Ball lightning from atmospheric discharges via metal nanosphere oxidation: from soils, wood or metals

The slow (diffusion-limited) oxidation of metal nanoparticles has previously been proposed as the mechanism for ball lightning energy release, and argued to be the result of a normal lightning strike on soil. Here this basic model of networked nanoparticles is detailed further, and extended to lightning strikes on metal structures, and also to the action of other storm-related discharges or man-made discharges. The basic model predicted the important properties of "average" observed ball lightning, and the extension in this paper also covers high-energy examples of ball lightning. Laboratory checks of the theory are described, and predictions given of what conditions are necessary for observing ball lightning in the laboratory. Key requirements of the model are a sheltered region near the strike foot and starting materials which can generate a metal vapour under intensive heating, including soil, wood or a metal structure. The evolution of hydrocarbons (often plastics) along with metal vapour can ensure the local survival of the metal vapour even in an oxidizing atmosphere. Subsequent condensation of this vapour to metallic nanoparticles in networks provides the coherence of a ball structure, which also releases light over an extended time. Also discussed is the passage of ball lightning through a sheet of building material, including glass, and its occasional charring of flesh on close contact.     

The fragmented science of ball lightning (with comment)

All the apparent anomalies in ball lightning behaviour seem to result from electrochemical processes which arise at the surface of a wet air plasma. The structure and stability of an established lightning ball are maintained by these processes and the ball operates as a thermochemical heat pump powered by the electric field of a thunderstorm. Movements result from asymmetries in the various fields which control the structure. In addition to electric, electromagnetic and gravitational fields, temperature, pressure and compositional gradients can be involved. Electrochemistry provides a framework within which specific properties can be considered using better developed or more appropriate disciplines. Several commonly made assumptions and approximations are identified which can be invalid under the specific conditions which favour ball lightning stability. If any of these limitations is ignored, seriously misleading conclusions may result. The range of power associated with lightning balls is ill defined but may vary continuously between that of globes which lack a bright centre and that of normal lightning. Our failure to contain plasmas electrochemically for more than a few seconds probably reflects our inability to balance (or even measure) the various fields which govern a ball's stability. All the fields may need to be controlled before electrochemistry can usefully be employed to contain plasmas.     

Polymer-composite ball lightning

Investigations into the state of ball lightning (BL) have been made, and both theory and experiments, related to so-called "polymer-composite" ball lightning, are presented. The properties of such a polymeric BL have been described and are that of a long-lived object capable of storing high energy. Results of experiments, starting with polymeric components in erosive gas discharge experiments, are described and discussed. The model of BL as a highly charged polymer-dielectric structure is described. According to this model BL appears as the result of the aggregation of natural polymers, such as lignin and cellulose, soot, polymeric silica and other natural dust particles. Its ability to glow is explained by the appearance over its perimeter of gas discharges near the highly charged BL surface, and electrical breakdown of some regions on the surface, consisting of polymerized and aggregated threads.     

球磨对碳纳米管增强泡沫铝基复合材料压缩与吸能性能的影响

因碳纳米管（CNTs）具有优异的性能,被认为是金属基复合材料理想的增强体,因此如何制备得到CNTs增强体均匀分散的金属基复合材料一直是本领域的研究热点。本文通过原位化学气相沉积（CVD）、短时球磨和填加造孔剂的工艺成功制备了CNTs增强的泡沫铝基复合材料,着重研究了球磨过程对复合泡沫铝的微观形貌、压缩性能和吸能性能的影响规律。结果表明,随着球磨时间的延长,CNTs的分散性提高并逐步嵌入铝基体中,使复合泡沫铝的组织均匀性得到改善。相对于未球磨的含CNTs 3.0wt%的复合泡沫材料,当球磨时间增加至90 min时,复合泡沫铝的孔壁硬度、屈服强度和吸能能力分别提高了67%、126%和343%。     

Propagation characteristics of the dynamic state in a capillary discharge jet

A study is made of the so-called dynamic state of a metastable substance, characterized by the onset of a nonequilibrium energy interaction (interchange), involving various waves, in the excited material. The intensity of the optical emission is used to analyze the dynamic state; an investigation is made of the propagation of its leading and trailing edges. Various propagation characteristics and natural solitary-wave forms are identified; their similarity to ionization waves allows making some assumptions about the essential nature of this process. The observed effects are important for establishing the physical conditions for the formation of the substance of ball lightning and are also interesting for the physics of flames, electrical breakdown, and electrode spots. Pis’ma Zh. Tekh. Fiz. 23, 54–59 (October 12, 1997)     

