Solid-liquid Phase Research Articles

Three-Dimensional Lattice Boltzmann Simulations for Droplet Impact and Freezing on Cold Surfaces with a Large Density Ratio

Droplet impact and freezing on solid surfaces are ubiquitous in many natural and engineering processes. Simulating the impacting-freezing process of a droplet is still challenging because it involves the complex multiphase flow and the liquid-solid phase change. This paper establishes a three-dimensional lattice Boltzmann model that considers the effects of contact angle hysteresis and volume expansion to simulate this complex process under realistic conditions. We adopt an enhanced cascaded lattice Boltzmann method to calculate the flow field and a multiple-relaxation-time scheme to solve the liquid-solid phase change model. In addition, a new contact angle model based on the pseudopotential multiphase lattice Boltzmann model is proposed to mimic the contact angle hysteresis. The simulations of droplet impact and freezing on both hydrophobic and hydrophilic surfaces with different surface temperatures and Weber numbers are conducted, and the temporal droplet profile and dimensionless contact length agree well with the experiments, which effectively validates the accuracy and robustness of the present model. Finally, the effects of surface temperatures ( 0 , − 15 , − 30 ∘ C ) and Weber numbers (4.4, 19.2, 40.0, 71.1) on droplet dynamics are also examined.

Binary adsorption of toxic nickel(II) and cadmium(II) ions from aqueous solution by acid modified chilli peppers

The acid-modified chilli peppers, a novel adsorbent, were prepared and used to absorb Ni(II) and Cd(II) ions from aqueous solution. Batch experiments with raw chilli peppers were compared with those of acid-modified chilli peppers. Batch experiments were conducted to evaluate the adsorption capacities of both sorbents under different conditions, including pH, concentration, contact time and temperature, in solutions. Bands with oxygen groups (-OH, -COOH, -C = O, -COC and -CO) on both sorbents were identified by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Scanning electron micrographs of raw chilli peppers showed a morphology resembling spheres, while acid-modified chilli peppers showed a structure resembling a mesh of a mixture of different shapes, including squares and triangles. Maximum sorption capacities were achieved at pH 7, with the uptake of Ni(II) and Cd(II) ions dependent on pH.The highest adsorption capacities for raw chilli peppers and acid-modified chilli peppers were observed at 70 °C. The sorption capacities increased with increasing temperature. The concentration effect showed that as the concentration of Ni(II) and Cd(II) ions increased on raw chilli peppers and acid-modified chilli peppers, the adsorption capacity also increased. On raw chilli peppers, the rate of removal of Ni(II) and Cd(II) ions in solution was 60 min, while on acid-modified chilli peppers it took 80 min. The adsorption of Ni(II) and Cd(II) ions was best described by the Freundlich model with heterogeneous coverage and maximum capacities of 45.33 and 39.12 mg/g, respectively. The uptake of Ni(II) and Cd(II) ions was endothermic and showed positive values (∆Hº). Gibb′s free energy (∆Gº) for Cd(II) and Ni(II) ions on the activated carbon showed that the reaction was spontaneous. The change in entropy (ΔSo) of the reactions showed positive magnitudes for both pollutants, indicating a high degree of randomness in the solid-liquid phase. The kinetic model that best fitted the mechanism was pseudo-first order for Ni(II) and Cd(II) ions, indicating correlation numbers of R2 values of 0.9923–0.9995. Therefore, the acid-modified chilli peppers can be used as a viable alternative adsorbent for effective removal of Cd(II) and Ni(II) ions from aqueous solution.

