Molecular and colloidal self-assembly at the oil–water interface

Self-assembly is a versatile bottom-up approach for fabricating novel supramolecular materials with well-defined nano- or micro-structures associated with functionalities. The oil-water interface provides an ideal venue for molecular and colloidal self-assembly. This paper gives an overview of various self-assembled materials, including nanoparticles, polymers, proteins, and lipids, at the oil-water interface. Focus has been given to fundamental principles and strategies for engineering the self-assembly process, such as control of pH, ionic strength and use of external fields, to achieve complex soft materials with desired functionalities, such as nanoparticle surfactants, structured liquids, and proteinosomes. It has been shown that self-assembly at the oil-water interface holds great promise for developing well-structured complex materials useful for many research and industrial applications.     

Dynamic surface tension measurements of surfactant solutions using the maximum bubble pressure method – limits of applicability

One of the essential differences in the design of bubble pressure tensiometers consists in the geometry of the measuring capillaries. To reach extremely short adsorption times of milliseconds and below, the so-called deadtime of the capillaries must be of the order of some 10 ms. In particular, for concentrated surfactant solutions, such as micellar solutions, short deadtimes are needed to minimize the initial surfactant load of the generated bubbles. A theoretical model is derived and confirmed by experiments performed for a wide range of experimental conditions, mainly in respect to variations in deadtime and bubble volume.     

On the influence of the surfactant''s polar group on the local and terminal velocities of bubbles

The local and the terminal velocities, the size and the degree of bubbles’ shape deformations were determined as a function of distance from the position of the bubble formation (capillary orifice) in solutions of n-octyltrimethylammonium bromide, n-octyldimethylphosphine oxide, n-octyl-β-D-glucopyranoside and n-octanoic acid.

These surface-active compounds have different polar groups but an identical hydrocarbon chain (C8) in the molecule. The motion of the bubbles was monitored and recorded using a stroboscopic illumination, a CCD camera, and a JVC professional video. The recorded bubble images were analyzed by the image analysis software. The bubbles accelerated rapidly and their shape was deformed immediately after detachment from the capillary. The extent of the bubbles’ shape deformation (ratio of horizontal and vertical diameters) was 1.5 in distilled water and dropped rapidly down to a level of ca. 1.05–1.03 with increasing surfactant concentration. After the acceleration period the bubbles either attained a constant value of the terminal velocity (distilled water and high concentrations of the solutions), or a maximum in the velocity profiles was observed (low concentrations). The values of the terminal velocity diminished drastically with increasing concentration, from the value of 35 cm/s in water down to about 15 cm/s, while the bubble diameter decreased by ca. 10% only. The surfactant adsorption at the surface of the bubbles was evaluated and the minimum adsorption coverages required to immobilize the bubbles’ surface were determined. It was found that this minimum adsorption coverage was ca. 4% for n-octyldimethylphosphine oxide, n-octyl-β-D-glucopyranoside, n-octanoic acid and 25% for n-octyltrimethylammonium bromide. The difference in the adsorption coverage together with the surfactants’ surface activities indicate that it is mainly the adsorption kinetics of the surfactants that governs the fluidity of interfaces of the rising bubbles.     

正常金属/超导/正常金属双垒隧道结中的量子相干输运

考虑到量子相干效应和界面散射效应 ,利用 L ambert理论模型 ,计算正常金属 /绝缘层 /超导 /绝缘层 /正常金属双垒隧道结中的准粒子输运系数和隧道谱。研究表明 :( 1)所有的准粒子输运系数和电导谱在超导能隙之上都随能量作周期性振荡 ,其振荡周期依赖于超导层的厚度 ;( 2 )在超导能隙之上 Andreev反射系数随能量呈现周期性消失现象 ;( 3)在绝缘层势垒强度取很大的隧道极限下 ,超导层中会形成一系列的准粒子束缚态 ,其位置由量子化条件决定 ;( 4)界面散射效应不仅能压低各子能隙电导峰 ,还能使子能隙电导峰劈裂为两个峰。     

Evaluation of the Lazarus-Leblond constants in the asymptotic model of the interfacial wavy crack

