ALBERT

Notes: The changes in porosity and elastic moduli of YSZ-containing nickel-based anode materials for solid oxide fuel cells were studied as a function of the fraction of reduced NiO. Anode samples were reduced in a gas mixture of 4% hydrogen and 96% argon for different periods of time at 800°C and their Young's and shear moduli were determined afterward at room temperature using resonant ultrasound spectroscopy and impulse excitation. It was found that the magnitude of Young's and shear moduli decreased significantly with increasing fraction of reduced NiO and that the magnitude of the elastic moduli of a fully reduced Ni–YSZ anode was ∼45% lower than that of unreduced NiO–YSZ. Because the elastic moduli of NiO are close to those of Ni, the observed decrease in the magnitude of the elastic moduli was found to be caused mainly by the significant increase in the porosity of the sample as a result of NiO reduction. Expressions are presented for the amount of porosity and the magnitude of the elastic moduli as a function of the fraction of reduced NiO.

Notes: Two- and three-dimensional SiCr/SiC composites have been prepared starting from Tyranno SA(tm) fiber preforms. Preform densification has been performed by a modified preceramic polymer impregnation and pyrolysis (PIP) process consisting of filling the preform large interbundle voids with SiC powder before the PIP process. This step was accomplished by low-pressure infiltration of a SiC powder dilute slurry through the preform thickness. Specimens were further processed with polymer impregnation and pyrolysis to determine the effects on structural, thermal, and mechanical properties of the obtained composites. High-temperature pyrolysis treatment, which promoted polymer derived SiC matrix crystallization, markedly increased thermal diffusivity.

Notes: Carbon is commonly added to sulfate-fined silicate-glass batches to enhance the fining process. Reactions between carbon and Na2SO4 modify the SOx emissions from Na2SO4 decomposition. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometry is used to analyze the emission of air pollutants from the isothermal decomposition of Na2SO4 + C undertaken using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The FTIR spectrometer is calibrated using standard gas mixtures containing CO, CO2, SO2, NO, and NO2. The collected spectra are quantified using the classical least-squares (CLS) approximation. The TGA-FTIR system provides SOx, and COx, concentrations versus time data from the isothermal decomposition of Na2SO4, in the presence of a carbon black. Mass spectrometry (MS) complements FTIR by being able to detect SO(g).

Notes: Different ratios of the precursor phases of SrFeO3–x (SFO) and SrMoO4 (SMO) were used to prepare Sr2FeMoO6 (SFMO) by a solid-state reaction. X-ray diffraction was used to identify the phases. A residual SMO was observed to exist in the sample with an SFO/SMO ratio of 0.9:1. The sample with a residual SMO phase had higher resistivity, lower magnetization, but higher low-field magnetoresistance (LFMR). High-resolution transmission electron microscopy was used to identify the compositions and phases. Nanometer-sized amorphous-like clusters of SMO phase were located inside the grains rather than at grain boundaries; however, some boundaries were rich in the strontium ion. The possible mechanisms for the conduction and the increase of LFMR of SFMO are discussed.

Notes: Submicro- and nano-sized liquid-phase-sintered SiC ceramics were mechanically tested by nanoindentation in the peak load range 5–400 mN. The submicro-sized sample showed a marked indentation size effect which the nano-sized samples did not exhibit. The relevance of indentation depth with respect to the microstructural scale has been outlined. In the investigated grain-size range, the hardness dependence on the grain size could be described by a load-dependent inverse Hall–Petch relation. Young's modulus was less microstructure- and load-dependent. Because of the very fine microstructure, the nano-sized SiC materials gave lower elastic values than the submicro-sized SiC ceramic.

Notes: Samples of composition Ba1−xLaxTi1−x/4O3, x= 0, 0.003, 0.03, and 0.10, were prepared by an alkoxide sol–gel route with final firing of ceramics at 1100°C, 2 h in air. All samples showed bulk insulating behavior with no evidence of semiconductivity caused by either direct donor doping or oxygen loss.

Notes: We have studied the rheological property evolution and hydration behavior of white and ordinary portland cement (type I) pastes and concentrated cement–polyelectrolyte suspensions. Cement composition had a marked effect on the elastic property evolution (G′(t)) and hydration behavior of these suspensions in the presence of poly(acrylic acid)/poly(ethylene oxide) copolymer (PAA/PEO), even though their affinity to adsorb such species was nearly identical. Both white and ordinary portland cement pastes exhibited G′0 values of ∼104 Pa and fully reversible G′(t) behavior until the onset of the acceleratory period (t= 2 h), where the pastes stiffened irreversibly. In contrast, cement–PAA/PEO suspensions exhibited G′0 values of ∼1 Pa and G′(t) behavior comprised of both reversible and irreversible features. Interestingly, ordinary portland cement–PAA/PEO suspensions experienced a gel-to-fluid transition on high shear mixing at short hydration times (〈1 h), and the particle network did not rebuild until ∼24 h of hydration. In sharp contrast, white portland cement–PAA/PEO suspensions remained weakly gelled throughout the initial stage of hydration even after high shear mixing. At longer hydration times (〉1 h), both cement–PAA/PEO suspensions exhibited G′i(t) ∼ exp(t/τc) with τc values of 5.6 and 1.3 h for ordinary and white portland cement, respectively. Our observations suggest that hydration phenomena impact interparticle forces during early stage hydration and, ultimately, lead to initial setting through the formation of solid bridges at the contact points between particles within the gelled network.

Notes: A new ceramic freeze-casting technique capable of manufacturing near room temperature with a sublimable vehicle was accomplished. Fluid-concentrated slurries of Al2O3 powder in molten camphene (C10H16) were prepared at 55°C. These slurries were quickly solidified (frozen) at room temperature to yield rigid solid green bodies, followed by frozen camphene removal by sublimation (freeze-drying) with negligible shrinkage. Sintering without any special binder burnout process yielded sintered bodies with over 98% theoretical density. The proposed advantages include (1) elimination of extremely cold temperatures, (2) elimination of troublesome binder burnout process, and (3) fast manufacturing cycle due to quick solidification.

Notes: Dense composites in the Ti-B-N system have been produced by reactive hot pressing of titanium and BN powders. The effect of the addition of a small amount of nickel (1–3 wt%) on the reaction kinetics and densification of TiN–TiB2 (40 vol%) composite has been studied. Composites of ∼99% of theoretical density have been produced at 1600°C under 40 MPa for 30 min with 1% nickel. The hardness and fracture toughness of these composites are 24.5 ± 0.97 GPa and 6.53 ± 0.27 MPa·m1/2, respectively. The microstructural studies on samples produced at lower temperatures indicate the formation of a transient liquid phase, which enhances the kinetics of the reaction and densification of the composite.

Notes: This paper presents new findings on ultrasonic spray pyrolysis of zirconium hydroxyl acetate precursor drops whose sizes were precisely measured using laser light diffraction technique. Precursor concentration plays a predominant role in determination of product particle size. At 0.01 wt% precursor concentration, conventional spray pyrolysis at 750°C using precursor drops 5–8 μm in diameter, generated by an ultrasonic nebulizer at 2.66 MHz, yielded uniform spherical yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) particles 73 nm in diameter measured by scanning electron microscopy. The YSZ particle diameters were much smaller than those predicted by the one-particle-per-drop mechanism. Under similar reaction conditions, the high-throughput ultrasound-modulated two-fluid (UMTF) spray pyrolysis of larger precursor drops (28-μm peak diameter) also yielded spherical dense particles; they were significantly smaller in size than those produced by the low-throughput conventional ultrasonic spray pyrolysis of smaller drops (6.8-μm peak diameter).

Notes: Thermoelectric elements consisting of the layered polycrystalline materials of Al-doped ZnO and NaCo2O4 were prepared using the pulse electric-current sintering (PECS) method at 900°C for 3 min. Direct contact between the polycrystalline Al-doped ZnO and the NaCo2O4 was obtained in a single-step process for the stacked powders. The electrical conductivities of the polycrystalline materials prepared by PECS were higher than those of materials prepared by conventional sintering, despite their porous structure. The thermoelectric voltage of the 1-mol%-Al-doped ZnO and NaCo2O4 polycrystalline element (measuring ∼6 mm × 3 mm × 15 mm) was 83 mV at dT= 500 K, when the junction of the elements was at 800°C.

Notes: Pb(Zr,Ti)O3–Pb(Mn1/3 Nb2/3)O3 (PZT–PMnN) system has been studied for high-power piezoelectric applications. This study investigates this system to find out the composition with high-power density piezoelectric characteristics and low tem-perature coefficient of resonance frequency (TCF). It was found that the composition 0.9PZT–0.1PMnN (Zr/Ti = 0.51/0.49) modified with 6 mol% Sr exhibits a TCF of −8 ppm/°C (−20 to +80°C). Further, the dielectric and piezoelectric properties of this composition are as follows: kp= 0.53; Qm= 800; d33= 274; ε33/ε0= 1290 and tan δ=1.1%, which shows the suitability of this composition for ultrasonic devices used under fluctuating thermal environment.

Notes: Beam bending is an excellent method for measuring low permeabilities (≤10−18 m2) in homogeneous materials, because it is fast, requires no high pressure, and provides a concurrent measurement of the modulus of the material. The method was previously analyzed and substantiated for cylindrical or square beams. Recently, the analysis was extended to include isotropic and transversely isotropic rectangular beams. In this paper, the analysis is applied to measurements performed on cement paste, and it is shown that the solution for isotropic rectangular beams accounts for changes in the hydrodynamic behavior caused by changing the aspect ratio of the sample. The permeability and elastic modulus results are verified through comparison to previous measurements on cylindrical beams.

Notes: The deformation behavior of boron- and carbon-doped β-silicon carbide (B,C-SiC) with an average grain size of 260 ± 18 nm containing 1 wt% boron was investigated by compression testing at elevated temperatures. Extensive grain growth during deformation was observed. The stress–strain curves were compensated for grain growth by assuming power-law type of dependence on grain size and strain rate. The stress exponent n was ∼1.3 and the grain size exponent p was ∼2.7 at temperatures ranging from 1593° to 1758°C. The apparent activation energy of deformation Qd was ∼760 kJ/mol, which was lower than the activation energy for lattice diffusion of silicon and carbon in SiC and higher than that for grain-boundary diffusion of carbon in SiC. These results suggest that the deformation mechanism of the fine-grained B,C-SiC is grain-boundary sliding accommodated by the grain-boundary diffusion.

Notes: Chromium-containing stainless steel (SS) is a prospective material for use as an interconnect in solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). However, during operations at high temperatures, the growth of oxide scales causes the performance of the interconnect and SOFC as a whole to deteriorate. The coating of SS 446 with a conducting perovskite is a potential method of slowing the growth of oxide scale and, therefore, improving overall SOFC performance. In the present research, the structural characterization of a pure LaCrO3 thin film on the SS 446 substrates has been performed as a model material that can be used as a barrier coating for the metallic interconnect. The deposition of an amorphous La-Cr-O thin film on SS 446 was performed using radio-frequency (rf) magnetron sputtering. The deposited amorphous film was annealed in air to form the desired perovskite phase. The film underwent an amorphous to LaCrO4 phase transition during annealing at 500°C with further transformation to LaCrO3 orthorhombic phase during annealing at 700°C. A self-organized dendritic structure was reported as a result of the perovskite-phase formation. Although formation of various oxides, such as Fe2O3 and Fe3O4, was observed during the annealing of uncoated SS 446 in air, the coating of SS 446 surface with LaCrO3 film prevented formation of various oxide phases at the interconnect surface. The structural characterization of the films and SS 446 surfaces was accomplished using scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray analysis, X-ray diffractometry, micro-Raman spectroscopy, and nanoindentation.

