Microwave induced plasma processing of nuclear waste calcines

Microwave induced plasma processing was used to sinter synthetic Idaho Chemical Processing Plant (ICPP) alumina and zirconia based high level nuclear waste calcines in a nitrogen atmosphere. The microwave densification behaviour of these nuclear waste calcines was observed parallel with identification of the phases formed after sintering. Sintered densities of > 3.20 g cm^–3 were obtained within 10 min of microwave sintering of pure calcines. Glass frit containing calcines showed lower sintering densities (< 2.0 g cm^–3) due to reactions between the frit and volatile substances in both zirconia based and alumina based calcines; prior removal of frit volatiles increased the sintered density. Phases formed in the microwave sintered calcines were identified by X-ray diffraction.     

Comparative Experimental Measurements of Viscosity-Temperature Relations of an Oxide and Slightly Nitrided Glasses

Viscosity-temperature profiles were experimentally measured by the rotating spindle technique for oxide and oxy nitride glassmelts from =800° to 1200° C. Nitriding of the oxide glassmelts increases the viscosity over the temperature range studied.     

Rare-earth chalcogenides — an emerging class of optical materials

Sulphide compounds belong to the family of chalcogenides and are well known for their optical and electronic properties. They possess good optical properties because of their ability to transmit into the infrared (IR) region. Several sulphide glasses are known to exist which exhibit far infrared transmission and are also useful semiconductors. In recent years, there has been an increasing interest in IR materials to be used on surveillance equipment. This led to the identification of several new crystalline sulphide materials which can transmit very far into the IR region (up to a wavelength of 14 m). Crystalline and amorphous rare-earth sulphides emerged as a new class of materials, which possess several unique optical and electronic properties. This paper reviews the status of these rare-earth sulphide amorphous and polycrystalline materials, the techniques used to process these materials and discusses their structure, thermal, mechanical and optical properties. Conventional and emergent novel chemical processing techniques that are used for synthesizing these materials are reviewed in detail. The use of metallorganic precursors and the modification of their chemistry to tailor the composition of the final ceramic are illustrated. The potential of these chemical techniques and their advantages over the conventional solid state techniques used for processing sulphide ceramics is discussed, particularly in light of their successful applications in processing novel electronic and optical oxide ceramics.     

Formation and characterization of oxynitride glasses in the Si-Ca-Al-O-N and Si-Ca-Al,B-O-N systems

Oxynitride compositions in the Si-Ca-Al-O-N and Si-Ca-Al, B-O-N systems were melted and furnace-cooled in BN crucibles at temperatures from 1650 to 1850° C under dry nitrogen atmosphereS. Glass formation, phase stability and crystallization were studied by characterizing the cooled melts by X-ray diffraction, DTA, and electron microscopy. Oxynitride batches with nitrogen content up to 11 at % formed glasses in the Si-Ca-Al-O-N system. Glasses in the Si-Ca-Al, B-O-N system could be formed only when the B₂O₃ content of the batch was less than 3 wt %. Oxynitride glasses in these boron-containing systems were characteristically inhomogeneous, difficult to process, and prone to crystallization. In both the systems, glasses exhibited glass transitions beginning at 1000° C and crystallization at 1300 to 1500° C. Nitrogen-containing crystalline phases were identified in devitrified glasses via microstructural and micro-mechanical analyses.     

Microchemistry and microstructure of a multiphase aluminosilicate ceramic

The microstructure and microchemistry of a sintered (≈ 1700° C) aluminosilicate ceramic (60 wt % Al₂O₃-40 wt% SiO₂) was investigated by optical, scanning (SEM and EDAX), and analytical electron microscopy (TEM and STEM). The microstructural features of the fired ceramic consisted of unreacted Al₂O₃, glass, porosity, and equilibrium and metastable mullite phases. Residual Al₂O₃ agglomerates (≈ 15 to 30 μm in size) were surrounded by a ≈ 6 μm layer of equilibrium mullite (≈ 71.3 to 73.5 wt% Al₂O₃). The unreacted Al₂O₃-equilibrium mullite assembly formed islands embedded in a silica rich glass (≈ 4.5 to 14wt% Al₂O₃) which also contained 2 to 3 μm thick metastable mullite needles (≈ 70 to 77 wt% Al₂O₃). Phase separation and alumina rich glass compositions (≈ 57 to 59 wt% Al₂O₃) were also observed in some areas of the microstructure.     

Utilization of coal-ash minerals for technological ceramics

Glasses synthesized from Utah bituminous coal-ash melts were crystallized to form glass ceramics to determine the feasibility of coal-ash utilization. The use of additives to promote glass formation and catalysts to serve as nucleation sites for crystallization was studied. The microstructure of the crystalline phase was investigated using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The bulk glasses and glass-ceramics were evaluated by Knoop microhardness and density measurements. The crystalline phase formed has been identified as anorthite, CaAl₂Si₂O₈. Crystallization of the ash was possible up to a maximum of approximately 40%. The use of TiO₂ as a nucleation catalyst did little to improve the degree of crystallinity; however, the crystal phase became better defined when this catalyst was used, even in small amounts.     

Comparison of Ba(OH)2, BaO, and Ba as Starting Materials for the Synthesis of Barium Titanate by the Alkoxide Method

A discussion of the relative merits and problems of using Ba(OH)₂, BaO, and Ba as starting materials for the synthesis of barium titanate by the alkoxide method is presented. The Ba(OH)₂ process is promising because it does not involve the synthesis of barium alkoxide, whereas the BaO (93% pure) process suffers from complex chemical reactions; the impurities in BaO cause unknown effects on the composition and properties of the final ceramic. Use of high-purity Ba metal (99.99%) for the synthesis of barium alkoxide is more desirable since it results in high-purity, ultrafine barium titanate powders.     

Incidence and predictors of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 seroconversion in patients attending sexually transmitted disease clinics in India

The first estimates of the seroincidence of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and of the risk factors for seroconversion in a cohort of high-risk patients attending sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinics in India are reported. Between 1993 and 1995, 851 HIV-1-seronegative persons were evaluated prospectively every 3 months for HIV infection and biologic and behavioral characteristics. The overall incidence of HIV-1 was 10.2/100 person-years (95% confidence interval, 7.9-13.1). The incidence among commercial sex workers (CSWs) was 26.1/100 person-years, compared with 8.4 among non-CSWs. Recurrent genital ulcer disease and urethritis or cervicitis during the follow-up period were independently associated with a 7- (P < .001) and 3-fold (P = .06) increased risk of HIV-1 seroconversion, respectively. Because of the association of recurrent ulcerative and nonulcerative STDs with HIV-1 seroconversion in this setting, behavioral and biologic measures directed at the prevention and control of STDs would be expected to greatly reduce the transmission of HIV-1 infection in similar high-risk groups.     

Molding of reprocessed thermoplastics with preplastication injection molding

The injection molding of reprocessed plastics with a preplastication plunger injection‐molding machine was investigated with a focus on the processing conditions. The process of the filling of the resin into the mold is much better controlled with preplastication than with processing in a conventional injection‐molding machine. Reprocessing of the resin leads to a reduction in molecular weight due to drastic changes in the resin morphology, thereby causing a reduction in melt viscosity. Direct experimental evidence for reduced viscosity was obtained from measurements of the filling pressure recorded on the machine and also with a melt‐flow indexer. The results of this study provide a practical solution for reducing the resin temperature when reprocessed resin is used in the injection molding of plastics. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 82: 1455–1461, 2001