Free volume,molecular grains,self-organisation,and anisotropic entropy: machining materials

ABSTRACT

In this article, the relationship between molecular architecture and the formation of twist-bend phases is reviewed under the context of shape dependency. We conclude that the twist-bend phase is a universal phenomenon, which occurs in a wide variety of materials, for dimers through to main chain polymers. In the process, the chemical information on molecular design is effectively lost or irrelevant, and molecular topology takes precedence over electrostatic interactions in mesophase formation. As a consequence of this macro-scale material, engineering by shape alone becomes a possibility, potentially more phases may be realised, and entropy is anisotropic.     

力学可以为农业现代化作贡献

农业现代化提出了许多与力学各个分支都有密切关系的问题．从农田耕作、农业物料性质、农产品烘干、水果和蔬菜生产、农业生物环境、节水灌溉、农业水土资源合理利用和作物生长等方面，介绍了有关的力学问题和目前的研究进展．     

Azimuthal orientational correlations due to excluded volume epitaxy in growing anisotropic grains

The microstructure of anisotropically shaped grains can strongly influence a range of material properties, including transport, mechanical and electro-optical. A grain-structure-related phenomenon, known as excluded volume epitaxy (EVE), is reported in this study. EVE is a local, inter-grain orientational correlations effect, which results from a combination of continuous nucleation of anisotropic grains and impingement of growing grains. Due to EVE, anisotropically shaped grains have a tendency to be similarly aligned in a local neighbourhood, despite the absence of any forced global orientation in the sample. The effect has been repeatedly observed by the authors in block copolymers, as illustrated by a representative TEM image. Optical microscopy of anisotropically shaped non-polymeric crystals revealed the generality of this effect. The simulation study revealed a tendency for azimuthal, inter-grain orientational correlation and re-confirmed the experimental observation of EVE.     

Determination of Protein Levels in Nigerian Grains Using 14 MeV Neutron Activation Analysis

Fast (14 MeV) neutrons have been successfully used in investigating the protein content of different food grains (Soya Beans, Sorghum, Maize and Beans) locally grown and consumed in Nigeria. Protein was estimated via nitrogen using the ¹⁴N(n, 2n)¹³N reaction. Quantification of nitrogen was achieved through a γ-γ coincidence counting of 511 keV positron emissions from the decaying ¹³N. The implication of the use of the emitted annihilation positrons, the interference introduced in the analytical energy spectra from other activated target nuclides present in the sample, as well as possible proton “knock on” reactions anticipated from cellulose in grain matrix were assessed, and their contributions to the 511 keV gamma energy resolved. For comparative purposes, replicates of samples analyzed through Fast Neutron Activation Analysis (FNAA) were investigated using the Kjeldahl method. The samples were carried through the Kjeldahl process of pre-digestion (with appropriate catalysts), digestion and titration. The results obtained through the Kjeldahl process were found to be in good agreement with those obtained using FNAA although slightly lower. Protein content (%) of Nigerian grains analyzed varied from a low 8.75 ± 2.96 for sorghum to 35.93 ± 0.31 for soya beans.     

Nano‐emulsion use for the synthesis of polyaniline nano‐grains or nano‐fibers

We report that nano‐emulsions can be creatively used as a morphology selective synthesis method to prepare not only nano‐grains but also nano‐fibers with high selectivity. Synthesis of the two different morphological materials was demonstrated using polyaniline synthesis as a model case. Polyaniline nano‐grains were synthesized from aniline molecules in nano‐size aqueous droplets as polymerization sites whose droplets were generated by inverse water‐in‐oil nano‐emulsion use, and polyaniline nano‐fibers were synthesized from aniline in aqueous nano‐dimensional channels as polymerization sites whose channels were generated by direct oil‐in‐water nano‐emulsion use containing high population of oil droplets. Using the approaches, we successfully synthesized nano‐fibers of 60 nm diameter with 0.5 µm length and also nano‐grains having diameter of 60–80 nm. The two different polymerization sites of nano‐scale dimension were made by changing the ratio among surfactant, aqueous aniline/HCl solution, and oil, i.e. organic solvent. We found the nano‐fibers synthesized from the channels formed by the direct oil‐in‐water nano‐emulsion have higher bulk electrical conductivity than the nano‐grains which were synthesized from the droplets formed by the inverse water‐in‐oil emulsion. We also found that the emulsion use allows us to use a room temperature synthesis unlike conventional synthesis methods which require to use ice bath temperature. Physical properties of both nano‐fibers and nano‐grains synthesized were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), UV–Vis spectra, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and four probes conductivity measurement. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Automatic analysis of microscopic photo-pictures of undeveloped and developed nuclear emulsions

Methods of automatic computer analyses of images have large impotence in numerous physical problems with different kinds of radiations, which use such solid-state detectors as nuclear photographic emulsions, plastics and others. We described a method of expanding boundaries of dark areas for such computer analyses of micro-pictures. We demonstrated effectiveness of this method by the example of the search of microcrystals size distributions in two undeveloped nuclear emulsions and similar distribution of background grains in the developed emulsion.     