Notes: The density, surface tension, and viscosity of the melts from the PbO-B2O3-SiO2 system have been measured at temperatures in the range 1073–1473 K. The effect of composition on these properties was also investigated. The density of the melt was found to increase linearly with increasing PbO content. Molar volume was derived from the density data, and its deviation from the additivity of partial molar volumes was calculated. These deviations in molar volume from those obtained from additivity rules have been used along with the ratio of various coordination numbers of boron (as reported by Bray) to discuss the structure of the melts. The surface tension was found to decrease with decreasing SiO2/B2O3 ratio, and to increase in the range of the PbO content between 30 and 60 mol%, showing a maximum at ∼60 mol% PbO, and then decreased with further additions. This result suggested that the surface tension would be affected primarily by the B2O3 content in the range of the PbO content between 30–60 mol%, and mainly by the PbO content in the range of the PbO content 〉60 mol%, respectively. The viscosity of the melt was found to decrease linearly with increasing PbO content. The results obtained indicate that the increase in viscosity with B2O3 was half that of SiO2 (on a molar basis), and an empirical equation has been proposed for the viscosity as a function of mole fraction.

Notes: Core/shell structures have been prepared via a mechanofusion system by employing several kinds of spherical polymers as a core material and Al2O3 powder or a mixture of Al2O3 and SiO2 powders as a shell material. The effect of the kind of core polymers on the quality of the resulting hollow alumina microspheres has been discussed on the basis of the thermal decomposition behavior of spherical polymers used as a core material. A large fraction of hollow alumina microspheres reflecting the shape and the particle size distribution of the core polymer could be fabricated after sintering at 1600°3C for 3 h, when highly cross-linked poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) microspheres with a gel fraction of 99.03% were used as a core polymer, and abrupt firing at temperatures higher than 500°3C was adopted to remove the PMMA microspheres. The addition of 5 mass% SiO2 to the Al2O3 shell layer was found to be useful for maintaining the spherical shell structure during the firing process and for fabricating a large fraction of hollow alumina microspheres after the sintering.

Notes: Well-defined and stoichiometric spherical particles of BaTiO3 of narrow size distribution were produced at 82° and 92°3C by precipitation from chloride solutions in a strong alkaline environment. The size of the particles can be tailored in the range from ≅103 to 70–80 nm by increasing the barium concentration from ≅0.07 to 0.7 mol/L. The particles are composed of tight aggregates resulting from the assembly of several nanocrystals. The size of the nanocrystals decreases from 200–300 to 30–40 nm by increasing reactant concentration. At low barium concentration (≤0.07 mol/L at 82°3C, ≤0.06 mol/L at 92°3C), formation of BaTiO3 is strongly slowed down and nonstoichiometric, Ti-rich powders are produced. Under these conditions, the particles have the tendency to develop a dendritic-like morphology.

Notes: Crystals of δ-Y2Si2O7 (space group P121/c1) were examined using high-temperature powder X-ray diffractometry to determine their unit-cell dimensions from 296 to 1473 K. The lattice deformation induced by thermal expansion was investigated using matrix algebra analysis to determine the directions and magnitudes of the principal distortions (Λi, i= 1,2, and 3). The directions of Λ1 and Λ3 were defined by the acute angle Λ1c, which linearly decreased from 5(2)° to —5.5(3)° with increased temperature from 504 to 1473 K. The Λ2-axis invariably coincided with the crystallographic b-axis. The magnitudes of Λ1 and Λ2 steadily increased to, respectively, 1.0061(1) and 1.0068(1) during heating to 1473 K, while Λ3 remained almost constant for the entire temperature range. The mean principal distortion, Λm (= (Λ1+Λ2+Λ3)/3), steadily increased to 1.0044(1) with increased temperature to 1473 K. The coefficient of mean linear thermal expansion (α) was derived from the mean principal strain (Λm - 1) as α= (Λm - 1)/ΔT. The temperature dependence was determined to be α= 2.03 times 103+ 1.36(T - 296) (10-9 K-1). Provided that the rule-of-mixtures holds for the Y2Si2O7/Y2SiO5 composites as protective coating on SiC substrates, the volume fractions of 0.72-0.77 (70–75 mass%) would be necessary for the Y2Si2O7 component to match the α-values of both materials.

Notes: Microcellular silicon oxycarbide open cell ceramic foams were fabricated from a silicone resin. Microcellular foams, with a cell size ranging from ∼1–80 μm, were fabricated using poly(methyl methacrylate) microbeads as sacrificial templates. The compression strength of the foams decreased with increasing cell size.

Notes: Electroconductive zirconia-toughened mullite (TiN/ZTM) intragranular nanocomposite was fabricated by hot-pressing a powder mixture of nano-sized TiN, ZrO2(2Y), and mullite gel. The material showed a good sinterability and could be highly densified at a low temperature of 1300°3C. Sintering temperature strongly influenced the microstructure and electrical resistivity of the material. The electrical resistivity increased monotonously from 20 Ω-cm to 1.5 times 106°3Cm, as the sintering temperature was increased from 1300° to 1500°3C. TEM results indicated that such a phenomenon could be ascribed to the changes in the microstructure of the material, which led to a decrease in the connectivity of the TiN network in the sample as the sintering temperature was increased.

Notes: Effects of fluids on material removal rate, chipping damage, and surface roughness in the simulated clinical-dental machining of a dental-type glass ceramic were investigated. Significant differences in removal rate were obtained among the fluids investigated, but only a 4 wt% boric acid solution gave a higher removal rate than conventionally used water. Chipping damage was substantially lower for the boric acid and an oil-emulsion coolant compared with other fluids tested. Surface roughness was independent of the fluids used. The results indicate that improvement can be achieved in both material removal rate and machining damage by the appropriate selection of coolant chemistry.

Notes: This paper reviews the structures and properties of 10 binary, ternary, and quaternary crystals within the equilibrium phase diagram of the SiO2–Y2O3–Si3N4 system. They are binary compounds SiO2, Y2O3, Si3N4; ternary compounds Si2N2O, Y2Si2O7, and YSi2O5; and quaternary crystals Y2Si3N4O3 (M-melilite), Y4Si2O7N2, (N-YAM), YSiO2N (wallastonite), and Y10(SiO4)6N2 (N-apatite, N-APT). Although the binary compounds are well-known and extensively studied, the ternary and the quaternary crystals are not. Most of the ternary and the quaternary crystals simply have been referenced as secondary phases in the processing of nitrogen ceramics. Their crystal structures are complex and not precisely determined. In the quaternary crystals, there exists O/N disorder in that the exact atomic positions of the anions cannot be uniquely determined. It is envisioned that a variety of cation–anion bonding configurations exist in these complex crystals. The electronic structure and bonding in these crystals are, therefore, of great interest and are indispensable for a fundamental understanding of structural ceramics. We have used ab initio methods to study the structure and bonding properties of these 10 crystals. For crystals with unknown or incomplete structural information, we use an accurate total energy relaxation scheme to obtain the most likely atomic positions. Based on the theoretically modeled structures, the electronic structure and bonding in these crystals are investigated and related to various local cation–anion bonding configurations. These results are presented in the form of atom-resolved partial density of states, Mulliken effective charges, and bond order values. It is shown that Y–O and Y–N bonding are not negligible and should be a part of the discussion of the overall bonding schemes in these crystals. Spectroscopic properties in the form of complex, frequency-dependent dielectric functions, X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES), and the electron energy-loss near-edge structure (ELNES) spectra in these crystals also are calculated and compared. These results are discussed in the context of specific bonding configurations between cations (silicon and yttrium) and anions (oxygen and nitrogen) and their implications on intergranular thin films in polycrystalline Si3N4 containing rare-earth elements.

Notes: Simultaneous synthesis and sintering of hexagonal α-Ti1−x-Alx(N) (0 ≤x≤ 0.08) solid solutions, which contain a small amount of nitrogen, have been performed by a self-propagating high-temperature combustion method under a nitrogen pressure of 4 MPa. Dense materials (∼99% of theoretical) prepared directly from a mixture of elemental (Ti and Al) powders reveal homogeneous microstructure composed of fine grains (12–16 μm). α-Ti1−xAlx(N) (x= 0.02; Ti0.98Al0.02N0.26) exhibits a three-point bending strength σb of 390 MPa, a Vickers hardness Hv of 9.24 GPa, and a fracture toughness KIC of 4.89 MPa·m1/2; their mechanical properties are much improved by doping Al into α-Ti(N), in comparison with those (σb= 245 MPa, Hv= 9.02 GPa, and KIC= 3.77 MPa·m1/2) of α-Ti(N) fabricated under the same conditions.

Notes: Electrophoretic deposition has been used to synthesize nickel–alumina, functionally graded materials from NiO and alumina suspensions in ethanol. Suspension stability and the kinetics of deposition were studied to determine optimum conditions. Deposition starts with an alumina suspension into which a stream of NiO suspension is injected at various flow rates to obtain the desired profiles. The latter were controlled by varying the deposition current density and component flow rate. The green bodies obtained were sintered in Ar/H2 atmosphere to reduce the NiO to nickel. Various gradation profiles were obtained illustrating the facility of EPD to synthesize continuously graded materials. NiO was used as the precursor for nickel to alleviate settling and rough columnar deposit problems.

Notes: The total mean-square error (MSE) of the estimated model, defined as the sum of the standard model variance and the bias variance, is used to define the truncation level of the singular-value decomposition to give a reasonable balance between model resolution and model variance. This balance is determined largely by the data and no further assumptions are necessary except that the bias terms are estimated sufficiently well. This principle has been tested on the 1D magnetotelluric inverse problem with special emphasis on high-frequency radio magnetotelluric (RMT) data. Simulations clearly demonstrate that the method provides a good balance between resolution and variance. Starting from a homogeneous half-space, the best solution is sought for a fixed set of singular values. The model variance is estimated from the sum of the inverse eigenvalues squared, up to a certain threshold, and the bias variance is estimated from the model projections on the remaining eigenvectors. By varying the threshold, the minimum of the MSE is found for an increasing number of fixed singular values until the number of active singular values becomes greater than or equal to the estimated number. As a side-effect, the depth of penetration of a given set of measurements can be estimated very efficiently by simply noting at which depth the final model deviates little from the starting homogeneous half-space model. A suite of synthetic data is inverted and an example of inversion of one site is shown to illustrate how the truncation is carried out as the non-linear inversion process proceeds. A field example with a profile across a plume of contaminated groundwater in the Netherlands shows good agreement with the electrical resistivity obtained in a nearby borehole.

