Crystal structures and luminescence properties of La3Zr4F25 and α-LaZr3F15

During a study of the LaF3-ZrF4 system, both La3Zr4F25 and α-LaZr3F15 compounds have been evidenced. Their crystal structures have been determined from single-crystal X-ray diffraction data. La3Zr4F25 crystallises in the cubic system with a = 12.384 Å and 143d space group (no. 220). Its crystal structure is built up of (ZrF6)2- octahedra and (LaF8)5- dodecahedra sharing corners. The low temperature form, α, of LaZr3F15 is orthorhombic (space group Pmmn, no. 59) with a = 15.721 Å, b = 16.299 Å, c = 8.438 Å. Its structure is built of corner-sharing tricaped trigonal prisms surrounding the La3+ ions and both octahedra and monocapped trigonal prisms encompassing the Zr4+ ions. This structure is characterised by dynamically disordered (ZrF6)2- complex anions. The Eu3+ luminescence properties of these phases have been investigated and are discussed in relationship with their crystal structures.

Crystal structures and magnetic properties of CuX2(pdmp)2 complexes (X = Br, Cl)

We report the synthesis and the structural and magnetic characterization of two new compounds: dibromobis-(pdmp)copper(II), CuBr2C22H24N4 (1), and dichlorobis(pdmp)copper(II), CuCl2C22H24N4 (2), where pdmp = 1-phenyl-3,5-dimethylpyrazole. The structures were refined by full-matrix least-squares techniques to R1 = 0.0620 and 0.0777, respectively. Compound 1 belongs to the space group P21/n with a = 8.165(5) Å, b = 10.432(3) Å, c = 13.385(4) Å, β = 100.12(4)̊, and Z = 2. Compound 2 belongs to the space group P21/c with a = 8.379(2) Å, b = 22.630(2) Å, c = 12.256(2) Å, β= 98.43(3)°, and Z = 4. It has the same molecular formula as a compound reported previously but a different crystal structure. Detailed single-crystal EPR measurements were performed for single-crystal samples of 1 and 2 at 9 and 35 GHz and at room temperature. The positions and line widths of the EPR lines were measured as a function of the magnetic field orientation in three orthogonal planes. The data were used to study the electronic properties of the copper ions and to evaluate the exchange interactions between them. Our results are discussed in terms of the electronic pathways for superexchange between copper ions, which are provided by the stacking of pyrazole and phenyl rings of neighboring molecules and by hydrogen-halogen bonds. © 1999 American Chemical Society.

Effect of in concentration in the starting solution on the structural and electrical properties of ZnO films prepared by the pyrosol process at 450°C

Undoped and indium-doped Zinc oxide (ZnO) solid films were deposited by the pyrosol process at 450°C on glass substrates from solutions where In/Zn ratio was 2, 5, and 10 at.%. Electrical measurements performed at room temperature show that the addition of indium changes the resistance of the films. The resistivities of doped films are less than non-doped ZnO films by one to two orders of magnitude depending on the dopant concentration in the solution. Preferential orientation of the films with the c-axis perpendicular to the substrate was detected by X-ray diffraction and polarized extended X-ray absorption fine structures measurements at the Zn K edge. This orientation depends on the indium concentration in the starting solution. The most textured films were obtained for solutions where In/Zn ratio was 2 and 5 at.%. When In/Zn = 10 at.%, the films had a nearly random orientation of crystallites. Evidence of the incorporation of indium in the ZnO lattice was obtained from extended X-ray absorption fine structures at the In and Zn K edges. The structural analysis of the least resistive film (Zn/In = 5 at.%) shows that In substitutes Zn in the wurtzite structure. © 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Structural and electrical properties of strontium barium niobate thin films crystallized by conventional furnace and rapid-thermal annealing process

Strontium barium niobate (SBN) thin films were crystallized by conventional electric furnace annealing and by rapid-thermal annealing (RTA) at different temperatures. The average grain size of films was 70 nm and thickness around 500 nm. Using x-ray diffraction, we identified the presence of polycrystalline SBN phase for films annealed from 500 to 700 °C in both cases. Phases such as SrNb2O6 and BaNb2O6 were predominantly crystallized in films annealed at 500 °C, disappearing at higher temperatures. Dielectric and ferroelectric parameters obtained from films crystallized by conventional furnace and RTA presented essentially the same values.

