Drying of Pigment-Cellulose Nanofibril Substrates

PubMed Central

Timofeev, Oleg; Torvinen, Katariina; Sievänen, Jenni; Kaljunen, Timo; Kouko, Jarmo; Ketoja, Jukka A.

2014-01-01

A new substrate containing cellulose nanofibrils and inorganic pigment particles has been developed for printed electronics applications. The studied composite structure contains 80% fillers and is mechanically stable and flexible. Before drying, the solids content can be as low as 20% due to the high water binding capacity of the cellulose nanofibrils. We have studied several drying methods and their effects on the substrate properties. The aim is to achieve a tight, smooth surface keeping the drying efficiency simultaneously at a high level. The methods studied include: (1) drying on a hot metal surface; (2) air impingement drying; and (3) hot pressing. Somewhat surprisingly, drying rates measured for the pigment-cellulose nanofibril substrates were quite similar to those for the reference board sheets. Very high dewatering rates were observed for the hot pressing at high moisture contents. The drying method had significant effects on the final substrate properties, especially on short-range surface smoothness. The best smoothness was obtained with a combination of impingement and contact drying. The mechanical properties of the sheets were also affected by the drying method and associated temperature. PMID:28788220

Nanoindentation data analysis of loading curve performed on DLC thin films: Effect of residual stress on the elasto-plastic properties

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ouchabane, M.; Dublanche-Tixier, Ch.; Dergham, D.

2017-11-01

The present work is a contribution to the understanding of the mechanical behavior of DLC thin films through nanoindentation tests. DLC films of different thicknesses deposited by the PECVD process on a silicon substrate contain high residual compressive stresses when they are very thin and the stresses become relatively low and more relaxed as the film thickens. These different levels of residual stress influence the values of hardness (H) and Young's modulus (E) obtained when probing the film-substrate system by nanoindentation. It is observed that the DLC layers exhibit different mechanical behaviors even when they are deposited under the same conditions. It is proposed that the compressive stress induces structural modifications resulting in modifying the elasto-plastic properties of each thin film-substrate system. Data analysis of the loading curve can provide information on the elasto-plastic properties of DLC thin films, particularly the stiffness (S) and Er2/H, as a function of residual compressive stresses. The structural changes induced by residual stresses were probed by using Raman spectroscopy and correlated to the mechanical properties.

Mechanical exfoliation of two-dimensional materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gao, Enlai; Lin, Shao-Zhen; Qin, Zhao; Buehler, Markus J.; Feng, Xi-Qiao; Xu, Zhiping

2018-06-01

Two-dimensional materials such as graphene and transition metal dichalcogenides have been identified and drawn much attention over the last few years for their unique structural and electronic properties. However, their rise begins only after these materials are successfully isolated from their layered assemblies or adhesive substrates into individual monolayers. Mechanical exfoliation and transfer are the most successful techniques to obtain high-quality single- or few-layer nanocrystals from their native multi-layer structures or their substrate for growth, which involves interfacial peeling and intralayer tearing processes that are controlled by material properties, geometry and the kinetics of exfoliation. This procedure is rationalized in this work through theoretical analysis and atomistic simulations. We propose a criterion to assess the feasibility for the exfoliation of two-dimensional sheets from an adhesive substrate without fracturing itself, and explore the effects of material and interface properties, as well as the geometrical, kinetic factors on the peeling behaviors and the torn morphology. This multi-scale approach elucidates the microscopic mechanism of the mechanical processes, offering predictive models and tools for the design of experimental procedures to obtain single- or few-layer two-dimensional materials and structures.

Substrate viscosity enhances correlation in epithelial sheet movement.

PubMed

Murrell, Michael; Kamm, Roger; Matsudaira, Paul

2011-07-20

The movement of the epithelium plays vital roles in the development and renewal of complex tissues, from the separation of tissues in the early embryo, to turnover in the homeostasis of the gastrointestinal mucosa. Yet, despite its importance, a clear interpretation of the mechanism for collective motion in epithelial sheets remains elusive. This interpretation is prohibited by the lack of understanding of the relationship between motion and cell-cell contact, and their mediation by the mechanical properties of the underlying substrate. To better mimic physiological substrates that have inherent viscosity, we probe this relationship using polydimethylsiloxane, a substrate whose mechanical properties can be tuned from predominantly elastic to viscous by altering its cross-linking content. We therefore characterize the comparative spatiotemporal correlations in cell velocity during the movement of an epithelial monolayer as a function of the viscoelasticity of the substrate. Our results show that high correlation in cell velocity is achieved when the substrate G''(ω) is ~0.4 × G'(ω). This correlation is driven by a balance between cell-cell contact and the adhesion and contraction of the extracellular matrix. For G'(ω) > G'(ω), this balance shifts, and contraction of the tissue drives the substrate to flow, further elevating the correlation in movement. Copyright © 2011 Biophysical Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Method of forming biaxially textured alloy substrates and devices thereon

DOEpatents

Goyal, Amit; Specht, Eliot D.; Kroeger, Donald M.; Paranthaman, Mariappan

2000-01-01

Specific alloys, in particular Ni-based alloys, that can be biaxially textured, with a well-developed, single component texture are disclosed. These alloys have a significantly reduced Curie point, which is very desirable from the point of view of superconductivity applications. The biaxially textured alloy substrates also possess greatly enhanced mechanical properties (yield strength, ultimate tensile strength) which are essential for most applications, in particular, superconductors. A method is disclosed for producing complex multicomponent alloys which have the ideal physical properties for specific applications, such as lattice parameter, degree of magnetism and mechanical strength, and which cannot be in textured form. In addition, a method for making ultra thin biaxially textured substrates with complex compositions is disclosed.

Effects of substrate preheating during direct energy deposition on microstructure, hardness, tensile strength, and notch toughness

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Baek, Gyeong Yun; Lee, Ki Yong; Park, Sang Hu; Shim, Do Sik

2017-11-01

This study examined the effects of substrate preheating for the hardfacing of cold-press dies using the high-speed tool steel AISI M4. The preheating of the substrate is a widely used technique for reducing the degree of thermal deformation and preventing crack formation. We investigated the changes in the metallurgical and mechanical properties of the high-speed tool steel M4 deposited on an AISI D2 substrate with changes in the substrate preheating temperature. Five preheating temperatures (100-500 °C; interval of 100 °C) were selected, and the changes in the temperature of the substrate during deposition were observed. As the preheating temperature of the substrate was increased, the temperature gradient between the melting layer and the substrate decreased; this prevented the formation of internal cracks, owing to thermal stress relief. Field-emission scanning electron microscopy showed that a dendritic structure was formed at the interface between the deposited layer and the substrate while a cellular microstructure was formed in the deposited layer. As the preheating temperature was increased, the sizes of the cells and precipitated carbides also increased. Furthermore, the hardness increased slightly while the strength and toughness decreased. Moreover, the tensile and impact properties deteriorated rapidly at excessively high preheating temperatures (greater than 500 °C). The results of this study can be used as preheating criteria for achieving the desired mechanical properties during the hardfacing of dies and molds.

Influence of Microstructure on the Electrical Properties of Heteroepitaxial TiN Films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xiang, Wenfeng; Liu, Yuan; Zhang, Jiaqi

2018-05-01

Heteroepitaxial TiN films were deposited on Si substrates by pulse laser deposition at different substrate temperature. The microstructure and surface morphology of the films were investigated by X-ray diffraction (θ-2θ scan, ω-scan, and ϕ-scan) and atomic force microscopy. The electrical properties of the prepared TiN films were studied using a physical property measurement system. The experimental results showed that the crystallinity and surface morphology of the TiN films were improved gradually with increasing substrate temperature below 700 °C. Specially, single crystal TiN films were prepared when substrate temperature is above 700 °C; However, the quality of TiN films gradually worsened when the substrate temperature was increased further. The electrical properties of the films were directly correlated to their crystalline quality. At the optimal substrate temperature of 700 °C, the TiN films exhibited the lowest resistivity and highest mobility of 25.7 μΩ cm and 36.1 cm2/V s, respectively. In addition, the mechanism concerning the influence of substrate temperature on the microstructure of TiN films is discussed in detail.

Influence of the Substrate on the Formation of Metallic Glass Coatings by Cold Gas Spraying

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Henao, John; Concustell, Amadeu; Dosta, Sergi; Cinca, Núria; Cano, Irene G.; Guilemany, Josep M.

2016-06-01

Cold gas spray technology has been used to build up coatings of Fe-base metallic glass onto different metallic substrates. In this work, the effect of the substrate properties on the viscoplastic response of metallic glass particles during their impact has been studied. Thick coatings with high deposition efficiencies have been built-up in conditions of homogeneous flow on substrates such as Mild Steel AISI 1040, Stainless Steel 316L, Inconel 625, Aluminum 7075-T6, and Copper (99.9%). Properties of the substrate have been identified to play an important role in the viscoplastic response of the metallic glass particles at impact. Depending on the process gas conditions, the impact morphologies show not only inhomogeneous deformation but also homogeneous plastic flow despite the high strain rates, 108 to 109 s-1, involved in the technique. Interestingly, homogenous deformation of metallic glass particles is promoted depending on the hardness and the thermal diffusivity of the substrate and it is not exclusively a function of the kinetic energy and the temperature of the particle at impact. Coating formation is discussed in terms of fundamentals of dynamics of undercooled liquids, viscoplastic flow mechanisms of metallic glasses, and substrate properties. The findings presented in this work have been used to build up a detailed scheme of the deposition mechanism of metallic glass coatings by the cold gas spraying technology.

Method of forming biaxially textured alloy substrates and devices thereon

DOEpatents

Goyal, Amit; Specht, Eliot D.; Kroeger, Donald M.; Paranthaman, Mariappan

1999-01-01

Specific alloys, in particular Ni-based alloys, that can be biaxially textured, with a well-developed, single component texture are disclosed. These alloys have a significantly reduced Curie point, which is very desirable from the point of view of superconductivity applications. The biaxially textured alloy substrates also possess greatly enhanced mechanical properties (yield strength, ultimate tensile strength) which are essential for most applications, in particular, superconductors. A method is disclosed for producing complex multicomponent alloys which have the ideal physical properties for specific applications, such as lattice parameter, degree of magnetism and mechanical strength, and which cannot be fabricated in textured form. In addition, a method for making ultra thin biaxially textured substrates with complex compositions is disclosed.

A novel multilayer model with controllable mechanical properties for magnesium-based bone plates.

PubMed

Zhou, Juncen; Huang, Wanru; Li, Qing; She, Zuxin; Chen, Funan; Li, Longqin

2015-04-01

Proper mechanical properties are essential for the clinical application of magnesium-based implants. In the present work, a novel multilayer model composed of three layers with desirable features was developed. The modulus of the multilayer model can be adjusted by changing the thickness of each layer. To combine three layers and improve the corrosion resistance of the whole multilayer model, the polycaprolactone coating was employed. In the immersion test, pH values, the concentration of released magnesium ions, and weight loss indicate that the corrosion rate of multilayer models is considerable lower than that of the one-layer bare substrate. The three-point bending test, which is used to examine models' mechanical properties, shows that the flexural modulus of multilayer models is reduced effectively. In addition, the mechanical degradation of multilayer models is more stable, compared to the one-layer substrate.

Influence of various thickness metallic interlayers on opto-electric and mechanical properties of AZO thin films on PET substrates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chang, R. C.; Li, T. C.; Lin, C. W.

2012-02-01

Various thickness metallic interlayers to improve the opto-electric and mechanical properties of aluminum-doped zinc oxide (AZO) thin films deposited on flexible polyethylene terephtalate (PET) substrates are studied. The effects of the interlayers on the resistance and transmittance of the AZO thin films are discussed. The result shows that the metallic interlayers effectively improve the electric resistance but reduce the optical transmittance of the AZO thin films. These phenomena become more obvious as the interlayer thickness increases. However, the AZO with an aluminum interlayer still behaves an acceptable transmittance. Moreover, mechanical tests indicate that the aluminum interlayer increases the hardness and modulus, and reduce the residual stress of the AZO thin films. In contrast, the silver and copper interlayers decrease the AZO's mechanical properties. Comparing to those without any interlayer, the results show that the best interlayer is the 6 nm thick aluminum film.

Influence of a TiN interlayer on the microstructure and mechanical properties of hydroxyapatite films grown by pulsed laser deposition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nelea, Valentin D.; Ristoscu, Carmen; Colis, Silviu; Arens, Simona; Pelletier, Herve; Mihailescu, Ion N.; Mille, Pierre

2001-04-01

Crystalline hydroxyapatite (HA) thin films grown on metallic substrates is the best choice for bone restoration. This is due to the good biological compatibility of the hydroxyapatite material combined with the good mechanical characteristics of the substrates. We deposit HA thin films by Pulsed Laser Deposition (PLD) in vacuum at room temperature using a KrF* excimer laser ((lambda) equals 248 nm, (tau) FWHM >= 20 ns). The depositions were performed directly on Ti-5Al-2.5Fe or on substrates previously coated with a TiN buffer layer. The HA deposited structures were characterized by complementary techniques: GIXRD, SEM, TEM, SAED, EDS and nanoindentation. Properties of the HA films grown with and without the TiN buffer were discussed in term of microstructure and mechanical behavior. The films with interlayer preserve the stoichiometry, are completely recrystallized and present better mechanical characteristics as compared with those without buffer.

Substrate induced changes in atomically thin 2-dimensional semiconductors: Fundamentals, engineering, and applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sun, Yinghui; Wang, Rongming; Liu, Kai

2017-03-01

Substrate has great influences on materials syntheses, properties, and applications. The influences are particularly crucial for atomically thin 2-dimensional (2D) semiconductors. Their thicknesses are less than 1 nm; however, the lateral sizes can reach up to several inches or more. Therefore, these materials must be placed onto a variety of substrates before subsequent post-processing techniques for final electronic or optoelectronic devices. Recent studies reveal that substrates have been employed as ways to modulate the optical, electrical, mechanical, and chemical properties of 2D semiconductors. In this review, we summarize recent progress upon the effects of substrates on properties of 2D semiconductors, mostly focused on 2D transition metal dichalcogenides, through viewpoints of both fundamental physics and device applications. First, we discuss various effects of substrates, including interface strain, charge transfer, dielectric screening, and optical interference. Second, we show the modulation of 2D semiconductors by substrate engineering, including novel substrates (patterned substrates, 2D-material substrates, etc.) and active substrates (phase transition materials, ferroelectric materials, flexible substrates, etc.). Last, we present prospectives and challenges in this research field. This review provides a comprehensive understanding of the substrate effects, and may inspire new ideas of novel 2D devices based on substrate engineering.

Determination of elastic mechanical characteristics of surface coatings from analysis of signals obtained by impulse excitation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nyaguly, E.; Craştiu, I.; Deac, S.; Gozman-Pop, C.; Drăgănescu, G.; Bereteu, L.

2018-01-01

Most of the surface coatings are based on the synthetic polymers, which are substances composed from very large molecules that form tough, flexible, adhesive films when applied to surfaces. The other components of surface coverings materials are pigments that provide colour, opacity, gloss and other properties. Surface coatings are two-phase composite materials: constitute a polymer matrix on the one side, and on the other side of the pigments and additives dispersed in the matrix. Their role is not only aesthetically but also to ensure anticorrosive protection or even improve some mechanical properties of coated surfaces. In this paper it will follow, starting from the mechanical properties of the substrate, the metallic sheet in general, to determine the new properties of the assembly of substrate and the two coating layers, also the determination of mechanical properties of the layers. From the analysis of vibroacoustic signals obtained by the impulse excitation of the sample, one can determine the elasticity modulus. These results come to validate the results based on finite element analysis (FEA) of the same samples.

Mechanical behavior of Ti-Ta-based surface alloy fabricated on TiNi SMA by pulsed electron-beam melting of film/substrate system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Meisner, S. N.; Yakovlev, E. V.; Semin, V. O.; Meisner, L. L.; Rotshtein, V. P.; Neiman, A. A.; D'yachenko, F.

2018-04-01

The physical-mechanical properties of the Ti-Ta based surface alloy with thickness up to ∼2 μm fabricated through the multiple (up to 20 cycles) alternation of magnetron deposition of Ti70Ta30 (at.%) thin (50 nm) films and their liquid-phase mixing with the NiTi substrate by microsecond low-energy, high current pulsed electron beam (LEHCPEB: ≤15 keV, ∼2 J/cm2) are presented. Two types of NiTi substrates (differing in the methods of melting alloys) were pretreated with LEHCPEB to improve the adhesion of thin-film coating and to protect it from local delimitation because of the surface cratering under pulsed melting. The methods used in the research include nanoindentation, transmission electron microscopy, and depth profile analysis of nanohardness, Vickers hardness, elastic modulus, depth recovery ratio, and plasticity characteristic as a function of indentation depth. For comparison, similar measurements were carried out with NiTi substrates in the initial state and after LEHCPEB pretreatment, as well as on "Ti70Ta30(1 μm) coating/NiTi substrate" system. It was shown that the upper surface layer in both NiTi substrates is the same in properties after LEHCPEB pretreatment. Our data suggest that the type of multilayer surface structure correlates with its physical-mechanical properties. For NiTi with the Ti-Ta based surface alloy ∼1 μm thick, the highest elasticity falls on the upper submicrocrystalline layer measuring ∼0.2 μm and consisting of two Ti-Ta based phases: α‧‧ martensite (a = 0.475 nm, b = 0.323 nm, c = 0.464 nm) and β austenite (a = 0.327 nm). Beneath the upper layer there is an amorphous sublayer followed by underlayers with coarse (>20 nm) and fine (<20 nm) average grain sizes which provide a gradual transition of the mechanical parameters to the values of the NiTi substrate.

Long-term characterization of neural electrodes based on parylene-caulked polydimethylsiloxane substrate.

PubMed

Jeong, Jinmo; Chou, Namsun; Kim, Sohee

2016-06-01

This study investigates the mechanical and long-term electrical properties of parylene-caulked polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) as a substrate for implantable electrodes. The parylene-caulked PDMS is a structure where particles of parylene fill the porous surface of PDMS. This material is expected to have low water absorption and desirable mechanical properties such as flexibility and elasticity that are beneficial in many biomedical applications. To evaluate the mechanical property and electrical stability of parylene-caulked PDMS for potential in-vivo uses, tensile tests were conducted firstly, which results showed that the mechanical strength of parylene-caulked PDMS was comparable to that of native PDMS. Next, surface electrodes based on parylene-caulked PDMS were fabricated and their impedance was measured in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) solution at 36.5 °C over seven months. The electrodes based on parylene-caulked PDMS exhibited the improved stability in impedance over time than native PDMS. Thus, with improved electrical stability in wet environment and preserved mechanical properties of PDMS, the electrodes based on parylene-caulked PDMS are expected to be suitable for long-term in-vivo applications.

Development of flexible Ni80Fe20 magnetic nano-thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vopson, M. M.; Naylor, J.; Saengow, T.; Rogers, E. G.; Lepadatu, S.; Fetisov, Y. K.

2017-11-01

Flexible magnetic Ni80Fe20 thin films with excellent adhesion, mechanical and magnetic properties have been fabricated using magnetron plasma deposition. We demonstrate that flexible Ni80Fe20 thin films maintain their non-flexible magnetic properties when the films are over 60 nm thick. However, when their thickness is reduced, the flexible thin films display significant increase in their magnetic coercive field compared to identical films coated on a solid Silicon substrate. For a 15 nm flexible Ni80Fe20 film coated onto 110 μm Polyvinylidene fluoride polymer substrate, we achieved a remarkable 355% increase in the magnetic coercive field relative to the same film deposited onto a Si substrate. Experimental evidence, backed by micro-magnetic modelling, indicates that the increase in the coercive fields is related to the larger roughness texture of the flexible substrates. This effect essentially transforms soft Ni80Fe20 permalloy thin films into medium/hard magnetic films allowing not only mechanical flexibility of the structure, but also fine tuning of their magnetic properties.

Evaluation of copper ion of antibacterial effect on Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhimurium and Helicobacter pylori and optical, mechanical properties

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Young-Hwan; Choi, Yu-ri; Kim, Kwang-Mahn; Choi, Se-Young

2012-02-01

Antibacterial effect on Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhimurium and Helicobacter pylori of copper ion was researched. Also, additional effects of copper ion coating on optical and mechanical properties were researched as well. Copper ion was coated on glass substrate as a thin film to prevent bacteria from growing. Cupric nitrate was used as precursors for copper ion. The copper ion contained sol was deposited by spin coating process on glass substrate. Then, the deposited substrates were heat treated at the temperature range between 200 °C and 250 °C. The thickness of deposited copper layer on the surface was 63 nm. The antibacterial effect of copper ion coated glass on P. aeruginosa, S. typhimurium and H. pylori demonstrated excellent effect compared with parent glass. Copper ion contained layer on glass showed a similar value of transmittance compared with value of parent glass. The 3-point bending strength and Vickers hardness were 209.2 MPa, 540.9 kg/mm2 which were about 1.5% and 1.3% higher than the value of parent glass. From these findings, it is clear that copper ion coating on glass substrate showed outstanding effect not only in antibacterial activity but also in optical and mechanical properties as well.

Mechanical properties and microstructures of Al-Cu Thin films with various heat treatments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Joo, Young-Chang

1998-10-01

The relationship between microstructure and mechanical properties has been investigated in Al-Cu thin films. The Cu content in Al-Cu samples used in this study ranges from 0 to 2 wt.% and substrate curvature measurement was used to measure film stress. In thin films, the constraints on the film by the substrate influence the microstructure and mechanical properties. Al-Cu thin films cooled from high temperatures have a large density of dislocations due to the plastic deformation caused by the thermal mismatch between the film and substrate. The high density of dislocations in the thin film enables precipitates to form inside the grain even during a very rapid quenching. The presence of a large density of dislocations and precipitates will in turn cause precipitation hardening of the Al-Cu films. The precipitation hardening is dominant at lower temperatures, and solid solution hardening is observed at higher temperatures in the tensile regime. Pure Al films showed the same values of tensile and compressive yield stresses at a given temperature during stress-temperature cycling.

Designing PolyHEMA Substrates that Mimic the Viscoelastic Response of Soft Tissue

PubMed Central

Holt, Brian; Tripathi, Anubhav; Morgan, Jeffrey R.

2011-01-01

Matching the mechanical properties of a biomaterial to soft tissue is often overlooked despite the fact that it’s well known that cells respond to and are capable of changing their mechanical environment. In this paper, we used NaCl and alginate beads as porogens to make a series of micro- and macro-porous pHEMA substrates [poly(2-hydroxyethly methacrylate)] and quantified their mechanical behavior under low-magnitude shear loads over physiologically relevant frequencies. Using a stress-controlled rheometer, we performed isothermal (37°C) frequency response experiments between 0.628 and 75.4 rad/s [0.01–12Hz] at 0.1% strain. Both micro- and macro-porous pHEMA substrates were predominately elastic in nature with a narrow range of G′ and G″ values that mimicked the response of human skin. The magnitude of the G′ and G″ values of the macro-porous substrates were designed to closely match human skin. To determine how cell growth might alter their mechanical properties, pHEMA substrates were functionalized and human skin fibroblasts grown on them for fourteen days. As a result of cell growth, the magnitude of G′ and G″ increased at low frequencies while also altering the degree of high frequency dependence, indicating that cellular interactions with the micro-pore infrastructure has a profound effect on the viscoelastic behavior of the substrates. These data could be fit to a mathematical model describing a soft solid. A quantitative understanding of the mechanical behavior of biomaterials in regimes that are physiologically relevant and how these mechanics may change after implantation may aid in the design of new materials. PMID:21496821

Optimal properties for coated titanium implants with the hydroxyapatite layer formed by the pulsed laser deposition technique

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Himmlova, Lucia; Dostalova, Tatjana; Jelinek, Miroslav; Bartova, Jirina; Pesakova, V.; Adam, M.

1999-02-01

Pulsed laser deposition technique allow to 'tailor' bioceramic coat for metal implants by the change of deposition conditions. Each attribute is influenced by the several deposition parameters and each parameter change several various properties. Problem caused that many parameters has an opposite function and improvement of one property is followed by deterioration of other attribute. This study monitor influence of each single deposition parameter and evaluate its importance form the point of view of coat properties. For deposition KrF excimer laser in stainless-steel deposition chamber was used. Deposition conditions (ambient composition and pressures, metallic substrate temperature, energy density and target-substrate distance) were changed according to the film properties. A non-coated titanium implant was used as a control. Films with promising mechanical quality underwent an in vitro biological tests -- measurement of proliferation activity, observing cell interactions with macrophages, fibroblasts, testing toxicity of percolates, observing a solubility of hydroxyapatite (HA) coat. Deposition conditions corresponding with the optimal mechanical and biochemical properties are: metal temperature 490 degrees Celsius, ambient-mixture of argon and water vapor, energy density 3 Jcm-2, target-substrate distance 7.5 cm.

Enhancement of Ti-containing hydrogenated carbon (Tisbnd C:H) films by high-power plasma-sputtering

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gwo, Jyh; Chu, Chun-Lin; Tsai, Ming-Jui; Lee, Shyong

2012-02-01

Ti-containing amorphous hydrogenated carbon (Tisbnd C:H) thin films were deposited on stainless steel SS304 substrates by high-power pulsed magnetron sputtering (HPPMS) in an atmosphere of mixed Ar and C2H2 gases using titanium metal as the cathodic material. The multilayer structure of the deposited film had a Tisbnd TiCsbnd DLC gradient to improve adhesion and reduce residual stress. This study investigates the effects of substrate bias and target-to-substrate distance on the mechanical properties of Tisbnd C:H films. Film properties, including composition, morphology, microstructure, mechanical, and tribology, were examined by glow discharge spectroscopy (GDS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, and a nanoindenter and a pin-on-disk tribometer. Experiments revealed impressive results.

Pulsed Laser Deposition Processing of Improved Titanium Nitride Coatings for Implant Applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Haywood, Talisha M.

Recently surface coating technology has attracted considerable attention of researchers to develop novel coatings with enhanced functional properties such as hardness, biocompatibility, wear and corrosion resistance for medical devices and surgical tools. The materials currently being used for surgical implants include predominantly stainless steel (316L), cobalt chromium (Co-Cr), titanium and its alloys. Some of the limitations of these implants include improper mechanical properties, corrosion resistance, cytotoxicity and bonding with bone. One of the ways to improve the performance and biocompatibility of these implants is to coat their surfaces with biocompatible materials. Among the various coating materials, titanium nitride (TiN) shows excellent mechanical properties, corrosion resistance and low cytotoxicity. In the present work, a systematic study of pulsed laser ablation processing of TiN coatings was conducted. TiN thin film coatings were grown on commercially pure titanium (Ti) and stainless steel (316L) substrates at different substrate temperatures and different nitrogen partial pressures using the pulsed laser deposition (PLD) technique. Microstructural, surface, mechanical, chemical, corrosion and biological analysis techniques were applied to characterize the TiN thin film coatings. The PLD processed TiN thin film coatings showed improvements in mechanical strength, corrosion resistance and biocompatibility when compared to the bare substrates. The enhanced performance properties of the TiN thin film coatings were a result of the changing and varying of the deposition parameters.

Microstructure, nickel suppression and mechanical characteristics of electropolished and photoelectrocatalytically oxidized biomedical nickel titanium shape memory alloy.

PubMed

Chu, C L; Guo, C; Sheng, X B; Dong, Y S; Lin, P H; Yeung, K W K; Chu, Paul K

2009-07-01

A new surface modification protocol encompassing an electropolishing pretreatment (EP) and subsequent photoelectrocatalytic oxidation (PEO) has been developed to improve the surface properties of biomedical nickel titanium (NiTi) shape memory alloy (SMA). Electropolishing is a good way to improve the resistance to localized breakdown of NiTi SMA whereas PEO offers the synergistic effects of advanced oxidation and electrochemical oxidation. Our results indicate that PEO leads to the formation of a sturdy titania film on the EP NiTi substrate. There is an Ni-free zone near the top surface and a graded interface between the titania layer and NiTi substrate, which bodes well for both biocompatibility and mechanical stability. In addition, Ni ion release from the NiTi substrate is suppressed, as confirmed by the 10-week immersion test. The modulus and hardness of the modified NiTi surface increase with larger indentation depths, finally reaching plateau values of about 69 and 3.1GPa, respectively, which are slightly higher than those of the NiTi substrate but much lower than those of a dense amorphous titania film. In comparison, after undergoing only EP, the mechanical properties of NiTi exhibit an inverse change with depth. The deformation mechanism is proposed and discussed. Our results indicate that surface modification by dual EP and PEO can notably suppress Ni ion release and improve the biocompatibility of NiTi SMA while the surface mechanical properties are not compromised, making the treated materials suitable for hard tissue replacements.

Thermally Sprayed High Temperature Sandwich Structures: Physical Properties and Mechanical Performance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Salavati, Saeid

Metallic foam core sandwich structures have been of particular interest for engineering applications in recent decades due to their unique physical and mechanical properties. One of the potential applications of open pore metallic foam core sandwich structures is in heat exchangers. An investigation of sandwich structures fabricated from materials suitable for application at high temperatures and in corrosive environments was undertaken in this project. A novel method for fabrication of metallic foam core sandwich structures is thermal spray deposition of the faces on the prepared surfaces of the metallic foam substrate. The objective of the current study was to optimize the twin wire arc spray process parameters for the deposition of alloy 625 faces with controllable porosity content on the nickel foam substrate, and to characterize the physical and mechanical properties of the sandwich structure. The experimental investigations consisted of microstructural evaluation of the skin material and the foam substrate, investigation of the effect of alloying on the mechanical and thermal properties of the nickel foam, optimization of the grit-blasting and arc spray processes, observation of mechanical properties of the alloy 625 deposit by tensile testing and evaluation of the overall mechanical properties of the sandwich structure under flexural loading condition. The optimization of arc spraying process parameters allowed deposition of alloy 625 faces with a porosity of less than 4% for heat exchanger applications. Modification of the arc spraying process by co-deposition of polyester powder enabled 20% porosity to be obtained in the deposited faces for heat shield applications with film cooling. The effects of nickel foam alloying and heat treatment on the flexural rigidity of the sandwich structures were investigated and compared with as-received foam and as-fabricated sandwich structures. Available analytical models were employed to describe the effect of constituents' mechanical properties on the overall mechanical performance of the sandwich structures. Finite element modeling using ANSYS Structural was used to simulate the behaviour of the sandwich structures in four-point bending. The analytical and simulation results were compared with the experimental results obtained from the flexural tests.

Long-lived thermal control materials for high temperature and deep space applications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Whitt, Robin; O'Donnell, Tim

1988-01-01

Considerable effort has been put into developing thermal-control materials for the Galileo space-craft. This paper presents a summary of these findings to date with emphasis on requirements, testing and results for the post-Challenger Galileo mission. Polyimide film (Kapton), due to its inherent stability in vacuum, UV, and radiation environments, combined with good mechanical properties over a large temperature range, has been the preferred substrate for spacecraft thermal control materials. Composite outer layers, using Kapton substrates, can be fabricated to meet the requirements of severe space environments. Included in the processing of Kapton-based composite outer layers can be the deposition of metal oxide, metallic and/or polymeric thin-film coatings to provide desirable electrical, optical and thermo-optical properties. In addition, reinforcement of Kapton substrates with fabrics and films is done to improve mechanical properties. Also these substrates can be filled with varying amounts of carbon to achieve particular electrical properties. The investigation and material development reported on here has led to improved thermo-gravimetric stability, surface conductivity, RF transparency, radiation and UV stability, flammability and handle-ability of outer layer thermal control materials for deep space and near-sun spacecraft. Designing, testing, and qualifying composite thermal-control film materials to meet the requirements of the Galileo spacecraft is the scope of this paper.

Tribological properties of ternary nanolayers, obtained from simple/compound materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jinga, V.; Cristea, D.; Samoilă, C.; Ursuţiu, D.; Mateescu, A. O.; Mateescu, G.; Munteanu, D.

2016-06-01

Numerous recently investigations are oriented towards the development of new classes of thin films, having dry-lubrication properties. These efforts were determined by the enormous energy losses generated by friction, and due to technical complications determined by the systems used for classic lubrication. This paper presents our results concerning a new class of nanomaterials, with ternary composition deposited from simple/compound materials (Ti/TixNy, TiB2/TixBiyNz, WC/WxCyNz). The films were deposited by magnetron sputtering, with varying sputtering parameters (sputtering power, reactive gas) on stainless steel substrates - ultrasonically and glow discharge cleaned before the deposition process. The influence of the deposition parameters on the mechanical and wear properties was assessed by nanoindentation, scratch resistance (to quantify the adhesion of the films to the steel substrate) and by pin-on- disk wear tests. The general conclusion was that the sample deposited at 5500 C, with N2 as reactive gas and 0.5 kV for substrate polarization, has the best mechanical characteristics (hardness and elastic modulus) and lubricant properties (represented by μ average), when compared to the remaining samples.

Cold spraying of aluminum bronze on profiled submillimeter cermet structures formed by laser cladding

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ryashin, N. S.; Malikov, A. G.; Shikalov, V. S.; Gulyaev, I. P.; Kuchumov, B. M.; Klinkov, S. V.; Kosarev, V. F.; Orishich, A. M.

2017-10-01

The paper presents results of the cold spraying of aluminum bronze coatings on substrates profiled with WC/Ni tracks obtained by laser cladding. Reinforcing cermet frames shaped as grids with varied mesh sizes were clad on stainless steel substrates using a CO2 laser machine "Siberia" (ITAM SB RAS, Russia). As a result, surfaces/substrates with heterogeneous shape, composition, and mechanical properties were obtained. Aluminum bronze coatings were deposited from 5lF-NS powder (Oerlikon Metco, Switzerland) on those substrates using cold spraying equipment (ITAM SB RAS). Data of profiling, microstructure diagnostics, EDS analysis, and mechanical tests of obtained composites is reported. Surface relief of the sprayed coatings dependence on substrate structure has been demonstrated.

Graphene fixed-end beam arrays based on mechanical exfoliation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Peng; You, Zheng; Haugstad, Greg; Cui, Tianhong

2011-06-01

A low-cost mechanical exfoliation method is presented to transfer graphite to graphene for free-standing beam arrays. Nickel film or photoresist is used to peel off and transfer patterned single-layer or multilayer graphene onto substrates with macroscopic continuity. Free-standing graphene beam arrays are fabricated on both silicon and polymer substrates. Their mechanical properties are studied by atomic force microscopy. Finally, a graphene based radio frequency switch is demonstrated, with its pull-in voltage and graphene-silicon junction investigated.

Investigating the effect of cell substrate on cancer cell stiffness by optical tweezers.

PubMed

Yousafzai, Muhammad Sulaiman; Coceano, Giovanna; Bonin, Serena; Niemela, Joseph; Scoles, Giacinto; Cojoc, Dan

2017-07-26

The mechanical properties of cells are influenced by their microenvironment. Here we report cell stiffness alteration by changing the cell substrate stiffness for isolated cells and cells in contact with other cells. Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is used to prepare soft substrates with three different stiffness values (173, 88 and 17kPa respectively). Breast cancer cells lines, namely HBL-100, MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 with different level of aggressiveness are cultured on these substrates and their local elasticity is investigated by vertical indentation of the cell membrane. Our preliminary results show an unforeseen behavior of the MDA-MB-231 cells. When cultured on glass substrate as isolated cells, they are less stiff than the other two types of cells, in agreement with the general statement that more aggressive and metastatic cells are softer. However, when connected to other cells the stiffness of MDA-MB-231 cells becomes similar to the other two cell lines. Moreover, the stiffness of MDA-MB-231 cells cultured on soft PDMS substrates is significantly higher than the stiffness of the other cell types, demonstrating thus the strong influence of the environmental conditions on the mechanical properties of the cells. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Dropwise Condensation on Soft Hydrophobic Coatings.

PubMed

Phadnis, Akshay; Rykaczewski, Konrad

2017-10-31

Promoting dropwise condensation (DWC) could improve the efficiency of many industrial systems. Consequently, a lot of effort has been dedicated to finding durable materials that could sustainably promote DWC as well as finding routes to enhance the heat transfer rate during this phase change process. Motivated by previous reports of substrate softening increasing droplet nucleation rate, here we investigated how mechanical properties of a substrate impact relevant droplet-surface interactions and DWC heat transfer rate. Specifically, we experimentally quantified the effect of hydrophobic elastomer's shear modulus on droplet nucleation density and shedding radius. To quantify the impact of substrate softening on heat transfer through individual droplets, we combined analytical solution of elastomer deformation induced by droplets with finite element modeling of the heat transfer process. By substituting these experimentally and theoretically derived values into DWC heat transfer model, we quantified the compounding effect of the substrate's mechanical properties on the overall heat transfer rate. Our results show that softening of the substrates below a shear modulus of 500 kPa results in a significant reduction in the condensation heat transfer rate. This trend is primarily driven by additional thermal resistance of the liquid posed by depression of the soft substrate.

Sol-gel-derived hydroxyapatite-carbon nanotube/titania coatings on titanium substrates.

PubMed

Ji, Xiaoli; Lou, Weiwei; Wang, Qi; Ma, Jianfeng; Xu, Haihong; Bai, Qing; Liu, Chuantong; Liu, Jinsong

2012-01-01

In this paper, hydroxyapatite-carbon nanotube/titania (HA-CNT/TiO(2)) double layer coatings were successfully developed on titanium (Ti) substrates intended for biomedical applications. A TiO(2) coating was firstly developed by anodization to improve bonding between HA and Ti, and then the layer of HA and CNTs was coated on the surface by the sol-gel process to improve the biocompatibility and mechanical properties of Ti. The surfaces of double layer coatings were uniform and crack-free with a thickness of about 7 μm. The bonding strength of the HA-CNT/TiO(2) coating was higher than that of the pure HA and HA-CNT coatings. Additionally, in vitro cell experiments showed that CNTs promoted the adhesion of preosteoblasts on the HA-CNT/TiO(2) double layer coatings. These unique surfaces combined with the osteoconductive properties of HA exhibited the excellent mechanical properties of CNTs. Therefore, the developed HA-CNT/TiO(2) coatings on Ti substrates might be a promising material for bone replacement.

Substrate nitridation induced modulations in transport properties of wurtzite GaN/p-Si (100) heterojunctions grown by molecular beam epitaxy

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

Bhat, Thirumaleshwara N.; Rajpalke, Mohana K.; Krupanidhi, S. B.

Phase pure wurtzite GaN films were grown on Si (100) substrates by introducing a silicon nitride layer followed by low temperature GaN growth as buffer layers. GaN films grown directly on Si (100) were found to be phase mixtured, containing both cubic ({beta}) and hexagonal ({alpha}) modifications. The x-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy studies reveal that the significant enhancement in the structural as well as in the optical properties of GaN films grown with silicon nitride buffer layer grown at 800 deg. C when compared to the samples grown in the absence of silicon nitridemore » buffer layer and with silicon nitride buffer layer grown at 600 deg. C. Core-level photoelectron spectroscopy of Si{sub x}N{sub y} layers reveals the sources for superior qualities of GaN epilayers grown with the high temperature substrate nitridation process. The discussion has been carried out on the typical inverted rectification behavior exhibited by n-GaN/p-Si heterojunctions. Considerable modulation in the transport mechanism was observed with the nitridation conditions. The heterojunction fabricated with the sample of substrate nitridation at high temperature exhibited superior rectifying nature with reduced trap concentrations. Lowest ideality factors ({approx}1.5) were observed in the heterojunctions grown with high temperature substrate nitridation which is attributed to the recombination tunneling at the space charge region transport mechanism at lower voltages and at higher voltages space charge limited current conduction is the dominating transport mechanism. Whereas, thermally generated carrier tunneling and recombination tunneling are the dominating transport mechanisms in the heterojunctions grown without substrate nitridation and low temperature substrate nitridation, respectively.« less

Performance of Conformable Ablators in Aerothermal Environments

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Thornton, J.; Fan, W.; Skokova, K.; Stackpoole, M.; Beck, R.; Chavez-Garcia, J.

2012-01-01

Conformable Phenolic Impregnated Carbon Ablator, a cousin of Phenolic Impregnated Carbon Ablator (PICA), was developed at NASA Ames Research Center as a lightweight thermal protection system under the Fundamental Aeronautics Program. PICA is made using a brittle carbon substrate, which has a very low strain to failure. Conformable PICA is made using a flexible carbon substrate, a felt in this case. The flexible felt significantly increases the strain to failure of the ablator. PICA is limited by its thermal mechanical properties. Future NASA missions will require heatshields that are more fracture resistant than PICA and, as a result, NASA Ames is working to improve PICAs performance by developing conformable PICA to meet these needs. Research efforts include tailoring the chemistry of conformable PICA with varying amounts of additives to enhance mechanical properties and testing them in aerothermal environments. This poster shows the performance of conformable PICA variants in arc jets tests. Some mechanical and thermal properties will also be presented.

DNA mechanics as a tool to probe helicase and translocase activity.

PubMed

Lionnet, Timothée; Dawid, Alexandre; Bigot, Sarah; Barre, François-Xavier; Saleh, Omar A; Heslot, François; Allemand, Jean-François; Bensimon, David; Croquette, Vincent

2006-01-01

Helicases and translocases are proteins that use the energy derived from ATP hydrolysis to move along or pump nucleic acid substrates. Single molecule manipulation has proved to be a powerful tool to investigate the mechanochemistry of these motors. Here we first describe the basic mechanical properties of DNA unraveled by single molecule manipulation techniques. Then we demonstrate how the knowledge of these properties has been used to design single molecule assays to address the enzymatic mechanisms of different translocases. We report on four single molecule manipulation systems addressing the mechanism of different helicases using specifically designed DNA substrates: UvrD enzyme activity detection on a stretched nicked DNA molecule, HCV NS3 helicase unwinding of a RNA hairpin under tension, the observation of RecBCD helicase/nuclease forward and backward motion, and T7 gp4 helicase mediated opening of a synthetic DNA replication fork. We then discuss experiments on two dsDNA translocases: the RuvAB motor studied on its natural substrate, the Holliday junction, and the chromosome-segregation motor FtsK, showing its unusual coupling to DNA supercoiling.

The influence of silanisation on the mechanical and degradation behaviour of PLGA/HA composites.

PubMed

Naik, Ashutosh; Best, Serena M; Cameron, Ruth E

2015-03-01

This study investigates the influence of silanisation on the mechanical and degradation behaviour of PLGA/HA composites. Three different silanes (mercaptopropyl trimethoxy silane (MPTMS), aminopropyl trimethoxy silane (APTMS) and aminopropyltriethoxy silane (APTES)) were applied to HA substrates in order to study the effect of head group (which binds to the polymer) and tail group (which binds to the surface hydroxyl groups in HA). A composite of hydroxyapatite (HA) and poly(d,l lactide-co-glycolide (50:50)) (PLGA) was investigated. The influence of concentration, the reaction time, drying temperature and substrate surface on silanisation was examined. TGA was used to detect the degree of silanisation. HA with MPTMS (1wt.% MPTMS with reaction time of 1h) was used as filler in PLGA-30wt.% HA composites for an in-vitro degradation study carried out in PBS. In addition, the mechanical properties of the composites were studied. Silanisation affects the properties of the composite by improving the bonding at the interface and hence it was found to influence the plastic mechanical properties rather than the elastic mechanical properties or the degradation profile of the composite. Copyright © 2014. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Metallurgical Mechanisms Controlling Mechanical Properties of Aluminum Alloy 2219 Produced by Electron Beam Freeform Fabrication

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Domack, Marcia S.; Tainger, Karen M.

2006-01-01

The electron beam freeform fabrication (EBF3) layer-additive manufacturing process has been developed to directly fabricate complex geometry components. EBF3 introduces metal wire into a molten pool created on the surface of a substrate by a focused electron beam. Part geometry is achieved by translating the substrate with respect to the beam to build the part one layer at a time. Tensile properties demonstrated for electron beam deposited aluminum and titanium alloys are comparable to wrought products, although the microstructures of the deposits exhibit cast features. Understanding the metallurgical mechanisms controlling mechanical properties is essential to maximizing application of the EBF3 process. Tensile mechanical properties and microstructures were examined for aluminum alloy 2219 fabricated over a range of EBF3 process variables. Unique microstructures were observed within the deposited layers and at interlayer boundaries, which varied within the deposit height due to microstructural evolution associated with the complex thermal history experienced during subsequent layer deposition. Microstructures exhibited irregularly shaped grains with interior dendritic structures, described based on overall grain size, morphology, distribution, and dendrite spacing, and were correlated with deposition parameters. Fracture features were compared with microstructural elements to define fracture paths and aid in definition of basic processing-microstructure-property correlations.

Aspects of the mechanisms of smoke generation by burning materials

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bankston, C. P.; Zinn, B. T.; Browner, R. F.; Powell, E. A.

1981-01-01

An investigation of smoke generation during the burning of natural and synthetic solid materials (relevant to fire safety problems), under simulated fire conditions, is presented. Smoke formation mechanisms, including flaming and nonflaming combustion, are reviewed, and the complex physical, chemical, and electrical processes, important in smoke particulate production, are identified. With reference to the smoke formation mechanisms, measured experimental data are discussed, and include effects of ventilation gas temperature, dependence on material composition, and chemical analysis of smoke particulates. Significant differences in smoke characteristics are observed between flaming and nonflaming conditions, which is attributed to specific differences in controlling mechanisms and resultant ways leading to particulate formation. The effects of polymer substrate properties and effects of additives for a given substrate on smoke properties are also discussed in terms of basic processes. It is shown that many of the measured trends can be interpreted by considering postulated mechanisms of particulate formation.

