Studies on the structural and ionic transport properties at elevated temperatures of La1−xMnO3±δ synthesized by a wet chemical method

Structural transformation and ionic transport properties are investigated on wet-chemically synthesized La_1−xMnO₃ (x=0.0–0.18) compositions. Powders annealed in oxygen/air at 1000–1080 K exhibit cubic symmetry and transform to rhombohedral on annealing at 1173–1573 K in air/oxygen. Annealing above 1773 K in air or in argon/helium at 1473 K stabilized distorted rhombohedral or orthorhombic symmetry. Structural transformations are confirmed from XRD and TEM studies. The total conductivity of sintered disks, measured by four-probe technique, ranges from 5 S cm⁻¹ at 298 K to 105 S cm⁻¹ at 1273 K. The ionic conductivity measured by blocking electrode technique ranges from 1.0×10⁻⁶ S cm⁻¹ at 700 K to 2.0×10⁻³ S cm⁻¹ at 1273 K. The ionic transference number of these compositions ranges from 3.0×10⁻⁵ to 5.0×10⁻⁵ at 1273 K. The activation energy deduced from experimental data for ionic conduction and ionic migration is 1.03–1.10 and 0.80–1.00 eV, respectively. The activation energy of formation, association and migration of vacancies ranges from 1.07 to 1.44 eV.     

Stability of Fe3+ — VO defect pairs in polycrystalline Pb(Ti,Zr)O3

The intensity of the EPR signal with g = 5.985 arising from a ferric ion — oxygen vacancy defect pair (Fe³⁺ — V_O) in PbTiO₃, varies with the extent of PbO nonstoichiometry at constant Fe³⁺ content due to an increased oxygen vacancy concentration. In PZT solid solutions, the signal intensity decreases with an increase in Zr. A lower intensity is also noticed for Fe³⁺ — V_O signals in PbZrO₃. This behaviour is explained on the basis of PbO nonstoichiometry arising from independent Pb- and O-vacancies as well as the randomly distributed crystallographic shear (CS) plane defects. The contribution to PbO nonstoichiometry from CS planes is larger in high zirconium compositions of PZT.     

A comparative study of short nylon fiber—Natural rubber composites prepared from dry rubber and latex masterbatch

A novel method for the preparation of short nylon fiber–natural rubber composites was developed in which short fibers chopped to approximately 6 mm were incorporated in the latex stage and processed into sheet form. By this method, mixing cycle time was reduced without compromising the fiber dispersion. Fiber breakage during mixing was reduced. The new composites when compounded with a dry bonding system based on hexamethylenetetramine, resorcinol and hydrated silica (HRH) showed improved modulus, tensile strength and abrasion resistance compared to conventional composites. Tear strength, resilience, and compression set were similar to the conventional composites. SEM analysis indicated better interaction between matrix and fibers in the case of latex master batch. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008     

Evaluation of hot hardness and creep of a 350 grade commercial maraging steel

The hardening response and the indentation creep of a 350 grade commercial maraging steel were evaluated using a hot hardness tester. The hardness versus temperature plot exhibited three distinct regions. Hardness response was noted between 500–800 K. The unusually high values of activation energy and stress exponent obtained during the creep experiment could be rationalized by a novel concept of introducing a back stress term in the indentation creep relation. The corrected value of the activation energy was found to be reasonably in agreement with the activation energy for diffusion of Ni in iron. Results are supplemented with microstructural observation.     

Influence of Bi3+ ions in enhancing the magnitude of positive temperature coefficients of resistance in n-BaTiO3 ceramics

Bi³⁺ ions substituting at Ba-sites in a limited concentration range with another donor dopant occupying the Ti-sites in polycrystalline BaTiO₃ enhanced the positive temperature coefficient of resistance (PTCR) by over seven orders of magnitude. These ceramics did not require normal post sinter annealing or a change to an oxygen atmosphere during annealing. These ceramics had low porosities coupled with better stabilities to large applied electric fields and chemically reducing atmospheres. Bi³⁺ ions limited the grain growth to less than 8 m in size, they enhanced the concentration of acceptor-type trap centres at the grain-boundary-layer regions and maintained complete tetragonality at low grain sizes in BaTiO₃ ceramics.     

