Sizing Polydisperse Dispersions by Focused Beam Reflectance and Small Angle Static Light Scattering

In this work, two different methods for particle characterization, namely focused beam reflectance and small angle static light scattering, are quantitatively compared. The results are presented in the form of moment ratios of the particle size distribution, i.e., the number weighted diameter, D_1/0, and the volume weighted diameter, D_4/3, for a broad range of particle size distributions ranging from 20 to 400 μm. Various aqueous dispersions including narrow, broad, and bimodal particle size distributions of spherical shaped ceramic beads were used in the comparison. It was found that the moment ratios obtained by focused beam reflectance measurements and small angle static light scattering correlate well, in the case of spherical particles. Furthermore, it was found that the D_1/0 values obtained by focused beam reflectance measurements are more sensitive to the presence of a small fraction of fine particles in a bimodal distribution than those obtained by small angle static light scattering.     

Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis: Enhanced Detection of Transparent Materials

This study proposes a novel and simple in-house design of a nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA) device for the online characterization of nanoparticles in an aqueous solution. The particle size distribution of two sets of model nanoparticles, for example, transparent (SiO₂) and opaque (TiO₂) materials with respect to water as a dispersion medium could be successfully analyzed. Experiments are conducted using two different laser wavelengths of 632.8 (red) and 510 nm (green) and a range of concentrations. The accuracy of the green laser is larger compared to the red laser for all particle concentrations used. The measured average diameter using the presented in-house NTA setup is in the acceptable range compared to the electron microscopy data. The average diameter of the transparent (SiO₂) and opaque (TiO₂) samples is calculated as 36.29 and 27.26 nm using NTA, 36.44 and 27.8 nm analyzing field emission scanning electron microscopy images, and 23.97 and 19.7 nm analyzing transmission electron microscopy images. In the new viewing sample holder, nanoparticles undergo mere Brownian motion with no bulk drift velocity. The effect of solid concentration and wavelength of the laser light on the performance of the NTA sensor is investigated, and the optimal concentration range for model particles is reported.     

Laser scattering by metallic particles in two-phase nozzle flow into a vacuum

For several years the Max-Planck-Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics has performed experiments with artificial barium clouds in space by means of research rockets and satellites in order to investigate electric fields and currents in the ionosphere and in the magnetosphere. The processes which lead to the formation of these artificial clouds were simulated in laboratory in order to optimize the barium vapor yield and to obtain a better insight into the initial phase of the clouds. In these experiments the combustion of excess barium with copper oxide, the two-phase flow of the combustion products through a nozzle and their expansion into a 20 m³ vacuum chamber were investigated in detail. Purpose of this work is to measure through detection techniques of scattered laser light and thermal radiation: 1) the density of small metall particles on the particle jet axis, 2) the particle velocity, 3) the thermal radiation of larger particles, and 4) the position of the Mach disk which limits the free nozzle jet downstream. This work was carried out at the Max-Planck-Institut für extraterrestrische Physik, Garching, Germany.     

Shadow Doppler Velocimetry for Simultaneous Size and Velocity Measurements of Irregular Particles in Confined Reacting Flows

We report the application of the Shadow Doppler Velocimeter (SDV) for spatial precise, simultaneous measurement of the size and velocity to assess the particle retention performance of a laboratory, 1/6 scale, 10 kW vertically-fired atmospheric model of the pressurised pulverised-coal furnace of Reichert et al. [1]. The SDV is based on the imaging of a conventional LDV probe volume onto a linear photodiode array and has the advantage over other sizing methods for irregular particles that it is tolerant of the optical misalignment and fouling which are inevitable when passing laser beams through windows in such furnaces. The size and two components of velocity of burning coal particles were measured in the present geometry which has 172 mm furnace diameter and 40 mm lateral exit duct diameter and a calculated exit bulk velocity of 4 m/s, evaluated at 300 K. The Sauter mean diameter of the particles is, within the experimental error, uniform at about 40 μm in the vertical profile normal to the axis of the exhaust pipe, 34.5 mm upstream of the exit. Coal particle velocities in the near-exit region are directed towards the exit, closely following the gas-phase velocities. Both these observations imply that particle retention efficiency due to streamline curvature is low and extrapolation suggests that there will be even less at large scales.     

