Corrosion behavior of Hastelloy-N alloys in molten salt fluoride in Ar gas or in air

The effects of air on the corrosion of Hastelloy-N alloys in molten salt coolant containing fission product elements were investigated to determine the safety of structural materials in high-temperature reactors cooled with fluoride salt. Corrosion tests of Hastelloy-N in the molten fluoride salt FLiNaK in an alumina crucible and a graphite crucible under argon gas or air were performed at 773–923 K for 100 h. The depth of corrosive attack, as well as the extent of chromium and molybdenum depletion, increased with increasing temperature. The extent of Hastelloy-N corrosion in molten salt under air was significantly greater than under argon gas. The effect of adding the impurity cesium iodide to molten salt containing nuclear waste fuel on the corrosion behavior was negligible.     

Playback performance of ultrahigh-capacity tape media with nanosized composite advanced particle (NanoCAP)

We have developed nanosized composite advanced particles (NanoCAP) with spherical shape and high coercivity, and fabricated dual coated tape to evaluate playback performance. The spherical shape contributes to smooth surfaces and reduced boundary variation between the magnetic layer and underlayer. The fine particle size, 17 nm, yields low media noise and high signal-to-noise ratio. The high coercivity, compared to metal particulate media, contributes to high amplitude resolution (D50=170 kfci). We confirmed that write demagnetization is well restrained and that NanoCAP tape should show very good playback performance with a superior writer.     

Development of an evaluation system for electron emission characteristics and generation of X-rays using a needle type semiconductor diamond electron emitter

Emission currents and other characteristics of needle type diamond electron emitters were evaluated for application to diamond X-ray sources. The evaluation system consisted of a Pyrex glass vacuum chamber, a turbo molecular pump, and a − 50 kV high-voltage supplier. A needle type phosphorus-doped semiconductor diamond electron emitter was kept at 600 °C by ohmic heating in a vacuum environment; emission current of ca. 1.1 μA was observed with bias voltage of − 50 kV. In addition, the electron orbit and intensity were estimated using an electron optics and electron gun design program ‘EGUN’. Great differences were apparent between experimental and calculated results: 64 μA electron emission current. This result was probably the result of a change in the shape of the tip of the diamond electron emitter. X-rays were generated using electrons from the diamond electron emitter with a tungsten target; energy spectra of the generated X-rays were measured. Then fluoroscopy was carried out.     

Preparation of copper-containing mesoporous manganese oxides and their catalytic performance for CO oxidation

Copper-containing mesoporous manganese oxides were prepared by the sol–gel method. The samples obtained were characterized by XRD, N₂ adsorption–desorption, ICP, CO-TPD, redox measurement and XPS. After calcination at 300 °C, amorphous structure was shown by XRD for all the samples. All the samples had mesopores of about 6 nm and high surface areas of 170–230 m² g⁻¹. Using these samples as catalysts, CO oxidation was carried out as a model reaction. Copper-containing mesoporous manganese oxide prepared by the sol–gel method showed a very high activity. On the other hand, copper-supported manganese oxide prepared by the impregnation method using copper sulfate showed a low activity. Differences in activities were correlated with the mobility of lattice oxygen.     

Monolithically series-interconnected transparent modules of dye-sensitized solar cells

We have realized a new type of dye-sensitized solar cell (DSC) modules. The monolithically series interconnected structure, which is similar to the structure of amorphous silicon solar cells (SCs), was employed so that the advantages of DSCs compared to conventional silicon SCs (low costs, low energy consumption in production processes) were fully exploited. To achieve other important features of DSCs (transparency and color choice) we have developed transparent counter electrodes (CEs) composed of Pt-loaded In₂O₃:Sn nanoparticles and separators composed of SiO₂ nanoparticles to replace conventional non-transparent ones used in the modules. The performance of the new CEs is significantly improved to be close to those of conventional ones during electric generation operations. In all 85% of the maximal conversion efficiency was maintained after 2000 h of a durability test under 1 sun light soaking at 60 °C.     

