沉降对带电胶体粒子结晶过程的影响

采用密度匹配法(重水与水按一定比例混合),以及反射光谱法,研究了重力沉降作用对直径为98 nm的带电胶体粒子结晶过程的影响. 结果表明,重力沉降在晶体生长的初期提高了晶体生长速率,而后期降低了晶体生长速率,这是由于在晶体生长初期,沉降作用可使更多的粒子结合到晶体结构中,而当晶体尺寸进一步增加,其沉降速率也相应地增大,晶相与液相间的摩擦阻力导致一部分颗粒从胶体晶体上脱落. 总的来说,重力沉降在初期加剧了晶体的生长,后期阻碍了晶体的生长. 另外,在微重力环境下形成的胶体晶体比在重力环境下形成的胶体晶体更加完整紧密.     

实践十号卫星开展空间固液界面胶体自组装动力学行为研究

微流动驱动的胶体自组装是一种非平衡的过程。在定向微流动(如热毛细流)驱动下,胶体体系内的粒子自身的热运动受到抑制,胶体体系中的微粒常常出现宏观有序的结构。但这种粒径的球在重力作用下会显著沉降,造成胶体体系的浓度不均,而胶体体系的相行为与浓度密切相关。因此在重力作用下难以准确地描述相变与局域结构的关联。在微重力条件下,大尺度的胶体球没有重力沉降作用,可提供准确的局域结构信息,而且浮力对流受到较大抑制,没有流体静压力,不产生沉降作用,这为研究界面上的胶体自组装动力学行为提供了有利条件。“胶体有序排列及新型材料研究”是“实践十号卫星”19项科学实验载荷之一,其科学实验将在载荷“胶体材料箱”中完成,将是空间中进行的首次胶体自组装动力学行为的实验研究。     

Sedimentation Image Analysis (SIA) for the Simultaneous Determination of Particle Mass Density and Particle Size

A new method for the simultaneous determination of the distribution of particle mass density and the distribution of particle size with a technique with only a single measurement is presented. The basic idea of the new optical method is the analysis of gravitational particle settling by a digital image acquisition system. Individual particles illuminated by a laser light sheet are tracked by a continuously operating CCD camera. The projected area, shape factors and the centre of gravity are detected during the sedimentation process from a series of images with a constant time spread. As the algorithm is based on single particle tracking, the heterogeneity of the sample can be taken into account. From these measured particle characteristics, particle size and settling rate are calculated. Thus particle mass density is obtained taking into account also the influence of particle shape on the settling process. This method, which we name sedimentation image analysis (SIA), is particularly suitable for the characterization of heterogeneous material, e.g. soil, in the micrometer range.     

Gravitational settling of a highly concentrated system of solid spherical particles

In the present paper, we report on the results of an experimental study of the process of gravity sedimentation of a cloud of monodispersed solid spherical particles with initial volume concentration C > 0.03, which was performed in a wide range of Reynolds numbers. An analytical estimate of the settling regimes of spherical particle clouds is presented. A new method for creating a spherical particle cloud with a high concentration of particles is proposed. A qualitative picture of the settling process of a highly concentrated particle cloud under gravity is revealed. A criterial dependence for the drag coefficient of a sedimenting spherical particle cloud as an entity is obtained.     

方形颗粒在黏弹性流体中的沉降特性

采用有限元任意拉格朗日-欧拉(ALE)法对方形颗粒在黏弹性流体中的沉降特性进行研究。通过直接数值模拟得到了不同弹性数下方形颗粒的稳定取向角的变化情况,并讨论了颗粒长宽比和通道宽度对其沉降特性的影响。结果表明,当方形颗粒在黏弹性流体中沉降时,弹性数存在一个临界值。当弹性数小于临界值时,颗粒的稳定取向为长轴方向垂直于重力方向;当弹性数大于临界值时,颗粒的稳定取向为长轴方向平行于重力方向。颗粒长宽比和通道宽度对其沉降特性都有一定的影响。长宽比大的颗粒在沉降过程中的取向角和横向漂移的振幅更大。弹性数的临界值随着长宽比的增大而减小,随着阻塞比的增大而增大。     

