Strong localized interaction of microplasma discharges with titanium

Excitation of microplasma discharges on the surfaces of titanium samples placed in a uniform pulsed plasma flow was studied experimentally. Strong localized interaction of microplasma discharges with titanium leads to the rapid melting and subsequent fast cooling of micrometer-size regions on the sample surface. Due to the multiple action of microplasma discharges, a continuous remelted layer with a thickness of up to 20 μm forms on the titanium surface. The physical, structural, and tribotechnical properties of this layer differ substantially from those before microplasma processing.     

Creation of a hard microrelief on a titanium surface processed by microplasma discharges with a current amplitude of 200 A and pulse duration of 20 ms

The interaction of microplasma discharges with samples made of VT1 commercial titanium was studied experimentally. The amplitude of the current pulses of microplasma discharges was 200 A, the pulse duration was 20 ms, and the number of current pulses was from 1 to 10. After microplasma processing, a 10-μm-thick solid remelted surface layer with an increased hardness formed on the titanium samples. As compared to the initial state of titanium samples, the surface layer hardened by microplasma discharges possesses improved parameters: the microhardness increases fivefold, the maximum admissible pressure applied to the samples during friction increases more than 20-fold, the friction wear rate is reduced by three orders of magnitude, and the friction coefficient decreases sixfold.     

Initiation of microplasma discharges at the edge of a dielectric film deposited on a metal surface

Excitation of microplasma discharges in the interaction of a plasma flow with a metal surface partially covered with a dielectric film is investigated experimentally and theoretically. A new phenomenon—the excitation of microplasma discharges at the boundary between the free metal surface and the area covered with the film—is discovered. Microplasma discharges at the edge of the dielectric film are initiated by a strong electric field that arises between the free metal surface and the outer surface of the film in the interaction with the plasma flow. This field gives rise to surface breakdowns at the film edge, followed by the development of primary microplasma discharges. In turn, the dense plasma of primary microplasma discharges causes secondary microplasma discharges, which also arise at the edge of the dielectric film after the external plasma flow has already terminated. Microplasma discharges gradually evaporate the dielectric film, and the surface cleaned of the film acquires a microrelief due to the local melting and subsequent fast cooling of the metal at the sites of microplasma discharges.     

Determination of the electron temperature in microplasma discharges excited on a titanium surface

Results are presented from experimental studies of the emission spectra of microplasma discharges excited on a titanium surface by a pulsed plasma flow. The excited discharges are maintained by current pulses with an amplitude of 200 A and a duration of 20 ms. Analysis of more than 100 spectral lines of titanium atoms and ions in the wavelength range of 350–800 nm shows that the electron temperature of a microplasma discharge is in the range of 0.2–1.3 eV.     

Propagation of Microplasma Discharge over Titanium Surface Covered with Thin Dielectric Film

Plasma Physics Reports - Propagation and structure of the pulsed microplasma discharge initiated on the titanium sample surface covered with a thin dielectric film with a thickness of approximately...     

Microwave capillary torch as a means for modifying the electrophysical characteristics of metal surfaces

An experiment layout based on a pulsed capillary microwave torch and making it possible to excite an explosive emission microplasma on a metal surface in open air is implemented for the first time. It is shown that a microrelief in the form of micron-size microcraters forms on the initially smooth surface under the action of microsparks. As a result, the maximum secondary electron emission yield σ_max decreases from ～2 for the untreated surface to ～0.4 for the rough treated surface and remains low for a long time when exposed to atmospheric air.     

Aluminum and iron chemistry in the O horizon changed by a shift in tree species composition

In the present study we characterized the buffering system including aluminum in the organic surface horizon (O) of field experiments with replicated plots of pure Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst) and replicated plots of spruce with a birch (Betula pendula Roth and B. pubescens Ehrh.) admixture. Our results show that a change in tree species composition may have a rather large, short-term (12 years) effect on the concentration of organically bound aluminum in the humus layer (H) of the O horizon. The pure spruce plots had a significantly higher concentration of exchangeable aluminum (Al_e) and organically bound (pyrophosphate extractable) aluminum (Al_P) in the H layer and a lower concentration of each base cation. Furthermore, our results confirm earlier findings that aluminum has base cation properties in acidic organic horizons. Thus, the change in tree species composition did not affect the pH in spite of a change in base saturation, because base cations were mainly compensated for by aluminum. The change in organically bound aluminum was accompanied by a similar change in organically bound pyrophosphate extractable iron (Fe_P). The observed differences between the mixed and pure spruce plots in the amounts of Al_P and Fe_P in the H layer could not be explained by estimated differences in biocycling of Al and Fe either by above-ground litterfall or by root turnover.     

