РЕГУЛЮВАННЯ СТІЙКОСТІ РІДКИХ МІКРОСТРУМЕНІВ ПОЛІПРОПІЛЕНУ В МАТРИЦІ СПІВПОЛІАМІДУ ЗА РАХУНОК НАНОДОБАВОК

Goal. Investigation of the effect of the concentration of nanoparticles of aluminum oxide (Al2O3) and alumina modified with silver (Ag/Al2O3) on the decomposition kinetics of liquid microjets of polypropylene (PP) in a copolyamide (CPA) matrix and the possibility of controlling the microfibrillar morphology of the PP/CPA blend.Methodology. The components of the blend were mixed on a screw-disk extruder. The kinetics of the disintegration of liquid microjets was studied using a technique based on the theory of destabilization of a liquid cylinder under the action of capillary waves. The degree of dispersion of polypropylene in the matrix was evaluated by photomicrographs of cross sections of the extrudates of the blends.Results. Nanoadditives of the original and silver-modified aluminum oxide with a content of (0.1 ÷ 3.0) wt.% In the blend increase the compatibility of the components: the surface tension (γαβ) in the compositions of all compositions decreases. Ag/Al2O3 nanoparticles are more effective than aluminum oxide nanoparticles - the γαβ value decreases by 9.6 and 5.3 times, respectively, which ensures a high degree of dispersion of the dispersed phase component in the matrix. The disintegration resistance of polypropylene microjets is increasing, as evidenced by a decrease in the instability coefficient (q) and an increase in the microjet lifetime (tl). The curves of q and tl dependence on the additive content have an extreme character. The minimum values of the instability coefficient of microjets and the maximum values of their lifetime are achieved at a nanoparticle concentration corresponding to the lowest interfacial tension.Scientific novelty. The positive effect of the investigated nanoadditives on the kinetics of the decomposition of liquid microjets of polypropylene in the copolyamide matrix has been established. The highest modifying effect in the presence of Ag/Al2O3 nanoparticles is due to their amphiphilic nature, which ensures the predominant localization of nanoparticles at the interface and a synergistic increase in the degree of compatibility in the PP/CPA system.Practical significance. The regularities of increasing the stability of liquid microjets to disintegration in polymer blends filled with nanoparticles have been established, which will make it possible to determine the parameters of the processes of mixing and forming fibers and films, in which the microfibrillar structure arising during the flow of the melt will remain unchanged in the products.

A dilute gold nanoparticle suspension as small-angle X-ray scattering standard for an absolute scale using an extended Guinier approximation

In this article, a practical procedure for absolute intensity calibration for small-angle scattering (SAXS) studies on liquid microjets is established. A gold nanoparticle suspension is used as standard so that the intercept at Q = 0 of the SAXS scattering curve provides a scaling reference. In order to obtain the most precise extrapolation at Q = 0, an extension of the Guinier approximation has been used, with a second-order term in the fit that adapts to a larger Q range.

High-repetition-rate ( kHz) targets and optics from liquid microjets for high-intensity laser–plasma interactions

High-intensity laser–plasma interactions produce a wide array of energetic particles and beams with promising applications. Unfortunately, the high repetition rate and high average power requirements for many applications are not satisfied by the lasers, optics, targets, and diagnostics currently employed. Here, we aim to address the need for high-repetition-rate targets and optics through the use of liquids. A novel nozzle assembly is used to generate high-velocity, laminar-flowing liquid microjets which are compatible with a low-vacuum environment, generate little to no debris, and exhibit precise positional and dimensional tolerances. Jets, droplets, submicron-thick sheets, and other exotic configurations are characterized with pump–probe shadowgraphy to evaluate their use as targets. To demonstrate a high-repetition-rate, consumable, liquid optical element, we present a plasma mirror created by a submicron-thick liquid sheet. This plasma mirror provides etalon-like anti-reflection properties in the low field of 0.1% and high reflectivity as a plasma, 69%, at a repetition rate of 1 kHz. Practical considerations of fluid compatibility, in-vacuum operation, and estimates of maximum repetition rate are addressed. The targets and optics presented here demonstrate a potential technique for enabling the operation of laser–plasma interactions at high repetition rates.

Rapid sample delivery for megahertz serial crystallography at X-ray FELs

Liquid microjets are a common means of delivering protein crystals to the focus of X-ray free-electron lasers (FELs) for serial femtosecond crystallography measurements. The high X-ray intensity in the focus initiates an explosion of the microjet and sample. With the advent of X-ray FELs with megahertz rates, the typical velocities of these jets must be increased significantly in order to replenish the damaged material in time for the subsequent measurement with the next X-ray pulse. This work reports the results of a megahertz serial diffraction experiment at the FLASH FEL facility using 4.3 nm radiation. The operation of gas-dynamic nozzles that produce liquid microjets with velocities greater than 80 m s−1 was demonstrated. Furthermore, this article provides optical images of X-ray-induced explosions together with Bragg diffraction from protein microcrystals exposed to trains of X-ray pulses repeating at rates of up to 4.5 MHz. The results indicate the feasibility for megahertz serial crystallography measurements with hard X-rays and give guidance for the design of such experiments.

LiquidJet PES: Soft X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy from Aqueous Solution end-station at BESSY II

The LiquidJet PES apparatus is a specialized end-station at the synchrotron radiation facility BESSY II, Berlin, for studying the electronic structure of liquid water, aqueous and non-aqueous solutions with soft X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Targets are liquid microjets that are introduced into a vacuum chamber via a ~20 µm glass capillary.