含盐胶体液滴的蒸发图案形成机理

研究了聚四氟乙烯(PTFE)胶粒与NaCl混合液滴的蒸发过程及其图案形成机理. 结果表明, PTFE颗粒对接触线具有强烈的钉扎作用, 胶体液滴蒸发伴有显著的“咖啡环”效应. 由于液滴中心液相区表面张力法向分力的作用, 使得凝胶区存在辐射状应力, 进而产生从液滴边缘向中心的辐射状裂纹, 裂纹数量随胶粒的体积分数增大而减少. NaCl与PTFE胶粒的混合液滴出现了复杂多样的蒸发图案. 盐的加入抑制了向外的毛细补偿流, 从而有利于获得宏观上厚度均匀的沉积膜. NaCl与PTFE胶粒耦合形成了凹凸不平的枝晶状形貌, 这可能是释放蒸发应力的结果.     

液晶等各向异性物体偏振光学图案的格栅计算方法和解析计算方法

本文推广获得了计算偏振光学图案的格栅方法,指出该方法可以处理具有任意指向矢排布的各向异性物体。进一步用色块显示法可获得层次丰富的理论图案。通过理论计算和安验观察,验证了运用偏光显微法可以鉴别液晶缺陷的强度与符号,这将有助于从微观水平上认识向列型液晶的纹影织构。等θ条件下,格栅方法可以过渡到解析方法,在单色光和多色光照射下的计算公式均已给出。     

向列型液晶液滴的指向矢构型及其转变的Monte Carlo模拟

采用Lebwohl-Lasher模型作为向列型液晶的分子模型,针对向列型液晶液滴的指向矢构型及其转变,在立方格点中进行了Monte Carlo模拟.在不同温度和界面相互作用强度下模拟所得的指向矢构型及其转变与实验中已发现的结果相符.除此之外,还得到了在外场存在下液晶液滴和椭球状液晶液滴的指向矢构型.结果对于理解PDLC材料的显示机制有重要的意义.也表明,基于Lebwohl-Lasher模型的Monte Carlo模拟能很好地描述受限条件下液晶体系的物理行为.     

乙基醋酸纤维素液晶态的结构形态

本文利用偏光显微镜、电镜、小角激光光散射(SALS)和X-射线衍射仪研究了乙基醋酸纤维素溶致性液晶态从非平衡到平衡过程的转变,同时研究了从液晶态结晶的固体形态。在两玻片之间受力的液晶溶液,需要一定的时间才能重新形成。主要以带状和球晶的形态存在,溶剂挥发以看,部分球晶发生变化,还观察到各区域的取向结构,并证实了从液晶态结晶的晶型与各向同性溶液结晶的晶型相同,但完整度不同。     

流变学方法测定共混物相图及其分辨尺度探讨

应用小振幅振荡剪切(SAOS)和小角激光散射(SALS)测定了苯乙烯-马来酸酐共聚物/聚甲基丙烯酸甲酯(SMA/PMMA)共混体系相分离温度,并分析了动态储能模量对频率响应的敏感程度以及不同测试方法在相分离判据方面的差别.认为前者是造成由不同的测试频率得到的相边界之间存在差异的原因,而SAOS与SALS得到的相边界不同则缘于后者;通过评估不同温度下分散相的尺度,发现选择合适的测试频率进行SAOS测试可以得到比SALS法更小的分辨尺度.     

向列型液晶与硬粒子两相体系的织态演化动力学研究

用二维XY模型和CDS元胞动力学方法研究了向列型液晶与少量硬粒子组成的两相体系的织态演化动力学. 通过模拟给出了织态演化过程的偏光图案, 其中纯液晶体系的偏光图案与实验观察到的结果一致; 并计算得到了空间相关函数和结构因子以及相区域的特征长度随时间t增长的标度关系. 同时统计了体系中缺陷点的数目, 得到了缺陷数目随时间t减少的标度关系. 发现粒子与液晶的相互作用将导致序参量有序化过程、 相区域增长速度和缺陷湮灭速度减慢.     