Brownian dynamics simulation of monolayer formation by deposition of colloidal particles: A kinetic study at high bulk particle concentration

Brownian dynamics simulations (BDS) of sedimentation and irreversible adsorption of colloidal particles on a planar surface were carried out at bulk particle volume fractions (φ) in the range 0.05 to 0.25. The sedimentation and adsorption of colloidal particles were simulated as a non-sequential process that allows simultaneous settling and adsorption of particles. A kinetic model for the formation of particle monolayers based on the available surface fraction (θ ( A )) is proposed to predict simulation results. The simulations show a value of 0.625 for the maximum fractional surface coverage (θ (∞)) and a monolayer structure insensitive to φ. However, the kinetic order of the monolayer formation process has a strong dependence with φ, changing from a value close to a unit, at low φ, to a value around two at high φ. This change in the kinetic reaction order is associated to differences of particle adsorption mechanism on the surface. At low φ values, the monolayer formation is achieved by independent adsorption of single particles and the reaction order is close to 1. At high φ values, the simultaneous adsorption of two particles on the surface leads to an increase of the reaction order to values close to 2.     

Colloidal aggregation with sedimentation: concentration effects

The results of computer models for colloidal aggregation, that consider both Brownian motion and gravitational drift experienced by the colloidal particles and clusters, are extended to include concentrations spanning three orders of magnitude. In previous publications and for a high colloidal concentration, it was obtained that the aggregation crosses over from diffusion-limited colloidal aggregation (DLCA) to another regime with a higher cluster fractal dimension and a speeding up followed by a slowing down of the aggregation rate. In the present work we show, as the concentration is decreased, that we can still cross over to a similar regime during the course of the aggregation, as long as the height of the sample is increased accordingly. Among the differences between the mentioned new regimes for a high and a low colloidal concentration, the cluster fractal dimension is higher for the high concentration case and lowers its value as the concentration is decreased, presumably reaching for low enough concentrations a fixed value above the DLCA value. It is also obtained the fractal dimension of the sediments, arising from the settling clusters that reach the bottom and continue a 2D-like diffusive motion and aggregation, on the floor of the container. For these clusters we now see two and sometimes three regimes, depending on concentration and sedimentation strength, with their corresponding fractal dimensions. The first two coming from the crossover already mentioned, that took place in the bulk of the sample before the cluster deposition, while the third arises from the two-dimensional aggregation on the floor of the container. For these bottom clusters we also obtain their dynamical behavior and aggregation rate.Received: 7 January 2004, Published online: 25 March 2004PACS: 61.43.Hv Fractals; macroscopic aggregates (including diffusion-limited aggregates) - 82.70.Dd Colloids - 05.10.Ln Monte Carlo methods     

MRI Comparative Study of Container Geometry Impact on the PMMA Spheres Sedimentation

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) imaging results are presented for the comparative study of sedimentation of the polymethylmethacrylate colloidal suspensions with spherical particle diameters of 475, 350 and 255 nm. The time evolution of the particle volume fraction in the sedimenting system, velocity of the fluid/suspension interface, interface broadening, and sediment growth velocity are measured against the system concentration as well as the container geometry. Using the experimental data the hindered settling function is evaluated. The influence of the container geometry on the parameters defining the hindered settling function in different approaches is evaluated for the first time. The limiting value of the particle diameter is estimated at which the container geometry has no impact any longer. This effect can be explained by the microscale structure persisting at low Peclet numbers. In addition, the influence of the container geometry on interface broadening and sediment formation for different particle diameters and volume fractions is studied. Spontaneous sediment packing induced by a modified container geometry has been found. NMR imaging has proven to be a highly efficient research tool for studying sedimentation at low Peclet numbers.     