The influence of collision energy and strain accumulation on the kinetics of mechanical alloying

The kinetics of mechanical alloying have been investigated by examining the effect that ball mass has on the rate at which titanium carbide forms from the elements. By varying the ball density while keeping the ball diameter and the charge ratio constant, the collision energy was independently controlled. Grinding media with a density from 3.8 g cm-3 (agate) to 16.4 g cm-3 (tungsten carbide) were used. The reaction rate increases exponentially with ball mass until a critical level is reached, which is determined by the induced temperature rise. Above this level, collisions of higher energy have no advantage. It is also shown that the reaction rate increases exponentially with the rate at which strain accumulates in the reactants. It is suggested that the strain accumulation rate in mechanically induced reactions is analogous to temperature in thermally induced chemical reactions.     

High-energy ball milling of saquinavir increases permeability across the buccal mucosa

Saquinavir (SQV), a candidate for buccal drug delivery, is limited by poor solubility. This study identified the effects of high-energy ball milling on the buccal permeability of SQV and compared it to the effects of chemical enhancers, i.e. ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), polyethylene glycol (PEG) and beta cyclodextrin (β-cyclodextrin). SQV was ball milled using a high energy planetary mill (1, 3, 15 and 30?h) and permeation studies across porcine buccal mucosa were performed using franz diffusion cells. Drug was quantified by UV spectrophotometry. Both unmilled and milled SQV samples were able to permeate the buccal mucosa. Milled samples of 15?h displayed the greatest flux of 10.40?±?1.24?µg/cm^2?h and an enhancement ratio of 2.61. All enhancers were able to increase the buccal permeability of unmilled SQV, with SLS achieving the greatest flux (6.99?±?0.7?µg/cm²) and an enhancement ratio of 1.75. However, all the milled SQV samples displayed greater permeability than SLS, the best chemical enhancer for unmilled SQV. Enhanced permeability by ball milling was attributed to reduction in particle size, formation of solid dispersions and an increase in solubility of milled samples. Microscopical evaluation revealed no significant loss in mucosal cellular integrity treated with either unmilled or milled SQV. Histological studies suggest that SQV uses both the paracellular and transcellular route of transport across the mucosa, with drug treatment having no permanent affects. High-energy ball milling was superior to the chemical enhancers studied for enhancement of SQV buccal permeation.     

氧化锑/高岭土复合阻燃微粉的湿化学法制备及特性

采用湿化学法制备了氧化锑 /高岭土复合阻燃微粉 ,用热重 (TG)、差示扫描量热法 (DSC)对其阻燃特性进行了分析 ,用SEM分析了粒子形貌 ,激光光散射粒度分布仪分析了粒子的分布情况。热分析结果表明 ,与球磨法相比 ,湿化学法制备的样品的失重量大、失重温度范围广、放热峰范围广 ;化学法制备复合微粉的反应活化能与球磨法相差不大。SEM分析及粒度分析表明 :复合微粉大多处于 0 .2 0 μm以下 ,化学法制备的样品中以锑白粉为主 ,高岭土附在锑白粉表面 ,充分与锑白粉发生物理、化学作用。同时发现 ,样品6 0 0℃热处理 2h后 ,粒子结合更加紧密     

雷击冲击力作用下复合材料层合板动力学响应及损伤特性

采用基于连续介质损伤理论（CDM）的复合材料三维渐进损伤分析模型,以ABAQUS有限元分析软件为平台,结合VUMAT子程序,对雷击冲击力作用下的复合材料层合板进行了三维动力学分析,研究了雷击冲击力作用下层合板的动力学响应及损伤特性。结果表明,在雷击冲击力作用下,层合板做降幅振荡运动,冲击力做功与层合板内能和动能相互转换,同时伴随着黏性耗散能,冲击力做功大小可用雷电流库伦量与作用积分的函数表示;层合板损伤由外力做功大小决定,对于同种材料,基体、纤维及分层损伤分别存在不同的损伤能量临界值,当冲击力做功大于该值,层合板会产生对应的损伤;在相同边界支持条件下,冲击力总功最大值决定了不同损伤类型损伤状态变量的大小,与波形参数和峰值电流无关。     

