Morphologies of Fe-66.7 at.%Si alloy solidified in a drop tube

Solidification of 0.1–1.0 mm diameter droplets of Fe-66.7 at.%Si alloy was achieved in a 3 m drop tube. The XRD, EDS, and SEM measurements reveal that all the droplets are composed of the primary phase α and the α+ε eutectic. With decreasing droplet diameter, the growth mode of the primary phase α changes from faceted to nonfaceted growth and the eutectic changes from needle-like to anomalous eutectic. In addition, the width of the primary phase α decreases with decreasing droplet size. The different cooling rates and undercooling levels corresponding to the samples with different sizes are responsible for the morphology changes. The cooling rates of the samples with different diameters during free fall were calculated and their effects on the microstructure formation were discussed. This kind of transition is also found inside the same sample, which is due to the larger cooling rate on the surface than at the center.     

Kinetics of the phase transition in an isotropic liquid crystalline dimer subjected to a deep temperature quench

Kinetics of the ordered phase growth in a liquid crystalline azomethine dimer under a deep temperature quench was studied using a polarizing optical microscope at different cooling rates. The nematic droplets revealed in the optical images across the phase transition were treated statistically and the resulting statistical size distributions were described using principles of irreversible thermodynamics. After analysis of the mean droplet diameter evolving with time, two regimes of the nematic phase growth were recognized: (i) nucleation and rapid nucleus growth and (ii) nucleus coarsening. Both regimes were quantitatively described with the universal scaling function.     

微重力下Fe-Al-Nb合金液滴的快速凝固机理及其对显微硬度的影响

采用落管无容器处理技术实现了Fe_(67.5)Al_(22.8)Nb_(9.7)三元合金在微重力条件下的快速凝固,获得了直径为40—1000μm的合金液滴.实验中合金液滴的过冷度范围为50—216 K,冷却速率随着液滴直径的减小由1.23×10~3K·s~(-1)增大到5.53×10~5K·s~(-1).研究发现,Fe_(67.5)Al_(22.8)Nb_(9.7)合金液滴的凝固组织均由Nb(Fe,Al)_2相和(αFe)相组成,且随着液滴直径的减小,初生Nb(Fe,Al)_2相由树枝晶转变为等轴晶,共晶组织发生了约3倍的细化且生长特征由层片共晶向碎断共晶转变;硬质初生Nb(Fe,Al)_2相的析出有效提高了合金的显微硬度.与电磁悬浮条件下同过冷合金的凝固组织对比发现,落管条件下的合金液滴凝固组织更细化,使得合金显微硬度提高了2%—6%.     

深过冷条件下Co_7Mo_6金属间化合物的枝晶生长和维氏硬度研究

采用电磁悬浮和自由落体两种实验技术对二元Co-50%Mo过共晶合金中初生Co_7Mo_6金属间化合物的生长机理和维氏硬度进行了系统研究.电磁悬浮实验中,合金熔体获得的最大过冷度为203 K(0.12T_L),初生Co_7Mo_6枝晶生长速度与过冷度之间呈现幂函数关系.随着过冷度的增大,初生枝晶中Co元素含量单调递增,枝晶尺寸明显减小,并且其维氏硬度逐渐升高.在自由落体状态下,随着液滴直径的减小,合金熔体的过冷度和冷却速率均增大.当液滴直径减小到392μm以下时,初生Co_7Mo_6枝晶从小平面向非小平面形态进行转变.实验发现,深过冷条件下Co_7Mo_6化合物发生了显著的溶质截留效应,其维氏硬度与Co元素分布和形貌特征密切相关.     