Pulsed submicrosecond multichannel sliding discharges of opposite polarities: Filling of the discharge gap with spark channels

Results are presented from measurements of the discharge current and the factor of the discharge gap filling with spark channels during pulsed sliding discharges of opposite polarities in Ne, Ar, and Xe on an aluminum oxide ceramic surface. The measurements were performed in the regime of single pulses of submi-crosecond duration at discharge voltages of 0?C12 kV with two discharge chambers with different thicknesses of the ceramic plate (0.4 and 0.17 cm) and different electrode gap lengths (4 and 10.3 cm) at gas pressures of 30 and 100 kPa. The results obtained for discharges of opposite polarities are compared with one another, and common features of discharges in three gases are revealed. It is shown that the filling of the discharge gap with spark channels in the gases under study is more efficient in the case of the positive polarity of the discharge voltage, except Xe at a pressure of 100 kPa in the electrode gap of length 10.3 cm. The quasi-homogeneous regime of discharge in each of the three gases is attained easier at lower gas pressures. Comparison of the data on the filling factors of the discharge gap and the peak currents of opposite-polarity discharges for each gas at a given pressure indicates that the higher the discharge current, the more densely the discharge gap is filled with spark channels.     

Aluminum and calcium distribution patterns in aluminum-intoxicated roots of Allium cepa do not support the calcium-displacement hypothesis and indicate signal-mediated inhibition of root growth

The aluminum and calcium distributions in the root tips of aluminum-intoxicated onions, Allium cepa L., were mapped using PIXE (particle-induced X-ray emission) microanalysis. Not enough aluminum was present to have replaced, atom-for-atom, more than a minor fraction of the calcium. Furthermore, no inverse relationship between variations in aluminum and calcium concentrations was observed for pairs of adjacent 30-μm-diameter regions. Our observations, therefore, do not support the hypothesis that aluminum substantially reduces the quantity of bound calcium by competing with calcium for binding sites. Instead we suggest that reductions in calcium content are a non-local and indirect consequence of aluminum-intoxication. We found that aluminum accumulates almost exclusively in a surface layer. Observations of wounded roots indicated that exposed internal tissue binds aluminum avidly, so we contend that the surface accumulation pattern indicates that little aluminum penetrates into the interior of the root. We argue that aluminum does not directly inhibit growth in the interior of the apical root meristem because root growth rate was unaffected by root cap removal which should greatly increase the aluminum concentration in the exposed interior region. We hypothesize that growth inhibition in the interior of the meristem is mediated by a signal initiated or disrupted by excess aluminum in the periphery of the meristem. Received: 29 January 1997 / Accepted: 10 June 1997     

Inactivation of Escherichia coli Cells in Aqueous Solution by Atmospheric-Pressure N2, He,Air, and O2 Microplasmas

Atmospheric-pressure N₂, He, air, and O₂ microplasma arrays have been used to inactivate Escherichia coli cells suspended in aqueous solution. Measurements show that the efficiency of inactivation of E. coli cells is strongly dependent on the feed gases used, the plasma treatment time, and the discharge power. Compared to atmospheric-pressure N₂ and He microplasma arrays, air and O₂ microplasma arrays may be utilized to more efficiently kill E. coli cells in aqueous solution. The efficiencies of inactivation of E. coli cells in water can be well described by using the chemical reaction rate model, where reactive oxygen species play a crucial role in the inactivation process. Analysis indicates that plasma-generated reactive species can react with E. coli cells in water by direct or indirect interactions.     

Formation of a strong electric field resulting in the excitation of microplasma discharges at the edge of a dielectric film on a metal in a plasma flow

Results are presented from experimental and analytical studies of the processes resulting in the excitation of microplasma discharges (MPDs) on a metal surface partially covered with a thin dielectric film under the action of an external plasma flow in vacuum. It is shown experimentally that MPDs are excited at the interface between the open metal surface and the region covered by the dielectric film. The probability of MPD excitation is investigated as a function of the thickness of the dielectric film deposited on the metal. It is found that, for a film thickness of 1 μm, the probability of MPD excitation is close to unity. As the film thickness decreases below ~10 nm or increases above ~10 μm, the probability of MPD excitation is reduced by more than two orders of magnitude. A two-dimensional kinetic numerical code is developed that allows one to model the processes of Debye sheath formation and generation of a strong electric field near the edge of a finite-thickness dielectric film on a metal surface in a plasma flow for different configurations of the film edge. It is shown that the maximum value of the tangential component of the electric field is reached at the film edge and amounts to E _max ≈ |φ₀|/2d (where φ₀ < 0 is the electric potential applied to the metal and d is the film thickness), which for typical conditions of experiments on the excitation of MPDs on metal surfaces (φ₀ ≈–400 V, d ≈ 1 μm) yields E _max ≈ 2 MV/cm. The results of kinetic simulations confirm the qualitative idea about the mechanism of the formation of a strong electric field resulting in the excitation of MPDs at the edge of a dielectric film on a metal surface in a plasma flow and agree with experimental data.     

