Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The Co-doped BaTiO{sub 3} nanosized powders and ceramics were prepared via the sol-gel process. The powders and ceramics were characterized by methods of XRD, SEM and TEM. The dielectric properties of the ceramics were also determined by these methods. The influence of sintering temperature, sintering time and Co concentration on the microstructure and dielectric properties was discussed. The results revealed that the powders were in nanometer scale (30-50 nm) and were mainly composed of cubic BaTiO{sub 3} phase and small amount of BaCO{sub 3}. After sintering, both the cubic BaTiO{sub 3} and BaCO{sub 3} were transformed into tetrahedron BaTiO{sub 3}. The sintering temperatures of the Co-doped BaTiO{sub 3} ceramics decreased (about 100 deg. C) and the Curie temperatures of the ceramics were then moved to lower temperature. In addition, the dielectric constant of the ceramics doping with Co was higher than that of the pure ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

In this study a modified solid state synthesis (auto-ignition method) is used to form nanosized spinel type material LiMg{sub 0.05}Ni{sub 0.45}Mn{sub 1.5}O{sub 4}. This material presents a high voltage plateau at 4.75 V vs. Li/Li{sup +}. Structural and electrochemical characterisations have been performed using a wide range of techniques (TEM, neutron diffraction, galvanostatic measurements, and impedance spectroscopy). Besides, in situ XAS has been performed to monitor the evolution of Ni and Mn oxidation state during Li intercalation. The material presents an ordered cubic spinel structure, good capacity retention upon cycling (131 mAh g{sup -1} at C/10 and 117 mAh g{sup -1} at 1C) and good electronic conductivity (10{sup -6} S cm{sup -1} at RT). The simultaneous presence of Mn{sup 3+}/Mn{sup 4+} in the structure has been investigated and explained by inclusion of disordered nanodomains in the structure. (author)

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The nanosized luminescent Tb-MCM-41 (1:10) is synthesized by means of sol-gel-assisted self-assembly under basic conditions at room temperature. The results of "2"9Si-MAS NMR and XRD prove that Tb"3"+ doped Si-O framework. The HRTEM image shows that the regular uniform particles with a diameter of 10 nm possess ultralarge pore with diameter 2.0 nm, which is consistent with the result of N_2 adsorption. The BET surface area and porosity of Tb-MCM-41 (1:10) are 1127 m"2/g and 0.84 cm"3/g, respectively. The patterns of selected-area electron diffraction and XRD of Tb-MCM-41 (1:10) show an Fm3m space group in the cubic. FT-IR results show that the peaks near 970 cm"-"1 are assigned to the deformation vibration of silanol group. The as-products are calcined at 800 deg. C and the mesoporous materials possess enormous specific areas and large porosity, it shows that the mesoporous materials are ultrastable.

J-STORE (Japan)

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International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Three types of titanium hydrides have been reported: #delta#, #epsilon# and #gamma# hydrides. The #delta# hydride forms in the composition range from TiH/sub 1.5/ to TiH/sub 1.99/ and has a CaF/sub 2/ structure with metal atoms on an fcc lattice and hydrogen atoms randomly occupying tetrahedral interstitial sites. At higher hydrogen concentrations, TiH/sub 2/, the fct (c/a # #epsilon# transformation is apparently diffusionless, similar to that operating in the cubic/tetragonal transformation in zirconium hydride. The metastable fct #gamma# hydride having a c/a value of 1.09 or 1.12 forms from solid solutions of hydrogen in the hcp #alpha# matrix. While the titanium hydride precipitation in #alpha#-Ti and its alloys has attracted extensive investigation, hydride formation in bcc #beta#-Ti alloys has rarely been studied because they have not been thought to be liable to hydride formation. This paper shows conclusive evidence for the fcc #delta# ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This report contains detailed information of the research program entitled "Development of Bulk Nanocrystalline Cemented Tungsten Carbide Materials for Industrial Applications". The report include the processes that were developed for producing nanosized WC/Co composite powders, and an ultrahigh pressure rapid hot consolidation process for sintering of nanosized powders. The mechanical properties of consolidated materials using the nanosized powders are also reported.

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British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Nano-sized silica is a promising material for disease diagnosis, cosmetics and drugs. For the successful application of nano-sized material in bioscience, evaluation of nano-sized material toxicity is important. We previously found that nano-sized silica particles with a diameter of 70nm showed acute liver failure in mice. Here, we performed histological analysis of major organs such as the liver, spleen, lung, kidney, brain and heart in mice, chronically injected with 70-nm silica particles for 4weeks. Histological analysis revealed hepatic microgranulation and splenic megakaryocyte accumulation in these 70-nm silica particles treated mice, while the kidney, lung, brain and heart remained unaffected. Thus, liver and spleen appear to be the major target organs for toxicity by the chronic a...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Zirconium phosphate was one of the earliest inorganic ion-exchange suggested for removing strontium and cesium from aqueous nuclear waste. This paper studied ionic exchange to remove Cs-137 and Sr-90 by using different cationic of zirconium phosphate. In this case the parameters studied were the effect of temperature and ion concentration to percent up take and distribution coefficients. It is also conducted the study on column experiments to determine the breakthrough curves for Cs-137 and Sr-90. The result showed the potential of use of zirconium phosphate in radioactive waste treatment. (author)

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The electrochromatographic behavior of 25 metal ions on zirconium tungstate-impregnated papers is described. Six background electrolytes were used. On the basis of the differential mobilities of metal ions which depend on the ion-exchange properties of zirconium tungstate and the nature of complex formation with the electrolytes, some important binary and ternary separations have been achieved.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Nanocrystalline cemented tungsten carbide has attracted considerable interests for use in cutting tool because of its superior mechanical properties. In this study, nano-sized powders of mixed WC and Co were prepared from attrition-milled oxides by a gas reduction-carburization process. The effects of compacting pressure, heating schedule, additional ball-milling, and the presence of a grain growth inhibitor on the sintering properties of the nano-sized WC-Co powders were examined. The grain size and phases in WC-Co alloy were clearly affected by compacting pressure. Because of the trapped gases and the lower melting point of the cobalt binder, when a compact of nano-sized WC-Co powder was sintered through a heating schedule with holding steps, the sintered alloy maintained the small size of WC grains without any #eta# phase. In addition, the additional ball-milling improved the microstructure and mechanical properties of ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Flame propagating through zirconium particle cloud in a small-scale vertical rectangle chamber was investigated experimentally. In the experiments, the zirconium quoted 99% purity was used and the diameter of particles was distributed 1?22 ?m. The zirconium dust was dispersed into the chamber by air flow and ignited by an electrode spark. A high-speed video camera was used to record the images of the propagating flame. Micro-thermocouples, schlieren optical system and microscopic lens were used to obtain temperature profiles and flame structure, respectively. Based on the experimental results, flame propagation characteristics and flame structure of zirconium particle cloud were analyzed. The propagation velocity of the flame is quite slow in the initial 14 ms and then accelerates to maxim...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Zirconium-base alloys are used primarily as fuel cladding material and other core structure material in water cooled nuclear power reactors. Main research achievements and problems about corrosion of zirconium alloys are reviewed; the present theories and challenge are summarized. In the 1980s, great progress had been made towards correlating alloy composition, microstructure and irradiation with corrosion resistance. In the 1990s, main researches are focused on exploring actual mechanism of corrosion, optimizing both alloy composition and microstructure in order to minimize the fuel cycle costs through burnup optimization.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The present invention concerns a method of evaluating corrosion resistance of a zirconium alloy easily and in a short period of time. An anode polarization curve of the zirconium alloy is measured to obtain an anode polarization curve expressed by logarithm. The curve is converted to a potential-current density curve expressed by absolute values. The peak area in the curve of the converted potential-current density is indicated by numerical values. Further, the corrosion resistance of the zirconium alloy is evaluated based on the peak area converted into the numerical values as a reference. This method is based on the finding that the peak area has a close relation with nodular corrosion resistance, and the corrosion resistance can be judged with respect to a specific zircaloy-2. (T.M.).

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Using the PMR method the interaction of zirconium and hafnium tetrachlorides with tri.tet.butylphenyl ester of 1,2- naphthoquinonediazide (2)-5-sulfonic acid is studied. The formation of MCl/sub 4/xNQD complexes is established, the equilibrium constants and thermodynamic parameters of complexing reaction are determined. The presence of rapid ligand exchange, proceeding according to associative mechanism, is detected. The rate constants and activation energies of the exchange reaction are calculated.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

A method has been developed for the adsorption of Sc"I"I"I employing inorganic ion exchanger zirconium phosphosilicate by batch method. Effects of various parameters have been evaluated on the percentage adsorption of Sc"I"I"I. Separation of Sc"I"I"I from various other elements is standardized. (author)

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The kinetics of the reaction of zirconium phosphates with carbon tetrachloride in sodium and potassium chloride melt as well as the effect of temperature, gas flow, solubility and weight of the solid phase of the phosphate, and stirring of the melt on the chlorination rate has been studied. The kinetic parameters of the reaction (rate constants, activation energy, etc.) have been calculated.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Substantial roles of precipitates such as Zr-Fe-Cr type intermetallic compounds on uniform corrosion and hydrogen pickup of zirconium alloys in pure water autoclave tests were investigated from an electrochemical point of view. This paper describes the roles on corrosion. A corrosion test on precipitate-containing and precipitate-free materials made from pure zirconium and a small quantity of iron and chromium, rest potential measurements on an intermetallic compound of Zr(FeCr){sub 2} and zirconium matrix, and a galvanic coupling test of those were performed. Results showed that corrosion behavior of zirconium alloys could be attributed to the electrochemical properties of intermetallic compounds precipitated in each alloy. Namely, the cathodic and anodic polarization characteristics were associated with anodic protection provided by the precipitates on the alloys and the precipitates degradation in ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Silicon thin film with thickness in range 1000-5300 A deposited on rough Cu foil by a radio frequency magnetron sputtering is used as anode materials for Li-ion rechargeable batteries. The SEM, XRD and TEM analysis reveals that the Si thin film has a floccular nano-sized multi-crystalline structure. Li ions insertion/extraction evaluation is performed mainly with constant current charge/discharge cycling and cyclic voltammetry (CV) at room temperature. The cycleability and reversible discharge capacity are found to depend on the film thickness, and thinner films give larger accommodation capacity. A 3120 A Si film provides a reversible specific capacity over 3500 mA hg{sup -1} with excellent cycleability under 0.5 C charge/discharge rate.

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

The management of the interim phase of a complete oral rehabilitation in patients with severely worn dentition is often challenging due to the loss of occlusal vertical dimension, loss of tooth structure,...Full Text Available

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

BackgroundThe successful use of zirconia ceramics in orthopedic surgery led to a demand for dental zirconium-based implant systems. Because of its excellent biomechanical characteristics,...Full Text Available

Science.gov (United States)

The corrosion behavior of Ta, Ti, and Zr in inorganic acids, bases, chlorides and miscellaneous salts, waters and gases, and organic acids and miscellaneous organic chemicals is summarized. (W.L.H)

Science.gov (United States)

... by the boron doping in most of the alloys except for Al66Mn9Zr25 + 50 ppm B alloy; permanent deformation at ultimate compressive strength is not ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

In this paper we present an approximation method for the convolution of two planar curves using pairs of compatible cubic B?zier curves with linear normals (LN). We characterize the necessary and sufficient conditions for two compatible cubic B?zier LN curves with the same linear normal map to exist. Using this characterization, we obtain the cubic spline approximation of the convolution curve. As illustration, we apply our method to the approximation of a font where the letters are constructed as the Minkowski sum of two planar curves. We also present numerical results using our approximation method for offset curves and compare our method to previous results.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Anaerobic treatment of olive oil mill wastewaters (COD up to 220 kg/cubic m) is feasible, and the most promising results were obtained on UASB reactors, both at laboratory and pilot scale (tank capacity 15 litres and 5 cubic m), fed on diluted waste (COD = 13-18 kg/cubic m). Volumetric loading rates ranging from 16-21.5 kg COD/cubic m/day and 70% removal efficiencies were obtained with these digesters. Start-up of UASB reactors fed on olive oil mill waste is a delicate step which still has to be fully controlled and optimized. The best results were obtained by starting with very diluted waste (COD = 5 kg/cubic m). Granulation of the sludge, as achieved in Dutch UASB digesters fed on sugar beet wastewaters, was not obtained, but, even so, the settleability of the sludge was very good. 22 references.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Nano-sized zinc oxide was synthesized and deposited onto cellulosic fibers using the sol-gel process at ambient temperature. The prepared materials were characterized using several techniques including scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and thermogravimetric analysis. X-ray diffraction studies of the ZnO-coated fiber indicate formation of the hexagonal crystal phase which was satisfactory crystallized on the fiber surface. The electron micrographs show formation of zinc oxide nanoparticles within 10-15 nm in size which have been homogeneously dispersed on the fiber surface. The prepared materials show significant photocatalytic self-cleaning activity, which was monitored by diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The photoactivity was studied upon measuring the photodegradation of methylene blue and eosin yellowish under UV-Vis irradiation. The photocatalytic activity of the treated fabrics ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The present invention provides a fuel cladding tube having an excellent corrosion resistance and thus a long life, and a suitable manufacturing method therefor. Namely, in the fuel cladding tube, the outer circumference of an inner layer made of a zirconium base alloy is coated with an outer layer made of a metal more corrosion resistant than the zirconium base alloy. Ti or a titanium alloy is suitable for the corrosion resistant metal. In addition, the outer layer can be coated by a method such as vapor deposition or plating, not limited to joining of the inner layer material and the outer layer material. Specifically, a composite material having an inner layer made of a zirconium alloy coated by the outer material made of a titanium alloy is applied with hot fabrication at a temperature within a range of from 500 to 850degC and at a fabrication rate of not less than 5%. The fabrication method includes any of extrusion, ...

Science.gov (United States)

The interaction of Pu(IV) and Zr(IV) with citric acid in nitric acid solutions (C/sub HNO/sub 3// greater than 0.1 M) of lithium nitrate was studied by the distribution method in the interval of nitrate ion concentrations from 1 to 6 g-eq/liter. A 40 percent solution of TBP in decane was used as the extraction reagent. It was established that within the range of concentrations studied, complex compounds of plutonium and zirconium are formed: PuHCit/sup 2 +/ and ZrH/sub 2/Cit/sup 3 +/. The concentration equilibrium constants of the reactions of formation of these compounds retain a constant value at constant ionic strength and undergo substantial variation when the total concentration of the nitrate ion in solution is varied. The values of the effective equilibrium constants, calculated considering the change in the activity coefficient of the hydrogen ion, retain a constant value within a wide range of nitrate ion concentrations. It was shown that the effectiveness ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Substantial roles of precipitates such as Zr-Fe-Cr type intermetallic compounds on uniform corrosion and hydrogen pickup of zirconium alloys in pure water autoclave tests were investigated from an electrochemical point of view. In the previous paper, corrosion mechanism was elucidated by the anodic protection-precipitates degradation model. This paper describes the roles on hydrogen pickup. 633 K pure water autoclave test was performed on high purity zirconium, Zr-0.2Fe, Zr-0.2Cr, and Zr-0.1Fe-0.1Cr alloys. Hydrogen analysis after the corrosion test showed that hydrogen pickup ratio of Zr-0.2Fe alloy was about 80%. It was much higher than about 30% of pure Zr and about 10% of both Zr-0.2Cr and Zr-0.1Fe-0.1Cr alloys. Larger hydrogen content was introduced into Zr-0.2Fe alloy than the other ones by the cathodic hydrogen charging under coulombic equivalence. The precipitates at metal-oxide interface could act not only as cathodic sites in the ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

This patent describes the producing of a refractory metal wherein a sponge refractory metal is produced as an intermediate product by the use of magnesium with the incidental production of magnesium chloride, and wherein residual magnesium is separated from the magnesium chloride and from refractory metal to a vacuum distillation step which fractionally distills the magnesium, the magnesium chloride, and the metal sub-chlorides; the steps of: recovering fractionally distilled vapors of magnesium chloride and metal sub-chlorides from a sponge refractory metal; separately condensing the vapors as separately recovered; and recycling the separately recovered magnesium at a purity of at least about 96%.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The incorporation of (a) Cs/Sr as simulated heat-generating isotopes contained in Purex reprocessing waste, (b) simulated actinides, and (c) simulated Purex waste in sodium zirconium phosphate (NZP) has been studied. The samples were prepared by sintering, by hot pressing and by hot isostatic pressing in metal bellows containers. The short-term chemical durability of the phosphate-based material containing Purex waste was within an order of magnitude of that for Synroc-C, as measured by 7-day MCC-1 tests at 90{degrees}C. The dissolution behavior showed evidence of re-precipitation phenomena, even after times as short as 28 days. Potential for improvement of NZP-based ceramics for HLW management is discussed. 19 refs., 4 figs., 3 tabs.

