Density and Ultrasonic Velocity Measurements in Hexyloxybenzylidene Phenylazoaniline

The temperature variation of density and ultrasonic velocity of the liquid crystal hexyloxybenzylidene phenylazoaniline are reported. The density across the smectic A—smectic B transition is more predominant than the other transitions. The density variation with temperature and the calculated thermal expansion coefficients suggest that the transitions isotropic liquid—nematic, nematic—smectic A and smectic A—smectic B are of first order. Anomalous behaviour of ultrasonic velocity is observed across the isotropic liquid—nematic transition and prominent dips in velocity are observed at the nematic—smectic A and smectic A—smectic B transitions. The adiabatic compressibility (β _ad ) Rao number (R _a ) and molar compressibility (B) are estimated using the experimental density and ultrasonic velocity.     

Liquid crystalline phase transition studies in N(p-n-butoxybenzylidene) p-n decylaniline, 40.10

The synthesis, characterization and the temperature dependence of density and ultrasonic velocity of N(p-n-Butoxybenzylidene) p-n-decylaniline, 40.10 are presented. The compound exhibits as trivariant liquid crystalline mesomorphism Viz., NAB the Isotropic – Nematic, and Smectic A – Smectic B phase transitions are found to be first order. However, the interesting Nematic Smectic A (NA) transition shows a second order nature. The NA transition results are discussed in the light of the available data on other nO.m compounds. The computed molecular parameters: adiabatic compressibility (β_ad) molar sound velocity (R_n) and molar compressibility (A_w) are presented.     

Behaviour of Ultrasonic Velocity in Cholesteric Liquid Crystals

Ultrasonic velocities (V) have been determined, employing a fixed path double crystal interferometer, in three cholesteric liquid crystals, namely cholesteryl propionate, cholesteryl laurate and cholesteryl myristate in their isotropic and anisotropic phases including the region of the phase transition. The variation of specific volume (v) is also studied in the same temperature range by a special dilatometer constructed for this purpose. Anomalous behaviour of ultrasonic velocity is observed near the isotropic-cholesteric phase transition in all three compounds. In the two polymesomorphic liquid crystals, namely cholesteryl laurate and cholesteryl myristate, contrary to the ultrasonic behaviour of cholesteryl stearate, prominent velocity dips are observed at cholesteric-smectic transition temperatures. The parameters adiabatic compressibility (β_ad) and molar sound velocity (R) are estimated and they are found to exhibit sudden jumps at cholesteric-smectic and isotropic-cholesteric transitions. The thermal expansion and temperature co-efficient of compressibility are found to show abnormal increase near the phase transition indicating the existence of large-magnitude pre-transitional effects near the phase transition. A comparative study of the ultrasonic behaviour of six aliphatic esters of cholesterol has shown that the magnitude of the velocity dip observed at the isotropic-cholesteric transition increased with increase of molecular weight and only cholesteryl acetate shows deviation.     

Phase Transition Studies in N(p-n-Heptyloxy Benzylidene)p-Toluidine, 70.1, Across I-N,N-SA and SA-SB Phases

The results of density and ultrasonic velocity variation with temperature in N(p-n-heptyloxy benzylidene)p-toluidine, HYBT, 70.1 exhibiting nematic, smectic-A and crystalline smectic-B phases, are presented. The isotropic-nematic, nematic-smectic-A phase transitions are found to be first order while the smectic-A crystal smectic-B transition is weak first order. The thermal expansion coefficient α computed from the molar volume data is presented. The molar sound velocity and molar compressibility of HYBT computed from the density and ultrasonic velocity data in isotropic phase are compared with the values of the other compounds in a homologous series. They are found to be in good agreement with theory.     

