Slot coating flows of non‐colloidal particle suspensions

Slot coating is used in the manufacturing of functional films, which rely on specific particle microstructure to achieve the desired performance. Final structure on the coated film is strongly dependent on the suspension flow during the deposition of the coating liquid and on the subsequent drying process. Fundamental understanding on how particles are distributed in the coated layer enables optimization of the process and quality of the produced films. The complex coating flow leads to shear‐induced particle migration and non‐uniform particle distribution. We study slot coating flow of non‐colloidal suspensions by solving the mass and momentum conservation equations coupled with a particle transport equation using the Galerkin/Finite element method. The results show that particle distribution in the coating bead and in the coated layer is non‐uniform and is strongly dependent on the imposed flow rate (wet thickness). © 2016 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 63: 1122–1131, 2017     

Characterization of cellulose surface free energy

The thin-layer wicking technique was used to determine the surface free energy components and the surface character of three celluloses (Sigmaccll 101, Sigmacell 20, and Avicel 101), using an appropriate form of the Washburn equation. For this purpose, the penetration rates of probe liquids into thin porous layers of the celluloses deposited onto horizontal glass plates were measured. It was found that the wicking was a reproducible process and that the thin-layer wicking technique could be used for the determination of the celluloses' surface free energy components. The size of the cellulose particles was characterized with the Galai CIS-100 system and their crystallinity was measured by X-ray diffraction. The three celluloses have high apolar (y^LWS = 50-56 mJ/m²) and electron donor (γs = 42-45 mJ/m²) components, while the electron acceptor component (γS⁺ ) is practically zero. The free energy interactions of cellulose/water/cellulose calculated from the components are positive, regardless of the cellulose crystallinity. This would mean that the cellulose surfaces have a hydrophilic character. However, the work of spreading of water has a small negative value (3-9 mJ/m²), indicating that the surfaces are slightly hydrophobic. It is believed that the work of spreading characterizes better the hydrophobicity of the surface than the free energy of particle/water/particle interaction, because in the latter case, no electrostatic repulsion is taken into account in the calculations.     

圆盘反应器液膜表面更新数值模拟

以圆盘反应器的开发和放大为背景,通过理论分析将液膜更新频率与液膜变形相关联,运用VOF模型研究竖直旋转圆盘液膜更新频率空间分布特性;将量纲分析与数值模拟相结合考察影响普通圆盘液膜平均更新频率的相关因素;从表面更新的角度研究自由膜与附壁膜的差异,优化圆盘结构。结果表明:圆盘表面液膜加速区液膜更新频率最快,较其他区域高150%,较平均值高75%;获得了普通圆盘液膜平均更新频率表达式;圆盘开窗形成自由膜,更新频率比附壁膜高40%以上;相同面积圆形窗区域自由膜更新频率比扇形窗自由膜高34%,但是扇形窗自由膜对附壁膜强化作用更明显。     

Turbulence damping above the cloud height in suspensions of concentrated slurries in stirred tanks

Poor mixing in the clear liquid layer above the cloud height has been reported by several authors. This study uses LDV measurements to quantify turbulence above the cloud using a liquid level of 1.5 T to remove the barrier of a free surface at H = T. A D = T/3, down-pumping PBT was used at an off-bottom clearance of C = T/3. Three slurries were tested at impeller speeds 0.8, 1, and 1.2N_js. The change in turbulence was quantified using the normalized root mean square (RMS) of the fluctuating velocity summed and averaged over each radial traverse. A significant difference between the fluctuating values of the cloud height—minimum, average, and maximum—was observed. The turbulence decays until the maximum cloud height. Beyond that, it remains constant and near zero. The effects of both particle size and solids concentration prove to be important.     

Simulation of particle migration in free‐surface flows

The migration of particles in free surface flows using the diffusive flux model was investigated. As the free‐surface flows, a planar jet flow and a slot coating flow were chosen. The suspension was assumed to be a Newtonian fluid with a particle concentration dependent viscosity. The governing equations were solved numerically by the finite volume method, and the free‐surface problem was handled by the volume of the fraction model. The result shows that even though the velocity profile is fully developed and becomes flat, the particle distribution never reaches the uniform distribution for both of the cases. It is also shown that the die swell of the free jet is reduced compared to the Newtonian fluid and when the particle loading is 0.5, die contraction is observed. The change in die swell characteristics is purely due to particle migration since the suspension model does not show normal stress differences. © 2010 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2010     