On the acceleration of ultra-high-energy cosmic rays

Ultra-high-energy cosmic rays (UHECRs) hit the Earth's atmosphere with energies exceeding 10(18)eV. This is the same energy as carried by a tennis ball moving at 100 km h-1, but concentrated on a subatomic particle. UHECRs are so rare (the flux of particles with E>10(20)eV is 0.5 km -2 per century) that only a few such particles have been detected over the past 50 years. Recently, the HiRes and Auger experiments have reported the discovery of a high-energy cut-off in the UHECR spectrum, and Auger has found an apparent clustering of the highest energy events towards nearby active galactic nuclei. Consensus is building that the highest energy particles are accelerated within the radio-bright lobes of these objects, but it remains unclear how this actually happens, and whether the cut-off is due to propagation effects or reflects an intrinsically physical limitation of the acceleration process. The low event statistics presently allows for many different plausible models; nevertheless observations are beginning to impose strong constraints on them. These observations have also motivated suggestions that new physics may be implicated. We present a review of the key theoretical and observational issues related to the processes of propagation and acceleration of UHECRs and proposed solutions.     

纳米颗粒分散方法对电刷镀复合镀层组织及性能的影响

为了解决镀液中纳米颗粒的团聚问题,采用高能机械化学法对纳米颗粒进行了分散,在扫描电镜、显微硬度计、球-盘式磨损试验机上对比考察了机械搅拌法和高能机械化学分散法对电刷镀液中纳米颗粒分布和复合镀层组织、显微硬度及含磨料油润滑条件下磨损性能的影响.结果表明,高能机械化学分散法较好地解决了纳米颗粒分散的难题,与机械搅拌法相比,高能机械化学分散法制备的电刷镀液中纳米颗粒分散均匀、团聚少、稳定悬浮时间长,复合镀层中纳米颗粒含量高,镀层组织细小、致密,显微硬度高,含磨料油润滑条件下的耐磨性能好.     

Mechanical alloying of immiscible Pb-Al binary system by high energy ball milling

In the present work, mechanical alloying has been applied to the Pb-Al immiscible binary system by using the method of high energy ball milling. The microstructural features of the milled powder, such as grain size, lattice constant and morphology of phases have been studied by X-ray diffraction, analytical transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Besides, energy dispersive spectroscopy was used to analysis chemical composition of phases presented after milling. Differential Scanning Calorimetry measurement was also made on the milled Pb-Al powder. The results show that homogenous blending of Pb and Al can be easily achieved by high energy ball milling in spite of their mutual immiscibility and large difference in density. The obtained alloy exhibits nanocrystalline microstructure. Further more, the experiment result implies the formation of supersaturated solid solution in immiscible Pb-Al system by high energy ball milling.     

Influence of processing parameters on grinding mechanism in planetary mill by employing discrete element method

Evaluation of process parameters and performance of planetary mills is considered an important issue in optimization of their predicted efficiencies. The current research deals with a computer simulation based on discrete element method (DEM) employed to evaluate the grinding mechanism of a planetary mill. The effect of rotational speed, the volume percentage of the balls and powders on impact energy, the frequency of the impacts, the abrasion of the balls and the dissipated energy have been investigated. It was realized that by increasing the rotational speed, the impact energy and the number of impacts of ball–ball, ball–container, ball–powder, powder–powder and dissipated energy were increased. By increasing the balls filling ratio, the impact energy value of ball–ball remained almost constant after a critical point while those of ball–powder impact energy and the dissipated energy were slightly increased. With an increase in powders filing ratio, a maximum value was observed for the ball–powder impact energy; however, the ball–ball impact energy remained almost constant and the dissipated energy indicates a reduction in rate.     

