arXiv subjects

Greg J. Smallwood

Publications and source records attributed to Greg J. Smallwood.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Effect of reaction temperature on nascent carbonaceous particles from toluene shock-tube pyrolysis: Insights from FTIR and Raman spectroscopy

The transition from gaseous precursors to nascent solid particles and their subsequent structural maturation were investigated in single-pulse shock-tube experiments using ex situ Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopy of sampled products. A mixture of 2% toluene in argon was pyrolyzed at around 2.0 bar with temperature plateau times of 2.0 ms over the 1450-1800 K reaction temperature range. In situ laser extinction measurements indicate the onset of particle formation at 1570 K. At this temperature, Raman spectra exhibit emerging D and G bands, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) reveals the disappearance of poorly defined structures, identifying 1570 K as the phase-transition reaction temperature. Approaching this reaction temperature, Raman spectra show a rapid disappearance of sp hybridized triple carbon bonds. At 1670 K reaction temperature, a maximum in primary particle diameter and a decrease in structural disorder inferred from Raman spectroscopy are observed, defining the ordering threshold. Deconvolution of the FTIR spectra enables separation of in ring double carbon bond stretching vibrations from isolated and ring-conjugated side-chain double carbon bond modes. The in-ring double carbon band is used to normalize aliphatic and aromatic C-H vibrations. FTIR analysis reveals ring-edge structures associated with electron-localization sites, including bay regions, five-membered ring defects, and benzylic positions, indicating a radical-rich environment below the phase-transition temperature. Between the phase-transition and ordering-threshold temperatures, K-regions and armchair structures associated with electron delocalization and thermal stability increase. The emergence of these electronic and structural characteristics highlights the critical role of radicals in soot inception and early structural ordering.

physics.chem-ph↗

arXiv2022

Size-dependent mass absorption cross-section of soot particles from various sources

The mass absorption cross-section (MAC) of combustion-generated soot is used in pollution and emissions measurements to quantify the mass concentration of soot and in atmospheric modelling to predict the radiative effects of soot on climate. Previous work has suggested that the MAC of soot particles may change with their size, due to (1) internal scattering among monomers in the soot aggregate, (2) the correlation of soot primary-particle diameter with aggregate size, (3) quantum confinement effects, or (4) a size-dependent degree of soot graphitization. Here, we report a size-dependent MAC for ex-situ soot sampled from two commercially available diffusion-flame soot generators, one aviation turbine engine, and one diesel generator. We also incorporate literature data. We show that the MAC increases with aggregate size until a plateau is reached at single particle masses between 4 and 30 fg (approximately 300-650 nm soot mobility diameter). The smallest particles may have MACs 50% to 80% smaller than the largest, depending on the source, while the largest particles have MACs within the range reported by previous measurements on polydisperse samples. Moreover, we show that models of hypotheses (1), (2), and (3) do not describe our measurement results, leaving hypothesis (4) as the only remaining candidate.

physics.ao-ph↗

arXiv2021

Systematic experimental comparison of particle filtration efficiency test methods for commercial respirators and face masks

Respirators, medical masks, and barrier face coverings all filter airborne particles using similar physical principles. However, they are tested for certification using a variety of standardized test methods, creating challenges for the comparison of differently certified products. We have performed systematic experiments to quantify and understand the differences between standardized test methods for N95 respirators (NIOSH TEB-APR-STP-0059 under US 42 CFR 84), medical face masks (ASTM F2299/F2100), and COVID-19-related barrier face coverings (ASTM F3502-21). Our experiments demonstrate the role of face velocity, particle properties (mean size, size variability, electric charge, density, and shape), measurement techniques, and environmental preconditioning. The measured filtration efficiency was most sensitive to changes in face velocity and particle charge. Relative to the NIOSH method, users of the ASTM F2299/F2100 method have commonly used non-neutralized (highly charged) aerosols as well as smaller face velocities, each of which may result in approximately 10% higher measured filtration efficiencies. In the NIOSH method, environmental conditioning at elevated humidity increased filtration efficiency in some commercial samples while decreasing it in others, indicating that measurement should be performed both with and without conditioning. More generally, our results provide an experimental basis for the comparison of respirators certified under various international methods, including FFP2, KN95, P2, Korea 1st Class, and DS2.

physics.med-ph↗