Thermal conductivity and viscosity of self-assembled alcohol/polyalphaolefin nanoemulsion fluids

Very large thermal conductivity enhancement had been reported earlier in colloidal suspensions of solid nanoparticles (i.e., nanofluids) and more recently also in oil-in-water emulsions. In this study, nanoemulsions of alcohol and polyalphaolefin (PAO) are spontaneously generated by self-assembly, and their thermal conductivity and viscosity are investigated experimentally. Alcohol and PAO have similar thermal conductivity values, so that the abnormal effects, such as particle Brownian motion, on thermal transport could be deducted in these alcohol/PAO nanoemulsion fluids. Small angle neutron-scattering measurement shows that the alcohol droplets are spheres of 0.8-nm radius in these nanoemulsion fluids. Both thermal conductivity and dynamic viscosity of the fluids are found to increase with alcohol droplet loading, as expected from classical theories. However, the measured conductivity increase is very moderate, e.g., a 2.3% increase for 9 vol%, in these fluids. This suggests that no anomalous enhancement of thermal conductivity is observed in the alcohol/PAO nanoemulsion fluids tested in this study

On the dynamics of polyelectrolyte solutions

A general formalism to study the dynamics of polyelectrolyte solutions is presented. We show in particular that the Berne–Pecora equations for charged pointlike particles are obtained by neglecting the memory function and using the Debye–Huckel potential with the linear approximation exp(−U/kBT)≂1−U/kBT. We generalize Berne–Pecora results by introducing the effect of hydrodynamic interaction. Our calculations show a plasmon mode which corresponds to a nonzero frequency at zero scattering angle.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/70342/2/JCPSA6-80-6-2762-1.pd

SANS From Tetradecylpyridinium Bromide Based Microemulsions

Small-angle neutron scattering is used to investigate tetradecyl pyridinium bromide/pentanol/heptane/heavy water microemulsions in the water-in-oil (W/O) microemulsion phase diagram region. The heavy water content is increased while the other components (surfactant, cosurfactant, hydrocarbon) are kept constant. With use of a simple model assuming spherical micelles interacting with a hard-sphere potential (Percus-Yevick model), aggregate sizes and packing fractions have been extracted and found to agree with values determined from the mixing conditions. These experiments clearly show the transition from the single-particle (heavy water + Stern layer droplet) scattering regime at low water concentration to the mixed single/interdroplet scattering regime when the intermicellar distance becomes comparable to the size of the micelles. © 1990 American Chemical Society

Dependence of Self-Assembled Peptide Hydrogel Network Structure on Local Fibril Nanostructure

Physically cross-linked, fibrillar hydrogel networks are formed by the self-assembly of β-hairpin peptide molecules with varying degrees of strand asymmetry. The peptide registry in the self-assembled state can be used as a design element to generate fibrils with twisting, nontwisting, or laminated morphology. The mass density of the networks varies significantly, and can be directly related to the local fibrillar morphology as evidenced by small angle neutron scattering (SANS) and in situ substantiation using cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM) under identical concentrations and conditions. Similarly, the density of the network is dependent on changes in the peptide concentration. Bulk rheological properties of the hydrogels can be correlated to the fibrillar nanostructure, with the stiffer, laminated fibrils forming networks with a higher G′ as compared to the flexible, singular fibrillar networks

Motion of a charged particle in a randomly varying magnetic field

The motion of a charged particle in a randomly varying uniform magnetic field is investigated. Stability of the mean position and mean square displacement are determined rigorously in the case of random binary variations (telegraph signal). It is found that the mean position can be stable if the fluctuating part of the magnetic field is large enough compared to the uniform background. The stability regions are obtained in the parameter plane. It is also found that the mean square displacement can be unstable even in the region where the mean is stable. After an initial diffusive motion (with a calculable diffusion coefficient), the charged particle either acquires wild oscillations in its trajectory (stable mean, unstable mean square) or quickly leaves the region where it started (unstable mean).Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/25636/1/0000186.pd

Thermophysical Properties and Pool Boiling Characteristics of Water-in-Polyalphaolefin Nanoemulsion Fluids

