Full text: Magnetic multilayer materials are becoming technologically important as they provide a more efficient means of magnetic reading and storage through utilisation of their giant magnetoresistance and oscillatory magnetic coupling. This study presents preliminary tight-binding calculations with a view of developing a consistent tight-binding model of `spin valve` Fe-Cu-Fe tri-layer materials. Further work involves using a self-consistent tight-binding approach to obtain a more accurate picture of this system and a better understanding of surface effects at the Fe-Cu interface 1 fig., 4 refs.
Radiometric X-ray fluorescence analysis was used for the determination of Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn and Pb in wastewater and sludges from three wastewater treatment plants in Bratislava (SR). Metals were determined in wastewaters after preconcentration by 8-hydroxyquinoline and in sludges by drying and pressing to pellets. "2"3"8Pu and "1"0"9Cd was used for excitation of fluorescence radiation. (author).
Radionuclide X-ray fluorescence analysis was used for the determination of Cr, Fe, Cu, Zn and Ph in industrial wastewaters (from surface treatment of metals and glasses) after precipitation of determined elements by 8-hydroxyquinoline. (author).
Radionuclide X-ray fluorescence method with a Si/Li semiconductor detector and "2"3"8Pu exciting source was used in the study of Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, and Pb content of solid emissions, raw and final materials of a brick factory. From the point of view of metal content, the working environment if the brick factory is safe for workers. (author) 2 refs.; 2 figs.; 1 tab.
Microanalytical methods suitable for the determination of Fe, Cu in HT-29 (human colon adenocarcinoma) cells treated with different iron compounds (Fe(II) sulfate, Fe(III) chloride, Fe(III) citrate and Fe(III) transferrin) and cultured in medium supplemented or not with 10% (v/v) fetal calf serum (FCS) by total reflection X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (TXRF) and simultaneous graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GF-AAS) were developed. The developed TXRF method was also suitable for Zn determination in the samples. The main advantage of the proposed methods is the execution of all sample preparation steps following incubation and prior to the elemental analysis in the same Eppendorf tubes. Sample preparation was performed at microscale (115mL sample volume) with 65% nitric aci...
Positron annihilation experiments on Fe-Cu model dilute alloys of nuclear reactor pressure vessel (RPV) steels have been performed after neutron irradiation in JMTR. Nanovoids whose inner surfaces were covered by Cu atoms were clearly observed. The nanovoids transformed to ultrafine Cu precipitates by dissociating their vacancies after annealing at around 400degC. The nanovoids and the ultrafine Cu precipitates are strongly suggested to be responsible for irradiation-induced embrittlement of RPV steels. Effects of Ni, Mn and P addition on the nanovoid and Cu precipitate formations were also studied. The nanovoid formation was enhanced by Ni and P, but suppressed by Mn. The Cu precipitates after annealing around 400degC were almost free from these doping elements and hence were pure Cu in the chemical composition. Furthermore the Fermi surface of the 'embedded' Cu precipitates with a body centered cubic crystal structure was obtained from two ...
Structural relaxation, crystallization and optimisation processes in soft magnetic amorphous alloys based on iron are examined by applying different experimental techniques: X-ray diffraction analysis, high-resolution electron microscopy, measurements of magnetic and electric properties (permeability, after-effect resistivity). The presented results are discussed in terms of annealing out of microvoids, formation of nanocrystalline phase and changes of effective magnetostriction constant. (author)
The feasibility was studied of the application of radionuclide X-ray fluorescence analysis to the identification and determination of chemical elements in the air. A description of the method is presented, the main stages of the analysis are discussed (sample preparation and standards, selection of radioactive radiation sources, geometry of measurement and evaluation of results). The method is illustrated on the determination of elements Fe, Cu, Zn, Br, and Pb in air samples taken in the city of Prague. (author) 2 tabs., 2 figs., 14 refs.
Determination of Cr, Fe, Cu, Zn and Pb in drinking water preconcentrated on a chelating ion exchanger of Czechoslovak production is described. The analytical system consisted of a radionuclide source "2"3"8Pu, a Si/Li semiconductor detector and a multichannel analyzer. Results are compared with trehshold limit values recommended for drinking water. (author) 9 refs.; 2 figs.
