Structural Physical Properties Research Articles

Effect of carbon-based nanomaterials on the wave absorption properties of hollow ZnFe2O4

Hollow ZnFe2O4/carbon-based nanocomposite absorbers were successfully synthesized using a simple one-pot solvothermal process. Different methods were used to study the physical structure, microstructure, functional groups, and magnetic properties of the composite absorbers. The addition of different carbon-based nanomaterials improves the wave absorption properties in different ways. It not only improves the absorption strength, but also increases the effective absorption bandwidth. According to research findings, a maximum reflection loss of − 37.47 dB was obtained for pure hollow ZnFe2O4 at 1.6 mm, −49.17 dB for ZnFe2O4/rGO at 3.6 mm, −40.31 dB for ZnFe2O4/MWCNTs at 4.8 mm, and − 27.64 dB for ZnFe2O4/MWCNTs/rGO at 1.9 mm. The excellent electromagnetic wave absorption is attributed not only to the magnetic loss of the ferrite and the dielectric loss of the carbon-based nanomaterials, but also to the interfacial polarization between the different materials and the dipolar polarization of the residual functional groups.

Structural and optical properties of mist-CVD grown MgZnO: Effect of precursor solution composition

This study aims to investigate the effect of precursor solution composition by changing the acetic acid (AA) ratio on the growth and physical properties of MgZnO structures by mist-CVD under ozone enriched O2 atmosphere. The MgZnO structures have been grown on soda-lime as the function of the Acetic acid (AA) in the precursor with different ratios as 12.5%, 25%, and 50%. According to X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements, the (0002) diffraction peak is shown as a highly dominant peak in the grown MgZnO with 25% and 50% of AA ratio in the precursor. The surface morphology of MgZnO samples grown by precursor with different AA ratios has been examined via Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). As increased AA ratio in the precursor, the growing MgZnO density on the surface is decreased according to AFM and SEM images. The optical properties of MgZnO nanostructures have been investigated by means of UV–visible spectrophotometer measurements. For each MgZnO sample, the optical absorbance and transmittance properties have been determined. The optical band gap of MgZnO samples with different AA ratios in solution has been calculated by Tauc formula.

Adult and Larval Tracheal Systems Exhibit Different Molecular Architectures in Drosophila

Knowing the molecular makeup of an organ system is required for its in-depth understanding. We analyzed the molecular repertoire of the adult tracheal system of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster using transcriptome studies to advance our knowledge of the adult insect tracheal system. Comparing this to the larval tracheal system revealed several major differences that likely influence organ function. During the transition from larval to adult tracheal system, a shift in the expression of genes responsible for the formation of cuticular structure occurs. This change in transcript composition manifests in the physical properties of cuticular structures of the adult trachea. Enhanced tonic activation of the immune system is observed in the adult trachea, which encompasses the increased expression of antimicrobial peptides. In addition, modulatory processes are conspicuous, in this case mainly by the increased expression of G protein-coupled receptors in the adult trachea. Finally, all components of a peripheral circadian clock are present in the adult tracheal system, which is not the case in the larval tracheal system. Comparative analysis of driver lines targeting the adult tracheal system revealed that even the canonical tracheal driver line breathless (btl)-Gal4 is not able to target all parts of the adult tracheal system. Here, we have uncovered a specific transcriptome pattern of the adult tracheal system and provide this dataset as a basis for further analyses of the adult insect tracheal system.

Selective Ion Transport in Two‐Dimensional Lamellar Nanochannel Membranes

AbstractPrecise and ultrafast ion sieving is highly desirable for many applications in environment‐, energy‐, and resource‐related fields. The development of a permselective lamellar membrane constructed from parallel stacked two‐dimensional (2D) nanosheets opened a new avenue for the development of next‐generation separation technology because of the unprecedented diversity of the designable interior nanochannels. In this Review, we first discuss the construction of homo‐ and heterolaminar nanoarchitectures from the starting materials to the emerging preparation strategies. We then explore the property–performance relationships, with a particular emphasis on the effects of physical structural features, chemical properties, and external environment stimuli on ion transport behavior under nanoconfinement. We also present existing and potential applications of 2D membranes in desalination, ion recovery, and energy conversion. Finally, we discuss the challenges and outline research directions in this promising field.