Notes: Faithful recording of the elastic wavefield at the sea-bed is required for quantitative applications of 4C seismic. The accuracy of the recorded vectorial wavefield depends on factors that vary from deployment to deployment. This paper focuses on one such factor: the interaction of the acquisition system with the sea-bed, which is referred to here as coupling. We show, using multi-azimuth data recorded with a cable-based sea-bed acquisition system, whose sensor housing is cylindrically shaped and with the in-line geophone fixed to the cable, that coupling depends on the propagation direction and wave type (P- or S-waves) of the incident wavefield. We show that coupling is more critical for S-waves than for P-waves. Detection of inconsistent coupling using both P- and S-waves is therefore mandatory. A data-driven processing method to compensate for the frequency-dependent coupling response of the cross-line geophone is derived. Its application to field data verifies the effectiveness of the method.

Notes: The combined use of time-lapse PP and PS seismic data is analysed for optimal discrimination between pressure and saturation changes. The theory is based on a combination of the well-known Gassmann model and the geomechanical grain model derived by Hertz and Mindlin. A key parameter in the discrimination process is the opening angle between curves representing constant changes in PP and PS reflectivity plotted against pressure and saturation changes. The optimal discrimination angle in the pressure–saturation space is 90° and this is used to determine optimal offset ranges for both PP and PS data. For typical production scenarios, we find an optimal offset range corresponding to an angle of incidence of 25–30°, for both PP and PS data. For gas we find slightly different results. This means that conventional survey parameters used in marine multicomponent acquisition should be sufficient for the purpose of estimating pressure and fluid saturation changes during production.

Notes: Cross-hole anisotropic electrical and seismic tomograms of fractured metamorphic rock have been obtained at a test site where extensive hydrological data were available. A strong correlation between electrical resistivity anisotropy and seismic compressional-wave velocity anisotropy has been observed. Analysis of core samples from the site reveal that the shale-rich rocks have fabric-related average velocity anisotropy of between 10% and 30%. The cross-hole seismic data are consistent with these values, indicating that observed anisotropy might be principally due to the inherent rock fabric rather than to the aligned sets of open fractures. One region with velocity anisotropy greater than 30% has been modelled as aligned open fractures within an anisotropic rock matrix and this model is consistent with available fracture density and hydraulic transmissivity data from the boreholes and the cross-hole resistivity tomography data. However, in general the study highlights the uncertainties that can arise, due to the relative influence of rock fabric and fluid-filled fractures, when using geophysical techniques for hydrological investigations.

Notes: Shear-wave polarization and time delay are attributes commonly used for fracture detection and characterization. In time-lapse analysis these parameters can be used as indicators of changes in the fracture orientation and density. Indeed, changes in fracture characteristics provide key information for increased reservoir characterization and exploitation. However, relative to the data uncertainty, is the comparison of these parameters over time statistically meaningful? We present the uncertainty in shear-wave polarization and time delay as a function of acquisition uncertainties, such as receiver and source misorientation, miscoupling and band-limited random noise. This study is applied to a time-lapse borehole seismic survey, recorded in Vacuum Field, New Mexico. From the estimated uncertainties for each survey, the uncertainty in the difference between the two surveys is 31° for the shear-wave polarization angle and 4 ms for the shear-wave time delay. Any changes in these parameters greater than these error estimates can be interpreted with confidence. This analysis can be applied to any time-lapse measurement to provide an interval of confidence in the interpretation of shear-wave polarization angles and time splitting.

Notes: A series of downhole magnetometric resistivity (DHMMR) and downhole electromagnetic (DHEM) surveys were conducted near Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia, and at Zinkgruvan, Sweden, to determine how probe and receiver equipment choices affect the amount of noise visible in borehole MMR and EM data. Noise analyses performed on the data, using the standard deviation to gauge the relative noise levels between different probes and receiver systems, indicate that high noise levels in MMR data result primarily from the use of a three-component EM probe, which has a reduced effective area and hence a higher noise floor compared with a single-component EM probe. High noise, attributable to cultural sources such as nearby power lines, in either MMR or EM data can be reduced through the use of full-waveform, multipurpose receiver systems. These systems allow for the use of tapered stacking, which is a more effective method of eliminating coherent noise associated with power-line transients than the boxcar-stacking method used by traditional receiver systems.

Notes: Interlayer slipping breccia-type gold deposit – a new type of gold deposit, defined recently in the northern margin of the Jiaolai Basin, Shandong Province, China – occurs in interlayer slip faults distributed along the basin margin. It has the features of large orebody thickness (ranging from 14 m to 46 m, with an average thickness of 30 m), shallow embedding (0–50 m thickness of cover), low tenor of gold ore (ranging from 3 g/t to 5 g/t), easy mining and ore dressing. This type of gold deposit has promising metallogenic forecasting and potential for economic exploitation.A ground gamma-ray survey in the Pengjiakuang gold-ore district indicates that the potassium/thorium ratio is closely related to the mineralization intensity, i.e. the larger the potassium/thorium ratio, the higher the mineralization. The gold mineralized alteration zone was defined by a potassium/thorium ratio of 0.35. A seismic survey confirms the location of the top and bottom boundaries and images various features within the Pengjiakuang gold mineralization belt. The gold-bearing shovel slipped belt dips to the south at an angle of 50–55° at the surface and 15–20° at depth. The seismic profile is interpreted in terms of a structural band on the seismic section characterized by a three-layered model. The upper layer is represented by weakly discontinuous reflections that represent the overlying conglomerates. A zone of stronger reflections representing the interlayer slip fault (gold-bearing mineralized zone) is imaged within the middle of the section, while the strongest reflections are in the lower part of the section and represent metamorphic rocks at depth. At the same time, the seismic reflection survey confirms the existence of a granite body at depth, indicating that ore-forming fluids may be related to the granite. A CSAMT survey showed that the gold-bearing mineralized zone is a conductive layer and contains a low-resistivity anomaly ranging from 2 Ωm to 200 Ωm.

Notes: The elastic properties and anisotropy of shales are strongly influenced by the degree of alignment of the grain scale texture. In general, an orientation distribution function (ODF) can be used to describe this alignment, which, in practice, can be characterized by two Legendre coefficients. We discuss various statistical ODFs that define the alignment by spreading from a mean value; in particular, the Gaussian, Fisher and Bingham distributions. We compare the statistical models with an ODF resulting from pure vertical compaction (no shear strain) of a sediment. The compaction ODF may be used to estimate how the elastic properties and anisotropy evolve due to burial of clayey sediments.Our study shows that the three statistical ODFs produce almost identical correspondence between the two Legendre coefficients as a function of the spreading parameter, so that the spreading parameter of one ODF can be converted to the spreading parameter of another ODF. In most cases it is then sufficient to apply the spreading parameter for the ODF instead of the two Legendre coefficients. The effect of compaction on the ODF gives a slightly different correspondence between the two Legendre coefficients from that for the other models. In principle, this opens up the possibility of distinguishing anisotropy effects due to compaction from those due to other processes.We also study reflection amplitudes versus angle of incidence (AVA) for all wave modes, where shales having various ODFs overlie an isotropic medium. The AVA responses are modelled using both exact and approximation formulae, and their intercepts and gradients are compared. The modelling shows that the S-wave velocity is sensitive to any perturbation in the spreading parameter, while the P-wave velocity becomes increasingly sensitive to a perturbation of a less ordered system. Similar observations are found for the AVA of the P-P and P-SV waves. Modelling indicates that a combined use of the amplitude versus offset of P-P and P-SV reflected waves may reveal certain grain scale alignment properties of shale-like rocks.

Notes: Although it is believed that natural fracture sets predominantly have near-vertical orientation, oblique stresses and some other mechanisms may tilt fractures away from the vertical. Here, we examine an effective medium produced by a single system of obliquely dipping rotationally invariant fractures embedded in a transversely isotropic with a vertical symmetry axis (VTI) background rock. This model is monoclinic with a vertical symmetry plane that coincides with the dip plane of the fractures.Multicomponent seismic data acquired over such a medium possess several distinct features that make it possible to estimate the fracture orientation. For example, the vertically propagating fast shear wave (and the fast converted PS-wave) is typically polarized in the direction of the fracture strike. The normal-moveout (NMO) ellipses of horizontal reflection events are co-orientated with the dip and strike directions of the fractures, which provides an independent estimate of the fracture azimuth. However, the polarization vector of the slow shear wave at vertical incidence does not lie in the horizontal plane – an unusual phenomenon that can be used to evaluate fracture dip. Also, for oblique fractures the shear-wave splitting coefficient at vertical incidence becomes dependent on fracture infill (saturation).A complete medium-characterization procedure includes estimating the fracture compliances and orientation (dip and azimuth), as well as the Thomsen parameters of the VTI background. We demonstrate that both the fracture and background parameters can be obtained from multicomponent wide-azimuth data using the vertical velocities and NMO ellipses of PP-waves and two split SS-waves (or the traveltimes of PS-waves) reflected from horizontal interfaces. Numerical tests corroborate the accuracy and stability of the inversion algorithm based on the exact expressions for the vertical and NMO velocities.

Notes: The azimuth moveout (AMO) operator in homogeneous transversely isotropic media with a vertical symmetry axis (VTI), as in isotropic media, has an overall skewed saddle shape. However, the AMO operator in anisotropic media is complicated; it includes, among other things, triplications at low angles. Even in weaker anisotropies, with the anisotropy parameter η= 0.1 (10% anisotropy), the AMO operator is considerably different from the isotropic operator, although free of triplications. The structure of the operator in VTI media (positive η) is stretched (has a wider aperture) compared with operators in isotropic media, with the amount of stretch being dependent on the strength of anisotropy. If the medium is both vertically inhomogeneous, i.e. the vertical velocity is a function of depth (v(z)), and anisotropic, which is a common combination in practical problems, the shape of the operator again differs from that for isotropic media. However, the difference in the AMO operator between the homogeneous and the v(z) cases, even for anisotropic media, is small. Stated simply, anisotropy influences the shape and aperture of the AMO operator far more than vertical inhomogeneity does.

Notes: The attenuation of ground-penetrating radar (GPR) energy in the subsurface decreases and shifts the amplitude spectrum of the radar pulse to lower frequencies (absorption) with increasing traveltime and causes also a distortion of wavelet phase (dispersion). The attenuation is often expressed by the quality factor Q. For GPR studies, Q can be estimated from the ratio of the real part to the imaginary part of the dielectric permittivity.We consider a complex power function of frequency for the dielectric permittivity, and show that this dielectric response corresponds to a frequency-independent-Q or simply a constant-Q model. The phase velocity (dispersion relationship) and the absorption coefficient of electromagnetic waves also obey a frequency power law. This approach is easy to use in the frequency domain and the wave propagation can be described by two parameters only, for example Q and the phase velocity at an arbitrary reference frequency. This simplicity makes it practical for any inversion technique. Furthermore, by using the Hilbert transform relating the velocity and the absorption coefficient (which obeys a frequency power law), we find the same dispersion relationship for the phase velocity. Both approaches are valid for a constant value of Q over a restricted frequency-bandwidth, and are applicable in a material that is assumed to have no instantaneous dielectric response.Many GPR profiles acquired in a dry aeolian environment have shown a strong reflectivity inside dunes. Changes in water content are believed to be the origin of this reflectivity. We model the radar reflections from the bottom of a dry aeolian dune using the 1D wavelet modelling method. We discuss the choice of the reference wavelet in this modelling approach. A trial-and-error match of modelled and observed data was performed to estimate the optimum set of parameters characterizing the materials composing the site. Additionally, by combining the complex refractive index method (CRIM) and/or Topp equations for the bulk permittivity (dielectric constant) of moist sandy soils with a frequency power law for the dielectric response, we introduce them into the expression for the reflection coefficient. Using this method, we can estimate the water content and explain its effect on the reflection coefficient and on wavelet modelling.