Determination of Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Hg, Pb, Br, Se, Rb, Sr and Cd in the medicinal plants by radionuclide X-ray fluorescence analysis (using "2"3"8Pu, "2"4"1Am/Ag and "1"2"5I) is described. (author). 12 refs., 2 tabs.
Fe-Cu binary alloys are often used to mimic the behaviour of reactor pressure vessel steels. Their study allows identifying some of the defects responsible for irradiation-induced hardening. But recently the influence of manganese and nickel in low-Cu steels has been found to be important as well. In contrast with existing models found in the literature, which predict that hardening saturates after a certain dose, Fe alloys containing nickel and manganese irradiated in a material test reactor (BR2) show a continuous increase of hardening, up to doses equivalent to about 40 years of operation. Considerations based on positron annihilation spectroscopy analyses suggest that the main objects causing hardening in Cu-free alloys are most probably self-interstitial clusters decorated with manganese. In low-Cu reactor pressure vessel steels and in Fe-CuMnNi alloys, the main effect is still due to Cu-rich precipitates at low doses, but the role of ...
The new proton-induced nuclear reaction data for C, Fe, Cu and Pb for KASKAD-S have been generated using a newly developed data preparation system. The new system utilizes the NJOY and TRANSX codes to prepare these data with the latest evaluation instead of using the SADCO code with the built-in nuclear data. Auxiliary codes have been developed to help the conversion of TRANSX output into the reaction data for running the KASKAD-S. The basic nuclear data selected for this work are the LA150 and KAERI high energy files whose energy ranges are up to 150 and 250 MeV, respectively. The total neutron yields were calculated using KASKAD-S and the new reaction data up to 250 MeV bombarding energy. The calculations were compared with the measurements or MCNPX calculations when the measured data were absent. The comparison shows that our calculations give an overall good agreement with the measurements and MCNPX calculations except around 30 MeV where ...
During the present study concentration of nine elements (K, Ca, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Se, Br and Pb) in different tissues of mud crab Scylla serrata from Mahanadi estuary, India were determined by the external PIXE set up at Institute of Physics, Bhubaneswar, India. The study demonstrates the effectiveness of the technique in analyzing both soft and hard tissue samples from marine organisms and opens the door for non-destructive, multi-elemental analysis of tissue samples with a very little sample preparation by direct irradiation. This technique can be well utilized for analyzing the tissue samples for environmental, toxicological and nutritional purposes. The study also demonstrates the elemental concentrations from tissue samples of any crustaceans from Mahanadi estuary for the first time. Sex based difference in the elemental concentration of the mud crabs were marked, which may be related to the growth rate and other biological activities. No ...
X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and total-reflection X-ray fluorescence (TXRF) techniques suited well for a multi-element determination of K, Ca, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Rb, and Sr in some Syrian medicinal plant species. The accuracy and the precision of both techniques were verified by analyzing the Standard Reference Materials (SRM) peach-1547 and apple leaves-1515. A good agreement between the measured concentrations of the previously mentioned elements and the certified values were obtained with errors less than 10.7% for TXRF and 15.8% for XRF. The determination of Br was acceptable only by XRF with an error less than 24%. Furthermore, the XRF method showed a very good applicability for the determination of K, Ca, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Rb, Sr, and Br in infusions of different Syrian medicinal plant species, namely anise (Anisum vulgare), licorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra), and white wormwood (Artemisia herba-alba)
Based on the instrumental wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence technique of analysis (W D-X R F), the inorganic elements in four samples of commercial medicines drugs were analyzed. The samples were used without any chemical separation of the elements or chemical pre-treatment. Eleven elements could be identified, namely Si, P, S, Cl, K, Ca, Ti, Mn, Fe, Cu and Zn. However, Si, Ti and Mn have not been mentioned in the printed instructions for the use of the medicines drugs by the producers. (author)
Compositions (oligomers with suitable properties and Al, Fe, Cu, Ta, W powders) were hardured by the flux of accelerated electrons at 10 mA beam current and 1.5 MeV energy. Dielectric and mechanical properties of metal-filled polymeric compositions as well as their radioply sicl properties in SHF-range are studied. It is shown that the produced compositions belong tot he absorbing protective materials in which the protection effect is mainly achieved through the absorption losses. 6 refs.; 3 tabs.
