Preparation of 1-2-3 Superconductors from Hydroxide–Carbonate Coprecipitation

A batch coprecipitation of 1-2-3 superconductor precursor powder was accomplished by adding an aqueous solution of mixed nitrates rapidly to a mixture of sodium or potassium hydroxide and carbonate. The blue hydrogel, an intimate mixture of Y(OH)₃, BaCO₃, and Cu(OH)₂, was filtered and washed by decantation, using water sparged with CO₂ to control the pH. After a second filtration, drying and calcination, the product was a homogeneous powder, with an average particle size of about 1 μm, free of alkali, and with excellent superconducting properties. The process is reproducible, inexpensive, and easy to scale to higher production rates. Important process parameters are the following: the time and temperature of precipitation; alkali ratios; volume, temperature, and pH of the wash water; and time of calcination.     

Analysis of nickel refinery dusts

After characterization of bulk samples by inductively coupled plasma emission spectroscopic (ICP-ES) quantitative analysis and X-ray powder diffraction studies, single particle techniques using quantitative image analysis, scanning electron microscopy--energy dispersive analysis by X-ray, and finally laser beam ionization mass spectrometry analysis (LIMA) for surface analysis have been applied to historical nickel refinery dust samples from the nickel refining plant at Clydach in Wales. There were two historical samples of processed material from 1920 and 1929. These samples had a remarkably small particle size range, mean 3 microns and range, 0.75-24 microns. The most significant difference in elemental composition was the presence of 10% arsenic in the 1920 sample compared with 1% in the 1929 sample. The X-ray spectra revealed the presence of NiO in both. However, surprisingly, CuO was identified only in the 1929 sample. Of particular interest was the presence of a component, in the 1920 sample only, identified as the mineral orcelite, a copper-iron-nickel-arsenide-sulphide mineral, predominantly, Ni5-XAs2. Using the LIMA technique, it was found that in both samples, arsenic and arsenic derivative peaks are prominent, indicating the surface availability of arsenic compounds.     

Effects of sleep on wake-induced c-fos expression

We investigated the effects of sleep on wake-induced c-fos expression in the cerebral cortex of rats and c-fos-lacZ transgenic mice. In the cortex of rats, the levels of c-Fos, detected both by immunocytochemistry and Western blot, remained high during 6 or 12 hr of enforced wakefulness but declined rapidly (within 1 hr) with increasing time of recovery sleep. Similarly, in the transgenic mice in which lacZ expression is driven from the c-fos promoter, beta-galactosidase activity was high after enforced wakefulness and declined with increasing amounts of sleep. These results suggest that the decrease in c-Fos protein in cortical neurons during sleep may be attributable to cessation of c-fos expression, activation of a process that degrades the wake-induced c-Fos, or both.     

Active RF filter for high voltage transmission lines

A new technique is described for a general active radio frequency (RF) filter trap that can be used to suppress noise or interference on high-voltage (HV) transmission line carrier signals. The techinque exploits the Miller effect of an RF amplifier in conjunction with a special sensing circuit and is potentially far more economical to implement than conventional techniques that use passive HV filter components     

Flammability of polystyrene layered silicate (clay) nanocomposites: Carbonaceous char formation

Polymer layered‐silicate (clay) nanocomposites have not only the unique advantage of reduced flammability, but also improved mechanical properties. This is a key advantage over many flame retardants, which reduce flammability but also reduce the mechanical properties of the polymer. In our efforts to further understand the mechanism of flame retardancy with polymer‐clay nanocomposites, we investigated the effect of the clay, the loading level and polymer melt viscosity on the flammability of polystyrene‐clay nanocomposites. The nanoscale dispersion of the clay in the polymer was analysed by wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Cone calorimetry and gasification studies were used to evaluate the flammability of these nanocomposites. There were major reductions in peak heat release rates (HRRs), and increased carbonaceous char formation, for these nanocomposites. It was determined that while the viscosity of the PS nanocomposite played a role in lowering the peak HRR, the clay loading level had the largest effect on peak HRR. Finally, it was found that clay catalysed carbonaceous char formation, and the reinforcement of the char by the clay was responsible for the lowered flammability of these nanocomposites. Published in 2002 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The role of radiation damage on the current-voltage characteristics of p-n junctions

The effects of radiation damage on the current-voltage characteristics of silicon p-n diodes are studied. Radiation damage is introduced by the implantation of carbon ions into the depletion region of the device. The physical properties of the damage centres are examined by means of thermally stimulated current (T. S. C.) measurements, and by the measurement of the temperature dependence of the reverse leakage. The results at low implantation doses are explained by means of a single level Shockley-Read-Hall model, while at higher doses charge compensation effects are introduced. Capacitance-voltage measurements are used as a means of verifying these conclusions, and further useful data is obtained from the results of low temperature annealing experiments.