Methodologies in determining mechanical properties of thin films using nanoindentation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Han, Seung Min Jane

Thin films are critical components of microelectronic and MEMS devices, and evaluating their mechanical properties is of current interest. As the dimensions of the devices become smaller and smaller, however, understanding the mechanical properties of materials at sub-micron length scales becomes more challenging. The conventional methods for evaluating strengths of materials in bulk form cannot be applied, and new methodologies are required for accurately evaluating mechanical properties of thin films. In this work, development of methodologies using the nanoindenter was pursued in three parts: (1) creation of a new method for extracting thin film hardness, (2) use of combinatorial methods for determining compositions with desired mechanical properties, and (3) use of microcompression testing of sub-micron sized pillars to understand plasticity in Al-Sc multilayers. The existing nanoindentation hardness model by Oliver & Pharr is unable to accurately determine the hardness of thin films on substrates with an elastic mismatch. Thus, a new method of analysis for extracting thin film hardness from film/substrate systems, that eliminates the effect of elastic mismatch of the underlying substrate, surface roughness, and also pile-up/sink-in, is needed. Such a method was developed in the first part of this study. The feasibility of using the nanoindentation hardness together with combinatorial methods to efficiently scan through mechanical properties of Ti-Al metallic alloys was examined in the second part of this study. The combinatorial approach provides an efficient method that can be used to determine alloy compositions that might merit further exploration and development as bulk materials. Finally, the mechanical properties of Al-Al3Sc multilayers with bilayer periods ranging from 6-100 nm were examined using microcompression. The sub-micron sized pillars were prepared using the focused ion beam (FIB) and compression tested with the flat tip of the nanoindenter. The measured yield strengths show the trend of increasing strength with decreasing bilayer period, and agree with the nanoindentation hardness results using the suitable Tabor correction factor. Strain softening was observed at large strains, and a new model for the true stress and true strain was developed to account for the inhomogeneous deformation geometry.

Evaluation on the characteristics of tin-silver-bismuth solder

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xia, Z.; Shi, Y.; Chen, Z.

2002-02-01

Tin-silver-bismuth solder is characterized by its lower melting point, good wetting behavior, and good mechanical property for which it is expected to be a new lead-free solder to replace tin-lead solder. In this article, Sn-3.33Ag-4.83Bi solder was investigated concerning its physical, spreading, and mechanical properties under specific conditions. Cooling curves and DSC results showed that it was close to eutectic composition (m.p. 210° 212 °C). Coefficiency of thermal expansion (CTE) of this solder, between that of PCBs and copper substrates, was beneficial to alleviate the thermal mismatch of the substrates. It was also a good electrical and thermal conductor. Using a rosin-based, mildly activated (RMA) flux, a spreading test indicated that SnAgBi solder paste had good solderability. Meanwhile, the solder had high tensile strength and fracture energy. Its fracture mechanism was a mixture of ductile and brittle fracture morphology. The metallographic and EDAX analyses indicated that it was composed of a tin-based solid solution and some intermetallic compound (IMC) that could strengthen the substrate. However, these large needle-like IMCs would cut the substrate and this resulted in the decreasing of the toughness of the solder.

Advanced Microelectronics and Materials Programs

DTIC Science & Technology

1991-12-01

of SiC /Si 3N 4 ceramic upon pyrolysis . This material was used to produce adherent coatings on a variety of substrates, and also infiltration ...the areas of Fiber Fabrication, Coatings and Infiltration , Composite Fabrication, and Physical/Mechanical Properties. Significant accomplishments...projects in the areas of Fiber Fabrication, Coatings and Infiltration , Composite Fabrication, and Physical/Mechanical Properties. Significant

PDMS substrate stiffness affects the morphology and growth profiles of cancerous prostate and melanoma cells.

PubMed

Prauzner-Bechcicki, Szymon; Raczkowska, Joanna; Madej, Ewelina; Pabijan, Joanna; Lukes, Jaroslav; Sepitka, Josef; Rysz, Jakub; Awsiuk, Kamil; Bernasik, Andrzej; Budkowski, Andrzej; Lekka, Małgorzata

2015-01-01

A deep understanding of the interaction between cancerous cells and surfaces is particularly important for the design of lab-on-chip devices involving the use of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). In our studies, the effect of PDMS substrate stiffness on mechanical properties of cancerous cells was investigated in conditions where the PDMS substrate is not covered with any of extracellular matrix proteins. Two human prostate cancer (Du145 and PC-3) and two melanoma (WM115 and WM266-4) cell lines were cultured on two groups of PDMS substrates that were characterized by distinct stiffness, i.e. 0.75 ± 0.06 MPa and 2.92 ± 0.12 MPa. The results showed the strong effect on cellular behavior and morphology. The detailed analysis of chemical and physical properties of substrates revealed that cellular behavior occurs only due to substrate elasticity. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Tribology of bio-inspired nanowrinkled films on ultrasoft substrates.

PubMed

Lackner, Juergen M; Waldhauser, Wolfgang; Major, Lukasz; Teichert, Christian; Hartmann, Paul

2013-01-01

Biomimetic design of new materials uses nature as antetype, learning from billions of years of evolution. This work emphasizes the mechanical and tribological properties of skin, combining both hardness and wear resistance of its surface (the stratum corneum) with high elasticity of the bulk (epidermis, dermis, hypodermis). The key for combination of such opposite properties is wrinkling, being consequence of intrinsic stresses in the bulk (soft tissue): Tribological contact to counterparts below the stress threshold for tissue trauma occurs on the thick hard stratum corneum layer pads, while tensile loads smooth out wrinkles in between these pads. Similar mechanism offers high tribological resistance to hard films on soft, flexible polymers, which is shown for diamond-like carbon (DLC) and titanium nitride thin films on ultrasoft polyurethane and harder polycarbonate substrates. The choice of these two compared substrate materials will show that ultra-soft substrate materials are decisive for the distinct tribological material. Hierarchical wrinkled structures of films on these substrates are due to high intrinsic compressive stress, which evolves during high energetic film growth. Incremental relaxation of these stresses occurs by compound deformation of film and elastic substrate surface, appearing in hierarchical nano-wrinkles. Nano-wrinkled topographies enable high elastic deformability of thin hard films, while overstressing results in zigzag film fracture along larger hierarchical wrinkle structures. Tribologically, these fracture mechanisms are highly important for ploughing and sliding of sharp and flat counterparts on hard-coated ultra-soft substrates like polyurethane. Concentration of polyurethane deformation under the applied normal loads occurs below these zigzag cracks. Unloading closes these cracks again. Even cyclic testing do not lead to film delamination and retain low friction behavior, if the adhesion to the substrate is high and the initial friction coefficient of the film against the sliding counterpart low, e.g. found for DLC.

Tribology of bio-inspired nanowrinkled films on ultrasoft substrates

PubMed Central

Lackner, Juergen M.; Waldhauser, Wolfgang; Major, Lukasz; Teichert, Christian; Hartmann, Paul

2013-01-01

Biomimetic design of new materials uses nature as antetype, learning from billions of years of evolution. This work emphasizes the mechanical and tribological properties of skin, combining both hardness and wear resistance of its surface (the stratum corneum) with high elasticity of the bulk (epidermis, dermis, hypodermis). The key for combination of such opposite properties is wrinkling, being consequence of intrinsic stresses in the bulk (soft tissue): Tribological contact to counterparts below the stress threshold for tissue trauma occurs on the thick hard stratum corneum layer pads, while tensile loads smooth out wrinkles in between these pads. Similar mechanism offers high tribological resistance to hard films on soft, flexible polymers, which is shown for diamond-like carbon (DLC) and titanium nitride thin films on ultrasoft polyurethane and harder polycarbonate substrates. The choice of these two compared substrate materials will show that ultra-soft substrate materials are decisive for the distinct tribological material. Hierarchical wrinkled structures of films on these substrates are due to high intrinsic compressive stress, which evolves during high energetic film growth. Incremental relaxation of these stresses occurs by compound deformation of film and elastic substrate surface, appearing in hierarchical nano-wrinkles. Nano-wrinkled topographies enable high elastic deformability of thin hard films, while overstressing results in zigzag film fracture along larger hierarchical wrinkle structures. Tribologically, these fracture mechanisms are highly important for ploughing and sliding of sharp and flat counterparts on hard-coated ultra-soft substrates like polyurethane. Concentration of polyurethane deformation under the applied normal loads occurs below these zigzag cracks. Unloading closes these cracks again. Even cyclic testing do not lead to film delamination and retain low friction behavior, if the adhesion to the substrate is high and the initial friction coefficient of the film against the sliding counterpart low, e.g. found for DLC. PMID:24688710

Metallurgical Mechanisms Controlling Mechanical Properties of Aluminum Alloy 2219 Produced By Electron Beam Freeform Fabrication

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Domack, Marcia S.; Taminger, Karen M. B.; Begley, Matthew

2006-01-01

The electron beam freeform fabrication (EBF3) layer-additive manufacturing process has been developed to directly fabricate complex geometry components. EBF3 introduces metal wire into a molten pool created on the surface of a substrate by a focused electron beam. Part geometry is achieved by translating the substrate with respect to the beam to build the part one layer at a time. Tensile properties have been demonstrated for electron beam deposited aluminum and titanium alloys that are comparable to wrought products, although the microstructures of the deposits exhibit features more typical of cast material. Understanding the metallurgical mechanisms controlling mechanical properties is essential to maximizing application of the EBF3 process. In the current study, mechanical properties and resulting microstructures were examined for aluminum alloy 2219 fabricated over a range of EBF3 process variables. Material performance was evaluated based on tensile properties and results were compared with properties of Al 2219 wrought products. Unique microstructures were observed within the deposited layers and at interlayer boundaries, which varied within the deposit height due to microstructural evolution associated with the complex thermal history experienced during subsequent layer deposition. Microstructures exhibited irregularly shaped grains, typically with interior dendritic structures, which were described based on overall grain size, morphology, distribution, and dendrite spacing, and were correlated with deposition parameters. Fracture features were compared with microstructural elements to define fracture paths and aid in definition of basic processing-microstructure-property correlations.

Investigation of dielectric substrates on electrical and optical performance of wafer-scale graphene using non-contact methods

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Dong; Ning, Jing; Zhang, Jincheng; Guo, Lixin; Hao, Yue

2017-10-01

Here we systemically discussed the influence of dielectric substrates on the surface morphology, electrical and optical performance of transferred graphene. The electrical properties were investigated using a microwave-probing technique without metal-graphene contact. We found that a complex mechanism governed the influence of the surface properties of the dielectric substrates, such as morphology, hydrophilicity, crystallinity, and polarization, on the performance of the graphene. We also found that graphene on r-Al2O3 was more effective for graphene-based devices with a high carrier mobility of ˜5000 cm2 V-1 s-1. This provides a new method to choose the most suitable substrate for fabricating graphene-based devices.

Modeling the spray casting process

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

El-Haggar, S.M.; Muoio, N.; Crowe, C.T.

1995-12-31

Spray forming is a process in which a liquid metal is atomized into very small droplets and deposited on a substrate. These small droplets cool very rapidly in a high velocity gas jet, giving rise to smaller grain structure and improved mechanical properties. This paper presents a numerical model, based on the trajectory approach, for the velocity and thermal properties of the droplets in the jet and predicts the deposition pattern and the state of the droplets upon contact with the substrate.

Investigating the interplay between substrate stiffness and ligand chemistry in directing mesenchymal stem cell differentiation within 3D macro-porous substrates.

PubMed

Haugh, Matthew G; Vaughan, Ted J; Madl, Christopher M; Raftery, Rosanne M; McNamara, Laoise M; O'Brien, Fergal J; Heilshorn, Sarah C

2018-07-01

Dimensionality can have a profound impact on stiffness-mediated differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). However, while we have begun to understand cellular response when encapsulated within 3D substrates, the behavior of cells within macro-porous substrates is relatively underexplored. The goal of this study was to determine the influence of macro-porous topographies on stiffness-mediated differentiation of MSCs. We developed macro-porous recombinant elastin-like protein (ELP) substrates that allow independent control of mechanical properties and ligand chemistry. We then used computational modeling to probe the impact of pore topography on the mechanical stimulus that cells are exposed to within these substrates, and finally we investigated stiffness induced biases towards adipogenic and osteogenic differentiation of MSCs within macro-porous substrates. Computational modeling revealed that there is significant heterogeneity in the mechanical stimuli that cells are exposed to within porous substrates and that this heterogeneity is predominantly due to the wide range of possible cellular orientations within the pores. Surprisingly, MSCs grown within 3D porous substrates respond to increasing substrate stiffness by up-regulating both osteogenesis and adipogenesis. These results demonstrate that within porous substrates the behavior of MSCs diverges from previously observed responses to substrate stiffness, emphasizing the importance of topography as a determinant of cellular behavior. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Decoupling thermal, chemical, and mechanical strain components in thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Silberstein, Meredith; Crumlin, Ethan; Shao-Horn, Yang; Boyce, Mary

2011-03-01

Many electrochemical systems have performance which is affected by internal strains due to thermal and/or chemical stimuli. The bi-material curvature method is a means to quantify these thermal and chemical strains and their coupling with mechanical stress. In this method, a thin layer of the material of interest is deposited on a substrate of intermediate thickness. The composite assumes a curvature that depends on the mismatch strains between the substrate and film. The Stoney formula provides an explicit expression for the film stress as a function of the elastic substrate properties, film and substrate thickness, and curvature. Here we study two distinct materials systems: Nafion used as the polymer electrolyte in low temperature fuel cells, and epitaxial perovskite thin films used as a catalyst for the oxygen reduction reaction in solid oxide fuel cells. The thermal, chemical, and mechanical strains are quantitatively determined as functions of temperature and atmospheric conditions by monitoring the curvature evolution with changes in these parameters. The extent of coupling of the thermal and chemical strains with mechanical stress is evaluated by conducting the experiment at multiple substrate thicknesses.

Essential Factors Influencing the Bonding Strength of Cold-Sprayed Aluminum Coatings on Ceramic Substrates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Drehmann, R.; Grund, T.; Lampke, T.; Wielage, B.; Wüstefeld, C.; Motylenko, M.; Rafaja, D.

2018-02-01

The present work summarizes the most important results of a research project dealing with the comprehensive investigation of the bonding mechanisms between cold-sprayed Al coatings and various poly- and monocrystalline ceramic substrates (Al2O3, AlN, Si3N4, SiC, MgF2). Due to their exceptional combination of properties, metallized ceramics are gaining more and more importance for a wide variety of applications, especially in electronic engineering. Cold spray provides a quick, flexible, and cost-effective one-step process to apply metallic coatings on ceramic surfaces. However, since most of the existing cold-spray-related publications focus on metallic substrates, only very little is known about the bonding mechanisms acting between cold-sprayed metals and ceramic substrates. In this paper, the essential factors influencing the bonding strength in such composites are identified. Besides mechanical tensile strength testing, a thorough analysis of the coatings and especially the metal/ceramic interfaces was conducted by means of HRTEM, FFT, STEM, EDX, EELS, GAXRD, and EBSD. The influence of substrate material, substrate temperature, and particle size is evaluated. The results suggest that, apart from mechanical interlocking, the adhesion of cold-sprayed metallic coatings on ceramics is based on a complex interplay of different mechanisms such as quasiadiabatic shearing, static recrystallization, and heteroepitaxial growth.

Probing cytoskeletal pre-stress and nuclear mechanics in endothelial cells with spatiotemporally controlled (de-)adhesion kinetics on micropatterned substrates

PubMed Central

Versaevel, Marie; Riaz, Maryam; Corne, Tobias; Grevesse, Thomas; Lantoine, Joséphine; Mohammed, Danahe; Bruyère, Céline; Alaimo, Laura; De Vos, Winnok H.; Gabriele, Sylvain

2017-01-01

ABSTRACT The mechanical properties of living cells reflect their propensity to migrate and respond to external forces. Both cellular and nuclear stiffnesses are strongly influenced by the rigidity of the extracellular matrix (ECM) through reorganization of the cyto- and nucleoskeletal protein connections. Changes in this architectural continuum affect cell mechanics and underlie many pathological conditions. In this context, an accurate and combined quantification of the mechanical properties of both cells and nuclei can contribute to a better understanding of cellular (dys-)function. To address this challenge, we have established a robust method for probing cellular and nuclear deformation during spreading and detachment from micropatterned substrates. We show that (de-)adhesion kinetics of endothelial cells are modulated by substrate stiffness and rely on the actomyosin network. We combined this approach with measurements of cell stiffness by magnetic tweezers to show that relaxation dynamics can be considered as a reliable parameter of cellular pre-stress in adherent cells. During the adhesion stage, large cellular and nuclear deformations occur over a long time span (>60 min). Conversely, nuclear deformation and condensed chromatin are relaxed in a few seconds after detachment. Finally, our results show that accumulation of farnesylated prelamin leads to modifications of the nuclear viscoelastic properties, as reflected by increased nuclear relaxation times. Our method offers an original and non-intrusive way of simultaneously gauging cellular and nuclear mechanics, which can be extended to high-throughput screens of pathological conditions and potential countermeasures. PMID:27111836

Probing cytoskeletal pre-stress and nuclear mechanics in endothelial cells with spatiotemporally controlled (de-)adhesion kinetics on micropatterned substrates.

PubMed

Versaevel, Marie; Riaz, Maryam; Corne, Tobias; Grevesse, Thomas; Lantoine, Joséphine; Mohammed, Danahe; Bruyère, Céline; Alaimo, Laura; De Vos, Winnok H; Gabriele, Sylvain

2017-01-02

The mechanical properties of living cells reflect their propensity to migrate and respond to external forces. Both cellular and nuclear stiffnesses are strongly influenced by the rigidity of the extracellular matrix (ECM) through reorganization of the cyto- and nucleoskeletal protein connections. Changes in this architectural continuum affect cell mechanics and underlie many pathological conditions. In this context, an accurate and combined quantification of the mechanical properties of both cells and nuclei can contribute to a better understanding of cellular (dys-)function. To address this challenge, we have established a robust method for probing cellular and nuclear deformation during spreading and detachment from micropatterned substrates. We show that (de-)adhesion kinetics of endothelial cells are modulated by substrate stiffness and rely on the actomyosin network. We combined this approach with measurements of cell stiffness by magnetic tweezers to show that relaxation dynamics can be considered as a reliable parameter of cellular pre-stress in adherent cells. During the adhesion stage, large cellular and nuclear deformations occur over a long time span (>60 min). Conversely, nuclear deformation and condensed chromatin are relaxed in a few seconds after detachment. Finally, our results show that accumulation of farnesylated prelamin leads to modifications of the nuclear viscoelastic properties, as reflected by increased nuclear relaxation times. Our method offers an original and non-intrusive way of simultaneously gauging cellular and nuclear mechanics, which can be extended to high-throughput screens of pathological conditions and potential countermeasures.

Structure and mechanical properties of Octopus vulgaris suckers.

PubMed

Tramacere, Francesca; Kovalev, Alexander; Kleinteich, Thomas; Gorb, Stanislav N; Mazzolai, Barbara

2014-02-06

In this study, we investigate the morphology and mechanical features of Octopus vulgaris suckers, which may serve as a model for the creation of a new generation of attachment devices. Octopus suckers attach to a wide range of substrates in wet conditions, including rough surfaces. This amazing feature is made possible by the sucker's tissues, which are pliable to the substrate profile. Previous studies have described a peculiar internal structure that plays a fundamental role in the attachment and detachment processes of the sucker. In this work, we present a mechanical characterization of the tissues involved in the attachment process, which was performed using microindentation tests. We evaluated the elasticity modulus and viscoelastic parameters of the natural tissues (E ∼ 10 kPa) and measured the mechanical properties of some artificial materials that have previously been used in soft robotics. Such a comparison of biological prototypes and artificial material that mimics octopus-sucker tissue is crucial for the design of innovative artificial suction cups for use in wet environments. We conclude that the properties of the common elastomers that are generally used in soft robotics are quite dissimilar to the properties of biological suckers.

Structure and mechanical properties of Octopus vulgaris suckers

PubMed Central

Tramacere, Francesca; Kovalev, Alexander; Kleinteich, Thomas; Gorb, Stanislav N.; Mazzolai, Barbara

2014-01-01

In this study, we investigate the morphology and mechanical features of Octopus vulgaris suckers, which may serve as a model for the creation of a new generation of attachment devices. Octopus suckers attach to a wide range of substrates in wet conditions, including rough surfaces. This amazing feature is made possible by the sucker's tissues, which are pliable to the substrate profile. Previous studies have described a peculiar internal structure that plays a fundamental role in the attachment and detachment processes of the sucker. In this work, we present a mechanical characterization of the tissues involved in the attachment process, which was performed using microindentation tests. We evaluated the elasticity modulus and viscoelastic parameters of the natural tissues (E ∼ 10 kPa) and measured the mechanical properties of some artificial materials that have previously been used in soft robotics. Such a comparison of biological prototypes and artificial material that mimics octopus-sucker tissue is crucial for the design of innovative artificial suction cups for use in wet environments. We conclude that the properties of the common elastomers that are generally used in soft robotics are quite dissimilar to the properties of biological suckers. PMID:24284894

Review of Relationship Between Particle Deformation, Coating Microstructure, and Properties in High-Pressure Cold Spray

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rokni, M. R.; Nutt, S. R.; Widener, C. A.; Champagne, V. K.; Hrabe, R. H.

2017-08-01

In the cold spray (CS) process, deposits are produced by depositing powder particles at high velocity onto a substrate. Powders deposited by CS do not undergo melting before or upon impacting the substrate. This feature makes CS suitable for deposition of a wide variety of materials, most commonly metallic alloys, but also ceramics and composites. During processing, the particles undergo severe plastic deformation and create a more mechanical and less metallurgical bond with the underlying material. The deformation behavior of an individual particle depends on multiple material and process parameters that are classified into three major groups—powder characteristics, geometric parameters, and processing parameters, each with their own subcategories. Changing any of these parameters leads to evolution of a different microstructure and consequently changes the mechanical properties in the deposit. While cold spray technology has matured during the last decade, the process is inherently complex, and thus, the effects of deposition parameters on particle deformation, deposit microstructure, and mechanical properties remain unclear. The purpose of this paper is to review the parameters that have been investigated up to now with an emphasis on the existent relationships between particle deformation behavior, microstructure, and mechanical properties of various cold spray deposits.

Influence of Zn Interlayer on Interfacial Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of TIG Lap-Welded Mg/Al Joints

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gao, Qiong; Wang, Kehong

2016-03-01

This study explored 6061 Al alloy and AZ31B Mg alloy joined by TIG lap welding with Zn foils of varying thicknesses, with the additional Zn element being imported into the fusion zone to alloy the weld seam. The microstructures and chemical composition in the fusion zone near the Mg substrate were examined by SEM and EDS, and tensile shear strength tests were conducted to investigate the mechanical properties of the Al/Mg joints, as well as the fracture surfaces, and phase compositions. The results revealed that the introduction of an appropriate amount of Zn transition layer improves the microstructure of Mg/Al joints and effectively reduces the formation of Mg-Al intermetallic compounds (IMCs). The most common IMCs in the fusion zone near the Mg substrate were Mg-Zn and Mg-Al-Zn IMCs. The type and distribution of IMCs generated in the weld zone differed according to Zn additions; Zn interlayer thickness of 0.4 mm improved the sample's mechanical properties considerably compared to thicknesses of less than 0.4 mm; however, any further increase in Zn interlayer thickness of above 0.4 mm caused mechanical properties to deteriorate.

Rebar graphene from functionalized boron nitride nanotubes.

PubMed

Li, Yilun; Peng, Zhiwei; Larios, Eduardo; Wang, Gunuk; Lin, Jian; Yan, Zheng; Ruiz-Zepeda, Francisco; José-Yacamán, Miguel; Tour, James M

2015-01-27

The synthesis of rebar graphene on Cu substrates is described using functionalized boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) that were annealed or subjected to chemical vapor deposition (CVD) growth of graphene. Characterization shows that the BNNTs partially unzip and form a reinforcing bar (rebar) network within the graphene layer that enhances the mechanical strength through covalent bonds. The rebar graphene is transferrable to other substrates without polymer assistance. The optical transmittance and conductivity of the hybrid rebar graphene film was tested, and a field effect transistor was fabricated to explore its electrical properties. This method of synthesizing 2D hybrid graphene/BN structures should enable the hybridization of various 1D nanotube and 2D layered structures with enhanced mechanical properties.

Substrate stiffness regulates cadherin-dependent collective migration through myosin-II contractility

PubMed Central

Ng, Mei Rosa; Besser, Achim

2012-01-01

The mechanical microenvironment is known to influence single-cell migration; however, the extent to which mechanical cues affect collective migration of adherent cells is not well understood. We measured the effects of varying substrate compliance on individual cell migratory properties in an epithelial wound-healing assay. Increasing substrate stiffness increased collective cell migration speed, persistence, and directionality as well as the coordination of cell movements. Dynamic analysis revealed that wounding initiated a wave of motion coordination from the wound edge into the sheet. This was accompanied by a front-to-back gradient of myosin-II activation and establishment of cell polarity. The propagation was faster and farther reaching on stiff substrates, indicating that substrate stiffness affects the transmission of directional cues. Manipulation of myosin-II activity and cadherin–catenin complexes revealed that this transmission is mediated by coupling of contractile forces between neighboring cells. Thus, our findings suggest that the mechanical environment integrates in a feedback with cell contractility and cell–cell adhesion to regulate collective migration. PMID:23091067

Mechanical Properties of Stable Glasses Using Nanoindentation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wolf, Sarah; Liu, Tianyi; Jiang, Yijie; Ablajan, Keyume; Zhang, Yue; Walsh, Patrick; Turner, Kevin; Fakhraai, Zahra

Glasses with enhanced stability over ordinary, liquid quenched glasses have been formed via the process of Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) by using a sufficiently slow deposition rate and a substrate temperature slightly below the glass transition temperature. These stable glasses have been shown to exhibit higher density, lower enthalpy, and better kinetic stability over ordinary glass, and are typically optically birefringent, due to packing and orientational anisotropy. Given these exceptional properties, it is of interest to further investigate how the properties of stable glasses compare to those of ordinary glass. In particular, the mechanical properties of stable glasses remain relatively under-investigated. While the speed of sound and elastic moduli have been shown to increase with increased stability, little is known about their hardness and fracture toughness compared to ordinary glasses. In this study, glasses of 9-(3,5-di(naphthalen-1-yl)phenyl)anthracene were deposited at varying temperatures relative to their glass transition temperature, and their mechanical properties measured by nanoindentation. Hardness and elastic modulus of the glasses were compared across substrate temperatures. After indentation, the topography of these films were studied using Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) in order to further compare the relationship between thermodynamic and kinetic stability and mechanical failure. Z.F. and P.W. acknowledge funding from NSF(DMREF-1628407).

FRET measurements of cell-traction forces and nano-scale clustering of adhesion ligands varied by substrate stiffness.

PubMed

Kong, Hyun Joon; Polte, Thomas R; Alsberg, Eben; Mooney, David J

2005-03-22

The mechanical properties of cell adhesion substrates regulate cell phenotype, but the mechanism of this relation is currently unclear. It may involve the magnitude of traction force applied by the cell, and/or the ability of the cells to rearrange the cell adhesion molecules presented from the material. In this study, we describe a FRET technique that can be used to evaluate the mechanics of cell-material interactions at the molecular level and simultaneously quantify the cell-based nanoscale rearrangement of the material itself. We found that these events depended on the mechanical rigidity of the adhesion substrate. Furthermore, both the proliferation and differentiation of preosteoblasts (MC3T3-E1) correlated to the magnitude of force that cells generate to cluster the cell adhesion ligands, but not the extent of ligand clustering. Together, these data demonstrate the utility of FRET in analyzing cell-material interactions, and suggest that regulation of phenotype with substrate stiffness is related to alterations in cellular traction forces.

Chemical Vapor Deposition Synthesis of Graphene-Based Materials and Chemical Modulation of Graphene Electronics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yan, Zheng

Graphene, a two-dimensional sp2-bonded carbon material, has attracted enormous attention due to its excellent electrical, optical and mechanical properties. Recently developed chemical vapor deposition (CVD) methods could produce large-size and uniform polycrystalline graphene films, limited to gas carbon sources, metal catalyst substrates and degraded properties induced by grain boundaries. Meanwhile, pristine monolayer graphene exhibits a standard ambipolar behavior with a zero neutrality point in field-effect transistors (FETs), limiting its future electronic applications. This thesis starts with the investigation of CVD synthesis of pristine and N-doped graphene with controlled thickness using solid carbon sources on metal catalyst substrates (chapter 1), and then discusses the direct growth of bilayer graphene on insulating substrates, including SiO2, h-BN, Si3N4 and Al2O3, without needing further transfer-process (chapter 2). Chapter 3 discusses the synthesis of high-quality graphene single crystals and hexagonal onion-ring-like graphene domains, and also explores the basic growth mechanism of graphene on Cu substrates. To extend graphene's potential applications, both vertical and planar graphene-carbon nanotube hybrids are fabricated using CVD method and their interesting properties are investigated (chapter 4). Chapter 5 discusses how to use chemical methods to modulate graphene's electronic behaviors.

Biomimetic nanocoatings with exceptional mechanical, barrier, and flame-retardant properties from large-scale one-step coassembly

PubMed Central

Ding, Fuchuan; Liu, Jingjing; Zeng, Songshan; Xia, Yan; Wells, Kacie M.; Nieh, Mu-Ping; Sun, Luyi

2017-01-01

Large-scale biomimetic organic/inorganic hybrid nanocoatings with a nacre-like microstructure were prepared via a facile coassembly process. Different from conventional polymer nanocomposites, these nanocoatings contain a high concentration of nanosheets, which can be well aligned along the substrate surface. Moreover, the nanosheets and polymer matrix can be chemically co–cross-linked. As a result, the nanocoatings exhibit exceptional mechanical properties (high stiffness and strength), barrier properties (to both oxygen and water vapor), and flame retardancy, but they are also highly transparent (maintaining more than 85% of their original transmittance to visible light). The nanocoatings can be applied to various substrates and regular or irregular surfaces (for example, films and foams). Because of their excellent performance and high versatility, these nanocoatings are expected to find widespread application. PMID:28776038

Artificial nacre-like papers based on noncovalent functionalized boron nitride nanosheets with excellent mechanical and thermally conductive properties.

PubMed

Zeng, Xiaoliang; Ye, Lei; Yu, Shuhui; Li, Hao; Sun, Rong; Xu, Jianbin; Wong, Ching-Ping

2015-04-21

Inspired by the nano/microscale hierarchical structure and the precise inorganic/organic interface of natural nacre, we fabricated artificial nacre-like papers based on noncovalent functionalized boron nitride nanosheets (NF-BNNSs) and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) via a vacuum-assisted self-assembly technique. The artificial nacre-like papers exhibit excellent tensile strength (125.2 MPa), on a par with that of the natural nacre, and moreover display a 30% higher toughness (2.37 MJ m(-3)) than that of the natural nacre. These excellent mechanical properties result from an ordered 'brick-and-mortar' arrangement of NF-BNNSs and PVA, in which the long-chain PVA molecules act as the bridge to link NF-BNNSs via hydrogen bonds. The resulting papers also render high thermal conductivity (6.9 W m(-1) K(-1)), and reveal their superiority as flexible substrates to support light-emitting-diode chips. The combined mechanical and thermal properties make the materials highly desirable as flexible substrates for next-generation commercial portable electronics.

Performance of Conformable Phenolic Impregnated Carbon Ablator in Aerothermal Environments

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Thornton, Jeremy; Fan, Wendy; Stackpoole, Mairead; Kao, David; Skokova, Kristina; Chavez-Garcia, Jose

2012-01-01

Conformable Phenolic Impregnated Carbon Ablator, a cousin of Phenolic Impregnated Carbon Ablator (PICA), was developed at NASA Ames Research Center as a lightweight thermal protection system under the Fundamental Aeronautics Program. PICA is made using a brittle carbon substrate, which has a very low strain to failure. Conformable PICA is made using a flexible carbon substrate, a felt in this case. The flexible felt significantly increases the strain to failure of the ablator. PICA is limited by its thermal mechanical properties. Future NASA missions will require heatshields that are more fracture resistant than PICA and, as a result, NASA Ames is working to improve PICA's performance by developing conformable PICA to meet these needs. Research efforts include tailoring the chemistry of conformable PICA with varying amounts of additives to enhance mechanical properties and testing them in aerothermal environments. This poster shows the performance of conformable PICA variants in arc jets tests. Some mechanical and thermal properties will also be presented.

Compressive Properties of Open-Cell Al Hybrid Foams at Different Temperatures

PubMed Central

Liu, Jiaan; Si, Fujian; Zhu, Xianyong; Liu, Yaohui; Zhang, Jiawei; Liu, Yan; Zhang, Chengchun

2017-01-01

Hybrid Ni/Al foams were fabricated by depositing electroless Ni–P (EN) coatings on open-cell Al foam substrate to obtain enhanced mechanical properties. The microstructure, chemical components and phases of the hybrid foams were observed and analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD), respectively. The mechanical properties of the foams were studied by compressive tests at different temperatures. The experiment results show that the coating is mainly composed of Ni and P elements. There was neither defect at the interface nor crack in the coatings, indicating that the EN coatings had fine adhesion to the Al substrate. The compressive strengths and energy absorption capacities of the as-received foam and hybrid foams decrease with the increasing testing temperatures, but the hybrid foams exhibit a lower decrement rate than the as-received foam. This might be attributed to the different failure mechanisms at different testing temperatures, which is conformed by fractography observation. PMID:28772456

Fabrication and deformation behaviour of multilayer Al2O3/Ti/TiO2 nanotube arrays.

PubMed

Baradaran, S; Basirun, W J; Zalnezhad, E; Hamdi, M; Sarhan, Ahmed A D; Alias, Y

2013-04-01

In this study, titanium thin films were deposited on alumina substrates by radio frequency (RF) magnetron sputtering. The mechanical properties of the Ti coatings were evaluated in terms of adhesion strength at various RF powers, temperatures, and substrate bias voltages. The coating conditions of 400W of RF power, 250°C, and a 75V substrate bias voltage produced the strongest coating adhesion, as obtained by the Taguchi optimisation method. TiO2 nanotube arrays were grown as a second layer on the Ti substrates using electrochemical anodisation at a constant potential of 20V and anodisation times of 15min, 45min, and 75min in a NH4F electrolyte solution (75 ethylene glycol: 25 water). The anodised titanium was annealed at 450°C and 650°C in a N2 gas furnace to obtain different phases of titania, anatase and rutile, respectively. The mechanical properties of the anodised layer were investigated by nanoindentation. The results indicate that Young's modulus and hardness increased with annealing temperature to 650°C. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Constructing Free Standing Metal Organic Framework MIL-53 Membrane Based on Anodized Aluminum Oxide Precursor

PubMed Central

Zhang, Yunlu; Gao, Qiuming; Lin, Zhi; Zhang, Tao; Xu, Jiandong; Tan, Yanli; Tian, Weiqian; Jiang, Lei

2014-01-01

Metal organic framework (MOF) materials have attracted great attention due to their well-ordered and controllable pores possessing of prominent potentials for gas molecule sorption and separation performances. Organizing the MOF crystals to a continuous membrane with a certain scale will better exhibit their prominent potentials. Reports in recent years concentrate on well grown MOF membranes on specific substrates. Free standing MOF membranes could have more important applications since they are independent from the substrates. However, the method to prepare such a membrane has been a great challenge because good mechanical properties and stabilities are highly required. Here, we demonstrate a novel and facile technique for preparing the free standing membrane with a size as large as centimeter scale. The substrate we use proved itself not only a good skeleton but also an excellent precursor to fulfill the reaction. This kind of membrane owns a strong mechanical strength, based on the fact that it is much thinner than the composite membranes grown on substrates and it could exhibit good property of gas separation. PMID:24821299

Structural and mechanical properties of evaporated pure and mixed MgF2-BaF2 thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Thielsch, Roland; Pommies, Matthieu; Heber, Joerg; Kaiser, Norbert; Ullmann, Jens

1999-09-01

To grow dense and hard MgF2 films substrate temperatures of about 300 degrees C are required, which unfortunately leads to high tensile film stress and the ability of crack formation. Lowering tensile stress in MgF2 films can be achieved by admixture a second fluoride material of higher cation radius than Mg2+. While former investigation were performed with non-heated films the purpose of the present work was to verify the behavior of mixed films when deposited at elevated substrate temperatures. One of the promising add material is BaF2 which enables evaporation of appropriate pre-mixed materials from a single source. The BaF2 content in the mixed films was varied from 3 to 55 mol percent in the MgF2 host. Optical, mechanical, and structural properties of samples deposited at different substrate temperatures have been studied by spectral photometry, IR spectroscopy, ex situ measurement of mechanical stress, x-ray diffraction, and -reflectometry, RBS, as well as investigation of surface morphology.

Cold Gas-Sprayed Deposition of Metallic Coatings onto Ceramic Substrates Using Laser Surface Texturing Pre-treatment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kromer, R.; Danlos, Y.; Costil, S.

2018-04-01

Cold spraying enables a variety of metals dense coatings onto metal surfaces. Supersonic gas jet accelerates particles which undergo with the substrate plastic deformation. Different bonding mechanisms can be created depending on the materials. The particle-substrate contact time, contact temperature and contact area upon impact are the parameters influencing physicochemical and mechanical bonds. The resultant bonding arose from plastic deformation of the particle and substrate and temperature increasing at the interface. The objective was to create specific topography to enable metallic particle adhesion onto ceramic substrates. Ceramic did not demonstrate deformation during the impact which minimized the intimate bonds. Laser surface texturing was hence used as prior surface treatment to create specific topography and to enable mechanical anchoring. Particle compressive states were necessary to build up coating. The coating deposition efficiency and adhesion strength were evaluated. Textured surface is required to obtain strong adhesion of metallic coatings onto ceramic substrates. Consequently, cold spray coating parameters depend on the target material and a methodology was established with particle parameters (diameters, velocities, temperatures) and particle/substrate properties to adapt the surface topography. Laser surface texturing is a promising tool to increase the cold spraying applications.

Characterization of tissue biomechanics and mechanical signaling in uterine leiomyoma☆

PubMed Central

Norian, John M.; Owen, Carter M.; Taboas, Juan; Korecki, Casey; Tuan, Rocky; Malik, Minnie; Catherino, William H.; Segars, James H.

2012-01-01

Leiomyoma are common tumors arising within the uterus that feature excessive deposition of a stiff, disordered extracellular matrix (ECM). Mechanical stress is a critical determinant of excessive ECM deposition and increased mechanical stress has been shown to be involved in tumorigenesis. Here we tested the viscoelastic properties of leiomyoma and characterized dynamic and static mechanical signaling in leiomyoma cells using three approaches, including measurement of active RhoA. We found that the peak strain and pseudo-dynamic modulus of leiomyoma tissue was significantly increased relative to matched myometrium. In addition, leiomyoma cells demonstrated an attenuated response to applied cyclic uniaxial strain and to variation in substrate stiffness, relative to myometrial cells. However, on a flexible pronectin-coated silicone substrate, basal levels and lysophosphatidic acid-stimulated levels of activated RhoA were similar between leiomyoma and myometrial cells. In contrast, leiomyoma cells plated on a rigid polystyrene substrate had elevated levels of active RhoA, compared to myometrial cells. The results indicate that viscoelastic properties of the ECM of leiomyoma contribute significantly to the tumor’s inherent stiffness and that leiomyoma cells have an attenuated sensitivity to mechanical cues. The findings suggest there may be a fundamental alteration in the communication between the external mechanical environment (extracellular forces) and reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton mediated by RhoA in leiomyoma cells. Additional research will be needed to elucidate the mechanism(s) responsible for the attenuated mechanical signaling in leiomyoma cells. PMID:21983114

A Robust Method to Generate Mechanically Anisotropic Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Sheets for Vascular Tissue Engineering.

PubMed

Backman, Daniel E; LeSavage, Bauer L; Shah, Shivem B; Wong, Joyce Y

2017-06-01

In arterial tissue engineering, mimicking native structure and mechanical properties is essential because compliance mismatch can lead to graft failure and further disease. With bottom-up tissue engineering approaches, designing tissue components with proper microscale mechanical properties is crucial to achieve the necessary macroscale properties in the final implant. This study develops a thermoresponsive cell culture platform for growing aligned vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) sheets by photografting N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm) onto micropatterned poly(dimethysiloxane) (PDMS). The grafting process is experimentally and computationally optimized to produce PNIPAAm-PDMS substrates optimal for VSMC attachment. To allow long-term VSMC sheet culture and increase the rate of VSMC sheet formation, PNIPAAm-PDMS surfaces were further modified with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane yielding a robust, thermoresponsive cell culture platform for culturing VSMC sheets. VSMC cell sheets cultured on patterned thermoresponsive substrates exhibit cellular and collagen alignment in the direction of the micropattern. Mechanical characterization of patterned, single-layer VSMC sheets reveals increased stiffness in the aligned direction compared to the perpendicular direction whereas nonpatterned cell sheets exhibit no directional dependence. Structural and mechanical anisotropy of aligned, single-layer VSMC sheets makes this platform an attractive microstructural building block for engineering a vascular graft to match the in vivo mechanical properties of native arterial tissue. © 2017 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Can zinc aluminate-titania composite be an alternative for alumina as microelectronic substrate?

PubMed Central

Roshni, Satheesh Babu; Sebastian, Mailadil Thomas; Surendran, Kuzhichalil Peethambharan

2017-01-01

Alumina, thanks to its superior thermal and dielectric properties, has been the leading substrate over several decades, for power and microelectronics circuits. However, alumina lacks thermal stability since its temperature coefficient of resonant frequency (τf) is far from zero (−60 ppmK−1). The present paper explores the potentiality of a ceramic composite 0.83ZnAl2O4-0.17TiO2 (in moles, abbreviated as ZAT) substrates for electronic applications over other commercially-used alumina-based substrates and synthesized using a non-aqueous tape casting method. The present substrate has τf of + 3.9 ppmK−1 and is a valuable addition to the group of thermo-stable substrates. The ZAT substrate shows a high thermal conductivity of 31.3 Wm−1K−1 (thermal conductivity of alumina is about 24.5 Wm−1K−1), along with promising mechanical, electrical and microwave dielectric properties comparable to that of alumina-based commercial substrates. Furthermore, the newly-developed substrate material shows exceptionally good thermal stability of dielectric constant, which cannot be met with any of the alumina-based HTCC substrates. PMID:28084459

Influence of substrate misorientation on the photoluminescence and structural properties of InGaAs/GaAsP multiple quantum wells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dong, Hailiang; Sun, Jing; Ma, Shufang; Liang, Jian; Lu, Taiping; Liu, Xuguang; Xu, Bingshe

2016-03-01

InGaAs/GaAsP multiple quantum wells (MQWs) were grown by metal-organic chemical vapor deposition on vicinal GaAs (001) substrates with different miscut angles of 0°, 2° and 15° towards [110]. The crystal structures of InGaAs/GaAsP were characterized by high-resolution X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy. The surface morphologies of InGaAs/GaAsP MQWs were observed by atomic force microscopy. The mechanisms for step flow, step bunching and pyramid growth on 0°, 2° and 15° misoriented substrates were discussed. The results provide a comprehensive phenomenological understanding of the self-ordering mechanism of vicinal GaAs substrates, which could be harnessed for designing the quantum optical properties of low-dimensional systems. From low-temperature photoluminescence, it was observed that the luminescence from the MQWs grown on a vicinal surface exhibits a red-shift with respect to the 0° case. An extra emission was observed from the 2° and 15° off samples, indicating the characteristics of quantum wire and pyramidal self-controlled quantum-dot systems, respectively. Its absence from the PL spectrum on 0° surfaces indicates that indium segregation is modified on the surfaces. The relationship between InGaAs/GaAsP MQWs grown on vicinal substrates and their optical and structural properties was explained, which provides a technological basis for obtaining different self-controlled nanostructures.

Rebar Graphene from Functionalized Boron Nitride Nanotubes

PubMed Central

2015-01-01

The synthesis of rebar graphene on Cu substrates is described using functionalized boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) that were annealed or subjected to chemical vapor deposition (CVD) growth of graphene. Characterization shows that the BNNTs partially unzip and form a reinforcing bar (rebar) network within the graphene layer that enhances the mechanical strength through covalent bonds. The rebar graphene is transferrable to other substrates without polymer assistance. The optical transmittance and conductivity of the hybrid rebar graphene film was tested, and a field effect transistor was fabricated to explore its electrical properties. This method of synthesizing 2D hybrid graphene/BN structures should enable the hybridization of various 1D nanotube and 2D layered structures with enhanced mechanical properties. PMID:25486451

Improved plaque materials for aerospace nickel-cadmium cells

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Luksha, E.; Gordy, D. J.

