Mechanical behavior and wrinkling patterns of phase-separated binary polymer blend film

The wrinkling of phase-separated binary polymer blend film was studied through combining the Monte Carlo (MC) simulation for morphologies with the lattice spring model (LSM) for mechanical properties. The information of morphology and structure obtained by use of MC simulation is input to the LSM composed of a three-dimensional network of springs, which allows us to determine the wrinkling and the mechanical properties of polymer blend film, such as strain, stress, and Young’s modulus. The simulated results show that the wrinkling of phase-separated binary polymer blend film is related not only to the structure of morphology, but also to the disparity in elastic moduli between polymers of blend. Our simulation results provide fundamental insight into the relationship between morphology, wrinkling, and mechanical properties for phase-separated polymer blend films and can yield guidelines for formulating blends with the desired mechanical behavior. The wrinkling results also reveal that the stretching of the phase-separated film can form the micro-template, which has a wide application prospect.     

Development of a Biomimetic Enzyme‐linked Immunosorbent Assay Method for the Determination of Methimazole in Urine Sample

A fast and direct competitive biomimetic enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (BELISA) method was developed for the determination of methimazole (MMZ) in urine sample based on a molecularly imprinted film as an artificial antibody. This is the first example to monitor methimazole with a direct competitive biomimetic enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (BELISA) method. The imprinted film was directly synthesized on the well surface of MaxiSorp polystyrene 96‐well plate and characterized. The results showed that it exhibited an antibody‐like binding ability, rapid adsorption speed, high stability, which was particularly advantageous and suitable for BELISA development. The BELISA method established in this paper had a higher selectivity for MMZ than for the structurally related compounds and the IC₅₀ (calculated as the concentration giving 50% inhibition of color development) and the detection limit values under optimized experimental conditions were 70 ± 4 μg L^‐1 and 0.9 ± 0.04 μg L^‐1, respectively. The method was applied to the determination of MMZ in spiked urine sample with excellent recoveries ranging from 90% to 95%, and the imprinted film was able to be reused for 20 times without loss of sensitivity. The results obtained by BELISA correlated well with that obtained by the high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method.     

Spectral-optical-electrical-thermal properties of deposited thin films of nano-sized calcium(II)-8-hydroxy-5,7-dinitroquinolate complex

Spectral–optical–electrical–thermal properties of deposited thin films of nano-sized calcium(II)-8-hydroxy-5,7-dinitroquinolate complex, Ca[((NO₂)₂-8HQ)₂], were explored, studied and evaluated in this work. Thin films of Ca[((NO₂)₂-8HQ)₂] were assembled by using a direct, simple and efficient layer-by-layer (LBL) chemical deposition technique. The optical properties of thin films were investigated by using spectrophotometric measurements of transmittance and reflectance at normal incidence in the wavelength range 200–2500 nm. The refractive index, n, and the absorption index, k, of Ca[((NO₂)₂-8HQ)₂] films were determined from the measured transmittance and reflectance. The real and imaginary dielectric constants were also determined. The analysis of the spectral behavior of the absorption coefficient in the intrinsic absorption region reveals a direct allowed transition with band gaps of 1.1 eV and 2.4 eV for the optical and transport energy gaps, respectively. The current–voltage characteristics of Ca[((NO₂)₂-8HQ)₂] showed a trap-charge limited conduction in determining the current at the intermediate and high bias regimes. Graphical representation of the current–voltage characteristics yields three distinct linear parts indicating the existence of three conduction mechanisms. Structural characterization and identification were confirmed by using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was also used to image the surface morphology of the deposited nano-sized metal complex and such study revealed a high homogeneity in surface spherical particle distribution with average particles size in the range 20–40 nm. Thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) was also studied for [(NO₂)₂-8HQ] and Ca[((NO₂)₂-8HQ)₂] to evaluate and confirm the thermal stability characteristics incorporated into the synthesized nano-sized Ca[((NO₂)₂-8HQ)₂] complex.     

DNA/羟基磷灰石杂化膜修饰电极用于研究DNA与量子点的相互作用

首次利用溶胶-凝胶一步法制备了纳米多孔羟基磷灰石(HAp)-DNA杂化膜修饰玻碳电极,HAp优良的生物相容性和独特的吸附性可以将DNA固定在HAp多孔薄膜上,而DNA的大分子结构对HAp膜起到稳定剂的作用.采用循环伏安法和交流阻抗法系统地研究了电极表面固定DNA的稳定性以及固定的DNA与非电活性核壳型量子点CdTe/C...     

Aero-thermal investigation of a multi-splitter axial turbine

This paper reports the external convective heat transfer in an innovative low-pressure vane, designed with a multi-splitter configuration. Three aerodynamic airfoils are positioned in between larger structural vanes, replacing struts presently used in current aero-engines, which results in superior aerodynamic performance. Static pressure and heat flux measurements were carried out in the large compression tube facility of the von Karman Institute, using pneumatic taps and single-layered thin film gauges respectively. The steady and unsteady heat transfer distributions were obtained at representative conditions of modern aero-engines, with M_2,is close to unity and a Reynolds number of approximately 10⁶. This facility is specially suited to control the gas-to-wall temperature ratio that drives transition mechanisms. The heat transfer across the multi-splittered passages is confronted with correlations on ducts to further characterize the boundary layer status. The data will be used to guide code developers by verifying their boundary layer transition models, and designers by showing the areas of the vane where heat transfer is most sensitive to the off-design conditions.     

