Antimicrobial activity of MgB2 powders produced via reactive liquid infiltration method

We report for the first time on the antimicrobial activity of MgB2 powders produced via the Reactive Liquid Infiltration (RLI) process. Samples with MgB2 wt.% ranging from 2% to 99% were obtained and characterized, observing different levels of grain aggregation and of impurity phases. Their antimicrobial activity was tested against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC BAA 1026, Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, and Candida albicans ATCC 10231. A general correlation is observed between the antibacterial activity and the MgB2 wt.%, but the sample microstructure also appears to be very important. RLI-MgB2 powders show better performances compared to commercial powders against microbial strains in the planktonic form, and their activity against biofilms is also very similar

Fish-tail Effect and Irreversibility Field of (Cu,C)Ba2_{2}Ca3_{3}Cu4_{4}Ox_{x}-(LiF)y_{y} superconductor

Addition of (LiF)$_{y<0.15}$, and of proper amount of (AgO)$_{z=0.45-0.8}$ as oxidizing agent, to (Cu,C)Ba$_{2}$Ca$_{3}$Cu$_{4}$O$_{10+d}$ superconductor is useful to control and shift the doping characteristics (hole density and distribution, and level of disorder) into the region where the irreversible properties, i.e. fish-tail effect (FTE) and irreversibility field H$_{irr}$, are improved. Among notable effects are the development of the second magnetization peak with a higher amplitude J$_{c}$, max and the enhancement of H$_{irr}$ at high temperatures, above a certain value T* which depends on both y$_{LiF}$ and z$_{AgO}$. The best results are obtained for the sample with y$_{LiF}$=0.1 and z$_{AgO}$=0.73. This sample preserves its single phase Cu,C-1234 composition. The influence on the FTE and H$_{irr}$ of the interplay between doping characteristics, controlled by LiF and AgO content, is discussed.Comment: 28 pages, accepted to J. Supercon

The absence of plasma in “spark plasma sintering”

Spark plasma sintering (SPS) is a remarkable method for synthesizing and consolidating a large variety of both novel and traditional materials. The process typically uses moderate uni-axial pressures (&lt;100 MPa) in conjunction with a pulsing on-off DC current during operation. There are a number of mechanisms proposed to account for the enhanced sintering abilities of the SPS process. Of these mechanisms, the one most commonly put forth and the one that draws the most controversy involves the presence of momentary plasma generated between particles. This study employees three separate experimental methods in an attempt to determine the presence or absence of plasma during SPS. The methods employed include: in-situ atomic emission spectroscopy, direct visual observation and ultra-fast in-situ voltage measurements. It was found using these experimental techniques that no plasma is present during the SPS process. This result was confirmed using several different powders across a wide spectrum of SPS conditions

The Influence of Neutron Irradiation on (B0.65C0.35)Ba1.4Sr0.6Ca2Cu3Oz Superconducting Phase: the Role of the Grain Edge

Using the transport and magnetization measurements the influence of neutron irradiation at a fluence of 5x10$^{17}$ n cm$^{-2}$ on (B0.65C0.35)Ba1.4Sr0.6Ca2Cu3Oz has been investigated. The neutron irradiation was found to decrease critical temperature and transport critical current density, increase the residual and normal state resistivity, and improve the intragranular critical current density with 1.6x10$^{57}$ A/cm$^{2}$ (at 77.3K and in the applied field up to 160 kA m) and \Delta Mirr/\Delta Mnonirr ratio (up to factor of 3) at highest field used for investigation. The field dependence of this ratio, which is below the unity at very low field but higher than 1 at high fields, correlated with the shape of the hystertic loops as well as with the change of the transport parameters after irradiation suggests the role of the irradiation induced effects on the grain edges. We discuss these effects in the framework of the Bean-Livingstone surface barriers and geometrical barriers.Comment: 12 pages, 5 figure