高分子液晶态有序性对基结晶过程的影响

采用退偏振光强度法、SALS和POM测定了高分子液晶态有序微区结构随体系温度变化的规律，并用DSC法研究具有不同有序微区结构尺寸的液晶态的结晶过程。结果发现，高分子液晶态有序性或有序微区结构是随着体系退火温度和时间的变化而变化。同时从相应的不同有序性为起始态进行结晶时，其结晶速率明显不同，并讨论了高分子液晶态的结晶机理。     

PP/PS共混体系相结构形成与演变

以连续共混过程中间歇出料法研究了聚丙烯(PP)/聚苯乙烯(PS)体系共混过程中的扫描电镜图样演化过程,利用小角激光散射(SALS)证明了PP/苯乙烯-乙烯-丙烯嵌段共聚物(SEP)/PS体系的部分相容性,同时说明SALS研究聚合物熔体动态过程的有效性.针对扫描电镜图样,用重心粒径dg这一结构参数研究了PP/PS体系共混过程,利用分布函数求取了分散相PP分形维数,对共混过程中相分散进行了研究.     

超疏水表面微纳二级结构对冷凝液滴最终状态的影响

从超疏水表面(SHS)上初始冷凝液核长大、合并、形成初始液斑开始,分析计算了冷凝液斑变形成为Wenzel或Cassie液滴过程中界面能量的变化,并以界面能曲线降低、是否取最小值为判据,确定冷凝液滴的最终稳定状态.计算结果表明:在只有微米尺度的粗糙结构表面上,冷凝液滴的界面能曲线一般都是先降低再升高,呈现Wenzel状态;而当表面具有微纳米二级粗糙结构,且纳米结构的表面空气面积分率较高时,冷凝液滴的能量曲线持续降低,直至界面能最小的Cassie状态,因此可以自发地形成Cassie液滴.还计算了文献中具有不同结构参数的SHS上冷凝液滴的状态和接触角,并与实验结果进行了比较,结果表明,计算的冷凝液滴状态与实验观察结果完全吻合.因此,微纳二级结构是保持冷凝液滴在SHS上呈现Cassie状态的重要因素.     

光镊技术研究硝酸铵在超粘气溶胶中的挥发性

大气颗粒物中挥发性物质的气粒分配问题是大气科学研究的热点.选择典型的高粘度态模型体系、硝酸铵/蔗糖体系以及硝酸铵/硫酸镁体系,利用光镊-受激拉曼光谱技术原位获得液滴的自发拉曼和受激拉曼信号,同时观察回音壁(WGM)模式,利用米氏散射理论对一系列的WGMs峰位在给定范围内的粒子半径和折射率进行模拟计算,通过Maxwell方程精确计算了两个体系中硝酸铵在不同相对湿度(RH)下的有效饱和蒸汽压值,结果表明,在低湿度下的超粘态液滴中硝酸铵的有效饱和蒸汽压比纯硝酸铵的饱和蒸汽压低1～3个数量级.显然,低相对湿度下,液滴中硝酸铵的挥发受到了抑制.     

壳聚糖及其衍生物溶液浇铸膜的结构研究

用偏光显微镜小角光散射、扫描电镜和大角度X-光衍射技术研究了壳聚糖及其衍生物丁酸壳聚糖、苯甲酸壳聚糖的溶液浇铸膜的结构。用低于液晶临界浓度的稀溶液能制备具有液晶织构的膜。观察到指纹状织构、正光性滴状织构和负光性滴状织构．后两种滴状织构内分子自组织构型分别为辐射型和双极型。     

Microfluidic synthesis of highly shape-anisotropic particles from liquid crystalline elastomers with defined director field configurations