The paper addresses the problem of a semi-infinite plane crack along the interface between two isotropic half-spaces. Two methods of solution have been considered in the past: Lazarus and Leblond [1998a. Three-dimensional crack-face weight functions for the semi-infinite interface crack-I: variation of the stress intensity factors due to some small perturbation of the crack front. J. Mech. Phys. Solids 46, 489-511, 1998b. Three-dimensional crack-face weight functions for the semi-infinite interface crack-II: integrodifferential equations on the weight functions and resolution J. Mech. Phys. Solids 46, 513-536] applied the “special” method by Bueckner [1987. Weight functions and fundamental fields for the penny-shaped and the half-plane crack in three space. Int. J. Solids Struct. 23, 57-93] and found the expression of the variation of the stress intensity factors for a wavy crack without solving the complete elasticity problem; their solution is expressed in terms of the physical variables, and it involves five constants whose analytical representation was unknown; on the other hand, the “general” solution to the problem has been recently addressed by Bercial-Velez et al. [2005. High-order asymptotics and perturbation problems for 3D interfacial cracks. J. Mech. Phys. Solids 53, 1128-1162], using a Wiener-Hopf analysis and singular asymptotics near the crack front.The main goal of the present paper is to complete the solution to the problem by providing the connection between the two methods. This is done by constructing an integral representation for Lazarus-Leblond's weight functions and by deriving the closed form representations of Lazarus-Leblond's constants.     

Modeling film flows down inclined planes

A new model of film flow down an inclined plane is derived by a method combining results of the classical long wavelength expansion to a weighted-residuals technique. It can be expressed as a set of three coupled evolution equations for three slowly varying fields, the thickness h, the flow-rate q, and a new variable that measures the departure of the wall shear from the shear predicted by a parabolic velocity profile. Results of a preliminary study are in good agreement with theoretical asymptotic properties close to the instability threshold, laboratory experiments beyond threshold and numerical simulations of the full Navier-Stokes equations. Received: 16 April 1998 / Revised: 29 June 1998 / Accepted: 2 July 1998     

界面作用对HDPE/POEg/CaCO_3三元复合材料韧性的影响

通过界面改性,制备了以CaCO3为核,马来酸酐接枝乙烯-辛烯共聚物弹性体(POEg)为壳的高密度聚乙烯(HDPEg)/弹性体(POE)/CaCO3的三元复合材料.由于“核-壳”结构的形成,弹性体和CaCO3表现出协同的增韧作用.同未经表面处理的CaCO3复合材料相比,在相同的CaCO3含量的情况下,表面处理的CaCO3由于与弹性体形成更强的界面粘结,使得三元复合材料的“脆-韧”转变发生在较低的弹性体含量.     

Synthesis of polypiperazine-amide thin-film membrane on PPESK hollow fiber UF membrane

A new interfacial polymerization (IP) procedure is developed in order to synthesize polypiperazine-amide thin-film membrane on the inner surface of poly(phthalazinone ether sulfone ketone) (PPESK) hollow fiber ultrafiltration (UF) membrane.A hollow fiber composite membrane with good performance was prepared and studied by FT-IR and scanning electron microscopy.     

Analysis of dielectric relaxations of w/o emulsions in the light of theories of interfacial polarization

An attempt is made to apply dielectric theories of interfacial polarization to observations of dielectric relaxations for W/O emulsions. Approximate formulas for disperse systems in a W/O type were derived from the two theories: one proposed by Maxwell and Wagner for dilute disperse systems of spherical particles, and the other developed by Hanai for concentrated disperse systems. Dielectric measurements were carried out on concentrated W/O emulsions prepared from kerosene and distilled water or KCl aqueous solutions by minimal use of emulsifiers. Marked dielectric relaxations were observed with the emulsions, the dielectric parameters having been determined to characterize the relaxation data. Phase parameters such as relative permittivity, electric conductivity and volume fraction of the disperse phase were evaluated from the dielectric parameters by use of the approximate formulas of the respective theories. The phase parameters evaluated and the frequency dependence of complex permittivity of the W/O emulsions deduced from the theory for concentrated disperse systems are in excellent agreement with the observed data in comparison to that for dilute disperse systems. It is concluded that the dielectric relaxations due to the interfacial polarization of disperse systems of spheres are explained satisfactorily by the theory for concentrated disperse systems.     

Dynamic Interfacial Tension Behavior of Water/Oil Systems Containing In situ-Formed Surfactants

Time-dependent interfacial tension (IFT) has been investigated for an interfacially reactive immiscible system composed of model-acidified oil and alkaline water. The acidified oil was composed of either lauric acid or linoleic acid dissolved in n-dodecane. Drop volume tensiometry was employed to measure the interfacial tension between the two phases. In the case of lauric acid, the IFT value was found to decrease sharply with increasing alkali concentration, even at low drop formation times. In the case of linoleic acid, the IFT decrease with the drop formation time was more gradual, especially at low alkali concentration. The rate of formation of the interfacial area was also found to be dependent on alkali concentration.