Research interests of Professor
Mukasyan are in fundamental studies of mechanisms for
rapid high-temperature heterogeneous reaction and in
developing of novel approaches for materials
synthesis.
The following fundamental topics are
currently under investigation.
Combustion in
Microgravity
(special
presentation #1)
Combustion in variety of gasless
heterogeneous reaction systems is typically
characterized by high temperatures (2000-3500 K) and
heating rates (up to 106K/s). These
conditions generate liquids and gases, which are
subject to gravity-driven flow. The removal of such
gravitational effects is likely to provide increased
control of the reaction front, with a consequent
improvement in control of the process. Thus on the one
hand, microgravity experiments (NASA Glenn Research
Center, Cleveland, OH) lead to major advances in the
understanding of fundamental aspects of the combustion
wave. On the other hand, the specific features of
microgravity environment allow one to produce unique
combustion products, which cannot be obtained under
terrestrial conditions.
Mechanisms of Heterogeneous Reaction
Waves Propagation
(special
presentation #2)
In these studies we address several
important issues related to mechanisms of rapid high
temperature heterogeneous reactions, both on the macro-
and microscopic levels. They include studies on the
microstructural features of combustion wave propagation
in gasless systems, examined with time scale
?10-3 s and length scale 1-100 mm. For this
purpose we have developed a novel technique of
digital high-speed
microscopic video recording (DHSMVR), which
allows in-situ observation of
rapid processes occurring at the microscopic level.
This technique is applied to investigate high
temperature reaction waves in a variety of reaction
systems. Using this method, significantly new
information about the microstructure of gasless
combustion waves was obtained, and a new basis was
created for understanding the mechanisms of fast
chemical reactions in heterogeneous
media.
Also several industries related
projects involve:
Combustion Synthesis (CS) of
Advanced Materials
The synthesis of materials using
combustion phenomena is an advanced approach in powder
metallurgy. The process is characterized by unique
conditions involving high temperatures (up to 3,500 K),
and short reaction times (on order of seconds). As a
result, combustion methods offer several attractive
advantages over conventional metallurgical processing
and alloy development technologies. The foremost is
that solely the heat of chemical reaction (instead of
an external source) supplies the energy for the
synthesis. Also, simple equipment, rather than
energy-intensive high-temperature furnaces, is
sufficient. Further, an attractive aspect of combustion
process is its ability to produce materials of
hih-purity, since the high temperatures purge the
powders of any volatile impurities adsorbed or present
in the reactants. Remarkably, the high temperature
gradients, combined with rapid cooling rates in the
combustion wave, may form metastable phases and unique
microstructures not possible by conventional methods.
In addition, this technique allows the synthesis of new
alloy compositions conveniently, rapidly, and in
relatively small amounts that permit rapid screening of
material composition to enhance properties. Finally,
the combustion method also permits scale-up, so that
commercial quantities can be produced
efficiently.
Currently we work on developing of
two CS-based technologies, i.e. casting
bio-alloys for direct production of orthopedic
implants (special
presentation #3) `and sintering of complex
oxide membranes for solid fuel cell applications
(special presentation #4)
`.
Non-isothermal
Kinetics
This problem is important because in
a majority of chemical engineering processes, the
reaction system should be preheated before it reaches
isothermal conditions or it operates under conditions
where temperature changes with time. Some qualitative
results available in the literature indicate that
temperature-time history of the reactants may influence
the mechanisms of chemical reactions. Thus, it is
critical to know: (i) to what extent does the behavior
of the reaction system depend on heating rate; (ii)
whether one can use kinetics obtained under isothermal
conditions to describe the reaction occurring
essentially non-isothermally.
