The results of computer simulations of the absorption of diffracted X-rays in single-phase powders measured at cylindrical (or Debye–Scherrer capillary) geometry taking into consideration the size of the powder particles are presented. The samples are simulated by random dense packings of equal spheres. The calculations are carried out for different values of the ratio, Da, of particle size to cylinder diameter, the product, κ, of linear absorption coefficient and cylinder radius and the scattering angle 2θ. Strong deviations of the absorption factor from the values for the ideal case of very fine particles are found in the region 0≤2θ≤30°, and for medium and high values of κ,(κ≥5) and Da (Da≥0.002). The consequences for the experiment are discussed.

Use of the program NBS*AIDS83 to modify data in the ICDD Powder Diffraction File (PDF) has led to substantial changes in card entries for Sets 1-33, in contrast to the previous policy of the International Centre for Diffraction Data of republishing cards where data has been significantly altered. Further changes to data have been revealed in the use of the database with the Philips PLUS 37 search and retrieval system.

Two homeotypical phases occur at the mole fraction xAl≈0.75 in the ternary system Co-Ni-Al: the pseudoternary intermetallic compound (Co, Ni)4Al13(h) (space group C2/m, Pearson code mC(34-1.8)) [Notation, according to Parthé et al. (1993). TYPIX, Standardized Data and Crystal Chemical Characterization of Inorganic Structure Types (Springer, Berlin), Vol. 2, p. 269, Vol. 3, p. 1055]. For structures with partly occupied sites, the hybrid Pearson code is given as (the sum of the multiplicities of all, fully or partly occupied sites in the unit cell)−(number of structural vacancies in the unit cell)], and the ternary compound Co2NiAl9 (Immm, oI96). Powder diffraction data are reported for these materials or phases—from the viewpoint of phase equilibria—immediately neighboring phases.

Sm(OH)2NO3, was prepared by hydrolysis of the corresponding nitrate, leading to a product which is insoluble in water. IR-spectroscopy showed a comparison with the analogous Gd-compound. The temperature of decomposition to SmONO3 is below 573 K. The structure was refined by the Rietveld technique in space group P21, (Z=2), a=6.3852(3) Å, b=3.7784(2) Å, c=7.7402(3) Å, β=97.572(3)°, V=185.11 Å3, Rp=4.9, Rwp=6.3, RB=4.0. The compound is isotypic with Ln(OH)2NO3 (Ln=Pr,Nd,Gd). Infrared spectra and thermal decomposition data are also given for the Gd phase.

Pyrolytic graphite is frequently used as a post diffraction monochromator with powder diffractometers of the Bragg-Brentano type. Curved graphite monochromators yield high intensities and suppress efficiently fluorescent radiation except from the element which is the same as the target element of the X-ray tube. They are not, however, able to separate the Kα1 line from the Kα2 component with the X-ray targets normally used in powder diffraction. Crystals with smaller mosaic spread than graphite are needed for selecting a pure Kα1 line. Commercially available crystals which are suitable for this purpose are asymmetrically cut curved quartz and germanium monochromators of the Johansson type. Experiments have been carried out in this laboratory with two quartz monochromators and one germanium monochromator.

The synthesis at 850 °C and the structural characterization of the elpasolite structure compound Cs2NaCeCl6 is reported space group Fm3m, a = 10.943(2) Å, V = 1310.4 (Å)3, Z = 4, M = 641.64, Dx = 3.252, and Dexp = 3.21. Powder diffraction data from a Rietveld structure refinement, are reported.

The low temperature modifications of the normal paraffins n-CnH2n+2crystallize in three groups (Broadhurst, 1962). The structure is triclinic for n even, 6 < n < 26 (Muller and Lonsdale, 1948; Nyburg and Luth, 1972); orthorhombic for n odd, 11 < n < 39 (Smith, 1953; Teare, 1959); and monoclinic for n even, 28 < n < 36 (Shearer and Vand, 1956). In all of these structures the hydrocarbon chains are linear and in trans configuration. The chains are parallel to one another, the terminal methyl groups forming the surfaces of lamella which are more or less perpendicular to the chain axis. For n < ca.36, it is apparently the interlamellar interaction between end methyl groups which dictates the symmetry. For longer chains the structure is usually orthorhombic and comparable to the structure of highly crystalline polyethylenes. Chains do not fold (as they undoubtedly do in polyethylenes) unless n is greater than 102 (Bidd and Whiting, 1985; Ungar and Keller, 1986).

