Microstructural and compositional aspects of ZnO-based varistor ceramics prepared by direct mixing of the constituent phases and high-energy milling

ZnO-based varistor samples were prepared by the direct mixing of the constituent phases (DMCP) and sintering at 1100 °C for 2 h. The influence of the starting powder mixture's composition – the amounts of the pre-reacted varistor compounds and their composition – and its preparation, either with or without mechano-chemical activation (MCA), on the microstructure, phase composition and electrical characteristics of the varistor samples was studied. It showed that MCA improved the density and microstructural homogeneity of the varistor samples. MCA strongly affected the grain growth: it enhanced the nucleation of inversion boundaries (IBs) in the ZnO grains and the IBs-induced grain-growth mechanism resulted in uniform grain growth and hence a microstructure with smaller ZnO grains and a narrower grain size distribution. The final phase composition of the samples prepared by the DMCP method mainly depended on the presence of varistor dopants that can prevent the formation of the pyrochlore phase, especially Cr₂O₃, while MCA can affect it mostly by providing a homogeneous distribution of those dopants. The DMCP varistor samples prepared with MCA had much better current–voltage characteristics than the samples of the same composition prepared from unactivated powders.     

Micromechanical approach to damage mechanics of composite materials with fabric tensors

The purpose of this study is to apply continuum damage mechanics – introduced through the concept of fabric tensors – to composite materials within the framework of the theory of elasticity. A directional data model of damage mechanics for composite materials will be developed using fabric tensors. The introduction of fabric tensors into the analysis of damage of composite materials will allow for an enhanced and better understood physical meaning of damage. The micromechanical approach will be used here to relate the damage effect through fabric tensors to the behavior of composite materials. In this approach, damage mechanics is introduced separately to the constituents of the composite material through different constituents’ damage effect tensors. The damaged properties of the composite system as a whole can then be obtained by proper homogenization of the damaged properties of the constituents.

The derivation of a generalized formulation of damage evolution will be shown here in a mathematically consistent manner that is based on sound thermodynamic principles. Numerical examples will be presented to show applicability. In addition, damage evolution for the one-dimensional tension case is also illustrated.     

Structure and catalytic properties of dealuminated modified zeolites Y

The effect of treatment with a zirconyl nitrate aqueous solution on the structure; the hydroxyl-layer constitution; and the adsorptive, acid, and catalytic properties of dealuminated zeolite Y was studied. The zeolite was prepared by boiling NH₄Y in an ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid disodium salt solution followed by ion exchange with ammonium chloride and calcination in a 100% steam flow at 750°C. X-ray diffraction, IR spectroscopy, and DTA data show the formation of an ultrastable form of zeolite Y. The incorporation of zirconium in zeolite led to an increase in the proportion of strong acid sites, thus raising the yield of cracking products during n-hexane conversion tested on platinum-containing catalyst samples.     

Structure and Certain Properties of Hot-Pressed Boron Carbide-Based Ceramic with Calcium-Silicon Additive

The influence which the composition of powder mixtures, the treatment conditions which the mixtures are subjected to, and the conditions under which the hot-pressed composite materials B₄C – (5-10 mass%) calcium-silicon are fabricated exert on the structure, nature of failure, and mechanical properties of these materials is investigated. Optimum properties are possessed by material containing 10 mass% of addition. It is shown that the structure, morphology, and dispersivity, as well as the nature of the distribution of the components that are added to the composite material (secondary phase) vary as the temperature of hot pressing changes. Maximal mechanical characteristics of the composite material (σ_bend = 560 MPa, K _1c = 4.7 MPa·m^1/2, HV = 37 GPa) are attained at hot-pressing temperatures in the range 2000-2100°C.     

Convective transfer processes in chemically stable and reacting liquids with an internal structure

Dynamic processes are studied in media with softly and hardly internal destroyable configurations. A method is examined for the measurement of properties of media with spatial separation of the chemical transformation stages and thermal hydrodynamic measurements.Translated from Inzhenerno-Fizicheskii Zhurnal, Vol. 53, No. 5, pp. 781–789, November, 1987.     

Fabrication of Strain-Relaxed Si<Subscript>1 − <Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>Ge<Subscript>x</Subscript>/Si(001) Buffer Layers of Low Surface Roughness

The results are presented of the fabrication of strain-relaxed graded Si_{1 − x} Ge_x/Si(001) buffer layers with a maximum Ge fraction of about 0.25 that have a low density of threading dislocations (<10⁶ cm⁻²) and low surface roughness. The buffer layers are grown by atmospheric-pressure hydride CVD. It is found that chemical mechanical polishing can reduce their surface roughness to a level comparable with that of the original Si(001) substrates. It is shown that the polished buffer layers can serve as substrates for MBE-grown SiGe/Si heterostructures.__________Translated from Mikroelektronika, Vol. 34, No. 4, 2005, pp. 243–250.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Vostokov, Drozdov, Krasil’nik, Kuznetsov, Novikov, Perevoshchikov, Shaleev.     

Modelling biological processes under anaerobic conditions through integrating titrimetric and off-gas measurements-applied to EBPR systems.

An innovative method for modelling biological processes under anaerobic conditions is presented and discussed. The method is based on titrimetric and off-gas measurements. Titrimetric data is recorded as the addition rate of hydroxyl ions or protons that is required to maintain pH in a bioreactor at a constant level. An off-gas analysis arrangement measures, among other things, the transfer rate of carbon dioxide. The integration of these signals results in a continuous signal which is solely related to the biological reactions. When coupled with a mathematical model of the biological reactions, the signal allows a detailed characterisation of these reactions, which would otherwise be difficult to achieve. Two applications of the method to the enhanced biological phosphorus removal processes are presented and discussed to demonstrate the principle and effectiveness of the method.     

基于Delphi的报童模型的实现与动态仿真

已往库存论中的决策模型,它是把现实过程用数学的方法进行分析,得到决策值,但不能看到决策的过程,不能反映出现实生活中的不确定性、动态性。运用Delphi 7.0和SQL server 2000对销售过程进行了动态仿真,利用Newsboy模型的推广(S,s)订购策略来监控库存并做出决策,这样就体现出此过程的不确定性、动态性;且举出了一个仿真商品销售的实例,对其中的一些关键技术,如何仿真、算法的实现等进行了阐述。