Science.gov (United States)

SDI was a space-based defense system designed to ... satellites that could detect a massive nuclear launch within seconds, orbiting laser weapons to destroy the ..... AIAA Washington Conference, memorandum from T. W. Hamilton to H. ...

UK PubMed Central (United Kingdom)

Several isolates of bacteria and fungi from soil, together with cells released directly from soil, were studied with respect to buoyant density and dry weight. The specific volume (cubic centimeters...Full Text Available

Science.gov (United States)

With the help of self-assembly, thermal sintering, selective etching techniques and sol-gel process, the non-close packed (ncp) face-centered cubic (fcc) photonic crystals of titanium dioxide (TiO2) hollow spheres connected by TiO2 cylindrical tubes have been fabricated using silica template. The photonic bandgap calculations indicate that the ncp structure of TiO2 hollow spheres was easier to open the pseudogaps than close packed system at the lowest energy. PMID:17097102

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Anaerobic digestions fed with waste orange peels are stable at loading rates up to 3.5 kg total solids (TS)/cubic m.d if the amount of peel oil introduced into the digestion is less than 0.075 g/L digestion liquor per day. The yield of gas (50-55% methane) is 0.5 cubic m/kg of TS; conversion of solids to gas approaches 100%. Oil content of peels can be reduced to non-toxic levels using commercial oil recovery equipment. Presence of aromatic acids in digestion liquors cannot serve as an indication of toxicity or overloading.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Zircaloy fabrication plant manufactures all the necessary Zr-2 components like fuel canning tubes, calandria tubes and other rod and sheet products. This plant is having a capacity of producing about 4 lakh nos. of PHWR fuel tubes per annum. These tubes are seamless, thin walled with close dimensional tolerances and stringent mechanical properties. The plant has established all the facilities required to produce these tubes with required quality.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

This paper reviews the mill flowsheet applied at the SOMAIR (Societe des Mines de l'Air) uranium mill in Niger. It focuses on the yellow cake quality improvements achieved by molybdenum and zirconium elimination through double yellow cake precipitation in tanks at first stage and through size/density control in a fluidized bed precipitator at second stage. Water saving aspects in the plant are also presented. (author)

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

The review provides a general idea about the types of metallic alloys and the pure metals used as implant materials in dental and orthopedic surgery. Their corrosive behavior in both real solutions and various media that model human biological fluids is described. Based on the literature data, it is concluded that multicomponent alloys containing titanium, niobium, zirconium, tungsten, molybdenum, aluminum, and silicon are the most resistant to corrosion. Implants made of different types of stainless steel are preferred when manufacturing orthopedic devices for short-term use.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

In this work, the ability of a number of Zr-containing intermetallic compounds with the Zr{sub 2}Me stoichiometry, including Zr{sub 2}Fe, Zr{sub 2}Ni, Zr{sub 2}Co and Zr{sub 4}Fe{sub 2}O{sub 0.6}, to participate in the Hydrogenation-Disproportionation-Desorption-Recombination process was investigated, revealing for the first time that the HDDR route can be employed successfully for all these compounds. 24 refs.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The electrochemical behavior of some zirconium alloys including Zry-2 with various #SIGMA#Ai from 2.5 x 10"-"2"0 to 1.2 x 10"-"1"7 (h), modified Zry-2 with iron contents of 0.15, 0.25, and 0.5%, and standard Zry-4 was studied by measuring anodic polarization curves in sulfuric acid solution. The results of these electrochemical tests were compared with those of steam autoclave tests. In Zry-2, the current peak was observed at 1250 mV (versus SCE) on the anodic polarization curve, and this peak area increased with #SIGMA#Ai and with the size of secondary precipitates. Also, this peak was closely correlated with nodular corrosion resistance as expected from the above results. As iron contents in modified Zry-2 increased, the current peak at 1,250 mV decreased and a new peak at 1,900 mV appeared. The former peak disappeared and the latter peak increased further at 0.5% iron. In Zry-4, the current peak was observed at 1,900 mV, but not at 1,250 mV, and this behavior ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Abstract A series of polypropylene carbonate (PPC)/ZnO nanocomposite films with different ZnO contents were prepared via a solution blending method. The morphological structures, thermal properties, oxygen permeability, water sorption, and antibacterial properties of the films were investigated as a function of ZnO concentration. While all of the composite films with less than 5 wt % ZnO exhibited good dispersion of ZnO in the PPC matrix, FTIR and SEM results revealed that solution blending did not lead to a strong interaction between PPC and unmodified ZnO. As such, poor dispersion was induced in the composite films with a high ZnO content. By incorporating inorganic ZnO filler nanoparticles, the diffusion coefficient, water uptake in equilibrium, and oxygen permeability decreased as the ...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Nanocrystalline MnFe"2O"4 ferrite was prepared by using autocombustion technique (flash). The microstructure and magnetic properties are studied. The results of XRD and TEM clarified that, this ferrite is nanosized with particle size (39 nm). Magnetic measurements showed a ferromagnetic behavior with T"C = 613 K, the saturation magnetization M"s = 13.71 emu/g, remanent magnetization M"r = 0.1694 emu/g and, coercivity H"c = 25.6 Oe. Natural material, egg white used as an aqueous medium to extend prepare nanoparticles better than other chemical interesting materials.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Nanosized CaSnO{sub 3} is synthesized by a hydrothermal process and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The SEM observation shows the sample has a porous flowerlike morphology. The electrochemical results exhibit that the stable and reversible capacity of 547 mAh g{sup -1} is obtained after 50 cycles at 60 mA g{sup -1} (0.1 C) and the corresponding charge capacity is determined to be 316 mAh g{sup -1} at the current density of 2.5 C. Cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy data are analyzed to complement the galvanostatic results. The observed excellent performance is attributed to the porous structure and large surface area of flowerlike CaSnO{sub 3}.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

We explore a novel phenomenon of focused ion beam (FIB) induced bending of carbon nanopillars or cantilever structures. The bending occurs towards the ion beam during scanning. The explanation of this bending has been sought on the basis of a model which considers temperature rise and gradients caused by the impinging ion beam. The process is controllable and reversible, which makes it highly suitable for in situ manipulation to make desired 3D shapes by the piecewise bending of the nanopillars and cantilever structures during their fabrication using electron beam or FIB chemical vapor deposition (EB-CVD or FIB-CVD). Its usefulness in the fabrication of nanosize mechanical components has been demonstrated by making a branch structure from a single cantilever.

CERN Document Server

Let $C$ be a curve of genus two. We denote by $SU_C(3)$ the moduli space of semi-stable vector bundles of rank 3 and trivial determinant over $C$, and by $J^d$ the variety of line bundles of degree $d$ on $C$. In particular, $J^1$ has a canonical theta divisor $\\Theta$. The space $SU_C(3)$ is a double cover of $P^8=|3\\Theta|$ branched along a sextic hypersurface, the Coble sextic. In the dual $\\check{P}^8=|3\\Theta|^*$, where $J^1$ is embedded, there is a unique cubic hypersurface singular along $J^1$, the Coble cubic. We prove that these two hypersurfaces are dual, inducing a non-abelian Torelli result. Moreover, by looking at some special linear sections of these hypersurfaces, we can observe and reinterpret some classical results of algebraic geometry in a context of vector bundles: the duality of the Segre-Igusa quartic with the Segre cubic, the symmetric configuration of 15 lines and 15 points, the Weddle quartic ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

This study aims to investigate the difference in the interaction of antimicrobial peptides with two classes of zwitterionic peptides, phosphatidylethanolamines (PE) and phosphatidylcholines (PC). Further experiments were performed on model membranes prepared from specific bacterial lipids, lipopolysaccharides (LPS) isolated from Salmonella minnesota. The structure of the lipid-peptide aqueous dispersions was studied by small-and wide-angle X-ray diffraction during heating and cooling from 5 to 85 C. The lipids and peptides were mixed at lipid-to-peptide ratios 10-10000 (POPE and POPC) or 2-50 (LPS). All experiments were performed at synchrotron soft condensed matter beamline A2 in Hasylab at Desy in Hamburg, Germany. The phases were identified and the lattice parameters were calculated. Alamethicin and melittin interact in similar ways with the lipids. Pure POPC forms only lamellar phases. POPE forms lamellar phases at low temperatures that upon heating transform into a highly curved ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The detailed electronic energy band structure of hexagonal close-packed #alpha#-zirconium, corresponding to the atomic configuration of 4d"25s"2 of its four outermost valence electrons, has been computed by the composite-wave variational version of the augmented-plane-wave(APW) method in conjunction with the X#alpha#(#alpha# = 0.70424) exchange approximation for obtaining the potentials. From these data the electronic density of states and its angular-momentum-decomposed components have been obtained by the Raubenheimer-Gilat method. These quantities are required in order to calculate the electron-phonon interaction parameter (lambda) and the superconducting transition temperature (Tsub(c)) within the framework of the theories of Gaspari and Gyorffy and McMillan. A study of the variation of Tsub(c) with the Coulomb pseudopotential (#mu#*) revealed that #mu#* = 0.1 yields the best agreement between theory and experiment for #alpha#-Zr. Also studied from the energy ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A theoretical model, which describes subband gap photoexcitation involving localized electronic states, was developed. The escape probability of a charge carrier trapped in a localized state is considered via Poole-Frenkel, direct tunneling, or phonon-assisted tunneling processes, as competing escape mechanisms. Photoelectrochemical experiments were performed on the passive films formed on zirconium and amorphous iron-zirconium alloys and on pure HfO/sub 2/ films and HfO/sub 2/ films implanted with varying concentrations of xenon. These films were found to possess some degree of disorder depending on the substrate, the thickness of the film, and the extent of implantation. The spectral dependence of the photocurrent in all of the films studied is considerably different from what was found for crystalline passive films. The potential dependence of the photocurrent yields Poole-Frenkel behavior. Reverse tunneling processes were also observed at ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Reaction of formation of 3, 5, 7, 3', 4', 5' - hexaoxiflavone - myricetin complexes with zirconium and hafnium ions has been the basis for development of luminescent method of determining these elements. Optimum conditions for complexing have been determined. For Hf they are : 8-9 HCl concentration, maximum fluorescence wave length (lambda fl.)of 520 nm, wave length of exciting light (lambda el) of 436 nm, for Zr lambda fl = 536nm, lambda el = 436 nm. Stable fluorescence establishes after 25 min. for Zr and after 15 min for Hf in the presence of 40% ethanol. Usage of various camouflage agents has permitted to attain high selectivity of the method. Possibility for determination of Zr with myricetin in the presence of a 10-time excess of Hf, Cr, Cu, 50-time excess of Mo and Ti is shown. Sensitivity of Zr determination is 2.0x10 #mu#g"-"2/ml, for Hf it is 9.0x10 #mu#g"-"3 and mineral waters.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This patent describes a process for preparing of an ion exchanger, comprising: treating an ionically inert activated charcoal porous support with an aqueous solution of metal oxychloride selected from the group consisting of zirconium and titanium oxychlorides so as to impregnate the pores of the support with the solution; separating the treated support from excess metal oxychloride solution; converting the metal oxychloride to a hydrous metal oxide precipitate in the pores of the support at a pH above 8 and above the pH whereat the hydrous metal oxide and activated charcoal support have opposite zeta potentials and sufficient to hydrolyze the metal oxychloride. It also describes a process for preparing an ion exchanger comprising: treating granulated activated charcoal with a concentrated solution of a metal oxychloride from the group consisting of zirconium and titanium oxychlorides, degassing the mixture; and treating the resultant mixture ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This paper attempts to explain the peculiarities of the radial-distribution function of metal glasses without involving ideas of the amorphous structure. On a computer, the radial atomic density for a spherical eutectic single crystal of the composition Fe/sub 84/C/sub 16/ of radius 15 A formed by alternating small crystals of e-Fe and Fe/sub 3/C of cubic form with the edge of the cube ca 10 A. For the sake of clarity, the diagram of such a quasisingle crystal is shown and has been given a cubic boundary. The change in the relationship between the heights of the subpeaks of the second maximum of the radial distribution function of atoms in the Fe-B glasses with a change in the concentration of boron can be explained by the change in the space group of the Fe/sub 3/B metastable boride which is formed in this system.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Off-shell interactions for localized closed-string tachyons in C/Z{sub N} superstring backgrounds are analyzed and a conjecture for the effective height of the tachyon potential is elaborated. At large N, some of the relevant tachyons are nearly massless and their interactions can be deduced from the S-matrix. The cubic interactions between these tachyons and the massless fields are computed in a closed form using orbifold CFT techniques. The cubic interaction between nearly-massless tachyons with different charges is shown to vanish and thus condensation of one tachyon does not source the others. It is shown that to leading order in N, the quartic contact interaction vanishes and the massless exchanges completely account for the four point scattering amplitude. This indicates that it is necessary to go beyond quartic interactions or to include other fields to test the conjecture for the height of the tachyon potential.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

This paper describes stable strontium as composed of four stable isotopes ( Sr 88, Sr 87, Sr 86, and Sr 84), of which Sr 88 contributes more than 82% to its composition. Strontium exists in three crystalline, plymorphic forms; face-centered cubic alpha form, hexagonal beta form and body-centered cubic gamma form. Strontium occupies in many physicochemical aspects an intermediate position between calcium and barium, as does the solubility of strontium salts. As a result of its oxidation potential, strontium readily forms oxides, halides, and sulfide. The author proposes that the slight discrimination against strontium incorporation into bony tissues may be due to the difference in ionic potential (14%) between strontium and calcium. Ionic potential is an indicator of the strength of ionic bonds: strontium has a smaller ratio of ionic charge to ionic radius when compared with calcium.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The method of programmed thermodesorption has been used to study the forms of hydrogen adsorption in ZrNiHsub(x) hydride. It is shown that high concentration of the hydrogen, which extracted from hydride in the temperature range of 240-260 deg C results in appearance of ''reverse'' peak. Charge of hydride adsorption properties during its oxidation-reduction treatment is studied. Comparison with spectra of hydrogen thermodesorption from the surface of Ni/ZrO_2 deposited catalyst and zirconium oxide is carried out.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The manufacturing of TRIGA fuel rods with low enriched uranium follows in principle the same route as high-enriched uranium. The high purity of the primary metals (uranium, zirconium and erbium) is important for determining the equilibrium metal-hydrogen phases. The impurities from the metal, on the surface and from hydrogen may have an important influence on the hydriding process. This paper presents the aspects of the fuel contamination with oxygen during the manufacturing process of the low enriched uranium fuel. The continuous control of the oxygen concentration in the working zone ensures avoidance of the accidental contamination. Key words: manufacturing, fuel, oxygen, contamination. (authors)

