A suitable external standard method which was first described by O’Connor and Raven (1988) (“Application of the Rietveld refinement procedure in assaying powdered mixtures,” Powder Diffr. 3, 2–6) was used to determine the quantitative phase composition of a commonly used Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC). The method was also applied in order to determine amorphous contents in OPC. Also investigated were the impact of atomic displacement parameters and the microstrain on the calculated amorphous content. The investigations yielded evidence that said parameters do indeed exert an influence on the calculated amorphous content. On the basis of the data produced we can conclude that the method used is entirely to be recommended for the examination of OPC. No significant amorphous content could be proven in the OPC used.

Synthetic analogues of the minerals natisite and for the first time of paranatisite were prepared hydrothermally at 200 °C in the system Na2O–TiO2–SiO2–H2O. The obtained powder x-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns were interpreted by the Powder Data Interpretation (PDI) software package. As a result improved indexing and unit cell parameters refinements of these two phases were achieved. Synthetic natisite is tetragonal, space group—P4/nmm, a=0.649 67(8) nm, c=0.508 45(11) nm, V=0.214 50(10) nm3, Z=2, Dcal=3.13 g.cm−1, F30=37.48, M20=52.79. Synthetic paranatisite is orthorhombic, space group—Pmma, a=0.983 86(29) nm, b=0.919 23(19) nm, c=0.481 84(12) nm, V=0.435 78(19) nm3, Z=1, Dcal=3.01 g.cm−1, F30=16.42, M20=29.21.

So-called alite is a solid solution of tricalcium silicate Ca3SiO5 with a few percent of impurities. It constitutes the major phase of anhydrous Portland cement. In industrial compounds, alite crystallizes into two monoclinic forms designated M1 and M3. The possibility of correlation between the crystallographic structure of the clinker and its reactivity is still an open question. The answer of such a question involves a proper quantitative analysis of the various phases—including the exact alite polymorph—of the industrial product. The rather similar structure of the two alites makes it difficult to distinguish them from their XRD patterns. This paper shows that five angular windows in the X-ray diffraction patterns can be used with synthetic alites as well as industrial compounds, to identify the nature of the actual polymorph (M1 or M3) present and the structural model to be used (with or without superstructure) in subsequent Rietveld analysis of the data.

Two adducts (NH2CH2COOH)3⋅H2BeF4(TGFb) and (NH2CH2COOH)3⋅H2SeO4(TGSe) were obtained and characterized by X-ray powder diffraction. The samples were indexed using the TREOR program [Werner, Z. Kristallogr. Kristallogeom. Kristallphys. Kristallchem. 120, 375–387 (1964)] on a monoclinic unit cell. The lattice parameters of adducts TGFb and TGSe were refined by a least-squares method using the Lattice Constant Refinement Program of the Rikagu software. The refined lattice parameters are a=9.1589(9) Å, b=12.6204(13) Å, c=5.6966(8) Å, β=105.451(9)° for TGFb. The Smith and Snyder figure [Smith and Snyder, J. Appl. Crystallogr. 12, 60–65 (1979)] is F30=39.4(0.0141,54). The refined lattice parameters a=9.5063(11) Å, b=12.8281(10) Å, c=5.8682(7) Å, β=110.353(77)° for TGSe. The Smith and Snyder figure is F30=39(0.0106,73). The powder diffraction results are in agreement with those obtained from single crystal structure data.

Weight fractions of four dominant phases (C3S, C2S, C4AF and C3A) present in the NIST Reference Portland clinkers 8486, 8487 and 8488 were estimated by a series of Rietveld refinements. Calculated powder patterns were derived from the structural data for monoclinic C3S and C2S, orthorhombic C4AF and cubic C3A. X-ray diffraction data were collected in two laboratories with two diffractometers, a reflection and a transmission one. There were no significant differences between the results of the refinements based on the data sets collected on the machines with different experimental arrangements. Estimated phase compositions were compared to the reference values found by optical microscopy (MPC). Median agreement between refined and reference values within ±5% (absolute) was found only for 8488 clinker; for 8486 and C3A-rich 8487 it was within ±10% (absolute). In the majority of the refinements numerical instabilities were detected, leading to large correlations between FWHM and temperature parameters of some phases. The results obtained for C4AF were probably influenced by the presence of possible solid solutions with the structures close to that of C4AF. Weight fractions of low abundant C3A were estimated with the largest relative errors reaching in several cases ∼100%.

