Advantages offered by high average power picosecond lasers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Moorhouse, C.

2011-03-01

As electronic devices shrink in size to reduce material costs, device size and weight, thinner material thicknesses are also utilized. Feature sizes are also decreasing, which is pushing manufacturers towards single step laser direct write process as an attractive alternative to conventional, multiple step photolithography processes by eliminating process steps and the cost of chemicals. The fragile nature of these thin materials makes them difficult to machine either mechanically or with conventional nanosecond pulsewidth, Diode Pumped Solids State (DPSS) lasers. Picosecond laser pulses can cut materials with reduced damage regions and selectively remove thin films due to the reduced thermal effects of the shorter pulsewidth. Also, the high repetition rate allows high speed processing for industrial applications. Selective removal of thin films for OLED patterning, silicon solar cells and flat panel displays is discussed, as well as laser cutting of transparent materials with low melting point such as Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET). For many of these thin film applications, where low pulse energy and high repetition rate are required, throughput can be increased by the use of a novel technique to using multiple beams from a single laser source is outlined.

BLENDING LOW ENRICHED URANIUM WITH DEPLETED URANIUM TO CREATE A SOURCE MATERIAL ORE THAT CAN BE PROCESSED FOR THE RECOVERY OF YELLOWCAKE AT A CONVENTIONAL URANIUM MILL

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Schutt, Stephen M.; Hochstein, Ron F.; Frydenlund, David C.

2003-02-27

Throughout the United States Department of Energy (DOE) complex, there are a number of streams of low enriched uranium (LEU) that contain various trace contaminants. These surplus nuclear materials require processing in order to meet commercial fuel cycle specifications. To date, they have not been designated as waste for disposal at the DOE's Nevada Test Site (NTS). Currently, with no commercial outlet available, the DOE is evaluating treatment and disposal as the ultimate disposition path for these materials. This paper will describe an innovative program that will provide a solution to DOE that will allow disposition of these materials atmore » a cost that will be competitive with treatment and disposal at the NTS, while at the same time recycling the material to recover a valuable energy resource (yellowcake) for reintroduction into the commercial nuclear fuel cycle. International Uranium (USA) Corporation (IUSA) and Nuclear Fuel Services, Inc. (NFS) have entered into a commercial relationship to pursue the development of this program. The program involves the design of a process and construction of a plant at NFS' site in Erwin, Tennessee, for the blending of contaminated LEU with depleted uranium (DU) to produce a uranium source material ore (USM Ore{trademark}). The USM Ore{trademark} will then be further processed at IUC's White Mesa Mill, located near Blanding, Utah, to produce conventional yellowcake, which can be delivered to conversion facilities, in the same manner as yellowcake that is produced from natural ores or other alternate feed materials. The primary source of feed for the business will be the significant sources of trace contaminated materials within the DOE complex. NFS has developed a dry blending process (DRYSM Process) to blend the surplus LEU material with DU at its Part 70 licensed facility, to produce USM Ore{trademark} with a U235 content within the range of U235 concentrations for source material. By reducing the U235 content to source material levels in this manner, the material will be suitable for processing at a conventional uranium mill under its existing Part 40 license to remove contaminants and enable the product to re-enter the commercial fuel cycle. The tailings from processing the USM Ore{trademark} at the mill will be permanently disposed of in the mill's tailings impoundment as 11e.(2) byproduct material. Blending LEU with DU to make a uranium source material ore that can be returned to the nuclear fuel cycle for processing to produce yellowcake, has never been accomplished before. This program will allow DOE to disposition its surplus LEU and DU in a cost effective manner, and at the same time provide for the recovery of valuable energy resources that would be lost through processing and disposal of the materials. This paper will discuss the nature of the surplus LEU and DU materials, the manner in which the LEU will be blended with DU to form a uranium source material ore, and the legal means by which this blending can be accomplished at a facility licensed under 10 CFR Part 70 to produce ore that can be processed at a conventional uranium mill licensed under 10 CFR Part 40.« less

Machinability of nickel based alloys using electrical discharge machining process

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Khan, M. Adam; Gokul, A. K.; Bharani Dharan, M. P.; Jeevakarthikeyan, R. V. S.; Uthayakumar, M.; Thirumalai Kumaran, S.; Duraiselvam, M.

2018-04-01

The high temperature materials such as nickel based alloys and austenitic steel are frequently used for manufacturing critical aero engine turbine components. Literature on conventional and unconventional machining of steel materials is abundant over the past three decades. However the machining studies on superalloy is still a challenging task due to its inherent property and quality. Thus this material is difficult to be cut in conventional processes. Study on unconventional machining process for nickel alloys is focused in this proposed research. Inconel718 and Monel 400 are the two different candidate materials used for electrical discharge machining (EDM) process. Investigation is to prepare a blind hole using copper electrode of 6mm diameter. Electrical parameters are varied to produce plasma spark for diffusion process and machining time is made constant to calculate the experimental results of both the material. Influence of process parameters on tool wear mechanism and material removal are considered from the proposed experimental design. While machining the tool has prone to discharge more materials due to production of high energy plasma spark and eddy current effect. The surface morphology of the machined surface were observed with high resolution FE SEM. Fused electrode found to be a spherical structure over the machined surface as clumps. Surface roughness were also measured with surface profile using profilometer. It is confirmed that there is no deviation and precise roundness of drilling is maintained.

Thermal-mechanical modeling of laser ablation hybrid machining

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Matin, Mohammad Kaiser

2001-08-01

Hard, brittle and wear-resistant materials like ceramics pose a problem when being machined using conventional machining processes. Machining ceramics even with a diamond cutting tool is very difficult and costly. Near net-shape processes, like laser evaporation, produce micro-cracks that require extra finishing. Thus it is anticipated that ceramic machining will have to continue to be explored with new-sprung techniques before ceramic materials become commonplace. This numerical investigation results from the numerical simulations of the thermal and mechanical modeling of simultaneous material removal from hard-to-machine materials using both laser ablation and conventional tool cutting utilizing the finite element method. The model is formulated using a two dimensional, planar, computational domain. The process simulation acronymed, LAHM (Laser Ablation Hybrid Machining), uses laser energy for two purposes. The first purpose is to remove the material by ablation. The second purpose is to heat the unremoved material that lies below the ablated material in order to ``soften'' it. The softened material is then simultaneously removed by conventional machining processes. The complete solution determines the temperature distribution and stress contours within the material and tracks the moving boundary that occurs due to material ablation. The temperature distribution is used to determine the distance below the phase change surface where sufficient ``softening'' has occurred, so that a cutting tool may be used to remove additional material. The model incorporated for tracking the ablative surface does not assume an isothermal melt phase (e.g. Stefan problem) for laser ablation. Both surface absorption and volume absorption of laser energy as function of depth have been considered in the models. LAHM, from the thermal and mechanical point of view is a complex machining process involving large deformations at high strain rates, thermal effects of the laser, removal of materials and contact between workpiece and tool. The theoretical formulation associated with LAHM for solving the thermal-mechanical problem using the finite element method is presented. The thermal formulation is incorporated in the user defined subroutines called by ABAQUS/Standard. The mechanical portion is modeled using ABAQUS/Explicit's general capabilities of modeling interactions involving contact and separation. The results obtained from the FEA simulations showed that the cutting force decrease considerably in both LAEM Surface Absorption (LARM-SA) and LAHM volume absorption (LAHM-VA) models relative to LAM model. It was observed that the HAZ can be expanded or narrowed depending on the laser speed and power. The cutting force is minimal at the last extent of the HAZ. In both the models the laser ablates material thus reducing material stiffness as well as relaxing the thermal stress. The stress values obtained showed compressive yield stress just below the ablated surface and chip. The failure occurs by conventional cutting where tensile stress exceeds the tensile strength of the material at that temperature. In this hybrid machining process the advantages of both the individual machining processes were realized.

A continuous silicon-coating facility

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Butter, C.; Heaps, J. D.

1979-01-01

Automatic continuous silicon-coating facility is used to process 100 by 10 cm graphite-coated ceramic substrates for silicon solar cells. Process reduces contamination associated with conventional dip-coating processes, improving material service life.

Determining the Mechanical Properties of Lattice Block Structures

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wilmoth, Nathan

2013-01-01

Lattice block structures and shape memory alloys possess several traits ideal for solving intriguing new engineering problems in industries such as aerospace, military, and transportation. Recent testing at the NASA Glenn Research Center has investigated the material properties of lattice block structures cast from a conventional aerospace titanium alloy as well as lattice block structures cast from nickel-titanium shape memory alloy. The lattice block structures for both materials were sectioned into smaller subelements for tension and compression testing. The results from the cast conventional titanium material showed that the expected mechanical properties were maintained. The shape memory alloy material was found to be extremely brittle from the casting process and only compression testing was completed. Future shape memory alloy lattice block structures will utilize an adjusted material composition that will provide a better quality casting. The testing effort resulted in baseline mechanical property data from the conventional titanium material for comparison to shape memory alloy materials once suitable castings are available.

Comparison of machinability of manganese alloyed austempered ductile iron produced using conventional and two step austempering processes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hegde, Ananda; Sharma, Sathyashankara

2018-05-01

Austempered Ductile Iron (ADI) is a revolutionary material with high strength and hardness combined with optimum ductility and toughness. The discovery of two step austempering process has lead to the superior combination of all the mechanical properties. However, because of the high strength and hardness of ADI, there is a concern regarding its machinability. In the present study, machinability of ADI produced using conventional and two step heat treatment processes is assessed using tool life and the surface roughness. Speed, feed and depth of cut are considered as the machining parameters in the dry turning operation. The machinability results along with the mechanical properties are compared for ADI produced using both conventional and two step austempering processes. The results have shown that two step austempering process has produced better toughness with good hardness and strength without sacrificing ductility. Addition of 0.64 wt% manganese did not cause any detrimental effect on the machinability of ADI, both in conventional and two step processes. Marginal improvement in tool life and surface roughness were observed in two step process compared to that with conventional process.

Proton conducting ceramics in membrane separations

DOEpatents

Brinkman, Kyle S; Korinko, Paul S; Fox, Elise B; Chen, Frank

2015-04-14

Perovskite materials of the general formula SrCeO.sub.3 and BaCeO.sub.3 are provided having improved conductivity while maintaining an original ratio of chemical constituents, by altering the microstructure of the material. A process of making Pervoskite materials is also provided in which wet chemical techniques are used to fabricate nanocrystalline ceramic materials which have improved grain size and allow lower temperature densification than is obtainable with conventional solid-state reaction processing.

New materials through a variety of sintering methods

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jaworska, L.; Cyboroń, J.; Cygan, S.; Laszkiewicz-Łukasik, J.; Podsiadło, M.; Novak, P.; Holovenko, Y.

2018-03-01

New sintering techniques make it possible to obtain materials with special properties that are impossible to obtain by conventional sintering techniques. This issue is especially important for ceramic materials for application under extreme conditions. Following the tendency to limit critical materials in manufacturing processes, the use of W, Si, B, Co, Cr should be limited, also. One of the cheapest and widely available materials is aluminum oxide, which shows differences in phase composition, grain size, hardness, strain and fracture toughness of the same type of powder, sintered via various methods. In this paper the alumina was sintered using the conventional free sintering process, microwave sintering, Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS), high pressure-high temperature method (HP-HT) and High Pressure Spark Plasma Sintering (HP SPS). Phase composition analysis, by X-ray diffraction of the alumina materials sintered using various methods, was carried out. For the conventional sintering method, compacts are composed of α-Al2O3 and θ-Al2O3. For compacts sintered using SPS, microwave and HP-HT methods, χ-Al2O3 and γ-Al2O3 phases were additionally present. Mechanical and physical properties of the obtained materials were compared between the methods of sintering. On the basis of images from scanning electron microscope quantitative analysis was performed to determine the degree of grain growth of alumina after sintering.

Programmable DNA-Mediated Multitasking Processor.

PubMed

Shu, Jian-Jun; Wang, Qi-Wen; Yong, Kian-Yan; Shao, Fangwei; Lee, Kee Jin

2015-04-30

Because of DNA appealing features as perfect material, including minuscule size, defined structural repeat and rigidity, programmable DNA-mediated processing is a promising computing paradigm, which employs DNAs as information storing and processing substrates to tackle the computational problems. The massive parallelism of DNA hybridization exhibits transcendent potential to improve multitasking capabilities and yield a tremendous speed-up over the conventional electronic processors with stepwise signal cascade. As an example of multitasking capability, we present an in vitro programmable DNA-mediated optimal route planning processor as a functional unit embedded in contemporary navigation systems. The novel programmable DNA-mediated processor has several advantages over the existing silicon-mediated methods, such as conducting massive data storage and simultaneous processing via much fewer materials than conventional silicon devices.

Additive manufacturing: Toward holistic design

DOE PAGES

Jared, Bradley H.; Aguilo, Miguel A.; Beghini, Lauren L.; ...

2017-03-18

Here, additive manufacturing offers unprecedented opportunities to design complex structures optimized for performance envelopes inaccessible under conventional manufacturing constraints. Additive processes also promote realization of engineered materials with microstructures and properties that are impossible via traditional synthesis techniques. Enthused by these capabilities, optimization design tools have experienced a recent revival. The current capabilities of additive processes and optimization tools are summarized briefly, while an emerging opportunity is discussed to achieve a holistic design paradigm whereby computational tools are integrated with stochastic process and material awareness to enable the concurrent optimization of design topologies, material constructs and fabrication processes.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Jared, Bradley H.; Aguilo, Miguel A.; Beghini, Lauren L.

Here, additive manufacturing offers unprecedented opportunities to design complex structures optimized for performance envelopes inaccessible under conventional manufacturing constraints. Additive processes also promote realization of engineered materials with microstructures and properties that are impossible via traditional synthesis techniques. Enthused by these capabilities, optimization design tools have experienced a recent revival. The current capabilities of additive processes and optimization tools are summarized briefly, while an emerging opportunity is discussed to achieve a holistic design paradigm whereby computational tools are integrated with stochastic process and material awareness to enable the concurrent optimization of design topologies, material constructs and fabrication processes.

Additive Manufacturing of Functional Elements on Sheet Metal

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schaub, Adam; Ahuja, Bhrigu; Butzhammer, Lorenz; Osterziel, Johannes; Schmidt, Michael; Merklein, Marion

Laser Beam Melting (LBM) process with its advantages of high design flexibility and free form manufacturing methodology is often applied limitedly due to its low productivity and unsuitability for mass production compared to conventional manufacturing processes. In order to overcome these limitations, a hybrid manufacturing methodology is developed combining the additive manufacturing process of laser beam melting with sheet forming processes. With an interest towards aerospace and medical industry, the material in focus is Ti-6Al-4V. Although Ti-6Al-4V is a commercially established material and its application for LBM process has been extensively investigated, the combination of LBM of Ti-6Al-4V with sheet metal still needs to be researched. Process dynamics such as high temperature gradients and thermally induced stresses lead to complex stress states at the interaction zone between the sheet and LBM structure. Within the presented paper mechanical characterization of hybrid parts will be performed by shear testing. The association of shear strength with process parameters is further investigated by analyzing the internal structure of the hybrid geometry at varying energy inputs during the LBM process. In order to compare the hybrid manufacturing methodology with conventional fabrication, the conventional methodologies subtractive machining and state of the art Laser Beam Melting is evaluated within this work. These processes will be analyzed for their mechanical characteristics and productivity by determining the build time and raw material consumption for each case. The paper is concluded by presenting the characteristics of the hybrid manufacturing methodology compared to alternative manufacturing technologies.

Ion plating seals microcracks or porous metal components

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Spalvins, T.; Buckley, D. H.; Brainard, W. A.

1972-01-01

Description of ion plating process is given. Advantage of this process is that any plating metal or alloy can be selected, whereas, for conventional welding, material selection is limited by compatability.

Fracture toughness and fractography of dental cements, lining, build-up, and filling materials.

PubMed

Mueller, H J

1990-06-01

The plane strain fracture toughness (K1c) at 23 degrees C and the fractography of zinc phosphate and zinc polycarboxylate cements, buffered glass ionomer liner, amalgam alloy admixed glass ionomer build-up material, and glass ionomer, microfilled and conventionally filled bis-GMA resin composite filling materials were analyzed by elastic-plastic short-rod and scanning electron microscopy methodologies. Results indicated that significant differences occurred in their K1c's from the lowest to the highest in the following groups of materials, (i) buffered glass ionomer, (ii) zinc phosphate, glass ionomer, zinc polycarboxylate, and alloy mixed glass ionomer, (iii) microfilled resin, and (iv) conventionally filled resin. All materials except the microfilled resin, which fractured via crack jumping, fractured via smooth crack advance. Filler debonding without any crack inhibiting process was related to materials with low K1c values. The incorporation of either buffering compounds or alloy particles into glass ionomer had no beneficial effect upon fracture toughness. This was in contrast to microfilled and conventionally filled resins where either crack blunting or crack pinning processes, respectively, were likely involved with their increased K1c's. For microfilled resin, distinct radial zones positioned around the chevron apex and characterized by plastically deformed deposited material were related to distinct crack jumps that occurred in the load versus displacement behavior. Finally, for the two remaining materials of zinc phosphate and polycarboxylate, particle cleavage and matrix debonding for the former and shear yielding for the latter occurred.

76 FR 45300 - Notice of Issuance of Materials License SUA-1597 and Record of Decision for Uranerz Energy...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-07-28

... considered but eliminated from detailed analysis include conventional uranium mining and milling, conventional mining and heap leach processing, alternative site location, alternate lixiviants, and alternate...'s Agencywide Document Access and Management System (ADAMS), which provides text and image files of...

Plastic Recycling Experiments in Materials Education

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Liu, Ping; Waskom, Tommy L.

1996-01-01

The objective of this project was to introduce a series of plastic recycling experiments to students in materials-related courses such as materials science, material technology and materials testing. With the plastic recycling experiments, students not only can learn the fundamentals of plastic processing and properties as in conventional materials courses, but also can be exposed to the issue of materials life cycle and the impact on society and environment.

Flash sintering of ceramic materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dancer, C. E. J.

2016-10-01

During flash sintering, ceramic materials can sinter to high density in a matter of seconds while subjected to electric field and elevated temperature. This process, which occurs at lower furnace temperatures and in shorter times than both conventional ceramic sintering and field-assisted methods such as spark plasma sintering, has the potential to radically reduce the power consumption required for the densification of ceramic materials. This paper reviews the experimental work on flash sintering methods carried out to date, and compares the properties of the materials obtained to those produced by conventional sintering. The flash sintering process is described for oxides of zirconium, yttrium, aluminium, tin, zinc, and titanium; silicon and boron carbide, zirconium diboride, materials for solid oxide fuel applications, ferroelectric materials, and composite materials. While experimental observations have been made on a wide range of materials, understanding of the underlying mechanisms responsible for the onset and latter stages of flash sintering is still elusive. Elements of the proposed theories to explain the observed behaviour include extensive Joule heating throughout the material causing thermal runaway, arrested by the current limitation in the power supply, and the formation of defect avalanches which rapidly and dramatically increase the sample conductivity. Undoubtedly, the flash sintering process is affected by the electric field strength, furnace temperature and current density limit, but also by microstructural features such as the presence of second phase particles or dopants and the particle size in the starting material. While further experimental work and modelling is still required to attain a full understanding capable of predicting the success of the flash sintering process in different materials, the technique non-etheless holds great potential for exceptional control of the ceramic sintering process.

Near-Net Forging Technology Demonstration Program

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hall, I. Keith

1996-01-01

Significant advantages in specific mechanical properties, when compared to conventional aluminum (Al) alloys, make aluminum-lithium (Al-Li) alloys attractive candidate materials for use in cryogenic propellant tanks and dry bay structures. However, the cost of Al-Li alloys is typically five times that of 2219 aluminum. If conventional fabrication processes are employed to fabricate launch vehicle structure, the material costs will restrict their utilization. In order to fully exploit the potential cost and performance benefits of Al-Li alloys, it is necessary that near-net manufacturing methods be developed to off-set or reduce raw material costs. Near-net forging is an advanced manufacturing method that uses elevated temperature metal movement (forging) to fabricate a single piece, near-net shape, structure. This process is termed 'near-net' because only a minimal amount of post-forge machining is required. The near-net forging process was developed to reduce the material scrap rate (buy-to-fly ratio) and fabrication costs associated with conventional manufacturing methods. The goal for the near-net forging process, when mature, is to achieve an overall cost reduction of approximately 50 percent compared with conventional manufacturing options for producing structures fabricated from Al-Li alloys. This NASA Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) sponsored program has been a part of a unique government / industry partnership, coordinated to develop and demonstrate near-net forging technology. The objective of this program was to demonstrate scale-up of the near-net forging process. This objective was successfully achieved by fabricating four integrally stiffened, 170- inch diameter by 20-inch tall, Al-Li alloy 2195, Y-ring adapters. Initially, two 2195 Al-Li ingots were converted and back extruded to produce four cylindrical blockers. Conventional ring rolling of the blockers was performed to produce ring preforms, which were then contour ring rolled to produce 'contour preforms'. All of the contour preforms on this first-of-a-kind effort were imperfect, and the ingot used to fabricate two of the preforms was of an earlier vintage. As lessons were learned throughout the program, the tooling and procedures evolved, and hence the preform quality. Two of the best contour preforms were near- net forged to produce a process pathfinder Y-ring adapter and a 'mechanical properties pathfinder' Y-ring adapter. At this point, Lockheed Martin Astronautics elected to procure additional 2195 aluminum-lithium ingot of the latest vintage, produce two additional preforms, and substitute them for older vintage material non-perfectly filled preforms already produced on this contract. The existing preforms could have been used to fulfill the requirements of the contract.

Toward the Printed World: Additive Manufacturing and Implications for National Security (Defense Horizons, Number 73)

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-09-01

allowing it to dry or baking it in a kiln . A modern factory would take a block of raw material and then use machinery to pare away un- necessary... conventional “subtractive manu- facturing”—taking a block of raw material and removing excess until the finished product remains—the process as a whole...is more efficient and less wasteful. Another major benefit of AM is the fact that com- plexity is “free.” In conventional manufacturing, increasing

Comparison of digital and conventional impression techniques: evaluation of patients' perception, treatment comfort, effectiveness and clinical outcomes.

PubMed

Yuzbasioglu, Emir; Kurt, Hanefi; Turunc, Rana; Bilir, Halenur

2014-01-30

The purpose of this study was to compare two impression techniques from the perspective of patient preferences and treatment comfort. Twenty-four (12 male, 12 female) subjects who had no previous experience with either conventional or digital impression participated in this study. Conventional impressions of maxillary and mandibular dental arches were taken with a polyether impression material (Impregum, 3 M ESPE), and bite registrations were made with polysiloxane bite registration material (Futar D, Kettenbach). Two weeks later, digital impressions and bite scans were performed using an intra-oral scanner (CEREC Omnicam, Sirona). Immediately after the impressions were made, the subjects' attitudes, preferences and perceptions towards impression techniques were evaluated using a standardized questionnaire. The perceived source of stress was evaluated using the State-Trait Anxiety Scale. Processing steps of the impression techniques (tray selection, working time etc.) were recorded in seconds. Statistical analyses were performed with the Wilcoxon Rank test, and p < 0.05 was considered significant. There were significant differences among the groups (p < 0.05) in terms of total working time and processing steps. Patients stated that digital impressions were more comfortable than conventional techniques. Digital impressions resulted in a more time-efficient technique than conventional impressions. Patients preferred the digital impression technique rather than conventional techniques.

TiO2-coated mesoporous carbon: conventional vs. microwave-annealing process.

PubMed

Coromelci-Pastravanu, Cristina; Ignat, Maria; Popovici, Evelini; Harabagiu, Valeria

2014-08-15

The study of coating mesoporous carbon materials with titanium oxide nanoparticles is now becoming a promising and challenging area of research. To optimize the use of carbon materials in various applications, it is necessary to attach functional groups or other nanostructures to their surface. The combination of the distinctive properties of mesoporous carbon materials and titanium oxide is expected to be applied in field emission displays, nanoelectronic devices, novel catalysts, and polymer or ceramic reinforcement. But, their synthesis is still largely based on conventional techniques, such as wet impregnation followed by chemical reduction of the metal nanoparticle precursors, which takes time and money. The thermal heating based techniques are time consuming and often lack control of particle size and morphology. Hence, since there is a growing interest in microwave technology, an alternative way of power input into chemical reactions through dielectric heating is the use of microwaves. This work is focused on the advantages of microwave-assisted synthesis of TiO2-coated mesoporous carbon over conventional thermal heating method. The reviewed studies showed that the microwave-assisted synthesis of such composites allows processes to be completed within a shorter reaction time allowing the nanoparticles formation with superior properties than that obtained by conventional method. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Engineered Polymer Composites Through Electrospun Nanofiber Coating of Fiber Tows

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kohlman, Lee W.

2013-01-01

Toughening and other property enhancements of composite materials are typically implemented by-modifying the bulk properties of the constituents, either the fiber or matrix materials. This often leads to difficulties in processing and higher material costs. Many composites consist of tows or yarns (thousands of individual fibers) that are either filament wound or processed into a fabric by weaving or braiding. The matrix material can be added to the tow or fabric before final processing, resulting in a prepreg material, or infused into the fiber material during final processing by a variety of methods. By using a direct electrospun deposition method to apply thermoplastic nanofiber to the surface of the tows, the tow-tow interface in the resulting composite can be modified while using otherwise conventional materials and handling processes. Other materials of interest could also be incorporated into the electrospun precursor.

Recycled Fiber Properties as Affected by Contaminants and Removal Processes.

DTIC Science & Technology

Five materials were applied to either a kraft pulp furnish or to a kraft paper and were removed by conventional removal processes. Uncontaminated... kraft paper subjected to the same removal processes determined that the process, not the contaminant, was responsible for changes in sheet properties

3D Printer-Manufacturing of Complex Geometry Elements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ciubară, A.; Burlea, Ș L.; Axinte, M.; Cimpoeșu, R.; Chicet, D. L.; Manole, V.; Burlea, G.; Cimpoeșu, N.

2018-06-01

In the last 5-10 years the process of 3D printing has an incredible advanced in all the fields with a tremendous number of applications. Plastic materials exhibit highly beneficial mechanical properties while delivering complex designs impossible to achieve using conventional manufacturing. In this article the printing process (filling degree, time, complications and details finesse) of few plastic elements with complicated geometry and fine details was analyzed and comment. 3D printing offers many of the thermoplastics and industrial materials found in conventional manufacturing. The advantages and disadvantages of 3D printing for plastic parts are discussed. Time of production for an element with complex geometry, from the design to final cut, was evaluated.

Low-temperature and conventional scanning electron microscopy of human urothelial neoplasms.

PubMed

Hopkins, D M; Morris, J A; Oates, K; Huddart, H; Staff, W G

1989-05-01

The appearance of neoplastic human urothelium viewed by low-temperature scanning electron microscopy (LTSEM) and conventional scanning electron microscopy (CSEM) was compared. Fixed, dehydrated neoplastic cells viewed by CSEM had well-defined, often raised cell junctions; no intercellular gaps; and varying degrees of pleomorphic surface microvilli. The frozen hydrated material viewed by LTSEM, however, was quite different. The cells had a flat or dimpled surface, but no microvilli. There were labyrinthine lateral processes which interdigitated with those of adjacent cells and outlined large intercellular gaps. The process of fixation and dehydration will inevitably distort cell contours and on theoretical grounds, the images of frozen hydrated material should more closely resemble the in vivo appearance.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ma, Ying; Li, Hong; Bridges, Denzel

We report that the continuing miniaturization of microelectronics is pushing advanced manufacturing into nanomanufacturing. Nanojoining is a bottom-up assembly technique that enables functional nanodevice fabrication with dissimilar nanoscopic building blocks and/or molecular components. Various conventional joining techniques have been modified and re-invented for joining nanomaterials. Our review surveys recent progress in nanojoining methods, as compared to conventional joining processes. Examples of nanojoining are given and classified by the dimensionality of the joining materials. At each classification, nanojoining is reviewed and discussed according to materials specialties, low dimensional processing features, energy input mechanisms and potential applications. The preparation of new intermetallicmore » materials by reactive nanoscale multilayer foils based on self-propagating high-temperature synthesis is highlighted. This review will provide insight into nanojoining fundamentals and innovative applications in power electronics packaging, plasmonic devices, nanosoldering for printable electronics, 3D printing and space manufacturing.« less

Investigation of rapidly solidified aluminum by using diamond turning and a magnetorheological finishing process

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cheng, Yuan-Chieh; Hsu, Wei-Yao; Kuo, Ching-Hsiang; Abou-El-Hossein, Khaled; Otieno, Timothy

2015-08-01

The metal mirror has been widely used in optical application for a longtime. Especially the aluminum 6061 is often considered the preferred material for manufacturing optical components for ground-based astronomical applications. One reason for using this material is its high specific stiffness and excellent thermal properties. However, a large amount of data exists for this material and commercially available aluminum 6061 using single point diamond turning (SPDT) and polishing process can achieve surface roughness values of approximately 2 to 4 nm, which is adequate for applications that involve the infrared spectral range, but not for the shorter spectral range. A novel aluminum material, fabricated using a rapid solidification process that is equivalent to the conventional aluminum 6061 alloy grade has been used in optical applications in recent years because of its smaller grain size. In this study, the surface quality of the rapid solidification aluminum after single point diamond turning and followed by magnetorheological finish (MRF) process is investigated and compared with conventional aluminum 6061. Both the surface roughness Ra was evaluated using white light interferometers. Finally, indicators such as optimal fabrication parameter combination and optical performance are discussed.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Dr. Mohit Jain; Dr. Ganesh Skandan; Dr. Gordon E. Khose

Generation IV Very High Temperature power generating nuclear reactors will operate at temperatures greater than 900 oC. At these temperatures, the components operating in these reactors need to be fabricated from materials with excellent thermo-mechanical properties. Conventional pure or composite materials have fallen short in delivering the desired performance. New materials, or conventional materials with new microstructures, and associated processing technologies are needed to meet these materials challenges. Using the concept of functionally graded materials, we have fabricated a composite material which has taken advantages of the mechanical and thermal properties of ceramic and metals. Functionally-graded composite samples with variousmore » microstructures were fabricated. It was demonstrated that the composition and spatial variation in the composition of the composite can be controlled. Some of the samples were tested for irradiation resistance to neutrons. The samples did not degrade during initial neutron irradiation testing.« less

Colour stainability of indirect CAD-CAM processed composites vs. conventionally laboratory processed composites after immersion in staining solutions.

PubMed

Arocha, Mariana A; Basilio, Juan; Llopis, Jaume; Di Bella, Enrico; Roig, Miguel; Ardu, Stefano; Mayoral, Juan R

2014-07-01

The aim of this study was to determine, by using a spectrophotometer device, the colour stainability of two indirect CAD/CAM processed composites in comparison with two conventionally laboratory-processed composites after being immersed 4 weeks in staining solutions such as coffee, black tea and red wine, using distilled water as control group. Two indirect CAD/CAM composites (Lava Ultimate and Paradigm MZ100) and two conventionally laboratory-processed composites (SR Adoro and Premise Indirect) of shade A2 were selected (160 disc samples). Colour stainability was measured after 4 weeks of immersion in three staining solutions (black tea, coffee, red wine) and distilled water. Specimen's colour was measured each week by means of a spectrophotometer (CIE L*a*b* system). Statistical analysis was carried out performing repeated ANOVA measurements and Tukey's HSD test to evaluate differences in ΔE00 measurements between groups; the interactions among composites, staining solutions and time duration were also evaluated. All materials showed significant discoloration (p<0.01) when compared to control group. The highest ΔE00 observed was with red wine, whereas black tea showed the lowest one. Indirect laboratory-processed resin composites showed the highest colour stability compared with CAD/CAM resin blocks. CAD/CAM processed composites immersed in staining solutions showed lower colour stability when compared to conventionally laboratory-processed resin composites. The demand for CAD/CAM restorations has been increasing; however, colour stainability for such material has been insufficiently studied. Moreover, this has not been performed comparing CAD/CAM processed composites versus laboratory-processed indirect composites by immersing in staining solutions for long immersion periods. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Baseline studies on the feasibility of detecting a coal/shale interface with a self-powered sensitized pick

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Anderson, G. R., II

1981-01-01

The feasibility of utilizing a sensitized pick to discriminate between cutting coal and roof material during the longwall mining process was investigated. A conventional longwall mining pick was instrumented and cutting force magnitudes were determined for a variety of materials, including Illinois #6 coal, shale type materials, and synthetic coal/shale materials.

76 FR 53500 - Notice of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission Issuance of Materials License SUA-1598 and Record of...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-08-26

... (ADAMS), which provides text and image files of the NRC's public documents in the NRC Library at http... considered, but eliminated from detailed analysis, include conventional uranium mining and milling, conventional mining and heap leach processing, alternate lixiviants, and alternative wastewater disposal...

Influencing Factors and Workpiece's Microstructure in Laser-Assisted Milling of Titanium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wiedenmann, R.; Liebl, S.; Zaeh, M. F.

Today's lightweight components have to withstand increasing mechanical and thermal loads. Therefore, advanced materials substitute conventional materials like steel or aluminum alloys. Using these high-performance materials the associated costs become prohibitively high. This paper presents the newest fundamental investigations on the hybrid process 'laser-assisted milling' which is an innovative technique to process such materials. The focus is on the validation of a numerical database for a CAD/CAM process control unit which is calculated by using simulation. Prior to that, the influencing factors on a laser-assisted milling process are systematically investigated using Design of Experiments (DoE) to identify the main influencing parameters coming from the laser and the milling operation.

Advanced hole patterning technology using soft spacer materials (Conference Presentation)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Park, Jong Keun; Hustad, Phillip D.; Aqad, Emad; Valeri, David; Wagner, Mike D.; Li, Mingqi

2017-03-01

A continuing goal in integrated circuit industry is to increase density of features within patterned masks. One pathway being used by the device manufacturers for patterning beyond the 80nm pitch limitation of 193 immersion lithography is the self-aligned spacer double patterning (SADP). Two orthogonal line space patterns with subsequent SADP can be used for contact holes multiplication. However, a combination of two immersion exposures, two spacer deposition processes, and two etch processes to reach the desired dimensions makes this process expensive and complicated. One alternative technique for contact hole multiplication is the use of an array of pillar patterns. Pillars, imaged with 193 immersion photolithography, can be uniformly deposited with spacer materials until a hole is formed in the center of 4 pillars. Selective removal of the pillar core gives a reversal of phases, a contact hole where there was once a pillar. However, the highly conformal nature of conventional spacer materials causes a problem with this application. The new holes, formed between 4 pillars, by this method have a tendency to be imperfect and not circular. To improve the contact hole circularity, this paper presents the use of both conventional spacer material and soft spacer materials. Application of soft spacer materials can be achieved by an existing coating track without additional cost burden to the device manufacturers.

Phosphorus Diffusion Gettering Efficacy in Upgraded Metallurgical-Grade Solar Silicon

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jiménez, A.; del Cañizo, C.; Cid, C.; Peral, A.

2018-05-01

In the context of the continuous price reduction in photovoltaics (PV) in recent years, Si feedstock continues to be a relevant component in the cost breakdown of a PV module, highlighting the need for low-cost, low-capital expenditure (CAPEX) silicon technologies to further reduce this cost component. Upgraded metallurgical-grade silicon (UMG Si) has recently received much attention, improving its quality and even attaining, in some cases, solar cell efficiencies similar to those of conventional material. However, some technical challenges still have to be addressed when processing this material to compensate efficiently for the high content of impurities and contaminants. Adaptation of a conventional solar cell process to monocrystalline UMG Si wafers has been studied in this work. In particular, a tailored phosphorus diffusion gettering step followed by a low-temperature anneal at 700°C was implemented, resulting in enhanced bulk lifetime and emitter recombination properties. In spite of the need for further research and material optimization, UMG Si wafers were successfully processed, achieving efficiencies in the range of 15% for a standard laboratory solar cell process with aluminum back surface field.

Polyethersulfone-based ultrafiltration hollow fibre membrane for drinking water treatment systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chew, Chun Ming; Ng, K. M. David; Ooi, H. H. Richard

2017-12-01

Conventional media/sand filtration has been the mainstream water treatment process for most municipal water treatment plants in Malaysia. Filtrate qualities of conventional media/sand filtration are very much dependent on the coagulation-flocculation process prior to filtration and might be as high as 5 NTU. However, the demands for better quality of drinking water through public piped-water supply systems are growing. Polymeric ultrafiltration (UF) hollow fibre membrane made from modified polyethersulfone (PES) material is highly hydrophilic with high tensile strength and produces excellent quality filtrate of below 0.3 NTU in turbidity. This advanced membrane filtration material is also chemical resistance which allows a typical lifespan of 5 years. Comparisons between the conventional media/sand filtration and PES-based UF systems are carried out in this paper. UF has been considered as the emerging technology in municipal drinking water treatment plants due to its consistency in producing high quality filtrates even without the coagulation-flocculation process. The decreasing cost of PES-based membrane due to mass production and competitive pricing by manufacturers has made the UF technology affordable for industrial-scale water treatment plants.

Conventional and Non-Conventional Nuclear Material Signatures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gozani, Tsahi

2009-03-01

The detection and interdiction of concealed special nuclear material (SNM) in all modes of transport is one of the most critical security issues facing the United States and the rest of the world. In principle, detection of nuclear materials is relatively easy because of their unique properties: all of them are radioactive and all emit some characteristic gamma rays. A few emit neutrons as well. These signatures are the basis for passive non-intrusive detection of nuclear materials. The low energy of the radiations necessitates additional means of detection and validation. These are provided by high-energy x-ray radiography and by active inspection based on inducing nuclear reactions in the nuclear materials. Positive confirmation that a nuclear material is present or absent can be provided by interrogation of the inspected object with penetrating probing radiation, such as neutrons and photons. The radiation induces specific reactions in the nuclear material yielding, in turn, penetrating signatures which can be detected outside the inspected object. The "conventional" signatures are first and foremost fission signatures: prompt and delayed neutrons and gamma rays. Their intensity (number per fission) and the fact that they have broad energy (non-discrete, though unique) distributions and certain temporal behaviors are key to their use. The "non- conventional" signatures are not related to the fission process but to the unique nuclear structure of each element or isotope in nature. This can be accessed through the excitation of isotopic nuclear levels (discrete and continuum) by neutron inelastic scattering or gamma resonance fluorescence. Finally there is an atomic signature, namely the high atomic number (Z>74), which obviously includes all the nuclear materials and their possible shielding. The presence of such high-Z elements can be inferred by techniques using high-energy x rays. The conventional signatures have been addressed in another article. Non-conventional signatures and some of their current or potential uses will be discussed here.

Defense Horizons. No. 73. September 2012. Toward the Printed World: Additive Manufacturing and Implications for National Security

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-09-01

allowing it to dry or baking it in a kiln . A modern factory would take a block of raw material and then use machinery to pare away un- necessary... conventional “subtractive manu- facturing”—taking a block of raw material and removing excess until the finished product remains—the process as a whole...is more efficient and less wasteful. Another major benefit of AM is the fact that com- plexity is “free.” In conventional manufacturing, increasing

Wood-based composite materials : panel products, glued-laminated timber, structural composite lumber, and wood-nonwood composite materials

Treesearch

Nicole M. Stark; Zhiyong Cai; Charles Carll

2010-01-01

This chapter gives an overview of the general types and composition of wood-based composite products and the materials and processes used to manufacture them. It describes conventional wood-based composite panels and structural composite materials intended for general construction, interior use, or both. This chapter also describes wood–nonwood composites. Mechanical...

A guide to structural factors for advanced composites used on spacecraft

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vanwagenen, Robert

1989-01-01

The use of composite materials in spacecraft systems is constantly increasing. Although the areas of composite design and fabrication are maturing, they remain distinct from the same activities performed using conventional materials and processes. This has led to some confusion regarding the precise meaning of the term 'factor of safety' as it applies to these structures. In addition, composite engineering introduces terms such as 'knock-down factors' to further modify material properties for design purposes. This guide is intended to clarify these terms as well as their use in the design of composite structures for spacecraft. It is particularly intended to be used by the engineering community not involved in the day-to-day composites design process. An attempt is also made to explain the wide range of factors of safety encountered in composite designs as well as their relationship to the 1.4 factor of safety conventionally applied to metallic structures.

Zero-dimensional to three-dimensional nanojoining: current status and potential applications

DOE PAGES

Ma, Ying; Li, Hong; Bridges, Denzel; ...

2016-08-01

We report that the continuing miniaturization of microelectronics is pushing advanced manufacturing into nanomanufacturing. Nanojoining is a bottom-up assembly technique that enables functional nanodevice fabrication with dissimilar nanoscopic building blocks and/or molecular components. Various conventional joining techniques have been modified and re-invented for joining nanomaterials. Our review surveys recent progress in nanojoining methods, as compared to conventional joining processes. Examples of nanojoining are given and classified by the dimensionality of the joining materials. At each classification, nanojoining is reviewed and discussed according to materials specialties, low dimensional processing features, energy input mechanisms and potential applications. The preparation of new intermetallicmore » materials by reactive nanoscale multilayer foils based on self-propagating high-temperature synthesis is highlighted. This review will provide insight into nanojoining fundamentals and innovative applications in power electronics packaging, plasmonic devices, nanosoldering for printable electronics, 3D printing and space manufacturing.« less

Comparison of digital and conventional impression techniques: evaluation of patients’ perception, treatment comfort, effectiveness and clinical outcomes

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

Background The purpose of this study was to compare two impression techniques from the perspective of patient preferences and treatment comfort. Methods Twenty-four (12 male, 12 female) subjects who had no previous experience with either conventional or digital impression participated in this study. Conventional impressions of maxillary and mandibular dental arches were taken with a polyether impression material (Impregum, 3 M ESPE), and bite registrations were made with polysiloxane bite registration material (Futar D, Kettenbach). Two weeks later, digital impressions and bite scans were performed using an intra-oral scanner (CEREC Omnicam, Sirona). Immediately after the impressions were made, the subjects’ attitudes, preferences and perceptions towards impression techniques were evaluated using a standardized questionnaire. The perceived source of stress was evaluated using the State-Trait Anxiety Scale. Processing steps of the impression techniques (tray selection, working time etc.) were recorded in seconds. Statistical analyses were performed with the Wilcoxon Rank test, and p < 0.05 was considered significant. Results There were significant differences among the groups (p < 0.05) in terms of total working time and processing steps. Patients stated that digital impressions were more comfortable than conventional techniques. Conclusions Digital impressions resulted in a more time-efficient technique than conventional impressions. Patients preferred the digital impression technique rather than conventional techniques. PMID:24479892

An adaptive signal-processing approach to online adaptive tutoring.

PubMed

Bergeron, Bryan; Cline, Andrew

2011-01-01

Conventional intelligent or adaptive tutoring online systems rely on domain-specific models of learner behavior based on rules, deep domain knowledge, and other resource-intensive methods. We have developed and studied a domain-independent methodology of adaptive tutoring based on domain-independent signal-processing approaches that obviate the need for the construction of explicit expert and student models. A key advantage of our method over conventional approaches is a lower barrier to entry for educators who want to develop adaptive online learning materials.

Pitch-based carbon foam heat sink with phase change material

DOEpatents

Klett, James W.; Burchell, Timothy D.

2004-08-24

A process for producing a carbon foam heat sink is disclosed which obviates the need for conventional oxidative stabilization. The process employs mesophase or isotropic pitch and a simplified process using a single mold. The foam has a relatively uniform distribution of pore sizes and a highly aligned graphic structure in the struts. The foam material can be made into a composite which is useful in high temperature sandwich panels for both thermal and structural applications. The foam is encased and filled with a phase change material to provide a very efficient heat sink device.

Pitch-based carbon foam heat sink with phase change material

DOEpatents

Klett, James W.; Burchell, Timothy D.

2007-01-02

A process for producing a carbon foam heat sink is disclosed which obviates the need for conventional oxidative stabilization. The process employs mesophase or isotropic pitch and a simplified process using a single mold. The foam has a relatively uniform distribution of pore sizes and a highly aligned graphic structure in the struts. The foam material can be made into a composite which is useful in high temperature sandwich panels for both thermal and structural applications. The foam is encased and filled with a phase change material to provide a very efficient heat sink device.

Pitch-based carbon foam heat sink with phase change material

DOEpatents

Klett, James W.; Burchell, Timothy D.

2006-03-21

A process for producing a carbon foam heat sink is disclosed which obviates the need for conventional oxidative stabilization. The process employs mesophase or isotropic pitch and a simplified process using a single mold. The foam has a relatively uniform distribution of pore sizes and a highly aligned graphic structure in the struts. The foam material can be made into a composite which is useful in high temperature sandwich panels for both thermal and structural applications. The foam is encased and filled with a phase change material to provide a very efficient heat sink device.

Pitch-based carbon foam heat sink with phase change material

DOEpatents

Klett, James W.; Burchell, Timothy D.

2002-01-01

A process for producing a carbon foam heat sink is disclosed which obviates the need for conventional oxidative stabilization. The process employs mesophase or isotropic pitch and a simplified process using a single mold. The foam has a relatively uniform distribution of pore sizes and a highly aligned graphic structure in the struts. The foam material can be made into a composite which is useful in high temperature sandwich panels for both thermal and structural applications. The foam is encased and filled with a phase change material to provide a very efficient heat sink device.

Pitch-based carbon foam heat sink with phase change material

DOEpatents

Klett, James W.; Burchell, Timothy D.

2000-01-01

A process for producing a carbon foam heat sink is disclosed which obviates the need for conventional oxidative stabilization. The process employs mesophase or isotropic pitch and a simplified process using a single mold. The foam has a relatively uniform distribution of pore sizes and a highly aligned graphic structure in the struts. The foam material can be made into a composite which is useful in high temperature sandwich panels for both thermal and structural applications. The foam is encased and filled with a phase change material to provide a very efficient heat sink device.

Pitch-based carbon foam heat sink with phase change material

DOEpatents

Klett, James W.; Burchell, Timothy D.

2007-01-23

A process for producing a carbon foam heat sink is disclosed which obviates the need for conventional oxidative stabilization. The process employs mesophase or isotropic pitch and a simplified process using a single mold. The foam has a relatively uniform distribution of pore sizes and a highly aligned graphic structure in the struts. The foam material can be made into a composite which is useful in high temperature sandwich panels for both thermal and structural applications. The foam is encased and filled with a phase change material to provide a very efficient heat sink device.

Nontraditional Intersections/Interchanges: Informational Report

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2007-06-18

Comprehensive Coverage -Geometric design considerations. -Traffic analysis and comparison with similar conventional design. -Signal settings. -Signing and marking. -Material or cost comparison. -Selection Process in a spread sheet.

Ultrasonic Processing of Materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Han, Qingyou

2015-08-01

Irradiation of high-energy ultrasonic vibration in metals and alloys generates oscillating strain and stress fields in solids, and introduces nonlinear effects such as cavitation, acoustic streaming, and radiation pressure in molten materials. These nonlinear effects can be utilized to assist conventional material processing processes. This article describes recent research at Oak Ridge National Labs and Purdue University on using high-intensity ultrasonic vibrations for degassing molten aluminum, processing particulate-reinforced metal matrix composites, refining metals and alloys during solidification process and welding, and producing bulk nanostructures in solid metals and alloys. Research results suggest that high-intensity ultrasonic vibration is capable of degassing and dispersing small particles in molten alloys, reducing grain size during alloy solidification, and inducing nanostructures in solid metals.

Method and apparatus for semi-solid material processing

DOEpatents

Han, Qingyou [Knoxville, TN; Jian, Xiaogang [Knoxville, TN; Xu, Hanbing [Knoxville, TN; Meek, Thomas T [Knoxville, TN

2009-02-24

A method of forming a material includes the steps of: vibrating a molten material at an ultrasonic frequency while cooling the material to a semi-solid state to form non-dendritic grains therein; forming the semi-solid material into a desired shape; and cooling the material to a solid state. The method makes semi-solid castings directly from molten materials (usually a metal), produces grain size usually in the range of smaller than 50 .mu.m, and can be easily retrofitted into existing conventional forming machine.

Method and apparatus for semi-solid material processing

DOEpatents

Han, Qingyou [Knoxville, TN; Jian, Xiaogang [Knoxville, TN; Xu, Hanbing [Knoxville, TN; Meek, Thomas T [Knoxville, TN

2009-11-24

A method of forming a material includes the steps of: vibrating a molten material at an ultrasonic frequency while cooling the material to a semi-solid state to form non-dendritic grains therein; forming the semi-solid material into a desired shape; and cooling the material to a solid state. The method makes semi-solid castings directly from molten materials (usually a metal), produces grain size usually in the range of smaller than 50 .mu.m, and can be easily retrofitted into existing conventional forming maching.

Method and apparatus for semi-solid material processing

DOEpatents

Han, Qingyou [Knoxville, TN; Jian, Xiaogang [Knoxville, TN; Xu, Hanbing [Knoxville, TN; Meek, Thomas T [Knoxville, TN

2007-05-15

A method of forming a material includes the steps of: vibrating a molten material at an ultrasonic frequency while cooling the material to a semi-solid state to form non-dendritic grains therein; forming the semi-solid material into a desired shape; and cooling the material to a solid state. The method makes semi-solid castings directly from molten materials (usually a metal), produces grain size usually in the range of smaller than 50 .mu.m, and can be easily retrofitted into existing conventional forming machine.

Laser Additive Manufacturing of Magnetic Materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mikler, C. V.; Chaudhary, V.; Borkar, T.; Soni, V.; Jaeger, D.; Chen, X.; Contieri, R.; Ramanujan, R. V.; Banerjee, R.

2017-03-01

While laser additive manufacturing is becoming increasingly important in the context of next-generation manufacturing technologies, most current research efforts focus on optimizing process parameters for the processing of mature alloys for structural applications (primarily stainless steels, titanium base, and nickel base alloys) from pre-alloyed powder feedstocks to achieve properties superior to conventionally processed counterparts. However, laser additive manufacturing or processing can also be applied to functional materials. This article focuses on the use of directed energy deposition-based additive manufacturing technologies, such as the laser engineered net shaping (LENS™) process, to deposit magnetic alloys. Three case studies are presented: Fe-30 at.%Ni, permalloys of the type Ni-Fe-V and Ni-Fe-Mo, and Fe-Si-B-Cu-Nb (derived from Finemet) alloys. All these alloys have been processed from a blend of elemental powders used as the feedstock, and their resultant microstructures, phase formation, and magnetic properties are discussed in this paper. Although these alloys were produced from a blend of elemental powders, they exhibited relatively uniform microstructures and comparable magnetic properties to those of their conventionally processed counterparts.

Ultrasonic and radiographic evaluation of advanced aerospace materials: Ceramic composites

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Generazio, Edward R.

1990-01-01

Two conventional nondestructive evaluation techniques were used to evaluate advanced ceramic composite materials. It was shown that neither ultrasonic C-scan nor radiographic imaging can individually provide sufficient data for an accurate nondestructive evaluation. Both ultrasonic C-scan and conventional radiographic imaging are required for preliminary evaluation of these complex systems. The material variations that were identified by these two techniques are porosity, delaminations, bond quality between laminae, fiber alignment, fiber registration, fiber parallelism, and processing density flaws. The degree of bonding between fiber and matrix cannot be determined by either of these methods. An alternative ultrasonic technique, angular power spectrum scanning (APSS) is recommended for quantification of this interfacial bond.

Rapid method for sampling metals for materials identification

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Higgins, L. E.

1971-01-01

Nondamaging process similar to electrochemical machining is useful in obtaining metal samples from places inaccessible to conventional sampling methods or where methods would be hazardous or contaminating to specimens. Process applies to industries where metals or metal alloys play a vital role.

Solar energy for electricity and fuels.

PubMed

Inganäs, Olle; Sundström, Villy

2016-01-01

Solar energy conversion into electricity by photovoltaic modules is now a mature technology. We discuss the need for materials and device developments using conventional silicon and other materials, pointing to the need to use scalable materials and to reduce the energy payback time. Storage of solar energy can be achieved using the energy of light to produce a fuel. We discuss how this can be achieved in a direct process mimicking the photosynthetic processes, using synthetic organic, inorganic, or hybrid materials for light collection and catalysis. We also briefly discuss challenges and needs for large-scale implementation of direct solar fuel technologies.

Materials and Process Design for High-Temperature Carburizing: Integrating Processing and Performance

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

D. Apelian

2007-07-23

The objective of the project is to develop an integrated process for fast, high-temperature carburizing. The new process results in an order of magnitude reduction in cycle time compared to conventional carburizing and represents significant energy savings in addition to a corresponding reduction of scrap associated with distortion free carburizing steels.

Prospects of Supercritical Fluids in Realizing Graphene-Based Functional Materials.

PubMed

Padmajan Sasikala, Suchithra; Poulin, Philippe; Aymonier, Cyril

2016-04-13

Supercritical-fluids science and technology predate all the approaches that are currently established for graphene production by several decades in advanced materials design. However, it has only recently been proposed as a plausible approach for graphene processing. Since then, supercritical fluids have emerged into contention as an alternative to existing technologies because of their scalability and versatility in processing graphene materials, which include composites, aerogels, and foams. Here, an overview is presented of such materials prepared through supercritical fluids from an advanced materials science standpoint, with a discussion on their fundamental properties and technological applications. The benefits of supercritical-fluid processing over conventional liquid-phase processing are presented. The benefits include not only better performances for advanced applications but also environmental issues associated with the synthesis process. Nevertheless, the limitations of supercritical-fluid processing are also stressed, along with challenges that are still faced toward the achievement of the great expectations from graphene materials. © 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Evaluation of hydrolysis-esterification biodiesel production from wet microalgae.

PubMed

Song, Chunfeng; Liu, Qingling; Ji, Na; Deng, Shuai; Zhao, Jun; Li, Shuhong; Kitamura, Yutaka

2016-08-01

Wet microalgae hydrolysis-esterification route has the advantage to avoid the energy-intensive units (e.g. drying and lipid extraction) in the biodiesel production process. In this study, techno-economic evaluation of hydrolysis-esterification biodiesel production process was carried out and compared with conventional (usually including drying, lipid extraction, esterification and transesterification) biodiesel production process. Energy and material balance of the conventional and hydrolysis-esterification processes was evaluated by Aspen Plus. The simulation results indicated that drying (2.36MJ/L biodiesel) and triolein transesterification (1.89MJ/L biodiesel) are the dominant energy-intensive stages in the conventional route (5.42MJ/L biodiesel). By contrast, the total energy consumption of hydrolysis-esterification route can be reduced to 1.81MJ/L biodiesel, and approximately 3.61MJ can be saved to produce per liter biodiesel. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Ultrasonically controlled particle size distribution of explosives: a safe method.

PubMed

Patil, Mohan Narayan; Gore, G M; Pandit, Aniruddha B

2008-03-01

Size reduction of the high energy materials (HEM's) by conventional methods (mechanical means) is not safe as they are very sensitive to friction and impact. Modified crystallization techniques can be used for the same purpose. The solute is dissolved in the solvent and crystallized via cooling or is precipitated out using an antisolvent. The various crystallization parameters such as temperature, antisolvent addition rate and agitation are adjusted to get the required final crystal size and morphology. The solvent-antisolvent ratio, time of crystallization and yield of the product are the key factors for controlling antisolvent based precipitation process. The advantages of cavitationally induced nucleation can be coupled with the conventional crystallization process. This study includes the effect of the ultrasonically generated acoustic cavitation phenomenon on the solvent antisolvent based precipitation process. CL20, a high-energy explosive compound, is a polyazapolycyclic caged polynitramine. CL-20 has greater energy output than existing (in-use) energetic ingredients while having an acceptable level of insensitivity to shock and other external stimuli. The size control and size distribution manipulation of the high energy material (CL20) has been successfully carried out safely and quickly along with an increase in the final mass yield, compared to the conventional antisolvent based precipitation process.

Concepts for the development of nanoscale stable precipitation-strengthened steels manufactured by conventional methods

DOE PAGES

Yablinsky, C. A.; Tippey, K. E.; Vaynman, S.; ...

2014-11-11

In this study, the development of oxide dispersion strengthened ferrous alloys has shown that microstructures designed for excellent irradiation resistance and thermal stability ideally contain stable nanoscale precipitates and dislocation sinks. Based upon this understanding, the microstructures of conventionally manufactured ferritic and ferritic-martensitic steels can be designed to include controlled volume fractions of fine, stable precipitates and dislocation sinks via specific alloying and processing paths. The concepts proposed here are categorized as advanced high-Cr ferritic-martensitic (AHCr-FM) and novel tailored precipitate ferritic (TPF) steels, which have the potential to improve the in-reactor performance of conventionally manufactured alloys. AHCr-FM steels have modifiedmore » alloy content relative to current reactor materials (such as alloy NF616/P92) to maximize desirable precipitates and control phase stability. TPF steels are designed to incorporate nickel aluminides, in addition to microalloy carbides, in a ferritic matrix to produce fine precipitate arrays with good thermal stability. Both alloying concepts may also benefit from thermomechanical processing to establish dislocation sinks and modify phase transformation behaviors. Alloying and processing paths toward designed microstructures are discussed for both AHCr-FM and TPF material classes.« less

Comparison of Maraging Steel Micro- and Nanostructure Produced Conventionally and by Laser Additive Manufacturing.

PubMed

Jägle, Eric A; Sheng, Zhendong; Kürnsteiner, Philipp; Ocylok, Sörn; Weisheit, Andreas; Raabe, Dierk

2016-12-24

Maraging steels are used to produce tools by Additive Manufacturing (AM) methods such as Laser Metal Deposition (LMD) and Selective Laser Melting (SLM). Although it is well established that dense parts can be produced by AM, the influence of the AM process on the microstructure-in particular the content of retained and reversed austenite as well as the nanostructure, especially the precipitate density and chemistry, are not yet explored. Here, we study these features using microhardness measurements, Optical Microscopy, Electron Backscatter Diffraction (EBSD), Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS), and Atom Probe Tomography (APT) in the as-produced state and during ageing heat treatment. We find that due to microsegregation, retained austenite exists in the as-LMD- and as-SLM-produced states but not in the conventionally-produced material. The hardness in the as-LMD-produced state is higher than in the conventionally and SLM-produced materials, however, not in the uppermost layers. By APT, it is confirmed that this is due to early stages of precipitation induced by the cyclic re-heating upon further deposition-i.e., the intrinsic heat treatment associated with LMD. In the peak-aged state, which is reached after a similar time in all materials, the hardness of SLM- and LMD-produced material is slightly lower than in conventionally-produced material due to the presence of retained austenite and reversed austenite formed during ageing.

Comparison of Maraging Steel Micro- and Nanostructure Produced Conventionally and by Laser Additive Manufacturing

PubMed Central

Jägle, Eric A.; Sheng, Zhendong; Kürnsteiner, Philipp; Ocylok, Sörn; Weisheit, Andreas; Raabe, Dierk

2016-01-01

Maraging steels are used to produce tools by Additive Manufacturing (AM) methods such as Laser Metal Deposition (LMD) and Selective Laser Melting (SLM). Although it is well established that dense parts can be produced by AM, the influence of the AM process on the microstructure—in particular the content of retained and reversed austenite as well as the nanostructure, especially the precipitate density and chemistry, are not yet explored. Here, we study these features using microhardness measurements, Optical Microscopy, Electron Backscatter Diffraction (EBSD), Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS), and Atom Probe Tomography (APT) in the as-produced state and during ageing heat treatment. We find that due to microsegregation, retained austenite exists in the as-LMD- and as-SLM-produced states but not in the conventionally-produced material. The hardness in the as-LMD-produced state is higher than in the conventionally and SLM-produced materials, however, not in the uppermost layers. By APT, it is confirmed that this is due to early stages of precipitation induced by the cyclic re-heating upon further deposition—i.e., the intrinsic heat treatment associated with LMD. In the peak-aged state, which is reached after a similar time in all materials, the hardness of SLM- and LMD-produced material is slightly lower than in conventionally-produced material due to the presence of retained austenite and reversed austenite formed during ageing. PMID:28772369

Review on electrochromic devices for automotive glazing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Demiryont, Hulya

1991-12-01

Electrochromic materials have been intensively studied for applications of various switchable optical systems. These materials exhibit adjustable optical absorption upon reversible oxidation/reduction processes. Since a reversible oxidation/reduction phenomenon is provided by electrically-driven electrochemical reactions, these materials are known as electrochromics. There are many publications including proceedings, books, and review articles written on electrochromic (EC) materials and their applications. This paper focuses on conventional and some new electrochromic devices (ECD), their specifications, and applications.

A Novel Method for Preparing Auxetic Foam from Closed-cell Polymer Foam Based on Steam Penetration and Condensation (SPC) Process.

PubMed

Fan, Donglei; Li, Minggang; Qiu, Jian; Xing, Haiping; Jiang, Zhiwei; Tang, Tao

2018-05-31

Auxetic materials are a class of materials possessing negative Poisson's ratio. Here we establish a novel method for preparing auxetic foam from closed-cell polymer foam based on steam penetration and condensation (SPC) process. Using polyethylene (PE) closed-cell foam as an example, the resultant foams treated by SPC process present negative Poisson's ratio during stretching and compression testing. The effect of steam-treated temperature and time on the conversion efficiency of negative Poisson's ratio foam is investigated, and the mechanism of SPC method for forming re-entrant structure is discussed. The results indicate that the presence of enough steam within the cells is a critical factor for the negative Poisson's ratio conversion in the SPC process. The pressure difference caused by steam condensation is the driving force for the conversion from conventional closed-cell foam to the negative Poisson's ratio foam. Furthermore, the applicability of SPC process for fabricating auxetic foam is studied by replacing PE foam by polyvinyl chloride (PVC) foam with closed-cell structure or replacing water steam by ethanol steam. The results verify the universality of SPC process for fabricating auxetic foams from conventional foams with closed-cell structure. In addition, we explored potential application of the obtained auxetic foams by SPC process in the fabrication of shape memory polymer materials.

Hall versus conventional stainless steel crown techniques: in vitro investigation of marginal fit and microleakage using three different luting agents.

PubMed

Erdemci, Zeynep Yalçınkaya; Cehreli, S Burçak; Tirali, R Ebru

2014-01-01

This study's purpose was to investigate microleakage and marginal discrepancies in stainless steel crowns (SSCs) placed using conventional and Hall techniques and cemented with three different luting agents. Seventy-eight human primary maxillary second molars were randomly assigned to two groups (N=39), and SSCs were applied either with the Hall or conventional technique. These two groups were further subgrouped according to the material used for crown cementation (N=13 per group). Two specimens in each group were processed for scanning electron microscopy investigation. The extent of microleakage and marginal fit was quantified in millimeters on digitally photographed sections using image analysis software. The data were compared with a two-way independent and a two-way mixed analysis of variance (P=.05). The scores in the Hall group were significantly worse than those in the conventional technique group (P<.05). In both groups, resin cement displayed the lowest extent of microleakage, followed by glass ionomer and polycarboxylate cements (P<.05). Stainless steel crowns applied using the Hall technique displayed higher microleakage scores than those applied using the conventional technique, regardless of the cementation material. When the interaction of the material and technique was assessed, resin cement presented as the best choice for minimizing microleakage in both techniques.