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Instrumental neutron activation analysis is used for simultaneously determination of macrocomponents in ferroelectric materials LLZT. Pb, Zr, Ti have been determined by "2"0"3Pb, "8"9Zr and "4"8Sc nuclides created by fast neutron (14.5 MeV) activation. Application of paraffine as neutron moderator and reflector allows to simultaneously determine lanthanum by "1"4"0La nuclide. It has been shown that zirconium, titanium and lanthanum can be determined with the accuracy of #+-#0.1 mas. % and lead - #+-#0.7 mas. %.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Scanning ion microscopy with polarization analysis (SIMPA) is used to study the spin-resolved surface magnetic structure of nano-sized magnetic systems. SIMPA is utilized for in situ topographic and spin-resolved magnetic domain imaging as well as for focused ion beam (FIB) etching of desired structures in magnetic or non-magnetic systems. Ultra-thin Co films are deposited on surfaces of Si(1 0 0) substrates, and ultra-thin, tri-layered, bct Fe(1 0 0)/Mn/bct Fe(1 0 0) wedged magnetic structures are deposited on fcc Pd(1 0 0) substrates. SIMPA experiments clearly show that ion-induced electrons emitted from magnetic surfaces exhibit non-zero electron spin polarization (ESP), whereas electrons emitted from non-magnetic surfaces such as Si and Pd exhibit zero ESP, which can be used to calibrate sputtering rates in situ. We report on new, spin-resolved magnetic microstructures, such as magnetic 'C' states and magnetic vortices, found at surfaces of FIB patterned ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

In association with periodic inspection of CANDU nuclear power plant components, Canadian Standards Association issued CSA N285.8 in 2005 as technical requirements for in-service evaluation of zirconium alloy pressure tubes in CANDU reactors. This first version, CSA N285.8 involves procedures for, firstly, the evaluation of pressure tube flaws, secondly, the evaluation of pressure tube to calandria tube contact and, thirdly, the assessment of a reactor core, and material properties and derived quantities. The evaluation of pressure tube flaws includes delayed hydride cracking evaluation the procedures of which are stipulated based on the existing delayed hydride cracking models. For example, the evaluation of flaw-tip hydride precipitation during reactor cooldown involves a procedure to calculate the equilibrium hydrogen equivalent concentration in solution at the flaw tip, Htipas follows: Htip=Hfexp[- (VH delta no.)/RT], where Hf is the total bulk hydrogen ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The work reported here concerns the evolution of the shape of a coherent, cubic precipitate as it grows by coarsening. The work was motivated by the need to explain recent experimental observations that show that cuboidal ..gamma.. Ni/sub 3/Al precipitates in Ni-Al alloys resist coarsening and decompose into doublets of parallel rectangular plates and octets of small cubes. The theoretical model assumes a precipitate of cubic phase with negative elastic anisotropy, and neglects any difference between the elastic constants of the precipitate and the matrix. The elastic energy of the precipitate is then calculated as a function of its morphology, including the possibility of decomposition into doublets or octets of discrete particles. The results show that a cuboidal precipitate with (100) faces and edge length, 2a, is metastable with respect to transition to a doublet of discrete plates, with dimensions a x 2a x 2a, that are separated by the ...

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An automatic data-smoothing algorithm for data from digital oscilloscopes is described. The algorithm adjusts the bandwidth of the filtering as a function of time to provide minimum mean squared error at each time. It produces an estimate of the root-mean-square error as a function of time and does so without any statistical assumptions about the unknown signal. The algorithm is based on least-squares fitting to the data of cubic spline functions.

Science.gov (United States)

Nuclear magnetic resonance results are presented for a number of NaCl-type compounds and cubic Laves-phase type compounds of uranium, neptunium, and plutonium. Special emphasis is placed on the Knight shift and spin-lattice relaxation time measurements and their interpretation in terms of localized or itinerant pictures of the 5Line integral electrons.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

It is shown that the section of the energy surface corresponding to the longitudinal mode by the principal xy-plane for the A-15 compounds will degenerate into four points at the corners of a square at very low temperatures in the cubic phase. When the quasi-shear mode propagating along the (110) direction becomes soft, simultaneously the longitudinal mode will exhibit unusually high phonon focussing. (author).

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Theoretical and experimental results of investigating a cylindrical heat receiver with secondary reflectors are presented. One important element of solar thermal power plants (STPP) is the heat receiver. Several forms of heat receiver exist; the main form is the heat receiver of cavity form (including cylindrical, rectangular, and cubic heat receivers with a noncircular aperture). The linear dimension of such heat receivers is equal to, or larger than, the theoretical diameter of the concentrator focal spot.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Carbothermal reduction-nitridation (CRN) of SiO_2 is an attractive method for manufacturing Si_3N_4 powders with controlled grain morphology. Moreover, #beta#-sialon powders could also be synthesized from either pure powder mixtures or some inexpensive raw minerals by CRN. The resultant powders have shown some advantages, especially in manufacturing sialon products at low cost. However, there have been only a few works on preparing #alpha#-sialon powders. In this work, Ca-#alpha# sialon powder was synthesized by CRN of a SiO_2-Al_2O_3 and CaCO_3 powder mixture An unusual morphology of hollow balls of 200 to 500nm with many nano size #alpha#-sialon particles of 10 to 30nm was identified from the resultant Ca-#alpha# sialon powders. This has never been previously reported for sialon ceramics. It was consequently confirmed that the morphologies of the products were clearly related to the intermediate products appearing during CRN reaction. Copyright (2000) The Australian Ceramic Society

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Carbon nanofiber (CNF) supported cobalt oxide composites as high-capacity anode materials were prepared through a facile, effective method for potential use in rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. The effects of the calcining temperature on the crystallinity, grain size, specific surface area of Co{sub 3}O{sub 4} and phase transformation from Co{sub 3}O{sub 4} to CoO were studied in detail. Both the specific surface area and CNF content in CNF-cobalt oxide composites strongly affect the electrochemical performance of these series composites. The CNF-Co{sub 3}O{sub 4} composite with 24.3% CNF pyrolyzed at 500{sup o}C in Ar shows an excellent cycling performance, retaining a specific capacity of 881 mAh g{sup -1} beyond 100 cycles. Homogeneous deposition and distribution of nanosized Co{sub 3}O{sub 4} particles on the surface of CNF can stabilize the electronic and ionic conductivity as well as the morphology of Co{sub 3}O{sub 4} phase, which may be the main reason ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Spherical nanostructured Si/C composite was prepared by spray drying technique, followed by heat treatment, in which nanosized silicon and fine graphite particles were homogeneously embedded in carbon matrix pyrolyzed by phenol formaldehyde resin. Cyclic voltammetry tests showed two pairs of redox peaks corresponding to lithiation and delithiation of Si/C composite. The Si/C composite exhibited a reversible capacity of 635 mAh g"-"1 and good cycle performance used in lithium ion batteries. To improve cycle performance of this Si/C composite further, the carbon-coated Si/C composite was synthesized by the second spray drying and heat treatment processing. The cycle performance of carbon-coated Si/C composite was improved significantly, which was attributed to the formation of stable SEI passivation layers on the outer surface of carbon shell which protected the bared silicon from exposing to electrolyte directly.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

In this study, silver nanoparticles were formed on a natural macroporous matrix, the stem of rice-paper plant, by reducing Ag{sup +} in aqueous solution through in situ processing without using any other stabilizers. The pores of the matrix, with their size of about 100 {mu}m, were thought to act as reaction compartments for the nucleation and growth of silver nanoparticles, and the control of nucleation of silver crystal during the reduction reaction was found to be important to the successful formation of nanosized silver particles onto the matrix. The diameter and amount of resultant silver particles can be controlled by changing the reaction conditions. Under optimized conditions, the content of silver particles in the matrix can reach as high as 1.8 wt% with the particle diameters being kept below 100 nm. The anti-microbial activities in terms of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for the silver nanoparticle composites against Escherichia coli and Candida ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The synthesis of narrowly dispersed nanocrystalline TiO_2 was investigated with a surfactant aided solvothermal synthetic method in toluene solutions. When a sufficient amount of titanium isopropoxide, Ti[OCH(CH_3)_2]_4 (TIP), was added to the solution, the shapes of TiO_2 nanoparticles changed from spheres to rods. The aggregated microstructures of the nano-sized TiO_2 in systems of spheres, rods, and mixtures of spheres and rods was studied using TEM. The morphological shape of the aggregation was described in terms of the fractal dimensions. We used a box-counting method to get the fractal dimension of these systems. The fitted fractal dimensions for spheres, sphere/rod mixtures, and rods are D = 1.54, D = 1.81, and D = 1.89, respectively. The fractal dimension changed from 1.54 to 1.9 with the TIP/toluene ratio, indicating that the growth mechanism for aggregations showed different behaviors.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

For rational use of energy resources, the process technology which allows harmonization and multiplication of conflicting characteristics was developed for development of new ceramic system materials. This paper summarizes the result in fiscal 1997. On a structural reaction process among creation technologies of ultra-reliable structure, study was made on structure control and hot-working technology through atmosphere control in ceramics synthesis. On basic technology for analysis and evaluation, study was made on the effect of particle bridging on strengthening and toughening of ceramic materials. Study was also made on a toughness expression mechanism, FEM model analysis of particle bridging, and crack growth resistance of ceramics. On control of solid solution precipitation, new alumina ceramics with high strength, hardness and wear resistance was obtained by transgranularly precipitating nano-size particles from a fine-grain high-density matrix through an ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This work has been undertaken with a view to study the effect of lanthanum content on properties of PLZT ceramics. The polycrystalline complex compounds of PLZT with Pb{sub 1-x}La{sub x}(Zr{sub 0.40}Ti{sub 0.60}){sub 1-x/4}O{sub 3}, +10% PbO formula were prepared from the nano-size individual oxides powders by hot-pressed process. Transparent PLZT (x/40/60) bulk ceramics with pure tetragonal phase was obtained. The studies of the microstructures, dielectric and ferroelectric properties of the ceramics were carried out. The experiment results showed that when La content increased from 7 to 13 mol.%, the grain size increased from 2 to 7 {mu}m. La content also effects the dielectric property obviously, the dielectric constant increased with La content increasing. Moreover, the ferroelectric properties are sensitive to the variation of La content.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The magnetic separation technology using sub-microsized ferromagnetic particle is indispensable in many areas of medical biosciences. For example, ferromagnetic particles (200-500 nm) are widely used for cell sorting in stem cell research with the use of cell surface-specific antigens. Nanosized ferromagnetic particles (10-20 nm) have been suggested as more suitable in drug delivery studies given their efficiency of tissue penetration, however, the magnetic separation method for them has not been established. One of the major reasons is that magnetic force acting on the object particles decreases drastically as a particle diameter becomes small. In this study, magnetic force acting on the targets was enhanced by the combination of superconducting magnet and the filter consisting of ferromagnetic particle. By doing so, we confirmed that Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4} of 20 nm in diameter was trapped in the magnetic filter under an external magnetic field of 0.5 T. Fe{sub 3}O{sub ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Micron-size Ni-base alloy (NBA) powders were mixed with both 1.5 wt.% (hereinafter %) micron-size CeO{sub 2} (m-CeO{sub 2}) and also 1.5% and 3.0% nano-size CeO{sub 2} (n- CeO{sub 2}) powders. These mixtures were coated on low-carbon steel (Q235) by 2.0 kW CO{sub 2} laser cladding. The effects on the microstructures, phases and electrochemical corrosion of the coatings upon the addition of m- and n- CeO{sub 2} powders to NBA (m- and n- CeO{sub 2} /NBA) have been investigated. The results showed that a smooth coating was prepared under suitable processing parameters (P= 2.0 kW, V= 180 mm min{sup -1}) by adding 1.5% n- CeO{sub 2}. In addition to the primary phases of {gamma}-Ni, Cr{sub 23} C{sub 6} and Ni{sub 3} B in the Ni-base alloy coating, CeNi{sub 3} was formed in Ni-base alloy coatings with both n- CeO{sub 2} and m-CeO{sub 2} particles, and CeNi{sub 5} appeared in the coating upon decreasing the size of CeO{sub 2} particles. Well-developed dendrites were ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The cross section and activity profile of different radioisotopes produced by #alpha#-induced nuclear reaction on natural zirconium, have been obtained by stacked foil activation using 40 MeV #alpha#-particles from Variable Energy Cyclotron (VEC) machine at Calcutta. The activity profile would be used to study the surface loss of zircaloy materials of engineering components by thin layer activation (TLA) technique. Generally, isotopes with suitable #gamma#-rays and long half-lives are the most useful in TLA technique, e.g., "9"2Nb, "9"5"gNb and "9"5Zr. (author). 2 refs., 1 tab.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Stable boiloff of core water during a severe LWR accident, that is, boiloff driven only by the decay power generated below the water level, is tractable analytically and is relatively insensitive to axial power distribution. As might be expected, calculated accident event times are sensitive to the fidelity of the decay power model. During later stages of boiloff, heat transfer or transport of energy from above the water level to the residual water can result in an unstable condition during which the boiloff rate increases greatly. The unstable boiloff phenomenon illustrates the highly nonlinear influence of core heat transfer during meltdown and emphasizes the great accuracy requirements which attend the modeling of the accident during periods of enhanced heat transfer when significant zirconium oxidation is possible.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Zirconia-toughened sialon composites have been fabricated using conventional hot-pressing techniques. The fracture toughness and microstructure were determined for CeO_2- and Y_2O_3-stabilized ZrO_2 additives and also as a function of volume percent ZrO_2. The Yttria system showed a linear increase in fracture toughness with increasing volume fraction zirconia content while the ceria-stabilized system exhibited a peak in fracture toughness at 20 vol% ZrO_2 content. The fracture toughness at 800 C was measured and correlated with the microstructure. High-temperature stability was determined and it was found that the deleterious nitride phases of zirconium could be precluded from the microstructure.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

In order to improve the well-known short operational life time of BF3 counters, three potential adsorbents for impurity gases (graphite, activated charcoal and a zirconium-aluminum mixture) were introduced into BF3 counters in the form of coating on the aluminum cathode surface. Tests in el fields revealed that a partial coating of activated charcoal provides the best result. The improvement of their operational life in el fields was about three orders of magnitude in terms of tolerable exposure. Many counters with a partial coating of activated charcoal were further tested from the following viewpoints: background noise, vibration and shock, el pulse discrimination, operational life in a neutron field and non-operational in-reactor exposure life. The results were satisfactory for reactor control and protection usage. (author).

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Ionizing radiations that differ in number, size, and distribution of energy deposition events might be expected to cause different effects for the same absorbed dose. Furthermore, microdosimetry calculations suggest that large variations in biological effectiveness might be expected for internally deposited alpha-emitting radionuclides for the same absorbed dose, depending upon the specific activity and spatial distribution of the sources in tissue. The study described in this article was designed to demonstrate these phenomena in vitro. Cultured Chinese hamster ovary (CHO-K1 BH4) cells were exposed in vitro to inert, insoluble ceramic microspheres in zirconium dioxide labeled with "2"3"9Pu. The average exit energy of the 5.15 MeV alpha particle was calculated to be 4.3 MeV. Exposure times varied from four to seven hours to achieve the desired dose level.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The US Department of Enregy (DOE) Subsurface Contaminants Focus Area is developing technologies to address environmental problems associated with hazardous and radioactive contaminants in soil and groundwater that exist throughout the DOE complex, including radionuclides, heavy metals; and dense non-aqueous phase liquids (DNAPLs). More than 5,700 known DOE groundwater plumes have contaminated over 600 billion gallons of water and 200 million cubic meters of soil. Migration of these plumes threatens local and regional water sources, and in some cases has already adversely impacted off-site rsources. In addition, the Subsurface Contaminants Focus Area is responsible for supplying technologies for the remediation of numerous landfills at DOE facilities. These landfills are estimated to contain over 3 million cubic meters of radioactive and hazardous buried Technology developed within this specialty area will provide efective methods to contain ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Two new equiatomic ternary compounds, EuPtSi and EuPdSi, have been synthesized and are found to crystallize in the cubic LaIrSi type structure. The magnetic susceptibility of both compounds follows Curie-Weiss behavior in the temperature range 10 to 300 K with an effective magnetic moment close to that of Eu"2"+ moment. The paramagnetic Curie temperatures are 5 K for EuPtSi and 9 K for EuPdSi. There is no clear indication of magnetic ordering in the susceptibility of both the compounds down to 4.2 K. However, "1"5"1Eu Moessbauer studies show a hyperfine split pattern in EuPtSi at 4.2 K indicating the onset of magnetic ordering. The "1"5"1Eu isomer shifts are temperature independent and are characteristic of the divalent Eu ion. All these results establish that the Eu ions are in a stable divalent state in these compounds. (orig.).

