Polycrystalline cubic boron nitride prepared with cubic-hexagonal boron nitride under high pressure and high temperature

Polycrystalline cubic boron nitride(Pc BN)compacts,using the mixture of submicron cubic boron nitride(c BN)powder and hexagonal BN(h BN)powder as starting materials,were sintered at pressures of 6.5–10.0 GPa and temperature of1750℃without additives.In this paper,the sintering behavior and mechanical properties of samples were investigated.The XRD patterns of samples reveal that single cubic phase was observed when the sintering pressure exceeded 7.5 GPa and h BN contents ranged from 20 vol.%to 24 vol.%,which is ascribed to like-internal pressure generated at grain-to-grain contact under high pressure.Transmission electron microscopy(TEM)analysis shows that after high pressure and high temperature(HPHT)treatments,the submicron c BN grains abounded with high-density nanotwins and stacking faults,and this contributed to the outstanding mechanical properties of Pc BN.The pure bulk Pc BN that was obtained at 7.7 GPa/1750℃possessed the outstanding properties,including a high Vickers hardness(~61.5 GPa),thermal stability(~1290℃in air),and high density(~3.46 g/cm^(3)).

Neutron Diffraction of Large-Volume Samples at High Pressure Using Compact Opposed-Anvil Cells

Neutron diffraction techniques of large-volume samples at high pressure using compact opposed-anvil cells are developed at a reactor neutron source, China＇s Mianyang research reactor. We achieve a high-pressure condition of in situ neutron diffraction by means of a newly designed large-volume opposed-anvil cell. This pressure calibration is based on resistance measurements of bismuth and the neutron diffraction of iron. Pressure calibration experiments are performed at room temperature for a new cell using the tungsten carbide anvils with a tapered angle of 30°, Φ4.5 mm culet diameter and the metal-nonmetal composite gasket with a thickness of 2 mm. Transitions in Bi（Ⅰ–Ⅱ 2.55 GPa, Ⅱ–V 7.7 GPa） are observed at 100 and 300 kN, respectively, by resistance measurements.The pressure measurement results of neutron diffraction are consistent with resistance measurements of bismuth.As a result, pressures up to about 7.7 GPa can routinely and stably be achieved using this apparatus, with the sample volume of 9 mm^3.

A novel homozygous mutation of the calcium-sensing receptor gene associated with apparent autosomal recessive inheritance of familial hypocalciuric hypercalcemia

To the Editor:Familial hypocalciuric hypercalcemia(FHH)comprises a group of rare hereditary disorders of calcium homeostasis,characterized by lifelong hypercalcemia,usually asymptomatic,and inappropriately low urinary calcium excretion.FHH is genetically heterogeneous.The majority of cases are FHH1,due to inactivating mutations in the calcium-sensing receptor(CASR)gene on chromosome 3.FHH2 and FHH3 are due to inactivating mutations in the G protein subunit alpha 11 gene and adaptor related protein complex 2 subunit sigma 1 gene separately.