The Use of Laser Backscatter Instrumentation for the on-line measurement of the particle size distribution of emulsions

The response of the Partec laser backscatter particle size analyzer has been tested under a variety of conditions. Various materials posessing different light scattering characteristics have been examined and the response of the Partec instrument has been evaluated. In particular the system response to transparent particle systems (e.g. oil in water emulsions) tas been studied. It has been found that the Partec laser backscatter instrument provides reasonably accurate and reproducible results when used to characterize opaque, highly reflective particles such as hydrated alumina, but suffers from a lack of sensitivity to fine transparent particles such as oil droplets. The instrument does, however, readily detect the presence of opaque particle contaminants in oil-water emulsions.     

Combination of the Particle Size Distributions of Some Industrial Minerals Measured by Andreasen Pipette and Sieving Techniques

It is known that size of the individual particles is the predominant factor affecting the behavior of particulate materials, and that the size effects become increasingly important as the particles become finer. In this article, particle size distributions (PSDs) measured by different techniques, i.e. sieving and Andreasen pipette sedimentation, were combined for different mill (ball and rod) products of some industrial (talc and quartz) minerals. The corrected sedimentation data came closer to the sieving data. The apparent mean shape factors, r, determined from the corrected PSDs for the talc mineral ground by ball and rod mill were found to be 1.34, 0.62, whereas it was 1.00, 1.12 for the quartz mineral ground by ball and rod mill, respectively. The results show that the ball milled products of talc mineral have more regular (rounder in shape) particles than those of rod milled, but the rod milled products of quartz mineral studied were not more regular in shape than ball milled products of quartz mineral as confirmed by the SEM pictures and reviewed literature.     

Estimating Average Particle Size by Focused Beam Reflectance Measurement (FBRM)

The Lasentec focused beam reflectance measurement (FBRM) probe provides in situ particle characterisation over a wide range of suspension concentrations. This is a significant advantage over conventional instruments that require sampling and dilution. However, FBRM gives a chord distribution, rather than a conventional diameter distribution. Both theoretical and empirical methods for converting from chord to diameter data are available, but the empirical method was found to be more successful.     

Quantitative analysis of holographic particle data

There are several well known difficulties in forming and analysing holographic particle data in the micrometre and submicrometre size range. This paper suggests that these problems can be overcome by using a combination of research techniques. Firstly, it has been found that it is possible to record images of submicrometre particles by using conventional photographic materials. Essentially, a diffraction limited optical component has been used to provide aberration free particle images. Secondly, the sensitivity of the holographic material has been increased with the use of specialized holographic processing chemicals. Thirdly, it has been found that it is possible to encode holographically double, slightly displaced, particle images by using a pulse laser. Thus, Young's fringes can be obtained directly from the stored holographic data, and the particle velocity can be measured directly from the hologram. Fourthly, the holographic particle data can be automatically analysed, using a software program. Finally since the data is stored holographically, it is possible to obtain instantaneous 3-D particle velocities. This paper demonstrates that it is possible to perform holographic particle image velocimetry automatically, with only a small amount of preprocessing.     

Layering fabrication,structure, and electromagnetic properties of perovskite phases by hybrid process: self-propagated high-temperature synthesis and selective laser sintering

The paper discusses the fundamentals and the requirements for layer-by-layer manufacturing of three-dimensional porous parts from complex metal oxide systems (piezoceramics PbTi_1?xZr_xO₃; hexaferrites – BaFe_12?xCr_xO₁₉ and SrFe₁₂O₁₉; spinels – Li_0.5Fe_2.5?xCr_xO₄ and high-temperature superconducting ceramics (HTSC) – YBa₂Cu₃O_7?y) and examines the main aspects of the overlapped processes associated with the self-propagated high-temperature synthesis (SHS) and selective laser sintering (SLS). These two techniques presently offered are joined as the original solutions in this external magnetic field. The perovskite phase compositions, morphology, and element distribution of the fabricated samples were analyzed by the X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) equipped the EDX analysis. Optimal regimes for the three-dimensional (3D) parts laser synthesis and some of their electro physical properties were estimated for conducting the concurrent SHS-SLS reactions, both for the case with the applied dc magnetic field and without it.     

