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.

On-demand magnetic manipulation of liquid metal in microfluidic channels for electrical switching applications

Abstract: We report magnetic-field-driven on-demand manipulation of liquid metal in microfluidic channels filled with base or acid. The liquid metal was coated with iron (Fe) particles and treated with hydrochloric acid to have strong bonding strength with the Fe particles. The magnetic liquid metal slug inserted in the microchannel is manipulated, merged, and separated. In addition, corresponding to the repositioning of an external magnet, the liquid metal slug can be readily moved in microfluidic channels with different angles (>90°) and cross-linked channels in any direction. We demonstrated the functionality of the liquid metal in the microfluidic channel for electrical switching applications by manipulation of the liquid metal, resulting in the sequential turning on of light emitting diodes (LEDs).

Micropump driven by movement of liquid drop induced by continuous electrowetting

Abstract: The present invention relates to a micropump which is driven by movement of a liquid drop based upon continuous electrowetting actuation. The continuous electrowetting means a phenomenon that the liquid drop moves as the surface tension of the liquid drop is electrically varied in succession. When a tube in which electrolyte and a liquid metal drop are inserted is applied with voltage having periodically changing polarity via metal electrodes, the surface tension of the liquid metal is varied so that the liquid metal drop reciprocates in the tube generating pressure or force, which is used as a driving force of the micropump. The micropump is operated in a low voltage and consumes a small amount of electric power.

Efficient Melt Stirring Using Pulse Sequences of a Rotating Magnetic Field: Part I. Flow Field in a Liquid Metal Column

Abstract: The use of a pulsed, rotating magnetic field (RMF) is presented as an auspicious method for obtaining an intensive stirring and mixing in a pool of liquid metal; the RMF pulses within a sequence have been applied with a constant or alternating direction. The resulting flow structure in a cylindrical liquid metal column has been explored by numerical simulations and by model experiments, using the ternary alloy GaInSn. Ultrasonic Doppler velocimetry (UDV) has been used to determine profiles of the vertical velocity. Both the numerical results and the velocity measurements demonstrate the capability of the proposed stirring regimes for overcoming the limited mixing character of conventional rotary stirring. The application of a time-modulated RMF offers considerable potential for providing an optimal flow pattern in a solidifying melt, for reasons of a well-aimed modification of casting properties.

Reconfigurable liquid metal circuits by Laplace pressure shaping

Abstract: We report reconfigurable circuits formed by liquid metal shaping with <10 pounds per square inch (psi) Laplace and vacuum pressures. Laplace pressure drives liquid metals into microreplicated trenches, and upon release of vacuum, the liquid metal dewets into droplets that are compacted to 10–100× less area than when in the channel. Experimental validation includes measurements of actuation speeds exceeding 30 cm/s, simple erasable resistive networks, and switchable 4.5 GHz antennas. Such capability may be of value for next generation of simple electronic switches, tunable antennas, adaptive reflectors, and switchable metamaterials.

Critical assessment and thermodynamic modeling of the Cu–Fe–O system

Abstract: Critical evaluation, thermodynamic modeling and optimization of the Cu–Fe–O system are presented. The model for the liquid phase is developed within the framework of the Quasichemical Formalism. It describes liquid over the whole composition range from metal alloy to oxide melt. The model for spinel is developed within the framework of the Compound Energy Formalism. The spinel solution expands from magnetite, Fe3O4, to cupric ferrite, CuFe2O4. A small solubility of copper in wustite is described by a simple Bragg–Williams model. Parameters of thermodynamic models have been optimized to reproduce all available thermodynamic and phase equilibrium data within experimental error limits. The thermodynamic optimization of the Cu–Fe–O system performed in the present study lays the groundwork for modeling the solubility of oxygen in sulfide liquid (matte) and in liquid metal alloys, which is of particular importance for simulation of copper smelting and converting.