Effects of the orientation of smectite particles and ionic strength on diffusion and activation enthalpies of I and Cs ions in compacted smectite

The apparent diffusion coefficients (D_a) for I⁻ and Cs⁺ ions in compacted Na-smectite which is a major constituent clay mineral of bentonite were studied as a function of smectite's dry density (0.9–1.4 Mg/m³), ionic strength ([NaCl] = 0.01, 0.51 M), temperature (22–60 °C) and diffusion direction to the orientated direction of smectite particles. The Na-smectite was prepared by ion-exchanging with Na⁺ ions a Na-bentonite, Kunipia-F®, of which smectite content is over 99 wt.%. The D_a-values for both ions showed a tendency to be higher in the parallel direction than in the perpendicular direction to the orientated direction of smectite particles at a low-ionic strength of [NaCl] = 0.01 M. The D_a-values for I⁻ ions showed different trends depending on diffusion direction and dry density at a high-ionic strength of [NaCl] = 0.51 M. Namely, although the D_a-values for I⁻ ions showed a tendency to be higher in the parallel direction than in the perpendicular direction to the orientated direction of smectite particles at a high-dry density of 1.4 Mg/m³, these showed a reciprocal tendency at dry densities of 0.9–1.0 Mg/m³. The D_a-values for Cs⁺ ions uniformly increased with an increase of ionic strength in both diffusion directions. Considering electrostatic effect from smectite surface and the change in tortuosity on dry density, ionic strength and diffusion direction to the orientated direction of smectite particles, I⁻ ions are considered to mainly diffuse in interstitial pores. While, Cs⁺ ions can diffuse in both interlayer and interstitial pores, and the D_a-values are considered to have elevated by competing with Na⁺ ions. The activation enthalpies (ΔE_a) for I⁻ ions, slightly higher (ΔE_a = 19.8−20.0 kJ/mol) than that of the diffusion coefficient in free water (D^o) for I⁻ ions (ΔE_a = 17.36 kJ/mol) at a low-ionic strength of [NaCl] = 0.01 M, decreased with an increase of ionic strength, became of similar level to that of the D^o at a high-ionic strength of [NaCl] = 0.51 M, increased with an increase of dry density. On the contrary, the ΔE_a-values for Cs⁺ ions, clearly higher (ΔE_a = 25.6−28.4 kJ/mol) than that of the D^o for Cs⁺ ions (ΔE_a = 16.47 kJ/mol) even in low-dry density over the ionic strength, increased with an increase of dry density. The ΔE_a-values for Cs⁺ ions are considered to be due to the decrease in the activity of porewater in addition to the effect of ion exchange enthalpy between Cs⁺ and Na⁺ ions in smectite.     

AIR-DRYING OF FRESH AND OSMOTICALLY PRE-TREATED PINEAPPLE SLICES: FIXED AIR TEMPERATURE VERSUS FIXED SLICE TEMPERATURE DRYING KINETICS

In this investigation, the air drying characteristics of fresh and osmotically pre-treated pineapple slices in a tray dryer were studied under different operating conditions. The air velocity varied from 1.5 to 2.5 m/s and the air temperature from 40 to 70°C. The analytical solution of the second Fick's law for an infinite slab was used to calculate effective diffusion coefficients and their temperature dependence could be well represented by an Arrhenius-type equation. Comparison of the results showed that the diffusion coefficients were lower for the pre-treated fruit. By means of automatic control, it was possible to obtain drying curves under conditions of constant product temperature, which showed to be an alternative to reduce the drying time of pineapple slices.     

Colossal permittivity and ultralow dielectric loss in (Nd0.5Ta0.5)xTi1-xO2 ceramics

Giant permittivity ceramic is one of the most significant classes of material to realize the miniaturization and integration of a high-performance capacitor. In this paper, to realize good giant dielectric properties, the (Nd_0.5Ta_0.5)_xTi_1-xO₂ ceramics (NTTO x = 0.005, 0.01, 0.03, 0.05) were synthesized by a standard conventional solid-state reaction. Comparing with the previous co-doped TiO₂ ceramics giant permittivity material system, NTTO ceramics perform extremely colossal permittivity and ultralow dielectric loss (1%NTTO: ε = 82052, tanδ = 0.008 at 1 kHz; 5%NTTO: ε = 170131, tanδ = 0.090 at 1 kHz). The broad distinction of the dielectric behavior between the (Nd_0.5Ta_0.5)_xTi_1-xO₂ ceramics can be explained by the impedance analysis and the calculated polarization activation energies. The main electron-pinned defect-dipole (denoted as EPDD) polarization corresponds to the ultralow loss, embodying in the maximum value of E_gb (the activation energy of the grain boundary), E_a2 (the EPDD polarization activation energies) and the minimum value of E_a1 (the total polarization activation energies). Though the interfacial polarization can cause the permittivity increase, it can also give rise to poor frequency stability and higher loss.     

Non-isothermal nitridation kinetics of Ti6Al4V in Al2O3-based refractories

To establish a kinetic model of nitridation of Ti6Al4V in Al₂O₃-based refractories, the non-isothermal nitridation of Ti6Al4V–Al₂O₃ composite refractories at various heating rates was investigated using a thermogravimetric (TG) analyzer for large samples. The activation energy (E) and kinetic model (G(α)) for the nitridation of Ti6Al4V were determined using the isoconversional and master plots methods, respectively. The nucleation and growth of nitriding products of the TiN solid solution was the controlling step in the nitridation of Ti6Al4V in Al₂O₃-based refractories. The Avrami-Erofeev kinetic model, depicted by the G(α) = [-ln (1-α)]⁴ equation, is the most rational kinetic model. The values of E and A for the nitridation of Ti6Al4V were calculated to be 214.99 kJ/mol and 1.46 × 10⁷ (S^?1), respectively.     

