Research and development of liquid hydrogen (LH2) temperature monitoring system for marine applications

Monitoring the temperature in liquid hydrogen (LH₂) storage tanks on ships is important for the safety of maritime navigation. In addition, accurate temperature measurement is also required for commercial transactions. Temperature and pressure define the density of liquid hydrogen, which is directly linked to trading interests. In this study, we developed and tested a liquid hydrogen temperature monitoring system that uses platinum resistance sensors with a nominal electrical resistance of approximately 1000 Ω at room temperature, PT-1000, for marine applications. The temperature measurements were carried out using a newly developed temperature monitoring system under different pressure conditions. The measured values are compared with a calibrated reference PT-1000 resistance thermometer. We confirm a measurement accuracy of ±50 mK in a pressure range of 0.1 MPa–0.5 MPa.     

Fracture and deformation properties of Ni-Fe superalloy in cryogenic high magnetic field environments

The present paper includes experimental and analytical data on the fracture properties of a nickel-iron superalloy, a ferromagnetic austenite, at 4 K in magnetic fields of 0 and 6 T. The tensile, notch tensile and small punch tests are employed. A finite element analysis is also performed to convert the experimentally measured load-displacement data into useful engineering information. To interpret the results we review the available theory of the influence of magnetic field on the stress intensity factor for a crack in ferromagnetic materials.     

Crystal orientation of β-phase isotactic polypropylene induced by magnetic orientation of N,N′-dicyclohexyl-2,6-naphthalenedicarboxamide

Melt crystallization of isotactic polypropylene (iPP), containing crystallites of N,N′-dicyclohexyl-2,6-naphthalenedicarboxamide (DCNDCA) as a nucleating agent of the the β-phase iPP crystal, is carried out under a magnetic field (6 T) to obtain the alignment of the iPP crystal induced by magnetic alignment of DCNDCA. In a previous paper, DCNDCA was reported to undergo magnetic alignment in a liquid suspension. The obtained iPP sample exhibits alignment of the β-phase crystal with the c-axis aligned perpendicular to the magnetic field. The comparison of this alignment of iPP with the reported magnetic alignment of DCNDCA indicates that the β-phase crystal grows epitaxially on the DCNDCA crystal. The (330)_β plane of the iPP crystal lies on the bc-plane of the DCNDCA crystal in which the direction of the c-axis of the iPP coincides with the direction of the b-axis of the DCNDCA crystal.     

Preparation and photoconduction of rapidly quenched films in the Bi2O31bM2O5 system (M=V,Nb and Ta)

The Bi₂O₃1bM₂O₅ films (M=V, Nb and Ta) were prepared by a rapid quenching technique using a twin-roller type equipment. Quenched film of pure Bi₂O₃ partially precipitated a tetragonal phase which differs from well-known β-Bi₂O₃ in structure. In every (Bi₂O₃)_0.975 (M₂O₅)_0.025 composition (2.5% M₂O₅), the tetragonal phase was obtained as single phase, and the tetragonality became greater than that of the pure Bi₂O₃. Beyond this composition, the tetragonality decreased to form δ-phase with a fcc structure with increasing the M₂O₅ content. The lowest V₂O₅ content forming a δ-phase was 5%, while a slight tetragonality still remained in the samples containing 10% Nb₂O₅ and 10% Ta₂O₅, respectively. From the measurement of the photoconductivities of the quenched films, it was proved that a photoconduction appeared in the tetragonal phase while no photoconductivity was observed in the cubic phase. The characteristic of the photoconduction was that a remarkable decrease in the resistivity was observed when a light of ca. 500 nm in wave length was irradiated on the films.     

Stress analysis with arbitrary body force by boundary element method

Linear stress analysis without body force can be easily carried out by means of the boundary element method. Some cases of linear stress analysis with body force can also be solved without the domain integral. However domain integrals are generally necessary to solve the linear stress problems with complicated body forces. This paper shows that the linear stress problems with complicated body forces can be solved approximately without the domain integral. In order to solve these problems, the domain is divided into small areas using contour lines of body force. In these areas, the distributions of body force are assumed approximately to satisfy the Laplace equation.     

Preparation and photoconduction of rapidly quenched films in the Bi2O3-TiO2 system

The rapidly quenched films in the Bi₂O₃-TiO₂ system (0 to 60% TiO₂) were prepared using a twin-roller type apparatus. The films precipitated Bi₂O₃ solid solutions of different types in the composition ranges, with TiO₂ contents of 0 to 5, 7.5 to 10 and 12.5 to 40%, respectively. The first solid solution had a tetragonal structure of -form. The second, though also crystallized in the tetragonal structure, adopted a disordered modification of the -form. The third solid solution was -form (defect fluorite structure). The formation of amorphous phase commenced in the composition with 30% TiO₂, and the films became completely amorphous beyond 50% TiO₂. The quenched films showed a certain instability to decompose or transform into the different phase assemblage by annealing at higher temperatures (about 400 to 500° C, except 260° C for the pure Bi₂O₃ film). The quenched films were also characterized by a high photoconductivity. The photoconduction mechanism was suggested to be associated with a structural imperfection of Bi₂O₃ accompanied by a certain amount of pentavalent bismuth ion.     

Copolymerization of methylmethacrylate on a ball-milled surface of coal at 77 K

The ball-milling of coal with methylmethacrylate monomer was carried out under vacuum at 77 K and at room temperature and in air. The e.s.r. and i.r. spectra of ball-milled material showed that a copolymer of coal and methylmethacrylate was formed on the surfaces of coal created by ball-mining. Oxygen is an inhibitor to this process.     

In-situ monitoring of the stabilization with hydrogen of free radicals thermally induced from coal using high pressure e.s.r., d.t.a. and p.d.a. equipment

High temperature, high pressure e.s.r. measurements of the hydrogenation reaction of Taiheiyo coal in the presence of catalysts were carried out to understand the stabilization of thermally and/or catalytically induced free radicals. A decrease in free radical concentration with increasing temperature was observed for ZnCl₂ and SnCl₂ · 2H₂O catalysts at 10MPa under hydrogen gas. High pressure modified single-cell d.t.a. and p.d.a. equipment augmented the uniquely designed high temperature, high pressure e.s.r. cell. The hydrogenation reaction was monitored under the same experimental conditions as for e.s.r. From the results of the combination of high temperature, high pressure e.s.r. with high pressure d.t.a. and p.d.a., it was established that H₂ molecules can react efficiently with free radicals from coal molecules created by the presence of ZnCl₂ and SnCl₂ · 2H₂O catalysts.     

Effect of MgO Addition on the Bondability and Interfacial Reaction between Dielectric and Glass-Ceramics for the Fabrication of Multi-Component Ceramic Substrates

Bondability and interfacial reaction between dielectric and insulator layers have been examined to obtain a basic understanding of bonding mechanisms. Lead-containing complex perovskite was used as a dielectric material. Two kinds of glass-ceramics were used as insulator material; lead borosilicate glass containing Al_2O3 (insulator A) and the same containing Al₂O₃ and M_gO (insulator B). Dielectric and insulator layers did not bond when insulator A was used. When insulator B was used, however, strong bonding was achieved between the two layers by firing the powder compacts at temperatures between 800° and 1000°C. Addition of M_gO to lead borosilicate glass increased the thermal expansion coefficient to that of the dielectric and enhanced the formation of reaction layers, resulting in good bonding. Two reaction layers were identified. The main reaction products were enstatite and bredigite for one layer contacting the dielectric, and enstatite and a compound with the same diffraction pattern as that of faujasite for the other layers contacting insulator B.