Papers by Keyword: Ultracentrifuge

Abstract: The atomic-scale graded structure of In-Pb alloy was formed by an ultracentrifuge under a gravitational field of 0.81 x 106 g for 100 hours at 150 °C in solid state. The isotope ratio measurements were performed on the centrifuged sample with secondary ion mass spectrometer (SIMS, CAMECA IMS-6f). 206Pb/208Pb and 207Pb/208Pb isotope ratio changed with negative gradient in the direction of centrifugal force approximately 1.5% and 0.8%, respectively. There was a tendency that the heavy 208Pb isotope abundance increased and the light 206Pb isotope abundance decreased in the direction of centrifugal force. Three-isotope diagram of 206Pb/208Pb versus 207Pb/208Pb proved that the isotope fractionation depends on the isotopic mass difference. These results showed that a strong gravitational field not only affected the inter-diffusion but also the self-diffusion in this alloy by causing isotope fractionation effect, which was dependent on the mass-difference.

Abstract: Ultra-strong gravitational field can induce sedimentation of even atoms in condensed matter. We had realized sedimentation of substitutional solute atoms in some miscible alloys. In this study, the ultra-centrifuge experiments were performed on an intermetallic compound of Bi-Pb system (Bi3Pb7) by changing time duration of experiment time (experimental conditions; maximum centrifugal force: 1.0x106g level, temperature: 130-150 °C, duration: 30-150h, state: solid). Composition changes were observed in the centrifuged samples. And, it was found that the Bi phase appeared from starting state of Bi3Pb7 around the weak gravitational field region of the sample. These results showed that sedimentation of substitutional solute atoms occurred, and induced the structure change in intermetallic compounds.

Abstract: Ultra-strong gravitational field (Mega-gravity field) causes the sedimentation of even atoms (diffusion), and is expected to create a nonequilibrium crystal-chemical state in multi-component condensed matter. However, the materials science research under mega-gravity field has now remained as an unexploited field, while the sedimentation of molecules or polymer had been used in biochemistory. We presented a self-consistent diffusion equation for sedimentation of atoms in condensed matter. Next, we developed an ultracentrifuge apparatus to generate strong acceleration field of over 1 million (1x106) g at temperature range up to 〜300 °C, and, recently, succeeded in realization of the sedimentation of substitutional solute atoms in some alloys of Bi-Sb, In-Pb, Bi-Pb systems, etc. The diffusion coefficients in sedimentation on Bi-Sb alloy were estimated to be much greater than those at normal conditions by a factor of >20. It is suggested that the sedimentation of substitutional atoms in solids or liquids can be explained in a new type of diffusion, where the diffusion mechanism for substitutional solute atoms was yet unknown. In this article, the recent progress in the investigation of sedimentation of atoms under mega-gravity field is reviewed, and the diffusion mechanism is discussed. The application of the mega-gravity field is also discussed.