A containerless levitation setup for liquid processing in a superconducting magnet

Hui Meng Lu, Da Chuan Yin, Hai Sheng Li, Li Qiang Geng, Chen Yan Zhang, Qin Qin Lu, Yun Zhu Guo, Wei Hong Guo, Peng Shang, Nobuko I. Wakayama

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

32 Scopus citations

Abstract

Containerless processing of materials is considered beneficial for obtaining high quality products due to the elimination of the detrimental effects coming from the contact with container walls. Many containerless processing methods are realized by levitation techniques. This paper describes a containerless levitation setup that utilized the magnetization force generated in a gradient magnetic field. It comprises a levitation unit, a temperature control unit, and a real-time observation unit. Known volume of liquid diamagnetic samples can be levitated in the levitation chamber, the temperature of which is controlled using the temperature control unit. The evolution of the levitated sample is observed in real time using the observation unit. With this setup, containerless processing of liquid such as crystal growth from solution can be realized in a well-controlled manner. Since the levitation is achieved using a superconducting magnet, experiments requiring long duration time such as protein crystallization and simulation of space environment for living system can be easily succeeded.

Original languageEnglish
Article number093903
JournalReview of Scientific Instruments
Volume79
Issue number9
DOIs
StatePublished - 2008

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