In this article, we present the synthesis of highly shape-anisotropic, micrometer-sized particles from liquid crystalline elastomers, which have the ability to reversibly change their shape in response to a certain external stimulus. For their preparation, we utilized a microfluidic setup. We succeeded in preparing sets of particles with differing degrees of shape anisotropy in their ground state including highly anisotropic fiber-like objects. All samples produced movement during the phase transition from the nematic to the isotropic phase of the liquid crystal. Depending on the direction of this shape change, we classified the samples in two groups. One type showed a contraction, while the other showed an expansion during the actuation, generating displacements of 60% and 80%, respectively. Using X-ray diffraction experiments, we could show that the different actuation properties arise from different director patterns of the liquid crystalline moieties in the microparticles. While the weakly shape-anisotropic microparticles possess a concentric director field (director perpendicular to the symmetry axis), the highly anisotropic fiber-like particles show an alignment of the director along the fiber axis. We present an explanation, claiming that this is the result of two different orientation mechanisms involving elongational flow on the one side and "log-rolling" on the other.     

Rheo‐optical studies of the effect of shear flow on the structure of elastomer blends

The effect of shear flow on the structure of a phase‐separated, near‐critical blend of 50/50 (w/w) poly(styrene‐ran‐butadiene) and polybutadiene was studied with two different custom‐built rheo‐optical instruments that combined polymer melt flow and small‐angle light scattering (SALS). The deformation of the phase domains during shear flow was nonaffine, and the SALS patterns evolved from a spinodal ring (SR) pattern to a squashed SR with two high‐intensity lobes, to an H‐pattern, to a butterfly pattern with a dark streak along the equator, and finally to a steady‐state, elliptical pattern. The SALS patterns were explained in terms of a network model, in which the strands of the network first orient in the flow direction, then extend in this direction, and finally break up into droplets aligned in the flow direction. According to this picture, the strands in the vorticity direction do not deform until relatively high strains, after which the periodicity of the network begins to disappear. Supporting this model was the observation that the transitions between the different SALS patterns corresponded to inflections and/or maxima in the shear stress or first normal stress difference. Increasing the shear rate changed the kinetics of the structure evolution and reduced the size of the phase‐separated droplets in the steady state. No evidence was obtained for flow‐induced miscibility. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 1725–1738, 2004     

Small-angle light scattering from optically anisotropic spheres and disks. Theory and experimental verification

The small-angle light scattering (SALS) theory for optically anisotropic spheres and disks is examined in depth. An error is found in the existing sphere equations. The correct form of the equations is identified and then experimentally verified for dilute starch suspensions. Increased concentrations and solid films of starch granules are used to identify the effect of concentration on the scattering envelope. Spherulitic films of isotactic polypropylene, isotactic polystyrene, nylon 610, PET, and nylon 66 are then used to examine different aspects of the SALS theory. Experimental observations are found to agree with the predictions of the correct SALS equations. Disk theory is interrogated and correlated with predictions for spheres. It is found that the predicted patterns from spheres and disks are very similar under identical optical conditions, in contradiction to earlier predictions. A method is developed for identifying the optical sign of spherulites too small to be seen in the optical microscope. This study constitutes a comprehensive examination of SALS theory and includes many other aspects of the phenomena. A catalogue of theoretical V_v SALS patterns from spheres and disks is also included.     

