Role of Kirkendall effect in diffusion processes in solids

In the 1940s, KIRKENDALL showed that diffusion in binary solid solutions cannot be described by only one diffusion coefficient. Rather, one has to consider the diffusivity of both species. His findings changed the treatment of diffusion data and the theory of diffusion itself. A diffusion-based framework was successfully employed to explain the behaviour of the Kirkendall plane. Nonetheless, the complexity of a multiphase diffusion zone and the morphological evolution during interdiffusion requires a physico-chemical approach. The interactions in binary and more complex systems are key issues from both the fundamental and technological points of view. This paper reviews the Kirkendall effect from the circumstances of its discovery to recent developments in its understanding, with broad applicability in materials science and engineering.

Development of Prolonged Release Microspheres of Metformin Hydrochloride Using Ion Exchange Resins

Aim To prepare the prolonged-released microspheres of mefformin hydrochloride. Methods Ion-exchange resin-drug mefformin hydrochloride complexes were prepared as core materials, and followed by coating using ethylcellulose （EC） by the emulsion solvent diffusion technique. The release rate of mefformin from the microcapsules was highly dependent on the encapsulating formulation, thus being used as an index for formulation screening. Orthogonal experiments were performed to optimize the coating formulation. Results The final chosen formulation for coating of mefformin microcapsules were as follows： （ 1 ） the ratio of EC （20cps） to EC （45cps） was 50：50; （2） the ratio of plasticizer to coating materials was 20% ;and （3） the ratio of resin-mefformin complexes to coating materials was 5 ： 1. Conclusion The prolonged release microspheres of mefformin hydrochloride were successfully prepared.

Investigation of potential interferences on the measurement of dissolved reactive phosphate using zirconium oxide-based DGT technique

A diffusive gradients in thin films （DGT） technique based on hydrous zirconium oxide （Zr-oxide） has been recently developed for the measurement of dissolved reactive phosphate （DRP）. In this study, the detailed performance of the DGT technique is reported. Spiking experiments revealed that several orthophosphate monoester compounds contributed to the Zr-oxide DGT measurements of DRP. However, such a phenomenon is unlikely to occur during field conditions due to the low concentration of organic P in typical natural waters. The presence of Cl- （up to 106 g/L）, SO42- （up to 16 g/L）, HCO3- （up to 817 g/L）, and AsO2- and AsO 3 4 （both up to 1 mg As/L） in solutions had negligible effects on the measurement of DRP. The threshold concentrations of Cl-, SO42- and HCO3- have been increased from previous reports for the measurements of DRP using other adsorbent-based DGT techniques. The capacity for DGT measurements of DRP decreased with increasing solution pH （4.2-9.2）. The lowest capacity （95 μg P/m2 at pH 9.2） was still greater than that of other DGT techniques that are usually used for the measurement of DRP （2-12 μg P/cm2 ）. The Zr-oxide binding gel could be stored for up to 2 years without any aging effect. This period of validity was considerably longer than the ferrihydrite binding gel that is commonly used in present DGT devices （6 months）. The field application revealed that the concentrations of DRP measured in three fresh water samples using the Zr-oxide DGT technique were in agreement with those of the traditional colorimetric method.