1971-01-01

Improved cadmium electrode substrates with precisely controlled microstructures for possible use in aerospace nickel-cadmium cells were prepared. The preparative technique was a powder metallurgical process in which a fugitive pore-former and a nickel powder were blended, then isostatically compacted, and subsequently sintered. Cadmium electrodes prepared from such substrates were cycle tested using an accelerated tortuous test regime. It was discovered that plaques of 60% or 80% porosity prepared with a 25 micron pore-former were better than state-of-the-art electrodes in terms of efficienty and/or mechanical strength. The 60% structures were particularly outstanding in this respect in that they had efficiencies only 5-10 percentage points lower than state-of-the-art electrodes and vastly superior mechanical properties. This added strength was observed to eliminate cracking and physical degradation of the electrodes during processing and cycling. The cadmium electrodes prepared from the 80% porous substrates proved to be the best electrodes made during the course of the work from the point of view of highest efficiency. Three-point bend tests were used to measure mechanical properties of the plaques produced and also as a general characterization tool. In addition, the BET surface areas of selected specimens was determined. The SEM was used for judging microscopic uniformity and quantitatively determining the induced pore size and various other fine structures in the substrates. The technique of X-ray radiography was used to follow the bulk uniformity of the substrates at various stages of their processing.

Simultaneous measurement of the Young's modulus and the Poisson ratio of thin elastic layers.

PubMed

Gross, Wolfgang; Kress, Holger

2017-02-07

The behavior of cells and tissue is greatly influenced by the mechanical properties of their environment. For studies on the interactions between cells and soft matrices, especially those applying traction force microscopy the characterization of the mechanical properties of thin substrate layers is essential. Various techniques to measure the elastic modulus are available. Methods to accurately measure the Poisson ratio of such substrates are rare and often imply either a combination of multiple techniques or additional equipment which is not needed for the actual biological studies. Here we describe a novel technique to measure both parameters, the Youngs's modulus and the Poisson ratio in a single experiment. The technique requires only a standard inverted epifluorescence microscope. As a model system, we chose cross-linked polyacrylamide and poly-N-isopropylacrylamide hydrogels which are known to obey Hooke's law. We place millimeter-sized steel spheres on the substrates which indent the surface. The data are evaluated using a previously published model which takes finite thickness effects of the substrate layer into account. We demonstrate experimentally for the first time that the application of the model allows the simultaneous determination of both the Young's modulus and the Poisson ratio. Since the method is easy to adapt and comes without the need of special equipment, we envision the technique to become a standard tool for the characterization of substrates for a wide range of investigations of cell and tissue behavior in various mechanical environments as well as other samples, including biological materials.

Artificial nacre-like papers based on noncovalent functionalized boron nitride nanosheets with excellent mechanical and thermally conductive properties

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zeng, Xiaoliang; Ye, Lei; Yu, Shuhui; Li, Hao; Sun, Rong; Xu, Jianbin; Wong, Ching-Ping

2015-04-01

Inspired by the nano/microscale hierarchical structure and the precise inorganic/organic interface of natural nacre, we fabricated artificial nacre-like papers based on noncovalent functionalized boron nitride nanosheets (NF-BNNSs) and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) via a vacuum-assisted self-assembly technique. The artificial nacre-like papers exhibit excellent tensile strength (125.2 MPa), on a par with that of the natural nacre, and moreover display a 30% higher toughness (2.37 MJ m-3) than that of the natural nacre. These excellent mechanical properties result from an ordered `brick-and-mortar' arrangement of NF-BNNSs and PVA, in which the long-chain PVA molecules act as the bridge to link NF-BNNSs via hydrogen bonds. The resulting papers also render high thermal conductivity (6.9 W m-1 K-1), and reveal their superiority as flexible substrates to support light-emitting-diode chips. The combined mechanical and thermal properties make the materials highly desirable as flexible substrates for next-generation commercial portable electronics.Inspired by the nano/microscale hierarchical structure and the precise inorganic/organic interface of natural nacre, we fabricated artificial nacre-like papers based on noncovalent functionalized boron nitride nanosheets (NF-BNNSs) and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) via a vacuum-assisted self-assembly technique. The artificial nacre-like papers exhibit excellent tensile strength (125.2 MPa), on a par with that of the natural nacre, and moreover display a 30% higher toughness (2.37 MJ m-3) than that of the natural nacre. These excellent mechanical properties result from an ordered `brick-and-mortar' arrangement of NF-BNNSs and PVA, in which the long-chain PVA molecules act as the bridge to link NF-BNNSs via hydrogen bonds. The resulting papers also render high thermal conductivity (6.9 W m-1 K-1), and reveal their superiority as flexible substrates to support light-emitting-diode chips. The combined mechanical and thermal properties make the materials highly desirable as flexible substrates for next-generation commercial portable electronics. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: TEM images of NF-BNNSs, Raman spectra of raw h-BN and BNNSs, TGA curves of raw BN and NF-BNNSs, XRD patterns of NF-BNNS-PVA papers and pure BNNS papers, optical images of NF-BNNS-PVA papers and pure BNNS papers, TGA curves of NF-BNNS-PVA papers, stress-strain curves of the NF-BNNS-PMMA papers as a function of PMMA contents, typical DSC curves of blank, sapphire, and samples to calculate the CP of samples, measurement of in-plane thermal conductivity, summary of the mechanical properties of the papers measured by tensile testing, comparison of mechanical properties of our artificial nacre with the natural nacre and the reported graphene and graphene oxide papers, a summary of the detailed sample information and thermal properties. See DOI: 10.1039/c5nr00228a

Bamboo-like 3C-SiC nanowires with periodical fluctuating diameter: Homogeneous synthesis, synergistic growth mechanism, and their luminescence properties

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

Zhang, Meng; Zhao, Jian; Li, Zhenjiang, E-mail: zhenjiangli@qust.edu.cn

Herein, bamboo-like 3C-SiC nanowires have been successfully fabricated on homogeneous 6H-SiC substrate by a simple chemical vapor reaction (CVR) approach. The obtained 3C-SiC nanostructure with periodical fluctuating diameter, is composed of two alternating structure units, the typical normal-sized stem segment with perfect crystallinity and obvious projecting nodes segment having high-density stacking faults. The formation of the interesting morphology is significantly subjected to the peculiar growth condition provided by the homogeneous substrate as well as the varying growth elastic energy. Furthermore, the photoluminescence (PL) performance measured on the bamboo-like SiC nanowire shows an intensive emission peaks centered at 451 nm andmore » 467 nm, which has been expected to make a positive progress toward the optical application of the SiC-based one-dimensional (1D) nanostructures, such as light emission diode (LED). - Graphical abstract: Based on the synergistic growth mechanism from homogeneous substrate and elastic energy, bamboo-like 3C-SiC nanowires with periodically fluctuating diameter have been synthesized on 6H-SiC. The blue-violet light emission properties of the bamboo-like nanowires have also been investigated for exploring their peculiar optical application. - Highlights: • Bamboo-like 3C-SiC nanowires with periodically fluctuating diameter have been synthesized on 6H-SiC. • A synergistic growth mechanism from homogeneous substrate and elastic energy has been proposed firstly. • The blue-violet light emission properties of the products displayed peculiar optical application.« less

Traction Stresses Exerted by Adherent Cells: From Angiogenesis to Metastasis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Reinhart-King, Cynthia

2010-03-01

Cells exert traction stresses against their substrate that mediate their ability to sense the mechanical properties of their microenvironment. These same forces mediate cell adhesion, migration and the formation of stable cell-cell contacts during tissue formation. In this talk, I will present our data on the traction stresses generated by endothelial cells and metastatic breast cancer cells focused on understanding the processes of angiogenesis and metastasis, respectively. In the context of capillary formation, our data indicate that the mechanics of the substrate play a critical role in establishing endothelial cell-cell contacts. On more compliant substrates, endothelial cell shape and traction stresses polarize and promote the formation of stable cell-cell contacts. On stiffer substrates, traction stresses are less polarized and cell connectivity is disrupted. These data indicate that the mechanical properties of the microenvironment may drive cell connectivity and the formation of stable cell-cell contacts through the reorientation of traction stresses. In our studies of metastatic cell migration, we have found that traction stresses increase with increasing metastatic potential. We investigated three lines of varying metastatic potential (MCF10A, MCF7 and MDAMB231). MDAMB231, which are the most invasive, exert the most significant forces as measured by Traction Force Microscopy. These data present the possibility that cellular traction stress generation aids in the ability of metastatic cells to migrate through the matrix-dense tumor microenvironment. Such measurements are integral to link the mechanical and chemical microenvironment with the resulting response of the cell in health and disease.

Micropatterned Azopolymer Surfaces Modulate Cell Mechanics and Cytoskeleton Structure.

PubMed

Rianna, Carmela; Ventre, Maurizio; Cavalli, Silvia; Radmacher, Manfred; Netti, Paolo A

2015-09-30

Physical and chemical characteristics of materials are important regulators of cell behavior. In particular, cell elasticity is a fundamental parameter that reflects the state of a cell. Surface topography finely modulates cell fate and function via adhesion mediated signaling and cytoskeleton generated forces. However, how topographies alter cell mechanics is still unclear. In this work we have analyzed the mechanical properties of peripheral and nuclear regions of NIH-3T3 cells on azopolymer substrates with different topographic patterns. Micrometer scale patterns in the form of parallel ridges or square lattices of surface elevations were encoded on light responsive azopolymer films by means of contactless optical methods. Cell mechanics was investigated by atomic force microscopy (AFM). Cells and consequently the cell cytoskeleton were oriented along the linear patterns affecting cytoskeletal structures, e.g., formation of actin stress fibers. Our data demonstrate that topographic substrate patterns are recognized by cells and mechanical information is transferred by the cytoskeleton. Furthermore, cytoskeleton generated forces deform the nucleus, changing its morphology that appears to be related to different mechanical properties in the nuclear region.

Oxide Heteroepitaxy for Flexible Optoelectronics.

PubMed

Bitla, Yugandhar; Chen, Ching; Lee, Hsien-Chang; Do, Thi Hien; Ma, Chun-Hao; Qui, Le Van; Huang, Chun-Wei; Wu, Wen-Wei; Chang, Li; Chiu, Po-Wen; Chu, Ying-Hao

2016-11-30

The emerging technological demands for flexible and transparent electronic devices have compelled researchers to look beyond the current silicon-based electronics. However, fabrication of devices on conventional flexible substrates with superior performance are constrained by the trade-off between processing temperature and device performance. Here, we propose an alternative strategy to circumvent this issue via the heteroepitaxial growth of transparent conducting oxides (TCO) on the flexible mica substrate with performance comparable to that of their rigid counterparts. With the examples of ITO and AZO as a case study, a strong emphasis is laid upon the growth of flexible yet epitaxial TCO relying muscovite's superior properties compared to those of conventional flexible substrates and its compatibility with the present fabrication methods. Besides excellent optoelectro-mechanical properties, an additional functionality of high-temperature stability, normally lacking in the current state-of-the-art transparent flexitronics, is provided by these heterostructures. These epitaxial TCO electrodes with good chemical and thermal stabilities as well as mechanical durability can significantly contribute to the field of flexible, light-weight, and portable smart electronics.

Interfacial characteristics and determination of cohesive and adhesive strength of plasma-coated hydroxyapatite via nanoindentation and microscratch techniques.

PubMed

McManamon, Colm; de Silva, Johann P; Power, John; Ramirez-Garcia, Sonia; Morris, Michael A; Cross, Graham L W

2014-09-30

We investigate the chemical composition and mechanical properties of plasma-deposited hydroxyapatite on grit-blasted Ti-6Al-4V coupons as models of typical prosthetic hip implants. Nanoindentation is used to extract the mechanical properties of the hydroxyapatite (HA) coating and to evaluate the behavior of the material as a function of distance from the interface. A microscratch technique was used to determine parameters of cohesive and adhesive failure of the material that are critical in determining the functionality of these biomedical devices. This delamination method has not been studied in detail before and is usually considered to be unsuitable because of the thickness of the HA and the roughness of the substrate. However, through cross-section analysis of the scratch test, we can determine the point at which the HA delaminates from the substrate. It was concluded that spallation occurs locally, and there is no evidence of gross spallation, indicating that the coating is well adhered to the substrate.

Effect of Composite Substrates on the Mechanical Behavior of Brazed Joints in Metal-Composite System

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Singh, M.; Morscher, Gregory N.; Shpargel, Tarah; Asthana, Rajiv

2006-01-01

Advanced composite components are being considered for a wide variety of demanding applications in aerospace, space exploration, and ground based systems. A number of these applications require robust integration technologies to join dissimilar materials (metalcomposites) into complex structural components. In this study, three types of composites (C-C, C-SiC, and SiC-SiC) were vacuum brazed to commercially pure Ti using the active metal braze alloy Cusil-ABA (63Ag-35.3Cu-1.75Ti). Composite substrates with as fabricated and polished surfaces were used for brazing. The microstructure and composition of the joint, examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled with energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), showed sound metallurgical bonding in all systems. The butt strap tensile (BST) test was performed on bonded specimens at room and elevated temperatures. Effect of substrate composition, interlaminar properties, and surface roughness on the mechanical properties and failure behavior of joints will be discussed.

Characterization of Cold Sprayed CuCrAl Coated GRCop-84 Substrates for Reusable Launch Vehicles

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Raj, S . V.; Barrett, C. A.; Lerch, B. A.; Karthikeyan, J.; Ghosn, L. J.; Haynes, J.

2005-01-01

An advanced Cu-8(at.%)Cr-4%Nb alloy developed at NASA's Glenn Research Center, and designated as GRCop-84, is currently being considered for use as combustor liners and nozzles in NASA's future generations of reusable launch vehicles (RLVs). Despite the fact that this alloy has superior mechanical and oxidation properties compared to many commercially available copper alloys, it is felt that its high temperature and environmental resistance capabilities can be further enhanced with the development and use of suitable coatings. Several coatings and processes are currently being evaluated for their suitability and future down selection. A newly developed CuCrAl has shown excellent oxidation resistance compared to current generation Cu-Cr coating alloys. Cold spray technology for depositing the CuCrAl coating on a GRCop-84 substrate is currently being developed under NASA's Next Generation Launch Technology (NGLT) Propulsion Research and Technology (PR&T) project. The microstructures, mechanical and thermophysical properties of overlay coated GRCop-84 substrates are discussed.

Aerosol assisted chemical vapour deposition of gas sensitive SnO2 and Au-functionalised SnO2 nanorods via a non-catalysed vapour solid (VS) mechanism

PubMed Central

Vallejos, Stella; Selina, Soultana; Annanouch, Fatima Ezahra; Gràcia, Isabel; Llobet, Eduard; Blackman, Chris

2016-01-01

Tin oxide nanorods (NRs) are vapour synthesised at relatively lower temperatures than previously reported and without the need for substrate pre-treatment, via a vapour-solid mechanism enabled using an aerosol-assisted chemical vapour deposition method. Results demonstrate that the growth of SnO2 NRs is promoted by a compression of the nucleation rate parallel to the substrate and a decrease of the energy barrier for growth perpendicular to the substrate, which are controlled via the deposition conditions. This method provides both single-step formation of the SnO2 NRs and their integration with silicon micromachined platforms, but also allows for in-situ functionalization of the NRs with gold nanoparticles via co-deposition with a gold precursor. The functional properties are demonstrated for gas sensing, with microsensors using functionalised NRs demonstrating enhanced sensing properties towards H2 compared to those based on non-functionalised NRs. PMID:27334232

Composite patterning devices for soft lithography

DOEpatents

Rogers, John A.; Menard, Etienne

2007-03-27

The present invention provides methods, devices and device components for fabricating patterns on substrate surfaces, particularly patterns comprising structures having microsized and/or nanosized features of selected lengths in one, two or three dimensions. The present invention provides composite patterning devices comprising a plurality of polymer layers each having selected mechanical properties, such as Young's Modulus and flexural rigidity, selected physical dimensions, such as thickness, surface area and relief pattern dimensions, and selected thermal properties, such as coefficients of thermal expansion, to provide high resolution patterning on a variety of substrate surfaces and surface morphologies.

The effect of the physical properties of the substrate on the kinetics of cell adhesion and crawling studied by an axisymmetric diffusion-energy balance coupled model.

PubMed

Samadi-Dooki, Aref; Shodja, Hossein M; Malekmotiei, Leila

2015-05-14

In this paper an analytical approach to study the effect of the substrate physical properties on the kinetics of adhesion and motility behavior of cells is presented. Cell adhesion is mediated by the binding of cell wall receptors and substrate's complementary ligands, and tight adhesion is accomplished by the recruitment of the cell wall binders to the adhesion zone. The binders' movement is modeled as their axisymmetric diffusion in the fluid-like cell membrane. In order to preserve the thermodynamic consistency, the energy balance for the cell-substrate interaction is imposed on the diffusion equation. Solving the axisymmetric diffusion-energy balance coupled equations, it turns out that the physical properties of the substrate (substrate's ligand spacing and stiffness) have considerable effects on the cell adhesion and motility kinetics. For a rigid substrate with uniform distribution of immobile ligands, the maximum ligand spacing which does not interrupt adhesion growth is found to be about 57 nm. It is also found that as a consequence of the reduction in the energy dissipation in the isolated adhesion system, cell adhesion is facilitated by increasing substrate's stiffness. Moreover, the directional movement of cells on a substrate with gradients in mechanical compliance is explored with an extension of the adhesion formulation. It is shown that cells tend to move from soft to stiff regions of the substrate, but their movement is decelerated as the stiffness of the substrate increases. These findings based on the proposed theoretical model are in excellent agreement with the previous experimental observations.

Matrix Rigidity Regulates Cancer Cell Growth by Modulating Cellular Metabolism and Protein Synthesis

PubMed Central

Tilghman, Robert W.; Blais, Edik M.; Cowan, Catharine R.; Sherman, Nicholas E.; Grigera, Pablo R.; Jeffery, Erin D.; Fox, Jay W.; Blackman, Brett R.; Tschumperlin, Daniel J.; Papin, Jason A.; Parsons, J. Thomas

2012-01-01

Background Tumor cells in vivo encounter diverse types of microenvironments both at the site of the primary tumor and at sites of distant metastases. Understanding how the various mechanical properties of these microenvironments affect the biology of tumor cells during disease progression is critical in identifying molecular targets for cancer therapy. Methodology/Principal Findings This study uses flexible polyacrylamide gels as substrates for cell growth in conjunction with a novel proteomic approach to identify the properties of rigidity-dependent cancer cell lines that contribute to their differential growth on soft and rigid substrates. Compared to cells growing on more rigid/stiff substrates (>10,000 Pa), cells on soft substrates (150–300 Pa) exhibited a longer cell cycle, due predominantly to an extension of the G1 phase of the cell cycle, and were metabolically less active, showing decreased levels of intracellular ATP and a marked reduction in protein synthesis. Using stable isotope labeling of amino acids in culture (SILAC) and mass spectrometry, we measured the rates of protein synthesis of over 1200 cellular proteins under growth conditions on soft and rigid/stiff substrates. We identified cellular proteins whose syntheses were either preferentially inhibited or preserved on soft matrices. The former category included proteins that regulate cytoskeletal structures (e.g., tubulins) and glycolysis (e.g., phosphofructokinase-1), whereas the latter category included proteins that regulate key metabolic pathways required for survival, e.g., nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase, a regulator of the NAD salvage pathway. Conclusions/Significance The cellular properties of rigidity-dependent cancer cells growing on soft matrices are reminiscent of the properties of dormant cancer cells, e.g., slow growth rate and reduced metabolism. We suggest that the use of relatively soft gels as cell culture substrates would allow molecular pathways to be studied under conditions that reflect the different mechanical environments encountered by cancer cells upon metastasis to distant sites. PMID:22623999

Solution processed aluminum paper for flexible electronics.

PubMed

Lee, Hye Moon; Lee, Ha Beom; Jung, Dae Soo; Yun, Jung-Yeul; Ko, Seung Hwan; Park, Seung Bin

2012-09-11

As an alternative to vacuum deposition, preparation of highly conductive papers with aluminum (Al) features is successfully achieved by the solution process consisting of Al precursor ink (AlH(3){O(C(4)H(9))(2)}) and low temperature stamping process performed at 110 °C without any serious hydroxylation and oxidation problems. Al features formed on several kinds of paper substrates (calendar, magazine, and inkjet printing paper substrates) are less than ~60 nm thick, and their electrical conductivities were found to be as good as thermally evaporated Al film or even better (≤2 Ω/□). Strong adhesion of Al features to paper substrates and their excellent flexibility are also experimentally confirmed by TEM observation and mechanical tests, such as tape and bending tests. The solution processed Al features on paper substrates show different electrical and mechanical performance depending on the paper type, and inkjet printing paper is found to be the best substrate with high and stable electrical and mechanical properties. The Al conductive papers produced by the solution process may be applicable in disposal paper electronics.

Nanofabricated Collagen-Inspired Synthetic Elastomers for Primary Rat Hepatocyte Culture

PubMed Central

Bettinger, Christopher J.; Kulig, Katherine M.; Vacanti, Joseph P.

2009-01-01

Synthetic substrates that mimic the properties of extracellular matrix proteins hold significant promise for use in systems designed for tissue engineering applications. In this report, we designed a synthetic polymeric substrate that is intended to mimic chemical, mechanical, and topological characteristics of collagen. We found that elastomeric poly(ester amide) substrates modified with replica-molded nanotopographic features enhanced initial attachment, spreading, and adhesion of primary rat hepatocytes. Further, hepatocytes cultured on nanotopographic substrates also demonstrated reduced albumin secretion and urea synthesis, which is indicative of strongly adherent hepatocytes. These results suggest that these engineered substrates can function as synthetic collagen analogs for in vitro cell culture. PMID:18847357

Advanced Materials From Fungal Mycelium: Fabrication and Tuning of Physical Properties

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Haneef, Muhammad; Ceseracciu, Luca; Canale, Claudio; Bayer, Ilker S.; Heredia-Guerrero, José A.; Athanassiou, Athanassia

2017-01-01

In this work is presented a new category of self-growing, fibrous, natural composite materials with controlled physical properties that can be produced in large quantities and over wide areas, based on mycelium, the main body of fungi. Mycelia from two types of edible, medicinal fungi, Ganoderma lucidum and Pleurotus ostreatus, have been carefully cultivated, being fed by two bio-substrates: cellulose and cellulose/potato-dextrose, the second being easier to digest by mycelium due to presence of simple sugars in its composition. After specific growing times the mycelia have been processed in order to cease their growth. Depending on their feeding substrate, the final fibrous structures showed different relative concentrations in polysaccharides, lipids, proteins and chitin. Such differences are reflected as alterations in morphology and mechanical properties. The materials grown on cellulose contained more chitin and showed higher Young’s modulus and lower elongation than those grown on dextrose-containing substrates, indicating that the mycelium materials get stiffer when their feeding substrate is harder to digest. All the developed fibrous materials were hydrophobic with water contact angles higher than 120°. The possibility of tailoring mycelium materials’ properties by properly choosing their nutrient substrates paves the way for their use in various scale applications.

3D printing of an interpenetrating network hydrogel material with tunable viscoelastic properties.

PubMed

Bootsma, Katherine; Fitzgerald, Martha M; Free, Brandon; Dimbath, Elizabeth; Conjerti, Joe; Reese, Greg; Konkolewicz, Dominik; Berberich, Jason A; Sparks, Jessica L

2017-06-01

Interpenetrating network (IPN) hydrogel materials are recognized for their unique mechanical properties. While IPN elasticity and toughness properties have been explored in previous studies, the factors that impact the time-dependent stress relaxation behavior of IPN materials are not well understood. Time-dependent (i.e. viscoelastic) mechanical behavior is a critical design parameter in the development of materials for a variety of applications, such as medical simulation devices, flexible substrate materials, cellular mechanobiology substrates, or regenerative medicine applications. This study reports a novel technique for 3D printing alginate-polyacrylamide IPN gels with tunable elastic and viscoelastic properties. The viscoelastic stress relaxation behavior of the 3D printed alginate-polyacrylamide IPN hydrogels was influenced most strongly by varying the concentration of the acrylamide cross-linker (MBAA), while the elastic modulus was affected most by varying the concentration of total monomer material. The material properties of our 3D printed IPN constructs were consistent with those reported in the biomechanics literature for soft tissues such as skeletal muscle, cardiac muscle, skin and subcutaneous tissue. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Coatings for wear and lubrication

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Spalvins, T.

1978-01-01

Recent advances in the tribological uses of rf-sputtered and ion plated films of solid film lubricants (laminar solids, soft metals, organic polymers) and wear resistant refractory compounds (carbides, nitrides, silicides) are reviewed. The sputtering and ion plating potentials and the corresponding coatings formed were evaluated relative to the friction coefficient, wear endurance life and mechanical properties. The tribological and mechanical properties for each kind of film are discussed in terms of film adherence, coherence, density, grain size, morphology, internal stresses, thickness, and substrate conditions such as temperature, topography, chemistry and dc-biasing. The ion plated metallic films in addition to improved tribological properties also have better mechanical properties such as tensile strength and fatigue life.

Highly conductive and anticorrosion Ag/CNTs/NDs hybrid films on molecular-grafted PET substrate for flexible electrodes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Yang; Kang, Zhixin

2018-01-01

We reported an approach of preparing highly conductive, anticorrosion, flexible Ag hybrid films enhanced by multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and nanodaimonds (NDs) on molecular-grafted PET substrate by spin-spray for flexible electronics. we studied in this paper and found that even an outstanding enhancement on conductivity of Ag films, CNTs have a negative effect on anticorrosion property. Meanwhile, NDs decreased the conductivity of Ag/CNTs hybrids, but it remained a relatively high conductivity property and even was affirmed a distinctly boost improvement on anticorrosion, microhardness and tensile strength, which meant a better mechanical chemical stabilization and practicability in real flexible electronics. To obtain the strong adhesive strength of films/substrate, molecular-grafting technology was applied, which was affirmed by XPS and cross-cut test. What's more, we evaluated anticorrosion property by electrochemistry test, including Tafel measurements and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements, proving the positive effect of NDs on Ag/CNTs hybrid films. For practical application, a flexible light-emitting diode (LED) circuit was successfully structured and remained steady under bending, folding and twisting. Besides, after 1000000 cycles inner/outer bending deformation, the hybrid films showed a mechanical compliance, fatigue stability and practicability in real flexible electronics.

Formation of composite polyacrylamide and silicone substrates for independent control of stiffness and strain.

PubMed

Simmons, Chelsey S; Ribeiro, Alexandre J S; Pruitt, Beth L

2013-02-21

Cells that line major tissues in the body such as blood vessels, lungs and gastrointestinal tract experience deformation from mechanical strain with our heartbeat, breathing, and other daily activities. Tissues also remodel in both development and disease, changing their mechanical properties. Taken together, cells can experience vastly different mechanical cues resulting from the combination of these interdependent stimuli. To date, most studies of cellular mechanotransduction have been limited to assays in which variations in substrate stiffness and strain were not combined. Here, we address this technological gap by implementing a method that can simultaneously tune both substrate stiffness and mechanical strain. Substrate stiffness is controlled with different monomer and crosslinker ratios during polyacrylamide gel polymerization, and strain is transferred from the underlying silicone platform when stretched. We demonstrate this platform with polyacrylamide gels with elastic moduli at 6 kPa and 20 kPa in combination with two different silicone formulations. The gels remain attached with up to 50% applied strains. To validate strain transfer through the gels into cells, we employ particle-tracking methods and observe strain transmission via cell morphological changes.

Formation of composite polyacrylamide and silicone substrates for independent control of stiffness and strain

PubMed Central

Simmons, Chelsey S.; Ribeiro, Alexandre J. S.; Pruitt, Beth L.

2013-01-01

Cells that line major tissues in the body such as blood vessels, lungs and gastrointestinal tract experience deformation from mechanical strain with our heartbeat, breathing, and other daily activities. Tissues also remodel in both development and disease, changing their mechanical properties. Taken together, cells can experience vastly different mechanical cues resulting from the combination of these interdependent stimuli. To date, most studies of cellular mechanotransduction have been limited to assays in which variations in substrate stiffness and strain were not combined. Here, we address this technological gap by implementing a method that can simultaneously tune both substrate stiffness and mechanical strain. Substrate stiffness is controlled with different monomer and crosslinker ratios during polyacrylamide gel polymerization, and strain is transferred from the underlying silicone platform when stretched. We demonstrate this platform with polyacrylamide gels with elastic moduli at 6 kPa and 20 kPa in combination with two different silicone formulations. The gels remain attached with up to 50% applied strains. To validate strain transfer through the gels into cells, we employ particle-tracking methods and observe strain transmission via cell morphological changes. PMID:23287818

Functionalization of Titanium with Chitosan via Silanation: Evaluation of Biological and Mechanical Performances

PubMed Central

Renoud, Pauline; Toury, Bérangère; Benayoun, Stéphane; Attik, Ghania; Grosgogeat, Brigitte

2012-01-01

Complications in dentistry and orthopaedic surgery are mainly induced by peri-implant bacterial infections and current implant devices do not prevent such infections. The coating of antibacterial molecules such as chitosan on its surface would give the implant bioactive properties. The major challenge of this type of coating is the attachment of chitosan to a metal substrate. In this study, we propose to investigate the functionalization of titanium with chitosan via a silanation. Firstly, the surface chemistry and mechanical properties of such coating were evaluated. We also verified if the coated chitosan retained its biocompatibility with the peri-implant cells, as well as its antibacterial properties. FTIR and Tof-SIMS analyses confirmed the presence of chitosan on the titanium surface. This coating showed great scratch resistance and was strongly adhesive to the substrate. These mechanical properties were consistent with an implantology application. The Chitosan-coated surfaces showed strong inhibition of Actinomyces naeslundii growth; they nonetheless showed a non significant inhibition against Porphyromonas gingivalis after 32 hours in liquid media. The chitosan-coating also demonstrated good biocompatibility to NIH3T3 fibroblasts. Thus this method of covalent coating provides a biocompatible material with improved bioactive properties. These results proved that covalent coating of chitosan has significant potential in biomedical device implantation. PMID:22859940

Myosin II Activity Softens Cells in Suspension.

PubMed

Chan, Chii J; Ekpenyong, Andrew E; Golfier, Stefan; Li, Wenhong; Chalut, Kevin J; Otto, Oliver; Elgeti, Jens; Guck, Jochen; Lautenschläger, Franziska

2015-04-21

The cellular cytoskeleton is crucial for many cellular functions such as cell motility and wound healing, as well as other processes that require shape change or force generation. Actin is one cytoskeleton component that regulates cell mechanics. Important properties driving this regulation include the amount of actin, its level of cross-linking, and its coordination with the activity of specific molecular motors like myosin. While studies investigating the contribution of myosin activity to cell mechanics have been performed on cells attached to a substrate, we investigated mechanical properties of cells in suspension. To do this, we used multiple probes for cell mechanics including a microfluidic optical stretcher, a microfluidic microcirculation mimetic, and real-time deformability cytometry. We found that nonadherent blood cells, cells arrested in mitosis, and naturally adherent cells brought into suspension, stiffen and become more solidlike upon myosin inhibition across multiple timescales (milliseconds to minutes). Our results hold across several pharmacological and genetic perturbations targeting myosin. Our findings suggest that myosin II activity contributes to increased whole-cell compliance and fluidity. This finding is contrary to what has been reported for cells attached to a substrate, which stiffen via active myosin driven prestress. Our results establish the importance of myosin II as an active component in modulating suspended cell mechanics, with a functional role distinctly different from that for substrate-adhered cells. Copyright © 2015 Biophysical Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Non-viral gene delivery regulated by stiffness of cell adhesion substrates.

PubMed

Kong, Hyun Joon; Liu, Jodi; Riddle, Kathryn; Matsumoto, Takuya; Leach, Kent; Mooney, David J

2005-06-01

Non-viral gene vectors are commonly used for gene therapy owing to safety concerns with viral vectors. However, non-viral vectors are plagued by low levels of gene transfection and cellular expression. Current efforts to improve the efficiency of non-viral gene delivery are focused on manipulations of the delivery vector, whereas the influence of the cellular environment in DNA uptake is often ignored. The mechanical properties (for example, rigidity) of the substrate to which a cell adheres have been found to mediate many aspects of cell function including proliferation, migration and differentiation, and this suggests that the mechanics of the adhesion substrate may regulate a cell's ability to uptake exogeneous signalling molecules. In this report, we present a critical role for the rigidity of the cell adhesion substrate on the level of gene transfer and expression. The mechanism relates to material control over cell proliferation, and was investigated using a fluorescent resonance energy transfer (FRET) technique. This study provides a new material-based control point for non-viral gene therapy.

Mechanical and Functional Properties of Nickel Titanium Adhesively Bonded Joints

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Niccoli, F.; Alfano, M.; Bruno, L.; Furgiuele, F.; Maletta, C.

2014-07-01

In this study, adhesive joints made up of commercial NiTi sheets with shape memory capabilities are analyzed. Suitable surface pre-treatments, i.e., degreasing, sandblasting, and chemical etching, are preliminary compared in terms of surface roughness, surface energy, and substrate thinning. Results indicate that chemical etching induces marked substrate thinning without substantial gains in terms of surface roughness and free energy. Therefore, adhesive joints with degreased and sandblasted substrates are prepared and tested under both static and cyclic conditions, and damage development within the adhesive layer is monitored in situ using a CCD camera. Sandblasted specimens have a significantly higher mechanical static strength with respect to degreased ones, although they essentially fail in similar fashion, i.e., formation of microcracks followed by decohesion along the adhesive/substrate interface. In addition, the joints show a good functional response with almost complete shape memory recovery after thermo-mechanical cycling, i.e., a small accumulation of residual deformations occurs. The present results show that adhesive bonding is a viable joining technique for NiTi alloys.

The Role of Ambient Gas and Pressure on the Structuring of Hard Diamond-Like Carbon Films Synthesized by Pulsed Laser Deposition

PubMed Central

Popescu, Andrei C.; Stan, George E.; Duta, Liviu; Nita, Cristina; Popescu, Camelia; Surdu, Vasile-Adrian; Husanu, Marius-Adrian; Bita, Bogdan; Ghisleni, Rudy; Himcinschi, Cameliu; Craciun, Valentin

2015-01-01

Hard carbon thin films were synthesized on Si (100) and quartz substrates by the Pulsed Laser Deposition (PLD) technique in vacuum or methane ambient to study their suitability for applications requiring high mechanical resistance. The deposited films’ surface morphology was investigated by scanning electron microscopy, crystalline status by X-ray diffraction, packing and density by X-ray reflectivity, chemical bonding by Raman and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, adherence by “pull-out” measurements and mechanical properties by nanoindentation tests. Films synthesized in vacuum were a-C DLC type, while films synthesized in methane were categorized as a-C:H. The majority of PLD films consisted of two layers: one low density layer towards the surface and a higher density layer in contact with the substrate. The deposition gas pressure played a crucial role on films thickness, component layers thickness ratio, structure and mechanical properties. The films were smooth, amorphous and composed of a mixture of sp3-sp2 carbon, with sp3 content ranging between 50% and 90%. The thickness and density of the two constituent layers of a film directly determined its mechanical properties.

Wear characteristics of bonded solid film lubricant under high load condition

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hiraoka, Naofumi; Sasaki, Akira; Kawashima, Noritsugu; Honda, Toshio

1991-01-01

Wear properties of phenolic resin bonded molybdenum disulfide film lubricant were studied. In-vacuo journal bearing tests were performed to evaluate the wear-life of this film lubricant. The wear-life depends on substrate materials and on sliding velocity. Pretreated substrate surfaces were examined to reveal the reasons for these results. Additionally, investigations on film wear mechanisms were made.

Statistical study of biomechanics of living brain cells during growth and maturation on artificial substrates.

PubMed

Chen, La; Li, Wenfang; Maybeck, Vanessa; Offenhäusser, Andreas; Krause, Hans-Joachim

2016-11-01

There is increasing evidence that mechanical issues play a vital role in neuron growth and brain development. The importance of this grows as novel devices, whose material properties differ from cells, are increasingly implanted in the body. In this work, we studied the mechanical properties of rat brain cells over time and on different materials by using a high throughput magnetic tweezers system. It was found that the elastic moduli of both neurite and soma in networked neurons increased with growth. However, neurites at DIV4 exhibited a relatively high stiffness, which could be ascribed to the high outgrowth tension. The power-law exponents (viscoelasticity) of both neurites and somas of neurons decreased with culture time. On the other hand, the stiffness of glial cells also increased with maturity. Furthermore, both neurites and glia become softer when cultured on compliant substrates. Especially, the glial cells cultured on a soft substrate obviously showed a less dense and more porous actin and GFAP mesh. In addition, the viscoelasticity of both neurites and glia did not show a significant dependence on the substrates' stiffness. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Nanowire surface fastener fabrication on flexible substrate.

PubMed

Toku, Yuhki; Uchida, Keita; Morita, Yasuyuki; Ju, Yang

2018-07-27

The market for wearable devices has increased considerably in recent years. In response to this demand, flexible electronic circuit technology has become more important. The conventional bonding technology in electronic assembly depends on high-temperature processes such as reflow soldering, which result in undesired thermal damages and residual stress at a bonding interface. In addition, it exhibits poor compatibility with bendable or stretchable device applications. Therefore, there is an urgent requirement to attach electronic parts on printed circuit boards with good mechanical and electrical properties at room temperature. Nanowire surface fasteners (NSFs) are candidates for resolving these problems. This paper describes the fabrication of an NSF on a flexible substrate, which can be used for room temperature conductive bonding. The template method is used for preparing high-density nanowire arrays. A Cu thin film is layered on the template as the flexible substrate. After etching the template, a Cu NSF is obtained on the Cu film substrate. In addition, the electrical and mechanical properties of the Cu NSF are studied under various fabrication conditions. The Cu NSF exhibits high shear adhesion strength (∼234 N cm -2 ) and low contact resistivity (2.2 × 10 -4 Ω cm 2 ).

Nanowire surface fastener fabrication on flexible substrate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Toku, Yuhki; Uchida, Keita; Morita, Yasuyuki; Ju, Yang

2018-07-01

The market for wearable devices has increased considerably in recent years. In response to this demand, flexible electronic circuit technology has become more important. The conventional bonding technology in electronic assembly depends on high-temperature processes such as reflow soldering, which result in undesired thermal damages and residual stress at a bonding interface. In addition, it exhibits poor compatibility with bendable or stretchable device applications. Therefore, there is an urgent requirement to attach electronic parts on printed circuit boards with good mechanical and electrical properties at room temperature. Nanowire surface fasteners (NSFs) are candidates for resolving these problems. This paper describes the fabrication of an NSF on a flexible substrate, which can be used for room temperature conductive bonding. The template method is used for preparing high-density nanowire arrays. A Cu thin film is layered on the template as the flexible substrate. After etching the template, a Cu NSF is obtained on the Cu film substrate. In addition, the electrical and mechanical properties of the Cu NSF are studied under various fabrication conditions. The Cu NSF exhibits high shear adhesion strength (∼234 N cm‑2) and low contact resistivity (2.2 × 10‑4 Ω cm2).

Mechanism of the 2,3-diphosphoglycerate-dependent phosphoglycerate mutase from rabbit muscle.

PubMed

Britton, H G; Clarke, J B

1972-11-01

1. The properties and kinetics of the 2,3-diphosphoglycerate-dependent phosphoglycerate mutases are discussed. There are at least three possible mechanisms for the reaction: (i) a phosphoenzyme (Ping Pong) mechanism; (ii) an intermolecular transfer of phosphate from 2,3-diphosphoglycerate to the substrates (sequential mechanism); (iii) an intramolecular transfer of phosphate. It is concluded that these mechanisms cannot be distinguished by conventional kinetic measurements. 2. The fluxes for the different mechanisms are calculated and it is shown that it should be possible to distinguish between the mechanisms by appropriate induced-transport tests and by comparing the fluxes of (32)P- and (14)C-labelled substrates at chemical equilibrium. 3. With (14)C-labelled substrates no induced transport was found over a wide concentration range, and with (32)P-labelled substrates co-transport occurred that was independent of concentration over a twofold range. (14)C-labelled substrates exchange at twice the rate of (32)P-labelled substrates at chemical equilibrium. The results were completely in accord with a phosphoenzyme mechanism and indicated a rate constant for the isomerization of the phosphoenzyme of not less than 4x10(6)s(-1). The intramolecular transfer of phosphate (and intermolecular transfer between two or more molecules of substrate) were completely excluded. The intermolecular transfer of phosphate from 2,3-diphosphoglycerate would have been compatible with the results only if the K(m) for 2-phosphoglycerate had been over 7.5-fold smaller than the observed value and if an isomerization of the enzyme-2,3-diphosphoglycerate complex had been the major rate-limiting step in the reaction. 4. The very rapid isomerization of the phosphoenzyme that the experiments demonstrate suggests a mechanism that does not involve a formal isomerization. According to this new scheme the enzyme is closely related mechanistically and perhaps evolutionarily to a 2,3-diphosphoglycerate diphosphatase.

Mechanism of the 2,3-diphosphoglycerate-dependent phosphoglycerate mutase from rabbit muscle

PubMed Central

Britton, H. G.; Clarke, J. B.

1972-01-01

1. The properties and kinetics of the 2,3-diphosphoglycerate-dependent phosphoglycerate mutases are discussed. There are at least three possible mechanisms for the reaction: (i) a phosphoenzyme (Ping Pong) mechanism; (ii) an intermolecular transfer of phosphate from 2,3-diphosphoglycerate to the substrates (sequential mechanism); (iii) an intramolecular transfer of phosphate. It is concluded that these mechanisms cannot be distinguished by conventional kinetic measurements. 2. The fluxes for the different mechanisms are calculated and it is shown that it should be possible to distinguish between the mechanisms by appropriate induced-transport tests and by comparing the fluxes of 32P- and 14C-labelled substrates at chemical equilibrium. 3. With 14C-labelled substrates no induced transport was found over a wide concentration range, and with 32P-labelled substrates co-transport occurred that was independent of concentration over a twofold range. 14C-labelled substrates exchange at twice the rate of 32P-labelled substrates at chemical equilibrium. The results were completely in accord with a phosphoenzyme mechanism and indicated a rate constant for the isomerization of the phosphoenzyme of not less than 4×106s−1. The intramolecular transfer of phosphate (and intermolecular transfer between two or more molecules of substrate) were completely excluded. The intermolecular transfer of phosphate from 2,3-diphosphoglycerate would have been compatible with the results only if the Km for 2-phosphoglycerate had been over 7.5-fold smaller than the observed value and if an isomerization of the enzyme-2,3-diphosphoglycerate complex had been the major rate-limiting step in the reaction. 4. The very rapid isomerization of the phosphoenzyme that the experiments demonstrate suggests a mechanism that does not involve a formal isomerization. According to this new scheme the enzyme is closely related mechanistically and perhaps evolutionarily to a 2,3-diphosphoglycerate diphosphatase. PMID:4677138

Mechanically dynamic PDMS substrates to investigate changing cell environments

PubMed Central

Yeh, Yi-Cheun; Corbin, Elise A.; Caliari, Steven R.; Ouyang, Liu; Vega, Sebastián L.; Truitt, Rachel; Han, Lin; Margulies, Kenneth B.; Burdick, Jason A.

2018-01-01

Mechanics of the extracellular matrix (ECM) play a pivotal role in governing cell behavior, such as cell spreading and differentiation. ECM mechanics have been recapitulated primarily in elastic hydrogels, including with dynamic properties to mimic complex behaviors (e.g., fibrosis); however, these dynamic hydrogels fail to introduce the viscoelastic nature of many tissues. Here, we developed a two-step crosslinking strategy to first form (via platinum-catalyzed crosslinking) networks of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and then to increase PDMS crosslinking (via thiol-ene click reaction) in a temporally-controlled manner. This photoinitiated reaction increased the compressive modulus of PDMS up to 10-fold within minutes and was conducted under cytocompatible conditions. With stiffening, cells displayed increased spreading, changing from ~1300 to 1900 μm2 and from ~2700 to 4600 μm2 for fibroblasts and mesenchymal stem cells, respectively. In addition, higher myofibroblast activation (from ~2 to 20%) for cardiac fibroblasts was observed with increasing PDMS substrate stiffness. These results indicate a cellular response to changes in PDMS substrate mechanics, along with a demonstration of a mechanically dynamic and photoresponsive PDMS substrate platform to model the dynamic behavior of ECM. PMID:28843064

Mechanically dynamic PDMS substrates to investigate changing cell environments.

PubMed

Yeh, Yi-Cheun; Corbin, Elise A; Caliari, Steven R; Ouyang, Liu; Vega, Sebastián L; Truitt, Rachel; Han, Lin; Margulies, Kenneth B; Burdick, Jason A

2017-11-01

Mechanics of the extracellular matrix (ECM) play a pivotal role in governing cell behavior, such as cell spreading and differentiation. ECM mechanics have been recapitulated primarily in elastic hydrogels, including with dynamic properties to mimic complex behaviors (e.g., fibrosis); however, these dynamic hydrogels fail to introduce the viscoelastic nature of many tissues. Here, we developed a two-step crosslinking strategy to first form (via platinum-catalyzed crosslinking) networks of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and then to increase PDMS crosslinking (via thiol-ene click reaction) in a temporally-controlled manner. This photoinitiated reaction increased the compressive modulus of PDMS up to 10-fold within minutes and was conducted under cytocompatible conditions. With stiffening, cells displayed increased spreading, changing from ∼1300 to 1900 μm 2 and from ∼2700 to 4600 μm 2 for fibroblasts and mesenchymal stem cells, respectively. In addition, higher myofibroblast activation (from ∼2 to 20%) for cardiac fibroblasts was observed with increasing PDMS substrate stiffness. These results indicate a cellular response to changes in PDMS substrate mechanics, along with a demonstration of a mechanically dynamic and photoresponsive PDMS substrate platform to model the dynamic behavior of ECM. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Characterization of AlF3 thin films at 193 nm by thermal evaporation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Cheng-Chung; Liu, Ming-Chung; Kaneko, Masaaki; Nakahira, Kazuhide; Takano, Yuuichi

2005-12-01

Aluminum fluoride (AlF3) was deposited by a resistive heating boat. To obtain a low optical loss and high laser-induced damage threshold (LIDT) at 193 nm, the films were investigated under different substrate temperatures, deposition rates, and annealing after coating. The optical property (the transmittance, refractive index, extinction coefficient, and optical loss) at 193 nm, microstructure (the cross-sectional morphology, surface roughness, and crystalline structure), mechanical property (stress), and LIDT of AlF3 thin films have been studied. AlF3 thin films deposited at a high substrate temperature and low deposition rate showed a lower optical loss. The highest LIDT occurred at the substrate temperature of 150 °C. The LIDT of the films prepared at a deposition rate of 2 Å/s was higher than that at other deposition rates. The annealing process did not influence the optical properties too much, but it did increase the LIDT and stress.

