Investigation into the formation of phases with a Ba<Subscript>2</Subscript>Ti<Subscript>9</Subscript>O<Subscript>20</Subscript>-type structure in the BaO-TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> and BaO-SrO-TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> systems

The mechanism of formation of barium titanate Ba₂Ti₉O₂₀ in the BaO-TiO₂ and BaO-SrO-TiO₂ systems is investigated using initial mixtures prepared by three methods, namely, mechanical grinding of the initial reactants, coprecipitation from aqueous solutions of salts, and the sol-gel technique. It is established that, irrespective of the preparation procedure, the formation of Ba₂Ti₉O₂₀ proceeds through the formation of the intermediate phases BaTi₄O₉ and BaTi₅O₁₁. The nature of the intermediate phases is determined by the homogeneity and dispersion of the initial mixture, as well as by the stability of the intermediate phase. The most optimum conditions for the synthesis of Ba₂Ti₉O₂₀ are provided by the formation of BaTi₅O₁₁ as an intermediate phase upon heat treatment of the coprecipitation products in the nanocrystalline state. The metastability and structural defects in the BaTi₅O₁₁ intermediate phase encourage a decrease in the temperature of the final heat treatment by 100–150°C in the course of the preparation of Ba₂Ti₉O₂₀ single-phase ceramics.     

Lower Kama hydrofacility

Papers

Lower Kama hydrofacility     

Reactivity of platinum nanoaggregates on various types of supports in catalytic decomposition of hydrazine in acid solutions

Platinized catalysts on various types of supports were tested in the catalytic decomposition of hydrazine in HClO₄ and HNO₃ solutions, where the process follows different pathways. In HClO₄, the activity of the catalysts supported on a Termoksid ceramic material is higher than that of the catalysts supported on amorphous silica gel. In nitric acid solutions, the trend is reverse. Peptization of the ceramic supports in acid solutions increasing in the order 75% TiO₂-25% SnO₂ < 75% TiO₂-25% ZrO₂ ? TiO₂ < ZrO₂ was observed. In perchloric acid solutions, the catalyst specific activity in the hydrazine adsorption-dissociative decomposition increases with decreasing size of platinum crystallites on the support. In nitric acid solutions, where the hydrazine decomposition proceeds as its catalytic oxidation with nitric acid, the catalyst specific activity decreases with a decrease in the size of the catalyst crystallites, i.e., the catalyst centers located on large crystallites are more active. The results obtained were attributed to the energetic heterogeneity of the surface Pt atoms and various mechanisms of the hydrazine catalytic decomposition in various media.     

Determination of 90Sr, 238Pu, 239,240Pu, 241Pu, and 241Am in soils of chernobyl region using various sample preparation techniques

Radiochemical analysis is made of soddy-podzolic sandy and peaty gley soils collected from the Chernobyl zone. Radionuclides were separated by extraction chromatography or ion exchange, and then determined using an α-ray spectrometer and liquid scintillation and proportional gas counters. Leaching from the preliminarily calcined sample with 8 M HNO₃ does not ensure 100% recovery of radionuclides from peaty gley soil.     

Assurance of uniformity of measurements of spectral and dispersion characteristics in fiber-optic information transmission systems with wavelength-division multiplexing

The state and problems involved in achieving the uniformity of measurements in the field of fiber-optic information transmission systems and their components are considered. Possible approaches to the solution of these problems and the basic methods and techniques that have been developed in Russia up to this point are analyzed. __________ Translated from Izmeritel’naya Tekhnika, No. 5, pp. 30–34, May, 2006.     

Synthesis and dielectric properties of Sr0.6 − x Ba0.4Na2x Nb2O6 solid solutions

We have prepared Sr_{0.6 ? x} Ba_0.4Na_2x Nb₂O₆ (0 ≤ 2x ≤ 0.3) solid solutions with the tetragonal tungsten bronze (TTB) structure, investigated the sequence of phase changes involved, and determined the lattice parameters of the solid solutions. The electrical properties of polycrystalline samples have been studied in broad frequency and temperature ranges. The results indicate that an increase in sodium content, accompanied by a reduction in the concentration of vacancies on the A site of the TTB structure, reduces the rate of dielectric relaxation.     

Technical refitting of cogeneration stations on the basis of combined-cycle technologies with the use of a parallel scheme

Results from analyzing different versions of combined-cycle toppings that can be used for technically refitting the TETs-23 cogeneration station are presented. Changes in the operating conditions of the turbine and boiler are investigated, thermal schemes are developed, and questions concerning the placement of new equipment on the old site are considered. An approach to evaluating the effect from refitting the cogeneration station is proposed that uses parameters calculated per unit of the additional power obtained during the refitting.     

The effect of initial conditions on ignition and burnup of the anthracite culm dust during its combustion together with natural gas

The effects on ignition length of fractional composition of coal dust, hot air temperature, primary air excess coefficient, degree of mixing of primary and secondary air, and heat fraction of gas in a mixture of fuels are investigated.     

Testing the type GT-10S (SGT 700) gas turbine units at the Sochi thermal power station

We present the results from thermal tests of the GT-10S gas-turbine units produced by Siemens, operating as part of PGU-39 power-generating units Nos. 1 and 2 at the Sochi thermal power station, which are the first ones of this type in Russia.     

Experimental investigation of the current-induced breakage of metal-coated polymer films

We have experimentally studied the phenomenon of current-induced breakage of thin (∼20-to 30-nm-thick) metal films deposited onto poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PETP) and poly(propylene) (PP) substrates. Two mechanisms leading to the current-induced breakage of the metal film are established, which are characterized by different average threshold current densities: j _H ∼ 1.5 × 10¹⁰ A/m² and j _L ∼ 0.7 × 10¹⁰ A/m². The possible nature of these mechanisms is discussed.