The effect of severe plastic deformation and annealing conditions on mechanical properties and restoration phenomena in an ultrafine-grains Fe-28.5%Ni steel

The effect of annealing condition on the microstructure evolution, together with mechanical properties of Fe-28.5Ni steel processed by one and six cycles of accumulative roll bonding (ARB), was explored. The evolution of microstructure was studied by means of Electron Backscattered Diffraction method. The ARB-processed specimens were annealed for 30 minutes between 500°C and 600°C, and the effect of these annealing processes was elaborated. Results showed a significantly reduced martensite phase during ARB process cycles. Moreover, a refined and stabilised ultrafine structure was obtained in 6-cycle ARB-processed specimen. Results also show that by annealing the 1-cycle specimen at 550°C, no significant microstructural change and mechanical properties variation are identified. As such, no significant microstructural change and mechanical properties variation were notified for annealing of 6-cycle ARB-processed specimen at 500°C. However, annealing at 600°C in both conditions led to a complete recrystallisation of the deformed structure. Annealing at 550°C in 6-cycle ARB-processed specimen showed partial recrystallisation as well as an abnormal grain growth characteristic. The abnormal grain growth was seen by annealing of 1-cycle ARB-processed specimen at 600°C. The changing features of dislocations were discussed in these specimens in terms of changing the dynamics of low- and high-angle grain boundaries. Tensile test results also showed a significant increase in the yield/ultimate tensile strengths with the application of ARB cycles. Although ARB process led to a rapid reduction of total elongation, full restoration during high-temperature annealing returned this value back to the initial, non-deformed, condition.     

The heat capacity of small metallic grains studied by the random matrices theory

The random matrices theory is applied to a study of the heat capacity of small metallic grains. The numerical calculations indicate that the level distribution and the difference between the particles respectively with an even and an odd numbers of electrons are important for the heat capacity of the small metallic grains at a low temperature and the level correlation mainly affects the heat capacity at a high temperature.     

Effect of thermal diffusion and electrostatic force on evolution of wind-blown sand flow

A theoretical model is suggested to mathematically describe the effect of thermal diffusion from a sand-bed on evolution of a wind-blown sand flow.An upward wind field is engendered by the thermal diffusion and the coupling interaction among the horizontal and upward wind flow,saltating grains,and a kind of electrostatic force exerted on the grains are considered in this theoretical model.The numerical results show that the effect of the thermal diffusion on the evolution process of wind-blown grain flow is quite obvious and very similar to the effect of the electrostatic force on the evolution.Not only the time for the entire system to reach a steady state(called the duration time),the transport rate of grains,the mass-flux profiles and the trajectory of saltating grains are affected by the thermal diffusion and the electrostatic force exerted on saltating grains, but also the wind profiles and the temperature profiles at the steady state are affected by the wind-blown sand flow.     

Modelling the Flow of Carbon Dioxide Through Beds of Cereal Grains

The insect population in grain stores can be kept under control by maintaining a high concentration of CO₂ gas (greater than 35%) throughout the grain bed. In this paper the initial phase of this process is considered, where the gas is introduced into the bed. The flow of CO₂ through the grain bulk is modelled as fluid flow in a porous medium and the effect of advection, dispersion, sorption and curvilinear isobars and streamlines are considered. An analytic solution to this problem is developed using perturbation expansions and the analysis is restricted to the dominant term in each expansion. In curvilinear flow, a useful variable is the traverse time; the time taken for the gas to travel from the inlet duct. It is shown that lines of constant traverse time are also lines of constant CO₂ concentration throughout the grain bed except in the narrow region called the front, where the concentration gradient is large. For most grain stores the isobars have a negative curvature and in these situations the front moves more slowly than in uniform flow and the width of the front increases more rapidly as it travels through the grain bed. It is shown that sorption has an effect on the CO₂ concentration in the air for some grains such as canola but not for others such as wheat.