Characterization of AlF3 thin films at 193 nm by thermal evaporation.

PubMed

Lee, Cheng-Chung; Liu, Ming-Chung; Kaneko, Masaaki; Nakahira, Kazuhide; Takano, Yuuichi

2005-12-01

Aluminum fluoride (AlF3) was deposited by a resistive heating boat. To obtain a low optical loss and high laser-induced damage threshold (LIDT) at 193 nm, the films were investigated under different substrate temperatures, deposition rates, and annealing after coating. The optical property (the transmittance, refractive index, extinction coefficient, and optical loss) at 193 nm, microstructure (the cross-sectional morphology, surface roughness, and crystalline structure), mechanical property (stress), and LIDT of AlF3 thin films have been studied. AlF3 thin films deposited at a high substrate temperature and low deposition rate showed a lower optical loss. The highest LIDT occurred at the substrate temperature of 150 degrees C. The LIDT of the films prepared at a deposition rate of 2 A/s was higher than that at other deposition rates. The annealing process did not influence the optical properties too much, but it did increase the LIDT and stress.

Glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK3): regulation, actions, and diseases

PubMed Central

Beurel, Eleonore; Grieco, Steven F.; Jope, Richard S.

2014-01-01

Glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK3) may be the busiest kinase in most cells, with over 100 known substrates to deal with. How does GSK3 maintain control to selectively phosphorylate each substrate, and why was it evolutionarily favorable for GSK3 to assume such a large responsibility? GSK3 must be particularly adaptable for incorporating new substrates into its repertoire, and we discuss the distinct properties of GSK3 that may contribute to its capacity to fulfill its roles in multiple signaling pathways. The mechanisms regulating GSK3 (predominantly post-translational modifications, substrate priming, cellular trafficking, protein complexes) have been reviewed previously, so here we focus on newly identified complexities in these mechanisms, how each of these regulatory mechanism contributes to the ability of GSK3 to select which substrates to phosphorylate, and how these mechanisms may have contributed to its adaptability as new substrates evolved. The current understanding of the mechanisms regulating GSK3 is reviewed, as are emerging topics in the actions of GSK3, particularly its interactions with receptors and receptor-coupled signal transduction events, and differential actions and regulation of the two GSK3 isoforms, GSK3α and GSK3β. Another remarkable characteristic of GSK3 is its involvement in many prevalent disorders, including psychiatric and neurological diseases, inflammatory diseases, cancer, and others. We address the feasibility of targeting GSK3 therapeutically, and provide an update of its involvement in the etiology and treatment of several disorders. PMID:25435019

The Role of the Substrate on Photophysical Properties of Highly Ordered 15R-SiC Thin Films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mourya, Satyendra; Jaiswal, Jyoti; Malik, Gaurav; Kumar, Brijesh; Chandra, Ramesh

2018-06-01

We report on the structural optimization and photophysical properties of in situ RF-sputtered single crystalline 15R-SiC thin films deposited on various substrates (ZrO2, MgO, SiC, and Si). The role of the substrates on the structural, electronic, and photodynamic behavior of the grown films have been demonstrated using x-ray diffraction, photoluminescence (PL) and time-resolved photoluminescence spectroscopy. The appropriate bonding order and the presence of native oxide on the surface of the grown samples are confirmed by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurement. A deep-blue PL emission has been observed corresponding to the Si-centered defects occurring in the native oxide. Deconvolution of the PL spectra manifested two decay mechanisms corresponding to the radiative recombination. The PL intensity and carrier lifetime were found to be substrate- dependent which may be ascribed to the variation in the trap-density of the films grown on different substrates.

Understanding and controlling the substrate effect on graphene electron-transfer chemistry via reactivity imprint lithography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Qing Hua; Jin, Zhong; Kim, Ki Kang; Hilmer, Andrew J.; Paulus, Geraldine L. C.; Shih, Chih-Jen; Ham, Moon-Ho; Sanchez-Yamagishi, Javier D.; Watanabe, Kenji; Taniguchi, Takashi; Kong, Jing; Jarillo-Herrero, Pablo; Strano, Michael S.

2012-09-01

Graphene has exceptional electronic, optical, mechanical and thermal properties, which provide it with great potential for use in electronic, optoelectronic and sensing applications. The chemical functionalization of graphene has been investigated with a view to controlling its electronic properties and interactions with other materials. Covalent modification of graphene by organic diazonium salts has been used to achieve these goals, but because graphene comprises only a single atomic layer, it is strongly influenced by the underlying substrate. Here, we show a stark difference in the rate of electron-transfer reactions with organic diazonium salts for monolayer graphene supported on a variety of substrates. Reactions proceed rapidly for graphene supported on SiO2 and Al2O3 (sapphire), but negligibly on alkyl-terminated and hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) surfaces, as shown by Raman spectroscopy. We also develop a model of reactivity based on substrate-induced electron-hole puddles in graphene, and achieve spatial patterning of chemical reactions in graphene by patterning the substrate.

Bioactive glass 13-93 as a subchondral substrate for tissue-engineered osteochondral constructs: a pilot study.

PubMed

Jayabalan, Prakash; Tan, Andrea R; Rahaman, Mohammed N; Bal, B Sonny; Hung, Clark T; Cook, James L

2011-10-01

Replacement of diseased areas of the joint with tissue-engineered osteochondral grafts has shown potential in the treatment of osteoarthritis. Bioactive glasses are candidates for the osseous analog of these grafts. (1) Does Bioactive Glass 13-93 (BG 13-93) as a subchondral substrate improve collagen and glycosaminoglycan production in a tissue-engineered cartilage layer? (2) Does BG 13-93 as a culture medium supplement increase the collagen and glycosaminoglycan production and improve the mechanical properties in a tissue-engineered cartilage layer? In Study 1, bioactive glass samples (n = 4) were attached to a chondrocyte-seeded agarose layer to form an osteochondral construct, cultured for 6 weeks, and compared to controls. In Study 2, bioactive glass samples (n = 5) were cocultured with cell-seeded agarose for 6 weeks. The cell-seeded agarose layer was exposed to BG 13-93 either continuously or for the first or last 2 weeks in culture or had no exposure. Osteochondral constructs with a BG 13-93 base had improved glycosaminoglycan deposition but less collagen II content. Agarose scaffolds that had a temporal exposure to BG 13-93 within the culture medium had improved mechanical and biochemical properties compared to continuous or no exposure. When used as a subchondral substrate, BG 13-93 did not improve biochemical properties compared to controls. However, as a culture medium supplement, BG 13-93 improved the biochemical and mechanical properties of a tissue-engineered cartilage layer. BG 13-93 may not be suitable in osteochondral constructs but could have potential as a medium supplement for neocartilage formation.

Transition from stripe-like patterns to a particulate film using driven evaporating menisci.

PubMed

Noguera-Marín, Diego; Moraila-Martínez, Carmen L; Cabrerizo-Vílchez, Miguel A; Rodríguez-Valverde, Miguel A

2014-07-01

Better control of colloidal assembly by convective deposition is particularly helpful in particle templating. However, knowledge of the different factors that can alter colloidal patterning mechanisms is still insufficient. Deposit morphology is strongly ruled by contact line dynamics, but the wettability properties of the substrate can alter it drastically. In this work, we experimentally examined the roles of substrate contact angle hysteresis and receding contact angle using driven evaporating menisci similar to the dip-coating technique but at a low capillary number. We used smooth substrates with very different wettability properties and nanoparticles of different sizes. For fixed withdrawal velocity, evaporation conditions, and nanoparticle concentration, we analyzed the morphology of the deposits formed on each substrate. A gradual transition from stripe-like patterns to a film was observed as the contact angle hysteresis and receding contact angle were lowered.

Microstructure factor and mechanical and electronic properties of hydrogenated amorphous and nanocrystalline silicon thin-films for microelectromechanical systems applications

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

Mouro, J.; Gualdino, A.; Chu, V.

2013-11-14

Thin-film silicon allows the fabrication of MEMS devices at low processing temperatures, compatible with monolithic integration in advanced electronic circuits, on large-area, low-cost, and flexible substrates. The most relevant thin-film properties for applications as MEMS structural layers are the deposition rate, electrical conductivity, and mechanical stress. In this work, n{sup +}-type doped hydrogenated amorphous and nanocrystalline silicon thin-films were deposited by RF-PECVD, and the influence of the hydrogen dilution in the reactive mixture, the RF-power coupled to the plasma, the substrate temperature, and the deposition pressure on the structural, electrical, and mechanical properties of the films was studied. Three differentmore » types of silicon films were identified, corresponding to three internal structures: (i) porous amorphous silicon, deposited at high rates and presenting tensile mechanical stress and low electrical conductivity, (ii) dense amorphous silicon, deposited at intermediate rates and presenting compressive mechanical stress and higher values of electrical conductivity, and (iii) nanocrystalline silicon, deposited at very low rates and presenting the highest compressive mechanical stress and electrical conductivity. These results show the combinations of electromechanical material properties available in silicon thin-films and thus allow the optimized selection of a thin silicon film for a given MEMS application. Four representative silicon thin-films were chosen to be used as structural material of electrostatically actuated MEMS microresonators fabricated by surface micromachining. The effect of the mechanical stress of the structural layer was observed to have a great impact on the device resonance frequency, quality factor, and actuation force.« less

Ion plated gold films: Properties, tribological behavior and performance

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Spalvins, Talivaldis

1987-01-01

The glow discharge energizing favorably modifies and controls the coating/substrate adherence and the nucleation and growth sequence of ion plated gold films. As a result the adherence, coherence, internal stresses, and morphology of the films are significantly improved. Gold ion plated films because of their graded coating/substrate interface and fine uniform densely packed microstructure not only improve the tribological properties but also induce a surface strengthening effect which improves the mechanical properties such as yield, tensile, and fatigue strength. Consequently significant improvements in the tribological performance of ion plated gold films as compared to vapor deposited gold films are shown in terms of decreased friction/wear and prolonged endurance life.

Growth of high-quality AlN epitaxial film by optimizing the Si substrate surface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huang, Liegen; Li, Yuan; Wang, Wenliang; Li, Xiaochan; zheng, Yulin; Wang, Haiyan; Zhang, Zichen; Li, Guoqiang

2018-03-01

High-quality AlN epitaxial films have been grown on Si substrates by optimizing the hydrofluoric acid (HF) solution for cleaning of Si substrates. Effect of the Si substrate surface on the surface morphology and structural property of AlN epitaxial films is investigated in detail. It is revealed that as the concentration of HF solution increases from 0 to 2.0%, the surface morphology and the crystalline quality are initially improved and then get worse, and show an optimized value at 1.5%. The as-grown ∼200 nm-thick AlN epitaxial films on Si substrates grown with HF solution of 1.5% reveal the root-mean-square (RMS) surface roughness of 0.49 nm and the full-width at half-maximum for AlN(0002) X-ray rocking curve of 0.35°, indicating the smooth surface morphology and the high crystalline quality. The corresponding mechanism is proposed to interpret the effect of Si substrate surface on surface morphology and structural property of AlN epitaxial films, and provides an effective approach for the perspective fabrication of AlN-based devices.

Electromechanical properties of amorphous In-Zn-Sn-O transparent conducting film deposited at various substrate temperatures on polyimide substrate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Young Sung; Lee, Eun Kyung; Eun, Kyoungtae; Choa, Sung-Hoon

2015-09-01

The electromechanical properties of the amorphous In-Zn-Sn-O (IZTO) film deposited at various substrate temperatures were investigated by bending, stretching, twisting, and cyclic bending fatigue tests. Amorphous IZTO films were grown on a transparent polyimide substrate using a pulsed DC magnetron sputtering system at different substrate temperatures ranging from room temperature to 200 °C. A single oxide alloyed ceramic target (In2O3: 80 wt %, ZnO: 10 wt %, SnO2: 10 wt % composition) was used. The amorphous IZTO film deposited at 150 °C exhibited an optimized electrical resistivity of 5.8 × 10-4 Ω cm, optical transmittance of 87%, and figure of merit of 8.3 × 10-3 Ω-1. The outer bending tests showed that the critical bending radius decreased as substrate temperature increased. On the other hand, in the inner bending tests, the critical bending radius increased with an increase in substrate temperature. The differences in the bendability of IZTO films for the outer and inner bending tests could be attributed to the internal residual stress of the films. The uniaxial stretching tests also showed the effects of the internal stress on the mechanical flexibility of the film. The bending and stretching test results demonstrated that the IZTO film had higher bendability and stretchability than the conventional ITO film. The IZTO film could withstand 10,000 bending cycles at a bending radius of 10 mm. The effect of the surface roughness on the mechanical durability of all IZTO films was very small due to their very smooth surfaces.

Electronic circuits having NiAl and Ni.sub.3 Al substrates

DOEpatents

Deevi, Seetharama C.; Sikka, Vinod K.

1999-01-01

An electronic circuit component having improved mechanical properties and thermal conductivity comprises NiAl and/or Ni.sub.3 Al, upon which an alumina layer is formed prior to applying the conductive elements. Additional layers of copper-aluminum alloy or copper further improve mechanical strength and thermal conductivity.

Mechanics of composite actin networks: in vitro and cellular perspectives

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Upadhyaya, Arpita

2014-03-01

Actin filaments and associated actin binding proteins play an essential role in governing the mechanical properties of eukaryotic cells. Even though cells have multiple actin binding proteins (ABPs) that exist simultaneously to maintain the structural and mechanical integrity of the cellular cytoskeleton, how these proteins work together to determine the properties of actin networks is not well understood. The ABP, palladin, is essential for the integrity of cell morphology and movement during development. Palladin coexists with alpha-actinin in stress fibers and focal adhesions and binds to both actin and alpha-actinin. To obtain insight into how mutually interacting actin crosslinking proteins modulate the properties of actin networks, we have characterized the micro-structure and mechanics of actin networks crosslinked with palladin and alpha-actinin. Our studies on composite networks of alpha-actinin/palladin/actin show that palladin and alpha-actinin synergistically determine network viscoelasticity. We have further examined the role of palladin in cellular force generation and mechanosensing. Traction force microscopy revealed that TAFs are sensitive to substrate stiffness as they generate larger forces on substrates of increased stiffness. Contrary to expectations, knocking down palladin increased the forces generated by cells, and also inhibited the ability to sense substrate stiffness for very stiff gels. This was accompanied by significant differences in the actin organization and adhesion dynamics of palladin knock down cells. Perturbation experiments also suggest altered myosin activity in palladin KD cells. Our results suggest that the actin crosslinkers such as palladin and myosin motors coordinate for optimal cell function and to prevent aberrant behavior as in cancer metastasis.

Oxygen diffusion barrier coating

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Unnam, Jalaiah (Inventor); Clark, Ronald K. (Inventor)

1987-01-01

A method for coating a titanium panel or foil with aluminum and amorphous silicon to provide an oxygen barrier abrogating oxidation of the substrate metal is developed. The process is accomplished with known inexpensive procedures common in materials research laboratories, i.e., electron beam deposition and sputtering. The procedures are conductive to treating foil gage titanium and result in submicron layers which virtually add no weight to the titanium. There are no costly heating steps. The coatings blend with the substrate titanium until separate mechanical properties are subsumed by those of the substrate without cracking or spallation. This method appreciably increases the ability of titanium to mechanically perform in high thermal environments such as those witnessed on structures of space vehicles during re-entry

Comparative of fibroblast and osteoblast cells adhesion on surface modified nanofibrous substrates based on polycaprolactone.

PubMed

Sharifi, Fereshteh; Irani, Shiva; Zandi, Mojgan; Soleimani, Masoud; Atyabi, Seyed Mohammad

2016-12-01

One of the determinant factors for successful bioengineering is to achieve appropriate nano-topography and three-dimensional substrate. In this research, polycaprolactone (PCL) nano-fibrous mat with different roughness modified with O 2 plasma was fabricated via electrospinning. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of plasma modification along with surface nano-topography of mats on the quality of human fibroblast (HDFs) and osteoblast cells (OSTs)-substrate interaction. Surface properties were studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), contact angle, Fourier-transformation infrared spectroscopy. We evaluated mechanical properties of fabricated mats by tensile test. The viability and proliferation of HDFs and OSTs on the substrates were followed by 3-[4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT). Mineralization of the substrate was determined by alizarin red staining method and calcium content of OSTs was determined by calcium content kit. Cells morphology was studied by SEM analysis. The results revealed that the plasma-treated electrospun nano-fibrous substrate with higher roughness was an excellent designed substrate. A bioactive topography for stimulating proliferation of HDFs and OSTs is to accelerate the latter's differentiation time. Therefore, the PCL substrate with high density and major nano-topography were considered as a bio-functional and elegant bio-substrate for tissue regeneration applications.

Adhesion, friction, and deformation of ion-beam-deposited boron nitride films

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Miyoshi, Kazuhisa; Buckley, Donald H.; Alterovitz, Samuel A.; Pouch, John J.; Liu, David C.

1987-01-01

The tribological properties and mechanical strength of boron nitride films were investigated. The BN films were predominantly amorphous and nonstoichiometric and contained small amounts of oxides and carbides. It was found that the yield pressure at full plasticity, the critical load to fracture, and the shear strength of interfacial adhesive bonds (considered as adhesion) depended on the type of metallic substrate on which the BN was deposited. The harder the substrate, the greater the critical load and the adhesion. The yield pressures of the BN film were 12 GPa for the 440C stainless steel substrate, 4.1 GPa for the 304 stainless steel substrate, and 3.3 GPa for the titanium substrate.

Adhesion, friction and deformation of ion-beam-deposited boron nitride films

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Miyoshi, K.; Buckley, D. H.; Alterovitz, S. A.; Pouch, J. J.; Liu, D. C.

1987-01-01

The tribological properties and mechanical strength of boron nitride films were investigated. The BN films were predominantly amorphous and nonstoichiometric and contained small amounts of oxides and carbides. It was found that the yield pressure at full plasticity, the critical load to fracture, and the shear strength of interfacial adhesive bonds (considered as adhesion) depended on the type of metallic substrate on which the BN was deposited. The harder the substrate, the greater the critical load and the adhesion. The yield pressures of the BN film were 12 GPa for the 440C stainless steel substrate, 4.1 GPa for the 304 stainless steel substrate, and 3.3 GPa for the titanium substrate.

Studying neuronal biomechanics and its role in CNS development

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Franze, Kristian; Svoboda, Hanno; da F. Costa, Luciano; Guck, Jochen; Holt, Christine

2013-03-01

During the development of the nervous system, neurons migrate and grow over great distances. Currently, our understanding of nervous tissue development is, in large part, based on studies of biochemical signaling. Despite the fact that forces are involved in any kind of cell motion, mechanical aspects have so far rarely been considered. Here we used deformable cell culture substrates, traction force microscopy and calcium imaging to investigate how neurons probe and respond to their mechanical environment. While the growth rate of retinal ganglion cell axons was increased on stiffer substrates, their tendency to grow in bundles, which they show in vivo, was significantly enhanced on more compliant substrates. Moreover, if grown on substrates incorporating linear stiffness gradients, neuronal axons were repelled by stiff substrates. Mechanosensing involved the application of forces driven by the interaction of actin and myosin II, and the activation of stretch-activated ion channels leading to calcium influxes into the cells. Applying a modified atomic force microscopy techniquein vivo, we found mechanical gradients in developing brain tissue along which neurons grow. The application of chondroitin sulfate, which is a major extracellular matrix component in the developing brain, changed tissue mechanics and disrupted axonal pathfinding. Hence, our data suggest that neuronal growth is not only guided by chemical signals - as it is currently assumed - but also by the nervous tissue's mechanical properties.

Low-Temperature Variation of Acoustic Velocity in PDMS for High-Frequency Applications.

PubMed

Streque, Jeremy; Rouxel, Didier; Talbi, Abdelkrim; Thomassey, Matthieu; Vincent, Brice

2018-05-01

Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and other related silicon-based polymers are among the most widely employed elastomeric materials in microsystems, owing to their physical and chemical properties. Meanwhile, surface acoustic wave (SAW) and bulk acoustic wave (BAW) sensors and filters have been vastly explored for sensing and wireless applications. Many fields could benefit from the combined use of acoustic wave devices, and polydimethylsiloxane-based soft-substrates, microsystems, or packaging elements. The mechanical constants of PDMS strongly depend on frequency, similar to rubber materials. This brings to the exploration of the specific mechanical properties of PDMS encountered at high frequency, required for its exploitation in SAW or BAW devices. First, low-frequency mechanical behavior is confirmed from stress strain measurements, remaining useful for the exploitation of PDMS as a soft substrate or packaging material. The study, then, proposes a temperature-dependent, high-frequency mechanical study of PDMS based on Brillouin spectroscopy to determine the evolution of the longitudinal acoustic velocity in this material, which constitutes the main mechanical parameter for the design of acoustic wave devices. The PDMS glass transition is then retrieved by differential scanning calorimetry in order to confirm the observations made by Brillouin spectroscopy. This paper validates Brillouin spectroscopy as a very suitable characterization technique for the retrieval of longitudinal mechanical properties at low temperature, as a preliminary investigation for the design of acoustic wave devices coupled with soft materials.

On the use of SPM to probe the interplay between polymer surface chemistry and polymer surface mechanics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brogly, Maurice; Noel, Olivier; Awada, Houssein; Castelein, Gilles

2007-03-01

Adhesive properties of a polymer surface results from the complex contribution of surface chemistry and activation of sliding and dissipating mechanisms within the polymer surface layer. The purpose of this study is to dissociate the different contributions (chemical and mechanical) included in an AFM force-distance curve in order to establish relationships between the surface viscoelastic properties of the polymer, the surface chemistry of functionalized polymer surfaces and the adhesive forces, as determined by C-AFM experiments. Indeed we are interested in the measurements of local attractive or adhesive forces in AFM contact mode, of controlled chemical and mechanical model substrates. In order to investigate the interplay between mechanical or viscoelastic mechanisms and surface chemistry during the tip - polymer contact, we achieved force measurements on model PDMS polymer networks, whose surfaces are chemically controlled with the same functional groups as before (silicon substrates). On the basis of AFM nano-indentation experiments, surface Young moduli have been determined. The results show that the viscoelastic contribution is dominating in the adhesion force measurement. We propose an original model, which express the local adhesion force to the energy dissipated within the contact and the surface properties of the material (thermodynamic work of adhesion). Moreover we show that the dissipation function is related to Mc, the mass between crosslinks of the network.

Growth and characterization of β-Ga2O3 nanowires obtained on not-catalyzed and Au/Pt catalyzed substrates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Calestani, Davide; Alabi, Aderemi Babatunde; Coppedè, Nicola; Villani, Marco; Lazzarini, Laura; Fabbri, Filippo; Salviati, Giancarlo; Zappettini, Andrea

2017-01-01

In recent years, a large interest has been reported on low-dimensional β-Ga2O3 structures, like nanowires, nanobelts, nanorods or nanosheets, because of their peculiar and sometimes superior properties. These properties, however, can be strongly affected by the growth procedure, especially if metal growth catalysts are used. In this work we report the successful synthesis of β-Ga2O3 nanowires/nanobelts using a simple combination of thermal evaporation of a metallic Ga source and controlled oxidation. The same growth procedure has been used to grow nanostructures on different kind of substrates (silicon and alumina), without catalyst as well as with Au or Pt deposited on the substrates, in order to promote the nucleation of nanowires. The morphological, structural and optical properties of the obtained nanostructures have been characterized and compared. Different growth distributions on the substrates and possible growth mechanisms have been highlighted, while a strong increase in luminescence intensity has been observed on samples grown with Au and Pt catalysts.

Influence of substrate bias voltage on structure and properties of the CrAlN films deposited by unbalanced magnetron sputtering

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lv, Yanhong; Ji, Li; Liu, Xiaohong; Li, Hongxuan; Zhou, Huidi; Chen, Jianmin

2012-02-01

The CrAlN films were deposited on silicon and stainless steel substrates by unbalanced magnetron sputtering system. The influence of substrate bias on deposition rate, composition, structure, morphology and properties of the CrAlN films was investigated. The results showed that, with the increase of the substrate bias voltage, the deposition rate decreased accompanied by a change of the preferred orientation of the CrAlN film from (2 2 0) to (2 0 0). The grain size and the average surface roughness of the CrAlN films declined as the bias voltage increases above -100 V. The morphology of the films changed from obviously columnar to dense glass-like structure with the increase of the bias voltage from -50 to -250 V. Meanwhile, the films deposited at moderate bias voltage had better mechanical and tribological properties, while the films deposited at higher bias voltage showed better corrosion resistance. It was found that the corrosion resistance improvement was not only attributed to the low pinhole density of the film, but also to chemical composition of films.

Corrosion behavior and mechanical properties of bioactive sol-gel coatings on titanium implants.

PubMed

Catauro, M; Bollino, F; Papale, F; Giovanardi, R; Veronesi, P

2014-10-01

Organic-inorganic hybrid coatings based on zirconia and poly (ε-caprolactone) (PCL) were prepared by means of sol-gel dip-coating technique and used to coat titanium grade 4 implants (Ti-4) in order to improve their wear and corrosion resistance. The coating chemical composition has been analysed by ATR-FTIR. The influence of the PCL amount has been investigated on the microstructure, mechanical properties of the coatings and their ability to inhibit the corrosion of titanium. SEM analysis has shown that all coatings have a nanostructured nature and that the films with high PCL content are crack-free. Mechanical properties of the coatings have been studied using scratch and nano-indentation tests. The results have shown that the Young's modulus of the coatings decreases in presence of large amounts of the organic phase, and that PCL content affects also the adhesion of the coatings to the underlying Ti-4 substrate. However, the presence of cracks on the PCL-free coatings affects severely the mechanical response of the samples at high loads. The electrochemical behavior and corrosion resistance of the coated and uncoated substrate has been investigated by polarization tests. The results have shown that both the coatings with or without PCL don't affect significantly the already excellent passivation properties of titanium. Copyright © 2014. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Formation of intermetallic compound coating on magnesium AZ91 cast alloy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhu, Tianping; Gao, Wei

2009-08-01

This study describes an intermetallic compound coating formed on AZ91 Mg cast alloy. The Al sputtered on AZ91 cast alloy reacted with substrate during a short period of heat treatment at 435°C, resulting in the formation of a continuous intermetallic compound layer. The short period treatment has the advantage of minimizing the negative effect on the microstructure of substrate and the mechanical properties, comparing with the reported diffusion coatings. DSC measurement and examination on the cross-section of Al sputtered samples show that local melting occurred along the Al/substrate interface at the temperature range between 430~435°C. The formation mechanism of intermetallic compound coating is proposed in terms of the local melting at Al/substrate interface. The salt water immersion test showed significant improvement in corrosion resistance of the intermetallic compound coated AZ91 cast alloy compared with the as-cast alloys.

Single-molecule protein unfolding and translocation by an ATP-fueled proteolytic machine

PubMed Central

Aubin-Tam, Marie-Eve; Olivares, Adrian O.; Sauer, Robert T.; Baker, Tania A.; Lang, Matthew J.

2011-01-01

All cells employ ATP-powered proteases for protein-quality control and regulation. In the ClpXP protease, ClpX is a AAA+ machine that recognizes specific protein substrates, unfolds these molecules, and then translocates the denatured polypeptide through a central pore and into ClpP for degradation. Here, we use optical-trapping nanometry to probe the mechanics of enzymatic unfolding and translocation of single molecules of a multidomain substrate. Our experiments demonstrate the capacity of ClpXP and ClpX to perform mechanical work under load, reveal very fast and highly cooperative unfolding of individual substrate domains, suggest a translocation step size of 5–8 amino acids, and support a power-stroke model of denaturation in which successful enzyme-mediated unfolding of stable domains requires coincidence between mechanical pulling by the enzyme and a transient stochastic reduction in protein stability. We anticipate that single-molecule studies of the mechanical properties of other AAA+ proteolytic machines will reveal many shared features with ClpXP. PMID:21496645

Extracellular Control of Limb Regeneration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Calve, S.; Simon, H.-G.

Adult newts possess the ability to completely regenerate organs and appendages. Immediately after limb loss, the extracellular matrix (ECM) undergoes dramatic changes that may provide mechanical and biochemical cues to guide the formation of the blastema, which is comprised of uncommitted stem-like cells that proliferate to replace the lost structure. Skeletal muscle is a known reservoir for blastema cells but the mechanism by which it contributes progenitor cells is still unclear. To create physiologically relevant culture conditions for the testing of primary newt muscle cells in vitro, the spatio-temporal distribution of ECM components and the mechanical properties of newt muscle were analyzed. Tenascin-C and hyaluronic acid (HA) were found to be dramatically upregulated in the amputated limb and were co-expressed around regenerating skeletal muscle. The transverse stiffness of muscle measured in situ was used as a guide to generate silicone-based substrates of physiological stiffness. Culturing newt muscle cells under different conditions revealed that the cells are sensitive to both matrix coating and substrate stiffness: Myoblasts on HA-coated soft substrates display a rounded morphology and become more elongated as the stiffness of the substrate increases. Coating of soft substrates with matrigel or fibronectin enhanced cell spreading and eventual cell fusion.

Measuring shear force transmission across a biomimetic glycocalyx

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bray, Isabel; Young, Dylan; Scrimgeour, Jan

Human blood vessels are lined with a low-density polymer brush known as the glycocalyx. This brush plays an active role in defining the mechanical and biochemical environment of the endothelial cell in the blood vessel wall. In addition, it is involved in the detection of mechanical stimuli, such as the shear stress from blood flowing in the vessel. In this work, we construct a biomimetic version of the glycocalyx on top of a soft deformable substrate in order to measure its ability to modulate the effects of shear stress at the endothelial cell surface. The soft substrate is stamped on to a glass substrate and then enclosed inside a microfluidic device that generates a controlled flow over the substrate. The hydrogel chemistry has been optimized so that it reliably stamps into a defined shape and has consistent mechanical properties. Fluorescent microbeads embedded in the gel allow measurement of the surface deformation, and subsequently, calculation of the shear force at the surface of the soft substrate. We investigate the effect of the major structural elements of the glycocalyx, hyaluronic acid and charged proteoglycans, on the magnitude of the shear force transmitted to the surface of the hydrogel.

Effects of surface morphology on the optical and electrical properties of Schottky diodes of CBD deposited ZnO nanostructures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mwankemwa, Benard S.; Akinkuade, Shadrach; Maabong, Kelebogile; Nel, Jackie M.; Diale, Mmantsae

2018-04-01

We report on effect of surface morphology on the optical and electrical properties of chemical bath deposited Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanostructures. ZnO nanostructures were deposited on the seeded conducting indium doped tin oxide substrate positioned in three different directions in the growth solution. Field emission scanning electron microscopy was used to evaluate the morphological properties of the synthesized nanostructures and revealed that the positioning of the substrate in the growth solution affects the surface morphology of the nanostructures. The optical absorbance, photoluminescence and Raman spectroscopy of the resulting nanostructures are discussed. The electrical characterization of the Schottky diode such as barrier height, ideality factor, rectification ratios, reverse saturation current and series resistance were found to depend on the nanostructures morphology. In addition, current transport mechanism in the higher forward bias of the Schottky diode was studied and space charge limited current was found to be the dominant transport mechanism in all samples.

Impact of substrate on structure and electrical properties in lead-based ferroelectric thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Valanoor, Nagarajan Venkatasubramanian

Current trends in semiconductor technology demand that ferroelectric materials be used in thin film form, rather than bulk, for integration and scaling purposes. An inevitable consequence of integration is substrate induced constraint and stress. Sources of this stress are the lattice and thermal mismatch between film and substrate, structural phase transformation which leads to spontaneous strains, and dislocation cores at the film substrate interface. In addition to classical stress relaxation mechanisms all highly tetragonal ferroelectrics relax internal stress via formation of polydomain (90° domains and not 180° domains) structures below the phase transformation, which brings about a change in the microstructure of the film. Hence it is possible to control the resultant microstructure by controlling the degree of polydomain relaxation. Obviously this affects the electrical and electro-mechanical properties and in turn the device performance. The goal of this research is to study this structure-property relationship of ferroelectric thin films where in the structure has been systematically modified by changing the substrate-induced effect. To investigate the effect of the substrate, epitaxial films of PbZr 0.2Ti0.8O3 were grown by pulsed laser deposition (PLD). Epitaxial films reduce the complexities introduced grain boundaries and multiple domain orientations. By systematically changing the thickness the spontaneous strain or c/a ratio can be varied. As a consequence polydomain formation varies as a function of film thickness. Thus this is an effective yet simple method to fully understand the impact of stress on structure-property inter-relationships. The theoretical background for these experiments is first laid out by a thermodynamic analysis of the polydomain formation. It leads to the construction of a domain stability map and indicates a presence of a critical thickness for polydomain formation. This is followed by an investigation of the impact of polydomain formation on quasi-static and dynamic polarization switching. To correlate the material microstructure to switching, an activation field, alpha, is introduced. It is shown theoretically that alpha ∝ (c/a-1)3.5 and a good experimental fit can be obtained. However it is observed that polydomain formation does not impact the electromechanical and dielectric response significantly. It is shown experimentally and theoretically that stress-induced polarization varies only by 10%. Therefore to study the impact of in plane stresses induced by substrate on piezoelectric and dielectric response we chose a "soft" relaxor ferroelectric (RFE) wherein the Curie temperature is close to room temperature. In this case even a small application of stress can change the properties significantly. The relaxor composition chosen was PbMg1/3Nb 2/3O3(90%)-PbTiO3(10%). By systematically changing the substrate and the thickness, stresses in the film the electromechanical constants is varied. High-resolution electron microscopy revealed a distinct change in the microstructure as a function of thickness, and a probable answer as to why thin films show inferior properties compared to bulk materials is proposed. The last part of this thesis focuses on the effect of micro stresses. Two examples are demonstrated where the mechanical forces of interaction between the film and substrate are manipulated on a very local scale. We show that by inducing stresses at local regions one can induce polydomains in film thinner than previously calculated critical thickness, while by removing constraint at local regions we can enhance the d33 co-efficient to values higher than those shown by bulk ceramics.

Conductive and robust nitride buffer layers on biaxially textured substrates

DOEpatents

Sankar, Sambasivan [Chicago, IL; Goyal, Amit [Knoxville, TN; Barnett, Scott A [Evanston, IL; Kim, Ilwon [Skokie, IL; Kroeger, Donald M [Knoxville, TN

2009-03-31

The present invention relates to epitaxial, electrically conducting and mechanically robust, cubic nitride buffer layers deposited epitaxially on biaxially textured substrates such as metals and alloys. The invention comprises of a biaxially textured substrate with epitaxial layers of nitrides. The invention also discloses a method to form such epitaxial layers using a high rate deposition method as well as without the use of forming gases. The invention further comprises epitaxial layers of oxides on the biaxially textured nitride layer. In some embodiments the article further comprises electromagnetic devices which may have superconducting properties.

High-performance carbon nanotube thin-film transistors on flexible paper substrates

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

Liu, Na; Yun, Ki Nam; Yu, Hyun-Yong

Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) are promising materials as active channels for flexible transistors owing to their excellent electrical and mechanical properties. However, flexible SWCNT transistors have never been realized on paper substrates, which are widely used, inexpensive, and recyclable. In this study, we fabricated SWCNT thin-film transistors on photo paper substrates. The devices exhibited a high on/off current ratio of more than 10{sup 6} and a field-effect mobility of approximately 3 cm{sup 2}/V·s. The proof-of-concept demonstration indicates that SWCNT transistors on flexible paper substrates could be applied as low-cost and recyclable flexible electronics.

Dielectric, thermal and mechanical properties of zirconium silicate reinforced high density polyethylene composites for antenna applications.

PubMed

Varghese, Jobin; Nair, Dinesh Raghavan; Mohanan, Pezholil; Sebastian, Mailadil Thomas

2015-06-14

A low cost and low dielectric loss zirconium silicate (ZrSiO4) reinforced HDPE (high-density polyethylene) composite has been developed for antenna applications. The 0-3 type composite is prepared by dispersing ZrSiO4 fillers for various volume fractions (0.1 to 0.5) in the HDPE matrix by the melt mixing process. The composite shows good microwave dielectric properties with a relative permittivity of 5.6 and a dielectric loss of 0.003 at 5 GHz at the maximum filler loading of 0.5 volume fraction. The composite exhibits low water absorption, excellent thermal and mechanical properties. It shows a water absorption of 0.03 wt%, a coefficient of thermal expansion of 70 ppm per °C and a room temperature thermal conductivity of 2.4 W mK(-1). The composite shows a tensile strength of 22 MPa and a microhardness of 13.9 kg mm(-2) for the filler loading of 0.5 volume fraction. The HDPE-ZrSiO4 composites show good dielectric, thermal and mechanical properties suitable for microwave soft substrate applications. A microstrip patch antenna is designed and fabricated using the HDPE-0.5 volume fraction ZrSiO4 substrate and the antenna parameters are investigated.

The Effect of Inkjet Printing over Polymeric Films as Potential Buccal Biologics Delivery Systems.

PubMed

Montenegro-Nicolini, Miguel; Reyes, Patricio E; Jara, Miguel O; Vuddanda, Parameswara R; Neira-Carrillo, Andrónico; Butto, Nicole; Velaga, Sitaram; Morales, Javier O

2018-06-22

The buccal mucosa appears as a promissory route for biologic drug administration, and pharmaceutical films are flexible dosage forms that can be used in the buccal mucosa as drug delivery systems for either a local or systemic effect. Recently, thin films have been used as printing substrates to manufacture these dosage forms by inkjet printing. As such, it is necessary to investigate the effects of printing biologics on films as substrates in terms of their physical and mucoadhesive properties. Here, we explored solvent casting as a conventional method with two biocompatible polymers, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, and chitosan, and we used electrospinning process as an electrospun film fabrication of polycaprolactone fibers due to its potential to elicit mucoadhesion. Lysozyme was used as biologic drug model and was formulated as a solution for printing by thermal inkjet printing. Films were characterized before and after printing by mechanical and mucoadhesive properties, surface, and ultrastructure morphology through scanning electron microscopy and solid state properties by thermal analysis. Although minor differences were detected in micrographs and thermograms in all polymeric films tested, neither mechanical nor mucoadhesive properties were affected by these differences. Thus, biologic drug printing on films was successful without affecting their mechanical or mucoadhesive properties. These results open way to explore biologics loading on buccal films by inkjet printing, and future efforts will include further in vitro and in vivo evaluations.

Characterizations of the Formation of Polydopamine-Coated Halloysite Nanotubes in Various pH Environments.

PubMed

Feng, Junran; Fan, Hailong; Zha, Dao-An; Wang, Le; Jin, Zhaoxia

2016-10-11

Recent studies demonstrated that polydopamine (PDA) coating is universal to nearly all substrates, and it endows substrates with biocompatibility, postfunctionality, and other useful properties. Surface chemistry of PDA coating is important for its postmodifications and applications. However, there is less understanding of the formation mechanism and surface functional groups of PDA layers generated in different conditions. Halloysite is a kind of clay mineral with tubular nanostructure. Water-swellable halloysite has unique reactivity. In this study, we have investigated the reaction of dopamine in the presence of water-swellable halloysite. We have tracked the reaction progresses in different pH environments by using UV-vis spectroscopy and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). The surface properties of PDA on halloysite were clarified by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), SERS, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) characterizations, zeta potential, surface wettability, and morphological characterizations. We noticed that the interaction between halloysite surface and dopamine strongly influences the surface functionality of coated PDA. In addition, pH condition further modulates surface functional groups, resulting in less content of secondary/aromatic amine in PDA generated in weak acidic environment. This study demonstrates that the formation mechanism of polydopamine becomes complex in the presence of inorganic nanomaterials. Substrate property and reaction condition dominate the functionality of obtained PDA together.

Weld Bead Geometry of Ni-Based Alloy Deposited by PTA Process for Pipe Conduction of Shale Gas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Echavarria-Figueroa, C.; García-Vázquez, F.; Ruiz-Mondragón, J.; Hernández-García, H. M.; González-González, D.; Vargas, A.

The transportation of shale gas has the problem that the piping used for the extraction does not resist the erosion generated by the amount of solids causing cracks over the surface and it is necessary to extend the life of the pipelines. Plasma transferred arc (PTA) welded coatings are used to improve the surface properties of mechanical parts. Therefore, in this paper is studied the use of Ni-based filler metal as weld bead deposits on A36 steel substrates by PTA. In order to determine the suitable conditions to ensure coating quality on the substrate a design of experiments (DOE) was determined. Welding current, feed rate, and travel speed were used as input parameters and the dilution percentage as the response variable. The composition and properties of hardfacing or overlay deposited are strongly influenced by the dilution obtained. Control of dilution is important, where typically low dilution is desirable. When the dilution is low, the final deposit composition will be closer to that of the filler metal, and the wear and corrosion resistance of the hardfacing will also be maintained. To evaluate the features on the weld beads/substrate interface a microstructural characterization was performed by using scanning electron microscopy and to evaluate the mechanical properties was carried out hardness test.

Organic/inorganic hybrid coatings for anticorrosion

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

He, Zhouying

Compared to organic coatings, organic-inorganic hybrid coatings can potentially improve the anticorrosion performance. The organic phase provides the excellent mechaincal and barrier properties while the inorganic phase acts as an adhesion promoter and corrosion inhibitor. Despite that many studies on alkoxylsilane-based hybrid coatings have been developed and studied, their weatherability and anticorrosion performance has been rarely evaluated. On the other hand, organic-inorganic hybrid coatings based on mixed sol-gel precursors have received much less attention compared to alkoxylsilane-based hybrid coatings. In the first part, polyurethane hybrid coatings with a unique hybrid crosslinked structure as an improved unicoat were successfully prepared. The effect of polyesters on physical properties of the hybrid coatings was studied. Polyurethane coatings derived from cycloaliphatic polyester show comparable properties than those derived from the commercially viable aromatic polyester. Introducing the polysiloxane part into the polyurethane coatings enhanced the crosslinking density, Tg, mechanical properties, and general coating properties. The increased adhesion between the hybrid coating and the substrate make the hybrid coating a good candidate for anticorrosion application, which is shown by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The degradation mechanism of the polyurethane/polysiloxane hybrid coatings under various weathering conditions was shown to be the scission of the urethane and ester groups in the organic phase along with reorganizing and rearranging of the inorganic phase. The anticorrosion performance of the cycloaliphatic hybrid was much better than that of aromatic based hybrid under outdoor weathering based on visual observation and EIS analysis. Acid undercutting is an issue for TEOS based hybrid coating. In the second part, design of experiments (DOEs) was used to statistically investigate on the effect of sol-gel precursors. The synergistic effect of the mixed sol-gel precursors was shown to enhance the overall properties and was also observed structurally by SAXS and SEM. The improved resistance to the acid undercutting was observed for mixed sol-gel precursors based hybrids. The application of hybrids provides excellent anticorrosive properties as observed in salt spray and EIS study. The formation of Al2O3 protective layer as well as M-O-Al covalent bond provided the basis for excellent corrosion protection on Al substrate. However, the generation of Fe ions as corrosion product caused the accumulation of electrolyte, which resulted in the delamination of the coating on steel substrate. In this way, the corrosion of steel substrate is much faster than that of Al substrate. The maintenance of high impedance and corresponding resistance and capacitance based on EIS results further confirmed the great anticorrosion performance of hybrids on both Al and steel substrate.