Process for making carbon foam

DOEpatents

Klett, James W.

2000-01-01

The process obviates the need for conventional oxidative stabilization. The process employs mesophase or isotropic pitch and a simplified process using a single mold. The foam has a relatively uniform distribution of pore sizes and a highly aligned graphic structure in the struts. The foam material can be made into a composite which is useful in high temperature sandwich panels for both thermal and structural applications.

Analysis of the concept of informed consent concerning the use of genetic material according to the European Convention on Bioethics and in other solutionsm - Propositions for broad consent for future genetic research from the point of view of the activity of the Biobank.

PubMed

Patryn, Rafał; Sak, Jarosław

2017-09-21

The aim of the article is a critical presentation of the typology of consents included in the European Convention on Bioethics and in other formal solutions concerning the gathering of genetic material in institutions called Biobanks. Existing types of Acts of Consent are inaccurate in their scope and possess insufficient information regarding the gathering of genetic material (application, usage, processing) and their final (future and diverse) use. Lack of precise legal regulations on the broad future use of genetic material may result in various formal problems relating both to research participants as well as those commissioning the research. Ultimately, it may lead to various complications with the appropriate legal interpretation of consent and possible claims on behalf of the donors. The presented proposition of consent with a terminal premise is to be applied eventually to legal and formal aspects of the collecting of genetic material. It is a possible solution which would clarify the issue of informed consent, and may be implemented in the regulations of the Convention as well as constitute a self-contained legislative solution to this matter. For example, Polish law in its current form, without the ratification of the Bioethical Convention, allows the collecting of material for genetic testing for determination of the risk of genetic defects in common genetic material from people who are planning to have a child.

High-quality cell block preparation from scraping of conventional cytology slide: a technical report on a modified cytoscrape cell block technique.

PubMed

Choi, Y I; Jakhongir, M; Choi, S J; Kim, L; Park, I S; Han, J Y; Kim, J M; Chu, Y C

2016-12-01

Immunocytochemistry (ICC) on formalin-fixed paraffin embedded cell blocks is an ancillary tool commonly recruited for differential diagnoses of fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) samples. However, the quality of conventional cell blocks in terms of adequate cellularity and evenness of distribution of cytologic material is not always satisfactory for ICC. We introduce a modified agarose-based cytoscrape cell block (CCB) technique that can be effectively used for the preparation of cell blocks from scrapings of conventional FNAC slides. A decoverslipped FNAC slide was mounted with a small amount of water. The cytological material was scraped off the slide into a tissue mold by scraping with a cell scraper. The cytoscrape material was pelleted by centrifugation and pre-embedded in ultra-low gelling temperature agarose and then re-embedded in conventional agarose. The final agarose gel disk was processed and embedded in paraffin. The quality of the ICC on the CCB sections was identical to that of the immunohistochemical stains on histological sections. By scrapping and harvesting the entirety of the cytological material off the cytology slide into a compact agarose cell button, we could avoid the risk of losing diagnostic material during the CCB preparation. This modified CCB technique enables concentration and focusing of minute material while maintaining the entire amount of the cytoscrape material on the viewing spot of the CCB sections. We believe this technique can be effectively used to improve the level of confidence in diagnosis of FNAC especially when the FNAC slides are the only sample available.

Grinding, Machining Morphological Studies on C/SiC Composites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xiao, Chun-fang; Han, Bing

2018-05-01

C/SiC composite is a typical material difficult to machine. It is hard and brittle. In machining, the cutting force is large, the material removal rate is low, the edge is prone to collapse, and the tool wear is serious. In this paper, the grinding of C/Si composites material along the direction of fiber distribution is studied respectively. The surface microstructure and mechanical properties of C/SiC composites processed by ultrasonic machining were evaluated. The change of surface quality with the change of processing parameters has also been studied. By comparing the performances of conventional grinding and ultrasonic grinding, the surface roughness and functional characteristics of the material can be improved by optimizing the processing parameters.

Innovative fabrication processing of advanced composite materials concepts for primary aircraft structures

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kassapoglou, Christos; Dinicola, Al J.; Chou, Jack C.

1992-01-01

The autoclave based THERM-X(sub R) process was evaluated by cocuring complex curved panels with frames and stiffeners. The process was shown to result in composite parts of high quality with good compaction at sharp radius regions and corners of intersecting parts. The structural properties of the postbuckled panels fabricated were found to be equivalent to those of conventionally tooled hand laid-up parts. Significant savings in bagging time over conventional tooling were documented. Structural details such as cocured shear ties and embedded stiffener flanges in the skin were found to suppress failure modes such as failure at corners of intersecting members and skin stiffeners separation.

Processing of Aluminum-Graphite Particulate Metal Matrix Composites by Advanced Shear Technology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Barekar, N.; Tzamtzis, S.; Dhindaw, B. K.; Patel, J.; Hari Babu, N.; Fan, Z.

2009-12-01

To extend the possibilities of using aluminum/graphite composites as structural materials, a novel process is developed. The conventional methods often produce agglomerated structures exhibiting lower strength and ductility. To overcome the cohesive force of the agglomerates, a melt conditioned high-pressure die casting (MC-HPDC) process innovatively adapts the well-established, high-shear dispersive mixing action of a twin screw mechanism. The distribution of particles and properties of composites are quantitatively evaluated. The adopted rheo process significantly improved the distribution of the reinforcement in the matrix with a strong interfacial bond between the two. A good combination of improved ultimate tensile strength (UTS) and tensile elongation (ɛ) is obtained compared with composites produced by conventional processes.

Energy shadowing correction of ultrasonic pulse-echo records by digital signal processing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kishonio, D.; Heyman, J. S.

1985-01-01

A numerical algorithm is described that enables the correction of energy shadowing during the ultrasonic testing of bulk materials. In the conventional method, an ultrasonic transducer transmits sound waves into a material that is immersed in water so that discontinuities such as defects can be revealed when the waves are reflected and then detected and displayed graphically. Since a defect that lies behind another defect is shadowed in that it receives less energy, the conventional method has a major drawback. The algorithm normalizes the energy of the incoming wave by measuring the energy of the waves reflected off the water/air interface. The algorithm is fast and simple enough to be adopted for real time applications in industry. Images of material defects with the shadowing corrections permit more quantitative interpretation of the material state.

Process for Making Carbon-Carbon Turbocharger Housing Unit for Intermittent Combustion Engines

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Northam, G. Burton (Inventor); Ransone, Philip O. (Inventor); Rivers, H. Kevin (Inventor)

1999-01-01

An improved. lightweight, turbine housing unit for an intermittent combustion reciprocating internal combustion engine turbocharger is prepared from a lay-up or molding of carbon-carbon composite materials in a single-piece or two-piece process. When compared to conventional steel or cast iron, the use of carbon-carbon composite materials in a turbine housing unit reduces the overall weight of the engine and reduces the heat energy loss used in the turbo-charging process. This reduction in heat energy loss and weight reduction provides for more efficient engine operation.

Microwave sintering of ceramic materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Karayannis, V. G.

2016-11-01

In the present study, the potential of microwave irradiation as an innovative energy- efficient alternative to conventional heating technologies in ceramic manufacturing is reviewed, addressing the advantages/disadvantages, while also commenting on future applications of possible commercial interest. Ceramic materials have been extensively studied and used due to several advantages they exhibit. Sintering ceramics using microwave radiation, a novel technology widely employed in various fields, can be an efficient, economic and environmentally-friendlier approach, to improve the consolidation efficiency and reduce the processing cycle-time, in order to attain substantial energy and cost savings. Microwave sintering provides efficient internal heating, as energy is supplied directly and penetrates the material. Since energy transfer occurs at a molecular level, heat is generated throughout the material, thus avoiding significant temperature gradients between the surface and the interior, which are frequently encountered at high heating rates upon conventional sintering. Thus, rapid, volumetric and uniform heating of various raw materials and secondary resources for ceramic production is possible, with limited grain coarsening, leading to accelerated densification, and uniform and fine-grained microstructures, with enhanced mechanical performance. This is particularly important for manufacturing large-size ceramic products of quality, and also for specialty ceramic materials such as bioceramics and electroceramics. Critical parameters for the process optimization, including the electromagnetic field distribution, microwave-material interaction, heat transfer mechanisms and material transformations, should be taken into consideration.

Comparative evaluation of ibuprofen/beta-cyclodextrin complexes obtained by supercritical carbon dioxide and other conventional methods.

PubMed

Hussein, Khaled; Türk, Michael; Wahl, Martin A

2007-03-01

The preparation of drug/cyclodextrin complexes is a suitable method to improve the dissolution of poor soluble drugs. The efficacy of the Controlled Particle Deposition (CPD) as a new developed method to prepare these complexes in a single stage process using supercritical carbon dioxide is therefore compared with other conventional methods. Ibuprofen/beta-cyclodextrin complexes were prepared with different techniques and characterized using FTIR-ATR spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffractometry (PXRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In addition, the influences of the processing technique on the drug content (HPLC) and the dissolution behavior were studied. Employing the CPD-process resulted in a drug content of 2.8+/-0.22 wt.% in the carrier. The material obtained by CPD showed an improved dissolution rate of ibuprofen at pH 5 compared with the pure drug and its physical mixture with beta-cyclodextrin. In addition CPD material displays the highest dissolution (93.5+/- 2.89% after 75 min) compared to material obtained by co-precipitation (61.3 +/-0.52%) or freeze-drying (90.6 +/-2.54%). This study presents the CPD-technique as a well suitable method to prepare a drug/beta-cyclodextrin complex with improved drug dissolution compared to the pure drug and materials obtained by other methods.

Analysis of fracture in sheet bending and roll forming

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Deole, Aditya D.; Barnett, Matthew; Weiss, Matthias

2018-05-01

The bending limit or minimum bending radius of sheet metal is conventionally measured in a wiping (swing arm) or in a vee bend test and reported as the minimum radius of the tool over which the sheet can be bent without fracture. Frequently the material kinks while bending so that the actual inner bend radius of the sheet metal is smaller than the tool radius giving rise to inaccuracy in these methods. It has been shown in the previous studies that conventional bend test methods may under-estimate formability in bending dominated processes such as roll forming. A new test procedure is proposed here to improve understanding and measurement of fracture in bending and roll forming. In this study, conventional wiping test and vee bend test have been performed on martensitic steel to determine the minimum bend radius. In addition, the vee bend test is performed in an Erichsen sheet metal tester equipped with the GOM Aramis system to enable strain measurement on the outer surface during bending. The strain measurement before the onset of fracture is then used to determine the minimum bend radius. To compare this result with a technological process, a vee channel is roll formed and in-situ strain measurement carried out with the Vialux Autogrid system. The strain distribution at fracture in the roll forming process is compared with that predicted by the conventional bending tests and by the improved process. It is shown that for this forming operation and material, the improved procedure gives a more accurate prediction of fracture.

Mechanical behavior of M-Wire and conventional NiTi wire used to manufacture rotary endodontic instruments.

PubMed

Pereira, Erika S J; Gomes, Renata O; Leroy, Agnès M F; Singh, Rupinderpal; Peters, Ove A; Bahia, Maria G A; Buono, Vicente T L

2013-12-01

Comparison of physical and mechanical properties of one conventional and a new NiTi wire, which had received an additional thermomechanical treatment. Specimens of both conventional (NiTi) and the new type of wire, called M-Wire (MW), were subjected to tensile and three-point bending tests, Vickers microhardness measurements, and to rotating-bending fatigue tests at a strain-controlled level of 6%. Fracture surfaces were observed by scanning electron microscopy and the non-deformed microstructures by transmission electron microscopy. The thermomechanical treatment applied to produce the M-Wire apparently increased the tensile strength and Vickers microhardness of the material, but its apparent Young modulus was smaller than that of conventionally treated NiTi. The three-point bending tests showed a higher flexibility for MW which also exhibited a significantly higher number of cycles to failure. M-Wire presented mechanical properties that can render endodontic instruments more flexible and fatigue resistant than those made with conventionally processed NiTi wires. Copyright © 2013 Academy of Dental Materials. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Review of Stack CSP Technologies

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ghaffarian, R.

1999-01-01

CSP is an emerging technology with significant potential growth in stacking. Many of the stacking techniques for conventional packages could be implemented for CSP once materials, process, and system development for finer features are developed.

Vapor Phase Deposition Using Plasma Spray-PVD™

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

von Niessen, K.; Gindrat, M.; Refke, A.

2010-01-01

Plasma spray—physical vapor deposition (PS-PVD) is a low pressure plasma spray technology to deposit coatings out of the vapor phase. PS-PVD is a part of the family of new hybrid processes recently developed by Sulzer Metco AG (Switzerland) on the basis of the well-established low pressure plasma spraying (LPPS) technology. Included in this new process family are plasma spray—chemical vapor deposition (PS-CVD) and plasma spray—thin film (PS-TF) processes. In comparison to conventional vacuum plasma spraying and LPPS, these new processes use a high energy plasma gun operated at a work pressure below 2 mbar. This leads to unconventional plasma jet characteristics which can be used to obtain specific and unique coatings. An important new feature of PS-PVD is the possibility to deposit a coating not only by melting the feed stock material which builds up a layer from liquid splats, but also by vaporizing the injected material. Therefore, the PS-PVD process fills the gap between the conventional PVD technologies and standard thermal spray processes. The possibility to vaporize feedstock material and to produce layers out of the vapor phase results in new and unique coating microstructures. The properties of such coatings are superior to those of thermal spray and EB-PVD coatings. This paper reports on the progress made at Sulzer Metco to develop functional coatings build up from vapor phase of oxide ceramics and metals.

Theory and practice of conventional adventitious virus testing.

PubMed

Gregersen, Jens-Peter

2011-01-01

CONFERENCE PROCEEDING Proceedings of the PDA/FDA Adventitious Viruses in Biologics: Detection and Mitigation Strategies Workshop in Bethesda, MD, USA; December 1-3, 2010 Guest Editors: Arifa Khan (Bethesda, MD), Patricia Hughes (Bethesda, MD) and Michael Wiebe (San Francisco, CA) For decades conventional tests in cell cultures and in laboratory animals have served as standard methods for broad-spectrum screening for adventitious viruses. New virus detection methods based on molecular biology have broadened and improved our knowledge about potential contaminating viruses and about the suitability of the conventional test methods. This paper summarizes and discusses practical aspects of conventional test schemes, such as detectability of various viruses, questionable or false-positive results, animal numbers needed, time and cost of testing, and applicability for rapidly changing starting materials. Strategies to improve the virus safety of biological medicinal products are proposed. The strategies should be based upon a flexible application of existing and new methods along with a scientifically based risk assessment. However, testing alone does not guarantee the absence of adventitious agents and must be accompanied by virus removing or virus inactivating process steps for critical starting materials, raw materials, and for the drug product.

Natural leathers from natural materials: progressing toward a new arena in leather processing.

PubMed

Saravanabhavan, Subramani; Thanikaivelan, Palanisamy; Rao, Jonnalagadda Raghava; Nair, Balachandran Unni; Ramasami, Thirumalachari

2004-02-01

Globally, the leather industry is currently undergoing radical transformation due to pollution and discharge legislations. Thus, the leather industry is pressurized to look for cleaner options for processing the raw hides and skins. Conventional methods of pre-tanning, tanning and post-tanning processes are known to contribute more than 98% of the total pollution load from the leather processing. The conventional method of the tanning process involves the "do-undo" principle. Furthermore, the conventional methods employed in leather processing subject the skin/ hide to a wide variation in pH (2.8-13.0). This results in the emission of huge amounts of pollution loads such as BOD, COD, TDS, TS, sulfates, chlorides and chromium. In the approach illustrated here, the hair and flesh removal as well as fiber opening have been achieved using biocatalysts at pH 8.0, pickle-free natural tanning employing vegetable tannins, and post-tanning using environmentally friendly chemicals. Hence, this process involves dehairing, fiber opening, and pickle-free natural tanning followed by ecofriendly post-tanning. It has been found that the extent of hair removal and opening up of fiber bundles is comparable to that of conventionally processed leathers. This has been substantiated through scanning electron microscopic analysis and softness measurements. Performance of the leathers is shown to be on par with conventionally chrome-tanned leathers through physical and hand evaluation. The process also exhibits zero metal (chromium) discharge and significant reduction in BOD, COD, TDS, and TS loads by 83, 69, 96, and 96%, respectively. Furthermore, the developed process seems to be economically viable.

Cooking processes increase bioactive compounds in organic and conventional green beans.

PubMed

Lima, Giuseppina Pace Pereira; Costa, Sergio Marques; Monaco, Kamila de Almeida; Uliana, Maira Rodrigues; Fernandez, Roberto Morato; Correa, Camila Renata; Vianello, Fabio; Cisneros-Zevallos, Luis; Minatel, Igor Otavio

2017-12-01

The influence of cooking methods on chlorophyl, carotenoids, polyamines, polyphenols contents and antioxidant capacity were analyzed in organic and conventional green beans. The initial raw material had a higher content of chlorophyl and total phenolics in conventional green beans, whereas organic cultive favored flavonoid content and antioxidant capacity. Polyamines and carotenoids were similar for the two crop systems. After the cooking process, carotenoids (β-carotene, lutein and zeaxanthin) increased. Microwave heating favored the enhancement of some polar compounds, whereas pressure cooking favored carotenoids. When we used the estimation of the radical scavenging activity by electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy, a reduction of the DPPH radical signal in the presence of green bean extracts was observed, regardless of the mode of cultivation. The highest reduction of the ESR signal ocurred for microwave cooking in organic and conventional green beans, indicating a higher availability of antioxidants with this type of heat treatment.

Thermomechanical simulations and experimental validation for high speed incremental forming

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ambrogio, Giuseppina; Gagliardi, Francesco; Filice, Luigino; Romero, Natalia

2016-10-01

Incremental sheet forming (ISF) consists in deforming only a small region of the workspace through a punch driven by a NC machine. The drawback of this process is its slowness. In this study, a high speed variant has been investigated from both numerical and experimental points of view. The aim has been the design of a FEM model able to perform the material behavior during the high speed process by defining a thermomechanical model. An experimental campaign has been performed by a CNC lathe with high speed to test process feasibility. The first results have shown how the material presents the same performance than in conventional speed ISF and, in some cases, better material behavior due to the temperature increment. An accurate numerical simulation has been performed to investigate the material behavior during the high speed process confirming substantially experimental evidence.

Control of microstructure in soldered, brazed, welded, plated, cast or vapor deposited manufactured components

DOEpatents

Ripley, Edward B.; Hallman, Russell L.

2015-11-10

Disclosed are methods and systems for controlling of the microstructures of a soldered, brazed, welded, plated, cast, or vapor deposited manufactured component. The systems typically use relatively weak magnetic fields of either constant or varying flux to affect material properties within a manufactured component, typically without modifying the alloy, or changing the chemical composition of materials or altering the time, temperature, or transformation parameters of a manufacturing process. Such systems and processes may be used with components consisting of only materials that are conventionally characterized as be uninfluenced by magnetic forces.

Comparison of electron beam and laser beam powder bed fusion additive manufacturing process for high temperature turbine component materials

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Dryepondt, Sebastien N; Pint, Bruce A; Ryan, Daniel

2016-04-01

The evolving 3D printer technology is now at the point where some turbine components could be additive manufactured (AM) for both development and production purposes. However, this will require a significant evaluation program to qualify the process and components to meet current design and quality standards. The goal of the project was to begin characterization of the microstructure and mechanical properties of Nickel Alloy X (Ni-22Cr-18Fe-9Mo) test bars fabricated by powder bed fusion (PBF) AM processes that use either an electron beam (EB) or laser beam (LB) power source. The AM materials produced with the EB and LB processes displayedmore » significant differences in microstructure and resultant mechanical properties. Accordingly, during the design analysis of AM turbine components, the specific mechanical behavior of the material produced with the selected AM process should be considered. Comparison of the mechanical properties of both the EB and LB materials to those of conventionally processed Nickel Alloy X materials indicates the subject AM materials are viable alternatives for manufacture of some turbine components.« less

New laser machining processes for shape memory alloys

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Haferkamp, Heinz; Paschko, Stefan; Goede, Martin

2001-04-01

Due to special material properties, shape memory alloys (SMA) are finding increasing attention in micro system technology. However, only a few processes are available for the machining of miniaturized SMA-components. In this connection, laser material processing offers completely new possibilities. This paper describes the actual status of two projects that are being carried out to qualify new methods to machine SMA components by means of laser radiation. Within one project, the laser material ablation process of miniaturized SMA- components using ultra-short laser pulses (pulse duration: approx. 200 fs) in comparison to conventional laser material ablation is being investigated. Especially for SMA micro- sensors and actuators, it is important to minimize the heat affected zone (HAZ) to maintain the special mechanical properties. Light-microscopic investigations of the grain texture of SMA devices processed with ultra-short laser pulses show that the HAZ can be neglected. Presently, the main goal of the project is to qualify this new processing technique for the micro-structuring of complex SMA micro devices with high precision. Within a second project, investigations are being carried out to realize the induction of the two-way memory effect (TWME) into SMA components using laser radiation. By precisely heating SMA components with laser radiation, local tensions remain near the component surface. In connection with the shape memory effect, these tensions can be used to make the components execute complicated movements. Compared to conventional training methods to induce the TWME, this procedure is faster and easier. Furthermore, higher numbers of thermal cycling are expected because of the low dislocation density in the main part of the component.

Droplet size prediction in the production of drug delivery microsystems by ultrasonic atomization

PubMed Central

Dalmoro, Annalisa; d’Amore, Matteo; Barba, Anna Angela

Microencapsulation processes of drugs or other functional molecules are of great interest in pharmaceutical production fields. Ultrasonic assisted atomization is a new technique to produce microencapsulated systems by mechanical approach. It seems to offer several advantages (low level of mechanical stress in materials, reduced energy request, reduced apparatuses size) with respect to more conventional techniques. In this paper the groundwork of atomization is briefly introduced and correlations to predict droplet size starting from process parameters and material properties are presented. PMID:24251250

NCTM of liquids at high temperatures using polarization techniques

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Krishnan, Shankar; Weber, J. K. Richard; Nordine, Paul C.; Schiffman, Robert A.

1990-01-01

Temperature measurement and control is extremely important in any materials processing application. However, conventional techniques for non-contact temperature measurement (mainly optical pyrometry) are very uncertain because of unknown or varying surface emittance. Optical properties like other properties change during processing. A dynamic, in-situ measurement of optical properties including the emittance is required. Intersonics is developing new technologies using polarized laser light scattering to determine surface emittance of freely radiating bodies concurrent with conventional optical pyrometry. These are sufficient to determine the true surface temperature of the target. Intersonics is currently developing a system called DAPP, the Division of Amplitude Polarimetric Pyrometer, that uses polarization information to measure the true thermodynamic temperature of freely radiating objects. This instrument has potential use in materials processing applications in ground and space based equipment. Results of thermophysical and thermodynamic measurements using laser reflection as a temperature measuring tool are presented. The impact of these techniques on thermophysical property measurements at high temperature is discussed.

Materials, Processes, and Facile Manufacturing for Bioresorbable Electronics: A Review.

PubMed

Yu, Xiaowei; Shou, Wan; Mahajan, Bikram K; Huang, Xian; Pan, Heng

2018-05-07

Bioresorbable electronics refer to a new class of advanced electronics that can completely dissolve or disintegrate with environmentally and biologically benign byproducts in water and biofluids. They have provided a solution to the growing electronic waste problem with applications in temporary usage of electronics such as implantable devices and environmental sensors. Bioresorbable materials such as biodegradable polymers, dissolvable conductors, semiconductors, and dielectrics are extensively studied, enabling massive progress of bioresorbable electronic devices. Processing and patterning of these materials are predominantly relying on vacuum-based fabrication methods so far. However, for the purpose of commercialization, nonvacuum, low-cost, and facile manufacturing/printing approaches are the need of the hour. Bioresorbable electronic materials are generally more chemically reactive than conventional electronic materials, which require particular attention in developing the low-cost manufacturing processes in ambient environment. This review focuses on material reactivity, ink availability, printability, and process compatibility for facile manufacturing of bioresorbable electronics. © 2018 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

A membrane-integrated fermentation reactor system: its effects in reducing the amount of sub-raw materials for D-lactic acid continuous fermentation by Sporolactobacillus laevolacticus.

PubMed

Mimitsuka, Takashi; Na, Kyungsu; Morita, Ken; Sawai, Hideki; Minegishi, Shinichi; Henmi, Masahiro; Yamada, Katsushige; Shimizu, Sakayu; Yonehara, Tetsu

2012-01-01

Continuous fermentation by retaining cells with a membrane-integrated fermentation reactor (MFR) system was found to reduce the amount of supplied sub-raw material. If the amount of sub-raw material can be reduced, continuous fermentation with the MFR system should become a more attractive process for industrialization, due to decreased material costs and loads during the refinement process. Our findings indicate that the production rate decreased when the amount of the sub-raw material was reduced in batch fermentation, but did not decrease during continuous fermentation with Sporolactobacillus laevolacticus. Moreover, continuous fermentation with a reduced amount of sub-raw material resulted in a productivity of 11.2 g/L/h over 800 h. In addition, the index of industrial process applicability used in the MFR system increased by 6.3-fold as compared with the conventional membrane-based fermentation reactor previously reported, suggesting a potential for the industrialization of this D-lactic acid continuous fermentation process.

Magnetorheological finishing: a perfect solution to nanofinishing requirements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sidpara, Ajay

2014-09-01

Finishing of optics for different applications is the most important as well as difficult step to meet the specification of optics. Conventional grinding or other polishing processes are not able to reduce surface roughness beyond a certain limit due to high forces acting on the workpiece, embedded abrasive particles, limited control over process, etc. Magnetorheological finishing (MRF) process provides a new, efficient, and innovative way to finish optical materials as well many metals to their desired level of accuracy. This paper provides an overview of MRF process for different applications, important process parameters, requirement of magnetorheological fluid with respect to workpiece material, and some areas that need to be explored for extending the application of MRF process.

Investigation of the Phase Formation of AlSi-Coatings for Hot Stamping of Boron Alloyed Steel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Veit, R.; Hofmann, H.; Kolleck, R.; Sikora, S.

2011-01-01

Hot stamping of boron alloyed steel is gaining more and more importance for the production of high strength automotive body parts. Within hot stamping of quenchenable steels the blank is heated up to austenitization temperature, transferred to the tool, formed rapidly and quenched in the cooled tool. To avoid scale formation during the heating process of the blank, the sheet metal can be coated with an aluminium-silicum alloy. The meltimg temperature of this coating is below the austenitization temperature of the base material. This means, that a diffusion process between base material and coating has to take place during heating, leading to a higher melting temperature of the coating. In conventional heating devices, like roller hearth furnaces, the diffusion process is reached by relatively low heating rates. New technologies, like induction heating, reach very high heating rates and offer great potentials for the application in hot stamping. Till now it is not proofed, that this technology can be used with aluminum-silicon coated materials. This paper will present the results of comparative heating tests with a conventional furnace and an induction heating device. For different time/temperature-conditions the phase formation within the coating will be described.

Application of Temperature-Controlled Thermal Atomization for Printing Electronics in Space

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wu, Chih-Hao; Thompson, Furman V.

2017-01-01

Additive Manufacturing (AM) is a technology that builds three dimensional objects by adding material layer-upon-layer throughout the fabrication process. The Electrical, Electronic and Electromechanical (EEE) parts packaging group at Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) is investigating how various AM and 3D printing processes can be adapted to the microgravity environment of space to enable on demand manufacturing of electronics. The current state-of-the art processes for accomplishing the task of printing electronics through non-contact, direct-write means rely heavily on the process of atomization of liquid inks into fine aerosols to be delivered ultimately to a machine's print head and through its nozzle. As a result of cumulative International Space Station (ISS) research into the behaviors of fluids in zero-gravity, our experience leads us to conclude that the direct adaptation of conventional atomization processes will likely fall short and alternative approaches will need to be explored. In this report, we investigate the development of an alternative approach to atomizing electronic materials by way of thermal atomization, to be used in place of conventional aerosol generation and delivery processes for printing electronics in space.

Material Gradients in Oxygen System Components Improve Safety

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Forsyth, Bradley S.

2011-01-01

Oxygen system components fabricated by Laser Engineered Net Shaping (TradeMark) (LENS(TradeMark)) could result in improved safety and performance. LENS(TradeMark) is a near-net shape manufacturing process fusing powdered materials injected into a laser beam. Parts can be fabricated with a variety of elemental metals, alloys, and nonmetallic materials without the use of a mold. The LENS(TradeMark) process allows the injected materials to be varied throughout a single workpiece. Hence, surfaces exposed to oxygen could be constructed of an oxygen-compatible material while the remainder of the part could be one chosen for strength or reduced weight. Unlike conventional coating applications, a compositional gradient would exist between the two materials, so no abrupt material boundary exists. Without an interface between dissimilar materials, there is less tendency for chipping or cracking associated with thermal-expansion mismatches.

Extreme-ultraviolet and electron beam lithography processing using water developable resist material

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Takei, Satoshi

2017-08-01

In order to achieve the use of pure water in the developable process of extreme-ultraviolet and electron beam lithography, instead of conventionally used tetramethylammonium hydroxide and organic solvents, a water developable resist material was designed and developed. The water-developable resist material was derived from woody biomass with beta-linked disaccharide unit for environmental affair, safety, easiness of handling, and health of the working people. 80 nm dense line patterning images with exposure dose of 22 μC/cm2 and CF4 etching selectivity of 1.8 with hardmask layer were provided by specific process conditions. The approach of our water-developable resist material will be one of the most promising technologies ready to be investigated into production of medical device applications.

Neural network system and methods for analysis of organic materials and structures using spectral data

DOEpatents

Meyer, Bernd J.; Sellers, Jeffrey P.; Thomsen, Jan U.

1993-01-01

Apparatus and processes for recognizing and identifying materials. Characteristic spectra are obtained for the materials via spectroscopy techniques including nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, infrared absorption analysis, x-ray analysis, mass spectroscopy and gas chromatography. Desired portions of the spectra may be selected and then placed in proper form and format for presentation to a number of input layer neurons in an offline neural network. The network is first trained according to a predetermined training process; it may then be employed to identify particular materials. Such apparatus and processes are particularly useful for recognizing and identifying organic compounds such as complex carbohydrates, whose spectra conventionally require a high level of training and many hours of hard work to identify, and are frequently indistinguishable from one another by human interpretation.

Metal oxides for optoelectronic applications.

PubMed

Yu, Xinge; Marks, Tobin J; Facchetti, Antonio

2016-04-01

Metal oxides (MOs) are the most abundant materials in the Earth's crust and are ingredients in traditional ceramics. MO semiconductors are strikingly different from conventional inorganic semiconductors such as silicon and III-V compounds with respect to materials design concepts, electronic structure, charge transport mechanisms, defect states, thin-film processing and optoelectronic properties, thereby enabling both conventional and completely new functions. Recently, remarkable advances in MO semiconductors for electronics have been achieved, including the discovery and characterization of new transparent conducting oxides, realization of p-type along with traditional n-type MO semiconductors for transistors, p-n junctions and complementary circuits, formulations for printing MO electronics and, most importantly, commercialization of amorphous oxide semiconductors for flat panel displays. This Review surveys the uniqueness and universality of MOs versus other unconventional electronic materials in terms of materials chemistry and physics, electronic characteristics, thin-film fabrication strategies and selected applications in thin-film transistors, solar cells, diodes and memories.

Metal oxides for optoelectronic applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yu, Xinge; Marks, Tobin J.; Facchetti, Antonio

2016-04-01

Metal oxides (MOs) are the most abundant materials in the Earth's crust and are ingredients in traditional ceramics. MO semiconductors are strikingly different from conventional inorganic semiconductors such as silicon and III-V compounds with respect to materials design concepts, electronic structure, charge transport mechanisms, defect states, thin-film processing and optoelectronic properties, thereby enabling both conventional and completely new functions. Recently, remarkable advances in MO semiconductors for electronics have been achieved, including the discovery and characterization of new transparent conducting oxides, realization of p-type along with traditional n-type MO semiconductors for transistors, p-n junctions and complementary circuits, formulations for printing MO electronics and, most importantly, commercialization of amorphous oxide semiconductors for flat panel displays. This Review surveys the uniqueness and universality of MOs versus other unconventional electronic materials in terms of materials chemistry and physics, electronic characteristics, thin-film fabrication strategies and selected applications in thin-film transistors, solar cells, diodes and memories.

Thermoelectric properties of hot-pressed fine particulate powder SiGe alloys

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Beaty, John S.; Rolfe, Jonathan; Vandersande, Jan

1991-01-01

A novel material system and its fabrication technique have been defined and applied to the production of SiGe thermoelectric material through the hot pressing of 50-100 A ultrafine particulates into 80/20 SiGe. Relative to conventionally processed SiGe, a reduction of thermal conductivity of up to 40 percent is achieved in conjunction with an enhancement of material figure-of-merit of the order of 10-15 percent.

Nanostructured materials: A novel approach to enhanced performance. Final report

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Korth, G.E.; Froes, F.H.; Suryanarayana, C.

Nanostuctured materials are an emerging class of materials that can exhibit physical and mechanical characteristics often exceeding those exhibited by conventional course grained materials. A number of different techniques can be employed to produce these materials. In this program, the synthesis methods were (a) mechanical alloying , (b) physical vapor deposition, and (c) plasma processing. The physical vapor deposition and plasma processing were discontinued after initial testing with subsequent efforts focused on mechanical alloying. The major emphasis of the program was on the synthesis, consolidation, and characterization of nanostructured Al-Fe, Ti-Al, Ti-Al-Nb, and Fe-Al by alloying intermetallics with a viewmore » to increase their ductilities. The major findings of this project are reported.« less

Development and Demonstration of Adanced Tooling Alloys for Molds and Dies

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kevin M. McHugh; Enrique J. Lavernia

2006-01-01

This report summarizes research results in the project Development and Demonstration of Advanced Tooling Alloys for Molds and Dies. Molds, dies and related tooling are used to manufacture most of the plastic and metal products we use every day. Conventional fabrication of molds and dies involves a multiplicity of machining, benching and heat treatment unit operations. This approach is very expensive and time consuming. Rapid Solidifcation Process (RSP) Tooling is a spray-forming technology tailored for producing molds and dies. The appraoch combines rapid solidifcation processing and net-shape materials processing in a single step. An atomized spray of a tool-forming alloy,more » typically a tool steel, is deposited onto an easy-to-form tool pattern to replicate the pattern's shape and surface features. By so doing, the approach eliminates many machining operations in conventional mold making, significantly reducing cost, lead time and energy. Moreover, rapid solidification creates unique microstructural features by suppressing carbide precipitation and growth, and creating metastable phases. This can result in unique material properties following heat treatment. Spray-formed and aged tool steel dies have exhibited extended life compared to conventional dies in many forming operations such as forging, extrusion and die casting. RSP Tooling technolocy was commercialized with the formation of RSP Tooling, LLC in Solon, Oh.« less

Microcellular processing of polylactide-hyperbranched polyester-nanoclay composites

Treesearch

Srikanth Pilla; Adam Kramschuster; Jungjoo Lee; Craig Clemons; Shaoqin Gong; Lih-Sheng Turng

2010-01-01

The effects of addition of hyperbranched polyesters (HBPs) and nanoclay on the material properties of both solid and microcellular polylactide (PLA) produced via a conventional and microcellular injection-molding process, respectively, were investigated. The effects of two different types of HBPs (i.e., Boltorn H2004® and Boltorn H20®) at the same...

Effect of Bottoming on Material Property during Sheet Forming Process through Finite Element Method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Akinlabi, Stephen A.; Fatoba, Olawale S.; Mashinini, Peter M.; Akinlabi, Esther T.

2018-03-01

Metal forming is one of the conventional manufacturing processes of immense relevance till date even though modern manufacturing processes have evolved over the years. It is a known fact that material tends to return or spring back to its original form during forming or bending. The phenomena have been well managed through its application in various manufacturing processes by compensating for the spring back through overbending and bottoming. Overbending is bending the material beyond the desired shape to allow the material to spring back to the expected shape. Bottoming, on the other hand, is a process of undergoing plastic deformation at the point of bending. This study reports on the finite element analysis of the effect of bottoming on the material property during the sheet forming process with the aim of optimising the process. The result of the analysis revealed that the generated plastic strains are in the order between 1.750e00-1 at the peak of the bending and 3.604e00-2, which was at the early stage of the bending.

Developing Characterization Procedures for Qualifying both Novel Selective Laser Sintering Polymer Powders and Recycled Powders

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Bajric, Sendin

Selective laser sintering (SLS) is an additive technique which is showing great promise over conventional manufacturing techniques. SLS requires certain key material properties for a polymer powder to be successfully processed into an end-use part, and therefore limited selection of materials are available. Furthermore, there has been evidence of a powder’s quality deteriorating following each SLS processing cycle. The current investigation serves to build a path forward in identifying new SLS powder materials by developing characterization procedures for identifying key material properties as well as for detecting changes in a powder’s quality. Thermogravimetric analyses, differential scanning calorimetry, and bulk densitymore » measurements were investigated.« less

Matrix-free and material-enhanced laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry for the analysis of low molecular weight compounds.

PubMed

Rainer, Matthias; Qureshi, Muhammad Nasimullah; Bonn, Günther Karl

2011-06-01

The application of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry (MS) for the analysis of low molecular weight (LMW) compounds, such as pharmacologically active constituents or metabolites, is usually hampered by employing conventional MALDI matrices owing to interferences caused by matrix molecules below 700 Da. As a consequence, interpretation of mass spectra remains challenging, although matrix suppression can be achieved under certain conditions. Unlike the conventional MALDI methods which usually suffer from background signals, matrix-free techniques have become more and more popular for the analysis of LMW compounds. In this review we describe recently introduced materials for laser desorption/ionization (LDI) as alternatives to conventionally applied MALDI matrices. In particular, we want to highlight a new method for LDI which is referred to as matrix-free material-enhanced LDI (MELDI). In matrix-free MELDI it could be clearly shown, that besides chemical functionalities, the material's morphology plays a crucial role regarding energy-transfer capabilities. Therefore, it is of great interest to also investigate parameters such as particle size and porosity to study their impact on the LDI process. Especially nanomaterials such as diamond-like carbon, C(60) fullerenes and nanoparticulate silica beads were found to be excellent energy-absorbing materials in matrix-free MELDI.

The shear band controlled deformation in metallic glass: a perspective from fracture

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, G. N.; Shao, Y.; Yao, K. F.

2016-02-01

Different from the homogenous deformation in conventional crystalline alloys, metallic glasses and other work-softening materials deform discontinuously by localized plastic strain in shear bands. Here by three-point bending test on a typical ductile Pd-Cu-Si metallic glass, we found that the plastic deformed region during fracture didn’t follow the yielding stress distribution as the conventional material mechanics expected. We speculated that such special behavior was because the shear bands in metallic glasses could propagate easily along local shear stress direction once nucleated. Based on a 3D notch tip stress field simulation, we considered a new fracture process in a framework of multiple shear band deformation mechanism instead of conventional materials mechanics, and successfully reproduced the as-observed complicate shear band morphologies. This work clarifies many common misunderstandings on metallic glasses fracture, and might also provide a new insight to the shear band controlled deformation. It suggests that the deformation of metallic glasses is sensitive to local stress condition, and therefore their mechanical properties would depend on not only the material, but also other external factors on stress condition. We hope that start from this work, new methods, criteria, or definitions could be proposed to further study these work-softening materials, especially for metallic glasses.

Mechanical Properties of AM Stainless Steel Parts and Repair Welds

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Vogel, Sven C.; Carpenter, John S.

2015-02-22

Goals: Advance certification of AM materials and compare microstructure and its evolution during processing and deformation between AM fabricated and conventional steels. Deliverables achieved: Measured texture data for 17 steel samples on HIPPO, including material planned to be shocked in pRAD in FY16; quantified texture and austenite/ferrite phase fractions; and provide input data for deformation modeling.

Ionic Modification Turns Commercial Rubber into a Self-Healing Material.

PubMed

Das, Amit; Sallat, Aladdin; Böhme, Frank; Suckow, Marcus; Basu, Debdipta; Wiessner, Sven; Stöckelhuber, Klaus Werner; Voit, Brigitte; Heinrich, Gert

2015-09-23

Invented by Charles Goodyear, chemical cross-linking of rubbers by sulfur vulcanization is the only method by which modern automobile tires are manufactured. The formation of these cross-linked network structures leads to highly elastic properties, which substantially reduces the viscous properties of these materials. Here, we describe a simple approach to converting commercially available and widely used bromobutyl rubber (BIIR) into a highly elastic material with extraordinary self-healing properties without using conventional cross-linking or vulcanising agents. Transformation of the bromine functionalities of BIIR into ionic imidazolium bromide groups results in the formation of reversible ionic associates that exhibit physical cross-linking ability. The reversibility of the ionic association facilitates the healing processes by temperature- or stress-induced rearrangements, thereby enabling a fully cut sample to retain its original properties after application of the self-healing process. Other mechanical properties, such as the elastic modulus, tensile strength, ductility, and hysteresis loss, were found to be superior to those of conventionally sulfur-cured BIIR. This simple and easy approach to preparing a commercial rubber with self-healing properties offers unique development opportunities in the field of highly engineered materials, such as tires, for which safety, performance, and longer fatigue life are crucial factors.

Next Generation Non-Vacuum, Maskless, Low Temperature Nanoparticle Ink Laser Digital Direct Metal Patterning for a Large Area Flexible Electronics

PubMed Central

Yeo, Junyeob; Hong, Sukjoon; Lee, Daehoo; Hotz, Nico; Lee, Ming-Tsang; Grigoropoulos, Costas P.; Ko, Seung Hwan

2012-01-01

Flexible electronics opened a new class of future electronics. The foldable, light and durable nature of flexible electronics allows vast flexibility in applications such as display, energy devices and mobile electronics. Even though conventional electronics fabrication methods are well developed for rigid substrates, direct application or slight modification of conventional processes for flexible electronics fabrication cannot work. The future flexible electronics fabrication requires totally new low-temperature process development optimized for flexible substrate and it should be based on new material too. Here we present a simple approach to developing a flexible electronics fabrication without using conventional vacuum deposition and photolithography. We found that direct metal patterning based on laser-induced local melting of metal nanoparticle ink is a promising low-temperature alternative to vacuum deposition– and photolithography-based conventional metal patterning processes. The “digital” nature of the proposed direct metal patterning process removes the need for expensive photomask and allows easy design modification and short turnaround time. This new process can be extremely useful for current small-volume, large-variety manufacturing paradigms. Besides, simple, scalable, fast and low-temperature processes can lead to cost-effective fabrication methods on a large-area polymer substrate. The developed process was successfully applied to demonstrate high-quality Ag patterning (2.1 µΩ·cm) and high-performance flexible organic field effect transistor arrays. PMID:22900011

Next generation non-vacuum, maskless, low temperature nanoparticle ink laser digital direct metal patterning for a large area flexible electronics.

PubMed

Yeo, Junyeob; Hong, Sukjoon; Lee, Daehoo; Hotz, Nico; Lee, Ming-Tsang; Grigoropoulos, Costas P; Ko, Seung Hwan

2012-01-01

Flexible electronics opened a new class of future electronics. The foldable, light and durable nature of flexible electronics allows vast flexibility in applications such as display, energy devices and mobile electronics. Even though conventional electronics fabrication methods are well developed for rigid substrates, direct application or slight modification of conventional processes for flexible electronics fabrication cannot work. The future flexible electronics fabrication requires totally new low-temperature process development optimized for flexible substrate and it should be based on new material too. Here we present a simple approach to developing a flexible electronics fabrication without using conventional vacuum deposition and photolithography. We found that direct metal patterning based on laser-induced local melting of metal nanoparticle ink is a promising low-temperature alternative to vacuum deposition- and photolithography-based conventional metal patterning processes. The "digital" nature of the proposed direct metal patterning process removes the need for expensive photomask and allows easy design modification and short turnaround time. This new process can be extremely useful for current small-volume, large-variety manufacturing paradigms. Besides, simple, scalable, fast and low-temperature processes can lead to cost-effective fabrication methods on a large-area polymer substrate. The developed process was successfully applied to demonstrate high-quality Ag patterning (2.1 µΩ·cm) and high-performance flexible organic field effect transistor arrays.

A New Thermal Treatment Process of Low Value Volcanic Glass towards the Production of Expanded Material and its Use on CNTs’ Synthesis as Substrate Material

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Angelopoulos, Panagiotis M.; Samouhos, Michail; Taxiarchou, Maria; Tsakiridis, P.; Haggman, John; Joyce, Paul

2018-05-01

Pitchstone is a naturally occurring volcanic glass that contains considerable amount of chemically bound water (> 6 % wt). Due to its high water content, its direct thermal processing in conventional expansion furnaces towards the production of lightweight material, similar to expanded perlite, is practically impossible. In the current research paper a sophisticated 2 stage process is presented that consists of a partial dehydration and an expansion stage towards the production of high quality expanded material. After proper treatment, low-value volcanic glass is transformed to frothy, lightweight material of closed external surface and apparent density of 52 kg·m-3 that can be used in various branches of the industry. The material produced is used as substrate for the development of multiwall CNTs through CVD method. Dense multiwall CNT clusters were identified on expanded pitchstone surface, thus rendering the material suitable for such application.

Harnessing the Potential of Additive Manufacturing

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-12-01

manufacturing age, which is dominated by standards for materials, processes and process control. Conventional manufacturing is based upon a design that is...documented either in a drawing or a computer-aided design (CAD) file. The manufacturing team then develops a docu- mented public or private process for...31 Defense AT&L: November-December 2016 Harnessing the Potential of Additive Manufacturing Bill Decker Decker is director of Technology

Managing dredged material in the coastal zone of the Baltic Sea.

PubMed

Staniszewska, Marta; Boniecka, Helena

2017-01-01

This article deals with the legal and practical recommendations for the management of dredged material in the riparian countries of the Baltic Sea. The recommendations are contained in three conventions: LC, 2000. London Convention (1972), Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea area (Helsinki Convention) (1992), the OSPAR Convention (1972). Different approaches to evaluating the contamination level of dredge spoils, used by the Baltic Sea riparian countries, have been characterized. The differences in those approaches manifest themselves by various concentration limits for contaminants, which form a basis for the classification of dredged material as either contaminated or non-contaminated, and thus determine how the spoils will be processed further. Based on the collected information about the concentration limits for contaminants of surface sediments in the coastal ports, it was pointed out that it is necessary to conduct routine monitoring of heavy metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, polychlorinated biphenyls, tributyltin, and petroleum hydrocarbons in dredged sediments in all the Baltic Sea states. On the other hand, the monitoring of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins/furans, organochlorine, and organophosphoric pesticides is only needed in locations that are suspected of historical or being the local contamination sources. Due to significant economic limitations of chemical determinations, it is important to consider a simple screening test of sediment that would say whether sediment may be "contaminated" and qualifies for more detailed and costly chemical research. It may be typical basic physical-chemical analysis of sediments or ecotoxicological classification of sediments.Despite environmentally friendly tendencies, the practical application of dredged material within the Baltic Sea area is very limited. Dredged material is most frequently stored at the specifically designated sites. From among the practical uses of dredge spoils, beach nourishment is of the highest significance.In the conclusion, the new proposed management procedure of dredged material was presented.

Micromechanical Characterization and Texture Analysis of Direct Cast Titanium Alloys Strips

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2000-01-01

This research was conducted to determine a post-processing technique to optimize mechanical and material properties of a number of Titanium based alloys and aluminides processed via Melt Overflow Solidification Technique (MORST). This technique was developed by NASA for the development of thin sheet titanium and titanium aluminides used in high temperature applications. The materials investigated in this study included conventional titanium alloy strips and foils, Ti-1100, Ti-24Al-11Nb (Alpha-2), and Ti-48Al-2Ta (Gamma). The methodology used included micro-characterization, heat-treatment, mechanical processing and mechanical testing. Characterization techniques included optical, electron microscopy, and x-ray texture analysis. The processing included heat-treatment and mechanical deformation through cold rolling. The initial as-cast materials were evaluated for their microstructure and mechanical properties. Different heat-treatment and rolling steps were chosen to process these materials. The properties were evaluated further and a processing relationship was established in order to obtain an optimum processing condition. The results showed that the as-cast material exhibited a Widmanstatten (fine grain) microstructure that developed into a microstructure with larger grains through processing steps. The texture intensity showed little change for all processing performed in this investigation.

Multi-band filter design with less total film thickness for short-wave infrared

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yan, Yung-Jhe; Chien, I.-Pen; Chen, Po-Han; Chen, Sheng-Hui; Tsai, Yi-Chun; Ou-Yang, Mang

2017-08-01

A multi-band pass filter array was proposed and designed for short wave infrared applications. The central wavelength of the multi-band pass filters are located about 905 nm, 950 nm, 1055 nm and 1550 nm. In the simulation of an optical interference band pass filter, high spectrum performance (high transmittance ratio between the pass band and stop band) relies on (1) the index gap between the selected high/low-index film materials, with a larger gap correlated to higher performance, and (2) sufficient repeated periods of high/low-index thin-film layers. When determining high and low refractive index materials, spectrum performance was improved by increasing repeated periods. Consequently, the total film thickness increases rapidly. In some cases, a thick total film thickness is difficult to process in practice, especially when incorporating photolithography liftoff. Actually the maximal thickness of the photoresist being able to liftoff will bound the total film thickness of the band pass filter. For the application of the short wave infrared with the wavelength range from 900nm to 1700nm, silicone was chosen as a high refractive index material. Different from other dielectric materials used in the visible range, silicone has a higher absorptance in the visible range opposite to higher transmission in the short wave infrared. In other words, designing band pass filters based on silicone as a high refractive index material film could not obtain a better spectrum performance than conventional high index materials like TiO2 or Ta2O5, but also its material cost would reduce about half compared to the total film thickness with the conventional material TiO2. Through the simulation and several experimental trials, the total film thickness below 4 um was practicable and reasonable. The fabrication of the filters was employed a dual electric gun deposition system with ion assisted deposition after the lithography process. Repeating four times of lithography and deposition process and black matrix coating, the optical device processes were completed.

Development of a Thin Gauge Metallic Seal for Gas Turbine Engine Applications to 1700 F

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

England, Raymond O.

2006-01-01

The goal of doubling thrust-to-weight ratio for gas turbine engines has placed significant demands on engine component materials. Operating temperatures for static seals in the transition duct and turbine sections for instance, may well reach 2000 F within the next ten years. At these temperatures conventional age-hardenable superalloys lose their high strength via overaging and eventual dissolution of the gamma precipitate, and are well above their oxidation stability limit. Conventional solid-solution-strengthened alloys offer metallurgical stability, but suffer from rapid oxidation and little useful load bearing strength. Ceramic materials can theoretically be used at these temperatures, but manufacturing processes are in the developmental stages.

Interface formation in monolayer graphene-boron nitride heterostructures.

PubMed

Sutter, P; Cortes, R; Lahiri, J; Sutter, E

2012-09-12

The ability to control the formation of interfaces between different materials has become one of the foundations of modern materials science. With the advent of two-dimensional (2D) crystals, low-dimensional equivalents of conventional interfaces can be envisioned: line boundaries separating different materials integrated in a single 2D sheet. Graphene and hexagonal boron nitride offer an attractive system from which to build such 2D heterostructures. They are isostructural, nearly lattice-matched, and isoelectronic, yet their different band structures promise interesting functional properties arising from their integration. Here, we use a combination of in situ microscopy techniques to study the growth and interface formation of monolayer graphene-boron nitride heterostructures on ruthenium. In a sequential chemical vapor deposition process, boron nitride grows preferentially at the edges of existing monolayer graphene domains, which can be exploited for synthesizing continuous 2D membranes of graphene embedded in boron nitride. High-temperature growth leads to intermixing near the interface, similar to interfacial alloying in conventional heterostructures. Using real-time microscopy, we identify processes that eliminate this intermixing and thus pave the way to graphene-boron nitride heterostructures with atomically sharp interfaces.

Flexible separator for alkaline batteries

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sheibley, D. W.

1977-01-01

Device is fabricated from low-cost readily-available commercial-materials by automated methods utilizing conventional paper coating processes. Flexibility of unit prevents cracking and disintegration caused by electrode warpage and dendrite growth, major causes of early battery failure with present separators.

Green Synthesis of Metallic Nanoparticles via Biological Entities

PubMed Central

Shah, Monaliben; Fawcett, Derek; Sharma, Shashi; Tripathy, Suraj Kumar; Poinern, Gérrard Eddy Jai

2015-01-01

Nanotechnology is the creation, manipulation and use of materials at the nanometre size scale (1 to 100 nm). At this size scale there are significant differences in many material properties that are normally not seen in the same materials at larger scales. Although nanoscale materials can be produced using a variety of traditional physical and chemical processes, it is now possible to biologically synthesize materials via environment-friendly green chemistry based techniques. In recent years, the convergence between nanotechnology and biology has created the new field of nanobiotechnology that incorporates the use of biological entities such as actinomycetes algae, bacteria, fungi, viruses, yeasts, and plants in a number of biochemical and biophysical processes. The biological synthesis via nanobiotechnology processes have a significant potential to boost nanoparticles production without the use of harsh, toxic, and expensive chemicals commonly used in conventional physical and chemical processes. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of recent trends in synthesizing nanoparticles via biological entities and their potential applications. PMID:28793638

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

None

Broad Funding Opportunity Announcement Project: Led by MIT professor Donald Sadoway, the Electroville project team is creating a community-scale electricity storage device using new materials and a battery design inspired by the aluminum production process known as smelting. A conventional battery includes a liquid electrolyte and a solid separator between its 2 solid electrodes. MIT’s battery contains liquid metal electrodes and a molten salt electrolyte. Because metals and salt don’t mix, these 3 liquids of different densities naturally separate into layers, eliminating the need for a solid separator. This efficient design significantly reduces packaging materials, which reduces cost and allowsmore » more space for storing energy than conventional batteries offer. MIT’s battery also uses cheap, earth-abundant, domestically available materials and is more scalable. By using all liquids, the design can also easily be resized according to the changing needs of local communities.« less

Neural network system and methods for analysis of organic materials and structures using spectral data

DOEpatents

Meyer, B.J.; Sellers, J.P.; Thomsen, J.U.

1993-06-08

Apparatus and processes are described for recognizing and identifying materials. Characteristic spectra are obtained for the materials via spectroscopy techniques including nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, infrared absorption analysis, x-ray analysis, mass spectroscopy and gas chromatography. Desired portions of the spectra may be selected and then placed in proper form and format for presentation to a number of input layer neurons in an offline neural network. The network is first trained according to a predetermined training process; it may then be employed to identify particular materials. Such apparatus and processes are particularly useful for recognizing and identifying organic compounds such as complex carbohydrates, whose spectra conventionally require a high level of training and many hours of hard work to identify, and are frequently indistinguishable from one another by human interpretation.

Production of durable expanded perlite microspheres in a Vertical Electrical Furnace

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Panagiotis, M.; Angelopoulos, P.; Taxiarchou, M.; Paspaliaris, I.

2016-04-01

Expanded perlite constitutes one of the most competitive insulating materials that is widely used in construction and manufacturing industry due to its unique properties combination; it is white, natural, lightweight, chemically inert, and exhibits superior insulating properties (thermal and acoustic) and fire resistance. Conventionally, perlite expansion is performed in vertical gas-fired furnaces; the conventional perlite expansion process has certain disadvantages which affect expanded products quality, thus limiting their performance and range of applications. In order to overcome the drawbacks of the conventional expansion technique, a new perlite expansion process has been designed based on a vertical electrical furnace (VEF). In the current study, fine perlite samples (-150 μm) from Milos Island, Greece, were expansed in the novel VEF and a conventional gas-fired furnace with the aim to evaluate and compare the main physical properties of the expanded products. The novel expanded perlite particles were characterised by superior properties, namely increased compression strength, competitive water and oil absorption capability, size homogeneity, spherical shape and decreased surface porosity in comparison to conventionally expanded samples.

Time dependent viscoelastic rheological response of pure, modified and synthetic bituminous binders

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Airey, G. D.; Grenfell, J. R. A.; Apeagyei, A.; Subhy, A.; Lo Presti, D.

2016-08-01

Bitumen is a viscoelastic material that exhibits both elastic and viscous components of response and displays both a temperature and time dependent relationship between applied stresses and resultant strains. In addition, as bitumen is responsible for the viscoelastic behaviour of all bituminous materials, it plays a dominant role in defining many of the aspects of asphalt road performance, such as strength and stiffness, permanent deformation and cracking. Although conventional bituminous materials perform satisfactorily in most highway pavement applications, there are situations that require the modification of the binder to enhance the properties of existing asphalt material. The best known form of modification is by means of polymer modification, traditionally used to improve the temperature and time susceptibility of bitumen. Tyre rubber modification is another form using recycled crumb tyre rubber to alter the properties of conventional bitumen. In addition, alternative binders (synthetic polymeric binders as well as renewable, environmental-friendly bio-binders) have entered the bitumen market over the last few years due to concerns over the continued availability of bitumen from current crudes and refinery processes. This paper provides a detailed rheological assessment, under both temperature and time regimes, of a range of conventional, modified and alternative binders in terms of the materials dynamic (oscillatory) viscoelastic response. The rheological results show the improved viscoelastic properties of polymer- and rubber-modified binders in terms of increased complex shear modulus and elastic response, particularly at high temperatures and low frequencies. The synthetic binders were found to demonstrate complex rheological behaviour relative to that seen for conventional bituminous binders.

Possibilities for specific utilization of material properties for an optimal part design

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Beier, T.; Gerlach, J.; Roettger, R.; Kuhn, P.

2017-09-01

High-strength, cold-formable steels offer great potential for meeting cost and safety requirements in the automotive industry. In view of strengths of up to 1200 MPa now attainable, certain aspects need to be analysed and evaluated in advance in the development process using these materials. In addition to early assessment of crash properties, it is also highly important to adapt the forming process to match the material potential. The steel making companies have widened their portfolios of cold-rolled dual-phase steels well beyond the conventional high-strength steels. There are added new grades which offer a customized selection of high energy absorption, deformation resistance or enhanced cold-forming properties. In this article the necessary components for material modelling for finite element simulation are discussed. Additionally the required tests for material model calibration are presented and the potentials of the thyssenkrupp Steel material data base are introduced. Besides classical tensile tests at different angles to rolling direction and the forming limit curve, the hydraulic bulge test is now available for a wide range of modern steel grades. Using the conventional DP-K®60/98 and the DP-K®700Y980T with higher yield strength the method for calibrating yield locus, hardening and formability is given. With reference to the examples of an A-pillar reinforcement and different crash tests the procedure is shown how the customer can evaluate an optimal steel grade for specific requirements. Although the investigated materials have different yield strengths, no large differences in the forming process between the two steel grades can be found. However some advantages of the high-yield grade can be detected in crash performance depending on the specific boundary and loading conditions.

An Overview of Ni Base Additive Fabrication Technologies for Aerospace Applications (Preprint)

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-03-01

fusion welding processes that have the ability to add filler material can be used as additive manufacturing processes . The majority of the work in the...Laser Additive Manufacturing (LAM) The LAM process uses a conventional laser welding heat source (CO2 or solid state laser) combined with a...wrought properties. The LAM process typically has a lower deposition rate (0.5 – 10 lbs/hr) compared to EB, PTA or TIG based processes , although as

Carbon-Carbon Turbocharger Housing Unit for Intermittent Combustion Engines

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Northam, G. Burton (Inventor); Ransone, Philip O. (Inventor); Rivers, H. Kevin (Inventor)

1998-01-01

An improved, lightweight, turbine housing unit for an intermittent combustion reciprocating internal combustion engine turbocharger is prepared from a lay-up or molding of carbon-carbon composite materials in a single-piece or two-piece process. When compared to conventional steel or cast iron, the use of carbon-carbon composite materials in a turbine housing unit reduces the overall weight of the engine and reduces the heat energy loss used in the turbocharging process. This reduction in heat energy loss and weight reduction provides for more efficient engine operation.

Formation mechanisms of boron oxide films fabricated by large-area electron beam-induced deposition of trimethyl borate

PubMed Central

Depond, Philip J

2018-01-01

Boron-containing materials are increasingly drawing interest for the use in electronics, optics, laser targets, neutron absorbers, and high-temperature and chemically resistant ceramics. In this article, the first investigation into the deposition of boron-based material via electron beam-induced deposition (EBID) is reported. Thin films were deposited using a novel, large-area EBID system that is shown to deposit material at rates comparable to conventional techniques such as laser-induced chemical vapor deposition. The deposition rate and stoichiometry of boron oxide fabricated by EBID using trimethyl borate (TMB) as precursor is found to be critically dependent on the substrate temperature. By comparing the deposition mechanisms of TMB to the conventional, alkoxide-based precursor tetraethyl orthosilicate it is revealed that ligand chemistry does not precisely predict the pathways leading to deposition of material via EBID. The results demonstrate the first boron-containing material deposited by the EBID process and the potential for EBID as a scalable fabrication technique that could have a transformative effect on the athermal deposition of materials. PMID:29765806

Formation mechanisms of boron oxide films fabricated by large-area electron beam-induced deposition of trimethyl borate.

PubMed

Martin, Aiden A; Depond, Philip J

2018-01-01

Boron-containing materials are increasingly drawing interest for the use in electronics, optics, laser targets, neutron absorbers, and high-temperature and chemically resistant ceramics. In this article, the first investigation into the deposition of boron-based material via electron beam-induced deposition (EBID) is reported. Thin films were deposited using a novel, large-area EBID system that is shown to deposit material at rates comparable to conventional techniques such as laser-induced chemical vapor deposition. The deposition rate and stoichiometry of boron oxide fabricated by EBID using trimethyl borate (TMB) as precursor is found to be critically dependent on the substrate temperature. By comparing the deposition mechanisms of TMB to the conventional, alkoxide-based precursor tetraethyl orthosilicate it is revealed that ligand chemistry does not precisely predict the pathways leading to deposition of material via EBID. The results demonstrate the first boron-containing material deposited by the EBID process and the potential for EBID as a scalable fabrication technique that could have a transformative effect on the athermal deposition of materials.

Polymeric Materials for Aerospace Power and Propulsion: Overview of Polymer Research at NASA Glenn

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Meador, Michael A.

2007-01-01

Weight, durability and performance are all major concerns for any NASA mission. Use of lightweight materials, such as fiber reinforced polymer matrix composites can lead to significant reductions in vehicle weight and improvements in vehicle performance. Research in the Polymeric Materials Branch at NASA Glenn is focused on improving the durability, properties, processability and performance of polymeric materials by utilizing both conventional polymer science and engineering as well as nanotechnology and bioinspired approaches. This presentation will provide an overview of these efforts and highlight recent progress.