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Anisotropy finite element analysis was performed to study stresses associated with the tetragonal precipitates and the tetragonal to monoclinic transformation in MgO partially stabilized zirconia. Stresses were assumed to be caused by the lattice misfits between the product phase and the parent phase. In the finite element calculations, the tetragonal and monoclinic precipitates were assumed to be lenticular in shape, and the anisotropic elastic constants of the cubic, tetragonal and monoclinic phases were considered. The purpose of this paper is to obtain some knowledge about how stresses respond when the microstructure is changed, and how stress fields affect microstructure development. The finite element results show that increasing a{sub t}/a{sub c} and decreasing c{sub t}/a{sub c} can create a favorable stress field to reduce the growth rate of tetragonal precipitates during the heat treatment. Stresses associated with the single tetragonal precipitate in an ...

Science.gov (United States)

We present results of electronic structure calculations for the intermetallic perovskite Sc3InB with the full-potential KKR-LDA method. Sc3InB is a very promising candidate for a new superconductor (related to 8 K MgCNi3) and can be regarded as a boron-inserted cubic Sc3In, which is a high-pressure allotropic form of the hexagonal weak ferromagnet Sc3In. We predict that cubic Sc3In can also be magnetic, whereas Sc3InB having large DOS in the vicinity of E F exhibits non-magnetic ground state. Estimation of the electron-phonon coupling for Sc3InB gives 1. Furthermore, the effect of vacancies in Sc3InB1-x and antisite disorder in Sc3(In-B) on critical parameters is also discussed using the KKR-CPA method. All theoretical results support the possibility of the superconductivity onset in Sc3InB. Preliminary experimental measurements established the transition temperature close to 4.5 K, with a very abrupt change in susceptibility and a correlated ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Strains in multivalley semiconductors can destroy the strict equivalence of the valleys that is demanded by cubic symmetry. Significant changes in the properties of a semiconductor may result. A proposed implementation of quantum computing with donor atoms in silicon would suffer from alterations of the donor wave functions caused by strains that are produced by fabrication processes. Deliberately straining the silicon to an extent that removed all but one valley from participation in the lowest donor state, would prevent further changes in the wave function by strain. The strain required can be achieved with established technology for depositing silicon on SiGe alloys. (author)

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

There are several equivalent descriptions for constant B-field background of open string. The background can be interpreted as constant B-field as well as constant gauge field strength or infinitely many D-branes with non-commuting Chan-Paton matrices. In this article, the equivalence of these open string theories is studied in Witten's cubic open string field theory. Through the map between these equivalent descriptions, both algebra of non-commutative coordinates as well as Chan-Paton matrix algebra are identified with subalgebras of open string field algebra. (author)

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This paper reports the presence of face centered cubic cobalt precipitates inside tungsten carbide in nanocomposite of WC-Co synthesized by spray conversion processing. EDS was used to identify the presence and micro-diffraction was employed to determine the nature of the precipitates. There is entrapment of cobalt in tungsten carbide during the spray conversion process used to form WC/Co powder. During consolidation, at high temperatures, the cobalt attains enough mobility to precipitate inside WC. A vanadium containing compound was seen at the interfaces in samples which incorporated VC as a grain growth inhibitor. (orig.)

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

In this project we developed photonic crystal modeling capability and fabrication technology that is scaleable to large area. An intelligent optimization code was developed to find the optimal structure for the desired spectral response. In terms of fabrication, an exhaustive survey of fabrication techniques that would meet the large area requirement was reduced to Deep X-ray Lithography (DXRL) and nano-imprint. Using DXRL, we fabricated a gold logpile photonic crystal in the <100> plane. For the nano-imprint technique, we fabricated a cubic array of gold squares. These two examples also represent two classes of metallic photonic crystal topologies, the connected network and cermet arrangement.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The refractory nature and high ductility of body centered cubic (bcc) phase tantalum makes it a suitable material for corrosion- and wear-resistant coatings on surfaces that are subjected to high stresses and harsh chemical and erosive environments. Sputter deposition can produce thick tantalum films but is prone to forming the brittle tetragonal beta phase of this material. Efforts aimed at forming thick bcc phase tantalum coatings in both flat plate and cylindrical geometries by high-rate triode sputtering methods are discussed. In addition to substrate temperature, the bcc-to-beta phase ratio in sputtered tantalum coatings is shown to be sensitive to other substrate surface effects.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

On September 25, 1986, an elderly Virginia couple had their home fumigated by a local pest extermination company for the control of wood-boring insects. Two hundred and fifty pounds of sulfurylfluoride (SF), a colorless, odorless fumigant gas commonly used for this purpose, was applied in the approximately 80,000-cubic-foot home that date. Within 1 week, both husband and wife were dead. Because both deaths occurred within a short period of time and the wife's illness was compatible with toxic gas inhalation, these deaths were then thought to be related to the home fumigation.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

A one parameter family of iterative methods for the simultaneous approximation of simple complex zeros of a polynomial, based on a cubically convergent Hansen-Patricks family, is studied. We show that the convergence of the basic family of the fourth order can be increased to five and six using Newtons and Halleys corrections, respectively. Since these corrections use the already calculated values, the computational efficiency of the accelerated methods is significantly increased. Further acceleration is achieved by applying the Gauss-Seidel approach (single-step mode). One of the most important problems in solving nonlinear equations, the construction of initial conditions which provide both the guaranteed and fast convergence, is considered for the proposed accelerated family. These cond...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Non-anisotropic free energy is considered which under minimization yields two magnetic phases: a conical spin density wave and a low temperature conical cycloid. Using equations of motion, the excitation spectrum is studied. Knowing the nature of these excitations, the dielectric function as well as the fluctuation specific heat is computed and compared with the experimental spectrum. Due to the electromagnon going soft, the dielectric function (imaginary part) as well as the specific heat capacity show peaks at the temperature where ferroelectricity appears in the system.

CERN Document Server

Based on Friedberg and Lee's geometric picture by which the tribimaximal PMNS leptonic mixing matrix is constructed, namely corresponding mixing angles correspond to the geometric angles among the sides of a cube. We suggest that the three realistic mixing angles which slightly deviate from the values determined for the cube, are due to a viable deformation from the perfectly cubic shape. Taking the best fitted results of $\\theta_{12}$ and $\\theta_{23}$ as inputs, we determine the central value of $\\sin^22\\theta_{13}$ should be 0.0238 with a relatively large error tolerance, this value lies in the range of measurement precision of the Daya Bay experiment.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

At Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), a recent effort in waste minimization has focused on scrap metal from radiological controlled areas (RCAs). In particular, scrap metal from RCAs needs to be dispositioned in a reasonable and cost effective manner. Recycling of DOE scrap metals from RCAs is currently under a self-imposed moratorium. Since recycling is not available and reuse is difficult, often metal waste from RCAs, which could otherwise be recycled, is disposed of as low-level waste. Estimates at LANL put the cost of low-level waste disposal at $550 to $4000 per cubic meter, depending on the type of waste and the disposal site. If the waste is mixed, the cost for treatment and disposal can be as high as $50,000 per cubic meter. Disposal of scrap metal as low-level waste uses up valuable space in the low-level waste disposal areas and requires transportation to the disposal site under Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations for ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Lead 203 has been used as a tracer for lead in the field of nuclear medicine for several years. It is produced in a cyclotron usually by proton or deuteron bombardment of a thallium target principally by the p,n or d,2n reaction on "2"0"3Tl or the p,3n or d,4n reaction on "2"0"5Tl. Several different methods have been reported for the separation of "2"0"3Pb from the thallium target. These generally involve a combination of precipitation and solvent extraction techniques. A new method has been developed for the separation of Pb from Tl using ion exchange chromatography over hydrous zirconium oxide (HZO). Lead is taken up by this inorganic ion exchanger at pH > 3 whereas Tl(I) is not. Lead can subsequently be eluted with acid of pH 1-1.5. The recovery of "2"0"3Pb has been approximately 75% and the Tl impurity level has not been in excess of 10 ppm. Reference is made to the application of this separation method to the preparation of "2"0"1Tl from the reaction ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Total hemispherical emittance was measured for the SP-100 reactor fuel cladding alloy (Nb-l% Zr). Based on a standard test method (ASTM C 835-82), experiments were conducted on a reference sample of oxidized stainless steel and then on a sample of actual cladding. The sample is heated in a vacuum by passing DC current through it until reaching equilibrium. Measurements are made of the electrical power dissipated in the sample and of the surface temperature. Using the Stefan-Boltzmann Law and some key assumptions concerning conductive and radiative heat transfer, the measured quantities are used to calculate emittance. Calculated values for unoxidized cladding range from 0.159 +/- 5.35% at 913 K to 0.200 +/- 4.51% at 1091 K. Highest value measured after onset of visible oxidation was 0.339 +/- 3.92% at 1269 K.... SP-100, Reactor, Emittance, Niobium, Fuel cladding, Emissivity.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

In this study nanocrystalline powders of yttria-stabilized zirconia (ZrO_2-8Y_2O_3) have been synthesized through 'polymerized complex method'. Zirconium chloride, yttrium nitrate, citric acid and ethylene glycol were polymerized at 80 "oC to produce a gel-like mass in which metallic ions were uniformly distributed. During the thermal treatment of dried gel, nanocrystalline powder was formed at 450 "oC and 650 "oC for 2 h. Thermal reactions and crystalline phase formation of the dried gel were investigated through thermal analysis and X-ray diffraction analysis, respectively. The results of thermal analysis and XRD showed the formation of nanocrystalline powder at less than 600 "oC. Chemical bonding of the dried gel was investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis. Morphology of powder calcined at 650 "oC was analyzed by scanning electron microscope. Yttria-stabilized zirconia powders with the mean crystallite size of 6 nm were prepared ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

This study presents the findings of radiometric analysis carried out to determine the activity concentrations of natural radionuclides in raw materials (clay, kaolin, quartz, feldspar, dolomite, alumina, bauxite, zirconium minerals, red mud and frit) and end products (glazed ceramic wall and floor tiles) in the Turkish ceramics industry. Hundred forty-six samples were obtained from various manufacturers and suppliers throughout the country and analyzed using gamma-ray spectrometer with HPGe detectors. Radiological parameters such as radium equivalent activity, activity concentration index and alpha index were calculated to assess the radiological aspects of the use of the ceramic end products as decorative or covering materials in construction sector. Results obtained were examined in the light of the relevant national and international legislation and guidance and compared with the results of similar studies reported in different countries. The results suggest ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Propylene polymerizations were carried out with {phi}{sub 2}C(Flu)(Cp)ZrCl{sub 2} and SiMe{sub 2}(Ind)2ZrCl{sub 2} catalysts supported on silica, zeolite sodic mordenite (NaM) and acid mordenite (HM). The polymerizations were performed at different temperatures and varying aluminium/zirconium molar ratios ([Al]/[Zr]). The effect of these reaction parameters on the catalyst activity was investigated using a proposed statistical experimental planning. In the case of f{sub 2}C(Flu)(Cp)ZrCl{sub 2}, SiO{sub 2} and NaM were used as support and the catalyst performance evaluated using toluene and pentane as polymerization solvent. The molecular weight, molecular weight distribution, melting point and crystallinity of the polymers were examined. The results indicate very high activities for the syndiospecific heterogeneous system. Also, the polymers obtained had superior Mw and stereo regularity. (author)

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The corrosion resistance of zircaloy is affected by conditions of heat treatment in the manufacturing steps to be formed into a final product as a structural material. In the manufacturing method of the present invention, a Zr alloy controlled to contain Sn: 0.8 to 1.2wt%, Fe: 0.17 to 0.28wt%, Cr: 0.05 to 0.15wt%, Ni: 0.04 to 0.10wt%, Nb: 0.01 to 0.09wt%, oxygen: 1,000 to 1,500ppm and Si, an Si impurity at a concentration of 120ppm or less and balance of Zr is melted into a cast piece, to which #beta# hardening is applied. Then, rolling and annealing treatment are applied so that the total heat input amount to the material: #SIGMA#Ai ranges from 1 x 10"-"1"9 to 1 x 10"-"1"7. With such procedures, a Zr alloy structural material for a reactor core having excellent homogeneous corrosion resistance and hydrogen absorption resistance for a long period of time while having a sufficient strength can be obtained even in a case where Sn content is relatively low as from 0.8 to 1.2wt%. (T.M.).

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The electrometallurgical treatment process described in this paper builds on our experience in treating spent fuel from the Experimental Breeder Reactor (EBR-II). The work is also to some degree, a spin-off from applying electrometallurgical treatment to spent fuel from the Hanford single pass reactors (SPRs) and fuel and flush salt from the Molten Salt Reactor Experiment (MSRE) in treating EBR-II fuel, we recover the actinides from a uranium-zirconium fuel by electrorefining the uranium out of the chopped fuel. With SPR fuel, uranium is electrorefined out of the aluminum cladding. Both of these processes are conducted in a LiCl-KCl molten-salt electrolyte. In the case of the MSRE, which used a fluoride salt-based fuel, uranium in this salt is recovered through a series of electrochemical reductions. Recovering high-purity uranium from an aluminum-matrix fuel is more challenging than treating SPR or EBR-II fuel because the aluminum- matrix fuel is typically -90% ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

During 17 years since the start of operation of the first commercial LWR in Japan, many LWRs have experienced various corrosion damages, but the causes of them were clarified, and the counter-measures were executed effectively in actual plants, as the results, the cause of corrosion damage decreased remarkably, and now, the high rate of operation has become to be maintained. In this paper, the major cases of corrosion damage experienced in LWRs in Japan and foreign countries, the causes of them and the countermeasures, the problems of hereafter and so on are described. The corrosion damage of metallic materials in the environment of LWRs occurs in the parts in contact with high temperature, high pressure water and steam, such as stainless steel piping in the primary cooling system of BWRs, and nickel alloy heating tubes of steam generators, carbon steel feed water piping and zirconium alloy fuel cladding tubes in PWRs. Recently, accompanying the advance of LWR ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

This paper presents a new methodology to create realistic 3D microstructures of polycrystals. The virtual microstructures are based on statistical data describing the morphological and crystallographic textures of a sample, obtained from an EBSD analysis. In addition, the methodology can reproduce the observed surface on top of the simulated microstructure. This feature allows finite element calculations on these virtual aggregates to be compared to experimental results of mechanical tests. Such a comparison leads to the identification of the mechanical parameters of constitutive laws, such as critical resolved shear stress and strain hardening, using an optimization algorithm. Two materials were simulated in this study: TiAl and grade 702 zirconium. The first one presents twins inside the microstructure and the second one has an anisotropic texture. Based on 2D simulations, the important parameters necessary to describe a microstructure were identified as grain ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Turkey's natural gas (NG) production is very small and is almost all imported. Turkish natural gas production in 2000, 23 billion cubic feet (Bcf), met around 4% of domestic natural gas consumption requirements. NG consumption is estimated at around 700 Bcf in year 2002, accounting for around 17% of Turkey's total energy consumption. Turkish natural gas demand had been projected to increase extremely rapidly in coming years. Country oil production is 50,674 barrels per day (bbl/d) of which 46,674 bbl/d was crude oil in 2002. In 2002, oil consumption was 635,000 bbl/d and net oil imports was 584,326 bbl/d in Turkey. Oil provides around 43% of Turkey's total energy requirements. (Author)

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Outline of three dimensional design of axial turbine was explained with examples of its application. Quasi-three dimensional design which analyzed flow in meridian plane and flow between blades seperately, and three dimensional design which, based on the quasi-three dimensional design with considering cubical force, improved distribution of static pressure and optimized distribution of repulsion and aerodynamic force, were explained. For the numerical analysis, Euler's Code was applied. AS the example of application, expectable effect by negative angle of blade was calculated, and efficiencies of single stage turbines with static blades designed by each method were compared. As the practical application of three dimensional analysis of flow to designing, Endwall Contouring for static blade of initial stage was explained. 10 refs., 12 figs.

