Fabrication and operation limit of lead-free PTCR ceramics using BaTiO3–(Bi1/2Na1/2)TiO3 system

The electric properties of BaTiO₃–(Bi_1/2Na_1/2)TiO₃ (BT–BNT) solid solution ceramics were studied as a lead-free PTCR (positive temperature coefficient of resistivity) thermistor material usable over 130°C. For determining the maximum switching temperature T _s, the phase diagram of BT–BNT binary system was clarified. Two semiconductorization processes and their electric properties are described. The lanthanum(La)-doped BBNT ceramics sintered in air still showed dielectric behaviors, but the niobium(Nb)-doped ones had a low resistivity at room temperature, ρ _RT, on the order of 10³ Ωcm and showed a PTC behavior. Sintering under a low O₂ atmosphere produces BT–BNT ceramics with less than 10² Ωcm compared to those prepared in air. Our current research produced the BBNT ceramics with T _s values around 210°C by increasing the (Bi_1/2Na_1/2) content in the ceramics.     

Effects of plating factors on morphology and appearance of electrogalvanized steel sheets

Because the lightness, the gloss and the press-formability of electrogalvanized steel sheets change depending on the morphology of deposited Zn, control of this factor is essential to improving these properties. The effects of plating factors on the morphology of deposited Zn were systematically discussed both from the crystallographic viewpoint of epitaxy between Zn and steel and from the electrochemical viewpoint of the overpotential for Zn deposition. Plating factors include crystal orientation of steel substrate, current density, flow rate, temperature, addition of inorganic compounds to the solution and pre-adsorption of organic compounds. These plating factors affect the overpotential for Zn deposition and epitaxy between Zn and steel. The crystal orientation index of the Zn basal plane and the platelet crystal size of Zn are decreased with increasing the overpotential for Zn deposition. They are also decreased with decreasing the epitaxy between Zn and steel, even when the overpotential is kept constant. When the overpotential for Zn deposition is increased, the surface roughness of deposited Zn increases because of an increase in the inclination of the Zn basal plane to the steel substrate. When the epitaxy between Zn and steel is decreased without changing the overpotential, the surface roughness is reduced due to the decrease in platelet crystal size of Zn, although the inclination of the Zn basal plane is somewhat increased. The lightness of deposited Zn is enhanced with decreasing the surface roughness of Zn.     

Orientation of nanowires consisting of poly(3-hexylthiophene) using strong magnetic field

Nanowires consisting of regioregular poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) as a conducting polymer were prepared using p-xylene. Magnetic processing of the nanowires was carried out using two superconducting magnets with horizontal (B_max = 8 T) and vertical (B_max = 10 T) directions. The formation of the nanowires was confirmed by atomic force microscopy (AFM) measurement. The results from the AFM images and the polarized absorption spectra on glass plates indicated that the nanowires partly oriented themselves with their long axes, which are parallel to the π–π stacking direction, being perpendicular to the magnetic field. The magnetic orientation is most likely ascribed to anisotropy in the magnetic susceptibilities of the ordered P3HT in the nanowires.     

Microanalyses on the RuO2 Particle–Glass Matrix Interface in Thick-Film Resistors with Piezoresistive Effects

The piezoresistive mechanisms of composite thick films based on RuO₂ particles and both calcium-borosilicate and bismuth-borosilicate glass matrices were investigated by chemical and electrical microanalyses. The resistor based on bismuth-borosilicate glass showed higher sensitivity than that based on calcium-borosilicate glass. It was confirmed that the diffusion of ruthenium into glass affects the binding state of RuO₂ at the interface of the glass. Furthermore, an intermediate resistive layer is detected around the RuO₂ particle. These results suggest that the piezoresistive effect is related to a change in the electrical conductivity of the interfacial reaction layer caused by the diffusion of ruthenium into glass.     

Colloidal Processing and Mechanical Properties of Whisker-Reinforced Mullite Matrix Composites

Aqueous colloidal suspensions in the two systems of CVD-processed ultrafine mullite powder (<0.1 μm), -Si₃N₄ whisker and -mullite whisker, were prepared near the isoelectric point of mullite (pH 7.0) to prevent cracking during drying of wet green compacts consolidated by filtration. The freeze-dried porous green compacts were hot-pressed with a carbon die at 1500°C for 1 h at a pressure of 39 MPa in N₂ atmosphere. The relative densities of the mullite matrix composites with whiskers of 0 to 10 vol% were in the range of 95.2% to 99.8%. Increasing the fraction of Si₃N₄ whisker increased the density, flexural strength, and fracture toughness of the hot-pressed composites. On the other hand, addition of the mullite whisker increased the fracture toughness but decreased the density and strength of the composites.     

Analogy Between Mechanical and Dielectric Strength Distributions for BaTiO3 Ceramics

Mechanical and dielectric strengths were measured for BaTiO₃, ceramics at room temperature. The results were evaluated in terms of Weibull statistics, and a clear analogy between the mechanical and dielectric strength distributions was found.     

Novel UV absorbers prepared from 2,4-dihydroxybenzophenone and hexachlorocyclotriphosphazene

The UV-stabilizing ability and thermal loss from the polystyrene film of novel UV absorbers, 2-[(3-hydroxy-4-benzoyl) phenoxy] pentachlorocyclotriphosphazene (HBPC) and hexakis[ (2-hydroxy-4-benzoyl) phenoxy] cyclotriphosphazene (HBPP), were investigated. The UV-stabilizing ability of HBPC estimated by the formation of carbonyl groups in polystyrene was comparable to that of 2,4-dihydroxybenzophenone (DHB), suggesting that the phosphazene moiety does not affect the efficiency of the stabilizing ability of DHB units. No significant difference of efficiency per stabilizing units between HBPC and HBPP was observed. HBPC and HBPP are noteworthy for their low thermal losses from the polystyrene film, i.e., the thermal loss of HBPP was completely suppressed and the diffusion coefficient of HBPC at 160°C was two orders of magnitude smaller than that of DHB. The thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry measurement showed that HBPC and HBPP are nonvolatile and stable up to 230 and 300°C, respectively. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Estimation of source contribution to nitrate loading in road runoff using stable isotope analysis

The nitrogen load was determined in road runoff during rainfall events. Moreover, nitrate isotopes analysis was conducted to determine the contribution of nitrates from atmospheric deposition and leaching from road dust. The concentrations of NO₃-N in road runoff were higher than those in atmospheric deposits for each rainfall event, except one event with a long antecedent dry weather period. The δ¹⁸O-NO₃ in road runoff was lower than in atmospheric deposits and higher than in leachate from road dust; however, no difference in δ¹⁵N-NO₃ was observed. By using δ¹⁸O-NO₃ as an indicator for evaluating NO₃-N sources in road runoff, contribution ratios of NO₃-N from road dust were estimated to be 14–22%, 23–25%, and 22–34% for Event 1 to Event 3, respectively. These results indicated that the NO₃-N from the atmosphere accounts for more than half of the NO₃-N in road runoff.