Crystalline phases present in pigments scratched off the surfaces of some decorated ceramic sherds belonging to the Cucuteni Neolithic culture were successfully identified using synchrotron radiation X-ray diffraction at Daresbury Laboratory. The ceramic sherds were selected from a collection of the National Museum of Romanian History in Bucharest. The synchrotron radiation X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that the black-color pigments on the surface of a number of sherds were produced by a variety of jacobsite (Fe2MnO4) phases; magnetite (Fe3O4) was also found in one of the sherds. The red color was derived from clay slips with a high content of hematite (Fe2O3). Calcite (CaCO3) was found in the white pigments; its presence was explained as being related to postburial deposition processes. Conclusions on technological aspects, provenance, and conservation issues are given.

Crystal data and results of structure refinements for MnSi are reported. The material is cubic, P213, with a = 4.5603(2) Å, Vd = 94.84(1) Å3, Z = 4, Dx = 5.815 Mg/m3. Intensity data were obtained from a Stoe transmission type diffractometer equipped with a position sensitive detector. CuKα1 radiation, λ = 1.5405981 Å was employed. Germanium was used as an internal standard for the determination of the lattice constant (aGe= 5.6582 Å). The structure was refined by the Rietveld method by aid of three different programs.

The method of high-energy total elastic X-ray scattering to determine the atomic structure of nanocrystalline, highly disordered, and amorphous materials is presented. The current state of the technique, its potential, and limitations are discussed with two successful studies on the pressure induced phase transition in mackinawite (FeS) and the high-pressure behavior of liquid gallium.

The cause of birefringence in several garnet-group minerals with general chemical formula, [8]X3 [6]Y2 [4]Z3 [4]O12, which was observed over 100 years ago, is unknown, although many different reasons were proposed, including symmetry lower than cubic. In this study, electron microprobe analyses (EMPA) were obtained for a Ti-rich andradite, ideally Ca3(Fe2 3+)Si3O12, from Magnet Cove, Arkansas, USA, and the results show that the sample is inhomogeneous with two distinct compositions. The crystal structure was refined by the Rietveld method, cubic space group $Ia\overline 3 d$ , and monochromatic synchrotron high-resolution powder X-ray diffraction (HRPXRD) data, which shows a mixture of three distinct cubic phases that are intergrown together and cause birefringence because of strain arising from small structural mismatch. This mixture of three cubic phases was not observed by any other experimental technique. These results have many implications, including garnet phase transitions from cubic to lower symmetry in the mantle, which has important geophysical consequences.

X-ray imaging techniques based on Compton backscatter permit inspection and screening of sea containers, a wide variety of vehicles, luggage, and even people. In contrast to more commonly used transmission images, backscatter imaging involves positioning both source and detection apparatus on only one side of a target object. This presents the user with inspection opportunities in situations that may be extremely difficult, if not impossible, for transmission systems that require access by the detector subsystem to the opposing side of the target. The backscatter image is somewhat akin to a photograph of the contents of a closed container, taken through the container walls. Techniques for producing X-ray images based on Compton scattering will be discussed, along with wide-ranging examples of how systems based on these principles are used to perform inspections for both security applications and for the detection of contraband materials at ports and borders. Potential applications in the area of nondestructive evaluation will also be considered. Differences in the type of information displayed by transmission and backscatter images will be highlighted, and tradeoffs between backscatter image quality and interpretability, scan speed, effective penetration, and X-ray tube voltage will also be discussed. The method used in scanning the target object results in an extremely low radiation dose, a result that significantly broadens the application spectrum for this imaging technique.