Formation mechanism of the primary faceted phase and complex eutectic structure within an undercooled Ag–Cu–Ge alloy

The solidified microstructure of bulk undercooled Ag₄₀Cu₃₀Ge₃₀ alloy consists of three parts: primary (Ge) phase, the complex structure of (Ag + Ge) and (Ag + ε ₂) pseudobinary eutectics, and (Ag + Ge + ε ₂) ternary eutectic. In comparison, the pseudobinary eutectic no longer appears in an alloy droplet solidified in a drop tube. Once the undercooling exceeds 225 K and the cooling rate is greater than 2×10³ K s⁻¹, the microstructure of the solidified droplet is totally composed of anomalous ternary eutectic. In both cases, the primary (Ge) phase exhibits various faceted growth morphologies at different undercoolings, such as columnar block, long dendrite, equiaxed dendrite and rod-like crystal. Some refined side branches grow from the equiaxed (Ge) dendritic branches composed of {111} twins, which is ascribed to the rapid epitaxial growth of (Ag + Ge) pseudobinary eutectic from the (Ge) dendritic branches. Moreover, both the primary (Ge) phase and the (Ge) phase in the (Ag + Ge) pseudobinary eutectic are effective heterogeneous nuclei for the (Ag+ε ₂) pseudobinary eutectic. As undercooling increases, the (Ge) phase in the (Ag + Ge+ε ₂) ternary eutectic transforms from faceted to non-faceted phase, while the independent nucleation and growth of the (Ag) and ε ₂ phases in the ternary eutectic displaces their previous cooperative growth. These growth kinetics transitions result in the formation of anomalous ternary eutectic.     

Kinetics of the Ordered Phase Growth across the Isotropic-Nematic Phase Transition in Liquid Crystal Azomethine Polymers during Cooling

Main-chain azomethine liquid crystal (LC) polymers varying in spacer length were studied using differential scanning calorimetry and polarizing optical microscopy. The nematic droplets appearing across the isotropic-nematic phase transition during cooling the polymer melt were treated statistically and their size distributions were described with equation based on the principles of irreversible thermodynamics. Kinetics of the ordered phase growth was described analytically with the universal law for cluster growth. Analysis of the mean LC droplet diameter as a function of time allowed recognition of two regimes of the ordered phase growth: i) nucleation and fast LC droplet growth and ii) consequent cluster coarsening. The length of the spacer in the polymer chain was shown to have an influence on the duration of the LC droplet growth regimes.     

Kinetics of the isotropic–nematic phase transition in melted multi-component liquid crystal mixtures upon cooling

The kinetics of the phase separation and the nematic phase growth in two melted commercial multi-component liquid crystal mixtures upon cooling was studied using polarising optical microscopy and IR spectrometry. The droplets of the nematic phase revealed in the optical images across the phase transition were segmented and treated statistically. In the resulting size histograms of mixture B, two overlapping statistical ensembles related to two co-existing nematic phases were recognised; these phases were shown to be different in their chemical structures. In mixture A, any separation within the nematic phase was not found. The statistical ensembles of the nematic droplets were successfully described using the principles of irreversible thermodynamics. Analysis of the mean droplet diameter as a function of time allowed recognition of two regimes of the nematic phase evolution: (1) nucleation and rapid nucleus growth and (2) nucleus coalescence. Both the regimes were quantitatively described with the universal law for the cluster growth.     

Amorphous transformation of ternary Cu45Zr45Ag10 alloy under microgravity condition

The influences of undercooling rate and cooling rate on the microstructural evolution of ternary Cu₄₅Zr₄₅Ag₁₀ alloy using single-roller melt spinning and drop tube are investigated. The rapidly quenched alloy ribbons achieve a homogeneous glass structure. The microstructure of the droplets transforms from the Cu₁₀Zr₇ dendrites plus (Cu₁₀Zr₇+AgZr) eutectic into Cu₁₀Zr₇ dendrite with the decrease of droplet diameter. As the diameter decreases to 180 μm, the Cu₄₅Zr₄₅Ag₁₀ alloy changes from crystal to amorphous structure, showing that the cooling rate is not the only influence factor and the undercooling play a certain role in the forming of the amorphous alloy at the same time under microgravity condition.     

