Individual dispersion of synthetic imogolite nanotubes via droplet evaporation

Morphology of synthetic imogolite nanotubes formed in droplet evaporation was investigated by transmission electron microscopy and electron diffraction. The nanotubes form a dense entangled network at higher concentrations, while at lower concentrations the nanotubes are liable to form oriented bundles. Under enthanol atmosphere, individual dispersion of nanotubes was observed for the first time, which reveals the length polydispersity of synthetic imogolite nanotubes.

The influencing factors on the macroporous formation in polymer films by water droplet templating

Regular micrometer-size porous polystyrene film is prepared by water droplet templating, i.e. breath figures are stabilized by the polymer in solution and thermocapillary flow arranges them into ordered packing. The influences of polystyrene molecular weight, solvent properties, and the relative humidity of atmosphere on the pattern formation and hole sizes are investigated. Two different kinds of hole packing fashion are also observed and their formation mechanisms are discussed.

Ordered droplet formation by thin polymer film dewetting on a stripe-patterned substrate

The dewetting process of thin polystyrene (PS) film on flat and stripe-patterned substrates is presented. Different dewetting processes were observed when the thin PS films annealed at above the glass transition temperature on these different kinds of substrates. The final dewetting on the flat substrate led to formation of polygonal liquid droplets, while on the stripe-patterned substrate, the droplets were observed to align at the centers of the stripes. A possible explanation for the dewetting process on the stripe-patterned substrate is proposed.

An effective etching technique for polycarbonate/core-shell poly(butyl acrylate) poly(methyl methacrylate) blend

Two etching techniques are used to reveal the morphology of PC/PBA-cs-PMMA blend. One is based on acetic acid (CH3COOH) solutions, whereas the other uses CCl4/ C2H5OH (3/1 v/v). The latter approach shows to be more appropriate and successful for revealing the morphology of PC/PBA-cs-PMMA blend.

FABRICATION OF STM TIPS WITH CONTROLLED GEOMETRY BY ELECTROCHEMICAL ETCHING AND ECSTM TIPS COATED WITH PARAFFIN

We have presented two simple methods of ''unfixed-position shield'' and ''pulling out'' for making sharp STM Pt-Ir tips with low aspect ratio by electrochemical etching in KCN/NaOH aqueous solution and ECSTM tips coated with paraffin. By limiting the elec

Experimental Investigations on Interaction of Two Drops by Thermocapillary-Buoyancy Migration

Experiments were performed, in a terrestrial environment, to study the migration and interaction of two drops with different diameters in matrix liquid under temperature gradient field. Pure soybean oil and silicon oil were used as matrix liquid and the drop liquid, respectively. The information on the motions of two drops was recorded by CCD camera system in the experiments to analyze the trajectories and velocities of the drops. Our experiments showed that, upon two drops approaching each other, the influence of the larger drop on the motion of the smaller one became significant. Meanwhile the smaller drop had a little influence on the larger one all the time. The oscillation of migration velocities of both drops was observed as they were approaching. For a short period the smaller drop even moved backward when it became side by side with the larger one during the migration. Although our experimental results on the behavior of two drops are basically consistent with the theoretical predictions, there are also apparent differences. 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Keywords: Thermocapillary migration; Drop; Interaction; Oscillation 1. Introduction A bubble or drop will move when placed in another fluid with temperature gradient. This motion happens as a consequence of the variation of interfacial tension with temperature. Such a phenomenon is already known as Marangoni migration problem. With the development of microgravity science, bubble dynamics and droplet dynamics became a hot point problem of research because this investigation is very important for basic research as well as for applications in reduced gravity environment, such as space material science, chemical engineering and so on. Young et al. first investigated the thermocapillary migration of

Detection and Characterization of Long-Pulse Low-Velocity Impact Damage in Plastic Bonded Explosives

