Phase equilibria calculations of Al---In and Al---In---Sb systems

Thermodynamic properties of the liquid phases in Al-In and Al-In-Sb systems have been assessed by using quasi sub-subregular solution model and (Al_yIn_1−y) Sb phase in the Al-In-Sb system is considered as a regular solid solution of AlSb and InSb compounds. Thermodynamic properties and phase diagrams of these systems calculated by using the optimised model parameters agree well with the available experimental data.     

Effect of electromechanical coupling on static deformations and natural frequencies

A two-way coupled electromechanical theory is used to study static deformations and free vibrations of a laminated hybrid rectangular plate comprised of either piezoceramic (PZT) layers or patches embedded at arbitrary locations in graphite/epoxy layers. A first-order shear deformation theory is used to develop equations for the plate which are solved by the finite-element method (FEM) using eight-node isoparametric elements. Static deflections and natural frequencies computed with open-circuited PZT layers are found to differ significantly from those of grounded PZT layers.     

Impact of crystal structure and microstructure on electrical properties of Ho doped lead-free BCST piezoceramics

Conventional solid state sintering method was used to synthesize lead-free (Ba_0.91Ca_0.09Sn_0.07Ti_0.93)O₃-xHo₂O₃ (x?=?0, 1.2,1.4,1.6,1.8 and 2.0?mol%) ceramics. The influence on electrical properties of the system as a result of the structural and microstructural changes introduced by the incorporation of rare earth Ho³⁺ ions has been investigated. The X-ray diffraction analysis reveals that Ho³⁺ ions completely diffuse into the (Ba_0.91Ca_0.09Sn_0.07Ti_0.93)O₃ lattice to form a homogeneous solid solution with a pure perovskite structure having tetragonal symmetry. Evidence of Ho³⁺ substituting Ti⁴⁺ via the oxygen vacancy compensation mechanism exists in the range of 0–1.6?mol % Ho content, while the self-compensation mode is the preferred mechanism beyond 1.6?mol %. The average grain size exhibits a drastic reduction from 16?μm to 0.7?μm as the Ho content increases from 0 to 1.6?mol%, followed by a slight increase at higher Ho concentration. It suggests that addition of Ho³⁺ inhibits grain growth in the ceramics. In the composition range studied, increasing Ho³⁺ content produces a gradual decrease in the relative density from 93% to 81%, room temperature dielectric constant (ε_rt) from 3997 to 807, electromechanical coupling factor (k_p) from 0.23 to 0.06, and piezoelectric charge constant (d₃₃) from 102 to 38?pC/N. This degradation in the properties is attributed to the crystalline and microstructural changes driven by the increasing presence of Ho content in the ceramics.     

Single step low temperature synthesis of gadolinium gallium garnet nanopowders

Solution combustion synthesis of single-phase gadolinium gallium oxide(Gd3Ga5O12,GGG)nanopowders,by a fuel mixture approach using urea and glycine at a low temperature of 500oC,was being reported for the first time.Based on the fact that urea and glycine are good fuels for gallium oxide and gadolinium oxide synthesis,the fuel mixture composition was obtained,which could lead to direct phase pure cubic Gd3Ga5O12 formation without any subsequent calcination step.Combustion was carried out in furnace pre-heated at 500oC.Thermogravimetric analysis(TGA)of combustion product showed negligible mass loss indicating direct formation of GGG powder.Fourier transform infrared(FTIR)spectrum of combusted product showed peak characteristic of GGG in case of mixed fuel.X-ray diffraction(XRD)confirmed formation of phase pure GGG at 500°C in preheated furnace.Very fine,well dispersed nanometric particles of size range of 50-100 nm were obtained,being uniform and close to spherical morphology as observed by transmission electron microscope(TEM).     