Applying isovolumic steam capsule as new thermal energy storage unit

In order to make up the inefficiencies of liquid–solid phase change material (PCM) such as low latent heat and low heat transfer rate, the possibility of adopting water steam as the phase change material is explored. Although great volume change occurs during the gas–liquid phase-changing, the specific latent heat is at least one order of magnitude larger than that of liquid–solid phase-changing. To minimize the adverse effect of the great volume change during vaporization or condensation, the steam can be accommodated inside sealed vessel with sturdy shell. In this study, an isovolumic steam capsule (ISC) was made by filling a cylinder with a small amount of liquid water and then heated and boiled to extinguish the non-condensable gas (NCG) before sealing it. Thermodynamic analysis shows the thermal energy contained in the isovolumic steam capsule per unit volume increases in approximately an exponential manner with the increase of temperature due to the evaporation of liquid, and can reach several times that of liquid–solid phase change material, demonstrating great potential as energy storage material. The heat transfer experiments show that the energy charging and discharging rates increase with the temperature difference. There exists thermodynamic non-equilibrium during heat transfer and the deviation from saturation enlarges with increasing temperature difference and non-condensable gas concentration. For both charging (vaporization) and discharging (condensation), a higher non-condensable gas concentration in the steam exhibits larger heat transfer rate in the beginning, but smaller heat transfer rate in the later stage. The mechanism of vaporization and condensation in the isovolumic steam capsule awaits to be further clarified.

Characterization of antibiofilm compound from marine sponge Stylissa carteri.

The fouling phenomenon grabbed global attention and caused huge economic losses specifically in marine-related industries. Sessile behavior exposed the sponge to the risk of fouling. However, their bodies remained free from foulers, which were attributed to the chemical defense system. The objectives of this study were to determine the antibiofilm activity of the marine sponge, Stylissa carteri, and to characterize the isolated compound involved. The antibiofilm activity of S. carteri methanolic crude extract (MCE) and fractions was tested against biofilm-producing bacteria, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, using two different modes of crystal violet biofilm assays: preventive and detachment. Besides that, the disc-diffusion test was conducted to screen the antibacterial activity against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria while a cytotoxicity assay was conducted on the HepG2 cell line. Bioassay-guided fractionation was carried out using vacuum liquid chromatography (VLC) and solid phase extraction using a C18 Sep-Pak Cartridge. The crystal compound was isolated and characterized through thin-layer chromatography (TLC), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LCMS), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The S. carteri MCE showed a promising result with a half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 20.22μg/mL in the preventive assay, while no IC50 was determined in the detachment assay since all inhibitions < 50%. The S. carteri MCE exhibited broad-spectrum antibacterial activity and displayed a non-cytotoxic effect. Fraction 4 from MCE of S. carteri (IC50 = 2.40μg/mL) reduced the biofilm in the preventive assay at all concentrations and exhibited no antibacterial activity indicating the independence of antibiofilm from antibacterial properties. Based on the data obtained, an alkaloid named debromohymenialdisine (DBH) was identified from Fraction 4 of S. carteri MCE. In conclusion, S. carteri was able to reduce the establishment of the biofilm formed by P. aeruginosa and could serve as a prominent source of natural antifouling agents.

Investigation of particle flow effects in slug flow crystallization using the multiscale computational fluid dynamics simulation

This article discusses the development of a new computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model, the MVP (MP-PIC coupled with VOF and PBE) method, which predicts the slug flow crystallization phenomenon. The model is capable of predicting the flow of gas–liquid-solid phases and the associated chemical and particle changes. The MVP model is validated through a comparison with an experimental study on LAM (L-asparagine monohydrate) crystallization, and the results demonstrate its ability to accurately predict the three-phase fluid flow with particle size variation. In particular, we have been able to predict the effect of slug length change on particle mixing and predict hydrodynamic factors such as the particle streamlines and the circulation number of the particle phase via case studies. Overall, the MVP model is expected to offer a new way to accurately predict slug flow crystallization and provide valuable information for the process intensification of crystallization.

Multi-heterostructured MXene/NiS2/Co3S4 with S-Vacancies to Promote Polysulfide Conversion in Lithium-Sulfur Batteries.