Selective Ion Transport in Two-Dimensional Lamellar Nanochannel Membranes.

Precise and ultrafast ion sieving is highly desirable for many applications in environment-, energy-, and resource-related fields. The development of a permselective lamellar membrane constructed from parallel stacked two-dimensional (2D) nanosheets opened a new avenue for the development of next-generation separation technology because of the unprecedented diversity of the designable interior nanochannels. In this Review, we first discuss the construction of homo- and heterolaminar nanoarchitectures from the starting materials to the emerging preparation strategies. We then explore the property-performance relationships, with a particular emphasis on the effects of physical structural features, chemical properties, and external environment stimuli on ion transport behavior under nanoconfinement. We also present existing and potential applications of 2D membranes in desalination, ion recovery, and energy conversion. Finally, we discuss the challenges and outline research directions in this promising field.

Effects of Metal-Support Interactions and Interfaces on Catalytic Performance over M2O3- ( M = La , Al-) Supported Ni Catalysts

The metal-support interactions and their interfaces have showed great influence on catalytic activity and stability. Herein, different support of M2O3- ( M = La , Al-) supported Ni catalysts was prepared by a citric acid-assisted sol-gel method. The physical structure and chemical properties of the As-prepared catalysts were systematically characterized by various technologies. The catalytic performance was evaluated for hydrogen or syngas production by ethanol steam reforming and methane dry (CO2) reforming, respectively. The results showed that compared with Al2O3 support, the nickel supported on La2O3 possessed a smaller particle size of nickel even after high-temperature reduction. In addition, the La2O3-supported nickel catalyst had stronger metal-support interaction and higher nickel electron density as a result of higher ethanol conversion activity and stability. The ethanol conversion was maintained at 87.8% after a 3000-minute test, and the hydrogen production was as high as 6500 μmol/min. Moreover, the Ni-La2O3 catalyst also showed good activity for methane dry reforming. The initial conversion of methane and carbon dioxide was close to 90%, and the ratio of H2/CO reached 0.94. The better catalytic performance of the Ni-La2O3 catalyst was ascribed to smaller particle size of Ni, rich metal-support interfaces, more nickel electron densities, abundant strong basic sites, and strong metal-support interactions.

Nutshell Physicochemical Characteristics of Different Hazel Cultivars and Their Defensive Activity toward Curculio nucum (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

Hazel (Corylus avellana) is easily attacked by Curculio nucum L. To better understand the physiological mechanisms underlying the different resistance of cultivars to C. nucum, we determined the insect-resistant compounds, plant hormones contents, and enzyme activities in the nutshells of three hazel cultivars (DW, B21, and MZ) before (preexisting defense) and after (induced defense) C. nucum chewing. The findings demonstrated that the resistance of three hazel cultivars to C. nucum differed significantly (p < 0.05): the damage rate of MZ with 17.57% was highest, followed by DW (11.23%), and then B21 (7.15%). The contents of insect-resistant compounds (total terpenoid, tannin, total phenol, flavonoids, cellulose, and lignin) varied with hazel cultivars, both before and after C. nucum chewing, except for cellulose and lignin before induction. The level of plant hormones and defense enzyme activities of hazelnut enhanced due to C. nucum induction. Pearson correlation results revealed that the hazelnut damage rate was significantly negatively correlated with jasmonic acid (JA) (R2 = 0.812), SOD (R2 = 0.671), salicylic acid (SA) (R2 = 0.878), and terpenoids (R2 = 0.774), and significantly positively correlated with flavonoids (R2 = 0.696), celluloses (R2 = 0.501), POD (R2 = 0.758), and abscisic acid (ABA) (R2 = 0.978). The hazelnut defense to C. nucum was negatively related to cellulose contents, and not to lignin contents, but was significantly positively related to the ratio of cellulose-to-lignin (R2 = 0.703). Our results suggested that the hazel against C. nucum attack responded by improving plant hormones contents and enzyme activities in the nutshells. A particular cellulose-to-lignin ratio provides the most effective physical structural defense properties in the nutshells.

