X-ray powder diffraction patterns for 18 phases of 14 well-known explosives have been developed in our laboratory. Experimental patterns were obtained with an automated diffractometer for those phases for which samples were available. For phases with known crystal structures, patterns were calculated from the lattice and atomic positional parameters for comparison with the experimental patterns. Eleven of the experimental patterns have been included in Powder Diffraction File (PDF) Sets 40 and 42; four have been accepted but not yet issued. A final experimental pattern shall be submitted this year. In two other instances, since samples of sufficient quantity and/or quality were not available, calculated patterns alone are considered here. A review of the development of the crystallographic knowledge of these substances is given here together with a critique of the patterns and other known patterns of these phases.

Reaction of tungsten (W) with SF6 has been studied using two types of samples. The first type (type I) consisted of rods fabricated by a drawing process and the second type (type II) consisted of square plates cut from a hot pressed billet. After the corrosion experiments, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) examination of the type I sample indicated the presence of deep pits parallel to the rod axis. X-ray analysis of these rods showed preferred orientation. Pole figure measurement was subsequently conducted to quantify the preferred orientation by using neutron diffraction. A significant orientation effect on the corrosion process was found, possibly originating from the considerable granular elongation parallel with the rod axis produced during the fabrication process. In contrast, the type II sample showed no directional corrosion and insignificant preferred orientation.

The X-ray powder diffraction patterns for two N-substituted tetrahydroquinolines are reported. N-(α-Chloroacetyl)-6-methoxy-3,4-dihydro-4-methylspiro[cyclohexane-1′,2(1H)quinoline], C18H24ClNO2, and N-(α-chloroacetyl)-6-chloro-3,4-dihydro-4-methylspiro[cyclohexane-1′,2(1H)-quinoline], C17H21Cl2NO are monoclinic, with refined unit cell parameters a=1.4471(3), b=0.9600(4), c=1.1948(3) nm, β=93.21(2)°, V=1.6573(6) nm3, Z=4, Dx=1.29 gcm−3, and a=1.4487(3), b=0.9878(2), c=1.1390(2) nm, β=91.66(2)°, V=1.6294(4) nm3, Z=4, and Dx=1.32 gcm−3, respectively, with space group P21/n (No. 14).

Key words: powder diffraction data, spirotetrahydroquinolines.

Methods of the structure analysis were used to determine the incommensurate structure modulation in a sample of hauyne from Laacher Lake, Germany. The modulation parameter n=0.145, determined using single-crystal patterns, was refined using powder data. An indexing technique for additional reflections (satellites) using a parameter subcell and Miller index main reflections was suggested. Crystallographic characteristics of the hauyne of Laacher Lake are compared with that of hauyne from Sacrafano (Italy) and with lazurtes from Baikal, Pamir, and Afghanistan. We found that the crystal structure modulation can serve as a source of paragenesis information on sulphate bearing sodalte group minerals.

Fourteen reference patterns of oxide ceramics are reported. Included in the fourteen reference patterns are data for two high critical temperature superconducting oxide related phases (BaCuHo2O5 and Ba2YCu3O6.56). The general methods of producing these X-ray powder diffraction reference patterns were described previously in this journal (Vol. 1, No. 1, pg. 40 (1986)).

The crystallographic data of YBa2Cu3O7−δ, Y2BaCuO5, BaCu2O2, and YBa4Cu3O9 at high temperatures and p(O2)<10 Pa have been derived on the basis of HT-XRD measurements. Whereas Y2BaCuO5 expands nearly isotropically, YBa2Cu3O7−δ and BaCu2O2 show anisotropic expansions. Furthermore, the first decomposition step of the considered compounds at p(O2)<10 Pa was observed. BaCu2O2 melts congruently at T ≍ 1273 K and Y2BaCuO5 decomposes via a peritectic reaction into Y2O3, Y2BaO4 and melts at T ≍ 1323 K. A solid-state reaction into Y2BaCuO5 and BaCu2O2 was indicated for YBa2Cu3O7−δ at T ≍ 1123 K. Because YBa4Cu3O9 becomes unstable at T ≍ 1123 K, this compound cannot be formed by the primary decomposition reaction of YBa2Cu3O7−δ

The X-ray powder pattern of the Pb-free 110 K superconductor phase Bi2Sr2Ca2Cu3Oz has many lines which belong to an incommensurate supercell. Using electron diffraction photographs as a guide, an indexing scheme for the powder pattern has been obtained. The unit cell has a geometrically orthorhombic subcell a = 5.411 (2), b = 5.420(2), c = 37.29(2) Å. Supercell reflections have indices that are derived from the subcell k, l indices by addition of ± q, where q = nδb + nεc: n = 1,2 …; ε = 0.211(2); ε = −0.78(1).

Several compositions of the solid solutions (CaxSr1−x)CuO2 and (CaxSr1−x)2CuO3, both of which are found as minor phases in the high-temperature superconductors, were prepared by solid-state reaction. X-ray powder-diffraction patterns for three compositions of (CaxSr1−x)CuO2 and two for (CaxSr1−x)2CuO3 are presented.

The crystal structure of disilver(1+) pentacyanonitrosylferrate(2−) was studied by X-ray powder diffraction. IR and Mössbauer spectroscopies, thermogravimetric analysis and density measurements were also carried out. This compound is monoclinic, and its lattice parameters are: a=10.986(3) Å, b=6.4080(10) Å, c=7.4545(19) Å, α=δ=90°, β=102.54°(2).