The severe shuttle effect of polysulfides (LiPSs) and the slow liquid-solid phase conversion are the main obstacles hindering the practical application of lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries. Separator modification with a high-activity catalyst can boost LiPSs conversion and suppress their shuttle effect. In this work, multi-heterostructured MXene/NiS2/Co3S4 with rich S-vacancies was constructed facilely with a hydrothermal and high-temperature annealing strategy for separator modification. The MXene sheet not only provides a physical barrier but also ensures a high conductivity and adsorption capacity of the catalyst; the dual active centers of NiS2 and Co3S4 catalyze LiPSs conversion. In addition, the vacancies and heterostructures can modulate the electronic structure of the catalyst, improve its intrinsic activity, and reduce the polysulfides reaction barrier, thus facilitating ion/electron transport and inhibiting the shuttle effect. Benefiting from these advantages, the Li-S battery with MXene/NiS2/Co3S4 modified separator exhibits exciting discharge capacities (1495.4 mAh g-1 at 0.1C and 549.0 mAh g-1 at 6C) and an excellent ultra-long cycle life (average capacity decay rate of 0.026% for 2000 cycles at 2C); at a high sulfur loading of 10.0 mg cm-2, the battery operates for nearly 80 cycles at 0.2C, giving a capacity retention rate of 75.76%. This work provides a high-activity catalyst for Li-S batteries.

Interfacial Mass Diagnostics: Quantitative Perspective on Construction and Mechanism Understanding of Dye-Sensitized, Perovskite and Quantum Dots Solar Cells.

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), quantum dot-sensitized solar cells (QDSSCs) and perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have attracted wide attention. DSSCs, QDSSCs and PSCs can be prepared by liquid phase or solid phase, which causes a certain range of interface micro-mass changes during preparation. In addition, the photoelectric conversion process occurring inside the device also inevitably causes interface micro-mass changes. Interpretation of these interface micro-mass changes can help to optimize the cell structure, improve the stability and performance repeatability of the device, as well as directly or indirectly infer, track and predict the internal photoelectric conversion mechanism of the device. Quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) is a powerful tool for studying surface mass changes, extending this technology to the fields of solar cells to directly obtain interface micro-mass changes, which makes the research more in-depth and opens up a new perspective for explaining the basic principles of solar cells. This review summarizes the research progress of QCM application in DSSCs, QDSSCs and PSCs in recent years, and explores the challenges and new opportunities of QCM application in new solar cells in the future.

Effect of Marangoni flow during the solidification of a Fe-0.82wt.%C steel alloy

A two-phase Mixture model is proposed to simulate the liquid-solid phase transition of a Fe-0.82wt%C steel alloy under the effect of Marangoni flow. This model simplifies computations by solving a single momentum and enthalpy equation for the mixture phase using a three-dimensional finite volume method. The simulation involves solidifying a rectangular ingot (100 × 10 × 100 mm3) from the cold bottom surface towards the hot-free surface at the top. To facilitate heat exchange with the surrounding environment, a high heat transfer coefficient of h = 600 W/m2/K was applied on the bottom surface to establish an upward solidification direction. However, a lower heat transfer coefficient of 20 W/m2/K was applied on the top free surface, which was considered flat. This study aims to examine the effect of Marangoni flow generated by surface tension on flow and segregation patterns. The results show that the Marangoni flow emerges at the free surface and penetrates into the liquid depth, leading to the formation of hexagonal patterns along the liquid thickness. Upon full solidification, macro-segregation also exhibits hexagonal structures, mirroring the stationary hexagonal shapes generated by Marangoni flow.