CERN Document Server

Monopolar charge disorder effects are studied in the context of fluctuation-induced interactions between neutral dielectric slabs. It is shown that quenched bulk charge disorder gives rise to an additive contribution to the net interaction force which decays as the inverse distance between dielectric surfaces. This effect may thus completely mask the standard Casimir--van der Waals effect. By contrast, annealed (bulk or surface) charge disorder leads to a net interaction force whose large-distance behavior coincides with the universal Casimir force between perfect conductors, which scales as inverse cubic distance, and the dielectric properties enter only in subleading corrections.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

The characteristics of aerosol generation were studied experimentally in an ammonia-based wet flue gas desulfurization process. Particle size distributions and concentrations, morphologies and compositions before and after desulfurization were measured using an electrical low pressure impactor and scanning electron microscopy, respectively. The results show that aerosols can be generated between ammonia and sulfur dioxide resulting in gas-phase reaction and the aerosol concentration at the outlet of scrubber is significantly higher than at the inlet. Before desulfurization the particles are primarily silica-alumina minerals including O, Al, Si and C, while after ammonia-based desulfurization aerosol particles have smooth surfaces with regular structures, such as cubic and prismatic crystal...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

The light-emitting properties of cubic silicon carbide films grown by vacuum vapor phase epitaxy on Si(100) and Si(111) substrates under conditions of decreased growth temperatures (T gr ? 900?700?C) have been discussed. Structural investigations have revealed a nanocrystalline structure and, simultaneously, a homogeneity of the phase composition of the grown 3C-SiC films. Photoluminescence spectra of these structures under excitation of the electronic subsystem by a helium-cadmium laser (?excit = 325 nm) are characterized by a rather intense luminescence band with the maximum shifted toward the ultraviolet (?3 eV) region of the spectral range. It has been found that the integral curve of photoluminescence at low temperatures of measurements is split into a set of Lorentzian components. Th...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The thermal transformation of Al-base icosahedral phases was studied in-situ by real time neutron powder diffraction. Different compositions have been selected in order to vary the initial phase morphology and change the neutron scattering contrast between species. Alloys with low silicon and large aluminium contents produce first the orthorhombic O-Al_6Mn modification. In alloys with larger silicon content, the #alpha#-AlMnSi cubic phase appears soon after the beginning of the transformation but is still preceeded by O-Al_6Mn. Depending on compositions, the crystallization of the icosahedral phase is controlled either by the diffusion of Al through its interface with the residual fcc aluminium or that of Si within the bulk. The results are discussed in the light of current structural models. (author) 40 refs., 14 figs., 3 tabs.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Transmission electron microscopy and x-ray diffraction data show that rapid thermal anneals of SrS:Ce thin films enhance grain size and reduce crystalline defects. Electron paramagnetic resonance results suggest that these anneals lead to less variance in the crystal field environments at the nearly cubic Ce"3"+ sites along with the formation of another type of Ce"3"+ site believed to involve a nearby Sr vacancy. We suggest that the association of Ce"3"+ sites with V_S_r shifts the electroluminescence towards larger wavelengths as the symmetry of the activator site is lowered. copyright 1997 American Institute of Physics.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Transmission electron microscopy studies on solution-annealed Alloy 800 revealed small (100-200 nm), spherical-shaped titanium carbide (face centered cubic structure) and large (200 nm-5 #mu#m), faceted titanium nitride (hexagonal structure) particles randomly distributed in the austenite matrix. The volume fraction of former particles was found to be greater than that of the latter. Corrosion studies of the alloy in acidic, chlorides and acidic chloride environments at room temperature indicated that the passivity of Alloy 800 was adversely affected by the addition Cl"- ions. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy revealed that the surface film formed on the alloy at the onset of passivity consisted of Cr"3"+ (as Cr_2O_3), without any Fe"3"+/Fe"2"+ or Ni"2"+. Scanning electron microscopy studies indicated initiation of pitting at large, faceted particles, not at small, spherical-shaped ones.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The magnetic pyrochlore Er{sub 2}Ru{sub 2}O{sub 7} has been studied with neutron scattering and susceptibility measurements down to a base temperature of 270 mK. For the low temperature phase in which the Er sublattice orders, new magnetic Bragg peaks are reported which can be indexed with integer (hkl) for a face centered cubic cell. Inelastic measurements reveal a wealth of crystal field levels of the Er ion and a copious amount of magnetic scattering below 15 meV. The three lowest groups of crystal field levels are at 6.7, 9.1 and 18.5 meV.

CERN Document Server

We report on the magnetic hyperthermia properties of chemically synthesized ferromagnetic 11 and 16 nm Fe(0) nanoparticles of cubic shape displaying the saturation magnetization of bulk iron. The specific absorption rate measured on 16 nm nanocubes is 1690+-160 W/g at 300 kHz and 66 mT. This corresponds to specific losses-per-cycle of 5.6 mJ/g, largely exceeding the ones reported in other systems. A way to quantify the degree of optimization of any system with respect to hyperthermia applications is proposed. Applied here, this method shows that our nanoparticles are not fully optimized, probably due to the strong influence of magnetic interactions on their magnetic response. Once protected from oxidation and further optimized, such nano-objects could constitute efficient magnetic cores for biomedical applications requiring very large heating power.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

This study addresses the solar thermal decomposition of natural gas for the co-production of hydrogen, as well as Carbon Black as a high-value nano-material, with the bonus of zero CO2 emissions. The work focused on the development of a medium-scale solar reactor (10kW) based on the concept of indirect heating. The solar reactor is composed of a cubic cavity receiver (20cm side), which absorbs concentrated solar irradiation through a quartz window via a 9cm-diameter aperture. The reacting gas flows inside four graphite tubular reaction zones that are settled vertically inside the cavity. Experimental results were as follows: methane conversion and hydrogen yield of up to 98% and 90%, respectively, were achieved at 1770K, and acetylene was the most important by-product, with a mole fraction...

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

Herein, we demonstrate the structure of the PS colloidal crystals which were fabricated on the hydrophilic/hydrophobic Si wafers by a spin-coating technique. Monodisperse PS colloids are spin-coated onto self-assembled monolayers of 3-(aminopropyl)triethoxysilane and propyltrimethoxysilane coated Si wafers. PS spheres organized as ordered close-packed face-centered cubic structure with (111) planes on the hydrophilic surface while they gathered without the crystal structure on the hydrophobic surface. This paper also reports a simple and rapid method to fabricate the close-packed structure of hollow TiO2 spheres. The colloidal crystal of TiO2 hollow spheres was prepared using the PS sphere template on the hydrophobic surface. The mechanism for the growing multilayers of self-assembled PS p...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Electron charge distributions are presented for Nb_3Ge, Nb_3Al, and two other hypothetical A-15 structures. Results indicate that the bonding in these materials is mainly metallic in character with some covalentlike bonding between Nb-chain atoms. We find significant coupling between neighboring chains and also between chain atoms and atoms at the cubic site. Comparison is made with various theoretical models. Investigation of the charge character of states near E/sub F/ suggests further developments in current theories on the structural transformation of A-15 compounds. The effect of chain dimerization on electronic states and charge distribution of Nb_3Ge is also investigated.

Science.gov (United States)

Electron charge distributions are presented for Nb/sub 3/Ge, Nb/sub 3/Al, and two other hypothetical A-15 structures. Results indicate that the bonding in these materials is mainly metallic in character with some covalentlike bonding between Nb-chain atoms. We find significant coupling between neighboring chains and also between chain atoms and atoms at the cubic site. Comparison is made with various theoretical models. Investigation of the charge character of states near E/sub F/ suggests further developments in current theories on the structural transformation of A-15 compounds. The effect of chain dimerization on electronic states and charge distribution of Nb/sub 3/Ge is also investigated.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

A body-centered cubic (bcc) Mg-12Li-9Al-1Zn (wt.%) alloy was fabricated in air by electrolysis from LiCl-KCl molten salt at 500 deg. C. Electrolytic deposition of Li atoms on cathode (Mg-Al-Zn alloy) and diffusion of the Li atoms formed the bcc Mg-Li-Al-Zn alloy with 12 wt.% Li and only 0.264 wt.% K. Low K concentration in the bcc Mg alloy strip after the electrolysis process resulted from 47% atomic size misfit between K and Mg atoms and low solubility of K in Mg matrix.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

We carried out theoretical analyses based on ab initio calculations that incorporate free energy of the vapor phase in order to determine the initial growth process of cubic GaN on GaN (001)-(4x1). The results suggest that a N-adsorbed structure appears at the initial growth stage and then Ga adsorbs on the N-adsorbed GaN (001)-(4x1) surface. Considering this process, we performed Monte Carlo simulations. The results suggest that the maximum point of Ga coverage after supplying a Formula Not Shown monolayer of atoms shifted toward a Ga-rich condition from V/III=1.0.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This paper reviews our simulation study by numerical calculation based on two-, three- and multi-grain-size models on WC grain growth in fine grained WC-Co hardmetal doped with VC. The study aimed to presume or predict the following: (1) the cause and conditions for the abnormal grain growth which occurs in some cases in the fine grained hardmetal prepared from fine WC powders with mean grain size below about 0.2{mu}m, and (2) how the mean grain size of the hardmetal varies with decreasing mean grain size of the WC starting powder to 0.1 pm or nano-meter size. The calculation results by these three kinds of models suggested the following, respectively: (1) the occurrence of the abnormal grain growth is generally substantial for WC starting powder with bimodal size-distribution and mean gram size below 0.1 - 0.2{mu}m, and not due to the non-uniform distribution of the grain growth inhibitor, (2) the introduction of middle grains caused the disappearance of small (fine) grains during ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The purpose of this memo is to give an update on our work on ceramic laser materials--feasibility proposal 04-FS-006. Transparent ceramic materials have several major advantages over single crystals in laser applications including, ease and robustness of manufacturing, large apertures, design flexibility, fracture toughness, high activator concentrations, uniformity of composition, no residual stress, and others discussed in the proposal. After a decade of working on making transparent YAG:Nd in 1995 Japanese workers demonstrated samples for the first time that performed as well in lasers as their single crystal counterparts. Since then several laser materials have been made and evaluated. For these reasons, developing ceramic laser materials is the most exciting and futuristic materials topic in today's major solid-state laser conferences. The highlights and executive summary of our work to date are: (1) Ordered a slab of transparent YAG:Nd from Konoshima Chemical Co. for ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

This paper deals with preparation of PE clay nano composite specimen for transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and studying the difference between dispersion of clay in low density polyethylene using poly(hydrogen methyl siloxane) (PHMS) as coupling agent and untreated one. Argon ion milling is the conventional means by which film sections are thinned to electron transparency for TEM analysis, but this technique exhibits significant problems. In particular, selective thinning and imaging of sub-micrometer inclusions during sample milling are highly problematic. We have achieved successful results using the focused ion beam (FIB) lift-out technique, which utilizes a 30 kV Ga"+ ion beam to extract electron transparent specimens with nanometer scale precision. Using this procedure, we have prepared a number of thin film materials representing a range of structures and compositions for TEM analysis. We believe that FIB milling will create major new opportunities in the field of thin film ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The Maybell uranium mill tailings site is 25 miles (mi) (40 kilometers [km]) west of the town of Craig, Colorado, in Moffat County, in the northwestern part of the state. The unincorporated town of Maybell is 5 road mi (8 km) southwest of the site. The site is 2.5 mi (4 km) northeast of the Yampa River on relatively flat terrain broken by low, flat-topped mesas. U.S. Highway 40 runs east-west 2 mi (3.2 km) south of the site. The designated site covers approximately 110 acres (ac) (45 hectares [ha]) and consists of a concave-shaped tailings pile and rubble from the demolition of the mill buildings buried in the former mill area. The site is situated between Johnson Wash to the east and Rob Pit Mine to the west. Numerous reclaimed and unreclaimed mines are in the immediate vicinity. Aerial photographs (included at the end of this executive summary) show evidence of mining activity around the Maybell site. Contaminated materials at the Maybell processing site include the tailings pile, ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The thickness dependent magnetic properties of artificially prepared ultrathin body-centered cubic Ni films have been explored using the all electron full potential linearized augmented plane wave (FLAPW) method. We have considered two types of BCC Ni(001) films: (i) pure BCC Ni(001) and (ii) Au capped BCC Ni(001) in the range from 1 monolayer (ML) to 4 ML of Au capping coverage. The average magnetic moment of pure BCC Ni(001) is about 0.63 #mu#_B and a typical surface enhancement is found with a magnetic moment of 0.78 #mu#_B. In the presence of an Au capping layer, the magnetic moment of interface Ni is strongly suppressed to approximately 0.5 #mu#_B and this causes a reduction of average magnetic moment. Nevertheless, the Au adlayer has no meaningful induced magnetic moment. The BCC pure Ni(001) films always have in-plane magnetization up to 11 ML, but very interestingly the Au/Ni(001) shows a thickness dependent spin reorientation transition (SRT) from in-plane ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The hard-sphere radial distribution functions, g_H_S(r/d,#eta#), for the face-centered cubic and hexagonal close-packed phases have been computed by the Monte Carlo method at nine values of the packing fraction, #eta#[=(#pi#/6)#rho#d"3], ranging from 4% below the melting density to 99% of the close-packed density. The Monte Carlo data are used to improve available analytic expressions for g_H_S(r/d,#eta#). By utilizing the new g_H_S(r/d,#eta#) in the Henderson and Grundke method [J. Chem. Phys. 63, 601 (1975)], we next derive an expression for y_H_S(r/d,#eta#) [=g_H_S(r/d)exp#left brace##beta#V_H_S(r)#right brace#] inside the hard-sphere diameter, d. These expressions are employed in a solid-state perturbation theory [J. Chem. Phys. 84, 4547 (1986)] to compute solid-state and melting properties of the Lennard-Jones and inverse-power potentials. Results are in close agreement with Monte Carlo and lattice-dynamics calculations performed in this and previous work. The ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

For several decades most of the efforts to develop new scintillator materials have concentrated on high-light-yield inorganic single-crystals while polycrystalline ceramic scintillators, since their inception in the early 1980 s, have received relatively little attention. Nevertheless, transparent ceramics offer a promising approach to the fabrication of relatively inexpensive scintillators via a simple mechanical compaction and annealing process that eliminates single-crystal growth. Until recently, commonly accepted concepts restricted the polycrystalline ceramic approach to materials exhibiting a cubic crystal structure. Here, we report our results on the development of two novel ceramic scintillators based on the non-cubic crystalline materials: Lu SiO:Ce (LSO:Ce) and LaBr:Ce. While no evidence for texturing has been found in their ceramic microstructures, our LSO:Ce ceramics exhibit a surprisingly high level of transparency/ translucency ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

