An Active R&D Firm
ISM constantly conducts research and development, aimed both at improving its ultrasonic technology and at applying the technology to different applications. Examples of our R&D activities in both fields are presented below:
ULTRASONIC INSTRUMENTATION DEVELOPMENT
ISM is developing a specialized piezoelectric transducer, capable of providing an unprecedented combination of output characteristics – output power up to 5 kW, ultrasonic amplitudes up to 30 microns (without an ultrasonic horn) and the output end diameter of 60 mm. This transducer will be designed to work in combination with Barbell horns, which will then be able to produce extremely high amplitudes, creating extremely intense ultrasonic cavitation in large volumes of liquid. The abovementioned features will be achieved by incorporating piezoelectric rings into a Full-wave Barbell Horn (FBH) structure, thereby producing a transducer/Barbell horn hybrid.
An extremely powerful Half-wave Barbell horn with an Opening (HBHO) will be constructed and tested in conjunction with this transducer. HBHO has a larger output surface than any other Barbell horn of similar diameter and can provide very high ultrasonic amplitudes. The device will be designed to create “acoustic focusing” by umbrella-like expansion-contraction of its output section, potentially leading to “super-cavitation”, potentially resulting in fundamentally new sonochemical and sonophysical effects.
ULTRASONIC TECHNOLOGY APPLICATIONS DEVELOPMENT
ISM is engaged in active research in multiple areas of ultrasonic technology application. Examples of our ongoing projects include: designing ultrasonic nano-particle production processes for the pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries, improving the properties of formaldehyde-free adhesives used in MDF and particle board production, developing the process of simultaneous extraction and transesterification of microalgal oil for inexpensive biofuel synthesis, optimizing metalworking fluid formulations, creating highly UV resistant pigment nano-dispersions used in coatings, sunscreens and printer inks, investigating methods to make superior-quality wax emulsions, designing ways to efficiently degas liquids, and studying the effects of high-intensity ultrasound on molten resins.