In a previous study, natural hydroxyapatite (HAp) from the bones of Brazilian river fish was calcined at 900 °C (4–12 h), and optical characterization using the near infrared photoacoustic spectroscopy technique enabled the establishment of 8 h as the best calcination time for nanostructure stabilization when milled in a high-energy milling device [T. M. Coelho, E. S. Nogueira, W. R. Weinand, W. M. Lima, A. Steimacher, A. N. Medina, M. L. Baesso, and A. C. Bento, J. Appl. Phys. 100, 094312 (2006)]. The fish wastes used were from species such as pintado (Pseudoplatystoma corruscans), jaú (Paulicea lutkeni), and cachara (Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum). In this study, the characterization of the thermal properties of the same natural HAp is discussed for samples milled from 0 to 32 h, with nanostructures from 80 to 24 nm. The powders were pressed into disks at 350 MPa and sintered for 4 h at 1000 °C. Thermophysical parameters were obtained by thermal wave interferometry and nonadiabatic relaxation calorimetry. Results for thermal diffusivity and thermal conductivity showed that the parameters increase with milling time, although they present a transition (a plateau) in the interval from 8 to 16 h. Two different slopes were observed and this was interpreted as being due to the size of the crystallites, which fall rapidly, dropping from 80 nm to near 22 nm when milling time is increased from 0 to 16 h, and forming agglomerates up to 32 h.

AlInGaP LEDs are widely used in illumination applications as automotive and signalization due their low consumption and high durability. In order to verify the high durability data it is necessary to consider not only catastrophic failures but also degradation. In this work LEDs degradation at different temperature and drive current accelerated tests have been analyzed. In all the tests we have carried out an exponential degradation trend have been observed. Temperature and drive current influence in degradation rate and reliability have been evaluated.

In this study, the characterization of the optical properties of natural hydroxyapatite (HAp) [Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2] is discussed. In the first stage of the experiment, natural HAp was processed from the bones of Brazilian river fish such as pintado (Pseudoplatystoma corruscans), jaú (Paulicea lutkeni), and cachara (Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum). The bones were calcined at 900°C for different amounts of time (4–12h) and reduced to powder using two different milling times (2 and 4h) in a high-energy ball mill, in order to determine the best procedure for obtaining natural nanostructured HAp powder for the study. In the second stage, material calcined for 8h was milled for 2, 4, 8, and 16h. The techniques of photoacoustic spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and flame atomic absorption spectrometry were applied to characterize these samples. The O–H stretching shown by photoacoustic spectroscopy was correlated to the HAp nanostructure. Structural analysis indicated a Ca∕P ratio close to 1.67 (∼1.64±0.04) and the presence of morphology and particle phase structure in the nanostructured HAp powder.

Specific tests to assess reliability of high luminosity AllnGaP LED for outdoor applications are needed. In this paper tests to propose a model involving three parameters: temperature, humidity and current have been carried out. Temperature, humidity and current accelerated model has been proposed to evaluate the reliability of this type of LED. Degradation and catastrophic failure mechanisms have been analyzed. Finally we analyze the effect of serial resistance in power luminosity degradation.

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The thermal diffusivity and thermal conductivity of sintered stainless steel AISI 316L, obtained as a function of compacting pressures, are provided. The thermal parameters were measured by photoacoustic and thermal relaxation methods. The results suggest a strong correlation with the particles' effective area of contact whilst an S-shape behaviour shows striking increasing physical properties for uniaxial pressure close to 490 MPa. A limiting density of particle contact exists over a percolation threshold when the porosity is reduced to less than 8%.

In this work, we have evaluated the reliability of epoxy packaged light emitting diodes (LEDs) for outdoor applications by specific tests to enhance catastrophic failures that appear under high temperature and humidity operation conditions. The different failure mechanisms were analyzed observing two main types: one is open circuit catastrophic failures induced by moisture and the other one power luminosity degradation. The influence of temperature and humidity on catastrophic failures was modelled using the Arrhenius–Peck law obtaining an activation energy of 0.87 eV and a Peck parameter of 2.29. MTTF value of 1.582 × 106 h at low bias current, 10 mA, has been evaluated.

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