The use of high-performance ion exchangers allows a trace-matrix-separation (SMT) directly followed by an ion chromatographic (IC) separation of the analytes. Based on the principles described in Part 1, a combined procedure IC-SMT-IC for metallic impurities in Mo and W is presented. Up to 12 metal traces (Fe, Cu, Pb, Zn, Ni, Co, Cd, Ca, Mn, Sr, Mg and Ba) can be determined in one run with 35 min. A special method for traces of U and Th is also given. Detection limits are typically 10-100 ng g{sup -1} in the metal sample. (author). 14 refs.; 10 figs.; 6 tabs.
Proton induced X-ray emission (PIXE) and proton induced {gamma}-ray emission (PIGE) techniques are employed for the determination of essential and trace elements in some commonly used medicinal plants of north east India. Light elements such as Na, Mg, Al and P are determined by PIGE while medium Z elements such as K, Ca, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Rb and Sr are determined by PIXE. Analysis is performed on pellets (thick targets) prepared using powders of the specimens which, in turn, are obtained following a series of processing steps. Plant based biological certified reference materials (CRMs) served as standards for quantification. These elements are found to be present in varying concentrations in the studied plants, with the contents of Mn and Zn being notably large in certain specimens. Medicinal properties possessed by these plants have been correlated with their elemental distribution.
The hardening and embrittlement of reactor pressure vessel (RPV) steels is of great concern in the actual nuclear power plant life assessment. This embrittlement is caused by irradiation-induced damage, like vacancies, interstitials, solutes and their clusters. The current procedure to estimate material properties for the irradiated pressure vessels is based on Charpy-V tests of identical material located at the inner shell of the reactor. But the reason for the embrittlement of the materials is not yet totally known. The real nature of the irradiation damage should thus be examined as well as its evolution in time. Fe-Cu binary alloys are often used to mimic the behaviour of such steels. Their study allows. Identifying some of the defects responsible of the hardening, especially when compared to pure iron or C-micro-alloyed iron. More recently the influence of manganese and nickel in low-Cu RPV steels has become a significant topic. Thus in contrast with the ...
In this paper heavy metal pollution at an abandoned Italian pyrite mine has been investigated by comparing total concentrations and speciation of heavy metals (Fe, Cu, Mn, Zn, Pb and As) in a red mud sample and a river sediment. Acid digestions show that all the investigated heavy metals present larger concentrations in the sediment than in the tailing. A modified Tessier's procedure has been used to discriminate heavy metal bound to organic fraction from those originally present in the mineral sulphide matrix and to detect a possible trend of metal mobilisation from red mud to river sediment. Sequential extractions on bulk and size fractionated samples denote that sediment samples present larger percent concentrations of the investigated heavy metals in the first extractive steps (I-IV) especially in lower dimension size fractionated samples suggesting that heavy metals in the sediment are significantly bound by superficial adsorption ...
In this paper heavy metal pollution at an abandoned Italian pyrite mine has been investigated by comparing total concentrations and speciation of heavy metals (Fe, Cu, Mn, Zn, Pb and As) in a red mud sample and a river sediment. Acid digestions show that all the investigated heavy metals present larger concentrations in the sediment than in the tailing. A modified Tessier's procedure has been used to discriminate heavy metal bound to organic fraction from those originally present in the mineral sulphide matrix and to detect a possible trend of metal mobilisation from red mud to river sediment. Sequential extractions on bulk and size fractionated samples denote that sediment samples present larger percent concentrations of the investigated heavy metals in the first extractive steps (I-IV) especially in lower dimension size fractionated samples suggesting that heavy metals in the sediment are significantly bound by superficial adsorption ...