Structural, dielectric and ferroelectric properties of Nb-doped PZT thin films produced by oxide precursor method

Recently, was proposed a chemical method for preparation of ferroelectric thin films based on oxide precursors. In this work, PZT thin films were prepared to attest the viability of this method for cation-substitution. In this study, a small concentration of Nb (5 mol%) was selected as substitute of B-site in ABO 3 structure of PZT. Dielectric and ferroelectric properties of PZT films were studied as a function of cation-substitution. Results for Nb-PZT were compared with PZT films undoped. The values of dielectric constant, at typical 100 kHz frequency, were 358 and 137, for PZT and Nb-PZT films respectively. Remanent polarizations of these films were respectively 7.33 μ C/cm 2 and 13.3 μ C/cm 2 , while the measured coercive fields were 101 kV/cm and 93 kV/cm. As a result, changes on observed dielectric and ferroelectric values confirm the Nb substitution in PZT thin film produced by oxide precursor method. © 2002 Taylor & Francis.

Crystallographic, dielectric and optical properties of SrBi 2Ta2O9 thin films prepared by the polymeric precursor method

Strontium bismuth tantalate thin films were prepared on several substrates (platinized silicon (Pt/Ti/SiO 2 /Si), n -type (100)-oriented and p -type (111)-oriented silicon wafers, and fused silica) by the solution deposition method. The resin was obtained by the polymeric precursor method, based on the Pechini process, using strontium carbonate, bismuth oxide, and tantalum ethoxide as starting reagents. Characterizations by XRD and SEM were performed for structural and microstructural evaluations. The electrical measurements, carried on the MFM configuration, showed P r values of 6.24 μC/cm 2 and 31.5 kV/cm for the film annealed at 800 C. The film deposited onto fused silica and treated at 700 C presented around 80% of transmittance. © 2002 Taylor & Francis.

Acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene toughened nylon 6: The influences of compatibilizer on morphology and impact properties

Polymer alloys have been used as an alternative to obtain polymeric materials with unique physical properties. Generally, the polymer mixture is incompatible, which makes it necessary to use a compatibilizer to improve the interracial adhesion. Nylon 6 (PA6) is an attractive polymer to use in engineering applications, but it has processing instability and relatively low notched impact strength. In this study, the acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) triblock copolymer was used as an impact modifier for PA6. Poly(methyl methacrylate-co-maleic anyhydride) (MMA-MA) and poly(methyl methacrylate-co-maleic methacrylate) (MMA-GMA) were used as compatibilizers for this blend. The morphology and impact strength of the blends were evaluated as a function of blend composition and the presence of compatibilizers. The blends compatibilized with maleated copolymer exhibited an impact strength up to 800 J/m and a morphology with ABS domains more efi8ciently dispersed. Moderate amounts of MA functionality in the compatibilizer (∼5%) and small amounts of compatibilizer in the blend (∼5%) appear sufficient to improve the impact properties and ABS dispersion. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 87.

Friction and wear properties of functionally graded aluminum matrix composites

Aluminum matrix composites are currently considered as promising materials for tribological applications in the automotive, aircraft and aerospace industries due to their great advantage of a high strength-to-weight ratio. A superior combination of surface and bulk mechanical properties can be attained if these composites are processed as functionally graded materials (FGM's). In this work, homogeneous aluminum based matrix composite, cast by gravity, and aluminum composites with functionally graded properties, obtained by centrifugal cast, are tested against nodular cast iron in a pin-on-disc tribometer. Three different volume fractions of SiC reinforcing particles in each FGM were considered in order to evaluate their friction and wear properties. The sliding experiments were conducted without lubrication, at room temperature, under a normal load of 5 N and constant sliding speed of 0.5 ms-1. The worn surfaces as well as the wear debris were characterized by SEM/EDS and by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The friction coefficient revealed a slightly decrease (from 0.60 to 0.50) when FGM's are involved in the contact instead of the homogeneous composite. Relatively low values of the wear coefficient were obtained for functionally graded aluminum matrix composites (≈10-6 mm3N-1 m-1), which exhibited superior wear resistance than the homogeneous composite and the opposing cast iron surface. Characterization of worn surfaces indicated that the combined effect of reinforcing particles as load bearing elements and the formation of protective adherent iron-rich tribolayers has a decisive role on the friction and wear properties of aluminum matrix composites.

Morphological, mechanical and rheological properties of nylon 6/acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene blends compatibilized with MMA/MA copolymers

The morphological, mechanical and rheological properties of nylon 6/acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene blends compatibilized with MMA-MA [poly(methyl methacrylate-comaleic anhydride)] copolymers were studied. A twin screw extruder was used for melt-blended the polymers and the injection moulding process was used to mold the samples. The main focus was on nylon 6/ ABS blends compatibilized with one MMA-MA copolymer. This copolymer has PMMA segments that appear to be miscible with the styrene-acrylonitrile (SAN) phase of ABS and the anhydride groups can react with amine end groups of the nylon 6 (Ny6) to form graft copolymers at the interface between Ny6 and ABS rich phases. Tensile and impact and morphological properties were enhanced by the incorporation of this copolymer. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observations revealed that the ABS domains are finely dispersed in nylon 6 matrix and led to the lowest ductile-brittle transition temperatures and highest impact properties. It can be concluded that the MMA-MA copolymer is an efficient alternative for the reactive compatibilization and can be used as a compatibilizer for nylon 6/ABS blends.© 2003 Kluwer Academic Publishers.