Formation Rate and Energy Efficiency of Ice Plug in Pipelines Driven by the Cascade Utilization of Cold Energy

Ice plug technology is an effective method for isolating the pipeline system, which are promising methods utilized in the nuclear, chemical, and power industries. To reduce the cold energy consumption and temperature stress, the multi-stage (1–10) of time-dependent thermal boundary conditions was proposed for the formation of ice plug, while the gradient cooling wall temperature of multi-stage was applied. A numerical model considering the liquid–solid phase change, heat transfer, and time-dependent thermal boundary condition has been established. The effects of the ratio of length and diameter of the cooling wall lc/d (1–9) on the formation rate and heat flux of ice plug in the pipe has been investigated. The fastest formation rate of ice plug with 800 mm in the axial direction (7.47 cm3/s) was observed in the pipe with the lc/d of 5. The formation rate of ice plug and the ice formation volume under unit energy consumption VE under various stages (1–10) of cooling wall temperature have been compared. The VE of eight temperature stages (1.45 cm3/kJ) was 1.16 times than the VE of one temperature stage, which satisfied the freezing rate at the same time. This investigation provides insight for proposing an energy-saving system for the formation of ice plug.

An aberrant fused in sarcoma liquid droplet of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis pathological variant, R495X, accelerates liquid–solid phase transition

Intracellular aggregation of fused in sarcoma (FUS) is associated with the pathogenesis of familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Under stress, FUS forms liquid droplets via liquid–liquid phase separation (LLPS). Two types of wild-type FUS LLPS exist in equilibrium: low-pressure LLPS (LP-LLPS) and high-pressure LLPS (HP-LLPS); the former dominates below 2 kbar and the latter over 2 kbar. Although several disease-type FUS variants have been identified, the molecular mechanism underlying accelerated cytoplasmic granule formation in ALS patients remains poorly understood. Herein, we report the reversible formation of the two LLPS states and the irreversible liquid–solid transition, namely droplet aging, of the ALS patient-type FUS variant R495X using fluorescence microscopy and ultraviolet–visible absorption spectroscopy combined with perturbations in pressure and temperature. Liquid-to-solid phase transition was accelerated in the HP-LLPS of R495X than in the wild-type variant; arginine slowed the aging of droplets at atmospheric conditions by inhibiting the formation of HP-LLPS more selectively compared to that of LP-LLPS. Our findings provide new insight into the mechanism by which R495X readily forms cytoplasmic aggregates. Targeting the aberrantly formed liquid droplets (the HP-LLPS state) of proteins with minimal impact on physiological functions could be a novel therapeutic strategy for LLPS-mediated protein diseases.

Effect of rheological behaviors of polyacrylonitrile grafted sericin solution on film structure and mechanical properties

Sericin protein possesses excellent biocompatibility, antioxidation, and processability. Nevertheless, manufacturing large quantities of strong and tough pure regenerated sericin materials remains a significant challenge. Herein, we design a lightweight structural sericin film with high ductility by combining radical chain polymerization reaction and liquid-solid phase inversion method. The resulting polyacrylonitrile grafted sericin films exhibit the ability to switch between high strength and high toughness effortlessly, the maximum tensile strength and Young's modulus values are 21.92 ± 1.51 MPa and 8.14 ± 0.09 MPa, respectively, while the elongation at break and toughness reaches up to 344.10 ± 35.40 % and 10.84 ± 1.02 MJ·m−3, respectively. Our findings suggest that incorporating sericin into regenerated films contributes to the transformation of their mechanical properties through influencing the entanglement of molecular chains within polymerized solutions. Structural analyses conducted using infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction confirm that sericin modulates the mechanical properties by affecting the transition of condensed matter conformation. This work presents a convenient yet effective strategy for simultaneously addressing the recycling of sericin as well as producing regenerated protein-based films that hold potential applications in biomedical, wearable, or food packaging.