An In-Depth Review on Direct Additive Manufacturing of Metals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Azam, Farooq I.; Rani, Ahmad Majdi Abdul; Altaf, Khurram; Rao, T. V. V. L. N.; Aimi Zaharin, Haizum

2018-03-01

Additive manufacturing (AM), also known as 3D Printing, is a revolutionary manufacturing technique which has been developing rapidly in the last 30 years. The evolution of this precision manufacturing process from rapid prototyping to ready-to-use parts has significantly alleviated manufacturing constraints and design freedom has been outstandingly widened. AM is a non-conventional manufacturing technique which utilizes a 3D CAD model data to build parts by adding one material layer at a time, rather than removing it and fulfills the demand for manufacturing parts with complex geometric shapes, great dimensional accuracy, and easy to assemble parts. Additive manufacturing of metals has become the area of extensive research, progressing towards the production of final products and replacing conventional manufacturing methods. This paper provides an insight to the available metal additive manufacturing technologies that can be used to produce end user products without using conventional manufacturing methods. The paper also includes the comparison of mechanical and physical properties of parts produced by AM with the parts manufactured using conventional processes.

A heat treatment procedure to produce fine-grained lamellar microstructures in a P/M titanium aluminide alloy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Au, Peter

A process for fabricating advanced aerospace titanium aluminide alloys starting from metal powders (the hot isostatically consolidated P/M process) is presented in this thesis. This process does not suffer the difficulties of chemical inhomogeneities and coarse grain structure of castings. In addition heat treatments which take advantage of the refined structure of HIP processed materials are developed to achieve microstructure control and subsequent mechanical property control. It is shown that a better "property balance" is possible after the heat treatment of HIP consolidated materials than it is with alternative processing. It is well understood that the standard microstructures (near-gamma, duplex, nearly lamellar, and fully lamellar) do not have the balanced mechanical properties (tensile, yield, creep and fatigue strength, ductility and fracture toughness) necessary for optimal performance in aero engine and automotive applications. In this work a fine-grained fully lamellar (FGFL) microstructure is developed for property control and in particular for achieving a much improved property balance. A heat treatment procedure for this purpose which consists of cyclic processing in the alpha transus temperature region to achieve an FGFL structure with grain sizes in the range of 50 mum to 150 mum is presented. Compared with conventional duplex structured materials, the minimum creep rate is an order of magnitude lower with only a 10% loss in tensile yield strength. Moreover, a three-fold increase in tensile elongation is possible by converting to an FGFL structure with only a 30% loss in minimum creep rate. These are attractive trade-offs when considering the use of these alloys for aerospace purposes. A thorough literature review of the mechanisms of formation of standard microstructures and their deformation under mechanical loading is contained in the thesis. In addition, conventional techniques to produce FGFL microstructures in wrought and cast materials are discussed in detail. Beyond the review, the results of experiments are described for determining the alpha transus temperature, the phase transformation kinetics in this region and the effects of heat treatment time and cooling rate on microstructure. Based on this preliminary work, a heat treatment to achieve a FGFL microstructure with grain sizes in the range of 50 mum to 150 mum is proposed and confirmed. The room temperature and high temperature mechanical properties of these materials are compared with those of conventional duplex and fully lamellar structures. The results of this experimentation are discussed in terms of the fundamental mechanisms for controlling microstructure and mechanical properties in these materials. The potential for applying cyclic heat treatments to cast and wrought materials to improve the mechanical property balance in engineering practice is discussed.

Progress on high-performance rapid prototype aluminum mirrors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Woodard, Kenneth S.; Myrick, Bruce H.

2017-05-01

Near net shape parts can be produced using some very old processes (investment casting) and the relatively new direct metal laser sintering (DMLS) process. These processes have significant advantages for complex blank lightweighting and costs but are not inherently suited for producing high performance mirrors. The DMLS process can provide extremely complex lightweight structures but the high residual stresses left in the material results in unstable mirror figure retention. Although not to the extreme intricacy of DMLS, investment casting can also provide complex lightweight structures at considerably lower costs than DMLS and even conventional wrought mirror blanks but the less than 100% density for casting (and also DMLS) limits finishing quality. This paper will cover the progress that has been made to make both the DMLS and investment casting processes into viable near net shape blank options for high performance aluminum mirrors. Finish and figure results will be presented to show performance commensurate with existing conventional processes.

Non-conventional Pt-Cu alloy/carbon paper electrochemical catalyst formed by electrodeposition using hydrogen bubble as template

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Youngkwang; Lee, Hyunjoon; Lim, Taeho; Kim, Hyun-Jong; Kwon, Oh Joong

2017-10-01

With emerging stability issues in fuel cell technology, a non-conventional catalyst not supported on carbon materials has been highlighted because it can avoid negative influences of carbon support materials on the stability, such as carbon corrosion. The nanostructured thin film catalyst is representative of non-conventional catalysts, which shows improved stability, enhanced mass specific activity, and fast mass transfer at high current densities. However, the nanostructured thin film catalyst usually requires multi-step processes for fabrication, making its mass production complex and irreproducible. We introduce a Pt-Cu alloy nanostructured thin film catalyst, which can be simply prepared by electrodeposition. By using hydrogen bubbles as a template, a three-dimensional free-standing foam of Cu was electrodeposited directly on the micro-porous layer/carbon paper and it was then displaced with Pt by simple immersion. The structure characterization revealed that a porous thin Pt-Cu alloy catalyst layer was successfully formed on the micro-porous layer/carbon paper. The synthesized Pt-Cu alloy catalyst exhibited superior durability compared to a conventional Pt/C in single cell test.

Ion beam figuring of silicon aspheres

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Demmler, Marcel; Zeuner, Michael; Luca, Alfonz; Dunger, Thoralf; Rost, Dirk; Kiontke, Sven; Krüger, Marcus

2011-03-01

Silicon lenses are widely used for infrared applications. Especially for portable devices the size and weight of the optical system are very important factors. The use of aspherical silicon lenses instead of spherical silicon lenses results in a significant reduction of weight and size. The manufacture of silicon lenses is more challenging than the manufacture of standard glass lenses. Typically conventional methods like diamond turning, grinding and polishing are used. However, due to the high hardness of silicon, diamond turning is very difficult and requires a lot of experience. To achieve surfaces of a high quality a polishing step is mandatory within the manufacturing process. Nevertheless, the required surface form accuracy cannot be achieved through the use of conventional polishing methods because of the unpredictable behavior of the polishing tools, which leads to an unstable removal rate. To overcome these disadvantages a method called Ion Beam Figuring can be used to manufacture silicon lenses with high surface form accuracies. The general advantage of the Ion Beam Figuring technology is a contactless polishing process without any aging effects of the tool. Due to this an excellent stability of the removal rate without any mechanical surface damage is achieved. The related physical process - called sputtering - can be applied to any material and is therefore also applicable to materials of high hardness like Silicon (SiC, WC). The process is realized through the commercially available ion beam figuring system IonScan 3D. During the process, the substrate is moved in front of a focused broad ion beam. The local milling rate is controlled via a modulated velocity profile, which is calculated specifically for each surface topology in order to mill the material at the associated positions to the target geometry. The authors will present aspherical silicon lenses with very high surface form accuracies compared to conventionally manufactured lenses.

Comparison of specimen adequacy and smear quality in oral smears prepared by manual liquid-based cytology and conventional methods

PubMed Central

Shukla, Surabhi; Einstein, A; Shukla, Abhilasha; Mishra, Deepika

2015-01-01

Background: Liquid-based cytology (LBC), recommended in the mass screening of potentially malignant cervical and oral lesions, suffers from high cost owing to the use of expensive automated devices and materials. Considering the need for cost-effective LBC techniques, we evaluated the efficacy of an inexpensive manual LBC (MLBC) technique against conventional cytological technique in terms of specimen adequacy and smear quality of oral smears. Materials and Methods: Cytological samples were collected from 21 patients using a cytobrush device. After preparation of a conventional smear, the brush containing the remaining sample was immersed in the preservative vial. The preserved material was processed by an MLBC technique and subsequently, direct smears were made from the prepared cell button. Both conventional and MLBC smears were stained by routine Papanicolaou technique and evaluated by an independent observer for the thickness of the smear, cellular distribution, resolution/clarity of cells, cellular staining characteristics and the presence of unsatisfactory background/artifacts. Each parameter was graded as satisfactory; or satisfactory, but limited; or unsatisfactory. Chi-square test was used to compare the values obtained (significance set at P ≤ 0.05). Results: MLBC technique produced a significant number of satisfactory smears with regard to cell distribution, clarity/resolution, staining characteristics and background/artifacts compared to conventional methods. Conclusions: MLBC is a cost-effective cytological technique that may produce oral smears with excellent cytomorphology and longer storage life. PMID:26980958

Environmental effects on composite airframes: A study conducted for the ARM UAV Program (Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Unmanned Aerospace Vehicle)

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Noguchi, R.A.

1994-06-01

Composite materials are affected by environments differently than conventional airframe structural materials are. This study identifies the environmental conditions which the composite-airframe ARM UAV may encounter, and discusses the potential degradation processes composite materials may undergo when subjected to those environments. This information is intended to be useful in a follow-on program to develop equipment and procedures to prevent, detect, or otherwise mitigate significant degradation with the ultimate goal of preventing catastrophic aircraft failure.

Encapsulation of biomaterials in porous glass-like matrices prepared via an aqueous colloidal sol-gel process

DOEpatents

Liu, Dean-Mo; Chen, I-Wei

2001-01-01

The present invention provides a process for the encapsulation of biologically important proteins into transparent, porous silica matrices by an alcohol-free, aqueous, colloidal sol-gel process, and to the biological materials encapsulated thereby. The process is exemplified by studies involving encapsulated cytochrome c, catalase, myoglobin, and hemoglobin, although non-proteinaceous biomaterials, such as active DNA or RNA fragments, cells or even tissues, may also be encapsulated in accordance with the present methods. Conformation, and hence activity of the biomaterial, is successfully retained after encapsulation as demonstrated by optical characterization of the molecules, even after long-term storage. The retained conformation of the biomaterial is strongly correlated to both the rate of gelation and the subsequent drying speed of the encapsulatng matrix. Moreover, in accordance with this process, gelation is accelerated by the use of a higher colloidal solid concentration and a lower synthesis pH than conventional methods, thereby enhancing structural stability and retained conformation of the biomaterials. Thus, the invention also provides a remarkable improvement in retaining the biological activity of the encapsulated biomaterial, as compared with those involved in conventional alkoxide-based processes. It further provides new methods for the quantitative and qualitative detection of test substances that are reactive to, or catalyzed by, the active, encapsulated biological materials.

Electro-osmotic transport in wet processing of textiles

DOEpatents

Cooper, John F.

1998-01-01

Electro-osmotic (or electrokinetic) transport is used to efficiently force a solution (or water) through the interior of the fibers or yarns of textile materials for wet processing of textiles. The textile material is passed between electrodes that apply an electric field across the fabric. Used alone or in parallel with conventional hydraulic washing (forced convection), electro-osmotic transport greatly reduces the amount of water used in wet processing. The amount of water required to achieve a fixed level of rinsing of tint can be reduced, for example, to 1-5 lbs water per pound of fabric from an industry benchmark of 20 lbs water/lb fabric.

Electro-osmotic transport in wet processing of textiles

DOEpatents

Cooper, J.F.

1998-09-22

Electro-osmotic (or electrokinetic) transport is used to efficiently force a solution (or water) through the interior of the fibers or yarns of textile materials for wet processing of textiles. The textile material is passed between electrodes that apply an electric field across the fabric. Used alone or in parallel with conventional hydraulic washing (forced convection), electro-osmotic transport greatly reduces the amount of water used in wet processing. The amount of water required to achieve a fixed level of rinsing of tint can be reduced, for example, to 1--5 lbs water per pound of fabric from an industry benchmark of 20 lbs water/lb fabric. 5 figs.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Yablinsky, C. A.; Tippey, K. E.; Vaynman, S.

In this study, the development of oxide dispersion strengthened ferrous alloys has shown that microstructures designed for excellent irradiation resistance and thermal stability ideally contain stable nanoscale precipitates and dislocation sinks. Based upon this understanding, the microstructures of conventionally manufactured ferritic and ferritic-martensitic steels can be designed to include controlled volume fractions of fine, stable precipitates and dislocation sinks via specific alloying and processing paths. The concepts proposed here are categorized as advanced high-Cr ferritic-martensitic (AHCr-FM) and novel tailored precipitate ferritic (TPF) steels, which have the potential to improve the in-reactor performance of conventionally manufactured alloys. AHCr-FM steels have modifiedmore » alloy content relative to current reactor materials (such as alloy NF616/P92) to maximize desirable precipitates and control phase stability. TPF steels are designed to incorporate nickel aluminides, in addition to microalloy carbides, in a ferritic matrix to produce fine precipitate arrays with good thermal stability. Both alloying concepts may also benefit from thermomechanical processing to establish dislocation sinks and modify phase transformation behaviors. Alloying and processing paths toward designed microstructures are discussed for both AHCr-FM and TPF material classes.« less

Nondestructive evaluation of nuclear-grade graphite

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kunerth, D. C.; McJunkin, T. R.

2012-05-01

The material of choice for the core of the high-temperature gas-cooled reactors being developed by the U.S. Department of Energy's Next Generation Nuclear Plant Program is graphite. Graphite is a composite material whose properties are highly dependent on the base material and manufacturing methods. In addition to the material variations intrinsic to the manufacturing process, graphite will also undergo changes in material properties resulting from radiation damage and possible oxidation within the reactor. Idaho National Laboratory is presently evaluating the viability of conventional nondestructive evaluation techniques to characterize the material variations inherent to manufacturing and in-service degradation. Approaches of interest include x-ray radiography, eddy currents, and ultrasonics.

Material model validation for laser shock peening process simulation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Amarchinta, H. K.; Grandhi, R. V.; Langer, K.; Stargel, D. S.

2009-01-01

Advanced mechanical surface enhancement techniques have been used successfully to increase the fatigue life of metallic components. These techniques impart deep compressive residual stresses into the component to counter potentially damage-inducing tensile stresses generated under service loading. Laser shock peening (LSP) is an advanced mechanical surface enhancement technique used predominantly in the aircraft industry. To reduce costs and make the technique available on a large-scale basis for industrial applications, simulation of the LSP process is required. Accurate simulation of the LSP process is a challenging task, because the process has many parameters such as laser spot size, pressure profile and material model that must be precisely determined. This work focuses on investigating the appropriate material model that could be used in simulation and design. In the LSP process material is subjected to strain rates of 106 s-1, which is very high compared with conventional strain rates. The importance of an accurate material model increases because the material behaves significantly different at such high strain rates. This work investigates the effect of multiple nonlinear material models for representing the elastic-plastic behavior of materials. Elastic perfectly plastic, Johnson-Cook and Zerilli-Armstrong models are used, and the performance of each model is compared with available experimental results.

Rapid surface hardening and enhanced tribological performance of 4140 steel by friction stir processing

DOE PAGES

Lorenzo-Martin, Cinta; Ajayi, Oyelayo O.

2015-06-06

Tribological performance of steel materials can be substantially enhanced by various thermal surface hardening processes. For relatively low-carbon steel alloys, case carburization is often used to improve surface performance and durability. If the carbon content of steel is high enough (>0.4%), thermal treatments such as induction, flame, laser, etc. can produce adequate surface hardening without the need for surface compositional change. This paper presents an experimental study of the use of friction stir processing (FSP) as a means to hardened surface layer in AISI 4140 steel. The impacts of this surface hardening process on the friction and wear performance weremore » evaluated under both dry and lubricated contact conditions in reciprocating sliding. FSP produced the same level of hardening and superior tribological performance when compared to conventional thermal treatment, using only 10% of the energy and without the need for quenching treatments. With FSP surface hardness of about 7.8 GPa (62 Rc) was achieved while water quenching conventional heat treatment produced about 7.5 GPa (61 Rc) hardness. Microstructural analysis showed that both FSP and conventional heat treatment produced martensite. Although the friction behavior for FSP treated surfaces and the conventional heat treatment were about the same, the wear in FSP processed surfaces was reduced by almost 2× that of conventional heat treated surfaces. Furthermore, the superior performance is attributed to the observed grain refinement accompanying the FSP treatment in addition to the formation of martensite. As it relates to tribological performance, this study shows FSP to be an effective, highly energy efficient, and environmental friendly (green) alternative to conventional heat treatment for steel.« less

Charging and Discharging Processes of Thermal Energy Storage System Using Phase change materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kanimozhi, B., Dr.; Harish, Kasilanka; Sai Tarun, Bellamkonda; Saty Sainath Reddy, Pogaku; Sai Sujeeth, Padakandla

2017-05-01

The objective of the study is to investigate the thermal characteristics of charging and discharge processes of fabricated thermal energy storage system using Phase change materials. Experiments were performed with phase change materials in which a storage tank have designed and developed to enhance the heat transfer rate from the solar tank to the PCM storage tank. The enhancement of heat transfer can be done by using a number of copper tubes in the fabricated storage tank. This storage tank can hold or conserve heat energy for a much longer time than the conventional water storage system. Performance evaluations of experimental results during charging and discharging processes of paraffin wax have discussed. In which heat absorption and heat rejection have been calculated with various flow rate.

Processing of Ni30Pt20Ti50 High-Temperature Shape-Memory Alloy Into Thin Rod Demonstrated

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Noebe, Ronald D.; Draper, Susan L.; Biles, Tiffany A.; Leonhardt, Todd

2005-01-01

High-temperature shape-memory alloys (HTSMAs) based on nickel-titanium (NiTi) with significant ternary additions of palladium (Pd), platinum (Pt), gold (Au), or hafnium (Hf) have been identified as potential high-temperature actuator materials for use up to 500 C. These materials provide an enabling technology for the development of "smart structures" used to control the noise, emissions, or efficiency of gas turbine engines. The demand for these high-temperature versions of conventional shape-memory alloys also has been growing in the automotive, process control, and energy industries. However these materials, including the NiPtTi alloys being developed at the NASA Glenn Research Center, will never find widespread acceptance unless they can be readily processed into useable forms.

All-optical liquid crystal spatial light modulators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tabiryan, Nelson; Grozhik, Vladimir; Khoo, Iam Choon; Nersisyan, Sarik R.; Serak, Svetlana

2003-12-01

Nonlinear optical processes in liquid crystals (LC) can be used for construction of all-optical spatial light modulators (SLM) where the photosensitivity and phase modulating functions are integrated into a single layer of an LC-material. Such spatial light integrated modulators (SLIMs) cost only a fraction of the conventional LC-SLM and can be used with high power laser radiation due to high transparency of LC materials and absence of light absorbing electrodes on the substrates of the LC-cell constituting the SLIM. Recent development of LC materials the photosensitivity of which is comparable to that of semiconductors has led to using SLIM in schemes of optical anti-jamming, sensor protection, and image processing. All-optical processes add remarkable versatility to the operation of SLIM harnessing the wealth inherent to light-matter interaction phenomena.

Mechanistic Studies Of Combustion And Structure Formation During Combustion Synthesis Of Advanced Materials: Phase Separation Mechanism For Bio-Alloys

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Varma, A.; Lau, C.; Mukasyan, A.

2003-01-01

Among all implant materials, Co-Cr-Mo alloys demonstrate perhaps the most useful balance of resistance to corrosion, fatigue and wear, along with strength and biocompatibility [1]. Currently, these widely used alloys are produced by conventional furnace technology. Owing to high melting points of the main alloy elements (e.g. Tm.p.(Co) 1768 K), high-temperature furnaces and long process times (several hours) are required. Therefore, attempts to develop more efficient and flexible methods for production of such alloys with superior properties are of great interest. The synthesis of materials using combustion phenomena is an advanced approach in powder metallurgy [2]. The process is characterized by unique conditions involving extremely fast heating rates (up to 10(exp 6 K/s), high temperatures (up to 3500 K), and short reaction times (on the order of seconds). As a result, combustion synthesis (CS) offers several attractive advantages over conventional metallurgical processing and alloy development technologies. The foremost is that solely the heat of chemical reaction (instead of an external source) supplies the energy for the synthesis. Also, simple equipment, rather than energy-intensive high-temperature furnaces, is sufficient. This work was devoted to experiments on CS of Co-based alloys by utilizing thermite (metal oxide-reducing metal) reactions, where phase separation subsequently produces materials with tailored compositions and properties. Owing to high reaction exothermicity, the CS process results in a significant increase of temperature (up to 3000 C), which is higher than melting points of all products. Since the products differ in density, phase separation may be a gravitydriven process: the heavy (metallic phase) settles while the light (slag) phase floats. The goal was to determine if buoyancy is indeed the major mechanism that controls phase segregation.

Metal-Ceramic composites via “in situ” methods

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Florea, R. M.

2017-08-01

Several “in situ” methods for obtaining composite materials with ceramic particles were developed in order to overcome some of the inherent problems associated with conventional processes. This paper reviews the obtaining processes of composite materials with a greater emphasis on nitriding and oxidation by directed melting. These obtaining methods provide microstructures with different combinations of metal-ceramic. Metal matrix composites with controlled amounts of dispersed ceramic particles are obtained by “in situ” processes. The composite materials obtained are having different properties by controlling various processing variables such as temperature, time, the reactant phases and the reinforcing material. The properties of the “in situ” obtained materials depend mainly on the matrix and volume fraction of constituent phase. Briefly are reviewed the mechanical properties, hardness mechanisms and possible applications of these composite materials. Nitridation is much more attractive because with the variation of process parameters is obtained a wider range of microstructures and properties. The activation energy for the formation of AlN (A1N ˜ 100 kJ/mole) is smaller than that of oxidation (Al2O3 ˜ 400 kJ/mole) and growth rates (3 × 10-2 gm/cm2/s) are at least three times higher for oxidation.

Inedible cellulose-based biomass resist material amenable to water-based processing for use in electron beam lithography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Takei, Satoshi; Maki, Hirotaka; Sugahara, Kigen; Ito, Kenta; Hanabata, Makoto

2015-07-01

An electron beam (EB) lithography method using inedible cellulose-based resist material derived from woody biomass has been successfully developed. This method allows the use of pure water in the development process instead of the conventionally used tetramethylammonium hydroxide and anisole. The inedible cellulose-based biomass resist material, as an alternative to alpha-linked disaccharides in sugar derivatives that compete with food supplies, was developed by replacing the hydroxyl groups in the beta-linked disaccharides with EB-sensitive 2-methacryloyloxyethyl groups. A 75 nm line and space pattern at an exposure dose of 19 μC/cm2, a resist thickness uniformity of less than 0.4 nm on a 200 mm wafer, and low film thickness shrinkage under EB irradiation were achieved with this inedible cellulose-based biomass resist material using a water-based development process.

Controlled thermal expansion printed wiring boards based on liquid crystal polymer dielectrics

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Knoll, Thomas E.; Blizard, Kent; Jayaraj, K.; Rubin, Leslie S.

1994-01-01

Dielectric materials based on innovative Liquid Crystal Polymers (LCP's) have been used to fabricate surface mount printed wiring boards (PWB's) with a coefficient of thermal expansion matched to leadless ceramic chip carriers. Proprietary and patented polymer processing technology has resulted in self reinforcing material with balanced in-plane mechanical properties. In addition, LCP's possess excellent electrical properties, including a low dielectric constant (less than 2.9) and very low moisture absorption (less than 0.02%). LCP-based multilayer boards processed with conventional drilling and plating processes show improved performance over other materials because they eliminate the surface flatness problems of glass or aramid reinforcements. Laser drilling of blind vias in the LCP dielectric provides a very high density for use in direct chip attach and area array packages. The material is ideally suited for MCM-L and PCMCIA applications fabricated with very thin dielectric layers of the liquid crystal polymer.

Method for nanomachining high aspect ratio structures

DOEpatents

Yun, Wenbing; Spence, John; Padmore, Howard A.; MacDowell, Alastair A.; Howells, Malcolm R.

2004-11-09

A nanomachining method for producing high-aspect ratio precise nanostructures. The method begins by irradiating a wafer with an energetic charged-particle beam. Next, a layer of patterning material is deposited on one side of the wafer and a layer of etch stop or metal plating base is coated on the other side of the wafer. A desired pattern is generated in the patterning material on the top surface of the irradiated wafer using conventional electron-beam lithography techniques. Lastly, the wafer is placed in an appropriate chemical solution that produces a directional etch of the wafer only in the area from which the resist has been removed by the patterning process. The high mechanical strength of the wafer materials compared to the organic resists used in conventional lithography techniques with allows the transfer of the precise patterns into structures with aspect ratios much larger than those previously achievable.

Export Controls and the U.S. Defense Industrial Base. Volume 1. Summary Report, and Volume 2. Appendices

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-01-01

producers still have a reservoir of intellectual property , product capabilities and process know-how built over several decades. These historical...remarkable properties superior to conventional materials (ultra lightweight, high strength and stiffness). Characteristics of these materials important to...with enforcement of trade agreements and intellectual property (IP) rights. Accordingly, the report recommends more federal support for S&T and

Export Control and the U.S. Defense Industrial Base - Revised. Volume 1: Summary Report and Volume 2: Appendices

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-10-01

advanced materials, US producers still have a reservoir of intellectual property , product capabilities and process know-how built over several...while providing remarkable properties superior to conventional materials (ultra lightweight, high strength and stiffness). Characteristics of these...investor and tax environment; and • A level playing field, with enforcement of trade agreements and intellectual property (IP) rights. Accordingly, the

Implementation of an optimized microfluidic mixer in alumina employing femtosecond laser ablation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Juodėnas, M.; Tamulevičius, T.; Ulčinas, O.; Tamulevičius, S.

2018-01-01

Manipulation of liquids at the lowest levels of volume and dimension is at the forefront of materials science, chemistry and medicine, offering important time and resource saving applications. However, manipulation by mixing is troublesome at the microliter and lower scales. One approach to overcome this problem is to use passive mixers, which exploit structural obstacles within microfluidic channels or the geometry of channels themselves to enforce and enhance fluid mixing. Some applications require the manipulation and mixing of aggressive substances, which makes conventional microfluidic materials, along with their fabrication methods, inappropriate. In this work, implementation of an optimized full scale three port microfluidic mixer is presented in a slide of a material that is very hard to process but possesses extreme chemical and physical resistance—alumina. The viability of the selected femtosecond laser fabrication method as an alternative to conventional lithography methods, which are unable to process this material, is demonstrated. For the validation and optimization of the microfluidic mixer, a finite element method (FEM) based numerical modeling of the influence of the mixer geometry on its mixing performance is completed. Experimental investigation of the laminar flow geometry demonstrated very good agreement with the numerical simulation results. Such a laser ablation microfabricated passive mixer structure is intended for use in a capillary force assisted nanoparticle assembly setup (CAPA).

Innovations in nanotechnology for water treatment

PubMed Central

Gehrke, Ilka; Geiser, Andreas; Somborn-Schulz, Annette

2015-01-01

Important challenges in the global water situation, mainly resulting from worldwide population growth and climate change, require novel innovative water technologies in order to ensure a supply of drinking water and reduce global water pollution. Against this background, the adaptation of highly advanced nanotechnology to traditional process engineering offers new opportunities in technological developments for advanced water and wastewater technology processes. Here, an overview of recent advances in nanotechnologies for water and wastewater treatment processes is provided, including nanobased materials, such as nanoadsorbents, nanometals, nanomembranes, and photocatalysts. The beneficial properties of these materials as well as technical barriers when compared with conventional processes are reported. The state of commercialization is presented and an outlook on further research opportunities is given for each type of nanobased material and process. In addition to the promising technological enhancements, the limitations of nanotechnology for water applications, such as laws and regulations as well as potential health risks, are summarized. The legal framework according to nanoengineered materials and processes that are used for water and wastewater treatment is considered for European countries and for the USA. PMID:25609931

Solid electrolyte material manufacturable by polymer processing methods

DOEpatents

Singh, Mohit; Gur, Ilan; Eitouni, Hany Basam; Balsara, Nitash Pervez

2012-09-18

The present invention relates generally to electrolyte materials. According to an embodiment, the present invention provides for a solid polymer electrolyte material that is ionically conductive, mechanically robust, and can be formed into desirable shapes using conventional polymer processing methods. An exemplary polymer electrolyte material has an elastic modulus in excess of 1.times.10.sup.6 Pa at 90 degrees C. and is characterized by an ionic conductivity of at least 1.times.10.sup.-5 Scm-1 at 90 degrees C. An exemplary material can be characterized by a two domain or three domain material system. An exemplary material can include material components made of diblock polymers or triblock polymers. Many uses are contemplated for the solid polymer electrolyte materials. For example, the present invention can be applied to improve Li-based batteries by means of enabling higher energy density, better thermal and environmental stability, lower rates of self-discharge, enhanced safety, lower manufacturing costs, and novel form factors.

WE-E-18C-01: Multi-Energy CT: Current Status and Recent Innovations

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Pelc, N; McCollough, C; Yu, L

2014-06-15

Conventional computed tomography (CT) uses a single polychromatic x-ray spectrum and energy integrating detectors, and produces images whose contrast depends on the effective attenuation coefficient of the broad spectrum beam. This can introduce errors from beam hardening and does not produce the optimal contrast-to-noise ratio. In addition, multiple materials can have the same effective attenuation coefficient, causing different materials to be indistinguishable in conventional CT images. If transmission measurements at two or more energies are obtained, even with polychromatic beams, more specific information about the object can be obtained. If the object does not contain materials with k-edges in themore » spectrum, the x-ray attenuation can be well-approximated by a linear combination of two processes (photoelectric absorption and Compton scattering) or, equivalently, two basis materials. For such cases, two spectral measurements suffice, although additional measurements can provide higher precision. If K-edge materials are present, additional spectral measurements can allow these materials to be isolated. Current commercial implementations use varied approaches, including two sources operating a different kVp, one source whose kVp is rapidly switched in a single scan, and a dual layer detector that can provide spectral information in every reading. Processing of the spectral information can be performed in the raw data domain or in the image domain. The process of calculating the amount of the two basis functions implicitly corrects for beam hardening and therefore can lead to improvements in quantitative accuracy. Information can be extracted to provide material specific information beyond that of conventional CT. This additional information has been shown to be important in several clinical applications, and can also lead to more efficient clinical protocols. Recent innovations in x-ray sources, detectors, and systems have made multi-energy CT much more practical and improved its performance. In addition, this is a very active area of research and further improvements are expected through further technological improvements. Learning Objectives: Basic principles of multi-energy CT Current implementations of mutli-energy CT Data and image analysis methods in multi-energy CT Current clinical applications of dual energy CT5. recent innovations and anticipated advances in multi-energy CT.« less

Bottom-up design of de novo thermoelectric hybrid materials using chalcogenide resurfacing

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sahu, Ayaskanta; Russ, Boris; Su, Norman C.

Hybrid organic/inorganic thermoelectric materials based on conducting polymers and inorganic nanostructures have been demonstrated to combine both the inherently low thermal conductivity of the polymer and the superior charge transport properties (high power factors) of the inorganic component. While their performance today still lags behind that of conventional inorganic thermoelectric materials, solution-processable hybrids have made rapid progress and also offer unique advantages not available to conventional rigid inorganic thermoelectrics, namely: (1) low cost fabrication on rigid and flexible substrates, as well as (2) engineering complex conformal geometries for energy harvesting/cooling. While the number of reports of new classes of viablemore » hybrid thermoelectric materials is growing, no group has reported a general approach for bottom-up design of both p- and n-type materials from one common base. Thus, unfortunately, the literature comprises mostly of disconnected discoveries, which limits development and calls for a first-principles approach for property manipulation analogous to doping in traditional semiconductor thermoelectrics. Here, molecular engineering at the organic/inorganic interface and simple processing techniques are combined to demonstrate a modular approach enabling de novo design of complex hybrid thermoelectric systems. Here, we chemically modify the surfaces of inorganic nanostructures and graft conductive polymers to yield robust solution processable p- and n-type inorganic/organic hybrid nanostructures. Our new modular approach not only offers researchers new tools to perform true bottom-up design of thermoelectric hybrids, but also strong performance advantages as well due to the quality of the designed interfaces. For example, we obtain enhanced power factors in existing (by up to 500% in Te/PEDOT:PSS) and novel (Bi 2S 3/PEDOT:PSS) p-type systems, and also generate water-processable and air-stable high performing n-type hybrid systems (Bi 2Te 3/PEDOT:PSS), thus highlighting the potency of our ex situ strategy in opening up new material options for thermoelectric applications. Finally, this strategy establishes a unique platform with broad handles for custom tailoring of thermal and electrical properties through hybrid material tunability and enables independent control over inorganic material chemistry, nanostructure geometry, and organic material properties, thus providing a robust pathway to major performance enhancements.« less

Bottom-up design of de novo thermoelectric hybrid materials using chalcogenide resurfacing

DOE PAGES

Sahu, Ayaskanta; Russ, Boris; Su, Norman C.; ...

2017-01-01

Hybrid organic/inorganic thermoelectric materials based on conducting polymers and inorganic nanostructures have been demonstrated to combine both the inherently low thermal conductivity of the polymer and the superior charge transport properties (high power factors) of the inorganic component. While their performance today still lags behind that of conventional inorganic thermoelectric materials, solution-processable hybrids have made rapid progress and also offer unique advantages not available to conventional rigid inorganic thermoelectrics, namely: (1) low cost fabrication on rigid and flexible substrates, as well as (2) engineering complex conformal geometries for energy harvesting/cooling. While the number of reports of new classes of viablemore » hybrid thermoelectric materials is growing, no group has reported a general approach for bottom-up design of both p- and n-type materials from one common base. Thus, unfortunately, the literature comprises mostly of disconnected discoveries, which limits development and calls for a first-principles approach for property manipulation analogous to doping in traditional semiconductor thermoelectrics. Here, molecular engineering at the organic/inorganic interface and simple processing techniques are combined to demonstrate a modular approach enabling de novo design of complex hybrid thermoelectric systems. Here, we chemically modify the surfaces of inorganic nanostructures and graft conductive polymers to yield robust solution processable p- and n-type inorganic/organic hybrid nanostructures. Our new modular approach not only offers researchers new tools to perform true bottom-up design of thermoelectric hybrids, but also strong performance advantages as well due to the quality of the designed interfaces. For example, we obtain enhanced power factors in existing (by up to 500% in Te/PEDOT:PSS) and novel (Bi 2S 3/PEDOT:PSS) p-type systems, and also generate water-processable and air-stable high performing n-type hybrid systems (Bi 2Te 3/PEDOT:PSS), thus highlighting the potency of our ex situ strategy in opening up new material options for thermoelectric applications. Finally, this strategy establishes a unique platform with broad handles for custom tailoring of thermal and electrical properties through hybrid material tunability and enables independent control over inorganic material chemistry, nanostructure geometry, and organic material properties, thus providing a robust pathway to major performance enhancements.« less

Army FY 1999 Financial Reporting of Conventional Ammunition

DTIC Science & Technology

2000-09-01

financial reporting of operating materials and supplies. This report discusses the Army reporting of conventional ammunition, which is a material part of the Army operating materials and supplies. In general, conventional ammunition consists of any item containing explosives. At $18.9 billion, conventional ammunition, reported as operating materials and supplies, represented 26 percent of the $72.3 billion in total assets that the Army reported and was the largest tangible asset amount on the balance sheet. Objectives. The overall objective of our audit was to obtain

Development of Metallic Sensory Alloys

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wallace Terryl A.; Newman, John A.; Horne, Michael R.; Messick, Peter L.

2010-01-01

Existing nondestructive evaluation (NDE) technologies are inherently limited by the physical response of the structural material being inspected and are therefore not generally effective at the identification of small discontinuities, making the detection of incipient damage extremely difficult. One innovative solution to this problem is to enhance or complement the NDE signature of structural materials to dramatically improve the ability of existing NDE tools to detect damage. To address this need, a multifunctional metallic material has been developed that can be used in structural applications. The material is processed to contain second phase sensory particles that significantly improve the NDE response, enhancing the ability of conventional NDE techniques to detect incipient damage both during and after flight. Ferromagnetic shape-memory alloys (FSMAs) are an ideal material for these sensory particles as they undergo a uniform and repeatable change in both magnetic properties and crystallographic structure (martensitic transformation) when subjected to strain and/or temperature changes which can be detected using conventional NDE techniques. In this study, the use of a ferromagnetic shape memory alloy (FSMA) as the sensory particles was investigated.

Processing parameter optimization for the laser dressing of bronze-bonded diamond wheels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Deng, H.; Chen, G. Y.; Zhou, C.; Li, S. C.; Zhang, M. J.

2014-01-01

In this paper, a pulsed fiber-laser dressing method for bronze-bonded diamond wheels was studied systematically and comprehensively. The mechanisms for the laser dressing of bronze-bonded diamond wheels were theoretically analyzed, and the key processing parameters that determine the results of laser dressing, including the laser power density, pulse overlap ratio, ablation track line overlap ratio, and number of scanning cycles, were proposed for the first time. Further, the effects of these four key parameters on the oxidation-damaged layer of the material surface, the material removal efficiency, the material surface roughness, and the average protrusion height of the diamond grains were explored and summarized through pulsed laser ablation experiments. Under the current experimental conditions, the ideal values of the laser power density, pulse overlap ratio, ablation track line overlap ratio, and number of scanning cycles were determined to be 4.2 × 107 W/cm2, 30%, 30%, and 16, respectively. Pulsed laser dressing experiments were conducted on bronze-bonded diamond wheels using the optimized processing parameters; next, both the normal and tangential grinding forces produced by the dressed grinding wheel were measured while grinding alumina ceramic materials. The results revealed that the normal and tangential grinding forces produced by the laser-dressed grinding wheel during grinding were smaller than those of grinding wheels dressed using the conventional mechanical method, indicating that the pulsed laser dressing technology provides irreplaceable advantages relative to the conventional mechanical dressing method.

Pitch-based carbon foam and composites

DOEpatents

Klett, James W.

2001-01-01

A process for producing carbon foam or a composite is disclosed which obviates the need for conventional oxidative stabilization. The process employs mesophase or isotropic pitch and a simplified process using a single mold. The foam has a relatively uniform distribution of pore sizes and a highly aligned graphic structure in the struts. The foam material can be made into a composite which is useful in high temperature sandwich panels for both thermal and structural applications.

Pitch-based carbon foam and composites

DOEpatents

Klett, James W.

2003-12-16

A process for producing carbon foam or a composite is disclosed which obviates the need for conventional oxidative stabilization. The process employs mesophase or isotropic pitch and a simplified process using a single mold. The foam has a relatively uniform distribution of pore sizes and a highly aligned graphic structure in the struts. The foam material can be made into a composite which is useful in high temperature sandwich panels for both thermal and structural applications.

Pitch-based carbon foam and composites

DOEpatents

Klett, James W.

2003-12-02

A process for producing carbon foam or a composite is disclosed which obviates the need for conventional oxidative stabilization. The process employs mesophase or isotropic pitch and a simplified process using a single mold. The foam has a relatively uniform distribution of pore sizes and a highly aligned graphic structure in the struts. The foam material can be made into a composite which is useful in high temperature sandwich panels for both thermal and structural applications.

Pitch-based carbon foam and composites

DOEpatents

Klett, James W.

2002-01-01

A process for producing carbon foam or a composite is disclosed which obviates the need for conventional oxidative stabilization. The process employs mesophase or isotropic pitch and a simplified process using a single mold. The foam has a relatively uniform distribution of pore sizes and a highly aligned graphic structure in the struts. The foam material can be made into a composite which is useful in high temperature sandwich panels for both thermal and structural applications.

Mechanical properties of porous and cellular materials

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sieradzki, K.; Green, D.J.; Gibson, L.J.

1991-01-01

This symposium successfully brought scientists together from a wide variety of disciplines to focus on the mechanical behavior of porous and cellular solids composed of metals, ceramics, polymers, or biological materials. For cellular materials, papers ranged from processing techniques through microstructure-mechanical property relationships to design. In an overview talk, Mike Ashby (Cambridge Univ.) showed how porous cellular materials can be more efficient than dense materials in designs that require minimum weight. He indicated that many biological materials have been able to accomplish such efficiency but there exists an opportunity to design even more efficient, manmade materials controlling microstructures at differentmore » scale levels. In the area of processing, James Aubert (Sandia National Laboratories) discussed techiques for manipulating polymersolvent phase equilibria to control the microstructure of microcellular foams. Other papers on processing discussed the production of cellular ceramics by CVD, HIPing and sol- gel techniques. Papers on the mechanical behavior of cellular materials considered various ceramics microcellular polymers, conventional polymer foams and apples. There were also contributions that considered optimum design procedures for cellular materials. Steven Cowin (City Univ. of New York) discussed procedures to match the discrete microstructural aspects of cellular materials with the continuum mechanics approach to their elastic behavior.« less

FEA of the clinching process of short fiber reinforced thermoplastic with an aluminum sheet using LS-DYNA

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Behrens, B.-A.; Bouguecha, A.; Vucetic, M.; Grbic, N.

2016-10-01

A structural concept in multi-material design is used in the automotive industry with the aim of achieving significant weight reductions of conventional car bodies. In this respect, the use of aluminum and short fiber reinforced plastics represents an interesting material combination. A wide acceptance of such a material combination requires a suitable joining technique. Among different joining techniques, clinching represents one of the most appealing alternative for automotive applications. This contribution deals with the FE simulation of the clinching process of two representative materials PA6GF30 and EN AW 5754 using the FE software LS-DYNA. With regard to the material modelling of the aluminum sheet, an isotropic material model based on the von Mises plasticity implemented in LS-DYNA was chosen. Analogous to aluminum, the same material model is used for modelling the short fiber reinforced thermoplastic. Additionally, a semi-analytical model for polymers (SAMP-1) also available in LS-DYNA was taken. Finally, the FEA of clinching process is carried out and the comparison of the simulation results is presented above.

Thermodynamic analysis of resources used in manufacturing processes.

PubMed

Gutowski, Timothy G; Branham, Matthew S; Dahmus, Jeffrey B; Jones, Alissa J; Thiriez, Alexandre

2009-03-01

In this study we use a thermodynamic framework to characterize the material and energy resources used in manufacturing processes. The analysis and data span a wide range of processes from "conventional" processes such as machining, casting, and injection molding, to the so-called "advanced machining" processes such as electrical discharge machining and abrasive waterjet machining, and to the vapor-phase processes used in semiconductor and nanomaterials fabrication. In all, 20 processes are analyzed. The results show that the intensity of materials and energy used per unit of mass of material processed (measured either as specific energy or exergy) has increased by at least 6 orders of magnitude over the past several decades. The increase of material/energy intensity use has been primarily a consequence of the introduction of new manufacturing processes, rather than changes in traditional technologies. This phenomenon has been driven by the desire for precise small-scale devices and product features and enabled by stable and declining material and energy prices over this period. We illustrate the relevance of thermodynamics (including exergy analysis) for all processes in spite of the fact that long-lasting focus in manufacturing has been on product quality--not necessarily energy/material conversion efficiency. We promote the use of thermodynamics tools for analysis of manufacturing processes within the context of rapidly increasing relevance of sustainable human enterprises. We confirm that exergy analysis can be used to identify where resources are lost in these processes, which is the first step in proposing and/or redesigning new more efficient processes.

Study on Pot Forming of Induction Heater Type Rice Cookers by Forging Cast Process

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ohnishi, Masayuki; Yamaguchi, Mitsugi; Ohashi, Osamu

This paper describes a study result on pot fabrication by the forging cast process of stainless steel with aluminum. Rice cooked with the new bowl-shaped pot for the induction heater type rice cookers is better tasting than rice cooked with the conventional cylindrical one, due to the achievement of better heat conduction and convection. The conventional pot is made of the clad sheet, consisting of stainless steel and aluminum. However, it is rather difficult to form a bowl shape from the clad sheet, primarily due to the problem of a material spring back. The fabrication of a new type of a pot was made possible by means of the adoption of a forging cast process instead of the clad sheet. In this process, iron powder is inserted between stainless steel and aluminum in order to alleviate the large difference on the coefficient of expansion between each material. It was made clear that the application of two kinds of iron particle, namely 10 μm size powder on the stainless steel side and 44 μm on the aluminum side, enables the joints to become strong enough. The joint strength of the new pot by this fabrication process was confirmed by the tests of the shear strength and the fatigue tests together with the stress analysis.

Manufacturing Precise, Lightweight Paraboloidal Mirrors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hermann, Frederick Thomas

2006-01-01

A process for fabricating a precise, diffraction- limited, ultra-lightweight, composite- material (matrix/fiber) paraboloidal telescope mirror has been devised. Unlike the traditional process of fabrication of heavier glass-based mirrors, this process involves a minimum of manual steps and subjective judgment. Instead, this process involves objectively controllable, repeatable steps; hence, this process is better suited for mass production. Other processes that have been investigated for fabrication of precise composite-material lightweight mirrors have resulted in print-through of fiber patterns onto reflecting surfaces, and have not provided adequate structural support for maintenance of stable, diffraction-limited surface figures. In contrast, this process does not result in print-through of the fiber pattern onto the reflecting surface and does provide a lightweight, rigid structure capable of maintaining a diffraction-limited surface figure in the face of changing temperature, humidity, and air pressure. The process consists mainly of the following steps: 1. A precise glass mandrel is fabricated by conventional optical grinding and polishing. 2. The mandrel is coated with a release agent and covered with layers of a carbon- fiber composite material. 3. The outer surface of the outer layer of the carbon-fiber composite material is coated with a surfactant chosen to provide for the proper flow of an epoxy resin to be applied subsequently. 4. The mandrel as thus covered is mounted on a temperature-controlled spin table. 5. The table is heated to a suitable temperature and spun at a suitable speed as the epoxy resin is poured onto the coated carbon-fiber composite material. 6. The surface figure of the optic is monitored and adjusted by use of traditional Ronchi, Focault, and interferometric optical measurement techniques while the speed of rotation and the temperature are adjusted to obtain the desired figure. The proper selection of surfactant, speed or rotation, viscosity of the epoxy, and temperature make it possible to obtain the desired diffraction-limited, smooth (1/50th wave) parabolic outer surface, suitable for reflective coating. 7. A reflective coat is applied by use of conventional coating techniques. 8. Once the final figure is set, a lightweight structural foam is applied to the rear of the optic to ensure stability of the figure.

Wear of Cutting Tool with Excel Geometry in Turning Process of Hardened Steel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Samardžiová, Michaela

2016-09-01

This paper deals with hard turning using a cutting tool with Xcel geometry. This is one of the new geometries, and there is not any information about Xcel wear in comparison to the conventional geometry. It is already known from cutting tools producers that using the Xcel geometry leads to higher quality of machined surface, perticularly surface roughness. It is possible to achieve more than 4 times lower Ra and Rz values after turning than after using conventional geometry with radius. The workpiece material was 100Cr6 hardened steel with hardness of 60 ± 1 HRC. The machine used for the experiment was a lathe with counter spindle DMG CTX alpha 500, which is located in the Centre of Excellence of 5-axis Machining at the Faculty of Materials Science and Technology in Trnava. The cutting tools made by CBN were obtained from Sandvik COROMANT Company. The aim of this paper is to investigate the cutting tool wear in hard turning process by the Xcel cutting tool geometry.

Issues In Space Radiation Protection: Galactic Cosmic Rays

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wilson, J. W.; Kim, M.; Schimmerling, W.; Badavi, F. F.; Thibeault, S. A.; Cucinotta, F. A.; Shinn, J. L.; Kiefer, R.

1995-01-01

When shielding from cosmic heavy ions, one is faced with limited knowledge about the physical properties and biological responses of these radiations. Herein, the current health is discussed in terms of conventional protection practice and a test biological response model. The impact of biological response on optimum materials selection for cosmic ray shielding is presented in terms of the transmission characteristics of the shield material. Although liquid hydrogen is an optimum shield material, evaluation of the effectiveness of polymeric structural materials must await improvement in our knowledge of both the biological response and the nuclear processes.

Multi-layered poly-dimethylsiloxane as a non-hermetic packaging material for medical MEMS.

PubMed

Lachhman, S; Zorman, C A; Ko, W H

2012-01-01

Poly-dimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is an attractive material for packaging implantable biomedical microdevices owing to its biocompatibility, ease in application, and bio-friendly mechanical properties. Unfortunately, devices encapsulated solely by PDMS lack the longevity for use in chronic implant applications due to defect-related moisture penetration through the packaging layer caused by conventional deposition processes such as spin coating. This paper describes an effort to improve the performance of PDMS as a packaging material by constructing the encapsulant from multiple, thin roller casted layers of PDMS as a part of a polymeric multi-material package.

Fabrication of High Temperature Cermet Materials for Nuclear Thermal Propulsion

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hickman, Robert; Panda, Binayak; Shah, Sandeep

2005-01-01

Processing techniques are being developed to fabricate refractory metal and ceramic cermet materials for Nuclear Thermal Propulsion (NTP). Significant advances have been made in the area of high-temperature cermet fuel processing since RoverNERVA. Cermet materials offer several advantages such as retention of fission products and fuels, thermal shock resistance, hydrogen compatibility, high conductivity, and high strength. Recent NASA h d e d research has demonstrated the net shape fabrication of W-Re-HfC and other refractory metal and ceramic components that are similar to UN/W-Re cermet fuels. This effort is focused on basic research and characterization to identify the most promising compositions and processing techniques. A particular emphasis is being placed on low cost processes to fabricate near net shape parts of practical size. Several processing methods including Vacuum Plasma Spray (VPS) and conventional PM processes are being evaluated to fabricate material property samples and components. Surrogate W-Re/ZrN cermet fuel materials are being used to develop processing techniques for both coated and uncoated ceramic particles. After process optimization, depleted uranium-based cermets will be fabricated and tested to evaluate mechanical, thermal, and hot H2 erosion properties. This paper provides details on the current results of the project.

Multifunctional Nanomaterials: Design, Synthesis and Application Properties.

PubMed

Martinelli, Marisa; Strumia, Miriam Cristina

2017-02-07

The immense scope of variation in dendritic molecules (hyper-branching, nano-sized, hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity, rigidity/flexibility balance, etc.) and their versatile functionalization, with the possibility of multivalent binding, permit the design of highly improved, novel materials. Dendritic-based materials are therefore viable alternatives to conventional polymers. The overall aim of this work is to show the advantages of dendronization processes by presenting the synthesis and characterization of three different dendronized systems: (I) microbeads of functionalized chitosan; (II) nanostructuration of polypropylene surfaces; and (III) smart dendritic nanogels. The particular properties yielded by these systems could only be achieved thanks to the dendronization process.

Vibrating membrane filtration as improved technology for microalgae dewatering.

PubMed

Nurra, Claudia; Clavero, Ester; Salvadó, Joan; Torras, Carles

2014-04-01

The effect of shear-enhanced filtration by vibratory process in microalgae dewatering is presented in this paper. The aim of this research was to investigate the technical performance and improvement of vibrating membrane filtration compared with conventional tangential cross-flow filtration in microalgae concentration. An industrial-scale available commercial set-up was used. Several membrane materials as polyethersulfone, polyacrylonitrile, etc., and mean pore sizes (from 7000Da to 0.2μm) were tested and compared in both filtration set-ups. Experiments were carried-out with Nannochloropsis gaditana and Phaeodactylum tricornutum microalgae. It has been demonstrated that, even if the choice of the membrane depends on its cut-off, its material and the type of microalgae filtrated, dynamic filtration is always the best technology over a conventional one. If with conventional filtration permeability values were in the vicinity of 10L/h/m(2)/bar in steady state phase, with dynamic filtration these values increased to 30L/h/m(2)/bar or more. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Fabrication of ф 160 mm convex hyperbolic mirror for remote sensing instrument

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kuo, Ching-Hsiang; Yu, Zong-Ru; Ho, Cheng-Fang; Hsu, Wei-Yao; Chen, Fong-Zhi

2012-10-01

In this study, efficient polishing processes with inspection procedures for a large convex hyperbolic mirror of Cassegrain optical system are presented. The polishing process combines the techniques of conventional lapping and CNC polishing. We apply the conventional spherical lapping process to quickly remove the sub-surface damage (SSD) layer caused by grinding process and to get the accurate radius of best-fit sphere (BFS) of aspheric surface with fine surface texture simultaneously. Thus the removed material for aspherization process can be minimized and the polishing time for SSD removal can also be reduced substantially. The inspection procedure was carried out by using phase shift interferometer with CGH and stitching technique. To acquire the real surface form error of each sub aperture, the wavefront errors of the reference flat and CGH flat due to gravity effect of the vertical setup are calibrated in advance. Subsequently, we stitch 10 calibrated sub-aperture surface form errors to establish the whole irregularity of the mirror in 160 mm diameter for correction polishing. The final result of the In this study, efficient polishing processes with inspection procedures for a large convex hyperbolic mirror of Cassegrain optical system are presented. The polishing process combines the techniques of conventional lapping and CNC polishing. We apply the conventional spherical lapping process to quickly remove the sub-surface damage (SSD) layer caused by grinding process and to get the accurate radius of best-fit sphere (BFS) of aspheric surface with fine surface texture simultaneously. Thus the removed material for aspherization process can be minimized and the polishing time for SSD removal can also be reduced substantially. The inspection procedure was carried out by using phase shift interferometer with CGH and stitching technique. To acquire the real surface form error of each sub aperture, the wavefront errors of the reference flat and CGH flat due to gravity effect of the vertical setup are calibrated in advance. Subsequently, we stitch 10 calibrated sub-aperture surface form errors to establish the whole irregularity of the mirror in 160 mm diameter for correction polishing. The final result of the Fabrication of ф160 mm Convex Hyperbolic Mirror for Remote Sensing Instrument160 mm convex hyperbolic mirror is 0.15 μm PV and 17.9 nm RMS.160 mm convex hyperbolic mirror is 0.15 μm PV and 17.9 nm RMS.

A database system for characterization of munitions items in conventional ammunition demilitarization stockpiles

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Chun, K.C.; Chiu, S.Y.; Ditmars, J.D.

1994-05-01

The MIDAS (Munition Items Disposition Action System) database system is an electronic data management system capable of storage and retrieval of information on the detailed structures and material compositions of munitions items designated for demilitarization. The types of such munitions range from bulk propellants and small arms to projectiles and cluster bombs. The database system is also capable of processing data on the quantities of inert, PEP (propellant, explosives and pyrotechnics) and packaging materials associated with munitions, components, or parts, and the quantities of chemical compounds associated with parts made of PEP materials. Development of the MIDAS database system hasmore » been undertaken by the US Army to support disposition of unwanted ammunition stockpiles. The inventory of such stockpiles currently includes several thousand items, which total tens of thousands of tons, and is still growing. Providing systematic procedures for disposing of all unwanted conventional munitions is the mission of the MIDAS Demilitarization Program. To carry out this mission, all munitions listed in the Single Manager for Conventional Ammunition inventory must be characterized, and alternatives for resource recovery and recycling and/or disposal of munitions in the demilitarization inventory must be identified.« less

Method for charging a hydrogen getter

DOEpatents

Tracy, C. Edwin; Keyser, Matthew A.; Benson, David K.

1998-01-01

A method for charging a sample of either a permanent or reversible getter material with a high concentration of hydrogen while maintaining a base pressure below 10.sup.-4 torr at room temperature involves placing the sample of hydrogen getter material in a chamber, activating the sample of hydrogen getter material, overcharging the sample of getter material through conventional charging techniques to a high concentration of hydrogen, and then subjecting the sample of getter material to a low temperature vacuum bake-out process. Application of the method results in a reversible hydrogen getter which is highly charged to maximum capacities of hydrogen and which concurrently exhibits minimum hydrogen vapor pressures at room temperatures.

Using atmospheric pressure plasma treatment for treating grey cotton fabric.

PubMed

Kan, Chi-Wai; Lam, Chui-Fung; Chan, Chee-Kooi; Ng, Sun-Pui

2014-02-15

Conventional wet treatment, desizing, scouring and bleaching, for grey cotton fabric involves the use of high water, chemical and energy consumption which may not be considered as a clean process. This study aims to investigate the efficiency of the atmospheric pressure plasma (APP) treatment on treating grey cotton fabric when compared with the conventional wet treatment. Grey cotton fabrics were treated with different combinations of plasma parameters with helium and oxygen gases and also through conventional desizing, scouring and bleaching processes in order to obtain comparable results. The results obtained from wicking and water drop tests showed that wettability of grey cotton fabrics was greatly improved after plasma treatment and yielded better results than conventional desizing and scouring. The weight reduction of plasma treated grey cotton fabrics revealed that plasma treatment can help remove sizing materials and impurities. Chemical and morphological changes in plasma treated samples were analysed by FTIR and SEM, respectively. Finally, dyeability of the plasma treated and conventional wet treated grey cotton fabrics was compared and the results showed that similar dyeing results were obtained. This can prove that plasma treatment would be another choice for treating grey cotton fabrics. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sudiana, I. Nyoman, E-mail: sudiana75@yahoo.com; Ngkoimani, La Ode; Usman, Ida

Microwave sintering of materials has attracted much research interest because of its significant advantages (e.g. reduced sintering temperatures and soaking times) over the conventional heating. Most researchers compared processes that occurred during the microwave and conventional heating at the same temperature and time. The enhancements found in the former method are indicated as a 'non-thermal effect' which is usually used for explaining the phenomena in microwave processing. Numerous recent studies have been focused on the effect to elucidate the microwave interaction mechanism with materials. Moreover, recent progress on microwave sources such as gyrotrons has opened the possibility for processing materialsmore » by using a higher microwave frequency. Therefore, the technology is expected to exhibit a stronger non-thermal effect. This paper presents results from a series of experiments to study the non-thermal effect on microwave sintered alumina. Sintering by using a wide rage of microwave frequencies up to 300 GHz as well as a conventional furnace was carried out. The linear shrinkages of samples for each sintering method were measured. Pores and grains taken from scanning electron microstructure (SEM) images of cut surfaces were also examined. The results of a comparative study of the shrinkages and microstructure evolutions of the sintered samples under annealing in microwave heating systems and in an electric furnace were analyzed. A notably different behavior of the shrinkages and microstructures of alumina after being annealed was found. The results suggested that microwave radiations provided an additional force for mass transports. The results also indicated that the sintering process depended on microwave frequencies.« less

Method for atmospheric pressure reactive atom plasma processing for surface modification

DOEpatents

Carr, Jeffrey W [Livermore, CA

2009-09-22

Reactive atom plasma processing can be used to shape, polish, planarize and clean the surfaces of difficult materials with minimal subsurface damage. The apparatus and methods use a plasma torch, such as a conventional ICP torch. The workpiece and plasma torch are moved with respect to each other, whether by translating and/or rotating the workpiece, the plasma, or both. The plasma discharge from the torch can be used to shape, planarize, polish, and/or clean the surface of the workpiece, as well as to thin the workpiece. The processing may cause minimal or no damage to the workpiece underneath the surface, and may involve removing material from the surface of the workpiece.

Formation mechanisms of boron oxide films fabricated by large-area electron beam-induced deposition of trimethyl borate [Formation Mechanisms of Boron Oxide Fillms Fabricated by Large Area Electron Beam-Induced Deposition of Trimethyl Borate

DOE PAGES

Martin, Aiden A.; Depond, Philip J.

2018-04-24

Boron-containing materials are increasingly drawing interest for the use in electronics, optics, laser targets, neutron absorbers, and high-temperature and chemically resistant ceramics. In this article, the first investigation into the deposition of boron-based material via electron beam-induced deposition (EBID) is reported. Thin films were deposited using a novel, large-area EBID system that is shown to deposit material at rates comparable to conventional techniques such as laser-induced chemical vapor deposition. The deposition rate and stoichiometry of boron oxide fabricated by EBID using trimethyl borate (TMB) as precursor is found to be critically dependent on the substrate temperature. By comparing the depositionmore » mechanisms of TMB to the conventional, alkoxide-based precursor tetraethyl orthosilicate it is revealed that ligand chemistry does not precisely predict the pathways leading to deposition of material via EBID. Lastly, the results demonstrate the first boron-containing material deposited by the EBID process and the potential for EBID as a scalable fabrication technique that could have a transformative effect on the athermal deposition of materials.« less

Formation mechanisms of boron oxide films fabricated by large-area electron beam-induced deposition of trimethyl borate [Formation Mechanisms of Boron Oxide Fillms Fabricated by Large Area Electron Beam-Induced Deposition of Trimethyl Borate

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Martin, Aiden A.; Depond, Philip J.

Boron-containing materials are increasingly drawing interest for the use in electronics, optics, laser targets, neutron absorbers, and high-temperature and chemically resistant ceramics. In this article, the first investigation into the deposition of boron-based material via electron beam-induced deposition (EBID) is reported. Thin films were deposited using a novel, large-area EBID system that is shown to deposit material at rates comparable to conventional techniques such as laser-induced chemical vapor deposition. The deposition rate and stoichiometry of boron oxide fabricated by EBID using trimethyl borate (TMB) as precursor is found to be critically dependent on the substrate temperature. By comparing the depositionmore » mechanisms of TMB to the conventional, alkoxide-based precursor tetraethyl orthosilicate it is revealed that ligand chemistry does not precisely predict the pathways leading to deposition of material via EBID. Lastly, the results demonstrate the first boron-containing material deposited by the EBID process and the potential for EBID as a scalable fabrication technique that could have a transformative effect on the athermal deposition of materials.« less

Progress in electrochemical storage for battery systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ford, F. E.; Hennigan, T. J.; Palandati, C. F.; Cohn, E.

1972-01-01

Efforts to improve electrochemical systems for space use relate to: (1) improvement of conventional systems; (2) development of fuel cells to practical power systems; and (3) a search for new systems that provide gains in energy density but offer comparable life and performance as conventional systems. Improvements in sealed conventional systems resulted in the areas of materials, charge control methods, cell operations and battery control, and specific process controls required during cell manufacture. Fuel-cell systems have been developed for spacecraft but the use of these power plants is limited. For present and planned flights, nickel-cadmium, silver-zinc, and silver-cadmium systems will be used. Improvements in nickel-cadmium batteries have been applied in medical and commercial areas.

Chapter 15: Characterization and Processing of Nanocellulose Thermosetting Composites

Treesearch

Ronald C. Sabo; Rani F. Elhajjar; Craig M. Clemons; Krishna M. Pillai

2015-01-01

Fiber-reinforced polymer composites have gained popularity through their advantages over conventional metallic materials. Most polymer composites are traditionally made with reinforcing fibers such as carbon or glass. However, there has been recent interest in sourcing these reinforcing fibers from renewable, natural resources. Nanocellulose-based reinforcements...

Interphase for ceramic matrix composites reinforced by non-oxide ceramic fibers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

DiCarlo, James A. (Inventor); Bhatt, Ramakrishna (Inventor); Morscher, Gregory N. (Inventor); Yun, Hee-Mann (Inventor)

2008-01-01

A ceramic matrix composite material is disclosed having non-oxide ceramic fibers, which are formed in a complex fiber architecture by conventional textile processes; a thin mechanically weak interphase material, which is coated on the fibers; and a non-oxide or oxide ceramic matrix, which is formed within the interstices of the interphase-coated fiber architecture. During composite fabrication or post treatment, the interphase is allowed to debond from the matrix while still adhering to the fibers, thereby providing enhanced oxidative durability and damage tolerance to the fibers and the composite material.

Spin and Valley Noise in Two-Dimensional Dirac Materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tse, Wang-Kong; Saxena, A.; Smith, D. L.; Sinitsyn, N. A.