Main results of LSO (Lightning and sprite observations) on board of the international space station

The experiment LSO (Lightning and Sprite Observations), on board of the International Space Station, was the first experiment dedicated to nadir observations of sprites from space. Such observations are innovative as sprites are generally observed at the horizon. At the nadir, sprites are superimposed with lightning flashes and the observation concept is based on a spectral differentiation of sprites and lightning by using an adapted filter. The experiment is composed of two micro-cameras, fixed on a station window. One camera is equipped with a filter and measures the sprites in the N2 1P most intense sprite emission line, which coincides also to the atmospheric absorption band of the molecular oxygen. The second microcamera provides observations of lightning flashes in the visible. Measurements were performed during four ESA missions: Andromede, Odissea, Cervantes and Delta. During 19h of effective observations, 180 flashes were analyzed and several possible sprites were identified, demonstrating the interest of this differentiation method. In addition during sunset and sunrise conditions when the lower atmosphere is in the dark, LSO observed the airglow of the secondary ozone maximum at about 90 km modulated by gravity wave activity.     

Fabrication of ultrafine W – Cu powders by mechanical alloying

Abstract

Ultrafine composite powders of W – 15 wt-%Cu, W – 25 wt-%Cu, and W – 35 wt-%Cu have been fabricated by mechanical alloying. The effects of type of mill, process control agent, temperature of milling, and ball/powder ratio on the final products have been evaluated. The results show that the planetary ball mill possesses a higher impact energy intensity than that of the vibratory ball mill. The optimum milling time is confirmed by the formation of a nanocrystalline microstructure in the planetary ball mill after optimisation of the milling parameters. A steady state between cold welding and fracture is attained with a milling time of up to 25 h in the planetary ball mill under optimised conditions. Crystallites with sizes of 7 – 8 nm for W – Cu composite powders have been obtained after 25 h of ball milling. The powders obtained after mechanical alloying have been characterised in terms of their size, shape, phase constitution, and microstructural features using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy.     

Soccer ball anisotropy modelling

The work presented in this paper details the development of a finite element (FE) model of a soccer ball, allowing for a greater understanding of the performance of soccer balls under dynamic conditions that are representative of play. The model consists of composite shell elements that include a hyperelastic strain energy potential equation to define the latex bladder layer and a plane stress orthotropic elastic material model to define the anisotropic woven fabric outer panels. The model was validated through a series of experimental impact tests whereby the ball was impacted normal to a rigid plate at an inbound velocity of approximately 34 ms⁻¹ (76 mph), with each impact recorded using high speed video (HSV) techniques. It was found that the combined effects of ball design and panel material anisotropy resulted in impact properties such as coefficient of restitution, contact time, deformation and the 2D shape taken up by the ball at maximum deformation, to vary with pre-impact ball orientation. The model showed good agreement with the measurements, and its ability to represent the effects of anisotropy in ball design.     

Failure Analysis of AISI 440C Steel Ball Screws Used in the Actuator System of a Satellite Launch Vehicle

In view of its excellent wear and corrosion resistance, AISI 440C steel is the material of choice for the fabrication of ball screws used in actuator systems of satellite launch vehicles. During the routine acceptance test of a ball screw, longitudinal cracks were observed at the shaft location of the ball screw. The optical microstructure of the ball screw material (AISI 440C) revealed the presence of aligned carbides (carbide banding). Fractographic observations revealed the cracking to be along the carbide bands. Based on detailed optical and scanning electron microscopic observations, the cracking of the ball screws was attributed to the carbide bands.     

高岭土和氢氧化铝共司粉磨时的机械力化学效应研究

本文通过SEM、XRD、DTA、FT-IR等测试手段对高岭土和氢氧化铝的高能球磨过程进行了研究。结果表明，高能球磨可以使该混合物发生明显的机械力化学变化，粉磨后颗粒形貌改变，粒径变小，晶体变成无定形态，部分化学键出现断裂。这为莫来石的低温煅烧提供了理论基础。     

Specific surface area and chemical reactivity of quartz powders during mechanical processing

The present work focuses on the specific surface area increase, and on the related chemical reactivity enhancement of quartz powders submitted to mechanical processing. The mechanical treatment was carried out in a suitably developed ball mill allowing the control of the frequency and energy of the impacts between ball and reactor. The specific surface area was directly measured by nitrogen physisorption, whereas electron microscopy was used to determine the size distribution of powder particles. Based on the experimental results, a simplified mathematical model was developed to describe the process of specific surface area increase on a phenomenological basis. The model permits to gain valuable information on the amount of powder processed in individual impacts. The density of reactive centers at the surface of powder particles was also estimated by using the neutralization of a free radical as a test reaction. It is shown that the surface density of reactive centers increases with the energy of collisions.