The join calcium monoaluminate-calcium fluoride

The system CaO-Al₂O₃-CaF₂ is important in cement and slag technology and in metallurgy. A section of this system, the pseudo-binary join CaO·Al₂O₃-CaF₂, has been studied and the phase diagram established. This join is of particular interest since CaO·Al₂O₃ is one of the main constituents of high alumina cement.Quenching in sealed platinum capsules followed by microscopic and X-ray examination was the principal method used. The only compound on the join is 3CaO·3Al₂O₃·CaF₂ which melts congruently at 1507±1.5° C and forms one eutectic with CaO·Al₂O₃ at 11% CaF₂ and 1498±5° C and another with CaF₂ at 97.5% CaF₂ and 1405±10° C. There is a wide zone of liquid immiscibility. The m.p. of CaF₂ was determined to be 1422±1° C.Attempts to use high temperature microscopy to study this system are described.     

On the nature and structure of ‘niobic acid’ and its pyrolytic products: 1H NMR,I.R., conductivity and Ion exchange studies

Niobic acid of composition H₈Nb₆O₁₉ has been prepared by thorough drying of the hydrated oxide at 150°C. The mass was heated in stages up to 1200°C and the intermediate products were subjected to ¹H NMR measurements for determining their proton content. Infra red spectra indicate the presence of protons which are highly delocalised among different oxygen sites. The electrical conductivity of niobic acid has been interpreted as due to proton-hopping. The ion exchange capacity of the material has also been studied. The data have been used to formulate the structure of niobic acid and to obtain the correct procedure for the gravimetric determination of niobium as oxide.     

The phase equilibrium diagram of the system CaO-Al2O3-CaF2

The phase equilibria of the system CaO-Al₂O₃-CaF₂ have been studied by quenching in sealed platinum capsules followed by microscopic and X-ray examination of quenched products. The established phase diagram contains five ternary eutectics, two ternary peritectics and two invariant points of four-phase monotectic transformations. The system Al₂O₃-CaF₂ has been established to be the stable diagonal of the reversible reciprocal system Al₂O₃ + 3CaF₂ = 3CaO + 2AlF₃. In the high-fluoride region a wide zone of liquid immiscibility has been found. The system also shows such rarely noticed but theoretically possible phenomena as the transformation of peritecticals into eutecticals and occurrence of three different primary fields under single continuous zone of liquid immiscibility.     

Flow of materials in rotary kilns used for sponge iron manufacture: Part II. Effect of kiln geometry

The present work identifies the basic features of burden movement in a rotary kiln. The cold model study was conducted with iron ore as the feed material to determine the influence of length to diameter ratio (L/D) of a rotary kiln on the filling degree, hold-up, and residence time of the charge. An empirical equation correlating different operating variables has been derived on the basis of the experimental results. The influence of individual parameters under different conditions on the residence time and back spillage has also been evaluated. Formerly Joint Director, Research and Development, TISCO     

Three-Phase Induction Generators: A Discussion on Performance

Three-phase Induction Generators (IGs) are increasingly being used as smallscale energy producing devices in nonconventional energy conversion systems. Both squirrel-cage and wound rotor types of induction motors used as generators are popular in this regard. The aim of this paper is to discuss critically the important contributions of researchers on the applications in both grid-connected and isolated modes of operations and critical evaluation of performance of these generators under different operating conditions. The major focus has been on the evaluation performance of squirrel-cage induction motor used as Self-Excited Induction Generator (SEIG), and both experimental and theoretical results are provided to represent the important characteristics of this generator. Finally, the future trend of research in this field has been pointed out.     

Oxidation and Oxidative Bromination Reactions Catalyzed By a Reusable Polymer-Anchored Iron(III) Complex in Water at Room Temperature

A polymer-anchored iron(III) catalyst was synthesized and characterized. Its catalytic activity was evaluated for the oxidation of various alkenes, sulfides, aromatic alcohols and ethylbenzene with 30 % H₂O₂ as the oxidizing agent. The catalyst was also effective for the oxidative bromination reaction with 80–100 % selectivity of monobrominated products with H₂O₂/KBr at room temperature. The above reactions require a minimum amount of H₂O₂ and short reaction time. Most importantly, all the above reactions occur in aqueous medium. The catalyst can be facilely recovered and reused six-atimes without significant decrease in its activity and selectivity.     

Copper(II)‐Catalyzed Aerobic Oxidative Coupling between Chalcone and 2‐Aminopyridine via C?H Amination: An Expedient Synthesis of 3‐Aroylimidazo[1,2‐a]pyridines

A simple and efficient protocol has been developed for the synthesis of 3‐aroylimidazopyridines via copper(II) acetate‐catalyzed aerobic oxidative amination. A library of 3‐aroylimidazopyridines was synthesized from readily accessible chalcones and 2‐aminopyridines with high yields and regioselectivity. The reaction proceeds through a tandem Michael addition followed by an intramolecular oxidative amination. The successful application of this methodology for a gram‐scale reaction indicates its potential for bulk synthesis.

     

Chemically deposited zinc oxide thin film gas sensor

Zinc oxide (ZnO) thin films were prepared by a low cost chemical deposition technique using sodium zincate bath. Structural characterizations by X-ray diffraction technique (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) indicate the formation of ZnO films, containing 0.05–0.50 m size crystallites, with preferred c-axis orientation. The electrical conductance of the ZnO films became stable and reproducible in the 300–450 K temperature range after repeated thermal cyclings in air. Palladium sensitised ZnO films were exposed to toxic and combustible gases e.g., hydrogen (H₂), liquid petroleum gas (LPG), methane (CH₄) and hydrogen sulphide (H₂S) at a minimum operating temperature of 150 °C; which was well below the normal operating temperature range of 200–400 °C, typically reported in literature for ceramic gas sensors. The response of the ZnO thin film sensors at 150 °C, was found to be significant, even for parts per million level concentrations of CH₄ (50 ppm) and H₂S (15 ppm).