Caged Protein Prenyltransferase Substrates: Tools for Understanding Protein Prenylation

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

DeGraw, Amanda J.; Hast, Michael A.; Xu, Juhua

Originally designed to block the prenylation of oncogenic Ras, inhibitors of protein farnesyltransferase currently in preclinical and clinical trials are showing efficacy in cancers with normal Ras. Blocking protein prenylation has also shown promise in the treatment of malaria, Chagas disease and progeria syndrome. A better understanding of the mechanism, targets and in vivo consequences of protein prenylation are needed to elucidate the mode of action of current PFTase (Protein Farnesyltransferase) inhibitors and to create more potent and selective compounds. Caged enzyme substrates are useful tools for understanding enzyme mechanism and biological function. Reported here is the synthesis and characterizationmore » of caged substrates of PFTase. The caged isoprenoid diphosphates are poor substrates prior to photolysis. The caged CAAX peptide is a true catalytically caged substrate of PFTase in that it is to not a substrate, yet is able to bind to the enzyme as established by inhibition studies and X-ray crystallography. Irradiation of the caged molecules with 350 nm light readily releases their cognate substrate and their photolysis products are benign. These properties highlight the utility of those analogs towards a variety of in vitro and in vivo applications.« less

Enhanced Locomotion Efficiency of a Bio-inspired Walking Robot using Contact Surfaces with Frictional Anisotropy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Manoonpong, Poramate; Petersen, Dennis; Kovalev, Alexander; Wörgötter, Florentin; Gorb, Stanislav N.; Spinner, Marlene; Heepe, Lars

2016-12-01

Based on the principles of morphological computation, we propose a novel approach that exploits the interaction between a passive anisotropic scale-like material (e.g., shark skin) and a non-smooth substrate to enhance locomotion efficiency of a robot walking on inclines. Real robot experiments show that passive tribologically-enhanced surfaces of the robot belly or foot allow the robot to grip on specific surfaces and move effectively with reduced energy consumption. Supplementing the robot experiments, we investigated tribological properties of the shark skin as well as its mechanical stability. It shows high frictional anisotropy due to an array of sloped denticles. The orientation of the denticles to the underlying collagenous material also strongly influences their mechanical interlocking with the substrate. This study not only opens up a new way of achieving energy-efficient legged robot locomotion but also provides a better understanding of the functionalities and mechanical properties of anisotropic surfaces. That understanding will assist developing new types of material for other real-world applications.

Enhanced Locomotion Efficiency of a Bio-inspired Walking Robot using Contact Surfaces with Frictional Anisotropy

PubMed Central

Manoonpong, Poramate; Petersen, Dennis; Kovalev, Alexander; Wörgötter, Florentin; Gorb, Stanislav N.; Spinner, Marlene; Heepe, Lars

2016-01-01

Based on the principles of morphological computation, we propose a novel approach that exploits the interaction between a passive anisotropic scale-like material (e.g., shark skin) and a non-smooth substrate to enhance locomotion efficiency of a robot walking on inclines. Real robot experiments show that passive tribologically-enhanced surfaces of the robot belly or foot allow the robot to grip on specific surfaces and move effectively with reduced energy consumption. Supplementing the robot experiments, we investigated tribological properties of the shark skin as well as its mechanical stability. It shows high frictional anisotropy due to an array of sloped denticles. The orientation of the denticles to the underlying collagenous material also strongly influences their mechanical interlocking with the substrate. This study not only opens up a new way of achieving energy-efficient legged robot locomotion but also provides a better understanding of the functionalities and mechanical properties of anisotropic surfaces. That understanding will assist developing new types of material for other real-world applications. PMID:28008936

Comparison of the dynamics of substrate access channels in three cytochrome P450s reveals different opening mechanisms and a novel functional role for a buried arginine

PubMed Central

Winn, Peter J.; Lüdemann, Susanna K.; Gauges, Ralph; Lounnas, Valère; Wade, Rebecca C.

2002-01-01

Understanding the mechanism and specificity of substrate binding in the cytochrome P450 (P450) superfamily is an important step toward explaining its key role in drug metabolism, toxicity, xenobiotic degradation, and several biosynthetic pathways. Here we investigate the ligand exit pathways and mechanisms of P450cam (CYP101), P450BM-3 (CYP102), and P450eryF (CYP107A1) by using random expulsion molecular dynamics and classical molecular dynamics simulations. Although several different pathways are found for each protein, one pathway is common to all three. The mechanism of ligand exit along this pathway is, however, quite different in the three different proteins. For P450cam, small backbone conformational changes, in combination with aromatic side chain rotation, allow for the passage of the rather rigid, compact, and hydrophobic substrate, camphor. In P450BM-3, larger transient backbone changes are observed on ligand exit. R47, situated at the entrance to the channel, appears important in guiding negatively charged fatty acid substrates in and out of the active site. In P450eryF, an isolated buried arginine, R185, stabilized by four hydrogen bonds to backbone carbonyl oxygen atoms, is located in the exit channel and is identified as having a particularly unusual functionality, dynamically gating channel opening. The results for these three P450s suggest that the channel opening mechanisms are adjusted to the physico-chemical properties of the substrate and can kinetically modulate protein-substrate specificity. PMID:11959989

High Mechanical Property of Laminated Electromechanical Sensors by Carbonized Nanolignocellulose/Graphene Composites.

PubMed

Chen, Yipeng; Sheng, Chengmin; Dang, Baokang; Qian, Temeng; Jin, Chunde; Sun, Qingfeng

2018-02-28

Although widely used in nanocomposites, the effect of embedding graphene in carbonized nanolignocellulose substrates is less clear. We added graphene to a carbonized nanolignocellulose to change its mechanical and electromechanical properties. Here, the laminated carbonized nanolignocellulose/graphene composites were fabricated by carbonizing the nanolignocellulose/graphene composites prepared through mechanochemistry and flow-directed assembly process. The resulting composites exhibit excellent mechanical property with the ultimate bending strength of 25.6 ± 4.2 MPa. It is observed reversible electrical resistance change in these composites with strain, which is associated with the tunneling conduction model. This type of high-strength conductive composite has great potential applications in load-bearing electromechanical sensors.

Low CTE glass, SiC & Beryllium for lightweight mirror substrates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Geyl, Roland; Cayrel, Marc

2005-10-01

This paper is intended to analyze the relative merits of low CTE glass, SiC and Beryllium as candidates for lightweight mirror substrates in connection with real practical experience and example or three major projects using these three materials and running presently at SAGEM-REOSC. Beryllium and SiC have nice thermal and mechanical properties but machined glass ceramic can still well compete technically or economically in some cases.

Laser sintered thin layer graphene and cubic boron nitride reinforced nickel matrix nanocomposites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hu, Zengrong; Tong, Guoquan

2015-10-01

Laser sintered thin layer graphene (Gr)-cubic boron nitride (CBN)-Ni nanocomposites were fabricated on AISI 4140 plate substrate. The composites fabricating process, composites microstructure and mechanical properties were studied. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman spectroscopy were employed to study the micro structures and composition of the composites. XRD and Raman tests proved that graphene and CBN were dispersed in the nanocomposites. Nanoindentation test results indicate the significant improvements were achieved in the composites mechanical properties.

Bond Strength Mechanism of Fly Ash Based Geopolymer Mortars: A Review

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zailani, W. W. A.; Abdullah, M. M. A. B.; Razak, R. A.; Zainol, M. R. R. M. A.; Tahir, M. F. M.

2017-11-01

Geopolymer possess many excellent properties such as high compressive and bond strength, long term durability, better acid resistance and also known as a “Sustainable Material” due to its low carbon emission and low energy consumption. Thus, it is a good opportunity to develop and explore not only for cement and concrete but also as geopolymeric repair materials. This reviews showed that good bonding properties between geopolymeric repair material and concrete substrate is important in order to acquire an enhanced resistance against penetration of harmful substances and avoiding respalling of the repair material by understanding the bonding behaviour. Bond strength depends to the properties of the repair materials itself and also the surface preparations of concrete substrate.

An evaluation of two flat-black silicone paints for space application

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Clatterbuck, Carroll H.; Scialdone, John J.

1990-01-01

Tests were conducted on two flat-black silicone paints suggested for space applications to determine their optical, electrical, and mechanical properties. Three different types of substrate materials were chosen for these paint tests; the application of the paints onto the primed substrates was carried out by spray coating. The adhesion properties were verified by thermal shock and sudden immersion into liquid nitrogen. A controlled thermal vacuum tests was also carried out by varying the temperature of the paint from -100 to 225 C. The measured optical properties included normal and hemispherical emittance, and solar absorption/reflectance. A simultaneous exposure to low-energy proton/UV irradiation in vacuum, and high-energy proton/electron irradiation was carried out. Additional tests of the paints are described.

Influence of Metallic Indium Concentration on the Properties of Indium Oxide Thin Films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kalkan, N.

2016-10-01

Current-voltage characteristics of indium-embedded indium oxide thin films (600-850 Å), with Ag electrodes approximately 1000 Å thick, prepared by reactive evaporation of pure metallic indium in partial air pressure have been studied for substrate temperatures between 50 and 125°C. The optical properties of these films have also been investigated as a function of metallic indium concentration and substrate temperature. I-V characteristics of all the samples are non-ohmic, independent of metallic indium concentration. The conductivity of the films increases but the optical transmission decreases with increasing metallic indium concentration. Metallic indium concentration was found to be an important parameter affecting the film properties. Furthermore, two possible conduction mechanisms are proposed.

The emergence of ECM mechanics and cytoskeletal tension as important regulators of cell function.

PubMed

Peyton, Shelly R; Ghajar, Cyrus M; Khatiwala, Chirag B; Putnam, Andrew J

2007-01-01

The ability to harvest and maintain viable cells from mammalian tissues represented a critical advance in biomedical research, enabling individual cells to be cultured and studied in molecular detail. However, in these traditional cultures, cells are grown on rigid glass or polystyrene substrates, the mechanical properties of which often do not match those of the in vivo tissue from which the cells were originally derived. This mechanical mismatch likely contributes to abrupt changes in cellular phenotype. In fact, it has been proposed that mechanical changes in the cellular microenvironment may alone be responsible for driving specific cellular behaviors. Recent multidisciplinary efforts from basic scientists and engineers have begun to address this hypothesis more explicitly by probing the effects of ECM mechanics on cell and tissue function. Understanding the consequences of such mechanical changes is physiologically relevant in the context of a number of tissues in which altered mechanics may either correlate with or play an important role in the onset of pathology. Examples include changes in the compliance of blood vessels associated with atherosclerosis and intimal hyperplasia, as well as changes in the mechanical properties of developing tumors. Compelling evidence from 2-D in vitro model systems has shown that substrate mechanical properties induce changes in cell shape, migration, proliferation, and differentiation, but it remains to be seen whether or not these same effects translate to 3-D systems or in vivo. Furthermore, the molecular "mechanotransduction" mechanisms by which cells respond to changes in ECM mechanics remain unclear. Here, we provide some historical context for this emerging area of research, and discuss recent evidence that regulation of cytoskeletal tension by changes in ECM mechanics (either directly or indirectly) may provide a critical switch that controls cell function.

Thermal and Microstructure Characterization of Zn-Al-Si Alloys and Chemical Reaction with Cu Substrate During Spreading

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Berent, Katarzyna; Pstruś, Janusz; Gancarz, Tomasz

2016-08-01

The problems associated with the corrosion of aluminum connections, the low mechanical properties of Al/Cu connections, and the introduction of EU directives have forced the potential of new materials to be investigated. Alloys based on eutectic Zn-Al are proposed, because they have a higher melting temperature (381 °C), good corrosion resistance, and high mechanical strength. The Zn-Al-Si cast alloys were characterized using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurements, which were performed to determine the melting temperatures of the alloys. Thermal linear expansion and electrical resistivity measurements were performed at temperature ranges of -50 to 250 °C and 25 to 300 °C, respectively. The addition of Si to eutectic Zn-Al alloys not only limits the growth of phases at the interface of liquid solder and Cu substrate but also raises the mechanical properties of the solder. Spreading test on Cu substrate using eutectic Zn-Al alloys with 0.5, 1.0, 3.0, and 5.0 wt.% of Si was studied using the sessile drop method in the presence of QJ201 flux. Spreading tests were performed with contact times of 1, 8, 15, 30, and 60 min, and at temperatures of 475, 500, 525, and 550 °C. After cleaning the flux residue from solidified samples, the spreadability of Zn-Al-Si on Cu was determined. Selected, solidified solder/substrate couples were cross-sectioned, and the interfacial microstructures were studied using scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy. The growth of the intermetallic phase layer was studied at the solder/substrate interface, and the activation energy of growth of Cu5Zn8, CuZn4, and CuZn phases were determined.

Component optimization of dairy manure vermicompost, straw, and peat in seedling compressed substrates using simplex-centroid design.

PubMed

Yang, Longyuan; Cao, Hongliang; Yuan, Qiaoxia; Luoa, Shuai; Liu, Zhigang

2018-03-01

Vermicomposting is a promising method to disposal dairy manures, and the dairy manure vermicompost (DMV) to replace expensive peat is of high value in the application of seedling compressed substrates. In this research, three main components: DMV, straw, and peat, are conducted in the compressed substrates, and the effect of individual components and the corresponding optimal ratio for the seedling production are significant. To address these issues, the simplex-centroid experimental mixture design is employed, and the cucumber seedling experiment is conducted to evaluate the compressed substrates. Results demonstrated that the mechanical strength and physicochemical properties of compressed substrates for cucumber seedling can be well satisfied with suitable mixture ratio of the components. Moreover, DMV, straw, and peat) could be determined at 0.5917:0.1608:0.2475 when the weight coefficients of the three parameters (shoot length, root dry weight, and aboveground dry weight) were 1:1:1. For different purpose, the optimum ratio can be little changed on the basis of different weight coefficients. Compressed substrate is lump and has certain mechanical strength, produced by application of mechanical pressure to the seedling substrates. It will not harm seedlings when bedding out the seedlings, since the compressed substrate and seedling are bedded out together. However, there is no one using the vermicompost and agricultural waste components of compressed substrate for vegetable seedling production before. Thus, it is important to understand the effect of individual components to seedling production, and to determine the optimal ratio of components.

Adhesion energy of single wall carbon nanotube loops on various substrates

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

Li, Tianjun; Department of Physics, Shaoxing University, 508 Huancheng West Rd., Shaoxing 312000; Ayari, Anthony

2015-04-28

The physics of adhesion of one-dimensional nano structures such as nanotubes, nano wires, and biopolymers on different substrates is of great interest for the study of biological adhesion and the development of nano electronics and nano mechanics. In this paper, we present force spectroscopy experiments of individual single wall carbon nanotube loops using a home-made interferometric atomic force microscope. Characteristic force plateaus during the peeling process allow the quantitative measurement of the adhesion energy per unit length on various substrates: graphite, mica, platinum, gold, and silicon. Moreover, using a time-frequency analysis of the deflection of the cantilever, we estimate themore » dynamic stiffness of the contact, providing more information on the nanotube configurations and its intrinsic mechanical properties.« less

Advancement in conductive cotton fabrics through in situ polymerization of polypyrrole-nanocellulose composites.

PubMed

Hebeish, A; Farag, S; Sharaf, S; Shaheen, Th I

2016-10-20

Current research was undertaking with a view to innovate a new approach for development of conductive - coated textile materials through coating cotton fabrics with nanocellulose/polypyrrole composites. The study was designed in order to have a clear understanding of the role of nanocellulose as well as modified composite thereof under investigation. It is anticipated that incorporation of nanocellulose in the pyrrole/cotton fabrics/FeCl3/H2O system would form an integral part of the composites with mechanical, electrical or both properties. Three different nanocellulosic substrates are involved in the oxidation polymerization reaction of polypyrrole (Ppy) in presence of cotton fabrics. Polymerization was subsequently carried out by admixing at various ratios of FeCl3 and pyrrole viz. Ppy1, Ppy2 and pp3. The conductive, mechanical and thermal properties of cotton fabrics coated independently with different nanocellulose/polypyrrole were investigated. FTIR, TGA, XRD, SEM and EDX were also used for further characterization. Results signify that, the conductivity of cotton fabrics increases exponentially with increasing the dose of pyrrole and oxidant irrespective of nanocellulose substrate used. While, the mechanical properties of cotton fabrics are not significantly affected by the oxidant treatment. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Atomistic modeling of metallic thin films by modified embedded atom method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hao, Huali; Lau, Denvid

2017-11-01

Molecular dynamics simulation is applied to investigate the deposition process of metallic thin films. Eight metals, titanium, vanadium, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, tungsten, and gold, are chosen to be deposited on the aluminum substrate. The second nearest-neighbor modified embedded atom method potential is adopted to predict their thermal and mechanical properties. When quantifying the screening parameters of the potential, the error for Young's modulus and coefficient of thermal expansion between the simulated results and the experimental measurements is less than 15%, demonstrating the reliability of the potential to predict metallic behaviors related to thermal and mechanical properties. A set of potential parameters which governs the interactions between aluminum and other metals in a binary system is also generated from ab initio calculation. The details of interfacial structures between the chosen films and substrate are successfully simulated with the help of these parameters. Our results indicate that the preferred orientation of film growth depends on the film crystal structure, and the inter-diffusion at the interface is correlated the cohesive energy parameter of potential for the binary system. Such finding provides an important basis to further understand the interfacial science, which contributes to the improvement of the mechanical properties, reliability and durability of films.

An Investigation of Mechanically Tunable and Nanostructured Polymer Scaffolds for Directing Human Mesenchymal Stem Cell Development

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jaafar, Israd Hakim

This work investigated the use of biomedically relevant, polymer substrates for in vitro human mesenchymal stem cell (hMSC)-substrate surface interaction. Two materials were identified: (i) Poly(glycerol-sebacate) (PGS), a novel biocompatible and biodegradable thermosetting rubber-like elastomer, and (ii) injection molded polystyrene (PS). PGS was selected because it has tunable mechanical properties within the range of biological tissue, and thus provides a useful model to determine the types of substrate mechanical cues that would elicit specific hMSC lineage specification and possible differentiation outcomes. PS is a relevant material for in vitro cell-substrate surface interaction analysis since it is typically the base material of cell culture dishes. Both these materials have also shown micro to nanoscale molding capabilities. Hence these materials would also serve as a model in determining topographical properties (and related mechanical properties) at the dimension-scale of the extracellular environment that modulates hMSC state and fate. The work characterized, designed, and manufactured substrates made of these materials, for in vitro hMSC culture. Micro/nanoscale PGS and PS surface features were manufactured using silicon (Si) based tooling technology. The response of hMSCs to PGS substrates of various Young.s moduli was examined. hMSC response to a nanoscale array of PS pegs was also investigated. PGS was observed to be a semi-crystalline thermosetting elastomer that is fully amorphous above 35°C. The material acquired increasing stiffness and density of photoresist-coated with increasing levels of curing temperature and duration of cure. hMSCs were observed to respond differently on PGS with elastic modulii of 0.11, 1.11, and 2.30 MPa. The cells spread and proliferate more, and develop a stretched cytoskeleton on the stiffer substrates. On the softest substrate (0.11 MPa) the cells developed a branched and filopodia-rich morphology with a diffused actin cytoskeleton. PGS and a variety of other typical polymeric substrates such as poly(urethane) PU, poly(L-lactide-co-epsilon-caprolactone) PLCL, and poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) PLGA, were found to produce its own fluorescence emission during fluorescence based imaging, which interfered in immunocytochemical (ICC) imaging and analysis of fluorescently labeled biomolecule structures of cells contacting these materials. The study successfully quenched this light interference by using Sudan Black, dye B (SB). Both PGS and PS sub-micron features and nanoscale peg arrays were successfully manufactured using Si based tooling technology. Cultures of hMSC on arrays of a nanopegged PS surface (400 nm diameter, 800 nm center-center, ˜ 200 nm high) revealed several interesting phenomena. The cells were observed to adhere to, migrate over, undergo mitosis, and interact over the nanopegged PS surface. The cells exhibited unique morphology in comparison to those cultured on commercial PS Petri dishes, and on flat injection molded PS templates. hMSCs on the nanopegs appear rounded, less spread out, and more motile with a filopodia-rich morphology.

Structural and elastoplastic properties of β -Ga2O3 films grown on hybrid SiC/Si substrates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Osipov, A. V.; Grashchenko, A. S.; Kukushkin, S. A.; Nikolaev, V. I.; Osipova, E. V.; Pechnikov, A. I.; Soshnikov, I. P.

2018-04-01

Structural and mechanical properties of gallium oxide films grown on (001), (011) and (111) silicon substrates with a buffer layer of silicon carbide are studied. The buffer layer was fabricated by the atom substitution method, i.e., one silicon atom per unit cell in the substrate was substituted by a carbon atom by chemical reaction with carbon monoxide. The surface and bulk structure properties of gallium oxide films have been studied by atomic-force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The nanoindentation method was used to investigate the elastoplastic characteristics of gallium oxide, and also to determine the elastic recovery parameter of the films under study. The ultimate tensile strength, hardness, elastic stiffness constants, elastic compliance constants, Young's modulus, linear compressibility, shear modulus, Poisson's ratio and other characteristics of gallium oxide have been calculated by quantum chemistry methods based on the PBESOL functional. It is shown that all these properties of gallium oxide are essentially anisotropic. The calculated values are compared with experimental data. We conclude that a change in the silicon orientation leads to a significant reorientation of gallium oxide.

Properties of pressure sensitive adhesives found in paper recycling operations

Treesearch

Ryan F. Verhulst; Steven J. Severtson; Jihui Guo; Carl J. Houtman

2006-01-01

Hot melt and water-based adhesives are very different materials with similar physical properties. Their ability to act as adhesives is due to physical bonds and mechanical interlocks which form as adhesive flows into topographical features on the substrate surface. Hot-melt adhesives are based on soft, rubbery polymers while water-based adhesives are usually acrylic...

Mechanical strength and tribological behavior of ion-beam deposited boron nitride films on non-metallic substrates

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Miyoshi, Kazuhisa; Buckley, Donald H.; Pouch, John J.; Alterovitz, Samuel A.; Sliney, Harold E.

1987-01-01

An investigation was conducted to examine the mechanical strength and tribological properties of boron nitride (BN) films ion-beam deposited on silicon (Si), fused silica (SiO2), gallium arsenide (GaAs), and indium phosphide (InP) substrates in sliding contact with a diamond pin under a load. The results of the investigation indicate that BN films on nonmetallic substrates, like metal films on metallic substrates, deform elastically and plastically in the interfacial region when in contact with a diamond pin. However, unlike metal films and substrates, BN films on nonmetallic substrates can fracture when they are critically loaded. Not only does the yield pressure (hardness) of Si and SiO2 substrates increase by a factor of 2 in the presence of a BN film, but the critical load needed to fracture increases as well. The presence of films on the brittle substrates can arrest crack formation. The BN film reduces adhesion and friction in the sliding contact. BN adheres to Si and SiO2 and forms a good quality film, while it adheres poorly to GaAs and InP. The interfacial adhesive strengths were 1 GPa for a BN film on Si and appreciably higher than 1 GPa for a BN film on SiO2.

Mechanical strength and tribological behavior of ion-beam-deposited boron nitride films on non-metallic substrates

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Miyoshi, Kazuhisa; Pouch, John J.; Alterovitz, Samuel A.; Sliney, Harold E.; Buckley, Donald H.

1987-01-01

An investigation was conducted to examine the mechanical strength and tribological properties of boron nitride (BN) films ion-beam deposited on silicon (Si), fused silica (SiO2), gallium arsenide (GaAs), and indium phosphide (InP) substrates in sliding contact with a diamond pin under a load. The results of the investigation indicate that BN films on nonmetallic substrates, like metal films on metallic substrates, deform elastically and plastically in the interfacial region when in contact with a diamond pin. However, unlike metal films and substrates, BN films on nonmetallic substrates can fracture when they are critically loaded. Not only does the yield pressure (hardness) of Si and SiO2 substrates increase by a factor of 2 in the presence of a BN film, but the critical load needed to fracture increases as well. The presence of films on the brittle substrates can arrest crack formation. The BN film reduces adhesion and friction in the sliding contact. BN adheres to Si and SiO2 and forms a good quality film, while it adheres poorly to GaAs and InP. The interfacial adhesive strengths were 1 GPa for a BN film on Si and appreciably higher than 1 GPa for a BN film on SiO2.

Enhanced properties of tungsten thin films deposited with a novel HiPIMS approach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Velicu, Ioana-Laura; Tiron, Vasile; Porosnicu, Corneliu; Burducea, Ion; Lupu, Nicoleta; Stoian, George; Popa, Gheorghe; Munteanu, Daniel

2017-12-01

Despite the tremendous potential for industrial use of tungsten (W), very few studies have been reported so far on controlling and tailoring the properties of W thin films obtained by physical vapor deposition techniques and, even less, for those deposited by High Power Impulse Magnetron Sputtering (HiPIMS). This study presents results on the deposition process and properties characterization of nanocrystalline W thin films deposited on silicon and molybdenum substrates (100 W average sputtering power) by conventional dc magnetron sputtering (dcMS) and HiPIMS techniques. Topological, structural, mechanical and tribological properties of the deposited thin films were investigated. It was found that in HiPIMS, both deposition process and coatings properties may be optimized by using an appropriate magnetic field configuration and pulsing design. Compared to the other deposited samples, the W films grown in multi-pulse (5 × 3 μs) HiPIMS assisted by an additional magnetic field, created with a toroidal-shaped permanent magnet placed in front of the magnetron cathode, show significantly enhanced properties, such as: smoother surfaces, higher homogeneity and denser microstructure, higher hardness and Young's modulus values, better adhesion to the silicon substrate and lower coefficient of friction. Mechanical behaviour and structural changes are discussed based on plasma diagnostics results.

The macroscopic delamination of thin films from elastic substrates

PubMed Central

Vella, Dominic; Bico, José; Boudaoud, Arezki; Roman, Benoit; Reis, Pedro M.

2009-01-01

The wrinkling and delamination of stiff thin films adhered to a polymer substrate have important applications in “flexible electronics.” The resulting periodic structures, when used for circuitry, have remarkable mechanical properties because stretching or twisting of the substrate is mostly accommodated through bending of the film, which minimizes fatigue or fracture. To date, applications in this context have used substrate patterning to create an anisotropic substrate-film adhesion energy, thereby producing a controlled array of delamination “blisters.” However, even in the absence of such patterning, blisters appear spontaneously, with a characteristic size. Here, we perform well-controlled experiments at macroscopic scales to study what sets the dimensions of these blisters in terms of the material properties and explain our results by using a combination of scaling and analytical methods. Besides pointing to a method for determining the interfacial toughness, our analysis suggests a number of design guidelines for the thin films used in flexible electronic applications. Crucially, we show that, to avoid the possibility that delamination may cause fatigue damage, the thin film thickness must be greater than a critical value, which we determine. PMID:19556551

Screening combinatorial arrays of inorganic materials with spectroscopy or microscopy

DOEpatents

Schultz, Peter G.; Xiang, Xiaodong; Goldwasser, Isy

2004-02-03

Methods and apparatus for the preparation and use of a substrate having an array of diverse materials in predefined regions thereon. A substrate having an array of diverse materials thereon is generally prepared by delivering components of materials to predefined regions on a substrate, and simultaneously reacting the components to form at least two materials. Materials which can be prepared using the methods and apparatus of the present invention include, for example, covalent network solids, ionic solids and molecular solids. More particularly, materials which can be prepared using the methods and apparatus of the present invention include, for example, inorganic materials, intermetallic materials, metal alloys, ceramic materials, organic materials, organometallic materials, non-biological organic polymers, composite materials (e.g., inorganic composites, organic composites, or combinations thereof), etc. Once prepared, these materials can be screened for useful properties including, for example, electrical, thermal, mechanical, morphological, optical, magnetic, chemical, or other properties. Thus, the present invention provides methods for the parallel synthesis and analysis of novel materials having useful properties.

Combinatorial synthesis and screening of non-biological polymers

DOEpatents

Schultz, Peter G.; Xiang, Xiao-Dong; Goldwasser, Isy; Briceno, Gabriel; Sun, Xiao-Dong; Wang, Kai-An

2006-04-25

Methods and apparatus for the preparation and use of a substrate having an array of diverse materials in predefined regions thereon. A substrate having an array of diverse materials thereon is generally prepared by delivering components of materials to predefined regions on a substrate, and simultaneously reacting the components to form at least two materials. Materials which can be prepared using the methods and apparatus of the present invention include, for example, covalent network solids, ionic solids and molecular solids. More particularly, materials which can be prepared using the methods and apparatus of the present invention include, for example, inorganic materials, intermetallic materials, metal alloys, ceramic materials, organic materials, organometallic materials, non-biological organic polymers, composite materials (e.g., inorganic composites, organic composites, or combinations thereof), etc. Once prepared, these materials can be screened for useful properties including, for example, electrical, thermal, mechanical, morphological, optical, magnetic, chemical, or other properties. Thus, the present invention provides methods for the parallel synthesis and analysis of novel materials having useful properties.

Combinatorial synthesis of novel materials

DOEpatents

Schultz, Peter G.; Xiang, Xiaodong; Goldwasser, Isy

1999-01-01

Methods and apparatus for the preparation and use of a substrate having an array of diverse materials in predefined regions thereon. A substrate having an array of diverse materials thereon is generally prepared by delivering components of materials to predefined regions on a substrate, and simultaneously reacting the components to form at least two materials. Materials which can be prepared using the methods and apparatus of the present invention include, for example, covalent network solids, ionic solids and molecular solids. More particularly, materials which can be prepared using the methods and apparatus of the present invention include, for example, inorganic materials, intermetallic materials, metal alloys, ceramic materials, organic materials, organometallic materials, non-biological organic polymers, composite materials (e.g., inorganic composites, organic composites, or combinations thereof), etc. Once prepared, these materials can be screened for useful properties including, for example, electrical, thermal, mechanical, morphological, optical, magnetic, chemical, or other properties. Thus, the present invention provides methods for the parallel synthesis and analysis of novel materials having useful properties.

Combinatorial sythesis of organometallic materials

DOEpatents

Schultz, Peter G.; Xiang, Xiaodong; Goldwasser, Isy

2002-07-16

Methods and apparatus for the preparation and use of a substrate having an array of diverse materials in predefined regions thereon. A substrate having an array of diverse materials thereon is generally prepared by delivering components of materials to predefined regions on a substrate, and simultaneously reacting the components to form at least two materials. Materials which can be prepared using the methods and apparatus of the present invention include, for example, covalent network solids, ionic solids and molecular solids. More particularly, materials which can be prepared using the methods and apparatus of the present invention include, for example, inorganic materials, intermetallic materials, metal alloys, ceramic materials, organic materials, organometallic materials, non-biological organic polymers, composite materials (e.g., inorganic composites, organic composites, or combinations thereof), etc. Once prepared, these materials can be screened for useful properties including, for example, electrical, thermal, mechanical, morphological, optical, magnetic, chemical, or other properties. Thus, the present invention provides methods for the parallel synthesis and analysis of novel materials having useful properties.

Polymer arrays from the combinatorial synthesis of novel materials

DOEpatents

Schultz, Peter G.; Xiang, Xiao-Dong; Goldwasser, Isy; Briceno, Gabriel; Sun, Xiao-Dong

2004-09-21

Methods and apparatus for the preparation and use of a substrate having an array of diverse materials in predefined regions thereon. A substrate having an array of diverse materials thereon is generally prepared by delivering components of materials to predefined regions on a substrate, and simultaneously reacting the components to form at least two materials. Materials which can be prepared using the methods and apparatus of the present invention include, for example, covalent network solids, ionic solids and molecular solids. More particularly, materials which can be prepared using the methods and apparatus of the present invention include, for example, inorganic materials, intermetallic materials, metal alloys, ceramic materials, organic materials, organometallic materials, non-biological organic polymers, composite materials (e.g., inorganic composites, organic composites, or combinations thereof), etc. Once prepared, these materials can be screened for useful properties including, for example, electrical, thermal, mechanical, morphological, optical, magnetic, chemical, or other properties. Thus, the present invention provides methods for the parallel synthesis and analysis of novel materials having useful properties.

Giant magnetoresistive cobalt oxide compounds

DOEpatents

Schultz, Peter G.; Xiang, Xiaodong; Goldwasser, Isy

1998-01-01

Methods and apparatus for the preparation and use of a substrate having an array of diverse materials in predefined regions thereon. A substrate having an array of diverse materials thereon is generally prepared by delivering components of materials to predefined regions on a substrate, and simultaneously reacting the components to form at least two materials. Materials which can be prepared using the methods and apparatus of the present invention include, for example, covalent network solids, ionic solids and molecular solids. More particularly, materials which can be prepared using the methods and apparatus of the present invention include, for example, inorganic materials, intermetallic materials, metal alloys, ceramic materials, organic materials, organometallic materials, non-biological organic polymers, composite materials (e.g., inorganic composites, organic composites, or combinations thereof), etc. Once prepared, these materials can be screened for useful properties including, for example, electrical, thermal, mechanical, morphological, optical, magnetic, chemical, or other properties. Thus, the present invention provides methods for the parallel synthesis and analysis of novel materials having useful properties.

Combinatorial synthesis of novel materials

DOEpatents

Schultz, Peter G.; Xiang, Xiaodong; Goldwasser, Isy

2002-02-12

Methods and apparatus for the preparation and use of a substrate having an array of diverse materials in predefined regions thereon. A substrate having an array of diverse materials thereon is generally prepared by delivering components of materials to predefined regions on a substrate, and simultaneously reacting the components to form at least two materials. Materials which can be prepared using the methods and apparatus of the present invention include, for example, covalent network solids, ionic solids and molecular solids. More particularly, materials which can be prepared using the methods and apparatus of the present invention include, for example, inorganic materials, intermetallic materials, metal alloys, ceramic materials, organic materials, organometallic materials, non-biological organic polymers, composite materials (e.g., inorganic composites, organic composites, or combinations thereof), etc. Once prepared, these materials can be screened for useful properties including, for example, electrical, thermal, mechanical, morphological, optical, magnetic, chemical, or other properties. Thus, the present invention provides methods for the parallel synthesis and analysis of novel materials having useful properties.

Giant magnetoresistive cobalt oxide compounds

DOEpatents

Schultz, P.G.; Xiang, X.; Goldwasser, I.

1998-07-07

Methods and apparatus are disclosed for the preparation and use of a substrate having an array of diverse materials in predefined regions thereon. A substrate having an array of diverse materials thereon is generally prepared by delivering components of materials to predefined regions on a substrate, and simultaneously reacting the components to form at least two materials. Materials which can be prepared using the methods and apparatus of the present invention include, for example, covalent network solids, ionic solids and molecular solids. More particularly, materials which can be prepared using the methods and apparatus of the present invention include, for example, inorganic materials, intermetallic materials, metal alloys, ceramic materials, organic materials, organometallic materials, non-biological organic polymers, composite materials (e.g., inorganic composites, organic composites, or combinations thereof), etc. Once prepared, these materials can be screened for useful properties including, for example, electrical, thermal, mechanical, morphological, optical, magnetic, chemical, or other properties. Thus, the present invention provides methods for the parallel synthesis and analysis of novel materials having useful properties. 58 figs.

Preparation and screening of crystalline inorganic materials

DOEpatents

Schultz, Peter G [La Jolla, CA; Xiang, Xiaodong [Danville, CA; Goldwasser, Isy [Palo Alto, CA; Brice{hacek over }o, Gabriel; Sun, Xiao-Dong [Fremont, CA; Wang, Kai-An [Cupertino, CA

2008-10-28

Methods and apparatus for the preparation and use of a substrate having an array of diverse materials in predefined regions thereon. A substrate having an array of diverse materials thereon is generally prepared by delivering components of materials to predefined regions on a substrate, and simultaneously reacting the components to form at least two materials. Materials which can be prepared using the methods and apparatus of the present invention include, for example, covalent network solids, ionic solids and molecular solids. More particularly, materials which can be prepared using the methods and apparatus of the present invention include, for example, inorganic materials, intermetallic materials, metal alloys, ceramic materials, organic materials, organometallic materials, non-biological organic polymers, composite materials (e.g., inorganic composites, organic composites, or combinations thereof), etc. Once prepared, these materials can be screened for useful properties including, for example, electrical, thermal, mechanical, morphological, optical, magnetic, chemical, or other properties. Thus, the present invention provides methods for the parallel synthesis and analysis of novel materials having useful properties.

Synthesis and screening combinatorial arrays of zeolites

DOEpatents

Schultz, Peter G.; Xiang, Xiaodong; Goldwasser, Isy

2003-11-18

Methods and apparatus for the preparation and use of a substrate having an array of diverse materials in predefined regions thereon. A substrate having an array of diverse materials thereon is generally prepared by delivering components of materials to predefined regions on a substrate, and simultaneously reacting the components to form at least two materials. Materials which can be prepared using the methods and apparatus of the present invention include, for example, covalent network solids, ionic solids and molecular solids. More particularly, materials which can be prepared using the methods and apparatus of the present invention include, for example, inorganic materials, intermetallic materials, metal alloys, ceramic materials, organic materials, organometallic materials, non-biological organic polymers, composite materials (e.g., inorganic composites, organic composites, or combinations thereof), etc. Once prepared, these materials can be screened for useful properties including, for example, electrical, thermal, mechanical, morphological, optical, magnetic, chemical, or other properties. Thus, the present invention provides methods for the parallel synthesis and analysis of novel materials having useful properties.

Combinatorial synthesis of novel materials

DOEpatents

Schultz, Peter G.; Xiang, Xiaodong; Goldwasser, Isy

1999-12-21

Methods and apparatus for the preparation and use of a substrate having an array of diverse materials in predefined regions thereon. A substrate having an array of diverse materials thereon is generally prepared by delivering components of materials to predefined regions on a substrate, and simultaneously reacting the components to form at least two materials. Materials which can be prepared using the methods and apparatus of the present invention include, for example, covalent network solids, ionic solids and molecular solids. More particularly, materials which can be prepared using the methods and apparatus of the present invention include, for example, inorganic materials, intermetallic materials, metal alloys, ceramic materials, organic materials, organometallic materials, non-biological organic polymers, composite materials (e.g., inorganic composites, organic composites, or combinations thereof), etc. Once prepared, these materials can be screened for useful properties including, for example, electrical, thermal, mechanical, morphological, optical, magnetic, chemical, or other properties. Thus, the present invention provides methods for the parallel synthesis and analysis of novel materials having useful properties.

Combinatorial synthesis of novel materials

DOEpatents

Schultz, Peter G.; Xiang, Xiaodong; Goldwasser, Isy

2001-01-01

Methods and apparatus for the preparation and use of a substrate having an array of diverse materials in predefined regions thereon. A substrate having an array of diverse materials thereon is generally prepared by delivering components of materials to predefined regions on a substrate, and simultaneously reacting the components to form at least two materials. Materials which can be prepared using the methods and apparatus of the present invention include, for example, covalent network solids, ionic solids and molecular solids. More particularly, materials which can be prepared using the methods and apparatus of the present invention include, for example, inorganic materials, intermetallic materials, metal alloys, ceramic materials, organic materials, organometallic materials, non-biological organic polymers, composite materials (e.g., inorganic composites, organic composites, or combinations thereof), etc. Once prepared, these materials can be screened for useful properties including, for example, electrical, thermal, mechanical, morphological, optical, magnetic, chemical, or other properties. Thus, the present invention provides methods for the parallel synthesis and analysis of novel materials having useful properties.

Combinatorial screening of inorganic and organometallic materials

DOEpatents

Schultz, Peter G.; Xiang, Xiaodong; Goldwasser, Isy

2002-01-01

Methods and apparatus for the preparation and use of a substrate having an array of diverse materials in predefined regions thereon. A substrate having an array of diverse materials thereon is generally prepared by delivering components of materials to predefined regions on a substrate, and simultaneously reacting the components to form at least two materials. Materials which can be prepared using the methods and apparatus of the present invention include, for example, covalent network solids, ionic solids and molecular solids. More particularly, materials which can be prepared using the methods and apparatus of the present invention include, for example, inorganic materials, intermetallic materials, metal alloys, ceramic materials, organic materials, organometallic materials, non-biological organic polymers, composite materials (e.g., inorganic composites, organic composites, or combinations thereof), etc. Once prepared, these materials can be screened for useful properties including, for example, electrical, thermal, mechanical, morphological, optical, magnetic, chemical, or other properties. Thus, the present invention provides methods for the parallel synthesis and analysis of novel materials having useful properties.

Preparation and screening of crystalline zeolite and hydrothermally-synthesized materials

DOEpatents

Schultz, Peter G.; Xiang, Xiaodong; Goldwasser, Isy; Briceno, Gabriel; Sun, Xiao-Dong; Wang, Kai-An

2005-03-08

Methods and apparatus for the preparation and use of a substrate having an array of diverse materials in predefined regions thereon. A substrate having an array of diverse materials thereon is generally prepared by delivering components of materials to predefined regions on a substrate, and simultaneously reacting the components to form at least two materials. Materials which can be prepared using the methods and apparatus of the present invention include, for example, covalent network solids, ionic solids and molecular solids. More particularly, materials which can be prepared using the methods and apparatus of the present invention include, for example, inorganic materials, intermetallic materials, metal alloys, ceramic materials, organic materials, organometallic materials, non-biological organic polymers, composite materials (e.g., inorganic composites, organic composites, or combinations thereof), etc. Once prepared, these materials can be screened for useful properties including, for example, electrical, thermal, mechanical, morphological, optical, magnetic, chemical, or other properties. Thus, the present invention provides methods for the parallel synthesis and analysis of novel materials having useful properties.

Enhanced bonding property of cold-sprayed Zn-Al coating on interstitial-free steel substrate with a nanostructured surface layer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liang, Y. L.; Wang, Z. B.; Zhang, J.; Zhang, J. B.; Lu, K.

2016-11-01

By means of surface mechanical attrition treatment (SMAT), a gradient nanostructured surface layer was fabricated on a hot-rolled interstitial-free steel plate. A Zn-Al coating was subsequently deposited on the SMAT sample by using cold spray process. The bonding property of the coating on the SMAT substrate was compared with that on the coarse-grained (CG) sample. Stud-pull tests showed that the bonding strength in the as-sprayed SMAT sample is ∼30% higher than that in the as-sprayed CG sample. No further improvement in bonding strength was achieved in the coated SMAT sample after annealing at 400 °C, mostly due to the formation of cracks and intermetallic compounds at the coating/substrate interface in an earlier stage (<30 min) and in a final stage (>90 min), respectively. The enhanced bonding property of the Zn-Al coating on the SMAT sample might be related with the promoted atomic diffusion and hardness in the nanostructured surface layer.

Impact of x-Linkable Polymer Blends on Phase Morphology and Adhesion

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Chun; Wan, Grace; Keene, Ellen; Harris, Joseph; Zhang, Sipei; Anderson, Stephanie; Li Pi Shan, Colin

Adhesion to dissimilar substrate is highly important to multiple industrial applications such as automotive adhesives, food packaging, transportation etc. Adhesive design has to include components that are affinity to both substrates, e.g. high surface energy polar and low surface non-polar substrates. Typically, these adhesive components are thermodynamically incompatible with each other, leading to macrophase separation and thus adhesive failure. By using functional adhesive components plus some additives, the adhesive can be in-situ cross-linked to prevent the macrophase separation with controlled phase morphology. Herein, we present the study on a cross-linkable adhesive formulation consisting of acrylic emulsion and polyolefin aqueous dispersion with additives for enhancing cross-linking and controlled phase morphologies. Contact angle measurement and ATR-IR spectroscopy are used to characterize the properties of adhesive surface. DMA is used to study the mechanical property of adhesive before and after cross-linking. The detailed phase morphologies are revealed by AFM, SEM and TEM. The resulting adhesive morphologies are correlated with the adhesive performance to establish structure-property relationship.

Mechanical Properties and Real-Time Damage Evaluations of Environmental Barrier Coated SiC/SiC CMCs Subjected to Tensile Loading Under Thermal Gradients

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Appleby, Matthew; Zhu, Dongming; Morscher, Gregory

2015-01-01

SiC/SiC ceramic matrix composites (CMCs) require new state-of-the art environmental barrier coatings (EBCs) to withstand increased temperature requirements and high velocity combustion corrosive combustion gasses. The present work compares the response of coated and uncoated SiC/SiC CMC substrates subjected to simulated engine environments followed by high temperature mechanical testing to asses retained properties and damage mechanisms. Our focus is to explore the capabilities of electrical resistance (ER) measurements as an NDE technique for testing of retained properties under combined high heat-flux and mechanical loading conditions. Furthermore, Acoustic Emission (AE) measurements and Digital Image Correlation (DIC) were performed to determine material damage onset and accumulation.

Nanocomposites biodegradable coating on BOPET films to enhance hot seal strength properties

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

Barbaro, G., E-mail: giovannibarbaro@email.it; Galdi, M. R., E-mail: mrgaldi@unisa.it; Di Maio, L., E-mail: ldimaio@unisa.it

2015-12-17

The coating technology is a strategic solution to improve the properties of flexible packaging films. Indeed, additional functional layers are often designed and added as coating on the substrate, in order to improve the characteristic of the flexible packaging and to meet the requirements for the desired gas or vapour barrier, for adhesion and sealing, or for improving the film printability, its aesthetics and durability. Moreover, this technology allows to functionalize a polymeric substrate applying materials with different chemistry, rheology, thermal and structural characteristics. BOPET films are widely used for food packaging applications thanks to their good gas barrier andmore » mechanical properties, high transparency and for the excellent printability. In regard to sealing performance, BOPET films show poor sealing properties so they are mostly submitted to lamination processes with polyethylene. Nevertheless, this solution compromises the PET recyclability and influences the gas permeability of the multilayer PET based structures. The aim of this work is to investigate on the effect of nanocomposite biodegradable coatings for BOPET substrates in enhancing the heat sealing strength of eco-compatible PET/PLA films. At this regards, different percentages of Cloisite C30B (0%, 2% and 4%{sub wt/wt}) have been added to PLA by solution intercalation technique and the nanocomposite biodegradable materials produced have been applied on BOPET commercial films by casting. The BOPET coated films have been characterized in order to evaluate the heat sealing strength and the mechanical, gas permeability and surface properties. The results have shown that the addition of nanoclay in PLA coating significantly enhance the hot tack properties of the PET/PLA system produced, while the oxygen and water vapour permeability are slightly increased if compared to pure BOPET films.« less

Nanocomposites biodegradable coating on BOPET films to enhance hot seal strength properties

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Barbaro, G.; Galdi, M. R.; Di Maio, L.; Incarnato, L.