Characterization and densification studies on ThO2-UO2 pellets derived from ThO2 and U3O8 powders

ThO₂ containing around 2-3% ²³³UO₂ is the proposed fuel for the forthcoming Indian Advanced Heavy Water Reactor (AHWR). This fuel is prepared by powder metallurgy technique using ThO₂ and U₃O₈ powders as the starting material. The densification behaviour of the fuel was evaluated using a high temperature dilatometer in four different atmospheres Ar, Ar-8%H₂, CO₂ and air. Air was found to be the best medium for sintering among them. For Ar and Ar-8%H₂ atmospheres, the former gave a slightly higher densification. Thermogravimetric studies carried out on ThO₂-2%U₃O₈ granules in air showed a continuous decrease in weight up to 1500 °C. The effectiveness of U₃O₈ in enhancing the sintering of ThO₂ has been established.     

1.54 lm GaSb/AlGaSb multi-quantum-well monolithic laser at 77 K grown on miscut Si substrate using interfacial misfit arrays

A GaSb quantum-well (QW) laser diode grown monolithically on a 5deg miscut Si (001) substrate is presented. The III-Sb epi-structure is grown monolithically on the miscut Si substrate via a thin (50 nm) AlSb nucleation layer. The 13% lattice mismatch between AlSb and Si is accommodated by a self-assembled 2D array of interfacial misfit dislocations (IMF). The 5deg miscut geometry enables simultaneous IMF formation and anti-phase domain suppression. The 1 mm times 100 mum GaSb QW laser diode operates under pulsed conditions at 77 K with a threshold current density of 2 kA/cm² and a maximum peak power of ~20 mW. Furthermore, the device is characterised by a 9.1 Omega forward resistance and a leakage current density of 0.7 A/cm² at -5 V.     

Hydrothermal stability of some manganese oxides

Hydrothermal phase reaction studies in the systemsβ-MnO₂-H₂O,γ-Mn₂O₃H₂O andγ-MnO₂-H₂O have been carried out. Based on the experimental data and the reported phase diagrams in Mn₂O₃-H₂O and MnO-H₂O systems, hydrothermal stability temperature of some of the manganese oxide minerals has been defined.     

Gradient surface porosity in titanium dental implants: relation between processing parameters and microstructure

To be successful, an implant should be biocompatible, strong and contain surface pores to promote osseointegration. A one-step microwave sintering procedure of titanium powders was attempted in this work. The idea was to take advantage of the peculiar way microwave couple with metallic powders, i.e. generating heat in the interior of the sample and dissipating it away through the surface. This non-conventional heating of titanium powder produced a dense core with surface porosity. The dense core provides the strength while the surface pores promote bone growth. The experiments were carried out in a semi-industrial grade microwave cavity using a alpha-SiC susceptor. Power levels of 1-1.5 kW, and soaking periods of approximately 30 min were used. Microstructural characterization was carried out by a scanning electron microscope. The sintered titanium had gradient porosity on the surface with a thickness of about 100-200 microm depending on the microwave power. The pores were interconnected with size ranging from 30 to 100 microm. This kind of microstructure is favorable for cell growth. Tensile strength values as high as 400 MPa were obtained for these samples.     

Nanoparticles of Barium Hexaferrite by Gel to Crystallite Conversion and their Magnetic Properties

A novel method for the preparation of nanoparticles of barium hexaferrite is realized by the gel-to-crystallite (G-C) conversion method. Here, gels of Fe(OH)₃·xH₂O, 70 < x < 110, were reacted with Ba(OH)₂·8H₂O in ethanol/water medium at 80–95°C yielding the precursor, barium iron (III) oxy hydroxide hydrate which is x-ray amorphous but crystalline by electron diffraction (ED). Thermal analyses showed dehydro-xylation of the precursor around 600°C to barium hexaferrite which exhibits ED with spotty ring patterns. Samples heat-treated at 650°C are X-ray crystalline with average particle size of 17 nm, which on recrystallization at 780–930°C gives monocrystallites with spot patterns by ED. By varying the wet chemical conditions, precursors of variable Fe₂O₃/BaO ratios could be prepared which on heat-treatment yield monophasic hexaferrite of Fe₂O₃/BaO ratio ranging from 4.51 to 6. In hyperbarium compositions, annealing at 1350°C leads to ordering of excess barium in anti-BR sites within Ba—O layers of -alumina type unit cells. Nanoparticles of barium hexaferrite with superparamagnetic as revealed by Mössbauer spectra, the temperature vs. magnetization plots and the absence of hysteresis in B-H curves. With increasing temperature of heat treatment, the area under the B-H loop increases continuously, with the magnetization increasing from 2 to 52 emu/g. The conversion from superparamagnetic to ferrimagnetic state is continuous because of the out-diffusion of cation vacancies, created to charge compensate hydroxyl ions, which, in turn, affects Fe³⁺-O^2–-Fe³⁺ superexchange interactions, with the addition of surface and size factors.