Polyamide microcapsules containing alginic acid: extractability of metal ions and surface characterization by XPS

The pathophysiological role of the Thy-1.1 molecule expressed on rat mesangial cells with regard to mesangial cell dysfunction and injury remains unknown. The mechanism of Thy-1.1-associated injury has now been investigated with two monoclonal antibodies, 1-22-3 and OX7, that recognize different epitopes of Thy-1.1. Mesangiolysis and mesangial cell proliferation were more marked in rats injected with 1-22-3 than in those treated with OX7. Immunostaining for rat complement component C3 and also C9 was similar in the kidneys of rats 1 h after injection of either antibody. Alpha smooth muscle actin was first detected 3 days after injection of 1-22-3 and peaked on day 5; type I collagen staining showed a mesangial pattern on days 5 and 10. The staining for alpha smooth muscle actin and type I collagen was less intense in OX7-treated rats than in the 1-22-3-injected rats. The amounts of mRNAs encoding collagen types I and III peaked 5 days after injection of 1-22-3 and 10 days after injection of OX7. Rats injected with 1-22-3 developed proteinuria that was already marked on day 1 and peaked at 150 mg/day on day 3, whereas OX7 induced a low grade of proteinuria with large interindividual variability on day 3. Immunostaining for rat C3 in the normal rat kidneys, incubated in vitro with 1-22-3 or OX7 followed by incubation with normal rat fresh serum as a complement source, as well as the levels of serum complement activity, CH50, 30 min after injection of 1-22-3 or OX7 were similar, suggesting that the difference in the nephritogenicity of these two antibodies is not attributable to a difference in their complement-fixing activities, but rather may result from the difference in epitope specificities. The epitope recognized by 1-22-3 thus appears to be important in the initiation and progression of antibody-induced nephritis.     

Expression of ICAM-1 in implanted primary and metastatic squamous cell carcinomas in rats

FF6 tumor cells are derived from a spontaneous rat squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) which originally arose in the facial skin of a DA rat. In this study, FF6 tumor cells were implanted into rat oral mucosa to establish an ex vivo metastatic model. We analyzed the expression of intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in the implanted primary and metastatic FF6 tumors by immuno-staining with a monoclonal antibody (mAb) against ICAM-1. The implanted primary FF6 cells showed strong expression of ICAM-1, whereas the tumor cells of metastatic lesions showed weak or negative expression of ICAM-1. By immunostaining with mAb OX6, a number of MHC class II-positive macrophages were detected in tumor mesenchyme and surrounding the metastatic foci. These results suggested that the local immune reaction in the lymph node influenced the expression of ICAM-1 on tumor cells, and that MHC class II-positive macrophages may play a role in transplanted tumor growth and metastases.     

Influence of NH4Cl Powder Addition for Fabrication of Aluminum Nitride Coating in Reactive Atmospheric Plasma Spray Process

Reactive plasma spray is the key to fabricating aluminum nitride (AlN) thermally sprayed coatings. It was possible to fabricate AlN/Al composite coatings using atmospheric plasma spray process through plasma nitriding of Al powders (Al 30 ??m). The nitriding reaction and the AlN content could be improved by controlling the spray distance and the feedstock powder particle size. Increasing the spray distance and/or using smaller particle size of Al powders improved the in-flight nitriding reaction. However, it was difficult to fabricate thick and dense AlN coatings with an increase in the spray distance and/or when using fine particles. Thus, the coatings thickness was suppressed because of the complete nitriding of some particles (formation of AlN particles) during flight, which prevents the particle deposition. Furthermore, the excessive vaporization of Al fine particles (due to increased particle temperature) decreased the deposition efficiency. To fabricate thick AlN coatings in the reactive plasma spray process, improving the nitriding reaction of the large Al particles at short spray distance is required to decrease the vaporization of Al particles during flight. This study investigated the influence of adding ammonium chloride (NH₄Cl) powders on the nitriding process of large Al powders and on the microstructure of the fabricated coatings. It was possible to fabricate thick AlN coatings at 100 mm spray distance with small addition of NH₄Cl powders to the Al feedstock powders (30 ??m). Addition of NH₄Cl to the starting Al powders promoted the formation of AlN through changing the reaction path to vapor-phase nitridation chlorination-nitridation sequences as confirmed by the thermodynamic analysis of possible intermediate reactions. This changes the nitriding reaction to a mild way, so it is more controlled with no explosive mode and with relatively low heating rates. Thus, NH₄Cl acts as a catalyst, nitrogen source, and diluent agent. Furthermore, the evolved gases from the sublimation or decomposition of NH₄Cl can prevent the Al particles coalescing after melting.