The crystal structure of four cyanometallates has been determined from X-ray powder diffraction data using the Rietveld method. The variously hydrated compounds Cu3[Co(CN)6]2, Mn3[Co(CN)6]2 and KNi[Fe(CN)6] crystallize at cubic symmetry (Fm3m) with lattice parameters 10.032(2), 10.413(3) and 10.234(5) Å, respectively. The crystal of KMn[Fe(CN)6]·2H2O shows a monoclinic structure (P21/c) with the lattice parameters a=10.108(2) Å, b=10.104(3) Å, c=10.114(3) Å, β=92°, 93°. The starting model was based on an isomorphic Mn3[Co(CN)6]2 single crystal structure, where Co and Mn ions are octahedrally coordinated by C and N atoms, respectively, forming three-dimensional bimetallic networks with the C≡N groups as bridging ligands.

A direct method is described for determining depth profiles (z-profiles) of diffraction data from experimentally determined τ-profiles, where z is the depth beneath the sample surface and τ is the 1/e penetration depth of the X-ray beam. With certain assumptions, the relation between these two profile functions can be expressed in the form of a Laplace transform. The criteria for fitting experimental τ-data to functions which can be utilized by the method are described. The method was applied to two τ-data sets taken from the literature: (1) of residual strain in an A1 thin film and (2) of residual stress in a surface ground A12O3/5vol% TiC composite. For each data set, it was found that the z-profiles obtained were of two types: oscillatory and nonoscillatory. The nonoscillatory profiles appeared to be qualitatively consistent for a given data set. The oscillatory profiles were considered to be not physically realistic. For the data sets considered, the nonoscillatory z-profiles were found to lie consistently above the corresponding τ-profiles, and to approach the τ-profiles at large z, as expected from the relation between the two.

Two molybdates MIV (MoO4)2 (with MIV = Hf or Zr) were synthesized by solid state reaction between MIVO2 and MoO3. Zirconium molybdate undergoes a reversible phase transition at 952 K.

Hf(MoO4)2 and H.T. Zr(MoQ4)2, obtained as single crystals, are trigonal, space group with Z = 6; the cell dimensions are respectively a = 10.1005(3), c = 11.7230(5)Å; V = 1035.76(11)Å3; Dm(298 K) = 4.78(4), Dx = 4.792 Mg m−3 and a = 10.1409(3), c = 11.7097(5)Å; V = 1042.88(11)Å3; Dm (298 K) = 3.91(4), Dx = 3.926 Mg m−3.

L.T. Zr(MoO4)2, indexed by the Visser automatic indexing program (1969) was found to be monoclinic, possible space group P2, P21 or Pm with Z = 4; the cell dimensions are a = 9.7557(5), b = 7.9373(5), c = 7.4631(4)Å, β = 97.959°(5); V = 572.3(5)Å Dm(298 K) = 4.74(5), Dx = 4.770 Mg m−3. Powder diffraction data were obtained at 293 K on a counter diffractometer with Ni-filtered copper radiation ( = 1.5418 Å).

Plastic crystals, such as neopentylglycol, 2, 2-dimethyl-1,3-propanediol, that exhibit polymorphic behavior are emerging materials for thermal energy storage. The energy is stored isothermally in the γ phase, FCC, during solid-state phase transformations. This γ phase of NPG has been determined as an orientational disordered phase. The low temperature α phase structure, which is of great significance in the evaluation of lattice expansions and other parameters, was first determined in 1961. However, the reported unit cell dimensions and the intensities of the reflections led to erroneous indexing of the powder patterns in binary systems. The α phase structure is redetermined here as monoclinic, M= 104.15 amu, space group P21/n (an alternate setting of , space group No. 14), a = 5.979(1)Å, b= 10.876(2)Å, c=10.099(2)Å, β=99.78(1)°, V=647.2(2)Å3 at 20°(± 1)C, Dx= 1.069 g cm s−3 for Z=4. In this paper the redetermined structure of the α phase of NPG is presented in projections of the atomic positions, in tables, and in calculated powder pattern and these results are compared with those reported by others. The powder patterns obtained from the Bragg–Brentano diffractometer are compared with our calculated pattern from the single crystal data. The structural parameters of the high temperature phase of NPG as determined by a Guinier diffraction system are also reported.