Slip velocity and slip layer thickness in flow of concentrated suspensions

The rheological characterization of highly filled suspensions consisting of a Newtonian matrix (hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene), mixed with two different sizes of aluminum powder (30% and above by volume) and two different sizes of glass beads (50% and above by volume), was performed using a parallel disk rheometer with emphasis on the wall slip phenomenon. The effects of the solid content, particle size, type of solid particle material, and temperature on slip velocity and slip layer thickness were investigated. Suspensions of small particles of aluminum (mean diameter of 5.03 μm) did not show slip at any concentration up to the maximum packing fraction. However, suspensions of the other particles exhibited slip at the wall, at concentrations close to their maximum packing fraction. In these suspensions, the slip velocity increased linearly with the shear stress, and at constant shear stress, the slip velocity increased with increasing temperature. The slip layer thickness increased proportionally with increasing size of the particles for the glass beads. Up to a certain value of (filler content/maximum packing fraction), ϕ/ϕ_m, the slip layer thickness divided by the particle diameter, δ/D_P, was 0, but it suddenly increased and reached a value that was independent of ϕ/ϕ_m and the temperature. On average, the ratio of δ/D_P was 0.071 for aluminum and 0.037 for glass beads. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 70: 515–522, 1998     

Surface free energy analysis of poly(vinyl alcohol) films having various molecular parameters

The molecular parameters of poly(vinyl alcohol) have enormous effects on its physical and chemical properties. Therefore, the surface characteristics of poly(vinyl alcohol) films are also determined by the molecular parameters. In this study, the dependence of the surface free energy on the molecular weight, degree of saponification, and stereoregularity of poly(vinyl alcohol) films has been evaluated with contact‐angle measurements. The surface free energy of poly(vinyl alcohol) films increases with decreases in the syndiotactic dyad content, molecular weight, and degree of saponification. The polar component of the surface energy is not affected by the deviation of the molecular weight and degree of saponification very much. However, it decreases with increases in the syndiotactic dyad content and ranges from 11.64 to 4.35 dyn/cm. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 2007     

柱状旋流分离器零轴速面分布特性模拟分析

采用雷诺应力模型对柱状旋流分离器气相流场中的零轴速包络面分布进行了数值模拟分析,考察了旋流不稳定性、流速以及结构参数变化对其分布的影响。指出由于分离器旋转流动不稳定性的固有存在,零轴速边界在整个分离空间会呈非轴对称的扭曲状态;在研究速度范围内,流场处于自模化区,分离器运动相似,入口速度变化对零轴速边界的分布影响不大;升气管直径与入口面积对升气管入口区域的零轴速边界分布影响较大,随升气管直径的减小和入口面积的增大,零轴速边界逐渐收缩。远离升气管入口区域,升气管直径与入口面积的影响减弱,零轴速边界宽度逐渐增大,并趋于一致;使流场趋于稳定的升气管直径与入口面积,截面零轴速边界会保持较好的圆度。     

Particulate character, inertial effects and diffusion effects in concentrated suspensions

In the sedimentation of suspensions, the particles modify their settling velocity in accordance with the solids concentration. Kynch's theory assumes that in each layer, the settling velocity only depends on the solids concentration, and neglects the acceleration and deceleration processes when the particles descend with a velocity distinct from that corresponding to the solids concentration at this layer. The Kynch theory also assumes that there are so many small particles that the solid mass can be considered homogeneously distributed in the suspension, so the particulate character of the suspension is ignored. Kynch's theory also neglects the diffusion effects. An analysis of the particulate character of the suspension, the inertial effects and the diffusion effects are discussed in this paper, deducing a critical value for considering the particulate character negligible and a critical size for considering the diffusion effect also negligible. Finally, several data of different flocculated suspensions are satisfactorily analysed in view of the conclusions obtained previously.     

Effect of crosslinking on the surface free energy and surface reorganization of waterborne fluorinated polyurethane

To endow waterborne fluorinated polyurethanes (WFPUs), films with stable lower surface free energy and lower surface reorganization after the films contacted with water, a series of crosslinked WFPUs (CWFPUs) emulsions were prepared by adjusting the content of aziridine (AZ). The effect of crosslinking on the surface free energy, glass-transition temperature (T _g), water absorption, and surface composition of dry/hydrated WFPUs and CWFPUs films were studied by CAs test, dynamic mechanical analysis, water absorption measurements, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. When the fluorine content was 0.5%, the surface free energy of the CWFPUs films modified by 0.4% AZ content (CWFPU-6-0.5-CK0.4) reached to the lowest value of 15.76 mN m⁻¹ which almost equaled to the surface free energy (15.45 mN m⁻¹) of the dry uncrosslinked films (WFPU-6-0.5). With the increasing of AZ content, the T _{g, hard} of hard segments of the CWFPUs films increased and the water absorption of the CWFPUs films decreased, which suggested the formation of the crosslinked network structures. The studies of the surface elements and groups composition of dry/hydrated WFPUs and CWFPUs both confirmed that the surface reorganization and the migration of fluorinated side chains were restricted by the crosslinked network structures. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019 , 136, 47167.     