Temperature and stoichiometry effect on microstructural and ferroelectric properties of Pb(Zr1-xTix)O3 thin films prepared by chemical soulution deposition

Lead zirconate titanate (PZT) solutions were prepared using a polymeric precursor method, Zr n-propoxide and Ti i-propoxide were used as starting materials with ethylene glycol and water as solvents. The PZT solution was spin-coated on Pt/Ti/SiO2/Si substrates, baked on a hot plate, and finally heat-treated in a tube furnace between 400 and 800°C. The surface morphology and grain size of the films were characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM), using a tapping mode with amplitude modulation. The films, thermal annealed at temperatures higher than 500°C, exhibited a dense microstructure, without noticeable cracks or voids. Electrical properties were investigated as a function of composition and annealing temperature.

Dielectric and viscoelastic properties of cross-linked polyethylene aged under multi stressing conditions

Different measurements were performed in cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) employed as insulating material in coaxial cables that were field-aged and laboratory-aged under multi-stressing conditions at room temperature. Samples were peeled from the XLPE cable insulation in three different positions: just below the external semiconductor layer (outer layer), in the middle (middle layer) and just above the internal semiconductor layer of the cable (inner layer). The imaginary part of the electric susceptibility showed three peaks that obey the Dissado-Hill model. For laboratory-aged XLPE samples peeled from the inner and from the middle positions the peak at very low frequency region increased while in samples from the outer position a quasi-DC conduction process was observed. In medium frequency range a broadening of the peak was observed for all samples. Viscoelastic properties determined through dynamic mechanical analysis suggested that the aging generates processes that promoted changes of the crystallinity and the cross-linking degrees of the polymer. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) measurements revealed an increase of oxidation products (esters), evidence of polar residues of the bow-tie tree and the presence of cross-linking by-products (acetophenone). Optical and scanning electronic microscope (SEM) measurements in aged samples revealed the existence of voids and bow-tie trees that were formed during aging in the middle region of the cable.

Dielectric and ferroelectric properties of PZT and PT thin films for saw sensors applications

It is very important for the building of the SAW devices to study dielectric and ferroelectrics properties because every SAW device is based in piezoelectric effect that it is made up to transform an electric sign in the mechanical or acoustic sign and a mechanical or acoustic sign in an electric sign. Thus, the purpose of the present work is to prepare PbZr 0,53Ti0.47O3 (PZT) and PbTiO3 (PT) thin films on the Si (100) substrates across spin-coating using a chemical method based in polymeric precursors. After conventional treatment in the furnace, the films were characterized by impedance spectroscopy and hysteresis loops to know its dielectric and ferroelectric properties.

Relation between the compaction rate and physical and mechanical properties of particleboards

The compaction rate, the relation between the density of the wood panel and the density of the wood used for producing the particles, is an indicator of the product's densification. Among the various types of wood panels, particleboards are widely employed in the lumber industry, mainly for the furniture production. This paper presents a study of the relation between the compaction rate and the properties of tensile strength perpendicular to surface, Modulus of Rupture (MOR) and Modulus of Elasticity (MOE) obtained from a static bending test, thickness swelling and water absorption (2 and 24 hours). These properties were calculated according to the Brazilian ABNT, NBR 14810 standard. Particleboards were produced using the species Pinus elliotti and adhesive ureaformaldehyde. The relation was established by a multiple linear regression, and the most appropriate statistical models were determined. The estimated models indicate statistically significant effects of water absorption in 2 hours and MOR in the particleboards' compaction rate.

Morphological, mechanical and thermal properties of nylon 6/ABS blends using glycidyl methacrylate-methyl methacrylate copolymers

Nylon6 is an attractive polymer for engineering applications because it has reactive functionality through amine and carboxyl end groups that are capable of reacting. For this reason, it has been used a lot in polymeric blends. Blends of nylon6/ABS (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene) were produced using glycidyl methacrylate-methyl methacrylate (GMA-MMA) copolymers as compatibilizer. The binary blends were immiscible and exhibited poor mechanical properties that stemmed from the unfavorable interactions among their molecular segments. This produced an unstable coarse phase morphology and weak interfaces between the phases in the solid state. The presence of the copolymer in the blends clearly led to a more efficient dispersion of the ABS phase and consequently optimized Izod impact properties. However, the compatibilized blend showed poor toughness at room temperature and failed in a brittle manner at subambient temperatures. © 2005 Springer Science + Business Media, Inc.

Effect of lithium doping on the evolution of rheological and structural properties during gelation of siloxane-poly(oxypropylene) nanocomposites

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