Iran intends to launch the first gamma-ray multi-purpose
radiation center in the next two years, taking
another major step in nuclear progress.
The project was launched in the western city of Shahre
Kord in the presence of officials of the Atomic Energy
Organization of Iran, ISNA reported.
The facility is Iran’s third national nuclear plan that
paves the way for economic self-sufficiency. The largest
and equipped gamma-ray beam facility of the Middle
East, which is to be built in Iran, will cost $13.5 million.
Iran has achieved considerable successes in nuclear
research over recent years, and applying high technology
for a broad-range of civilian purposes, including
production of radio-pharmaceuticals to curing patients
suffering cancer.
Iranian researchers at the
Islamic Azad University
have synthesized an alumina-
titanium diboride nanocomposite
at an ambient temperature
in a short period of time to
modify the mechanical properties
of titanium diboride.
Titanium diboride is a ceramic
with desirable properties
such as high level of hardness,
appropriate electrical conductivity
at 25°C, high chemical resistance against
non-ironic molten metals and relatively low specific
gravity, Iran Nanotechnology Initiative Council reported.
However, titanium diboride has poor mechanical
properties. Adding alumina to titanium diboride
forms a composite that improves its mechanical
properties.
“Titanium diboride and its composites can be
synthesized through various methods such as comRadio Built
bustive synthesis, direct oxidation of
metal, mechanical alloying and pressure-
free inoculation of metal,” Mohammad
Ali Khaqani Dahaqani, one
of the researchers of the study, said.
“Taking into consideration the
valuable advantages of alumina-titanium
diboride nanocomposite, we
sought to synthesize the nanocomposite
by using cheap materials and
simple and available equipment in a
shorter period of time.”
Explaining the procedure of synthesizing
nanocomposite, he said, “We synthesized the nanocomposite
through a mechano-chemical method. To this end,
we milled titanium dioxide, boric acid and pure aluminum
powders at an ambient temperature in the presence of argon at
various intervals by using a ball-mill device. Then, the products
were analyzed to study their microstructure and phase analysis.”
“The results of the tests showed that it is possible to synthesize
alumina-titanium diboride nanocomposite at room temperature,”
Dahaqani concluded.
Iranian scientists have developed high performance
VHF and UHF aeronautical band radio for various
purposes in tough electromagnetic environments.
The digital radio which complies with known international
standards provides air-to-air and air-to-ground
communication and can be installed on all types of fighter
jets, cargo planes as well as helicopters to facilitate excellent
audio performance, ISNA news agency reported.
Civil aviation authorities can employ this radio in analog
mode and utilize its amplitude modulation (AM) or
frequency modulation (FM) capabilities.
This will enable the radio to be used in most severe
environmental conditions and to serve as a navigation aid
in automatic direction finder (ADF) system.
While in VHF mode, the high performance radio can
maintain its high sensitivity even while strong, locallygenerated
signals are present on neighboring channels.
The radio is equipped with built-in test (BIT) and free
channel scan (FCS) to facilitate efficient and convenient
service as well as upgrades.