Probing the thermal decomposition process of layered double hydroxides through in situ <Superscript>57</Superscript>Fe Mössbauer and in situ X-ray diffraction experiments

The thermal decomposition properties of Mg–Fe hydrotalcites were studied through in situ ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy and in situ X-ray diffraction. Abrupt changes in the quadrupolar splitting measured in the Mössbauer spectra revealed a phase transition from the starting lamellar structure to a new crystalline arrangement. By analyzing the Mössbauer parameters we show that the material is highly disordered in the 300–400 °C temperature range. This hypothesis is confirmed by the X-ray results whose diffractograms indicated the collapse of the lamellar structure and the formation of a solid solution.     

Hydrogen adsorption studies in micro-size cobalt dots

Hydrogen desorption curves were obtained from a sample composed of a square arrangement of Co dots with average diameter of 4.4 μm, separated by a distance of 11.6 μm. A macroscopic sample of Co dots grown on a 2.5 × 2.5 cm Si substrate was made by standard lithographic techniques and used in these experiments. Thermal programmed desorption (TPD) was performed under ultra-high vacuum conditions. Hydrogen TPD curves were obtained from a 1 × 1 cm Co dots samples displaying a maximum of intensity at 425 K. Hydrogen TPD curve was also obtained from 1 cm× 1 cm samples of Co films and Co foils for comparison. The hydrogen TPD curves have decreasing intensity from the Co foils to the Co dots and finally to the Co films. This indicates that there are more sites for hydrogen adsorption on the Co dots than in the Co films. This is a surprising result because there is approximately 8.7 times less Co atoms exposed in the Co dots that in the Co film sample. A desorption energy of 27 kcal/mol was obtained for the Co dots suggesting that hydrogen is adsorbed on an hcp hollow site of the Co dot crystalline structure.     

A review on the synthesis of in situ aluminum based composites by thermal,mechanical and mechanical–thermal activation of chemical reactions

The aim of the present paper is to review the recent progress in the synthesis of in situ particle reinforced aluminum composites using thermal, mechanical and combined mechanical-thermal activation of aluminothermic reduction reactions. The combination of combustion synthesis (CS) and mechanosynthesis (MS) is the most recent development in the processing of advanced materials like micro and nano aluminum based composites. The combined mechanical thermal synthesis (MTS) has widened the possibilities for both CS and MS. MTS holds great potential for commercial viability and offers exciting processing route for the synthesis of advanced materials. Enhanced reaction kinetics and extended concentration limits in MTS are demonstrated by illustrating the synthesis of aluminum based nanocomposite involving Al–CeO₂.     

Vibrating Wire Thermometry in Superfluid 3He

We report systematic measurements of the response of a Vibrating Wire Resonator (VWR) in normal and superfluid liquid ³He. Special attention has been paid to the hydrodynamic regime of the superfluid B-phase, where the response parameters of the VWR do not follow a simple law. We show that a simple interpolation between the region where first order slip-corrections can be applied and the ballistic regime is insufficient. Measuring an empirical effective viscosity, we propose a temperature calibration method which allows the use of VWRs as a secondary thermometer at intermediate and high pressures in the temperature range 0.2 T _c < T < 50 mK.     

The hypersonic environment: Required operating conditions and design challenges

Hypersonic flight powered by airbreathing engines offers the potential for faster response time at long ranges, and reduced cost for access-to-space. In the present paper the operating environment of typical hypersonic vehicles are discussed, including results for the radiation equilibrium wall temperature of external vehicle surfaces and the flow properties through three sample engines spanning the range of hydrocarbon-fueled Mach 4-8 flight and hydrogen-fueled flight at speeds up to Mach 17. Flow conditions at several locations through the sample engines were calculated to provide indications of the required operating flow environment. Additional system consideration such a seals, joints, vehicle integration and in-service engineering are addressed.     

Electrophoretic deposition of monochrome and color phosphor screens for information displays

This paper reviews our research on the electrophoretic deposition (EPD) of phosphors for the processing of monochromatic and color screens for information displays. Our investigation began with the study of the fundamentals of the EPD process for phosphors. The processing variables which enhance the adhesion strength of phosphor deposits were determined. The optical performance of phosphors deposited by EPD was shown to be not affected by the process itself nor by the conditions which enhance phosphor adhesion. Processes developed to produce high-resolution color screens by combining EPD and photolithography techniques are described. Also, a method to electrophoretically deposit phosphor in a thermo-reversible gel from mixtures of poly(butyl methacrylate) and isopropanol was examined.