Notes: The forward computation of the gravitational and magnetic fields due to a 3D body with an arbitrary boundary and continually varying density or magnetization is an important problem in gravitational and magnetic prospecting. In order to solve the inverse problem for the arbitrary components of the gravitational and magnetic anomalies due to an arbitrary 3D body under complex conditions, including an uneven observation surface, the existence of background anomalies and very little or no a priori information, we used a spherical coordinate system to systematically investigate forward methods for such anomalies and developed a series of universal spherical harmonic expansions of gravitational and magnetic fields. For the case of a 3D body with an arbitrary boundary and continually varying magnetization, we have also given the surface integral expressions for the common spherical harmonic coefficients in the expansion of the magnetic field due to the body, and a very precise numerical integral algorithm to calculate them. Thus a simple and effective method of solving the forward problem for magnetic fields due to 3D bodies of this kind has been found, and in this way a foundation is laid for solving the inverse problem of these magnetic fields. In addition, by replacing the parameters and unit vectors in the spherical harmonic expansion of a magnetic field by gravitational parameters and a downward unit vector, we have also derived a forward method for the gravitational field (similar to that for the magnetic case) of a 3D body with an arbitrary boundary and continually varying density.

Notes: 2.5D modelling approximates 3D wave propagation in the dip-direction of a 2D geological model. Attention is restricted to raypaths for waves propagating in a plane. In this way, fast inversion or migration can be performed. For velocity analysis, this reduction of the problem is particularly useful.We review 2.5D modelling for Born volume scattering and Born–Helmholtz surface scattering. The amplitudes are corrected for 3D wave propagation, taking into account both in-plane and out-of-plane geometrical spreading. We also derive some new inversion/migration results. An AVA-compensated migration routine is presented that is simplified compared with earlier results. This formula can be used to create common-image gathers for use in velocity analysis by studying the residual moveout. We also give a migration formula for the energy-flux-normalized plane-wave reflection coefficient that models large contrast in the medium parameters not treated by the Born and the Born–Helmholtz equation results. All results are derived using the generalized Radon transform (GRT) directly in the natural coordinate system characterized by scattering angle and migration dip. Consequently, no Jacobians are needed in their calculation.Inversion and migration in an orthorhombic medium or a transversely isotropic (TI) medium with tilted symmetry axis are the lowest symmetries for practical purposes (symmetry axis is in the plane). We give an analysis, using derived methods, of the parameters for these two types of media used in velocity analysis, inversion and migration. The kinematics of the two media involve the same parameters, hence there is no distinction when carrying out velocity analysis. The in-plane scattering coefficient, used in the inversion and migration, also depends on the same parameters for both media. The out-of-plane geometrical spreading, necessary for amplitude-preserving computations, for the TI medium is dependent on the same parameters that govern in-plane kinematics. For orthorhombic media, information on additional parameters is required that is not needed for in-plane kinematics and the scattering coefficients.Resolution analysis of the scattering coefficient suggests that direct inversion by GRT yields unreliable parameter estimates. A more practical approach to inversion is amplitude-preserving migration followed by AVA analysis.SYMBOLS AND NOTATIONA list of symbols and notation is given in Appendix D.

Notes: A strategy for multiple removal consists of estimating a model of the multiples and then adaptively subtracting this model from the data by estimating shaping filters. A possible and efficient way of computing these filters is by minimizing the difference or misfit between the input data and the filtered multiples in a least-squares sense. Therefore, the signal is assumed to have minimum energy and to be orthogonal to the noise. Some problems arise when these conditions are not met. For instance, for strong primaries with weak multiples, we might fit the multiple model to the signal (primaries) and not to the noise (multiples). Consequently, when the signal does not exhibit minimum energy, we propose using the L1-norm, as opposed to the L2-norm, for the filter estimation step. This choice comes from the well-known fact that the L1-norm is robust to ‘large’ amplitude differences when measuring data misfit. The L1-norm is approximated by a hybrid L1/L2-norm minimized with an iteratively reweighted least-squares (IRLS) method. The hybrid norm is obtained by applying a simple weight to the data residual. This technique is an excellent approximation to the L1-norm. We illustrate our method with synthetic and field data where internal multiples are attenuated. We show that the L1-norm leads to much improved attenuation of the multiples when the minimum energy assumption is violated. In particular, the multiple model is fitted to the multiples in the data only, while preserving the primaries.

Notes: Sonic techniques in geophysical prospecting involve elastic wave velocity measurements that are performed by placing acoustic transmitters and receivers in a fluid-filled borehole. The signals recorded at the receivers are processed to obtain compressional- and shear-wave velocities in the surrounding formation. These velocities are generally used in seismic surveys for the time-to-depth conversion and other formation parameters, such as porosity and lithology. Depending upon the type of transmitter used (e.g. monopole or dipole) and as a result of eccentering, it is possible to excite axisymmetric (n= 0), flexural (n= 1) and quadrupole (n= 2) families of modes propagating along the borehole. We present a study of various propagating and leaky modes that includes their dispersion and attenuation characteristics caused by radiation into the surrounding formation. A knowledge of propagation characteristics of borehole modes helps in a proper selection of transmitter bandwidth for suppressing unwanted modes that create problems in the inversion for the compressional- and shear-wave velocities from the dispersive arrivals. It also helps in the design of a transmitter for a preferential excitation of a given mode in order to reduce interference with drill-collar or drilling noise for sonic measurements-while-drilling. Computational results for the axisymmetric family of modes in a fast formation with a shear-wave velocity of 2032 m/s show the existence of Stoneley, pseudo-Rayleigh and anharmonic cut-off modes. In a slow formation with a shear-wave velocity of 508 m/s, we find the existence of the Stoneley mode and the first leaky compressional mode which cuts in at approximately the same normalized frequency ωa/VS= 2.5 (a is the borehole radius) as that of the fast formation. The corresponding modes among the flexural family include the lowest-order flexural and anharmonic cut-off modes. For both the fast and slow formations, the first anharmonic mode cuts in at a normalized frequency ωa/VS= 1.5 approximately. Cut-off frequencies of anharmonic modes are inversely proportional to the borehole radius in the absence of any tool. The borehole quadrupole mode can also be used for estimating formation shear slownesses. The radial depth of investigation with a quadrupole mode is marginally less than that of a flexural mode because of its higher frequency of excitation.

Notes: A series of time-lapse seismic cross-well and single-well experiments were conducted in a diatomite reservoir to monitor the injection of CO2 into a hydrofracture zone, based on P- and S-wave data. A high-frequency piezo-electric P-wave source and an orbital-vibrator S-wave source were used to generate waves that were recorded by hydrophones as well as 3-component geophones. During the first phase the set of seismic experiments was conducted after the injection of water into the hydrofractured zone. The set of seismic experiments was repeated after a time period of seven months during which CO2 was injected into the hydrofractured zone. The questions to be answered ranged from the detectability of the geological structure in the diatomic reservoir to the detectability of CO2 within the hydrofracture. Furthermore, it was intended to determine which experiment (cross-well or single-well) is best suited to resolve these features.During the pre-injection experiment, the P-wave velocities exhibited relatively low values between 1700 and 1900 m/s, which decreased to 1600–1800 m/s during the post-injection phase (−5%). The analysis of the pre-injection S-wave data revealed slow S-wave velocities between 600 and 800 m/s, while the post-injection data revealed velocities between 500 and 700 m/s (−6%). These velocity estimates produced high Poisson's ratios between 0.36 and 0.46 for this highly porous (∼50%) material. Differencing post- and pre-injection data revealed an increase in Poisson's ratio of up to 5%. Both velocity and Poisson's ratio estimates indicate the dissolution of CO2 in the liquid phase of the reservoir accompanied by an increase in pore pressure.The single-well data supported the findings of the cross-well experiments. P- and S-wave velocities as well as Poisson's ratios were comparable to the estimates of the cross-well data.The cross-well experiment did not detect the presence of the hydrofracture but appeared to be sensitive to overall changes in the reservoir and possibly the presence of a fault. In contrast, the single-well reflection data revealed an arrival that could indicate the presence of the hydrofracture between the source and receiver wells, while it did not detect the presence of the fault, possibly due to out-of-plane reflections.

Notes: We describe two practicable approaches for an efficient computation of seismic traveltimes and amplitudes. The first approach is based on a combined finite-difference solution of the eikonal equation and the transport equation (the ‘FD approach’). These equations are formulated as hyperbolic conservation laws; the eikonal equation is solved numerically by a third-order ENO–Godunov scheme for the traveltimes whereas the transport equation is solved by a first-order upwind scheme for the amplitudes. The schemes are implemented in 2D using polar coordinates. The results are first-arrival traveltimes and the corresponding amplitudes. The second approach uses ray tracing (the ‘ray approach’) and employs a wavefront construction (WFC) method to calculate the traveltimes. Geometrical spreading factors are then computed from these traveltimes via the ray propagator without the need for dynamic ray tracing or numerical differentiation. With this procedure it is also possible to obtain multivalued traveltimes and the corresponding geometrical spreading factors.Both methods are compared using the Marmousi model. The results show that the FD eikonal traveltimes are highly accurate and perfectly match the WFC traveltimes. The resulting FD amplitudes are smooth and consistent with the geometrical spreading factors obtained from the ray approach. Hence, both approaches can be used for fast and reliable computation of seismic first-arrival traveltimes and amplitudes in complex models. In addition, the capabilities of the ray approach for computing traveltimes and spreading factors of later arrivals are demonstrated with the help of the Shell benchmark model.

Notes: In single-streamer acquisition, the use of acoustic transducers to constrain the receiver positions is not possible, thus implying the use of compass birds to gather information on the streamer location. The compasses are, however, sensitive to the declination of the local magnetic field of the earth, and local fluctuations not accounted for can degrade the accuracy of reconstructed positions. In order to correct these small-scale fluctuations, we propose a simple deterministic method to calculate a spatial correction to apply to the compasses that enhances the positioning accuracy. The local compass declination is calculated after a first reconstruction on the whole survey area. This method was applied with success to navigation data from a 3D survey offshore Japan, and the positioning accuracy was improved to the level of the DGPS accuracy.

