Role of Li+ ions in corrosion behaviour of 8090 Al-Li alloy and aluminium in pH 12 aqueous solutions

The influence of Li+ ions on the corrosion behaviour of the Al-Li alloy 8090-T851 and of commercially pure aluminium in aqueous solutions at pH 12 was studied by weight loss and electrochemical polarisation methods. The inhibiting role of Li+ was concentration dependent, corrosion rate decreasing lineally with log[Li+] in the concentration range 10(-4)-10(-1) mol L(-1). A change from general to pitting corrosion was evident from scanning election microscopy studies. Polarisation studies revealed that Li+ primarily acts as an anodic inhibitor (passivator). Passive film formation and stability also become more feasible with increasing Li+ concentration. Fitting potential was dependent on the Cl- ion concentration in the solution. Both materials were affected similarly by the presence of Li+ ions, the corrosion rate of the alloy being slightly lower. This is attributed to the lithium in the alloy acting as a source of lithium for passive film formation. (C) 1995 The Institute of Materials.

Some Algorithms for Eigensubspace Estimation

An important tool in signal processing is the use of eigenvalue and singular value decompositions for extracting information from time-series/sensor array data. These tools are used in the so-called subspace methods that underlie solutions to the harmonic retrieval problem in time series and the directions-of-arrival (DOA) estimation problem in array processing. The subspace methods require the knowledge of eigenvectors of the underlying covariance matrix to estimate the parameters of interest. Eigenstructure estimation in signal processing has two important classes: (i) estimating the eigenstructure of the given covariance matrix and (ii) updating the eigenstructure estimates given the current estimate and new data. In this paper, we survey some algorithms for both these classes useful for harmonic retrieval and DOA estimation problems. We begin by surveying key results in the literature and then describe, in some detail, energy function minimization approaches that underlie a class of feedback neural networks. Our approaches estimate some or all of the eigenvectors corresponding to the repeated minimum eigenvalue and also multiple orthogonal eigenvectors corresponding to the ordered eigenvalues of the covariance matrix. Our presentation includes some supporting analysis and simulation results. We may point out here that eigensubspace estimation is a vast area and all aspects of this cannot be fully covered in a single paper. (C) 1995 Academic Press, Inc.

Direct Cartesian-Space Solutions of Generalized Bloch Equations in the Rotating Frame

Analytical solutions of the generalized Bloch equations for an arbitrary set of initial values of the x, y, and z magnetization components are given in the rotating frame. The solutions involve the decoupling of the three coupled differential equations such that a third-order differential equation in each magnetization variable is obtained. In contrast to the previously reported solutions given by Torrey, the present attempt paves the way for more direct physical insight into the behavior of each magnetization component. Special cases have been discussed that highlight the utility of the general solutions. Representative trajectories of magnetization components are given, illustrating their behavior with respect to the values of off-resonance and initial conditions. (C) 1995 Academic Press, Inc.

Combustion synthesis and properties of nanostructured ceria-zirconia solid solutions

Nanostructured ceria-zirconia solid solutions (Ce1 − xZrxO2, X = 0 to 0.9) have been synthesized by a single step solution combustion process using cerous nitrate, zirconyl nitrate and oxalyl dihydrazide (ODH) / carbohydrazide (CH). The as-synthesized powders show extensive XRD line broadening and the crystallite sizes calculated from the XRD line broadening are in the nanometer range (6–11 nm). The combustion derived ceria zirconia solid solutions have high surface area in the range of 36–120 m2/g. Calcination of Ce1 −xZrxO2 at 1350 °C showed three distinct solid solution regions: single phase cubic (x ≤ 0.2), biphasic cubic-tetragonal (0.2 < x Image .8) and tetragonal (x > 0.8). When x ≥ 0.9, the metastable tetragonal phase formed transforms to monoclinic phase on cooling after calcination above 1100 °C. The homogeneity of Ce1 − xZrxO2 has been confirmed by EDAX analysis. The Temperature Programmed Reduction (TPR) measurement of Ce0.5Zr0.5O2 was carried out with H2 and the TPR profile showed two water formation peaks corresponding to the utilization of surface and bulk oxygen.

Limiting ionic conductance of symmetrical, rigid ions in aqueous solutions: Temperature dependence and solvent isotope effects

Limiting ionic conductance (Lambda(0)) of rigid symmetrical unipositive ions in aqueous solution shows a strong temperature dependence. For example, Lambda(0) more than doubles when the temperature is increased from 283 to 318 K. A marked variation also occurs when the solvent is changed from ordinary water (H2O) to heavy water (D2O). In addition, Lambda(0) shows a nonmonotonic size dependence with a skewed maximum near Cs+. Although these important results have been known for a long time, no satisfactory theoretical explanation exists for these results. In this article we present a simple molecular theory which provides a nearly quantitative explanation in terms of microscopic structure and dynamics of the solvent. A notable feature of this theory is that it does not invoke any nonquantifiable models involving solvent-berg or clatherates. We find the strong temperature dependence of Lambda(0) to arise from a rather large number of microscopic factors, each providing a small but nontrivial contribution, but all acting surprisingly in the same direction. This work, we believe, provides, for the first time, a satisfactory explanation of both the anomalous size and temperature dependencies of Lambda(0) of unipositive ions in molecular terms. The marked change in Lambda(0) as the solvent is changed from H2O to D2O is found to arise partly from a change in the dielectric relaxation and partly from a change in the effective interaction of the ion with the solvent.

