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Notes: Phase equilibria in the CeO2−CoO system at temperatures above 1500°C were investigated. The microstructures and the phase compositions of the DTA (differential thermal analysis) samples and the quenched solid pellets were analyzed using SEM (scanning electron microscope), EDX (energy dispersive X-ray), and WDX (wavelength dispersive X-ray). A eutectic reaction was found at 1645 ± 5°C. The eutectic point was calculated to be at 82 ± 1.5 mol% CoO. The eutectic phases were the CeO2-rich phase (containing 〈5 mol% CoO) and the CoO-rich phase (containing ∼0.5 mol% CeO2). At 1580°C, the solubility of CoO in CeO2 was ∼3 mol%.

Notes: This work presents a detailed description of urea decomposition during direct coagulation processing of alumina suspensions. We report on the chemical equilibria involved in the decomposition of urea in an aqueous environment with and without alumina particles. The model uses the logarithm of the concentrations as variables to ensure fast convergence and nonnegativity of the solutions, and is able to give a semiquantitative description of the experimentally observed development of pH and ionic strength (specific conductivity) during the decomposition of urea in a 30 vol% solid loading alumina suspension. Assuming local equilibrium, and a homogeneous distribution of the catalyst urease and the evolving educts, the results show an increasing solubility of CO2 with increasing pH. As a consequence the production of gaseous CO2 during the urea decomposition (direct coagulation casting (DCC) process), shifting the pH from 4 to 9 occurs only when a strong buffer is present at low and medium pH. This is advantageous for the preparation of defect-poor ceramic green bodies using this internal gellation reaction in the DCC process.

Notes: Patterned ceramic surfaces with a feature resolution in the micrometer range are generated by casting aqueous suspensions of high solids loadings onto nonporous polymer molds. The suspensions are solidified by evaporation of the solvent. High-quality line patterns with an aspect ratio of 1 and a pitch of 3 μm were fabricated for alumina, zirconia, cerium gadolinium oxide, and tin oxide powders using molds of poly(dimethylsiloxane). In addition, alumina parts were also created with molds made of a polyolefin (high-density polyethylene), a fluoropolymer (poly(tetrafluoroethylene-co-hexafluoropropylene)), and an epoxy system.

