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At least 19 records

The effect of multiple nucleation events on heterogeneous nucleation rates

The effect of multiple nucleation events on the overall heterogeneous nucleation rate is studied using a simple model based on coupled consecutive chemical reactions. It is found that the decay of the nucleation curve and the saturation time depend on the maximum number of nuclei which can be accomodated on a particle.

Weinberg, Michael C.↗

Scaling properties of induction times in heterogeneous nucleation

The heterogeneous-to-homogeneous induction time ratio is obtained as a function of the contact angle in the asymptotic limit of a high nucleation barrier. Model-dependent corrections to t(ind) are investigated, particularly in cases of the Turnbull-Fisher model used in numerical simulations by Greer et al. (1990).

Shneidman, Vitaly A.↗

Heterogeneous nucleation of gamma prime in Al-Ag and Al-Ag /Cd or Cu/ alloys.

Results of transmission electron microscopy studies of heterogeneous nucleation of the metastable gamma prime phase were made in binary and ternary alloys of Al-5 at. % Ag, Al-4.8 at. % Ag-0.15 at. % Cd, and Al-4.8 at. % Ag-0.2 at. % Cu. Heterogeneous nucleation of gamma prime was found to be associated with four types of dislocations, regardless of the quenching treatment or alloy additions which were used. Nucleation was found to occur on: (a) jogged dislocations; (b) helical dislocations; (c) dislocation loops; (d) heterogeneous climb sources. Only one nucleation mechanism was found to be unique to the ternary alloys: that of nucleation on heterogeneous climb sources.

Passoja, D. E.↗

The influence of finite impurity size on heterogeneous nucleation

The effects of the finite size of impurities upon the heterogeneous nucleation rate is examined. Simple arguments based upon probability theory are used to find the relative nucleation rate, p(j), on particles containing j nuclei. The expression for p(j) is used in turn to compute the overall nucleation rate and average number of nuclei on an impurity as a function of time.

Weinberg, Michael C.↗

A case of type I polar stratospheric cloud formation by heterogeneous nucleation

The NASA ER-2 aircraft flew on January 24, 1989, from Stavanger to Spitsbergen, Norway, at the 430-440 K potential temperature surface (19.2-19.8 km pressure altitude). Aerosols were sampled continuously by an optical particle counter (PMS-FSSP300) for concentration and size analyses, and during five 10-min intervals by four wire and one replicator impactor for concentration, size, composition, and phase analysis. During sampling, the air saturation of H2O with respect to ice changed from 20 to 100 percent, and of HNO3 with respect to nitric acid trihydrate (NAT) from subsaturation to supersaturation. Data from both instruments indicate a condensation of hydrochloric acid and, later, nitric acid on the background aerosol particles as the ambient temperature decreases along the flight track. This heterogeneous nucleation mechanism generates type I polar stratospheric cloud particles of 10-fold enhanced optical depth, which could play a role in stratospheric ozone depletion.

Pueschel, R. F.↗

Influence of low-gravity solidification on heterogeneous nucleation in stable iron-carbon alloys

The effect of gravity on the processes of nucleation and growth of Fe-C alloys during directional solidification was investigated in experiments in which inoculated and uninoculated samples of an alloy of the gray iron type were solidified on ground (1 g) and under the low-gravity (low-g) and high-gravity (high-g) conditions obtained by aircraft parabolic flights. It was found that a higher number of grains was obtained during solidification in high-g condition, due to higher convection in high-g. It was demonstrated that grain multiplication due to convection can contribute up to 23 percent of the total number of grains resulting from heterogeneous nucleation of uninoculated samples. For the case of inoculated samples, it was found that the contribution of the convection-induced nucleation can be as high as 30 percent, but can be zero at very low or very high grain numbers.