Nonsimilar solutions for mixed convection in non-Newtonian fluids along horizontal surfaces in porous media

A nonsimilar boundary layer analysis is presented for the problem of mixed convection in power-law type non-Newtonian fluids along horizontal surfaces with variable heat flux distribution. The mixed convection regime is divided into two regions, namely, the forced convection dominated regime and the free convection dominated regime. The two solutions are matched. Numerical results are presented for the details of the velocity and temperature fields. A discussion is provided for the effect of viscosity index on the surface heat transfer rate.

Relation between integral and partial properties of ternary solutions along different composition trajectories

The relations between partial and integral properties of ternary solutions along composition trajectories suggested by Kohler, Colinet and Jacob, and along an arbitrary path are derived. The chemical potentials of the components are related to the slope of integral free energy by expressions involving the binary compositions generated by the intersections of the composition trajectory with the sides of the ternary triangle. Only along the Kohler composition trajectory it is possible to derive the integral free energy from the variation of the chemical potential of a single component with composition or vice versa. Along all other paths the differential of the integral free energy is related to two chemical potentials. The Gibbs-Duhem integration proposed by Darken for the ternary system uses the Kohler isogram. The relative merits of different limits for integration are discussed.

Sensors based on the dissipation characteristics of n-BaTiO3 ceramics and its solid solutions

The humidity, heat flux and mass flow sensing capability of n-BaTiO3 and its solid solutions were evaluated based on their dissipation characteristics. The cubic/tetragonal phase content of the ceramics seem to play an important role in their sensitivity towards the measurand. The humidity-sensitive characteristics of these perovskites were studied with respect to different moisture sensitive coating materials. The sensor was also used to determine the heat of hydration during the curing process of cements and the mass flow rate of the gases. For all these applications, suitable operating points have been fixed from the highly non-linear I-V characteristics with the retention of good stability and high sensitivity. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science S.A.

Nonsimilar solutions for free convection in non-Newtonian fluids along a vertical plate in a porous medium

A nonsimilar boundary layer analysis is presented for the problem of free convection in power-law type non-Newtonian fluids along a permeable vertical plate with variable wall temperature or heat flux distribution. Numerical results are presented for the details of the velocity and temperature fields. A discussion is provided for the effect of viscosity index on the surface heat transfer rate.

Solutions of cubic equations in quadratic fields

Let K be any quadratic field with O-K its ring of integers. We study the solutions of cubic equations, which represent elliptic curves defined over Q, in quadratic fields and prove some interesting results regarding the solutions by using elementary tools. As an application we consider the Diophantine equation r + s + t = rst = 1 in O-K. This Diophantine equation gives an elliptic curve defined over Q with finite Mordell-Weil group. Using our study of the solutions of cubic equations in quadratic fields we present a simple proof of the fact that except for the ring of integers of Q(i) and Q(root 2), this Diophantine equation is not solvable in the ring of integers of any other quadratic fields, which is already proved in [4].

Synthesis of metastable, wurzite-based zinc oxide-cobalt(II) oxide solid solutions by spray pyrolysis

Aqueous solutions of acetates and nitrates of zinc and cobalt have been spray decomposed to study the production of extended solid solutions in the ZnO-CoO system. Examination of the products of a variety of synthesis conditions indicates that up to 70% CoO may be retained in the solid solution in the wurzite phase, even though a comparison of the equilibrium solubility in the phase diagram might be expected to favor the formation of a rock-salt-based solid solution.

Synthesis of single-walled carbon nanotubes using binary (Fe, Co, Ni) alloy nanoparticles prepared in situ by the reduction of oxide solid solutions

Passing a H-2-CH4 mixture over oxide spinels containing two transition elements as in Mg0.8MyMz'Al2O4 (M, M' = Fe, Co or Ni, y + z = 0.2) at 1070 degrees C produces small alloy nanoparticles which enable the formation of carbon nanotubes. Surface area measurements are found to be useful for assessing the yield and quality of the nanotubes. Good-quality single-walled nanotubes (SWNTs) have been obtained in high yields with the FeCo alloy nanoparticles, as evidenced by transmission electron microscope images and surface area measurements. The diameter of the SWNTs is in the 0.8-5 nm range, and the multiwalled nanotubes, found occasionally, possess very few graphite layers. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Microwave heating in multiphase systems: evaluation of series solutions

The 1D electric field and heat-conduction equations are solved for a slab where the dielectric properties vary spatially in the sample. Series solutions to the electric field are obtained for systems where the spatial variation in the dielectric properties can be expressed as polynomials. The series solution is used to obtain electric-field distributions for a binary oil-water system where the dielectric properties are assumed to vary linearly within the sample. Using the finite-element method temperature distributions are computed in a three-phase oil, water and rock system where the dielectric properties vary due to the changing oil saturation in the rock. Temperature distributions predicted using a linear variation in the dielectric properties are compared with those obtained using the exact nonlinear variation.

Novel phase-transition behavior near liquid/liquid critical points of aqueous solutions: Formation of a third phase at the interface

We report a novel phase behavior in aqueous solutions of simple organic solutes near their liquid/liquid critical points, where a solid-like third phase appears at the liquid/liquid interface. The phenomenon has been found in three different laboratories. It appears in many aqueous systems of organic solutes and becomes enhanced upon the addition of salt to these solutions.