The 6,8-dimethyl-cis-2-vinyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-benzo[b]azepin-4-ol (2a) (Chemical formula C14H19NO) and 8-chloro-9-methyl-cis-2-(prop-1-en-2-yl)-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-benzo[b]azepin-4-ol (2b) (Chemical formula C14H18ClNO) were prepared via the reductive cleavage of the bridged N-O bond of the corresponding 1,4-epoxytetrahydro-1-benzazepines. The X-ray powder diffraction patterns for the new compounds were obtained. The compound 2a was found to crystallize in an orthorhombic system with space group Pmn21 (No. 31), refined unit-cell parameters a = 19.422(6) Å, b = 6.512(3) Å, c = 9.757(4) Å and V = 1234.0(5) Å3. The compound 2b was found to crystallize in a monoclinic system with space group P21/m (No. 11), refined unit-cell parameters a = 17.570(4) Å, b = 8.952(3) Å, c = 14.985(4) Å, β = 101.66(2)°, and V = 2308.3(9) Å3.

Rietveld refinement using synchrotron powder X-ray diffraction data revealed that the crystal structure of synthetic Na-birnessite is triclinic (C1), not monoclinic as was previously reported. The Mn–O octahedra have elongated axial bonds, consistent with Jahn–Teller distortion resulting from partial occupancy by Mn3+. Mean Mn–O distances indicate that Mn sites are ∼2/3 Mn4+ and ∼1/3 Mn3+. The interlayer Na cations and H2O molecules occupy a split site that shows evidence of considerable disorder.

A nonlinear optical material, N-(p-methoxy benzoyl)-N′-(p-methyl phenyl) thiourea (C16H16N2O2S), has been characterized by X-ray powder diffraction. Experimental values of 2θ corrected for systematic errors, relative peak intensities, values of d, and the Miller indices of 94 observed reflections with 2θ up to 66° are reported. The powder diffraction data and the figure-of-merit are reported. The least-squares refined unit cell parameters are a=25.3291(3) Å, b=11.9478(1) Å, c=10.1407(4) Å, β=103.10(2)°, V=2988.97(6) Å3, Z=8, Dx=1.335(0) g/cm3, with space group P21(4).

CaMnO3 is a parent compound for various manganite systems exhibiting useful physical properties. Therefore, its structural and elastic properties are of general interest. In this paper, P–V equation of state of stoichiometric CaMnO3 is determined using energy dispersive X-ray diffraction. The measurements were carried out at a synchrotron beamline F2.1 (Hasylab, DESY) with samples compressed in a cubic-anvil diffraction press, MAX80, for pressures ranging up to 4.84 GPa. The experimental bulk modulus of CaMnO3, derived from the variation in the unit-cell volume with pressure by fitting the Birch–Murnaghan equation of state, is 154.4(3.3) GPa. The results are discussed on the basis of experimental and theoretical data for CaMnO3 and related compounds.

The performance of a tapered, monocapillary optic was compared to double-pinhole optics by measuring the intensity and widths of powder diffraction peaks generated using Cr Kα and Cu Kα X-rays (46 kV, 46 mA). A microdiffractometer and curved image-plate system was used to collect diffraction patterns displayed by an alumina intensity standard. A monocapillary optic with a 20 μm beam width (measured at half the maximum intensity, FWHM) was compared to collimating pinhole optics with two apertures: one with 30 μm diameter pinholes and another with 50 μm pinholes. The average, integrated intensity of the diffraction peaks in the patterns collected using the 20 μm monocapillary optic was 6 to 7 times greater than the average diffraction intensity obtained with the 50 μm pinhole collimator and 25 times greater than the intensity obtained with the 30 μm collimator. The average increase in the FWHM of the diffraction peaks in the patterns obtained with the monocapillary optic was ∼2 times greater than the pinhole collimators.

