Influence of annealing on X-ray diffraction of natural alexandrite
In this work we present results of X-ray diffraction using powder method, on natural alexandrite samples from Minas Gerais State (Brazil), as a function of a sequence of annealing. From these measurements we determine lattice parameters before (a=9.405 Å, b=5.471 Å, c=4.409 Å) and after annealing, and its structure is confirmed as orthorhombic. Measurements done after an annealing of 15 minutes at 700 °C and for 5 hours at 1000 °C indicate the migration of atoms present in the sample through different phases, which were also identified by Microprobe Analysis (WDS). However we have verified that such migration does not modify the structure. X-ray diffraction measurements have been carried out in conjunction with optical absorption in the UV–Vis as a function of annealing.
57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy, X-ray single-crystal diffractometry, and electronic structure calculations on natural sinhalites
Natural sinhalites, MgAlBO4, from the Ratnapura District, Sri Lanka, and from Bodnar Quarry near Hamburg, Sussex Co., New Jersey, USA, have been characterized by 57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy, electron microprobe, X-ray single-crystal diffractometry and by electronic structure calculations in order to determine the oxidation state and site occupancy of iron in the sinhalite structure. The samples contain about 3.35 and 1.46 wt% of total iron oxide, respectively. The structure refinement is successful and reproduces the total iron content provided that the substitution of Mg2+ by Fe2+ on the M2 position only is assumed. The 57Fe Mössbauer spectra at 77, 293, 573 and 773 K can be resolved into two doublets with hyperfine parameters common for octahedrally coordinated high-spin Fe2+. There is no evidence for iron in the tetrahedral site. Electronic structure calculations in local spin density approximation yield hyperfine parameters for Fe2+ on the M2-site at 0, 293, 573 and 773 K in quantitative agreement with experiments. Calculated spectroscopic properties for Fe2+ on the M1-site are at variance with the experimental data and, thus, indicate that substitution of Al3+ by Fe2+, if occurring at all, must be accompanied by considerable local expansion and distortion of the M1-octahedron.
Control of reflective cracking
The first is 'fatigue' cracking of the layer. This type of cracking is the result of the application of loads on the pavement and is controlled by appropriate thickness design which 'ill not be discussed in detail here. Thickness design includes not only the design strength and thickness of the stabilised, but other design elements such as delaying reflection cracking, or limiting stresses in the stabilised layer, by adopting a minimum thickness of overlying material. This may include an unbound layer utilising the 'upside down' pavement approach. The actual thickness required of the overlying material varies but for example PIARC (Ref.1) recently reported when the thickness of coated materials exceeds 20 cm the emergence of shrinkage cracks at the surface is generally uncommon; when it is 15 cm thick, the cracks emerge at the surface, but do not shorten the life of the surface course, especially if they are sealed. This experience has been gained 'with legal axle loads of 130 kN, considerably greater than the Australian legal axle load.