Effect of Al particle size on the reaction kinetics and densification of TiAl intermetallics

The present investigation deals with response of the particle size of aluminum on the reactive sintering of Ti–Al intermetallics and subsequently on their reaction kinetics and densification behavior. Aluminum powders of initial average particle size of 44 μm were milled for various durations in a planetary ball mill to produce average particles sizes of 100, 28 and 7 μm. These aluminum powders of various particle sizes i.e. 100, 28 and 7 μm were mixed with titanium powder of average particles size of 44 μm in the ratio of 1:1 corresponding to the Ti–Al intermetallic composition. The reactive sintering temperatures of the mixtures were determined by DTA and the effect of change in particle Al particle size has been determined for the activation energy ofthe self-propagating reaction. The effect of Al particle size on the sintering was determined by studying density and microstructure.     

基于激光感生电压技术的咖啡粉粒径检测

咖啡颗粒的大小直接影响着成品咖啡的品质,高效辨别出咖啡粉粒径大小对咖啡品质的鉴别尤其重要。在89 μm～140 μm粒径范围内,利用激光感生电压（laser-induced voltage,LIV）技术对不同粒径的云南小颗粒咖啡粉进行检测,不同粒径咖啡粉展现出不同的LIV响应,其信号幅值、响应时间、半高宽等参数均存在明显差异。随咖啡粉粒径逐渐增大,其LIV信号幅值（V_p）呈先减小后增大的趋势,当粒径为104 μm～107 μm时V_p最小。此外,LIV信号波形的响应时间及半高宽分别与咖啡粉末粒径之间呈正、负相关变化规律。结果表明,激光感生电压技术对咖啡粉粒径的变化较为敏感,有望成为检验咖啡粉粒径的有效检测手段。     

Effect of particle size of graphites on electrical conductivity of graphite/polymer composite

The effect of particle size of graphite particles on the dispersion state of graphite particles and electrical conductivity of graphite/low-density polyethylene (LDPE) composites is investigated. Graphite particles which have plate-like and spherical shapes and mean particle sizes of 2.1 to 82.6 μm are used. Scanning electron microscopy observation showed that graphite particles are not aggregated and ordered along the direction of mixing-roll in the polymer matrix. X-ray diffraction measurements show that crystallite size of the (110) plane of polyethylene crystal and the crystallinity are significantly affected by the particle size of graphite particles. These results were interpreted as due to the orientation of PE crystallites. The electrical conductivity of composites changes discontinuously at the critical volume fraction of particles, Ø_c. The Ø_c values given by the percolation equation increase with decreasing of the particle size of graphites. The plate-like graphite particles with a mean particle size of 2.1 μm could induce conductivity at Ø_c of 0.135. The values of Ø_c increased linearly with increasing of the mean particle sizes of the plate-like graphites. The value of Ø_c of spherical graphite particle is the largest value, 0.292, in all specimens.     

The effect of particle size on the surface composition of microcrystalline alloys

Thin films a Ni?1at%Pd alloy, ranging in thickness from 10 to 100 Å were deposited onto alumina substrates by RF sputtering. The films were subsequently heat treated to produce small particles of the alloy with average sizes in the range 300 to 1000 Å. The surface composition of aggregates of small particles was determined by Auger electron spectroscopy after equilibration of the samples at 650°C. Average particle sizes were determined by analysis of photomicrographs taken by electron microscopy techniques. The results show a strong dependence of surface composition on particle size. A decrease of a factor of five in surface concentration of palladium is observed over the range of particle sizes studied. The dependence of equilibrium surface composition on particle size has been estimated by means of a mass balance model. While this model accounts qualitatively for the effects of particle size on surface composition, discrepancies between model predictions and the experimental results suggest the intervention of other phenomena, possibly related to capillarity effects.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Multi-layered Core/Shell Particles by Sequential Emulsion Polymerization