The construction and use of a captive inert atmosphere cell for the preservation of atmospherically sensitive samples during X-ray diffraction is described.

The atomic displacement parameters of individual ions in SrO have been determined from the Rietveld analysis of high-resolution powder neutron diffraction data. As the neutron velocity is smaller than the sound velocity in SrO, the intensity data was not corrected for the effect of thermal diffuse scattering. The room temperature value of overall isotropic thermal displacement parameters was B=0.57(2) Å2; which corresponds to Debye temperature, Θ of 242(4) K. The results are compared with experimental and theoretical estimates.

Structural and chemical changes in materials can be dynamically observed by using time resolved X-ray Powder Diffraction (XRPD) to collect patterns as these events happen. During calcination of amorphous zirconium hydroxide, Zr(OH)4, and its crystallisation to a metastable tetragonal form of zirconia, ZrO2, patterns have been collected at 10°C temperature intervals during a heating sequence to 500°C. These patterns show both the onset of ordering within the amorphous starting material and the progress of its conversion into crystalline zirconia. Events are recorded within the pattern in the form of peak growth and reduction in amorphous component of the pattern with increasing temperature.

The variables of reflection overlap, crystallinity and crystallite size, primary extinction, microabsorption, chemical substitutions, preferred orientation, and analytical procedures affect quantitative analysis by powder X-ray diffraction. The intensity of the strongest reflection (I) of 39 minerals from a typical sedimentary environment divided by the intensity of the strongest reflection (Ic) of corundum, I/Ic, may be used to determine mineral percentages. Because of the numerous variables mentioned above, the I/Ic ratios used should be taken from multi-mineral specimens that occur either in the same geological formation for quantitative analysis (±7%) or in a similar geological formation for quantitative analysis (±30%).

Crystal structure of 4H-SiC was refined from room-temperature X-ray powder diffraction data using the Rietveld refinement method. The refined lattice constants were determined to be a=b=3.079 93(0) Å, c=10.082 22(2) Å, and the refined overall temperature factor B=0.383(3) Å2. Using the Debye approximation, the Debye temperature was successfully determined to be 1194.8 K.

A powder X-ray diffraction technique has been developed to quantify the relative amounts of α-carbamazepine (A) and β-carbamazepine (B) when they occur as a mixture. The theoretical basis of this technique was developed in 1948 by Alexander and Klug (Anal. Chem., 20:886-889). The powder X-ray diffraction patterns of A and B revealed that the line with d-spacing of 10.1 Å was unique to A. The ratio of the integrated intensity of the 10.1 Å line in a mixture of A and B, to the intensity of the 10.1 Å line in a sample consisting of only A, was calculated as a function of weight fraction of A in the mixture. These ratios were also experimentally determined, and there was a good agreement between the theoretical and experimental intensity ratios. The particle size of the samples, the sample preparation technique and the experimental conditions were controlled so as to eliminate the major sources of error in powder X-ray diffractometry. In order to minimize preferred orientation of the particles, a sample holder was specially fabricated.

The crystal structure of CaZr(PO4)2 was determined from conventional X-ray powder diffraction data using direct methods, and it was further refined by the Rietveld method. The structure was orthorhombic (space group P212121, Z=4) with a=1.448 76(4), b=0.672 13(1), c=0.623 47(2) nm, and V=0.607 10(3) nm3. Final reliability indices were Rwp=6.49%, RB=2.43%, and S=1.32. The Ca atom is sevenfold coordinated, and the Ca atom and surrounding oxygen atoms form a distorted capped octahedron with a mean Ca–O distance of 0.243 nm. The ZrO7 coordination polyhedron is a distorted pentagonal bipyramid with a mean Zr–O distance of 0.216 nm. CaO7, ZrO7, and PO4 polyhedra share edges to form infinite chains with the composition [CaO3ZrO3P2O8]12− along the [010]. Individual chains are linked together, forming a two-dimensional sheet parallel to (100). These sheets are stacked in the [100] direction to form a three-dimensional structure.

