Liquid metal

About: Liquid metal is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 6947 publications have been published within this topic receiving 77785 citations. The topic is also known as: liquid alloy & liquid metal alloy.

The use of ionic liquid ion sources in focused ion beam applications

Abstract: A new monoenergetic, high-brightness ion source can be constructed using an arrangement similar to liquid metal ion sources by substituting the liquid metal with an ionic liquid or room-temperature molten salt. Ion beams produced by these ionic liquid ion sources (ILISs) have energy deficits and distributions that closely resemble their metallic counterparts, with the exception that they can be stably operated at current levels as low as a few nanoamperes if needed. ILISs are here presented as having two further key advantages: (1) the ability to obtain both positive and negative ion beams and (2) the ability to produce very diverse molecular ions in terms of their masses, compositions, and properties due to the fact that the number of available ionic liquids is large. In this article an overview of ILISs is presented, as well as preliminary results of their performance in a focused ion beam column.

Combustion synthesis of ceramic-metal

Abstract: One of the main disadvantages of combustion synthesis of ceramic and composite materials is the relatively high levels of porosity,e.g., ≥50 pct, present in the product. This article discusses a novel application of combustion synthesis for producing ceramic-metal composites with reduced levels of porosity by allowing an excess amount of liquid metal, generated by the exothermic reaction, to infiltrate the pores. This application of combustion synthesis of ceramic-metal composite materials is discussed with respect to a model reaction system that utilizes an inexpensive oxide,i.e., TiO2, reacted with carbon and an excess stoichiometric amount of alu-minum. The aluminum is in the liquid state at the ignition temperature and is intentionally allowed to infiltrate the porous ceramic matrix,i.e., TiC-Al2O3, produced from the combustion synthesis reaction. Thisin situ process for producing ceramic-metal composites by the simul-taneous liquid metal infiltration of the pores in a ceramic matrix using the combustion synthesis approach provides considerable advantages over conventional processes which involve two stages,i.e., sintering followed by liquid metal infiltration. However, there are also certain limitations with respect to total penetration of the liquid metal into the porous ceramic matrix and main-taining a stable propagation of the combustion reaction.

Passive cooling system for liquid metal cooled nuclear reactors with backup coolant flow path

Abstract: A liquid metal cooled nuclear fission reactor plant (10) having a passive auxiliary safety cooling system (46),(48) for removing residual heat resulting from fuel decay during reactor shutdown, or heat produced during a mishap. This reactor plant (10) is enhanced by a backup or secondary passive safety cooling system (66) which augments the primary passive auxiliary cooling system when in operation, and replaces the primary system when rendered inoperable.