Notes: A long-term field experiment was established in 1967 to measure the persistence in soil of paraquat dichloride applied annually either as a single dose of 4–48 kg/ha or in four separate doses of 1·12 kg/ha. From 1969 the treatments were split so that the herbicide was applied (a) to the soil surface, (b) to living vegetation. From 1970 to 1972 inclusive, half of each plot receiving four applications per year was rotary cultivated shortly after each spraying to study whether incorporation influenced persistence. Analysis of soil samples taken to a depth of 36 cm in 1971 and 1973 showed that essentially all the applied paraquat was still present. Most of the paraquat was found in the upper 5-cm layer but significant amounts had reached the 25–36-cm layer. In a supplementary laboratory experiment soil taken from the plots and from two other fields was incubated with paraquat at concentrations equivalent to c 50, 100 and 150% of the ‘strong adsorption capacity’. The reduction in paraquat extracted by saturated NH4Cl ranged from 10 to 35% over a period of 17 weeks showing that the microflora of these soils were capable of degrading paraquat slowly if at all. It is concluded that paraquat may be broken down only slowly if at all in the soil under Soil conditions. Persistance à long terme du paraquat dans un limon sableux.Une expérience au champ de longue durée a été mise en place en 1967 pour évaluer la persistance dans le sol du paraquat dichlorure appliqué chaque année, soit à la dose unique de 4,48 kg/ha, soit en 4 doses séparées de 1,12 kg/ha. Depuis 1969, les traitements ont été divisés, l'herbicide étant appliqué (a) soil sur le sol (b) soit sur la végétation. De 1970 à 1972 inclus. la moitié de chacune des parcelles recevant quatre applications par an, a été travailée au rotavator peu de temps aprés chaque traitement, pour étudier I'inlluence de l'incorporation sur la persistance. L'analyse d'échantillons de sol prélevés à une profondeur de 36 cm en 1971 et en 1973 a montré que pratiquement tout le paraquat appliquéétait encore présent. La plus grande partie du paraquat a tit trouvfée dans 5 couche des 5 premiers centimétres mais de quantités significatives avaient atteint le niveau 25–36 cm. Dans une expérience supplémentaire au laboratoire, le sol prélevé dans les parcelles traitées et dans deux autres champs a été mis à incuber avec du paraquat a des concentrations équivalents à 50, 100 et 150% de la ‘capacitéélevée d'ad-sorption’. La réduction du paraquat extrait par NH4Cl saturé s'est étundue de 10 à 35% pour une période de 17 semaines, montrant que la microflore de ces sols était capable de dégrader lentement, sinon pas du tout, le paraquat. II en est conclu que le paraquat, si tani est qu'il puisse etre dégradé dans le sot, ne l'est seulement que lentement dans des conditions de plein champ. Langzeit-Persistenz von Paraquat in einem sandigen Lehmboden Um die Persistenz von Paraquat-Dichtorid im Boden zu erfassen, wurde 1967 ein Langzeit-Feidvcrsuch angelegt. Das Herbizid wurde jährlich, entweder in einer einmaligen Gabe von 4,48 kg/ha, oder in vier getrennten Gaben mit jeweils 1,12 kg/ha angewendet. Von 1969an wurden die Behandlungen geteilt, so dass (a) das Herbizid aufdie Bodenoberfläche und (b) auf die Vegetation apprziert wurde. Von 1970 bis ein-schliesslich 1972 wurden die Parzellen die viermal im Jahr behandelt wurden jeweils kurz nach dem Spritzen gefräst um die Wirkung der Einarbeitung auf die Herbizidpersistenz zu erfassen. Die Untersuchung von Bodenproben die 1971 und 1973 bis zu einer Tiefe von 36 cm gezogen wurden zeigten, dass praktisch die gesamte ausgebrachte Menge an Paraquat noch vorhanden war. Der grösste Teil hefand sich in den obersten 5 cm, aber beträchtliche Mengen drangen bis in die 25–36 cm Bodenschichi ein. In einem zusätzlichcn Labor-versuch wurde Boden vom Versuchsfeld und von zwei weiteren Standorten mit Paraquat versetzt, so dass die Konzentrationen etwa 50, 100 und 150% der 'strong adsorption capacity’ entsprachen. Wenn dann Paraquat mit gesältigtem NH4CI extrahiert wurde, dann betrug die Abnahme nach 17 Woehen zwischen 10 und 35%, was darauf hinweist, dass die Mikroflora der Böden Paraquat nur langsam. wenn uberhaupt abzubauen vermochte. Die Ergebnisse lassen den Schluss zu, dass Paraquat unter Freilandhedingungen im Boden nur langsam oder gar nicht abgebaut wird.

Notes: Grasshoppers are a dominant group of herbivorous insects throughout the world, and their high diversity, functional importance, sensitivity to disturbance and ease of sampling makes them potentially useful bioindicators for land management. In Australia, however, the dynamics of grasshopper assemblages are extremely poorly understood. Here we describe the responses of grasshopper (Acridoidea, Eumastacoidea and Tettigonioidea) assemblages in the Kakadu region of the Northern Territory, Australia to disturbance associated with mining. Three questions were addressed in this study: (i) do local grasshopper assemblages show consistent responses to disturbance?; (ii) can particular species or functional groups be identified that are reliable indicators of ecological disturbance?; and (iii) to what extent do the responses of grasshopper assemblages merely reflect those of vegetation? Grasshoppers were sampled at 26 sites located in and around the Ranger uranium mine, representing three habitat types with respect to degree of disturbance: (i) ‘natural’ (10 sites representing a range of ‘undisturbed’ savanna habitats); (ii) ‘disturbed’ (10 sites representing a range of disturbances, but with soil intact); and (iii) ‘waste rock’ (six sites undergoing rehabilitation on a constructed landform). A total of 56 grasshopper species in 46 genera was recorded during the study, with site species richness ranging from five to 20. There were no significant differences between habitat types in site species diversity, but multivariate analysis demonstrated a strong correspondence between grasshopper species composition and degree of habitat disturbance. Using Indicator Species Analysis, six species and one functional group were identified as significant indicators of habitat type in relation to disturbance. Grasshopper responses were correlated with that of vegetation, but grasshopper assemblages showed apparently meaningful differentiation among disturbed sites that was not evident on the basis of floristic data. Our results demonstrate that grasshopper assemblages respond to disturbances associated with human land use and that these responses do not simply reflect those of plants. Grasshoppers are therefore potentially useful bioindicators of ecological disturbance in Australia, but further work is required on the extent to which their responses reflect general ecological change.

