Heat transfer during boiling of a liquid metal during emergency cooldown of a fast-neutron reactor

The physics of the processes, the characteristics, and the stability of different regimes, of boiling (nucleate, projectile, disperse-ring), which are observed in experiments investigating the boiling of liquid-metal coolant in a model of a fuel assembly for a fast-neutron reactor in the emergency cooldown regime with low circulation velocity, are analyzed. The experimental setup, the, methods for performing measurements, and the experimental data on the boiling of a liquid metal are described. A mathematical model of the process of boiling of a liquid-metal, coolant in a natural-circulation loop is described, and the results of test calculations for regimes with an increase in heating and with sharp pressure drop are prresented. 7 figures, 12 references. State Science Center of the Russian Federration–A. I. Leipunskii Physics and Power Engineering Institute. Translated from Atomnaya énergiya, Vol. 87, No. 5, pp. 337–342, November, 1999.     

Observation of atomic steps on single crystal surfaces by a commercial scanning electron microscope.

Atomic steps on (111) and (100) crystal surfaces of Pt were observed using a commercial scanning electron microscope (SEM) in secondary electron mode. By comparing the SEM images and those by reflection electron microscopy (REM), the observed contrast was confirmed to be that from atomic steps on crystal surfaces. The contrast mechanism is briefly discussed. One application of this imaging technique is also shown.     

弹性金属塑料瓦推力轴承的滑移问题研究

本文对流体力学的经典雷诺方程中固液界面无滑移假设对于弹性金属塑料瓦的适用性提出疑问，从理论上论证在一些表面能低的聚合物表面存在滑移的可能性，并进行对比实验，实验证明在聚四氟乙烯与润滑油的界面上存在滑移现象，发现滑移是在剪切速率和油膜厚度达到一定值才出现的，滑移速度随着转速的提高和膜厚的减小而增大。在分析以聚四氟乙烯为表面的弹性金属塑料轴瓦的润滑机理时，应当对雷诺方程进行修正，计入滑移因素的影响。     

A high shear rate, high pressure microviscometer

The development of a high shear rate, high pressure microviscometer is described. This viscometer was developed specifically to examine a highly loaded, dynamic contact generated in a small volume of fluid. The viscometer was used to examine the fluid film formed by the mechanism of elastohydrodynamic lubrication in the presence of an SAE 50 oil. A complete numerical analysis of the resulting elastohydrodynamic contact was performed.     

The effects of thermosetting and castable encapsulation methods on the metallographic preparation of ceramic thermally sprayed coatings—A technical note

Accurate microstructural analysis of thermally sprayed coatings is possible only if specimen preparation produces a surface that clearly reveals the true microstructure. Comparison of similar specimens pre-pared by different laboratories, or different personnel in the same laboratory, often shows significant dif-ferences or variations in the microstructures, producing conflicting information that lowers the confi-dence level of microstructural analysis. A study was conducted on an alumina coating and an 8 wt% yttria-stabilized zirconia coating, both sprayed on metal substrates, to evaluate the effects of two differ-ent encapsulating procedures.     

Preparation of perovskite powders and coatings by radio frequency suspension plasma spraying

Perovskite-type LaMnO₃ powders and coatings have been prepared by a novel technique: reactive suspension plasma spraying (SPS) using an inductively coupled plasma of approximately 40 kW plate power and an oxygen plasma sheath gas. Suitable precursor mixtures were found on the basis of solid state reactions, solubility, and the phases obtained during the spray process. Best results were achieved by spraying a suspension of fine MnO₂ powder in a saturated ethanol solution of LaCl₃ with a 1 to 1 molar ratio of lanthanum and manganese. A low reactor pressure was helpful in diminishing the amount of corrosive chlorine compounds in the reactor. As-sprayed coatings and collected powders showed perovskite contents of 70 to 90%. After a posttreatment with an 80% oxygen plasma, an almost pure LaMnO₃ deposit was achieved in the center of the incident plasma jet. This paper originally appeared in Thermal Spray: Meeting the Challenges of the 21st Century; Proceedings of the 15th International Thermal Spray Conference, C. Coddet, Ed., ASM International, Materials Park, OH, 1998. This proceedings paper has been extensively reviewed according to the editorial policy of the Journal of Thermal Spray Technology.     

Polymer nanocomposites: A small part of the story

Polymer nanocomposites are polymer matrix composites in which the fillers are less than 100 nm in at least one dimension. These composites have exhibited extraordinarily interesting properties. A defining feature of polymer nanocomposites is that the small size of the fillers leads to a dramatic increase in interfacial area as compared to traditional composites. This interfacial area creates a significant volume fraction of interfacial polymer with properties different from the bulk polymer even at low loadings. The properties and structure of this interfacial region are not yet known quantitatively, presenting a challenge both for controlling and predicting the properties of polymer nanocomposites. This paper provides a brief overview of polymer nanocomposites with emphasis on the impact of the interfacial region.     

Weldability of low-alloy steels in submersion-arc welding at high linear energies

Results of analysis of investigations of welded joints produced in welding low-alloy high-strength 07G2NDMFBT steel at linear energies up to 6 kJ/mm show that the proposed combinations of welding materials and the technology of multi-arc submerged-arc welding result in high hot-cracking resistance and high properties of the weld metal. However, regardless of the high cold-cracking resistance of the steel, in welding at high heat inputs there is a considerable degradation of the structure and the toughness of the metal in the coarse-grained region of the heat-affected zone decreases under the effect of the welding thermal cycle. Consequently, it is concluded that the weldability of this steel is limited and it is therefore necessary to apply restrictions in the practical application of the processes with high heat input.