Mathematical modelling and numerical simulation of ordered porosity metal materials formation

Ordered porosity metal materials belong to a relatively new class of porous materials named gasars. This paper presents a mathematical model of the complex physical phenomena in the production of gasars. Analyses for heat transfer, solidification kinetics and gas diffusion were coupled to describe the formation of unique gasar structure. Several criterial functions were introduced to provide significant quantitative information about the relationship between the operating technological parameters and the final structure. The computational outcomes of the numerical simulation were compared with the characteristics of real gasar ingots. The model was applied to determine the boundary conditions that would provide approximately constant physical conditions on the solidification front. The structure sensitiveness of gasars with respect to the different technological parameters is discussed.     

Method to Characterize the Air Flow and Water Removal Characteristics During Vacuum Dewatering. Part II—Analysis and Characterization

This is part II of a study reported earlier on a method to characterize the air flow and water removal characteristics during vacuum dewatering. This article presents experimental data and analysis of results from the use of a cyclically actuated vacuum dewatering device for removing moisture from wetted porous materials such as paper with the intermittent application of vacuum and accompanying air flow though the material. Results presented include sheet moisture content as a function of residence time and hence water removal rate under a variety of process conditions. Also, experimental results on air flow through the wet porous structure and hence the role and importance of air flow during vacuum dewatering are presented. Vacuum dewatering process conditions include exit solids content between 11 and 20% solid under applied vacuum conditions of 13.5 to 67.7 kPa (4 to 20 in. Hg). Regression analysis indicated that the exit sheet moisture content exhibited a nonlinear relationship with residence time with exit solids reaching a plateau after a certain residence time. Final moisture content correlated linearly with the average overall flow rate of air through the paper sample and the basis weight of the material.     

Analysis of Multiphase Flow and Heat Transfer: Pressure Buildup in an Unsaturated Porous Slab Exposed to Hot Gas

This study develops a mathematical model for coupled heat and mass transfer in an unsaturated porous slab exposed to a flowing hot gas. Effects of the initial saturation conditions on associated variables, i.e., total pressure, temperature, moisture content, and multiphase flow, are studied. The Newton-Raphson method based on a finite volume technique is applied. This study emphasizes the influence of initial saturation level and gravitational effect in heat and multiphase flow phenomena associated with this system. Gravity enhances the downward flow of liquid within the porous slab. Pressure buildup occurs near the interface between the wet and the dry zone. However, it appears that the order of magnitude to the total pressure is small. This study explains the fundamental mechanism of multiphase flow that involves heat and mass transfer in a heated unsaturated porous slab.     

Drying Kinetics of a Porous Spherical Particle and the Inversion Temperature

A model is presented for drying of a single porous particle with superheated steam and humid air. Experimental data for spherical porous ceramic particle reported in the literature were used for the validation of the model. An inversion temperature at which the evaporation rates within superheated steam and humid air are equal was predicted. The effect of thermophysical properties of the particle (permeability 10^-14 - 10^-17 m², diameter 3 × 10^-3 - 10 × 10^-3 m) and operating variables (gas mass flux 0.26 - 0.78 kg m^-2 s^-1, drying agent temperature 120-200°C) is tested. The inversion temperature is shown to be affected by the thermophysical properties of the porous particle and of the drying agent.     

Highly ordered anodic alumina nanotemplate with about 14 nm diameter

A novel method for the fabrication of highly ordered nanopore arrays with very small diameter of 14 nm was demonstrated by using low-temperature anodization. Two-step anodization was carried out at 25 V, sulfuric acid concentration of 0.3 M, and electrolyte temperature of −15 °C. After anodization, a regular pore array with mean diameter of 14 nm and interpore distance of 65 nm was formed. The pore diameter and regular arrangement were confirmed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and fast Fourier transformation (FFT), respectively. The present results strongly suggest that the diameter of pores in a highly ordered alumina template can be reduced by lowering the anodization temperature.     

Coupling of free surface and groundwater flows

In this paper we present some preliminary results about the coupling of shallow water equations for free surface flows and Darcy equation for groundwater flows. A suitable set of interface conditions is discussed: the Beavers and Joseph formula for the bottom stress is used. An iterative algorithm to solve the coupled problem is proposed and some numerical results are presented.     

Anodising potential influence on well-ordered nanostructures formed by anodisation of aluminium in sulphuric acid

High-density structures with relatively well-ordered nanopore arrays have been obtained by the self-ordering growth of nanopores occurring during anodisation of aluminium in sulphuric acid. The resulting array of well-ordered nanopores strongly depends on an applied voltage of anodising, temperature and a procedure of synthesis. Regular arranged hexagonal arrays on aluminium with a relatively uniform pore diameter, interpore distance, and depth of pores exceeding 90 μm, can be formed by the self-ordering two-step anodising at 1 °C. The interpore distance and the pore diameter were evaluated on anodised aluminium layers obtained at different cell potentials ranging from 15 to 25 V. The detailed analyses of their uniformity were performed from SEM images. The analysis of a pore arrangement defects was made from SEM top view images taken on samples anodised at various cell potentials. The defect maps, known as Delaunay triangulations, of the arrangement of about 1000 pores were constructed for different applied anodising potentials. The percentage of pores that are not six-fold coordinated by the neighbouring pores indicates the percentage of defected surface.     

Influence of Ti Powder Characteristics on Combustion Synthesis of Porous NiTi Alloy

Porous NiTi shape memory alloy (SMA) is a novel biomedical material used for human hard tissue implant .The influence of elemental titanium powder characteristics such as powder morphology, particle size and specific surface area( SSA) on the minimal ignition temperature ,combustion temperature and final product of porous Ni-Ti SMA fabricated by combustion synthesis method was investigated in this paper by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and laser diffraction.The preliminary data indicated that the titanium powder characteristics had a strong effect on combustion synthesis of porous NiTi SMA.     

Electrical characterization of porous BaTiO3 using impedance spectroscopy in humid condition

The humidity response characteristics of La doped BaTiO₃ with different sintered densities and room temperature electrical conductivities were investigated using complex impedance measurement. The samples with low density and high resistivity showed the large and nearly linear sensitivity to the change of humidity. The impedance spectra of samples, when exposed to high humidity, can exhibit microstructure-related features, even though they do not give rise to a noticeable characteristic change when exposed to low humidity. The observed impedance patterns were dependent upon the density, and hence the oxidation kinetics of BaTiO₃.