Tian, Huameng↗

Heterogeneous-nucleation and glass-formation studies of 56Ga2O3-44CaO

Glass formation and heterogeneous crystallization are described for the reluctant-glass-forming 56Ga2O3-44CaO eutectic composition. The times and temperatures for nucleation at various cooling rates and experimental conditions were measured and empirical continuous-cooling-crystallization boundaries were constructed for various heterogeneous nucleation processes. A definition for an empirical critical cooling rate to form a glass from reluctant borderline glass formers is proposed, i.e., the cooling rate that results in glass formation in 95 percent of the quenching experiments.

Ethridge, Edwin C.↗

Nucleation in Synoptically Forced Cirrostratus

Formation and evolution of cirrostratus in response to weak, uniform and constant synoptic forcing is simulated using a one-dimensional numerical model with explicit microphysics, in which the particle size distribution in each grid box is fully resolved. A series of tests of the model response to nucleation modes (homogeneous-freezing-only/heterogeneous nucleation) and heterogeneous nucleation parameters are performed. In the case studied here, nucleation is first activated in the prescribed moist layer. A continuous cloud-top nucleation zone with a depth depending on the vertical humidity gradient and one of the nucleation parameters is developed afterward. For the heterogeneous nucleation cases, intermittent nucleation zones in the mid-upper portion of the cloud form where the relative humidity is on the rise, because existent ice crystals do not uptake excess water vapor efficiently, and ice nuclei (IN) are available. Vertical resolution as fine as 1 m is required for realistic simulation of the homogeneous-freezing-only scenario, while the model resolution requirement is more relaxed in the cases where heterogeneous nucleation dominates. Bulk microphysical and optical properties are evaluated and compared. Ice particle number flux divergence, which is due to the vertical gradient of the gravity-induced particle sedimentation, is constantly and rapidly changing the local ice number concentration, even in the nucleation zone. When the depth of the nucleation zone is shallow, particle number concentration decreases rapidly as ice particles grow and sediment away from the nucleation zone. When the depth of the nucleation zone is large, a region of high ice number concentration can be sustained. The depth of nucleation zone is an important parameter to be considered in parametric treatments of ice cloud generation.

Lin, R.-F.↗

Real gas effects 2: Influence of condensation on minimum operating temperatures of cryogenic wind tunnels

Condensation effects are responsible for the minimum operating temperatures of cryogenic wind tunnels at total pressures up to about 9 atmospheres. The two primary modes of condensation homogeneous nucleation and heterogeneous nucleation and the conditions with which either may limit minimum operating temperatures are reveiwed. Previous hypersonic and supersonic condensation data are reviewed as are data taken in the nitrogen gas, Langley 0.3 Meter Transonic Cryogenic Tunnel. Analysis of data in the 0.3 m tunnel suggests that the onset of homogenous nucleation may be approximated by an analysis by sivier and that the onset of heterogeneous nucleation is only apparent just below free stream saturation. Extension of the results from the 0.3 m tunnel to other nitrogen gas cryogenic tunnels is discussed and is shown to depend on length scales, purity of the liquid nitrogen injected for cooling, number of particulates in the flow, and the extent to which the injected liquid nitrogen is evaporated.

Hall, R. M.↗

An investigation of voids formation mechanisms and their effects on freeze and thaw processes of lithium and lithium fluoride

The mechanisms of void formation during the cooldown and freezing of lithium coolant within the primary loop of SP-100 type systems are investigated. These mechanisms are: (1) homogeneous nucleation; (2) heterogeneous nucleation; (3) normal segregation of helium gas dissolved in liquid lithium; and (4) shrinkage of lithium during freezing. To evaluate the void formation potential due to segregation, a numerical scheme that couples the freezing and mass diffusion processes in both the solid and liquid regions is developed. The results indicated that the formation of He bubbles is unlikely by either homogeneous or heterogeneous nucleation during the cooldown process. However, homogeneous nucleation of He bubbles following the segregation of dissolved He in liquid lithium ahead of the solid-liquid interface is likely to occur. Results also show that total volume of He void is insignificant when compared to that of shrinkage voids. In viewing this, the subsequent research focuses on the effects of shrinkage void forming during freezing of lithium on subsequent thaw processes are investigated using a numerical scheme that is based on a single (solid/liquid) cell approach. The cases of lithium-fluoride are also investigated to show the effect of larger volume shrinkage upon freezing on the freeze and thaw processes. Results show that a void forming at the wall appreciably reduces the solid-liquid interface velocity, during both freeze and thaw, and causes a substantial rise in the wall temperature during thaw. However, in the case of Li, the maximum wall temperature was much lower than the melting temperature of PWC-11, which is used as the structure material in the SP-100 system. Hence, it is included that a formation of hot spots is unlikely during the startup or restart of the SP-100 system.