Investigation of Ultrasonic Velocity and Related Parameters in Liquid Crystalline Mixtures

Investigations of ultrasonic velocity, specific volume and related parameters were carried out in a mixture of p-n-butoxybenzylidene-p-chloroaniline (BBCA) and p-anisal-p-toluidine (pApT) at eight different concentrations. BBCA exhibits polymorphism with two smectic phases, viz., smectic B and smectic A, while pApT is non-mesomorphic. All the mixtures studied were nematic, the mesomorphism vanishes below 34.3 mole percent of BBCA. Specific volume showed a large increase in the vicinity of the phase transition and the ultrasonic velocity showed an abrupt minimum near the transition. The adiabatic compressibility showed a maximum near the phase transition. It was found that the dip in ultrasonic velocity, change in specific volume and the jump in adiabatic compressibility at the transition decreases with increasing concentration of the non-mesomorphic compound. The parameter, viz., molar sound velocity was also estimated. The coefficient of thermal expansion and adiabatic compressibility were also estimated and they were found to attain very high values near the phase transition. The experimental results are explained on the basis of de Gennes theory of pre-transitional effects generalized by Bendler. The critical exponents are estimated in the isotropic as well as in the nematic phases.     

Elastic constant measurements of super ionic LiKSO4:Na single crystals

Elastic properties of sodium doped Lithium potassium sulphate, Li K_0.9 Na _0.1 SO_4, crystal has been studied by ultrasonic Pulse Echo Overlap [PEO] technique and are reported for the first time. The controversy regarding the type of crystal found while growth is performed at 35 °C with equimolar fraction of Li₂SO₄H₂O, K₂SO₄ and Na₂SO₄ has been resolved by studying the elastic properties. The importance of this crystal is that it exhibits pyroelectric, ferroelectric and electro optic properties. It is simultaneously ferroelastic and superionic. The elastic properties of LiK_0.9Na_0.1SO₄ crystal are well studied by measuring ultrasonic velocity in the crystal in certain specified crystallographic directions and evaluating the elastic stiffness constants, compliance constants and Poisson's ratios. The anisotropy in the elastic properties of the crystal are well explained by the pictorial representation of the surface plots of phase velocity, slowness and linear compressibility in a‐b and a‐c planes. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Synthesis and characterization of dihydroxylammonium tetrachlorocuprate dihydrate crystals

A new hydroxylammonium compound, [(NH₃OH)₂CuCl₄], was synthesized and its crystals were grown at room temperature by slow evaporation of aqueous solutions. The crystals were characterized through powder XRD, thermogravimetry (TG), differential thermal analysis (DTA), low temperature differential scanning calorimetric (DSC) and FTIR spectra. The X‐ray powder diffraction confirms the crystallinity of the compound. A fitting decomposition pattern of the compound was formulated based on the TG and thereby confirming the formation of the compound in the stoichiometric ratio. The thermal anomalies occurring in the low temperature DSC indicate successive phase transitions. The low temperature phase transitions are attributed to the ordering of [NH₃OH]⁺ ions. While most of the phase transitions are of first order type, the one occurring at –126 °C is of second order. Two glass transitions occur when the compound was cooled between –157.9 and –136.9 °C. The characteristic vibration bands due to [NH₃OH]⁺ and CuClequation/tex2gif-stack-1.gif ions are observed in the IR spectra. (© 2005 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Elastic Behaviour of Some Substituted Nickel ferrites

The longitudinal and shcar wave velocities of some substituted nickel ferrites Ni_1.05Sn_0.05Fe_1.9-x (Cr or Al)_xO₄ were determined at room temperature by the pulse transmission technique. The elastic moduli have been corrected to theoretical density. A linear relationship between Debye temperature and average sound velocity has also been observed.     

Elastic Properties of the Triclinic Pseudo-Trigonal Room-Temperature Phase of KIO3

Weakly twinned triclinic crystals of the room temperature γ-phase of KIO₃, grown from aqueous solutions, exhibit a quasi-trigonal behaviour of point symmetry group 3m in respect to thermal expansion, piezoelectric effects, and elastic properties. The elastic tensor and its temperature derivative were determined from ultrasonic resonance frequencies of thick plane-parallel plates and their shift upon variation of temperature, respectively. The static piezoelectric constants d₂₂₂ and d₂₁₁ are about fifty times larger than d₁₁₁ of α-quartz resulting in strong piezoelectric coupling coefficients of elastic waves (k₁ = 0.42; k₆₆ = 0.60). Approaching the γ-β transition at 345.6 K from lower temperatures, the shear stiffness c^E₆₆ shows a drastic softening. The transition appears to be of second-order ferroelastic.     