Notes: The effect of zinc ions added to silica film on the electrical and structural properties of a silica/indium tin oxide two-layer film which had been prepared by solution coating for electromagnetic shielding of displays was studied. The volume resistivity of the undoped silica/indium tin oxide film was more than 3 times as high as that of the zinc-doped silica/indium tin oxide film. The addition of divalent cations, zinc ions, to the overcoated layer led volume resistivity of the two-layer film to decrease significantly and also caused a long-term increase in stability. The decrease in volume resistivity was due to the addition of zinc ions that changed the interface ionization and helped to enhance the electrical conductivity in the two-layer film.

Notes: Ferroelectric Ba(SnxTi1−x)O3 (BTS) thin films were deposited using a sol–gel process on LaNiO3-coated silicon substrates. The films showed a (100) preferred orientation depending on composition. The grain size decreased and the microstructure became denser with increasing tin content. The decreasing grain size with increasing tin may be attributable to lower grain-growth rates from the more slowly diffusing Sn4+ ion, which has a larger ionic radius than Ti4+. The ferroelectric phase transition temperature of Ba(SnxTi1−x)O3 thin films with (a) x= 0, (b) x= 0.05, (c) x= 0.10, and (d) x= 0.15 occurs at about 150°, 45°, 28°, and 20°C, respectively. The highest K (figure of merit defined as K= tunability/tan δ={[ɛ(0) −ɛ(E)]/ɛ(E)}/tan δ) was found for BTS thin films with x= 0.10, even though tunability was highest with x= 0.05. An increase of dielectric loss as compared with films with x= 0.10 produced a decrease in K value. The J–E characteristics were highly nonlinear and the electric field resulting in nonlinearity moved to lower electric fields with decreasing tin content.

Notes: The combined effect of rapid sintering by spark-plasma-sintering (SPS) technique and mechanical milling of γ-Al2O3 nanopowder via high-energy ball milling (HEBM) on the microstructural development and mechanical properties of nanocrystalline alumina matrix composites toughened by 20 vol% silicon carbide whiskers was investigated. SiCw/γ-Al2O3 nanopowders processed by HEBM can be successfully consolidated to full density by SPS at a temperature as low as 1125°C and still retain a near-nanocrystalline matrix grain size (∼118 nm). However, to densify the same nanopowder mixture to full density without the benefit of HEBM procedure, the required temperature for sintering was higher than 1200°C, where one encountered excessive grain growth. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) results indicated that HEBM did not lead to the transformation of γ-Al2O3 to α-Al2O3 of the starting powder but rather induced possible residual stress that enhances the densification at lower temperatures. The SiCw/HEBMγ-Al2O3 nanocomposite with grain size of 118 nm has attractive mechanical properties, i.e., Vickers hardness of 26.1 GPa and fracture toughness of 6.2 MPa·m1/2.

Notes: MgAl2O4 spinel was successfully synthesized using a mechanochemical route that avoided the formation and calcination of its precursors at high temperatures. The method involved a single step in which γ-Al2O3–MgO, AlO(OH)–MgO, and α-Al2O3–MgO mixtures were milled at room temperature under air atmosphere. The formation of MgAl2O4 occurred faster with γ-Al2O3 than with AlO(OH) or α-Al2O3. After 140 h, the mechanochemical treatment of the γ-Al2O3–MgO mixture yielded 99% of MgAl2O4.

Notes: Nanocrystalline SnOx particles (x= 0–2) were synthesized using tetramethyltin (Sn(CH3)4) vapor as the particle precursor reactant in hydrogen/oxygen/argon (H2/O2/Ar) flames. The particle composition and morphology were characterized using X-ray diffractometry, transmission electron microscopy, and nitrogen (N2) surface adsorption. By controlling the concentration of oxygen in the reactant gases and the flame temperatures, metallic tin (Sn), tin monoxide (romarchite SnO), and/or tin dioxide (cassiterite SnO2) were generated. The crystalline powders consisted of both discrete primary particles and agglomerates, with average primary particle sizes of 23–24 nm for SnO2 and 69 nm for Sn (based on specific surface area measurements of bulk powders collected in the exhaust region of the flame). The compositional results were interpreted using equilibrium and detailed chemical kinetics models.

Notes: Chromium, an EPA listed toxic element concentrated in many industrial wastes, was stabilized using waste vitrification. Cr2O3 and CrO3 were loaded into a simulated basaltic base composition, vitrified, and cooled at various rates. Chromium incorporation mechanisms, vitrification processability, effect of initial Cr oxidation state, and product performance were investigated. At 1500°C, Cr2O3 has a low solubility limit (0.54 wt%) in the base composition, and crystallized as Cr-rich primary spinel (Mg,Fe)(Fe,Al,Cr)2O4. On cooling, Cr-depleted secondary spinel and augite (Na,Ca)(Mg,Fe2+,Al)(Si,Al)2O6 crystallized. Cr(VI) was converted into Cr(III) on vitrification. The apparent viscosity of the melts was estimated using the Bottinga–Weill model as corrected by Roscoe's equation. The end products showed Cr2O3 loading capacities as high as 16.7 wt% without exceeding the toxicity-leaching limit defined by EPA. The annealed products had Vickers's hardness of about 800 kg·F/mm2 and can be classified as medium-grade abrasives.

Notes: Aluminum phosphate products formed by the reactions of alumina and alumina-gel systems with acidic phosphates were analyzed. Drying of alumina-gel to form microcrystalline boehmite and conversion to γ-alumina by thermal treatment was indicated by the appearance of octahedral, pentacoordinate, or tetrahedral sites, which were established using 27Al magic-angle-spinning solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Crystalline aluminum phosphate products and amorphous material were identified using this technique. α-alumina and heat-treated alumina-gel that were reacted with phosphate in an Al:P ratio of 1:1 yielded dramatically different aluminum orthophosphate:aluminum metaphosphate product ratios of 8.2:1 and 1:1.1, respectively. When alumina-gel was heat-treated with phosphate, an abundance of aluminum orthophosphate, aluminum metaphosphate, and hydrated aluminum phosphate products were affected by varying conditions of temperature and time of heat treatment and by the amount of phosphate present. An α-alumina/alumina-gel composite sol–gel phase that was reacted with phosphoric acid (H3PO4) in a Al:P ratio of 1:1 exhibited an increased quantity of aluminum metaphosphate products compared with an α-alumina:H3PO4 ratio of 1:1 and a higher percentage of reaction (79%) compared with the reactions of an α-alumina:H3PO4 ratio of 1:1 or an alumina-gel:H3PO4 ratio of 1:1. The morphologies of aluminum triphosphate hydrate and aluminum metaphosphate product phases were observed using scanning electron microscopy.

Notes: CaCu3Ti4O12 (CCTO) was prepared by solid-state reaction and identified by X-ray diffractometry. The evolution of the microstructure was observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). It was found that discontinuous grain growth developed during sintering, and large abnormal grains played a very significant role in the dielectric behavior. Cu ions segregated to the boundaries and CuO located at the triple-point sites of the abnormal large grains were observed by electron energy loss and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, respectively. Moreover, two kinds of morphologies, i.e., terraces with ledges and bump domains, were discovered inside the grains under the thermal etching conditions at 960°C for 72 min, which solves the contradiction related to the interpretation of the giant dielectric response between ceramic and single-crystal CCTO. Complex impedance spectroscopy was used to analyze the conductivity of ceramic CCTO, which suggests that it consists of conducting domains with two kinds of insulating barrier layers of domain and grain boundaries. The insulating domain and grain boundaries were attributed to orderly arranged dislocations and segregation of Cu ions, respectively. The conduction of CCTO was found to be related to the porosity, the grain size, and the thickness of the insulating boundary layers. For a sample sintered at 1065°C for 3 h, the anomalously low resistivity and temperature-dependent dielectric constant were due to the fact that domain boundaries were not substantially formed. The possible reasons for the development of barrier layers and the variation of the dielectric constant with the sintering time are discussed. A barrier-layer model with dielectric response based on the Maxwell–Wagner type of relaxation for ceramic CCTO is proposed. Two kinds of dielectric responses occur, depending on the microstructure: they are dominated by the domain and domain boundary and by the grain and grain boundary for large grains and fine grains, respectively.

Notes: A method for the preparation of Cr-doped Y2Sn2O7 powders based on the pyrolysis of aerosols generated from aqueous salt solutions of the corresponding metal cations is reported. These powders yielded Cr-doped pyrochlore red-shade pigments on calcination in the absence of fluxes at lower temperature (900°–1100°C) than that involved in the traditional ceramic method (1400°C). This process resulted in pigment particles with spherical shape and broad size distribution (〈10 μm) not requiring milling. The oxidation state of the Cr ions dissolved in the pyrochlore lattice has also been analyzed by using XPS and ESR spectroscopies and ac magnetic susceptibility measurements finding that the color observed for this material is due to Cr(IV) ions, most probably occupying the distorted octahedral position of Sn(IV).

Notes: The graded nature of crystal structure, texture, and microhardness of human enamel has been characterized by grazing-incidence synchrotron radiation diffraction and Vickers indentation. Results show that the composition of tooth enamel consists mainly of calcium apatite or hydroxyapatite (HAP). The HAP crystals formed near the occlusal surface are aligned approximately orthogonal to each other between the axial and occlusal sections. In addition, the tooth enamel has been shown to be a hierarchical graded biomaterial with a distinct gradation in crystallinity, texture, crystallite size, and hardness, which is somewhat akin to that of the fibrous microstructures found in natural plants. A “graded-interface” approach is proposed as a biomimetic model for designing new dental or restorative materials as well as for joining of dissimilar materials.

Notes: Octahedral cations of Mg and Ta in Pb[(Mg1/3Ta2/3)0.8Ti0.2]O3 were replaced independently as well as simultaneously by Zn and Nb, respectively, to investigate the effects of composition modification on phase formation and dielectric properties. When Mg was replaced by Zn, the perovskite formation yields decreased continuously to 0% with the Zn fraction. In contrast, nearly phase-pure perovskite powders could be prepared when Ta and the Mg-Ta complex were replaced by Nb and Zn-Nb, respectively. Dielectric relaxation with diffuse phase transition was observed at most of the compositions. Dielectric maximum temperatures increased steadily with the substituent fractions, whereas variations of the maximum dielectric constant were dependent heavily on the substituent species.

Notes: The sintering behavior and piezoelectric properties of the lead zirconate titanate (Pb(ZrTi)O3, PZT)–lead zinc niobate (Pb(Zn1/3Nb2/3)O3, PZN) system were investigated. The sintering temperature required for full densification of the PZT-PZN system was significantly lowered when the proportion of PZN was increased. The density of the specimen composed of 60% PZT and 40% PZN (0.6PZT-0.4PZN, Pb((Zr0.47Ti0.53)0.6–(Zn1/3Nb2/3)0.4)O3) sintered at 880°C for 4 h was 8.15 g/cm3, which was 〉97% of the theoretical value. This improved densification behavior was attributed to the combined effects of the high sinterability of PZN and the stability of the PZT pcrovskite structure. The piezoelectric and dielectric properties of the 0.6PZT-0.4PZN specimen sintered at 880°C were comparable with those of a specimen with the same composition sintered at 1200°C for 2 h. The piezoelectric coefficient (d33) and the electromechanical coupling factor (kp) of the 0.6PZT-0.4PZN specimen sintered at 880°C were 460 pC/N and 0.6, respectively.

