Remote Steering of Self‐Propelling Microcircuits by Modulated Electric Field

The principles and design of “active” self‐propelling particles that can convert energy, move directionally on their own, and perform a certain function is an emerging multidisciplinary research field, with high potential for future technologies. A simple and effective technique is presented for on‐demand steering of self‐propelling microdiodes that move electroosmotically on water surface, while supplied with energy by an external alternating (AC) field. It is demonstrated how one can control remotely the direction of diode locomotion by electronically modifying the applied AC signal. The swimming diodes change their direction of motion when a wave asymmetry (equivalent to a DC offset) is introduced into the signal. The data analysis shows that the ability to control and reverse the direction of motion is a result of the electrostatic torque between the asymmetrically polarized diodes and the ionic charges redistributed in the vessel. This novel principle of electrical signal‐coded steering of active functional devices, such as diodes and microcircuits, can find applications in motile sensors, MEMs, and microrobotics.     

高温氨化合成GaN微晶

分别利用Ga2O3粉末和Ga2O3凝胶作为Ga源,采用NH3为N源,在950℃下,分别将两种反应物与流动的NH3反应20 min合成了GaN微晶。用X射线衍射(XRD)、扫描电子显微镜(SEM)、选择区电子衍射(SAED)对微晶进行结构、形貌的分析,特别是对两种不同途径合成GaN微晶的XRD进行了分析比较。结果表明,当Ga源温度为950℃时两种不同的合成途径均可得到六方纤锌矿结构的GaN单晶颗粒,在氮化温度为850℃和900℃时,利用Ga2O3粉末作为Ga源,仅有少量的Ga2O3转变为GaN;而采用Ga2O3凝胶作为Ga源,在相同的温度下,大部分凝胶经过高温氨化反应均可转化为GaN。     

Application of the methylene blue test to cement raw materials

Characterisation of raw materials for Portland cement manufacture by use of the methylene blue adsorption method is discussed. The method is shown to be a simple, convenient ‘rule of thumb’ procedure. It provides a guide to the quantity and type of argillaceous minerals present in a given raw material sample.     

Augmentation of boiling heat transfer from horizontal cylinder to liquid by movable particles

This paper presents a series of experimental results on a passive augmentation technique of boiling heat transfer by supplying solid particles in liquid. A cylindrical heater 0.88 mm in diameter is placed in saturated water, in which a lot of mobile particles exist, and the nucleate and film boiling heat transfer characteristics are measured. Particle materials used were alumina, glass, and porous alumina, and the diameter ranged from 0.3 mm to 2.5 mm. Particles are fluidized by the occurrence of boiling without any additive power, and the heat transfer is augmented. The maximum augmentation ratio obtained in this experiment reaches about ten times the heat transfer coefficient obtained in liquid alone. The augmentation ratio is mainly affected by the particle material, diameter, and the height of the particle bed set at no boiling condition. The augmentation mechanism is discussed on the basis of the experimental results. © 2001 Scripta Technica, Heat Trans Asian Res, 31(1): 28–41, 2002     

Poly(butylene terephthalate)–clay nanocomposites prepared by melt intercalation: morphology and thermomechanical properties

Nanocomposites based on poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT) and an organoclay (Cloisite 30B) were prepared by melt blending using a twin‐screw extruder. Two kinds of PBTs, ie PBT‐A and PBT‐B, with different inherent viscosities (η_inh), were used for this study (η_inh of PBT‐A and PBT‐B were 0.74 and 1.48, respectively). Dispersion of the clay layers in the PBT nanocomposites was characterized by using X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Tensile and dynamic mechanical properties and non‐isothermal crystallization temperatures of the nanocomposites were also examined. Nanocomposites based on the higher‐viscosity PBT (PBT‐B) showed a higher degree of exfoliation of the clay and a higher reinforcing effect when compared to the composites based on the lower‐viscosity PBT (PBT‐A). The clay nanolayers dispersed in PBT matrices lead to increases in the non‐isothermal crystallization temperatures of the PBTs, with such increases being more significant for the PBT‐B nanocomposites than for the PBT‐A nanoocomposites. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry     

Preparation and characterization of chitosan‐based dispersions

Complexation of chitosan in aqueous solutions by low molecular weight electrolytes is one of the simplest methods for the preparation of aqueous chitosan dispersions. In this work, the influence of storage time, sulfate concentration, method of preparation and surfactant content on some properties of the resultant chitosan dispersions (turbidity, viscosity and zeta potential) was analyzed. Turbidimetry was adequate to monitor the formation of particles, while viscometry was suitable to monitor changes in the dispersing phase. An analysis of the properties of these systems, mainly in terms of particle–particle and macromolecule–macromolecule interactions was carried out. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry     

Preparation of flexible polyhedral particles via concentrated emulsion templating polymerization

This paper presents recent efforts on the preparation of flexible polyhedral particles via concentrated emulsion templating polymerization in which the hydrophilic monomer (acrylamide) and hydrophobic monomer (butyl acrylate) are polymerized simultaneously in the continuous and dispersed phase, respectively. Such templating polymerization has been enhanced in our systems owing to the introduction of acrylamide monomer and their higher polymerization rate in continuous phase as compared with butyl acrylate in dispersed phase. Diffusion between the different phases was also inhibited. Furthermore, the stability of the concentrated emulsion and the molecular weight of the produced poly(butyl acrylate) were found to be significantly affected by the amount of redox initiator. The morphology of the particles could be controlled by varying the volume fraction of the dispersed phase and the polyhedral particles were achieved at higher volume fraction. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry     

FeBP非晶态合金超细微粒的合成及其对PH3分解的催化作用

用化学还原法合成了FeBP非晶态合金超细微粒，用电感耦合等离子体光谱（ICP）、X射线粉末衍射（XRD）、透射电子显微镜（TEM）和差热分析（DSC）等手段对其进行了物性表征，并用微型催化反应装置考察了其对PH3分解的催化作用，结果表明，非晶态合金FeBP对PH3的分解具有良好的催化作用，能使PH3的分解温度从800℃以上降到500℃左右。490℃时分解率超过90％，540℃时达100％。     

Terminal velocity of non-spherical particles falling through a Carreau model liquid

A procedure has been proposed for the estimation of the terminal falling velocity of non-spherical particles moving in a Carreau model fluid in the transition flow region. The procedure is based on a modification of the relationship formerly developed for the fall of spherical particles including the particle dynamic shape factor. The suitability of the proposed procedure has been confirmed by good agreement between experimental and calculated terminal falling velocity data. In the experiments, the terminal falling velocity of short cylinders and rectangular prisms in polymer solutions of different measure of shear thinning and elasticity has been measured.