Physicochemical characterization of an Indian traditional medicine, Jasada Bhasma: detection of nanoparticles containing non-stoichiometric zinc oxide

Herbs and minerals are the integral parts of traditional systems of medicine in many countries. Herbo-Mineral medicinal preparations called Bhasma are unique to the Ayurvedic and Siddha systems of Indian Traditional Medicine. These preparations have been used since long and are claimed to be the very effective and potent dosage form. However, there is dearth of scientific analytical studies carried out on these products, and even the existing ones suffer from incomplete analysis. Jasada Bhasma is a unique preparation of zinc belonging to this class. This particular preparation has been successfully used by traditional practitioners for the treatment of diabetes and age-related eye diseases. This work presents a first comprehensive physicochemical characterization of Jasada Bhasma using modern state-of-the-art techniques such as X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), inductively coupled plasma (ICP), elemental analysis with energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Our analysis shows that the Jasada Bhasma particles are in oxygen deficient state and a clearly identifiable fraction of particles are in the nanometer size range. These properties like oxygen deficiency and nanosize particles in Jasada Bhasma might impart the therapeutic property of this particular type of medicine. A. C. Joshi: Private Practitioner (Vaidya).     

Stochastic modeling of evaporating sprays within a consistent hybrid joint PDF framework

In the present study, a framework for modeling two-phase evaporating flow is presented, which employs an Eulerian–Lagrangian–Lagrangian approach. For the continuous phase, a joint velocity-composition probability density function (PDF) method is used. Opposed to other approaches, such PDF methods require no modeling for turbulent convection and chemical source terms. For the dispersed phase, the PDF of velocity, diameter, temperature, seen gas velocity and seen gas composition is calculated. This provides a unified formulation, which allows to consistently address the different modeling issues associated with such a system. Because of the high dimensionality, particle methods are employed to solve the PDF transport equations. To further enhance computational efficiency, a local particle time-stepping algorithm is implemented and a particle time-averaging technique is employed to reduce statistical and bias errors. In comparison to previous studies, a significantly smaller number of droplet particles per grid cell can be employed for the computations, which rely on two-way coupling between the droplet and gas phases. The framework was validated using established experimental data and a good overall agreement can be observed.     

A Comparative Study of the Determination of Ferrofluid Particle Size by Means of Rotational Brownian Motion and Translational Brownian Motion

Two methods, the Toroidal Technique and the Forced Rayleigh Scattering (FRS) method, were used in the determination of the size of magnetic particles and their aggregates in magnetic fluids. The toroidal technique was used in the determination of the complex, frequency dependent magnetic susceptibility, x(w)=x'(w) - ix"(w) of magnetic fluids consisting of two colloidal suspensions of cobalt ferrite in hexadecene and a colloidal suspension of magnetite in isopar m with corresponding saturation magnetisation of 45.5 mT, 20 mT and 90 mT, respectively. Plots of the susceptibility components against frequency f over the range 10 Hz to 1 MHz, are shown to have approximate Debye-type profiles with the presence of relaxation components being indicated by the frequency, f _max, of the maximum of the loss-peak in the x"(w) profiles. The FRS method (the interference of two intense laser beams in the thin film of magnetic fluid) was used to create the periodical structure of needle like clusters of magnetic particles. This creation is caused by a thermodiffusion effect known as the Soret effect. The obtained structures are indicative of as a self diffraction effect of the used primary laser beams. The relaxation phenomena arising from the switching off of the laser interference field is discussed in terms of a spectrum of relaxation times. This spectrum is proportional to the hydrodynamic particle size distribution. Corresponding calculations of particle hydrodynamic radius obtained by both mentioned methods indicate the presence of aggregates of magnetic particles.     