Efficient fabrication, characterization, and in vitro digestion of aerogel-templated oleogels from a facile method: Electrospun short fibers

In this work, an innovative and convenient approach was induced to construct aerogel-templated oleogels (ATO), which were simply made of camellia oil and gelatin. The freeze-dried gelatin aerogel templates were developed from uniformly dispersed electrospun short fibers (GF), which were further immersed in camellia oil within 5 min to form ATO facilely. Compared with traditional gelatin hydrogel-based (GH) aerogels, GF aerogel templates presented different micromorphology, thermal stabilities, and significant changes on infrared spectrum and secondary structure, where GF exhibited stronger internal interactions than GH. In compression tests, GH aerogels possessed strong resistance to stress while GF aerogels exhibited surprising resilient abilities. In addition, the oil adsorption capacity (OAC) and oil holding capacity (OHC) of GF aerogel templates considerably reached 125.31 g/g and 79.40%, respectively. Oleogels with different preparing methods and gelatin content presented outstanding rheological properties and in vitro digestibility. This work suggested that gelatin ATO could be fabricated from not only hydrogels but also electrospun short fibers, which owned a more desired physical structure and oil-related properties. Meanwhile, the properties of GF and GH systems could be significantly affected by the concentration of the biopolymer. • Aerogel templates were prepared from electrospun short fibers. • Oleogels were obtained by efficient oil adsorption within 5 min. • The fiber-based aerogels exhibited outstanding resilient abilities. • The oleogels showed considerable oil capacities and in vitro digestibilities.

Relaxation Model of the Relations between the Elastic Modulus and Thermal Expansivity of Thermosetting Polymers and FRPs.

This research was completed in the development of studies devoted to relations between the elastic modulus (MoE) and thermal expansivity (CTe) of different materials. This study, based on experimental data, confirmed the models of the relations between MoE and CTe under normal and heating temperatures for thermosetting epoxy polymers and glass-fiber FRPs in two variants (unfilled and filled by mineral additives), after the usual glassing and prolonged thermal conditioning (thermo-relaxation). The experiment was based on dilatometric and elastic deformation testing. Two models of MoE/CTe were tested: Barker's model and our authors relaxation model (MoE = f(CTe)), which is based on previous modelling of the non-linearity of the physical properties of polymers' supramolecular structures. The result show that the models' constants depend on composition; Barker's model is applicable only to polymers with satisfying agreement degrees in the range 10-20%; our model is applicable to polymers and FRPs with satisfying agreement degrees in the range of 6-18%.

Adsorption of Orange G Dye on Hydrophobic Activated Bentonite from Aqueous Solution

This report focusses on the modification of physical structure and chemical properties of a bentonite clay from the Hammam Boughrara region of the Maghnia district in western Algeria to maximize its adsorption capacity. The purified bentonite clay (called B) was modified, either by acid activation with 1M sulfuric acid (B-Act), or by intercalation with the cationic surfactant cetytrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB), applying a cation exchange capacity (CEC) of 100% (called B-CTAB). Modification of B was also introduced by combining these two steps consecutively, i.e., at first acid activation of B, followed by intercalation with CTAB (B-Act-CTAB). The B-Act-CTAB was obtained by H2SO4 (1M) acid activation, followed by co-adsorption of CTAB with 100% and 300% of the CEC of B-Act as precursor. In particular, a strong increase of surface area and pore volume of the modified bentonites was observed for B-Act (469.83 m²/g and 0.401 cm3g−1), B-Act-CTAB100 (267.72 m²/g and 0.316 cm3 g−1) and B-Act-CTAB300 (111.15 m²/g and 0.171 cm3g−1), compared to B (31.79 m²/g and 0.074 cm3 g−1) and B-CTAB (3.79 m²/g and 0.034 cm3 g−1), respectively. The bentonite-based adsorbents were then used to evaluate the removal efficiency of an organic molecule, the azo dye Orange G (OG), as a model for a Persistent Organic Pollutant. Freundlich, Langmuir and Sips (Langmuir–Freundlich) models were applied to analyze equilibrium isotherms, showing a good correlation between experimental data and the Freundlich model. A good agreement was obtained between experimentally obtained kinetic adsorption data and the pseudo-second-order model, allowing to evaluate rate constants. B-Act-CTAB300 can be applied as a low-cost material for removal of azo dyes, since its adsorption capacity towards OG (102.80 mg/g) exceeds largely that of B-CTAB (31.49 mg/g) and B-Act-CTAB100 (12.77 mg/g).