More important than waste generation numbers, the pollution prevention and waste minimization successes achieved at Hanford in 1993 have reduced waste and improved operations at the Site. Just a few of these projects are: A small research nuclear reactor, unused and destined for disposal as low level radioactive waste, was provided to a Texas University for their nuclear research program, avoiding 25 cubic meters of waste and saving $116,000. By changing the slope on a asphalt lot in front of a waste storage pad, run-off rainwater was prevented from becoming mixed low level waste water, preventing 40 cubic meters of waste and saving $750,000. Through more efficient electrostatic paint spraying equipment and a solvent recovery system, a paint shop reduced hazardous waste by 3,500 kilograms, saving $90,800. During the demolition of a large decommissioned building, more than 90% of the building's material was recycled by crushing the concrete for ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The South White Rose oilfield, offshore Newfoundland, owned jointly by Husky Oil (82.5 per cent ) and Petro-Canada (17.5 per cent) is being developed using a floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) system. Some industry stakeholders claim that the oil should be produced using a concrete gravity base system as used in the Hibernia Field. However, Husky Oil officials are confident that the choice of the FPSO is well justified, based on its cost effectiveness and economic viability. Several production facility options have been assessed, taking into account feasibility, deliverability, economic attributes. risk and safety . The assessment results clearly pointed to FPSO as the preferred system based on its commercial and technical flexibility, proven track record in harsh environments, its ability to produce both oil and gas in sequential development, its promise of production at full capacity earlier than a gravity base system, and easier decommissioning than a GBS-type fixed ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

For the reuse of a waste salt from an electrorefining process of a spent oxide fuel, a separation of rare earth elements by an oxidative precipitation in a LiCl-KCl molten salt was tested without using precipitate agents. From the results obtained from the thermochemical calculations by HSC Chemistry software, the most stable rare earth compounds in the oxygen-used rare earth chlorides system were oxychlorides (EuOCl, NdOCl, PrOCl) and oxides (CeO2, PrO2), which coincide well with results of the Gibbs free energy of the reaction. In this study, similar to the thermochemical results, regardless of the sparging time and molten salt temperature, oxychlorides and oxides were formed as a precipitant by a reaction with oxygen. The structure of the rare earth precipitates was divided into two shapes: small cubic (oxide) and large plate-like (tetragonal) structures. The conversion efficiencies of the rare earth elements to their molten salt-insoluble precipitates were ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Biaxially textured tungsten nanorods (A15 crystal structure) have been grown by oblique angle DC magnetron sputtering using a novel rotation mode called 'two-step rotation'. In this mode, the substrate is given a fast rotation through 1800 at 90 rpm and this is followed by a rest period of 30 s. These nanorods are vertically aligned and have a [100] texture normal to the substrate along with preferential in-plane texture as shown by x-ray pole figure analysis. In contrast, the tungsten nanorods obtained without substrate rotation are slanted at an angle of ?450 and have a [100] texture tilted 160 with respect to the substrate normal. The flux is incident from two diametrically opposite points on the sample at an oblique angle, averaging out the growth into vertical columns that retain the in-plane texture. Scanning electron microscopy shows that the tungsten nanorods have a mixture of {211} and {421} crystal habits; these planes are both minimum surface energy planes for a ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Worker exposures to N-nitroso compounds were evaluated at B.F. Goodrich Company, Woodburn, Indiana on December 12, 1979. Personal and area air samples were collected and analyzed by gas-chromatography and thermal-energy-analysis methods. All of the samples contained N-nitrosomorpholine (NMOR) and five samples also contained N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA). The amount of NMOR ranged from 0.85 to 3.7 micrograms per cubic meter (micrograms/cu m) for area air samples and 0.63 to 1.8 micrograms/cu m for personal samples. NDMA concentrations ranged from undetectable to 1.8 microgram/cu m for area samples and undetectable to 0.09 micrograms/cu m for personal samples. The authors note that no exposure standards exist for NDMA or NMOR but both are listed as potential human carcinogens. They suggest that the B.F. Goodrich Company characterize nitrosamine exposures at this facility.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The energy bands and the nature of the conduction electrons have been studied for two intermetallic compounds of dysprosium, i.e, DyZn and DyRh, following the self-consistent augmented-plane-wave (APW) method. The convergence of energy was found to be rapid for DyZn because the shell of 3d"1"0 electrons for Zn lies below the conduction band. The Fermi energies (E/sub F/) have been calculated to be 0.421 and 0.477 Ry for DyZn and DyRh, respectively. The densities and the numbers of conduction electrons inside and outside the APW spheres in each of these compounds are calculated, and it is shown that the character of conduction electrons inside the APW sphere of Dy is predominantly of d type. In order to see the accuracy of these results, self-consistent calculations were done for DyZn for different choices of the exchange potentials, and the calculated number of conduction electrons did not change significantly. The consequence of the predominance of d electrons in the conduction band ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Techniques for fabricating P-type (Cu,Ag)/sub 2/Se with mesh-type bonds have been developed and are being evaluated for long-term use. In addition, methods for reducing vapor suppression by the use of coatings and/or baffling continue to show gains. The N-type alloy Gd/sub 2/Se/sub 3/ has been shown to be thermally unstable. It undergoes a sluggish cubic-to-orthorhombic phase change below 1000/sup 0/C, with an accompanying degradation in mechanical and thermoelectric properties. Fabrication studies conducted with the (Bi,Sb)/sub 2/(Se,Te)/sub 3/ alloys showed these materials to be sensitive to oxygen contamination if reproducible properties are to be obtained. Preparation of powdered material by explosive techniques was investigated. This technique appears to be useful in preparing homogeneous -325 mesh material, but it does not yield a useful amount of submicron-size powder.

British Library Electronic Table of Contents (United Kingdom)

The nanostructure Ni-doped CdO films have been prepared by sol gel spin coating method. Atomic force microscopy results indicate that the CdO films are formed from the nanoparticles and the grain size is changed with nickel content. X-ray diffraction patterns of the films indicate that the undoped and Ni-doped CdO films have polycrystalline structure with a cubic sodium chloride structure, showing two main characteristic peaks assigned to the (111) and (200) planes. The optical band gap values of undoped and Ni-doped CdO films were determined by optical absorption method. The Eg values of the CdO films were found to be in the range of 2.26?2.60?eV. The Eg values of the CdO films increase with the content of Ni dopant (up to 6% Ni). It is evaluated that the optical band gap and grain size o...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

In the present study a partial replacement of aggregate with two different ratios of waste rubber (5%, 10%) with the addition of a constant ratio of rice husk ash (RHA), 5% was carried out. The hardened cement mortar used the optimum water of consistency. The specimens were molded into 1 inch cubic moulds .The specimens were first cured for 24 hours, at 100% relative humidity and then cured under tap water for 3, 7 and 28 days followed by irradiation at different doses of gamma irradiation namely 5 and 10 kGy. The physico-chemical and mechanical properties such as compressive strength, total porosity and bulk density were studied for the three types of specimens. The results showed that the values of the compressive strength, bulk density and chemically combined water of the blended cement mortar paste (OPC-RHA) increase ,while blended cement mortar paste with 5% RHA and 5, 10% waste rubber decrease. The results were confirmed by scanning electron microscopy and ...

CERN Document Server

We study the phenomenology of a new Minimally-extended Supersymmetric Standard Model (newMSSM) where a gauge singlet superfield is added to the MSSM spectrum. The superpotential of this model contains no dimensionful parameters, thus solving the mu-problem of the MSSM. A global discrete R-symmetry, forbidding the cubic singlet self-interaction, imposed on the complete theory, guarantees its stability with respect to generated higher-order tadpoles of the singlet and solves both the domain wall and Peccei-Quinn axion problems. We give the free parameters of the model and display some general constraints on them. A particular attention is devoted to the neutralino sector where a (quasi-pure) singlino appears to be always the LSP of the model, leading to additional cascades, involving the NLSP -> LSP transition, compared with the MSSM. We then present the upper bounds on the masses of the lightest and next-to-lightest -- when the lightest is an invisible singlet -- ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

KM3NeT is a future deep-sea research infrastructure hosting a neutrino telescope with a volume of at least one cubic kilometer to be constructed in the Mediterranean Sea. The experiment aims to detect high-energy cosmic neutrinos using a 3D array of optical modules to collect the Cherenkov light induced by charged particles in the water. Upward going muons and showers produced in neutrino interactions with the surrounding matter will allow the search and study of possible sources of extra-terrestrial neutrinos. The design of optical modules makes an important impact on the performance and cost of the KM3NeT project. Several different optical module configurations are under consideration; based on glass pressure spheres containing: a large (10 in.) hemispherical photomultiplier tube (with a multi-anode version as an option); 25-31 3 in. photomultiplier tubes, or a crystal scintillator-based hybrid device (X-HPD). The features and advantages of each optical module ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The Caspian Sea (CS) region's oil and gas potential has attracted much attention since the breakup of the Soviet Union. The nations in the CS region, namely Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, are already major energy producers, and production will increase with additional investment, technology, and the development of new export outlets. Oil and gas transportation is a crucial and contentious issue in the CS/Central Asia regions. The main objective of the present study is to investigate Turkey's natural gas (NG) pipelines and its role in the CS region. NG consumption has started in 1987 at 0.5 billion cubic meter (Bcm) and reached 16 Bcm in 2001. It is also projected that NG consumption will reach 55 and 82 Bcm annually in 2010 and 2020, respectively. Recent developments have shown once again Turkey's role on the way to demand markets from the supply points in the CS region. (author)

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Transmission electron microscopy studies on solution-annealed Alloy 800 revealed small (100-200 nm), spherical-shaped titanium carbide (face centered cubic structure) and large (200 nm-5 {mu}m), faceted titanium nitride (hexagonal structure) particles randomly distributed in the austenite matrix. The volume fraction of former particles was found to be greater than that of the latter. Corrosion studies of the alloy in acidic, chlorides and acidic chloride environments at room temperature indicated that the passivity of Alloy 800 was adversely affected by the addition Cl{sup -} ions. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy revealed that the surface film formed on the alloy at the onset of passivity consisted of Cr{sup 3+} (as Cr{sub 2}O{sub 3}), without any Fe{sup 3+}/Fe{sup 2+} or Ni{sup 2+}. Scanning electron microscopy studies indicated initiation of pitting at large, faceted particles, not at small, spherical-shaped ones.

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Mn{sub 1-x}Fe{sub x}In{sub 2}S{sub 4} spinel compounds (x=0.3, 0.8) were grown by the chemical vapor transport method. The analysis of the X-ray diffraction data suggest that both the compounds crystallize in a cubic structure under the space group Fd3m. The magnetic study done between 300 and 2 K showed a paramagnetic behavior for the intermediate concentration sample x=0.3. A good fitting to the Curie-Weiss law allows us to calculate the paramagnetic Curie temperature. They are negative indicating predominant antiferromagnetic interactions. However, in sample with high Fe concentration, x=0.8, it was possible to observe a peak at around T{sub sg} congruent with 10 K. From ac magnetic susceptibility data at different driving frequencies f, it is found that the peak at T{sub sg} shifts to lower temperatures with decreasing frequency suggesting an spin-glass behavior.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The authors show that dramatically different in-plane crystallographic textures can be produced in body centered cubic (bcc) metal thin films deposited under different conditions. The orientation distribution of polycrystalline bcc thin films on amorphous substrates often has a strong (110) fiber texture, and an in-plane texture may develop when deposition takes place with an off-normal incidence flux of energetic ions or atoms. Three orientations in Nb films have been observed in which the energetic particle flux coincides with crystal channeling directions. In-plane orientations in Mo films have also been obtained in magnetron sputtering systems. The selected orientations are reviewed, and examples are given in which the in-plane orientation of Mo deposited in two similar magnetron system differs by a 90 deg C rotation. The origins of in-plane texture in rectangular magnetron sputtering systems are discussed.

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

In this Letter, we study the structural, elastic and electronic properties of perovskite semiconductor SrTiO_3 using two different methods: the full-potential linearized augmented plane wave (FP-LAPW) method and the pseudo-potential plane wave (PP-PW) scheme in the frame of generalized gradient approximation (GGA). We have evaluated the ground state quantities such as lattice parameter, bulk modulus and its pressure derivative as well as the elastic constants. Also, we have presented the results of the band structure, densities of states and charge densities. These results were in favourable agreement with previous theoretical works and the existing experimental data. To complete the fundamental characteristics of this compound we have analyzed the thermodynamic properties such as thermal expansion coefficient, and specific heats in the whole pressure range from 0 to 20 GPa and temperature range from 0 to 1200 K.

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Alkaline fuel cells (AFCs) provide a less corrosive environment and can provide higher electrode reaction kinetics than proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). The alkaline media also allows for the replacement of platinum (Pt) based electrocatalysts with non-Pt electrocatalysts. Studies have shown that palladium (Pd) and silver (Ag) form a homogenous solid solution with a face-centred cubic structure within a large range of temperatures. This study described the results of an oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) on lead-silver (Pd-Ag) alloy electrodes in alkaline media. The reaction was compared with Pd and Ag electrodes. The alloys were synthesized as thin films using a sequential electroless deposition of Pd and Ag on stainless steel discs followed by an annealing procedure in an Ar stream. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) were used to characterize catalyst structure, morphology, and ...

CERN Document Server

Canary Islands are normally interested by dominant North-East winds that, in some meteorological conditions, can transport sand at high altitude from the Sahara desert. The dust may affect the efficiency of the telescopes and decreases the transparency of the sky. In order to maximize the scientific return of the telescopes located at the ORM, we present an analysis of the atmospheric dust content and its effects on astronomical observations. B, V and I dust aerosol astronomical extinction are derived. Using a 5 years series database of data taken from the four channel TNG dust monitor, we compute a mean hourly and daily values of the dust content. We have detected particles having size 0.3, 0.5, 1.0 and 5.0 um. Using a power law we have derived the content of 10.0 um particles. We found a typical local dust concentration ranging from 3x10^6 particles per cubic meter at 0.3 um, to 10^3 at 5.0 um and 10 at 10.0 um, increasing up to 3 order of magnitudes during the ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The structural, morphological and optical properties of vacuum-evaporated CdTe thin films were investigated as a function of substrate temperature and post-deposition annealing without and with CdCl2/treatment at 400 C for 30 min. Diffraction patterns are almost the same exhibiting higher preferential orientation corresponding to (111) plane of the cubic phase. The intensity of the (111) peak increased with the CdCl2/annealing treatment. The microstructure observed for all films following the CdCl2/annealing treatment are granular, regardless of the as-deposited microstructure. The grain sizes are increased after the CdCl2/annealing treatment but now contain voids around the grain boundaries. The optical band gaps, Eg, were found to be 1.50, 1.50 and 1.48 eV for films deposited at 200 K and annealed without and with CdCl2/treatment at 400 C for 30 min respectively. A progressive sharpening of the absorption edge upon heat treatment particularly for the ...

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BaTiO{sub 3} compacts, when fluxed with {lt} 2 vol% of a complex borate glass phase, were sintered to near theoretical density at temperatures {lt} 1175{degrees}C in 2 h. Microstructural analysis showed a uniform grain size {lt} 1.0 {mu}m with 0.75 wt% ZrO{sub 2} added to the flux phase as a grain growth inhibitor. TEM analysis revealed a microcrystalline grain-boundary phase with the ZrO{sub 2} resident along the grain boundaries. These samples displayed an essentially flat dielectric profile, low dissipation factors ({lt} 2%) over the range 25{degrees} to 125{degrees}C, a near linear dependence ({approx} {+-} 15%) between 25{degrees} and {minus} 55{degrees}C, and significantly increased voltage stability. X-ray diffraction analysis of these small-grained materials indicates a suppression of the tetragonal structure toward a more cubic modification.