Damage not only degrades the mechanical properties of explosives, but also influences the shock sensitivity, combustion and even detonation behavior of explosives. The study of impact damage is crucial in the vulnerability evaluation of explosives. A long-pulse low-velocity gas gun with a gas buffer was developed and used to induce impact damage in a hot pressed plastic bonded explosive. Various methods were used to detect and characterize the impact damage of the explosive. The microstructure was examined by use of polarized light microscopy. Fractal analysis of the micrographs was conducted by use of box counting method. The correlation between the fractal dimensions and microstructures was analyzed. Ultrasonic testing was conducted using a pulse through-transmission method to obtain the ultrasonic velocity and ultrasonic attenuation. Spectra analyses were carried out for recorded ultrasonic signals using fast Fourier transform. The correlations between the impact damage and ultrasonic parameters including ultrasonic velocities and attenuation coefficients were also analyzed. To quantitatively assess the impact induced explosive crystal fractures, particle size distribution analyses of explosive crystals were conducted by using a thorough etching technique, in which the explosives samples were soaked in a solution for enough time that the binder was totally removed. Impact induces a large extent of explosive crystal fractures and a large number of microcracks. The ultrasonic velocity decreases and attenuation coefficients increase with the presence of impact damage. Both ultrasonic parameters and fractal dimension can be used to quantitatively assess the impact damage of plastic bonded explosives.

Mathematical Modeling of Near-Wall Flows of Two-Phase Mixture with Evaporating Droplets

In the framework of the two-continuum approach, using the matched asymptotic expansion method, the equations of a laminar boundary layer in mist flows with evaporating droplets were derived and solved. The similarity criteria controlling the mist flows were determined. For the flow along a curvilinear surface, the forms of the boundary layer equations differ from the regimes of presence and absence of the droplet inertia deposition. The numerical results were presented for the vapor-droplet boundary layer in the neighborhood of a stagnation point of a hot blunt body. It is demonstrated that, due to evaporation, a droplet-free region develops near the wall inside the boundary layer. On the upper edge of this region, the droplet radius tends to zero and the droplet number density becomes much higher than that in the free stream. The combined effect of the droplet evaporation and accumulation results in a significant enhancement of the heat transfer on the surface even for small mass concentration of the droplets in the free stream. 在双连续介质理论框架下,采用匹配渐进展开方法导出并求解了具有蒸发液滴的汽雾流中层流边界层方程,给出了控制汽雾流的相似判据。对于沿曲面的流动,边界层方程的形式取决于是否存在液滴的惯性沉积。给出了热钝体验点附近蒸汽。液滴边界层的数值计算结果。它们表明：由于蒸发,在边界层内近壁处形成了一个无液滴区域；在该区上边界处,液滴半径趋于零而液滴数密度急剧增高。液滴蒸发及聚集的联合效应造成了表面热流的显著增加,甚至在自由来流中液滴质量浓度很低时此效应依然存在。

Effects of superimposed pulse bias on TiN coating in cathodic arc deposition

Orthogonal designs are used to investigate the main factors when doing experiments in which pulse bias is superimposed on d.c. bias during cathodic are deposition of TiN. Pulse peak, duty cycle, frequency, direct voltage, are current and pressure all are investigated when coating TiN on HSS substrates. Roughness, surface micrograph, microhardness and thickness are tested. By analysis of variance, it is shown that pressure and frequency are the main factors. R-a and droplet density of the film with (d.c. + pulse) bias decrease. A simple explanation for the result is suggested.

Behavior of Multiple Shear Bands in Zr-Based Bulk Metallic Glass

The deformation behavior of Zr41.2Ti13.8Cu12.5Ni10Be22.5 bulk metallic glass was studied by in situ scanning electron microscopy (SEM) quasi-static uniaxial compression tests at room temperature. Multiple shear bands were observed with a large plasticity. Microscopic examination demonstrates that slipping, branching and intersecting of multiple shear bands are the main mechanisms for enhancing the plasticity of this metallic glass. Additionally, nano/micro-scale voids and cracks at the intersecting sites of shear bands and preferential etching of shear bands were observed as well. These observations demonstrated that the formation of shear bands in bulk metallic glasses is resulted mainly from local free volume coalescence.