High-Toughness Carbon-Carbon
Composites
Current technology of carbon-carbon
brake production involves several cycles of CVI/CVD
processes to transform initially high porous carbon
fiber substrate to dense materials (>1.7 g/cc). One
of the disadvantages of this approach is a long
manufacturing time (~120 days). Other way to obtain
dense graphite material with the required friction
properties is to sintered carbon mesophase. It was
shown that in general mesocarbon can be rapidly (1-2
days) sintered into essentially fully dense materials
under relatively low processing temperature (<1500
C). However the toughness of synthesized materials is
far below critical and thus after few stops samples
usually broke in a brittle failure mode. The
>goal of the project
is, based on fundamental studies of sintering mechanism
and using different "reinforcement" approaches, to
elaborate the "rapid" technology for
processing of mesocarbon microbeads (MCMB) to
high-toughness
composite carbon-based materials.
Carbon Nano-Tubes
(CNT)
Carbon nanotubes currently attract
great attention owing to their unique characteristics,
such as high strength, electrical conductivity, as well
as special functional properties. For example, CNTs
have high potential for use as hydrogen storage
materials in the transportation sector, electrochemical
hydrogen storage in electrodes of rechargeable
batteries and fuel cells and field emission materials
in display technology. Among other methods for CNT
synthesis the floating catalyst (FC) approach, used in
our laboratory, is most promising, because of its
possibility for continuous production of pure CNTs,
simple equipment, low reaction temperature and thus low
cost. Currently we are working on identifying the
mechanism of CNT synthesis, and more specifically on
the influence of catalytic agent nature
on the microstructure and properties of the synthesized
nanotube.
Thin Dense Metal
Films
Nanoscale grained dense thin
metallic films are of great importance in a variety of
scientific and technological fields including
microelectronics, optical devices, catalysis, chemical
and biological sensors. A number of techniques are used
for synthesis of the films, such as atomic layer
epitaxy, magnetron sputtering, chemical vapor
deposition and electroless plating. The properties of
the films depend significantly on the microstructure
and thickness. However, the available synthesis
techniques, while yielding different microstructure and
thickness, do not permit a systematic variation of
these parameters in order to optimize film properties.
We have developed a novel approach to overcome this
problem and synthesize thin (~1 mm) fully dense film
with nanoscale grained microstructure. This technique
is an unusual combination of two different phenomena:
electroless plating and osmosis. Since this unique
approach can be used for synthesis of nanograined thin
metal films of any desired composition, it can be
employed in a variety of
applications.
See selected publications for more
details regarding above noted directions (see
also full list of
publications`):
Books
- "Solid
Flame", Merzhanov A.G and Mukasyan
A.S.,Torus Press, Nauka, Moscow 2007,
pp.280.
- "Combustion of Heterogeneous Systems:
Fundamentals and Applications for Material
Synthesis",
edited by Mukasyan A., Martirosyan K. Research
Signpost Publisher, 2007,
pp.234.
Reviews
A.S. Rogachev
and A.S. Mukasyan, Review: "Combustion of Heterogeneous
Nano-Structured
Systems",Combustion, Explosion and Shock
Waves, (2009, in
review).
A.S. Mukasyan and A.S.Rogachev,
2008, Review: "Discrete Reaction Waves:
Gasless Combustion of Solid Powder
Mixtures",J. Progress in
Combustion and Energy,
34(3):337-416.
S.T. Aruna and A.S.Mukasyan,2008,
Review: "Combustion Synthesis and
nanomaterails", Current
Opinion in Solid State and Materails
Science, 12:44-50.
A.S. Mukasyan and J.White, 2007
Review: “Combustion Joining of
Refractory Materials”, International Journal of Self-Propagating
High-Temperature Synthesis,
16(3):154-168.
A.S. Mukasyan, A.Varma, C. Lau,
2005, Review: "Influence of
Gravity on Combustion Synthesis of Advanced Materials",
AIAA
Journal, 43(2):225-246,
A. Varma, A.S. Rogachev, A.S.
Mukasyan and S. Hwang. 1998.
Review:
Combustion Synthesis of Advanced Materials: Principles
and Applications. Advances in Chemical Engineering,
24:79-226.
