Tilt Sensor with Recalibration Feature Based on MEMS Accelerometer.

The main errors of MEMS accelerometers are misalignments of their sensitivity axes, thermal and long-term drifts, imprecise factory calibration, and aging phenomena. In order to reduce these errors, a two-axial tilt sensor comprising a triaxial MEMS accelerometer, an aligning unit, and solid cubic housing was built. By means of the aligning unit it was possible to align the orientation of the accelerometer sensitive axes with respect to the housing with an accuracy of 0.03°. Owing to the housing, the sensor could be easily and quickly recalibrated, and thus errors such as thermal and long-term drifts as well as effects of aging were eliminated. Moreover, errors due to local and temporal variations of the gravitational acceleration can be compensated for. Procedures for calibrating and aligning the accelerometer are described. Values of thermal and long-term drifts of the tested sensor, resulting in tilt errors of even 0.4°, are presented. Application of the sensor for monitoring elevated loads is discussed.

Oxygen storage properties of hexagonal HoMnO3+δ.

Structural and oxygen content changes of hexagonal HoMnO3+δ manganite at the stability boundary in the perovskite phase have been studied by X-ray diffraction and thermogravimetry using in situ oxidation and reduction processes at elevated temperatures in oxygen and air. The oxygen storage properties during structural transformation between stoichiometric Hex0 and oxygen-loaded Hex1 phases, transition temperatures and kinetics of the oxygen incorporation and release are reported for materials prepared by the solid-state synthesis and high-impact mechanical milling. Long-term annealing experiments have shown that the Hex0 (δ = 0) → Hex1 (δ ≈ 0.28) phase transition is limited by the surface reaction and nucleation of the new phase for HoMnO3+δ 15MM. The temperatures of Hex0 ↔ Hex1 transitions have been established at 290 °C and 250 °C upon heating and cooling, respectively, at a rate of 0.1° min-1, also indicating that the temperature hysteresis of the transition could possibly be as small as 10 °C in the equilibrium. Ball-milling of HoMnO3+δ has only a small effect on improving the speed of the reduction/oxidation processes in oxygen, but importantly, allowed for considerable oxygen incorporation in air at a temperature range of 220-255 °C after prolonged heating. The Mn 2p XAS results of the Mn valence in oxygen loaded samples support the oxygen content determined by the TG method. The magnetic susceptibility data of the effective Mn valence gave inconclusive results due to dominating magnetism of the Ho3+ ions. Comparison of HoMnO3+δ with previously studied DyMnO3+δ indicates that a tiny increase in the ionic size of lanthanide has a huge effect on the redox properties of hexagonal manganites and that practical properties could be significantly improved by synthesizing the larger average size (Y,Ln)MnO3+δ manganites.

Tunable multiferroic order parameters in Sr1- x Ba x Mn1- y Ti y O3.

Responding to the rapidly increasing demand for efficient energy usage and increased speed and functionality of electronic and spintronic devices, multiferroic oxides have recently emerged as key materials capable of tackling this multifaceted challenge. In this paper, we describe the development of single-site manganese-based multiferroic perovskite materials with modest amounts of nonmagnetic Ti substituted at the magnetic Mn site in Sr1- x Ba x Mn1- y Ti y O3 (SBMTO). Significantly enhanced properties were achieved with ferroelectric-type structural transition temperatures boosted to ∼430K. Ferroelectric distortions with large spontaneous polarization values of ∼30µC/cm2, derived from a point charge model, are similar in magnitude to those of the prototypical nonmagnetic BaTiO3. Temperature dependence of the system's properties was investigated by synchrotron x-ray powder diffraction and neutron powder diffraction at ambient and high pressures. Various relationships were determined between the structural and magnetic properties, Ba and Ti contents, and T N and T C. Most importantly, our results demonstrate the large coupling between the magnetic and ferroelectric order parameters and the wide tunability of this coupling by slight variations of the material's stoichiometry.

Testing the Chemical/Structural Stability of Proton Conducting Perovskite Ceramic Membranes by in Situ/ex Situ Autoclave Raman Microscopy.

