss of the steel specimens in the seawater containing 2 ppm ozone is significantly less than that in natural seawater. Localized corrosion occurs in the specimens exposed to ozonated seawater, while general corrosion happens to the specimens in natural seawater. Ozone facilitates the formation of corrosion-protective film on steel surface, which increases the charge transfer resistance and decreases the anodic current of steel in seawater.     

Enhanced activities of lipase pretreated with organic solvents

The catalytic activities of lipases derived from Pseudomonas sp and pretreated with various organic solvents were investigated. The activity of the solvent‐pretreated lipase was greater than that of native lipase in both the esterification reaction in an organic medium and the hydrolysis reaction in an aqueous medium. With esterification calalysed by pretreated lipase, the product, benzyl octanoate, was detected without time‐lag. Conversions at equilibrium state were correlated with the hydrophobicities of the solvents used. In the hydrolysis reaction, most pretreated lipases yielded increased acid production compared with native lipase. A linear correlation was observed between the solvent hydrophobicity and the relative initial reaction rate of the hydrolysis reaction when using pretreated lipases. © 2001 Society of Chemical Industry     

Phase stability of SiC against Ti at high temperature

SiC to SiC were reacted by Ti foil at high temperature of 1673 K in vacuum. Ti reacted with SiC, and formed many reaction phases between SiC and Ti. At 1673 K SiC reacted at a reaction time of 0.5 ks or longer. From the SiC many reaction zones of Ti₃SiC₂, Ti₅Si₃C_X, Ti₅Si₃C_X + TiC, and TiC + Ti were formed. Ti binary compound of TiC and Ti ternary compounds of Ti₃SiC₂, and Ti₅Si₃C_X, were formed. The principle of the reaction zones was thermodynamically discussed by the corresponding chemical potential diagram.