The oxide films formed on SUS430 stainless steel under various conditions have been investigated by using infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy. A comparison of the spectra of the samples oxidized in moist atmosphere with those oxidized in dry atmosphere shows the important role of water vapor at 873 and 973 K. The abnormally rapid oxidation at 873 K in moist atmosphere with low oxygen pressure is characterized by rapid increasing of the intensity of the absorption band at about 550 cm−1. The frequency of this band shifts to a lower wave number as its intensity increases.

The heat capacities of single phase samples of Ba2DyCu3O7 and Ba2ErCu3O7 which were prepared by the method of powder-calcination have been measured over the temperature range 13–300 K by using a laboratory-made adiabatic calorimeter. A typical second-order type of anomaly was observed due to the superconducting phase transition at 92.5 K in Ba2DyCu3O7 and at 91.2 K in Ba2ErCu3O7. From the heat capacity jump at the transition temperature, the electronic heat capacity coefficient was estimated as 30 mJ·K-2.mol1 for Ba2ErCu3O7 and 32 mJ·K-2. mol-1 for Ba2ErCu3O7. Large differences were found in the low temperature heat capacities between the two samples, which were analyzed on the basis of Schottky-type of anomalies owing to the magnetic ions of Dy and Er.