2014-07-01

We develop a theory for optical Faraday rotation noise in two-dimensional Dirac materials. In contrast to spin noise in conventional semiconductors, we find that the Faraday rotation fluctuations are influenced not only by spins but also the valley degrees of freedom attributed to intervalley scattering processes. We illustrate our theory with two-dimensional transition-metal dichalcogenides and discuss signatures of spin and valley noise in the Faraday noise power spectrum. We propose optical Faraday noise spectroscopy as a technique for probing both spin and valley relaxation dynamics in two-dimensional Dirac materials.

Ultrapure glass optical waveguide development in microgravity by the sol-gel process

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1982-01-01

Containerless melting of glasses in space for the preparation of ultrapure homogeneous glass for optical waveguides is discussed. The homogenization of the glass using conventional raw materials is normally achieved on Earth either by the gravity induced convection currents or by the mechanical stirring of the melt. Because of the absence of gravity induced convection currents, the homogenization of glass using convectional raw materials is difficult in the space environment. Multicomponent, homogeneous, noncrystalline oxide gels can be prepared by the sol-gel process and these gels are promising starting materials for melting glasses in the space environment. The sol-gel process is based on the polymerization reaction of alkoxysilane with other metal alkoxy compounds or suitable metal salts. Many of the alkoxysilanes or other metal alkoxides are liquids and thus can be purified by distillation.

Sodium metasilicate based fiber opening for greener leather processing.

PubMed

Saravanabhavan, Subramani; Thanikaivelan, Palanisamy; Rao, Jonnalagadda Raghava; Nair, Balachandran Unni; Ramasamit, Thirumalachari

2008-03-01

Growing environmental regulations propound the need for a transformation in the current practice of leather making. The conventional dehairing and fiber opening process results in high negative impact on the environment because of its uncleanliness. This process accounts for most of the biochemical oxygen demand and chemical oxygen demand in tannery wastewater and generation of H2S gas. Hence, this study explores the use of a biological material and a nontoxic chemical for performing the above process more cleanly. In this study, the dehairing and fiber opening processes has been designed using enzyme and sodium metasilicate. The amount of sodium metasilicate required for fiber opening is standardized through the removal of proteoglycan, increase in weight, and bulk properties of leathers. It has been found that the extent of opening up of fiber bundles is comparable to that of conventionally processed leathers using a 2% sodium metasilicate solution. This has been substantiated through scanning electron microscopic analysis and softness measurements. The presence of silica in the crust leather enhances the bulk properties of the leather. This has been confirmed from the energy dispersive X-ray analysis. Performance of the leathers is shown to be on par with conventionally processed leathers through physical and hand evaluation. The process also exhibits significant reduction in chemical oxygen demand and total solid loads by 55 and 24%, respectively. Further, this newly developed process seems to be economically beneficial.

Advanced Design and Optimization of High Performance Combatant Craft: Material Testing and Computational Tools

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-05-31

inherently shock-absorbent, and more durable than conventional materials. Despite these initial demonstration successes, there are still barriers that need...to deliver boats that are stronger, lighter, inherently shock‐absorbent, and more durable than those manufactured with conventional materials...and more durable than conventional materials (e.g. aluminum). Further, prior research by the University of Maine, Virginia Tech, and others has

Comparative physico-mechanical characterization of new hybrid restorative materials with conventional glass-ionomer and resin composite restorative materials.

PubMed

Gladys, S; Van Meerbeek, B; Braem, M; Lambrechts, P; Vanherle, G

1997-04-01

The recently developed hybrid restorative materials contain the essential components of conventional glass ionomers and light-cured resins. The objective of this study was to determine several physical and mechanical properties of eight such materials in comparison with two conventional glass ionomers, one micro-filled, and one ultrafine compact-filled resin composite. The two resin composites and two of the three polyacid-modified resin composites could be polished to a higher gloss than the conventional as well as the resin-modified glass ionomers. After abrasion, surface roughness increased for all materials, but not at the same extent, being the least for the conventional resin composites and one polyacid-modified resin composite, Dyract. In contrast to the later resin composites, of which the surface roughness is principally determined by the presence of protruding filler particles above the resin matrix, roughness of conventional and resin-modified glass ionomers results from both protruding filler particles and intruding porosities. The mean particle size of the hybrid restorative materials fell between the smaller mean particle size of the resin composites and the larger one of the conventional glass ionomers. The micro-hardness and Young's modulus values varied substantially among all eight hybrid restorative materials. For all the resin-modified glass-ionomer restorative materials, the Young's modulus reached a maximum value one month after mixing and remained relatively stable thereafter. The Young's modulus of the conventional and the polyacid-modified resin composites decreased slightly after one month. The conventional glass-ionomer materials undoubtedly set the slowest, since their Young's modulus took six months to reach its maximum. The flexural fatigue limit of the hybrid restorative materials is comparable with that of the micro-filled composite. From this investigation, it can be concluded that the physico-mechanical properties vary widely among the eight hybrid restorative materials, indicating that these materials probably have yet to achieve their optimum properties. Their mechanical strength is inadequate for use in stress-bearing areas, and their appearance keeps them from use where esthetics is a primary concern.

The development of additive manufacturing technique for nickel-base alloys: A review

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zadi-Maad, Ahmad; Basuki, Arif

2018-04-01

Nickel-base alloys are an attractive alloy due to its excellent mechanical properties, a high resistance to creep deformation, corrosion, and oxidation. However, it is a hard task to control performance when casting or forging for this material. In recent years, additive manufacturing (AM) process has been implemented to replace the conventional directional solidification process for the production of nickel-base alloys. Due to its potentially lower cost and flexibility manufacturing process, AM is considered as a substitute technique for the existing. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the previous work related to the AM techniques for Ni-base alloys while highlighting current challenges and methods to solving them. The properties of conventionally manufactured Ni-base alloys are also compared with the AM fabricated alloys. The mechanical properties obtained from tension, hardness and fatigue test are included, along with discussions of the effect of post-treatment process. Recommendations for further work are also provided.

Survivability of Salmonella cells in popcorn after microwave oven and conventional cooking.

PubMed

Anaya, I; Aguirrezabal, A; Ventura, M; Comellas, L; Agut, M

2008-01-01

The survivability of Salmonella cells in popcorn preparation was determined for two distinct cooking methods. The first method used a standard microwave oven. The second method used conventional cooking in a pan. Prior to thermal processing in independent experiments, 12 suspensions in a range between 1x10(3) and 8x10(6) colony-forming units (CFU) per gram of Salmonella cells were inoculated in both raw microwave popcorn and conventional corn kernels. The influence of the initial concentration of Salmonella cells in the raw products and the lethal effects on Salmonella by thermal treatments for cooking were studied. Survival of Salmonella cells was determined in the thermally processed material by pre-enrichment and enrichment in selective medium, in accordance with the legislation for expanded cereals and cereals in flakes. Viable experimental contaminants were recovered from the conventionally cooked popcorn with initial inoculation concentrations of 9x10(4)cells/g or greater. Salmonella cell viability was significantly reduced after microwave oven treatment, with recoveries only from initial concentrations of 2x10(6)cells/g or superior.

Acoustic barriers obtained from industrial wastes.

PubMed

Garcia-Valles, M; Avila, G; Martinez, S; Terradas, R; Nogués, J M

2008-07-01

Acoustic pollution is an environmental problem that is becoming increasingly more important in our society. Likewise, the accumulation of generated waste and the need for waste management are also becoming more and more pressing. In this study we describe a new material--called PROUSO--obtained from industrial wastes. PROUSO has a variety of commercial and engineering, as well as building, applications. The main raw materials used for this environmentally friendly material come from slag from the aluminium recycling process, dust from the marble industry, foundry sands, and recycled expanded polystyrene from recycled packaging. Some natural materials, such as plastic clays, are also used. To obtain PROUSO we used a conventional ceramic process, forming new mineral phases and incorporating polluted elements into the structure. Its physical properties make PROUSO an excellent acoustic and thermal insulation material. It absorbs 95% of the sound in the frequency band of the 500 Hz. Its compressive strength makes it ideal for use in ceramic wall building.

High efficiency and non-Richardson thermionics in three dimensional Dirac materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huang, Sunchao; Sanderson, Matthew; Zhang, Yan; Zhang, Chao

2017-10-01

Three dimensional (3D) topological materials have a linear energy dispersion and exhibit many electronic properties superior to conventional materials such as fast response times, high mobility, and chiral transport. In this work, we demonstrate that 3D Dirac materials also have advantages over conventional semiconductors and graphene in thermionic applications. The low emission current suffered in graphene due to the vanishing density of states is enhanced by an increased group velocity in 3D Dirac materials. Furthermore, the thermal energy carried by electrons in 3D Dirac materials is twice of that in conventional materials with a parabolic electron energy dispersion. As a result, 3D Dirac materials have the best thermal efficiency or coefficient of performance when compared to conventional semiconductors and graphene. The generalized Richardson-Dushman law in 3D Dirac materials is derived. The law exhibits the interplay of the reduced density of states and enhanced emission velocity.

Foreword: Additive Manufacturing: Interrelationships of Fabrication, Constitutive Relationships Targeting Performance, and Feedback to Process Control

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Carpenter, John S.; Beese, Allison M.; Bourell, David L.

Additive manufacturing (AM) offers distinct advantages over conventional manufacturing processes including the capability to both build and repair complex part shapes; to integrate and consolidate parts and thus overcome joining concerns; and to locally tailor material compositions as well as properties. Moreover, a variety of fields such as aerospace, military, automotive, and biomedical are employing this manufacturing technique as a way to decrease costs, increase manufacturing agility, and explore novel geometry/functionalities. In order to increase acceptance of AM as a viable processing method, pathways for qualifying both the material and the process need to be developed and, perhaps, standardized. Thismore » symposium was designed to serve as a venue for the international AM community—including government, academia, and industry—to define the fundamental interrelationships between feedstock, processing, microstructure, shape, mechanical behavior/materials properties, and function/performance. Eventually, insight into the connections between processing, microstructure, property, and performance will be achieved through experimental observations, theoretical advances, and computational modeling of physical processes. Finally, once this insight matures, AM will be able to move from the realm of making parts to making qualified materials that are certified for use with minimal need for post-fabrication characterization.« less

Foreword: Additive Manufacturing: Interrelationships of Fabrication, Constitutive Relationships Targeting Performance, and Feedback to Process Control

DOE PAGES

Carpenter, John S.; Beese, Allison M.; Bourell, David L.; ...

2015-06-26

Additive manufacturing (AM) offers distinct advantages over conventional manufacturing processes including the capability to both build and repair complex part shapes; to integrate and consolidate parts and thus overcome joining concerns; and to locally tailor material compositions as well as properties. Moreover, a variety of fields such as aerospace, military, automotive, and biomedical are employing this manufacturing technique as a way to decrease costs, increase manufacturing agility, and explore novel geometry/functionalities. In order to increase acceptance of AM as a viable processing method, pathways for qualifying both the material and the process need to be developed and, perhaps, standardized. Thismore » symposium was designed to serve as a venue for the international AM community—including government, academia, and industry—to define the fundamental interrelationships between feedstock, processing, microstructure, shape, mechanical behavior/materials properties, and function/performance. Eventually, insight into the connections between processing, microstructure, property, and performance will be achieved through experimental observations, theoretical advances, and computational modeling of physical processes. Finally, once this insight matures, AM will be able to move from the realm of making parts to making qualified materials that are certified for use with minimal need for post-fabrication characterization.« less

Efficient material decomposition method for dual-energy X-ray cargo inspection system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Donghyeon; Lee, Jiseoc; Min, Jonghwan; Lee, Byungcheol; Lee, Byeongno; Oh, Kyungmin; Kim, Jaehyun; Cho, Seungryong

2018-03-01

Dual-energy X-ray inspection systems are widely used today for it provides X-ray attenuation contrast of the imaged object and also its material information. Material decomposition capability allows a higher detection sensitivity of potential targets including purposely loaded impurities in agricultural product inspections and threats in security scans for example. Dual-energy X-ray transmission data can be transformed into two basis material thickness data, and its transformation accuracy heavily relies on a calibration of material decomposition process. The calibration process in general can be laborious and time consuming. Moreover, a conventional calibration method is often challenged by the nonuniform spectral characteristics of the X-ray beam in the entire field-of-view (FOV). In this work, we developed an efficient material decomposition calibration process for a linear accelerator (LINAC) based high-energy X-ray cargo inspection system. We also proposed a multi-spot calibration method to improve the decomposition performance throughout the entire FOV. Experimental validation of the proposed method has been demonstrated by use of a cargo inspection system that supports 6 MV and 9 MV dual-energy imaging.

Prereduction and melting of domestic titaniferous materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nafziger, R. H.; Jordan, R. R.

1983-03-01

Two domestic ilmenites and one titaniferous magnetite were prereduced by the United States Department of the Interior, Bureau of Mines, in a batch rotary kiln with coal char to assess the feasibility of this technique in improving melting operations and subsequent electric furnace processing. All three prereduced titaniferous materials were melted satisfactorily in an electric arc furnace to produce iron as a metal suitable for further refining to steel; metallizations ranging from 63 to 83 pct of the iron oxides were achieved. The ilmenites yielded titanium enriched slags that were amenable to further processing by conventional methods. Prereduction decreased electrode consumption during furnace operation and also conserved expensive electrical energy that otherwise must be used to reduce and melt totally the entire titaniferous materials charge.

Applications of sonochemistry in Russian food processing industry.

PubMed

Krasulya, Olga; Shestakov, Sergey; Bogush, Vladimir; Potoroko, Irina; Cherepanov, Pavel; Krasulya, Boris

2014-11-01

In food industry, conventional methodologies such as grinding, mixing, and heat treatment are used for food processing and preservation. These processes have been well studied for many centuries and used in the conversion of raw food materials to consumable food products. This report is dedicated to the application of a cost-efficient method of energy transfer caused by acoustic cavitation effects in food processing, overall, having significant impacts on the development of relatively new area of food processing such as food sonochemistry. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Manufacturing of hybrid aluminum copper joints by electromagnetic pulse welding - Identification of quantitative process windows

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Psyk, Verena; Scheffler, Christian; Linnemann, Maik; Landgrebe, Dirk

2017-10-01

Compared to conventional joining techniques, electromagnetic pulse welding offers important advantages especially when it comes to dissimilar material connections as e.g. copper aluminum welds. However, due to missing guidelines and tools for process design, the process has not been widely implemented in industrial production, yet. In order to contribute to overcoming this obstacle, a combined numerical and experimental process analysis for electromagnetic pulse welding of Cu-DHP and EN AW-1050 was carried out and the results were consolidated in a quantitative collision parameter based process window.

Additive Manufacturing of Multifunctional Components Using High Density Carbon Nanotube Yarn Filaments

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gardner, John M.; Sauti, Godfrey; Kim, Jae-Woo; Cano, Roberto J.; Wincheski, Russell A.; Stelter, Christopher J.; Grimsley, Brian W.; Working, Dennis C.; Siochi, Emilie J.

2016-01-01

Additive manufacturing allows for design freedom and part complexity not currently attainable using traditional manufacturing technologies. Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF), for example, can yield novel component geometries and functionalities because the method provides a high level of control over material placement and processing conditions. This is achievable by extrusion of a preprocessed filament feedstock material along a predetermined path. However if fabrication of a multifunctional part relies only on conventional filament materials, it will require a different material for each unique functionality printed into the part. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are an attractive material for many applications due to their high specific strength as well as good electrical and thermal conductivity. The presence of this set of properties in a single material presents an opportunity to use one material to achieve multifunctionality in an additively manufactured part. This paper describes a recently developed method for processing continuous CNT yarn filaments into three-dimensional articles, and summarizes the mechanical, electrical, and sensing performance of the components fabricated in this way.

Biomineralization-inspired synthesis of functional organic/inorganic hybrid materials: organic molecular control of self-organization of hybrids.

PubMed

Arakaki, Atsushi; Shimizu, Katsuhiko; Oda, Mayumi; Sakamoto, Takeshi; Nishimura, Tatsuya; Kato, Takashi

2015-01-28

Organisms produce various organic/inorganic hybrid materials, which are called biominerals. They form through the self-organization of organic molecules and inorganic elements under ambient conditions. Biominerals often have highly organized and hierarchical structures from nanometer to macroscopic length scales, resulting in their remarkable physical and chemical properties that cannot be obtained by simple accumulation of their organic and inorganic constituents. These observations motivate us to create novel functional materials exhibiting properties superior to conventional materials--both synthetic and natural. Herein, we introduce recent progress in understanding biomineralization processes at the molecular level and the development of organic/inorganic hybrid materials by these processes. We specifically outline fundamental molecular studies on silica, iron oxide, and calcium carbonate biomineralization and describe material synthesis based on these mechanisms. These approaches allow us to design a variety of advanced hybrid materials with desired morphologies, sizes, compositions, and structures through environmentally friendly synthetic routes using functions of organic molecules.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kolopus, James A.; Boatner, Lynn A.

Nanoindenters are commonly used for measuring the mechanical properties of a wide variety of materials with both industrial and scientific applications. Typically, these instruments employ an indenter made of a material of suitable hardness bonded to an appropriate shaft or holder to create an indentation on the material being tested. While a variety of materials may be employed for the indenter, diamond and boron carbide are by far the most common materials used due to their hardness and other desirable properties. However, as the increasing complexity of new materials demands a broader range of testing capabilities, conventional indenter materials exhibitmore » significant performance limitations. Among these are the inability of diamond indenters to perform in-situ measurements at temperatures above 600oC in air due to oxidation of the diamond material and subsequent degradation of the indenters mechanical properties. Similarly, boron carbide also fails at high temperature due to fracture. [1] Transition metal carbides possess a combination of hardness and mechanical properties at high temperatures that offer an attractive alternative to conventional indenter materials. Here we describe the technical aspects for the growth of single-crystal tungsten carbide (WC) for use as a high-temperature indenter material, and we examine a possible approach to brazing these crystals to a suitable mount for grinding and attachment to the indenter instrument. The use of a by-product of the recovery process is also suggested as possibly having commercial value.« less

Lightweight bio-composites based on hemp fibres produced by conventional and unconventional processes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Boccarusso, L.; Durante, M.; Formisano, A.; Langella, A.; Minutolo, F. Memola Capece

2017-10-01

Considering that nowadays the interest in the use of bio-composite materials is increasing more and more, this work is focused on the manufacturing of lightweight components based on hemp fibres for future applications, for example as a core for sandwich structures. Three different no-complex processes were used: a conventional hand lay-up, an unconventional infusion process and a hand lay-up process followed by injection moulding. They were used to produce bio-composite structures using an epoxy resin and/or a polyurethane foam as matrix. Depending on the process used for the manufacturing, laminates with different values of density were obtained. A detailed study in terms of both static and dynamic properties was carried out and the different mechanical behaviour for each sample typology was highlighted. The results showed that the process in which both the epoxy resin and the polyurethane foam were used as matrix allowed to obtain laminates with lower density and higher specific mechanical properties.

Oxidative Dehydrogenation on Nanocarbon: Insights into the Reaction Mechanism and Kinetics via in Situ Experimental Methods.

PubMed

Qi, Wei; Yan, Pengqiang; Su, Dang Sheng

2018-03-20

Sustainable and environmentally benign catalytic processes are vital for the future to supply the world population with clean energy and industrial products. The replacement of conventional metal or metal oxide catalysts with earth abundant and renewable nonmetallic materials has attracted considerable research interests in the field of catalysis and material science. The stable and efficient catalytic performance of nanocarbon materials was discovered at the end of last century, and these materials are considered as potential alternatives for conventional metal-based catalysts. With its rapid development in the past 20 years, the research field of carbon catalysis has been experiencing a smooth transition from the discovery of novel nanocarbon materials or related new reaction systems to the atomistic-level mechanistic understanding on the catalytic process and the subsequent rational design of the practical catalytic reaction systems. In this Account, we summarize the recent progress in the kinetic and mechanistic studies on nanocarbon catalyzed alkane oxidative dehydrogenation (ODH) reactions. The paper attempts to extract general concepts and basic regularities for carbon catalytic process directing us on the way for rational design of novel efficient metal-free catalysts. The nature of the active sites for ODH reactions has been revealed through microcalorimetric analysis, ambient pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) measurement, and in situ chemical titration strategies. The detailed kinetic analysis and in situ catalyst structure characterization suggests that carbon catalyzed ODH reactions involve the redox cycles of the ketonic carbonyl-hydroxyl pairs, and the key physicochemical parameters (activation energy, reaction order, and rate/equilibrium constants, etc.) of the carbon catalytic systems are proposed and compared with conventional transition metal oxide catalysts. The proposal of the intrinsic catalytic activity (TOF) provides the possibility for the fair comparisons of different nanocarbon catalysts and the consequent structure-function relation regularity. Surface modification and heteroatom doping are proved as the most effective strategies to adjust the catalytic property (activity and product selectivity etc.) of the nanocarbon catalysts. Nanocarbon is actually a proper candidate platform helping us to understand the classical catalytic reaction mechanism better, since there is no lattice oxygen and all the catalytic process happens on nanocarbon surface. This Account also exhibits the importance of the in situ structural characterizations for heterogeneous nanocarbon catalysis. The research strategy and methods proposed for carbon catalysts may also shed light on other complicated catalytic systems or fields concerning the applications of nonmetallic materials, such as energy storage and environment protection etc.

Holographic Optical Elements Recorded in Silver Halide Sensitized Gelatin Emulsions. Part I. Transmission Holographic Optical Elements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Jong Man; Choi, Byung So; Kim, Sun Il; Kim, Jong Min; Bjelkhagen, Hans I.; Phillips, Nicholas J.

2001-02-01

Silver halide sensitized gelatin (SHSG) holograms are similar to holograms recorded in dichromated gelatin (DCG), the main recording material for holographic optical elements (HOE s). The drawback of DCG is its low sensitivity and limited spectral response. Silver halide materials can be processed in such a way that the final hologram will have properties like a DCG hologram. Recently this technique has become more interesting since the introduction of new ultra-high-resolution silver halide emulsions. An optimized processing technique for transmission HOE s recorded in these materials is introduced. Diffraction efficiencies over 90% can be obtained for transmissive diffraction gratings. Understanding the importance of the selective hardening process has made it possible to obtain results similar to conventional DCG processing. The main advantage of the SHSG process is that high-sensitivity recording can be performed with laser wavelengths anywhere within the visible spectrum. This simplifies the manufacturing of high-quality, large-format HOE s.

High-Strength, Superelastic Compounds

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stanford, Malcolm; Noebe, Ronald; Dellacorte, Christopher; Bigelow, Glen; Thomas, Fransua

2013-01-01

In a previous disclosure, the use of 60- NiTiNOL, an ordered intermetallic compound composed of 60 weight percent nickel and 40 weight percent titanium, was investigated as a material for advanced aerospace bearings due to its unique combination of physical properties. Lessons learned during the development of applications for this material have led to the discovery that, with the addition of a ternary element, the resulting material can be thermally processed at a lower temperature to attain the same desirable hardness level as the original material. Processing at a lower temperature is beneficial, not only because it reduces processing costs from energy consumption, but because it also significantly reduces the possibility of quench cracking and thermal distortion, which have been problematic with the original material. A family of ternary substitutions has been identified, including Hf and Zr in various atomic percentages with varying concentrations of Ni and Ti. In the present innovation, a ternary intermetallic compound consisting of 57.6 weight percent Ni, 39.2 weight percent Ti, and 3.2 weight percent Hf (54Ni-45Ti-1Hf atomic percent) was prepared by casting. In this material, Hf substitutes for some of the Ti atoms in the material. In an alternate embodiment of the innovation, Zr, which is close in chemical behavior to Hf, is used as the substitutional element. With either substitution, the solvus temperature of the material is reduced, and lower temperatures can be used to obtain the necessary hardness values. The advantages of this innovation include the ability to solution-treat the material at a lower temperature and still achieve the required hardness for bearings (at least 50 Rockwell C) and superelastic behavior with recoverable strains greater than 2%. Most structural alloys will not return to their original shape after being deformed as little as 0.2% (a tenth of that possible with superelastic materials like 60 NiTiNOL). Because lower temperatures can be used in the heat treatment process, less energy will be consumed, and there will be less dimensional distortion and quench cracking. This results in fewer scrap parts, less material waste from large amounts of material removal, and fewer machining steps to rework parts that are out of specification. This material has a combination of properties that have been previously unobtainable. The material has a Young s modulus of approximately 95 GPa (about half that of conventional steels), moderate density (10 to 15% lower than conventional steels), excellent corrosion resistance, and high hardness (58 to 62 HRC). These properties make this material uniquely suited for advanced bearings.

Chemical Vapor Deposition of Aluminum Oxide Thin Films

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Vohs, Jason K.; Bentz, Amy; Eleamos, Krystal; Poole, John; Fahlman, Bradley D.

2010-01-01

Chemical vapor deposition (CVD) is a process routinely used to produce thin films of materials via decomposition of volatile precursor molecules. Unfortunately, the equipment required for a conventional CVD experiment is not practical or affordable for many undergraduate chemistry laboratories, especially at smaller institutions. In an effort to…

Agricultural waste material as potential adsorbent for sequestering heavy metal ions from aqueous solutions - a review.

PubMed

Sud, Dhiraj; Mahajan, Garima; Kaur, M P

2008-09-01

Heavy metal remediation of aqueous streams is of special concern due to recalcitrant and persistency of heavy metals in environment. Conventional treatment technologies for the removal of these toxic heavy metals are not economical and further generate huge quantity of toxic chemical sludge. Biosorption is emerging as a potential alternative to the existing conventional technologies for the removal and/or recovery of metal ions from aqueous solutions. The major advantages of biosorption over conventional treatment methods include: low cost, high efficiency, minimization of chemical or biological sludge, regeneration of biosorbents and possibility of metal recovery. Cellulosic agricultural waste materials are an abundant source for significant metal biosorption. The functional groups present in agricultural waste biomass viz. acetamido, alcoholic, carbonyl, phenolic, amido, amino, sulphydryl groups etc. have affinity for heavy metal ions to form metal complexes or chelates. The mechanism of biosorption process includes chemisorption, complexation, adsorption on surface, diffusion through pores and ion exchange etc. The purpose of this review article is to provide the scattered available information on various aspects of utilization of the agricultural waste materials for heavy metal removal. Agricultural waste material being highly efficient, low cost and renewable source of biomass can be exploited for heavy metal remediation. Further these biosorbents can be modified for better efficiency and multiple reuses to enhance their applicability at industrial scale.

Flotation process for removal of precipitates from electrochemical chromate reduction unit

DOEpatents

DeMonbrun, James R.; Schmitt, Charles R.; Williams, Everett H.

1976-01-01

This invention is an improved form of a conventional electrochemical process for removing hexavalent chromium or other metal-ion contaminants from cooling-tower blowdown water. In the conventional process, the contaminant is reduced and precipitated at an iron anode, thus forming a mixed precipitate of iron and chromium hydroxides, while hydrogen being evolved copiously at a cathode is vented from the electrochemical cell. In the conventional process, subsequent separation of the fine precipitate has proved to be difficult and inefficient. In accordance with this invention, the electrochemical operation is conducted in a novel manner permitting a much more efficient and less expensive precipitate-recovery operation. That is, the electrochemical operation is conducted under an evolved-hydrogen partial pressure exceeding atmospheric pressure. As a result, most of the evolved hydrogen is entrained as bubbles in the blowdown in the cell. The resulting hydrogen-rich blowdown is introduced to a vented chamber, where the entrained hydrogen combines with the precipitate to form a froth which can be separated by conventional techniques. In addition to the hydrogen, two materials present in most blowdown act as flotation promoters for the precipitate. These are (1) air, with which the blowdown water becomes saturated in the course of normal cooling-tower operation, and (2) surfactants which commonly are added to cooling-tower recirculating-water systems to inhibit the growth of certain organisms or prevent the deposition of insoluble particulates.

Numerical investigation of tube hyroforming of TWT using Corner Fill Test

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zribi, Temim; Khalfallah, Ali

2018-05-01

Tube hydroforming presents a very good alternative to conventional forming processes for obtaining good quality mechanical parts used in several industrial fields, such as the automotive and aerospace sectors. Research in the field of tube hydroforming is aimed at improving the formability, stiffness and weight reduction of manufactured parts using this process. In recent years, a new method of hydroforming appears; it consists of deforming parts made from welded tubes and having different thicknesses. This technique which contributes to the weight reduction of the hydroformed tubes is a good alternative to the conventional tube hydroforming. This technique makes it possible to build rigid and light structures with a reduced cost. However, it is possible to improve the weight reduction by using dissimilar tailor welded tubes (TWT). This paper is a first attempt to analyze by numerical simulation the behavior of TWT hydroformed in square cross section dies, commonly called (Corner Fill Test). Considered tubes are composed of two materials assembled by butt welding. The present analysis will focus on the effect of loading paths on the formability of the structure by determining the change in thickness in several sections of the part. A comparison between the results obtained by hydroforming the butt joint of tubes made of dissimilar materials and those obtained using single-material tube is achieved. Numerical calculations show that the bi-material welded tube has better thinning resistance and a more even thickness distribution in the circumferential directions when compared to the single-material tube.

Knowledge Based Cloud FE Simulation of Sheet Metal Forming Processes.

PubMed

Zhou, Du; Yuan, Xi; Gao, Haoxiang; Wang, Ailing; Liu, Jun; El Fakir, Omer; Politis, Denis J; Wang, Liliang; Lin, Jianguo

2016-12-13

The use of Finite Element (FE) simulation software to adequately predict the outcome of sheet metal forming processes is crucial to enhancing the efficiency and lowering the development time of such processes, whilst reducing costs involved in trial-and-error prototyping. Recent focus on the substitution of steel components with aluminum alloy alternatives in the automotive and aerospace sectors has increased the need to simulate the forming behavior of such alloys for ever more complex component geometries. However these alloys, and in particular their high strength variants, exhibit limited formability at room temperature, and high temperature manufacturing technologies have been developed to form them. Consequently, advanced constitutive models are required to reflect the associated temperature and strain rate effects. Simulating such behavior is computationally very expensive using conventional FE simulation techniques. This paper presents a novel Knowledge Based Cloud FE (KBC-FE) simulation technique that combines advanced material and friction models with conventional FE simulations in an efficient manner thus enhancing the capability of commercial simulation software packages. The application of these methods is demonstrated through two example case studies, namely: the prediction of a material's forming limit under hot stamping conditions, and the tool life prediction under multi-cycle loading conditions.

Knowledge Based Cloud FE Simulation of Sheet Metal Forming Processes

PubMed Central

Zhou, Du; Yuan, Xi; Gao, Haoxiang; Wang, Ailing; Liu, Jun; El Fakir, Omer; Politis, Denis J.; Wang, Liliang; Lin, Jianguo

2016-01-01

The use of Finite Element (FE) simulation software to adequately predict the outcome of sheet metal forming processes is crucial to enhancing the efficiency and lowering the development time of such processes, whilst reducing costs involved in trial-and-error prototyping. Recent focus on the substitution of steel components with aluminum alloy alternatives in the automotive and aerospace sectors has increased the need to simulate the forming behavior of such alloys for ever more complex component geometries. However these alloys, and in particular their high strength variants, exhibit limited formability at room temperature, and high temperature manufacturing technologies have been developed to form them. Consequently, advanced constitutive models are required to reflect the associated temperature and strain rate effects. Simulating such behavior is computationally very expensive using conventional FE simulation techniques. This paper presents a novel Knowledge Based Cloud FE (KBC-FE) simulation technique that combines advanced material and friction models with conventional FE simulations in an efficient manner thus enhancing the capability of commercial simulation software packages. The application of these methods is demonstrated through two example case studies, namely: the prediction of a material's forming limit under hot stamping conditions, and the tool life prediction under multi-cycle loading conditions. PMID:28060298

Composite Curing Process Nondestructive Evaluation

DTIC Science & Technology

1988-06-01

3.5.3.2.1 Background (Arrheuius Equation) 50 3.5.3.2.2 Intepretation of AWG Data . . . 50 3.6 SIGNAL PROCESSING AND DATA OUTPUT .. ............ 52 4.0 RESIN...conventional methods: o permits in-situ measurement of fluorescence in remote, hostile environments o provides immunity to electromagnetic interferences...These devices are very sensitive to changes during material cure because sound escapes from the waveguide to the resin dependent on the relative

Approximate formula for recalescence in binary eutectic alloys

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ohsaka, K.; Trinh, E. H.

1993-01-01

Supercooling of a liquid prior to the nucleation of a solid and the subsequent rapid growth are necessary conditions for producing novel microstructures including metastable phases which are not formed by conventional solidification processes. Since containerless techniques, such as levitation and free fall of a sample, are capable of achieving a significant supercooling level of liquids, they are under consideration as possible techniques for material processing on earth and in space.

X-ray topography as a process control tool in semiconductor and microcircuit manufacture

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Parker, D. L.; Porter, W. A.

1977-01-01

A bent wafer camera, designed to identify crystal lattice defects in semiconductor materials, was investigated. The camera makes use of conventional X-ray topographs and an innovative slightly bent wafer which allows rays from the point source to strike all portions of the wafer simultaneously. In addition to being utilized in solving production process control problems, this camera design substantially reduces the cost per topograph.

Lead sulfide - Silicon MOSFET infrared focal plane development

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Barrett, J. R.; Jhabvala, M. D.

1983-01-01

A process for directly integrating photoconductive lead sulfide (PbS) infrared detector material with silicon MOS integrated circuits has been developed primarily for application in long (greater than 10,000 detector elements) linear arrays for pushbroom scanning applications. The processing technology is based on the conventional PMOS and CMOS technologies with a variation in the metallization. Results and measurements on a fully integrated eight-element multiplexer are shown.

Clean-Coal Technology By-Products Used in a Highway Embankment Stabilization Demonstration Project

DTIC Science & Technology

1994-01-01

the conventional coal combustion process (Tismach, 1993). -- 0.. 3 The flue gas desulfurization (FGD) material used in this study was produced at...suitable material for stabilizing this slide. 000 Figure 1.3: SR 83 Cross-Section. i0l 11 1.4 Scope and Limitations The disposal of flue gas ...Sciences, Washington, DC. 19. Taha, R., "Environmental and Engineering Properties of Flue Gas Desulfuimzation Gypsum," Preprint. 72nd Annual Meetin

Process for spinning flame retardant elastomeric compositions. [fabricating synthetic fibers for high oxygen environments

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Howarth, J. T.; Sheth, S.; Sidman, K. R.; Massucco, A. A. (Inventor)

1978-01-01

Flame retardant elastomeric compositions comprised of either spandex type polyurethane having halogen containing polyols incorporated into the polymer chain, conventional spandex type polyurethanes in physical admixture with flame retardant additives, or fluoroelastomeric resins in physical admixture with flame retardant additives were developed. Methods are described for preparing fibers of the flame retardant elastomeric materials and manufactured articles as well as nonelastic materials such as polybenzimidazoles, fiberglass, and nylons, for high oxygen environments.

Scalable, Economical Fabrication Processes for Ultra-Compact Warm-White LEDs

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lowes, Ted

Conventional warm-white LED component fabrication consists of a large number of sequential steps which are required to incorporate electrical, mechanical, and optical functionality into the component. Each of these steps presents cost and yield challenges which multiply throughout the entire process. Although there has been significant progress in LED fabrication over the last decade, significant advances are needed to enable further reductions in cost per lumen while not sacrificing efficacy or color quality. Cree conducted a focused 18-month program to develop a new low-cost, high-efficiency light emitting diode (LED) architecture enabled by novel large-area parallel processing technologies, reduced number ofmore » fabrication steps, and minimized raw materials use. This new scheme is expected to enable ultra-compact LED components exhibiting simultaneously high efficacy and high color quality. By the end of the program, Cree fabricated warm-white LEDs with a room-temperature “instant on” efficacy of >135 lm/W at ~3500K and 90 CRI (when driven at the DOE baseline current density of 35 A/cm2). Cree modified the conventional LED fabrication process flow in a manner that is expected to translate into simultaneously high throughput and yield for ultra-compact packages. Building on its deep expertise in LED wafer fabrication, Cree developed these ultra-compact LEDs to have no compromises in color quality or efficacy compared to their conventional counterparts. Despite their very small size, the LEDs will also be robustly electrically integrated into luminaire systems with the same attach yield as conventional packages. The versatility of the prototype high-efficacy LED architecture will likely benefit solid-state lighting (SSL) luminaire platforms ranging from bulbs to troffers. We anticipate that the prototype LEDs will particularly benefit luminaires with large numbers of distributed compact packages, such as linear and area luminaires (e.g. troffers). The fraction of total SSL luminaire cost made up by the LEDs themselves has steadily fallen over the past several years, but can still make up 30% or more of the bill of materials; the new LED design will radically lower this proportion. Ultra-compact, highly efficient LEDs with optimal distribution in the system will further benefit luminaire materials and assembly costs by reducing the complexity and volume of thermal management and optical subsystems.« less

Hydrogen peroxide bleaching of cotton in ultrasonic energy.

PubMed

Mistik, S Ilker; Yükseloglu, S Müge

2005-12-01

It is well known that, conventional hydrogen peroxide bleaching process is an important and a specific step for wet processors; however it has some problems such as long time, high energy consumption. On the other hand, using ultrasonic energy in bleaching is an alternative method for the conventional processes. In this work, 100% cotton materials of different forms such as raw fibre, ring-spun yarns and knitted fabrics produced from these cottons, were treated with hydrogen peroxide in two different concentrations (5 mL/L and 10 mL/L), at three different temperatures (20 degrees C, 30 degrees C, 40 degrees C) and times (20 min, 30 min, 60 min). Whiteness Index of the samples were then measured spectrophotometrically and the overall results were compared.

New evaluation parameter for wearable thermoelectric generators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wijethunge, Dimuthu; Kim, Woochul

2018-04-01

Wearable devices constitute a key application area for thermoelectric devices. However, owing to new constraints in wearable applications, a few conventional device optimization techniques are not appropriate and material evaluation parameters, such as figure of merit (zT) and power factor (PF), tend to be inadequate. We illustrated the incompleteness of zT and PF by performing simulations and considering different thermoelectric materials. The results indicate a weak correlation between device performance and zT and PF. In this study, we propose a new evaluation parameter, zTwearable, which is better suited for wearable applications compared to conventional zT. Owing to size restrictions, gap filler based device optimization is extremely critical in wearable devices. With respect to the occasions in which gap fillers are used, expressions for power, effective thermal conductivity (keff), and optimum load electrical ratio (mopt) are derived. According to the new parameters, the thermal conductivity of the material has become much more critical now. The proposed new evaluation parameter, namely, zTwearable, is extremely useful in the selection of an appropriate thermoelectric material among various candidates prior to the commencement of the actual design process.

Surface roughness analysis after laser assisted machining of hard to cut materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Przestacki, D.; Jankowiak, M.

2014-03-01

Metal matrix composites and Si3N4 ceramics are very attractive materials for various industry applications due to extremely high hardness and abrasive wear resistance. However because of these features they are problematic for the conventional turning process. The machining on a classic lathe still requires special polycrystalline diamond (PCD) or cubic boron nitride (CBN) cutting inserts which are very expensive. In the paper an experimental surface roughness analysis of laser assisted machining (LAM) for two tapes of hard-to-cut materials was presented. In LAM, the surface of work piece is heated directly by a laser beam in order to facilitate, the decohesion of material. Surface analysis concentrates on the influence of laser assisted machining on the surface quality of the silicon nitride ceramic Si3N4 and metal matrix composite (MMC). The effect of the laser assisted machining was compared to the conventional machining. The machining parameters influence on surface roughness parameters was also investigated. The 3D surface topographies were measured using optical surface profiler. The analysis of power spectrum density (PSD) roughness profile were analyzed.

Method for charging a hydrogen getter

DOEpatents

Tracy, C.E.; Keyser, M.A.; Benson, D.K.

1998-09-15

A method for charging a sample of either a permanent or reversible getter material with a high concentration of hydrogen while maintaining a base pressure below 10{sup {minus}4} torr at room temperature involves placing the sample of hydrogen getter material in a chamber, activating the sample of hydrogen getter material, overcharging the sample of getter material through conventional charging techniques to a high concentration of hydrogen, and then subjecting the sample of getter material to a low temperature vacuum bake-out process. Application of the method results in a reversible hydrogen getter which is highly charged to maximum capacities of hydrogen and which concurrently exhibits minimum hydrogen vapor pressures at room temperatures. 9 figs.

Biodegradable soy protein isolate-based materials: a review.

PubMed

Song, Fei; Tang, Dao-Lu; Wang, Xiu-Li; Wang, Yu-Zhong

2011-10-10

Recently, there is an increasing interest of using bio-based polymers instead of conventional petroleum-based polymers to fabricate biodegradable materials. Soy protein isolate (SPI), a protein with reproducible resource, good biocompatibility, biodegradability, and processability, has a significant potential in the food industry, agriculture, bioscience, and biotechnology. Up to now, several technologies have been applied to prepare SPI-based materials with equivalent or superior physical and mechanical properties compared with petroleum-based materials. The aim of this review is focused on discussion of the advantages and limitations of native SPI as well as the bulk and surface modification strategies for SPI. Moreover, some applications of SPI-based materials, especially for food preservation and packaging technology, were discussed.

A Robust and Engineerable Self-Assembling Protein Template for the Synthesis and Patterning of Ordered Nanoparticle Arrays

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

McMillan, R. Andrew; Howard, Jeanie; Zaluzec, Nestor J.; Kagawa, Hiromi K.; Li, Yi-Fen; Paavola, Chad D.; Trent, Jonathan D.

2004-01-01

Self-assembling biomolecules that form highly ordered structures have attracted interest as potential alternatives to conventional lithographic processes for patterning materials. Here we introduce a general technique for patterning materials on the nanoscale using genetically modified protein cage structures called chaperonins that self-assemble into crystalline templates. Constrained chemical synthesis of transition metal nanoparticles is specific to templates genetically functionalized with poly-Histidine sequences. These arrays of materials are ordered by the nanoscale structure of the crystallized protein. This system may be easily adapted to pattern a variety of materials given the rapidly growing list of peptide sequences selected by screening for specificity for inorganic materials.

Experimental and numerical investigations on freeze-drying of porous media with prebuilt porosity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Wei; Yang, Jing; Hu, Dapeng; Pan, Yanqiu; Wang, Shihao; Chen, Guohua

2018-05-01

Freeze-drying of initially porous frozen material was investigated aimed at improving the process economics by reducing drying time and raising productivity. Experimental results showed that freeze-drying can be significantly enhanced by the frozen material with prebuilt porosity, and about 31% of drying time can be saved compared with the conventionally solid frozen material under the tested operating conditions. A multiphase transport model was formulated based on the local mass non-equilibrium assumption. Numerical results showed excellent agreements between measured and predicted drying curves. Analyses of saturation and temperature profiles displayed that volumetric sublimation-desorption can occur for the initially porous frozen material.

Crystallization behaviors and seal application of basalt based glass-ceramics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ateş, A.; Önen, U.; Ercenk, E.; Yılmaz, Ş.

2017-02-01

Basalt based glass-ceramics were prepared by conventional melt-quenching technique and subsequently converted to glass-ceramics by a controlled nucleation and crystallization process. Glass materials were obtained by melt at 1500°C and quenched in cold water. The powder materials were made by milling and spin coating. The powders were applied on the 430 stainless steel interconnector material, and heat treatment was carried out. The interface characteristics between the glass-ceramic layer and interconnector were investigated by using X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results showed that the basalt base glass-ceramic sealant material exhibited promising properties to use for SOFC.

Issues in Space Radiation Protection: Galactic Cosmic Rays

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wilson, J. W.; Kim, M.; Schimmerling, W.; Badavi, F. F.; Thibeault, S. A.; Cucinotta, F. A.; Shinn, J. L.; Kiefer, R.

1995-01-01

With shielding from cosmic heavy ions, one is faced with limited knowledge about the physical properties and biological responses of these radiations. Herein, the current status of space shielding technology and its impact on radiation health is discussed in terms of conventional protection practice and a test biological response model. The impact of biological response on optimum materials selection for cosmic ray shielding is presented in terms of the transmission characteristics of the shield material. Although liquid hydrogen gas is an optimum shield material, evaluation of the effectiveness of polymeric structural materials must await improvement in our knowledge of both the biological response and the nuclear processes.

Software For Design Of Life-Support Systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rudokas, Mary R.; Cantwell, Elizabeth R.; Robinson, Peter I.; Shenk, Timothy W.

1991-01-01

Design Assistant Workstation (DAWN) computer program is prototype of expert software system for analysis and design of regenerative, physical/chemical life-support systems that revitalize air, reclaim water, produce food, and treat waste. Incorporates both conventional software for quantitative mathematical modeling of physical, chemical, and biological processes and expert system offering user stored knowledge about materials and processes. Constructs task tree as it leads user through simulated process, offers alternatives, and indicates where alternative not feasible. Also enables user to jump from one design level to another.

Organic thin film transistor with a simplified planar structure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Lei; Yu, Jungsheng; Zhong, Jian; Jiang, Yadong

2009-05-01

Organic thin film transistor (OTFT) with a simplified planar structure is described. The gate electrode and the source/drain electrodes of OTFT are processed in one planar structure. And these three electrodes are deposited on the glass substrate by DC sputtering technology using Cr/Ni target. Then the electrode layouts of different width length ratio are made by photolithography technology at the same time. Only one step of deposition and one step of photolithography is needed while conventional process takes at least two steps of deposition and two steps of photolithography. Metal is first prepared on the other side of glass substrate and electrode is formed by photolithography. Then source/drain electrode is prepared by deposition and photolithography on the side with the insulation layer. Compared to conventional process of OTFTs, the process in this work is simplified. After three electrodes prepared, the insulation layer is made by spin coating method. The organic material of polyimide is used as the insulation layer. A small molecular material of pentacene is evaporated on the insulation layer using vacuum deposition as the active layer. The process of OTFTs needs only three steps totally. A semi-auto probe stage is used to connect the three electrodes and the probe of the test instrument. A charge carrier mobility of 0.3 cm2 /V s, is obtained from OTFTs on glass substrates with and on/off current ratio of 105. The OTFTs with the planar structure using simplified process can simplify the device process and reduce the fabrication cost.

Microgravity

NASA Image and Video Library

1992-06-25

Zeolites are crystalline aluminosilicates that have complex framework structures. However, there are several features of zeolite crystals that make unequivocal structure determinations difficult. The acquisition of reliable structural information on zeolites is greatly facilitated by the availability of high-quality specimens. For structure determinations by conventional diffraction techniques, large single-crystal specimens are essential. Alternatively, structural determinations by powder profile refinement methods relax the constraints on crystal size, but still require materials with a high degree of crystalline perfection. Studies conducted at CAMMP (Center for Advanced Microgravity Materials Processing) have demonstrated that microgravity processing can produce larger crystal sizes and fewer structural defects relative to terrestrial crystal growth. Principal Investigator: Dr. Albert Sacco

Zeolites

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1992-01-01

Zeolites are crystalline aluminosilicates that have complex framework structures. However, there are several features of zeolite crystals that make unequivocal structure determinations difficult. The acquisition of reliable structural information on zeolites is greatly facilitated by the availability of high-quality specimens. For structure determinations by conventional diffraction techniques, large single-crystal specimens are essential. Alternatively, structural determinations by powder profile refinement methods relax the constraints on crystal size, but still require materials with a high degree of crystalline perfection. Studies conducted at CAMMP (Center for Advanced Microgravity Materials Processing) have demonstrated that microgravity processing can produce larger crystal sizes and fewer structural defects relative to terrestrial crystal growth. Principal Investigator: Dr. Albert Sacco

Rapid sintering of anisotropic, nanograined Nd-Fe-B by flash-spark plasma sintering

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Castle, Elinor; Sheridan, Richard; Grasso, Salvatore; Walton, Allan; Reece, Mike

2016-11-01

A Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) furnace was used to Flash-Sinter (FS) Nd-Fe-Dy-Co-B-Ga melt spun permanent magnetic material. During the 10 s "Flash" process (heating rate 2660 K min-1), sample sintering (to theoretical density) and deformation (54% height reduction) occurred. This produced texturing and significant magnetic anisotropy, comparable to conventional die-upset magnets; yet with much greater coercivities (>1600 kA m-1) due to the nanoscale characteristics of the plate-like sintered grains. These preliminary results suggest that Flash-SPS could provide a new processing route for the mass production of highly anisotropic, nanocrystalline magnetic materials with high coercivity.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Robert Radtke

The manufacture of thermally stable diamond (TSP) cutters for drill bits used in petroleum drilling requires the brazing of two dissimilar materials--TSP diamond and tungsten carbide. The ENDURUS{trademark} thermally stable diamond cutter developed by Technology International, Inc. exhibits (1) high attachment (shear) strength, exceeding 345 MPa (50,000 psi), (2) TSP diamond impact strength increased by 36%, (3) prevents TSP fracture when drilling hard rock, and (4) maintains a sharp edge when drilling hard and abrasive rock. A novel microwave brazing (MWB) method for joining dissimilar materials has been developed. A conventional braze filler metal is combined with microwave heating whichmore » minimizes thermal residual stress between materials with dissimilar coefficients of thermal expansion. The process results in preferential heating of the lower thermal expansion diamond material, thus providing the ability to match the thermal expansion of the dissimilar material pair. Methods for brazing with both conventional and exothermic braze filler metals have been developed. Finite element modeling (FEM) assisted in the fabrication of TSP cutters controllable thermal residual stress and high shear attachment strength. Further, a unique cutter design for absorbing shock, the densification of otherwise porous TSP diamond for increased mechanical strength, and diamond ion implantation for increased diamond fracture resistance resulted in successful drill bit tests.« less

3D Printable Graphene Composite

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wei, Xiaojun; Li, Dong; Jiang, Wei; Gu, Zheming; Wang, Xiaojuan; Zhang, Zengxing; Sun, Zhengzong

2015-07-01

In human being’s history, both the Iron Age and Silicon Age thrived after a matured massive processing technology was developed. Graphene is the most recent superior material which could potentially initialize another new material Age. However, while being exploited to its full extent, conventional processing methods fail to provide a link to today’s personalization tide. New technology should be ushered in. Three-dimensional (3D) printing fills the missing linkage between graphene materials and the digital mainstream. Their alliance could generate additional stream to push the graphene revolution into a new phase. Here we demonstrate for the first time, a graphene composite, with a graphene loading up to 5.6 wt%, can be 3D printable into computer-designed models. The composite’s linear thermal coefficient is below 75 ppm·°C-1 from room temperature to its glass transition temperature (Tg), which is crucial to build minute thermal stress during the printing process.

Effect of Process Parameter on Barium Titanate Stannate (BTS) Materials Sintered at Low Sintering

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shukla, Alok; Bajpai, P. K.

2011-11-01

Ba(Ti1-xSnx)O3 solid solutions with (x = 0.15, 0.20, 0.30 and 0.40) are synthesized using conventional solid state reaction method. Formation of solid solutions in the range 0 ≤ x ≤0.40 is confirmed using X-ray diffraction technique. Single phase solid solutions with homogeneous grain distribution are observed at relatively low sintering by controlling process parameters viz. sintering time. Composition at optimized temperature (1150 °C) sintered by varying the sintering time, stabilize in cubic perovskite phase. The % experimental density increase with increasing the time of sintering instead of increasing sintering temperature. The lattice parameter increases by increasing the tin composition in the material. This demonstrates that process parameter optimization can lead to single phase at relatively lower sintering-a major advantage for the materials used as capacitor element in MLCC.

3D Printable Graphene Composite

PubMed Central

Wei, Xiaojun; Li, Dong; Jiang, Wei; Gu, Zheming; Wang, Xiaojuan; Zhang, Zengxing; Sun, Zhengzong

2015-01-01

In human being’s history, both the Iron Age and Silicon Age thrived after a matured massive processing technology was developed. Graphene is the most recent superior material which could potentially initialize another new material Age. However, while being exploited to its full extent, conventional processing methods fail to provide a link to today’s personalization tide. New technology should be ushered in. Three-dimensional (3D) printing fills the missing linkage between graphene materials and the digital mainstream. Their alliance could generate additional stream to push the graphene revolution into a new phase. Here we demonstrate for the first time, a graphene composite, with a graphene loading up to 5.6 wt%, can be 3D printable into computer-designed models. The composite’s linear thermal coefficient is below 75 ppm·°C−1 from room temperature to its glass transition temperature (Tg), which is crucial to build minute thermal stress during the printing process. PMID:26153673

Multi-parameter optimization of monolithic high-index contrast grating reflectors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Marciniak, Magdalena; Gebski, Marcin; Dems, Maciej; Wasiak, Michał; Czyszanowski, Tomasz

2016-03-01

Conventional High-index Contrast Gratings (HCG) consist of periodically distributed high refractive index stripes surrounded by low index media. Practically, such low/high index stack can be fabricated in several ways however low refractive index layers are electrical insulators of poor thermal conductivities. Monolithic High-index Contrast Gratings (MHCGs) overcome those limitations since they can be implemented in any material with a real refractive index larger than 1.75 without the need of the combination of low and high refractive index materials. The freedom of use of various materials allows to provide more efficient current injection and better heat flow through the mirror, in contrary to the conventional HCGs. MHCGs can simplify the construction of VCSELs, reducing their epitaxial design to monolithic wafer with carrier confinement and active region inside and etched stripes on both surfaces in post processing. We present numerical analysis of MHCGs using a three-dimensional, fully vectorial optical model. We investigate possible designs of MHCGs using multidimensional optimization of grating parameters for different refractive indices.

Mesoscale Origin of the Enhanced Cycling-Stability of the Si-Conductive Polymer Anode for Li-ion Batteries

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gu, Meng; Xiao, Xing-Cheng; Liu, Gao; Thevuthasan, Suntharampillai; Baer, Donald R.; Zhang, Ji-Guang; Liu, Jun; Browning, Nigel D.; Wang, Chong-Min

2014-01-01

Electrode used in lithium-ion battery is invariably a composite of multifunctional components. The performance of the electrode is controlled by the interactive function of all components at mesoscale. Fundamental understanding of mesoscale phenomenon sets the basis for innovative designing of new materials. Here we report the achievement and origin of a significant performance enhancement of electrode for lithium ion batteries based on Si nanoparticles wrapped with conductive polymer. This new material is in marked contrast with conventional material, which exhibit fast capacity fade. In-situ TEM unveils that the enhanced cycling stability of the conductive polymer-Si composite is associated with mesoscale concordant function of Si nanoparticles and the conductive polymer. Reversible accommodation of the volume changes of Si by the conductive polymer allows good electrical contact between all the particles during the cycling process. In contrast, the failure of the conventional Si-electrode is probed to be the inadequate electrical contact.

Scintillating Quantum Dots for Imaging X-Rays (SQDIX) for Aircraft Inspection

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Burke, E. R.; DeHaven, S. L.; Williams, P. A.

2015-01-01

Scintillation is the process currently employed by conventional X-ray detectors to create X-ray images. Scintillating quantum dots (StQDs) or nano-crystals are novel, nanometer-scale materials that upon excitation by X-rays, re-emit the absorbed energy as visible light. StQDs theoretically have higher output efficiency than conventional scintillating materials and are more environmentally friendly. This paper will present the characterization of several critical elements in the use of StQDs that have been performed along a path to the use of this technology in wide spread X-ray imaging. Initial work on the scintillating quantum dots for imaging X-rays (SQDIX) system has shown great promise to create state-of-the-art sensors using StQDs as a sensor material. In addition, this work also demonstrates a high degree of promise using StQDs in microstructured fiber optics. Using the microstructured fiber as a light guide could greatly increase the capture efficiency of a StQDs based imaging sensor.

Scintillating Quantum Dots for Imaging X-rays (SQDIX) for Aircraft Inspection

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Burke, Eric (Principal Investigator); Williams, Phillip (Principal Investigator); Dehaven, Stan

2015-01-01

Scintillation is the process currently employed by conventional x-ray detectors to create x-ray images. Scintillating quantum dots or nano-crystals (StQDs) are a novel, nanometer-scale material that upon excitation by x-rays, re-emit the absorbed energy as visible light. StQDs theoretically have higher output efficiency than conventional scintillating materials and are more environmental friendly. This paper will present the characterization of several critical elements in the use of StQDs that have been performed along a path to the use of this technology in wide spread x-ray imaging. Initial work on the SQDIX system has shown great promise to create state-of-the-art sensors using StQDs as a sensor material. In addition, this work also demonstrates a high degree of promise using StQDs in microstructured fiber optics. Using the microstructured fiber as a light guide could greatly increase the capture efficiency a StQDs based imaging sensor.

Induction heating to trigger the nickel surface modification by in situ generated 4-carboxybenzene diazonium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Arrotin, Bastien; Jacques, Amory; Devillers, Sébastien; Delhalle, Joseph; Mekhalif, Zineb

2016-05-01

Nickel is commonly used in numerous applications and is one of the few materials that present strong ferromagnetic properties. These make it a suitable material for induction heating which can be used to activate the grafting of organic species such as diazonium salts onto the material. Diazonium compounds are often used for the modification of metals and alloys thanks to their easy chemical reduction onto the substrates and the possibility to apply a one-step in situ generation process of the diazonium species. This work focuses on the grafting of 4-aminocarboxybenzene on nickel substrates in the context of a spontaneous grafting conducted either at room temperature or by thermal assistance through conventional heating and induction heating. These modifications are also carried out with the goal of maintaining the oxides layer as much as possible unaffected. The benefits of using induction heating with respect to conventional heating are an increase of the grafting rate, a better control of the reaction and a slighter impact on the oxides layer.

An Assessment of Nondestructive Evaluation Capability for Complex Additive Manufacturing Aerospace Components

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Walker, James; Beshears, Ron; Lambert, Dennis; Tilson, William

2016-01-01

The primary focus of this work is to investigate some of the fundamental relationships between processing, mechanical testing, materials characterization, and NDE for additively manufactured (AM) components using the powder bed fusion direct melt laser sintered process. The goal is to understand the criticality of defects unique to the AM process and then how conventional nondestructive evaluation methods as well as some of the more non-traditional methods such as computed tomography, are effected by the AM material. Specific defects including cracking, porosity and partially/unfused powder will be addressed. Besides line-of-site NDE, as appropriate these inspection capabilities will be put into the context of complex AM geometries where hidden features obscure, or inhibit traditional NDE methods.

CO2 Capture Using Electric Fields: Low-Cost Electrochromic Film on Plastic for Net-Zero Energy Building

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

None

2010-01-01

Broad Funding Opportunity Announcement Project: Two faculty members at Lehigh University created a new technique called supercapacitive swing adsorption (SSA) that uses electrical charges to encourage materials to capture and release CO2. Current CO2 capture methods include expensive processes that involve changes in temperature or pressure. Lehigh University’s approach uses electric fields to improve the ability of inexpensive carbon sorbents to trap CO2. Because this process uses electric fields and not electric current, the overall energy consumption is projected to be much lower than conventional methods. Lehigh University is now optimizing the materials to maximize CO2 capture and minimize themore » energy needed for the process.« less

Magnetorheological finishing for removing surface and subsurface defects of fused silica optics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Catrin, Rodolphe; Neauport, Jerome; Taroux, Daniel; Cormont, Philippe; Maunier, Cedric; Lambert, Sebastien

2014-09-01

We investigate the capacity of magnetorheological finishing (MRF) process to remove surface and subsurface defects of fused silica optics. Polished samples with engineered surface and subsurface defects were manufactured and characterized. Uniform material removals were performed with a QED Q22-XE machine using different MRF process parameters in order to remove these defects. We provide evidence that whatever the MRF process parameters are, MRF is able to remove surface and subsurface defects. Moreover, we show that MRF induces a pollution of the glass interface similar to conventional polishing processes.

Development of the weld-braze joining process

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bales, T. T.; Royster, D. M.; Arnold, W. E., Jr.

1973-01-01

A joining process, designated weld-brazing, was developed which combines resistance spot welding and brazing. Resistance spot welding is used to position and aline the parts, as well as to establish a suitable faying-surface gap for brazing. Fabrication is then completed at elevated temperature by capillary flow of the braze alloy into the joint. The process was used successfully to fabricate Ti-6Al-4V alloy joints by using 3003 aluminum braze alloy and should be applicable to other metal-braze systems. Test results obtained on single-overlap and hat-stiffened panel specimens show that weld-brazed joints were superior in tensile shear, stress rupture, fatigue, and buckling compared with joints fabricated by conventional means. Another attractive feature of the process is that the brazed joint is hermetically sealed by the braze material, which may eliminate many of the sealing problems encountered with riveted or spot welded structures. The relative ease of fabrication associated with the weld-brazing process may make it cost effective over conventional joining techniques.

Laser-assisted metal spinning for an efficient and flexible processing of challenging materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brummer, C.; Eck, S.; Marsoner, S.; Arntz, K.; Klocke, F.

2016-03-01

The demand for components made from high performance materials like titanium or nickel-based alloys as well as strain-hardening stainless steel is steadily increasing. However, conventional forming operations conducted on these materials are generally very laborious and time-consuming. This is where the limitations of metal spinning also become apparent. Using a laser to apply heat localized to the forming zone during metal spinning facilitates to enhance the formability of a material. In order to analyse the potential of the new manufacturing process, experimental investigations on laser-assisted shear forming and multi-pass metal spinning have been performed with austenitic stainless steel X5CrNi18-10, nickel-based alloy Inconel 718 and titanium grade 2. It could be demonstrated that the formability of these materials can be enhanced by laser-assistance. Besides the resulting enhancement of forming limits for metal spinning of challenging materials, the forming forces were reduced and the product quality was improved significantly.

Martial recycling from renewable landfill and associated risks: A review.

PubMed

Ziyang, Lou; Luochun, Wang; Nanwen, Zhu; Youcai, Zhao

2015-07-01

Landfill is the dominant disposal choice for the non-classified waste, which results in the stockpile of materials after a long term stabilization process. A novel landfill, namely renewable landfill (RL), is developed and applied as a strategy to recycle the residual materials and reuse the land occupation, aim to reduce the inherent problems of large land occupied, materials wasted and long-term pollutants released in the conventional landfill. The principle means of RL is to accelerate the waste biodegradation process in the initial period, recover the various material resources disposal and extend the landfill volume for waste re-landfilling after waste stabilized. The residual material available and risk assessment, the methodology of landfill excavation, the potential utilization routes for different materials, and the reclamation options for the unsanitary landfill are proposed, and the integrated beneficial impacts are identified finally from the economic, social and environmental perspectives. RL could be draw as the future reservoirs for resource extraction. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Converting oil shale to liquid fuels: energy inputs and greenhouse gas emissions of the Shell in situ conversion process.

PubMed

Brandt, Adam R

2008-10-01

Oil shale is a sedimentary rock that contains kerogen, a fossil organic material. Kerogen can be heated to produce oil and gas (retorted). This has traditionally been a CO2-intensive process. In this paper, the Shell in situ conversion process (ICP), which is a novel method of retorting oil shale in place, is analyzed. The ICP utilizes electricity to heat the underground shale over a period of 2 years. Hydrocarbons are produced using conventional oil production techniques, leaving shale oil coke within the formation. The energy inputs and outputs from the ICP, as applied to oil shales of the Green River formation, are modeled. Using these energy inputs, the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the ICP are calculated and are compared to emissions from conventional petroleum. Energy outputs (as refined liquid fuel) are 1.2-1.6 times greater than the total primary energy inputs to the process. In the absence of capturing CO2 generated from electricity produced to fuel the process, well-to-pump GHG emissions are in the range of 30.6-37.1 grams of carbon equivalent per megajoule of liquid fuel produced. These full-fuel-cycle emissions are 21%-47% larger than those from conventionally produced petroleum-based fuels.