Notes: This paper reports on the use of Jack bean meal as an alternative source of urease for direct coagulation casting (DCC) processes. Al2O3 suspensions were prepared to compare the effect of Jack bean meal and pure urease on the hydrolysis of urea, the slurry coagulation rate, and the mechanical properties of consolidated bodies. Results indicate that the Jack bean meal is a promising economic alternative for the consolidation of ceramic parts, mainly because of its lower susceptibility to enzyme deactivation when exposed to room temperature and relatively humid environments.

Notes: Experimental data on the phase equilibria between the high-critical-temperature (high-Tc) superconducting compound 2212 and silver have been reviewed and assessed. Using these data, the interaction parameter of the Gibbs energy function of the liquid phase was optimized via the CALPHAD method. The calculation yields very good agreement with the experiment. This work is the final step in the optimization of the Ag-Bi-Sr-Ca-Cu-O system.

Notes: Coagulation methods originally developed for colloidal processing were investigated in this paper as alternative approaches to consolidate high-alumina refractory castables free of hydraulic binders (zero-cement). Three in situ reactions based on the direct coagulation casting (DCC) technique were evaluated to promote castable coagulation: (1) the autocatalytic hydrolysis of gluconic acid lactone, (2) the gradual dissolution of hydroxyaluminum diacetate particles in water, and (3) the enzyme-catalyzed hydrolysis of urea. The coagulating behavior of castables and matrix-representative suspensions was investigated with the help of zeta potential analysis, pH measurements, castable free-flow evaluation, and oscillatory rheological tests. The enzyme-catalyzed hydrolysis of urea seemed to be the most appropriate mechanism to promote the coagulation of initially self-flow zero-cement refractory compositions.

Notes: This paper proposes a novel direct casting method of alumina suspensions using alginic acid salt and the coagulation agent hydroxyaluminum diacetate (HADA). These two compounds allowed the consolidation of alumina suspensions through a simultaneous time-delayed physical and chemical gelation process. The physical gel was formed by the gradual release of aluminum and acetate ions from the HADA in water, while the chemical gel originated from the cross-linking of alginate molecules by the polyvalent aluminum ions. Wet alumina green bodies displayed enhanced mechanical properties with the addition of minimal contents of organic material (〈0.1 wt%).

Notes: Alkali-swellable thickeners (ASTs) such as Acusol 820 and Acusol 830, as well as poly(acrylic acid) homopolymers of various molar mass, have been used as additives in aqueous electrostatically stabilized alumina suspensions. These suspensions have been destabilized by internal enzyme-catalyzed reactions (a direct coagulation casting process) to form viscoelastic solids. The ASTs increase the strength and modulus of the wet green bodies on coagulation. The effect of their molecular architecture on the mechanical properties of wet particulate networks has been studied. At low pH (pH 4.5), ASTs are small insoluble polymer particles that have only minor influence on the low viscosity of the high-solids-loading suspensions. After shifting the pH toward the isoelectric point of α-Al2O3, the suspension coagulates and the AST polymer particles swell, thereby increasing the compressive strength and modulus of the alumina-particulate wet green bodies. The presence of small amounts of ASTs (0.4 wt%, based on the solids loading) results in a 10-fold increase in the strength of the wet green bodies. The compressive strength of the wet green bodies that contain ASTs correlates with the size of the expanded AST molecules at pH 9. A possible explanation is that swelling of the AST particles locally decreases the interparticle distance, which leads to increased van der Waals forces between the ceramic particles.