The effect of subgrid-scale models on the entrainment of a passive scalar in a turbulent planar jet

Classical large-eddy simulation (LES) modelling assumes that the passive subgrid-scale (SGS) models do not influence large-scale quantities, even though there is now ample evidence of this in many flows. In this work, direct numerical simulation (DNS) and large-eddy simulations of turbulent planar jets at Reynolds number Re_H = 6000 including a passive scalar with Schmidt number Sc = 0.7 are used to study the effect of several SGS models on the flow integral quantities e.g. velocity and scalar jet spreading rates. The models analysed are theSmagorinsky, dynamic Smagorinsky, shear-improved Smagorinsky and the Vreman. Detailed analysis of the thin layer bounding the turbulent and non-turbulent regions – the so-called turbulent/non-turbulent interface (TNTI) – shows that this region raises new challenges for classical SGS models. The small scales are far from equilibrium and contain a high fraction of the total kinetic energy and scalar variance, but the situation is worse for the scalar than for the velocity field. Both a-priori and a-posteriori (LES) tests show that the dynamic Smagorinsky and shear-improved models give the best results because they are able to accurately capture the correct statistics of the velocity and passive scalar fluctuations near the TNTI. The results also suggest the existence of a critical resolution Δ_x, of the order of the Taylor scale λ, which is needed for the scalar field. Coarser passive scalar LES i.e. Δ_x ≥ λ results in dramatic changes in the integral quantities. This fact is explained by the dynamics of the small scales near the jet interface.     

Sizing of Irregular Particles Using a Phase Doppler System

Response of a phase Doppler system to irregularly shaped particles is examined and shown to deviate qualitatively as well as quantitatively from the spherical particles. Nevertheless, the measured phase distributions based on an ensemble of particles exhibit a high degree of order and simplicity. The experimental data and the stochastic modeling of the process have shown that the phase Doppler technique can be used successfully for in-situ sizing and velocimetry of irregular particles. In the case of irregular crystalline particles, mean size and standard deviation can be deduced without requiring any assumptions regarding the functional form of the size distribution. As opposed to other optical techniques, phase Doppler can be used, in principle, near the backscattering location, so that a single optical window would be employed for transmission of laser light and collection of the scattered signals. Furthermore, size measurements can be velocity-resolved, i.e. a size distribution can be associated with each bin of the velocity histogram.     

Mg-Al layered double hydroxides (LDHs) and their derived mixed oxides grown by laser techniques

Layered double hydroxides (LDHs) have been widely studied due to their applications as multifunctional materials, catalysts, host materials, anionic exchangers, adsorbents for environmental contaminants and for the immobilization of biological materials. As thin films, LDHs are good candidates for novel applications as sensors, corrosion resistant coatings or components in electro optical devices. For these applications, lamellar orientation-controlled film has to be fabricated.In this work, the successful deposition of LDH and their derived mixed oxides thin films by laser techniques is reported. Pulsed laser deposition (PLD) and matrix assisted pulsed laser evaporation (MAPLE) were the methods used for thin films deposition. The ability of Mg-Al LDHs as a carrier for metallic particles (Ag) has been considered. Frozen targets containing 10% powder in water were used for MAPLE, while for PLD the targets consisted in dry-pressed pellets.The structure and the surface morphology of the deposited films were examined by X-ray Diffraction, Atomic Force Microscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy and Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry.     

Combustion of micron-sized particles of titanium and zirconium

Particles of titanium and zirconium in the size range of 2–25 μm are ignited while passing through a CO₂ laser beam and their combustion is monitored optically. Prior to ignition, particles pass through a low-power auxiliary laser beam so that the diameter of each ignited particle is measured in situ based on the amplitude of the scattered light pulse. The particles of both Ti and Zr are observed to exhibit micro explosions, similar to those observed for larger size particles of these metals. Particle emission traces are recorded, and a data processing routine is established for discounting emission signals produced by unignited particles and particles partially combusted within the CO₂ laser beam. Burn times and combustion temperatures are measured and compared to earlier measurements for coarser particles of the same metals. For both metals, average combustion temperatures implied by the emission spectra are very close to their respective adiabatic flame temperatures. For both metals, for the particle size range considered, particle combustion temperatures do not depend on the particle size. The particle burn times were found to be only weak functions of the particle size; burn times for Zr are shorter and temperatures are higher compared to the similarly sized Ti particles.     