2015-12-01

The coating technology is a strategic solution to improve the properties of flexible packaging films. Indeed, additional functional layers are often designed and added as coating on the substrate, in order to improve the characteristic of the flexible packaging and to meet the requirements for the desired gas or vapour barrier, for adhesion and sealing, or for improving the film printability, its aesthetics and durability. Moreover, this technology allows to functionalize a polymeric substrate applying materials with different chemistry, rheology, thermal and structural characteristics. BOPET films are widely used for food packaging applications thanks to their good gas barrier and mechanical properties, high transparency and for the excellent printability. In regard to sealing performance, BOPET films show poor sealing properties so they are mostly submitted to lamination processes with polyethylene. Nevertheless, this solution compromises the PET recyclability and influences the gas permeability of the multilayer PET based structures. The aim of this work is to investigate on the effect of nanocomposite biodegradable coatings for BOPET substrates in enhancing the heat sealing strength of eco-compatible PET/PLA films. At this regards, different percentages of Cloisite C30B (0%, 2% and 4%wt/wt) have been added to PLA by solution intercalation technique and the nanocomposite biodegradable materials produced have been applied on BOPET commercial films by casting. The BOPET coated films have been characterized in order to evaluate the heat sealing strength and the mechanical, gas permeability and surface properties. The results have shown that the addition of nanoclay in PLA coating significantly enhance the hot tack properties of the PET/PLA system produced, while the oxygen and water vapour permeability are slightly increased if compared to pure BOPET films.

Action of microbial transglutaminase (MTGase) in the modification of food proteins: a review.

PubMed

Gaspar, Ana Luisa Camolezi; de Góes-Favoni, Silvana Pedroso

2015-03-15

Microbial transglutaminase (MTGase) is an enzyme of the class of transferases widely known to modify protein functional properties in food systems. The main mechanisms of action involved are polymerisations, which result in changes in the molecule's hydrophobicity. Among the functional properties, MTGase affects solubility and hence gelation, emulsification, foaming, viscosity and water-holding capacity, which all depend on protein solubility. Although the enzyme's benefits for protein functionality in a variety of food systems are widely reported in the literature, few studies have focussed on its mechanisms. The purpose of this review is therefore to investigate the mechanisms of action of MTGase and consider its influence on the functional properties with different protein substrates. Understanding these mechanisms is the first step in the development and application, in food production, of new and better functional properties with improved and/or innovative characteristics that can satisfy consumer expectations. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Magnetic properties of Pr-Fe-B thick-film magnets deposited on Si substrates with glass buffer layer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nakano, M.; Kurosaki, A.; Kondo, H.; Shimizu, D.; Yamaguchi, Y.; Yamashita, A.; Yanai, T.; Fukunaga, H.

2018-05-01

In order to improve the magnetic properties of PLD-made Pr-Fe-B thick-film magnets deposited on Si substrates, an adoption of a glass buffer layer was carried out. The glass layer could be fabricated under the deposition rate of approximately 70 μm/h on a Si substrate using a Nd-YAG pulse laser in the vacuum atmosphere. The use of the layer enabled us to reduce the Pr content without a mechanical destruction and enhance (BH)max value by approximately 20 kJ/m3 compared with the average value of non-buffer layered Pr-Fe-B films with almost the same thickness. It is also considered that the layer is also effective to apply a micro magnetization to the films deposited on Si ones.

Centimeter-Scale 2D van der Waals Vertical Heterostructures Integrated on Deformable Substrates Enabled by Gold Sacrificial Layer-Assisted Growth.

PubMed

Islam, Md Ashraful; Kim, Jung Han; Schropp, Anthony; Kalita, Hirokjyoti; Choudhary, Nitin; Weitzman, Dylan; Khondaker, Saiful I; Oh, Kyu Hwan; Roy, Tania; Chung, Hee-Suk; Jung, Yeonwoong

2017-10-11

Two-dimensional (2D) transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) such as molybdenum or tungsten disulfides (MoS 2 or WS 2 ) exhibit extremely large in-plane strain limits and unusual optical/electrical properties, offering unprecedented opportunities for flexible electronics/optoelectronics in new form factors. In order for them to be technologically viable building-blocks for such emerging technologies, it is critically demanded to grow/integrate them onto flexible or arbitrary-shaped substrates on a large wafer-scale compatible with the prevailing microelectronics processes. However, conventional approaches to assemble them on such unconventional substrates via mechanical exfoliations or coevaporation chemical growths have been limited to small-area transfers of 2D TMD layers with uncontrolled spatial homogeneity. Moreover, additional processes involving a prolonged exposure to strong chemical etchants have been required for the separation of as-grown 2D layers, which is detrimental to their material properties. Herein, we report a viable strategy to universally combine the centimeter-scale growth of various 2D TMD layers and their direct assemblies on mechanically deformable substrates. By exploring the water-assisted debonding of gold (Au) interfaced with silicon dioxide (SiO 2 ), we demonstrate the direct growth, transfer, and integration of 2D TMD layers and heterostructures such as 2D MoS 2 and 2D MoS 2 /WS 2 vertical stacks on centimeter-scale plastic and metal foil substrates. We identify the dual function of the Au layer as a growth substrate as well as a sacrificial layer which facilitates 2D layer transfer. Furthermore, we demonstrate the versatility of this integration approach by fabricating centimeter-scale 2D MoS 2 /single walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) vertical heterojunctions which exhibit current rectification and photoresponse. This study opens a pathway to explore large-scale 2D TMD van der Waals layers as device building blocks for emerging mechanically deformable electronics/optoelectronics.

Effect of substrate on texture and mechanical properties of Mg-Cu-Zn thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Eshaghi, F.; Zolanvari, A.

2018-04-01

In this work, thin films of Mg-Cu-Zn with 60 nm thicknesses have been deposited on the Si(100), Al, stainless steel, and Cu substrates using DC magnetron sputtering. FESEM images displayed uniformity of Mg-Cu-Zn particles on the different substrates. AFM micrograph revealed the roughness of thin film changes due to the different kinds of the substrates. XRD measurements showed the existence of strong Mg (002) reflections and weak Mg (101) peaks. Residual stress and adhesion force have been measured as the mechanical properties of the Mg-Cu-Zn thin films. The residual stresses of thin films which have been investigated by X-ray diffraction method revealed that the thin films sputtered on the Si and Cu substrates endure minimum and maximum stresses, respectively, during the deposition process. However, the force spectroscopy analysis indicated that the films grew on the Si and Cu experienced maximum and minimum adhesion force. The texture analysis has been done using XRD instrument to make pole figures of Mg (002) and Mg (101) reflections. ODFs have been calculated to evaluate the distribution of the orientations within the thin films. It was found that the texture and stress have an inverse relation, while the texture and the adhesion force of the Mg-Cu-Zn thin films have direct relation. A thin film that sustains the lowest residual stresses and highest adhesive force had the strongest {001} basal fiber texture.

Temporal coding in a silicon network of integrate-and-fire neurons.

PubMed

Liu, Shih-Chii; Douglas, Rodney

2004-09-01

Spatio-temporal processing of spike trains by neuronal networks depends on a variety of mechanisms distributed across synapses, dendrites, and somata. In natural systems, the spike trains and the processing mechanisms cohere though their common physical instantiation. This coherence is lost when the natural system is encoded for simulation on a general purpose computer. By contrast, analog VLSI circuits are, like neurons, inherently related by their real-time physics, and so, could provide a useful substrate for exploring neuronlike event-based processing. Here, we describe a hybrid analog-digital VLSI chip comprising a set of integrate-and-fire neurons and short-term dynamical synapses that can be configured into simple network architectures with some properties of neocortical neuronal circuits. We show that, despite considerable fabrication variance in the properties of individual neurons, the chip offers a viable substrate for exploring real-time spike-based processing in networks of neurons.

The continuous and persistent periodical growth induced by substrate accommodation in In2O3 nanostructure chains and their photoluminescence properties

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shariati, Mohsen

2015-03-01

The growth of pyramidal and triangular beaded In2O3 nanocrystal chains by using oxygen-assisted thermal evaporation, substrate accommodation and condensation method has been articulated. Self-assembled In2O3 nanocrystal chains have been synthesized by the vapor-solid (VS) and vapor-liquid-solid (VLS) growth mechanism and also through controlling the kinetics factors (saturation ratio). A periodical one-dimensional (1-D) and persistent (0-D) growth was proposed to explain the formation of lateral nanostructures, and this formation aspect was ascribed to the alternate 1-D and 0-D growth. Preparing the needed growth factor, the In2O3 nanocrystal chains extended to several micrometers. The growth mechanism analysis was useful to realize the relation between the kinetics factors and the complex nanostructure. The morphology and size of nanocrystals intensively were changed by oxygen concentration and led to interesting photoluminescence property.

In vitro cell response to differences in poly-L-lactide crystallinity.

PubMed

Park, A; Cima, L G

1996-05-01

Many different processing techniques are currently being used to produce tissue regeneration devices from polyesters in the polylactide/polyglycolide family. While it is generally well recognized that processing techniques influence bulk mechanical and degradation properties of these materials, the effects on surface properties are relatively less well studied. We thus investigated the effects of processing conditions that are known to change bulk properties, but not composition, on the surface properties of poly-L-lactide (PLLA). Specifically, we investigated the role of bulk crystallinity of PLLA substrates on several physiochemical aspects of the surface and on the attachment, morphology, and differentiated function of cultured primary hepatocytes and growth of 3T3 fibroblasts. We fabricated smooth, clear PLLA films of 13-37% crystallinity. Glancing angle X-ray diffraction indicated that low crystallinity films lacked order in the first 50 A of the surface while relatively high crystallinity films had detectable order in this range. In other aspects, the surfaces of all PLLA substrates appeared identical with XPS, SEM, and advancing contact angle analysis, but contact angle hysteresis was slightly greater for more crystalline films. Although the physicochemical properties of the surfaces appeared almost identical, we observed differences in cell behavior on less crystalline versus more crystalline films. Hepatocytes formed spheroids on all PLLA substrates, but spheroid formation was faster (24-48 H) on crystalline substrates. quantitative image analysis was used to assess the average cell area as a function of time in culture, and our data confirm previous reports that retention of differentiated function is inversely related to cell spreading where function was assessed by P-450 enzyme activity. In addition, the growth rate of 3T3 fibroblasts was lower on crystalline substrates than on amorphous substrates. An important conclusion from this work is that processing techniques that lead to seemingly inconsequential changes in bulk and surface properties of these polymers may influence biological response.

Method For Making Electronic Circuits Having Nial And Ni3al Substrates

DOEpatents

Deevi, Seetharama C.; Sikka, Vinod K.

2001-01-30

A method for making electronic circuit component having improved mechanical properties and thermal conductivity comprises steps of providing NiAl and/or Ni.sub.3 Al, and forming an alumina layer thereupon prior to applying the conductive elements. Additional layers of copper-aluminum alloy or copper further improve mechanical strength and thermal conductivity.

Controlling Growth Orientation of Phthalocyanine Films by Electrical Fields

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Zhu, S.; Banks, C. E.; Frazier, D. O.; Ila, D.; Muntele, I.; Penn, B. G.; Sharma, A.; Rose, M. Franklin (Technical Monitor)

2001-01-01

Organic Phthalocyanine films have many applications ranging from data storage to various non-linear optical devices whose quality is affected by the growth orientation of Phthalocyanine films. Due to the structural and electrical properties of Phthalocyanine molecules, the film growth orientation depends strongly on the substrate surface states. In this presentation, an electrical field up to 4000 V/cm is introduced during film growth. The Phthalocyanine films are synthesized on quartz substrates using thermal evaporation. An intermediate layer is deposited on some substrates for introducing the electrical field. Scanning electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy are used for measuring surface morphology, film structure, and optical properties, respectively. The comparison of Phthalocyanine films grown with and without the electrical field reveals different morphology, film density, and growth orientation, which eventually change optical properties of these films. These results suggest that the growth method in the electrical field can be used to synthesized Phthalocyanine films with a preferred crystal orientation as well as propose an interaction mechanism between the substrate surface and the depositing molecules. The details of growth conditions and of the growth model of how the Phthalocyanine molecules grow in the electrical field will be discussed.

A study to improve the mechanical properties of silicon carbide ribbon fibers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Debolt, H. E.; Robey, R. J.

1976-01-01

Preliminary deposition studies of SiC ribbon on a carbon ribbon substrate showed that the dominant strength limiting flaws were at the substrate surface. Procedures for making the carbon ribbon substrate from polyimide film were improved, providing lengths up to 450 meters (1,500 ft.) of flat carbon ribbon substrate 1,900 microns (75 mils) wide by 25 microns (1 mil) thick. The flaws on the carbon ribbon were smaller and less frequent than on carbon ribbon used earlier. SiC ribbon made using the improved substrate, including a layer of pyrolytic graphite to reduce further the severity of substrate surface flaws, showed strength levels up to the 2,068 MPa (300 Ksi) target of the program, with average strength levels over 1,700 MPa (250 Ksi) with coefficient of variation as low as 10% for some runs.

Adhesion of single- and multi-walled carbon nanotubes to silicon substrate: atomistic simulations and continuum analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yuan, Xuebo; Wang, Youshan

2017-10-01

The radial deformation of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) adhering to a substrate may prominently affect their mechanical and physical properties. In this study, both classical atomistic simulations and continuum analysis are carried out, to investigate the lateral adhesion of single-walled CNTs (SWCNTs) and multi-walled CNTs (MWCNTs) to a silicon substrate. A linear elastic model for analyzing the adhesion of 2D shells to a rigid semi-infinite substrate is constructed in the framework of continuum mechanics. Good agreement is achieved between the cross-section profiles of adhesive CNTs obtained by the continuum model and by the atomistic simulation approach. It is found that the adhesion of a CNT to the silicon substrate is significantly influenced by its initial diameter and the number of walls. CNTs with radius larger than a certain critical radius are deformed radially on the silicon substrate with flat contact regions. With increasing number of walls, the extent of radial deformation of a MWCNT on the substrate decreases dramatically, and the flat contact area reduces—and eventually vanishes—due to increasing equivalent bending stiffness. It is analytically predicted that large-diameter MWCNTs with a large number of walls are likely to ‘stand’ on the silicon substrate. The present work can be useful for understanding the radial deformation of CNTs adhering to a solid planar substrate.

Influence of substrate preparation on the shaping of the topography of the surface of nanoceramic oxide layers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bara, Marek; Kubica, Marek

2014-02-01

The paper discusses the shaping mechanism and changes occurring in the structure and topography of the surface of nanoceramic oxide layers during their formation. The paper presents the influence of substrate preparation on the surface topography of oxide layers. The layers were produced via hard anodizing on the EN AW-5251 aluminum alloy. The layers obtained were subjected to microscope examinations, image and chemical composition analyses, and stereometric examinations. Heredity of substrate properties in the topography of the surface of nanoceramic oxide layers formed as a result of electrochemical oxidation has been shown.

Conductive and robust nitride buffer layers on biaxially textured substrates

DOEpatents

Sankar, Sambasivan; Goyal, Amit; Barnett, Scott A.; Kim, Ilwon; Kroeger, Donald M.

2004-08-31

The present invention relates to epitaxial, electrically conducting and mechanically robust, cubic nitride buffer layers deposited epitaxially on biaxially textured substrates such as metal and alloys. The invention comprises of a biaxially textured substrate with epitaxial layers of nitrides. The invention also discloses a method to form such epitaxial layers using a high rate deposition method as well as without the use of forming gases. The invention further comprises epitaxial layers of oxides on the biaxially textured nitride layers. In some embodiments the article further comprises electromagnetic devices which may be super conducting properties.

Effects of UV Aging on the Cracking of Titanium Oxide Layer on Poly(ethylene terephthalate) Substrate: Preprint

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

Zhang, Chao; Gray, Matthew H.; Tirawat, Robert

Thin oxide and metal films deposited on polymer substrates is an emerging technology for advanced reflectors for concentrated solar power applications, due to their unique combination of light weight, flexibility and inexpensive manufacture. Thus far, there is little knowledge on the mechanical integrity or structural persistence of such multi-layer thin film systems under long-term environmental aging. In this paper, the cracking of a brittle titanium dioxide layer deposited onto elasto-plastic poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) substrate is studied through a combination of experiment and modeling. In-situ fragmentation tests have been conducted to monitor the onset and evolution of cracks both on pristinemore » and on samples aged with ultraviolet (UV) light. An analytical model is presented to simulate the cracking behavior and to predict the effects of UV aging. Based on preliminary experimental observation, the effect of aging is divided into three aspects and analyzed independently: mechanical property degradation of the polymer substrate; degradation of the interlayer between substrate and oxide coating; and internal stress-induced cracks on the oxide coating.« less

Metallization of Various Polymers by Cold Spray

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Che, Hanqing; Chu, Xin; Vo, Phuong; Yue, Stephen

2018-01-01

Previous results have shown that metallic coatings can be successfully cold sprayed onto polymeric substrates. This paper studies the cold sprayability of various metal powders on different polymeric substrates. Five different substrates were used, including carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polyether ether ketone (PEEK), polyethylenimine (PEI); mild steel was also used as a benchmark substrate. The CFRP used in this work has a thermosetting matrix, and the ABS, PEEK and PEI are all thermoplastic polymers, with different glass transition temperatures as well as a number of distinct mechanical properties. Three metal powders, tin, copper and iron, were cold sprayed with both a low-pressure system and a high-pressure system at various conditions. In general, cold spray on the thermoplastic polymers rendered more positive results than the thermosetting polymers, due to the local thermal softening mechanism in the thermoplastics. Thick copper coatings were successfully deposited on PEEK and PEI. Based on the results, a method is proposed to determine the feasibility and deposition window of cold spraying specific metal powder/polymeric substrate combinations.

Reassessing SERS enhancement factors: using thermodynamics to drive substrate design.

PubMed

Guicheteau, J A; Tripathi, A; Emmons, E D; Christesen, S D; Fountain, Augustus W

2017-12-04

Over the past 40 years fundamental and application research into Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) has been explored by academia, industry, and government laboratories. To date however, SERS has achieved little commercial success as an analytical technique. Researchers are tackling a variety of paths to help break through the commercial barrier by addressing the reproducibility in both the SERS substrates and SERS signals as well as continuing to explore the underlying mechanisms. To this end, investigators use a variety of methodologies, typically studying strongly binding analytes such as aromatic thiols and azarenes, and report SERS enhancement factor calculations. However a drawback of the traditional SERS enhancement factor calculation is that it does not yield enough information to understand substrate reproducibility, application potential with another analyte, or the driving factors behind the molecule-metal interaction. Our work at the US Army Edgewood Chemical Biological Center has focused on these questions and we have shown that thermodynamic principles play a key role in the SERS response and are an essential factor in future designs of substrates and applications. This work will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of various experimental techniques used to report SERS enhancement with planar SERS substrates and present our alternative SERS enhancement value. We will report on three types of analysis scenarios that all yield different information concerning the effectiveness of the SERS substrate, practical application of the substrate, and finally the thermodynamic properties of the substrate. We believe that through this work a greater understanding for designing substrates will be achieved, one that is based on both thermodynamic and plasmonic properties as opposed to just plasmonic properties. This new understanding and potential change in substrate design will enable more applications for SERS based methodologies including targeting molecules that are traditionally not easily detected with SERS due to the perceived weak molecule-metal interaction of substrates.

Surface Mechanoengineering of a Zr-based Bulk Metallic Glass via Ar-Nanobubble Doping to Probe Cell Sensitivity to Rigid Materials

DOE PAGES

Huang, Lu; Tian, Mengkun; Wu, Dong; ...

2017-11-24

In this paper, a new materials platform, utilizing the amorphous microstructure of bulk metallic glasses (BMGs) and the versatility of ion implantation, was developed for the fundamental investigation of cell responses to substrate-rigidity variations in the gigapascal modulus range, which was previously unattainable with polymeric materials. The surface rigidity of a Zr-Al- Ni-Cu-Y BMG was modulated with low-energy Ar-ion implantation owing to the impartment of Ar nanobubbles into the amorphous matrix. Surface softening was achieved due to the formation of nanobubble-doped transitional zones in the Zrbased BMG substrate. Bone-forming cell studies on this newly designed platform demonstrated that mechanical cues,more » accompanied with the potential effects of other surface properties (i.e. roughness, morphology, and chemistry), contributed to modulating cell behaviors. Cell adhesion and actin filaments were found to be less established on less stiff surfaces, especially on the surface with an elastic modulus of 51 GPa. Cell growth appeared to be affected by surface mechanical properties. A lower stiffness was generally related to a higher growth rate. Findings in this study broadened our fundamental understanding concerning the mechanosensing of bone cells on stiff substrates. It also suggests that surface mechano-engineering of metallic materials could be a potential strategy to promote osseointegration of such materials for bone-implant applications. Further investigations are proposed to fine tune the ion implantation variables in order to further distinguish the surface-mechanical effect on bone-forming cell activities from the contributions of other surface properties.« less

Mechanical properties of water-assembled graphene oxide Langmuir monolayers: Guiding controlled transfer

DOE PAGES

Harrison, Katharine L.; Biedermann, Laura B.; Zavadil, Kevin R.

2015-08-24

Liquid-phase transfer of graphene oxide (GO) and reduced graphene oxide (RGO) monolayers is investigated from the perspective of the mechanical properties of these films. Monolayers are assembled in a Langmuir–Blodgett trough, and oscillatory barrier measurements are used to characterize the resulting compressive and shear moduli as a function of surface pressure. GO monolayers are shown to develop a significant shear modulus (10–25 mN/m) at relevant surface pressures while RGO monolayers do not. The existence of a shear modulus indicates that GO is acting as a two-dimensional solid driven by strong interaction between the individual GO sheets. The absence of suchmore » behavior in RGO is attributed to the decrease in oxygen moieties on the sheet basal plane, permitting RGO sheets to slide across one another with minimum energy dissipation. Knowledge of this two-dimensional solid behavior is exploited to successfully transfer large-area, continuous GO films to hydrophobic Au substrates. The key to successful transfer is the use of shallow-angle dipping designed to minimize tensile stress present during the insertion or extraction of the substrate. A shallow dip angle on hydrophobic Au does not impart a beneficial effect for RGO monolayers, as these monolayers do not behave as two-dimensional solids and do not remain coherent during the transfer process. As a result, we hypothesize that this observed correlation between monolayer mechanical properties and continuous film transfer success is more universally applicable across substrate hydrophobicities and could be exploited to control the transfer of films composed of two-dimensional materials.« less

Surface Mechanoengineering of a Zr-based Bulk Metallic Glass via Ar-Nanobubble Doping to Probe Cell Sensitivity to Rigid Materials

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

Huang, Lu; Tian, Mengkun; Wu, Dong

In this paper, a new materials platform, utilizing the amorphous microstructure of bulk metallic glasses (BMGs) and the versatility of ion implantation, was developed for the fundamental investigation of cell responses to substrate-rigidity variations in the gigapascal modulus range, which was previously unattainable with polymeric materials. The surface rigidity of a Zr-Al- Ni-Cu-Y BMG was modulated with low-energy Ar-ion implantation owing to the impartment of Ar nanobubbles into the amorphous matrix. Surface softening was achieved due to the formation of nanobubble-doped transitional zones in the Zrbased BMG substrate. Bone-forming cell studies on this newly designed platform demonstrated that mechanical cues,more » accompanied with the potential effects of other surface properties (i.e. roughness, morphology, and chemistry), contributed to modulating cell behaviors. Cell adhesion and actin filaments were found to be less established on less stiff surfaces, especially on the surface with an elastic modulus of 51 GPa. Cell growth appeared to be affected by surface mechanical properties. A lower stiffness was generally related to a higher growth rate. Findings in this study broadened our fundamental understanding concerning the mechanosensing of bone cells on stiff substrates. It also suggests that surface mechano-engineering of metallic materials could be a potential strategy to promote osseointegration of such materials for bone-implant applications. Further investigations are proposed to fine tune the ion implantation variables in order to further distinguish the surface-mechanical effect on bone-forming cell activities from the contributions of other surface properties.« less

Nanostructuring and texturing of pulsed laser deposited hydroxyapatite thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Hyunbin; Catledge, Shane; Vohra, Yogesh; Camata, Renato; Lacefield, William

2003-03-01

Hydroxyapatite (HA) [Ca_10(PO_4)_6(OH)_2] is commonly deposited onto orthopedic and dental metallic implants to speed up bone formation around devices, allowing earlier stabilization in a patient. Pulsed laser deposition (PLD) is a suitable means of placing thin HA films on these implants because of its control over stoichiometry, crystallinity, and nanostructure. These characteristics determine the mechanical properties of the films that must be optimized to improve the performance of load-bearing implants and other devices that undergo bone insertion. We have used PLD to produce nanostructured and preferentially oriented HA films and evaluated their mechanical properties. Pure, highly crystalline HA films on Ti-6Al-4V substrates were obtained using a KrF excimer laser (248nm) with energy density of 4-8 J/cm^2 and deposition temperature of 500-700^rcC. Scanning electron and atomic force microscopies reveal that our careful manipulation of energy density and substrate temperature has led to films made up of HA grains in the nanometer scale. Broadening of x-ray diffraction peaks as a function of deposition temperature suggests it may be possible to control the film nanostructure to a great extent. X-ray diffraction also shows that as the laser energy density is increased in the 4-8 J/cm^2 range, the hexagonal HA films become preferentially oriented along the c-axis perpendicular to the substrate. Texture, nanostructure, and phase make-up all significantly influence the mechanical properties. We will discuss how each of these factors affects hardness and Young's modulus of the HA films as measured by nanoindentation.

Growth of surface structures correlated with structural and mechanical modifications of brass by laser-induced Si plasma ions implantation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ahmad, Shahbaz; Bashir, Shazia; Rafique, M. Shahid; Yousaf, Daniel

2017-04-01

Laser-produced Si plasma is employed as an ion source for implantation on the brass substrate for its surface, structural, and mechanical modifications. Thomson parabola technique is employed for the measurement of energy and flux of Si ions using CR-39. In response to stepwise increase in number of laser pulses from 3000 to 12000, four brass substrates were implanted by laser-induced Si plasma ions of energy 290 keV at different fluxes ranging from 45 × 1012 to 75 × 1015 ions/cm2. SEM analysis reveals the formation of nano/micro-sized irregular shaped cavities and pores for the various ion fluxes for varying numbers of laser pulses from 3000 to 9000. At the maximum ion flux for 12,000 pulses, distinct and organized grains with hexagonal and irregular shaped morphology are revealed. X-ray diffractometer (XRD) analysis exhibits that a new phase of CuSi (311) is identified which confirms the implantation of Si ions in brass substrate. A significant decrease in mechanical properties of implanted brass, such as Yield Stress (YS), Ultimate Tensile Strength (UTS), and hardness, with increasing laser pulses from 3000 to 6000 is observed. However, with increasing laser pulses from 9000 to a maximum value of 12,000, an increase in mechanical properties like hardness, YS, and UTS is observed. The generation as well as annihilation of defects, recrystallization, and intermixing of Si precipitates with brass matrix is considered to be responsible for variations in surface, structural, and mechanical modifications of brass.

Drop trampoline

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chantelot, Pierre; Coux, Martin; Clanet, Christophe; Quere, David

2017-11-01

Superhydrophobic substrates inspired from the lotus leaf have the ability to reflect impacting water drops. They do so very efficiently and contact lasts typically 10 ms for millimetric droplets. Yet unlike a lotus leaf most synthetic substrates are rigid. Focusing on the interplay between substrate flexibility and liquid repellency might allow us to understand the dynamic properties of natural surfaces. We perform liquid marbles impacts at velocity V onto thin ( 0.01 mm) stretched circular PDMS membranes. We obtain contact time reductions of up to 70%. The bouncing mechanism is drastically modified compared to that on a rigid substrate: the marble leaves the substrate while it is still spread in a disk shape as it is kicked upwards by the membrane. We show that the bouncing is controlled by an interplay between the dynamics of the drop and the membrane.

Chemical Sensing Systems that Utilize Soft Electronics on Thin Elastomeric Substrates with Open Cellular Designs

PubMed Central

Lee, Yoon Kyeung; Jang, Kyung-In; Ma, Yinji; Koh, Ahyeon; Chen, Hang; Jung, Han Na; Kim, Yerim; Kwak, Jean Won; Wang, Liang; Xue, Yeguang; Yang, Yiyuan; Tian, Wenlong; Jiang, Yu; Zhang, Yihui; Feng, Xue; Huang, Yonggang

2017-01-01

A collection of materials and device architectures are introduced for thin, stretchable arrays of ion sensors that mount on open cellular substrates to facilitate solution exchange for use in biointegrated electronics. The results include integration strategies and studies of fundamental characteristics in chemical sensing and mechanical response. The latter involves experimental measurements and theoretical simulations that establish important considerations in the design of low modulus, stretchable properties in cellular substrates, and in the realization of advanced capabilities in spatiotemporal mapping of chemicals' gradients. As the chemical composition of extracellular fluids contains valuable information related to biological function, the concepts introduced here have potential utility across a range of skin- and internal-organ-integrated electronics where soft mechanics, fluidic permeability, and advanced chemical sensing capabilities are key requirements. PMID:28989338

Bonding strength of glass-ceramic trabecular-like coatings to ceramic substrates for prosthetic applications.

PubMed

Chen, Qiang; Baino, Francesco; Pugno, Nicola M; Vitale-Brovarone, Chiara

2013-04-01

A new approach based on the concepts of quantized fracture mechanics (QFM) is presented and discussed in this paper to estimate the bonding strength of trabecular-like coatings, i.e. glass-ceramic scaffolds mimicking the architecture of cancellous bone, to ceramic substrates. The innovative application of glass-derived scaffolds as trabecular-like coatings is proposed in order to enhance the osteointegration of prosthetic ceramic devices. The scaffolds, prepared by polymeric sponge replication, are joined to alumina substrates by a dense glass-ceramic coating (interlayer) and the so-obtained 3-layer constructs are investigated from micro-structural, morphological and mechanical viewpoints. In particular, the fracture strengths of three different crack propagation modes, i.e. glass-derived scaffold fracture, interface delamination or mixed fracture, are predicted in agreement with those of experimental mechanical tests. The approach proposed in this work could have interesting applications towards an ever more rational design of bone tissue engineering biomaterials and coatings, in view of the optimization of their mechanical properties for making them actually suitable for clinical applications. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Water Touch-and-Bounce from a Soft Viscoelastic Substrate: Wetting, Dewetting, and Rebound on Bitumen.

PubMed

Lee, Jae Bong; Dos Santos, Salomé; Antonini, Carlo

2016-08-16

Understanding the interaction between liquids and deformable solid surfaces is a fascinating fundamental problem, in which interaction and coupling of capillary and viscoelastic effects, due to solid substrate deformation, give rise to complex wetting mechanisms. Here we investigated as a model case the behavior of water drops on two smooth bitumen substrates with different rheological properties, defined as hard and soft (with complex shear moduli in the order of 10(7) and 10(5) Pa, respectively, at 1 Hz), focusing both on wetting and on dewetting behavior. By means of classical quasi-static contact angle measurements and drop impact tests, we show that the water drop behavior can significantly change from the quasi-static to the dynamic regime on soft viscoelastic surfaces, with the transition being defined by the substrate rheological properties. As a result, we also show that on the hard substrate, where the elastic response is dominant under all investigated conditions, classical quasi-static contact angle measurements provide consistent results that can be used to predict the drop dynamic wetting behavior, such as drop deposition or rebound after impact, as typically observed for nondeformable substrates. Differently, on soft surfaces, the formation of wetting ridges did not allow to define uniquely the substrate intrinsic advancing and receding contact angles. In addition, despite showing a high adhesion to the soft surface in quasi-static measurements, the drop was surprisingly able to rebound and escape from the surface after impact, as it is typically observed for hydrophobic surfaces. These results highlight that measurements of wetting properties for viscoelastic substrates need to be critically used and that wetting behavior of a liquid on viscoelastic surfaces is a function of the characteristic time scales.

Properties, synthesis, and growth mechanisms of carbon nanotubes with special focus on thermal chemical vapor deposition.

PubMed

Nessim, Gilbert D

2010-08-01

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been extensively investigated in the last decade because their superior properties could benefit many applications. However, CNTs have not yet made a major leap into industry, especially for electronic devices, because of fabrication challenges. This review provides an overview of state-of-the-art of CNT synthesis techniques and illustrates their major technical difficulties. It also charts possible in situ analyses and new reactor designs that might enable commercialization. After a brief description of the CNT properties and of the various techniques used to synthesize substrate-free CNTs, the bulk of this review analyzes chemical vapor deposition (CVD). This technique receives special attention since it allows CNTs to be grown in predefined locations, provides a certain degree of control of the types of CNTs grown, and may have the highest chance to succeed commercially. Understanding the primary growth mechanisms at play during CVD is critical for controlling the properties of the CNTs grown and remains the major hurdle to overcome. Various factors that influence CNT growth receive a special focus: choice of catalyst and substrate materials, source gases, and process parameters. This review illustrates important considerations for in situ characterization and new reactor designs that may enable researchers to better understand the physical growth mechanisms and to optimize the synthesis of CNTs, thus contributing to make carbon nanotubes a manufacturing reality.

Corrosion properties of zirconium-based ceramic coatings for micro-bearing and biomedical applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Walkowicz, J.; Zavaleyev, V.; Dobruchowska, E.; Murzynski, D.; Donkov, N.; Zykova, A.; Safonov, V.; Yakovin, S.

2016-03-01

Ceramic oxide ZrO2 and oxynitride ZrON coatings are widely used as protective coatings against diffusion and corrosion. The enhancement of the coatings' mechanical properties, as well as their wear and corrosion resistance, is very important for their tribological performance. In this work, ZrO2 and ZrON coatings were deposited by magnetron sputtering on stainless steel (AISI 316) substrates. The adhesion, hardness and elastic properties were evaluated by standard methods. The surface structure of the deposited coatings was observed by electron scanning microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The composition of the coatings was analyzed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The corrosion resistance properties were evaluated using the potentiodynamic method. The results show that the corrosion parameters are significantly increased in the cases of both oxynitride and oxide coatings in comparison with the stainless steel (AISI 316) substrates.

Mechanical properties of metal-organic frameworks: An indentation study on epitaxial thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bundschuh, S.; Kraft, O.; Arslan, H. K.; Gliemann, H.; Weidler, P. G.; Wöll, C.

2012-09-01

We have determined the hardness and Young's modulus of a highly porous metal-organic framework (MOF) using a standard nanoindentation technique. Despite the very low density of these films, 1.22 g cm-3, Young's modulus reaches values of almost 10 GPa for HKUST-1, demonstrating that this porous coordination polymer is substantially stiffer than normal polymers. This progress in characterizing mechanical properties of MOFs has been made possible by the use of high quality, oriented thin films grown using liquid phase epitaxy on modified Au substrates.

Magnetic anisotropy and transport properties of 70 nm SrRuO3 films grown on different substrates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, X. W.; Zhang, Y. Q.; Meng, H.; Wang, Z. J.; Li, D.; Zhang, Z. D.

2011-04-01

Magnetic and transport properties of 70 nm SrRuO3 films grown on (001) SrTiO3, (001) LaAlO3 and (001) MgO have been investigated. A perpendicular magnetic anisotropy is observed in compressive strained films grown on SrTiO3. A weaker perpendicular magnetic anisotropy and a weak in-plane magnetic anisotropy are found in strain-free films grown on MgO and LAO, respectively, possibly due to different growth mechanisms. In addition, metallic behavior is observed in all the as-grown films and the resistivity of the film grown on MgO is lowest (230 μΩ cm at 300 K), which is close to that of bulk single crystal SrRuO3 (about 195 μΩ cm). The relation between structure and properties indicates that the magnetic anisotropy, as well as the magnitude of resistivity of SrRuO3 films, can be effectively tailored by taking advantage of different strains and growth mechanisms induced by growth on different substrates.

Testing Bonds Between Brittle And Ductile Films

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wheeler, Donald R.; Ohsaki, Hiroyuki

1989-01-01

Simple uniaxial strain test devised to measure intrinsic shear strength. Brittle film deposited on ductile stubstrate film, and combination stretched until brittle film cracks, then separates from substrate. Dimensions of cracked segments related in known way to tensile strength of brittle film and shear strength of bond between two films. Despite approximations and limitations of technique, tests show it yields semiquantitative measures of bond strengths, independent of mechanical properties of substrates, with results reproducible with plus or minus 6 percent.

Roughness-dependent friction force of the tarsal claw system in the beetle Pachnoda marginata (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae).

PubMed

Dai, Zhendong; Gorb, Stanislav N; Schwarz, Uli

2002-08-01

This paper studies slide-resisting forces generated by claws in the free-walking beetle Pachnoda marginata (Coleoptera, Scarabaeoidea) with emphasis on the relationship between the dimension of the claw tip and the substrate texture. To evaluate the force range by which the claw can interact with a substrate, forces generated by the freely moving legs were measured using a load cell force transducer. To obtain information about material properties of the claw, its mechanical strength was tested in a fracture experiment, and the internal structure of the fractured claw material was studied by scanning electron microscopy. The bending stress of the claw was evaluated as 143.4-684.2 MPa, depending on the cross-section model selected. Data from these different approaches led us to propose a model explaining the saturation of friction force with increased texture roughness. The forces are determined by the relative size of the surface roughness R(a) (or an average particle diameter) and the diameter of the claw tip. When surface roughness is much bigger than the claw tip diameter, the beetle can grasp surface irregularities and generate a high degree of attachment due to mechanical interlocking with substrate texture. When R(a) is lower than or comparable to the claw tip diameter, the frictional properties of the contact between claw and substrate particles play a key role in the generation of the friction force.

Systematic Investigation on the Influence of Spray Parameters on the Mechanical Properties of Atmospheric Plasma-Sprayed YSZ Coatings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mutter, Markus; Mauer, Georg; Mücke, Robert; Guillon, Olivier; Vaßen, Robert

2018-04-01

In the atmospheric plasma spray (APS) process, micro-sized ceramic powder is injected into a thermal plasma where it is rapidly heated and propelled toward the substrate. The coating formation is characterized by the subsequent impingement of a large number of more or less molten particles forming the so-called splats and eventually the coating. In this study, a systematic investigation on the influence of selected spray parameters on the coating microstructure and the coating properties was conducted. The investigation thereby comprised the coating porosity, the elastic modulus, and the residual stress evolution within the coating. The melting status of the particles at the impingement on the substrate in combination with the substrate surface condition is crucial for the coating formation. Single splats were collected on mirror-polished substrates for selected spray conditions and evaluated by identifying different types of splats (ideal, distorted, weakly bonded, and partially molten) and their relative fractions. In a previous study, these splat types were evaluated in terms of their effect on the above-mentioned coating properties. The particle melting status, which serves as a measure for the particle spreading behavior, was determined by in-flight particle temperature measurements and correlated to the coating properties. It was found that the gun power and the spray distance have a strong effect on the investigated coating properties, whereas the feed rate and the cooling show minor influence.

Investigation of the Structural, Electrical, and Optical Properties of the Nano-Scale GZO Thin Films on Glass and Flexible Polyimide Substrates

PubMed Central

Wang, Fang-Hsing; Chen, Kun-Neng; Hsu, Chao-Ming; Liu, Min-Chu; Yang, Cheng-Fu

2016-01-01

In this study, Ga2O3-doped ZnO (GZO) thin films were deposited on glass and flexible polyimide (PI) substrates at room temperature (300 K), 373 K, and 473 K by the radio frequency (RF) magnetron sputtering method. After finding the deposition rate, all the GZO thin films with a nano-scale thickness of about 150 ± 10 nm were controlled by the deposition time. X-ray diffraction patterns indicated that the GZO thin films were not amorphous and all exhibited the (002) peak, and field emission scanning electron microscopy showed that only nano-scale particles were observed. The dependences of the structural, electrical, and optical properties of the GZO thin films on different deposition temperatures and substrates were investigated. X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS) was used to measure the elemental composition at the chemical and electronic states of the GZO thin films deposited on different substrates, which could be used to clarify the mechanism of difference in electrical properties of the GZO thin films. In this study, the XPS binding energy spectra of Ga2p3/2 and Ga2p1/2 peaks, Zn2p3/2 and Zn2p1/2 peaks, the Ga3d peak, and O1s peaks for GZO thin films on glass and PI substrates were well compared. PMID:28335216

Fabricating Superior NiAl Bronze Components through Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing.

PubMed

Ding, Donghong; Pan, Zengxi; van Duin, Stephen; Li, Huijun; Shen, Chen

2016-08-03

Cast nickel aluminum bronze (NAB) alloy is widely used for large engineering components in marine applications due to its excellent mechanical properties and corrosion resistance. Casting porosity, as well as coarse microstructure, however, are accompanied by a decrease in mechanical properties of cast NAB components. Although heat treatment, friction stir processing, and fusion welding were implemented to eliminate porosity, improve mechanical properties, and refine the microstructure of as-cast metal, their applications are limited to either surface modification or component repair. Instead of traditional casting techniques, this study focuses on developing NAB components using recently expanded wire arc additive manufacturing (WAAM). Consumable welding wire is melted and deposited layer-by-layer on substrates producing near-net shaped NAB components. Additively-manufactured NAB components without post-processing are fully dense, and exhibit fine microstructure, as well as comparable mechanical properties, to as-cast NAB alloy. The effects of heat input from the welding process and post-weld-heat-treatment (PWHT) are shown to give uniform NAB alloys with superior mechanical properties revealing potential marine applications of the WAAM technique in NAB production.

Fabricating Superior NiAl Bronze Components through Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing

PubMed Central

Ding, Donghong; Pan, Zengxi; van Duin, Stephen; Li, Huijun; Shen, Chen

2016-01-01

Cast nickel aluminum bronze (NAB) alloy is widely used for large engineering components in marine applications due to its excellent mechanical properties and corrosion resistance. Casting porosity, as well as coarse microstructure, however, are accompanied by a decrease in mechanical properties of cast NAB components. Although heat treatment, friction stir processing, and fusion welding were implemented to eliminate porosity, improve mechanical properties, and refine the microstructure of as-cast metal, their applications are limited to either surface modification or component repair. Instead of traditional casting techniques, this study focuses on developing NAB components using recently expanded wire arc additive manufacturing (WAAM). Consumable welding wire is melted and deposited layer-by-layer on substrates producing near-net shaped NAB components. Additively-manufactured NAB components without post-processing are fully dense, and exhibit fine microstructure, as well as comparable mechanical properties, to as-cast NAB alloy. The effects of heat input from the welding process and post-weld-heat-treatment (PWHT) are shown to give uniform NAB alloys with superior mechanical properties revealing potential marine applications of the WAAM technique in NAB production. PMID:28773774

Substrate dependent hierarchical structures of RF sputtered ZnS films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chalana, S. R.; Mahadevan Pillai, V. P.

2018-05-01

RF magnetron sputtering technique was employed to fabricate ZnS nanostructures with special emphasis given to study the effect of substrates (quartz, glass and quartz substrate pre-coated with Au, Ag, Cu and Pt) on the structure, surface evolution and optical properties. Type of substrate has a significant influence on the crystalline phase, film morphology, thickness and surface roughness. The present study elucidates the suitability of quartz substrate for the deposition of stable and highly crystalline ZnS films. We found that the role of metal layer on quartz substrate is substantial in the preparation of hierarchical ZnS structures and these structures are of great importance due to its high specific area and potential applications in various fields. A mechanism for morphological evolution of ZnS structures is also presented based on the roughness of substrates and primary nonlocal effects in sputtering. Furthermore, the findings suggest that a controlled growth of hierarchical ZnS structures may be achieved with an ordinary RF sputtering technique by changing the substrate type.

Sol-Gel Derived Hydroxyapatite Coating on Mg-3Zn Alloy for Orthopedic Application

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Singh, Sanjay; Manoj Kumar, R.; Kuntal, Kishor Kumar; Gupta, Pallavi; Das, Snehashish; Jayaganthan, R.; Roy, Partha; Lahiri, Debrupa

2015-04-01

In recent years, magnesium and its alloys have gained a lot of interest as orthopedic implant constituents because their biodegradability and mechanical properties are closer to that of human bone. However, one major concern with Mg in orthopedics is its high corrosion rate that results in the reduction of mechanical integrity before healing the bone tissue. The current study evaluates the sol-gel-derived hydroxyapatite (HA) coating on a selected Mg alloy (Mg-3Zn) for decreasing the corrosion rate and increasing the bioactivity of the Mg surface. The mechanical integrity of the coating is established as a function of the surface roughness of the substrate and the sintering temperature of the coating. Coating on a substrate roughness of 15-20 nm and sintering at 400°C shows the mechanical properties in similar range of bone, thus making it suitable to avoid the stress-shielding effect. The hydroxyapatite coating on the Mg alloy surface also increases corrosion resistance very significantly by 40 times. Bone cells are also found proliferating better in the HA-coated surface. All these benefits together establish the candidature of sol-gel HA-coated Mg-3Zn alloy in orthopedic application.

Tailored benzoxazines as novel resin systems for printed circuit boards in high temperature e-mobility applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Troeger, K.; Darka, R. Khanpour; Neumeyer, T.; Altstaedt, V.

