X-ray powder diffraction data for Mo2.85Al1.91Si4.81 are reported. The new Mo2.85Al1.91Si4.81 compound was successfully prepared using the self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) technique. The starting atomic mixture of reactant powders was Mo+2(1−x)Si+2xAl with x=0.3. The final powder compound obtained by the SHS technique was determined to be Mo2.85Al1.91Si4.81 by ICP-AES. X-ray powder diffraction pattern of Mo2.85Al1.91Si4.81 was recorded using an X-ray powder diffractometer, Cu Kα radiation, and analyzed by automatic indexing programs. Mo2.85Al1.91Si4.81 was found to be hexagonal with a=4.6929(2) Å and c=6.5515(4) Å. The XRD results are in good agreement with those of Mo2.85Ga2Si4.15.

The solid-state phase transitions of the KNO3–NH4NO3 solid solutions have been determined by high temperature X-ray diffractometry, and lattice parameter calculation has also been performed. Ammonium nitrate (AN) is of great use for gas generators of automobile air bag systems. The X-ray diffraction results showed the single (AN) phase III from 5% to 20% KNO3 in NH4NO3 and up to 373 K, which is the important temperature range for the air bag gas generator applications. The X-ray diffraction patterns of the low temperature KNO3 phase (KN II) are from 92% to 100% KNO3 composition range and up to 393 K temperature. The high temperature KNO3 phase (KN I) showed very broad composition range from 20% up to 100% KNO3 at various temperature ranges. The lattice parameters of the NH4NO3-rich (AN III) and KNO3-rich (KN II and KN I) solid solutions have been calculated at different temperature range. The volumes of AN III phase decrease from 0.3201(4) to 0.3166(1) nm3 at room temperature and from 0.3250(6) to 0.3215(3) nm3 at 373 K as the compositions increase from 5% to 20% KNO3. The lattice constants of the hexagonal KN I phase show that there is no significant change in a direction when the temperature increases. Details of X-ray results, lattice expansions, and equations during heating are presented.

Crystal structure and phase transformation behaviors in two Ni-Mn-Ga ferromagnetic shape memory alloys (FSMAs) with compositions of Ni48Mn30Ga22 and Ni53Mn25Ga22 (at. %) as a function of temperature were investigated by in situ neutron diffraction experiments. Neutron diffraction technique proves to be highly efficient in characterizing structural transformation in Ni-Mn-Ga FSMAs, which consist of nearby elements in the periodic table. Our neutron results show that Ni48Mn30Ga22 has a cubic, L21 Heusler structure from 373 to 293 K. Its crystal structure changes into a seven-layered orthorhombic martensitic structure when cooled to 243 K, and no further transformation is observed upon cooling to 19 K. Neutron diffraction results also show that Ni53Mn25Ga22 has a tetragonal I4/mmm martensitic structure from 20 to 403 K. A pre-transformation around room temperature is observed from an abrupt jump in unit-cell volume of Ni53Mn25Ga22, which corresponds with an endothermic peak detected in a heated DSC curve.

Total reflection X-ray fluorescence analysis (TXRF) is an established technique for trace element analysis in various sample types. Restricted in the past to expensive large-scale systems, in this study the capability of a benchtop system for trace element analysis is reported. By analysing various heavy metals in raw and digested sewage as well as mercury in recycling glass, the suitability of the TXRF system for these kinds of applications could be proven. Based on this data, the benefits, disadvantages, and restrictions of the benchtop system in comparison to other trace element techniques like inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) and atomic adsorption spectroscopy (AAS) are evaluated.

X-ray powder diffraction was used to analyze and evaluate 11 samples of traditional Chinese medicine, Costustoot, found at various locations in China. A reference fingerprint pattern with 48 characteristic peaks for Costustoot was obtained from X-ray diffraction patterns of six Costustoots from the rhizomes of Aucklandia lappa Decne. The reference fingerprint pattern with 48 characteristic peaks for Costustoot was then used to evaluate the remaining five Costustoot materials. X-ray diffraction results show that the X-ray diffraction Fourier fingerprint pattern method can be used for rapid classification, identification, and quality control of Costustoots.

Europium nitride (EuN), which is potentially used as an activator for nitride luminescent materials, was prepared by direct nitridation at 600 °C in a NH3 atmosphere. X-ray powder diffraction and composition analysis of the nitrided sample were carefully conducted under an oxygen-free environment. The nitrided sample was found to be mononitride with NaCl structure. An appreciable amount of oxygen (∼0.06 a.u.) was detected, but no secondary oxide phase was found. The results suggest oxygen dissolution into the lattice of EuN.

The hydration of ordinary Portland cements (OPC) was investigated with X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) technique, mainly using synchrotron radiation. In situ experiments were performed during the first hours of hydration to study the evolution of the crystalline phases in the system. The hydration was carried out with pure water and in the presence of additives such as superplasticizers and setting accelerating agents. As soon as water is added to the cement, ettringite crystallizes. Its evolution appears to be very complex, and lattice parameters change as a function of setting time, indicating a possible chemical evolution of ettringite with time and as a function of pH. CSH (Ca-Si-hydrate) forms after a few hours from the beginning of hydration. CSH can be indirectly quantified and its evolution studied.