An investigation into the self-propagating high temperature synthesis (SHS) of superconducting ceramics by thermal methods

The SHS route is based on the well-known thermite reaction, in which a strongly exothermic reaction can sustain itself and propagate in the form of a combustion wave until the reactants have been completely consumed. The successful application of the method to the synthesis of superconducting ceramics of stoichiometry RBa₂Cu₃O_y (R=Y, Er, Yb) is reported. The 123 phase was obtained when pellets of R₂O₃, BaO₂ and Cu metal in the correct proportions were dropped into a heater held at 800°C in an oxygen atmosphere and left there for only 10 minutes. Thermal methods (DSC and DTA) are excellent techniques with which to investigate the dependence of the reaction on heating rate, atmosphere and starting composition.     

Synchrotron diffraction studies of TiC/FeTi cermets obtained by SHS

TiC/FeTi composites have been obtained in situ by Self-propagating High-temperature Synthesis (SHS) of an intimate mixture of compacted powders of elemental carbon, titanium and iron. The reaction has been followed in real time by X-ray diffraction at the ESRF. The mechanism of the reaction is discussed in terms of the formation of a liquid phase corresponding to the eutectic of the Fe/Ti system prior to the TiC synthesis. Temperatures of reaction have been estimated by correlating thermal expansion coefficients with diffraction peaks shifts. The microstructures obtained by this method, suitable for cutting tools and wear resistant applications, are presented.     

铝粉度对自蔓延高温合成AlB2-Al2O3复合粉体的影响

以金属Al粉和B2O3粉为原料,采用自蔓延高温合成法(SHS)制备AlB2-Al2O3复合粉体.采用X射线衍射仪、扫描电镜和能谱仪分析手段,对所制得的复合粉体进行了表征.研究了Al粉粒度(100目、300目和600目)对自蔓延高温合成方法制备AlB2-Al2O3复合粉体的燃烧学、相组成及微观结构的影响.结果表明:铝粉粒度越小,燃烧温度越高、燃烧波速度越快,复合粉体中AlB2相含量增加,实验测得600目铝粉反应的燃烧温度为2060K,燃烧波速度为2.08 mm/s.复合粉体以AlB2和Al2O3为主晶相,显微结构为数量较少、粒径约5μm的AlB2粉弥散分布于粒径约2 μm的Al2O3和Al的混合粉中.     

Size-dependent ignition temperature of metallic compounds fabricated by self-propagating high-temperature synthesis

Considering the diffusion reaction at solid interfaces, the ignition temperature of compounds fabricated by self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) is modelled with the help of size-dependent activation energy. As reactant size decreases, ignition temperature also decreases. This is because of increased contact areas between the reactants and the lowered diffusion barrier, both of which must be calculated specifically for reactants in nanoscale. The model predictions and experimental results are consistent for some metallic compounds.     

Glass fabrics self-cracking catalytic growth of boron nitride nanotubes

Glass fabrics were used to fabricate boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) with a broad diameter range through a combined chemical vapor deposition and self-propagation high-temperature synthesis (CVD-SHS) method at different holding times (0min, 30min, 90min, 180min and 360min). SEM characterization has been employed to investigate the macro and micro structure/morphology changes of the glass fabrics and BNNTs in detail. SEM image analysis has provided direct experimental evidences for the rationality of the optimized self-cracking catalyst VLS growth mechanism, including the transformation situations of the glass fabrics and the BNNTs growth processes respectively. This paper was the further research and compensation for the theory and experiment deficiencies in the new preparation method of BNNTs reported in our previous work. In addition, it is likely that the distinctive self-cracking catalyst VLS growth mechanism could provide a new idea to preparation of other inorganic functional nano-materials using similar one-dimensional raw materials as growth templates and catalysts.     

预热速率和Mg粒度对MgCNi_3致密度及相成份的影响

用自蔓延高温合成法(SHS)制备了MgCNi_3超导块材,用XRD和SEM对试样进行了表征,理论计算和实验结果表明,如果预热温度太低,自蔓延过程不能进行,当预热温度大于620℃时才能用电弧引燃反应,预热速率越小试样越致密;Mg粒度越小反应后绝热温度越高,成相速率越快,并导致合成产物出现烧结现象,样品所形成的致密度和孔洞尺寸依赖于原始Mg粉的粒度,Mg粒度越小,试样越致密,孔洞越小,但是Mg粒度不同不改变晶粒的形成和生长机理.     

Determination of residual solvent in pharmaceutical preparations by static headspace GC

Static headspace GC, a simple, clean technique which is easily automated, appears to be a good approach to the determination of solvent residues in pharmaceutical preparations. The feasibility of this approach has been studied with an automated system. Data is presented for the solvents designated as impurities in pharmaceutical preparations by the United States Pharmacopeia. It was found that the static headspace technique meets the United States Pharmacopeia criteria for sensitivity. The absolute area count precision was <5% relative standard deviation and correlation coefficients to a linear response were >0.999. It was concluded that the technique is viable for this application.     

Experimental Study on Igniting Self-propagating High-temperature Synthesis by Laser

An applied range of self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) is extended under igniting by laser, but there is no study in detail on its ignition process. The ignition time of SHS by laser is studied in detail in this paper for searching igniting law. A laser beam produced by CO2 laser scans back and forth along a straight line on the surface of a sample, and an ignition time is measured under different testing conditions. The results show that the ignition time is the shortest at certain mixing time, the ignition time is longer with decreasing of the density and increasing of the sample density, and the ignition time becomes shorter when pre-heat temperature rises, but the ignition time has no relation with the area and the thickness of samples when the thickness is thicker, and it has no close relation with shield gas of N2.     

Optimal design of personalized prostate cancer therapy using Infinitesimal Perturbation Analysis

The standard treatment for advanced prostate cancer is hormone therapy in the form of continuous androgen suppression (CAS), which unfortunately frequently leads to resistance and relapse. An alternative scheme is intermittent androgen suppression (IAS), in which patients are submitted to cycles of treatment (in the form of androgen deprivation) and off-treatment periods in an alternating manner. In spite of extensive recent clinical experience with IAS, the design of ideal protocols for any given patient remains a challenge. The level of prostate specific antigen (PSA) is frequently monitored to determine when patients will be taken off therapy and when therapy will resume. In this work, we propose a threshold-based policy for optimal IAS therapy design that is parameterized by lower and upper PSA threshold values and is associated with a cost metric that combines clinically relevant measures of therapy success. We use a Stochastic Hybrid Automaton (SHA) model of prostate cancer evolution under IAS and perform Infinitesimal Perturbation Analysis (IPA) to adaptively adjust PSA threshold values so as to improve therapy outcomes. We also apply this methodology to clinical data from real patients, and obtain promising results and valuable insights for personalized IAS therapy design.     

SHS of NbSi<Subscript>2</Subscript>: A Comparison Between Experiments and Simulations

Summary. Computer simulation results for the Self-propagating High-temperature Synthesis (SHS) of the intermetallic compound NbSi₂ are discussed in comparison with experiments for SHS of mechanically activated powders. The variation of wave speed of the propagation front is considered while varying Nb grain size and thermal conductivity of the starting mixture. A co-operating effect of these two parameters (due to the change in morphology of reactants after milling) is outlined.