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The energy levels of the configuration f{sup 2} in an eight-fold cubic crystal field (CF) have been calculated, and the results are used to explain the experimental spectrum of UO{sub 2}. The fourth-order CF potential turns out to be much smaller than usually assumed for this compound. This has an effect of reducing the J-mixing in the wavefunctions, particularly in the case of the ground state wavefunction. In spite of the strength of the CF, the ground state vertical stroke {sup 3}H{sub 4}T{sub 2} right angle is found to be modified only slightly by the J-mixing effect; it consists of 89.4% {sup 3}He{sub 4}, and the remaining eleven components make up the rest. Very good correlation is obtained between the experimental and simulated energy-level schemes. The predominance of {sup 3}H{sub 4} in the ground state consequently increases the value of the calculated effective magnetic moment. The results are compared with our previous predictions about the system, and ...

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The aim of this work is to combine the MCFC cathode Li{sub x}Ni{sub 1-x}O properties to those of the protective coatings of LiCoO{sub 2}, Li{sub 2}TiO{sub 3} or of CeO{sub 2}, less soluble in the molten carbonates. In the cases of LiCoO{sub 2}, have been carried out by controlled potential coulometry in aqueous solution, a deposition of Co{sub 3}O{sub 4} on dense Ni. The cobalt oxide reacts rapidly in the Li{sub 2}CO{sub 3}-Na{sub 2}CO{sub 3} medium at 650 C to give LiCoO{sub 2}, a spinel cubic phase revealed by Raman spectroscopy. (O.M.)

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

With an objective to discuss applicability of resistivity imaging using electromagnetic migration to detection of underground cavity, an applicability test was carried out on calculation of a numerical model and measurement data. By using the numerical model, a calculation was performed on a hypothetical case that a cubic cavity with sides each at 40 m exists in a homogenous medium of 200 ohm-m, with the cavity top located 20 m below the ground surface. As a result, it was possible to structure in a very short calculation time an image of the cavity which cannot be identified by one-dimensional inverse analysis. In the case of this cavity, a center of the image was structured on its lower face. It was shown that a location to indicate the image must be changed according to difference in the measurement locations. In a test on data measured in an underground cavity in the city of Utsunomiya, Tochigi Prefecture, it was found that the result may vary largely depending ...

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This paper describes the derivation of a new equation that can be used to model the permeability behavior of a fractured, sorptive-elastic media, such as coal, under variable stress conditions commonly used during measurement of permeability data in the laboratory. The model is derived for cubic geometry under biaxial or hydrostatic confining pressures. The model is also designed to handle changes in permeability caused by adsorption and desorption of gases from the matrix blocks. The model equations can be used to calculate permeability changes caused by the production of methane from coal as well as the injection of gases, such as carbon dioxide, for sequestration in coal. Sensitivity analysis of the model found that each of the input variables can have a significant impact on the outcome of the permeability forecast as a function of changing pore pressure; thus, accurate input data are essential. The permeability model can also be used as a tool to determine ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Located approximately 350 km east of Newfoundland, on the eastern edge of the Jeanne d'Arc Basin, and approximately 50 km from both the Terra Nova and Hibernia oilfields, the White Rose oilfield is considered the main oil producing basin off the eastern coast of North America. Husky Oil is very active in the region and holds almost 32 per cent net working interest in the Significant Discovery License areas in the Jeanne d'Arc basin. The development of an economically significant oil discovery in the White Rose Significant Discovery Area is being proposed jointly by Husky Oil and Petro-Canada. It is estimated that the project would enable the recovery of an estimated 36 million cubic meters (230 million barrels) of recoverable oil in this area that covers approximately 40 square kilometers. The operators propose to use a ship-shaped floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) facility which could store up to 135,000 ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The synthesis, crystal structure, thermal stability and absorbance spectra of perovskite-type oxynitrides with the general formula SrTi1-xNbx(O,N)3 (x=0.05, 0.10, 0.20, 0.50, 0.80, 0.90, 0.95) have been investigated. Oxide samples were prepared by a polymerized complex synthesis route and post-treated under ammonia at 850 oC for 24 h to substitute nitrogen for oxygen. Synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) evidenced that the mixed oxide phases were all transformed into oxynitrides with perovskite-type structure during a thermal ammonolysis. SrTi1-xNbx(O,N)3 with compositions x?0.80 crystallized in a cubic and samples with x?0.90 in a tetragonal structure. The Rietveld refinement indicated a continuous enlargement of the lattice parameters towards higher niobium content of the samples. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and hotgas extraction revealed the dependence of the nitrogen incorporation upon the degree of niobium substitution. It showed that more nitrogen ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

An effective procedure for removing _3H, Xe and Kr from irradiated fuels was demonstrated using Shippingport UO"2 fuel. The release characteristics of _3H, Kr, Xe, and I from irradiated nuclear fuel have been determined as a function of temperature and gaseous environment. Vacuum outgassing and a flowing gas stream have been used to vary the gaseous environment. Vacuum outgassing released about 99% of the _3H and 20% of both Kr and Xe within a 3 h at 1500_0C. Similar results were obtained using a carrier gas of He containing 6% H"2. However, a carrier gas containing only He resulted in the release of approximately 80% of the _3H and 99% of both Kr and Xe. These results indicate that the release of these volatile fission products from irradiated nuclear fuel is a function of the chemical composition of the gaseous environment. The rate of tritium release increased with increasing temperature (1100 to 1500_0C) and with the addition of hydrogen to the gas stream. Using crushed UO"2 fuel ...

Science.gov (United States)

Over the recent years the nuclear structure around the N = 50 shell closure, which is very pronounced in the strontium and zirconium isotopes, has been the subject of extensive experimental and theoretical work. On the proton side Z = 38 and Z = 40 provide fairly closed sub-shells. In the strontium isotopes the lg/sub 9/2/ neutron shell is closed at /sup 88/Sr, supplying relatively pure neutron-hole and neutron-particle states with large spectroscopic factors in /sup 87/Sr and /sup 89/Sr, as well as core-coupled states. The mass region is thus ideally suited to examine the transition from a correlated to an uncorrelated (chaotic.) excitational behavior. These two types are characterized e.g. by the density of excited states, the transition strengths, and the spectroscopic factors observed in transfer reactions. We conducted (n,..gamma..) and (d,p) reactions leading to /sup 87,88,89/Sr in addition to /sup 88/Sr(d,t)/sup 87/Sr and 24 keV neutron capture in /sup ...

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The objective of the project was to develop an infiltration material based on SiC that should have improved corrosion resistance and should permit higher operating temperatures. From a variety of tested doping agents, zirconium silicide and molybdenum proved to be the most appropriate agents. The respective infiltration materials permit a combination of advantages of the SSiC with those of the SiSiC. Silicide SiC, analogous to the SiSiC, is almost nonshrinking, and above all is more corrosion-resistant than SiSiC in the alkaline regime, due to the replacement of free silicon by silicide phases. The operating temperature of the molybdenum-base variant is 1600 C. (orig./CB) [Deutsch] Ziel des Vorhabens war die Entwicklung eines Infiltrationswerkstoffes auf SiC-Basis mit verbesserter Korrosionsbestaendigkeit und hoeherer Einsatztemperatur. Aus einer Vielzahl von getesteten Dotierungsmoeglichkeiten kristallisierten sich Zirkondisilicid und Molybdaen als geeingete ...

Science.gov (United States)

Polymethlylmethacrylate (PMMA) is the most frequently used cement for percutaneous vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty. To aid visualisation during surgery cements are doped with radiopacifying agents such as Barium sulphate (Ba(2)SO(4)) or Zirconium Dioxide (ZiO(2)). Mounting research suggests that these agents may impair the biocompatibility of the cements. However, incorporating an alternative radiopacifier agent with excellent biocompatibility would be a significant step forward. Bioactive radiopaque glasses incorporating elements such as strontium (Sr) and zinc (Zn), known to have beneficial and therapeutic effects on bone, are of great interest in this respect. In this study, the Ba(2)SO(4) of the commercially available Spineplex was incrementally replaced with a radiopaque therapeutic glass composition. The resulting effects on cement setting time, peak isotherm, ultimate compressive strength, Young's modulus (up to 30 days cement maturation) and radiopacity were ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

A semi-empirical relation which can be used to determine the total attenuation cross sections of samples containing H, C, N and O in the energy range 145-1332 keV has been derived based on the total attenuation cross sections of several sugars, amino acids and fatty acids. The cross sections have been measured by performing transmission experiments in a narrow beam good geometry set-up by employing a high-resolution hyperpure germanium detector at seven energies of biological importance such as 145.4 keV, 279.2 keV, 514 keV, 661.6 keV, 1115.5 keV, 1173.2 keV and 1332.1 keV. The semi-empirical relation can reproduce the experimental values within 1-2%. The total attenuation cross sections of five elements carbon, aluminium, titanium, copper and zirconium measured in the same experimental set-up at the energies mentioned above have been used in a new matrix method to evaluate the effective atomic numbers and the effective electron densities of samples such as ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Current trends in nuclear power generation (and particularly in pressurized water reactors) are toward plant life extension and extended fuel burnup. A higher heat generation rate can induce local boiling regimes at the fuel rod surface in the hottest channels of the core, which can strongly modify the chemical environment of the cladding and influence the oxidation rate of zirconium alloys. Tests performed in out-of-pile loops under severe chemical and thermal-hydraulic conditions (nucleate boiling, higher lithium contents compared to PWRs) reveal two important phenomena: an increase of the oxidation rate of Zircaloy-4 cladding materials in 'high' lithiated environments; an enrichment of the chemical additives in the primary water (boron, lithium) at the surface of the cladding under nucleate boiling conditions. The latter phenomenon, also called 'hideout effect', is mainly controlled by some thermal hydraulic parameters such as bubble diameters and nucleation ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Alloying elements such as Fe and Cr are generally considered to be effective even in small quantities for corrosion resistance of Zircaloy-4. The maximum total solubility of Fe + Cr in a Zr-Sn matrix has been reported to be very low. Therefore, most of these elements are observed in the form of ternary Zr-Fe-Cr-type precipitates. To clarify the effects of precipitates on corrosion property, Zr-1.3 Sn-(Fe,Cr) alloys containing Fe + Cr from 45 up to 180 ppm (the Fe to Cr ratio is about 2) were melted from pure zirconium (X-bar Zr and EB-Zr) and pure alloying elements. They were subjected to corrosion testing in 633 K water and microstructural analysis. It was found that precipitate-free materials showed much larger weight gains than precipitate-containing materials even at the same alloy compositions. Subsequently, a corrosion test on the precipitate-free material galvanically coupled with a noble intermetallic compound of Zr(Fe_0_._6_6Cr_0_._3_3)_2 was performed. It ...

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On the basis of cylindrical roller thrust bearings it was systematically examined to what extent PVD-coatings are able to take over the function of EP/AW-additives. The bearings were tested under heavy-duty conditions in order to distinguish very fast the efficiency of different coating-substrate-systems. Several coatings were tested for their ability to protect an un-coated counterpart. So just the washers of the roller bearings were coated, the rollers stayed un-coated. Four Me-C:H-coatings showed the best performance and fulfilled the required criterion for roller bearings in the boundary friction: low loss of mass and hardly surface deviation. Material carryover from the carbonaceous coating to the 100Cr6 steel surface was developed by the Me-C:H-coatings during the tests. This mechanism was able to protect the un-coated rollers. Closer investigations were done with an ESMA analysis (electron beam micro range analysis) on ZrC{sub g}-coatings. It could be seen, that a reaction layer ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Gas hydrates are crystalline substances composed of water and gas, in which a solid-water-lattice accommodates gas molecules in a cage-like structure. Gas hydrates are globally widespread in permafrost regions and beneath the sea in sediment of outer continental margins. While methane, propane, and other gases can be included in the clathrate structure, methane hydrates appear to be the most common in nature. The amount of methane sequestered in gas hydrates is probably enormous, but estimates are speculative and range over three orders of magnitude from about 100,000 to 270,000,000 trillion cubic feet. The amount of gas in the hydrate reservoirs of the world greedy exceeds the volume of known conventional gas reserves. Gas hydrates also represent a significant drilling and production hazard. A fundamental question linking gas hydrate resource and hazard issues is: What is the volume of gas hydrates and included gas within a given gas hydrate occurrence Most ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The magnetic structure of the cubic compound CeAl{sub 2} is incommensurate and double-k. The moments on the two Ce sites describe two elliptical helices of opposed chiralities and lie in the (11-bar0) plane, with their Fourier components m{sup k} close to the [111] direction. Recent symmetry considerations, including for the first time the inversion center of the crystal, have reduced the number of parameters of this structure and have underlined the existence of a phase difference between the projections m{sub x}{sup k}, m{sub y}{sup k} and m{sub z}{sup k} of m{sup k}. Up to now, although many neutron investigations have been carried out on CeAl{sub 2} single crystals, no set of magnetic intensities was available which was large and good enough to check whether this phase difference exists or not. We have measured such a set of data, taking great care of the instrumental resolution in order to avoid unwanted contributions to the intensities from other domains. As ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This paper bundles 40 contributions by the IceCube collaboration that were submitted to the 30th International Cosmic Ray Conference ICRC 2007. The articles cover studies on cosmic rays and atmospheric neutrinos, searches for non-localized, extraterrestrial {nu}{sub e}, {nu}{sub {mu}} and {nu}{sub {tau}} signals, scans for steady and intermittent neutrino point sources, searches for dark matter candidates, magnetic monopoles and other exotic particles, improvements in analysis techniques, as well as future detector extensions. The IceCube observatory will be finalized in 2011 to form a cubic-kilometer ice-Cherenkov detector at the location of the geographic South Pole. At the present state of construction, IceCube consists of 52 paired IceTop surface tanks and 22 IceCube strings with a total of 1426 Digital Optical Modules deployed at depths up to 2350 m. The observatory also integrates the 19 string AMANDA subdetector, that was completed in 2000 and extends ...

Science.gov (United States)

Seafloor mapping and morphometric analysis of landslide scars can provide useful insights for marine geo-hazard assessment, as demonstrated by several studies performed on different geological settings. The availability of high-resolution multibeam bathymetry and long-range side scan sonar data on the submarine portions of Stromboli Volcano allow us to map and characterize the main mass-wasting features that affect, on the whole, about the 90% of its submarine extension. In particular, two main kinds of tsunamigenic landslides have been recognized and analyzed. Large-scale sector collapses (Fig. 1) are catastrophic events that mobilize 1-2 cubic kilometers of material, generating huge tsunami waves that may affect Stromboli and propagate in surrounding areas; related hazard is not very high, as they show recurrence periods of some (or more) thousand years. Conversely, medium-scale landslides are more hazardous, as they occur at higher frequency with respect to the ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Magnetron sputter deposition was used to fabricate body centered cubic (bcc) and A-15 crystal structure W thin films. Previous work demonstrated that the as-deposited crystal structure of the films was dependent on the deposition parameters and that the formation of a metastable A-15 structure was favored over the thermodynamically stable bcc phase when the films contained a few atomic percent oxygen. However, the A-15 phase was shown to irreversibly transform into the bcc phase between 500 C and 650 C and that a significant decrease in the resistivity of the metallic films was measured after the transformation. The current investigation of 150 nm thick, sputter deposited A-15 and bcc tungsten thin films on silicon wafers consisted of a series of experiments in which the stress, resistivity and crystal structure of the films was measured as a function of temperatures cycles in a Flexus 2900 thin film stress measurement system. The as-deposited film stress was found ...

