Synthesis of highly porous Al2O3-YAG composite ceramics

Al2O3-YAG composite was obtained by sintering of porous Al2O3 preforms infiltrated with water solution of aluminium nitrate nonahydrate, Al(NO3)3?9H2O and yttrium nitrate hexahydrate, Y(NO3)3?6H2O. Al2O3 preforms with porosity varying from 26 to 50% were obtained after sintering at temperature ranging from 1100 to 1500?C. Sintering of the infiltrated Al2O3 preforms led to formation of YAG particles due to reaction between Y2O3 and Al2O3 at high temperature. It was found that variation of porosity of alumina preforms and sintering temperature is an effective way to fabricate Al2O3-YAG composite with an unusual combination of properties. Open porosity was in the range 15-35%, specific surface was 0.6-6.1 m2/g, pore size was 150-900 nm whereas compressive strength was from 50 to 250 MPa. The effect of sintering temperature on YAG formation and phase composition were investigated using X-ray diffractometry whereas microstructure of the composite was analysed by scanning electron microscopy.

Effect of Aluminum Nitrate Concentration in Zinc Acetate Precursor on ZnO:Al Thin Films Prepared by Spray Pyrolysis

Aluminium-doped zinc oxide (ZnO) films have been prepared by spray pyrolysis technique using the mixed solution of zinc acetate dihydrate and aluminium nitrate nonahydrate in methanol. Concentration of aluminum in the solution was varied in a range of 1, 3 and 5 atomic percents. The results from X-ray diffraction showed that the preferred orientation of ZnO films changed to the [002] direction when the concentration of aluminum in the solution exceeded 1 atomic percents. ZnO films deposited from the 3 atomic percent Al containing solution had the largest grains and showed the lowest resistivity of 75 Ω-cm. Addition of aluminum into the precursor solution shifted the absorption edge towards longer wavelengths.

Comparative Aluminium Mobilizing Actions of Several Chelators in Aluminium-Loaded Uraemic Rats

The relative effectiveness of deferoxamine (DFO), 1,2-dimethyl-1,3-hydroxypyrid-4-one (L1), and citric and succinic acids in mobilizing and promoting excretion of aluminium (Al) were compared in female uraemic rats which had previously received aluminium nitrate nonahydrate i.p. in a daily dose of 45 mg kg-1 for 3 weeks (5 days/week). Chelators were administered s.c. at doses equal to one-eighth of their respective LD50 for five days. L1 was also given p.o. in doses of 200 mg kg-1 day-1. Total urines were collected 24 h after each chelator administration. Total urinary Al excreted over the 5-day period, expressed as mg kg-1, were: controls, 3.4; DFO-treated, 4.5 (P<0.05); citric acid-treated, 3.7; and succinic acid-treated, 2.7. Although the daily amounts of Al excreted into urine by L1-treated rats were significantly higher ( P<0.001) than those of the controls, most animals died during the period of treatment. Measurements of Al in selected tissues 24 h after the last administration of each chelator revealed that none of the compounds significantly altered the Al concentration in bone, kidney, and brain, whereas only DFO and succinic acid significantly reduced the levels of Al in spleen. Moreover, L1 (given s.c. or p.o.) and citric acid treatment led to a significant reduction in the liver Al burden. These results indicate the need for further investigations to determine the toxicity and the therapeutical safety margins of L1.

Structures of chemically stabilized ceramics

Silica based ceramics are some of the most fundamental in crystal chemistry. The cristobalite form of silica has two modifications, α (low temperature, tetragonal form) and β (high temperature, cubic form). This paper describes our structural studies of unusual chemically stabilized cristobalite (CSC) material, a room temperature silica-based ceramic containing small amounts of dopants, prepared by a wet chemical route. It displays many of the structural charatcteristics of the high temperature β-cristobalite (∼270°C), but does not undergo phase inversion to α-cristobalite upon cooling. The Structure of α-cristobalite is well established, but that of β is not yet fully understood.Compositions with varying Ca/Al ratio and substitutions in cristobalite were prepared in the series, CaO:Al2O3:SiO2 : 3-x: x : 40, with x= 0-3. For CSC, a clear sol was prepared from Du Pont colloidal silica, Ludox AS-40®, aluminium nitrate nonahydrate, and calcium nitrate hexahydrate in proportions to form a final composition 1:2:40 composition.