Linear instability of ultra-thin liquid films flowing down cylindrical fibre

The stability characteristics of an ultra-thin layer of a viscous liquid flowing down a cylindrical fibre are investigated by a linear theory. The film with the thickness less than 100 nm is driven by an external force and under the influence of the van der Waals forces. The results show that, when the relative film thickness decreases, the curvature of the fibre depresses the development of the linear perturbations, whereas the van der Waals forces promote the instabilities. This competition results in a non-monotonous dependence of the growth rate on the relative film thickness. The critical curves are also obtained to describe the transition from the absolute instability to the convective instability, indicating that the van der Waals forces can enlarge the absolutely unstable region. Furthermore, the surface tension can cause the development of the absolute instability, whereas the external force has an opposite effect.     

Numerical investigations on vortical structures of viscous film flows along periodic rectangular corrugations

Two-dimensional gravity-driven film flows along a substrate with rectangular corrugations are studied numerically by using Finite Volume Method. The volume of fluid (VOF) method is utilized to capture the evolution of free surfaces. The film flows down an inclined plate are simulated to validate the numerical implementation of the present study. Results obtained indicate that the phase shift between the surface wave and the wall corrugation increases as the Reynolds number. The parametric studies on the interesting resonant phenomenon indicate that the peak Reynolds numbers increase as the raise of the wall depth or the decline of the inclination angle. The dependence of the flow fields is analyzed on the Reynolds numbers and wall depth in details. It is found that the vortical structures in the steady flows, either produced by the interaction between capillary wrinkling and inertia, or by the rectangular geometry, are closely related to the remarkable deformation of the free surfaces. This conclusion is also confirmed by the transient flow development of two typical simulations, i.e., flows in capillary–inertial regime and in inertial regime.     

Bauschinger and size effects in thin-film plasticity due to defect-energy of geometrical necessary dislocations

The Bauschinger and size effects in the thinfilm plasticity theory arising from the defect-energy of geometrically necessary dislocations (GNDs) are analytically investigated in this paper. Firstly, this defect-energy is deduced based on the elastic interactions of coupling dislocations (or pile-ups) moving on the closed neighboring slip plane. This energy is a quadratic function of the GNDs density, and includes an elastic interaction coefficient and an energetic length scale L. By incorporating it into the work- conjugate strain gradient plasticity theory of Gurtin, an energetic stress associated with this defect energy is obtained, which just plays the role of back stress in the kinematic hardening model. Then this back-stress hardening model is used to investigate the Bauschinger and size effects in the tension problem of single crystal Al films with passivation layers. The tension stress in the film shows a reverse dependence on the film thickness h. By comparing it with discrete-dislocation simulation results, the length scale L is determined, which is just several slip plane spacing, and accords well with our physical interpretation for the defect- energy. The Bauschinger effect after unloading is analyzed by combining this back-stress hardening model with a friction model. The effects of film thickness and pre-strain on the reversed plastic strain after unloading are quantified and qualitatively compared with experiment results.     

Experimental study on condensation heat transfer of steam on vertical titanium plates with different surface energies

Visual experiments were employed to investigate heat transfer characteristics of steam on vertical titanium plates with/without surface modifications for different surface energies. Stable dropwise condensation and filmwise condensation were achieved on two surface modification titanium plates, respectively. Dropwise and rivulet filmwise co-existing condensation form of steam was observed on unmodified titanium surfaces. With increase in the surface subcooling, the ratio of area (η) covered by drops decreased and departure diameter of droplets increased, resulting in a decrease in condensation heat transfer coefficient. Condensation heat transfer coefficient decreased sharply with the values of η decreasing when the fraction of the surface area covered by drops was greater than that covered by rivulets. Otherwise, the value of η had little effect on the heat transfer performance. Based on the experimental phenomena observed, the heat flux through the surface was proposed to express as the sum of the heat flux through the dropwise region and rivulet filmwise region. The heat flux through the whole surface was the weighted mean value of the two regions mentioned above. The model presented explains the gradual change of heat transfer coefficient for transition condensation with the ratio of area covered by drops. The simulation results agreed well with the present experimental data when the subcooling temperature is lower than 10 °C.     

Stabilization of flow boiling in a micro tube with air injection

Air injection as a stabilization method is evaluated for flow boiling in a micro tube. Pyrex glass tube coated by ITO film is employed as a test tube for flow visualization with water as a working fluid. Air bubble and liquid slug lengths are controlled by changing air and liquid mass velocities. Wall temperatures and inlet/outlet pressures show very large fluctuations during flow boiling without air injection. Severe reverse flow is also observed from flow visualization. On the other hand, wall temperature and inlet/outlet pressures as well as visualized flow patterns become very stable with air injection. In addition, much higher heat transfer coefficients are obtained for air injected cases. It is observed from the flow visualization that the flow becomes much stable and shows regular patterns.