2014-05-01

This study focuses on the development of Bisphenol-F-benzoxazine resins blended with different ratios of a trifunctional epoxy resin suitable as matrix for substrates for high temperature printed circuit board (HT-PCB) applications. With the benzoxazine blends glass transition temperatures of more than 190 °C could be achieved in combination with a coefficient of thermal expansion in thickness direction (z-CTE) of less than 60 ppm/K without adding any fillers. This shows the high potential of the benzoxazine-epoxy blend systems as substrate materials for HT-PCBs. To understand the thermal behavior of the different formulations, the apparent crosslink density was calculated based on data from Dynamic Mechanical Analysis. Laminates in laboratory scale were prepared and characterized to demonstrate the transformation of the neat resin properties into real electronic substrate properties. The produced laminates exhibit a z-CTE below 40 ppm/K.

Preparation and electrical transport properties of quasi free standing bilayer graphene on SiC (0001) substrate by H intercalation

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

Yu, Cui; Liu, Qingbin; Li, Jia

2014-11-03

We investigate the temperature dependent electrical transport properties of quasi-free standing bilayer graphene on 4H-SiC (0001) substrate. Three groups of monolayer epitaxial graphene and corresponding quasi-free standing bilayer graphene with different crystal quality and layer number homogeneity are prepared. Raman spectroscopy and atomic-force microscopy are used to obtain their morphologies and layer number, and verify the complete translation of buffer layer into graphene. The highest room temperature mobility reaches 3700 cm{sup 2}/V·s for the quasi-free standing graphene. The scattering mechanism analysis shows that poor crystal quality and layer number inhomogeneity introduce stronger interacting of SiC substrate to the graphene layer andmore » more impurities, which limit the carrier mobility of the quasi-free standing bilayer graphene samples.« less

Tailored benzoxazines as novel resin systems for printed circuit boards in high temperature e-mobility applications

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

Troeger, K., E-mail: altstaedt@uni-bayreuth.de; Darka, R. Khanpour, E-mail: altstaedt@uni-bayreuth.de; Neumeyer, T., E-mail: altstaedt@uni-bayreuth.de

2014-05-15

This study focuses on the development of Bisphenol-F-benzoxazine resins blended with different ratios of a trifunctional epoxy resin suitable as matrix for substrates for high temperature printed circuit board (HT-PCB) applications. With the benzoxazine blends glass transition temperatures of more than 190 °C could be achieved in combination with a coefficient of thermal expansion in thickness direction (z-CTE) of less than 60 ppm/K without adding any fillers. This shows the high potential of the benzoxazine-epoxy blend systems as substrate materials for HT-PCBs. To understand the thermal behavior of the different formulations, the apparent crosslink density was calculated based on datamore » from Dynamic Mechanical Analysis. Laminates in laboratory scale were prepared and characterized to demonstrate the transformation of the neat resin properties into real electronic substrate properties. The produced laminates exhibit a z-CTE below 40 ppm/K.« less

Effect of power and type of substrate on calcium-phosphate coating morphology and microhardness

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

Kulyashova, Ksenia, E-mail: kseniya@ispms.tsc.ru; Glushko, Yurii, E-mail: glushko@ispms.tsc.ru; Sharkeev, Yurii, E-mail: sharkeev@ispms.tsc.ru

2015-10-27

As known, the influence of the different sputtering process parameters and type of substrate on structure of the deposited coating is important to identify, because these parameters are significantly affected on structure of coating. The studies of the morphology and microhardness of calcium-phosphate (CaP) coatings formed and obtained on the surface of titanium, zirconium, titanium and niobium alloy for different values of the power of radio frequency discharge are presented. The increase in the radio frequency (rf) magnetron discharge leads to the formation of a larger grain structure of the coating. The critical depths of indentation for coatings determining themore » value of their microhardness have been estimated. Mechanical properties of the composite material on the basis of the bioinert substrate metal and CaP coatings are superior to the properties of the separate components that make up this composite material.« less

Multi-Scale Computational Enzymology: Enhancing Our Understanding of Enzymatic Catalysis

PubMed Central

Gherib, Rami; Dokainish, Hisham M.; Gauld, James W.

2014-01-01

Elucidating the origin of enzymatic catalysis stands as one the great challenges of contemporary biochemistry and biophysics. The recent emergence of computational enzymology has enhanced our atomistic-level description of biocatalysis as well the kinetic and thermodynamic properties of their mechanisms. There exists a diversity of computational methods allowing the investigation of specific enzymatic properties. Small or large density functional theory models allow the comparison of a plethora of mechanistic reactive species and divergent catalytic pathways. Molecular docking can model different substrate conformations embedded within enzyme active sites and determine those with optimal binding affinities. Molecular dynamics simulations provide insights into the dynamics and roles of active site components as well as the interactions between substrate and enzymes. Hybrid quantum mechanical/molecular mechanical (QM/MM) can model reactions in active sites while considering steric and electrostatic contributions provided by the surrounding environment. Using previous studies done within our group, on OvoA, EgtB, ThrRS, LuxS and MsrA enzymatic systems, we will review how these methods can be used either independently or cooperatively to get insights into enzymatic catalysis. PMID:24384841

Thermo-mechanical modeling of laser treatment on titanium cold-spray coatings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Paradiso, V.; Rubino, F.; Tucci, F.; Astarita, A.; Carlone, P.

2018-05-01

Titanium coatings are very attractive to several industrial fields, especially aeronautics, due to the enhanced corrosion resistance and wear properties as well as improved compatibility with carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) materials. Cold sprayed titanium coatings, among the others deposition processes, are finding a widespread use in high performance applications, whereas post-deposition treatments are often used to modify the microstructure of the cold-sprayed layer. Laser treatments allow one to noticeably increase the superficial properties of titanium coatings when the process parameters are properly set. On the other hand, the high heat input required to melt titanium particles may result in excessive temperature increase even in the substrate. This paper introduces a thermo-mechanical model to simulate the laser treatment effects on a cold sprayed titanium coating as well as the aluminium substrate. The proposed thermo-mechanical finite element model considers the transient temperature field due to the laser source and applied boundary conditions using them as input loads for the subsequent stress-strain analysis. Numerical outcomes highlighted the relevance of thermal gradients and thermally induced stresses and strains in promoting the damage of the coating.

Microstructure and mechanical properties of diamond films on titanium-aluminum-vanadium alloy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Catledge, Shane Aaron

The primary focus of this dissertation is the investigation of the processing-structure-property relationships of diamond films deposited on Ti-6Al-4V alloy by microwave plasma chemical vapor deposition (MPCVD). By depositing a well-adhered protective layer of diamond on an alloy component, its hardness, wear-resistance, performance, and overall lifetime could be significantly increased. However, due to the large thermal expansion mismatch between the diamond film and metal (and the corresponding residual stress induced in the film), film adhesion is typically unsatisfactory and often results in immediate delamination after processing. Therefore, it is a major goal of this research to improve adhesion of the diamond film to the alloy substrate. Through the use of innovative processing techniques involving MPCVD deposition conditions and methane (CH4), nitrogen (N2), and hydrogen (H2) chemistry, we have achieved diamond films which consistently adhere to the alloy substrate. In addition, we have discovered that, with the appropriate choice of deposition conditions, the film structure can be tailored to range from highly crystalline, well-faceted diamond to nanocrystalline diamond with extremely low surface roughness (as low as 27 nm). The relationship between processing and structure was studied using in-situ optical emission spectroscopy, micro-Raman spectroscopy, surface profilometry, glancing-angle x-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy. We observe that when nitrogen is added to the H2/CH4 feedgas mixture, a carbon-nitrogen (CN) emission band arises and its relative abundance to the carbon dimer (C2) gas species is shown to have a pronounced influence on the diamond film structure. By appropriate choice of deposition chemistry and conditions, we can tailor the diamond film structure and its corresponding properties. The mechanical properties of interest in this thesis are those relating to the integrity of the film/substrate interface, as well as the hardness, wear resistance, residual stress, and elastic modulus of the film. The mechanical properties of the diamond coatings were characterized by indentation and wear testing instruments. Finally, we developed a model based on fundamental thermodynamic and optical principles for extracting the time dependence of film thickness and surface roughness using optical pyrometry for the case of an absorbing substrate. This model provides a convenient way to determine film thickness during growth in CVD systems as well as a reliable estimate of surface roughness.

Laser-Generated Rayleigh Waves Propagating in Transparent Viscoelastic Adhesive Coating/Metal Substrate Systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guan, Yi-jun; Sun, Hong-xiang; Yuan, Shou-qi; Zhang, Shu-yi; Ge, Yong

2016-10-01

We have established numerical models for simulating laser-generated Rayleigh waves in coating/substrate systems by a finite element method and investigated the propagation characteristics of Rayleigh waves in systems concerning the viscoelasticity and transparency of adhesive coatings. In this way, we have studied the influence of the mechanical properties of the coating, such as the elastic moduli, viscoelastic moduli, coating thickness, transparency, and coating material, on the propagation characteristics of the Rayleigh waves. The results show that the propagation characteristics of the Rayleigh waves can be divided into low- and high-frequency parts. The high-frequency propagation characteristics of the Rayleigh wave are closely related to the properties of the adhesive coating.

Effect of film thickness on structural and mechanical properties of AlCrN nanocompoite thin films deposited by reactive DC magnetron sputtering

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

Prakash, Ravi; Kaur, Davinder, E-mail: dkaurfph@iitr.ac.in

2016-05-06

In this study, the influence of film thickness on the structural, surface morphology and mechanical properties of Aluminum chromium nitride (AlCrN) thin films has been successfully investigated. The AlCrN thin films were deposited on silicon (100) substrate using dc magnetron reactive co-sputtering at substrate temperature 400° C. The structural, surface morphology and mechanical properties were studied using X-ray diffraction, field-emission scanning electron microscopy and nanoindentation techniques respectively. The thickness of these thin films was controlled by varying the deposition time therefore increase in deposition time led to increase in film thickness. X-ray diffraction pattern of AlCrN thin films with differentmore » deposition time shows the presence of (100) and (200) orientations. The crystallite size varies in the range from 12.5 nm to 36.3 nm with the film thickness due to surface energy minimization with the higher film thickness. The hardness pattern of these AlCrN thin films follows Hall-Petch relation. The highest hardness 23.08 Gpa and young modulus 215.31 Gpa were achieved at lowest grain size of 12.5 nm.« less

Surface step terrace tuned microstructures and dielectric properties of highly epitaxial CaCu3Ti4O12 thin films on vicinal LaAlO3 substrates

PubMed Central

Yao, Guang; Gao, Min; Ji, Yanda; Liang, Weizheng; Gao, Lei; Zheng, Shengliang; Wang, You; Pang, Bin; Chen, Y. B.; Zeng, Huizhong; Li, Handong; Wang, Zhiming; Liu, Jingsong; Chen, Chonglin; Lin, Yuan

2016-01-01

Controllable interfacial strain can manipulate the physical properties of epitaxial films and help understand the physical nature of the correlation between the properties and the atomic microstructures. By using a proper design of vicinal single-crystal substrate, the interface strain in epitaxial thin films can be well controlled by adjusting the miscut angle via a surface-step-terrace matching growth mode. Here, we demonstrate that LaAlO3 (LAO) substrates with various miscut angles of 1.0°, 2.75°, and 5.0° were used to tune the dielectric properties of epitaxial CaCu3Ti4O12 (CCTO) thin films. A model of coexistent compressive and tensile strained domains is proposed to understand the epitaxial nature. Our findings on the self-tuning of the compressive and tensile strained domain ratio along the interface depending on the miscut angle and the stress relaxation mechanism under this growth mode will open a new avenue to achieve CCTO films with high dielectric constant and low dielectric loss, which is critical for the design and integration of advanced heterostructures for high performance capacitance device applications. PMID:27703253

Surface step terrace tuned microstructures and dielectric properties of highly epitaxial CaCu3Ti4O12 thin films on vicinal LaAlO3 substrates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yao, Guang; Gao, Min; Ji, Yanda; Liang, Weizheng; Gao, Lei; Zheng, Shengliang; Wang, You; Pang, Bin; Chen, Y. B.; Zeng, Huizhong; Li, Handong; Wang, Zhiming; Liu, Jingsong; Chen, Chonglin; Lin, Yuan

2016-10-01

Controllable interfacial strain can manipulate the physical properties of epitaxial films and help understand the physical nature of the correlation between the properties and the atomic microstructures. By using a proper design of vicinal single-crystal substrate, the interface strain in epitaxial thin films can be well controlled by adjusting the miscut angle via a surface-step-terrace matching growth mode. Here, we demonstrate that LaAlO3 (LAO) substrates with various miscut angles of 1.0°, 2.75°, and 5.0° were used to tune the dielectric properties of epitaxial CaCu3Ti4O12 (CCTO) thin films. A model of coexistent compressive and tensile strained domains is proposed to understand the epitaxial nature. Our findings on the self-tuning of the compressive and tensile strained domain ratio along the interface depending on the miscut angle and the stress relaxation mechanism under this growth mode will open a new avenue to achieve CCTO films with high dielectric constant and low dielectric loss, which is critical for the design and integration of advanced heterostructures for high performance capacitance device applications.

Surface step terrace tuned microstructures and dielectric properties of highly epitaxial CaCu3Ti4O12 thin films on vicinal LaAlO3 substrates.

PubMed

Yao, Guang; Gao, Min; Ji, Yanda; Liang, Weizheng; Gao, Lei; Zheng, Shengliang; Wang, You; Pang, Bin; Chen, Y B; Zeng, Huizhong; Li, Handong; Wang, Zhiming; Liu, Jingsong; Chen, Chonglin; Lin, Yuan

2016-10-05

Controllable interfacial strain can manipulate the physical properties of epitaxial films and help understand the physical nature of the correlation between the properties and the atomic microstructures. By using a proper design of vicinal single-crystal substrate, the interface strain in epitaxial thin films can be well controlled by adjusting the miscut angle via a surface-step-terrace matching growth mode. Here, we demonstrate that LaAlO 3 (LAO) substrates with various miscut angles of 1.0°, 2.75°, and 5.0° were used to tune the dielectric properties of epitaxial CaCu 3 Ti 4 O 12 (CCTO) thin films. A model of coexistent compressive and tensile strained domains is proposed to understand the epitaxial nature. Our findings on the self-tuning of the compressive and tensile strained domain ratio along the interface depending on the miscut angle and the stress relaxation mechanism under this growth mode will open a new avenue to achieve CCTO films with high dielectric constant and low dielectric loss, which is critical for the design and integration of advanced heterostructures for high performance capacitance device applications.

Nanocrystalline CuNi alloys: improvement of mechanical properties and thermal stability

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nogues, Josep; Varea, A.; Pellicer, E.; Sivaraman, K. M.; Pane, S.; Nelson, B. J.; Surinach, S.; Baro, M. D.; Sort, J.

2014-03-01

Nanocrystalline metallic films are known to benefit from novel and enhanced physical and chemical properties. In spite of these outstanding properties, nanocrystalline metals typically show relatively poor thermal stability which leads to deterioration of the properties due to grain coarsening. We have studied nanocrystalline Cu1-xNix (0.56 < x < 1) thin films (3 μm-thick) electrodeposited galvanostatically onto Cu/Ti/Si (100) substrates. CuNi thin films exhibit large values of hardness (6.15 < H < 7.21 GPa), which can be tailored by varying the composition. However, pure Ni films (x = 1) suffer deterioration of their mechanical and magnetic properties after annealing during 3 h at relatively low temperatures (TANN > 475 K) due to significant grain growth. Interestingly, alloying Ni with Cu clearly improves the thermal stability of the material because grain coarsening is delayed due to segregation of a Cu-rich phase at grain boundaries, thus preserving both the mechanical and magnetic properties up to higher TANN.

Tribo-Mechanical Properties of HVOF Deposited Fe3Al Coatings Reinforced with TiB2 Particles for Wear-Resistant Applications

PubMed Central

Amiriyan, Mahdi; Blais, Carl; Savoie, Sylvio; Schulz, Robert; Gariépy, Mario; Alamdari, Houshang

2016-01-01

This study reveals the effect of TiB2 particles on the mechanical and tribological properties of Fe3Al-TiB2 composite coatings against an alumina counterpart. The feedstock was produced by milling Fe3Al and TiB2 powders in a high energy ball mill. The high-velocity oxy-fuel (HVOF) technique was used to deposit the feedstock powder on a steel substrate. The effect of TiB2 addition on mechanical properties and dry sliding wear rates of the coatings at sliding speeds ranging from 0.04 to 0.8 m·s−1 and loads of 3, 5 and 7 N was studied. Coatings made from unreinforced Fe3Al exhibited a relatively high wear rate. The Vickers hardness, elastic modulus and wear resistance of the coatings increased with increasing TiB2 content in the Fe3Al matrix. The wear mechanisms strongly depended on the sliding speed and the presence of TiB2 particles but were less dependent on the applied load. This study reveals the effect of TiB2 particles on the mechanical and tribological properties of Fe3Al-TiB2 composite coatings against an alumina counterpart. The feedstock was produced by milling Fe3Al and TiB2 powders in a high energy ball mill. The high-velocity oxy-fuel (HVOF) technique was used to deposit the feedstock powder on a steel substrate. The effect of TiB2 addition on mechanical properties and dry sliding wear rates of the coatings at sliding speeds ranging from 0.04 to 0.8 m·s−1 and loads of 3, 5 and 7 N was studied. Coatings made from unreinforced Fe3Al exhibited a relatively high wear rate. The Vickers hardness, elastic modulus and wear resistance of the coatings increased with increasing TiB2 content in the Fe3Al matrix. The wear mechanisms strongly depended on the sliding speed and the presence of TiB2 particles but were less dependent on the applied load. This study reveals the effect of TiB2 particles on the mechanical and tribological properties of Fe3Al-TiB2 composite coatings against an alumina counterpart. The feedstock was produced by milling Fe3Al and TiB2 powders in a high energy ball mill. The high-velocity oxy-fuel (HVOF) technique was used to deposit the feedstock powder on a steel substrate. The effect of TiB2 addition on mechanical properties and dry sliding wear rates of the coatings at sliding speeds ranging from 0.04 to 0.8 m·s−1 and loads of 3, 5 and 7 N was studied. Coatings made from unreinforced Fe3Al exhibited a relatively high wear rate. The Vickers hardness, elastic modulus and wear resistance of the coatings increased with increasing TiB2 content in the Fe3Al matrix. The wear mechanisms strongly depended on the sliding speed and the presence of TiB2 particles but were less dependent on the applied load. This study reveals the effect of TiB2 particles on the mechanical and tribological properties of Fe3Al-TiB2 composite coatings against an alumina counterpart. The feedstock was produced by milling Fe3Al and TiB2 powders in a high energy ball mill. The high-velocity oxy-fuel (HVOF) technique was used to deposit the feedstock powder on a steel substrate. The effect of TiB2 addition on mechanical properties and dry sliding wear rates of the coatings at sliding speeds ranging from 0.04 to 0.8 m·s−1 and loads of 3, 5 and 7 N was studied. Coatings made from unreinforced Fe3Al exhibited a relatively high wear rate. The Vickers hardness, elastic modulus and wear resistance of the coatings increased with increasing TiB2 content in the Fe3Al matrix. The wear mechanisms strongly depended on the sliding speed and the presence of TiB2 particles but were less dependent on the applied load. This study reveals the effect of TiB2 particles on the mechanical and tribological properties of Fe3Al-TiB2 composite coatings against an alumina counterpart. The feedstock was produced by milling Fe3Al and TiB2 powders in a high energy ball mill. The high-velocity oxy-fuel (HVOF) technique was used to deposit the feedstock powder on a steel substrate. The effect of TiB2 addition on mechanical properties and dry sliding wear rates of the coatings at sliding speeds ranging from 0.04 to 0.8 m·s−1 and loads of 3, 5 and 7 N was studied. Coatings made from unreinforced Fe3Al exhibited a relatively high wear rate. The Vickers hardness, elastic modulus and wear resistance of the coatings increased with increasing TiB2 content in the Fe3Al matrix. The wear mechanisms strongly depended on the sliding speed and the presence of TiB2 particles but were less dependent on the applied load. This study reveals the effect of TiB2 particles on the mechanical and tribological properties of Fe3Al-TiB2 composite coatings against an alumina counterpart. The feedstock was produced by milling Fe3Al and TiB2 powders in a high energy ball mill. The high-velocity oxy-fuel (HVOF) technique was used to deposit the feedstock powder on a steel substrate. The effect of TiB2 addition on mechanical properties and dry sliding wear rates of the coatings at sliding speeds ranging from 0.04 to 0.8 m·s−1 and loads of 3, 5 and 7 N was studied. Coatings made from unreinforced Fe3Al exhibited a relatively high wear rate. The Vickers hardness, elastic modulus and wear resistance of the coatings increased with increasing TiB2 content in the Fe3Al matrix. The wear mechanisms strongly depended on the sliding speed and the presence of TiB2 particles but were less dependent on the applied load. PMID:28787917

Helical coil buckling mechanism for a stiff nanowire on an elastomeric substrate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Youlong; Liu, Yilun; Yan, Yuan; Zhu, Yong; Chen, Xi

2016-10-01

When a stiff nanowire is deposited on a compliant soft substrate, it may buckle into a helical coil form when the system is compressed. Using theoretical and finite element method (FEM) analyses, the detailed three-dimensional coil buckling mechanism for a silicon nanowire (SiNW) on a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) substrate is studied. A continuum mechanics approach based on the minimization of the strain energy in the SiNW and elastomeric substrate is developed. Due to the helical buckling, the bending strain in SiNW is significantly reduced and the maximum local strain is almost uniformly distributed along SiNW. Based on the theoretical model, the energy landscape for different buckling modes of SiNW on PDMS substrate is given, which shows that both the in-plane and out-of-plane buckling modes have the local minimum potential energy, whereas the helical buckling model has the global minimum potential energy. Furthermore, the helical buckling spacing and amplitudes are deduced, taking into account the influences of the elastic properties and dimensions of SiNWs. These features are verified by systematic FEM simulations and parallel experiments. As the effective compressive strain in elastomeric substrate increases, the buckling profile evolves from a vertical ellipse to a lateral ellipse, and then approaches to a circle when the effective compressive strain is larger than 30%. The study may shed useful insights on the design and optimization of high-performance stretchable electronics and 3D complex nano-structures.

A Look Inside HIV Resistance through Retroviral Protease Interaction Maps

PubMed Central

Kontijevskis, Aleksejs; Prusis, Peteris; Petrovska, Ramona; Yahorava, Sviatlana; Mutulis, Felikss; Mutule, Ilze; Komorowski, Jan; Wikberg, Jarl E. S

2007-01-01

Retroviruses affect a large number of species, from fish and birds to mammals and humans, with global socioeconomic negative impacts. Here the authors report and experimentally validate a novel approach for the analysis of the molecular networks that are involved in the recognition of substrates by retroviral proteases. Using multivariate analysis of the sequence-based physiochemical descriptions of 61 retroviral proteases comprising wild-type proteases, natural mutants, and drug-resistant forms of proteases from nine different viral species in relation to their ability to cleave 299 substrates, the authors mapped the physicochemical properties and cross-dependencies of the amino acids of the proteases and their substrates, which revealed a complex molecular interaction network of substrate recognition and cleavage. The approach allowed a detailed analysis of the molecular–chemical mechanisms involved in substrate cleavage by retroviral proteases. PMID:17352531

Topography printing to locally control wettability.

PubMed

Zheng, Zijian; Azzaroni, Omar; Zhou, Feng; Huck, Wilhelm T S

2006-06-21

This paper reports a new patterning method, which utilizes NaOH to facilitate the irreversible binding between the PDMS stamp and substrates and subsequent cohesive mechanical failure to transfer the PDMS patterns. Our method shows high substrate tolerance and can be used to "print" various PDMS geometries on a wide range of surfaces, including Si100, glass, gold, polymers, and patterned SU8 photoresist. Using this technique, we are able to locally change the wettability of substrate surfaces by printing well-defined PDMS architectures on the patterned SU8 photoresist. It is possible to generate differential wetting and dewetting properties in microchannels and in the PDMS printed area, respectively.

Transparent conductive graphene textile fibers

PubMed Central

Neves, A. I. S.; Bointon, T. H.; Melo, L. V.; Russo, S.; de Schrijver, I.; Craciun, M. F.; Alves, H.

2015-01-01

Transparent and flexible electrodes are widely used on a variety of substrates such as plastics and glass. Yet, to date, transparent electrodes on a textile substrate have not been explored. The exceptional electrical, mechanical and optical properties of monolayer graphene make it highly attractive as a transparent electrode for applications in wearable electronics. Here, we report the transfer of monolayer graphene, grown by chemical vapor deposition on copper foil, to fibers commonly used by the textile industry. The graphene-coated fibers have a sheet resistance as low as ~1 kΩ per square, an equivalent value to the one obtained by the same transfer process onto a Si substrate, with a reduction of only 2.3 per cent in optical transparency while keeping high stability under mechanical stress. With this approach, we successfully achieved the first example of a textile electrode, flexible and truly embedded in a yarn. PMID:25952133

Stretchable electronics based on Ag-PDMS composites

PubMed Central

Larmagnac, Alexandre; Eggenberger, Samuel; Janossy, Hanna; Vörös, Janos

2014-01-01

Patterned structures of flexible, stretchable, electrically conductive materials on soft substrates could lead to novel electronic devices with unique mechanical properties allowing them to bend, fold, stretch or conform to their environment. For the last decade, research on improving the stretchability of circuits on elastomeric substrates has made significant progresses but designing printed circuit assemblies on elastomers remains challenging. Here we present a simple, cost-effective, cleanroom-free process to produce large scale soft electronic hardware where standard surface-mounted electrical components were directly bonded onto all-elastomeric printed circuit boards, or soft PCBs. Ag-PDMS tracks were stencil printed onto a PDMS substrate and soft PCBs were made by bonding the top and bottom layers together and filling punched holes with Ag-PDMS to create vias. Silver epoxy was used to bond commercial electrical components and no mechanical failure was observed after hundreds of stretching cycles. We also demonstrate the fabrication of a stretchable clock generator. PMID:25434843

Combinatorial synthesis of inorganic or composite materials

DOEpatents

Goldwasser, Isy; Ross, Debra A.; Schultz, Peter G.; Xiang, Xiao-Dong; Briceno, Gabriel; Sun, Xian-Dong; Wang, Kai-An

2010-08-03

Methods and apparatus for the preparation and use of a substrate having an array of diverse materials in predefined regions thereon. A substrate having an array of diverse materials thereon is generally prepared by delivering components of materials to predefined regions on a substrate, and simultaneously reacting the components to form at least two materials or, alternatively, allowing the components to interact to form at least two different materials. Materials which can be prepared using the methods and apparatus of the present invention include, for example, covalent network solids, ionic solids and molecular solids. More particularly, materials which can be prepared using the methods and apparatus of the present invention include, for example, inorganic materials, intermetallic materials, metal alloys, ceramic materials, organic materials, organometallic materials, nonbiological organic polymers, composite materials (e.g., inorganic composites, organic composites, or combinations thereof), etc. Once prepared, these materials can be screened for useful properties including, for example, electrical, thermal, mechanical, morphological, optical, magnetic, chemical, or other properties. Thus, the present invention provides methods for the parallel synthesis and analysis of novel materials having useful properties.

Method of adhering bone to a rigid substrate using a graphite fiber reinforced bone cement

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Knoell, A. C.; Maxwell, H. G. (Inventor)

1977-01-01

A method is described for adhering bone to the surface of a rigid substrate such as a metal or resin prosthesis using an improved surgical bone cement. The bone cement has mechanical properties more nearly matched to those of animal bone and thermal curing characteristics which result in less traumatization of body tissues and comprises a dispersion of short high modulus graphite fibers within a bonder composition including polymer dissolved in reactive monomer such as polymethylmethacrylate dissolved in methylmethacrylate monomer.

Microscopic Electronic and Mechanical Properties of Ultra-Thin Layered Materials

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-07-25

Graphene single layers grown by chemical vapor deposition on single crystal Cu substrates are subject to nonuniform physisorption strains that...the observed highly nonuniform strains. 4. Connecting dopant bond type with electronic structure in N-doped graphene (reference [4]) Robust methods

Roles of the cytoskeleton, cell adhesion and rho signalling in mechanosensing and mechanotransduction.

PubMed

Ohashi, Kazumasa; Fujiwara, Sachiko; Mizuno, Kensaku

2017-03-01

All cells sense and respond to various mechanical forces in and mechanical properties of their environment. To respond appropriately, cells must be able to sense the location, direction, strength and duration of these forces. Recent progress in mechanobiology has provided a better understanding of the mechanisms of mechanoresponses underlying many cellular and developmental processes. Various roles of mechanoresponses in development and tissue homeostasis have been elucidated, and many molecules involved in mechanotransduction have been identified. However, the whole picture of the functions and molecular mechanisms of mechanotransduction remains to be understood. Recently, novel mechanisms for sensing and transducing mechanical stresses via the cytoskeleton, cell-substrate and cell-cell adhesions and related proteins have been identified. In this review, we outline the roles of the cytoskeleton, cell-substrate and cell-cell adhesions, and related proteins in mechanosensing and mechanotransduction. We also describe the roles and regulation of Rho-family GTPases in mechanoresponses. © The Authors 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Japanese Biochemical Society. All rights reserved.

Domain structure of epitaxial SrRu O3 thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Herranz, G.; Sánchez, F.; Fontcuberta, J.; García-Cuenca, M. V.; Ferrater, C.; Varela, M.; Angelova, T.; Cros, A.; Cantarero, A.

2005-05-01

Growth of multidomains in epitaxial thin-film oxides is known to have a detrimental effect on some functional properties, and, thus, efforts are done to suppress them. It is commonly accepted that optimal properties of the metallic and ferromagnetic SrRuO3 (SRO) epitaxies can only be obtained if vicinal SrTiO3 (001) (STO) substrates are used. It is believed that this results from the suppression of multidomain structure in the SRO film. Here we revise this important issue. Nanometric films of SRO have been grown on STO(001) vicinal substrates with miscut (θV) angles in the ˜0.04°-4° range. Extensive structural analysis by x-ray-reciprocal space maps and μ -Raman spectroscopy indicates that single-domain, orthorhombic, SRO films are already obtained on the almost singular (θV≈0.1°) substrate, and, thus, substrates with large miscut angles are not required to grow twin-free films. In spite of this, transport properties are found to be optimized for films grown on vicinal substrates (θV⩾2°) . We claim that this is the result of the change of the growth mode and the resulting film morphology rather than the change of the domain structure. These findings drive the attention to the relevance of the growth mechanism at the initial stages of film growth, and we discuss its implications in other areas of oxide epitaxies. Moreover, we show that in clamped epitaxies on cubic substrates, in spite of isotropic biaxial substrate-induced strains, films may have an in-plane orthorhombic symmetry which results from the internal degree of freedom defined by rotations of the oxygen octahedrons.

Impact of pulse thermal processing on the properties of inkjet printed metal and flexible sensors

DOE PAGES

Joshi, Pooran C.; Kuruganti, Teja; Killough, Stephen M.

2015-03-11

In this paper, we report on the low temperature processing of environmental sensors employing pulse thermal processing (PTP) technique to define a path toward flexible sensor technology on plastic, paper, and fabric substrates. Inkjet printing and pulse thermal processing technique were used to realize mask-less, additive integration of low-cost sensors on polymeric substrates with specific focus on temperature, humidity, and strain sensors. The printed metal line performance was evaluated in terms of the electrical conductivity characteristics as a function of post-deposition thermal processing conditions. The PTP processed Ag metal lines exhibited high conductivity with metal sheet resistance values below 100more » mΩ/{whitesquare} using a pulse width as short as 250 μs. The flexible temperature and relative humidity sensors were defined on flexible polyimide substrates by direct printing of Ag metal structures. The printed resistive temperature sensor and capacitive humidity sensor were characterized for their sensitivity with focus on future smart-building applications. Strain gauges were printed on polyimide substrate to determine the mechanical properties of the silver nanoparticle films. Finally, the observed electrical properties of the printed metal lines and the sensitivity of the flexible sensors show promise for the realization of a high performance print-on-demand technology exploiting low thermal-budget PTP technique.« less

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

Crabtree, D.J.

Three types of boron/epoxy prepreg tape were prestressed to fracture weak sites along the fiber by winding over 0.3- to 0.6-inch diameter rollers prior to lamination. The prestressed prepreg was then laminated, and design allowable testing was conducted to determine if mechanical strength properties are increased and data scatter is reduced by prestressing. The types of prepreg studied were standard 'Rigidite' 5505/4 prepreg, carbon substrate boron fiber prepreg, and a prepreg made from 'defect' tungsten substrate boron that was manufactured in a high-speed, low-cost, production process. The strength of angleply composites of both 'Rigidite' 5505/4 and carbon substrate boron compositesmore » were unaffected by prestressing. A study was made to determine if prepreg costs could be reduced by manufacturing low-cost 'defect' boron fiber and prestressing it to improve its properties. The results of this study were inconclusive. The test results show prestressing marginally improved some composite properties while others were reduced. On 'Rigidite' 5505/4 unidirectional composites, fatigue strength was significantly improved by prestressing, while longitudinal tensile strength was reduced at room temperature and 350 F. On unidirectional carbon substrate boron composites, the longitudinal tensile strength at room temperature and 350F was increased with attendant variability, while fatigue strength at high stress levels was reduced but not affected at low stress levels.« less

Combining graphene with silicon carbide: synthesis and properties - a review

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shtepliuk, Ivan; Khranovskyy, Volodymyr; Yakimova, Rositsa

2016-11-01

Being a true two-dimensional crystal, graphene possesses a lot of exotic properties that would enable unique applications. Integration of graphene with inorganic semiconductors, e.g. silicon carbide (SiC) promotes the birth of a class of hybrid materials which are highly promising for development of novel operations, since they combine the best properties of two counterparts in the frame of one hybrid platform. As a specific heterostructure, graphene on SiC performs strongly, dependent on the synthesis method and the growth modes. In this article, a comprehensive review of the most relevant studies of graphene growth methods and mechanisms on SiC substrates has been carried out. The aim is to elucidate the basic physical processes that are responsible for the formation of graphene on SiC. First, an introduction is made covering some intriguing and not so often discussed properties of graphene. Then, we focus on integration of graphene with SiC, which is facilitated by the nature of SiC to assume graphitization. Concerning the synthesis methods, we discuss thermal decomposition of SiC, chemical vapor deposition and molecular beam epitaxy, stressing that the first technique is the most common one when SiC substrates are used. In addition, we briefly appraise graphene synthesis via metal mediated carbon segregation. We address in detail the main aspects of the substrate effect, such as substrate face polarity, off-cut, kind of polytype and nonpolar surfaces on the growth of graphene layers. A comparison of graphene grown on the polar faces is made. In particular, growth of graphene on Si-face SiC is critically analyzed concerning growth kinetics and growth mechanisms taking into account the specific characteristics of SiC (0001) surfaces, such as the step-terrace structure and the unavoidable surface reconstruction upon heating. In all subtopics obstacles and solutions are featured. We complete the review with a short summary and concluding remarks.

Modeling mechanical and thermo-mechanical erosion by flowing lava at Raglan, Cape Smith Belt, New Québec, Canada

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cataldo, V.; Williams, D. A.; Lesher, C. M.

2015-12-01

The 1.5-D Williams et al. model of thermal erosion by turbulent lava was recently applied to the Athabasca Valles lava channel on Mars, in an attempt to establish the importance of thermal erosion in excavating this ~80-100 m deep outflow channel. The modeled erosion depths (0.4-7.5 m) are far less than the depth of the channel which, combined with the short duration of the eruption, suggests that mechanical erosion may have had a greater role. Several studies suggest that mechanical erosion by lava is more important in channel-tube formation than previously thought, under certain circumstances. How would we be able to distinguish between mechanical and thermal erosion? By investigating model results when substrate properties change, as we move from a consolidated, mechanically strong substrate to a partially consolidated or unconsolidated, mechanically weaker substrate. The Proterozoic Raglan komatiitic basalt lava channel of the Cape Smith Belt, New Québec, Canada is a complex erosional environment involving invasive erosion of both sediment and gabbro substrates - which makes it a critical test case. The lava eroded an upper layer of soft sediment, with erosion at the tops, bottoms, and sides of the conduit, through underlying gabbro, and then burrowed laterally into underlying sediment, a scenario requiring a two-dimensional modeling approach. Using the available field data, we will simulate two-dimensional thermomechanical and mechanical erosion interfaces on all sides of a turbulent lava flow by creating a finite-element mesh. The mesh will be defined by the geometry of the lava flow at those lava conduits for which data on lava and substrate composition, lava thickness, slope of the ground, conduit area and volume, and lava flow length are available. Ultimately, this model will be applied to lunar sinuous rilles and martian lava channels for which the use of a two-dimensional approach is needed.

Tribological and corrosion behaviour of electroless Ni-B coating possessing a blackberry like structure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bülbül, Ferhat; Altun, Hikmet; Küçük, Özkan; Ezirmik, Vefa

2012-08-01

This study aims to evaluate the tribological and corrosion properties of the electroless Ni-B coating deposited on AISI 304 stainless steels. The microstructure of the coating was characterized using x-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectrometry (SEM-EDS). XRD analysis revealed that the prepared coating possessed an amorphous character. SEM-EDS investigation also indicated that a non-stoichiometric Ni-B coating was deposited with a columnar growth mechanism on the stainless steel substrate and the morphology of the growth surface was blackberry-like. The hardness and tribological properties were characterized by microhardness and a pin-on-disc wear test. The electroless Ni-B coated sample had a higher degree of hardness, a lower friction coefficient and a lower wear rate than the uncoated substrate. The electrochemical potentiodynamic polarization method was used to evaluate the corrosion resistance of the coating. The electroless Ni-B coating offered cathodic protection on the substrate by acting as a sacrificial anode although it was electrochemically more reactive than the stainless steel substrate.

Composition gradient, structure, stress, roughness and magnetic properties of 5-500 nm thin NiFe films obtained by electrodeposition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gong, Jie; Riemer, Steve; Kautzky, Michael; Tabakovic, Ibro

2016-01-01

The composition gradients of 5-500 nm thin NiFe films on Cu and NiP substrates obtained by electrodeposition in stirred plating solutions at pH 3.0 on 8 in wafers were studied. It was found that the average elemental composition of the NiFe changes during electrodeposition with steep downturns of Fe-content, from 58 to 50 wt% Fe, in composition gradient zone near the substrate interface in the thickness range 5-250 nm depending on the electrode substrate (Cu and NiP). The increase of Fe-content in the composition gradient zone is accompanied by the increase of coercivity, Hc, magnetic flux saturation, Bs, saturation magnetostriction, λs, increase of dimensionless roughness, ρrms, and change of stress, σ. The coercivity (easy and hard axis) follows the Neel's relation Hc=ct-n (t is thickness and c is a constant). The mechanisms related to the change of coercivity of the NiFe films deposited on different substrates (Cu and NiP) are discussed in terms of material properties of these films.

Systems and methods for the combinatorial synthesis of novel materials

DOEpatents

Wu, Xin Di; Wang, Youqi; Goldwasser, Isy

2000-01-01

Methods and apparatus for the preparation of a substrate having an array of diverse materials in predefined regions thereon. A substrate having an array of diverse materials thereon is generally prepared by depositing components of target materials to predefined regions on the substrate, and, in some embodiments, simultaneously reacting the components to form at least two resulting materials. In particular, the present invention provides novel masking systems and methods for applying components of target materials onto a substrate in a combinatorial fashion, thus creating arrays of resulting materials that differ slightly in composition, stoichiometry, and/or thickness. Using the novel masking systems of the present invention, components can be delivered to each site in a uniform distribution, or in a gradient of stoichiometries, thicknesses, compositions, etc. Resulting materials which can be prepared using the methods and apparatus of the present invention include, for example, covalent network solids, ionic solids and molecular solids. Once prepared, these resulting materials can be screened sequentially, or in parallel, for useful properties including, for example, electrical, thermal, mechanical, morphological, optical, magnetic, chemical and other properties.

Athermal fading of luminescence in Al2 O3 ceramic substrates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Terry, Ian; Kouroukla, Eftychia; Bailiff, Ian K.

2015-03-01

Retrospective dosimetry aims to reconstruct ionising radiation dose to populations following a radiological incident using materials not designed for that purpose. Sintered alumina ceramic can function as a dosimeter with its luminescence properties and related trapped charge storage mechanism. Its widespread use as a substrate in surface mount devices and incorporation in devices such as mobile phones make it a ubiquitous potential dosimeter. We investigated the optically (OSL) and thermally (TL) stimulated luminescence properties of sintered alumina substrates. In contrast to their single crystal analogue developed for personal dosimetry, Al2O3:C, the substrates exhibit a significant loss of trapped charge (fading) within hours following irradiation at RT that seriously limits their utility for dosimetry over an extended timescale. The fading rates of OSL and TL signals of 0402 resistors were analysed under various storage conditions (time and temperature), complemented by a study of their microstructure. The results support a model of athermal loss of trapped charge due to electron tunnelling from trapping states; this contrasting behaviour is attributed to a physical modification of the trap environment arising from the manufacturing process.

Comparison on mechanical properties of heavily phosphorus- and arsenic-doped Czochralski silicon wafers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yuan, Kang; Sun, Yuxin; Lu, Yunhao; Liang, Xingbo; Tian, Daxi; Ma, Xiangyang; Yang, Deren

2018-04-01

Heavily phosphorus (P)- and arsenic (As)-doped Czochralski silicon (CZ-Si) wafers generally act as the substrates for the epitaxial silicon wafers used to fabricate power and communication devices. The mechanical properties of such two kinds of n-type heavily doped CZ silicon wafers are vital to ensure the quality of epitaxial silicon wafers and the manufacturing yields of devices. In this work, the mechanical properties including the hardness, Young's modulus, indentation fracture toughness and the resistance to dislocation motion have been comparatively investigated for heavily P- and As-doped CZ-Si wafers. It is found that heavily P-doped CZ-Si possesses somewhat higher hardness, lower Young's modulus, larger indentation fracture toughness and stronger resistance to dislocation motion than heavily As-doped CZ-Si. The mechanisms underlying this finding have been tentatively elucidated by considering the differences in the doping effects of P and As in silicon.

Substrate flexibility regulates growth and apoptosis of normal but not transformed cells

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wang, H. B.; Dembo, M.; Wang, Y. L.

2000-01-01

One of the hallmarks of oncogenic transformation is anchorage-independent growth (27). Here we demonstrate that responses to substrate rigidity play a major role in distinguishing the growth behavior of normal cells from that of transformed cells. We cultured normal or H-ras-transformed NIH 3T3 cells on flexible collagen-coated polyacrylamide substrates with similar chemical properties but different rigidity. Compared with cells cultured on stiff substrates, nontransformed cells on flexible substrates showed a decrease in the rate of DNA synthesis and an increase in the rate of apoptosis. These responses on flexible substrates are coupled to decreases in cell spreading area and traction forces. In contrast, transformed cells maintained their growth and apoptotic characteristics regardless of substrate flexibility. The responses in cell spreading area and traction forces to substrate flexibility were similarly diminished. Our results suggest that normal cells are capable of probing substrate rigidity and that proper mechanical feedback is required for regulating cell shape, cell growth, and survival. The loss of this response can explain the unregulated growth of transformed cells.

Engineering three-dimensional cell mechanical microenvironment with hydrogels.

PubMed

Huang, Guoyou; Wang, Lin; Wang, Shuqi; Han, Yulong; Wu, Jinhui; Zhang, Qiancheng; Xu, Feng; Lu, Tian Jian

2012-12-01

Cell mechanical microenvironment (CMM) significantly affects cell behaviors such as spreading, migration, proliferation and differentiation. However, most studies on cell response to mechanical stimulation are based on two-dimensional (2D) planar substrates, which cannot mimic native three-dimensional (3D) CMM. Accumulating evidence has shown that there is a significant difference in cell behavior in 2D and 3D microenvironments. Among the materials used for engineering 3D CMM, hydrogels have gained increasing attention due to their tunable properties (e.g. chemical and mechanical properties). In this paper, we provide an overview of recent advances in engineering hydrogel-based 3D CMM. Effects of mechanical cues (e.g. hydrogel stiffness and externally induced stress/strain in hydrogels) on cell behaviors are described. A variety of approaches to load mechanical stimuli in 3D hydrogel-based constructs are also discussed.

Method for Qualification of Composite Repairs for Pipelines: Patch Repairs and Considerations for Cathodic Protection

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2009-12-03

While the mechanical properties of composite repairs for pipelines have been investigated extensively, the performance of the entire metal-composite system has not been addressed with regard to corrosion of the substrate, water intrusion at the compo...

Optical and electrical properties of sol-gel spin coated titanium dioxide thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sahoo, Anusuya; Jayakrishnan, A. R.; Kamakshi, K.; Silva, J. P. B.; Sekhar, K. C.; Gomes, M. J. M.

2017-08-01

In this work; TiO2 thin films were deposited on glass and stainless steel substrates by sol-gel spin coating method. The films deposited on glass were annealed at different temperatures (Ta) in the range of 200 to 500 0C and that are deposited on steel substrate were annealed at 800 0C. The optical properties of TiO2 thin films were studied by using UV-VIS spectroscopy and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. The transmittance on the average was found to ≥ 80 % and is found to sensitive to Ta. The PL spectra exhibited the strong emission band associated with band- to- band transition around 390 nm and the two weak bands at 480 and 510 nm associated to the oxygen defects and surface defects respectively. The current-voltage (I-V) characteristics of the Al/TiO2/steel capacitors were studied and analysed with application of various current mechanisms. Analysis reveals that the conduction in Al/TiO2/steel capacitors is governed by Poole-Frenkel mechanism.