AN INVESTIGATION ON SECONDARY EMISSION PROPERTIES OF IMPREGNATED BARIUM SCANDATE DISPENSER CATHODE

A scanning electron probe is used to study the secondary emission properties of the im-pregnated barium scandate dispenser cathode, the influence of the activation on the secondary emis-sion property, the secondary emission image and the secondary emission distribution over the surfaceof the cathode. At optimal activation, δ_m=3.56 (E_(pm)=700eV). The activation has a larger effect onδ when the activation temperature is higher than 1100℃. The distribution over the surface of thecathode is non-uniform. The half-peak width of the distribution curve over the surface is 0.4. Theexperimental phenomena are discussed in relation to surface analysis of the cathode. The theoreticallyderived binomial distribution curves over the surface fit much better with the experimental results.     

Effect of key size and activation area on the performance of a regional error correction method in a touch-screen QWERTY keyboard

Manual text entry, which is one of the main features of mobile communications devices, decreases the competitive advantages of full touch-screen interfaces over physical interfaces. Especially for small full QWERTY keyboards, text entry becomes more problematic because of the small size of the virtual keys, absence of tactile feedback, and occlusion of virtual keys by fingers. One solution to this problem is the regional error correction, which is a predictive text entry method that activates the key corresponding to the actual activation point and also other keys within an activation area. This study investigates how the size of keys and of the activation area affect the accuracy of the regional error correction and compares the regional error correction method with the conventional finger touch method, for a touch-screen QWERTY keyboard. The regional error correction reduced both the time and the number of touches required to complete text entry when keys were small, but no difference was observed when keys were large. Users’ subjective assessments of ease of use and preference indicated greater satisfaction with the regional error correction method than without it, regardless of key size.Relevance to industry: The result of this study can be used to speed and simplify text entry in mobile devices with full-QWERTY virtual keyboards.     

用热解吸法研究锂陶瓷中氚扩散行为

采用热解吸法研究了氚在锂陶瓷γ -LiAlO2 中的扩散行为。根据不同线性升温速率下的氚释放曲线 ,分别测出了以HTO形式释放的氚和以HT形式释放的氚的表观扩散活化能分别为(2 53± 50 )kJ·mol-1和 (12 7± 5)kJ·mol-1     

NaOH activation of anthracites: effect of temperature on pore textures and methane storage ability

The main purpose of this work was to prepare various active carbons from the same precursor at various activation temperatures, and investigate both porosity development and corresponding methane storage capacities. An anthracite was thus chemically activated with sodium hydroxide under nitrogen flow at temperatures ranging from 600 to 830 °C, with a constant mass ratio: hydroxide/anthracite = 3. The pore textures of the corresponding activated carbons were investigated using the adsorption isotherms of four probe molecules characterised by their increasing molecular diameters, namely CO₂, N₂, C₆H₆ and CCl₄. The changes occurring in each kind of pores were discussed and put in relation with the activation temperature. The specific volumes of different micro- and mesopore families were measured and discussed. Depending on the temperature range, two different activation mechanisms were evidenced. Methane storage isotherms at 20 °C and up to 3.5 MPa were measured for the investigated materials. Linear correlations between various textural parameters and methane storage capacities were given. Additionally, a number of results previously reported in the literature were confirmed by the present work.     

Processing analysis of the ternary LiNH2–MgH2–LiBH4 system for hydrogen storage

In this article, we investigate the ternary LiNH₂–MgH₂–LiBH₄ hydrogen storage system by adopting various processing reaction pathways. The stoichiometric ratio of LiNH₂:MgH₂:LiBH₄ is kept constant with a 2:1:1 molar ratio. All samples are prepared using solid-state mechano-chemical synthesis with a constant rotational speed, but with varying milling duration. Furthermore, the order of addition of parent compounds as well as the crystallite size of MgH₂ are varied before milling. All samples are intimate mixtures of Li–B–N–H quaternary hydride phase with MgH₂, as evidenced by XRD and FTIR measurements. It is found that the samples with MgH₂ crystallite sizes of approximately 10 nm exhibit lower initial hydrogen release at a temperature of 150 °C. Furthermore, it is observed that the crystallite size of Li–B–N–H has a significant effect on the amount of hydrogen release with an optimum size of 28 nm. The as-synthesized hydrides exhibit two main hydrogen release temperatures, one around 160 °C and the other around 300 °C. The main hydrogen release temperature is reduced from 310 °C to 270 °C, while hydrogen is first reversibly released at temperatures as low as 150 °C with a total hydrogen capacity of ∼6 wt.%. Detailed thermal, capacity, structural and microstructural properties are discussed and correlated with the activation energies of these materials.     

Activation cross sections for (n, p) reactions on nickel isotopes induced by neutrons around 14 MeV

The cross sections of ⁵⁸Ni(n, p)^58(m+g)Co,⁶⁰Ni(n, p)^60mCo,⁶¹Ni(n, p)⁶¹Co and ⁶²Ni(n, p)^62mCo reactions induced by neutrons around 14 MeV were measured using activation technique and a coaxial HPGe γ-ray detector. The natural nickel foils of 99.9% purity were used as target materials. Fast neutrons were produced by the T(d, n)⁴He reaction. The neutron flux was determined using the monitor reaction ²⁷Al(n, α)²⁴Na and the neutron energies were measured with the method of cross-section ratios for ⁹⁰Zr(n, 2n)⁸⁹Zr to ⁹³Nb(n, 2n)^92mNb reactions. The results of this work are compared with the collected partial recent data published previously and the estimations obtained from the published empirical formula based on the statistical model with dependence on the Q-value and odd-even effect taken into consideration.