Notes: Two methods of measuring the fracture toughness of films are critically examined using well-characterized films of CrN and Cr2N ˜6 μm in thickness bonded to brass. The first method invokes a model developed by Beuth and Klingbeil in which the film fracture stress is related to the fracture energy through an expression that accounts for work hardening of the substrate. The second method is to directly measure the displacement field around the crack tip using electron-beam molrè and, subsequently, to estimate the crack-tip stress Intensity factor using full-field-displacement equations. The films are prepared by magnetron sputtering on brass substrates heat-treated at various temperatures, thereby altering the microstructure and, hence, the substrate yield stress. Unexpectedly, the same films deposited on various substrates lead to very different in-plane compressive residual stresses. The effect on crack-driving force is discussed, and a comparison between these two methods is made. Both techniques agree reasonably well and reveal that CrN exhibits a higher toughness than Cr2N.

Notes: Hexapod-shaped tetragonal-phase BaTiO3 single crystals have been synthesized using a simple hydrothermal method. The effects of alkali concentration, precursors, and temperature on the morphology are discussed.

Notes: Phase relations in the ternary system ZrO2–CaO–MgO were experimentally established at 1600°, 1700°, and 1750°C. The investigation was based on powder X-ray diffractometry, scanning electron microscopy–energy dispersive spectroscopy, and electron probe microanalysis, on 24 ternary compositions. The compositions were prepared using attrition milling of respective oxides and carbonates as raw materials. The results obtained allowed construction of the corresponding isothermal sections, which verified the existence of the cubic-ZrO2–CaZrO3 phase compatibility field at the three temperatures. Finally, experimental results also were compared with the thermodynamic assessment previously reported of the system ZrO2–CaO–MgO.

Notes: The aging behavior of 3-mol%-yttria-stabilized tetragonal zirconia (3Y-TZP) ceramics sintered in air and in reducing conditions was investigated at 140°C in water vapor. It was observed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) that 3Y-TZP samples sintered in reducing conditions exhibited significantly higher tetragonal-to-monoclinic transformation than samples with similar density and average grain size values but obtained by sintering in air. This fact is explained by the increase of the oxygen vacancy concentration and by the presence at the grain boundary region of a new aggregate phase formed because of the exolution of Fe2+ ions observed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.

Notes: Chemical change of trace zinc in ordinary portland cement (205.1 ppm) was investigated in hydration process using X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS). Intensities of the peaks appearing at the same energy of ZnO in XANES spectra were decreased with cement hydration. The interatomic distances and the coordination numbers of the first and the second shells calculated from EXAFS spectra indicated that ZnO hydrolyzed to zincate ion [Zn(OH)4]2− with cement hydration keeping their fundamental structure of ZnO4 tetrahedra.

Notes: CaRAlO4 (R = Nd, Sm, Y) ceramics with a K2NiF4 structure were prepared by a solid-state reaction approach, and their microwave dielectric characteristics were evaluated, along with their microstructures. Dense CaNdAlO4, CaSmAlO4, and CaYAlO4 ceramics were obtained by sintering at 1425°–1500°C in air for 3 h, and good microwave dielectric characteristics were achieved: (1) ɛ= 18.2, Qf= 17 980 GHz, τf=−52 ppm/°C for CaNdAlO4; (2) ɛ= 18.2, Qf= 51 060 GHz, τf=−3 ppm/°C for CaSmAlO4; and (3) ɛ= 18.9, Qf= 39 960 GHz, τf= 6 ppm/°C for CaYAlO4.

Notes: We present a multiscale modeling approach to study oxygen diffusion in cubic yttria-stabilized zirconia. In this approach, we employ density functional theory methods to calculate activation energies for oxygen migration in different cation environments. These are used in a kinetic Monte Carlo framework to calculate long-time oxygen diffusivities. Simulation results show that the oxygen diffusivity attains a maximum value at around 0.1 mole fraction yttria. This variation in the oxygen diffusivity with yttria mole fraction and the calculated values for the diffusivity agree well with experiment. The competing effects of increased oxygen vacancy concentration and increasing activation energy and correlation effects for oxygen diffusion with increasing yttria mole fraction are responsible for the observed dopant content dependence of the oxygen diffusivity. We provide a detailed analysis of cation-dopant-induced correlation effects in support of the above explanation.

Notes: To model the thermal conductivity of polymer composites that are filled with ceramic powders, the conductivity of each component as well as the interfacial resistance at each ceramic–polymer boundary must be known. An indirect method to determine this interfacial boundary resistance is proposed by preparing large-scale “macromodel” simulations of the polymer–ceramic interface. Macromodels, prepared by spin-coating a polymer layer onto sapphire wafers, were formed in a sapphire–polymer–sapphire sandwich type structure. The interfacial boundary thermal resistance was calculated from thermal resistance measurements made on the macromodels.

Notes: TiN particulate/Ti5Si3 matrix composite powder has been synthesized from Ti and Si3N4 powders employing high-energy ball milling. The milled powders have been characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. TiN/Ti5Si3 composite powder is formed by a displacement reaction between Ti and Si3N4 during milling, and the reaction progresses in a mechanically induced self-propagating reaction form. The milled powder consists of TiN crystallites of a few hundred nanometers embedded in Ti5Si3 matrixes. After 20 h of milling, the crystallite size of TiN becomes about 5 nm.

Notes: The microstructure of vitrified kaolin ceramic tapes has been studied via scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM and TEM). The sintered samples contained crystalline phase of predominantly stoichiometric mullite (3Al2O3·2SiO2), which consisted of high aspect ratio, acicular crystals that are often referred to as secondary mullite. These crystals were interlocked and embedded in an aluminosilicate glass matrix of inhomogeneous composition. The glass matrix contained an average of ∼3.63 wt% K as determined by energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDS), whose composition could be approximated to 5Al2O3·16SiO2·0.1MgO·0.3K2O·0.15TiO2·0.12Fe2O3. The acicular crystals have approximately the stoichiometric composition of Al2O3:SiO2= 3:2. They have grown along a specific crystallographic orientation along the [001] axis. The crystal growth front exhibited facetting on the {110) planes with microfacetting on both the {100) and {010) planes.

Notes: Ceramic composites with the composition of xPMZNT·(1 –x)NiCuZn have been prepared using a standard ceramic technique, in which x varies as 0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.9, and 1.0. PMZNT is the abbreviated form of 0.92Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3·0.04Pb(Zn1/3Nb2/3)O3·0.04PbTiO3 (PMN-PZN-PT). NiCuZn is the abbreviated form of Ni0.2Cu0.2Zn0.6Fe2O4. The presence of ferroelectric PMZNT phase and ferromagnetic NiCuZn ferrite phase has been confirmed using X-ray diffractometry. Ferroelectric hysteresis loops and magnetic hysteresis loops have been observed and studied. In polarization–electric-field curves, the remnant polarization and coercive fields display little asymmetric characterization because of the existence of the internal electric field. When the amount of NiCuZn ferrite phase increases, the coercive field increases. Meanwhile, the saturation magnetization decreases and the coercivity of the composites increases with the increase of phase fraction of PMZNT, because the interaction between magnetic grains (or magnetic connectivity) is weakened by the existence of nonmagnetic PMZNT phase distributed in the magnetic phases. Under an applied magnetic and electric field, the magnetization and polarization of the composites can be easily tuned. The sintered composites possess high density and fine-grained microstructure. The average grain size of NiCuZn ferrite grains is slightly larger than that of the PMZNT grains.

Notes: The effect of a localized SiO2 codoping on the conversion of polycrystalline, MgO-doped Al2O3 tubes to single-crystal sapphire was investigated. Codoping with SiO2 before sintering intentionally triggered abnormal grain growth, which resulted in the full conversion of tube surfaces to single crystal without adversely affecting densification to a almost pore-free, translucent state. The degree of surface conversion was strongly dependent on experimental variables, which included furnace temperature and codoping amount. Surface-converted tubes had excellent physical properties, which included good thermal cycling resistance and optical properties superior to unconverted, polycrystalline Al2O3.

Notes: For large-grained manganese zinc (MnZn) ferrite ceramics, grain misorientation determined by electron backscatter diffractions and grain-boundary resistance measured using microcontact impedance spectroscopy have been correlated. The degree of oxidation of grain boundaries and, hence, the barrier height depends on the overall grain-boundary network as well as on the individual boundary structure; therefore, a statistical analysis has been performed based on several hundreds of local measurements. When the boundaries are divided into low- and high-resistance groups, statistically significant differences in rotation axis and angle distributions are found. The misorientation distribution of the low-resistance boundary group is suggested to reflect the low-energy configurations of boundary planes in MnZn ferrites.

Notes: Emission properties and energy transfer of PbO–Bi2O3–Ga2O3–GeO2 glasses codoped with Tm3+ and Tb3+ ions were investigated. The 1.48-μm emission due to the Tm3+:3H4→3F4 transition can be used to amplify the S-band (1460–1530-nm) signal light. With Tb3+ addition, the lifetime and emission intensity of the Tm3+:3F4 level decreased sharply via the Tm3+:3F4→Tb3+:7F0,1,2 energy transfer. Population densities of the 3F4 and 3H4 levels in Tm3+ calculated from rate equations clearly verified that population inversion in Tm3+ ions became possible with as little as 0.1 mol% of Tb3+ addition.

Notes: Both interlaminar and in-plane shear strengths of a unidirectional Hi-Nicalon™-fiber-reinforced barium strontium aluminosilicate (SiCf/BSAS) composite were determined at 1100°C in air as a function of test rate using double-notch shear test specimens. The composite exhibited a significant effect of test rate on shear strength, regardless of orientation. The shear strength degraded by about 50% as the test rate decreased from 3.3 × 10−1 to 3.3 × 10−5 mm/s. The rate dependency of shear strength was similar to that observed for ultimate tensile strength at 1100°C for the two-dimensional (2-D) SiCf/BSAS composite, in which tensile strength decreased by about 60% when the test rate varied from 5 to 0.005 MPa/s. A phenomenological, power-law slow crack growth model is proposed and formulated to account for the rate dependency of shear strength of the composite. The proposed model has been validated with additional results of both constant stress-rate and constant stress testing in shear at 1100°C using a 2-D Nicalon-fiber-reinforced crossply magnesium aluminosilicate (SiCf/MAS-5) ceramic matrix composite.

Notes: A sol–gel process to unsophisticatedly synthesize Ba(Mg1/3Ta2/3)O3 (BMT) ceramics at low cost has been developed in the present work. This process involves the reaction of TaCl5 with acetates of Ba and Mg in the presence of citric acid. Pure BMT polycrystalline powders can be obtained by calcining the synthesized products at 1000°C. The BMT powders were found to have a primary particle size as small as 100 nm. BMT ceramics with favorable structural characteristics can be obtained from sintering of the sol–gel BMT at temperatures much lower than that for the conventional solid-state BMT. Sintering the sol–gel BMT in pellet form at 1300°C resulted in an ordering parameter of 0.72 for the pellet, and a relative density of 〉95% was achieved with sintering at 1500°C. The grain size of the sintered sol–gel BMT was large and uniform in comparison with the products from the solid-state method. Using the sol–gel route, sintering at temperatures as low as 1400°C gave ceramics with acceptable microwave dielectric properties (a dielectric constant of 16 and Qf factor of 14 400 GHz), while higher temperatures (〉1600°C) are needed for the solid-state route to give similar properties.