Use of sublimation to prepare solid microbial media with water-insoluble substrates

A method was developed to deposit a visible layer of water-insoluble compounds via sublimation onto the surface of solid media. The compound is sublimed from a heated aluminum dish containing the compound onto the surface of an inverted, ice-cooled, inoculated agar petri dish. The method results in the deposition of a thin, even layer on the agar surface without the use of solvent. After incubation, clearing zones around colonies indicate the presence of compound-degrading microorganisms.     

Use of Sublimation To Prepare Solid Microbial Media with Water-Insoluble Substrates

A method was developed to deposit a visible layer of water-insoluble compounds via sublimation onto the surface of solid media. The compound is sublimed from a heated aluminum dish containing the compound onto the surface of an inverted, ice-cooled, inoculated agar petri dish. The method results in the deposition of a thin, even layer on the agar surface without the use of solvent. After incubation, clearing zones around colonies indicate the presence of compound-degrading microorganisms.     

Resource-Limited Heterotrophic Prokaryote Production and Its Potential Environmental Impact Associated with Mn Nodule Exploitation in the Northeast Equatorial Pacific

Shipboard enrichment incubation experiments were performed to elucidate the limiting resources for heterotrophic prokaryotic production and to discuss the potential impact of bottom water and sediment discharges in relation to manganese (Mn) nodule exploitation on the heterotrophic prokaryotes in the oligotrophic northeast equatorial Pacific. Compared to an unamended control, the production of heterotrophic prokaryotes increased 25-fold in water samples supplemented with amino acids (i.e., organic carbon plus nitrogen), whereas the production increased five and two times, respectively, in samples supplemented with either glucose or ammonium alone. These results indicate that heterotrophic prokaryote production in the northeast equatorial Pacific was co-limited by the availability of dissolved organic carbon and inorganic nitrogen. In samples from the nutrient-depleted surface mixed layer (10-m depth), the addition of a slurry of bottom water and sediment doubled heterotrophic prokaryote production compared to an unamended control, whereas sonicating the slurry prior to addition quadrupled the production rate. However, little difference was observed between an unamended control and slurry-amended samples in the subsurface chlorophyll a (Chl a) maximum (SCM) layer. Thus, the impact of slurry discharge is more significant at the nutrient-depleted surface mixed layer than at the high-nutrient SCM layer. The greatly enhanced prokaryote production resulting from the addition of sonicated slurry further suggests that dissociated organic carbon may directly stimulate heterotrophic prokaryote production in the surface mixed layer. Overall, the results suggest that the surface discharge of bottom water and sediments during manganese nodule exploitation could have a significant environmental impact on the production of heterotrophic prokaryotes that are currently resource limited.     

Seasonal variation of dissolved aluminum concentration in harmonic-type Lake Biwa, Japan

Monthly observations performed on a typical harmonic-type lake, Lake Biwa (latitude 35°15′ N, longitude 136°05′ E, Japan), showed that the particulate aluminum concentration varied around a mean value of 0.8 μM, with occasional extraordinarily high values, whereas the dissolved aluminum concentration varied, in the surface layer of the whole lake, between a minimum of 0.01 μM and a maximum of 0.30 μM, depending on the season. Although the variation in dissolved aluminum paralleled the variation in the pH of the lake water, the variation in dissolved aluminum lagged behind the variation in pH by approximately 1 month. A series of laboratory incubation experiments suggested that the supply of dissolved aluminum from, and its removal by, the suspended particulate matter involved a slow, pH-dependent reaction. The stoichiometry and the apparent equilibrium constant of this reaction were evaluated by adopting a zeolite-like structure for the surfaces of the suspended particulates. Received: December 28, 2000 / Accepted: August 22, 2001     

Surface Modification of Melamine-Formaldehyde (MF-R) Macroparticles in Complex Plasma

The surface modification of melamine-formaldehyde (MF-R) macroparticles (4.12 ± 0.09 μm in diameter) in dc glow discharges in neon, argon, and an argon–oxygen mixture (90% Ar, 10% O₂) was studied experimentally. The macroparticles were treated in the discharge plasma for 10, 20, 40, and 60 min. The macroparticles were placed in ordered plasma–dust structures and then extracted from them. The results of atomic force microscopy of the surface profile are presented. Quantitative data on destruction of the surface layer and aspects of its modification are discussed. The amount of substance removed from the particle surface for the exposure time was calculated using the fractal analysis method.     

