Removal of water adsorbed on flouride glass surfaces by NF3 plasma processing

A new method to remove water adsorbed on flouride glass preforms is reported. This method, using NF₃ plasma, can remove surface water on fluoride glasses     

Ignition and increase in Pease limit on current in an ohmically heated high densityZ-pinch

Energetics of an ohmically heated deuterium-tritium high densityZ-pinch has been computed taking into account the energy deposited by the alpha particles produced by fusion. As a result, at higher plasma densities (>10²⁷/m³) and temperatures (>4keV), the pinch current can cross Pease limit and the plasma can get ignited, yielding higher energy gain and neutron yield in a shorter confinement time.     

Oxygen production using La0.6Sr0.4Co0.2Fe0.8O3−α (LSCF) perovskite hollow fibre membrane modules

A phase-inversion/sintering technique has been employed in the production of La_0.6Sr_0.4Co_0.2Fe_0.8O_3−α (LSCF) hollow fibre membranes, a bundle of which has then been placed in a high-temperature furnace for production of high purity oxygen from air at temperatures between 980 °C and 1060 °C. By applying a vacuum in the hollow fibre lumens, a product stream containing oxygen purity of 97.15% has been obtained. The downstream vacuum degree higher than 99 kPa shows negligible effect on the oxygen production rate. Studies on long-term operation suggest that the LSCF hollow fibre membranes are less stable for the oxygen production due to the segregation of the constituent membrane elements and the formation of new phases on the outer membrane surfaces. The effect of the operating cycle on the retrogression of membrane performance is much larger than that of duration used in a single cycle.     

Single-mode fused coupler for undersea optical transmission systems

A single mode 3 dB fused coupler, to be used as a redundant laser combiner in the submerged repeater of an undersea optical fibre transmission system, is described. The fabrication and package design of the component for this high reliability application is discussed, and the results of a wide range of environmental tests are given.     

Estimation of boron isotope ratios using high resolution continuum source atomic absorption spectrometry

In the production of ¹⁰B enriched steels, the production–recycling process needs to be closely monitored for inadvertent mix-up of materials with different B isotope levels. A quick and simple method for the estimation of boron isotope ratios in high alloyed steels using high resolution continuum source flame AAS (HR-CS-FAAS) was developed. On the 208.9 nm B line the wavelength of the peak absorption of ¹⁰B and ¹¹B differs by 2.5 pm. The wavelength of the peak absorption of boron was determined by fitting a Gauss function through spectra simultaneously recorded by HR-CS-FAAS. It was shown that a linear correlation between the wavelength of the peak absorption and the isotope ratio exists and that this correlation is independent of the total boron concentration. Internal spectroscopic standards were used to compensate for monochromator drift and monochromator resolution changes. Accuracy and precision of the analyzed samples were thereby increased by a factor of up to 1.3. Three steel reference materials and one boric acid CRM, each certified for the boron isotope ratio were used to validate the procedure.     

Influence of ligand type and solution pH on heavy metal ion complexation in cellulosic fibre: model calculations and experimental results

Complexation of heavy metal ions such as Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺ and Co²⁺ by cellulosic fibres cotton, lyocell and viscose was studied in the pH range from pH 7–13. Glycine and sodium D-gluconate complexes were studied. Complex formation in the cellulose matrix depends on ligand, solution pH, complex species formed and type of cellulosic fibre. Species distribution in solution was calculated using the program SPE and literature data for formation constants of M²⁺-glycine and M²⁺-gluconate complexes. The calculated data permit explanation of the experimental heavy metal uptake in the cellulose matrix. In presence of GLY lower heavy metal concentrations were observed. Heavy metal complexation decreases with increasing pH between 7 and 11. For Cu²⁺ and Zn²⁺ a strong increase in metal binding capacity in the fibres was observed at pH 13 for Cu²⁺ and pH 11–12 for Zn²⁺ respectively. Low Zn²⁺ content is analysed at pH 13 due to zincate formation. Member of EPNOE, European Network of Excellence “Polysaccharides” .     

钕玻璃的温敏特性及光纤温度传感器

本文从理论上通过对钕玻璃中Nd～(3+)离子光吸收特性的分析,阐明了其光吸收对温度依从性的原因.在实验中,试制了几种不同类型的钕玻璃光纤温度传感探头.对Nd～(3+)离子光吸收的温度特性进行了验证,其结果和理论分析相一致,实验表明钕玻璃是一种性能良好的光纤温敏传感材料.     

Three generations of inorganic phosphates in solvent and water-borne paints: A synergism case

This research work is intended to compare the anti-corrosive properties of three generations of inorganic phosphate pigments in solvent-based paints and in water-borne ones, both of the epoxy type. The anti-corrosive properties of phosphate pigments were assessed by means of electrochemical techniques (corrosion potential measurements, polarisation tests, etc.), employing a steel electrode dipped into pigments suspensions. The behaviour of these pigments in anti-corrosive paints, formulated with different binders, have been studied by accelerated (salt spray cabinet and humidity chamber) and electrochemical tests (corrosion potential and ionic resistance measurements).Accelerated and electrochemical tests allowed to differentiate the anti-corrosive performance of the three phosphates studied in this research. These test are also able to detect and characterise possible synergism between the water-borne resin and the pigments.     

n—型聚乙炔复合膜电极性能的研究

自MacDiarmid等将聚乙炔(PA)做为二次电池的电极材料以来,其电化学特性和行为引起了人们的极大兴趣.随后的研究表明,p-型PA[(CH)~(y )Ay~-]_x在电解液中不稳定,用ClO_4~-掺杂的PA充放循环时有降解发生.n-型PA[My~ (CH)~(y-)]_x(y≤0.10)在THF/LiClO_4电解质中较稳定,电化学还原完全可逆,目前已实现1100次充放循环.因此,它既可做电池的正极材料(碱金属为负极),又可做负极材料(TiS_2为正极).我们发现     

Growth of carbon nanotubes from waste blast furnace gases at atmospheric pressure

Carbon emissions from industrial sources are of major global concern, especially contributions from the steel manufacturing process which accounts for the majority of emissions. Typical blast furnace gases consist of CO₂ (20‐25%), CO (20‐25%), H₂ (3‐5%) and N₂ (40‐50%) and trace amounts of other gases. It is demonstrated that gas mixtures with these compositions can be used at atmospheric pressure to grow carbon nanotubes (CNTs) by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) on to steel substrates, which act as catalysts for CNT growth. Computational modelling was used to investigate the CNT growth conditions inside the CVD chamber. The results show that industrial waste pollutant gases can be used to manufacture materials with significant commercial value, in this case CNTs.