砂粒与复杂流体压裂液在裂缝中的流动特性研究

在矩形裂缝通道中,应用高速摄像技术,研究了复杂流体压裂液水平流动过程中砂粒的沉降速度,测试了复杂流体的流变学特性,分析了复杂流体的水平流动如何影响砂粒的沉降.研究结果表明,流性指数不等于1的复杂流体,其水平流速影响砂粒的沉降规律,砂粒在裂缝中水平流动过程的沉降速度不仅随复杂流体表观粘度的减小而增大,同时随复杂流体水平流速的增大而增大,是静止沉降速度的数倍至十数倍.     

The physics of quantum gravity

Quantum gravity is still very mysterious and far from being well understood. In this text we review the motivations for the quantification of gravity, and some expected physical consequences. We discuss the remarkable relations between scattering processes in quantum gravity and in Yang–Mills theory, and the role of string theory as a unifying theory.     

The Characterisation of Particles Using the Settling Rate dependent movement in two phase flows

The drawback of conventional sedimentation methods, mainly their extremely long sedimentation time for small particles, can be overcome in two phase flow systems. In this paper several principles which permit the rapid determination of settling rate distributions are discussed. Settling rate distributions can be determined from the accelerated particle movement in a flow of constant velocity at low and high solids concentrations. Another system uses accelerated flow at low solids concentrations. The best utilisation of settling rate applications have socalled cross flow systems as set up in a stagnation point flow, in a flow round a bend, or in the decelerated particle movement perpendicular to a flow of constant velocity.     

Gravity-induced aging in glasses of colloidal hard spheres

The influence of gravity on the long-time behavior of the mean squared displacement in glasses of polydisperse colloidal hard spheres was studied by means of real-space fluorescent recovery after photobleaching. We present, for the first time, a significant influence of gravity on the mean squared displacements of the particles. In particular, we observe that systems which are glasses under gravity (with a gravitational length on the order of tens of micrometers) show anomalous diffusion over several decades in time if the gravitational length is increased by an order of magnitude. No influence of gravity was observed in systems below the glass transition density. We show that this behavior is caused by gravity dramatically accelerating aging in colloidal hard sphere glasses. This behavior explains the observation that colloidal hard sphere systems which are a glass on Earth rapidly crystallize in space.     

Electrokinetic phenomena in a kerosene-based magnetic fluid

We propose the methods for studying electrokinetic phenomena in magnetic colloidal systems (magnetic fluids), which make it possible to use the magnetic properties of particles of the disperse phase. Electrophoresis and the sedimentation potential in a kerosene-based magnetic fluid are studied. It is shown that only a small part (approximately one-thousandth) of all disperse particles in the magnetic fluid under investigation are charged, the sign of the particle charge being negative.     

Settling Behavior Characterization of Submicron Particles in Dilute and Concentrated Suspensions

In separation processes, the knowledge of particle size and density arc often not enough to describe the settling behaviour in a concentrated suspension. Therefore, a direct method for the characterization of the settling behavior of submicron particles in concentrated suspensions is introduced in a centrifugal field by a manometric sedimentation analysis. By means of this cumulative method in a homogeneous suspension, the analyses of both the interfacial settling rate and the settling rate of the particles within the concentrated suspension are possible. This permits a differential examination of settling processes in a broad concentration range. First, the influence of the solid concentration on the settling rate at the interface and within a monodisperse suspension with a range from 0.01 to 30 vol.% is represented. The relationship between the increase in settling rate through particles settling in a cluster and a concentration decrease in the suspension is also represented. Consideration of the possibilities of the analysis of polydisperse suspensions demonstrates the field of applications for this method.     

