Electron and light microscopy studies on the domain structures of Zn3B7O13Cl, Zn3B7O13Br and Zn3B7O13I ferroic boracites
The domain structures of Zn3B7O13Cl, Zn3B7O13Br and Zn3B7O13I boracite single crystals were studied by means of polarized light in conjunction with electron microscopy. Single crystals of the three compositions were grown by chemical transport reactions in closed quartz ampoules, at a temperature of 900 °C and were examined by polarizing optical microscopy (PLM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). For both PLM and SEM, the same as‐grown samples were used without having to resort to metallization of the crystal faces. For TEM the single crystals were crushed and mounted on holey carbon films. Comparative electron microscope images were useful for revealing the domain structure of these ferroelectric/ferroelastic materials previously observed between the crossed polars of an optical microscope. X‐ray diffraction analysis of the pulverized crystals was performed for this triad of halogen boracites containing zinc as a common metal.
A new method for the study of antiparallel ferroelectric domains
Abstract Beam-coupling topography is a non-destructive holographic technique for spatially resolved recording of hysteresis loops and for imaging of domains. Its basic principle is interference of rays diffracted from a holographic grating with collinear, transmitted ones. Full domain contrast and noise suppression is achieved by appropriate control of intensity and phase of the interfering beams. The method is applied to antiparallel a-domains in (Sr0.61Ba0.39)Nb2O6:Ce.
Economics of General-Purpose Assembly Robots
Summary A study of the comparative economics of various automatic assembly systems using general-purpose assembly robots is described. In the study, use is made of a “typical” candidate assembly whose profile is obtained from statistical analysis of actual products submitted by interested companies. It is shown that the choice of assembly system and the various parts presentation methods depends on three main factors, namely: the annual production volume per shift, the number of parts in the product and the equipment payback period.