Modification of interparticle forces for nanoparticles using atomic layer deposition

Silica and titania nanoparticles were individually coated with ultrathin alumina films using atomic layer deposition (ALD) in a fluidized bed reactor. The effect of the coating on interparticle forces was studied. Coated particles showed increased interactions which impacted their flowability. This behavior was attributed to modifications of the Hamaker coefficient and the size of nanoparticles. Stronger interparticle forces translated into a larger mean aggregate size during fluidization, which increased the minimum fluidization velocity. A lower bed expansion was observed for coated particles due to enhanced interparticle forces that increased the cohesive strength of the bed. Increased cohesiveness of coated powders was also determined through angle of repose and Hausner index measurements. The dispersability of nanopowders was studied through sedimentation and z-potential analysis. The optimum dispersion conditions and isoelectric point of nanoparticle suspensions changed due to the surface modification. A novel atomic force microscope (AFM) technique was used to directly measure interactions between nanoparticles dispersed on a flat substrate and the tip of an AFM cantilever. Both Van der Waals and electrostatic interactions were detected during these measurements. Long and short range interactions were modified by the surface coating.     

Fabrication of novel sol-gel silica coatings reinforced with multi-walled carbon nanotubes

Novel sol-gel silica coatings reinforced with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) have been prepared using the organic sol-gel route and the dip-coating technique on magnesium alloy substrates. Homogeneous and dense composite coatings with good reinforcement dispersion were fabricated using low temperature and atmospheric pressure fabrication conditions. The presence of nanotubes caused a substantial enhancement of silica coating fracture toughness on coatings deposited on grounded substrates but it was not as effective on polished substrates because of the low adhesion of the coating to the substrate. Bridging phenomena caused by the MWCNTs was observed, indicating that an effective load transfer between the silica matrix and the nanotube reinforcement was also achieved.     

Preparation of hexagonal potassium tungsten bronze thin films by thermal vacuum evaporation

$\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{x}}\text{WO}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>3+</mtext><mtext>x</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}\text{(}\text{x}\text{= 0.3)}$ thin films have been prepared by the thermal vacuum evaporation technique. Depending on the substrate temperature during deposition, either amorphous or crystalline films could be obtained. X-ray diffraction patterns and pole-figure information revealed that fresh crystalline films deposited on a hot (about 400°C) substrate of indium-tin oxide on glass microscope slides had a preferred orientation, with the c-axis perpendicular to the surface of the film. SIMS depth profiles and RBS experiments were used to confirm the stoichiometry and uniformity of the chemical components in the thermally deposited films.     

Creeping film model for condensed centrifugal separation processes

In a new process of separating high concentrations of gaseous contaminants like water vapor, CO₂ and H₂S from well gas streams, the contaminants are condensed and subsequently removed in a centrifugal separator. This paper presents an analytical model for the formation of a thin liquid film inside the small channels of a vertically oriented rotating phase separator. Film behavior is investigated under the combined influence of centrifugal and gravitational forces. At high gas throughput the shear forces at the interface between the gas flow and the liquid film, and the resulting pressure drop over the channel, are considered as well. The gas velocity through the channels is corrected for the displacement effect of the liquid film. Solutions are presented for several channel heights at various operating conditions, and for gas flow in upward and downward direction.     

Nb3Si films with zero resistance Tc at 11.9 K fabricated by sputtering Nb on Si substrates

Dendritic textured Nb₃Si thin films, deposited by sputtering pure niobium onto silicon substrates, exhibit a rather high zero-resistance critical temperature, T_c. X-ray and TEM measurements reveal the films to be polycrystalline with the A15 phase. The resistance begins to drop sharply at a temperature of 13.3 K and down to zero at 11.9 K without residual resistivity.     

Drying air-induced disturbances in multi-layer coating systems

A range of new experimental techniques is developed to quantify drying-air induced disturbances on low viscosity single and multi-layer coating systems. Experiments on prototype slide-bead coating systems show that the surface disturbances take the form of a wavelike pattern and quantify precisely how its amplitude increases rapidly with wet thickness and decreases with viscosity. Heat transfer measurements show that the redistribution of water to form an additional lower viscosity carrier layer while increasing the solids concentration of the upper layer or layers enables the maximum drying rate, for which drying-air induced surface disturbances are acceptably small, to be increased with significant commercial benefits.     

正交实验法优化六方氮化硼薄膜的制备工艺

采用射频磁控溅射法,在Si(100)衬底上制备了适用于声表面波(SAW)器件的氮化硼(BN)薄膜。通过正交实验法,以薄膜中六方相的纯度和取向为指标,优化了磁控溅射方法制备六方BN(h-BN)薄膜的工艺条件。利用傅里叶变换红外光(FTIR)谱和X射线衍射(XRD)谱对薄膜进行了表征,实验结果表明,溅射功率为300W、无衬底负偏压、温度为400℃和N2∶Ar=7∶8vol.%时可以制备出高纯度且高c-轴择优取向的h-BN。     

草莓型P(St-BA)/SiO_2纳米复合微球制备与表征

在混合溶剂丙酮/水介质中,以纳米SiO_2粒子为Pickering乳化剂,阳离子单体甲基丙烯酰氧乙基三甲基氯化铵(MTC)为辅助单体,苯乙烯(St)和丙烯酸丁酯(BA)发生无皂乳液聚合制备了固含量高达25%的草莓型P(St-BA)/SiO_2纳米复合微球。研究了初始硅溶胶用量、软硬单体配比对复合微球形态、粒径和SiO_2吸附量的影响,并测试了乳胶膜的吸水性能。结果表明:在实验范围内制备得到的复合微球粒径在290～560 nm之间,SiO_2的吸附量介于28～34wt%之间。