Novel amorphous precursor densification to transparent Nd:Y2O3 Ceramics

A novel approach of neodymium ion doped yttrium oxide (Nd:Y₂O₃) amorphous precursor compaction and sintering is being reported for the first time. Precursor of 2 at.% Nd³⁺ doped Y₂O₃ was synthesized by gelation of sol of yttrium and neodymium nitrates with l-alanine at 80 °C for 16 h followed by gel combustion in microwave. A part of microwave precursor was heat treated at 700 °C for 5 h to give the partially crystalline Nd:Y₂O₃ amorphous precursor. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) of partially crystalline amorphous precursor of Nd:Y₂O₃ gave 8.5% total weight loss indicating removal of maximum organics. X-Ray diffraction (XRD) showed broad peaks indicating incomplete crystallization of cubic Nd:Y₂O₃. Morphology was found to be close to spherical with particles in size range 17–19 nm by TEM. Another part of microwave precursor on calcination at 1000 °C for 3 h led to formation of fully crystalline Nd:Y₂O₃ with particles in size range of 35–85 nm. Both partially crystalline amorphous precursor and fully crystalline Nd:Y₂O₃ were compacted at 400 MPa by cold isostatic press and sintered at 1750 °C for 10 h under vacuum (10^?5 mbar). The partially crystalline Nd:Y₂O₃ amorphous precursor densified to 99% with 65% transmission at 2500 nm (0.5 mm thickness) compared to 96% densification with 34% transmission for fully crystalline Nd:Y₂O₃ without any sintering aids. Retention of cubic phase purity of Y₂O₃ was observed in both the ceramic pellets post sintering by XRD. Good grain fusion with grain growth to ≤2 μm was observed by scanning electron microscope (SEM) for partially crystalline Nd:Y₂O₃ amorphous precursor. Thus partially crystalline Nd:Y₂O₃ amorphous precursor nanopowders, with homogeneous close to spherical fine particles and high reactivity due to ionic mobility of amorphous phase, led to better densification.     

Phase equilibria calculations of Al---Sb, Al---Ga and Al---Ga---Sb systems

A quasi sub-subregular solution model is used to describe thermodynamic properties of the liquid phases in Al-Sb, Al-Ga and Al-Ga-Sb systems. An essentially stoichiometeric compound, AlSb, in the Al-Sb binary system is considered as a line compound and the ternary compound, (Al_yGa_1−y)Sb, in Al-Ga-Sb system is described as a regular solution of stoichiometeric compounds, AlSb and GaSb. The model parameters for different phases are obtained by simultaneous optimization with respect to the available thermodynarnic and phase equilibria data of these systems. Phase diagrams and thermodynamic data are, then, calculated by using the optimised model parameters and compared with the experimental data.     

Low temperature synthesis and characterization of nano‐crystalline Mg(Zr0.05Ti0.95)O3 ceramics

Mg(Zr_0.05Ti_0.95)O₃ (MZrT) ceramics nanoparticles have been synthesized by polyol method for the first time. The phase evaluation of the MZrT nanoparticles was confirmed using thermo gravimetric analysis and the phase purity of the samples were analyzed using X‐ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy. The transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images revealed the average particle size between 30 and 40 nm. The optical bandgap is in the range of 3.66‐3.82 eV and is attributed to the quantum confinement effect. Interestingly, the nanopowders sintered at 950°C for 3 hours exhibit the maximum density of 97.52% of the theoretical density which is attributed to the higher sintering velocity of the smaller particles. The obtained microstructure of the ceramics reveals porous free uniform microstructure with prominent grain boundaries. A best combination of microwave dielectric properties (ε_r ~18.04, Q × f_o ~175 THz at 9.5 GHz) are obtained for MZrT ceramics sintered at 950°C for 3 hours. The non‐Debye‐like relaxation process is found to exist inside the sample confirmed by impedance spectroscopy. The AC conduction mechanism is explained on the basis of Correlated Barrier Hopping model. Thermal conductivity of the MZrT ceramics is found to be 10 W/mK. The obtained properties of MZrT ceramics are suitable for resonator, microwave integrated circuit and LTCC applications.     

Framework for Standardizing Less Data-Intensive Methods of Reference Evapotranspiration Estimation

Evapotranspiration is one of the vital components of water cycle and its accurate estimation is the key to sustainable management of irrigation water. The FAO Penman-Monteith (FAO-PM) method is recommended as the standard method for computing reference evapotranspiration (ET_o) as well as for evaluating other indirect methods. However, due to the lack of weather data such as radiation, relative humidity and wind speed in many regions of the world, especially in developing countries, the FAO-PM method is difficult to use. To address this issue, a fairly robust methodology is proposed in this study to standardize two popular less data-intensive (temperature-based) ET_o methods, viz., Hargreaves-Samani (HS) and Penman-Monteith Temperature (PMT) against the FAO-PM method. To achieve this goal, the daily and monthly biases of these two methods were adjusted using the weather data of 14 locations for the 1979–2003 period. Subsequently, the performance of the standardized (de-biased) less data-intensive methods were verified using salient statistical and graphical indicators for the 2004–2013 period. The results indicated that the HS and PMT methods underestimate ET_o on a monthly time step by 9.62 and 14.77%, respectively. However, the performances of these methods significantly improve after the standardization. The estimates of ET_o by the standardized less data-intensive methods were found to be in close agreement with those by the standard FAO-PM method, thereby suggesting the usefulness and applicability of the proposed framework in data-scarce situations irrespective of agro-climatic conditions.