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Since the 1970 innovations have allowed both active and passive neutron techniques to address various safeguards and waste measurement needs in the DOE complex. Much research was focused on satisfjring the 100-nCi/g detection limit for TRU waste in 208-liter drums. The emphasis on measuring drum-sized containers for disposal at WIPP has resulted in improved waste assay capability that now needs to be extended to larger containers. The desire to expedite the decontamination and decommissioning of certtain DOE facilities, and the large waste encountered in that process, has prompted the need for increasingly large disposal containers. Instruments have recently been built to accommodate crates that are nearly 100 cubic feet in volume, such as a B-25 box or Standard Waste 13ox. The density of hydrogen inside a waste container profoundly affects the accuracy of neutron measurements, and the metal content greatly affects sensitivity. Depending on the matrix, and ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The electronic structure and properties of the cubic Laves phase (C15) compounds ZrZn/sub 2/ and ZrV/sub 2/ have been determined using our all-electron full-potential linearized-augmented-plane-wave (FLAPW) method for bulk solids. The computations were performed in two stages: (i) self-consistent warped muffin tin and (ii) self-consistent full potential. Spin-orbit coupling was included after either stage. The effects of the inclusion of the nonspherical terms inside the muffin tins on the eigenvalues is found to be small (of order 1 mRy). However, due to the fact that some of the bands near the Fermi level are flat, this effect leads to a much higher value of the density of states at E/sub F/ in ZnZr/sub 2/. The most important difference between the materials ZrZn/sub 2/ and ZrV/sub 2/ is the position of the d bands derived from the Zr and V atoms. Consequently, these materials have completely different Fermi surfaces. We have investigated the magnetic properties ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

A novel pseudo-morphotactic transformation route was developed to synthesize polycrystalline ?-W2N nanoplates by thermally treating tungstate-based inorganic-organic hybrid nanobelts with a lamellar microstructure in an NH3 flow. The tungstate-based hybrid nanobelts were formed in a water-in-oil-microemulsion-like 'commercial H2WO4 powders/n-octylamine/heptane' reaction system. The as-obtained hybrid nanobelts were thermally treated in an NH3 atmosphere at 650-800 oC for 2 h to form cubic ?-W2N nanoplates. XRD, SEM, TEM, FT-IR and TG-DTA were used to characterize the precursors and their final products. The polycrystalline ?-W2N nanoplates derived from hybrid nanobelts, with side lengths of several hundred nanometers, consist of small nanocrystals with an average grain size of 3.2 nm. The formation of ?-W2N nanoplates involved two steps: decomposing tungstate-based hybrid nanobelts into WOy and W species and then nitridizing the active W-containing species to ?-W2N ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Uniform and transparent thin films of Zn_1_-_xCo_xO (0 #=# 0.035, CoO (cubic) was detected as the secondary phase. Influence of Co addition on the volume fraction of grain boundaries has been interpreted. Increase in Co content in the range 0 #<=# x #<=# 0.10 led to quenching of near-band edge and blue emissions, decrease in band gap energy (E_g) from 3.36 eV to 3.26 eV, decrease in film thickness and refractive index and an increase in extinction coefficient of Zn_1_-_xCo_xO thin films. The change in nature of stress from compressive to tensile with lower to higher doping of Co is corroborative with the angular peak shift of (002) plane of ZnO lattice. An overall increase in microhardness of Zn_1_-_xCo_xO thin films up to x = 0.05 is attributed to change in microstructure and evolution of secondary phase and as the secondary phase separates out the overall stress is released leading to lowering of hardness after this concentration. Hall-Petch behavior is ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The exchange charge model (ECM) of crystal field is utilized to provide the theoretical explanation of the ground state absorption and the excited state absorption observed for the octahedrally coordinated Ni{sup 2+} ions in the spinel MgAl{sub 2}O{sub 4}. The ECM enables modeling of the crystal field parameters (CFPs) for the impurity ions based on the crystal structure data of the host lattice. To ensure the reliability of the CFPs, the convergence of the CFP values with the increasing number of the coordination spheres taken into account in the ECM calculations is considered. The trigonal CFPs B{sub 2}{sup 0},B{sub 4}{sup 0}andB{sub 4}{sup -3} determined by the ECM, together with the appropriate Racah parameters B and C, serve as input to two crystal field analysis computer packages, which compute the energy level schemes within the whole 3d{sup 8} configuration. The cubic approximation utilizing only one CFP Dq is also discussed. Basic features of the ground ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Husky Oil received approval from the government to begin development of its White Rose properties located in the Jean d'Arc Basin, 350 km east of St. John's, offshore Newfoundland and Labrador. First oil is expected by the end of 2005. The South Avalon Pool was discovered in 1988 and is estimated to contain approximately 200-250 million barrels of oil. Husky Oil and Petro-Canada filed a development application with the Canada-Newfoundland Offshore Petroleum Board in January 2001. Approval of the $2.35 billion project was received in December 2001. The development plan is based on a newly-built floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel. Initial development will focus on the South Avalon Pool that has been tested in excess of 5,000 barrels per day. The pool will be developed using eight production wells, 11 water injection wells and two gas injection wells. An estimated 150 million cubic feet per day of gas will also be produced from ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

X-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) was used to probe the existence of induced magnetic moments in yttrium iron garnet (YIG) films in which yttrium is partly substituted with lanthanum, lutetium or bismuth. Spin polarization of the 4d states of yttrium and of the 5d states of lanthanum or lutetium was clearly demonstrated. Angular momentum resolved d-DOS of yttrium and lanthanun was shown to be split by the crystal field, the two resolved substructures having opposite magnetic polarization. The existence of a weak orbital moment involving the 6p states of bismuth was definitely established with the detection of a small XMCD signal at the Bi M{sub 1}-edge. Difference spectra also enhanced the visibility of subtle changes in the Fe K-edge XMCD spectra of YIG and {l_brace}Y, Bi{r_brace}IG films. Weak natural X-ray linear dichroism signatures were systematically observed with all iron garnet films and with a bulk YIG single crystal cut parallel to the (1 1 1) plane: this proved that, ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Mechanisms and associated energetics for adatom diffusion on the (100) and (110) surfaces of Ni, Cu, Rh, Pd, and Ag are investigated. Self-diffusion was studied on (100) and (I 10) surfaces of Ni, Cu, Pd and Ag using corrected effective medium method (CEM) and approximation to CEM used for molecular dynamics and Monte Carlo studies (MD/MC-CEM). Self-diffusion on Pd(100), Ag(100), Ni(110), Cu(110), Pd(110), and Ag(110) is accomplished by classical diffusion: the adatom hops from its equilibrium adsorption site over an intervening bridge site to an adjacent equilibrium site. Self-diffusion on Ni(100) and Cu(100) proceeds by atomic-exchange diffusion: the adatom on the surface displaces an atom in the first surface layer. Aside from explicit inclusion of the kinetic-exchange-correlation energy, it is critical to include enough movable atoms in the calculation to insure correct energetics. Distortions induced by these diffusion mechanisms, especially atomic exchange, are long ranged in ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Laser excited luminescence and site selective excitation spectra of trivalent terbium (Tb{sup 3+}) in two rare earth oxyfluoride (ROF) matrices, LaOF and GdOF, were detected at temperatures down to liquid helium. From the analyses of spectra, the crystal field (c.f.) fine structure of the {sup 7}F{sub J} (J=0-6) ground multiplet was obtained for the 4f{sup 8} electron configuration. The energy level schemes comprising 26 c.f. sublevels out of 33 allowed for the C{sub 3v} point symmetry of the R{sup 3+} site were simulated according to a phenomenological model taking into account only the c.f. effect. The simulation including six c.f. parameters (B{sub 0}{sup 2}, B{sub 0}{sup 4}, B{sub 3}{sup 4}, B{sub 0}{sup 6}, B{sub 3}{sup 6}, and B{sub 6}{sup 6}) reproduced the experimental energy level schemes in a satisfactory manner with rms deviations of 5 and 6 cm{sup -1} for the LaOF and GdOF hosts, respectively. The c.f. parameter sets are characterized by B{sub 0}{sup 2} values close to zero ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Plasma-deposited thin films prepared at room temperature, ranging from 46 to 250 A of PdAu on #approx#45-50 A Si-oxide and Si-oxynitride films grown on Si wafers were studied. Grazing incidence X-ray diffraction, X-ray reflectivity, and XPS depth profile techniques were used to characterize the thin films. A reactive interface involving Pd- and Au-silicides is formed, linking the thin film to the Si-oxide and Si-oxynitride films: a small fraction of Pd and Au atoms from PdAu migrate into the Si substrate, first penetrating the oxide layer, and the small fraction of Si atoms from the oxide layer migrate into the PdAu film and form a silicide interlayer consisting of a reactive interface made up of mixtures of Au- and Pd-silicides interspersed within the matrix of PdAu and substrate. The concentration profiles of these silicides have a maximum at the interface with decay on both sides. The density and the face-centered cubic (fcc) lattice parameter of the film are ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Results of an augmented-plane-wave calculation of the positron lifetime and the angular-correlation curves for aluminum, both in the vacancy-free crystal and in the crystal with a vacancy, are presented. The environment of the vacancy was simulated by a face-centered-cubic supercell with a volume 27 times that of the standard primitive unit cell of the Al lattice. The calculated positron-vacancy binding energy is 3.36 eV at room temperature. The temperature dependences of the trapping potential, the positron-vacancy binding energy, and the positron lifetime both in the Bloch state and in the vacancy-trapped state, associated only with the static thermal expansion of the lattice, have been calculated. It is found that the fractional increase in positron lifetime in the Bloch state is only approx.80% of the fractional increase in the volume of the lattice. The lifetime in the vacancy-trapped state is also found to vary with temperature, showing a fractional increase ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

This is the second technical report, covering the period from April 1, 2003 through September 30, 2003. This project brings together three parts of the oil exploration, development, and permitting process to form the foundation for a more fully integrated information technology infrastructure for the State of Alaska. The geo-technical component is a shared effort between the State Department of Administration and the US Department of Energy. The Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission is rapidly converting high volumes of paper documents and geo-technical information to formats suitable for search and retrieval over the Internet. The permitting component is under the lead of the DNR Office of Project Management and Permitting. A web-based system will enable the public and other review participants to track permit status, submit and view comments, and obtain important project information on-line. By automating several functions of the current manual process, permit applications will ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Normally, the alloy NiMo28 is used in the solution annealed and quenched condition in which it has a face centred cubic matrix structure. The matrix of the material is supersaturated with molybdenum and, at temperatures above 800 C, has a tendency to form intermetallic precipitates such as the Ni{sub 4}Mo-ordered phase leading to the embrittlement of the NiMo28-ordered phase leading to the embrittlement of the NiMo28 alloy during hot working. For this reason, the aim of these investigations was to optimise the alloy by reducing its tendency to embrittle. The TEM-analyses carried out served to investigate the precipitation of the material as a function of its iron content after ageing at 700 C. The change in hardness and in the lattice constants of the NiMo28-specimens with iron content were also determined. To improve the hot working properties of this material it is recommended that the iron content be kept to about 3.2 mass % in order to reduce the tendency of ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Micron-sized Li{sub 4}Ti{sub 5}O{sub 12} was prepared in a single-step solid-state reaction involving TiO{sub 2} and Li{sub 2}CO{sub 3}, and its electrochemical behavior was evaluated in Li and Li-ion cells containing a polyacrylonitrile (PAN)-based solid polymer electrolyte. The usefulness of Li{sub 4}Ti{sub 5}O{sub 12} was demonstrated for three distinctive applications: (1) cathode of a 1.5 V rechargeable Li battery, (2) auxiliary electrode for investigating the electrochemistry of Li insertion cathode materials, and (3) anode of a Li-ion cell in conjunction with a high voltage cathode, e.g., cubic spinel LiMn{sub 2}O{sub 4}. The micron-sized Li{sub 4}Ti{sub 5}O{sub 12} exhibited a capacity of 160 mAh/g at C/20--C/30 rates which about 7% better than the capacity exhibited by this material prepared according to a previously published procedure. More importantly, the micron-sized oxide showed significantly better high rate capability, yielding 25--50% larger ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

The absence of high-temperature electronics is an obstacle to the development of untapped energy resources (deep oil, gas and geothermal). US natural gas consumption is projected to grow from 22 trillion cubic feet per year (tcf) in 1999 to 34 tcf in 2020. Cumulatively this is 607 tcf of consumption by 2020, while recoverable reserves using current technology are 177 tcf. A significant portion of this shortfall may be met by tapping deep gas reservoirs. Tapping these reservoirs represents a significant technical challenge. At these depths, temperatures and pressures are very high and may require penetrating very hard rock. Logistics of supporting 6.1 km (20,000 ft) drill strings and the drilling processes are complex and expensive. At these depths up to 50% of the total drilling cost may be in the last 10% of the well depth. Thus, as wells go deeper it is increasingly important that drillers are able to monitor conditions down-hole such as temperature, pressure, ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The changes in microstructure of a specially prepared boron nitride (BN) film as a function of film depth were studied by high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and other materials analysis tools. These changes were then correlated to the changes in processing parameters during film growth. The analyzed film was fabricated by the four-step ion-assisted deposition procedure known to be effective in film-stress engineering for the formation and retention of a thick cubic BN (cBN) layer with a three-step buffer-layer deposition. In this deposition, the energy of the ions assisting cBN formation was increased stepwise from 200 to 280, and then to 360 eV [S.F. Wong, C. W. Ong, G.K.H. Pang, K.Z. Baba-Kishi, W. M. Lau, J. Vac. Sci. Technol. A 22 (2004) 676]. The nominal thickness of the cBN layer was 650 nm and that for each of the three buffer layers was about 160 nm. Both the HRTEM and electron diffraction results confirmed that the top cBN layer, with ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

Full text: Pigments possessing the ability to confer high solar reflectance have received considerable attention in recent years. The inorganic class of NIR reflective pigments are mainly metal oxides and are primarily employed in two applications: (i) visual camouflage and (ii) reducing heat build up. More than half of the solar radiation consists of near-infrared radiation (52%), the remaining being 43% visible light and 5% ultraviolet radiation. Over heating due to solar radiation negatively affects comfort in the built environment and contributes substantially to electrical consumption for air conditioning and release of green house gases. A pigment which has strong reflections in the NIR region (780-2500 nm) can be referred to as a 'cool' pigment. However, most of the NIR reflective inorganic pigments particularly yellow (eg. cadmium yellow, lead chromate, chrome titanate yellow etc.) contain toxic metals and hence their consumption is being limited. Replacing them with ...

International Nuclear Information System (INIS)

The transport of radon in concrete takes place through the complicated network of interconnected pores that is, at any time, the result of the process of hydration of cement and of moisture distribution and transport. Initially the microstructure of concrete depends on the mix proportions and curing conditions, its time-evolution being conditioned by its surrounding environment. Radon transport will be consequently a function of time, as it is influenced by the changing microstructure (total porosity and its distribution) and by the amount and distribution of the moisture contained in the pore system. A selection of information from the large amount of literature available on concrete is presented in chapter 2. A model that describes the process of hydration, of microstructure development and of moisture transport is presented in chapter 3. The physics of radon diffusion in homogeneous porous materials is outlined in chapter 4. The coupling of the numerical implementation of the ...

Energy Technology Data Exchange (ETDEWEB)

Pr{sub 2}[Mo{sub 2}C{sub 3}] was obtained by arc melting of the elements followed by annealing at 1500 C in arc welded and sealed Mo-ampoules. The compound was characterised by chemical analyses, X-ray diffraction and metallography. The crystal structure (monoclinic, P2{sub 1}/c, Z = 4, a = 597.99(10) pm, b = 665.15(11) pm, c = 1185.60(19) pm and {beta} = 111.631(5) ) represents a new structure type containing a three dimensional polyanion {sub {infinity}}{sup 3}[(Mo{sub 2}C{sub 3}){sup 6-}] with Molybdenum(III) in a distorted tetrahedral coordination by carbo-ligands. Tetrameric building-blocks, Mo{sub 4}C{sub 10}, of edge sharing MoC{sub 4}-tetrahedra are arranged to form layers running parallel to (100). The layers are interconnected along [100] by sharing common apices of the MoC{sub 4} tetrahedra. The coordination polyhedra around praseodymium represent distorted (PrC{sub 5})-arrangements (mono capped tetrahedra and square pyramids). The metal atoms together form a distorted motif ...