Notes: The structure and dielectric properties of (1−x)Pb(Sc2/3W1/3)O3–(x)Pb(Zr/Ti)O3 ceramics have been investigated over a full substitution range. All compositions with x 〈 0.5 adopt a cubic perovskite structure; however, for x≤ 0.25 a doubled cell results from a 1:1 ordered distribution of the B-site cations. The structural order in Pb(Sc2/3W1/3)O3 (PSW) can be described by a random-site model with one cation site occupied by Sc3+ and the other by a random distribution of (Sc1/33+W2/36+). The ordering is destabilized in solid solutions of PSW with PbZrO3 (PSW–PZ), but stabilized by PbTiO3 in the (1−x)PSW–(x)PT system. The changes in order are accompanied by alterations in the dielectric response of the two systems. For PSW–PZ the temperature of the permittivity maximum (Tɛ,max) increases linearly with x; however, for PSW–PT Tɛ,max decreases in the ordered region (up to x= 0.25) and then increases rapidly as the order is lost. Similar effects were produced by modifying the degree of order of (0.75)PSW–(0.25)PT; when the order parameter was reduced from ∼1.0 to ∼0.65, Tɛ,max increased by more than 60°C.

Notes: The microhardness–nanostructure correlation of a series of silica/silicon oxycarbide porous composites has been investigated, as a function of pyrolysis temperature, Tp. The pyrolyzed products have been studied by means of scanning electron microscopy, mercury porosimetry, chemical analysis, solid-state 29Si-NMR, X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and microindentation hardness. Two distinct regimes are found for the microhardness behavior with Tp. In the low-temperature regime (1000°C ≤Tp 〈 1300°C), the material response to indentation seems to be dominated by the large amount of pores present in the samples. In this Tp range, low microhardness values, H, are found (〈110 MPa). Above Tp= 1300°C, a conspicuous H increase is observed. In this high-temperature regime (Tp= 1300–1500°C), microhardness values are shown to notably increase with increasing pyrolysis temperature. The H behavior at Tp= 1300–1500°C is discussed in terms of (i) the volume fraction of pores and the average pore size, (ii) the bond density of the oxycarbide network, and (iii) the occurrence of a nanocrystalline SiC phase.

Notes: Two hot-pressed sintered α-sialon samples of differing microstructures, but identical chemical composition, were evaluated first, in terms of indentation hardness and modulus, by depth-sensing indentation (DSI) tests on planes parallel and normal to the hot-pressed surface. The surface and subsurface cracks created under the DSI tests have also been investigated in relation to the effect of microstructure. Subsequently, Vickers indentation tests were conducted to explore the deformation and fracture characteristics in the two samples. The effect of microstructure and grain orientation on the development of different types of cracks, in particular subsurface cracks, was revealed and analyzed. Additionally, it suggested that the focused ion beam (FIB) miller is a preferred tool, in comparison to the conventional cross-sectioning techniques, for examining subsurface crack formation and structural characteristics.

Notes: A new combustion spray process has been developed for depositing films and coatings from particles (or particulate materials) suspended in a flammable liquid. The suspension is pumped to an atomizer to produce a mist of the droplets, which is then ignited to create a combustion flame. The solid particles are thermally activated for formation of films and coatings on a substrate inserted into or near the flame. Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) with porous electrodes fabricated by combustion spray show better performance than those prepared by other fabrication processes (such as conventional dry-pressing and firing) especially at low operating temperatures.

Notes: When TiC–20 wt% Ni powder mixtures are sintered at 1400°C, relatively large TiC grains possibly containing some Ni form with near-equilibrium shapes. When these specimens are heat-treated again at 1400°C in contact with sintered WC–20 wt% Ni pieces, the liquid films between the TiC grains in the contact region migrate against their increasing curvatures, forming (Ti,W)C solid solution behind them. These migrating liquid films reverse their directions on further heat-treatment. As in other alloys, this liquid film migration must be driven by the coherency strain energy produced by W diffusion at the surface of the dissolving TiC grains. Shells of (Ti,W)C solid solution also form around the cores of TiC grains near the contact region, and this process is probably driven by both coherency strain energy and free energy of mixing. At some contact regions, (Ti,W)C precipitates nucleate and grow, probably driven mainly by the free energy of mixing. In powder mixtures, the formation of core-shell grains is expected to be driven by the coherency strain energy, the free energy of mixing, and the capillary effect.

Notes: The effective diffusion coefficient D̄ during sintering or diffusional creep of a polycrystalline ionic (ceramic) compound MaXb has been reexamined and suggested to be D̄=DMDX/(bDM+aDX), where Di is the diffusion coefficient of ion i (=M, X), in agreement with some previous investigations. This expression should be applicable to any system where ambipolar diffusion is driven by a stress gradient.

Notes: Using diamond anvil cell (DAC) technique, in situ high-pressure Raman scattering and energy-dispersive X-ray diffraction (EDXRD) experiments were used at room temperature to study 3C-SiC with an average grain size of 30 nm. In contrast to its bulk counterpart, a decrease of the Born's transverse effective charge of these nanocrystals was observed with increasing pressure from measurements of the longitudinal and transverse optical phonon modes (longitudinal optical–transverse optical) splitting. This is therefore indicative of a diminishing ionicity of nanocrystalline 3C-SiC on compression.

Notes: Composite coatings, consisting of calcium phosphate (CaP) ceramics and phosphate-based glass (P-glass), were obtained on a strong ZrO2 porous scaffold to improve biocompatibility by combining mechanical properties and biological activity. Powder mixtures of hydroxyapatite (HA) and P-glass in varying composition and content were dip-coated on a ZrO2 porous scaffold and heat-treated above 800°C for 2 h in air. During thermal treatment, substantial reaction and crystallization occurred, resulting in coating phases of HA, tricalcium phosphate (TCP), dicalcium phosphate (DCP), and surrounding glass. The CaP-glass coating layer was highly dense and uniform and adhered firmly to the ZrO2 scaffold. The adhesion strength of the coating layer as tested on a nonporous disk increased with increasing glass addition and decreasing CaO content in glass. The highest strength was about 40 MPa, an improvement of twice as high as that of pure HA coating. The osteoblastic cells grew and spread actively through the coated scaffolds. The differentiation of cells on the CaP coatings was much higher than that on ZrO2 substrate and comparable to or slightly higher than that on pure HA coating.

Notes: The mechanical properties of a textured alumina made by high-temperature deformation of normal-purity sintered alumina have been investigated. The textured alumina shows very high bending strength and extremely high fracture toughness. Fracture toughness of more than 10 MPa·m1/2 was measured by the single-edge precracked beam method, and even using the single-edge V-notched beam method, toughness of over 8 MPa·m1/2 was obtained. This high fracture toughness was attributed to a large number of aligned small platelike grains of the textured structure enhancing the grain bridging effect.

Notes: The wetting behaviors of α-Al2O3 single crystals with three different faces—R(0112), A(01120), and C(0001)—and polycrystals (PC) by molten aluminum were studied over a wide temperature range using both a conventional and an improved sessile-drop method. The critical factors affecting the wettability, such as temperature, atmosphere, substrate surface roughness, and crystallographic orientation, and the influence from the experimental technique, were thoroughly investigated. The results show that the aluminum surface oxidation and the thickness of the oxide film have a pronounced effect on the wettability, especially at low temperatures. To eliminate this effect, the experimental temperature must be over a critical value. Vacuum favors lowering this value compared with atmosphere, and the improved sessile-drop method, particularly using an impingement-dropping mode (I-mode), helps to weaken this effect by mechanical disruption and removal of the oxide film. However, the dropping distance and the dropping force must be controlled to prevent an overspreading of the drop. The effects of the substrate surface roughness and temperature are not significant in the case of a clean aluminum surface and a fine-prepared alumina surface. On the other hand, the effect of the alumina surface crystallographic orientation is noticeable and the wettability is in the order of R 〉 A 〉 PC 〉 C. The intrinsic contact angles of the Al/α-Al2O3 system in the temperature range of 1000°–1500°C were estimated to be 76°–85° for the R and A faces, 88°–100° for the C face, and 77°–90° for the polycrystal, depending on the temperature.

Notes: Hydroxyapatite (HA) and fluor-hydroxyapatite (FHA) powders were synthesized by a sol–gel method for usage as bone filler and drug carrier. Calcium nitrate and triethyl phosphite were used as precursors under an ethanol–water-based solution. Different amounts of ammonium fluoride (NH4F) were incorporated for the preparation of FHA powders. With heat treatment above 400°C, a characteristic apatite phase was observed for all the sol–gel powders. However, the crystallization temperature decreased with increasing fluoride addition. The tricalcium phosphate (TCP) phase formed in the pure HA powder above 800°C was attenuated in the FHA powders, confirming an enhanced phase stability of the FHA powders. Increasing the F− addition improved crystallinity and increased the crystallite size, as was determined from X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses. The lattice parameters of the heat-treated powders varied corresponding to the fluoride addition, i.e., a gradual decrease in the a-axis, while little change in the c-axis was observed with increasing fluoride addition, indicating a nearly complete substitution of fluoride within the apatite lattice. However, little difference was observed with heat-treatment temperatures (400°–1000°C). The powders substituted with fluoride exhibited reduced dissolution rates in an in vitro solution as compared with the pure HA powder, suggesting the possibility of tailoring bioactivity with fluoride substitution.

Notes: Fired microstructures of standard porcelain stoneware tile and tile made from mixes containing waste glass as part of the flux system were studied by XRD, SEM, and TEM. The standard porcelain stoneware microstructure consists of 100–1000 μm long mullite needles, feldspar relics, and partially dissolved α-quartz embedded in a glassy matrix. The use of soda–lime–silica (SLS) glass in the flux system led to crystallization of plagioclase, wollastonite, and sodium silicates. CaO-rich areas adjacent to quartz particles, as a result of interactions between SLS glass and silica from the quartz, and eutectic morphologies, revealed that SLS glass accelerated liquid formation and thus sintering and densification. Formation of these additional phases led to lower levels of quartz, mullite, and Na-feldspar in the microstructure although lower firing temperatures could be used to achieve full density due to generation of more fluid liquid. Use of PbO-containing waste glasses had little effect on the microstructure compared with standard composition while use of mixed PbO-containing and SLS glasses led to microstructures containing plagioclase but to lower extent than in tile with higher levels of SLS.