Determination of the influence of TiO2 on the elastic properties of a mica based glass ceramic by ultrasonic velocity measurements

The influence of small amount (1 or 2 wt%) of TiO₂ additions and crystallization heat treatment on the elastic properties of a mica based glass ceramic have been investigated by ultrasonic velocity measurements. The mica based glass ceramic was prepared through controlled crystallization of a glass in the SiO₂, Al₂O₃, CaO, MgO, K₂O and F system. Evidences of TiO₂ acting as a nucleating agent in this system was demonstrated. The longitudinal and transversal wave velocities of the as-prepared glass and the mica based glass ceramic were measured by using 5 MHz probes at room temperature. Elastic properties namely; longitudinal modulus, Young’s modulus, bulk modulus, and shear modulus were calculated from the ultrasonic velocity values measured and density values obtained experimentally. It has been observed that small amount of TiO₂ additions caused a notable but not significant; however, the crystallization heat treatment had a profound effect on the elastic properties of the glass in the system studied.     

Electrical properties of Al-CeO2-Al thin film capacitor structures

Cerium Oxide films were prepared by vacuum thermal evaporation from tantalum boat in a conventional vacuum coating unit. Current-voltage characteristics were studied for different film thicknesses. The breakdown voltage (V_B) and dielectric field strength (E_B) were calculated. It is found that the breakdown voltage increases and dielectric field strength decreases as the thickness of the film increases. The applicability of Forlani-Minnaja relation is discussed. Current-voltage characteristics were also drawn at different temperatures and breakdown voltages were calculated. The breakdown voltage decreases as the temperature of the structure increases but the variation is nonlinear. The variation of current density with temperature was studied and the activation energy for the migration of charge carriers was calculated and it is about 0.52 ev. The results were discussed.     

Optische Eigenschaften von Wismut–Antimon-Aufdampfschichten

The change in position and in magnitude of absorption peaks due to interband transitions E_i (i = 1, 2, 3) for Bi_xSb_1–x evaporated layers have been studied for different compositions in the range 0 ≦ (1 − x) ≦ 0.30 in the visible part of the spectrum. It has been founded nonlinear shiftings for all absorption peaks in function of layer composition. The joint density of states due to transition E₂ is more sensitive as the two other transitions with modification of alloy composition.     

Optical,X-ray,and calorimetric studies of phase transitions in ND4BeF3

Phase transitions in ND₄BeF₃ crystals at T₁ = 330 and T₂ = 245 K were studied by specific heat (DSC) and X-ray lattice parameters measurements in function of temperature. These ferroelastic transitions are accompanied by anomalous heat absorption, sudden changes in the unit cell parameters and crystal symmetry. Formation of domain structure in particular phases examined under a polarizing microscope is also described. Domain walls of the type (100), (010), and (001) observable at room temperature indicate on the triclinic symmetry of the Phase II. Above T₁ the crystal becomes orthorhombic. First-order phase transition at T₂ causes the symmetry of the crystal in the Phase III to be monoclinic with the c-axis unique. The phase transition diagram is proposed and compared with the phase situation in nondeuterated NH₄BeF₃ crystals.     

Synthesis and characterization of methylammonium tetrachlorocuprate (II) dihydrate crystals

Single crystals of methylammonium tetrachlorocuprate (II) dihydrate were obtained by slow evaporation method at room temperature. The crystals were characterized through powder XRD, thermogravimetric (TG‐DTA), low temperature DSC studies and FTIR and far IR spectra. While the powder XRD confirms the crystallinity of the compound, the TG and DTA studies confirm the formation of the compound in the stoichiometric ratio and the presence of two water molecules of crystallization. The low temperature DSC study indicates a thermal anomaly at ‐3°C. The ordering of CH₃NH₃ group at low temperature causes phase transitions in the compound. The IR spectra characterize the various chemical bonding and water molecules in the compound. Laser Raman spectral studies under progress would help understand the mechanism of phase transitions at low temperatures. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Density Studies in Polymorphic Liquid Crystal N- (p-n-Heptyloxybenzylidene) p-n-Pentylaniline

Density studies in polymorphic liquid crystal, N-(p-n-heptyloxybenzylidene) p-n-pentyl-aniline is carried out in isotropic liquid, nematic, smectic A, smectic C, smectic B and smectic G phases. The temperature variation of density in all the mesophases confirms that isotropic liquid to nematic, nematic to smectic A, smectic C to smectic B, smectic B to smectic G transitions are of first order while smectic A to smectic C transition is of second order. The density variation across smectic C to smectic B is greater than that of any other transition. Thermal expansion coefficients are also calculated.     

