Creativity in non‐routine jobs: The role of transformational leadership and organizational identification

An increasing number of individuals work in jobs with little standardization and repetition, that is, with high levels of job non‐routinization. At the same time, demands for creativity are high, which raises the question of how employees can use job non‐routinization to develop creativity. Acknowledging the importance of social processes for creativity, we propose that transformational leaders raise feelings of organizational identification in followers and that this form of identification then helps individuals to develop creativity in jobs with little routinization. This is because organizational members evaluate and promote those ideas as more creative, which are in line with a shared understanding of creativity within the organization. To investigate these relationships, we calculated a mediated moderation model with 173 leader–follower dyads from China. Results confirm our hypotheses that transformational leadership moderates the relationship between job non‐routinization on employee creativity through organizational identification. We conclude that raising feelings of social identity is a key task for leaders today, especially when working in uncertain and fast developing environments with little repetition and the constant need to develop creative ideas.     

Parametric study of the electrical to thermal power conversion in an inductively coupledrf plasma torch

An inductively coupled (ic) radio-frequency (rf) stabilized argon plasma was generated in a quartz tube using a 7 MHzrf generator. The electrical and thermal powers were measured and the efficiency of energy conversion was computed. The results indicate that for a constant power input, there is an optimum argon flow rate for which maximum energy conversion efficiency occurs.     

CO2 laser annealing of plasma-deposited high-Tcsuperconducting thick films

Recent advances in the fabrication of high-T _c superconducting thick films demand processing techniques which can eliminate film/substrate interdifiusion that occurs during subsequent post-annealing heat treatment after the film is deposited, thereby limiting the application of the thick films for devices. The present study evaluates laser annealing techniques for plasma-deposited Y-Ba-Cu-O thick films using a high-energy CO₂ laser (10.6m) in a continuous wave mode. The results are compared with those obtained by conventional furnace annealing techniques necessary for post-heat treatment of as-deposited superconducting thick films. The high-T _c superconducting phase is recovered by cationic diffusion during subsequent post-annealing heat treatment. Crystallographic phases and microstructural characterization have been performed using XRD, SEM, and EPMA analytical techniques. The significance of the technology lies in the elimination of film/substrate interdiffusion problems, thereby resulting in high-quality superconducting thick films. The technology will significantly reduce the post-annealing times usually required by conventional furnace annealing techniques.     

Experimental results of the erosion of molybdenum due to blistering by He+ bombardment

We report some preliminary measurement of the erosion rate of plasma dumps when bombarded with 100 keV He⁺ ions at high power density ( 1 MW/m²). The expected erosion rates, based on measurements of He blistering that were made at lower power density ( 0.3 MW/m²), indicate a potentially serious problem for fusion reactors. Our tests use a reactorlike power density and produce He blisters at a rate that is slower than predicted by 2 to 4 orders of magnitude, depending on the temperature of the molybdenum target.     

Intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cell based on fully integrated plasma-sprayed components

This work addresses the fabrication of membrane-type solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) operating at medium temperatures, where all components are fabricated by plasma spray technology, and the evaluation of the performance of the SOFC single unit in a temperature range of 500 to 800 °C. Single cells composed of LaSrMgO₃ cathodes, LaSrGaMgO₃ (LSGM) electrolytes, and Ni/yttria-stabilized zirconia anodes were fabricated in successive atmospheric plasma-spraying processes. Plasma-spraying processes have been optimized and tailored to each layer to achieve highly porous cathode and anode layers as well as high-density electrolyte layers. A major effort has been devoted to the production of the LSGM electrolyte that has a high density and is free of cracks. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy was used to investigate the conductivity of the electrode layers, and particularly the resistance of the electrolyte layer. It revealed that the heat treatment had a great influence on the specific conductivity of the sprayed electrolyte layers and that the specific conductivity of the heat-treated layers was dramatically increased to the same magnitude as is typical for sintered LSGM pellets. The experimental results have demonstrated that the plasma-spraying process has a great potential for the integrated fabrication of medium-temperature SOFC units. The original version of this article was published as part of the ASM Proceedings, Thermal Spray 2003: Advancing the Science and Applying the Technology, International Thermal Spray Conference (Orlando, FL), May 5–8, 2003, Basil R. Marple and Christian Moreau, Ed., ASM International, 2003.     