A series of core/shell particles were prepared by sequential emulsion polymerization. The core/shell particles consisting of poly(methyl methacrylate) core grafted with using rubbery layer [poly(butyl acrylate)co-(styrene)] and then glassy layer [poly(methyl methacrylate)-co-(ethyl acrylate)] were prepared. The conditions which led to controlled particle size and morphology were discussed. A highly cross-linked structure was formed in both the cores and the shells by using a cross-linking agent, which could prevent the migration of hydrophobic shells to the inside of the particles. The core/shell particles were characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, solid state ¹³C-NMR. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) were used to determine the thermal stability and glass transition temperature of the core/shell particles, respectively. Results of the particle size analysis indicate that particle sizes were decreased when there is a rubbery layer as outer layer (0.44 μm) whereas it increases when there is a glassy layer as outer layer (324 μm). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) also confirms the multi-layers formation in the polymer.     

Microstructure and Wear Resistance of Detonation Coatings Obtained from Titanium Carbide–Nichrome SHS Powders Having Different Particle Sizes

The size effect of particles (20–45, 45–56, 56–71, 71–90 μm) of TiC–NiCr n vol % (n = 30, 40, 50) self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) cermet powders synthesized in the direct combustion mode on the tribological characteristics of detonation coatings is studied. These powders are sprayed in a mode optimized previously using Cr₃C₂–NiCr 21 vol % commercial cermet powder (PraxAir 1375VM, USA) with particle sizes ranging from 20 to 45 μm.     

Mechanical Properties of Rubber Sheets Produced by Direct Molding of Ground Rubber Tire Powder

The so called “direct powder molding” is a compressions molding process which can be directly applied to ground rubber tire (GRT). This study shows that the GRT can be re-used to produce medium-size parts with good mechanical properties without any addition of virgin rubber. For rubber sheets prepared from the mechanically ground rubber tire (MGRT) and the cryogenically ground rubber tire (CGRT), the densities and crosslink densities of the rubber sheets increased with a decrease of the particle size of the waste tire powder. The tensile strength of the rubber sheets increased with the decreasing of the particle size for the two types of waste tire powder to 250 μm and 120 μm, respectively, and then became level. The moulding pressure had no effect on the densities, tensile strength or elongation at break of the rubber sheets. These results suggested that the effect of the particle size is important and is correlated with the mechanical properties of the rubber sheets produced by direct powder moulding technology. In general, the best mechanical properties were obtained with waste tire rubber with a size of about 250 μm for the rubber particles obtained from the mechanical grinding method of waste tire powdering.     

Evidence for the transition from the diffusion-limit in aluminum particle combustion

This work presents experimental evidence that the transition from gas-phase diffusion-limited combustion for aluminum particles begins to occur at a particle size of 10 μm at a pressure of 8.5 atm. Measurements of the particle temperature by AlO spectroscopy and three-color pyrometry indicate that the peak temperature surrounding a burning particle approaches the aluminum boiling temperature as particle size is decreased to 10 μm when oxygen is the oxidizer. This reduction indicates that reactions are occurring at or near the particle surface rather than in a detached diffusion flame. When CO₂ is the oxidizer, the combustion temperatures remain near the aluminum boiling temperature for particles as large as 40 μm, indicating that the flame is consistently near the surface throughout this size range. Burn time measurements of 10 and 2.8 μm powders indicate that burn time is roughly proportional to particle diameter to the first power. The burn rates of micron- and nano-particles also show strong pressure dependence. These measurements all indicate that the combustion has deviated from the vapor-phase diffusion limit, and that surface or near-surface processes are beginning to affect the rate of burning. Such processes would have to be included in combustion models in order to accurately predict burning characteristics for aluminum with diameter less than 10 μm.     

Studies on aluminum powder combustion in detonation environment

The combustion mechanism of aluminum particles in a detonation environment characterized by high temperature (in unit 10³ K), high pressure (in unit GPa), and high-speed motion (in units km/s) was studied, and a combustion model of the aluminum particles in detonation environment was established. Based on this model, a combustion control equation for aluminum particles in detonation environment was obtained. It can be seen from the control equation that the burning time of aluminum particle is mainly affected by the particle size, system temperature, and diffusion coefficient. The calculation result shows that a higher system temperature, larger diffusion coefficient, and smaller particle size lead to a faster burn rate and shorter burning time for aluminum particles. After considering the particle size distribution characteristics of aluminum powder, the application of the combustion control equation was extended from single aluminum particles to nonuniform aluminum powder, and the calculated time corresponding to the peak burn rate of aluminum powder was in good agreement with the experimental electrical conductivity results. This equation can quantitatively describe the combustion behavior of aluminum powder in different detonation environments and provides technical means for quantitative calculation of the aluminum powder combustion process in detonation environment.     