落管中Al4Mn合金的形核研究

用1.2米长的落管对Al₄Mn合金进行了形核与过冷的研究.在落管底部收集到的样品中得到了正交Al₆Mn,β-Mn,两个十次准晶相关相、一个二十面体五次准晶相关相和十次准晶畴.发现这些相的含量与样品的尺寸大小有关,根据传统的形核理论对相含量与样品尺寸大小之间的关系作了定性的分析和讨论. 关键词：     

Microstructural evolution during containerless rapid solidification of Co-Si alloys

The Co-12%Si hypoeutectic, Co-12.52%Si eutectic and Co-13%Si hypereutectic alloys are rapidly solidified in a containerless environment in a drop tube. Undercoolings up to 207K (0.14T_E) are obtained, which play a dominant role in dendritic and eutectic growth. The coupled zone around Co-12.52%Si eutectic alloy has been calculated, which covers a composition range from 11.6 to 12.7%Si. A microstructural transition from lamellar eutectic to divorced eutectic occurs to Co-12.52%Si eutectic droplets with increasing undercooling. The lamellar eutectic structure of the Co-12.52%Si alloy consists of εCo and Co_3Si phases at small undercooling. The Co_3Si phase cannot decompose completely into εCo and αCo_2Si phases. As undercooling becomes larger, the Co_3Si phase grows very rapidly from the highly undercooled alloy melt to form a divorced eutectic. The structural morphology of the Co-12%Si alloy droplets transforms from εCo primary phase plus lamellar eutectic to anomalous eutectic, whereas the microstructure of Co-13%Si alloy droplets experiences a `dendritic to equiaxed' structural transition. No matter how large the undercooling is, the εCo solid solution is the primary nucleation phase. In the highly undercooled alloy melts, the growth of εCo and Co_3Si phases is controlled by solutal diffusion.     

快速降压下Tween20 液滴真空闪蒸特性

为探究闪蒸喷雾冷却的微观机理, 设计并搭建了液滴悬挂式真空闪蒸实验装置, 利用可视化窗口探究Tween20 液滴闪蒸过程中的闪蒸特性及气泡生长机理. 液滴在快速降压过程中形态会经历气泡成核、气泡生长、伴随气泡生长、爆裂这四个阶段的变化, 并反复循环这一过程直至液滴稳定蒸发. 对于液滴温度的变化, 闪蒸室的终态压力起到了决定性的作用, 并且其终态温度随压力的升高明显上升. 同时通过液滴闪蒸过程形态图分析发现, 液滴在剧烈爆炸阶段其温度也发生明显下降; 在稳定蒸发阶段, 其温度也将开始稳定不变. 因此可知液滴的剧烈爆炸会带走其自身的大量热量. 而 Tween20 浓度对液滴温度的影响微乎其微, 但其会使液滴内气泡的初始成核时间发生明显滞后, 并抑制液滴内的气泡发生破裂.     

液态三元Fe-Cr-Ni合金中快速枝晶生长与溶质分布规律

采用落管方法实现了液态三元Fe-Cr-Ni合金的深过冷与快速凝固,合金液滴的冷却速率和过冷度均随液滴直径的减小而迅速增大.两种成分合金近平衡凝固组织均为粗大板条状α相.在快速凝固过程中,不同直径Fe_(81.4)Cr_(13.9)Ni_(4.7)合金液滴凝固组织均为板条状α相,其固态相变特征很明显,随着过冷度增大,初生δ相由具有发达主干的粗大枝晶转变为等轴晶.Fe_(81.4)Cr_(4.7)Ni_(13.9)合金液滴凝固组织由α相晶粒组成,随着过冷度增大,初生γ相由具有发达主干的粗大枝晶转变为等轴晶,其枝晶主干长度和二次分枝间距均显著下降,晶粒内溶质的相对偏析度也明显减小,溶质Ni的相对偏析度始终大于溶质Cr.理论计算表明,与γ相相比,δ相枝晶生长速度更大.在实验获得的过冷度范围内,两种Fe-Cr-Ni合金枝晶生长过程均由热扩散控制.     