The dynamic relaxation form finding method aided with advanced recurrent neural network

AbstractHow to establish a self‐equilibrium configuration is vital for further kinematics and dynamics analyses of tensegrity mechanism. In this study, for investigating tensegrity form‐finding problems, a concise and efficient dynamic relaxation‐noise tolerant zeroing neural network (DR‐NTZNN) form‐finding algorithm is established through analysing the physical properties of tensegrity structures. In addition, the non‐linear constrained optimisation problem which transformed from the form‐finding problem is solved by a sequential quadratic programming algorithm. Moreover, the noise may produce in the form‐finding process that includes the round‐off errors which are brought by the approximate matrix and restart point calculating course, disturbance caused by external force and manufacturing error when constructing a tensegrity structure. Hence, for the purpose of suppressing the noise, a noise tolerant zeroing neural network is presented to solve the search direction, which can endow the anti‐noise capability to the form‐finding model and enhance the calculation capability. Besides, the dynamic relaxation method is contributed to seek the nodal coordinates rapidly when the search direction is acquired. The numerical results show the form‐finding model has a huge capability for high‐dimensional free form cable‐strut mechanisms with complicated topology. Eventually, comparing with other existing form‐finding methods, the contrast simulations reveal the excellent anti‐noise performance and calculation capacity of DR‐NTZNN form‐finding algorithm.

First results of Antarctic sea ice type retrieval from active and passive microwave remote sensing data

Abstract. Polar sea ice is one of the Earth's climate components that has been significantly affected by the recent trend of global warming. While the sea ice area in the Arctic has been decreasing at a rate of about 4 % per decade, the multi-year ice (MYI), also called perennial ice, is decreasing at a faster rate of 10 %–15 % per decade. On the other hand, the sea ice area in the Antarctic region was slowly increasing at a rate of about 1.5 % per decade until 2014, and since then it has fluctuated without a clear trend. However, no data about ice type areas are available from that region, particularly for MYI. Due to differences in the physical and crystalline structural properties of sea ice and snow between the two polar regions, it has become difficult to identify ice types in the Antarctic. Until recently,no satellite retrieval scheme was ready to monitor the distribution and temporal development of Antarctic ice types, particularly MYI, throughout the freezing season and on timescales of several years. In this study, we have adapted a method for retrieving Arctic sea ice types and partial concentrations using microwave satellite observations to fit the Antarctic sea ice conditions. The core of the retrieval method is a mathematical scheme that needs empirical distributions of the microwave brightness temperature and backscatter input parameters for the different ice types. The first circumpolar, long-term time series of Antarctic sea ice types (MYI, first-year ice, and young ice) is being established, and so far covers the years 2013–2021. Qualitative comparison with (a) synthetic aperture radar data, (b) charts of the development stage of the sea ice, and (c) the Antarctic polynya distribution data show that the retrieved ice types, in particular the MYI, are reasonable. Although there are still some shortcomings, the new retrieval allows insight into the interannual evolution and dynamics of Antarctic sea ice types for the first time. The current time series can in principle be extended backwards to start in the year 2002 and can be continued with current and future sensors.

Glomerular endothelium-inspired anticoagulant surface coating on polyethersulfone hemodialysis membrane

Chronic kidney disease caused by functional impairment of glomerular endothelial cells (GECs) is one of the etiologies of hemodialysis treatment. As a critical component of the hemodialysis process, hemodialysis membranes having been suffering from intricated modification methods. In order to solve a series of problems caused by blood incompatibility, usually triggered by rough surfaces, an anticoagulant coating with a similar physical structure and physiological properties to GECs was prepared on the polyethersulfone (PES) membrane. The smooth glomerular endothelium-like coating was obtained by a hydrated layer formed by tannic acid (TA) and α-lipoic acid (α-LA). We explored two possible reaction mechanisms of TA and α-LA, which were characterized and discussed by ATR-FTIR and XPS. Besides, the hydrophilic and negatively charged coating has filtration and anticoagulant properties similar to those of GECs. The results show that the modified membranes have appreciable hydrophilicity (the water contact angle is 29.7°) as well as high urea removal rate (96.5%) and BSA protein retention (99.7%). In addition, the modified membranes show favorable hemocompatibility and free radical scavenging ability. The reduction of platelet adhesion number is reduced by 98.7% and PRT is prolonged to 297 s. DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging capacity reach 1.18 and 0.89 μmol/cm2, respectively. In this work, a surface coating mimicking GECs was fabricated for the potential candidates of new hemodialysis membranes, which will significantly enhance the dialysis efficiency and alleviate the coagulation.