Comparison of wear between occlusal splint materials and resin composite materials.

PubMed

Reyes-Sevilla, M; Kuijs, R H; Werner, A; Kleverlaan, C J; Lobbezoo, F

2018-07-01

Tooth wear in bruxing patients often results in a need for treatment with composite restorations. In some cases, bruxing patients receive an occlusal splint as a protective means as well. However, the wear between these opposing materials has not been investigated yet. The aim of this in vitro study was to assess the wear of different splint materials against resin composite materials. A two-body wear test was conducted using the ACTA wear machine. The materials selected for this study were three composites used for direct restorations (Filtek Z250, CLEARFIL AP-X, and Filtek Supreme XT) and four occlusal splints materials, viz. a polyamide resin (ThermoSens) an conventional (hand-processed), milled and printed polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA). As antagonistic materials, stainless steel, Filtek Supreme XT and CLEARFIL AP-X were used. The wear rate of the seven materials was determined after 200 000 cycles, using a profilometry. The rates were analysed using two-way ANOVA and post hoc Tukey's tests. The wear rates were significantly higher for the conventional and milled PMMA materials than for all other materials (P < .001). The wear rates of printed PMMA and the polyamide resin were comparable to composite wear rates. The antagonist materials have minor or no influence on the amount of wear of the various splint materials (P < .001). In conclusion, different splint materials yielded different wear rates for all antagonist materials tested. Keeping in mind that this study is an experimental in vitro study, this finding enables practitioners to choose the splint material necessary according to their patients' needs. © 2018 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Fatigue Strength Prediction for Titanium Alloy TiAl6V4 Manufactured by Selective Laser Melting

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Leuders, Stefan; Vollmer, Malte; Brenne, Florian; Tröster, Thomas; Niendorf, Thomas

2015-09-01

Selective laser melting (SLM), as a metalworking additive manufacturing technique, received considerable attention from industry and academia due to unprecedented design freedom and overall balanced material properties. However, the fatigue behavior of SLM-processed materials often suffers from local imperfections such as micron-sized pores. In order to enable robust designs of SLM components used in an industrial environment, further research regarding process-induced porosity and its impact on the fatigue behavior is required. Hence, this study aims at a transfer of fatigue prediction models, established for conventional process-routes, to the field of SLM materials. By using high-resolution computed tomography, load increase tests, and electron microscopy, it is shown that pore-based fatigue strength predictions for a titanium alloy TiAl6V4 have become feasible. However, the obtained accuracies are subjected to scatter, which is probably caused by the high defect density even present in SLM materials manufactured following optimized processing routes. Based on thorough examination of crack surfaces and crack initiation sites, respectively, implications for optimization of prediction accuracy of the models in focus are deduced.

Temperature and strain registration by fibre-optic strain sensor in the polymer composite materials manufacturing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Matveenko, V. P.; Kosheleva, N. A.; Shardakov, I. N.; Voronkov, A. A.

2018-04-01

The presence of process-induced strains induced by various manufacturing and operational factors is one of the characteristics of polymer composite materials (PCM). Conventional methods of registration and evaluation of process-induced strains can be laborious, time-consuming and demanding in terms of technical applications. The employment of embedded fibre-optic strain sensors (FOSS) offers a real prospect of measuring residual strains. This paper demonstrates the potential for using embedded FOSS for recording technological strains in a PCM plate. The PCM plate is manufactured from prepreg, using the direct compression-moulding method. In this method, the prepared reinforcing package is placed inside a mould, heated, and then exposed to compaction pressure. The examined technology can be used for positioning FOSS between the layers of the composite material. Fibre-optic sensors, interacting with the material of the examined object, make it possible to register the evolution of the strain process during all stages of polymer-composite formation. FOSS data were recorded with interrogator ASTRO X 327. The obtained data were processed using specially developed algorithms.

Susceptibility of green and conventional building materials to microbial growth.

PubMed

Mensah-Attipoe, J; Reponen, T; Salmela, A; Veijalainen, A-M; Pasanen, P

2015-06-01

Green building materials are becoming more popular. However, little is known about their ability to support or limit microbial growth. The growth of fungi was evaluated on five building materials. Two green, two conventional building materials and wood as a positive control were selected. The materials were inoculated with Aspergillus versicolor, Cladosporium cladosporioides and Penicillium brevicompactum, in the absence and presence of house dust. Microbial growth was assessed at four different time points by cultivation and determining fungal biomass using the N-acetylhexosaminidase (NAHA) enzyme assay. No clear differences were seen between green and conventional building materials in their susceptibility to support microbial growth. The presence of dust, an external source of nutrients, promoted growth of all the fungal species similarly on green and conventional materials. The results also showed a correlation coefficient ranging from 0.81 to 0.88 between NAHA activity and culturable counts. The results suggest that the growth of microbes on a material surface depends on the availability of organic matter rather than the classification of the material as green or conventional. NAHA activity and culturability correlated well indicating that the two methods used in the experiments gave similar trends for the growth of fungi on material surfaces. © 2014 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Optimizing friction stir weld parameters of aluminum and copper using conventional milling machine

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Manisegaran, Lohappriya V.; Ahmad, Nurainaa Ayuni; Nazri, Nurnadhirah; Noor, Amirul Syafiq Mohd; Ramachandran, Vignesh; Ismail, Muhammad Tarmizizulfika; Ahmad, Ku Zarina Ku; Daruis, Dian Darina Indah

2018-05-01

The joining of two of any particular materials through friction stir welding (FSW) are done by a rotating tool and the work piece material that generates heat which causes the region near the FSW tool to soften. This in return will mechanically intermix the work pieces. The first objective of this study is to join aluminum plates and copper plates by means of friction stir welding process using self-fabricated tools and conventional milling machine. This study also aims to investigate the optimum process parameters to produce the optimum mechanical properties of the welding joints for Aluminum plates and Copper plates. A suitable tool bit and a fixture is to be fabricated for the welding process. A conventional milling machine will be used to weld the aluminum and copper. The most important parameters to enable the process are speed and pressure of the tool (or tool design and alignment of the tool onto the work piece). The study showed that the best surface finish was produced from speed of 1150 rpm and tool bit tilted to 3°. For a 200mm × 100mm Aluminum 6061 with plate thickness of 2 mm at a speed of 1 mm/s, the time taken to complete the welding is only 200 seconds or equivalent to 3 minutes and 20 seconds. The Copper plates was successfully welded using FSW with tool rotation speed of 500 rpm, 700 rpm, 900 rpm, 1150 rpm and 1440 rpm and with welding traverse rate of 30 mm/min, 60 mm/min and 90 mm/min. As the conclusion, FSW using milling machine can be done on both Aluminum and Copper plates, however the weld parameters are different for the two types of plates.

Dimensional Changes of Acrylic Resin Denture Bases: Conventional Versus Injection-Molding Technique

PubMed Central

Gharechahi, Jafar; Asadzadeh, Nafiseh; Shahabian, Foad; Gharechahi, Maryam

2014-01-01

Objective: Acrylic resin denture bases undergo dimensional changes during polymerization. Injection molding techniques are reported to reduce these changes and thereby improve physical properties of denture bases. The aim of this study was to compare dimensional changes of specimens processed by conventional and injection-molding techniques. Materials and Methods: SR-Ivocap Triplex Hot resin was used for conventional pressure-packed and SR-Ivocap High Impact was used for injection-molding techniques. After processing, all the specimens were stored in distilled water at room temperature until measured. For dimensional accuracy evaluation, measurements were recorded at 24-hour, 48-hour and 12-day intervals using a digital caliper with an accuracy of 0.01 mm. Statistical analysis was carried out by SPSS (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) using t-test and repeated-measures ANOVA. Statistical significance was defined at P<0.05. Results: After each water storage period, the acrylic specimens produced by injection exhibited less dimensional changes compared to those produced by the conventional technique. Curing shrinkage was compensated by water sorption with an increase in water storage time decreasing dimensional changes. Conclusion: Within the limitations of this study, dimensional changes of acrylic resin specimens were influenced by the molding technique used and SR-Ivocap injection procedure exhibited higher dimensional accuracy compared to conventional molding. PMID:25584050

Structural CNT Composites. Part I; Developing a Carbon Nanotube Filament Winder

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sauti, Godfrey; Kim, Jae-Woo; Wincheski, Russell A.; Antczak, Andrew; Campero, Jamie C.; Luong, Hoa H.; Shanahan, Michelle H.; Stelter, Christopher J.; Siochi, Emilie J.

2015-01-01

Carbon nanotube (CNT) based materials promise advances in the production of high strength and multifunctional components for aerospace and other applications. Specifically, in tension dominated applications, the latest CNT based filaments are yielding composite properties comparable to or exceeding composites from more established fibers such as Kevlar and carbon fiber. However, for the properties of these materials to be fully realized at the component level, suitable manufacturing processes have to be developed. These materials handle differently from conventional fibers, with different wetting characteristics and behavior under load. The limited availability of bulk forms also requires that the equipment be scaled down accordingly to tailor the process development approach to material availability. Here, the development of hardware and software for filament winding of carbon nanotube based tapes and yarns is described. This hardware features precision guidance of the CNT material and control of the winding tension over a wide range in an open architecture that allows for effective process control and troubleshooting during winding. Use of the filament winder to develop CNT based Composite Overwrapped Pressure Vessels (COPVs) shall also be discussed.

Process of super-black shading material applied to the star sensor based on Ni-P alloys

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Fengdeng; Xing, Fei; Wu, Yuelong; You, Zheng

2014-12-01

Super-black materials based on Nanotechnology have very important applications in many science fields. Super-black materials which have been reported currently, although have excellent light-trapping properties, most of them need the use of sophisticated equipment , the long-time synthesis , high temperature environment and release flammable, explosive and other dangerous gases. So many kinds of problems have hindered the application of such super-black material in practice. This project had nano super-black material developed with simple equipment and process, instead of complicated and dangerous process steps in high temperature and high pressure. On the basis of literature research, we successfully worked out a set of large-area Ni-P alloy plating method through a series of experiments exploring and analyze the experimental results. In the condition of the above Ni-P alloy, we took the solution, which anodized the Ni-P alloy immersed in the non-oxidizing acid, instead of conventional blackening process. It`s a big break for changing the situation in which oxidation, corrosion, vigorous evolution of hydrogen gas in the process are performed at the same location. As a result, not only the reaction process decreased sensitivity to time error, but also the position of the bubble layer no longer located in the surface of the workpiece which may impede observing the process of reaction. Consequently, the solution improved the controllability of the blackening process. In addition, we conducted the research of nano super-black material, exploring nano-super-black material in terms of space optical sensor.

Synthesis of nanostructured materials in inverse miniemulsions and their applications.

PubMed

Cao, Zhihai; Ziener, Ulrich

2013-11-07

Polymeric nanogels, inorganic nanoparticles, and organic-inorganic hybrid nanoparticles can be prepared via the inverse miniemulsion technique. Hydrophilic functional cargos, such as proteins, DNA, and macromolecular fluoresceins, may be conveniently encapsulated in these nanostructured materials. In this review, the progress of inverse miniemulsions since 2000 is summarized on the basis of the types of reactions carried out in inverse miniemulsions, including conventional free radical polymerization, controlled/living radical polymerization, polycondensation, polyaddition, anionic polymerization, catalytic oxidation reaction, sol-gel process, and precipitation reaction of inorganic precursors. In addition, the applications of the nanostructured materials synthesized in inverse miniemulsions are also reviewed.

Impedance spectroscopy and electric modulus behavior of Molybdenum doped Cobalt-Zinc ferrite

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pradhan, A. K.; Nath, T. K.; Saha, S.

2017-07-01

The complex impedance spectroscopy and the electric modulus of Mo doped Cobalt-Zinc inverse spinel ferrite has been investigated in detail. The conventional ceramic technique has been used to prepare the CZMO. The HRXRD technique has been used to study the structural analysis which confirms the inverse spinel structure of the material and also suggest the material have Fd3m space group. The complex impedance spectroscopic data and the electric modulus formalism have been used to understand the dielectric relaxation and conduction process. The contribution of grain and grain boundary in the electrical conduction process of CZMO has been confirmed from the Cole-Cole plot. The activation energy is calculated from both the IS (Impedance Spectroscopy) and electric modulus formalism and found to be nearly same for the materials.

Application of computational methods to the design and characterisation of porous molecular materials.

PubMed

Evans, Jack D; Jelfs, Kim E; Day, Graeme M; Doonan, Christian J

2017-06-06

Composed from discrete units, porous molecular materials (PMMs) possess unique properties not observed for conventional, extended, solids, such as solution processibility and permanent porosity in the liquid phase. However, identifying the origin of porosity is not a trivial process, especially for amorphous or liquid phases. Furthermore, the assembly of molecular components is typically governed by a subtle balance of weak intermolecular forces that makes structure prediction challenging. Accordingly, in this review we canvass the crucial role of molecular simulations in the characterisation and design of PMMs. We will outline strategies for modelling porosity in crystalline, amorphous and liquid phases and also describe the state-of-the-art methods used for high-throughput screening of large datasets to identify materials that exhibit novel performance characteristics.

Soil recycling paves the way for treating brownfields

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Gladdys, R.

A soil recycling and stabilization process allows once-contaminated soil to be incorporated into paving materials. Contaminated soils is more widespread than often realized, with one of the more common sources being petroleum products such as fuel oil and gasoline. Until recently, the conventional solution was to have the material excavated, separated from remining soil and trucked to a hazardous waste landfill. This article describes an alternative approach under the following topics: move the solution, not the problem; on site recycling; heavy metals stabilization; economics.

Toxic-Waste Disposal by Combustion in Containers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Houseman, J.; Stephens, J. B.; Moynihan, P. I.; Compton, L. E.; Kalvinskas, J. J.

1986-01-01

Chemical wastes burned with minimal handling in storage containers. Technique for disposing of chemical munitions by burning them inside shells applies to disposal of toxic materials stored in drums. Fast, economical procedure overcomes heat-transfer limitations of conventional furnace designs by providing direct contact of oxygenrich combustion gases with toxic agent. No need to handle waste material, and container also decontaminated in process. Oxygen-rich torch flame cuts burster well and causes vaporization and combustion of toxic agent contained in shell.

Integral bypass diodes in an amorphous silicon alloy photovoltaic module

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hanak, J. J.; Flaisher, H.

1991-01-01

Thin-film, tandem-junction, amorphous silicon (a-Si) photovoltaic modules were constructed in which a part of the a-Si alloy cell material is used to form bypass protection diodes. This integral design circumvents the need for incorporating external, conventional diodes, thus simplifying the manufacturing process and reducing module weight.

Solar cell efficiency and high temperature processing of n-type silicon grown by the noncontact crucible method

DOE PAGES

Jensen, Mallory A.; LaSalvia, Vincenzo; Morishige, Ashley E.; ...

2016-08-01

The capital expense (capex) of conventional crystal growth methods is a barrier to sustainable growth of the photovoltaic industry. It is challenging for innovative techniques to displace conventional growth methods due the low dislocation density and high lifetime required for high efficiency devices. One promising innovation in crystal growth is the noncontact crucible method (NOC-Si), which combines aspects of Czochralski (Cz) and conventional casting. This material has the potential to satisfy the dual requirements, with capex likely between that of Cz (high capex) and multicrystalline silicon (mc-Si, low capex). In this contribution, we observe a strong dependence of solar cellmore » efficiency on ingot height, correlated with the evolution of swirl-like defects, for single crystalline n-type silicon grown by the NOC-Si method. We posit that these defects are similar to those observed in Cz, and we explore the response of NOC-Si to high temperature treatments including phosphorous diffusion gettering (PDG) and Tabula Rasa (TR). The highest lifetimes (2033 us for the top of the ingot and 342 us for the bottom of the ingot) are achieved for TR followed by a PDG process comprising a standard plateau and a low temperature anneal. Further improvements can be gained by tailoring the time-temperature profiles of each process. Lifetime analysis after the PDG process indicates the presence of a getterable impurity in the as-grown material, while analysis after TR points to the presence of oxide precipitates especially at the bottom of the ingot. Uniform lifetime degradation is observed after TR which we assign to a presently unknown defect. Lastly, future work includes additional TR processing to uncover the nature of this defect, microstructural characterization of suspected oxide precipitates, and optimization of the TR process to achieve the dual goals of high lifetime and spatial homogenization.« less

Superplasticity in a lean Fe-Mn-Al steel.

PubMed

Han, Jeongho; Kang, Seok-Hyeon; Lee, Seung-Joon; Kawasaki, Megumi; Lee, Han-Joo; Ponge, Dirk; Raabe, Dierk; Lee, Young-Kook

2017-09-29

Superplastic alloys exhibit extremely high ductility (>300%) without cracks when tensile-strained at temperatures above half of their melting point. Superplasticity, which resembles the flow behavior of honey, is caused by grain boundary sliding in metals. Although several non-ferrous and ferrous superplastic alloys are reported, their practical applications are limited due to high material cost, low strength after forming, high deformation temperature, and complicated fabrication process. Here we introduce a new compositionally lean (Fe-6.6Mn-2.3Al, wt.%) superplastic medium Mn steel that resolves these limitations. The medium Mn steel is characterized by ultrafine grains, low material costs, simple fabrication, i.e., conventional hot and cold rolling, low deformation temperature (ca. 650 °C) and superior ductility above 1300% at 850 °C. We suggest that this ultrafine-grained medium Mn steel may accelerate the commercialization of superplastic ferrous alloys.Research in new alloy compositions and treatments may allow the increased strength of mass-produced, intricately shaped parts. Here authors introduce a superplastic medium manganese steel which has an inexpensive lean chemical composition and which is suited for conventional manufacturing processes.

High-speed imaging on static tensile test for unidirectional CFRP

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kusano, Hideaki; Aoki, Yuichiro; Hirano, Yoshiyasu; Kondo, Yasushi; Nagao, Yosuke

2008-11-01

The objective of this study is to clarify the fracture mechanism of unidirectional CFRP (Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastics) under static tensile loading. The advantages of CFRP are higher specific stiffness and strength than the metal material. The use of CFRP is increasing in not only the aerospace and rapid transit railway industries but also the sports, leisure and automotive industries. The tensile fracture mechanism of unidirectional CFRP has not been experimentally made clear because the fracture speed of unidirectional CFRP is quite high. We selected the intermediate modulus and high strength unidirectional CFRP laminate which is a typical material used in the aerospace field. The fracture process under static tensile loading was captured by a conventional high-speed camera and a new type High-Speed Video Camera HPV-1. It was found that the duration of fracture is 200 microseconds or less, then images taken by a conventional camera doesn't have enough temporal-resolution. On the other hand, results obtained by HPV-1 have higher quality where the fracture process can be clearly observed.

Machining and characterization of self-reinforced polymers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Deepa, A.; Padmanabhan, K.; Kuppan, P.

2017-11-01

This Paper focuses on obtaining the mechanical properties and the effect of the different machining techniques on self-reinforced composites sample and to derive the best machining method with remarkable properties. Each sample was tested by the Tensile and Flexural tests, fabricated using hot compaction test and those loads were calculated. These composites are machined using conventional methods because of lack of advanced machinery in most of the industries. The advanced non-conventional methods like Abrasive water jet machining were used. These machining techniques are used to get the better output for the composite materials with good mechanical properties compared to conventional methods. But the use of non-conventional methods causes the changes in the work piece, tool properties and more economical compared to the conventional methods. Finding out the best method ideal for the designing of these Self Reinforced Composites with and without defects and the use of Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) analysis for the comparing the microstructure of the PP and PE samples concludes our process.

Direct imprinting of indium-tin-oxide precursor gel and simultaneous formation of channel and source/drain in thin-film transistor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Haga, Ken-ichi; Kamiya, Yuusuke; Tokumitsu, Eisuke

2018-02-01

We report on a new fabrication process for thin-film transistors (TFTs) with a new structure and a new operation principle. In this process, both the channel and electrode (source/drain) are formed simultaneously, using the same oxide material, using a single nano-rheology printing (n-RP) process, without any conventional lithography process. N-RP is a direct thermal imprint technique and deforms oxide precursor gel. To reduce the source/drain resistance, the material common to the channel and electrode is conductive indium-tin-oxide (ITO). The gate insulator is made of a ferroelectric material, whose high charge density can deplete the channel of the thin ITO film, which realizes the proposed operation principle. First, we have examined the n-RP conditions required for the channel and source/drain patterning, and found that the patterning properties are strongly affected by the cooling rate before separating the mold. Second, we have fabricated the TFTs as proposed and confirmed their TFT operation.

Synthesis of biomass derived carbon materials for environmental engineering and energy storage applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huggins, Mitchell Tyler

Biomass derived carbon (BC) can serve as an environmentally and cost effective material for both remediation and energy production/storage applications. The use of locally derived biomass, such as unrefined wood waste, provides a renewable feedstock for carbon material production compared to conventional unrenewable resources like coal. Additionally, energy and capital cost can be reduced through the reduction in transport and processing steps and the use of spent material as a soil amendment. However, little work has been done to evaluate and compare biochar to conventional materials such as granular activated carbon or graphite in advanced applications of Environmental Engineering. In this work I evaluated the synthesis and compared the performance of biochar for different applications in wastewater treatment, nutrient recovery, and energy production and storage. This includes the use of biochar as an electrode and filter media in several bioelectrochemical systems (BES) treating synthetic and industrial wastewater. I also compared the treatment efficiency of granular biochar as a packed bed adsorbent for the primary treatment of high strength brewery wastewater. My studies conclude with the cultivation of fungal biomass to serve as a template for biochar synthesis, controlling the chemical and physical features of the feedstock and avoiding some of the limitations of waste derived materials.

Development of active, nanoparticle, antimicrobial technologies for muscle-based packaging applications.

PubMed

Morris, Michael A; Padmanabhan, Sibu C; Cruz-Romero, Malco C; Cummins, Enda; Kerry, Joseph P

2017-10-01

Fresh and processed muscle-based foods are highly perishable food products and packaging plays a crucial role in providing containment so that the full effect of preservation can be achieved through the provision of shelf-life extension. Conventional packaging materials and systems have served the industry well, however, greater demands are being placed upon industrial packaging formats owing to the movement of muscle-based products to increasingly distant markets, as well as increased customer demands for longer product shelf-life and storage capability. Consequently, conventional packaging materials and systems will have to evolve to meet these challenges. This review presents some of the new strategies that have been developed by employing novel nanotechnological concepts which have demonstrated some promise in significantly extending the shelf-life of muscle-based foods by providing commercially-applicable, antimicrobially-active, smart packaging solutions. The primary focus of this paper is applied to subject aspects, such as; material chemistries employed, forming methods utilised, interactions of the packaging functionalities including nanomaterials employed with polymer substrates and how such materials ultimately affect microbes. In order that such materials become industrially feasible, it is important that safe, stable and commercially-viable packaging materials are shown to be producible and effective in order to gain public acceptance, legislative approval and industrial adoption. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Material processing with fiber based ultrafast pulse delivery

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Baumbach, S.; Stockburger, R.; Führa, B.; Zoller, S.; Thum, S.; Moosmann, J.; Maier, D.; Kanal, F.; Russ, S.; Kaiser, E.; Budnicki, A.; Sutter, D. H.; Pricking, S.; Killi, A.

2018-02-01

We report on TRUMPF's ultrafast laser systems equipped with industrialized hollow core fiber laser light cables. Beam guidance in general by means of optical fibers, e.g. for multi kilowatt cw laser systems, has become an integral part of laser-based material processing. One advantage of fiber delivery, among others, is the mechanical separation between laser and processing head. An equally important benefit is given by the fact that the fiber end acts as an opto-mechanical fix-point close to successive optical elements in the processing head. Components like lenses, diffractive optical elements etc. can thus be designed towards higher efficiency which results in better material processing. These aspects gain increasing significance when the laser system operates in fundamental mode which is usually the case for ultrafast lasers. Through the last years beam guidance of ultrafast laser pulses by means of hollow core fiber technology established very rapidly. The combination of TRUMPF's long-term stable ultrafast laser sources, passive fiber coupling, connector and packaging forms a flexible and powerful system for laser based material processing well suited for an industrial environment. In this article we demonstrate common material processing applications with ultrafast lasers realized with TRUMPF's hollow core fiber delivery. The experimental results are contrasted and evaluated against conventional free space propagation in order to illustrate the performance of flexible ultrafast beam delivery.

Initial evaluation and comparison of plasma damage to atomic layer carbon materials using conventional and low T{sub e} plasma sources

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Jagtiani, Ashish V.; Miyazoe, Hiroyuki; Chang, Josephine

2016-01-15

The ability to achieve atomic layer precision is the utmost goal in the implementation of atomic layer etch technology. Carbon-based materials such as carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and graphene are single atomic layers of carbon with unique properties and, as such, represent the ultimate candidates to study the ability to process with atomic layer precision and assess impact of plasma damage to atomic layer materials. In this work, the authors use these materials to evaluate the atomic layer processing capabilities of electron beam generated plasmas. First, the authors evaluate damage to semiconducting CNTs when exposed to beam-generated plasmas and compare thesemore » results against the results using typical plasma used in semiconductor processing. The authors find that the beam generated plasma resulted in significantly lower current degradation in comparison to typical plasmas. Next, the authors evaluated the use of electron beam generated plasmas to process graphene-based devices by functionalizing graphene with fluorine, nitrogen, or oxygen to facilitate atomic layer deposition (ALD). The authors found that all adsorbed species resulted in successful ALD with varying impact on the transconductance of the graphene. Furthermore, the authors compare the ability of both beam generated plasma as well as a conventional low ion energy inductively coupled plasma (ICP) to remove silicon nitride (SiN) deposited on top of the graphene films. Our results indicate that, while both systems can remove SiN, an increase in the D/G ratio from 0.08 for unprocessed graphene to 0.22 to 0.26 for the beam generated plasma, while the ICP yielded values from 0.52 to 1.78. Generally, while some plasma-induced damage was seen for both plasma sources, a much wider process window as well as far less damage to CNTs and graphene was observed when using electron beam generated plasmas.« less

Smart material screening machines using smart materials and controls

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Allaei, Daryoush; Corradi, Gary; Waigand, Al

2002-07-01

The objective of this product is to address the specific need for improvements in the efficiency and effectiveness in physical separation technologies in the screening areas. Currently, the mining industry uses approximately 33 billion kW-hr per year, costing 1.65 billion dollars at 0.05 cents per kW-hr, of electrical energy for physical separations. Even though screening and size separations are not the single most energy intensive process in the mining industry, they are often the major bottleneck in the whole process. Improvements to this area offer tremendous potential in both energy savings and production improvements. Additionally, the vibrating screens used in the mining processing plants are the most costly areas from maintenance and worker health and safety point of views. The goal of this product is to reduce energy use in the screening and total processing areas. This goal is accomplished by developing an innovative screening machine based on smart materials and smart actuators, namely smart screen that uses advanced sensory system to continuously monitor the screening process and make appropriate adjustments to improve production. The theory behind the development of Smart Screen technology is based on two key technologies, namely smart actuators and smart Energy Flow ControlT (EFCT) strategies, developed initially for military applications. Smart Screen technology controls the flow of vibration energy and confines it to the screen rather than shaking much of the mass that makes up the conventional vibratory screening machine. Consequently, Smart Screens eliminates and downsizes many of the structural components associated with conventional vibratory screening machines. As a result, the surface area of the screen increases for a given envelope. This increase in usable screening surface area extends the life of the screens, reduces required maintenance by reducing the frequency of screen change-outs and improves throughput or productivity.

Waste gasification vs. conventional Waste-to-Energy: a comparative evaluation of two commercial technologies.

PubMed

Consonni, Stefano; Viganò, Federico

2012-04-01

A number of waste gasification technologies are currently proposed as an alternative to conventional Waste-to-Energy (WtE) plants. Assessing their potential is made difficult by the scarce operating experience and the fragmentary data available. After defining a conceptual framework to classify and assess waste gasification technologies, this paper compares two of the proposed technologies with conventional WtE plants. Performances are evaluated by proprietary software developed at Politecnico di Milano and compared on the basis of a coherent set of assumptions. Since the two gasification technologies are configured as "two-step oxidation" processes, their energy performances are very similar to those of conventional plants. The potential benefits that may justify their adoption relate to material recovery and operation/emission control: recovery of metals in non-oxidized form; collection of ashes in inert, vitrified form; combustion control; lower generation of some pollutants. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Large strain dynamic compression for soft materials using a direct impact experiment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Meenken, T.; Hiermaier, S.

2006-08-01

Measurement of strain rate dependent material data of low density low strength materials like polymeric foams and rubbers still poses challenges of a different kind to the experimental set up. For instance, in conventional Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar tests the impedance mismatch between the bars and the specimen makes strain measurement almost impossible. Application of viscoelastic bars poses new problems with wave dispersion. Also, maximum achievable strains and strain rates depend directly on the bar lengths, resulting in large experimental set ups in order to measure relevant data for automobile crash applications. In this paper a modified SHPB will be presented for testing low impedance materials. High strains can be achieved with nearly constant strain rate. A thin film stress measurement has been applied to the specimen/bar interfaces to investigate the initial sample ring up process. The process of stress homogeneity within the sample was investigated on EPDM and PU rubber.

Edible packaging materials.

PubMed

Janjarasskul, Theeranun; Krochta, John M

2010-01-01

Research groups and the food and pharmaceutical industries recognize edible packaging as a useful alternative or addition to conventional packaging to reduce waste and to create novel applications for improving product stability, quality, safety, variety, and convenience for consumers. Recent studies have explored the ability of biopolymer-based food packaging materials to carry and control-release active compounds. As diverse edible packaging materials derived from various by-products or waste from food industry are being developed, the dry thermoplastic process is advancing rapidly as a feasible commercial edible packaging manufacturing process. The employment of nanocomposite concepts to edible packaging materials promises to improve barrier and mechanical properties and facilitate effective incorporation of bioactive ingredients and other designed functions. In addition to the need for a more fundamental understanding to enable design to desired specifications, edible packaging has to overcome challenges such as regulatory requirements, consumer acceptance, and scaling-up research concepts to commercial applications.

Multiphysics Modeling and Simulations of Mil A46100 Armor-Grade Martensitic Steel Gas Metal Arc Welding Process

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Grujicic, M.; Ramaswami, S.; Snipes, J. S.; Yen, C.-F.; Cheeseman, B. A.; Montgomery, J. S.

2013-10-01

A multiphysics computational model has been developed for the conventional Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) joining process and used to analyze butt-welding of MIL A46100, a prototypical high-hardness armor martensitic steel. The model consists of five distinct modules, each covering a specific aspect of the GMAW process, i.e., (a) dynamics of welding-gun behavior; (b) heat transfer from the electric arc and mass transfer from the electrode to the weld; (c) development of thermal and mechanical fields during the GMAW process; (d) the associated evolution and spatial distribution of the material microstructure throughout the weld region; and (e) the final spatial distribution of the as-welded material properties. To make the newly developed GMAW process model applicable to MIL A46100, the basic physical-metallurgy concepts and principles for this material have to be investigated and properly accounted for/modeled. The newly developed GMAW process model enables establishment of the relationship between the GMAW process parameters (e.g., open circuit voltage, welding current, electrode diameter, electrode-tip/weld distance, filler-metal feed speed, and gun travel speed), workpiece material chemistry, and the spatial distribution of as-welded material microstructure and properties. The predictions of the present GMAW model pertaining to the spatial distribution of the material microstructure and properties within the MIL A46100 weld region are found to be consistent with general expectations and prior observations.

Porous silicon technology for integrated microsystems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wallner, Jin Zheng

With the development of micro systems, there is an increasing demand for integrable porous materials. In addition to those conventional applications, such as filtration, wicking, and insulating, many new micro devices, including micro reactors, sensors, actuators, and optical components, can benefit from porous materials. Conventional porous materials, such as ceramics and polymers, however, cannot meet the challenges posed by micro systems, due to their incompatibility with standard micro-fabrication processes. In an effort to produce porous materials that can be used in micro systems, porous silicon (PS) generated by anodization of single crystalline silicon has been investigated. In this work, the PS formation process has been extensively studied and characterized as a function of substrate type, crystal orientation, doping concentration, current density and surfactant concentration and type. Anodization conditions have been optimized for producing very thick porous silicon layers with uniform pore size, and for obtaining ideal pore morphologies. Three different types of porous silicon materials: meso porous silicon, macro porous silicon with straight pores, and macro porous silicon with tortuous pores, have been successfully produced. Regular pore arrays with controllable pore size in the range of 2mum to 6mum have been demonstrated as well. Localized PS formation has been achieved by using oxide/nitride/polysilicon stack as masking materials, which can withstand anodization in hydrofluoric acid up to twenty hours. A special etching cell with electrolytic liquid backside contact along with two process flows has been developed to enable the fabrication of thick macro porous silicon membranes with though wafer pores. For device assembly, Si-Au and In-Au bonding technologies have been developed. Very low bonding temperature (˜200°C) and thick/soft bonding layers (˜6mum) have been achieved by In-Au bonding technology, which is able to compensate the potentially rough surface on the porous silicon sample without introducing significant thermal stress. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)

A case-study of landfill minimization and material recovery via waste co-gasification in a new waste management scheme.

PubMed

Tanigaki, Nobuhiro; Ishida, Yoshihiro; Osada, Morihiro

2015-03-01

This study evaluates municipal solid waste co-gasification technology and a new solid waste management scheme, which can minimize final landfill amounts and maximize material recycled from waste. This new scheme is considered for a region where bottom ash and incombustibles are landfilled or not allowed to be recycled due to their toxic heavy metal concentration. Waste is processed with incombustible residues and an incineration bottom ash discharged from existent conventional incinerators, using a gasification and melting technology (the Direct Melting System). The inert materials, contained in municipal solid waste, incombustibles and bottom ash, are recycled as slag and metal in this process as well as energy recovery. Based on this new waste management scheme with a co-gasification system, a case study of municipal solid waste co-gasification was evaluated and compared with other technical solutions, such as conventional incineration, incineration with an ash melting facility under certain boundary conditions. From a technical point of view, co-gasification produced high quality slag with few harmful heavy metals, which was recycled completely without requiring any further post-treatment such as aging. As a consequence, the co-gasification system had an economical advantage over other systems because of its material recovery and minimization of the final landfill amount. Sensitivity analyses of landfill cost, power price and inert materials in waste were also conducted. The higher the landfill costs, the greater the advantage of the co-gasification system has. The co-gasification was beneficial for landfill cost in the range of 80 Euro per ton or more. Higher power prices led to lower operation cost in each case. The inert contents in processed waste had a significant influence on the operating cost. These results indicate that co-gasification of bottom ash and incombustibles with municipal solid waste contributes to minimizing the final landfill amount and has great possibilities maximizing material recovery and energy recovery from waste. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Bates, Robert; McConnell, Elizabeth

Machining methods across many industries generally require multiple operations to machine and process advanced materials, features with micron precision, and complex shapes. The resulting multiple machining platforms can significantly affect manufacturing cycle time and the precision of the final parts, with a resultant increase in cost and energy consumption. Ultrafast lasers represent a transformative and disruptive technology that removes material with micron precision and in a single step manufacturing process. Such precision results from athermal ablation without modification or damage to the remaining material which is the key differentiator between ultrafast laser technologies and traditional laser technologies or mechanical processes.more » Athermal ablation without modification or damage to the material eliminates post-processing or multiple manufacturing steps. Combined with the appropriate technology to control the motion of the work piece, ultrafast lasers are excellent candidates to provide breakthrough machining capability for difficult-to-machine materials. At the project onset in early 2012, the project team recognized that substantial effort was necessary to improve the application of ultrafast laser and precise motion control technologies (for micromachining difficult-to-machine materials) to further the aggregate throughput and yield improvements over conventional machining methods. The project described in this report advanced these leading-edge technologies thru the development and verification of two platforms: a hybrid enhanced laser chassis and a multi-application testbed.« less

Part height control of laser metal additive manufacturing process

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pan, Yu-Herng

Laser Metal Deposition (LMD) has been used to not only make but also repair damaged parts in a layer-by-layer fashion. Parts made in this manner may produce less waste than those made through conventional machining processes. However, a common issue of LMD involves controlling the deposition's layer thickness. Accuracy is important, and as it increases, both the time required to produce the part and the material wasted during the material removal process (e.g., milling, lathe) decrease. The deposition rate is affected by multiple parameters, such as the powder feed rate, laser input power, axis feed rate, material type, and part design, the values of each of which may change during the LMD process. Using a mathematical model to build a generic equation that predicts the deposition's layer thickness is difficult due to these complex parameters. In this thesis, we propose a simple method that utilizes a single device. This device uses a pyrometer to monitor the current build height, thereby allowing the layer thickness to be controlled during the LMD process. This method also helps the LMD system to build parts even with complex parameters and to increase material efficiency.

Smelting Magnesium Metal using a Microwave Pidgeon Method

PubMed Central

Wada, Yuji; Fujii, Satoshi; Suzuki, Eiichi; Maitani, Masato M.; Tsubaki, Shuntaro; Chonan, Satoshi; Fukui, Miho; Inazu, Naomi

2017-01-01

Magnesium (Mg) is a lightweight metal with applications in transportation and sustainable battery technologies, but its current production through ore reduction using the conventional Pidgeon process emits large amounts of CO2 and particulate matter (PM2.5). In this work, a novel Pidgeon process driven by microwaves has been developed to produce Mg metal with less energy consumption and no direct CO2 emission. An antenna structure consisting of dolomite as the Mg source and a ferrosilicon antenna as the reducing material was used to confine microwave energy emitted from a magnetron installed in a microwave oven to produce a practical amount of pure Mg metal. This microwave Pidgeon process with an antenna configuration made it possible to produce Mg with an energy consumption of 58.6 GJ/t, corresponding to a 68.6% reduction when compared to the conventional method. PMID:28401910

A review of the promises and challenges of micro-concentrator photovoltaics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Domínguez, César; Jost, Norman; Askins, Steve; Victoria, Marta; Antón, Ignacio

2017-09-01

Micro concentrator photovoltaics (micro-CPV) is an unconventional approach for developing high-efficiency low-cost PV systems. The micrifying of cells and optics brings about an increase of efficiency with respect to classical CPV, at the expense of some fundamental challenges at mass production. The large costs linked to miniaturization under conventional serial-assembly processes raise the need for the development of parallel manufacturing technologies. In return, the tiny sizes involved allows exploring unconventional optical architectures or revisiting conventional concepts that were typically discarded because of large material consumption or high bulk absorption at classical CPV sizes.

A homogenized localizing gradient damage model with micro inertia effect

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Zhao; Poh, Leong Hien

2018-07-01

The conventional gradient enhancement regularizes structural responses during material failure. However, it induces a spurious damage growth phenomenon, which is shown here to persist in dynamics. Similar issues were reported with the integral averaging approach. Consequently, the conventional nonlocal enhancement cannot adequately describe the dynamic fracture of quasi-brittle materials, particularly in the high strain rate regime, where a diffused damage profile precludes the development of closely spaced macrocracks. To this end, a homogenization theory is proposed to translate the micro processes onto the macro scale. Starting with simple elementary models at the micro scale to describe the fracture mechanisms, an additional kinematic field is introduced to capture the variations in deformation and velocity within a unit cell. An energetic equivalence between micro and macro is next imposed to ensure consistency at the two scales. The ensuing homogenized microforce balance resembles closely the conventional gradient expression, albeit with an interaction domain that decreases with damage, complemented by a micro inertia effect. Considering a direct single pressure bar example, the homogenized model is shown to resolve the non-physical responses obtained with conventional nonlocal enhancement. The predictive capability of the homogenized model is furthermore demonstrated by considering the spall tests of concrete, with good predictions on failure characteristics such as fragmentation profiles and dynamic tensile strengths, at three different loading rates.

Machining of AISI D2 Tool Steel with Multiple Hole Electrodes by EDM Process

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Prasad Prathipati, R.; Devuri, Venkateswarlu; Cheepu, Muralimohan; Gudimetla, Kondaiah; Uzwal Kiran, R.

2018-03-01

In recent years, with the increasing of technology the demand for machining processes is increasing for the newly developed materials. The conventional machining processes are not adequate to meet the accuracy of the machining of these materials. The non-conventional machining processes of electrical discharge machining is one of the most efficient machining processes is being widely used to machining of high accuracy products of various industries. The optimum selection of process parameters is very important in machining processes as that of an electrical discharge machining as they determine surface quality and dimensional precision of the obtained parts, even though time consumption rate is higher for machining of large dimension features. In this work, D2 high carbon and chromium tool steel has been machined using electrical discharge machining with the multiple hole electrode technique. The D2 steel has several applications such as forming dies, extrusion dies and thread rolling. But the machining of this tool steel is very hard because of it shard alloyed elements of V, Cr and Mo which enhance its strength and wear properties. However, the machining is possible by using electrical discharge machining process and the present study implemented a new technique to reduce the machining time using a multiple hole copper electrode. In this technique, while machining with multiple holes electrode, fin like projections are obtained, which can be removed easily by chipping. Then the finishing is done by using solid electrode. The machining time is reduced to around 50% while using multiple hole electrode technique for electrical discharge machining.

Lasers in Materials Processing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kukreja, L. M.; Paul, C. P.; Kumar, Atul; Kaul, R.; Ganesh, P.; Rao, B. T.

Laser is undoubtedly one of the most important inventions of the twentieth century. Today, it is widely deployed for a cornucopia of applications including materials processing. Different lasers such as CO2, Nd:YAG, excimer, copper vapor, diode, fiber lasers, etc., are being used extensively for various materials processing applications like cutting, welding, brazing, surface treatment, peening, and rapid manufacturing by adopting conventional and unconventional routes with unprecedented precision. In view of its potential for providing solution to the emerging problems of the industrial materials processing and manufacturing technologies, a comprehensive program on laser materials processing and allied technologies was initiated at our laboratory. A novel feature-based design and additive manufacturing technologies facilitated the laser rapid manufacturing of complex engineering components with superior performance. This technology is being extended for the fabrication of anatomically shaped prosthetics with internal heterogeneous architectures. Laser peening of spring steels brought significant improvement in its fatigue life. Laser surface treatments resulted in enhanced intergranular corrosion resistance of AISI 316(N) and 304 stainless steel. Parametric dependence of laser welding of dissimilar materials, AISI 316M stainless steel with alloy D9, was established for avoiding cracks under optimum processing conditions. In the domain of laser cutting and piercing, the development of a power ramped pulsed mode with high pulse repetition frequency and low duty cycle scheme could produce highly circular, narrow holes with minimum spattered pierced holes. A review of these experimental and some theoretical studies is presented and discussed in this chapter. These studies have provided deeper insight of fascinating laser-based materials processing application for industrial manufacturing technologies.

Evidence of variable bacterial colonization on coloured elastomeric ligatures during orthodontic treatment: An intermodular comparative study.

PubMed

Sharma, Ravish; Sharma, Kavita; Sawhney, Rajesh

2018-03-01

Besides, other factors, the choice of materials used as orthodontic ligatures could be one of the many tools to counter the effects of microbial adhesion, that culminates into dental ailments. Therefore, we assessed bacterial adhesion on elastomeric ligatures with special reference to coloured elastomeric rings during orthodontic treatment. A split mouth study, involving 240 samples of different elastomeric ligatures from forty orthodontic patients possessing good oral hygiene was carried out. The archwire was ligated to the brackets on both arches with elastomeric rings (superslick, clear transparent , blue and pink) at predetermined quadrants. After six weeks, ligatures from second premolars were removed and processed for bacterial enumeration using standard techniques. Bacterial counts were also determined for stimulated saliva samples taken at 0 and 6 weeks. A statistically significant difference in bacterial counts was obtained amongst different elastomeric modules used. Maximum bacterial counts were found on conventional pigmented elastomeric modules, followed by Superslick module and clear module. More number of bacteria associated with the conventional pink as compared to the conventional blue pigmented modules, however it was not statistically significant. The three bacterial genera Streptococcus Staphylococcus and Aerobic Lactobacilli adhered to elastomeric modules in following predominant pattern i.e. Conventional pink>Conventional Blue>Superslick>Clear. The studies evidenced colour and material dependent bacterial colonization on orthodontic modules and could be an indicator of bacterial biofilm forming potential based on surface chemistries and a clinically efficacious tool to redesign conventional and modified elastomeric rings as orthodontic ligation accessories. Key words: Bacterial colonization, biofilm, coloured elastomers, orthodontic ligatures.

Plasma Spray-PVD: A New Thermal Spray Process to Deposit Out of the Vapor Phase

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

von Niessen, Konstantin; Gindrat, Malko

2011-06-01

Plasma spray-physical vapor deposition (PS-PVD) is a low pressure plasma spray technology recently developed by Sulzer Metco AG (Switzerland). Even though it is a thermal spray process, it can deposit coatings out of the vapor phase. The basis of PS-PVD is the low pressure plasma spraying (LPPS) technology that has been well established in industry for several years. In comparison to conventional vacuum plasma spraying (VPS) or low pressure plasma spraying (LPPS), the new proposed process uses a high energy plasma gun operated at a reduced work pressure of 0.1 kPa (1 mbar). Owing to the high energy plasma and further reduced work pressure, PS-PVD is able to deposit a coating not only by melting the feed stock material which builds up a layer from liquid splats but also by vaporizing the injected material. Therefore, the PS-PVD process fills the gap between the conventional physical vapor deposition (PVD) technologies and standard thermal spray processes. The possibility to vaporize feedstock material and to produce layers out of the vapor phase results in new and unique coating microstructures. The properties of such coatings are superior to those of thermal spray and electron beam-physical vapor deposition (EB-PVD) coatings. In contrast to EB-PVD, PS-PVD incorporates the vaporized coating material into a supersonic plasma plume. Owing to the forced gas stream of the plasma jet, complex shaped parts such as multi-airfoil turbine vanes can be coated with columnar thermal barrier coatings using PS-PVD. Even shadowed areas and areas which are not in the line of sight of the coating source can be coated homogeneously. This article reports on the progress made by Sulzer Metco in developing a thermal spray process to produce coatings out of the vapor phase. Columnar thermal barrier coatings made of Yttria-stabilized Zircona (YSZ) are optimized to serve in a turbine engine. This process includes not only preferable coating properties such as strain tolerance and erosion resistance but also the simultaneous coverage of multiple air foils.

A manufacturing database of advanced materials used in spacecraft structures

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bao, Han P.

1994-01-01

Cost savings opportunities over the life cycle of a product are highest in the early exploratory phase when different design alternatives are evaluated not only for their performance characteristics but also their methods of fabrication which really control the ultimate manufacturing costs of the product. In the past, Design-To-Cost methodologies for spacecraft design concentrated on the sizing and weight issues more than anything else at the early so-called 'Vehicle Level' (Ref: DOD/NASA Advanced Composites Design Guide). Given the impact of manufacturing cost, the objective of this study is to identify the principal cost drivers for each materials technology and propose a quantitative approach to incorporating these cost drivers into the family of optimization tools used by the Vehicle Analysis Branch of NASA LaRC to assess various conceptual vehicle designs. The advanced materials being considered include aluminum-lithium alloys, thermoplastic graphite-polyether etherketone composites, graphite-bismaleimide composites, graphite- polyimide composites, and carbon-carbon composites. Two conventional materials are added to the study to serve as baseline materials against which the other materials are compared. These two conventional materials are aircraft aluminum alloys series 2000 and series 7000, and graphite-epoxy composites T-300/934. The following information is available in the database. For each material type, the mechanical, physical, thermal, and environmental properties are first listed. Next the principal manufacturing processes are described. Whenever possible, guidelines for optimum processing conditions for specific applications are provided. Finally, six categories of cost drivers are discussed. They include, design features affecting processing, tooling, materials, fabrication, joining/assembly, and quality assurance issues. It should be emphasized that this database is not an exhaustive database. Its primary use is to make the vehicle designer aware of some of the most important aspects of manufacturing associated with his/her choice of the structural materials. The other objective of this study is to propose a quantitative method to determine a Manufacturing Complexity Factor (MCF) for each material being contemplated. This MCF is derived on the basis of the six cost drivers mentioned above plus a Technology Readiness Factor which is very closely related to the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) as defined in the Access To Space final report. Short of any manufacturing information, our MCF is equivalent to the inverse of TRL. As more manufacturing information is available, our MCF is a better representation (than TRL) of the fabrication processes involved. The most likely application for MCF is in cost modeling for trade studies. On-going work is being pursued to expand the potential applications of MCF.

A manufacturing database of advanced materials used in spacecraft structures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bao, Han P.

1994-12-01

Cost savings opportunities over the life cycle of a product are highest in the early exploratory phase when different design alternatives are evaluated not only for their performance characteristics but also their methods of fabrication which really control the ultimate manufacturing costs of the product. In the past, Design-To-Cost methodologies for spacecraft design concentrated on the sizing and weight issues more than anything else at the early so-called 'Vehicle Level' (Ref: DOD/NASA Advanced Composites Design Guide). Given the impact of manufacturing cost, the objective of this study is to identify the principal cost drivers for each materials technology and propose a quantitative approach to incorporating these cost drivers into the family of optimization tools used by the Vehicle Analysis Branch of NASA LaRC to assess various conceptual vehicle designs. The advanced materials being considered include aluminum-lithium alloys, thermoplastic graphite-polyether etherketone composites, graphite-bismaleimide composites, graphite- polyimide composites, and carbon-carbon composites. Two conventional materials are added to the study to serve as baseline materials against which the other materials are compared. These two conventional materials are aircraft aluminum alloys series 2000 and series 7000, and graphite-epoxy composites T-300/934. The following information is available in the database. For each material type, the mechanical, physical, thermal, and environmental properties are first listed. Next the principal manufacturing processes are described. Whenever possible, guidelines for optimum processing conditions for specific applications are provided. Finally, six categories of cost drivers are discussed. They include, design features affecting processing, tooling, materials, fabrication, joining/assembly, and quality assurance issues. It should be emphasized that this database is not an exhaustive database. Its primary use is to make the vehicle designer aware of some of the most important aspects of manufacturing associated with his/her choice of the structural materials. The other objective of this study is to propose a quantitative method to determine a Manufacturing Complexity Factor (MCF) for each material being contemplated. This MCF is derived on the basis of the six cost drivers mentioned above plus a Technology Readiness Factor which is very closely related to the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) as defined in the Access To Space final report. Short of any manufacturing information, our MCF is equivalent to the inverse of TRL. As more manufacturing information is available, our MCF is a better representation (than TRL) of the fabrication processes involved.

Compliant heterogeneous assemblies of micro-VCSELs as a new materials platform for integrated optoelectronics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kang, Dongseok; Lee, Sung-Min; Kwong, Anthony; Yoon, Jongseung

2015-03-01

Despite many unique advantages, vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSELs) have been available mostly on rigid, planar wafers over restricted areas, thereby limiting their usage for applications that can benefit from large-scale, programmable assemblies, hybrid integration with dissimilar materials and devices, or mechanically flexible constructions. Here, materials design and fabrication strategies that address these limitations of conventional VCSELs are presented. Specialized design of epitaxial materials and etching processes, together with printing-based deterministic assemblies and substrate thermal engineering, enabled defect-free release of microscale VCSELs and their device- and circuit-level implementation on non-native, flexible substrates with performance comparable to devices on the growth substrate.

X-ray coherent scattering tomography of textured material (Conference Presentation)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhu, Zheyuan; Pang, Shuo

2017-05-01

Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) measures the signature of angular-dependent coherently scattered X-rays, which contains richer information in material composition and structure compared to conventional absorption-based computed tomography. SAXS image reconstruction method of a 2 or 3 dimensional object based on computed tomography, termed as coherent scattering computed tomography (CSCT), enables the detection of spatially-resolved, material-specific isotropic scattering signature inside an extended object, and provides improved contrast for medical diagnosis, security screening, and material characterization applications. However, traditional CSCT methods assumes materials are fine powders or amorphous, and possess isotropic scattering profiles, which is not generally true for all materials. Anisotropic scatters cannot be captured using conventional CSCT method and result in reconstruction errors. To obtain correct information from the sample, we designed new imaging strategy which incorporates extra degree of detector motion into X-ray scattering tomography for the detection of anisotropic scattered photons from a series of two-dimensional intensity measurements. Using a table-top, narrow-band X-ray source and a panel detector, we demonstrate the anisotropic scattering profile captured from an extended object and the reconstruction of a three-dimensional object. For materials possessing a well-organized crystalline structure with certain symmetry, the scatter texture is more predictable. We will also discuss the compressive schemes and implementation of data acquisition to improve the collection efficiency and accelerate the imaging process.

Recent progress in NASA Langley Research Center textile reinforced composites program

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dexter, H. Benson; Harris, Charles E.; Johnston, Norman J.

1992-01-01

Research was conducted to explore the benefits of textile reinforced composites for transport aircraft primary structures. The objective is to develop and demonstrate the potential of affordable textile reinforced composite materials to meet design properties and damage tolerance requirements of advanced aircraft structural concepts. Some program elements include development of textile preforms, processing science, mechanics of materials, experimental characterization of materials, and development and evaluation of textile reinforced composite structural elements and subcomponents. Textile 3-D weaving, 3-D braiding, and knitting and/or stitching are being compared with conventional laminated tape processes for improved damage tolerance. Through-the-thickness reinforcements offer significant damage tolerance improvements. However, these gains must be weighted against potential loss in in-plane properties such as strength and stiffness. Analytical trade studies are underway to establish design guidelines for the application of textile material forms to meet specific loading requirements. Fabrication and testing of large structural parts are required to establish the potential of textile reinforced composite materials.

Gas permeability of ice-templated, unidirectional porous ceramics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Seuba, Jordi; Deville, Sylvain; Guizard, Christian; Stevenson, Adam J.

2016-01-01

We investigate the gas flow behavior of unidirectional porous ceramics processed by ice-templating. The pore volume ranged between 54% and 72% and pore size between 2.9 ?m and 19.1 ?m. The maximum permeability (?? m?) was measured in samples with the highest total pore volume (72%) and pore size (19.1 ?m). However, we demonstrate that it is possible to achieve a similar permeability (?? m?) at 54% pore volume by modification of the pore shape. These results were compared with those reported and measured for isotropic porous materials processed by conventional techniques. In unidirectional porous materials tortuosity (?) is mainly controlled by pore size, unlike in isotropic porous structures where ? is linked to pore volume. Furthermore, we assessed the applicability of Ergun and capillary model in the prediction of permeability and we found that the capillary model accurately describes the gas flow behavior of unidirectional porous materials. Finally, we combined the permeability data obtained here with strength data for these materials to establish links between strength and permeability of ice-templated materials.

Influence of injection temperatures and fiberglass compositions on mechanical properties of polypropylene

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Keey, Tony Tiew Chun; Azuddin, M.

2017-06-01

Injection molding process appears to be one of the most suitable mass and cost efficiency manufacturing processes for polymeric parts nowadays due to its high efficiency of large scale production. When down-scaling the products and components, the limits of conventional injection molding process are reached. These constraints had initiated the development of conventional injection molding process into a new era of micro injection molding technology. In this study, fiberglass reinforced polypropylenes (PP) with various glass fiber percentage materials were used. The study start with fabrication of micro tensile specimens at three different injection temperature, 260°C, 270°C and 280°C for different percentage by weight of fiberglass reinforced PP. Then evaluate the effects of various injection temperatures on the tensile properties of micro tensile specimens. Different percentage by weight of fiberglass reinforced PP were tested as well and it was found that 20% fiberglass reinforced PP possessed the greatest percentage increase of tensile strength with increasing temperatures.

Layered growth with bottom-spray granulation for spray deposition of drug.

PubMed

Er, Dawn Z L; Liew, Celine V; Heng, Paul W S

2009-07-30

The gap in scientific knowledge on bottom-spray fluidized bed granulation has emphasized the need for more studies in this area. This paper comparatively studied the applicability of a modified bottom-spray process and the conventional top-spray process for the spray deposition of a micronized drug during granulation. The differences in circulation pattern, mode of growth and resultant granule properties between the two processes were highlighted. The more ordered and consistent circulation pattern of particles in a bottom-spray fluidized bed was observed to give rise to layered granule growth. This resulted in better drug content uniformity among the granule batches and within a granule batch. The processes' sensitivities to wetting and feed material characteristics were also compared and found to differ markedly. Less robustness to differing process conditions was observed for the top-spray process. The resultant bottom-spray granules formed were observed to be less porous, more spherical and had good flow properties. The bottom-spray technique can thus be potentially applied for the spray deposition of drug during granulation and was observed to be a good alternative to the conventional technique for preparing granules.

Review on CNC-Rapid Prototyping

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Z, M. Nafis O.; Y, Nafrizuan M.; A, Munira M.; J, Kartina

2012-09-01

This article reviewed developments of Computerized Numerical Control (CNC) technology in rapid prototyping process. Rapid prototyping (RP) can be classified into three major groups; subtractive, additive and virtual. CNC rapid prototyping is grouped under the subtractive category which involves material removal from the workpiece that is larger than the final part. Richard Wysk established the use of CNC machines for rapid prototyping using sets of 2½-D tool paths from various orientations about a rotary axis to machine parts without refixturing. Since then, there are few developments on this process mainly aimed to optimized the operation and increase the process capabilities to stand equal with common additive type of RP. These developments include the integration between machining and deposition process (hybrid RP), adoption of RP to the conventional machine and optimization of the CNC rapid prototyping process based on controlled parameters. The article ended by concluding that the CNC rapid prototyping research area has a vast space for improvement as in the conventional machining processes. Further developments and findings will enhance the usage of this method and minimize the limitation of current approach in building a prototype.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Jiang, X., E-mail: Xiujuan.jiang@pnnl.gov

Soft magnetic materials are often limited in scalability due to conventional processes that do not retain beneficial microstructures, and their associated physical properties, during densification. In this work, friction consolidation (FC) has been studied to fabricate Fe−Si soft magnetic materials from gas-atomized powder precursors. Fe−Si powder is consolidated using variable pressure and tool rotation speed in an effort to evaluate this unique densification approach for potential improvements in magnetic properties. FC, due to the high shear deformation involved, is shown to result in uniform gradual grain structure refinement across the consolidated workpiece from the center nearest the tool to themore » edge. Magnetic properties along different orientations indicate little, if any, textural orientation in the refined grain structure. The effect of annealing on the magnetic properties is evaluated and shown to decrease coercivity. FC processing was able to retain the magnetization of the original gas-atomized powders but further process optimization is needed to reach the optimal coercivity for the soft magnetic materials applications. - Highlights: •Friction stir processing was utilized to consolidate Fe−Si soft magnetic powders. •The resultant microstructure and magnetic properties were correlated to the processing conditions. •Friction consolidation refined the grain size of the materials by ~ 40%. •Annealing successfully reduced the coercivity induced by the stress during processing. •The results shine light on the possible scaling up of nanostructured materials.« less

New scheme for image edge detection using the switching mechanism of nonlinear optical material

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pahari, Nirmalya; Mukhopadhyay, Sourangshu

2006-03-01

The limitations of electronics in conducting parallel arithmetic, algebraic, and logic processing are well known. Very high-speed (terahertz) performance cannot be expected in conventional electronic mechanisms. To achieve such performance we can introduce optics instead of electronics for information processing, computing, and data handling. Nonlinear optical material (NOM) is a successful candidate in this regard to play a major role in the domain of optically controlled switching systems. The character of some NOMs is such as to reflect the probe beam in the presence of two read beams (or pump beams) exciting the material from opposite directions, using the principle of four-wave mixing. In image processing, edge extraction from an image is an important and essential task. Several optical methods of digital image processing are used for properly evaluating the image edges. We propose here a new method of image edge detection, extraction, and enhancement by use of AND-based switching operations with NOM. In this process we have used the optically inverted image of a supplied image. This can be obtained by the EXOR switching operation of the NOM.

Fabrication technology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

1988-05-01

Many laboratory programs continue to need optical components of ever-increasing size and accuracy. Unfortunately, optical surfaces produced by the conventional sequence of grinding, lapping, and polishing can become prohibitively expensive. Research in the Fabrication Technology area focuses on methods of fabricating components with heretofore unrealized levels of precision. In FY87, researchers worked to determine the fundamental mechanical limits of material removal, experimented with unique material removal and deposition processes, developed servo systems for controlling the geometric position of ultraprecise machine tools, and advanced the ability to precisely measure contoured workpieces. Continued work in these areas will lead to more cost-effective processes to fabricate even higher quality optical components for advanced lasers and for visible, ultraviolet, and X-ray diagnostic systems.

Theoretical study of production of unique glasses in space. [kinetic relationships describing nucleation and crystallization phenomena

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Larsen, D. C.; Sievert, J. L.

1975-01-01

The potential of producing the glassy form of selected materials in the weightless, containerless nature of space processing is examined through the development of kinetic relationships describing nucleation and crystallization phenomena. Transformation kinetics are applied to a well-characterized system (SiO2), an excellent glass former (B2O3), and a poor glass former (Al2O3) by conventional earth processing methods. Viscosity and entropy of fusion are shown to be the primary materials parameters controlling the glass forming tendency. For multicomponent systems diffusion-controlled kinetics and heterogeneous nucleation effects are considered. An analytical empirical approach is used to analyze the mullite system. Results are consistent with experimentally observed data and indicate the promise of mullite as a future space processing candidate.

Fabrication development for ODS-superalloy, air-cooled turbine blades

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Moracz, D. J.

1984-01-01

MA-600 is a gamma prime and oxide dispersion strengthened superalloy made by mechanical alloying. At the initiation of this program, MA-6000 was available as an experimental alloy only and did not go into production until late in the program. The objective of this program was to develop a thermal-mechanical-processing approach which would yield the necessary elongated grain structure and desirable mechanical properties after conventional press forging. Forging evaluations were performed to select optimum thermal-mechanical-processing conditions. These forging evaluations indicated that MA-6000 was extremely sensitive to die chilling. In order to conventionally hot forge the alloy, an adherent cladding, either the original extrusion can or a thick plating, was required to prevent cracking of the workpiece. Die design must reflect the requirement of cladding. MA-6000 was found to be sensitive to the forging temperature. The correct temperature required to obtain the proper grain structure after recrystallization was found to be between 1010-1065 C (1850-1950 F). The deformation level did not affect subsequent crystallization; however, sharp transition areas in tooling designs should be avoided in forming a blade shape because of the potential for grain structure discontinuities. Starting material to be used for forging should be processed so that it is capable of being zone annealed to a coarse elongated grain structure as bar stock. This conclusion means that standard processed bar materials can be used.

Comparison of the composting process using ear corn residue and three other conventional bulking agents during cow manure composting under high-moisture conditions.