This is a second and considerably expanded edition of the RIR table. We are pleased that considerable interest is now being generated in the RIR table; several contributors have provided measured data for this second edition. We have also added many entries of common minerals and simple compounds from the JCPDS data base and will continue to add more from this source with each succeeding table published. In this regard where we receive requests for a particular class of RIR's (alloys, or rare earth oxides, for examples) we can give higher priority to extracting these values from the JCPDS data base.

The reader should refer to the text explanation of the first published table in Vol. 3, No. 4 of this journal. In the first text two important errors are noted here; Equation (3) should have read RIRcorr = RIRobs/Wj; and the second sample preparation category of section 4 Specific Parameters should read “(w) Methods including well mounts with side or back loading or similar process”.

A critical examination of the reference X-ray powder-diffraction patterns of the serpentine minerals in the Powder-Diffraction File (PDF) database has revealed an unsettling situation. Most of the patterns in, or previously in, the PDF database are inaccurate, misidentified, or of poor quality. The PDF database is not a dependable tool for identifying the serpentine minerals, and has not been since the mid-1960s. This has serious implications for studies on serpentine minerals that have depended on the PDF database, particularly those by nonmineralogists doing health and environmental studies of chrysotile asbestos. In the current PDF database, lizardite-1T, carlosturanite, some amesite, and possibly some antigorite (but with inappropriate polytype symbols) can be identified. Only one of the many multilayer lizardites can be identified. The current pattern for chrysotile-2Mc1 (clinochrysotile) is of reasonable quality, but not the best, however the earlier patterns still in the database are so problematic that any chrysotile-2Mc1 identification must be considered suspect. Chrysotile-2Oc1 (orthochrysotile), and any mixture of serpentines cannot be identified using the PDF database. Until the reference serpentine patterns are corrected the PDF database cannot be considered a reliable identification tool. High-quality powder-diffraction patterns of the serpentine minerals have been published and can be rapidly introduced into the PDF database.© 2000 International Centre for Diffraction Data.

High-resolution powder X-ray diffraction has been used to determine the crystal structure of silver behenate, [Ag(O2C(CH2)20CH3]2. Using CASTEP density functional plane wave pseudopotential techniques to obtain an optimized structural model, Rietveld refinement of the structure gives Rwp = 8.66%. The unit cell is triclinic, space group P1, with cell dimensions of a = 4.1769(2) Å, b = 4.7218(2) Å, c = 58.3385(1) Å, α = 89.440(3)°, β = 89.634(3)°, γ = 75.854(1)°. The structure is characterized by an 8-membered ring dimer of Ag atoms and carboxyl groups with a fully extended all-trans configuration of the alkyl side chains. The dimers are joined by four-membered Ag-O rings creating a polymeric network, giving rise to one-dimensional chains along the b-axis. This structure is supported by EXAFS measurements of the local structure around the silver atoms and IR measurements.

The object was to perform simultaneous quantitative analyses of complex pharmaceutical solid mixtures by the Rietveld method. Mixtures consisting of anhydrous β-carbamazepine, anhydrous α-carbamazepine, and carbamazepine dihydrate were chosen as the model system. Lithium fluoride was used as the internal standard. Mixtures of various compositions were prepared and subjected to X-ray powder diffractometry (XRD). The XRD pattern of each mixture was analyzed by the Rietveld method and at the end of the refinement, the goodness of fit was evaluated. When the analyte concentration was high (≥20%), the relative error in the determination was <±5%. The detection of analyte was possible even when its concentration was low (<1% w/w). A unique advantage of the method is that it enables simultaneous quantitative analyses of multiple phases without the requirement of “standard curves.” © 2001 International Centre for Diffraction Data.