Observation of large diamagnetism in La-Sr-Nb-O films up to room temperature

Large diamagnetic transitions along with sharp resistive transitions were observed in the La-Sr-Nb-O system near room temperature (290 K). The amplitude of the diamagnetism reaches 35% of that of a pure Nb sheet. In addition, a behavior similar to weak magnetic spin ordering was observed for some samples at a temperature of about 290 K, over a temperature range of 30 K. The diamagnetism reappears above this temperature and continues up toT 320 K. It is not clear what composition ratio of La-Sr-Nb-O is responsible for this large diamagnetism and the high critical temperature. The yield probability of these samples is around 50%. The characteristics of the samples having not passed through many thermal cycles remain stable for about 1 month.     

Anodic polarization of aluminium in organic electrolytes

The polarization characteristics of aluminium anodes have been studied in various organic electrolytes containing aluminium chloride. The small amount of oxide present on the metal was dissolved by an anodic pre-treatment. The charge transfer number of the overall reaction was three. The current density supported by the electrolytes decreased in the order nitromethane>acetonitrile >propylene carbonate, formamide>tetrahydrofuran. The rest potential increased in the order formamide     

Preparation and thermal degradation behaviour of a layer-type complex consisting of TaS2 and α-naphthylamine

A layer-type complex TaS₂ (α-naphthylamine)_0.46 having a basal spacing of 2.2 nm was prepared by soaking a mixture of the components in an ampoule at 433 K for 25 to 35 days. This complex was resealed in an ampoule after purification, followed by γ-radiation and heating to 473 K. The resulting sample was again heated at various temperatures below 1273 K. On heating to 643 K, the insertedα-naphthylamine polymerized, although with some removal from the complex, with a decrease in basal spacing to 1.35 nm. Another complex appeared faintly simultaneously. This second complex with a basal spacing of 0.96 to 0.92nm formed more abundantly on heating to 773 K and then decreased in amount at higher temperature. The complex decomposed at1273 K to result in TaS₂. Such thermal degradation behaviour is discussed from the standpoint of preparation of the layer-type complex consisting of TaS₂ and carbon.     

Thermal performance of a packed bed reactor for a high‐temperature chemical heat pump

The thermal performance of a chemical heat pump that uses the reaction system of calcium oxide/lead oxide/carbon dioxide, which is developed for utilization of high‐temperature heat above 800°C, is studied experimentally. The thermal performance of a packed‐bed reactor of a calcium oxide/carbon dioxide reaction system, which stores and transforms a high‐temperature heat source in the heat pump operation, is examined under various heat pump operation conditions. The energy analysis based on the experiment shows that it is possible to utilize high‐temperature heat with this heat pump. This heat pump can store heat above 850°C and then transform it into a heat above 900°C under an approximate atmospheric pressure. An applied system that combines the heat pump and a high‐temperature process is proposed for high‐efficiency heat utilization. The scale of the heat pump in the combined system is estimated from the experimental results. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

XPS analysis of CdS/CuInSe2 heterojunctions

CdS/CuInSe₂ (CIS) heterojunctions were investigated by XPS analysis. An In-excess layer which may form an ordered vacancy compound (OVC) was present at the as-deposited CIS surface and it remained after chemical bath deposition of a CdS layer. The In-excess layer was removed by preferential etching with NH₃ aqueous solution. This result implies that the surface of the as-deposited CIS film was converted from the OVC with n-type conductivity into the CIS with p-type by NH₃ treatment. The conduction band offsets at the CdS/p-CIS and CdS/n-OVC were determined to be 1.0 and 0.3 eV, respectively. The CIS solar cells fabricated with n-OVC surface layer exhibited higher cell efficiencies than those fabricated with p-CIS surface layer.     

Carbonization of adamantane to a graphitizable carbon

Adamantane was carbonized in sealed tubes to 1073 K. Despite the non-planar molecular structure of adamantane, the resulting carbon was graphitizable. Using i.r. and u.v. spectrometry, mass spectrometry and X-ray diffraction, it was found that adamantane begins to decompose at ≈ 823 K to yield such planar molecules as phenanthrene, methyl-phenanthrene and pyrene. These molecules lead to a graphitizing carbon through a carbonization process which is similar to that of a pitch.     

Preparation and properties of carbon dental implant with fine rahmen surface layer

Blade- and tooth-root-form carbon dental implants were prepared by fixing fine Rahmen surface (FRS) layers of carbon fabric on a carbon fiber-reinforced carbon (CFRC) core. The fixing was successfully performed through the low-temperature deposition of pyrolytic carbon using cis-1,2-dichloroethylene as the raw material. The resultant implants showed flexural and compressive strength more than 150 and 100 MPa, respectively. The outer part of this FRS layer contained many pores ranging from 30 to 300 μm in diameter and 40–75% in volume fraction.New bone was generated in the open pores after being embedded in the femur of a monkey for 6 months. The shear strength of the embedded implant vs bone interface was 15 MPa. On the other hand, the blade-form FRS implant in the mandible of a monkey gave a locking system consisting of “bone-collagen fiber-calcified layer” after two years under a masticating pressure. The latter is very similar to the natural tooth system.     

Effect of lubricant fluid on plastic metal flow in sliding contact

Plastic metal flow in surface layers, especially “abnormal metal flow”, in which the direction of metal flow in the inner surface layer is different from that in the layer nearer the surface, in sliding contacts between a pin of cemented carbide and a ring of steel under lubrication is discussed in this paper. Low viscosity mineral oil is used as a base oil. Sulphide and chloride extreme pressure additives are also mixed with the base oil. Such a lubricant has a great influence on the plastic metal flow of a ring.While base oil produces severe plastic metal flow, the sulphide additive causes the plastic metal flow to be very mild. In contrast, a lubricant containing a chloride additive causes abnormal metal flow, where cracks can be seen. Conditions for and causes of abnormal metal flow are investigated.     

Growth of ice crystals in frozen specimens

The formation of ice crystals, which might be the possible artefact in cryo-techniques for electron microscopy, was examined during the rewarming process of rapidly frozen erythrocytes. Intracellular ice formation, which is usually found in cells suspended in saline by rapid freezing, was inhibited by the addition of 30% glycerol. When such glycerinated cells, having no ice crystals at liquid nitrogen temperature, were rewarmed to higher temperatures above ? 80° C, recrystallization of ice occurred. Ice particles became visible within the cells even at ? 80°C and grew larger with a temperature rise. From the results obtained in the morphological and physiological investigations, it also became evident that the recrystallization of ice appeared prior to the increase in haemolysis during the rewarming process.