温度对杨木木粉表面自由能和表面极性的影响

通过毛细管上升法测定了经过不同温度处理的杨木木粉的表面接触角,依据Washburn方程和Owens-wendt-Kaelble法,求解了经过不同温度处理的杨木木粉的表面自由能及其极性分量和非极性分量。结果表明,杨木木粉的表面自由能为23.43 mN/m,体现分子色散力的非极性分量为4.64 mN/m,在处理时间为2 h的条件下,随着处理温度的上升,杨木木粉的总表面自由能略有下降,体现其分子色散力的非极性表面自由能上升,体现其表面极性值的极性表面自由能下降,并分析了上述结果的原因。     

Effects of surface shape on the geometry and surface topography of the melt pool in low‐power density laser melting

The quantitative correlations between workpiece volume and melt pool geometry, as well as the flow and thermal features of the melt pool are established. Thermocapillary convections in melt pool with a deformable free surface are investigated with respect to surface shape and laser intensity. When the contact angle between the tangent to the top surface and the vertical wall at the hot center is acute, the free surface flattens, compared with that of the initial free surface. Otherwise, the free surface forms a bowl‐like shape with a deep crater and a low peripheral rim when the contact angle at the hot center is obtuse. Increasing the workpiece volume at a fixed laser intensity and a negative radial height gradient cause linear decreases in the geometric size and magnitude of flow and temperature of the melt pool. Conversely, linear increases are observed with a positive radial height gradient. © 2011 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2012     

Flow of concentrated suspension through oblique bifurcating channels

Suspensions of solid particles in viscous fluid flowing through bifurcating channels are encountered in various industrial processes and biological applications. This work reports the detailed numerical simulations of shear‐induced particle migration in oblique bifurcating channels. The effect of particle concentration, bifurcation angle, and flow rate on the partitioning of bulk flow and particles in the downstream branches is studied. It was observed that the particle distribution in the downstream branches does not follow the flow distribution due to shear‐induced particle migration. The velocity and concentration profile for suspension flow were observed to be symmetric in the inlet branch but asymmetric in the daughter branches. The degree of asymmetry and bluntness of velocity profile was observed to depend on the bulk particle concentration and bifurcation angle. The reported results could be useful in the design of flow devices handling suspension transport in bifurcating channels. © 2014 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 60: 2692–2704, 2014     

Studies on the surface free energy and surface structure of PTFE film treated with low temperature plasma

The surface free energy and surface structure of poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE) film treated with low temperature plasma in O₂, Ar, He, H₂, NH₃, and CH₄ gases are studied. The contact angles of the samples were measured, and the critical surface tension γ_c (Zisman) and γ_c (max) were determined on the basis of the Zisman's plots. Furthermore, the values of nonpolar dispersion force γ^a_s, dipole force γ^b_s, and hydrogen bonding force γ^c_s to the surface tensions for the plasma-treated samples were evaluated by the extended Fowkes equation. Mainly because of the contribution of polar force, the surface free energy and surface wettability of PTFE film which was treated with H₂, He, NH₃, Ar, and CH₄ for a short time increased greatly. Electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA) shows that the reason was the decrease of fluorine and the increase of oxygen or nitrogen polar functional group on the surface of PTFE. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 63: 1733–1739, 1997     