低压蒸汽滴状冷凝传热性能的实验研究

实验研究了不同水蒸气压力条件下的滴状冷凝传热特性。10 kPa、40 kPa和70 kPa时的传热系数分别是常压下的56%,68%和81%。随着水蒸气压力的下降,液滴脱落直径变大,液滴生长周期延长,冷凝传热系数下降。通过液滴的动力学特性分析和基于界面效应的滴状冷凝传热模型,分析了低压对水蒸气冷凝传热的主要影响因素,压力变化主要影响了分子扩散率和气-液相际传热热阻,导致总冷凝传热系数随压力下降。     

液态三元Fe-Sn-Si/Ge偏晶合金相分离过程的实验和模拟研究

本文采用自由落体实验技术和格子玻尔兹曼计算方法研究了低重力条件下液态Fe-Sn-Si/Ge合金的相分离过程. 实验发现, 二种合金液滴在自由下落过程中均发生显著的液相分离, 形成了壳核和弥散组织. 当Fe-Sn-Si合金中的Si元素被等量的Ge元素替换后, 壳核组织中富Fe区和富Sn区的分布次序会发生反转. 计算表明, 在液相分离过程中冷却速率、Marangoni对流和表面偏析对壳核构型的选择和弥散组织的形成起决定性作用.     

深过冷液态Al-Ni合金中枝晶与共晶生长机理

在自由落体条件下实现了液态Al-4 wt.%Ni亚共晶、Al-5.69 wt.%Ni共晶和Al-8 wt.%Ni过共晶合金的深过冷与快速凝固. 计算表明, (Al+Al₃Ni)规则纤维状共晶的共生区是4.8–15 wt.%Ni成分范围内不闭合区域, 且强烈偏向Al₃Ni相一侧. 实验发现, 随液滴直径的减小, 合金熔体冷却速率和过冷度增大, (Al)和Al₃Ni相枝晶与其共晶的竞争生长引发了Al-Ni 共晶型合金微观组织演化. 在快速凝固过程中, Al-4 wt.%Ni亚共晶合金发生完全溶质截留效应, 从而形成亚稳单相固溶体. 当过冷度超过58K时, Al-5.69 wt.%Ni 共晶合金呈现从纤维状共晶向初生(Al) 枝晶为主的亚共晶组织演变. 若过冷度连续增大, Al-8 wt.%Ni过共晶合金可以形成全部纤维状共晶组织, 并且最终演变为粒状共晶.     

Combustion behaviors of isolated n-decane and ethanol droplets in carbon dioxide-rich ambience under microgravity

The burning and sooting behaviors of isolated fuel droplets for ethanol and n-decane are examined in high concentration of the ambient carbon dioxide under microgravity. A quartz fiber with the diameter of 50 μm maintains the droplet in the center of the combustion chamber and the range in the initial droplet diameter is from 0.30 to 0.80 mm. The ambience consists of oxygen, nitrogen and carbon dioxide. The concentration of oxygen is 21% in volume, and that of carbon dioxide is varied from 0% to 60% in volume. Detail measurements of the projected image of the droplet are conducted by using a high speed video camera and the effective droplet diameter squared are calculated from the surface area of the rotating body of the projected object. From evolutions of the droplet diameter squared, the instantaneous burning rates are calculated. Time history of the instantaneous burning rate clearly represents the droplet combustion events, such as the initial thermal expansion, ignition and following combustion. The instantaneous burning rate for n-decane shows an increasing trend during combustion, while that for non-sooting ethanol remains almost constant or shows a decreasing trend. A slight stepwise increase in the instantaneous burning rate is observed for larger n-decane droplets in air, which may be attributed to soot accumulation. However, this behavior of the burning rate disappears in higher concentration of carbon dioxide. Direct observation of the droplet flame indicates suppression of soot production in higher concentration of carbon dioxide and the suppression is enhanced for smaller droplet.     