Notes: Precursors for zircon–carbon mixtures were made to coat fibers for ceramic-matrix composites. Precursors were characterized using XRD, TGA, and DTA. Zircon formed from vanadium- or lithium-doped precursors after heat treatments at ≥900°C in air, but it did not form at 1200°–1400°C in argon when large amounts of carbon were added. Some precursors were used to coat Nextel™ 720 and Hi-Nicalon™ fibers. The coatings were characterized using SEM and TEM, and coated-fiber tensile strengths were measured. Although zircon formed in powders, only tetragonal-zirconia–silica mixed phases formed in fiber coatings at 1200°C in air. Loss of vanadium oxide flux to the fibers may have caused the lack of conversion to zircon. The strengths of the coated fibers were severely degraded after heat treatment at ≥1000°C in air, but not in argon. The coated fibers were compared with zirconia–carbon-coated fibers made using similar methods. Mechanisms for fiber strength degradation are discussed.

Notes: Hydroxyapatite (Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2, HA) fibers were prepared by electrospinning a precursor mixture of Ca(NO3)2·4H2O and (C2H5O)3PO with a polymer additive, followed by a thermal treatment. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis of the annealed composite fibers revealed that pure HA phase could be obtained by annealing at 600°C for 1 h. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis showed the surface of as-electrospun composite fibers with an average diameter of 50 μm was smooth due to the amorphous nature of the polymer. However, the surface of the calcined HA fibers was rough because of the complete removal of the polymer. The pure HA fibers obtained by electrospinning in this work were up to 10 mm in length and 10–30 μm in diameter and the hydroxyapatite grain size was ∼1 μm in the HA fibers.

Notes: The effect of the interparticle potential on the shapes of the agglomerates obtained by drying slurry droplets has been investigated using aqueous alumina slurries formulated in the dispersed and weakly attractive (dispersed + added salt) states. For the dispersed slurry, the droplets dried to irregular shapes with hollow centers. When just the right amount of salt was added to produce an attractive, but nontouching, particle network, the droplets dried as solid spheres. These results are discussed by relating both the nature of the particle network (repulsive or weakly attractive), the slurry rheology, and the consolidation mechanics of the networks to the requirements for maintaining a spherical geometry and uniform density during droplet drying.

Notes: This article presents a new lost mold rapid prototyping method which combines selective laser sintering (SLS) and gelcasting techniques for fabricating piezoelectric ceramics. SLS was used to fabricate sacrificial molds of the desired structure of the ceramic part. Then aqueous PZT (lead zirconate titanate) suspension was cast in the mold and solidified in situ through formation of a three-dimensional network gel. Because the polymer mold can be easily removed at the initial stage of sintering and the gelcast PZT body has a high green strength, the desired geometry of the PZT part can be completely retained after sintering of the ceramics. Complex-shaped PZT parts were successfully fabricated after using concentrated PZT suspension with low viscosity. Densities and electrical properties, such as the d33, the relative permittivity ε, the dielectric loss tgδ and the electromechanical coupling factor Kp of the gelcast PZT parts were also compared with those of the die-pressed PZT samples. The results indicated that the gel-forming process did not deteriorate the electrical properties of the samples, if proper dispersant was selected in developing concentrated ceramic slurry.

Notes: Hydroxyapatite coatings on titanium were attempted by a sol-gel process combined with conventional heat treatment and with UV irradiation at ambient temperature after dipping/ withdrawing a substrate into/from the sol. X-ray diffraction data showed that a coating film prepared by heat treatment was amorphous and crystallized in Ca5(PO4)3(OH) at a temperature of 773–973 K. The infrared spectra for coating films that have been prepared by heat treatment at a temperature of 573–873 K were in fair agreement with those for a coating film prepared by UV irradiation. After ethylene oxide sterilization, the cytotoxicity of coating film decreased with increasing irradiation time in UV irradiation, whereas it decreased with increasing temperature in conventional heat treatment. In comparisons between ethylene oxide sterilization and autoclave sterilization, the coating film sterilized by autoclave had much lower cytotoxicity than that sterilized by ethylene oxide. Furthermore, an animal test in the transfemoral drill hole on a rat for 4 weeks was examined using an implant prepared by heat treatment and autoclave sterilization. The sol-gel-coated titanium had slightly higher bone apposition than uncoated titanium as a control material.

Notes: Anatase-type TiO2 (titania) doped with iron up to 19.8 mol% was directly formed as nanometer-sized particles from acidic precursor solutions of TiOSO4 and Fe(NO3)3 by simultaneous hydrolysis, under mild hydrothermal conditions at 180°3C. Iron content in the anatase-type TiO2 was much less than that of the starting composition of the precursor solutions because of slower hydrolysis rate of Fe(NO3)3 than that of TiOSO4 at 180°3C. The XRD data, TEM selected-area diffraction patterns, and Mössbauer effect measurement showed that iron(III) formed a solid solution in the anatase-type TiO2 precipitates and that there was no iron oxide precipitated as secondary phase without making a solid solution with TiO2 present in the precipitates. Doping of Fe2O3 into TiO2 shifted the phase transformation from anatase-type to rutile-type structure to a low temperature. On the phase transformation from anatase to rutile, iron oxide was precipitated as Fe2TiO5 (pseudobrookite) phase. When the iron content was increased in the anatase phase, onset of optical absorption shifted to longer wavelengths, and absorption in the UV-light region and in the visible-light region over 400–600 nm clearly appeared in the diffuse reflectance spectra of the as-prepared Fe(III)-doped TiO2.

Notes: An infiltration method for preparing a boron carbide-aluminum (B4C-AI) composite was modified so as to reduce the processing temperature and time. Titanium metal and titanium-based compounds were added to B4C powders to enhance the wettability of the liquid aluminum on boron carbide skeletons. As expected, the time required for infiltration was significantly reduced on using the additives. Of these additives titanium metal was the most effective in facilitating aluminum infiltration. Another method, involving the heat treatment of boron carbide compacts at 1300°3C for 1 h before infiltration, was attempted, and a significant improvement was gained. These findings show that the treatment modified the surface condition of boron carbide powders via the removal of oxides. An additional attempt was made to increase the boron carbide content of the system by using a bimodal powder mixture. A maximum green density of 78% was achieved by mixing fine particle size and coarse particle size powders. The infiltrated boron carbide composites prepared using a bimodal powder with a preinfiltration heat treatment of the compacts exhibited promising mechanical properties, such as a Vickers hardness (HV) of 11 Gpa and an indentation toughness (KIC) in the range of 5–7.5 MPa·m1/2.

Notes: Lithium zirconate, Li2ZrO3, has been reported as a candidate material for high-temperature CO2 separation. The reaction of Li2ZrO3 with CO2 is extremely fast, and the material can store significant quantities of CO2 at high temperature. The reacted CO2 can be regenerated by thermal cycling. Alternatively, a membrane system might be developed based on the reversible reaction process. For absorption and membrane separation, the particle size, crystal structure, and state of agglomeration of the Li2ZrO3 powders are important. Therefore, we have synthesized Li2ZrO3 using sol-gel procedures and compared its properties with powders made via a powder-mixing route and a commercial-grade powder. The morphologic and structural characteristics of the powders and their CO2 absorption properties are discussed.

Notes: Ceramic foams have a large potential for many applications and can be produced in several ways. In the past, many have attempted to manufacture ceramic foams that combined sufficient strength and controlled microstructure. This study proposes a new two-step processing route to fulfill these requirements. First, sacrificial cores are coated with ceramic powder slurry and packed in a die. Second, the cores are connected together using another ceramic slurry coating. After they are burned out and sintered, ceramic foam structures can be obtained that have a density 〈10% of theoretical density. By varying the size and shape of the initial cores, ceramic foams with tailor-made microstructures can be easily produced.

Notes: A 59Ag-40Cu·1Hf (at.%) alloy that was heated on 99.6% alumina for 30 min at 1000°3C in gettered Ar melted, spread, and adhered when cooled to room temperature. Conventional scanning electron microscopic analysis with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDXS) did not detect any reaction products at the interface. Automated X-ray spectral image analysis of the interface region revealed small pockets of a phase containing Hf and O with a stoichiometry equivalent to HfO2. Samples for transmission electron microscopic (TEM) analysis were cut to include specific HfO2 particles using focused ion beam (FIB) milling. TEM images showed that the particles were 10 to 100 nm in diameter and embedded in the alumina grains at the interface with the alloy. Based on the measured stoichiometry, electron diffraction analysis in the transmission electron microscope, and a standard Gibbs energy of reaction of ΔG°= -203.3 kJ at 1300 K for the reaction 3Hf + 2Al2O3→ 3HfO2+ 4Al, the particles are judged to be HfO2 that formed from simple redox reaction between Hf and Al2O3.

Notes: The grain-growth behavior and grain-boundary structure in titanium-excess BaTiO3 depend on the amount of excess titanium at 1250° and 1300°3C. With excess titanium, abnormal grain growth (AGG) occurs and the grain boundaries are mostly flat or faceted with hill-and-valley shapes. With 0.5 at.% excess titanium, the large grains have flat {111} faces forming singular grain boundaries parallel to {111} double twins. With excess-titanium content between 0.1 and 0.3 at.%, the abnormal grains appear to have polyhedral shapes with {100} faces. These flat or faceted grain boundaries are expected to have singular structures, and hence AGG can occur by the step growth mechanism. When the excess-titanium content is decreased to 0, the grain boundaries become curved, indicating a rough atomic structure, and normal grain growth occurs.

Notes: Structure and formation of aluminosilicate hydrogels were investigated as a function of chemical composition. Oscillatory rheometry was used to measure the dynamic moduli, G‘ and G“, of the gels during setting. The formation of aluminosilicate hydrogels was monitored over time as a function of the storage modulus for gels of low solids volumes, φ 〈 0.030. Overall gel strength correlated well to the fractal dimension, D, observed by neutron scattering. Scattering data were interpreted using the power law, and the Guinier relationship was used to determine the size of the constructing colloidal/gel particles. Aluminosilicate hydrogels were observed to consist of large fractal aggregates of indeterminable size constructed from smaller subunits of ∼45 Å in dimension. Structure and formation of the gels were highly dependent on [Al2O3] and [Na2O] content.

Notes: The preparation of strontium bismuth tantalate (SBT) thin films at low temperatures for electronic applications is at present the subject of intense study. However, the microstructural evolution of these films has not been extensively reported, despite its importance in the determination of the final properties of the film. In this work, we study SBT thin films with various nominal compositions obtained by the crystallization at 650°3C of spin-coated solutions on a silicon-based substrate. Both the formation of the perovskite phase and the evolution of the grains are analyzed, with special attention to the formation of platelet-like grains. A process of coalescence of initially round grains is proposed to explain the grain growth in this system. We also show that the use of a preannealing step inhibits the grain growth and, therefore, should be avoided. The role that the film thickness plays in the development of large grains is discussed.

Notes: Organically modified germanosilicate (ORMOGSIL) glasses prepared by a sol-gel method showed a large refractive index change on ultraviolet exposure. The large photoinduced refractive index change in the ORMOGSIL glasses is mainly due to the structural densification caused by ultraviolet irradiation. The shifts in frequency of the Raman bands measured at room temperature reveal structural densification by reduction of the average intertetrahedral bonding angle θ in the ORMOGSIL glasses. Surface relief patterns by photoinduced densification were directly inscribed on the ORMOGSIL glasses.