Apoptosis of lung carcinoma cells induced by a flexible optical fiber-based cold microplasma

Atmospheric pressure plasmas have been used as a therapy for cancer. However, the fairly large size and rigidity of present plasma-delivery systems obstructs the precise treatment of tumors in harder-to-reach internal organs such as the lungs, pancreas, and duodenum. In order to improve the targeted delivery of plasmas a highly flexible microplasma jet device is fabricated using a hollow-core optical fiber with an inner diameter of either 15 μm, 55 μm, or 200 μm. Described herein, based on this device, are results on lung carcinoma therapy using a microplasma cancer endoscope. Despite the small inner diameter and the low gas flow rate, the generated plasma jets are shown to be sufficiently effective to induce apoptosis, but not necrosis, in both cultured mouse lung carcinoma and fibroblast cells. Further, the lung carcinoma cells were found to be more sensitive to plasma treatment than the fibroblast cells based on the overall plasma dose conditions. This work enables directed cancer therapies using on highly flexible and precise hollow optical fiber-based plasma device and offers enhancements to microplasma cancer endoscopy using an improved method of plasma targeting and delivery.     

Measurement and Analysis of Atomic Hydrogen and Diatomic Molecular AlO,C2, CN,and TiO Spectra Following Laser-induced Optical Breakdown

In this work, we present time-resolved measurements of atomic and diatomic spectra following laser-induced optical breakdown. A typical LIBS arrangement is used. Here we operate a Nd:YAG laser at a frequency of 10 Hz at the fundamental wavelength of 1,064 nm. The 14 nsec pulses with anenergy of 190 mJ/pulse are focused to a 50 µm spot size to generate a plasma from optical breakdown or laser ablation in air. The microplasma is imaged onto the entrance slit of a 0.6 m spectrometer, and spectra are recorded using an 1,800 grooves/mm grating an intensified linear diode array and optical multichannel analyzer (OMA) or an ICCD. Of interest are Stark-broadened atomic lines of the hydrogen Balmer series to infer electron density. We also elaborate on temperature measurements from diatomic emission spectra of aluminum monoxide (AlO), carbon (C₂), cyanogen (CN), and titanium monoxide (TiO).The experimental procedures include wavelength and sensitivity calibrations. Analysis of the recorded molecular spectra is accomplished by the fitting of data with tabulated line strengths. Furthermore, Monte-Carlo type simulations are performed to estimate the error margins. Time-resolved measurements are essential for the transient plasma commonly encountered in LIBS.     

Multichannel vacuum arc discharge used for Z-pinch formation

Results are presented from experimental studies of the implosion dynamics and radiative characteristics of an aluminum Z-pinch formed from a plasma shell (PS). The PS with an initial diameter of 4 cm was produced with the help of a multichannel vacuum arc discharge and formed due to the evaporation of the electrode material in ten parallel arc discharges. The PS composition depended on the electrode material in the arc discharge. The described experiments were performed with aluminum electrodes. The total arc current was 80 kA. The PS implosion was provided by an IMRI-5 high-current generator with a current amplitude of 450 kA and rise time of 500 ns. The PS implosion resulted in the formation of a 0.2-cm-diameter plasma column with an electron temperature of 700?C900 eV and average ion density of (5?C8) × 10¹⁷ cm^?3. The maximum radiation power per unit length in aluminum K-lines reached 300 MW/cm, the duration of the radiation pulse being 20 ns.     

Countermeasures to Microbiofouling in Simulated Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion Heat Exchangers with Surface and Deep Ocean Waters in Hawaii

Countermeasures to biofouling in simulated ocean thermal energy conversion heat exchangers have been studied in single-pass flow systems, using cold deep and warm surface ocean waters off the island of Hawaii. Manual brushing of the loops after free fouling periods removed most of the biofouling material. However, over a 2-year period a tenacious film formed. Daily free passage of sponge rubber balls through the tubing only removed the loose surface biofouling layer and was inadequate as a countermeasure in both titanium and aluminum alloy tubes. Chlorination at 0.05, 0.07, and 0.10 mg liter^-1 for 1 h day^-1 lowered biofouling rates. Only at 0.10 mg liter^-1 was chlorine adequate over a 1-year period to keep film formation and heat transfer resistance from rising above the maximum tolerated values. Lower chlorination regimens led to the buildup of uneven or patchy films which produced increased flow turbulence. The result was lower heat transfer resistance values which did not correlate with the amount of biofouling. Surfaces which were let foul and then treated with intermittent or continuous chlorination at 0.10 mg of chlorine or less per liter were only partially or unevenly cleaned, although heat transfer measurements did not indicate that fact. It took continuous chlorination at 0.25 mg liter^-1 to bring the heat transfer resistance to zero and eliminate the fouling layer. Biofouling in deep cold seawater was much slower than in the warm surface waters. Tubing in one stainless-steel loop had a barely detectable fouling layer after 1 year in flow. With aluminum alloys sufficient corrosion and biofouling material accumulated to require that some fouling coutermeasure be used in long-term operation of an ocean thermal energy conversion plant.