In this work, thermophysical properties, microstructure, and pool boiling characteristics of water-in-polyalphaolefin (PAO) nanoemulsion fluids have been measured in the water concentration range of 0-10.3 vol. %, in order to gain basic data for nanoemulsion boiling. Water-in-PAO nanoemulsion fluids are formed via self-assembly with surfactant: sodium sullfosuccinate (AOT). Thermal conductivity of these fluids is found to increase monotonically with water concentration, as expected from the Maxwell equation. Unlike thermal conductivity, their dynamic viscosity first increases with water concentration, reaches a maximum at 5.3 vol. %, and then decreases. The observed maximum viscosity could be attributed to the attractive forces among water droplets. The microstructures of the water-in-PAO nanoemulsion fluids are measured via the small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) technique, which shows a transition from sphere to elongated cylinder when the water concentration increases above 5.3 vol. %. The pool boiling heat transfer of these water-in-PAO nanoemulsion fluids is measured on a horizontal Pt wire at room temperature (25 C, subcooled condition). One interesting phenomenon observed is that the pool boiling follows two different curves randomly when the water concentration is in the range of 5.3 vol. % to 7.8 vol. %

The microstructure network and thermoelectric properties of bulk (Bi,Sb)₂Te₃

We report small-angle neutron scattering studies on the microstructure network in bulk (Bi,Sb)(2)Te-3 synthesized by the melt-spinning (MS) and the spark-plasma-sintering (SPS) process. We find that rough interfaces of multiscale microstructures generated by the MS are responsible for the large reduction of both lattice thermal conductivity and electrical conductivity. Our study also finds that subsequent SPS forms a microstructure network of similar to 10 nm thick lamellae and smooth interfaces between them. This nanoscale microstructure network with smooth interfaces increases electrical conductivity while keeping a low thermal conductivity, making it an ideal microstructure for high thermoelectric efficiency

Controlling and characterising the deposits from polymer droplets containing microparticles and salt

It is very well known that as suspension droplets evaporate, a pinned contact line leads to strong outwards capillary flow resulting in a robust coffee ring-stain at the periphery of the droplet. Conversely tall pillars are deposited in the centre of the droplet when aqueous droplets of poly(ethylene oxide) evaporate following a boot-strapping process in which the contact line undergoes fast receding, driven by polymer precipitation. Here we map out the phase behaviour of a combined particle-polymer system, illustrating a range of final deposit shapes, from ring-stain to flat deposit to pillar. Deposit topologies are measured using profile images and stylus profilometery, and characterised using the skewness of the profile as a simple analytic method for quantifying the shapes: pillars produce positive skew, flat deposits have zero skew and ring-stains have a negative value. We also demonstrate that pillar formation can be disrupted using potassium sulphate salt solutions, which change the water from a good solvent to a thetapoint solvent, consequently reducing the size of the polymer coils. This inhibits polymer crystallisation, interfering with the bootstrap process and ultimately preventing pillars from forming. Again, the deposit shapes are quantified using the skew parameter

Stimulated Scattering and Nonlinear Optics.

This thesis deals with nonlinearities in the radiation field relevant to laser fusion. To describe the radiation field we use the photon transport theory which we believe, has some advantages: mathematical simplicity, natural separation of microscopic versus macroscopic nonlinearities, treatment of matter dynamics to any desired level of approximation, among others. Since our only concern here is in microscopic nonlinearities, we describe matter (plasma or neutral media) as in thermal equilibrium. We investigate stimulated scattering by plasmas (stimulated Brillouin scattering, stimulated Raman scattering) as well as by neutral media (stimulated Brillouin scattering). We also discuss the nonlinear inverse bremsstrahlung absorption in plasmas and some other nonlinearities relevant to high power laser amplifiers (nonlinear index of refraction, nonlinear absorption, nonlinear gain). We briefly discuss what appears to be an unnoted mechanism for nonlinear gain saturation (especially in CO(,2) laser amplifiers)--intensity broadening of the upper lasing level.Ph.D.Nuclear engineeringEnergyUniversity of Michiganhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/157926/1/8025693.pd