Five transition metal derivatives of maleic acid with general formula, M2+(C4H3O4−)2⋅4H2O (M2+=Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, and Zn) were prepared by slow evaporation of the aqueous solution at room temperature. Their X-ray powder diffraction patterns were recorded and evaluated. These materials are isostructural and crystallize in a triclinic unit cell. The volume of the cells vary linearly between that of the Ni complex [V=314.65(7) Å3: a=5.1769(8) Å, b=7.317(1) Å, c=9.140(2) Å, α=108.42(2)°, β=104.61(1)°, γ=92.87(1)°] and the volume of the Mn-derivative [V=330.30(8) Å3: a=5.322(1) Å, b=7.375(1) Å, c=9.752(2) Å, α=115.48(2)°, β=106.64(2)°, γ=86.63(2)°].

An organic adduct nonlinear optical material m-nitrobenzoic acid⋅diethanolamina (C11H16N2O6) has been characterized by X-ray powder diffraction. Experimental values of 2θ corrected for systematic errors, relative peak intensities, values of d, and the Miller indices of 56 observed reflections are reported. The powder diffraction data have been evaluated, and the figure of merit was found to be F30=57.9 (0.0108, 48). The unit cell parameters were refined by a least-squares fit with a Cc space group and a=22.973(5) Å, b=4.6657(6) Å, c=15.023(3) Å, β =124.45(1)°, V=1327.75 Å3; Z=4, Dx=1.37 g/cm3. The powder diffraction results are in agreement with those obtained from single crystal structure data.

An experimental X-ray diffraction (XRD) study of calcium salts of four carboxylic acids is presented. Calcium salts of propionic, butyric, valeric, and caproic acids were synthesized mixing in a mortar Ca(OH)2 with the liquid acids. Measuring the thermogravimetric analysis curves it was determined that the salts were actually monohydrates. The densities of the synthesized samples were measured using a density gradient column. The measured values for the densities were as follows: Dm(propionate)=1.38 g/cm3, Dm(butyrate)=1.30 g/cm3, Dm(valerate)=1.26 g/cm3, Dm(caproate)=1.22 g/cm3. The XRD analysis revealed that these compounds have monoclinic cells with symmetry described by the P21/a space group. Calcium propionate hydrate has cell parameters: a=2.437 51(5) nm, b=0.681 24(1) nm, c=0.591 43(1) nm, β=95.320(2)°. For calcium butyrate hydrate the cell parameters are: a=2.966 84(8) nm, b=0.680 74(2) nm, c=0.589 29(2) nm, β=95.442(3)°. The cell parameters for calcium valerate hydrate are: a=3.566 36(4) nm, b=0.682 49(1) nm, c=0.592 77(1) nm, β=107.280(1)° and for calcium caproate hydrate a=4.180 30(5) nm, b=0.682 61(1) nm, c=0.592 13(1) nm, β=110.230(1)°. The calculated density values from the XRD results, taking into account that the number of chemical formulas in the unit cell equals four, agree very well with the measured ones. It was established that the unit cell parameter a grows with the increase of the number of carbon atoms in the aliphatic chain, while parameters b and c remain almost constant. This is an indication of the stacking layer character of the structure as has been suggested for calcium stearate monohydrate. This fact points to the possibility of the refinement of the crystalline structures taking as the starting point the reported structure for calcium stearate monohydrate.

Polycrystalline lead iodide, PbI2, was recrystallized from hot water to reproducibly obtain flat plate-like crystals, which manifested extreme preferred orientation greatly favoring the 001, 002, 003, and 004 planes. Polycrystalline samples of PbI2 were intercalated with tripropylamine, simultaneously producing a “new” intercalate 001 peak at 7.791°2θ (d=1.1347 nm) and diminishing the host PbI2 001 peak at 12.67°2θ (d=0.6980 nm). This is consistent with large increases in the c direction of the unit cell associated with inserting a guest between adjacent iodide layers of the host PbI2. Experimental powder diffraction results are compared to theoretical values calculated using CRYSTALMAKER and CRYSTALDIFFRACT software