散射对煤粉太赫兹光谱定量分析的应用研究

在利用太赫兹光谱系统对煤质进行定量分析的过程中,样品压片内部煤粉颗粒和高密度聚乙烯颗粒之间的空气孔隙使太赫兹波产生散射进而导致所测煤样本征吸收光谱产生误差。针对样品压片中煤粉颗粒和空气孔隙存在形式的不同建立了压片等效结构,采用Foldy-Twersky EFA理论和迭代Waterman-Truell EFA理论在2~3.5 THz频率区间内对压片内部的散射情况进行了数值研究,建立了煤样本征吸收谱提取模型,并利用该模型分别对六种不同粒径范围的煤粉-高密度聚乙烯颗粒混合物压片样品进行了太赫兹域消光光谱的散射校正处理。实验结果表明当煤粉颗粒直径小于38.5 μm时,高密度聚乙烯颗粒间空气孔隙对所测样品消光光谱的影响处于主导地位,当煤粉颗粒粒径处于38.5~55 μm时,煤粉颗粒散射与空气孔隙散射导致的消光在数值上较为接近,随着颗粒直径进一步增加,煤粉自身散射对吸收光谱的影响也逐步增强并处于主导地位。散射校正前后煤样吸收谱的相关系数和均方根误差表明文中所述模型能够有效减小105 μm以下粒径范围内散射对煤粉-高密度聚乙烯混合物压片样品太赫兹吸收光谱的影响,为太赫兹域煤质吸收光谱的定量分析提供了理论基础。     

Measurement of Inherent Material Density of Nanoparticle Agglomerates

We describe a new technique to measure the size dependent inherent material density of chain agglomerate particles. Measurements were carried out for diesel soot and aluminum/alumina agglomerate particles in the nanometer size range. Transmission electron microscopy was used to measure the volumes of agglomerate particles that were preselected by mass using an aerosol particle mass analyzer. We found that the density of diesel exhaust particles increased from 1.27 to 1.78g/cm³ as particle mobility size increased from 50 to 220nm. When particles are preheated to remove volatile components, the density was 1.77±0.07g/cm³, independent of particle size. The densities measured after heating correspond to the inherent material density of diesel soot. Measurements with aluminum nanoparticles were made downstream of a furnace where aluminum (Al) was converted to alumina (Al₂O₃). From measurements of inherent material density we were able to infer the extent of reaction, which varied with furnace temperature.     

Method for producing graphite and alumina thin films

A simple comprehensible method for producing graphite and alumina films has been suggested. The optical properties of a graphite suspension in toluene and a suspension of natural clay with a high content of alumina particles in water have been studied. It has been found that the optical density of the suspensions varies from layer to layer, and the lowest optical density has been observed in upper layers. Graphite and aluminum films have been prepared by taking samples from different depths. The microstructure of the films has been examined. It has turned out that alumina particles coalesce into regularly shaped objects in the form of snowflakes. In addition, alumina films obtained from samples taken from different depths of the suspension have different thicknesses. In thin and thick films, the particle size is 0.29 and 2.81 μm or more, respectively.     