Flow-Induced Anisotropy in Mixtures of Associative Polymers and Latex Particles

The effect of associative polymers on the structure and rheological behavior of colloidal suspensions is discussed. Adding associative polymer is known to increase the viscosity of the suspensions. At high shear rates the increase is close to what could be expected on the basis of the hydrodynamic effects of the added polymer. At low shear rates the viscosity increases much more. Small-angle light scattering (SALS) during flow is used here to investigate the underlying structural mechanisms. The SALS patterns indicate that the associative polymer changes the particulate structure: characteristic butterfly patterns appear even at relatively low particle volume fractions. They are not present in the suspensions without associative polymer. The patterns indicate that fluctuations in particle concentration are more pronounced in the flow direction than in the vorticity direction and that anisotropic particulate structures with an orientation along the vorticity direction develop. The evolution of their characteristic length scale during flow has been followed over time. Changing the hydrophilic part of the polymer from polyacrylamide to polyacrylic acid induces stronger associative interactions. In the suspensions this results in a reduction of the relative viscosity rather than an increase. The difference in degree of associativity between the polymers also has an effect on the SALS patterns in the suspensions both at rest and during flow. The rheology as well as the SALS suggest the presence of a strong polymer network in the second system. The competition between adsorption of the associative polymer on the particles with the intermolecular associations between the polymer chains seems to be responsible for the observed differences. Copyright 2000 Academic Press.     

Bipolar to toroidal configuration transition in liquid crystal droplets

Liquid crystal (LC) droplets dispersed in isotropic media are of significant interest for scientific community and great importance for industries. The confinement can generate many fascinating LC director configurations and enable important practical applications. With tangential anchoring condition at the droplet surface, theoretically there are several possible configurations: bipolar, twisted bipolar, escaped toroidal, toroidal and so on. Bipolar configuration is usually observed in droplets made from common LCs while the toroidal configuration is rarely observed and it is hard to create especially in thermotropic LCs. Their realisations depend on the splay, bend and twist elastic constants ratio, and anchoring condition of the LC and polymer interface. We constructed thermotropic LCs with abnormally small bend elastic constants, with which stable toroidal configuration were successfully created. We provide a brand new method to create toroidal droplet by simply varying the bend elastic constant. We observed the transition from bipolar configuration to toroidal configuration. We performed a detailed study of the texture of toroidal droplets.     

Small-angle scattering of polarized light. I. comparison of theoretical predictions for isotropic and anisotropic spheres

This paper describes small angle light scattering (SALS) calculations and compares the results for isotropic and anisotropic spheres. For isotropic spheres the exact Mie theory is compared with the Rayleigh-Gans-Debye (RGD) and the anomalous diffraction (AD) approximations in order to study the validity of the approximations. For anisotropic spheres the RGD is compared with the AD approximation. A study of SALS in the RGD approximation shows that the first-order intensity maximum corresponding to a lobe of the four-leaf clover pattern is not only a function of the sphere diameter but also depends on the isotropic and the anisotropic refractive index of the sphere. The practical implications of this are discussed.     

Structural studies of single spherulites and partially spherulitic films of poly(methyl-D-glutamate)

Isolated spherulites of poly(methyl D -glutamate) (PMDG) were nucleated in bromoform. The morphology of these spherulites was investigated by SEM and photographic small-angle light scattering (SALS). From the SALS patterns, the development and growth of the spherulites could be noted. Films of PMDG cast from bromoform solution were found to be partially spherulitic. The mechanical properties of these films, prepared by different procedures, were compared with the general behavior of PMDG films cast from chloroform, the latter of which does not contain spherulitic texture.     

Optical properties of stretched polymer dispersed liquid crystal films

The basic mechanisms determining the formation of optical anisotropy in stretched, thin polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) films with micron sized nematic droplets have been studied experimentally and the results analysed in terms of a proposed theoretical model. The experiments were performed on PDLC films with the bipolar nematic director configuration in the droplets, where the film transmittance, microscopic structure, and birefringence of the polymer matrix were studied. It is shown that the orientational ordering of bipolar nematic droplets, introducing the main contribution to the ability of stretched PDLC film to polarize the transmitted light, is strongly dependent upon initial droplet shape and the elastic properties of the polymer matrix. The 'anomalous' nematic director orientation is also observed in a portion of elongated droplets where the axes of bipolar configurations do not coincide with the major axes of the droplet cavities due to the presence of inclusions at the cavity walls. The effect of alternation of droplet size and shape upon stretching and the influence of optical anisotropy of the polymer matrix on film transmittance are analysed. On the basis of the results obtained, simple criteria for optimization of main PDLC polarizer performance are formulated.