Multiphasic systems future research

The two extreme hypotheses on mixing produce lumped models for the fluid dynamic behavior, whereas real reactors show complex mixing patterns and thus gradients of composition and temperature. It is worthwhile to stress that the fluid dynamic behavior of real reactors strongly depends on their physical dimensions. Moreover, in ideal reactors the chemical reactions are supposed to occur in a single phase (gaseous or liquid), whereas real reactors are often multiphase systems. Two simple examples are the gas-liquid reactors, used to oxidize a reactant dissolved in a liquid solvent and the fermenters, where reactions take place within a solid biomass dispersed in a liquid phase. Real batch reactors are briefly discussed in Chap. 7, in the context of suggestions for future research work. 

Electrokinetic and electrohydrodynamic instability mixing in microsystems is a complex phenomenon which researchers are only beginning to exploit and understand. Future work requires a further development of experimental models and expansion of computational simulations to better understand how the instabilities form and grow. Specific applications of electrokinetic and electrohydrodynamic instabilities are still limited. The application of these instabilities to improve mixing between components should be explored. One example is through the use of multiphase systems where electrohydrodynamic instabilities are utilized to improve component partitioning for liquid extraction devices. 

The properties of block copolymers, on the other hand, cannot be calculated without additional information concerning the block sizes, and whether or not the different blocks aggregate into domains. The results of calculations using the methods developed in this book can be inserted as input parameters into models for the thermoelastic and transport properties of multiphase polymeric systems such as blends and block copolymers of immiscible polymers, semicrystalline polymers, and polymers containing various types of fillers. A review of the morphologies and properties of multiphase materials, and of some composite models which we have found to be useful in such applications, will be postponed to Chapter 19 and Chapter 20, where the most likely future directions for research on such materials will also be pointed out. 

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