Manufacturing high-strength and corrosion-resistant 6063Al joints by an ultrasonic-assisted liquid and solid phase diffusion technology

High corrosion-resistance aluminum alloy joint obtained by filler metal containing Sn at relatively low temperatures is a longstanding goal for electronic products. In this research, 6063Al alloys was joined by a novel ultrasonic-assisted diffusion bonding via liquid phase and solid phase synergistic diffusion. It was performed via a hypereutectic interlayer of Zn-30Sn at 360 ℃ to joining 6063Al, obtaining a Zn-Al eutectoid structures joint. By the ultrasonic vibrating, the breaking of oxide film, the diffusing of liquid and solid state had been occurring in sequence during the joining process. It resulted in a series of diffusing phase transitions from “η-Zn phases + Sn-Zn eutectic structures” to “Zn-Al eutectoid structures + η-Zn phases”, and finally to “full Zn-Al eutectoid structures”, which were driven by the grain boundary penetration and chemical potential, respectively. The joints possessed a higher strength than the base metal. The joints with Zn-Al eutectoids have a better corrosion resistance that the tensile strength reduced 37.3% after a corroding of 72 h in 3.5 wt% NaCl solution in comparison with the soldered joints. Finally, the mechanism of ultrasonic accelerated diffusion, joint formation process and mechanism of improving corrosion resistance were discussed in detail.

Wetting property of Fe‐S melt in solid core: Implication for the core crystallization process in planetesimals

AbstractIn differentiated planetesimals, the liquid core starts to crystallize during secular cooling, followed by the separation of liquid–solid phases in the core. The wetting property between liquid and solid iron alloys determines whether the core melts are trapped in the solid core or they can separate from the solid core during core crystallization. In this study, we performed high‐pressure experiments under the conditions of the interior of small bodies (0.5–3.0 GPa) to study the wetting property (dihedral angle) between solid Fe and liquid Fe‐S as a function of pressure and duration. The measured dihedral angles are approximately constant after 2 h and decrease with increasing pressure. The dihedral angles range from 30° to 48°, which are below the percolation threshold of 60° at 0.5–3.0 GPa. The oxygen content in the melt decreases with increasing pressure and there are strong positive correlations between the S + O or O content and the dihedral angle. Therefore, the change in the dihedral angle is likely controlled by the O content of the Fe‐S melt, and the dihedral angle tends to decrease with decreasing O content in the Fe‐S melt. Consequently, the Fe‐S melt can form interconnected networks in the solid core. In the obtained range of the dihedral angle, a certain amount of the Fe‐S melt can stably coexist with solid Fe, which would correspond to the “trapped melt” in iron meteorites. Excess amounts of the melt would migrate from the solid core over a long period of core crystallization in planetesimals.

The Impact of Marangoni and Buoyancy Convections on Flow and Segregation Patterns during the Solidification of Fe-0.82wt%C Steel.

Due to the high computational costs of the Eulerian multiphase model, which solves the conservation equations for each considered phase, a two-phase mixture model is proposed to reduce these costs in the current study. Only one single equation for each the momentum and enthalpy equations has to be solved for the mixture phase. The Navier-Stokes and energy equations were solved using the 3D finite volume method. The model was used to simulate the liquid-solid phase transformation of a Fe-0.82wt%C steel alloy under the effect of both thermocapillary and buoyancy convections. The alloy was cooled in a rectangular ingot (100 × 100 × 10 mm3) from the bottom cold surface to the top hot free surface by applying a heat transfer coefficient of h = 600 W/m2/K, which allows for heat exchange with the outer medium. The purpose of this work is to study the effect of the surface tension on the flow and segregation patterns. The results before solidification show that Marangoni flow was formed at the free surface of the molten alloy, extending into the liquid depth and creating polygonized hexagonal patterns. The size and the number of these hexagons were found to be dependent on the Marangoni number, where the number of convective cells increases with the increase in the Marangoni number. During solidification, the solid front grew in a concave morphology, as the centers of the cells were hotter; a macro-segregation pattern with hexagonal cells was formed, which was analogous to the hexagonal flow cells generated by the Marangoni effect. After full solidification, the segregation was found to be in perfect hexagonal shapes with a strong compositional variation at the free surface. This study illuminates the crucial role of surface-tension-driven Marangoni flow in producing hexagonal patterns before and during the solidification process and provides valuable insights into the complex interplay between the Marangoni flow, buoyancy convection, and solidification phenomena.