The Measurement of Particles Suspended in a stirred vessel using microphotography and digital image analysis

A novel technique to determine the size of particles suspended in a stirred vessel is investigated. The method uses microphotography to obtain a still image of the particles in situ. The equivalent circular diameter of the particles is obtained from the photographs using digital image analysis. The particles used for the test were certified particle size standards of a very small tolerance in diameter deviation. The size comparison was determined as a percent error between the measured particle diameter (equivalent circular diameter) and the diameter established by the particle manufacturer. To determine the limiting ranges of particle size and concentrations, spherical particles in a size range of approximately 1 to 10.0 μm (microns) in diameter were employed in the test. Concentrations varied from 0.00005% to 0.1% (mass basis). For each particle size, an aqueous solution of the particles was prepared at the desired concentration and placed in a stirred vessel. Photographs of the solutions were made at 25.5x, 40x, 60x and 80x magnification. For all sizes of particles, the entire range of concentration was examined. The results indicate a minimum size resolution of approximately 3μm, in a corresponding concentration range of 0.0001% to 0.05%. Similar limits on concentration were found for the larger diameter particles, although a true upper limit for the largest particle sizes was not established. The functional concentration range appears to shift towards higher mass concentrations with increasing particle size. For 2.92 μm diameter particles, the error in size measurement was found to be below 10% for a concentration range of 0.0005% to 0.05%. Additionally, a relationship between turbidity and the error was seen at low particle concentration levels where decreasing levels of turbidity generated increasing levels of error.     

Thermo-mechanical behavior of nano aluminum particles with oxide layers during melting

Molecular dynamics simulations were performed to study the thermo-mechanical behavior of nano aluminum particles coated with crystalline and amorphous oxide layers during melting. The analysis employs the Streitz–Mintmire potential, along with micro-canonical (NVE) and isobaric–isoenthalpic (NPH) ensembles. The effect of particle size in the range of 5–10 nm with oxide thickness in the range of 1–2.5 nm was investigated. The melting phenomenon was characterized using a combination of structural and thermodynamic parameters. Various fundamental processes, including structural changes, stress development, and phase transformations in both the aluminum core and the oxide shell, were examined and quantified systematically. The diffusion of aluminum cations through the oxide layer was also explored. In addition, a structural analysis was applied to determine the stress field in the oxide shell due to the volume dilatation in the aluminum core. In the particle-size range considered here, the oxide layer melts at ~1,100 K, substantially lower than the value for bulk alumina (2,327 K). The oxide thickness exerts a weak influence on the melting temperature of the shell. The aluminum core melts at a temperature considerably lower than its bulk value of 940 K, a situation comparable to that of a pure nano aluminum particle. This study is an important milestone in the development of a multi-scale theory for the ignition and combustion of nano-particulate aluminum.     

Surface hydrophobic modification of ultra-fine aluminum silicate by mechanically grinding and heating

Highly hydrophobic ultra-fine aluminum silicate can be obtained by mechanically grinding and heating both aluminum silicate particles and octadecoic acid. The results showed that the organic modifier was adsorbed on the surface of aluminum silicate particles where a little new organic group was generated, and the hydrophobicity of ultra-fine aluminum silicate powder was enhanced. Grafting reaction was mainly carried out in heating process. Due to both grinding and heating, the modifier spread on the surface of particle completely and bonded with Si to form Si-O-C, and with Al to form acyl alumina in bidentate coordination. As a result, a highly hydrophobic layer was formed on the powder surface. However, it was unsuitable for heating temperature to exceed 180 °C, or else the layer would be destroyed. All the above points represent a useful effort for surface-grafting modification of powder particles. In this study, a novel method as a reference was provided on the surface-grafting modification of powder particles.     

冲击波作用下微米尺度金属颗粒群的动力学行为

基于平面化爆驱动飞片高压加载技术和激光测速技术,研究了冲击波加载不同粒径锡颗粒群的微喷射行为以及在空气中的减速规律.实验结果表明,锡颗粒的最快喷射速度随粒径增大而显著增大.通过对微喷射形成过程的三维光滑粒子流体动力学方法数值模拟发现,大粒径锡颗粒之间存在较大的空隙结构,冲击波与空隙结构的相互作用诱导产生高速汇聚射流,空隙结构越大对应的喷射速度也越高.此外,通过研究不同粒径颗粒在复杂流场中的减速规律,进一步深化了对微喷射破碎后的颗粒尺度状态以及混合输运特性的认识.研究结果对于预测和分析冲击波加载微米颗粒群的微喷混合特性具有一定价值.     