Papers
Schuyten, S., Dinka, P., Mukasyan
A.S. and E. Wolf, 2008, "A
Novel Combustion Synthesis Preparation of
CuO/ZnO/ZrO2/Pd for Oxidative Hydrogen Production from
Methanol", Catalysis Letters,
121(3-4)
189-198.
White, J.D.E. , Simpson
A.H.,Shteinberg A.S. and Mukasyan A.S., 2008, "Combustion Joining of Refractory
Materials: Carbon-Carbon Composites", J. Mat.
Res., 23 `(1) 160-169.
Lan AD, Mukasyan A.S.,"Complex SrRuO3-Pt and LaRuO3-Pt
Catalysts for Direct Alcohol Fuel Cells" 2008, Ind.
& Eng. Chem. Res. 47(23),
8989-8994.
Mukasyan, A.S, Dinka, P., "Novel Method for Synthesis of
Nano-Materails: Combustion of Active Impregnated
Layer", 2007, J. Adv. Eng.Mater., 9,
653-657.
Deshpande K., Mukasyan A.S. and
Varma A., 2006,"High-throughput Evaluation of the
Perovskite-based Catalysts for Direct Methanol Fuel
Cells," J. Power Sources,
158`(1),
60-68.
Fan Yue-Ying, Kaufmann, A., Mukasyan
A.S. and Varma A., 2006, "Single and Multi-Wall Carbon
Nanotubes Produced Using the Floating Catalyst Method:
Synthesis, Purification and
Hydrogen-uptake",Carbon, 44`(11), 2160-2170.
Dinka P. and Mukasyan A.,2005, "In
Situ Preparation of the Supported Catalysts by Solution
Combustion Synthesis", J. Phys. Chem.
109`(46),
21627-21633.
Lan, A. and Mukasyan, A, J.2005,
"Hydrogen Storage Capacity Characterization of Carbon
Nanotubes by Micro-Gravimetrical Approach", J. Phys.
Chem, 109 `(33),
16011-16016.
Mukasyan, A.S.,"Combustion synthesis
of Nitrides: Mechanistic Studies",2005, Proceed,
Combust. Inst.30, `2529-2535.
Kharatyan, S.L., Chatilyan, H.A., A.
S. Mukasyan, D. A. Simonetti and A. Varma, 2005,
"Influence of Heating Rate on Kinetics of Rapid
High-Temperature Reactions in Condensed Heterogeneous
Media: Mo-Si System", AIChE J,
51, `(1)
261-270.
Deshpande K., Mukasyan A.S. and
Varma A.,2004, "Direct Synthesis of Iron Oxide
Nanopowders by Combustion Approach: Reaction Mechanism
and Properties", Chem. Mater.
16 (24),
4896-4904.
Shafirovich, E Mukasyan, A. Thiers,
L. Varma, A. Legrand, C. Chauveau et I. Gokalp,2004,
"Allumage et Combustion de Particules d'Aluminium
Recouvertes de Nickel",Combustion,
2 (4),
275-293.
C. Norfolk, Mukasyan, A.S. Hayes D.,
McGinn P., and Varma A., 2003 "Processing of Mesocarbon
Microbeads to High-Performance Materials: Part I.
Studies Toward the Sintering Mechanism. Carbon, 42 (1),
11-19.
B. Li, A.S. Mukasyan, and A. Varma,
2003, Combustion Synthesis of CoCrMo (F-75) Implant
Alloys: Microstructure and Properties", Mater. Res. Inov,
7 (4)
245-252.
A. Varma, Mukasyan A. S, Deshpande
K., Pranda P., Erii, P., 2003, Combustion Synthesis of
Nanoscale Oxide Powders: Mechanism, Characterization
and Properties, Mat. Res. Soc. Symp.
Proc. Vol. 800,
113-124.
C. Lau, Mukasyan A.S. and A. Varma,
2002, "Materials Synthesis by Reduction-Type Combustion
Reaction: Influence of Gravity, Proceedings Combustion
Institute, 29,
1101-1108.