El-Genk, Mohamed S.↗

Mechanisms of voids formation during cooldown and freezing of lithium in SP-100 type systems

The mechanisms of void formation during the cooldown and freezing of lithium coolant within the primary loop of SP-100 type systems are investigated. These mechanisms are: (a) homogeneous nucleation, (b) heterogeneous nucleation, (c) normal segregation of helium gas dissolved in liquid lithium, and (d) shrinkage of lithium during freezing. To evaluate the void formation potential due to segregation, a numerical scheme that couples the freezing and mass diffusion processes in both the solid and liquid regions is developed. The results indicated that the formation of He bubbles is unlikely by either homogeneous or heterogeneous nucleation during the cooldown process. However, homogeneous nucleation of He bubbles following the segregation of dissolved He in liquid Lithium ahead of the solid-liquid interface is likely to occur. Results also show that total volume of He void is insignificant when compared to that of shrinkage voids.

Yang, Jae Y.↗

Homogeneous versus heterogeneous crystal nucleation in Li2O-2SiO2 glass

When analyzing crystal nucleation in glasses, it is difficult to distinguish between homogeneous and heterogeneous nucleation. A method is proposed to investigate the nature of crystal nucleation in Li2O-2SiO2, and calculations are performed to determine under which conditions saturation effects help ascertain the nature of the nucleation. The capability of detecting impurity particles in unheated glass via standard micrographic techniques (SEM or REM) and small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) is explored. Results indicate that if the maximum impurity particle densities do not exceed 2 x 10 to the 7th per cu cm then heterogeneous nucleation may be excluded and most impurity particles with densities in excess of 10 to the 10th per cu cm are detectable by SAXS. It is concluded that crystal nucleation in this system most probably occurs homogeneously.

Weinberg, M. C.↗

Using Inorganic Crystals To Grow Protein Crystals

Solid materials serve as nucleating agents. Protein crystals induced by heterogeneous nucleation and in some cases by epitaxy to grow at lower supersaturations than needed for spontaneous nucleation. Heterogeneous nucleation makes possible to grow large, defect-free single crystals of protein more readily. Such protein crystals benefits research in biochemistry and pharmacology.

Shlichta, Paul J.↗

Combined homogeneous and heterogeneous crystal nucleation in glasses

The temperature dependence of combined homogeneous and heterogeneous crystal nucleation is examined within the framework of the classical theory. It is demonstrated that nucleation can have a local maximum rate at one or two temperatures. The physical parameters which cause large changes in the structure of the nucleation curve are elucidated. Also, the influence of saturation effects on the structure of nucleation curves is illustrated. The utilization of these results for the interpretation of experiments and for the production of controlled crystal nucleation in glass is considered.

Weinberg, Michael C.↗

Nucleation and growth of stratospheric aerosols

Formation mechanisms and nucleation processes are examined, and nucleation in the stratosphere is considered, taking into account binary nucleation, ternary nucleation, binary heterogeneous nucleation, and heteromolecular nucleation. Attention is also given to the growth of aerosol particles, nucleation and growth in models, and the role of aerosols in the upper atmosphere. It is pointed out that various sampling studies and numerical models have provided evidence that the in situ oxidation of sulfur-bearing gases is responsible for the sulfate mass of the stratospheric aerosol. Data obtained by Castleman et al. (1974) suggest that there is a common source of sulfur compounds for the stratosphere of both the northern and southern hemispheres.

Castleman, A. W., Jr.↗