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— Barium strontium niobate films ~300 nm in thickness have been grown on MgO(001) substrates by rf sputtering of a ceramic target with the stoichiometric composition Sr 0.5 Ba 0.5 Nb 2 O 6 (SBN50) in an oxygen atmosphere. Composition–depth profiles across the films have been measured using secondary ion mass spectrometry, and we have determined their phase composition, structure, and c cell parameter in the temperature range 20–500°C. The results demonstrate that the SBN50 films are heteroepitaxial and have two crystallographic orientations with an angle of ~36.8° between them and identical tetragonal cell parameters ( а = 12.438 Å and с = 3.955 Å). Their chemical composition does not vary in the thickness direction and corresponds to the composition of the ceramic target. The SBN50 films have a higher temperature of the ferroelectric-to-paraelectric phase transition than do SBN50 single crystals and polycrystalline films, and their thermal expansion coefficient changes sign near 100°C.

In the paper the results of a structure and dielectric properties study of ferroelectric-relaxor Sr0.75Ba0.25Nb2O6 (SBN-75) ceramics and thin films with the structure of an unfilled tetragonal tungsten bronze have been presented. The existence of orientation domains in the SBN-75 film with rotation in the interface plane only by angles of ± 18.4° relative to the axes of the MgO substrate is revealed. In the tetragonal approximation, the unit cell parameters of the film (c = 3.948 Å and a = 12.49 Å) and its strain in comparison with the cell parameters of the ceramic sample have been determined.

The paper presents the measured data on interfacial tension of bentonite suspensions and strength of a cement stone in water solutions of Frem Giper S-TB superplasticizer. The interfacial tension of water-surfactant-bentonite suspension is experimentally measured at various concentrations of a bentonite solid phase. The dependence of interfacial tension on the concentration of a solid phase is quite complex. In particular, the minimum is observed on interfacial tension isotherms at 3 wt. % of bentonite. Isoplastic cement mixes are obtained from the above suspensions. The cement stone samples are made of these mixes. The strength test of these samples showed a considerable increase of the compression strength. At the same time, 3 wt. % of bentonite demonstrated the maximum increase in strength.

A beam of a copper vapor laser was focused to a plasma region where nanoclusters hypothetically appear with sputtering of a ceramic target in an oxygen medium. An optical signal was detected in a direction perpendicular to the beam; processing hardware and software packages are described. A weak glow of laser heated particles was detected near the dielectric substrate in the infrared range.

We have studied the behavior and properties of dust particles formed upon sputtering of a barium strontium titanate Ba(0.8)Sr(0.2)TiO3 ceramic target in plasma of capacitive high-frequency discharge in oxygen. The particles were accumulated in potential traps situated near the target at a remote position of the substrate. Dependences of the density of accumulated dust on the pressure, discharge power, substrate position, and substrate voltage were determined using laser-radiation scattering. The dimensions and composition of collected dust particles were determined.