Novel Ultrasonic Dispersion of Carbon Nanotubes

G.T. Caneba, C. Dutta, V. Agrawal, M. Rao

Department of Chemistry, Michigan Technological University.
Department of Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics, Michigan Technological University.
Professor, Department of Chemical Engineering, Michigan Technological University.

DOI: 10.4236/jmmce.2010.93015                

Abstract

A double ultrasonic source has been shown to dramatically increase dispersion efficiency of carbon nanotubes. Thermal measurements of dispersing fluid only show temperature rises commensurate with the power levels of the two ultrasonic sources; which is validated by predictions of statistical energy analysis (SEA) based on wave superposition principles. In this paper, nonlinear wave resonance concepts have been proposed to contain explanations for the dramatic increase in dispersion performance, and more specifically, the effect of intermittency chaos. Such a hypothesis was made because of the similarity between the pressure wave pattern in the double sonication system and sliding charge density wave with an A.C. electric field, which was cited to exhibit intermittency behavior.

Keywords

Carbon Nanotubes, Ultrasonic Dispersion, Acoustics Energy, Statistical Energy Analysis, Intermittency, Chaos

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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