Brillouin spectra of mixed alkali glasses: xCs2O(1−x)Na2O5SiO2

The Brillouin spectra of a series of mixed alkali glasses, of the composition _xCs₂O(1?x)Na₂O5SiO₂, have been measured and analyzed. Significant nonlinearities are found for the variation of the isothermal compressibility [K_T,0(T_f)] and Landau-Placzeck ratio, with a minimum observed in each as a function of x, while the longitudinal and transverse sound velocities and related elastic constants, C₁₁, C₄₄ and Young's modulus, E, vary monotonically (nearly linearly) with x. The results are interpreted in connection with related ultrasonic data and the effect of varying composition on the mechanical properties of mixed alkali glasses.     

Cleavage Mechanoluminescence in Crystals

When a crystal is cleaved, initially the mechanoluminescence (ML) intensity increases linearly with time, attains an optimum-value I_m at a particular value of timet_m, and then decays exponentially with time. Cleavage ML provides a new tool to determine the velocity, v of cracks in crystals, and it may be given by v = H/t_m, where H is the thickness of the crystal. Both, the peak ML intensity I_m and total ML intensity I_T increase linearly with the area of newly created surfaces A as well as with the surface charge density γ. The ML intensity decreases with temperature primarily due to the decrease in the surface charge density. Beyond a particular temperature, the surface charge density may decrease to such a value where the breakdown of gases and solids may not be possible and thereby the ML may not appear. Depending on the prevailing conditions either the ML emission resembling gas discharge or other types of the luminescence of solids, or that having these two characters may be obtained. There exists a good correlation between the theoretical and experimental results obtained for cleavage ML in crystals.     

Study of optical and transport properties of K2CuCl4 · 2H2O single crystal

Optical absorption, transport properties and EPR of K₂CuCl₄ · 2H₂O single crystals have been studied. The optical absorption in UV, and visible region are characterized by a charge transfer band, and in the near infrared region at 3998, 4336, and 4480 cm⁻¹ are attributed to transitions between the stark levels of copper(II) ion in an extended octahedral crystal field. An anisotrophic ‘g’ value was observed with g_∥ = 2.12 and g_∥ = 2.24 by EPR method. The spin orbit coupling constant is found to be 500 cm₋₁. D.C. electrical conductivity measurements with temperature reveal an anisotropy characteristic of a two-dimensional layered structure and exhibit a first order irreversible structural phase-transition at 377 K, i.e. from tetragonal to monoclinic crystal system. X-ray diffraction studies and density calculations from the crystal structure data in both the phases suggest that the first order irreversible transition occurs following the loss of the two water molecules of hydration.     

Growth and properties of single crystals of FeTi

A Single crystal of FeTi with a diameter of ca 34 mm and a length of ca 48 mm has been grown from a quasi-stoichiometric melt with an excess of 1% titanium employing the Bridgman technique. Experiments with the Czochralski technique were not successful. The only crucible material sufficiently resistent against reaction with the melt is electrographite. Elastic and thermoelastic constants were determined by means of ultrasonic methods. FeTi and α iron possess a similar bulk compressibility, thermal expansion, and thermoelastic constants. The longitudinal elastic resistance c₁₁ of FeTi supersedes that of α iron by an amount of ca 30%.     

Thermoelastische und elastische Eigenschaften des tetragonalen Quecksilberdijodids

All elastic constants c_ij and thermoelastic constants T_ij = d log c_ij/dT (T temperature) of tetragonal HgI₂ have been measured by ultrasonic methods on single crystals which had been grown from the vapour phase by the method of dynamical gradient reversal. HgI₂ exhibits strong anisotropic elastic properties which are qualitatively explained by structural details. The temperature dependence of the elastic constants is smaller than expected. Only the very small shear constant c₆₆ is strongly decreasing with increasing temperature. This behaviour might be seen in connection with the known phase transition at about 126°C.