Preparation, characterization and magnetic studies of Bi0.5X0.5(X=Ca,Sr)MnO3 nanoparticles

Nanoparticles (dia ~ 5 - 7 nm) of Bi0.5X0.5(X=Ca,Sr)MnO3 are prepared by polymer assisted sol-gel method and characterized by various physico-chemical techniques. X-ray diffraction gives evidence for single phasic nature of the materials as well as their structures. Mono dispersed to a large extent, isolated nanoparticles are seen in the transmission electron micrographs. High resolution electron microscopy shows the crystalline nature of the nanoparticles. Superconducting quantum interferometer based magnetic measurements from 10K to 300K show that these nanomanganites retain the charge ordering nature unlike Pr and Nd based nanomanganites. The CO in Bi based manganites is thus found to be very robust consistent with the observation that magnetic field of the order of 130 T are necessary to melt the CO in these compounds. These results are supported by electron magnetic resonance measurements.

Preparation of ultrafine CsCl crystallites by combined cryogenic and room temperature ball milling

The present investigation reports the preparation and microstructural characterization of ultrafine CsCl crystallites using combined cryogenic and room temperature (RT) mechanical milling. The milling has been performed in evacuated WC vials under high purity argon atmosphere. The low temperature milling has been utilized as an effective means of rapid fracturing of the CsCl crystallites. This was followed by RT milling for different time durations. The final crystallite size obtained is 10 +/- 6 nm for sample cryo-milled for 11 h and subsequently RT milled for 35 h. The experimental findings indicate the strong effect of duration of cryo-milling on the final size of the crystallites. The prolonged room temperature milling leads to increase of the crystallite size due to deformation-induced sintering. The results have been discussed in the light of currently available literature. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd and Techna Group S.r.l. All rights reserved.

A Generalized Enthalpy Update Scheme for Solidification of a Binary Alloy with Solid Phase Movement

A generalized enthalpy update scheme is presented for evaluating solid and liquid fractions during the solidification of binary alloys, taking solid movement into consideration. A fixed-grid, enthalpy-based method is developed such that the scheme accounts for equilibrium as well as for nonequilibrium solidification phenomena, along with solid phase movement. The effect of solid movement on the solidification interface shape and macrosegregation is highlighted.

Nanocrystalline TiO(2) preparation by microwave route and nature of anatase-rutile phase transition in nano TiO(2)

Nanopowders of TiO(2) has been prepared using a microwave irradiation-assisted route, starting from a metalorganic precursor, bis(ethyl-3-oxo-butanoato)oxotitanium (IV), [TiO(etob)(2)](2). Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) was used as a capping agent. The as-prepared amorphous powders crystallize into anatase phase, when calcined. At higher calcination temperature, the rutile phase is observed to form in increasing quantities as the calcination temperature is raised. The structural and physicochemical properties were measured using XRD, FT-IR, SEM, TEM and thermal analyses. The mechanisms of formation of nano-TiO(2) from the metal-organic precursor and the irreversible phase transformation of nano TiO(2) from anatase to rutile structure at higher temperatures have been discussed. It is suggested that a unique step of initiation of transformation takes place in Ti(1/2)O layers in anatase which propagates. This mechanism rationalizes several key observations associated with the anatase rutile transformation.