离子氮化对镀铬层组织与性能的影响

研究了镀铬层经离子氮化后的组织和性能。分别用SEM、电子探针和X光衍射仪观察和分析了复合处理层剖面的组织、结构和成分,试验结果表明:离子氮化能使镀铬层的网状裂纹弥合,可明显提高了镀层表面硬度、结合力和耐蚀性。     

Synthesis of Ti3SiC2 by spark plasma sintering(SPS)of elemental powders

Ti3SiC2 materials have been fabricated by spark plasma sintering of the elemental powders with the addition of Al.At the heating rate of 80℃/min and under the pressure of 30MPa,the ideal synthesis temperature of Ti3SiC2 is in the range of 1150-1250℃.The addition of Al is in favor of the formation of Ti3SiC2.The synthesized compound has the molecular of Ti3Si0.8Al0.2C2 and lattice parameters of α=0.3069nm,c=1.7670nm.Its grain is plane-shape with a size of about 50μm in the elongated dimension.The prepared material has Vickers hardness of 3.5-5.5GPa(at 1N and 15s) and is as readily machinable as graphite‘s.     

高温熔融-电感耦合等离子体原子发射光谱法测定含铁尘泥中5种有害元素

准确、快速地测定含铁尘泥中有害元素,对含铁尘泥节能降废项目研究及综合利用有着重要的指导意义。实验针对含铁尘泥试样因含碳量高,导致常规酸溶解方法如果不增加除碳步骤则很难完全分解试样的问题,采用高温熔融法将试样制成熔融液后倾倒于稀酸中溶解的方法,解决了碳含量高难溶解的问题。采用四硼酸锂-碳酸锂混合熔剂在高温下将试样熔融,熔融液高温倾倒于稀酸中制成澄清溶液,由于骤冷,试样炸裂成微小玻璃珠,无迸溅,操作简单,使得后续溶解过程快速完成,从而建立了电感耦合等离子体原子发射光谱(ICP-AES)测定P、Pb、K、Na、Zn共5种有害元素的方法。按照实验方法测定含铁尘泥中P、Pb、K、Na、Zn,测定值的相对标准偏差(RSD,n=9)在1.4%～5.7%之间,加标回收率在96%～110%之间。研究结果表明方法能够满足含铁尘泥样品中5种元素的定量分析要求。     

Electric and mechanical performances of Bi0.5Sb1.5Te3 prepared by spark plasma sintering

Thermoelectric (TE) materials are a kind of functional materials which can be used to convert directly heat energy to electricity or reversely.The thermoelectric effects hold great potential for application in power generation and refrigeration.Bi2Te3 and its alloys are well known as best TE materials currently available near room temperature.This paper studies respectively the effects of spark plasma sintering (SPS) on electric performance of Bi0.5Sb1.5Te3 thermoelectric materials that are prepared through vacuum melting and ball milling.Through X-ray Diffraction and cold field emission scanning electric microscope s4800, the phase constituent and microstructure of the TE materials samples were analyzed.Electric conductivity and power factor can be improved with the rise of Spark Plasma Sintering temperature (from 300 to 500 ℃) and pressure(from 30 to 60 MPa), and the density and mechanical strength of Bi0.5Sb1.5Te3 thermoelectric material increase, too.     

Quantification of trace amounts of impurities in high purity cobalt by high resolution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

An analytical method using high resolution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (HR-ICP-MS) for rapid simultaneous determination of 24 elements (Be, Mg, Al, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, Ge, As, Se, Mo, Ag, Cd, Sn, Sb, Ba, Pt, Au, and Pb) in high purity cobalt was described. Sample digestions were performed in closed microwave vessels using HNO3 and HCl. The matrix effects because of the presence of excess HCl and Co were evaluated. The usefulness of high mass resolution for overcoming some spectral interference was demonstrated. The optimum conditions for the deter- mination were tested and discussed. The standard addition method was employed for quantitative analysis. The detection limits were 0.016-1.50 μg?g?1, the recovery ratios were 92.2%-111.2%, and the RSD was less than 3.6%. The method was accurate, quick, and convenient. It was applied to the determination of trace impurities in high purity cobalt with satisfactory results.