PubMed

Hanajima, Dai

2014-10-01

To elucidate the characteristics of ear corn residue as a bulking agent, the composting process using this residue was compared with processes using three other conventional materials such as sawdust, wheat straw and rice husk, employing a bench-scale composting reactor. As evaluated via biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), ear corn residue contains 3.3 and 2.0 times more easily digestible materials than sawdust and rice husk, respectively. In addition, mixing ear corn residue with manure resulted in reduced bulk density, which was the same as that of wheat straw and was 0.58 and 0.67 times lower than that of sawdust and a rice husk mixture, respectively. To evaluate temperature generation during the composting process, the maximum temperature and area under the temperature curve (AUCTEMP) were compared among the mixed composts of four bulking agents. Maximum temperature (54.3°C) as well as AUCTEMP (7310°C●h) of ear corn residue were significantly higher than those of sawdust and rice husk (P<0.05), and they are similar to that of wheat straw mixed compost. Along with the value of AUCTEMP, the highest organic matter losses of 31.1% were observed in ear corn residue mixed compost, followed by wheat straw, saw dust and rice husk. © 2014 Japanese Society of Animal Science.

The rheology, degradation, processing, and characterization of renewable resource polymers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Conrad, Jason David

Renewable resource polymers have become an increasingly popular alternative to conventional fossil fuel based polymers over the past couple decades. The push by the government as well as both industrial and consumer markets to go "green" has provided the drive for companies to research and develop new materials that are more environmentally friendly and which are derived from renewable materials. Two polymers that are currently being produced commercially are poly-lactic acid (PLA) and polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) copolymers, both of which can be derived from renewable feedstocks and have shown to exhibit similar properties to conventional materials such as polypropylene, polyethylene, polystyrene, and PET. PLA and PHA are being used in many applications including food packaging, disposable cups, grocery bags, and biomedical applications. In this work, we report on the rheological properties of blends of PLA and PHA copolymers. The specific materials used in the study include Natureworks RTM 7000D grade PLA and PHA copolymers of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate). Blends ranging from 10 to 50 percent PHA by weight are also examined. Shear and extensional experiments are performed to characterize the flow behavior of the materials in different flow fields. Transient experiments are performed to study the shear rheology over time in order to determine how the viscoelastic properties change under typical processing conditions and understand the thermal degradation behavior of the materials. For the blends, it is determined that increasing the PHA concentration in the blend results in a decrease in viscosity and increase in degradation. Models are fit to the viscosity of the blends using the pure material viscosities in order to be able to predict the behavior at a given blend composition. We also investigate the processability of these materials into films and examine the resultant properties of the cast films. The mechanical and thermal properties of the films are studied as a function of the blend composition. With increasing PHA content in the blends, the films show increases in the crystallinity and the percent elongation versus the pure materials, but decreases in both the modulus and the tensile strength. The 10% PHA blend is found to be the optimum concentration since the toughness is significantly improved without sacrificing the strength of the material. A post-processing uniaxial orientation step is also studied, and an improvement in the mechanical properties and crystallinity of the films is discovered with the largest effects observed by varying the stretch ratio. Increasing the stretch ratio resulted in an improvement in percent elongation and greater modulus, strength, and crystallinity versus the unstretched samples. Therefore, by varying the blend composition and film processing parameters, we are able to systematically manipulate the properties of the final product and therefore tailor the materials for specific applications depending on the desired properties.

Comparison of ThinPrep and conventional preparations on fine needle aspiration cytology material.

PubMed

Dey, P; Luthra, U K; George, J; Zuhairy, F; George, S S; Haji, B I

2000-01-01

To compare the various cytologic features on ThinPrep 2000 (TP) (Cytyc Corporation, Marlborough, Massachusetts, U.S.A.) and conventional preparation (CP) specimens from fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) material by a semiquantitative scoring system. In this prospective study a total of 71 consecutive cases were included. In each case, two passes were performed. The first pass was used for conventional preparations, with direct smears made and fixed immediately in 95% alcohol for Papanicolaou stain. For TP preparation a second pass produced material for processing in the ThinPrep 2000. The TP and CP slides were studied independently by two observers and representative slides of CP and TP compared for cellularity, background blood and necrotic cell debris, cell architecture, informative background, presence of monolayer cells, and nuclear and cytoplasmic details by a semiquantitative scoring system. Statistical analysis was performed by Wilcoxon's signed rank test on an SPSS program (Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A.). TP preparations contained adequate diagnostic cells in all cases and were tangibly superior to CP preparations concerning monolayer cells, absence of blood and necrosis, and preservation of nuclear and cytoplasmic detail (statistically significant, Wilcoxon's signed rank test, P < .000). TP preparations are superior to conventional preparations with regard to clear background, monolayer cell preparation and cell preservation. It is easier and less time consuming to screen and interpret TP preparations because the cells are limited to smaller areas on clear backgrounds, with excellent cellular preservation. However, TP preparations are more expensive than CP and require some experience for interpretation.

Field mappers for laser material processing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Blair, Paul; Currie, Matthew; Trela, Natalia; Baker, Howard J.; Murphy, Eoin; Walker, Duncan; McBride, Roy

2016-03-01

The native shape of the single-mode laser beam used for high power material processing applications is circular with a Gaussian intensity profile. Manufacturers are now demanding the ability to transform the intensity profile and shape to be compatible with a new generation of advanced processing applications that require much higher precision and control. We describe the design, fabrication and application of a dual-optic, beam-shaping system for single-mode laser sources, that transforms a Gaussian laser beam by remapping - hence field mapping - the intensity profile to create a wide variety of spot shapes including discs, donuts, XY separable and rotationally symmetric. The pair of optics transform the intensity distribution and subsequently flatten the phase of the beam, with spot sizes and depth of focus close to that of a diffraction limited beam. The field mapping approach to beam-shaping is a refractive solution that does not add speckle to the beam, making it ideal for use with single mode laser sources, moving beyond the limits of conventional field mapping in terms of spot size and achievable shapes. We describe a manufacturing process for refractive optics in fused silica that uses a freeform direct-write process that is especially suited for the fabrication of this type of freeform optic. The beam-shaper described above was manufactured in conventional UV-fused silica using this process. The fabrication process generates a smooth surface (<1nm RMS), leading to laser damage thresholds of greater than 100J/cm2, which is well matched to high power laser sources. Experimental verification of the dual-optic filed mapper is presented.

Radiographic applications of spatial frequency multiplexing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Macovski, A.

1981-01-01

The application of spacial frequency encoding techniques which allow different regions of the X-ray spectrum to be encoded on conventional radiographs was studied. Clinical considerations were reviewed, as were experimental studies involving the encoding and decoding of X-ray images at different energies and the subsequent processing of the data to produce images of specific materials in the body.

Integrated Multilayer Insulation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dye, Scott

2009-01-01

Integrated multilayer insulation (IMLI) is being developed as an improved alternative to conventional multilayer insulation (MLI), which is more than 50 years old. A typical conventional MLI blanket comprises between 10 and 120 metallized polymer films separated by polyester nets. MLI is the best thermal- insulation material for use in a vacuum, and is the insulation material of choice for spacecraft and cryogenic systems. However, conventional MLI has several disadvantages: It is difficult or impossible to maintain the desired value of gap distance between the film layers (and consequently, it is difficult or impossible to ensure consistent performance), and fabrication and installation are labor-intensive and difficult. The development of IMLI is intended to overcome these disadvantages to some extent and to offer some additional advantages over conventional MLI. The main difference between IMLI and conventional MLI lies in the method of maintaining the gaps between the film layers. In IMLI, the film layers are separated by what its developers call a micro-molded discrete matrix, which can be loosely characterized as consisting of arrays of highly engineered, small, lightweight, polymer (typically, thermoplastic) frames attached to, and placed between, the film layers. The term "micro-molded" refers to both the smallness of the frames and the fact that they are fabricated in a process that forms precise small features, described below, that are essential to attainment of the desired properties. The term "discrete" refers to the nature of the matrix as consisting of separate frames, in contradistinction to a unitary frame spanning entire volume of an insulation blanket.

Chemical vapor deposition and characterization of polysilanes polymer based thin films and their applications in compound semiconductors and silicon devices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oulachgar, El Hassane

As the semiconductors industry is moving toward nanodevices, there is growing need to develop new materials and thin films deposition processes which could enable strict control of the atomic composition and structure of thin film materials in order to achieve precise control on their electrical and optical properties. The accurate control of thin film characteristics will become increasingly important as the miniaturization of semiconductor devices continue. There is no doubt that chemical synthesis of new materials and their self assembly will play a major role in the design and fabrication of next generation semiconductor devices. The objective of this work is to investigate the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process of thin film using a polymeric precursor as a source material. This process offers many advantages including low deposition cost, hazard free working environment, and most importantly the ability to customize the polymer source material through polymer synthesis and polymer functionalization. The combination between polymer synthesis and CVD process will enable the design of new generation of complex thin film materials with a wide range of improved chemical, mechanical, electrical and optical properties which cannot be easily achieved through conventional CVD processes based on gases and small molecule precursors. In this thesis we mainly focused on polysilanes polymers and more specifically poly(dimethylsilanes). The interest in these polymers is motivated by their distinctive electronic and photonic properties which are attributed to the delocalization of the sigma-electron along the Si-Si backbone chain. These characteristics make polysilane polymers very promising in a broad range of applications as a dielectric, a semiconductor and a conductor. The polymer-based CVD process could be eventually extended to other polymer source materials such as polygermanes, as well as and a variety of other inorganic and hybrid organic-inorganic polymers. This work has demonstrated that a polysilane polymeric source can be used to deposit a wide range of thin film materials exhibiting similar properties with conventional ceramic materials such as silicon carbide (SiC), silicon oxynitride (SiON), silicon oxycarbide (SiOC) silicon dioxide (SiO2) and silicon nitride (Si3N4). The strict control of the deposition process allows precise control of the electrical, optical and chemical properties of polymer-based thin films within a broad range. This work has also demonstrated for the first time that poly(dimethylsilmaes) polymers deposited by CVD can be used to effectively passivate both silicon and gallium arsenide MOS devices. This finding makes polymer-based thin films obtained by CVD very promising for the development of high-kappa dielectric materials for next generation high-mobility CMOS technology. Keywords. Thin films, Polymers, Vapor Phase Deposition, CVD, Nanodielectrics, Organosilanes, Polysilanes, GaAs Passivation, MOSFET, Silicon Oxynitride, Integrated Waveguide, Silicon Carbide, Compound Semiconductors.

Development of efficient, integrated cellulosic biorefineries : LDRD final report.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Teh, Kwee-Yan; Hecht, Ethan S.; Shaddix, Christopher R.

2010-09-01

Cellulosic ethanol, generated from lignocellulosic biomass sources such as grasses and trees, is a promising alternative to conventional starch- and sugar-based ethanol production in terms of potential production quantities, CO{sub 2} impact, and economic competitiveness. In addition, cellulosic ethanol can be generated (at least in principle) without competing with food production. However, approximately 1/3 of the lignocellulosic biomass material (including all of the lignin) cannot be converted to ethanol through biochemical means and must be extracted at some point in the biochemical process. In this project we gathered basic information on the prospects for utilizing this lignin residue material inmore » thermochemical conversion processes to improve the overall energy efficiency or liquid fuel production capacity of cellulosic biorefineries. Two existing pretreatment approaches, soaking in aqueous ammonia (SAA) and the Arkenol (strong sulfuric acid) process, were implemented at Sandia and used to generated suitable quantities of residue material from corn stover and eucalyptus feedstocks for subsequent thermochemical research. A third, novel technique, using ionic liquids (IL) was investigated by Sandia researchers at the Joint Bioenergy Institute (JBEI), but was not successful in isolating sufficient lignin residue. Additional residue material for thermochemical research was supplied from the dilute-acid simultaneous saccharification/fermentation (SSF) pilot-scale process at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). The high-temperature volatiles yields of the different residues were measured, as were the char combustion reactivities. The residue chars showed slightly lower reactivity than raw biomass char, except for the SSF residue, which had substantially lower reactivity. Exergy analysis was applied to the NREL standard process design model for thermochemical ethanol production and from a prototypical dedicated biochemical process, with process data supplied by a recent report from the National Research Council (NRC). The thermochemical system analysis revealed that most of the system inefficiency is associated with the gasification process and subsequent tar reforming step. For the biochemical process, the steam generation from residue combustion, providing the requisite heating for the conventional pretreatment and alcohol distillation processes, was shown to dominate the exergy loss. An overall energy balance with different potential distillation energy requirements shows that as much as 30% of the biomass energy content may be available in the future as a feedstock for thermochemical production of liquid fuels.« less

A case-study of landfill minimization and material recovery via waste co-gasification in a new waste management scheme

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Tanigaki, Nobuhiro, E-mail: tanigaki.nobuhiro@eng.nssmc.com; Ishida, Yoshihiro; Osada, Morihiro

Highlights: • A new waste management scheme and the effects of co-gasification of MSW were assessed. • A co-gasification system was compared with other conventional systems. • The co-gasification system can produce slag and metal with high-quality. • The co-gasification system showed an economic advantage when bottom ash is landfilled. • The sensitive analyses indicate an economic advantage when the landfill cost is high. - Abstract: This study evaluates municipal solid waste co-gasification technology and a new solid waste management scheme, which can minimize final landfill amounts and maximize material recycled from waste. This new scheme is considered for amore » region where bottom ash and incombustibles are landfilled or not allowed to be recycled due to their toxic heavy metal concentration. Waste is processed with incombustible residues and an incineration bottom ash discharged from existent conventional incinerators, using a gasification and melting technology (the Direct Melting System). The inert materials, contained in municipal solid waste, incombustibles and bottom ash, are recycled as slag and metal in this process as well as energy recovery. Based on this new waste management scheme with a co-gasification system, a case study of municipal solid waste co-gasification was evaluated and compared with other technical solutions, such as conventional incineration, incineration with an ash melting facility under certain boundary conditions. From a technical point of view, co-gasification produced high quality slag with few harmful heavy metals, which was recycled completely without requiring any further post-treatment such as aging. As a consequence, the co-gasification system had an economical advantage over other systems because of its material recovery and minimization of the final landfill amount. Sensitivity analyses of landfill cost, power price and inert materials in waste were also conducted. The higher the landfill costs, the greater the advantage of the co-gasification system has. The co-gasification was beneficial for landfill cost in the range of 80 Euro per ton or more. Higher power prices led to lower operation cost in each case. The inert contents in processed waste had a significant influence on the operating cost. These results indicate that co-gasification of bottom ash and incombustibles with municipal solid waste contributes to minimizing the final landfill amount and has great possibilities maximizing material recovery and energy recovery from waste.« less

Three-dimensional microstructural characterization of bulk plutonium and uranium metals using focused ion beam technique

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chung, Brandon W.; Erler, Robert G.; Teslich, Nick E.

2016-05-01

Nuclear forensics requires accurate quantification of discriminating microstructural characteristics of the bulk nuclear material to identify its process history and provenance. Conventional metallographic preparation techniques for bulk plutonium (Pu) and uranium (U) metals are limited to providing information in two-dimension (2D) and do not allow for obtaining depth profile of the material. In this contribution, use of dual-beam focused ion-beam/scanning electron microscopy (FIB-SEM) to investigate the internal microstructure of bulk Pu and U metals is demonstrated. Our results demonstrate that the dual-beam methodology optimally elucidate microstructural features without preparation artifacts, and the three-dimensional (3D) characterization of inner microstructures can reveal salient microstructural features that cannot be observed from conventional metallographic techniques. Examples are shown to demonstrate the benefit of FIB-SEM in improving microstructural characterization of microscopic inclusions, particularly with respect to nuclear forensics.

Three-dimensional microstructural characterization of bulk plutonium and uranium metals using focused ion beam technique

DOE PAGES

Chung, Brandon W.; Erler, Robert G.; Teslich, Nick E.

2016-03-03

Nuclear forensics requires accurate quantification of discriminating microstructural characteristics of the bulk nuclear material to identify its process history and provenance. Conventional metallographic preparation techniques for bulk plutonium (Pu) and uranium (U) metals are limited to providing information in two-dimension (2D) and do not allow for obtaining depth profile of the material. In this contribution, use of dual-beam focused ion-beam/scanning electron microscopy (FIB-SEM) to investigate the internal microstructure of bulk Pu and U metals is demonstrated. Our results demonstrate that the dual-beam methodology optimally elucidate microstructural features without preparation artifacts, and the three-dimensional (3D) characterization of inner microstructures can revealmore » salient microstructural features that cannot be observed from conventional metallographic techniques. As a result, examples are shown to demonstrate the benefit of FIB-SEM in improving microstructural characterization of microscopic inclusions, particularly with respect to nuclear forensics.« less

Boron-Filled Hybrid Carbon Nanotubes

PubMed Central

Patel, Rajen B.; Chou, Tsengming; Kanwal, Alokik; Apigo, David J.; Lefebvre, Joseph; Owens, Frank; Iqbal, Zafar

2016-01-01

A unique nanoheterostructure, a boron-filled hybrid carbon nanotube (BHCNT), has been synthesized using a one-step chemical vapor deposition process. The BHCNTs can be considered to be a novel form of boron carbide consisting of boron doped, distorted multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) encapsulating boron nanowires. These MWCNTs were found to be insulating in spite of their graphitic layered outer structures. While conventional MWCNTs have great axial strength, they have weak radial compressive strength, and do not bond well to one another or to other materials. In contrast, BHCNTs are shown to be up to 31% stiffer and 233% stronger than conventional MWCNTs in radial compression and have excellent mechanical properties at elevated temperatures. The corrugated surface of BHCNTs enables them to bond easily to themselves and other materials, in contrast to carbon nanotubes (CNTs). BHCNTs can, therefore, be used to make nanocomposites, nanopaper sheets, and bundles that are stronger than those made with CNTs. PMID:27460526

All-organic optoelectronic sensor for pulse oximetry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lochner, Claire M.; Khan, Yasser; Pierre, Adrien; Arias, Ana C.

2014-12-01

Pulse oximetry is a ubiquitous non-invasive medical sensing method for measuring pulse rate and arterial blood oxygenation. Conventional pulse oximeters use expensive optoelectronic components that restrict sensing locations to finger tips or ear lobes due to their rigid form and area-scaling complexity. In this work, we report a pulse oximeter sensor based on organic materials, which are compatible with flexible substrates. Green (532 nm) and red (626 nm) organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) are used with an organic photodiode (OPD) sensitive at the aforementioned wavelengths. The sensor’s active layers are deposited from solution-processed materials via spin-coating and printing techniques. The all-organic optoelectronic oximeter sensor is interfaced with conventional electronics at 1 kHz and the acquired pulse rate and oxygenation are calibrated and compared with a commercially available oximeter. The organic sensor accurately measures pulse rate and oxygenation with errors of 1% and 2%, respectively.

Solvent screening for a hard-to-dissolve molecular crystal.

PubMed

Maiti, A; Pagoria, P F; Gash, A E; Han, T Y; Orme, C A; Gee, R H; Fried, L E

2008-09-01

Materials with a high-degree of inter- and intra-molecular hydrogen bonding generally have limited solubility in conventional organic solvents. This presents a problem for the dissolution, manipulation and purification of these materials. Using a state-of-the-art density-functional-theory based quantum chemical solvation model we systematically evaluated solvents for a known hydrogen-bonded molecular crystal. This, coupled with direct solubility measurements, uncovered a class of ionic liquids involving fluoride anions that possess more than two orders of magnitude higher solvation power as compared with the best conventional solvents. The crystal structure of one such ionic liquid, determined by X-ray diffraction spectroscopy, indicates that F- ions are stabilized through H-bonded chains with water. The presence of coordinating water in such ionic liquids seems to facilitate the dissolution process by keeping the chemical activity of the F- ions in check.

Lead-acid batteries with polymer-structured electrodes for electric-vehicle applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Soria, M. L.; Fullea, J.; Sáez, F.; Trinidad, F.

Some years ago a consortium of enterprises and a university from different European countries and industrial sectors was established to work together in the development of lighter lead-acid batteries for electrical and conventional vehicles with new innovative materials and process techniques, with the final goal of increasing the energy density by means of a battery weight reduction. Its main idea was to substitute the heavy lead alloy grids (mechanical support of the active masses and collectors of the current produced during the charge and discharge reactions) by lightweight metallised polymeric network structures (PNS) with reduced mesh dimensions in comparison to conventional grids. The network was then coated with conductive materials and corrosion resistant layers to conduct the current flow. In this paper, the electrode characteristics and the design features of the batteries prepared in the project will be described and their electrical performance presented.

A Comparison of Programed Instruction with Conventional Methods for Teaching Two Units of Eighth Grade Science.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Eshleman, Winston Hull

Compared were programed materials and conventional methods for teaching two units of eighth grade science. Programed materials used were linear programed books requiring constructed responses. The conventional methods included textbook study, written exercises, lectures, discussions, demonstrations, experiments, chalkboard drawings, films,…

Three-dimensional non-destructive optical evaluation of laser-processing performance using optical coherence tomography.

PubMed

Kim, Youngseop; Choi, Eun Seo; Kwak, Wooseop; Shin, Yongjin; Jung, Woonggyu; Ahn, Yeh-Chan; Chen, Zhongping

2008-06-01

We demonstrate the use of optical coherence tomography (OCT) as a non-destructive diagnostic tool for evaluating laser-processing performance by imaging the features of a pit and a rim. A pit formed on a material at different laser-processing conditions is imaged using both a conventional scanning electron microscope (SEM) and OCT. Then using corresponding images, the geometrical characteristics of the pit are analyzed and compared. From the results, we could verify the feasibility and the potential of the application of OCT to the monitoring of the laser-processing performance.

Quality improvement of polymer parts by laser welding

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Puetz, Heidrun; Treusch, Hans-Georg; Welz, M.; Petring, Dirk; Beyer, Eckhard; Herziger, Gerd

1994-09-01

The growing significance of laser technology in industrial manufacturing is also observed in case of plastic industry. Laser cutting and marking are established processes. Laser beam welding is successfully practiced in processes like joining foils or winding reinforced prepregs. Laser radiation and its significant advantages of contactless and local heating could even be an alternative to conventional welding processes using heating elements, vibration or ultrasonic waves as energy sources. Developments in the field of laser diodes increase the interest in laser technology for material processing because in the near future they will represent an inexpensive energy source.

Three-dimensional non-destructive optical evaluation of laser-processing performance using optical coherence tomography

PubMed Central

Kim, Youngseop; Choi, Eun Seo; Kwak, Wooseop; Shin, Yongjin; Jung, Woonggyu; Ahn, Yeh-Chan; Chen, Zhongping

2014-01-01

We demonstrate the use of optical coherence tomography (OCT) as a non-destructive diagnostic tool for evaluating laser-processing performance by imaging the features of a pit and a rim. A pit formed on a material at different laser-processing conditions is imaged using both a conventional scanning electron microscope (SEM) and OCT. Then using corresponding images, the geometrical characteristics of the pit are analyzed and compared. From the results, we could verify the feasibility and the potential of the application of OCT to the monitoring of the laser-processing performance. PMID:24932051

Life-cycle energy and greenhouse gas emission benefits of lightweighting in automobiles: review and harmonization.

PubMed

Kim, Hyung Chul; Wallington, Timothy J

2013-06-18

Replacing conventional materials (steel and iron) with lighter alternatives (e.g., aluminum, magnesium, and composites) decreases energy consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions during vehicle use but may increase energy consumption and GHG emissions during vehicle production. There have been many life cycle assessment (LCA) studies on the benefits of vehicle lightweighting, but the wide variety of assumptions used makes it difficult to compare results from the studies. To clarify the benefits of vehicle lightweighting we have reviewed the available literature (43 studies). The GHG emissions and primary energy results from 33 studies that passed a screening process were harmonized using a common set of assumptions (lifetime distance traveled, fuel-mass coefficient, secondary weight reduction factor, fuel consumption allocation, recycling rate, and energy intensity of materials). After harmonization, all studies indicate that using aluminum, glass-fiber reinforced plastic, and high strength steel to replace conventional steel decreases the vehicle life cycle energy use and GHG emissions. Given the flexibility in options implied by the variety of materials available and consensus that these materials have substantial energy and emissions benefits, it seems likely that lightweighting will be used increasingly to improve fuel economy and reduce life cycle GHG emissions from vehicles.

Towards the low-dose characterization of beam sensitive nanostructures via implementation of sparse image acquisition in scanning transmission electron microscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hwang, Sunghwan; Han, Chang Wan; Venkatakrishnan, Singanallur V.; Bouman, Charles A.; Ortalan, Volkan

2017-04-01

Scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) has been successfully utilized to investigate atomic structure and chemistry of materials with atomic resolution. However, STEM’s focused electron probe with a high current density causes the electron beam damages including radiolysis and knock-on damage when the focused probe is exposed onto the electron-beam sensitive materials. Therefore, it is highly desirable to decrease the electron dose used in STEM for the investigation of biological/organic molecules, soft materials and nanomaterials in general. With the recent emergence of novel sparse signal processing theories, such as compressive sensing and model-based iterative reconstruction, possibilities of operating STEM under a sparse acquisition scheme to reduce the electron dose have been opened up. In this paper, we report our recent approach to implement a sparse acquisition in STEM mode executed by a random sparse-scan and a signal processing algorithm called model-based iterative reconstruction (MBIR). In this method, a small portion, such as 5% of randomly chosen unit sampling areas (i.e. electron probe positions), which corresponds to pixels of a STEM image, within the region of interest (ROI) of the specimen are scanned with an electron probe to obtain a sparse image. Sparse images are then reconstructed using the MBIR inpainting algorithm to produce an image of the specimen at the original resolution that is consistent with an image obtained using conventional scanning methods. Experimental results for down to 5% sampling show consistency with the full STEM image acquired by the conventional scanning method. Although, practical limitations of the conventional STEM instruments, such as internal delays of the STEM control electronics and the continuous electron gun emission, currently hinder to achieve the full potential of the sparse acquisition STEM in realizing the low dose imaging condition required for the investigation of beam-sensitive materials, the results obtained in our experiments demonstrate the sparse acquisition STEM imaging is potentially capable of reducing the electron dose by at least 20 times expanding the frontiers of our characterization capabilities for investigation of biological/organic molecules, polymers, soft materials and nanostructures in general.

Thermal engineering of FAPbI3 perovskite material via radiative thermal annealing and in situ XRD

PubMed Central

Pool, Vanessa L.; Dou, Benjia; Van Campen, Douglas G.; Klein-Stockert, Talysa R.; Barnes, Frank S.; Shaheen, Sean E.; Ahmad, Md I.; van Hest, Maikel F. A. M.; Toney, Michael F.

2017-01-01

Lead halide perovskites have emerged as successful optoelectronic materials with high photovoltaic power conversion efficiencies and low material cost. However, substantial challenges remain in the scalability, stability and fundamental understanding of the materials. Here we present the application of radiative thermal annealing, an easily scalable processing method for synthesizing formamidinium lead iodide (FAPbI3) perovskite solar absorbers. Devices fabricated from films formed via radiative thermal annealing have equivalent efficiencies to those annealed using a conventional hotplate. By coupling results from in situ X-ray diffraction using a radiative thermal annealing system with device performances, we mapped the processing phase space of FAPbI3 and corresponding device efficiencies. Our map of processing-structure-performance space suggests the commonly used FAPbI3 annealing time, 10 min at 170 °C, can be significantly reduced to 40 s at 170 °C without affecting the photovoltaic performance. The Johnson-Mehl-Avrami model was used to determine the activation energy for decomposition of FAPbI3 into PbI2. PMID:28094249

Arginine-glycine-aspartic acid functional branched semi-interpenetrating hydrogels.

PubMed

Plenderleith, Richard A; Pateman, Christopher J; Rodenburg, Cornelia; Haycock, John W; Claeyssens, Frederik; Sammon, Chris; Rimmer, Stephen

2015-10-14

For the first time a series of functional hydrogels based on semi-interpenetrating networks with both branched and crosslinked polymer components have been prepared and we show the successful use of these materials as substrates for cell culture. The materials consist of highly branched poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide)s with peptide functionalised end groups in a continuous phase of crosslinked poly(vinyl pyrrolidone). Functionalisation of the end groups of the branched polymer component with the GRGDS peptide produces a hydrogel that supports cell adhesion and proliferation. The materials provide a new synthetic functional biomaterial that has many of the features of extracellular matrix, and as such can be used to support tissue regeneration and cell culture. This class of high water content hydrogel material has important advantages over other functional hydrogels in its synthesis and does not require post-processing modifications nor are functional-monomers, which change the polymerisation process, required. Thus, the systems are amenable to large scale and bespoke manufacturing using conventional moulding or additive manufacturing techniques. Processing using additive manufacturing is exemplified by producing tubes using microstereolithography.

Thermal engineering of FAPbI 3 perovskite material via radiative thermal annealing and in situ XRD

DOE PAGES

Pool, Vanessa L.; Dou, Benjia; Van Campen, Douglas G.; ...

2017-01-17

Lead halide perovskites have emerged as successful optoelectronic materials with high photovoltaic power conversion efficiencies and low material cost. However, substantial challenges remain in the scalability, stability and fundamental understanding of the materials. Here we present the application of radiative thermal annealing, an easily scalable processing method for synthesizing formamidinium lead iodide (FAPbI 3) perovskite solar absorbers. Devices fabricated from films formed via radiative thermal annealing have equivalent efficiencies to those annealed using a conventional hotplate. By coupling results from in situ X-ray diffraction using a radiative thermal annealing system with device performances, we mapped the processing phase space ofmore » FAPbI 3 and corresponding device efficiencies. Our map of processing-structure-performance space suggests the commonly used FAPbI 3 annealing time, 10 min at 170 degrees C, can be significantly reduced to 40 s at 170 degrees C without affecting the photovoltaic performance. Lastly, the Johnson-Mehl-Avrami model was used to determine the activation energy for decomposition of FAPbI 3 into PbI 2.« less

Analytical and Experimental Investigation of Process Loads on Incremental Severe Plastic Deformation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Okan Görtan, Mehmet

2017-05-01

From the processing point of view, friction is a major problem in the severe plastic deformation (SPD) using equal channel angular pressing (ECAP) process. Incremental ECAP can be used in order to optimize frictional effects during SPD. A new incremental ECAP has been proposed recently. This new process called as equal channel angular swaging (ECAS) combines the conventional ECAP and the incremental bulk metal forming method rotary swaging. ECAS tool system consists of two dies with an angled channel that contains two shear zones. During ECAS process, two forming tool halves, which are concentrically arranged around the workpiece, perform high frequency radial movements with short strokes, while samples are pushed through these. The oscillation direction nearly coincides with the shearing direction in the workpiece. The most important advantages in comparison to conventional ECAP are a significant reduction in the forces in material feeding direction plus the potential to be extended to continuous processing. In the current study, the mechanics of the ECAS process is investigated using slip line field approach. An analytical model is developed to predict process loads. The proposed model is validated using experiments and FE simulations.

Infrared transient-liquid-phase joining of SCS-6/ β21S titanium matrix composite

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Blue, Craig A.; Sikka, Vinod K.; Blue, Randall A.; Lin, Ray Y.

1996-12-01

Fiber-reinforced titanium matrix composites (TMCs) are among the advanced materials being considered for use in the aerospace industry due to their light weight, high strength, and high modulus. A rapid infrared joining process has been developed for the joining of composites and advanced materials. Rapid infrared joining has been shown not to have many of the problems associated with conventional joining methods. Two models were utilized to predict the joint evolution and fiber reaction zone growth. Titanium matrix composite, 16-ply SCS-6/ β21S, has been successfully joined with total processing times of approximately 2 minutes, utilizing the rapid infrared joining technique. The process utilizes a 50 °C/s ramping rate, 17- µm Ti-15Cu-15Ni wt pct filler material between the faying surfaces; a joining temperature of 1100 °C; and 120 seconds of time to join the composite material. Joint shear-strength testing of the rapid infrared joints at temperatures as high as 800 °C has revealed no joint failures. Also, due to the rapid cooling of the process, no poststabilization of the matrix material is necessary to prevent the formation of a brittle omega phase during subsequent use of the TMC at intermediate temperatures, 270 °C to 430 °C, for up to 20 hours.

Welding parameter optimization of alloy material by friction stir welding using Taguchi approach and design of experiments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Karwande, Amit H.; Rao, Seeram Srinivasa

2018-04-01

Friction stir welding (FSW) a welding process in which metals are joint by melting them at their solid state. In different engineering areas such as civil, mechanical, naval and aeronautical engineering beams are widely used of the magnesium alloys for different applications and that are joined by conventional inert gas welding process. Magnesium metal has less density and low melting point for that reason large heat generation in the common welding process so its necessity to adapt new welding process. FSW process increases the weld quality which observed under various mechanical testing by using different tool size.

Oleochemical industry future through biotechnology.

PubMed

Abdelmoez, Wael; Mustafa, Ahmad

2014-01-01

Lipases are the most widely used class of enzymes in organic synthesis. Enzymatic processes have been implemented in a broad range of industries as they are specific, save raw materials, energy and chemicals, environmentally friendly and fast in action compared to conventional processes. The most notable benefit is the moderate process temperature and pressure with no unwanted side reactions. In the past two decades, intensive research was carried out towards enzymatic synthesis of oleochemicals. This review has a sharp focus on the current implemented enzymatic processes for producing different oleochemicals such as fatty acids, glycerin, biodiesel, biolubricant and different alkyl esters via different processes including hydrolysis, esterification, transesterification and intraesterification.

Embedding solar cell materials with on-board integrated energy storage for load-leveling and dark power delivery (Presentation Recording)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pint, Cary L.; Westover, Andrew S.; Cohn, Adam P.; Erwin, William R.; Share, Keith; Metke, Thomas; Bardhan, Rizia

2015-10-01

This work will discuss our recent advances focused on integrating high power energy storage directly into the native materials of both conventional photovoltaics (PV) and dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). In the first case (PV), we demonstrate the ability to etch high surface-area porous silicon charge storage interfaces directly into the backside of a conventional polycrystalline silicon photovoltaic device exhibiting over 14% efficiency. These high surface area materials are then coupled with solid-state ionic liquid-polymer electrolytes to produce solid-state fully integrated devices where the PV device can directly inject charge into an on-board supercapacitor that can be separately discharged under dark conditions with a Coulombic efficiency of 84%. In a similar manner, we further demonstrate that surface engineered silicon materials can be utilized to replace Pt counterelectrodes in conventional DSSC energy conversion devices. As the silicon counterelectrodes rely strictly on surface Faradaic chemical reactions with the electrolyte on one side of the wafer electrode, we demonstrate double-sided processing of electrodes that enables dual-function of the material for simultaneous energy storage and conversion, each on opposing sides. In both of these devices, we demonstrate the ability to produce an all-silicon coupled energy conversion and storage system through the common ability to convert unused silicon in solar cells into high power silicon-based supercapacitors. Beyond the proof-of-concept design and performance of this integrated solar-storage system, this talk will conclude with a brief discussion of the hurdles and challenges that we envision for this emerging area both from a fundamental and technological viewpoint.

Measurement of Creep Properties of Ultra-High-Temperature Materials by a Novel Non-Contact Technique

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hyers, Robert W.; Lee, Jonghyun; Rogers, Jan R.; Liaw, Peter K.

2007-01-01

A non-contact technique for measuring the creep properties of materials has been developed and validated as part of a collaboration among the University of Massachusetts, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Electrostatic Levitation Facility (ESL), and the University of Tennessee. This novel method has several advantages over conventional creep testing. The sample is deformed by the centripetal acceleration from the rapid rotation, and the deformed shapes are analyzed to determine the strain. Since there is no contact with grips, there is no theoretical maximum temperature and no concern about chemical compatibility. Materials may be tested at the service temperature even for extreme environments such as rocket nozzles, or above the service temperature for accelerated testing of materials for applications such as jet engines or turbopumps for liquid-fueled engines. The creep measurements have been demonstrated to 2400 C with niobium, while the test facility, the NASA MSFC ESL, has processed materials up to 3400 C. Furthermore, the ESL creep method employs a distribution of stress to determine the stress exponent from a single test, versus the many tests required by conventional methods. Determination of the stress exponent from the ESL creep tests requires very precise measurement of the surface shape of the deformed sample for comparison to deformations predicted by finite element models for different stress exponents. An error analysis shows that the stress exponent can be determined to about 1% accuracy with the current methods and apparatus. The creep properties of single-crystal niobium at 1985 C showed excellent agreement with conventional tests performed according to ASTM Standard E-139. Tests on other metals, ceramics, and composites relevant to rocket propulsion and turbine engines are underway.

Casting materials

DOEpatents

Chaudhry, Anil R [Xenia, OH; Dzugan, Robert [Cincinnati, OH; Harrington, Richard M [Cincinnati, OH; Neece, Faurice D [Lyndurst, OH; Singh, Nipendra P [Pepper Pike, OH

2011-06-14

A foam material comprises a liquid polymer and a liquid isocyanate which is mixed to make a solution that is poured, injected or otherwise deposited into a corresponding mold. A reaction from the mixture of the liquid polymer and liquid isocyanate inside the mold forms a thermally collapsible foam structure having a shape that corresponds to the inside surface configuration of the mold and a skin that is continuous and unbroken. Once the reaction is complete, the foam pattern is removed from the mold and may be used as a pattern in any number of conventional casting processes.

Predicting synergy in atomic layer etching

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kanarik, Keren J.; Tan, Samantha; Yang, Wenbing

2017-03-27

Atomic layer etching (ALE) is a multistep process used today in manufacturing for removing ultrathin layers of material. In this article, the authors report on ALE of Si, Ge, C, W, GaN, and SiO 2 using a directional (anisotropic) plasma-enhanced approach. The authors analyze these systems by defining an “ALE synergy” parameter which quantifies the degree to which a process approaches the ideal ALE regime. This parameter is inspired by the ion-neutral synergy concept introduced in the 1979 paper by Coburn and Winters. ALE synergy is related to the energetics of underlying surface interactions and is understood in terms ofmore » energy criteria for the energy barriers involved in the reactions. Synergistic behavior is observed for all of the systems studied, with each exhibiting behavior unique to the reactant–material combination. By systematically studying atomic layer etching of a group of materials, the authors show that ALE synergy scales with the surface binding energy of the bulk material. This insight explains why some materials are more or less amenable to the directional ALE approach. Furthermore, they conclude that ALE is both simpler to understand than conventional plasma etch processing and is applicable to metals, semiconductors, and dielectrics.« less

Macro-/Micro-Controlled 3D Lithium-Ion Batteries via Additive Manufacturing and Electric Field Processing.

PubMed

Li, Jie; Liang, Xinhua; Liou, Frank; Park, Jonghyun

2018-01-30

This paper presents a new concept for making battery electrodes that can simultaneously control macro-/micro-structures and help address current energy storage technology gaps and future energy storage requirements. Modern batteries are fabricated in the form of laminated structures that are composed of randomly mixed constituent materials. This randomness in conventional methods can provide a possibility of developing new breakthrough processing techniques to build well-organized structures that can improve battery performance. In the proposed processing, an electric field (EF) controls the microstructures of manganese-based electrodes, while additive manufacturing controls macro-3D structures and the integration of both scales. The synergistic control of micro-/macro-structures is a novel concept in energy material processing that has considerable potential for providing unprecedented control of electrode structures, thereby enhancing performance. Electrochemical tests have shown that these new electrodes exhibit superior performance in their specific capacity, areal capacity, and life cycle.

Liquid crystalline spinning of spider silk

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vollrath, Fritz; Knight, David P.

2001-03-01

Spider silk has outstanding mechanical properties despite being spun at close to ambient temperatures and pressures using water as the solvent. The spider achieves this feat of benign fibre processing by judiciously controlling the folding and crystallization of the main protein constituents, and by adding auxiliary compounds, to create a composite material of defined hierarchical structure. Because the `spinning dope' (the material from which silk is spun) is liquid crystalline, spiders can draw it during extrusion into a hardened fibre using minimal forces. This process involves an unusual internal drawdown within the spider's spinneret that is not seen in industrial fibre processing, followed by a conventional external drawdown after the dope has left the spinneret. Successful copying of the spider's internal processing and precise control over protein folding, combined with knowledge of the gene sequences of its spinning dopes, could permit industrial production of silk-based fibres with unique properties under benign conditions.

Graphene Nanowalls as Ingenious Material for Catalysts and Superconductors

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-05-14

in the literature. Figure 6. CV, charge-discharge behavior, and stability of the N-GNWs/CC as supercapacitor . The Reagon plot with...comparison of conventional carbon materials and our CNWs/CC has been sketched. For conventional materials, irregular packing of the nanomaterials has been

Experimental Investigation Nano Particles Influence in NPMEDM to Machine Inconel 800 with Electrolyte Copper Electrode

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Karunakaran, K.; Chandrasekaran, M.

2017-05-01

The recent technology of machining hard materials is Powder mix dielectric electrical Discharge Machining (PMEDM). This research investigates nano sized (about 5Nm) powders influence in machining Inconel 800 nickel based super alloy. This work is motivated for a practical need for a manufacturing industry, which processes various kinds of jobs of Inconel 800 material. The conventional EDM machining also considered for investigation for the measure of Nano powders performances. The aluminum, silicon and multi walled Carbon Nano tubes powders were considered in this investigation along with pulse on time, pulse of time and input current to analyze and optimize the responses of Material Removal Rate, Tool Wear Rate and surface roughness. The Taguchi general Full Factorial Design was used to design the experiments. The most advance equipments employed in conducting experiments and measuring equipments to improve the accuracy of the result. The MWCNT powder mix was out performs than other powders which reduce 22% to 50% of the tool wear rate, gives the surface roughness reduction from 29.62% to 41.64% and improved MRR 42.91% to 53.51% than conventional EDM.

Analysis of material flow in a utillzation technology of low grade manganese ore and sulphur coal complementary

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Bo-Zhi; Deng, Biao; Su, Shi-Jun; Ding, Sang-Lan; Sun, Wei-Yi

2018-03-01

Electrolytic manganese is conventionally produced through low-grade manganese ore leaching in SO2, with the combustion of high sulfur coal. Subsequently the coal ash and manganese slag, produced by the combustion of high sulfur coal and preparation of electrolytic manganese, can be used as raw ingredients for the preparation of sulphoaluminate cement. In order to realize the `coal-electricity-sulfur-manganese-building material' system of complementary resource utilization, the conditions of material inflow and outflow in each process were determined using material flow analysis. The material flow models in each unit and process can be obtained by analyzed of material flow for new technology, and the input-output model could be obtained. Through the model, it is possible to obtain the quantity of all the input and output material in the condition of limiting the quantity of a substance. Taking one ton electrolytic manganese as a basis, the quantity of other input material and cements can be determined with the input-output model. The whole system had thusly achieved a cleaner production level. Therefore, the input-output model can be used for guidance in practical production.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Jiang, Xiujuan; Whalen, Scott A.; Darsell, Jens T.

Soft magnetic materials are often limited in scalability due to conventional processes that do not retain beneficial microstructures, and their associated physical properties, during densification. In this work, friction consolidation (FC) has been studied to fabricate Fe-Si soft magnetic materials from gas-atomized powder precursors. Fe-Si powder is consolidated using variable pressure and tool rotation speed in an effort to evaluate this unique densification approach for potential improvements in magnetic properties. FC, due to the high shear deformation involved, is shown to result in uniform gradual grain structure refinement across the consolidated workpiece from the center nearest the tool to themore » edge. Magnetic properties along different orientations indicate little, if any, textural orientation in the refined grain structure. The effect of annealing on the magnetic properties is evaluated and shown to decrease coercivity. FC processing was able to retain the magnetization of the original gas-atomized powders but further process optimization is needed to reach the optimal coercivity for the soft magnetic materials applications.« less

Development of crayfish bio-based plastic materials processed by small-scale injection moulding.

PubMed

Felix, Manuel; Romero, Alberto; Cordobes, Felipe; Guerrero, Antonio

2015-03-15

Protein has been investigated as a source for biodegradable polymeric materials. This work evaluates the development of plastic materials based on crayfish and glycerol blends, processed by injection moulding, as a fully biodegradable alternative to conventional polymer-based plastics. The effect of different additives, namely sodium sulfite or bisulfite as reducing agents, urea as denaturing agent and L-cysteine as cross-linking agent, is also analysed. The incorporation of any additive always yields an increase in energy efficiency at the mixing stage, but its effect on the mechanical properties of the bioplastics is not so clear, and even dampened. The additive developing a greater effect is L-cysteine, showing higher Young's modulus values and exhibiting a remnant thermosetting potential. Thus, processing at higher temperature yields a remarkable increase in extensibility. This work illustrates the feasibility of crayfish-based green biodegradable plastics, thereby contributing to the search for potential value-added applications for this by-product. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry.

Optical properties modification induced by laser radiation in noble-metal-doped glasses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nedyalkov, N.; Stankova, N. E.; Koleva, M. E.; Nikov, R.; Atanasov, P.; Grozeva, M.; Iordanova, E.; Yankov, G.; Aleksandrov, L.; Iordanova, R.; Karashanova, D.

2018-03-01

We present results on laser-induced color changes in gold- and silver-doped glass. The doped borosilicate glass was prepared by conventional melt quenching. The study was focused on the change of the optical properties after irradiation of the glass by femtosecond laser pulses. Under certain conditions, the laser radiation induces defects associated with formation of color centers in the material. We studied this process in a broad range of laser radiation wavelengths – from UV to IR, and observed changes in the color of the irradiated areas after annealing of the processed glass samples, the color being red for the gold-doped glass red and yellow for the silver-doped glass. The structural and morphological analyses performed indicated that this effect is related to formation of metal nanoparticles inside the material. The results obtained show that femtosecond laser processing of noble-metal-doped glasses can be used for fabrication of 3D-nanoparticles systems in transparent materials with application as novel optical components.

Distortion of genetically modified organism quantification in processed foods: influence of particle size compositions and heat-induced DNA degradation.

PubMed

Moreano, Francisco; Busch, Ulrich; Engel, Karl-Heinz

2005-12-28

Milling fractions from conventional and transgenic corn were prepared at laboratory scale and used to study the influence of sample composition and heat-induced DNA degradation on the relative quantification of genetically modified organisms (GMO) in food products. Particle size distributions of the obtained fractions (coarse grits, regular grits, meal, and flour) were characterized using a laser diffraction system. The application of two DNA isolation protocols revealed a strong correlation between the degree of comminution of the milling fractions and the DNA yield in the extracts. Mixtures of milling fractions from conventional and transgenic material (1%) were prepared and analyzed via real-time polymerase chain reaction. Accurate quantification of the adjusted GMO content was only possible in mixtures containing conventional and transgenic material in the form of analogous milling fractions, whereas mixtures of fractions exhibiting different particle size distributions delivered significantly over- and underestimated GMO contents depending on their compositions. The process of heat-induced nucleic acid degradation was followed by applying two established quantitative assays showing differences between the lengths of the recombinant and reference target sequences (A, deltal(A) = -25 bp; B, deltal(B) = +16 bp; values related to the amplicon length of the reference gene). Data obtained by the application of method A resulted in underestimated recoveries of GMO contents in the samples of heat-treated products, reflecting the favored degradation of the longer target sequence used for the detection of the transgene. In contrast, data yielded by the application of method B resulted in increasingly overestimated recoveries of GMO contents. The results show how commonly used food technological processes may lead to distortions in the results of quantitative GMO analyses.

Transmission and reflection SHSG holograms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Jong Man; Choi, Byung S.; Choi, Yoon S.; Kim, Sun I.; Kim, Jong-Min; Bjelkhagen, Hans I.; Phillips, Nicholas J.

2001-06-01

Silver halide sensitized gelatin (SHSG) holograms are similar to holograms recorded in dichromated gelatin (DCG), the main recording material for holographic optical elements (HOEs). The drawback of DCG is its low energetic sensitivity and limited spectral response. Silver halide materials can be processed in such a way that the final hologram will have properties like a DCG hologram. Recently this technique has become more interesting since the introduction of new ultra- fine grain silver halide (AgHal) emulsions. In particular, high spatial frequency fringes associated with HOEs of the reflection type are difficult to convert employing SHSG processing methods. Therefore, an optimized processing techniques for reflection HOEs recorded in the new AgHal- materials is introduced. Diffraction efficiencies over 90 percent can be obtained for both transmission and reflection diffraction gratings. Understanding the importance of the selective hardening process has made it possible to obtain results similar to conventional DCG processing. The main advantage of the SHSG process is that high-sensitivity recording can be performed with laser wavelengths anywhere within the visible spectrum. This simplifies the manufacturing of high-quality, large-format HOEs, including also high-quality display holograms of the reflection type, both monochrome and full color.

Holographic Optical Elements Recorded in Silver Halide Sensitized Gelatin Emulsions. Part 2. Reflection Holographic Optical Elements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Jong Man; Choi, Byung So; Choi, Yoon Sun; Kim, Jong Min; Bjelkhagen, Hans I.; Phillips, Nicholas J.

2002-03-01

Silver halide sensitized gelatin (SHSG) holograms are similar to holograms recorded in dichromated gelatin (DCG), the main recording material for holographic optical elements (HOEs). The drawback of DCG is its low energetic sensitivity and limited spectral response. Silver halide materials can be processed in such a way that the final hologram will have properties like a DCG hologram. Recently this technique has become more interesting since the introduction of new ultra-fine-grain silver halide (AgHal) emulsions. In particular, high spatial-frequency fringes associated with HOEs of the reflection type are difficult to construct when SHSG processing methods are employed. Therefore an optimized processing technique for reflection HOEs recorded in the new AgHal materials is introduced. Diffraction efficiencies over 90% can be obtained repeatably for reflection diffraction gratings. Understanding the importance of a selective hardening process has made it possible to obtain results similar to conventional DCG processing. The main advantage of the SHSG process is that high-sensitivity recording can be performed with laser wavelengths anywhere within the visible spectrum. This simplifies the manufacturing of high-quality, large-format HOEs, also including high-quality display holograms of the reflection type in both monochrome and full color.

Numerical simulation of high speed incremental forming of aluminum alloy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Giuseppina, Ambrogio; Teresa, Citrea; Luigino, Filice; Francesco, Gagliardi

2013-12-01

In this study, an innovative process is analyzed with the aim to satisfy the industrial requirements, such as process flexibility, differentiation and customizing of products, cost reduction, minimization of execution time, sustainable production, etc. The attention is focused on incremental forming process, nowadays used in different fields such as: rapid prototyping, medical sector, architectural industry, aerospace and marine, in the production of molds and dies. Incremental forming consists in deforming only a small region of the workspace through a punch driven by a NC machine. SPIF is the considered variant of the process, in which the punch gives local deformation without dies and molds; consequently, the final product geometry can be changed by the control of an actuator without requiring a set of different tools. The drawback of this process is its slowness. The aim of this study is to assess the IF feasibility at high speeds. An experimental campaign will be performed by a CNC lathe with high speed to test process feasibility and the influence on materials formability mainly on aluminum alloys. The first results show how the material presents the same performance than in conventional speed IF and, in some cases, better material behavior due to the temperature field. An accurate numerical simulation has been performed to investigate the material behavior during the high speed process substantially confirming experimental evidence.

From conventional towards new - natural surfactants in drug delivery systems design: current status and perspectives.

PubMed

Savić, Snezana; Tamburić, Slobodanka; Savić, Miroslav M

2010-03-01

Surfactants play an important role in the development of both conventional and advanced (colloidal) drug delivery systems. There are several commercial surfactants, but a proportionally small group of them is approved as pharmaceutical excipients, recognized in various pharmacopoeias and therefore widely accepted by the pharmaceutical industry. The review covers some of the main categories of natural, sugar-based surfactants (alkyl polyglucosides and sugar esters) as prospective pharmaceutical excipients. It provides analysis of the physicochemical characteristics of sugar-based surfactants and their possible roles in the design of conventional or advanced drug delivery systems for different routes of administration. Summary and analysis of recent data on functionality, applied concentrations and formulation improvements produced by alkyl polyglucosides and sugar esters in different conventional and advanced delivery systems could be of interest to researchers dealing with drug formulation. Recent FDA certification of an alkyl polyglucoside surfactant for topical formulation presents a significant step in the process of recognition of this relatively new group of surfactants. This could trigger further research into the potential benefits of naturally derived materials in both conventional and new drug delivery systems.

Recent developments in turning hardened steels - A review

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sivaraman, V.; Prakash, S.

2017-05-01

Hard materials ranging from HRC 45 - 68 such as hardened AISI H13, AISI 4340, AISI 52100, D2 STL, D3 STEEL Steel etc., need super hard tool materials to machine. Turning of these hard materials is termed as hard turning. Hard turning makes possible direct machining of the hard materials and also eliminates the lubricant requirement and thus favoring dry machining. Hard turning is a finish turning process and hence conventional grinding is not required. Development of the new advanced super hard tool materials such as ceramic inserts, Cubic Boron Nitride, Polycrystalline Cubic Boron Nitride etc. enabled the turning of these materials. PVD and CVD methods of coating have made easier the production of single and multi layered coated tool inserts. Coatings of TiN, TiAlN, TiC, Al2O3, AlCrN over cemented carbide inserts has lead to the machining of difficult to machine materials. Advancement in the process of hard machining paved way for better surface finish, long tool life, reduced tool wear, cutting force and cutting temperatures. Micro and Nano coated carbide inserts, nanocomposite coated PCBN inserts, micro and nano CBN coated carbide inserts and similar developments have made machining of hardened steels much easier and economical. In this paper, broad literature review on turning of hardened steels including optimizing process parameters, cooling requirements, different tool materials etc., are done.

Hynol: An economic process for methanol production from biomass and natural gas with reduced CO2 emission

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Steinberg, M.; Dong, Yuanji

1993-10-01

The Hynol process is proposed to meet the demand for an economical process for methanol production with reduced CO2 emission. This new process consists of three reaction steps: (1) hydrogasification of biomass, (2) steam reforming of the produced gas with additional natural gas feedstock, and (3) methanol synthesis of the hydrogen and carbon monoxide produced during the previous two steps. The H2-rich gas remaining after methanol synthesis is recycled to gasify the biomass in an energy neutral reactor so that there is no need for an expensive oxygen plant as required by commercial steam gasifiers. Recycling gas allows the methanol synthesis reactor to perform at a relatively lower pressure than conventional while the plant still maintains high methanol yield. Energy recovery designed into the process minimizes heat loss and increases the process thermal efficiency. If the Hynol methanol is used as an alternative and more efficient automotive fuel, an overall 41% reduction in CO2 emission can be achieved compared to the use of conventional gasoline fuel. A preliminary economic estimate shows that the total capital investment for a Hynol plant is 40% lower than that for a conventional biomass gasification plant. The methanol production cost is $0.43/gal for a 1085 million gal/yr Hynol plant which is competitive with current U.S. methanol and equivalent gasoline prices. Process flowsheet and simulation data using biomass and natural gas as cofeedstocks are presented. The Hynol process can convert any condensed carbonaceous material, especially municipal solid waste (MSW), to produce methanol.

Aging mechanisms in amorphous phase-change materials.

PubMed

Raty, Jean Yves; Zhang, Wei; Luckas, Jennifer; Chen, Chao; Mazzarello, Riccardo; Bichara, Christophe; Wuttig, Matthias

2015-06-24

Aging is a ubiquitous phenomenon in glasses. In the case of phase-change materials, it leads to a drift in the electrical resistance, which hinders the development of ultrahigh density storage devices. Here we elucidate the aging process in amorphous GeTe, a prototypical phase-change material, by advanced numerical simulations, photothermal deflection spectroscopy and impedance spectroscopy experiments. We show that aging is accompanied by a progressive change of the local chemical order towards the crystalline one. Yet, the glass evolves towards a covalent amorphous network with increasing Peierls distortion, whose structural and electronic properties drift away from those of the resonantly bonded crystal. This behaviour sets phase-change materials apart from conventional glass-forming systems, which display the same local structure and bonding in both phases.

Method for the preparation of ferrous low carbon porous material

DOEpatents

Miller, Curtis Jack

2014-05-27

A method for preparing a porous metal article using a powder metallurgy forming process is provided which eliminates the conventional steps associated with removing residual carbon. The method uses a feedstock that includes a ferrous metal powder and a polycarbonate binder. The polycarbonate binder can be removed by thermal decomposition after the metal article is formed without leaving a carbon residue.

Availability of underlayer application to EUV process

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kosugi, Hitoshi; Fonseca, Carlos; Iwao, Fumiko; Marumoto, Hiroshi; Kim, Hyun-Woo; Cho, Kyoungyong; Park, Cheol-Hong; Park, Chang-Min; Na, Hai-Sub; Koh, Cha-Won; Cho, Hanku

2011-04-01

EUV lithography is one of the most promising technologies for the fabrication of beyond 30nm HP generation devices. However, it is well-known that EUV lithography still has significant challenges. A great concern is the change of resist material for EUV resist process. EUV resist material formulations will likely change from conventional-type materials. As a result, substrate dependency needs to be understood. TEL has reported that the simulation combined with experiments is a good way to confirm the substrate dependency. In this work the application of HMDS treatment and SiON introduction, as an underlayer, are studied to cause a footing of resist profile. Then, we applied this simulation technique to Samsung EUV process. We will report the benefit of this simulation work and effect of underlayer application. Regarding the etching process, underlayer film introduction could have significant issues because the film that should be etched off increases. For that purpose, thinner films are better for etching. In general, thinner films may have some coating defects. We will report the coating coverage performance and defectivity of ultra thin film coating.

Low-cost conformable storage to maximize vehicle range

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Graham, R.P.

Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and compressed natural gas (CNG) are currently the leading fuel contenders for converting vehicles from gasoline and diesel to alternative fuels. Two factors that inhibit conversion are additional vehicle costs and reduced range compared to gasoline. In overcoming these barriers, a key element of the alternative fuel system becomes the storage tank for these pressurized fuels. Using cylindrical pressure vessels is the conventional approach, but they do not package well in the available vehicle volume. Thiokol Corporation has developed and is now producing a conformable (non-cylindrical) aluminum storage system for LPG vans. This system increases fuelmore » storage in a given rectangular envelope. The goal of this project was to develop the technology for a lower cost conformable tank made of injection-molded plastic. Much of the cost of the aluminum conformable tank is in the fabrication because several weld seams are required. The injection-molding process has the potential to greatly reduce the fabrication costs. The requirements of a pressurized fuel tank on a vehicle necessitate the proper combination of material properties. Material selection and tank design must be optimized for maximum internal volume and minimum material use to be competitive with other technologies. The material and the design must also facilitate the injection-molding process. Prototype tanks must be fabricated to reveal molding problems, prove solutions, and measure results. In production, efficient fabrication will be key to making these tanks cost competitive. The work accomplished during this project has demonstrated that conformable LPG tanks can be molded with thermoplastics. However, to achieve a competitive tank, improvements are needed in the effective material strength. If these improvements can be made, molded plastics should produce a lower cost tank that can store more LPG on a vehicle than conventional cylinders.« less

Improving packaged food quality and safety. Part 1: synchrotron X-ray analysis.

PubMed

López-Rubio, A; Hernandez-Muñoz, P; Catala, R; Gavara, R; Lagarón, J M

2005-10-01

The objective was to demonstrate, as an example of an application, the potential of synchrotron X-ray analysis to detect morphological alterations that can occur in barrier packaging materials and structures. These changes can affect the packaging barrier characteristics when conventional food preservation treatments are applied to packaged food. The paper presents the results of a number of experiments where time-resolved combined wide-angle X-ray scattering and small-angle X-ray scattering analysis as a function of temperature and humidity were applied to ethylene-vinyl alcohol co-polymers (EVOH), polypropylene (PP)/EVOH/PP structures, aliphatic polyketone terpolymer (PK) and amorphous polyamide (aPA) materials. A comparison between conventional retorting and high-pressure processing treatments in terms of morphologic alterations are also presented for EVOH. The impact of retorting on the EVOH structure contrasts with the good behaviour of the PK during this treatment and with that of aPA. However, no significant structural changes were observed by wide-angle X-ray scattering in the EVOH structures after high-pressure processing treatment. These structural observations have also been correlated with oxygen permeability measurements that are of importance when guaranteeing the intended levels of safety and quality of packaged food.

High voltage fragmentation of composites from secondary raw materials - Potential and limitations.

PubMed

Leißner, T; Hamann, D; Wuschke, L; Jäckel, H-G; Peuker, U A

2018-04-01

The comminution of composites for liberation of valuable components is a costly and energy-intensive process within the recycling of spent products. It therefore is continuously studied and optimized. In addition to conventional mechanical comminution innovative new principles for size reduction have been developed. One is the use of high voltage (HV) pulses, which is known to be a technology selectively liberating along phase boundaries. This technology offers the advantage of targeted liberation, preventing overgrinding of the material and thus improving the overall processing as well as product quality. In this study, the high voltage fragmentation of three different non-brittle composites (galvanized plastics, carbon fibre composites, electrode foils from Li-ion batteries) was investigated. The influence of pulse rate, number of pulses and filling level on the liberation and efficiency of comminution is discussed. Using the guideline VDI 2225 HV, fragmentation is compared to conventional mechanical comminution with respect to numerous criteria such as cost, throughput, energy consumption, availability and scalability. It was found that at current state of development, HV fragmentation cannot compete with mechanical comminution beyond laboratory scale. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Innovations in 3D printing: a 3D overview from optics to organs.

PubMed

Schubert, Carl; van Langeveld, Mark C; Donoso, Larry A

2014-02-01

3D printing is a method of manufacturing in which materials, such as plastic or metal, are deposited onto one another in layers to produce a three dimensional object, such as a pair of eye glasses or other 3D objects. This process contrasts with traditional ink-based printers which produce a two dimensional object (ink on paper). To date, 3D printing has primarily been used in engineering to create engineering prototypes. However, recent advances in printing materials have now enabled 3D printers to make objects that are comparable with traditionally manufactured items. In contrast with conventional printers, 3D printing has the potential to enable mass customisation of goods on a large scale and has relevance in medicine including ophthalmology. 3D printing has already been proved viable in several medical applications including the manufacture of eyeglasses, custom prosthetic devices and dental implants. In this review, we discuss the potential for 3D printing to revolutionise manufacturing in the same way as the printing press revolutionised conventional printing. The applications and limitations of 3D printing are discussed; the production process is demonstrated by producing a set of eyeglass frames from 3D blueprints.

Application of Organophosphonic Acids by One-Step Supercritical CO2 on 1D and 2D Semiconductors: Toward Enhanced Electrical and Sensing Performances.

PubMed

Bhartia, Bhavesh; Bacher, Nadav; Jayaraman, Sundaramurthy; Khatib, Salam; Song, Jing; Guo, Shifeng; Troadec, Cedric; Puniredd, Sreenivasa Reddy; Srinivasan, Madapusi Palavedu; Haick, Hossam

2015-07-15

Formation of dense monolayers with proven atmospheric stability using simple fabrication conditions remains a major challenge for potential applications such as (bio)sensors, solar cells, surfaces for growth of biological cells, and molecular, organic, and plastic electronics. Here, we demonstrate a single-step modification of organophosphonic acids (OPA) on 1D and 2D structures using supercritical carbon dioxide (SCCO2) as a processing medium, with high stability and significantly shorter processing times than those obtained by the conventional physisorption-chemisorption method (2.5 h vs 48-60 h).The advantages of this approach in terms of stability and atmospheric resistivity are demonstrated on various 2D materials, such as indium-tin-oxide (ITO) and 2D Si surfaces. The advantage of the reported approach on electronic and sensing devices is demonstrated by Si nanowire field effect transistors (SiNW FETs), which have shown a few orders of magnitude higher electrical and sensing performances, compared with devices obtained by conventional approaches. The compatibility of the reported approach with various materials and its simple implementation with a single reactor makes it easily scalable for various applications.

