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.     

Preparation of multi-compositional gas sensing films by combinatorial solution deposition

Various compositions of gas sensing films were prepared by the combinatorial deposition of SnO₂, ZnO, and WO₃ sol solutions and their gas sensing behaviors were investigated. The film composition could be manipulated conveniently via the alternate dropping of different oxide sol solutions. From the correlation between film compositions and gas sensitivities, the selective detection of C₂H₅OH and CH₃COCH₃ in the presence of CO, C₃H₈, H₂, and NO₂ could be attained. In addition, the discrimination between C₂H₅OH and CH₃COCH₃, which is a challenging issue due to their similar chemical nature, becomes possible. This research demonstrates the precise design of the sensor-material composition for the selective gas detection via the combinatorial approach.     

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.     

DSP与PC间的数据通讯

DSP由于具有高性能和灵活可编程的优点而得到广泛的应用。文章给出了用PC机作主机 ,DSP作从机来实现DSP与PC机间有效、可靠通讯的实现方法。同时通过一个数据传输程序的例子来详细阐述如何使用VB6.0专业版作为开发工具 ,并利用DSP中的SCI(SerialCommunicationInter face)模块来实现DSP与微机间的数据传递方法。     

AMBE-1000声码器接口电路设计方法

DVSI公司的AMBE-1000声码器芯片是一款高性能的全双工、实时语音压缩编解码芯片,可以应用于卫星通信、保密通信、视频会议等领域.文中简要介绍AMBE-1000声码器的A/D-D/A接口以及信道接口的工作原理;结合实例分别给出了AMBE-1000声码器与PCM编解码器MC14LC5480的A/D-D/A接口电路、与单片机AT89C51的信道接口电路的设计方法;最后指出了电路设计中应该注意的问题.     

Numerical analysis of two-dimensional steady-state and transient heat transfer in a parallel duct filled with pressurized He II

Analysis on steady-state and transient heat transfer on a flat plate at the middle of a parallel duct immersed in He II was performed for bath temperatures from 1.8 to 2.1 K at 101.3 kPa. Two-dimensional computer code named SUPER-2D developed by the authors based on the two-fluid model and the theory of mutual friction was used. Steady-state critical heat flux (CHF) and the time lag from the application of a step heat input to λ transition, that is called a lifetime, were obtained numerically for various step heat fluxes and for the channel gaps from 2 to 20 mm. Effect of the gap restriction on the CHF and the lifetime were clarified. The solutions were compared with the experimental data for the ducts with the same structures and the corresponding conditions. They agreed well with the experimental data. The heat transport mechanism in the parallel duct was clarified.     

Thermal stability of reinforced Nb3Sn composite superconductor under cryocooled conditions

Several types of reinforced Nb₃Sn wires have been developed to prevent reduction of superconducting properties by applying a strong electromagnetic force. To fabricate a cryocooled magnet using those reinforced wires, we experimentally measured the minimum quench energy (MQE) under cryocooled conditions of some reinforced Nb₃Sn wires. As a result, it became clear that thermal stability expressed as MQE was controlled by the temperature margin between the temperature of the operating condition and the transition temperature from superconductivity to normal. Using the FEM analysis, it was realized that the cause of the decline in thermal stability for the reinforced wires was the low thermal conductivity of the reinforced materials.     

Comparison of activities in selective catalytic reduction of NOx by C3H8 over Co/MFI, Fe/MFI, and H/MFI zeolite catalysts

The Co/MFI(SiO₂/Al₂O₃ = 30) were prepared by a precipitation method with NaOCl in alkali solutions exhibited high activities to N₂ at 250 °C for the selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of NO_x. These catalysts showed two UV–vis bands at 700 and 400 nm, indicating the presence of octahedral Co(III) as well as tetrahedral Co(II). The high SCR activity over such Co(III, II)/MFI(30) seems to come from Co(III)---O moieties. The Co(II)MFI(30) catalysts prepared from Co(II)Cl₂ exhibited low SCR activities due to the presence of tetrahedral Co(II) ions in MFI. Less CO formation occurred over Co/MFI catalysts. The Fe/MFI(30) catalyst exhibited high activity due to the presence of some Fe---O species in MFI but more amount of CO were produced during SCR. H/MFI(30) catalyst exhibited a good SCR activity. However, more amount of carbonaceous deposits were produced on it. The correlation between acid concentration and SCR activity was discussed over H/MFIs.     

The Lambda Library: unnamed functions in C++

The Lambda Library (LL) adds a form of lambda functions to C++, which are common in functional programming languages. The LL is implemented as a template library using standard C++; thus no language extensions or preprocessing is required. The LL consists of a rich set of tools for defining unnamed functions. In particular these unnamed functions work seamlessly with the generic algorithms in the C++ Standard Library. The LL offers significant improvements, in terms of generality and ease of use, compared to the current tools in the C++ Standard Library. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.