A Comprehensive Review of Banana Fiber-Reinforced Composites: Properties, Processing and Applications

Banana fiber-reinforced composites are a promising area of research due to their sustainable and renewable nature and physical and mechanical properties. This comprehensive review article analyzed the physical structure, chemical composition, and mechanical properties of banana fibers and the processing methods and challenges associated with their use. The review also covers the different variants of banana fiber-reinforced composites, including their thermal and mechanical properties, current and future applications, and the implications for researchers, engineers, and manufacturers interested in exploring the potential of these materials. The study found that the mechanical properties of banana fiber composites depend on various factors, such as fiber length, diameter, and loading, as well as the type of matrix used. However, more research is needed to understand the full potential of banana fiber-reinforced composites and to address challenges such as the inconsistent quality of fibers and the lack of standardization in processing methods. Despite these challenges, the review highlights the potential for these composites to play an important role in sustainable and eco-friendly construction and manufacturing applications.

NaYF4:Yb3+/Tm3+@NaYF4:Yb3+ Upconversion Nanoparticles for Optical Temperature Monitoring and Self-Heating in Photothermal Therapy

The core–shell NaYF4:Yb3+/Tm3+@NaYF4:Yb3+ upconversion nanoparticles were successfully prepared by a solvothermal method, and a layer of mesoporous silica (mSiO2) was successfully coated on the periphery of the core–shell nanoparticles to transform their surface from lipophilic to hydrophilic, further expanding their applications in biological tissues. The physical phase, morphology, structure, and fluorescence properties were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), ζ potential analysis, and fluorescence spectroscopy. It was found that the material has a hexagonal structure with good hydrophilicity and emits intense fluorescence under 980 nm pump laser excitation. The non-contact temperature sensing performance of nanoparticles was evaluated by analyzing the upconversion fluorescence of Tm3+ (1G4 → 3F4 and 3F3 → 3H6) in the temperature range of 284–344 K. The absolute and relative sensitivities were found to be 0.0067 K–1 and 1.08 % K–1, respectively, with high-temperature measurement reliability and good temperature cycling performance. More importantly, its temperature measurement in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) solution is accurate. In addition, the temperature of the cells can be increased by adjusting the laser power density and laser irradiation time. Therefore, an optical temperature sensing platform was built to realize the application of real-time monitoring of cancer cell temperature and the dual function of photothermal therapy.

CHITOSAN AS BIOMATERIAL - AN OVERVIEW OF FUNCTIONALISATION WITH PLANTS EXTRACT

Chitosan as natural biomaterial is used in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine as a biomaterial alone, as well as in combination with other polymers. The recent research to obtain functionalized chitosan has also focused on the use of environmentally friendly natural resources, introducing different plants, for which new properties and applications in various modern fields have been highlighted. The use of hydro-alcoholic extracts and essential oils from plants to the production of functionalized chitosan-based materials (membranes, films, nanoparticles) shown improved antimicrobial properties and the use of these materials in various fields (medicine, food, industry, cosmetics and environment). The most valuable sources of natural compounds come from plants, being represented by a wide class of phenolic substances that can appear in all parts of plants in fresh or in dried form, extracts or essential oils from seeds, nuts, fruits, vegetables, leaves, roots or even from the stem and bark. The characterisation of membranes and films incorporating chitosan and plants extracts are referring of physical characterisation, structural, morphological structure, mechanical and biological properties based on their antimicrobial potential.