Particle induced X-ray emission (PIXE) technique has been employed to perform elemental analysis of K, Ca, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Br and Sr for Syrian medicinal plants used traditionally to enhance the body immunity. Plant samples were prepared in a simple dried base. The results were verified by comparing with those obtained from both IAEA-359 and IAEA-V10 reference materials. Relative standard deviations are mostly within {+-}5-10% suggest good precision. A correlation between the elemental content in each medicinal plant with its traditional remedial usage has been proposed. Both K and Ca are found to be the major elements in the samples. Fe, Mn and Zn have been detected in good levels in most of these plants clarifying their possible contribution to keep the body immune system in good condition. The contribution of the elements in these plants to the dietary recommended intakes (DRI) has been evaluated. Advantages and limitations of PIXE ...
An X-ray fluorometric train was set up for analyzing gravitational fallout, and tested on standard reference samples of fly ashes from conventional power plants. Analysis of thin layers proved inappropriate, and therefore pelletization of the samples, either alone or together with the X-ray MIX binder, was applied. Sample grinding in an agate mortar was found sufficient to suppress the particle size effect. The optimum pressure was 20 MPa. The optimum geometry was sought for "1"0"9Cd source, and limits of detection of 2.78-0.47 #mu#g were achieved for Cr-Zr elements. Tominaga's method was employed for matrix effect correction. Ti, Fe, Cu, Zn, As, Rb, Sr, Zr and Pb were determined in the SRM's; the relative errors ranged from units per cent (for Zn, Rb, Sr and Zr present in concentrations about 100 ppm and for Fe in concentrations of units per cent) up to 45% (for Ti present in a concentration of 0.67%). The method developed was applied to the ...
This study was carried out mainly to produce uranium trioxide (UO_3), with the standard of commercial specifications from rock phosphate deposits in eastern part of Nuba mountains, south Kurdufan state. A simplified hydrometallurgical procedure has been adopted for production of yellow cake from the ore. Elemental analysis has shown that the ore is rich in Ca and deficient in elements of potential interest such as Fe, Cu and Zn. Uranium content in ore, phosphoric acid and purified yellow cake (UO_3) obtained with different precipitants was analyzed using alpha-spectrometry. On the average, the activity concentration of uranium in ore corresponds to 82 #+-# 24 ppm (0.10%). From the data of pregnant liquor, it was observed that the addition of KCIO_3 as an oxidant improves the dissolution of uranium from the ore by almost 20%. Data has also indicated that the yellow cake purified by hydrogen peroxide has higher concentration of uranium by 44.5% ...
Based on the IAPWS technical guidance on ''Instrumentation for Monitoring and Control of Cycle Chemistry for Steam-Water Circuits of Fossil-Fired and Combined Cycle Power Plants,'' the latest situation regarding instrumentation for nuclear power plants is discussed. As a result of the discussion, it is concluded that: (1) Reliable and safe operation of plants is established by the application of suitable chemical conditions in plant cooling systems, which should be supported by the selection of suitable control targets for monitoring and by the application of reliable instruments. (2) The minimum level of key instrumentation consists of on-line as well as off-line instruments for monitoring the key parameters: - on-line: pH, conductivity, cation conductivity, O{sub 2} and H{sub 2} concentrations, electrochemical corrosion potential; - off-line: radioactive nuclides ({sup 60}Co, {sup 58}Co, {sup 131}I, etc.), and the concentrations of metallic species ...
This study was carried out mainly to produce uranium trioxide (UO_3), matching standard commercial specification from rock phosphate deposits in Uro and Kurun at eastern part of the Nuba Mountains. A simplified hydrometallurgical procedure has been adopted for production of yellow cake from the ore. The powdered ore sample was leached with concentrated H_2SO_4 acid with and without addition of KCIO_3 as an oxidant. The crude yellow cake was precipitated from the resulting green solution of phosphoric acid as Na_2U_2O_7 and (NH_4)_2U_2O_7 and subsequently purified by TBP extraction (tributylphosphate) and hydrogen peroxide as UO_4.2H_2O. TBP purified product was dried and calcined to UO_3 whereas UO_4.2H-2O was dried and reduced to UO_3 by Na_2S_2O_3. Prior to precipitation of crude yellow cake, Fe in the phosphoric acid solution was precipitated using magnesia. Elemental analysis has shown that the ore is rich in Ca and deficient in elements of potential interest such as ...