Impeller power draw during turbulent operation in solid‐liquid suspensions

Experimental measurements with six impeller types in solid‐liquid suspensions indicate that impeller power draw in the turbulent regime is approximately proportional to the solid‐liquid suspension density when the solids are distributed throughout the liquid; however, the accuracy of this approach is limited and there are clear differences in the behaviours of the various impellers. In general, power draw increases are less than suspension density increases for impellers with large blade‐trailing vortices, while power draw increases are equal to or greater than suspension density increases for impellers with smaller blade‐trailing vortices. The power draw data is well‐described using linear relations between the impeller power number and the density difference correlating parameter proposed by Micheletti et al.,^[9] with the slope of the relation being dependent on impeller type. More extensive testing with a pitched‐blade turbine, using a greater variety of solids, found that the relation between the impeller power number and the density difference correlating parameter is independent of particle size for particles as large as 1 mm (1000 microns). For particles larger than 1.7 mm (1700 microns), in addition to suspension density, the solid volume fraction affects the pitched‐blade turbine power number; however, it is difficult to determine if this effect exists at all scales or if it is a result of the large particle size relative to the impeller dimensions in the experimental system. For large particles, the power draw is increased by the addition of neutrally‐buoyant particles that do not change the suspension density, with the magnitude of the increase being dependent on impeller type.     

微孔薄膜挤出成型数值模拟

利用Unigraphics NX(简称UG)软件设计了8孔微孔薄膜挤出模,并对挤出模成型段及挤出物部分进行了CAE模拟,利用参数渐变法研究了不同拉伸应力下挤出物外形及横截面形状尺寸的变化。结果表明,随着拉伸应力的增大,挤出物横截面尺寸越来越小;气孔由圆形变为菱形、椭圆形;挤出物表面具有明显的波纹特征。     

Evolution of surface chemistry and physical properties during thin film polymerization of thermotropic liquid crystalline polymers

By applying a novel thin film polymerization technique, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and the Lifshitz-van der Waals acid-base (LWAB) theory, we have determined the time evolution of surface chemistry and surface free energy during the polymerization of liquid crystalline poly(p-oxybenzoate/2,6-oxynaphthoate) at a molar ratio of 50/50. The surface free energy components of these main-chain liquid crystalline copolyesters were calculated from contact angle measurements using a Ramé-Hart goniometer and a three-liquid procedure (water, glycerol, and diiodomethane). The experimental data suggest that the Lewis base parameter (y-) during thin film polymerization decreases rapidly with the progress of polymerization, while the Lewis acid parameter (γ⁺) and the Lifshitz-van der Waals parameter (γ^LW) are almost invariant. The surface roughness data measured by atomic force microscopy (AFM) suggested that the increase in water contact angle (or the decrease in y-) was not caused by the change in surface roughness, but by the change in surface chemistry, i.e. due to the reaction of acetoxy and carboxy groups to release acetic acid during the polymerization reaction. In addition, the XPS results coincide with our previous Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy results showing that the condensation polymerization is much faster in the beginning than in the later stages. Consequently, the decrease in y- in the early stages of the polymerization is well explained.     

颗粒表面料层干燥机理

颗粒表面料层干燥是喷雾流化干燥技术的基本环节. 为了探讨喷雾流化干燥机理,着重探讨了物料表面蒸汽分压与物料湿含量的关系,首次建立了单颗粒表面料层干燥的物理模型,并进行了数值计算,计算结果与实验结果吻合较好.分析了惰性载体的密度、比热容、直径及热导率对干燥时间的影响,对喷雾流化干燥的深入研究以及放大、优化设计等具有重要的指导意义.     

Role of free surface on gas‐induced liquid mixing in a shallow vessel

The present work is carried out to understand the effect of free surface on liquid velocity distribution, dynamics and liquid phase mixing in a shallow basic oxygen furnace (BOF). Three‐dimensional/transient Euler–Lagrange (EL) without/with volume‐of‐fluid (VOF) simulations of dispersed gas–liquid flow in a scaled‐down model of the BOF were performed. For lower H/D ratios, EL simulations performed with no‐slip and free‐slip boundary conditions led to oscillatory plume behavior and higher liquid velocity regions which in turn led to lower mixing time. In contrast, EL + VOF simulations led to reduced meandering motion of bubble plumes and lower liquid velocities resulting in higher mixing times. Interestingly, the mixing time predicted using EL + VOF approach was found to be in a good agreement with the measurements. The results presented in this work show that free surface has a significant effect on dynamics of gas–liquid flow and liquid phase mixing for shallow vessels with H/D ≤ 0.5. © 2017 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 63: 3582–3598, 2017     

梯度表面能材料上液滴运动机理

通过显微测量技术获得了梯度表面能材料表面的微观结构,分析了经扩散控制的硅烷化处理的硅基材料表面上表面能梯度形成的机制和影响因素。通过可视化实验,并从能量转换关系和液滴受力分析上探讨了液滴在梯度表面能材料上的快速运动机理,研究了液滴运动过程,及薄膜润滑对液滴运动速度的影响。