Ceramics, which exhibit high proton conductivity at moderate temperatures, are studied as electrolyte membranes or electrode components of fuel cells, electrolysers or CO2 converters. In severe operating conditions (high gas pressure/high temperature), the chemical activity towards potentially reactive atmospheres (water, CO2, etc.) is enhanced. This can lead to mechanical, chemical, and structural instability of the membranes and premature efficiency loss. Since the lifetime duration of a device determines its economical interest, stability/aging tests are essential. Consequently, we have developed autoclaves equipped with a sapphire window, allowing in situ Raman study in the 25-620 °C temperature region under 1-50 bar of water vapor/gas pressure, both with and without the application of an electric field. Taking examples of four widely investigated perovskites (BaZr0.9Yb0.1O3-δ, SrZr0.9Yb0.1O3-δ, BaZr0.25In0.75O3-δ, BaCe0.5Zr0.3Y0.16Zn0.04O3-δ), we demonstrate the high potential of our unique set-up to discriminate between good/stable and instable electrolytes as well as the ability to detect and monitor in situ: (i) the sample surface reaction with surrounding atmospheres and the formation of crystalline or amorphous secondary phases (carbonates, hydroxides, hydrates, etc.); and (ii) the structural modifications as a function of operating conditions. The results of these studies allow us to compare quantitatively the chemical stability versus water (corrosion rate from ~150 µm/day to less than 0.25 µm/day under 200-500 °C/15-80 bar PH2O) and to go further in comprehension of the aging mechanism of the membrane.

Highly porous titanium scaffolds for orthopaedic applications.

For many years, the solid metals and their alloys have been widely used for fabrication of the implants replacing hard human tissues or their functions. To improve fixation of solid implants to the surrounding bone tissues, the materials with porous structures have been introduced. By tissue ingrowing into a porous structure of metallic implant, the bonding between the implant and the bone has been obtained. Substantial pore interconnectivity, in metallic implants, allows extensive body fluid transport through the porous implant. This can provoke bone tissue ingrowth, consequently, leading to the development of highly porous metallic implants, which could be used as scaffolds in bone tissue engineering. The goal of this study was to develop and then investigate properties of highly porous titanium structures received from powder metallurgy process. The properties of porous titanium samples, such as microstructure, porosity, Young's modulus, strength, together with permeability and corrosion resistance were investigated. Porous titanium scaffolds with nonhomogeneous distribution of interconnected pores with pore size in the range up to 600 µm in diameter and a total porosity in the range up to 75% were developed. The relatively high permeability was observed for samples with highest values of porosity. Comparing to cast titanium, the porous titanium was low resistant to corrosion. The mechanical parameters of the investigated samples were similar to those for cancellous bone. The development of high-porous titanium material shows high potential to be modern material for creating a 3D structure for bone regeneration and implant fixation.

Sr(4 + n)Mn(3+)(4)Mn(4+)(n)O(10 + 3n): a new homologous series of oxygen-vacancy-ordered perovskites built from Mn(3+)O(5) pyramids and Mn(4+)O(6) octahedra.

A new homologous series of oxygen-vacancy-ordered perovskites with the formula Sr_{4+n}Mn;{3+}_4Mn;{4+}_nO_{10+3n} is proposed based on the structural trends found for the recently described Sr(4)Mn(4)O(10), Sr(5)Mn(5)O(13) and Sr(7)Mn(7)O(19) compounds. These compounds correspond to n = 0 (Sr(4)Mn;{3+}_4O(10)), n = 1 (Sr(5)Mn;{3+}_4Mn(4+)O(13)) and n = 3 (Sr(7)Mn;{3+}_4Mn;{4+}_3O(19)) members of the series. A linear set of four Mn(3+)O(5) pyramids placed on the ab plane and pointing along the +x, -y, +y, -x directions defines the n = 0 building block for the series. The nth members can be constructed from blocks containing four pyramids and n Mn(4+)O(6) octahedra with 2/m symmetry. Compounds in the related systems CaMnO(x) and LaCuO(x), containing Mn(3+) and Cu(2+) pyramids and Mn(4+) and Cu(3+) octahedra have also been found to be members of the series. The size and charge of the A-site cation and the apical distortion of the pyramidally coordinated B-site cation are shown to be important factors in the stabilization of certain members of the series. A qualitative explanation for the absence of some of the possible members of the series is presented based on these factors.