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Stormont, R. W.

Publications and source records attributed to Stormont, R. W..

Edge-defined film-fed growth of beta-alumina and Mg-substituted beta-alumina

High Na vapor pressure, peritectic decomposition, and high reactivity of the melt complicate the growth of beta-alumina crystals. These difficulties were overcome by using a high-pressure (300 psig) growth chamber, Na2O-rich melts, and Ir for all surfaces in contact with the melt. These procedures were combined with the edge-defined film-fed growth technique to produce single-crystal beta-alumina tubes and ribbons.

Morrison, A. D.↗

Single Crystal Membranes

Single crystal a- and c-axis tubes and ribbons of sodium beta-alumina and sodium magnesium beta-alumina were grown from sodium oxide rich melts. Additional experiments grew ribbon crystals containing sodium magnesium beta, beta double prime, beta triple prime, and beta quadruple prime. A high pressure crystal growth chamber, sodium oxide rich melts, and iridium for all surfaces in contact with the melt were combined with the edge-defined, film-fed growth technique to grow the single crystal beta-alumina tubes and ribbons. The crystals were characterized using metallographic and X-ray diffraction techniques, and wet chemical analysis was used to determine the sodium, magnesium, and aluminum content of the grown crystals.

Stormont, R. W.↗

Single crystal tubes of beta alumina

Edge-defined, film-fed growth process allows both tubular shapes and single crystallinity to be achieved. Beta alumina in single crystal form makes possible membranes with improved conductivities. Single crystal membranes also eliminate problems associated with electrical short circuiting of membrane due to possible sodium metal diffusion.

Stormont, R. W.↗

Development of single crystal membranes

The design and construction of a high pressure crystal growth chamber was accomplished which would allow the growth of crystals under inert gas pressures of 2 MN/sq m (300 psi). A novel crystal growth technique called EFG was used to grow tubes and rods of the hollandite compounds, BaMgTi7O16, K2MgTi7O16, and tubes of sodium beta-alumina, sodium magnesium-alumina, and potassium beta-alumina. Rods and tubes grown are characterized using metallographic and X-ray diffraction techniques. The hollandite compounds are found to be two or three-phase, composed of coarse grained orientated crystallites. Single crystal c-axis tubes of sodium beta-alumina were grown from melts containing excess sodium oxide. Additional experiments demonstrated that crystals of magnesia doped beta-alumina and potassium beta-alumina also can be achieved by this EFG technique.

Stormont, R. W.↗