Shear localization and recrystallization in dynamic deformation of 8090 Al-Li alloy

The microstructural evolution in localized shear deformation was investigated in an 8090 Al-Li alloy by split Hopkinson pressure bar (strain rate of approximately 10(3) s(-1)) at ambient temperature and 77 K. The alloy was tested in the peak-, over-, under-, and natural-aged conditions, that provide a wide range of microstructural parameters and mechanical properties. Two types of localized shear bands were distinguished by optical microscopy: the deformed shear band and the white-etching shear band. They form at different stages of deformation during localization. There are critical strains for the occurrence of deformed and white-etching localized shear deformation, at the imposed strain rate. Observations by transmission electron microscopy reveal that the white-etching bands contain fine equiaxed grains; it is proposed that they are the result of recrystallization occurring during localization. The deformed-type bands are observed after testing at 77 K in all heat treatment conditions, but they are not as well defined as those developed at ambient temperature. Cracking often occurs along the localized shear at ambient temperature. The decrement in temperature is favorable for the nucleation, growth and coalescence of the microcracks along the shear bands, inducing fracture.

Shear Localization In Dynamic Deformation: Microstructural Evolution

Investigations made by the authors and collaborators into the microstructural aspects of adiabatic shear localization are critically reviewed. The materials analyzed are low-carbon steels, 304 stainless steel, monocrystalline Fe-Ni-Cr, Ti and its alloys, Al-Li alloys, Zircaloy, copper, and Al/SiCp composites. The principal findings are the following: (a) there is a strain-rate-dependent critical strain for the development of shear bands; (b) deformed bands and white-etching bands correspond to different stages of deformation; (c) different slip activities occur in different stages of band development; (d) grain refinement and amorphization occur in shear bands; (e) loss of stress-carrying capability is more closely associated with microdefects rather than with localization of strain; (f) both crystalline rotation and slip play important roles; and (g) band development and band structures are material dependent. Additionally, avenues for new research directions are suggested.

The Real-Time Mach-Zehnder Interferometer Used In Space Experiment

The optical interference method is a promising technique for measuring temperature, density, and concentration in fluids. The non-intrusive and non-invasive nature of its optical techniques to the measured section are its most outstanding features. However, the adverse experiment environment, especially regarding shaking and vibrating, greatly restricts the application of the interferometer. In the present work, an optical diagnostic system consisting of a Mach-Zehnder interferometer (named after physicists Ludwig Mach) and an image processor has been developed that increases the measuring sensitivity compared to conventional experimental methods in fluid mechanics. An image processor has also been developed for obtaining quantitative results by using Fourier transformation. The present facility has been used in observing and measuring the mass transfer process of a water droplet in EAFP protein solution under microgravity condition provided by the satellite Shi Jian No. 8.

The Head-On Colliding Process Of Binary Liquid Droplets At Low Velocity: High-Speed Photography Experiments And Modeling

The experimental and theoretical studies are reported in this paper for the head-on collisions of a liquid droplet with another of the same fluid resting on a solid substrate. The droplet on the hydrophobic polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) substrate remains in a shape of an approximately spherical segment and is isometric to an incoming droplet. The colliding process of the binary droplets was recorded with high-speed photography. Head-on collisions saw four different types of response in our experiments: complete rebound, coalescence, partial rebound With conglutination, and coalescence accompanied by conglutination. For a complete rebound, both droplets exhibited remarkable elasticity and the contact time of the two colliding droplets was found to be in the range of 10-20 ms. With both droplets approximately considered as elastic bodies, Hertz contact theory was introduced to estimate the contact time for the complete rebound case. The estimated result Was found to be on the same order of magnitude as the experimental data, which indicates that the present model is reasonable. (C) 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.