Formation of Mg2Ni nanofibres in a Mg-based metal matrix composite

A Mg–Mg₂Ni nano-eutectic and MgO-reinforced Mg-based metal matrix composite (Mg-MMC) was synthesized by in-situ reactions. When a Mg-rich sample containing 20?wt%?NiO is sintered at 420°C, MgO, Ni and Mg₂Ni are formed in the Mg matrix. When a sample molten at 550°C is furnace-cooled to room temperature, a lamellar two-phase Mg–Mg₂Ni eutectic is formed, with the Mg₂Ni lamella about 1.5?µm thick. Proeutectic Mg together with the MgO formed in situ act as heterogeneous nuclei for the growth of the Mg–Mg₂Ni eutectic. Quenching the molten sample to room temperature results in a lamellar two-phase eutectic containing Mg₂Ni nanofibres. In the eutectic grown at the Mg grain, the Mg₂Ni nanofibres with a diameter of about 25?nm are bent, whereas in the eutectic grown at the MgO grain, the Mg₂Ni nanofibres with a diameter of about 30?nm are long and straight, while the Mg phase of this eutectic is oxygen enriched. The differences in morphologies between the two Mg–Mg₂Ni eutectics are ascribed to the growth rates of Mg and Mg₂Ni, which differ in the eutectic grown at the Mg grain, but remain similar when growth takes place at the MgO grain.     

Solvatochromic and nonlinear optical properties of Eosin B in solvents and AOT/water/Heptane

The third-order susceptibility and second-order hyperpolarizability and the two-photon absorption coefficient of Eosin-B in AOT/water/Heptane were investigated by using the Z-Scan technique. The droplets were prepared with an AOT/water droplet in a continuous phase of Heptane. The droplets size changes with the amount of water and the droplet concentration decreases with the increase of Heptane concentration. To study the nonlinear optical properties of Eosin-B, the Z-scan measurements were performed by means of a laser at 532 nm and 80 mW power. The nonlinear refractive and the nonlinear absorption coefficient indices were found to be in the order of 10^?12 (cm² W^?1) and 10^?7 (cm W^?1), respectively. The change of nonlinear optical properties of Eosin-B by droplet size and concentration is due to the change of dye aggregation and thermal conductivity and thermo-optic coefficient of samples. The absorption of Eosin-B changes with the polarity of the medium (dielectric constant and refractive index). It has been shown that the intensity of emission spectra of Eosin-B in AOT/water/Heptane is enhanced compared to that of aqueous solution. By the Bilot and Kawski theory, the ratio between the excited state and the ground state of the dipole moments (μ_e/μ_g) of Eosin-B both in water and in droplets is extracted.     

Autoignition and early flame behavior of a spherical cluster of 49 monodispersed droplets

Autoignition and early flame behavior of a spherical cluster of 49 monodispersed droplets in a high-temperature air were examined in microgravity. The monodispersed suspended-droplet cluster (MSDC) model with which both droplet spacing and initial droplet diameter were well-controlled was developed, and the solidified-fuel fiber-suspension technique was utilized for making the MSDC model. The tested 3D MSDC models had the HCP (hexagonal closest packing) structure. Individual flames, which enveloped each droplet, or group flame, which enveloped the whole droplet cluster, were formed immediately after ignition. The flame changed from the group flame to a cluster of the individual flames either with increasing the droplet spacing or decreasing the initial droplet diameter. Each of the individual flames merged into the group flame with the lapse of time. Burning sphere diameter decreased at the beginning, and then increased. The transition from the individual flames to the group flame occurred around the time period at which the burning sphere diameter reached its minimum. The time period at which the burning sphere diameter reached its maximum was delayed and the expansion rate of the burning sphere was enhanced with decreasing the droplet spacing or with increasing the initial droplet diameter.     

Behavior of inclusions with different value and orientation of topological dipoles in ferroelectric smectic films

Cholesteric droplets in ferroelectric free-standing films with tunable anchoring on the droplet boundary are investigated. A droplet and satellite topological defect(s) form a topological dipole. We obtained droplets with different angles α between two radial lines from the droplet center to −1/2 topological defects. Droplets with parallel dipoles form linear chains in which the interparticle distances decrease with increasing the defect angle α. For the first time, the dependence of the interparticle distance on the angle between topological defects was measured. We can adjust the magnitude and orientation of topological dipoles formed by the droplets. For the first time, the droplets with antiparallel topological dipoles were prepared in a smectic film. Interaction of the droplets with parallel and antiparallel dipoles differs drastically. Formation of antiparallel dipoles leads to a decomposition of the droplet pairs and chains of droplets. Our observations may be used to change the magnitude, anisotropy of the interparticle interaction, and structures of inclusions in liquid crystal media. The article is published in the original.