Semiclassical elementary particle models

Some simple models of elementary particles are discussed; they may be described as semiclassical, quark, shell models. Particles are assumed to be composed of spherical concentric charged shells. Three basic types of shell are allowed, quantum numbers are associated with each type such as to establish a quantum number correspondence between the shell types and the (p, n, ) quarks. Particles are identified through the quantum numbers of their constituent shells (quarks).The basic assumptions underlying the models considered are relationships between the electromagnetic energy associated with elementary particles (quark systems) and particle masses. The electromagnetic energy is represented classically; the models are semiclassical in that the shell radii are related to particle Compton wavelengths.Particle mass and magnetic moment formulas are derived, possible values for quark masses are suggested, and possible connections of the models considered with particle symmetry schemes are discussed.     

Peculiarities of aluminum particle combustion in steam

This work experimentally addresses aluminum combustion in steam, pure or mixed with diluents, for aluminum particles in size range 40∼80 µm, using an electrodynamic levitator. High-speed videos unveil an unreported and complex mechanism in steam, not observed in other oxidizers. The detached flame is quite faint and very close to the surface. Alumina smoke around the droplet rapidly condenses and coalesces into a large, single orbiting alumina satellite. It eventually collides the main aluminum droplet while generating secondary alumina droplets. A unique feature is the presence of several distinct oxide lobes on the droplet, which merge only at the end of burning and encapsulate the remaining aluminum, possibly promoting an incomplete combustion. The measured burning times in pure water vapor are longer than expected and the efficiency of steam is found to be 30% that of oxygen, lower than the usually accepted value of 60%. A general correlation on burning time, including the major oxidizers, is proposed. Direct numerical simulations are conducted and are in line with experiments, in terms of burning rate or flame stand off ratio. Combustion in steam seems mostly supported by surface reactions, giving a faint flame with low gas temperatures and high hydrogen content. It is speculated that those two specific features could help explain the peculiarity of steam.     

Sonolysis of synthetic sediment particles: particle characteristics affecting particle dissolution and size reduction

The effect of ultrasound on particle shape and surface structure was explored to understand particle characteristics affecting contaminant desorption and destruction from sediment particles. Compared to only hydrodynamic mixing, in the presence of an ultrasonic probe, operating at 20 kHz with a power density of 460 Wl-1, sonication decreased the particle size of alumina and silica particles following a first-order regime. In addition, the dissolution of particles during sonication is 7-20 times higher than that of non-sonicated solutions. However, the decrease of particle size was not totally explained by dissolution. Scanning electron microscopy studies showed that the surface of particles both became smoothed and pitted as a result of sonication. Therefore, it seems that multiple mechanisms are occurring simultaneously; microstreaming acts to smooth particle surfaces and dissolve particles and shockwaves and microjets imploding on the particle surfaces both shear and pit the surface of the particles. The sonication of humic acid laden particles resulted in a similar decreasing trend. However, the existence of humic acid increased the complexity of the system.     

Kinetic stability of hematite nanoparticles: the effect of particle sizes

Nanoparticles are ubiquitous in environment and are potentially important in many environmental processes such as sorption, coprecipitation, redox reactions, and dissolution. To investigate particle size effects on nanoparticle aggregation and stability, this study tested aggregation behavior of 12(±2), 32(±3), and 65(±3) nm (hydrated radius) hematite particles under environmental relevant pH and ionic strength conditions. The results showed that at the same ionic strength and pH conditions, different particle sizes show different tendency to aggregate. At the same ionic strength, aggregation rates are higher for smaller particles. The critical coagulation concentration also depends on particle size, and decreases as particle size decreases. As the particle size decreases, fast aggregation shifted to lower pH. This may be related to a dependence of PZC on particle size originating from change of structure and surface energy characteristics as particle size decreases. Under the same conditions, aggregation occurs faster as particle concentration increases. Even though the nanoparticles of different sizes show different response to the same pH and ionic strength, DLVO theory can be used to qualitatively understand hematite nanoparticle aggregation behavior.