Metastable Liquid Properties and Surface Flow Patterns of Ultrahigh Temperature Alloys Explored in Outer Space.

The metastable liquid properties and chemical bonds beyond 2000 K remain a huge challenge for ground-based research on liquid materials chemistry. We show the strong undercooling capability, metastable liquid properties and surface wave patterns of refractory Nb-Si and Zr-V binary alloys explored in space environment. The floating droplet of Nb82.7Si17.3 eutectic alloy superheated up to 2338 K exhibited an extreme undercooling of 437 K, approaching the 0.2TE threshold for homogeneous nucleation of liquid-solid reaction. The microgravity state endowed alloy droplets with nearly perfect sphericity and thus ensured the high accuracy to determine metastable undercooled liquid properties. A special kind of swirling flow was induced for liquid alloy owing to Marangoni convection, which resulted in the spiral microstructures on Zr64V36 alloy surface during liquid-solid phase transition. The coupled impacts of surface nucleation and surface flow brought in a novel olivary shape for these binary alloys. Furthermore, the chemical bonds and atomic structures of high temperature liquids were revealed to understand the liquid properties in outer space circumstances.

A Eulerian Numerical Model to Predict the Enhancement Effect of the Gravity-Driven Motion Melting Process for Latent Thermal Energy Storage.

Latent thermal energy storage (LTES) devices can efficiently store renewable energy in thermal form and guarantee a stable-temperature thermal energy supply. The gravity-driven motion melting (GDMM) process improves the overall melting rate for packaged phase-change material (PCM) by constructing an enhanced flow field in the liquid phase. However, due to the complex mechanisms involved in fluid-solid coupling and liquid-solid phase transition, numerical simulation studies that demonstrate physical details are necessary. In this study, a simplified numerical model based on the Eulerian method is proposed. We aimed to introduce a fluid deformation yield stress equation to the "solid phase" based on the Bingham fluid assumption. As a result, fluid-solid coupling and liquid-solid phase transition processes become continuously solvable. The proposed model is validated by the referenced experimental measurements. The enhanced performance of liquid-phase convection and the macroscopic settling of the "solid phase" are numerically analyzed. The results indicate that the enhanced liquid-phase fluidity allows for a stronger heat transfer process than natural convection for the pure liquid phase. The gravity-driven pressure difference is directly proportional to the vertical melting rate, which indicates the feasibility of controlling the pressure difference to improve the melting rate.

On the clustering of triacylglycerols in the molten state

The liquid–solid phase transition of triacylglycerols (TAGs), the main components of edible fats and oils is central to the production and sensory properties of many processed foods. While there has been extensive research on the nucleation and growth of fats, there remains a dearth of knowledge regarding the structural organization of TAGs in the liquid state. From a molecular perspective, TAGs consist of three alkyl chains esterified to a glycerol backbone. Several models based on experiment and simulation have helped to unveil TAG organization in the molten state. However, more evidence for their structural organization is necessary. Here, we provide simulation and experimental insights on the structural organization of molten tripalmitin using small-angle neutron and x-ray scattering, and wide-angle x-ray scattering. In agreement with recent work, we also propose a model in which TAGs associate as clusters via glycerol-glycerol interactions, with their alkyl chains extending outwards in a loose shell. Our model, however, highlights and demonstrates the dynamic nature of clusters, where TAGs can transfer from one cluster to another via diffusion. The average number of TAG molecules per cluster varies from 5 to 9 and decreases with increasing temperature, which results in a smaller average distance between clusters. Overall, this study strongly suggests that prior to the onset of nucleation, TAGs are associated as dynamic clusters formed via intermolecular interactions between neighboring glycerol cores.