Shallow crustal model of the DehDasht in Zagros, Iran, using Rayleigh wave tomography

Surface wave tomography is considered an efficient method to reveal the physical properties of subsurface geological structures, particularly beneath geologically complex areas where conventional active seismic methods are problematic. The salt-rich DehDasht structural basin, in the SW of Iran, is an example of this area, which is characterized by high seismicity. Despite the complex geology and the great thickness of evaporitic deposits in this region, surface wave tomography can retrieve high-resolution images by applying a dense network of stations. Therefore, >11,000 micro-earthquakes (M ≤ 3.0) recorded by 116 broadband stations in 9 months were processed to detect geological structures and a crustal model beneath the DehDasht region. After selecting strict data selection criteria, the observed dispersion curves of Rayleigh waves were then measured using the multiple filter analysis method, and the 2D tomography was done for periods of 0.3 to 5.0 s. A non-linear iterative damped least-squares inversion procedure was then applied to each local dispersion curve to obtain the 1D VS model of the uppermost 5 km, and the results were inserted into the original cells to construct a quasi-3D VS model. Although our resulted VS model has high correlations with known geological units and tectonic features of the study area, we validated it by inverting the observed gravity data independently and consequently recovering the location of the anomalies at the basin and/or around faults, anticlines, and synclines. Generally, the observed low-and high-velocity anomalies are associated with the sedimentary materials.

Band parameters of group III–V semiconductors in wurtzite structure

The properties of most III–V semiconductor materials in the wurtzite structure are not known because of their metastable character. However, recent advances in the growth of III–V wurtzite nanorods open new perspectives for applications. In this work, we present a systematic computational study of bulk wurtzite III–V semiconductors, using predictive ab initio methods, to provide a necessary base knowledge for studying the nanostructures. The most important physical properties of bulk systems, i.e., lattice constants, elasticity, spontaneous polarization, piezoelectricity, band structures, deformation potentials, and band offsets, have been studied. Comparison with the available experimental and theoretical data shows the high credibility of our results. Moreover, we provide a complete set of parameters for a six-band k⋅p model, which is widely used for simulating devices based on semiconductor heterostructures.

Effect of hydrothermal pretreatment on mercury removal performance of modified biochar prepared from corn straw

To further widen the specific surface area and enrich functional groups of biochar for improving the mercury removal performance, this paper compared the difference between wet impregnation and hydrothermal pretreatment to preload ferric chloride on active sites construction of biochar surface. Through systematically evaluating the physicochemical properties of biochar modified by various methods, the mechanism of mercury removal was analyzed. The results indicated that the hydrothermal pretreatment at 180 °C could widen the specific surface area of the precursor benefiting for modifiers adsorption and render the apparent activation energy reduced to 34.11 kJ/mol, causing more intense thermolysis reaction during carbonization. In this way, the specific surface of biochar reached to 282.4 m2/g and a more abundant porous structure was constructed. Additionally, after hydrothermal pretreatment, the proportion of chemisorbed oxygen and CO bonds on the surface of biochar was significantly promoted, facilitating the formation of HgO. The improvement of both physical structure and chemical properties of biochar together increases the mercury removal efficiency to over 90 % under the N2 atmosphere.

Physical, structural, optical, and radiation screening studies on Dysprosium ions doped Niobium Bariumtelluroborate glasses

A new sequence of Niobium bariumtelluroborate glasses were prepared with Dy3+ ions as a dopant following the chemical composition (80−x)H3BO3+10TeO2+9.5Nb2O5+xBaO+0.5Dy2O3 (x = 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 in wt%). The uncrystallized nature of the glass is established through XRD investigation. FTIR spectral dimensions have identified diverse functional groups. The UV-Vis spectral measurements investigated the optical characteristics of the prepared glasses. The allowed direct, and indirect bandgap and Urbach's energy have been estimated from Tauc's plot. In addition, various physical factors and structural properties of the Dy3+ incorporated Niobium bariumtelluroborate glasses are also estimated, discussed, and reported. The shielding parameters for the fabricated glasses were evaluated using the Monte Carlo simulation method in the energy interval among 0.224 and 2.506 MeV. The linear attenuation coefficient (LAC) was improved from 0.224 cm−1 to 0.256 cm−1 by raising the substation of H3BO3 by BaCO3 from 10 to 50 wt %, respectively, at gamma-ray energy of 1.252 MeV. The augmentation in the LAC positively affected the radiation shielding parameters. The half-value thickness was reduced by 16.6%, and the radiation shield capacity increased by 16.4%, raising the BaCO3 concentration between 10 wt% and 50 wt%, respectively.