[Evaluation of production and clinical working time of computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) custom trays for complete denture].

PubMed

Wei, L; Chen, H; Zhou, Y S; Sun, Y C; Pan, S X

2017-02-18

To compare the technician fabrication time and clinical working time of custom trays fabricated using two different methods, the three-dimensional printing custom trays and the conventional custom trays, and to prove the feasibility of the computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) custom trays in clinical use from the perspective of clinical time cost. Twenty edentulous patients were recruited into this study, which was prospective, single blind, randomized self-control clinical trials. Two custom trays were fabricated for each participant. One of the custom trays was fabricated using functional suitable denture (FSD) system through CAD/CAM process, and the other was manually fabricated using conventional methods. Then the final impressions were taken using both the custom trays, followed by utilizing the final impression to fabricate complete dentures respectively. The technician production time of the custom trays and the clinical working time of taking the final impression was recorded. The average time spent on fabricating the three-dimensional printing custom trays using FSD system and fabricating the conventional custom trays manually were (28.6±2.9) min and (31.1±5.7) min, respectively. The average time spent on making the final impression with the three-dimensional printing custom trays using FSD system and the conventional custom trays fabricated manually were (23.4±11.5) min and (25.4±13.0) min, respectively. There was significant difference in the technician fabrication time and the clinical working time between the three-dimensional printing custom trays using FSD system and the conventional custom trays fabricated manually (P<0.05). The average time spent on fabricating three-dimensional printing custom trays using FSD system and making the final impression with the trays are less than those of the conventional custom trays fabricated manually, which reveals that the FSD three-dimensional printing custom trays is less time-consuming both in the clinical and laboratory process than the conventional custom trays. In addition, when we manufacture custom trays by three-dimensional printing method, there is no need to pour preliminary cast after taking the primary impression, therefore, it can save the impression material and model material. As to completing denture restoration, manufacturing custom trays using FSD system is worth being popularized.

Thin-sectioning and analysis of fine-grained meteoritic materials

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Brooks, Donald A. (Editor); Bradley, John P.

1992-01-01

The overall theme of the work was the identification of the sources and formation/aggregation mechanisms of the various classes of interplanetary dust particles (IDP's) and to clarify the relationship between IDP's and conventional meteorites. IDP's are believed to be derived from a much broader range of parent bodies than conventional meteorites. Some of these parent bodies (e.g., comets) have escaped that post accretional processing that has affected the parent bodies of meteorites. Therefore, IDP's are likely to preserve a record of early solar system and possibly presolar grain forming reactions. Using analytical electron microscopy (AEM) and more recently micro-infrared (IR) microspectroscopy to examine ultramicrotomed thin sections, we have addressed the questions of IDP formation mechanisms, sources, and their relationship to conventional meteorites. The following sections describe specific findings resulting from these studies.

Corrosion-Resistant Container for Molten-Material Processing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stern, Theodore G.; McNaul, Eric

2010-01-01

In a carbothermal process, gaseous methane is passed over molten regolith, which is heated past its melting point to a temperature in excess of 1,625 C. At this temperature, materials in contact with the molten regolith (or regolith simulant) corrode and lose their structural properties. As a result, fabricating a crucible to hold the molten material and providing a method of contact heating have been problematic. Alternative containment approaches use a large crucible and limit the heat zone of the material being processed, which is inefficient because of volume and mass constraints. Alternative heating approaches use non-contact heating, such as by laser or concentrated solar energy, which can be inefficient in transferring heat and thus require higher power heat sources to accomplish processing. The innovation is a combination of materials, with a substrate material having high structural strength and stiffness and high-temperature capability, and a coating material with a high corrosion resistance and high-temperature capability. The material developed is a molybdenum substrate with an iridium coating. Creating the containment crucible or heater jacket using this material combination requires only that the molybdenum, which is easily processed by conventional methods such as milling, electric discharge machining, or forming and brazing, be fabricated into an appropriate shape, and that the iridium coating be applied to any surfaces that may come in contact with the corrosive molten material. In one engineering application, the molybdenum was fashioned into a container for a heat pipe. Since only the end of the heat pipe is used to heat the regolith, the container has a narrowing end with a nipple in which the heat pipe is snugly fit, and the external area of this nipple, which contacts the regolith to transfer heat into it, is coated with iridium. At the time of this reporting, no single material has been found that can perform the functions of this combination of materials, and other combinations of materials have not proven to be survivable to the corrosiveness of this environment. High-temperature processing of materials with similar constituencies as lunar regolith is fairly common. The carbo-thermal process is commonly used to make metallurgical-grade silicon for the semiconductor and solar-cell industries.

Innovative forming and fabrication technologies : new opportunities.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Davis, B.; Hryn, J.; Energy Systems

2008-01-31

The advent of light metal alloys and advanced materials (polymer, composites, etc.) have brought the possibility of achieving important energy reductions into the full life cycle of these materials, especially in transportation applications. 1 These materials have gained acceptance in the aerospace industry but use of light metal alloys needs to gain wider acceptance in other commercial transportation areas. Among the main reasons for the relatively low use of these materials are the lack of manufacturability, insufficient mechanical properties, and increased material costs due to processing inefficiencies. Considering the enormous potential energy savings associated with the use of light metalmore » alloys and advanced materials in transportation, there is a need to identify R&D opportunities in the fields of materials fabrication and forming aimed at developing materials with high specific mechanical properties combined with energy efficient processes and good manufacturability. This report presents a literature review of the most recent developments in the areas of fabrication and metal forming focusing principally on aluminum alloys. In the first section of the document, the different sheet manufacturing technologies including direct chill (DC) casting and rolling, spray forming, spray rolling, thin slab, and strip casting are reviewed. The second section of the document presents recent research on advanced forming processes. The various forming processes reviewed are: superplastic forming, electromagnetic forming, age forming, warm forming, hydroforming, and incremental forming. Optimization of conventional forming processes is also discussed. Potentially interesting light metal alloys for high structural efficiency including aluminum-scandium, aluminum-lithium, magnesium, titanium, and amorphous metal alloys are also reviewed. This section concludes with a discussion on alloy development for manufacturability. The third section of the document reviews the latest developments in fiber-reinforced composite materials. Emerging curing processes are presented along with a discussion on the possible developments in biocomposite materials. The fourth section presents recent developments in the fabrication of bulk nanomaterials and nanoparticles reinforced materials. Advanced joining technologies are presented in the fifth section. Future research is proposed in the last section.« less

Comparative Study on the Efficacy of Gingival Retraction using Polyvinyl Acetate Strips and Conventional Retraction Cord – An in Vivo Study

PubMed Central

Shivasakthy, M.; Asharaf Ali, Syed

2013-01-01

Statement of Problem: A new material is proposed in dentistry in the form of strips for producing gingival retraction. The clinical efficacy of the material remains untested. Purpose of the Study: This study aimed to determine whether the polyvinyl acetate strips are able to effectively displace the gingival tissues in comparison with the conventional retraction cord. Material and Methods: Complete metal ceramic preparation with supra-gingival margin was performed in fourteen maxillary incisors and gingival retraction was done using Merocel strips and conventional retraction cords alternatively in 2 weeks time interval. The amount of displacement was compared using a digital vernier caliper of 0.01mm accuracy. Results were analyzed statistically using Paired students t-test. Results: The statistical analysis of the data revealed that both the conventional retraction cord and the Merocel strip produce significant retraction. Among both the materials, Merocel proved to be significantly more effective. Conclusion: Merocel strip produces more gingival displacement than the conventional retraction cord. PMID:24298531

Crack layer theory

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chudnovsky, A.

1984-01-01

A damage parameter is introduced in addition to conventional parameters of continuum mechanics and consider a crack surrounded by an array of microdefects within the continuum mechanics framework. A system consisting of the main crack and surrounding damage is called crack layer (CL). Crack layer propagation is an irreversible process. The general framework of the thermodynamics of irreversible processes are employed to identify the driving forces (causes) and to derive the constitutive equation of CL propagation, that is, the relationship between the rates of the crack growth and damage dissemination from one side and the conjugated thermodynamic forces from another. The proposed law of CL propagation is in good agreement with the experimental data on fatigue CL propagation in various materials. The theory also elaborates material toughness characterization.

Crack layer theory

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chudnovsky, A.

1987-01-01

A damage parameter is introduced in addition to conventional parameters of continuum mechanics and consider a crack surrounded by an array of microdefects within the continuum mechanics framework. A system consisting of the main crack and surrounding damage is called crack layer (CL). Crack layer propagation is an irreversible process. The general framework of the thermodynamics of irreversible processes are employed to identify the driving forces (causes) and to derive the constitutive equation of CL propagation, that is, the relationship between the rates of the crack growth and damage dissemination from one side and the conjugated thermodynamic forces from another. The proposed law of CL propagation is in good agreement with the experimental data on fatigue CL propagation in various materials. The theory also elaborates material toughness characterization.

Using Powder Cored Tubular Wire Technology to Enhance Electron Beam Freeform Fabricated Structures

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gonzales, Devon; Liu, Stephen; Domack, Marcia; Hafley, Robert

2016-01-01

Electron Beam Freeform Fabrication (EBF3) is an additive manufacturing technique, developed at NASA Langley Research Center, capable of fabricating large scale aerospace parts. Advantages of using EBF3 as opposed to conventional manufacturing methods include, decreased design-to-product time, decreased wasted material, and the ability to adapt controls to produce geometrically complex parts with properties comparable to wrought products. However, to fully exploit the potential of the EBF3 process development of materials tailored for the process is required. Powder cored tubular wire (PCTW) technology was used to modify Ti-6Al-4V and Al 6061 feedstock to enhance alloy content, refine grain size, and create a metal matrix composite in the as-solidified structures, respectively.

Laser micromachining of optical devices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kopitkovas, Giedrius; Lippert, Thomas; David, Christian; Sulcas, Rokas; Hobley, Jonathan; Wokaun, Alexander J.; Gobrecht, Jens

2004-10-01

The combination of a gray tone phase mask with a laser assisted wet etching process was applied to fabricate complex microstructures in UV transparent dielectric materials. This one-step method allows the generation of arrays of plano-convex and Fresnel micro-lenses using a conventional XeCl excimer laser and an absorbing liquid, which is in contact with the UV transparent material. An array of plano-convex micro-lenses was tested as beam homogenizer for a high power XeCl excimer and ps Nd:YAG laser. The roughness of the etched features varies from several μm to 10 nm, depending on the laser fluence and concentration of the dye in the organic liquid. The etching process can be divided into several etching mechanisms which vary with laser fluence.

Electric measurements of PV heterojunction structures a-SiC/c-Si

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Perný, Milan; Šály, Vladimír; Janíček, František; Mikolášek, Miroslav; Váry, Michal; Huran, Jozef

2018-01-01

Due to the particular advantages of amorphous silicon or its alloys with carbon in comparison to conventional crystalline materials makes such a material still interesting for study. The amorphous silicon carbide may be used in a number of micro-mechanical and micro-electronics applications and also for photovoltaic energy conversion devices. Boron doped thin layers of amorphous silicon carbide, presented in this paper, were prepared due to the optimization process for preparation of heterojunction solar cell structure. DC and AC measurement and subsequent evaluation were carried out in order to comprehensively assess the electrical transport processes in the prepared a-SiC/c-Si structures. We have investigated the influence of methane content in deposition gas mixture and different electrode configuration.

In-situ monitoring of ? phase transformation in Ti-6Al-6V-2Sn using laser ultrasonics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hinterlechner, Irina; Barriobero-Vila, Pere; Reitinger, Bernhard; Fromherz, Thomas; Requena, Guillermo; Burgholzer, Peter

2018-04-01

Titanium is of great interest for metal processing industries due to its superior material properties, but it is also quite expensive. Therefore, a detailed knowledge of ? phase transformation and consequential the distribution of ? and ? phase in titanium alloys is crucial for their material properties and as a consequence for further processing steps. Measuring the ultrasonic velocity and attenuation by laser ultrasonics technology (LUS) as a non-destructive and non-contact technique, it is possible to qualitatively monitor in-situ the phase transformation during heating the sample from room temperature up to ?. We validate LUS methodology against high energy X-ray diffraction as well as against conventional metallurgic measurements and get excellent agreement between the results of these methods.

10 CFR 73.74 - Requirement for advance notice and protection of import shipments of nuclear material from...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... shipments of nuclear material from countries that are not party to the Convention on the Physical Protection... PROTECTION OF PLANTS AND MATERIALS Records and Reports § 73.74 Requirement for advance notice and protection of import shipments of nuclear material from countries that are not party to the Convention on the...

10 CFR 73.74 - Requirement for advance notice and protection of import shipments of nuclear material from...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... shipments of nuclear material from countries that are not party to the Convention on the Physical Protection... PROTECTION OF PLANTS AND MATERIALS Records and Reports § 73.74 Requirement for advance notice and protection of import shipments of nuclear material from countries that are not party to the Convention on the...

Development and kinetic analysis of cobalt gradient formation in WC-Co composites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guo, Jun

2011-12-01

Functionally graded cemented tungsten carbide (FG WC-Co) is one of the main research directions in the field of WC-Co over decades. Although it has long been recognized that FG WC-Co could outperform conventional homogeneous WC-Co owing to its potentially superior combinations of mechanical properties, until recently there has been a lack of effective and economical methods to make such materials. The lack of the technology has prevented the manufacturing and industrial applications of FG WC-Co from becoming a reality. This dissertation is a comprehensive study of an innovative atmosphere heat treatment process for producing FG WC-Co with a surface cobalt compositional gradient. The process exploited a triple phase field in W-C-Co phase diagram among three phases (solid WC, solid Co, and liquid Co) and the dependence of the migration of liquid Co on temperature and carbon content. WC-Co with a graded surface cobalt composition can be achieved by controlling the diffusion of carbon transported from atmosphere during sintering or during postsintering heat treatment. The feasibility of the process was validated by the successful preparations of FG WC-Co via both carburization and decarburization process following conventional liquid phase sintering. A study of the carburization process was undertaken to further understand and quantitatively modeled this process. The effects of key processing parameters (including heat treating temperature, atmosphere, and time) and key materials variables (involving Co content, WC grain size, and addition of grain growth inhibitors) on the formation of Co gradients were examined. Moreover, a carbon-diffusion controlled kinetic model was developed for simulating the formation of the gradient during the process. The parameters involved in this model were determined by thermodynamic calculations and regression-fit of simulation results with experimental data. In summary, this research first demonstrated the principle of the approach. Second, a model was developed to predict the gradients produced by the carbon-controlled atmosphere heat treatment process, which is useful for manufacturing WC-Co with designed gradients. FG WC-Co materials produced using this method are expected to exhibit superior performance in many applications and to have a profound impact on the manufacturing industries that use tungsten carbide tools.

Analysis of the application of poly-nanocrystalline diamond tools for ultra precision machining of steel with ultrasonic assistance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Doetz, M.; Dambon, O.; Klocke, F.; Bulla, B.; Schottka, K.; Robertson, D. J.

2017-10-01

Ultra-precision diamond turning enables the manufacturing of parts with mirror-like surfaces and highest form accuracies out of non-ferrous, a few crystalline and plastic materials. Furthermore, an ultrasonic assistance has the ability to push these boundaries and enables the machining of materials like steel, which is not possible in a conventional way due to the excessive tool wear caused by the affinity of carbon to iron. Usually monocrystalline diamonds tools are applied due to their unsurpassed cutting edge properties. New cutting tool material developments have shown that it is possible to produce tools made of nano-polycrystalline diamonds with cutting edges equivalent to monocrystalline diamonds. In nano-polycrystalline diamonds ultra-fine grains of a few tens of nanometers are firmly and directly bonded together creating an unisotropic structure. The properties of this material are described to be isotropic, harder and tougher than those of the monocrystalline diamonds, which are unisotropic. This publication will present machining results from the newest investigations of the process potential of this new polycrystalline cutting material. In order to provide a baseline with which to characterize the cutting material cutting experiments on different conventional machinable materials like Cooper or Aluminum are performed. The results provide information on the roughness and the topography of the surface focusing on the comparison to the results while machining with monocrystalline diamond. Furthermore, the cutting material is tested in machining steel with ultrasonic assistance with a focus on tool life time and surface roughness. An outlook on the machinability of other materials will be given.

Nanophase materials assembled from clusters

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Siegel, R.W.

1992-02-01

The preparation of metal and ceramic atom clusters by means of the gas-condensation method, followed by their in situ collection and consolidation under high-vacuum conditions, has recently led to the synthesis of a new class of ultrafine-grained materials. These nanophase materials, with typical average grain sizes of 5 to 50 nm and, hence, a large fraction of their atoms in interfaces, exhibit properties that are often considerably improved relative to those of conventional materials. Furthermore, their synthesis and processing characteristics should enable the design of new materials with unique properties. Some examples are ductile ceramics that can be formed andmore » sintered to full density at low temperatures without the need for binding or sintering aids, and metals with dramatically increased strength. The synthesis of these materials is briefly described along with what is presently known of their structure and properties. Their future impact on materials science and technology is also considered.« less

A study of reduced chromium content in a nickel-base superalloy via element substitution and rapid solidification processing. Ph.D. ThesisFinal Report

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Powers, William O.

1987-01-01

A study of reduced chromium content in a nickel base superalloy via element substitution and rapid solidification processing was performed. The two elements used as partial substitutes for chromium were Si and Zr. The microstructure of conventionally solidified materials was characterized using microscopy techniques. These alloys were rapidly solidified using the chill block melt spinning technique and the rapidly solidified microstructures were characterized using electron microscopy. The spinning technique and the rapidly solidified microstructures was assessed following heat treatments at 1033 and 1272 K. Rapidly solidified material of three alloys was reduced to particulate form and consolidated using hot isostatic pressing (HIP). The consolidated materials were also characterized using microscopy techniques. In order to evaluate the relative strengths of the consolidated alloys, compression tests were performed at room temperature and 1033 K on samples of as-HIPed and HIPed plus solution treated material. Yield strength, porosity, and oxidation resistance characteristics are given and compared.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Liu, Jia

Biorefineries convert biomass into many useful intermediates. For bio-based products to be used for fuel, energy, chemical, and many other applications, water needs to be removed from these aqueous products. Membrane separation technologies can significantly reduce separation energy consumption compared with conventional separation processes such as distillation. Nanoporous inorganic membranes have superior pervaporation performance with excellent organic fouling resistance. However, their commercial applications are limited due to high membrane costs and poor production reproducibility. A novel cost-effective inorganic membrane fabrication technology has been developed with low cost materials and using an advanced membrane fabrication technology. Low cost precursor material formulationmore » was successfully developed with desired material properties for membrane fabrication. An advanced membrane fabrication process was developed using the novel membrane materials to enable the fabrication of separation membranes of various geometries. The structural robustness and separation performance of the low cost inorganic membranes were evaluated. The novel inorganic membranes demonstrated high structural integrity and were effective in pervaporation removal of water.« less

Plant-Based, Shape-Memory Material Could Replace Today’s Conductors

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

None

A novel approach that creates a renewable, leathery material—programmed to remember its shape—may offer a low-cost alternative to conventional conductors for applications in sensors and robotics. To make the bio-based, shape-memory material, Oak Ridge National Laboratory scientists streamlined a solvent-free process that mixes rubber with lignin—the by-product of woody plants used to make biofuels. They fashioned the leathery material into small strips and brushed on a thin layer of silver nanoparticles to activate electrical conductivity. The strips were stretched or curled and then frozen as part of the process to program the material to return to its intended shape, whichmore » occurs after the application of low heat. “The performance of this polymer can be tuned further,” said ORNL’s Amit Naskar. “Variant lignins can be used at different ratios, which determines the material’s pliability.” This research was sponsored by the Department of Energy’s Bioenergy Technologies Office.« less

Improved Vemurafenib Dissolution and Pharmacokinetics as an Amorphous Solid Dispersion Produced by KinetiSol® Processing.

PubMed

Ellenberger, Daniel J; Miller, Dave A; Kucera, Sandra U; Williams, Robert O

2018-03-14

Vemurafenib is a poorly soluble, low permeability drug that has a demonstrated need for a solubility-enhanced formulation. However, conventional approaches for amorphous solid dispersion production are challenging due to the physiochemical properties of the compound. A suitable and novel method for creating an amorphous solid dispersion, known as solvent-controlled coprecipitation, was developed to make a material known as microprecipitated bulk powder (MBP). However, this approach has limitations in its processing and formulation space. In this study, it was hypothesized that vemurafenib can be processed by KinetiSol into the same amorphous formulation as MBP. The KinetiSol process utilizes high shear to rapidly process amorphous solid dispersions containing vemurafenib. Analysis of the material demonstrated that KinetiSol produced amorphous, single-phase material with acceptable chemical purity and stability. Values obtained were congruent to analysis conducted on the comparator material. However, the materials differed in particle morphology as the KinetiSol material was dense, smooth, and uniform while the MBP comparator was porous in structure and exhibited high surface area. The particles produced by KinetiSol had improved in-vitro dissolution and pharmacokinetic performance for vemurafenib compared to MBP due to slower drug nucleation and recrystallization which resulted in superior supersaturation maintenance during drug release. In the in-vivo rat pharmacokinetic study, both amorphous solid dispersions produced by KinetiSol exhibited mean AUC values at least two-fold that of MBP when dosed as a suspension. It was concluded that the KinetiSol process produced superior dosage forms containing vemurafenib with the potential for substantial reduction in patient pill burden.

Butterfly gyroid nanostructures as a time-frozen glimpse of intracellular membrane development

PubMed Central

Wilts, Bodo D.; Apeleo Zubiri, Benjamin; Klatt, Michael A.; Butz, Benjamin; Fischer, Michael G.; Kelly, Stephen T.; Spiecker, Erdmann; Steiner, Ullrich; Schröder-Turk, Gerd E.

2017-01-01

The formation of the biophotonic gyroid material in butterfly wing scales is an exceptional feat of evolutionary engineering of functional nanostructures. It is hypothesized that this nanostructure forms by chitin polymerization inside a convoluted membrane of corresponding shape in the endoplasmic reticulum. However, this dynamic formation process, including whether membrane folding and chitin expression are simultaneous or sequential processes, cannot yet be elucidated by in vivo imaging. We report an unusual hierarchical ultrastructure in the butterfly Thecla opisena that, as a solid material, allows high-resolution three-dimensional microscopy. Rather than the conventional polycrystalline space-filling arrangement, a gyroid occurs in isolated facetted crystallites with a pronounced size gradient. When interpreted as a sequence of time-frozen snapshots of the morphogenesis, this arrangement provides insight into the formation mechanisms of the nanoporous gyroid material as well as of the intracellular organelle membrane that acts as the template. PMID:28508050

Editorial

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Goh, Gregory K. L.

2014-06-01

This special issue of the Journal of Solid State Chemistry is a peer-reviewed collection of papers presented at the 7th International Conference on Materials for Advanced Technologies (ICMAT2013), Symposium Q - Innovative processing of inorganic films and nanostructures of functional materials, organised by the Materials Research Society, Singapore and held at the Singapore International Convention & Exhibition Centre, Singapore, from 30 June to 5 July 2013. The symposium focused mainly on films, porous networks and nanostructures formed by innovative processing routes that reduce energy consumption, use new mediums, combine techniques or even innovative synthesis approaches. The understanding of film and nanostructure growth mechanisms and crystal shape control were also discussed. We acknowledge the invaluable contributions of all invited, oral and poster presenters. I also take this opportunity to thank reviewers from all over the world who kindly helped in reviewing the manuscripts and provided valuable comments, making the publication of this high quality issue possible.

The study on force, surface integrity, tool life and chip on laser assisted machining of inconel 718 using Nd:YAG laser source.

PubMed

Venkatesan, K

2017-07-01

Inconel 718, a high-temperature alloy, is a promising material for high-performance aerospace gas turbine engines components. However, the machining of the alloy is difficult owing to immense shear strength, rapid work hardening rate during turning, and less thermal conductivity. Hence, like ceramics and composites, the machining of this alloy is considered as difficult-to-turn materials. Laser assisted turning method has become a promising solution in recent years to lessen cutting stress when materials that are considered difficult-to-turn, such as Inconel 718 is employed. This study investigated the influence of input variables of laser assisted machining on the machinability aspect of the Inconel 718. The comparison of machining characteristics has been carried out to analyze the process benefits with the variation of laser machining variables. The laser assisted machining variables are cutting speeds of 60-150 m/min, feed rates of 0.05-0.125 mm/rev with a laser power between 1200 W and 1300 W. The various output characteristics such as force, roughness, tool life and geometrical characteristic of chip are investigated and compared with conventional machining without application of laser power. From experimental results, at a laser power of 1200 W, laser assisted turning outperforms conventional machining by 2.10 times lessening in cutting force, 46% reduction in surface roughness as well as 66% improvement in tool life when compared that of conventional machining. Compared to conventional machining, with the application of laser, the cutting speed of carbide tool has increased to a cutting condition of 150 m/min, 0.125 mm/rev. Microstructural analysis shows that no damage of the subsurface of the workpiece.

Change the morphology of lithium oxides by Nd-Yag laser beam to use as a sand in water-cooled reactors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Karwi, Abbas Ali Mahmmod

2018-04-01

Laser has many attractive specifications which made it adaptable for material processing. Laser has been taken as a modern heat treatment source to prevent the formation of non-protective oxide layer with intensity equals to (1.31×105 w/cm2), lasing time equals to (300 µs), wave length equals to (1.063 µm), and the spot radius equals to (125 µm). Lithium is depleted through the conventional heat treatment processes. The main factors affected on lithium depletion are temperature and time. Lithium kept as a solid solution at casting method. Micro hardness of the affected zone reaches to acceptable values for various ageing times and hardening depths. The main conventional heat treatment processes are; homogenization, solution heat treatment, and ageing. Alloys prepared with the specific amounts of lithium concentration (2-2.5%). Oxides with different shapes are formed. Temperature distribution, heating, and cooling rates used externally and internally to see the effect of pulse generation by laser on bulk body.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sai, P.M.S.; Ahmed, J.; Krishnaiah, K.

Activated carbon is produced from coconut shell char using steam or carbon dioxide as the reacting gas in a 100 mm diameter fluidized bed reactor. The effect of process parameters such as reaction time, fluidizing velocity, particle size, static bed height, temperature of activation, fluidizing medium, and solid raw material on activation is studied. The product is characterized by determination of iodine number and BET surface area. The product obtained in the fluidized bed reactor is much superior in quality to the activated carbons produced by conventional processes. Based on the experimental observations, the optimum values of process parameters aremore » identified.« less

Spectroscopic study of the humification process during sewage sludge treatment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pajączkowska, J.; Sułkowska, A.; Sułkowski, W. W.; Jędrzejczyk, M.

2003-06-01

The aim of this work was to study the free radical transition of organic materials during the sewage treatment process. Investigations of sludge from biologic-mechanical sewage treatment plant in Sosnowiec Zagórze were carried out. The course of the humification processes during sewage treatment was studied by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) technique. The concentration of free radicals at each process stage and the value g were determined. Sludge samples and extracted fractions of humic acids were examined. Humic acids were extracted from sludge by means of conventional methods elaborated by Stevenson. For study of humic acids structures, besides EPR, the UV-Vis and IR spectroscopy were used.

Electron Beam Freeform Fabrication for Cost Effective Near-Net Shape Manufacturing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Taminger, Karen M.; Hafley, Robert A.

2006-01-01

Manufacturing of structural metal parts directly from computer aided design (CAD) data has been investigated by numerous researchers over the past decade. Researchers at NASA Langley Research Center are developing a new solid freeform fabrication process, electron beam freeform fabrication (EBF3), as a rapid metal deposition process that works efficiently with a variety of weldable alloys. EBF3 deposits of 2219 aluminium and Ti-6Al-4V have exhibited a range of grain morphologies depending upon the deposition parameters. These materials have exhibited excellent tensile properties comparable to typical handbook data for wrought plate product after post-processing heat treatments. The EBF3 process is capable of bulk metal deposition at deposition rates in excess of 2500 cm3/hr (150 in3/hr) or finer detail at lower deposition rates, depending upon the desired application. This process offers the potential for rapidly adding structural details to simpler cast or forged structures rather than the conventional approach of machining large volumes of chips to produce a monolithic metallic structure. Selective addition of metal onto simpler blanks of material can have a significant effect on lead time reduction and lower material and machining costs.

Electron Beam Freeform Fabrication (EBF3) for Cost Effective Near-Net Shape Manufacturing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Taminger, Karen M.; Hafley, Robert A.

2006-01-01

Manufacturing of structural metal parts directly from computer aided design (CAD) data has been investigated by numerous researchers over the past decade. Researchers at NASA Langley Research Center are developing a new solid freeform fabrication process, electron beam freeform fabrication (EBF3), as a rapid metal deposition process that works efficiently with a variety of weldable alloys. EBF3 deposits of 2219 aluminium and Ti-6Al-4V have exhibited a range of grain morphologies depending upon the deposition parameters. These materials have exhibited excellent tensile properties comparable to typical handbook data for wrought plate product after post-processing heat treatments. The EBF3 process is capable of bulk metal deposition at deposition rates in excess of 2500 cubic centimeters per hour (150 in3/hr) or finer detail at lower deposition rates, depending upon the desired application. This process offers the potential for rapidly adding structural details to simpler cast or forged structures rather than the conventional approach of machining large volumes of chips to produce a monolithic metallic structure. Selective addition of metal onto simpler blanks of material can have a significant effect on lead time reduction and lower material and machining costs.

Laser Peening Process and Its Impact on Materials Properties in Comparison with Shot Peening and Ultrasonic Impact Peening

PubMed Central

Gujba, Abdullahi K.; Medraj, Mamoun

2014-01-01

The laser shock peening (LSP) process using a Q-switched pulsed laser beam for surface modification has been reviewed. The development of the LSP technique and its numerous advantages over the conventional shot peening (SP) such as better surface finish, higher depths of residual stress and uniform distribution of intensity were discussed. Similar comparison with ultrasonic impact peening (UIP)/ultrasonic shot peening (USP) was incorporated, when possible. The generation of shock waves, processing parameters, and characterization of LSP treated specimens were described. Special attention was given to the influence of LSP process parameters on residual stress profiles, material properties and structures. Based on the studies so far, more fundamental understanding is still needed when selecting optimized LSP processing parameters and substrate conditions. A summary of the parametric studies of LSP on different materials has been presented. Furthermore, enhancements in the surface micro and nanohardness, elastic modulus, tensile yield strength and refinement of microstructure which translates to increased fatigue life, fretting fatigue life, stress corrosion cracking (SCC) and corrosion resistance were addressed. However, research gaps related to the inconsistencies in the literature were identified. Current status, developments and challenges of the LSP technique were discussed. PMID:28788284

Cost analysis of composite fan blade manufacturing processes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stelson, T. S.; Barth, C. F.

1980-01-01

The relative manufacturing costs were estimated for large high technology fan blades prepared by advanced composite fabrication methods using seven candidate materials/process systems. These systems were identified as laminated resin matrix composite, filament wound resin matrix composite, superhybrid solid laminate, superhybrid spar/shell, metal matrix composite, metal matrix composite with a spar and shell, and hollow titanium. The costs were calculated utilizing analytical process models and all cost data are presented as normalized relative values where 100 was the cost of a conventionally forged solid titanium fan blade whose geometry corresponded to a size typical of 42 blades per disc. Four costs were calculated for each of the seven candidate systems to relate the variation of cost on blade size. Geometries typical of blade designs at 24, 30, 36 and 42 blades per disc were used. The impact of individual process yield factors on costs was also assessed as well as effects of process parameters, raw materials, labor rates and consumable items.

Hybrid Thermochemical/Biological Processing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brown, Robert C.

The conventional view of biorefineries is that lignocellulosic plant material will be fractionated into cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, and terpenes before these components are biochemically converted into market products. Occasionally, these plants include a thermochemical step at the end of the process to convert recalcitrant plant components or mixed waste streams into heat to meet thermal energy demands elsewhere in the facility. However, another possibility for converting high-fiber plant materials is to start by thermochemically processing it into a uniform intermediate product that can be biologically converted into a bio-based product. This alternative route to bio-based products is known as hybrid thermochemical/biological processing. There are two distinct approaches to hybrid processing: (a) gasification followed by fermentation of the resulting gaseous mixture of carbon monoxide (CO), hydrogen (H2), and carbon dioxide (CO2) and (b) fast pyrolysis followed by hydrolysis and/or fermentation of the anhydrosugars found in the resulting bio-oil. This article explores this "cart before the horse" approach to biorefineries.

Band structure engineering of 2D materials using patterned dielectric superlattices.

PubMed

Forsythe, Carlos; Zhou, Xiaodong; Watanabe, Kenji; Taniguchi, Takashi; Pasupathy, Abhay; Moon, Pilkyung; Koshino, Mikito; Kim, Philip; Dean, Cory R

2018-05-07

The ability to manipulate electrons in two-dimensional materials with external electric fields provides a route to synthetic band engineering. By imposing artificially designed and spatially periodic superlattice potentials, electronic properties can be further altered beyond the constraints of naturally occurring atomic crystals 1-5 . Here, we report a new approach to fabricate high-mobility superlattice devices by integrating surface dielectric patterning with atomically thin van der Waals materials. By separating the device assembly and superlattice fabrication processes, we address the intractable trade-off between device processing and mobility degradation that constrains superlattice engineering in conventional systems. The improved electrostatics of atomically thin materials allows smaller wavelength superlattice patterns relative to previous demonstrations. Moreover, we observe the formation of replica Dirac cones in ballistic graphene devices with sub-40 nm wavelength superlattices and report fractal Hofstadter spectra 6-8 under large magnetic fields from superlattices with designed lattice symmetries that differ from that of the host crystal. Our results establish a robust and versatile technique for band structure engineering of graphene and related van der Waals materials with dynamic tunability.

Solid-state supercapacitors with rationally designed heterogeneous electrodes fabricated by large area spray processing for wearable energy storage applications.

PubMed

Huang, Chun; Zhang, Jin; Young, Neil P; Snaith, Henry J; Grant, Patrick S

2016-05-10

Supercapacitors are in demand for short-term electrical charge and discharge applications. Unlike conventional supercapacitors, solid-state versions have no liquid electrolyte and do not require robust, rigid packaging for containment. Consequently they can be thinner, lighter and more flexible. However, solid-state supercapacitors suffer from lower power density and where new materials have been developed to improve performance, there remains a gap between promising laboratory results that usually require nano-structured materials and fine-scale processing approaches, and current manufacturing technology that operates at large scale. We demonstrate a new, scalable capability to produce discrete, multi-layered electrodes with a different material and/or morphology in each layer, and where each layer plays a different, critical role in enhancing the dynamics of charge/discharge. This layered structure allows efficient utilisation of each material and enables conservative use of hard-to-obtain materials. The layered electrode shows amongst the highest combinations of energy and power densities for solid-state supercapacitors. Our functional design and spray manufacturing approach to heterogeneous electrodes provide a new way forward for improved energy storage devices.

Ionic Liquids in Biomass Processing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tan, Suzie Su Yin; Macfarlane, Douglas R.

Ionic liquids have been studied for their special solvent properties in a wide range of processes, including reactions involving carbohydrates such as cellulose and glucose. Biomass is a widely available and renewable resource that is likely to become an economically viable source of starting materials for chemical and fuel production, especially with the price of petroleum set to increase as supplies are diminished. Biopolymers such as cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin may be converted to useful products, either by direct functionalisation of the polymers or depolymerisation to monomers, followed by microbial or chemical conversion to useful chemicals. Major barriers to the effective conversion of biomass currently include the high crystallinity of cellulose, high reactivity of carbohydrates and lignin, insolubility of cellulose in conventional solvents, as well as heterogeneity in the native lignocellulosic materials and in lignin itself. This combination of factors often results in highly heterogeneous depolymerisation products, which make efficient separation difficult. Thus the extraction, depolymerisation and conversion of biopolymers will require novel reaction systems in order to be both economically attractive and environmentally benign. The solubility of biopolymers in ionic liquids is a major advantage of their use, allowing homogeneous reaction conditions, and this has stimulated a growing research effort in this field. This review examines current research involving the use of ionic liquids in biomass reactions, with perspectives on how it relates to green chemistry, economic viability, and conventional biomass processes.

Algorithm for ion beam figuring of low-gradient mirrors.

PubMed

Jiao, Changjun; Li, Shengyi; Xie, Xuhui

2009-07-20

Ion beam figuring technology for low-gradient mirrors is discussed. Ion beam figuring is a noncontact machining technique in which a beam of high-energy ions is directed toward a target workpiece to remove material in a predetermined and controlled fashion. Owing to this noncontact mode of material removal, problems associated with tool wear and edge effects, which are common in conventional contact polishing processes, are avoided. Based on the Bayesian principle, an iterative dwell time algorithm for planar mirrors is deduced from the computer-controlled optical surfacing (CCOS) principle. With the properties of the removal function, the shaping process of low-gradient mirrors can be approximated by the linear model for planar mirrors. With these discussions, the error surface figuring technology for low-gradient mirrors with a linear path is set up. With the near-Gaussian property of the removal function, the figuring process with a spiral path can be described by the conventional linear CCOS principle, and a Bayesian-based iterative algorithm can be used to deconvolute the dwell time. Moreover, the selection criterion of the spiral parameter is given. Ion beam figuring technology with a spiral scan path based on these methods can be used to figure mirrors with non-axis-symmetrical errors. Experiments on SiC chemical vapor deposition planar and Zerodur paraboloid samples are made, and the final surface errors are all below 1/100 lambda.

Centrifugal Sieve for Gravity-Level-Independent Size Segregation of Granular Materials

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Walton, Otis R.; Dreyer, Christopher; Riedel, Edward

2013-01-01

Conventional size segregation or screening in batch mode, using stacked vibrated screens, is often a time-consuming process. Utilization of centrifugal force instead of gravity as the primary body force can significantly shorten the time to segregate feedstock into a set of different-sized fractions. Likewise, under reduced gravity or microgravity, a centrifugal sieve system would function as well as it does terrestrially. When vibratory and mechanical blade sieving screens designed for terrestrial conditions were tested under lunar gravity conditions, they did not function well. The centrifugal sieving design of this technology overcomes the issues that prevented sieves designed for terrestrial conditions from functioning under reduced gravity. These sieves feature a rotating outer (cylindrical or conical) screen wall, rotating fast enough for the centrifugal forces near the wall to hold granular material against the rotating screen. Conventional centrifugal sieves have a stationary screen and rapidly rotating blades that shear the granular solid near the stationary screen, and effect the sieving process assisted by the airflow inside the unit. The centrifugal sieves of this new design may (or may not) have an inner blade or blades, moving relative to the rotating wall screen. Some continuous flow embodiments would have no inner auger or blades, but achieve axial motion through vibration. In all cases, the shearing action is gentler than conventional centrifugal sieves, which have very high velocity differences between the stationary outer screen and the rapidly rotating blades. The new design does not depend on airflow in the sieving unit, so it will function just as well in vacuum as in air. One advantage of the innovation for batch sieving is that a batch-mode centrifugal sieve may accomplish the same sieving operation in much less time than a conventional stacked set of vibrated screens (which utilize gravity as the primary driving force for size separation). In continuous mode, the centrifugal sieves can provide steady streams of fine and coarse material separated from a mixed feedstock flow stream. The centrifugal sieves can be scaled to any desired size and/or mass flow rate. Thus, they could be made in sizes suitable for small robotic exploratory missions, or for semi-permanent processing of regolith for extraction of volatiles of minerals. An advantage of the continuous-mode system is that it can be made with absolutely no gravity flow components for feeding material into, or for extracting the separated size streams from, the centrifugal sieve. Thus, the system is capable of functioning in a true microgravity environment. Another advantage of the continuous-mode system is that some embodiments of the innovation have no internal blades or vanes, and thus, can be designed to handle a very wide range of feedstock sizes, including occasional very large oversized pieces, without jamming or seizing up.

Fluidized bed combustion bottom ash: A better and alternative geo-material resource for construction.

PubMed

Mandal, A K; Paramkusam, Bala Ramudu; Sinha, O P

2018-04-01

Though the majority of research on fly ash has proved its worth as a construction material, the utility of bottom ash is yet questionable due to its generation during the pulverized combustion process. The bottom ash produced during the fluidized bed combustion (FBC) process is attracting more attention due to the novelty of coal combustion technology. But, to establish its suitability as construction material, it is necessary to characterize it thoroughly with respect to the geotechnical as well as mineralogical points of view. For fulfilling these objectives, the present study mainly aims at characterizing the FBC bottom ash and its comparison with pulverized coal combustion (PCC) bottom ash, collected from the same origin of coal. Suitability of FBC bottom ash as a dike filter material in contrast to PCC bottom ash in replacing traditional filter material such as sand was also studied. The suitability criteria for utilization of both bottom ash and river sand as filter material on pond ash as a base material were evaluated, and both river sand and FBC bottom ash were found to be satisfactory. The study shows that FBC bottom ash is a better geo-material than PCC bottom ash, and it could be highly recommended as an alternative suitable filter material for constructing ash dikes in place of conventional sand.

Compact Process for the Preparation of Microfine Spherical High-Niobium-Containing TiAl Alloy Powders

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tong, J. B.; Lu, X.; Liu, C. C.; Wang, L. N.; Qu, X. H.

2015-03-01

High-Nb-containing TiAl alloys are a new generation of materials for high-temperature structural applications because of their superior high-temperature mechanical properties. The alloy powders can be widely used for additive manufacturing, thermal spraying, and powder metallurgy. Because of the difficulty of making microfine spherical alloy powders in quantity by conventional techniques, a compact method was proposed, which consisted of two-step ball milling of elemental powders and subsequent radio frequency (RF) argon plasma spheroidization. In comparison with conventional mechanical alloying techniques, the two-step milling process can be used to prepare alloy powders with uniform scale in a short milling time with no addition of process control agent. This makes the process effective and less contaminating. After RF argon plasma spheroidization, the powders produced exhibit good sphericity, and the number-average diameter is about 8.2 μm with a symmetric unimodal particle size distribution. The powders perform high composition homogeneity and contain predominately supersaturated α 2-Ti3Al phase. The oxygen and carbon contents of the spheroidized powder are 0.47% and 0.050%, respectively.

A systems-based approach for integrated design of materials, products and design process chains

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Panchal, Jitesh H.; Choi, Hae-Jin; Allen, Janet K.; McDowell, David L.; Mistree, Farrokh

2007-12-01

The concurrent design of materials and products provides designers with flexibility to achieve design objectives that were not previously accessible. However, the improved flexibility comes at a cost of increased complexity of the design process chains and the materials simulation models used for executing the design chains. Efforts to reduce the complexity generally result in increased uncertainty. We contend that a systems based approach is essential for managing both the complexity and the uncertainty in design process chains and simulation models in concurrent material and product design. Our approach is based on simplifying the design process chains systematically such that the resulting uncertainty does not significantly affect the overall system performance. Similarly, instead of striving for accurate models for multiscale systems (that are inherently complex), we rely on making design decisions that are robust to uncertainties in the models. Accordingly, we pursue hierarchical modeling in the context of design of multiscale systems. In this paper our focus is on design process chains. We present a systems based approach, premised on the assumption that complex systems can be designed efficiently by managing the complexity of design process chains. The approach relies on (a) the use of reusable interaction patterns to model design process chains, and (b) consideration of design process decisions using value-of-information based metrics. The approach is illustrated using a Multifunctional Energetic Structural Material (MESM) design example. Energetic materials store considerable energy which can be released through shock-induced detonation; conventionally, they are not engineered for strength properties. The design objectives for the MESM in this paper include both sufficient strength and energy release characteristics. The design is carried out by using models at different length and time scales that simulate different aspects of the system. Finally, by applying the method to the MESM design problem, we show that the integrated design of materials and products can be carried out more efficiently by explicitly accounting for design process decisions with the hierarchy of models.

Nanoparticle Selective Laser Processing for a Flexible Display Fabrication

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Seung Hwan Ko,; Heng Pan,; Daeho Lee,; Costas P. Grigoropoulos,; Hee K. Park,

2010-05-01

To demonstrate a first step for a novel fabrication method of a flexible display, nanomaterial based laser processing schemes to demonstrate organic light emitting diode (OLED) pixel transfer and organic field effect transistor (OFET) fabrication on a polymer substrate without using any conventional vacuum or photolithography processes were developed. The unique properties of nanomaterials allow laser induced forward transfer of organic light emitting material at low laser energy while maintaining good fluorescence and also allow high resolution transistor electrode patterning at plastic compatible low temperature. These novel processes enable an environmentally friendly and cost effective process as well as a low temperature manufacturing sequence to realize inexpensive, large area, flexible electronics on polymer substrates.

Twin related domains in 3D microstructures of conventionally processed and grain boundary engineered materials

DOE PAGES

Lind, Jonathan; Li, Shiu Fai; Kumar, Mukul

2016-05-20

The concept of twin-limited microstructures has been explored in the literature as a crystallographically constrained grain boundary network connected via only coincident site lattice (CSL) boundaries. The advent of orientation imaging has made classification of twin-related domains (TRD) or any other orientation cluster experimentally accessible in 2D using EBSD. With the emergence of 3D orientation mapping, a comparison of TRDs in measured 3D microstructures is performed in this paper and compared against their 2D counterparts. The TRD analysis is performed on a conventionally processed (CP) and a grain boundary engineered (EM) high purity copper sample that have been subjected tomore » successive anneal procedures to promote grain growth. Finally, the EM sample shows extremely large TRDs which begin to approach that of a twin-limited microstructure, while the TRDs in the CP sample remain relatively small and remote.« less

Nanoparticle chemisorption printing technique for conductive silver patterning with submicron resolution

PubMed Central

Yamada, Toshikazu; Fukuhara, Katsuo; Matsuoka, Ken; Minemawari, Hiromi; Tsutsumi, Jun'ya; Fukuda, Nobuko; Aoshima, Keisuke; Arai, Shunto; Makita, Yuichi; Kubo, Hitoshi; Enomoto, Takao; Togashi, Takanari; Kurihara, Masato; Hasegawa, Tatsuo

2016-01-01

Silver nanocolloid, a dense suspension of ligand-encapsulated silver nanoparticles, is an important material for printing-based device production technologies. However, printed conductive patterns of sufficiently high quality and resolution for industrial products have not yet been achieved, as the use of conventional printing techniques is severely limiting. Here we report a printing technique to manufacture ultrafine conductive patterns utilizing the exclusive chemisorption phenomenon of weakly encapsulated silver nanoparticles on a photoactivated surface. The process includes masked irradiation of vacuum ultraviolet light on an amorphous perfluorinated polymer layer to photoactivate the surface with pendant carboxylate groups, and subsequent coating of alkylamine-encapsulated silver nanocolloids, which causes amine–carboxylate conversion to trigger the spontaneous formation of a self-fused solid silver layer. The technique can produce silver patterns of submicron fineness adhered strongly to substrates, thus enabling manufacture of flexible transparent conductive sheets. This printing technique could replace conventional vacuum- and photolithography-based device processing. PMID:27091238

Integrated versus stand-alone second generation ethanol production from sugarcane bagasse and trash.

PubMed

Dias, Marina O S; Junqueira, Tassia L; Cavalett, Otávio; Cunha, Marcelo P; Jesus, Charles D F; Rossell, Carlos E V; Maciel Filho, Rubens; Bonomi, Antonio

2012-01-01

Ethanol production from lignocellulosic materials is often conceived considering independent, stand-alone production plants; in the Brazilian scenario, where part of the potential feedstock (sugarcane bagasse) for second generation ethanol production is already available at conventional first generation production plants, an integrated first and second generation production process seems to be the most obvious option. In this study stand-alone second generation ethanol production from surplus sugarcane bagasse and trash is compared with conventional first generation ethanol production from sugarcane and with integrated first and second generation; simulations were developed to represent the different technological scenarios, which provided data for economic and environmental analysis. Results show that the integrated first and second generation ethanol production process from sugarcane leads to better economic results when compared with the stand-alone plant, especially when advanced hydrolysis technologies and pentoses fermentation are included. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Hydrocarbonaceous material processing methods and apparatus

DOEpatents

Brecher, Lee E [Laramie, WY

2011-07-12

Methods and apparatus are disclosed for possibly producing pipeline-ready heavy oil from substantially non-pumpable oil feeds. The methods and apparatus may be designed to produce such pipeline-ready heavy oils in the production field. Such methods and apparatus may involve thermal soaking of liquid hydrocarbonaceous inputs in thermal environments (2) to generate, though chemical reaction, an increased distillate amount as compared with conventional boiling technologies.

Practical 3D Printing of Antennas and RF Electronics

DTIC Science & Technology

2017-03-01

Passive RF; Combiners Introduction Additive manufacturing can reduce the time and material costs in a design cycle and enable the on-demand printing of...performance, and create Computer Assisted Manufacturing (CAM) files. By intelligently leveraging this process, the design can be readily updated or...advances in 3D printing technology now enable antennas and RF electronics to be designed and prototyped significantly faster than conventional

Polymer-Layered Silicate Nanocomposites for Cryotank Applications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Miller, Sandi G.; Meador, Michael A.

2007-01-01

Previous composite cryotank designs have relied on the use of conventional composite materials to reduce microcracking and permeability. However, revolutionary advances in nanotechnology derived materials may enable the production of ultra-lightweight cryotanks with significantly enhanced durability and damage tolerance, as well as reduced propellant permeability. Layered silicate nanocomposites are especially attractive in cryogenic storage tanks based on results that have been reported for epoxy nanocomposite systems. These materials often exhibit an order of magnitude reduction in gas permeability when compared to the base resin. In addition, polymer-silicate nanocomposites have been shown to yield improved dimensional stability, strength, and toughness. The enhancement in material performance of these systems occurs without property trade-offs which are often observed in conventionally filled polymer composites. Research efforts at NASA Glenn Research Center have led to the development of epoxy-clay nanocomposites with 70% lower hydrogen permeability than the base epoxy resin. Filament wound carbon fiber reinforced tanks made with this nanocomposite had a five-fold lower helium leak rate than the corresponding tanks made without clay. The pronounced reduction observed with the tank may be due to flow induced alignment of the clay layers during processing. Additionally, the nanocomposites showed CTE reductions of up to 30%, as well as a 100% increase in toughness.

Energy density and rate limitations in structural composite supercapacitors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Snyder, J. F.; Gienger, E.; Wetzel, E. D.; Xu, K.

2012-06-01

The weight and volume of conventional energy storage technologies greatly limits their performance in mobile platforms. Traditional research efforts target improvements in energy density to reduce device size and mass. Enabling a device to perform additional functions, such as bearing mechanical load, is an alternative approach as long as the total mass efficiency exceeds that of the individual materials it replaces. Our research focuses on structural composites that function as batteries and supercapacitors. These multifunctional devices could be used to replace conventional structural components, such as vehicle frame elements, to provide significant system-level weight reductions and extend mission times. Our approach is to design structural properties directly into the electrolyte and electrode materials. Solid polymer electrolyte materials bind the system and transfer load to the fibers while conducting ions between the electrodes. Carbon fiber electrodes provide a route towards optimizing both energy storage and load-bearing capabilities, and may also obviate the need for a separate current collector. The components are being integrated using scalable, cost-effective composite processing techniques that are amenable to complex part shapes. Practical considerations of energy density and rate behavior are described here as they relate to materials used. Our results highlight the viability as well as the challenges of this multifunctional approach towards energy storage.

Liquid Coatings for Reducing Corrosion of Steel in Concrete

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

MacDowell, Louis G.; Curran, Joseph

2003-01-01

Inorganic coating materials are being developed to slow or stop corrosion of reinforcing steel members inside concrete structures. It is much simpler and easier to use these coating materials than it is to use conventional corrosion-inhibiting systems based on impressed electric currents. Unlike impressed electrical corrosion-inhibiting systems, these coatings do not require continuous consumption of electrical power and maintenance of power-supply equipment. Whereas some conventional systems involve the use of expensive arc-spray equipment to apply the metallic zinc used as the sacrificial anode material, the developmental coatings can be applied by use of ordinary paint sprayers. A coating material of the type under development is formulated as a liquid containing blended metallic particles and/or moisture-attracting compounds. The liquid mixture is sprayed onto a concrete structure. Experiments have shown that even though such a coat resides on the exterior surface, it generates a protective galvanic current that flows to the interior reinforcing steel members. By effectively transferring the corrosion process from the steel reinforcement to the exterior coating, the protective current slows or stops corrosion of the embedded steel. Specific formulations have been found to meet depolarization criteria of the National Association of Corrosion Engineers (NACE) for complete protection of steel reinforcing bars ("rebar") embedded in concrete.

Functional Silver-Silicone-Nanofilament-Composite Material for Water Disinfection.

PubMed

Meier, Margrith; Suppiger, Angela; Eberl, Leo; Seeger, Stefan

2017-01-01

The roughness of superhydrophobic silicone nanofilaments (SNFs) is exploited to enlarge the contact area of conventional filter material. As an efficient wetting of the filter material is crucial for water treatment, the wettability of SNFs is readily modified from superhydrophobic to hydrophilic during the functionalization process. SNFs are coated on glass beads and subsequently modified with biocidal silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). The enlarged surface area of SNFs allows a 30 times higher loading of AgNPs in comparison to glass beads without SNF coating. Thus, in column experiments, the AgNP-SNF-nanocomposite-modified glass beads exert superior antibacterial activity towards suspensions of E. coli K12 compared to AgNP functionalized glass beads without SNFs. Additionally, reusing the AgNP-SNF-nanocomposite-coated glass beads with fresh bacteria contaminated medium increases their efficacy and reduces the colony forming units by ≈6 log units. Thereby, the silver loss during percolation is below 0.1 μg mL -1 . These results highlight, first, the potential of AgNP-SNF-nanocomposite-modified glass beads as an effective filter substrate for water disinfection, and second, the efficiency of SNF coating in increasing the contact area of conventional filter material. © 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Experimental Methods for Investigation of Shape Memory Based Elastocaloric Cooling Processes and Model Validation

PubMed Central

Schmidt, Marvin; Ullrich, Johannes; Wieczorek, André; Frenzel, Jan; Eggeler, Gunther; Schütze, Andreas; Seelecke, Stefan

2016-01-01

Shape Memory Alloys (SMA) using elastocaloric cooling processes have the potential to be an environmentally friendly alternative to the conventional vapor compression based cooling process. Nickel-Titanium (Ni-Ti) based alloy systems, especially, show large elastocaloric effects. Furthermore, exhibit large latent heats which is a necessary material property for the development of an efficient solid-state based cooling process. A scientific test rig has been designed to investigate these processes and the elastocaloric effects in SMAs. The realized test rig enables independent control of an SMA's mechanical loading and unloading cycles, as well as conductive heat transfer between SMA cooling elements and a heat source/sink. The test rig is equipped with a comprehensive monitoring system capable of synchronized measurements of mechanical and thermal parameters. In addition to determining the process-dependent mechanical work, the system also enables measurement of thermal caloric aspects of the elastocaloric cooling effect through use of a high-performance infrared camera. This combination is of particular interest, because it allows illustrations of localization and rate effects — both important for efficient heat transfer from the medium to be cooled. The work presented describes an experimental method to identify elastocaloric material properties in different materials and sample geometries. Furthermore, the test rig is used to investigate different cooling process variations. The introduced analysis methods enable a differentiated consideration of material, process and related boundary condition influences on the process efficiency. The comparison of the experimental data with the simulation results (of a thermomechanically coupled finite element model) allows for better understanding of the underlying physics of the elastocaloric effect. In addition, the experimental results, as well as the findings based on the simulation results, are used to improve the material properties. PMID:27168093

Experimental Methods for Investigation of Shape Memory Based Elastocaloric Cooling Processes and Model Validation.

PubMed

Schmidt, Marvin; Ullrich, Johannes; Wieczorek, André; Frenzel, Jan; Eggeler, Gunther; Schütze, Andreas; Seelecke, Stefan

2016-05-02

Shape Memory Alloys (SMA) using elastocaloric cooling processes have the potential to be an environmentally friendly alternative to the conventional vapor compression based cooling process. Nickel-Titanium (Ni-Ti) based alloy systems, especially, show large elastocaloric effects. Furthermore, exhibit large latent heats which is a necessary material property for the development of an efficient solid-state based cooling process. A scientific test rig has been designed to investigate these processes and the elastocaloric effects in SMAs. The realized test rig enables independent control of an SMA's mechanical loading and unloading cycles, as well as conductive heat transfer between SMA cooling elements and a heat source/sink. The test rig is equipped with a comprehensive monitoring system capable of synchronized measurements of mechanical and thermal parameters. In addition to determining the process-dependent mechanical work, the system also enables measurement of thermal caloric aspects of the elastocaloric cooling effect through use of a high-performance infrared camera. This combination is of particular interest, because it allows illustrations of localization and rate effects - both important for efficient heat transfer from the medium to be cooled. The work presented describes an experimental method to identify elastocaloric material properties in different materials and sample geometries. Furthermore, the test rig is used to investigate different cooling process variations. The introduced analysis methods enable a differentiated consideration of material, process and related boundary condition influences on the process efficiency. The comparison of the experimental data with the simulation results (of a thermomechanically coupled finite element model) allows for better understanding of the underlying physics of the elastocaloric effect. In addition, the experimental results, as well as the findings based on the simulation results, are used to improve the material properties.

Microstructural characterization of catalysis product of nanocement based materials: A review

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sutan, Norsuzailina Mohamed; Izaitul Akma Ideris, Nur; Taib, Siti Noor Linda; Lee, Delsye Teo Ching; Hassan, Alsidqi; Kudnie Sahari, Siti; Mohamad Said, Khairul Anwar; Rahman Sobuz, Habibur

2018-03-01

Cement as an essential element for cement-based products contributed to negative environmental issues due to its high energy consumption and carbon dioxide emission during its production. These issues create the need to find alternative materials as partial cement replacement where studies on the potential of utilizing silica based materials as partial cement replacement come into picture. This review highlights the effectiveness of microstructural characterization techniques that have been used in the studies that focus on characterization of calcium hydroxide (CH) and calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H) formation during hydration process of cement-based product incorporating nano reactive silica based materials as partial cement replacement. Understanding the effect of these materials as cement replacement in cement based product focusing on the microstructural development will lead to a higher confidence in the use of industrial waste as a new non-conventional material in construction industry that can catalyse rapid and innovative advances in green technology.

Hierarchically Superstructured Prussian Blue Analogues: Spontaneous Assembly Synthesis and Applications as Pseudocapacitive Materials

DOE PAGES

Yue, Yanfeng; Zhang, Zhiyong; Binder, Andrew J.; ...

2014-11-10

Hierarchically superstructured Prussian blue analogues (hexa- conventional hybrid graphene/MnO 2 nanostructured textiles. cyanoferrate, M = Ni II, Co II and Cu II) are synthesized through Because sodium or potassium ions are involved in energy stor- a spontaneous assembly technique. In sharp contrast to mac- age processes, more environmentally neutral electrolytes can roporous-only Prussian blue analogues, the hierarchically su- be utilized, making the superstructured porous Prussian blue perstructured porous Prussian blue materials are demonstrated analogues a great contender for applications as high-per- to possess a high capacitance, which is similar to those of the formance pseudocapacitors.

Molecular spintronics using single-molecule magnets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bogani, Lapo; Wernsdorfer, Wolfgang

2008-03-01

A revolution in electronics is in view, with the contemporary evolution of the two novel disciplines of spintronics and molecular electronics. A fundamental link between these two fields can be established using molecular magnetic materials and, in particular, single-molecule magnets. Here, we review the first progress in the resulting field, molecular spintronics, which will enable the manipulation of spin and charges in electronic devices containing one or more molecules. We discuss the advantages over more conventional materials, and the potential applications in information storage and processing. We also outline current challenges in the field, and propose convenient schemes to overcome them.

Short Term Innovative Research Program: Nanoengineered Reactive Materials for Tunable Ignition and Energy Release

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-01-01

Background Most conventional explosives can be roughly categorized into two classes – molecular materials and intermolecular composites. Molecular...materials refer to species such as the nitroalkanes (e.g. nitromethane ) and cyclic nitramines (e.g. TNAZ, RDX, HMX) that release chemical energy...alternative to conventional explosives that has been gaining increasing interest have been termed reactive materials, and are defined as systems in

Origami interleaved tube cellular materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cheung, Kenneth C.; Tachi, Tomohiro; Calisch, Sam; Miura, Koryo

2014-09-01

A novel origami cellular material based on a deployable cellular origami structure is described. The structure is bi-directionally flat-foldable in two orthogonal (x and y) directions and is relatively stiff in the third orthogonal (z) direction. While such mechanical orthotropicity is well known in cellular materials with extruded two dimensional geometry, the interleaved tube geometry presented here consists of two orthogonal axes of interleaved tubes with high interfacial surface area and relative volume that changes with fold-state. In addition, the foldability still allows for fabrication by a flat lamination process, similar to methods used for conventional expanded two dimensional cellular materials. This article presents the geometric characteristics of the structure together with corresponding kinematic and mechanical modeling, explaining the orthotropic elastic behavior of the structure with classical dimensional scaling analysis.

IO-MFA and Thermodynamic Approach for Metal Recycling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nakajima, Kenichi; Matsubae, Kazuyo; Kondo, Yasushi; Nakamura, Shinichiro; Nagasaka, Tetsuya

Recently, the issue of sustainable resource management has been increasingly recognized. In order to increase resource efficiency, Castro et al. (2004) pointed out an importance to understand the interconnections between the materials' processing routes and their thermodynamic constraints, and discussed losses due to contaminations during recycling. One of the dominant solutions to avoid such losses or contaminants is knowledge about the substance flows in material cycles. Material flow analysis (MFA) is a powerful tool to understand the resource consumption and material cycle in the national economy. Some advanced MFA studies discussed the complex web of metal flows and their linkages (Nakamura et al. 2007, 2008). Discussions on the limitations of impurity removal and the recoverability of elements in the recycling of EoL metal products, however, have been insufficient even in conventional MFA studies.

A first insight on the biodegradation of limestone: the case of the World Heritage Convent of Christ

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rosado, Tânia; Silva, Mara; Galvão, Andreia; Mirão, José; Candeias, António; Caldeira, Ana Teresa

2016-12-01

The present study is a multidisciplinary approach applied to architectural stone materials of the Convent of Christ in Tomar (Portugal) in order to understand and mitigate the active decay processes. The structure and appearance of the stonework from the Convent of Christ are strongly affected by stains, biofilms and structural degradation. To investigate these phenomena, a multianalytical approach comprising X-ray microdiffraction, scanning electron microscopy, microRaman and microinfrared spectroscopy was applied to the examination of altered outdoor stone areas being detected calcium oxalates, carotenoids and microbial proliferation. The presence of these alteration products seems to be correlated with the microbial activity of bacteria, microalgae, cyanobacteria and filamentous fungi. This work showed that the application of complementary methodologies is an efficient strategy to characterise the stone decay, and constitute a starting point for successful conservation intervention plans that are urgent to ensure the preservation and safeguard of this emblematic monument.