The several crystal forms differ in the manner in which the nearest neighbor chains are related to one another. In the triclinic lattices the packing is such that a triclinic sublattice containing one methylene group is evident. In the other modifications the sublattice is orthorhombic and contains four methylene groups. If the overall symmetry is orthorhombic the long chain axes are perpendicular to the interlamellar surface; the x and y translations, perpendicular to the long axis, are common to both cells. If the nearest neighbor chains are displaced by two or four methylene groups along the chain axis, overall monoclinic symmetry results (Sullivan and Weeks (1970)).

X-ray powder data and crystal data for the ortho (2 –), meta (3 – ) and para (4 – ) isomers of nitroaniline, NO2C6H4NH2, are reported. The results are compared to existing PDF patterns.

Editor's Note: As part of our plan to reprint previously published papers of great historical interest, the editorial board is pleased to reproduce the following paper by Hanawalt, Frevel and Rinn. This paper was originally published in Volume 10 (1938) of the Analytical Ediction of “Industrial and Engineering Chemistry” and is considered by most diffractionists to be the classic work in qualitative identification of multiphase polycrystalline material. The original publication carried a foreword written by the editor of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry. This foreword ended with this prophetic statement:

“There is reason to believe that this publication, which is made possible in this form by the generous financial assistance of the Dow Chemical Company, will serve to bring this method of analysis into general use in industrial and consulting analytical laboratories.”

The objectives of this paper are: 1. to up-date the manual search system and index book described in 1936 and 1938; 2. to introduce a “work form” which serves to guide the analyst through the procedural steps involved in using the manual search index book and 3. to review briefly the literature on manual search/match systems.

Two of the basic features of the 1936 design of the search index book were first, to divide the “d” range into arbitrarily sized “groups” and “subgroups” rather than using a scale of continuously decreasing “d” values, and second, to use the “d” values of the strongest lines of the diffraction pattern in order of decreasing intensity in making the entries of the standard patterns in the search index book. These two features are still the basis of the design of the 1986 Hanawalt Search Manual published by the JCPD S International Centre for Diffraction Data.

The original use of the search index book at Dow Chemical was to lead the analyst to corresponding patterns among the thousands of Debye films which had been produced and placed on file. The “d” values and intensities of only the three or four strongest lines of the pattern were measured. Comparisons and indentifications were then made visually simply by holding the concerned films together in juxtaposition. Unfortunately, attempts to reproduce usable copies of such Debye films for general reference have not been satisfactory. Therefore, for general usage the diffraction data carried by the film negative or also the data from a diffractometer trace are recorded using the numerical values of the “d” spacings and intensities. These tables of numerical data are then used to represent the diffraction patterns. The search index book for general usage must therefore deal entirely with these numerical values.

The formation of the solid solutions in the (La1−xGdx)OCl series was studied by X-ray powder diffraction (XPD) at room temperature in the 2θ region between 6.5 and 120°. The Rietveld profile refinement analyses of the XPD patterns were carried out with the background, unit cell, atomic position, isotropic temperature, and Gaussian profile form parameters refined freely. All (La1−xGdx)OCl samples possessed the tetragonal PbFCl-type structure with P4/nmm as the space group (Z=2). The unit cell parameters a and c evolve smoothly through the series and no clustering of the Gd3+ ions was observed according to Vegard's law. The solid solubility exists throughout the whole series. The valence bond model was used to estimate the relative stabilities of the different (La1−xGdx)OCl solid solutions. The global instability index (GII) which equals to the deviation between the formal valence and the sum of the calculated valence bonds of each atom in the asymmetric unit was used as a tool in the assessment. In the (La1−xGdx)OCl series, GII increases both from the end and the beginning of the series toward the middle indicating diminishing stability. No breakdown of the La–Gd solid solution could be verified experimentally although the GII value for the (La0.4Gd0.6)OCl composition exceeds the limit of 0.2 which should mean the collapse of the structure. However, the diffraction reflections were found somewhat broader in the middle of the series indicating possible local distortion or disorder.

X-ray powder diffraction data of CoSi are reported. The sample was prepared by an arc melting process and has a cubic structure (space group P213, space group No. 198) with lattice parameter a=4.4427 Å, Dx=6.591 gcm−3, Z=4, and I/Ic=1.03.