A. Varma, "K. L. Yeung, R.
Souleimanova and A.S. Mukasyan, 2002, Novel Approach
for Thin Dense Nanoscale Grained Metal Films,
Ind. & Eng.
Chem. Res., 41 (25),
6323-6325.
A. Varma, A., Li, B. and A.
Mukasyan, 2002, Novel Synthesis of Orthopaedic Implant
Materials, J. Adv.
Eng." Mater., 4, (7),
482-487.
A.S. Mukasyan, C. Lau and A. Varma.
2001. Gasless Combustion of Aluminum Particles Clad by
Nickel. Combust.
Sci. Tech., 170:67-85.
I.A. Filimonov, Ni.I. Kidin. and
A.S. Mukasyan. 2001. The Influence of Filtration and
Reactant Gas Pressure on Spin Combustion in Gas-Solid
System. Int. J.
SHS, 10:151-176.
C. Lau, A.S. Mukasyan, A. Pelekh and
A. Varma. 2001. Combustion Synthesis of NiAl-based
Composite: Effects of Microgravity. J. Mat. Sci. Res.
16:1614-1625.
A. S. Mukasyan, C. Costello, K.P.
Sherlock, D. Lafarga and A.Varma. 2001.
Perovskite Membranes by
Aqueous Combustion Synthesis: Synthesis and
Properties. Sep. & Purif.
Tech., 25:117-126.
R. Souleimanova, R., A.S. Mukasyan
and A. Varma. 2000. Effects of Osmosis on
Microstructure of Pd-Composite Membranes Synthesized by
Electroless Plating Technique. J. Memb. Sci.,
166:249-257.
A.S. Mukasyan, A.S. Rogachev and A.
Varma. 2000. Microstructural Mechanism of Combustion in
Heterogeneous Reaction Media. Proceed. Combustion
Institute, 28:1413-1419.
A. Pelekh, A.S. Mukasyan and A.
Varma. 2000, Electrothermography apparatus for kinetics
of rapid high-temperature reactions", Rev. Sic.
Instrum.,71:220-223
L. Thiers, B. Leitenberger, A.S.
Mukasyan and A. Varma. 2000. Influence of Preheating
Rate on Kinetics of High-Temperature Gas-Solid
Reactions", AIChE
Journal, 46:2518-2524.
A.S. Mukasyan, A.S. Rogachev and A.
Varma. 1999. Mechanism of Reaction Wave Propagation
during Combustion Synthesis of Advanced Materials.
Chem. Eng.
Sci., 54:3357-3367.
A.S. Mukasyan, A.S. Rogachev and A.
Varma. 1999. Microscopic Mechanisms of Pulsating
Combustion in Gasless Systems. AIChE Journal,
45:2580-2585.
A. Varma, A.S. Rogachev, A.S.
Mukasyan and S. Hwang. 1998.Complex Behavior of
Self-Propagated Reaction Waves in Heterogeneous Media.
Proc. Natl. Acad.
Sci. USA, 95:11053-11058.
Lan, A. and Mukasyan, A. 2007,
"Perovskite-based catalysts for direct methanol fuel
cells', J. Phys. Chem, 26,
9573-9582.
Mukasyan, AS., P.Epstein and
P.Dinka, 2007, "Solution combustion synthesis of
nanomaterials", Proc. Combustion Institute,
31(2),
1789-1795.
White J., Mukasyan
A, La Forest M., and Simpson A.,2007, "Novel apparatus
for joining of carbon-carbon composites", Review of
Scientific Instruments, 78,
1.
Dinka P. and
Mukasyan A.,2007, "Perovskite Catalysts for the
Auto-reforming of Sulfur Containing Fuels", J. Power
Sources, 167,
472-482.
A. Varma, and A. S.
Mukasyan, A. 2004, Combustion Synthesis of Advanced
Materials: Fundamentals and Applications, Korean J.
Chem. Eng., 21 (2), 527-536.