Retention of denture bases fabricated by three different processing techniques – An in vivo study

PubMed Central

Chalapathi Kumar, V. H.; Surapaneni, Hemchand; Ravikiran, V.; Chandra, B. Sarat; Balusu, Srilatha; Reddy, V. Naveen

2016-01-01

Aim: Distortion due to Polymerization shrinkage compromises the retention. To evaluate the amount of retention of denture bases fabricated by conventional, anchorized, and injection molding polymerization techniques. Materials and Methods: Ten completely edentulous patients were selected, impressions were made, and master cast obtained was duplicated to fabricate denture bases by three polymerization techniques. Loop was attached to the finished denture bases to estimate the force required to dislodge them by retention apparatus. Readings were subjected to nonparametric Friedman two-way analysis of variance followed by Bonferroni correction methods and Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-ranks test. Results: Denture bases fabricated by injection molding (3740 g), anchorized techniques (2913 g) recorded greater retention values than conventional technique (2468 g). Significant difference was seen between these techniques. Conclusions: Denture bases obtained by injection molding polymerization technique exhibited maximum retention, followed by anchorized technique, and least retention was seen in conventional molding technique. PMID:27382542

Influence of Scanning Strategies on Processing of Aluminum Alloy EN AW 2618 Using Selective Laser Melting

PubMed Central

Palousek, David; Pantelejev, Libor; Hoeller, Christian; Pichler, Rudolf; Tesicky, Lukas; Kaiser, Jozef

2018-01-01

This paper deals with various selective laser melting (SLM) processing strategies for aluminum 2618 powder in order to get material densities and properties close to conventionally-produced, high-strength 2618 alloy. To evaluate the influence of laser scanning strategies on the resulting porosity and mechanical properties a row of experiments was done. Three types of samples were used: single-track welds, bulk samples and samples for tensile testing. Single-track welds were used to find the appropriate processing parameters for achieving continuous and well-shaped welds. The bulk samples were built with different scanning strategies with the aim of reaching a low relative porosity of the material. The combination of the chessboard strategy with a 2 × 2 mm field size fabricated with an out-in spiral order was found to eliminate a major lack of fusion defects. However, small cracks in the material structure were found over the complete range of tested parameters. The decisive criteria was the elimination of small cracks that drastically reduced mechanical properties. Reduction of the thermal gradient using support structures or fabrication under elevated temperatures shows a promising approach to eliminating the cracks. Mechanical properties of samples produced by SLM were compared with the properties of extruded material. The results showed that the SLM-processed 2618 alloy could only reach one half of the yield strength and tensile strength of extruded material. This is mainly due to the occurrence of small cracks in the structure of the built material. PMID:29443912

Biosorption: current perspectives on concept, definition and application.

PubMed

Fomina, Marina; Gadd, Geoffrey Michael

2014-05-01

Biosorption is a physico-chemical and metabolically-independent process based on a variety of mechanisms including absorption, adsorption, ion exchange, surface complexation and precipitation. Biosorption processes are highly important in the environment and conventional biotreatment processes. As a branch of biotechnology, biosorption has been aimed at the removal or recovery of organic and inorganic substances from solution by biological material which can include living or dead microorganisms and their components, seaweeds, plant materials, industrial and agricultural wastes and natural residues. For decades biosorption has been heralded as a promising cost-effective clean-up biotechnology. Despite significant progress in our understanding of this complex phenomenon and a dramatic increase in publications in this research area, commercialization of biosorption technologies has been limited so far. This article summarizes existing knowledge on various aspects of the fundamentals and applications of biosorption and critically reviews the obstacles to commercial success and future perspectives. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Process simulation of modified dry grind ethanol plant with recycle of pretreated and enzymatically hydrolyzed distillers' grains.

PubMed

Kim, Youngmi; Mosier, Nathan; Ladisch, Michael R

2008-08-01

Distillers' grains (DG), a co-product of a dry grind ethanol process, is an excellent source of supplemental proteins in livestock feed. Studies have shown that, due to its high polymeric sugar contents and ease of hydrolysis, the distillers' grains have potential as an additional source of fermentable sugars for ethanol fermentation. The benefit of processing the distillers' grains to extract fermentable sugars lies in an increased ethanol yield without significant modification in the current dry grind technology. Three different potential configurations of process alternatives in which pretreated and hydrolyzed distillers' grains are recycled for an enhanced overall ethanol yield are proposed and discussed in this paper based on the liquid hot water (LHW) pretreatment of distillers' grains. Possible limitations of each proposed process are also discussed. This paper presents a compositional analysis of distillers' grains, as well as a simulation of the modified dry grind processes with recycle of distillers' grains. Simulated material balances for the modified dry grind processes are established based on the base case assumptions. These balances are compared to the conventional dry grind process in terms of ethanol yield, compositions of its co-products, and accumulation of fermentation inhibitors. Results show that 14% higher ethanol yield is achievable by processing and hydrolyzing the distillers' grains for additional fermentable sugars, as compared to the conventional dry grind process. Accumulation of fermentation by-products and inhibitory components in the proposed process is predicted to be 2-5 times higher than in the conventional dry grind process. The impact of fermentation inhibitors is reviewed and discussed. The final eDDGS (enhanced dried distillers' grains) from the modified processes has 30-40% greater protein content per mass than DDGS, and its potential as a value-added process is also analyzed. While the case studies used to illustrate the process simulation are based on LHW pretreated DG, the process simulation itself provides a framework for evaluation of the impact of other pretreatments.

Thermal energy storage – overview and specific insight into nitrate salts for sensible and latent heat storage

PubMed Central

Bauer, Thomas; Martin, Claudia; Eck, Markus; Wörner, Antje

2015-01-01

Summary Thermal energy storage (TES) is capable to reduce the demand of conventional energy sources for two reasons: First, they prevent the mismatch between the energy supply and the power demand when generating electricity from renewable energy sources. Second, utilization of waste heat in industrial processes by thermal energy storage reduces the final energy consumption. This review focuses mainly on material aspects of alkali nitrate salts. They include thermal properties, thermal decomposition processes as well as a new method to develop optimized salt systems. PMID:26199853

Thermal energy storage - overview and specific insight into nitrate salts for sensible and latent heat storage.

PubMed

Pfleger, Nicole; Bauer, Thomas; Martin, Claudia; Eck, Markus; Wörner, Antje

2015-01-01

Thermal energy storage (TES) is capable to reduce the demand of conventional energy sources for two reasons: First, they prevent the mismatch between the energy supply and the power demand when generating electricity from renewable energy sources. Second, utilization of waste heat in industrial processes by thermal energy storage reduces the final energy consumption. This review focuses mainly on material aspects of alkali nitrate salts. They include thermal properties, thermal decomposition processes as well as a new method to develop optimized salt systems.

Building one-dimensional oxide nanostructure arrays on conductive metal substrates for lithium-ion battery anodes.

PubMed

Jiang, Jian; Li, Yuanyuan; Liu, Jinping; Huang, Xintang

2011-01-01

Lithium ion battery (LIB) is potentially one of the most attractive energy storage devices. To meet the demands of future high-power and high-energy density requirements in both thin-film microbatteries and conventional batteries, it is challenging to explore novel nanostructured anode materials instead of conventional graphite. Compared to traditional electrodes based on nanostructure powder paste, directly grown ordered nanostructure array electrodes not only simplify the electrode processing, but also offer remarkable advantages such as fast electron transport/collection and ion diffusion, sufficient electrochemical reaction of individual nanostructures, enhanced material-electrolyte contact area and facile accommodation of the strains caused by lithium intercalation and de-intercalation. This article provides a brief overview of the present status in the area of LIB anodes based on one-dimensional nanostructure arrays growing directly on conductive inert metal substrates, with particular attention to metal oxides synthesized by an anodized alumina membrane (AAM)-free solution-based or hydrothermal methods. Both the scientific developments and the techniques and challenges are critically analyzed.

Building one-dimensional oxidenanostructure arrays on conductive metal substrates for lithium-ion battery anodes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jiang, Jian; Li, Yuanyuan; Liu, Jinping; Huang, Xintang

2011-01-01

Lithium ion battery (LIB) is potentially one of the most attractive energy storage devices. To meet the demands of future high-power and high-energy density requirements in both thin-film microbatteries and conventional batteries, it is challenging to explore novel nanostructured anode materials instead of conventional graphite. Compared to traditional electrodes based on nanostructure powder paste, directly grown ordered nanostructure array electrodes not only simplify the electrode processing, but also offer remarkable advantages such as fast electron transport/collection and ion diffusion, sufficient electrochemical reaction of individual nanostructures, enhanced material-electrolyte contact area and facile accommodation of the strains caused by lithium intercalation and de-intercalation. This article provides a brief overview of the present status in the area of LIB anodes based on one-dimensional nanostructure arrays growing directly on conductive inert metal substrates, with particular attention to metal oxides synthesized by an anodized aluminamembrane (AAM)-free solution-based or hydrothermal methods. Both the scientific developments and the techniques and challenges are critically analyzed.

Roll-to-Roll Laser-Printed Graphene-Graphitic Carbon Electrodes for High-Performance Supercapacitors.

PubMed

Kang, Sangmin; Lim, Kyungmi; Park, Hyeokjun; Park, Jong Bo; Park, Seong Chae; Cho, Sung-Pyo; Kang, Kisuk; Hong, Byung Hee

2018-01-10

Carbon electrodes including graphene and thin graphite films have been utilized for various energy and sensor applications, where the patterning of electrodes is essentially included. Laser scribing in a DVD writer and inkjet printing were used to pattern the graphene-like materials, but the size and speed of fabrication has been limited for practical applications. In this work, we devise a simple strategy to use conventional laser-printer toner materials as precursors for graphitic carbon electrodes. The toner was laser-printed on metal foils, followed by thermal annealing in hydrogen environment, finally resulting in the patterned thin graphitic carbon or graphene electrodes for supercapacitors. The electrochemical cells made of the graphene-graphitic carbon electrodes show remarkably higher energy and power performance compared to conventional supercapacitors. Furthermore, considering the simplicity and scalability of roll-to-roll (R2R) electrode patterning processes, the proposed method would enable cheaper and larger-scale synthesis and patterning of graphene-graphitic carbon electrodes for various energy applications in the future.

Discordant 14C ages from buried tidal-marsh soils in the Cascadia subduction zone, southern Oregon coast

USGS Publications Warehouse

Nelson, A.R.

1992-01-01

Peaty, tidal-marsh soils interbedded with estuarine mud in late Holocene stratigraphic sequences near Coos Bay, Oregon, may have been submerged and buried during great (M > 8) subduction earthquakes, smaller localized earthquakes, or by nontectonic processes. Radiocarbon dating might help distinguish among these alternatives by showing that soils at different sites were submerged at different times along this part of the Cascadia subduction zone. But comparison of conventional 14C ages for different materials from the same buried soils shows that they contain materials that differ in age by many hundreds of years. Errors in calibrated soil ages represent about the same length of time as recurrence times for submergence events (150-500 yr)-this similarity precludes using conventional 14C ages to distinguish buried soils along the southern Oregon coast. Accelerator mass spectrometer 14C ages of carefully selected macrofossils from the tops of peaty soils should provide more precise estimates of the times of submergence events. ?? 1992.

Enabling lightweight designs by a new laser based approach for joining aluminum to steel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brockmann, Rüdiger; Kaufmann, Sebastian; Kirchhoff, Marc; Candel-Ruiz, Antonio; Müllerschön, Oliver; Havrilla, David

2015-03-01

As sustainability is an essential requirement, lightweight design becomes more and more important, especially for mobility. Reduced weight ensures more efficient vehicles and enables better environmental impact. Besides the design, new materials and material combinations are one major trend to achieve the required weight savings. The use of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastics (abbr. CFRP) is widely discussed, but so far high volume applications are rarely to be found. This is mainly due to the fact that parts made of CFRP are much more expensive than conventional parts. Furthermore, the proper technologies for high volume production are not yet ready. Another material with a large potential for lightweight design is aluminum. In comparison to CFRP, aluminum alloys are generally more affordable. As aluminum is a metallic material, production technologies for high volume standard cutting or joining applications are already developed. In addition, bending and deep-drawing can be applied. In automotive engineering, hybrid structures such as combining high-strength steels with lightweight aluminum alloys retain significant weight reduction but also have an advantage over monolithic aluminum - enhanced behavior in case of crash. Therefore, since the use of steel for applications requiring high mechanical properties is unavoidable, methods for joining aluminum with steel parts have to be further developed. Former studies showed that the use of a laser beam can be a possibility to join aluminum to steel parts. In this sense, the laser welding process represents a major challenge, since both materials have different thermal expansion coefficients and properties related to the behavior in corrosive media. Additionally, brittle intermetallic phases are formed during welding. A promising approach to welding aluminum to steel is based on the use of Laser Metal Deposition (abbr. LMD) with deposit materials in the form of powders. Within the present work, the advantages of this approach in comparison to conventional processes, as well as expected limitations are described.

Mechanochemical Nitration of Aromatic Compounds

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lagoviyer, Oleg S.; Krishtopa, Larisa; Schoenitz, Mirko; Trivedi, Nirupam J.; Dreizin, Edward L.

2018-04-01

Nitration of organic compounds is necessary to produce many energetic materials, such as TNT and nitrocellulose. The conventional nitration process uses a mixture of concentrated sulfuric and nitric acids as nitrating agents and multiple solvents. The chemicals are corrosive and require special handling and disposal procedures. In this study, aromatic nitration has been achieved using solvent-free mechanochemical processing of environmentally benign precursors. Mononitrotoluene was synthesized by milling toluene with sodium nitrate and molybdenum trioxide as a Lewis acid catalyst. Several parameters affecting the desired product yield were identified and varied. A number of byproducts, i.e., dimers of toluene were also produced, but the selectivity was observed to increase with increasing mononitrotoluene yield. Both absolute mononitrotoluene yields and selectivity of its production increased with the increase in the energy transferred to the material from the milling tools.

Spent coffee grounds as a versatile source of green energy.

PubMed

Kondamudi, Narasimharao; Mohapatra, Susanta K; Misra, Mano

2008-12-24

The production of energy from renewable and waste materials is an attractive alternative to the conventional agricultural feed stocks such as corn and soybean. This paper describes an approach to extract oil from spent coffee grounds and to further transesterify the processed oil to convert it into biodiesel. This process yields 10-15% oil depending on the coffee species (Arabica or Robusta). The biodiesel derived from the coffee grounds (100% conversion of oil to biodiesel) was found to be stable for more than 1 month under ambient conditions. It is projected that 340 million gallons of biodiesel can be produced from the waste coffee grounds around the world. The coffee grounds after oil extraction are ideal materials for garden fertilizer, feedstock for ethanol, and as fuel pellets.

Imprint-coating synthesis of selective functionalized ordered mesoporous sorbents for separation and sensors

DOEpatents

Dai, Sheng; Burleigh, Mark C.; Shin, Yongsoon

2001-01-01

The present invention relates generally to mesoporous sorbent materials having high capacity, high selectivity, fast kinetics, and molecular recognition capability. The invention also relates to a process for preparing these mesoporous substrates through molecular imprinting techniques which differ from convention techniques in that a template molecule is bound to one end of bifunctional ligands to form a complex prior to binding of the bifunctional ligands to the substrate. The present invention also relates to methods of using the mesoporous sorbent materials, for example, in the separation of toxic metals from process effluents, paints, and other samples; detection of target molecules, such as amino acids, drugs, herbicides, fertilizers, and TNT, in samples; separation and/or detection of substances using chromatography; imaging agents; sensors; coatings; and composites.

Effect of curing mode on the micro-mechanical properties of dual-cured self-adhesive resin cements.

PubMed

Ilie, Nicoleta; Simon, Alexander

2012-04-01

Light supplying to luting resin cements is impeded in several clinical situations, causing us to question whether materials can properly be cured to achieve adequately (or adequate) mechanical properties. The aim of this study was therefore to analyse the effect of light on the micro-mechanical properties of eight popular dual-cured self-adhesive resin cements by comparing them with two conventional, also dual-cured, resin cements. Four different curing procedures were applied: auto-polymerisation (dark curing) and light curing (LED unit, Freelight 2, 20 s) by applying the unit directly on the samples' surface, at a distance of 5 and 10 mm. Twenty minutes after curing, the samples were stored for 1 week at 37°C in a water-saturated atmosphere. The micro-mechanical properties-Vickers hardness, modulus of elasticity, creep and elastic/plastic deformation-were measured. Data were analysed with multivariate ANOVA followed by Tukey's test and partial eta-squared statistics (p < 0.05). A very strong influence of the material as well as filler volume and weight on the micro-mechanical properties was measured, whereas the influence of the curing procedure and type of cement-conventional or self-adhesive-was generally low. The influence of light on the polymerisation process was material dependent, with four different behaviour patterns to be distinguished. As a material category, significantly higher micro-mechanical properties were measured for the conventional compared to the self-adhesive resin cements, although this difference was low. Within the self-adhesive resin cements group, the variation in micro-mechanical properties was high. The selection of suitable resin cements should be done by considering, besides its adhesive properties, its micro-mechanical properties and curing behaviour also.

Advanced Materials and Manufacturing for Low-Cost, High-Performance Liquid Rocket Combustion Chambers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Williams, Brian E.; Arrieta, Victor M.

2013-01-01

A document describes the low-cost manufacturing of C103 niobium alloy combustion chambers, and the use of a high-temperature, oxidation-resistant coating that is superior to the standard silicide coating. The manufacturing process involved low-temperature spray deposition of C103 on removable plastic mandrels produced by rapid prototyping. Thin, vapor-deposited platinum-indium coatings were shown to substantially improve oxidation resistance relative to the standard silicide coating. Development of different low-cost plastic thrust chamber mandrel materials and prototyping processes (selective laser sintering and stereolithography) yielded mandrels with good dimensional accuracy (within a couple of mils) for this stage of development. The feasibility of using the kinetic metallization cold-spray process for fabrication of free-standing C1O3 thrusters on removable plastic mandrels was also demonstrated. The ambient and elevated temperature mechanical properties of the material were shown to be reasonably good relative to conventionally processed C103, but the greatest potential benefit is that coldsprayed chambers require minimal post-process machining, resulting in substantially lower machining and material costs. The platinum-iridium coating was shown to provide greatly increased oxidation resistance over the silicide when evaluated through oxyacetylene torch testing to as high as 300 F (= 150 C). The iridium component minimizes reaction with the niobium alloy chamber at high temperatures, and provides the high-temperature oxidation resistance needed at the throat.

Architectures for Improved Organic Semiconductor Devices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Beck, Jonathan H.

Advancements in the microelectronics industry have brought increasing performance and decreasing prices to a wide range of users. Conventional silicon-based electronics have followed Moore's law to provide an ever-increasing integrated circuit transistor density, which drives processing power, solid-state memory density, and sensor technologies. As shrinking conventional integrated circuits became more challenging, researchers began exploring electronics with the potential to penetrate new applications with a low price of entry: "Electronics everywhere." The new generation of electronics is thin, light, flexible, and inexpensive. Organic electronics are part of the new generation of thin-film electronics, relying on the synthetic flexibility of carbon molecules to create organic semiconductors, absorbers, and emitters which perform useful tasks. Organic electronics can be fabricated with low energy input on a variety of novel substrates, including inexpensive plastic sheets. The potential ease of synthesis and fabrication of organic-based devices means that organic electronics can be made at very low cost. Successfully demonstrated organic semiconductor devices include photovoltaics, photodetectors, transistors, and light emitting diodes. Several challenges that face organic semiconductor devices are low performance relative to conventional devices, long-term device stability, and development of new organic-compatible processes and materials. While the absorption and emission performance of organic materials in photovoltaics and light emitting diodes is extraordinarily high for thin films, the charge conduction mobilities are generally low. Building highly efficient devices with low-mobility materials is one challenge. Many organic semiconductor films are unstable during fabrication, storage, and operation due to reactions with water, oxygen and hydroxide. A final challenge facing organic electronics is the need for new processes and materials for electrodes, semiconductors and substrates compatible with low-temperature, flexible, and oxygenated and aromatic solvent-free fabrication. Materials and processes must be capable of future high volume production in order to enable low costs. In this thesis we explore several techniques to improve organic semiconductor device performance and enable new fabrication processes. In Chapter 2, I describe the integration of sub-optical-wavelength nanostructured electrodes that improve fill factor and power conversion efficiency in organic photovoltaic devices. Photovoltaic fill factor performance is one of the primary challenges facing organic photovoltaics because most organic semiconductors have poor charge mobility. Our electrical and optical measurements and simulations indicate that nanostructured electrodes improve charge extraction in organic photovoltaics. In Chapter 3, I describe a general method for maximizing the efficiency of organic photovoltaic devices by simultaneously optimizing light absorption and charge carrier collection. We analyze the potential benefits of light trapping strategies for maximizing the overall power conversion efficiency of organic photovoltaic devices. This technique may be used to improve organic photovoltaic materials with low absorption, or short exciton diffusion and carrier-recombination lengths, opening up the device design space. In Chapter 4, I describe a process for high-quality graphene transfer onto chemically sensitive, weakly interacting organic semiconductor thin-films. Graphene is a promising flexible and highly transparent electrode for organic electronics; however, transferring graphene films onto organic semiconductor devices was previously impossible. We demonstrate a new transfer technique based on an elastomeric stamp coated with an fluorinated polymer release layer. We fabricate three classes of organic semiconductor devices: field effect transistors without high temperature annealing, transparent organic light-emitting diodes, and transparent small-molecule organic photovoltaic devices.

Fully-Enclosed Ceramic Micro-burners Using Fugitive Phase and Powder-based Processing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Do, Truong; Shin, Changseop; Kwon, Patrick; Yeom, Junghoon

2016-08-01

Ceramic-based microchemical systems (μCSs) are more suitable for operation under harsh environments such as high temperature and corrosive reactants compared to the more conventional μCS materials such as silicon and polymers. With the recent renewed interests in chemical manufacturing and process intensification, simple, inexpensive, and reliable ceramic manufacturing technologies are needed. The main objective of this paper is to introduce a new powder-based fabrication framework, which is a one-pot, cost-effective, and versatile process for ceramic μCS components. The proposed approach employs the compaction of metal-oxide sub-micron powders with a graphite fugitive phase that is burned out to create internal cavities and microchannels before full sintering. Pure alumina powder has been used without any binder phase, enabling more precise dimensional control and less structure shrinkage upon sintering. The key process steps such as powder compaction, graphite burnout during partial sintering, machining in a conventional machine tool, and final densification have been studied to characterize the process. This near-full density ceramic structure with the combustion chamber and various internal channels was fabricated to be used as a micro-burner for gas sensing applications.

Fully-Enclosed Ceramic Micro-burners Using Fugitive Phase and Powder-based Processing

PubMed Central

Do, Truong; Shin, Changseop; Kwon, Patrick; Yeom, Junghoon

2016-01-01

Ceramic-based microchemical systems (μCSs) are more suitable for operation under harsh environments such as high temperature and corrosive reactants compared to the more conventional μCS materials such as silicon and polymers. With the recent renewed interests in chemical manufacturing and process intensification, simple, inexpensive, and reliable ceramic manufacturing technologies are needed. The main objective of this paper is to introduce a new powder-based fabrication framework, which is a one-pot, cost-effective, and versatile process for ceramic μCS components. The proposed approach employs the compaction of metal-oxide sub-micron powders with a graphite fugitive phase that is burned out to create internal cavities and microchannels before full sintering. Pure alumina powder has been used without any binder phase, enabling more precise dimensional control and less structure shrinkage upon sintering. The key process steps such as powder compaction, graphite burnout during partial sintering, machining in a conventional machine tool, and final densification have been studied to characterize the process. This near-full density ceramic structure with the combustion chamber and various internal channels was fabricated to be used as a micro-burner for gas sensing applications. PMID:27546059

Optimization of Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) Process for Maximum Ballistic Limit in MIL A46100 Steel Welded All-Metal Armor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Grujicic, M.; Ramaswami, S.; Snipes, J. S.; Yavari, R.; Yen, C.-F.; Cheeseman, B. A.

2015-01-01

Our recently developed multi-physics computational model for the conventional gas metal arc welding (GMAW) joining process has been upgraded with respect to its predictive capabilities regarding the process optimization for the attainment of maximum ballistic limit within the weld. The original model consists of six modules, each dedicated to handling a specific aspect of the GMAW process, i.e., (a) electro-dynamics of the welding gun; (b) radiation-/convection-controlled heat transfer from the electric arc to the workpiece and mass transfer from the filler metal consumable electrode to the weld; (c) prediction of the temporal evolution and the spatial distribution of thermal and mechanical fields within the weld region during the GMAW joining process; (d) the resulting temporal evolution and spatial distribution of the material microstructure throughout the weld region; (e) spatial distribution of the as-welded material mechanical properties; and (f) spatial distribution of the material ballistic limit. In the present work, the model is upgraded through the introduction of the seventh module in recognition of the fact that identification of the optimum GMAW process parameters relative to the attainment of the maximum ballistic limit within the weld region entails the use of advanced optimization and statistical sensitivity analysis methods and tools. The upgraded GMAW process model is next applied to the case of butt welding of MIL A46100 (a prototypical high-hardness armor-grade martensitic steel) workpieces using filler metal electrodes made of the same material. The predictions of the upgraded GMAW process model pertaining to the spatial distribution of the material microstructure and ballistic limit-controlling mechanical properties within the MIL A46100 butt weld are found to be consistent with general expectations and prior observations.

Focused-electron-beam-induced processing (FEBIP) for emerging applications in carbon nanoelectronics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fedorov, Andrei G.; Kim, Songkil; Henry, Mathias; Kulkarni, Dhaval; Tsukruk, Vladimir V.

2014-12-01

Focused-electron-beam-induced processing (FEBIP), a resist-free additive nanomanufacturing technique, is an actively researched method for "direct-write" processing of a wide range of structural and functional nanomaterials, with high degree of spatial and time-domain control. This article attempts to critically assess the FEBIP capabilities and unique value proposition in the context of processing of electronics materials, with a particular emphasis on emerging carbon (i.e., based on graphene and carbon nanotubes) devices and interconnect structures. One of the major hurdles in advancing the carbon-based electronic materials and device fabrication is a disjoint nature of various processing steps involved in making a functional device from the precursor graphene/CNT materials. Not only this multi-step sequence severely limits the throughput and increases the cost, but also dramatically reduces the processing reproducibility and negatively impacts the quality because of possible between-the-step contamination, especially for impurity-susceptible materials such as graphene. The FEBIP provides a unique opportunity to address many challenges of carbon nanoelectronics, especially when it is employed as part of an integrated processing environment based on multiple "beams" of energetic particles, including electrons, photons, and molecules. This avenue is promising from the applications' prospective, as such a multi-functional (electron/photon/molecule beam) enables one to define shapes (patterning), form structures (deposition/etching), and modify (cleaning/doping/annealing) properties with locally resolved control on nanoscale using the same tool without ever changing the processing environment. It thus will have a direct positive impact on enhancing functionality, improving quality and reducing fabrication costs for electronic devices, based on both conventional CMOS and emerging carbon (CNT/graphene) materials.

Interface engineering to enhance the efficiency of conventional polymer solar cells by alcohol-/water-soluble C60 materials doped with alkali carbonates.

PubMed

Lai, Yu-Ying; Shih, Ping-I; Li, Yi-Peng; Tsai, Che-En; Wu, Jhong-Sian; Cheng, Yen-Ju; Hsu, Chain-Shu

2013-06-12

Two new C60-based n-type materials, EGMC-OH and EGMC-COOH, functionalized with hydrophilic triethylene glycol groups (TEGs), have been synthesized and employed in conventional polymer solar cells. With the assistance of the TEG-based surfactant, EGMC-OH and EGMC-COOH can be dissolved in highly polar solvents to implement the polar/nonpolar orthogonal solvent strategy, forming an electron modification layer (EML) without eroding the underlying active layer. Multilayer conventional solar cells on the basis of ITO/PEDOT:PSS/P3HT:PC61BM/EML/Ca/Al configuration with the insertion of the EGMC-OH and EGMC-COOH EML between the active layer and the electrode have thus been successfully realized by cost-effective solution processing techniques. Moreover, the electron conductivity of the EML can be improved by incorporating alkali carbonates into the EGMC-COOH EML. Compared to the pristine device with a PCE of 3.61%, the devices modified by the Li2CO3-doped EGMC-COOH EML achieved a highest PCE of 4.29%. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the formation of the EGMC-COOH EML can be utilized as a general approach in the fabrication of highly efficient multilayer conventional devices. With the incorporation of the EGMC-COOH doped with 40 wt % Li2CO3, the PCDCTBT-C8:PC71BM-based device exhibited a superior PCE of 4.51%, which outperformed the corresponding nonmodified device with a PCE of 3.63%.

Industrial femtosecond lasers for machining of heat-sensitive polymers (Conference Presentation)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hendricks, Frank; Bernard, Benjamin; Matylitsky, Victor V.

2017-03-01

Heat-sensitive materials, such as polymers, are used increasingly in various industrial sectors such as medical device manufacturing and organic electronics. Medical applications include implantable devices like stents, catheters and wires, which need to be structured and cut with minimum heat damage. Also the flat panel display market moves from LCD displays to organic LED (OLED) solutions, which utilize heat-sensitive polymer substrates. In both areas, the substrates often consist of multilayer stacks with different types of materials, such as metals, dielectric layers and polymers with different physical characteristic. The different thermal behavior and laser absorption properties of the materials used makes these stacks difficult to machine using conventional laser sources. Femtosecond lasers are an enabling technology for micromachining of these materials since it is possible to machine ultrafine structures with minimum thermal impact and very precise control over material removed. An industrial femtosecond Spirit HE laser system from Spectra-Physics with pulse duration <400 fs, pulse energies of >120 μJ and average output powers of >16 W is an ideal tool for industrial micromachining of a wide range of materials with highest quality and efficiency. The laser offers process flexibility with programmable pulse energy, repetition rate, and pulse width. In this paper, we provide an overview of machining heat-sensitive materials using Spirit HE laser. In particular, we show how the laser parameters (e.g. laser wavelength, pulse duration, applied energy and repetition rate) and the processing strategy (gas assisted single pass cut vs. multi-scan process) influence the efficiency and quality of laser processing.

Bipolar batteries based on Ebonex ® technology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Loyns, A. C.; Hill, A.; Ellis, K. G.; Partington, T. J.; Hill, J. M.

Continuing work by Atraverda on the production of a composite-laminate form of the Ebonex ® material, that can be cheaply formulated and manufactured to form substrate plates for bipolar lead-acid batteries, is described. Ebonex ® is the registered trade name of a range of titanium suboxide ceramic materials, typically Ti 4O 7 and Ti 5O 9, which combine electrical conductivity with high corrosion and oxidation resistance. Details of the structure of the composite, battery construction techniques and methods for filling and forming of batteries are discussed. In addition, lifetime and performance data obtained by Atraverda from laboratory bipolar lead-acid batteries and cells are presented. Battery production techniques for both conventional monopolar and bipolar batteries are reviewed. The findings indicate that substantial time and cost savings may be realised in the manufacture of bipolar batteries in comparison to conventional designs. This is due to the fewer processing steps required and more efficient formation. The results indicate that the use of Ebonex ® composite material as a bipolar substrate will provide lightweight and durable high-voltage lead-acid batteries suitable for a wide range of applications including advanced automotive, stationary power and portable equipment.

Powder-Collection System for Ultrasonic/Sonic Drill/Corer

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sherrit, Stewart; Bar-Cohen, Yoseph; Bao, Xiaoqi; Chang, Zensheu; Blake, David; Bryson, Charles

2005-01-01

A system for collecting samples of powdered rock has been devised for use in conjunction with an ultrasonic/sonic drill/corer (USDC) -- a lightweight, lowpower apparatus designed to cut into, and acquire samples of, rock or other hard material for scientific analysis. The USDC includes a drill bit, corer, or other tool bit, in which ultrasonic and sonic vibrations are excited by an electronically driven piezoelectric actuator. The USDC advances into the rock or other material of interest by means of a hammering action and a resulting chiseling action at the tip of the tool bit. The hammering and chiseling actions are so effective that unlike in conventional twist drilling, a negligible amount of axial force is needed to make the USDC advance into the material. Also unlike a conventional twist drill, the USDC operates without need for torsional restraint, lubricant, or a sharp bit. The USDC generates powder as a byproduct of the drilling or coring process. The purpose served by the present samplecollection system is to remove the powder from the tool-bit/rock interface and deliver the powder to one or more designated location(s) for analysis or storage

A laser-deposition approach to compositional-spread discovery of materials on conventional sample sizes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Christen, Hans M.; Ohkubo, Isao; Rouleau, Christopher M.; Jellison, Gerald E., Jr.; Puretzky, Alex A.; Geohegan, David B.; Lowndes, Douglas H.

2005-01-01

Parallel (multi-sample) approaches, such as discrete combinatorial synthesis or continuous compositional-spread (CCS), can significantly increase the rate of materials discovery and process optimization. Here we review our generalized CCS method, based on pulsed-laser deposition, in which the synchronization between laser firing and substrate translation (behind a fixed slit aperture) yields the desired variations of composition and thickness. In situ alloying makes this approach applicable to the non-equilibrium synthesis of metastable phases. Deposition on a heater plate with a controlled spatial temperature variation can additionally be used for growth-temperature-dependence studies. Composition and temperature variations are controlled on length scales large enough to yield sample sizes sufficient for conventional characterization techniques (such as temperature-dependent measurements of resistivity or magnetic properties). This technique has been applied to various experimental studies, and we present here the results for the growth of electro-optic materials (SrxBa1-xNb2O6) and magnetic perovskites (Sr1-xCaxRuO3), and discuss the application to the understanding and optimization of catalysts used in the synthesis of dense forests of carbon nanotubes.

Simulation of friction stir drilling process

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vijayabaskar, P.; Hynes, N. Rajesh Jesudoss

2018-05-01

The project is the study of the thermal drilling process. The process is a hole forming process in the sheet metals using the heat generated by means of friction. The main advantage of the process over the conventional drilling process is that the holes formed using this process does not need any backing arrangements such as weld nuts, rivet nuts etc. Because the extruded bush itself acts as a supporting structure for the fasteners. This eliminates the need for the access to the backside of the work material for fastening operations. The major factors contributing the thermal drilling operation are the spindle speed and the thrust force required for forming a hole. The process of finding out the suitable thrust force and the speed for drilling a particular material with particular thickness is a tedious process. The process can be simplified by forming a mathematical model by combining the empirical formulae from the literature. These formulae were derived in the literature from the experimental trials by following certain assumptions. In this paper a suitable mathematical model is formed by replicating the experiments and tried to be validated by the results from numerical analysis. The numerical analysis of the model is done using the ANSYS software.

Tailored laser beam shaping for efficient and accurate microstructuring

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Häfner, T.; Strauß, J.; Roider, C.; Heberle, J.; Schmidt, M.

2018-02-01

Large-area processing with high material removal rates by ultrashort pulsed (USP) lasers is coming into focus by the development of high-power USP laser systems. However, currently the bottleneck for high-rate production is given by slow and inefficient beam manipulation. On the one hand, slow beam deflection with regard to high pulse repetition rates leads to heat accumulation and shielding effects, on the other hand, a conventional focus cannot provide the optimum fluence due to the Gaussian intensity profile. In this paper, we emphasize on two approaches of dynamic laser beam shaping with liquid crystal on silicon spatial light modulation and acousto-optic beam shaping. Advantages and limitations of dynamic laser beam shaping with regard to USP laser material processing and methods for reducing the influence of speckle are discussed. Additionally, the influence of optics induced aberrations on speckle characteristics is evaluated. Laser material processing results are presented correlating the achieved structure quality with the simulated and measured beam quality. Experimental and analytical investigations show a certain fluence dependence of the necessary number of alternative holograms to realize homogeneous microstructures.

Ti film deposition process of a plasma focus: Study by an experimental design

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Inestrosa-Izurieta, M. J.; Moreno, J.; Davis, S.; Soto, L.

2017-10-01

The plasma generated by plasma focus (PF) devices have substantially different physical characteristics from another plasma, energetic ions and electrons, compared with conventional plasma devices used for plasma nanofabrication, offering new and unique opportunities in the processing and synthesis of Nanomaterials. This article presents the use of a plasma focus of tens of joules, PF-50J, for the deposition of materials sprayed from the anode by the plasma dynamics in the axial direction. This work focuses on the determination of the most significant effects of the technological parameters of the system on the obtained depositions through the use of a statistical experimental design. The results allow us to give a qualitative understanding of the Ti film deposition process in our PF device depending on four different events provoked by the plasma dynamics: i) an electric erosion of the outer material of the anode; ii) substrate ablation generating an interlayer; iii) electron beam deposition of material from the center of the anode; iv) heat load provoking clustering or even melting of the deposition surface.

Effect of structural changes of lignocelluloses material upon pre-treatment using green solvents

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gunny, Ahmad Anas Nagoor; Arbain, Dachyar; Jamal, Parveen

2017-04-01

The Malaysia Biomass strategy 2020 stated that the key step of biofuel production from biomass lies on the pretreatment process. Conventional `pre-treatment' methods are `non-green" and costly. The recent green and cost-effective biomass pretreatment is using new generation of Ionic Liquids also known as Deep Eutectic Solvents (DESs). DESs are made of renewable components are cheaper, greener and the process synthesis are easier. Thus, the present paper concerns with the preparation of various combination of DES and to study the effect of DESs pretreatment process on microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), a model substrate. The crystalline structural changes were studied using using X-ray Diffraction Methods, Fourier Transformed Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and surface area and pore size analysis. Results showed reduction of crystalline structure of MCC treated with the DESs and increment of surface area and pore size of MCC after pre-treatment process. These results indicated the DES has successfully converted the lignocelluloses material in the form suitable for hydrolysis and conversion to simple sugar.

NDE of ceramics and ceramic composites

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vary, Alex; Klima, Stanley J.

1991-01-01

Although nondestructive evaluation (NDE) techniques for ceramics are fairly well developed, they are difficult to apply in many cases for high probability detection of the minute flaws that can cause failure in monolithic ceramics. Conventional NDE techniques are available for monolithic and fiber reinforced ceramic matrix composites, but more exact quantitative techniques needed are still being investigated and developed. Needs range from flaw detection to below 100 micron levels in monolithic ceramics to global imaging of fiber architecture and matrix densification anomalies in ceramic composites. NDE techniques that will ultimately be applicable to production and quality control of ceramic structures are still emerging from the lab. Needs are different depending on the processing stage, fabrication method, and nature of the finished product. NDE techniques are being developed in concert with materials processing research where they can provide feedback information to processing development and quality improvement. NDE techniques also serve as research tools for materials characterization and for understanding failure processes, e.g., during thermomechanical testing.

Microstructures and Mechanical Properties of Commercially Pure Ti Processed by Rotationally Accelerated Shot Peening

PubMed Central

Huang, Zhaowen; Cao, Yang; Nie, Jinfeng; Zhou, Hao; Li, Yusheng

2018-01-01

Gradient structured materials possess good combinations of strength and ductility, rendering the materials attractive in industrial applications. In this research, a surface nanocrystallization (SNC) technique, rotationally accelerated shot peening (RASP), was employed to produce a gradient nanostructured pure Ti with a deformation layer that had a thickness of 2000 μm, which is thicker than those processed by conventional SNC techniques. It is possible to fabricate a gradient structured Ti workpiece without delamination. Moreover, based on the microstructural features, the microstructure of the processed sample can be classified into three regions, from the center to the surface of the RASP-processed sample: (1) a twinning-dominated core region; (2) a “twin intersection”-dominated twin transition region; and (3) the nanostructured region, featuring nanograins. A microhardness gradient was detected from the RASP-processed Ti. The surface hardness was more than twice that of the annealed Ti sample. The RASP-processed Ti sample exhibited a good combination of yield strength and uniform elongation, which may be attributed to the high density of deformation twins and a strong back stress effect. PMID:29498631

40 CFR 408.210 - Applicability; description of the non-Alaskan conventional bottom fish processing subcategory.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

...-Alaskan conventional bottom fish processing subcategory. 408.210 Section 408.210 Protection of Environment... PROCESSING POINT SOURCE CATEGORY Non-Alaskan Conventional Bottom Fish Processing Subcategory § 408.210 Applicability; description of the non-Alaskan conventional bottom fish processing subcategory. The provisions of...

40 CFR 408.210 - Applicability; description of the non-Alaskan conventional bottom fish processing subcategory.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

...-Alaskan conventional bottom fish processing subcategory. 408.210 Section 408.210 Protection of Environment... PROCESSING POINT SOURCE CATEGORY Non-Alaskan Conventional Bottom Fish Processing Subcategory § 408.210 Applicability; description of the non-Alaskan conventional bottom fish processing subcategory. The provisions of...

40 CFR 408.210 - Applicability; description of the non-Alaskan conventional bottom fish processing subcategory.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

...-Alaskan conventional bottom fish processing subcategory. 408.210 Section 408.210 Protection of Environment... PROCESSING POINT SOURCE CATEGORY Non-Alaskan Conventional Bottom Fish Processing Subcategory § 408.210 Applicability; description of the non-Alaskan conventional bottom fish processing subcategory. The provisions of...

40 CFR 408.210 - Applicability; description of the non-Alaskan conventional bottom fish processing subcategory.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

...-Alaskan conventional bottom fish processing subcategory. 408.210 Section 408.210 Protection of Environment... PROCESSING POINT SOURCE CATEGORY Non-Alaskan Conventional Bottom Fish Processing Subcategory § 408.210 Applicability; description of the non-Alaskan conventional bottom fish processing subcategory. The provisions of...

40 CFR 408.210 - Applicability; description of the non-Alaskan conventional bottom fish processing subcategory.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

...-Alaskan conventional bottom fish processing subcategory. 408.210 Section 408.210 Protection of Environment... PROCESSING POINT SOURCE CATEGORY Non-Alaskan Conventional Bottom Fish Processing Subcategory § 408.210 Applicability; description of the non-Alaskan conventional bottom fish processing subcategory. The provisions of...

Influences of the manufacturing process chain design on the near surface condition and the resulting fatigue behaviour of quenched and tempered SAE 4140

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Klein, M.; Eifler, D.

2010-07-01

To analyse interactions between single steps of process chains, variations in material properties, especially the microstructure and the resulting mechanical properties, specimens with tension screw geometry were manufactured with five process chains. The different process chains as well as their parameters influence the near surface condition and consequently the fatigue behaviour in a characteristic manner. The cyclic deformation behaviour of these specimens can be benchmarked equivalently with conventional strain measurements as well as with high-precision temperature and electrical resistance measurements. The development of temperature-values provides substantial information on cyclic load dependent changes in the microstructure.

Hybrid Al/steel-joints manufactured by ultrasound enhanced friction stir welding (USE-FSW): Process comparison, nondestructive testing and microscopic analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Thomä, M.; Wagner, G.; Straß, B.; Wolter, B.; Benfer, S.; Fürbeth, W.

2017-03-01

The process of friction stir welding (FSW) is an innovative joining technique, which proved its potential in joining dissimilar metals that are poorly fusion weldable. This ability opens a wide range for applications in industrial fields, where weight reduction by partial substitution of conventional materials through lightweight materials is a current central aim. As a consequence of this, the realization of aluminum / steel-joints is of great interest. For this material compound, several friction stir welds were carried out by different researchers for varying Al/steel-joints, whereas the definition of optimal process parameters as well as the increase of mechanical properties was in the focus of the studies. To achieve further improved properties for this dissimilar joint a newly developed hybrid process named “ultrasound enhanced friction stir welding (USE-FSW)” was applied. In this paper the resulting properties of Al/steel-joints using FSW and USE-FSW will be presented and compared. Furthermore, first results by using the nondestructive testing method “computer laminography” to analyze the developed joining area will be shown supplemented by detailed light-microscopic investigations, scanning electron microscopic analysis, and EDX.

Development of new resist materials for 193-nm dry and immersion lithography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sasaki, Takashi; Shirota, Naoko; Takebe, Yoko; Yokokoji, Osamu

2006-03-01

We earlier developed new monocyclic fluoropolymers (FUGU) for F II resist materials. But, it is necessary for FUGU to improve of their characteristics, especially the dry-etching resistance, in order to apply for ArF lithography at fine design rules. We have tried to combine FUGUs with Adamntyl methacrylates based conventional ArF resist polymer. In this paper, we have investigated the role of cyclic fluorinated unit, FUGU, in 193 nm resist polymers by analyzing the dissolution behavior. We found that FGEAM showed high sensitivity and good dissolution contrast, compared with acrylate based conventional samples at low PEB temperature (100 °C). And this difference of sensitivity was clearly found when weak acidity PAGs were used. From the dissolution behaviors of FGEAM, FUGU unit can work to improve the resist sensitivity in acrylate based ArF resist polymers. And we also found that FGEAM showed long acid diffusion length on PEB process, compared with Conventional samples. These result show that FUGU unit has a unique characteristics of the sensitivity with 193nm exposure and the acid diffusion behavior. We also investigated a new series of fluorinated copolymers for 193-nm lithography, combination of FUGU monomer and acrylate units which are used in conventional ArF resist. Six ter-polymers of FUGU, combination of FUGU monomers and EAdMA, GBLMA and HAdMA were prepared. We found that FUGU ter-polymers had a good dry etching resistance keeping high transparency at 193nm. And FUGU ter-polymers showed high sensitivity toward 193nm exposure. FUGU ter-polymers also had a high hydrophobic properties compared conventional type ArF resist polymers. So we also expect FUGU ter-polymers to be useful for ArF dry and immersion lithography.

Panel Board From Coconut Fibre And Pet Bottle

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ngadiman, Norhayati; Kaamin, Masiri; Abd. Kadir, Aslila; Sahat, Suhaila; Zaini, Aziza; Raihana Nor Zentan, Siti; Ain Ahmad, Nur; Amran, Wan Haizatul Aisyhah Wan

2018-03-01

The rate of global deforestation and its impact on the environment has led particle board manufacture to search for alternative feedstock, especially in countries where wood is less available compared to other cellulosic natural product. Based on the properties of coconut fibre and PET bottle, these two materials can be recycle as raw material for manufacture of panel board. As for this study, the coconut fibre were used as the filler and PET bottle as outer lining of the panel board. Two types of coconut fibre were used which are grinding and un-grinding coconut fibre. At first, the coconut fibre are undergoes softening, grinding, drying and sieving process, while PET bottle was cleaning, shredding, sieving before compacted using hydraulic hot press machine. There are four types of testing that been carried out which are swelling, water absorption, Modulus of Elasticity (MOE) and Modulus of Rupture (MOR). The result show the conventional board has the highest value for MOE test, so it's indicate that the conventional board is less strength from the coconut fibre board. As for water absorption test, the average water absorption of coconut fibre based panel board is less than conventional board. Overall, the coconut fibre board is better than conventional panel board because coconut fibre board are less swelling, has low water absorption, high modulus of rupture and low modulus of elasticity. Based on the finding, this coconut fibre panel board has potential as a stronger and long-lasting panel board than the conventional board in the market. Other than that, the panel also have their own aesthetic value since the recycled plastic bottle used as outer lining is colourful and giving aesthetic value.

Use of silicon oxynitride as a sacrificial material for microelectromechanical devices

DOEpatents

Habermehl, Scott D.; Sniegowski, Jeffry J.

2001-01-01

The use of silicon oxynitride (SiO.sub.x N.sub.y) as a sacrificial material for forming a microelectromechanical (MEM) device is disclosed. Whereas conventional sacrificial materials such as silicon dioxide and silicate glasses are compressively strained, the composition of silicon oxynitride can be selected to be either tensile-strained or substantially-stress-free. Thus, silicon oxynitride can be used in combination with conventional sacrificial materials to limit an accumulation of compressive stress in a MEM device; or alternately the MEM device can be formed entirely with silicon oxynitride. Advantages to be gained from the use of silicon oxynitride as a sacrificial material for a MEM device include the formation of polysilicon members that are substantially free from residual stress, thereby improving the reliability of the MEM device; an ability to form the MEM device with a higher degree of complexity and more layers of structural polysilicon than would be possible using conventional compressively-strained sacrificial materials; and improved manufacturability resulting from the elimination of wafer distortion that can arise from an excess of accumulated stress in conventional sacrificial materials. The present invention is useful for forming many different types of MEM devices including accelerometers, sensors, motors, switches, coded locks, and flow-control devices, with or without integrated electronic circuitry.

Dynamic Failure of Materials. Volume 1 - Experiments and Analyses

DTIC Science & Technology

1998-11-01

initial increments of voids do not lead to substantial relaxation of stress. In this case, the condition (8.1) gives Vv = Ao- aVv * ß=— (8.10) pc...enough strain steps to define the process accurately. At each strain step, a combined Newton-Raphson and regulafalsi solution technique (multiple trials ...laser surgery. Clinical studies have demonstrated that, for some applications, surgical lasers are superior to conventional surgical procedures

Raney nickel catalytic device

DOEpatents

O'Hare, Stephen A.

1978-01-01

A catalytic device for use in a conventional coal gasification process which includes a tubular substrate having secured to its inside surface by expansion a catalytic material. The catalytic device is made by inserting a tubular catalytic element, such as a tubular element of a nickel-aluminum alloy, into a tubular substrate and heat-treating the resulting composite to cause the tubular catalytic element to irreversibly expand against the inside surface of the substrate.

Piezoelectric Characteristics of Chiral Polymer Composite Films Obtained under Strong Magnetic Field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nakiri, Takuo; Okuno, Masaki; Maki, Nobuyuki; Kanasaki, Masayoshi; Morimoto, Yu; Okamoto, Satoshi; Ishizuka, Masayuki; Fukuda, Kazuyuki; Takaki, Toshihiko; Tajitsu, Yoshiro

2005-09-01

It is difficult to obtain a drawn chiral polymer/inorganic material composite membrane with shear piezoelectricity by the conventional method because the chiral polymer/inorganic material composite membrane breaks during the drawing process by which shear piezoelectricity is realized. Using a strong magnetic field, we propose to manufacture a drawn composite membrane of poly-l-lactic acid (PLLA), a chiral polymer, and hydroxyapatite (Hap), an inoroganic material (PLLA/Hap composite membrane). The manufacturing method used here is effective for obtaining a drawn PLLA/Hap composite membrane with a large uniform area. Also, the shear piezoelectric constant of the drawn PLLA/Hap composite membrane is about 20 pC/N. This value is large for piezoelectric polymers.

Determination of Material Strengths by Hydraulic Bulge Test.

PubMed

Wang, Hankui; Xu, Tong; Shou, Binan

2016-12-30

The hydraulic bulge test (HBT) method is proposed to determine material tensile strengths. The basic idea of HBT is similar to the small punch test (SPT), but inspired by the manufacturing process of rupture discs-high-pressure hydraulic oil is used instead of punch to cause specimen deformation. Compared with SPT method, the HBT method can avoid some of influence factors, such as punch dimension, punch material, and the friction between punch and specimen. A calculation procedure that is entirely based on theoretical derivation is proposed for estimate yield strength and ultimate tensile strength. Both conventional tensile tests and hydraulic bulge tests were carried out for several ferrous alloys, and the results showed that hydraulic bulge test results are reliable and accurate.

Solid-state and fusion resistance spot welding of TD-NiCr sheet

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Moore, T. J.

1973-01-01

By using specially processed TD-NiCr sheet in both 0.4-mm (0.015-in.) and 1.6-mm (0.062-in.) thicknesses and carefully selected welding procedures, solid state resistance spot welds were produced which, after postheating at 1200 C, were indistinguishable from the parent material. Stress-rupture shear tests of single-spot lap joints in 0.4-mm (0.015-in.) thick sheet showed that these welds were as strong as the parent material. Similar results were obtained in tensile-shear tests at room temperature and 1100 C and in fatigue tests. Conventional fusion spot welds in commercial sheet were unsatisfactory because of poor stress-rupture shear properties resulting from metallurgical damage to the parent material.

Carbon source in the future chemical industries

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hofmann, Peter; Heinrich Krauch, Carl

1982-11-01

Rising crude oil prices favour the exploitation of hitherto unutilised energy carriers and the realisation of new technologies in all sectors where carbon is used. These changed economic constraints necessitate both savings in conventional petrochemistry and a change to oil-independent carbon sources in the chemical industry. While, in coal chemistry, the synthesis and process principles of petrochemistry — fragmentation of the raw material and subsequent buildup of molecular structures — can be maintained, the raw material structure largely remains unchanged in the chemistry of renewable raw materials. This lecture is to demonstrate the structural as well as the technological and energy criteria of the chemistry of alternative carbon sources, to forecast the chances of commercial realization and to discuss some promising fields of research and development.

Development of Annealing-Free, Solution-Processable Inverted Organic Solar Cells with N-Doped Graphene Electrodes using Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles.

PubMed

Jung, Seungon; Lee, Junghyun; Seo, Jihyung; Kim, Ungsoo; Choi, Yunseong; Park, Hyesung

2018-02-14

An annealing-free process is considered as a technological advancement for the development of flexible (or wearable) organic electronic devices, which can prevent the distortion of substrates and damage to the active components of the device and simplify the overall fabrication process to increase the industrial applications. Owing to its outstanding electrical, optical, and mechanical properties, graphene is seen as a promising material that could act as a transparent conductive electrode for flexible optoelectronic devices. Owing to their high transparency and electron mobility, zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NP) are attractive and promising for their application as charge transporting materials for low-temperature processes in organic solar cells (OSCs), particularly because most charge transporting materials require annealing treatments at elevated temperatures. In this study, graphene/annealing-free ZnO-NP hybrid materials were developed for inverted OSC by successfully integrating ZnO-NP on the hydrophobic surface of graphene, thus aiming to enhance the applicability of graphene as a transparent electrode in flexible OSC systems. Chemical, optical, electrical, and morphological analyses of ZnO-NPs showed that the annealing-free process generates similar results to those provided by the conventional annealing process. The approach was effectively applied to graphene-based inverted OSCs with notable power conversion efficiencies of 8.16% and 7.41% on the solid and flexible substrates, respectively, which promises the great feasibility of graphene for emerging optoelectronic device applications.

Reactive Processing of Environment Conscious, Biomorphic Ceramics: A Novel and Eco-friendly Route to Advanced Ceramic

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Singh, M.

2002-01-01

Environment-conscious, biomorphic ceramics (Ecoceramics) are a new class of materials that can be produced with renewable resources (wood) and wood wastes (wood sawdust). These materials have tailorable properties with numerous potential applications. Silicon carbide-based ecoceramics have been fabricated by the infiltration of wood-derived carbonaceous preforms with oxide and silicon based materials. The wood-derived carbonaceous preforms have been shown to be quite useful in producing porous or dense materials with different microstructures and compositions. The microstructure and mechanical properties (flexural strength, fracture toughness, elastic modulus, and compressive strength) of a wide variety of Sic-based ecoceramics have been measured. Ecoceramics have tailorable properties and behave like ceramic materials manufactured by conventional approaches. In this presentation the fabrication approach, microstructure, and thermomechanical properties of a wide variety of Sic-based Ecoceramics will be reported.

Ab initio structure prediction of silicon and germanium sulfides for lithium-ion battery materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hsueh, Connie; Mayo, Martin; Morris, Andrew J.

Conventional experimental-based approaches to materials discovery, which can rely heavily on trial and error, are time-intensive and costly. We discuss approaches to coupling experimental and computational techniques in order to systematize, automate, and accelerate the process of materials discovery, which is of particular relevance to developing new battery materials. We use the ab initio random structure searching (AIRSS) method to conduct a systematic investigation of Si-S and Ge-S binary compounds in order to search for novel materials for lithium-ion battery (LIB) anodes. AIRSS is a high-throughput, density functional theory-based approach to structure prediction which has been successful at predicting the structures of LIBs containing sulfur and silicon and germanium. We propose a lithiation mechanism for Li-GeS2 anodes as well as report new, theoretically stable, layered and porous structures in the Si-S and Ge-S systems that pique experimental interest.

Fabrication of Porous Ceramic-Geopolymer Based Material to Improve Water Absorption and Retention in Construction Materials: A Review

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jamil, N. H.; Ibrahim, W. M. A. W.; Abdullah, M. M. A. B.; Sandu, A. V.; Tahir, M. F. M.

2017-06-01

Porous ceramic nowadays has been investigated for a variety of its application such as filters, lightweight structural component and others due to their specific properties such as high surface area, stability and permeability. Besides, it has the properties of low thermal conductivity. Various formation techniques making these porous ceramic properties can be tailored or further fine-tuned to obtain the optimum characteristic. Porous materials also one of the good candidate for absorption properties. Conventional construction materials are not design to have good water absorption and retention that lead to the poor performance on these criteria. Temperature is a major driving force for moisture movement and influences sorption characteristics of many constructions materials. The effect of elevated temperatures on the water absorption coefficient and retention remain as critical issue that need to be investigated. Therefore, this paper will review the process parameters in fabricating porous ceramic for absorption properties.

Probing Formability Improvement of Ultra-thin Ferritic Stainless Steel Bipolar Plate of PEMFC in Non-conventional Forming Process

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bong, Hyuk Jong; Barlat, Frédéric; Lee, Myoung-Gyu

2016-08-01

Formability increase in non-conventional forming profiles programmed in the servo-press was investigated using finite element analysis. As an application, forming experiment on a 0.15-mm-thick ferritic stainless steel sheet for a bipolar plate, a primary component of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell, was conducted. Four different forming profiles were considered to investigate the effects of forming profiles on formability and shape accuracy. The four motions included conventional V motion, holding motion, W motion, and oscillating motion. Among the four motions, the holding motion, in which the slide was held for a certain period at the bottom dead point, led to the best formability. Finite element simulations were conducted to validate the experimental results and to probe the formability improvement in the non-conventional forming profiles. A creep model to address stress relaxation effect along with tool elastic recovery was implemented using a user-material subroutine, CREEP in ABAQUS finite element software. The stress relaxation and variable contact conditions during the holding and oscillating profiles were found to be the main mechanism of formability improvement.

Modelling of teeth of a gear transmission for modern manufacturing technologies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Monica, Z.; Banaś, W.; Ćwikla, G.; Topolska, S.

2017-08-01

The technological process of manufacturing of gear wheels is influenced by many factors. It is designated depending on the type of material from which the gear is to be produced, its heat treatment parameters, the required accuracy, the geometrical form and the modifications of the tooth. Therefor the parameters selection process is not easy and moreover it is unambiguous. Another important stage of the technological process is the selection of appropriate tools to properly machine teeth in the operations of both roughing and finishing. In the presented work the focus is put first of all on modern production methods of gears using technologically advanced instruments in comparison with conventional tools. Conventional processing tools such as gear hobbing cutters or Fellows gear-shaper cutters are used from the beginning of the machines for the production of gear wheels. With the development of technology and the creation of CNC machines designated for machining of gears wheel it was also developed the manufacturing technology as well as the design knowledge concerning the technological tools. Leading manufacturers of cutting tools extended the range of tools designated for machining of gears on the so-called hobbing cutters with inserted cemented carbide tips. The same have be introduced to Fellows gear-shaper cutters. The results of tests show that is advantaged to use hobbing cutters with inserted cemented carbide tips for milling gear wheels with a high number of teeth, where the time gains are very high, in relation to the use of conventional milling cutters.

Processing Characteristics and Properties of the Cellular Products Made by Using Special Foaming Agents

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Garbacz, Tomasz; Dulebova, Ludmila

2012-12-01

The paper describes the manufacturing process of extruded products by the cellular extrusion method, and presents specifications of the blowing agents used in the extrusion process as well as process conditions. The process of cellular extrusion of thermoplastic materials is aimed at obtaining cellular shapes and coats with reduced density, presenting no hollows on the surface of extruder product and displaying minimal contraction under concurrent maintenance of properties similar to properties of products extruded by means of the conventional method. In order to obtain cellular structure, the properties of extruded product are modified by applying suitable plastic or inserting auxiliary agents.

Plasma arc welding repair of space flight hardware

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hoffman, David S.

1993-01-01

A technique to weld repair the main combustion chamber of Space Shuttle Main Engines has been developed. The technique uses the plasma arc welding process and active cooling to seal cracks and pinholes in the hot-gas wall of the main combustion chamber liner. The liner hot-gas wall is made of NARloy-Z, a copper alloy previously thought to be unweldable using conventional arc welding processes. The process must provide extensive heat input to melt the high conductivity NARloy-Z while protecting the delicate structure of the surrounding material. The higher energy density of the plasma arc process provides the necessary heat input while active water cooling protects the surrounding structure. The welding process is precisely controlled using a computerized robotic welding system.

Developments in abatement technology for MOCVD processing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sweeney, Joseph; Marganski, Paul; Olander, Karl; Watanabe, Tadaharu; Tomita, Nobuyasu; Orlando, Gary; Torres, Robert

2004-12-01

A newly developed technical solution has been developed for hydride gas abatement that utilizes a new material. The ULTIMA-Sorb™ material provides high capacity but low heat of reaction with the hydride gases. The new technology results in a low cost of ownership (COO) with stable operation and also reduces the cost and quantity of waste disposal. This can be significant benefit for device manufacturers since it provides a viable and cost effective solution without any risk of arsenic leakage that is a primary concern with wet chemical scrubber systems. The contents of this paper will discuss the technical and economic benefits of the newly developed material in comparison to conventional abatement materials and systems. The capacity of the dry abatement materials significantly influences both COO relating to cash outflow and the cost of lost production. High capacity materials enable significant savings in cost of lost production in cases of low and high factory utilization conditions. Capacity of the abatement material appears to be the largest single factor to reduce COO of dry abatement systems.

The FLECS expandable module concept for future space missions and an overall description on the material validation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mileti, Sandro; Guarrera, Giuseppe; Marchetti, Mario; Ferrari, Giorgio; Nebiolo, Marco; Augello, Gerlando; Bitetti, Grazia; Carnà, Emiliano; Marranzini, Andrea; Mazza, Fabio

2006-07-01

The future space exploration missions aim to reduce the costs associated with design, fabrication and launch for ISS, Moon and Mars modules, while simultaneously increasing the useful volume. Flexible and inflatable structures offer many advantages over conventional structures for space applications. Principal among the advantages is the ability to package these structures into small volumes for launch. Design maturation and the development of advanced materials and fabrication processes have made the concept of an inflatable module achievable in the near future. The Multipurpose Expandable Module (FLECS) Project sponsored by ASI (Italian Space Agency) whose prime contractor is Alcatel Alenia Space Italia, links the conventional and traditional technology of modules with the innovative solutions of inflatable technology. This project emphasizes on demonstrating the capability in using inflatable technology on space structures aiming to substitute the conventional modules in future manned missions. FLECS has been designed using advanced textiles and films in order to guarantee the structural reliability necessary for the deployment and packaging configurations. A non-linear structural analysis has been conducted using several numerical codes that simulate the deployed structural characteristics achieving also the damping resistance during the packaging. All the materials used for the flexible parts have been selected through a series of mechanical tests in order to validate the more appropriate ones for the mission. The multi-layer pneumatic retention bladder and the intermediate restraint layer are composed of polymer sheets, ortho-fabrics and elastomers like polyurethanes. The External protection shield is configured using several layers of impact absorption materials and also several layers of space environment (UV, IR, atomic oxygen) protection materials such as Kapton, Mylar and Nextel. The validation of the fabrics, the films and the final prototype assembly are tested in the Space Environment Simulator (SAS), located in the SASLab laboratory of the Aerospace Engineering Department of the “La Sapienza” University of Rome.