Collective dynamics of colloids at fluid interfaces

The evolution of an initially prepared distribution of micron-sized colloidal particles, trapped at a fluid interface and under the action of their mutual capillary attraction, is analyzed by using Brownian dynamics simulations. At a separation λ given by the capillary length of typically 1mm, the distance dependence of this attraction exhibits a crossover from a logarithmic decay, formally analogous to two-dimensional gravity, to an exponential decay. We discuss in detail the adaptation of a particle-mesh algorithm, as used in cosmological simulations to study structure formation due to gravitational collapse, to the present colloidal problem. These simulations confirm the predictions, as far as available, of a mean-field theory developed previously for this problem. The evolution is monitored by quantitative characteristics which are particularly sensitive to the formation of highly inhomogeneous structures. Upon increasing λ the dynamics shows a smooth transition from the spinodal decomposition expected for a simple fluid with short-ranged attraction to the self-gravitational collapse scenario.     

Variations of δ(15)N-Values and Hydrolyzable Amino Acids in Settling Particles in the Ocean

Abstract The modification of nitrogen isotopic signals during particle sedimentation in the sea is of great interest for the use of sedimentary δ(15)N-values as a paleoceanographic tool. The effect of organic matter degradation on such modification was studied by analyzing nitrogen, hydrolyzable amino acids (THAA) and δ(15)N-values in a suit of marine settling particles collected from the Bay of Bengal, Indian Ocean, by using time-series sediment traps, and in underlying sediments. The flux of settling particles showed temporal variations which are related to the monsoons, the major climatic feature of this marine region. During high flux periods settling particles are enriched in nitrogenous material that is less degraded and exhibit higher δ(15)N-values than particles showing characteristics of degradation. At the sediment surface more than 95% of the settling particulate nitrogen is lost and the δ(15)N-values of the residual sedimentary nitrogen are higher than those of settling particles. The observed increase is interpreted to be due to fractionation during degradation of organic matter.     

Gravitational sedimentation effect of colloidal silica crystals in binary systems of titanium dioxide and silica particles

Colloidal crystals can be formed of silica particles while those of titania particles are not known under the normal gravitational field, because of their high specific gravity. We found by the Kikuchi--Kossel diffraction technique that, when silica particles (diameter: D?=?170?nm; density: ρ?=?2.2?g cm^?3) are mixed with titania particles (D?=?127?nm; ρ?=?3.9?g cm^?3), colloidal crystals are formed. Colloidal crystals started out with body-centred-cubic structure and changed to face-centred-cubic structures after about 60 days. Transitions began from the bottom of the container. Thus, the transitions are considered to be due to gravitational sedimentation. It is significant that the crystal growth process, which has not been observed in one-component dispersions of the silica particles, was found using titania particles with a wide range of the practical applicability.     

Dust trapping in vortex pairs

The motion of tiny heavy particles transported in a co-rotating point vortex pair, with or without particle inertia and sedimentation, is investigated. The dynamics of non-inertial sedimenting particles is shown to be chaotic, under the combined effects of gravity and of the circular displacement of the vortices. This phenomenon is very sensitive to the particles’ inertia, if any. By using a nearly hamiltonian dynamical system theory for the particles’ motion equation written in the rotating reference frame, one can show that small inertia terms of the particles’ motion equation strongly modify the Melnikov function of the homoclinic trajectories and heteroclinic cycles of the unperturbed system, as soon as the particles’ response time is of the order of the settling time (Froude number of order unity). The critical Froude number above which chaotic motion vanishes and a regular centrifugation takes place is obtained from this Melnikov analysis and compared to numerical simulations. Particles with a finite inertia, and in the absence of gravity, are not necessarily centrifuged away from the vortex system. Indeed, these particles can have various equilibrium positions in the rotating reference frame, like the Lagrange points of celestial mechanics, according to whether their Stokes number is smaller or larger than some critical value. An analytical stability analysis reveals that two of these points are stable attracting points, so that permanent trapping can occur for inertial particles injected in an isolated co-rotating vortex pair. Particle trapping is observed to persist when viscosity, and therefore vortex coalescence, is taken into account. Numerical experiments at large but finite Reynolds number show that particles can indeed be trapped temporarily during vortex roll-up, and are eventually centrifuged away once vortex coalescence occurs.