Measurements of Silica Aggregate Particle Growth Using Light Scattering and Thermophoretic Sampling in a Coflow Diffusion Flame

The evolution of silica aggregate particles in a coflow diffusion flame has been studied experimentally using light scattering and thermophoretic sampling techniques. An attempt has been made to calculate the aggregate number density and volume fraction using the measurements of scattering cross section from 90° light scattering with combination of measuring the particle size and morphology from the localized sampling and a TEM image analysis. Aggregate or particle number densities and volume fractions were calculated using Rayleigh–Debye–Gans and Mie theory for fractal aggregates and spherical particles, respectively. Using this technique, the effects of H₂ flow rates on the evolution of silica aggregate particles have been studied in a coflow diffusion flame burner. As the flow rate of H₂ increases, the primary particle diameters of silica aggregates have been first decreased, but, further increase of H₂ flow rate causes the diameter of primary particles to increase and for sufficiently larger flow rates, the fractal aggregates finally become spherical particles. For the cases of high flame temperatures, the particle sizes become larger and the number densities decrease by coagulation as the particles move up within the flame. For cases of low flame temperatures, the primary particle diameters of aggregates vary a little following the centerline of burner and for the case of the lowest flame temperature in the present experiments, the sizes of primary particles even decrease as particles move upward.     

Dynamics of femtosecond-laser-ablated liquid-aluminum nanoparticles probed by means of spatiotemporally resolved X-ray absorption spectroscopy

We investigated spatiotemporal evolution of expanding ablation plume of aluminum created by a 100-fs, 10¹⁴–10¹⁵-W/cm² laser pulse. For diagnosing dynamic behavior of ablation plume, we employed the spatiotemporally resolved X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) system that consists of a femtosecond-laser-plasma soft X-ray source and a Kirkpatrick–Baez (K–B) microscope. We successfully assigned the ejected particles by analyzing structure of absorption spectra near the L _II,III absorption edge of Al, and we clarified the spatial distribution of Al⁺ ions, Al atoms, and liquid droplets of Al in the plume. We found that the ejected particles strongly depend the irradiated laser intensity. The spatial distribution of atomic density and the expansion velocity of each type of particle were estimated from the spatiotemporal evolution of ablation particles. We also investigated a temperature of the aluminum fine particles in liquid phase during the plume expansion by analyzing the slope of the L _II,III absorption edge in case of 10¹⁴-W/cm² laser irradiation where the nanoparticles are most efficiently produced. The result suggests that the ejected particles travel in a vacuum as a liquid phase with a temperature of about 2500 to 4200 K in the early stage of plume expansion.     

Holographic particle image velocimetry (HPIV)

There are several well-known difficulties in forming and analysing holographic particle data in the micrometre and sub-micrometre size range. This paper suggests that these problems can be overcome by using a combination of research techniques. Firstly, it has been found that it is possible to record images of sub-micrometre particles using conventional photographic materials. Essentially, a diffraction limited optical component has been used to provide aberration free particle images. Secondly, the sensitivity of the holographic material has been increased with the use of specialized holographic processing chemicals. Thirdly, it has been found that it is possible to encode holoraphically double, slightly displaced, particle images using a pulse laser. Thus, Young's fringes can be obtained directly from the stored holographic data and the particle velocity can be measured directly from the hologram. Fourthly, the holographic particle data can be automatically analysed using a software programme. Finally, since the data is stored holographically, it is possible to obtain instantaneous three-dimensional particle velocity. This paper demonstrates that it is possible to perform holographic particle image velocimetry automatically, with only a small amount of pre-processing.