Fine Particle Migration in a Gas Hydrate Sand: Single- and Two-Phase Fluid Using a Device for Observation at the Pore Scale

The production of natural gas hydrates will change the cementation strength, porosity, and effective stress in the stratum, which may lead to engineering and geological disasters. Sand production is a phenomenon where sand particles are carried out of the reservoir along with fluids during gas extraction, posing challenges to safe and sustainable production. This study explored the mechanism of fine particle migration in multiphase flow by a microscopic visualization test device. The device can inject a gas–liquid–solid phase at the same time and allow real-time observation. Experimental tests on fine particle migration of single- and two-phase fluid flow were carried out considering different conditions, i.e., fine particle concentration, fine particle size, fluid flow rate, and gas–liquid ratio. The results show that in single-phase fluid flow, the original gas will gradually dissolve in the liquid phase, and finally stay in the test device as bubbles, which can change the pore structures, resulting in the accumulation of fine particles at the gas–liquid interface. In two-phase fluid flow with mixed gas–water fluids, there are two flow modes of gas–liquid flow: mixed flow and separated flow. The interfacial tension at the gas–liquid interface can effectively migrate fine particles when the gas–liquid flows alternately and the sand production rate further increases as the gas–liquid ratio increases. In addition, changes in the concentration of fine particles, particle size, fluid flow rate, and the gas–liquid ratio will affect the migration of fine particles, leading to differences in the final sand production.

Liquid-solid phase separation and recycling of permalloys in liquid Mg

Liquid-solid phase separation of permalloy in liquid Mg results in selectively dissolved Ni, which provides a unique opportunity for the design of immiscible heterogeneous composite materials and the comprehensive metal recycling of permalloy scraps. A guideline of the alloy design for the liquid-solid phase separation system was proposed. The effects of immersion temperature and time on the Ni extraction were studied by an experimental method. The diffusion behavior of Ni from the permalloy to liquid Mg and the microstructure evolution in the permalloy during the liquid-solid phase separation were discussed. The results show that the Ni in the permalloy was quickly extracted into the liquid Mg and formed an Mg-Ni alloy, while the other components such as Fe, Co, and Mn were held back in the phase-separated permalloy. The phase-separated permalloy with the solidified Mg exhibits a three-dimensional (3D) Fe/Mg bicontinuous composite structure. Furthermore, simple treatments were carried out for the reaction products such as the Fe/Mg bicontinuous composite and the Mg-Ni alloy, and the recycling strategies for functionalization of these treated reaction products were provided. A 3D porous Fe-based alloy with electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding efficiency of 52 dB can be obtained if Mg is removed from the Fe/Mg bicontinuous composite. Instead of the complete separation of pure Ni from the recycled Mg-Ni alloy by vacuum distilling, the Mg-Ni alloy can be enriched into Mg2Ni as an initial hydrogen storage material.

A new lattice Boltzmann model for liquid–solid phase transition and its application in the simulation of sessile droplet solidification – focusing on volume change

This paper introduces a new modification to the convective Cahn–Hilliard equation and a lattice Boltzmann framework to simulate liquid–solid phase transitions in multicomponent systems. The model takes into account changes in properties, such as density, caused by solidification, which leads to volume expansion or contraction. After validating the proposed model against classical problems and experimental data, the solidification of a sessile droplet was investigated in detail. Results of numerical simulations suggest that the environmental conditions are as important as the surface condition in deciding the freezing time and the final shape of the droplet. The environmental properties can also affect the freezing time indirectly through interaction with surface wettability. It has been demonstrated that hydrophobic surfaces may lose their advantages over hydrophilic surfaces in terms of anti-icing performance when primary solidification is initiated from the interface between the droplet and the environment fluid. The deformations of droplets, either with contraction or expansion, were confirmed and compared in different environments. This study offers a new perspective on droplet solidification by exposing the strong influence of environmental conditions and meanwhile provides a useful numerical method to predict the phase change process.