Interannual variability of Mars South Polar cap

Telescopic data on the twentieth century regressions of Mars' south polar cap were reexamined for evidence of interannual variability. Several regressions, particularly that of 1956, are found to differ significantly from the mean. The possibility of correlations with major dust storms is explored

Synthesis optimization of carbon-supported ZrO2 nanoparticles from different organometallic precursors

We report here the synthesis of carbon-supported ZrO2 nanoparticles from zirconium oxyphthalocyanine (ZrOPc) and acetylacetonate [Zr(acac)4]. Using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) coupled with mass spectrometry (MS), we could investigate the thermal decomposition behavior of the chosen precursors. According to those results, we chose the heat treatment temperatures (THT) using partial oxidizing (PO) and reducing (RED) atmosphere. By X-ray diffraction we detected structure and size of the nanoparticles; the size was further confirmed by transmission electron microscopy. ZrO2 formation happens at lower temperature with Zr(acac)4 than with ZrOPc, due to the lower thermal stability and a higher oxygen amount in Zr(acac)4. Using ZrOPc at THT C900 °C, PO conditions facilitate the crystallite growth and formation of distinct tetragonal ZrO2, while with Zr(acac)4 a distinct tetragonal ZrO2 phase is observed already at THT C750 °C in both RED and PO conditions. Tuning of ZrO2 nanocrystallite size from 5 to 9 nm by varying the precursor loading is also demonstrated. The chemical state of zirconium was analyzed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, which confirms ZrO2 formation from different synthesis routes

Hydration of tricalcium aluminate in the presence of various amounts of calcium sulphite hemihydrate : Conductivity tests.

Hydration of calcium aluminate C3A (3CaO·Al2O3) in the presence of calcium sulphite hemihydrate (CaSO3·0.5H2O), with the molar ratio of substrates close to 1, produces the C3A·CaSO3·11H2O calcium monosulphite aluminate phase. Small amounts of calcium sulphite added to calcium aluminate (the ratio of CaSO3·0.5H2O/C3A equalling 0 : 1) change the rate of C3A hydration and influence the whole reaction. Reaction processes for various ratios of the C3A–CaSO3·0.5H2O mixture were examined in pure distilled water with a considerable amount of liquid W/ S=38–50 (constant W/C3A). Processes in the liquid phase were monitored with conductivity equipment, and the XRD analysis was used to identify the phases precipitated during the examined reactions