Effect of plasma pretreatment on adhesion and mechanical properties of UV-curable coatings on plastics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gururaj, T.; Subasri, R.; Raju, K. R. C. Soma; Padmanabham, G.

2011-02-01

An attempt was made to study the effect of plasma surface activation on the adhesion of UV-curable sol-gel coatings on polycarbonate (PC) and polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) substrates. The sol was synthesized by the hydrolysis and condensation of a UV-curable silane in combination with Zr-n-propoxide. Coatings deposited by dip coating were cured using UV-radiation followed by thermal curing between 80 °C and 130 °C. The effect of plasma surface treatment on the wettability of the polymer surface prior to coating deposition was followed up by measuring the water contact angle. The water contact angle on the surface of as-cleaned substrates was 80° ± 2° and that after plasma treatment was 43° ± 1° and 50° ± 2° for PC and PMMA respectively. Adhesion as well as mechanical properties like scratch resistance and taber abrasion resistance were evaluated for coatings deposited over plasma treated and untreated surfaces.

Fabrication and characterization of plasma-sprayed HA/SiO(2) coatings for biomedical application.

PubMed

Morks, M F

2008-01-01

Fused silica powder has been mixed with hydroxyapatite (HA) powder and plasma sprayed by using gas tunnel-type plasma jet. The influence of silica content (10 wt% and 20 wt%) on the microstructure and mechanical properties of HA-silica coatings was investigated. For investigating the microstructure and mechanical properties of HA-silica coatings, SUS 304 stainless steel was used as substrate material. The spraying was carried out on roughened substrate in an atmospheric chamber. Scanning electron microscope micrographs of cross-sectioned HA/SiO(2) coatings showed that the sprayed HA coatings with 10 and 20 wt% SiO(2) have dense structure with low porosity compared to the pure HA coatings. On the other hand, as the amount of silica was increased the coatings became denser, harder and exhibited high abrasive wear resistance. The presence of silica significantly improved the adhesive strength of HA/SiO(2) coatings mainly due to the increase in bonding strength of the coating at the interface.

Computer simulation of the mechanical properties of metamaterials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gerasimov, R. A.; Eremeyev, V. A.; Petrova, T. O.; Egorov, V. I.; Maksimova, O. G.; Maksimov, A. V.

2016-08-01

For a hybrid discrete-continual model describing a system which consists of a substrate and polymer coating, we provide computer simulation of its mechanical properties for various levels of deformations. For the substrate, we apply the elastic model with the Hooke law while for the polymeric coating, we use a discrete model. Here we use the Stockmayer potential which is a Lennard-Jones potential with additional term which describes the dipole interactions between neighbour segments of polymer chains, that is Keesom energy. Using Monte-Carlo method with Metropolis algorithm for a given temperature the equilibrium state is determined. We obtain dependencies of the energy, force, bending moment and Young's modulus for various levels of deformations and for different values of temperature. We show that for the increase of the deformations level the influence of surface coating on the considered material parameters is less pronounced. We provide comparison of obtained results with experimental data on deformations of crystalline polymers (gutta-percha, etc.)

Flexible theta sequence compression mediated via phase precessing interneurons

PubMed Central

Chadwick, Angus; van Rossum, Mark CW; Nolan, Matthew F

2016-01-01

Encoding of behavioral episodes as spike sequences during hippocampal theta oscillations provides a neural substrate for computations on events extended across time and space. However, the mechanisms underlying the numerous and diverse experimentally observed properties of theta sequences remain poorly understood. Here we account for theta sequences using a novel model constrained by the septo-hippocampal circuitry. We show that when spontaneously active interneurons integrate spatial signals and theta frequency pacemaker inputs, they generate phase precessing action potentials that can coordinate theta sequences in place cell populations. We reveal novel constraints on sequence generation, predict cellular properties and neural dynamics that characterize sequence compression, identify circuit organization principles for high capacity sequential representation, and show that theta sequences can be used as substrates for association of conditioned stimuli with recent and upcoming events. Our results suggest mechanisms for flexible sequence compression that are suited to associative learning across an animal’s lifespan. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.20349.001 PMID:27929374

Synthesis and characterization of TEP-EDTA-regulated bioactive hydroxyapatite

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Haders, Daniel Joseph, II

Hydroxyapatite (HA), Ca10(PO4)6(OH) 2, the stoichiometric equivalent of the ceramic phase of bone, is the preferred material for hard tissue replacement due to its bioactivity. However, bioinert metals are utilized in load-bearing orthopedic applications due to the poor mechanical properties of HA. Consequently, attention has been given to HA coatings for metallic orthopedic implants to take advantage of the bioactivity of HA and the mechanical properties of metals. Commercially, the plasma spray process (PS-HA) is the method most often used to deposit HA films on metallic implants. Since its introduction in the 1980's, however, concerns have been raised about the consequences of PS-HA's low crystallinity, lack of phase purity, lack of film-substrate chemical adhesion, passivation properties, and difficulty in coating complex geometries. Thus, there is a need to develop inexpensive reproducible next-generation HA film deposition techniques, which deposit high crystallinity, phase pure, adhesive, passivating, conformal HA films on clinical metallic substrates. The aim of this dissertation was to intelligently synthesize and characterize the material and biological properties of HA films on metallic substrates synthesized by hydrothermal crystallization, using thermodynamic phase diagrams as the starting point. In three overlapping interdisciplinary studies the potential of using ethylenediamine-tetraacetic acid/triethyl phosphate (EDTA/TEP) doubly regulated hydrothermal crystallization to deposit HA films, the TEP-regulated, time-and-temperature-dependent process by which films were deposited, and the bioactivity of crystallographically engineered films were investigated. Films were crystallized in a 0.232 molal Ca(NO3)2-0.232 molal EDTA-0.187 molal TEP-1.852 molal KOH-H2O chemical system at 200°C. Thermodynamic phase diagrams demonstrated that the chosen conditions were expected to produce Ca-P phase pure HA, which was experimentally confirmed. EDTA regulation of Ca2+ concentration enabled the HA crystallization process to be growth dominated, producing films composed of high crystallinity, hexagonal grains on multiple metallic substrates. TEP regulation of HA crystallization enabled the deposition of an adhesive CaTiO3 intermediate layer, and then HA in a continuous, phase sequenced process on Ti6Al4V substrates, the first such process reported in the hydrothermal HA literature. The HA film was found to be deposited by a passivating competitive growth mechanism that enabled the [0001] crystallographic orientation of hexagonal single crystals to be engineered with synthesis time. Bioactivity analysis demonstrated that films were bioactive and bone bonding. Together, these results suggest that these HA films are candidates for use on metallic orthopedic implants, namely Ti6Al4V.

Laser surface alloying of coins for authenticity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Zhu; Watkins, Kenneth G.; Steen, William M.; Hatherley, P. G.

1997-08-01

This paper presents an exploratory investigation on verifying the feasibility of using a laser surface alloying technique to produce designs in the surface of coinage blanks. The specific aim of the work concerns the production of design features in coins that are difficult to produce by other techniques and which hence act as a barrier to forgery and features which permit automatic recognition in vending machines, particularly as a means of establishing the authenticity of the coins. Coins in many countries today are commonly manufactured from metal composites, where one substrate metal or alloy is coated with another by a process of electrodeposition or by mechanical bonding. The technique here described entails the use of a high power CO2 laser to bring about localized melting of the two layers. Visible distinction between alloyed and unalloyed regions or difference in other physical properties such as conductivity or magnetic properties can be obtained. The work also involved a fundamental study of the influence of the thermal properties of the materials on the CO2 laser alloying process. It was found that the thermal properties such as thermal conductivity of the substrate materials and the difference of the melting points between the coating layer and the substrate materials played an important role in the process. Laser control variables required for localized alloying for different substrate and coatings types were determined. The influence of both thermal properties and laser control variables on alloy type and alloy depth were investigated. Initial work on coin validation showed promising results of an automatic recognition of laser treated coins.

Influence of the substrate material on the optical properties of tungsten diselenide monolayers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lippert, Sina; Schneider, Lorenz Maximilian; Renaud, Dylan; Kang, Kyung Nam; Ajayi, Obafunso; Kuhnert, Jan; Halbich, Marc-Uwe; Abdulmunem, Oday M.; Lin, Xing; Hassoon, Khaleel; Edalati-Boostan, Saeideh; Duck Kim, Young; Heimbrodt, Wolfram; Yang, Eui-Hyeok; Hone, James C.; Rahimi-Iman, Arash

2017-06-01

Monolayers of transition-metal dichalcogenides such as WSe2 have become increasingly attractive due to their potential in electrical and optical applications. Because the properties of these 2D systems are known to be affected by their surroundings, we report how the choice of the substrate material affects the optical properties of monolayer WSe2. To accomplish this study, pump-density-dependent micro-photoluminescence measurements are performed with time-integrating and time-resolving acquisition techniques. Spectral information and power-dependent mode intensities are compared at 290 K and 10 K for exfoliated WSe2 on SiO2/Si, sapphire (Al2O3), hBN/Si3N4/Si, and MgF2, indicating substrate-dependent appearance and strength of exciton, trion, and biexciton modes. Additionally, one CVD-grown WSe2 monolayer on sapphire is included in this study for direct comparison with its exfoliated counterpart. Time-resolved micro-photoluminescence shows how radiative decay times strongly differ for different substrate materials. Our data indicates exciton-exciton annihilation as a shortening mechanism at room temperature, and subtle trends in the decay rates in correlation to the dielectric environment at cryogenic temperatures. On the measureable time scales, trends are also related to the extent of the respective 2D-excitonic modes’ appearance. This result highlights the importance of further detailed characterization of exciton features in 2D materials, particularly with respect to the choice of substrate.

Biomimetic growth and substrate dependent mechanical properties of bone like apatite nucleated on Ti and magnetron sputtered TiO2 nanostructure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sarma, Bimal K.; Das, Apurba; Barman, Pintu; Pal, Arup R.

2016-04-01

This report presents findings on biomimetic growth of hydroxyapatite (HAp) nanocrystals on Ti and sputtered TiO2 substrates. The possibility of TiO2 nanostructure as candidate materials for future biomedical applications has been explored through the comparison of microstructural and mechanical properties of bone like apatite grown on Ti and nano-TiO2 surfaces. Raman spectroscopy and x-ray diffraction studies reveal formation of carbonate apatite with apparent domain size in the nanoscale range. A better interaction at the nano-TiO2/nano-HAp interface due to higher interfacial area could promote the growth of bone like apatite. The crystal phases, crystallinity, and surface morphology of nano-TiO2 are considered as parameters to understand the nucleation and growth of apatite with different mechanical properties at the nanoscale. The methodology of x-ray line profile analysis encompasses deconvolution of merged peaks by preserving broadening due to nanosized HAp aggregates. The Young’s modulus of bone like apatite exhibits crystallographic directional dependence which suggests the presence of elastic anisotropy in bone like apatite. The lattice contraction in the c-direction is associated with the degree of carbonate substitution in the apatite lattice. The role of residual stress is critical for the lattice distortion of HAp deposited at physiological conditions of temperature and pH of human blood plasma. The ion concentration is crucial for the uniformity, crystallinity, and mechanical behaviour of the apatite.

Better together: synergy in nanocellulose blends

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mautner, Andreas; Mayer, Florian; Hervy, Martin; Lee, Koon-Yang; Bismarck, Alexander

2017-12-01

Cellulose nanopapers have gained significant attention in recent years as large-scale reinforcement for high-loading cellulose nanocomposites, substrates for printed electronics and filter nanopapers for water treatment. The mechanical properties of nanopapers are of fundamental importance for all these applications. Cellulose nanopapers can simply be prepared by filtering a suspension of nanocellulose, followed by heat consolidation. It was already demonstrated that the mechanical properties of cellulose nanopapers can be tailored by the fineness of the fibrils used or by modifying nanocellulose fibrils for instance by polymer adsorption, but nanocellulose blends remain underexplored. In this work, we show that the mechanical and physical properties of cellulose nanopapers can be tuned by creating nanopapers from blends of various grades of nanocellulose, i.e. (mechanically refined) bacterial cellulose or cellulose nanofibrils extracted from never-dried bleached softwood pulp by chemical and mechanical pre-treatments. We found that nanopapers made from blends of two or three nanocellulose grades show synergistic effects resulting in improved stiffness, strength, ductility, toughness and physical properties. This article is part of a discussion meeting issue `New horizons for cellulose nanotechnology'.

The effect of Substrate temperature on physical and electrical properties of DC magnetron sputtered (Ta2O5)0.85(TiO2)0.15 films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sekhar, M. Chandra; Uthanna, S.; Martins, R.; Jagadeesh Chandra, S. V.; Elangovan, E.

2012-04-01

Thin films of (Ta2O5)0.85(TiO2)0.15 were deposited on quartz and p-Si substrates by DC reactive magnetron sputtering at different substrate temperatures (Ts) in the range 303 - 873 K. The films deposited at 303 0K were in the amorphous and it transformed to crystalline at substrate temperatures >= 573 0K. The crystallite size was increased from 50 nm to 72 nm with the increase of substrate temperature. The surface morphology was significantly influenced with the substrate temperature. After deposition of the (Ta2O5)0.85(TiO2)0.15 films on Si, aluminium (Al) electrode was deposited to fabricate metal/oxide/semiconductor (MOS) capacitors with a configuration of Al/(Ta2O5)0.85(TiO2)0.15/Si. A low leakage current of 7.7 × 10-5 A/cm2 was obtained from the films deposited at 303 K. The leakage current was decreased to 9.3 × 10-8 A/cm2 with the increase of substrate temperature owing to structural changes. The conduction mechanism of the Al/(Ta2O5)0.85(TiO2)0.15/Si capacitors was analyzed and compared with mechanisms of Poole-Frenkel and Schottky emissions. The optical band gap (Eg) was decreased from 4.45 eV to 4.38 eV with the increase in substrate temperature.

Chemical bath deposition of semiconductor thin films & nanostructures in novel microreactors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McPeak, Kevin M.

Chemical bath deposition (CBD) offers a simple and inexpensive route to deposit semiconductor nanostructures and thin films, but lack of fundamental understanding and control of the underlying chemistry has limited its versatility. CBD is traditionally performed in a batch reactor, requiring only a substrate to be immersed in a supersaturated solution of aqueous precursors such as metal salts, complexing agents, and pH buffers. Highlights of CBD include low cost, operation at low temperature and atmospheric pressure, and scalability to large area substrates. In this dissertation, I explore CBD of semiconductor thin films and nanowire arrays in batch and continuous flow microreactors. Microreactors offer many advantages over traditional reactor designs including a reduction in mass transport limitations, precise temperature control and ease of production scale-up by "numbering up". Continuous flow micoreactors offer the unique advantage of providing reaction conditions that are time-invariant but change smoothly as a function of distance down the reaction channel. Growth from a bath whose composition changes along the reactor length results in deposited materials whose properties vary as a function of position on the substrate, essentially creating a combinatorial library. These substrates can be rapidly characterized to identify relationships between growth conditions and material properties or growth mechanisms. I have used CBD in a continuous flow microreactor to deposit ZnO nanowire arrays and CdZnS films whose optoelectronic properties vary as a function of position. The spatially-dependent optoelectronic properties of these materials have been correlated to changes in the composition, structure or growth mechanisms of the materials and ultimately their growth conditions by rigorous spatial characterization. CBD in a continuous flow microreactor, coupled with spatial characterization, provides a new route to understanding the connection between CBD growth conditions and the resulting optoelectronic properties of the film. The high surface-to-volume ratio of a microreactor also lends itself to in situ characterization studies. I demonstrated the first in situ x-ray absorption fine-structure spectroscopy (XAFS) study of CBD. The high sensitivity and ability to characterize liquid, amorphous and crystalline materials simultaneously make in situ XAFS spectroscopy an ideal tool to study the CBD of inorganic nanomaterials.

Ultra-sensitive suspended atomically thin-layered black phosphorus mercury sensors.

PubMed

Li, Peng; Zhang, Dongzhi; Jiang, Chuanxing; Zong, Xiaoqi; Cao, Yuhua

2017-12-15

The extraordinary properties of black phosphorus (BP) make it a promising candidate for next-generation transistor chemical sensors. However, BP films reported so far are supported on substrate, and substrate scattering drastically deteriorates its electrical properties. Consequentially, the potential sensing capability of intrinsic BP is highly underestimated and its sensing mechanism is masked. Additionally, the optimum sensing regime of BP remains unexplored. This article is the first demonstration of suspended BP sensor operated in subthreshold regime. BP exhibited significant enhancement of sensitivity for ultra-low-concentration mercury detection in the absence of substrate, and the sensitivity reached maximum in subthreshold regime. Without substrate scattering, the suspended BP device demonstrated 10 times lower 1/f noise which contributed to better signal-to-noise ratio. Therefore, rapid label-free trace detection of Hg 2+ was achieved with detection limit of 0.01 ppb, lower than the world health organization (WHO) tolerance level (1 ppb). The time constant for ion detection extracted was 3s. Additionally, experimental results revealed that good stability, repeatability, and selectivity were achieved. BP sensors also demonstrated the ability of detecting mercury ions in environment water samples. The underling sensing mechanism of intrinsic BP was ascribed to the carrier density variation resulted from surface charge gating effect, so suspended BP in subthreshold regime with optimum gating effect demonstrated the best sensitivity. Our results show the prominent advantages of intrinsic BP as a sensing material. Copyright © 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Substrate stiffness affects skeletal myoblast differentiation in vitro

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Romanazzo, Sara; Forte, Giancarlo; Ebara, Mitsuhiro; Uto, Koichiro; Pagliari, Stefania; Aoyagi, Takao; Traversa, Enrico; Taniguchi, Akiyoshi

2012-12-01

To maximize the therapeutic efficacy of cardiac muscle constructs produced by stem cells and tissue engineering protocols, suitable scaffolds should be designed to recapitulate all the characteristics of native muscle and mimic the microenvironment encountered by cells in vivo. Moreover, so not to interfere with cardiac contractility, the scaffold should be deformable enough to withstand muscle contraction. Recently, it was suggested that the mechanical properties of scaffolds can interfere with stem/progenitor cell functions, and thus careful consideration is required when choosing polymers for targeted applications. In this study, cross-linked poly-ɛ-caprolactone membranes having similar chemical composition and controlled stiffness in a supra-physiological range were challenged with two sources of myoblasts to evaluate the suitability of substrates with different stiffness for cell adhesion, proliferation and differentiation. Furthermore, muscle-specific and non-related feeder layers were prepared on stiff surfaces to reveal the contribution of biological and mechanical cues to skeletal muscle progenitor differentiation. We demonstrated that substrate stiffness does affect myogenic differentiation, meaning that softer substrates can promote differentiation and that a muscle-specific feeder layer can improve the degree of maturation in skeletal muscle stem cells.

Studies of silicon PN junction solar cells

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lindholm, F. A.

1975-01-01

Silicon pn junction solar cells made with low-resistivity substrates show poorer performance than traditional theory predicts. The purpose of this research was to identify and characterize the physical mechanisms responsible for the discrepancy. Attention was concentrated on the open circuit voltage in shallow junction cells of 0.1 ohm-cm substrate resistivity. A number of possible mechanisms that can occur in silicon devices were considered. Two mechanisms which are likely to be of main importance in explaining the observed low values of open-circuit voltage were found: (1) recombination losses associated with defects introduced during junction formation, and (2) inhomogeneity of defects and impurities across the area of the cell. To explore these theoretical anticipations, various diode test structures were designed and fabricated and measurement configurations for characterizing the defect properties and the areal inhomogeneity were constructed.

Effect of POLYURETHANE/NANO-SiO2 Composites Coating on Thermo-Mechanical Properties of Polyethylene Film

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ching, Yern Chee; Yaacob, Iskandar Idris

2011-06-01

Polyethylene (PE) film was coated with polyurethane/nanosilica composite layer using rod Mayer process. The polyurethane/nanosilica system was prepared by dispersing nanosilica powder into solvent borne polyurethane (PU) binder under vigorous stirring. The silica nanoparticle used has an average diameter of 16 nm, and their weight fraction were varied from 0 % to 14 %. Two different thicknesses of the PU/nanosilica coating layer were fabricated which were about 4 μm and 8 μm. The structure and thermal mechanical features of the nanocomposite coated PE film were characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), dynamic mechanical analyzer (DMA), thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA) as well as tensile tests. The results showed that thin layer coating of the PU/nanosilica composite reduced tensile strength of PE substrate slightly. However, the nanocomposite coating of up to 8 μm reduced the elongation % of PE substrate significantly. PU/nanosilica composite coating layer increased the tensile modulus and stiffness of PE substrate. There was no influence of the PU/nanosilica composite coating to the thermal degradation rate of PE film.

Composition and substrate-dependent strength of the silken attachment discs in spiders

PubMed Central

Grawe, Ingo; Wolff, Jonas O.; Gorb, Stanislav N.

2014-01-01

Araneomorph spiders have evolved different silks with dissimilar material properties, serving different purposes. The two-compound pyriform secretion is used to glue silk threads to substrates or to other threads. It is applied in distinct patterns, called attachment discs. Although ubiquitously found in spider silk applications and hypothesized to be strong and versatile at low material consumption, the performance of attachment discs on different substrates remains unknown. Here, we analyse the detachment forces and fracture mechanics of the attachment discs spun by five different species on three different substrates, by pulling on the upstream part of the attached thread. Results show that although the adhesion of the pyriform glue is heavily affected by the substrate, even on Teflon it is frequently strong enough to hold the spider's weight. As plant surfaces are often difficult to wet, they are hypothesized to be the major driving force for evolution of the pyriform secretion. PMID:25030386

Multifunctional zirconium nitride/copper multilayer coatings on medical grade 316L SS and titanium substrates for biomedical applications.

PubMed

Kumar, D Dinesh; Kaliaraj, Gobi Saravanan

2018-01-01

Protecting from wear and corrosion of many medical devices in the biomedical field is an existing scientific challenge. Surface modification with multilayer ZrN/Cu coating was deposited on medical grade stainless steel (SS) and titanium substrates to enhance their surface properties. Structural results revealed that the ZrN/Cu coatings are highly crystalline and uniform microstructure on both the substrates. Dry and wet tribological measurements of the coated titanium substrate exhibit enhanced wear resistance and low friction coefficient due to the improved microstructure. Similarly, the corrosion resistance was exceptionally improved on titanium substrates, resulting from the high inertness of coating to the SBF electrolyte solution. Antibacterial activity and epifluorescence results signify the effective killing of pathogens by means of ion release killing as well as contact killing mechanisms. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Cellular dynamics of bovine aortic smooth muscle cells measured using MEMS force sensors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tsukagoshi, Takuya; Nguyen, Thanh-Vinh; Hirayama Shoji, Kayoko; Takahashi, Hidetoshi; Matsumoto, Kiyoshi; Shimoyama, Isao

2018-04-01

Adhesive cells perceive the mechanical properties of the substrates to which they adhere, adjusting their cellular mechanical forces according to their biological characteristics. This mechanical interaction subsequently affects the growth, locomotion, and differentiation of the cell. However, little is known about the detailed mechanism that underlies this interaction between adherent cells and substrates because dynamically measuring mechanical phenomena is difficult. Here, we utilize microelectromechamical systems force sensors that can measure cellular traction forces with high temporal resolution (~2.5 µs) over long periods (~3 h). We found that the cellular dynamics reflected physical phenomena with time scales from milliseconds to hours, which contradicts the idea that cellular motion is slow. A single focal adhesion (FA) generates an average force of 7 nN, which disappears in ms via the action of trypsin-ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid. The force-changing rate obtained from our measurements suggests that the time required for an FA to decompose was nearly proportional to the force acting on the FA.

Heat-affected zone microstructure and mechanical properties evolution for laser remanufacturing 35CrMoA axle steel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Feng, Xiangyi; Dong, Shiyun; Yan, Shixing; Liu, Xiaoting; Xu, Binshi; Pan, Fusheng

2018-03-01

In this article, by using orthogonal test the technological test was conducted and the optimum processing of the remanufacturing35CrMoA axle were obtained. The evolution of microstructure and mechanical property of HAZ were investigated. The microstructure of HAZ was characterized by means of OM and SEM. Meanwhile hardness distribution in HAZ and tensile property of cladding-HAZ-substrate samples were measured. The microstructure of cladding and HAZ were observed. The microsturcture evoltion and the mechanism of harden in the HAZ was discussed and revealed. The results indicated that the remanufacturing part has excellent strength due to grain refining and dispersive distribution of nanoscale cementite. The remanufacturing part will have uniform microstructure and hardness matching with that of 35CrMoA axle by using stress-relieving annealing at 580°.

Stress-strain behavior under static loading in Gd123 high-temperature superconductors at 77 K

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fujimoto, Hiroyuki; Murakami, Akira; Teshima, Hidekazu; Morita, Mitsuru

2013-10-01

Mechanical properties of melt-growth GdBa2Cu3Ox (Gd123) superconducting samples with 10 wt.% Ag2O and 0.5 wt.% Pt were evaluated at 77 K through flexural tests for specimens cut from the samples in order to estimate the mechanical properties of the Gd123 material without metal substrates, buffer layers or stabilization layers. We discuss the mechanical properties; the Young's modulus and flexural strength with stress-strain behavior at 77 K. The results show that the flexural strength and fracture strain of Gd123 at 77 K are approximately 100 MPa and 0.1%, respectively, and that the origin of the fracture is defects such as pores, impurities and non-superconducting compounds. We also show that the Young's modulus of Gd123 is estimated to be 160-165 GPa.

Biomimetic Hybridization of Kevlar into Silk Fibroin: Nanofibrous Strategy for Improved Mechanic Properties of Flexible Composites and Filtration Membranes.

PubMed

Lv, Lili; Han, Xiangsheng; Zong, Lu; Li, Mingjie; You, Jun; Wu, Xiaochen; Li, Chaoxu

2017-08-22

Silk, one of the strongest natural biopolymers, was hybridized with Kevlar, one of the strongest synthetic polymers, through a biomimetic nanofibrous strategy. Regenerated silk materials have outstanding properties in transparency, biocompatibility, biodegradability and sustainability, and promising applications as diverse as in pharmaceutics, electronics, photonic devices and membranes. To compete with super mechanic properties of their natural counterpart, regenerated silk materials have been hybridized with inorganic fillers such as graphene and carbon nanotubes, but frequently lose essential mechanic flexibility. Inspired by the nanofibrous strategy of natural biomaterials (e.g., silk fibers, hemp and byssal threads of mussels) for fantastic mechanic properties, Kevlar was integrated in regenerated silk materials by combining nanometric fibrillation with proper hydrothermal treatments. The resultant hybrid films showed an ultimate stress and Young's modulus two times as high as those of pure regenerated SF films. This is not only because of the reinforcing effect of Kevlar nanofibrils, but also because of the increasing content of silk β-sheets. When introducing Kevlar nanofibrils into the membranes of silk nanofibrils assembled by regenerated silk fibroin, the improved mechanic properties further enabled potential applications as pressure-driven nanofiltration membranes and flexible substrates of electronic devices.

Preparation of Superhydrophobic Film on Ti Substrate and Its Anticorrosion Property

PubMed Central

Zhu, Min; Tang, Wenchuan; Huang, Luyao; Zhang, Dawei; Du, Cuiwei; Yu, Gaohong; Chen, Ming; Chowwanonthapunya, Thee

2017-01-01

Superhydrophobic films were fabricated on a titanium substrate with or without anodizing by using a self-assembling method. Firstly, the pretreatments of mechanical polishing/anodizing or mechanical polishing only were conducted, respectively. Subsequently, the preparation of polydopamine film layer, deposition of nano-silver particles, and post modification of 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorodecanethiol were performed on the surface of the pretreated substrate. The surface morphologies, compositions, wettability, and corrosion resistance of the films were investigated with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive spectrometry (EDS), water contact angle measurements, and electrochemical tests, respectively. Meanwhile, the effect of the deposition time in the silver nitrate solution on the hydrophobicity of the specimen surface was investigated. The result showed that with the increase of deposition time, the hydrophobic property enhanced gradually. The surface deposited for 7 h exhibited an optimum hydrophobic effect, which was characterized with a large water contact angle (WCA) of 154°, and the surface was rather rough and covered by a relatively uniform layer of micro-nano silver particles. The excellent hydrophobicity was attributed to a rough stratified microstructure along with the low surface energy. The electrochemical measurements showed that the existence of the superhydrophobic film can effectively enhance the corrosion resistance of Ti samples. PMID:28772987

Preparation of Superhydrophobic Film on Ti Substrate and Its Anticorrosion Property.

PubMed

Zhu, Min; Tang, Wenchuan; Huang, Luyao; Zhang, Dawei; Du, Cuiwei; Yu, Gaohong; Chen, Ming; Chowwanonthapunya, Thee

2017-06-08

Superhydrophobic films were fabricated on a titanium substrate with or without anodizing by using a self-assembling method. Firstly, the pretreatments of mechanical polishing/anodizing or mechanical polishing only were conducted, respectively. Subsequently, the preparation of polydopamine film layer, deposition of nano-silver particles, and post modification of 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorodecanethiol were performed on the surface of the pretreated substrate. The surface morphologies, compositions, wettability, and corrosion resistance of the films were investigated with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive spectrometry (EDS), water contact angle measurements, and electrochemical tests, respectively. Meanwhile, the effect of the deposition time in the silver nitrate solution on the hydrophobicity of the specimen surface was investigated. The result showed that with the increase of deposition time, the hydrophobic property enhanced gradually. The surface deposited for 7 h exhibited an optimum hydrophobic effect, which was characterized with a large water contact angle (WCA) of 154°, and the surface was rather rough and covered by a relatively uniform layer of micro-nano silver particles. The excellent hydrophobicity was attributed to a rough stratified microstructure along with the low surface energy. The electrochemical measurements showed that the existence of the superhydrophobic film can effectively enhance the corrosion resistance of Ti samples.

A general contact mechanical formulation of multilayered structures and its application to deconvolute thickness/mechanical properties of glue used in surface force apparatus.

PubMed

Math, Souvik; Horn, Roger; Jayaram, Vikram; Biswas, Sanjay Kumar

2007-04-15

Currently data obtained from surface force apparatus experiments are convoluted with the mechanical response of glue of unknown thickness, used to bond mica sheets to the substrates. This paper describes a formulation to precisely deconvolute out the forces between the mica sheets by determining the thickness of glue, knowing the mechanical properties of the glue. The formulation consists of a general solution based on the noniterative Hankel transform of the Laplace equation. The generality is achieved by treating all the layers except the one in contact as an effective lumped system consisting of a set of springs in series, where each spring represents a layer. The solution is validated by nanoindentation of trilayer systems consisting of layers with widely diverse mechanical properties, some differing from each other by three orders of magnitude. SFA experiments are done with carefully metered slabs of glue. The proposed method is validated by comparing the actual glue thicknesses with those determined using the present analysis.

A PP2A-B55 recognition signal controls substrate dephosphorylation kinetics during mitotic exit

PubMed Central

Cundell, Michael J.; Holder, James

2016-01-01

PP2A-B55 is one of the major phosphatases regulating cell division. Despite its importance for temporal control during mitotic exit, how B55 substrates are recognized and differentially dephosphorylated is unclear. Using phosphoproteomics combined with kinetic modeling to extract B55-dependent rate constants, we have systematically identified B55 substrates and assigned their temporal order in mitotic exit. These substrates share a bipartite polybasic recognition determinant (BPR) flanking a Cdk1 phosphorylation site. Experiments and modeling show that dephosphorylation rate is encoded into B55 substrates, including its inhibitor ENSA, by cooperative action of basic residues within the BPR. A complementary acidic surface on B55 decodes this signal, supporting a cooperative electrostatic mechanism for substrate selection. A further level of specificity is encoded into B55 substrates because B55 displays selectivity for phosphothreonine. These simple biochemical properties, combined with feedback control of B55 activity by the phosphoserine-containing substrate/inhibitor ENSA, can help explain the temporal sequence of events during exit from mitosis. PMID:27551054

Influence of substrate temperatures on the properties of GdF(3) thin films with quarter-wave thickness in the ultraviolet region.

PubMed

Jin, Jingcheng; Jin, Chunshui; Li, Chun; Deng, Wenyuan; Yao, Shun

2015-06-01

High-quality coatings of fluoride materials are in extraordinary demand for use in deep ultraviolet (DUV) lithography. Gadolinium fluoride (GdF₃) thin films were prepared by a thermal boat evaporation process at different substrate temperatures. GdF₃ thin film was set at quarter-wave thickness (∼27  nm) with regard to their common use in DUV/vacuum ultraviolet optical stacks; these thin films may significantly differ in nanostructural properties at corresponding depositing temperatures, which would crucially influence the performance of the multilayers. The measurement and analysis of optical, structural, and mechanical properties of GdF₃ thin films have been performed in a comprehensive characterization cycle. It was found that depositing GdF₃ thin films at relative higher temperature would form a rather dense, smooth, homogeneous structure within this film thickness scale.

Properties of Josephson Junction Fabricated on Bicrystal Substrate with Different Misorientation Angles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Minotani, Tadashi; Kawakami, Satoru; Kuroki, Yukinori; Enpuku, Keiji

1998-06-01

In order to develop YBa2Cu3O7-δ bicrystal junctions suitable for high-performance superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID), the relationship between the junction properties and the misorientation angle of the bicrystal substrate is studied experimentally. Misorientation angles of 24°, 27°, 30°, 33° and 36.8° are used, and the angular dependencies of junction resistance Rs and critical current Io are investigated. It is shown that values of Rs and Io approximately follow the relation IoRs1.5=const. in these junctions. The obtained results are analyzed in terms of the direct and resonant tunneling mechanisms. It is also shown that values of Rs≈10 Ω and Io≈20 µA can be obtained rather reproducibly when we use the 30° junctions. The properties of this junction are very promising for the development of high-performance SQUID.

Influence of intra-molecular flexibility on the elastic property of double-stranded DNA film on a substrate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Jun-Zheng; Meng, Wei-Lie; Tang, Heng-Song; Zhang, Neng-Hui

2017-05-01

DNA film self-assembled or nanografted on a substrate, as a kind of soft matter, consists of fixed DNA chains endowed with negative charges and an aqueous solution full of cations, anions and water molecules. Their thermal/electrical/mechanical properties are closely related to the complex biodetection signals in nano-/micro-scale biosensors and other new genome technologies. This makes it important to properly characterize these properties. In this paper, the effect of flexible micro-scale configurations on the elastic moduli of DNA films is investigated. First, illuminated by Qiu’s sphere model, an alternative bead-chain model in terms of the Yukawa potential is presented for flexible intra-DNA configurations to describe interactions between DNA fragments. The effective charges of coarse-grained DNA beads could be derived, in which the empirical parameters are identified by curve fitting with Qiu’s experimental data. Second, the updated mesoscopic bead-chain model and the thought experiment of a continuum compression bar are used to compare the elastic moduli of double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) films prepared by self-assembling and nanografting techniques. Configurational sampling is achieved via Monte Carlo simulation. Our predictions quantitatively or qualitatively agree well with the relevant experiments on the effective charge of dsDNA from low to moderate monovalent counterion concentration, immobilization deflection of single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) or dsDNA microcantilever with the variation of salt concentration, and elastic modulus of ssDNA film in the air. The results reveal that different solution environment stimulates the diverse mechanical properties of dsDNA film on a substrate, and the end effect (i.e. terminal group effect) makes self-assembling dsDNA film stiffer in the sense of the same average packing density.

Reduced atomic shadowing in HiPIMS: Role of the thermalized metal ions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oliveira, João Carlos; Ferreira, Fábio; Anders, André; Cavaleiro, Albano

2018-03-01

In magnetron sputtering, the ability to tailor film properties depends primarily on the control of the flux of particles impinging on the growing film. Among deposition mechanisms, the shadowing effect leads to the formation of a rough surface and a porous, columnar microstructure. Re-sputtered species may be re-deposited in the valleys of the films surface and thereby contribute to a reduction of roughness and to fill the underdense regions. Both effects are non-local and they directly compete to shape the final properties of the deposited films. Additional control of the bombarding flux can be obtained by ionizing the sputtered flux, because ions can be controlled with respect to their energy and impinging direction, such as in High-Power Impulse Magnetron Sputtering (HiPIMS). In this work, the relation between ionization of the sputtered species and thin film properties is investigated in order to identify the mechanisms which effectively influence the shadowing effect in Deep Oscillation Magnetron Sputtering (DOMS), a variant of HiPIMS. The properties of two Cr films deposited using the same averaged target power by d.c. magnetron sputtering and DOMS have been compared. Additionally, the angle distribution of the Cr species impinging on the substrate was simulated using Monte Carlo-based programs while the energy distribution of the energetic particles bombarding the substrate was evaluated by energy-resolved mass analysis. It was found that the acceleration of the thermalized chromium ions at the substrate sheath in DOMS significantly reduces the high angle component of their impinging angle distribution and, thus, efficiently reduces atomic shadowing. Therefore, a high degree of ionization in HiPIMS results in almost shadowing effect-free film deposition and allows us to deposit dense and compact films without the need of high energy particle bombardment during growth.

Characterization of regioselective flavonoid O-methyltransferase from the Streptomyces sp. KCTC 0041BP.

PubMed

Darsandhari, Sumangala; Dhakal, Dipesh; Shrestha, Biplav; Parajuli, Prakash; Seo, Joo-Hyun; Kim, Tae-Su; Sohng, Jae Kyung

2018-06-01

A flavonoid comprises polyphenol compounds with pronounced antiviral, antioxidant, anticarcinogenic, and anti-inflammatory effects. The flavonoid modification by methylation provides a greater stability and improved pharmacokinetic properties. The methyltransferase from plants or microorganisms is responsible for such substrate modifications in a regiospecific or a promiscuous manner. GerMIII, originally characterized as a putative methyltransferase in a dihydrochalcomycin biosynthetic gene cluster of the Streptomyces sp. KCTC 0041BP, was tested for the methylation of the substrates of diverse chemical structures. Among the various tested substrates, flavonoids emerged as the favored substrates for methylation. Further, among the flavonoids, quercetin is the most favorable substrate, followed by luteolin, myricetin, quercetin 3-O-β-D-glucoside, and fisetin, while only a single product was formed in each case. The products were confirmed by HPLC and mass-spectrometry analyses. A detailed NMR spectrometric analysis of the methylated quercetin and luteolin derivatives confirmed the regiospecific methylation at the 4'-OH position. Modeling and molecular docking provided further insight regarding the most favorable mechanism and substrate architecture for the enzymatic catalysis. Accordingly, a double bond between the C 2 and the C 3 and a single-ring-appended conjugate-hydroxyl group are crucial for the favorable enzymatic conversions of the GerMIII catalysis. Thus, in this study, the enzymatic properties of GerMIII and a mechanistic overview of the regiospecific modification that was implemented for the acceptance of quercetin as the most favorable substrate are presented. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Mechanical, Corrosion and Biological Properties of Room-Temperature Sputtered Aluminum Nitride Films with Dissimilar Nanostructure

PubMed Central

Besleaga, Cristina; Dumitru, Viorel; Trinca, Liliana Marinela; Popa, Adrian-Claudiu; Negrila, Constantin-Catalin; Ionescu, Gabriela-Cristina; Ripeanu, Razvan-George; Stan, George E.

2017-01-01

Aluminum Nitride (AlN) has been long time being regarded as highly interesting material for developing sensing applications (including biosensors and implantable sensors). AlN, due to its appealing electronic properties, is envisaged lately to serve as a multi-functional biosensing platform. Although generally exploited for its intrinsic piezoelectricity, its surface morphology and mechanical performance (elastic modulus, hardness, wear, scratch and tensile resistance to delamination, adherence to the substrate), corrosion resistance and cytocompatibility are also essential features for high performance sustainable biosensor devices. However, information about AlN suitability for such applications is rather scarce or at best scattered and incomplete. Here, we aim to deliver a comprehensive evaluation of the morpho-structural, compositional, mechanical, electrochemical and biological properties of reactive radio-frequency magnetron sputtered AlN nanostructured thin films with various degrees of c-axis texturing, deposited at a low temperature (~50 °C) on Si (100) substrates. The inter-conditionality elicited between the base pressure level attained in the reactor chamber and crystalline quality of AlN films is highlighted. The potential suitability of nanostructured AlN (in form of thin films) for the realization of various type of sensors (with emphasis on bio-sensors) is thoroughly probed, thus unveiling its advantages and limitations, as well as suggesting paths to safely exploit the remarkable prospects of this type of materials. PMID:29149061

Mechanical, Corrosion and Biological Properties of Room-Temperature Sputtered Aluminum Nitride Films with Dissimilar Nanostructure.

PubMed

Besleaga, Cristina; Dumitru, Viorel; Trinca, Liliana Marinela; Popa, Adrian-Claudiu; Negrila, Constantin-Catalin; Kołodziejczyk, Łukasz; Luculescu, Catalin-Romeo; Ionescu, Gabriela-Cristina; Ripeanu, Razvan-George; Vladescu, Alina; Stan, George E

2017-11-17

Aluminum Nitride (AlN) has been long time being regarded as highly interesting material for developing sensing applications (including biosensors and implantable sensors). AlN, due to its appealing electronic properties, is envisaged lately to serve as a multi-functional biosensing platform. Although generally exploited for its intrinsic piezoelectricity, its surface morphology and mechanical performance (elastic modulus, hardness, wear, scratch and tensile resistance to delamination, adherence to the substrate), corrosion resistance and cytocompatibility are also essential features for high performance sustainable biosensor devices. However, information about AlN suitability for such applications is rather scarce or at best scattered and incomplete. Here, we aim to deliver a comprehensive evaluation of the morpho-structural, compositional, mechanical, electrochemical and biological properties of reactive radio-frequency magnetron sputtered AlN nanostructured thin films with various degrees of c -axis texturing, deposited at a low temperature (~50 °C) on Si (100) substrates. The inter-conditionality elicited between the base pressure level attained in the reactor chamber and crystalline quality of AlN films is highlighted. The potential suitability of nanostructured AlN (in form of thin films) for the realization of various type of sensors (with emphasis on bio-sensors) is thoroughly probed, thus unveiling its advantages and limitations, as well as suggesting paths to safely exploit the remarkable prospects of this type of materials.

Permeability and Microstructure of Suspension Plasma-Sprayed YSZ Electrolytes for SOFCs on Various Substrates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Marr, Michael; Kesler, Olivera

2012-12-01

Yttria-stabilized zirconia electrolyte coatings for solid oxide fuel cells were deposited by suspension plasma spraying using a range of spray conditions and a variety of substrates, including finely structured porous stainless steel disks and cathode layers on stainless steel supports. Electrolyte permeability values and trends were found to be highly dependent on which substrate was used. The most gas-tight electrolyte coatings were those deposited directly on the porous metal disks. With this substrate, permeability was reduced by increasing the torch power and reducing the stand-off distance to produce dense coating microstructures. On the substrates with cathodes, electrolyte permeability was reduced by increasing the stand-off distance, which reduced the formation of segmentation cracks and regions of aligned and concentrated porosity. The formation mechanisms of the various permeability-related coating features are discussed and strategies for reducing permeability are presented. The dependences of electrolyte deposition efficiency and surface roughness on process conditions and substrate properties are also presented.

Metallic glass as a temperature sensor during ion plating

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Miyoshi, K.; Spalvins, T.; Buckley, D. H.

1985-01-01

The temperature of the interface and/or a superficial layer of a substrate during ion plating was investigated using a metallic glass of the composition Fe67Co18B14Si1 as the substrate and as the temperature sensor. Transmission electron microscopy and diffraction studies determined the microstructure of the ion-plated gold film and the substrate. Results indicate that crystallization occurs not only in the film, but also in the substrate. The grain size of crystals formed during ion plating was 6 to 60 nm in the gold film and 8 to 100 nm in the substrate at a depth of 10 to 15 micrometers from the ion-plated interface. The temperature rise of the substrate during ion plating was approximately 500 C. Discontinuous changes in metallurgical microstructure, and physical, chemical, and mechanical properties during the amorphous to crystalline transition in metallic glasses make metallic glasses extremely useful materials for temperature sensor applications in coating processes.

Metallic glass as a temperature sensor during ion plating

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Miyoshi, K.; Spalvins, T.; Buckley, D. H.

1984-01-01

The temperature of the interface and/or a superficial layer of a substrate during ion plating was investigated using a metallic glass of the composition Fe67Co18B14Si1 as the substrate and as the temperature sensor. Transmission electron microscopy and diffraction studies determined the microstructure of the ion-plated gold film and the substrate. Results indicate that crystallization occurs not only in the film, but also in the substrate. The grain size of crystals formed during ion plating was 6 to 60 nm in the gold film and 8 to 100 nm in the substrate at a depth of 10 to 15 micrometers from the ion-plated interface. The temperature rise of the substrate during ion plating was approximately 500 C. Discontinuous changes in metallurgical microstructure, and physical, chemical, and mechanical properties during the amorphous to crystalline transition in metallic glasses make metallic glasses extremely useful materials for temperature sensor applications in coating processes.

Elastic Coupling of Nascent apCAM Adhesions to Flowing Actin Networks

PubMed Central

Mejean, Cecile O.; Schaefer, Andrew W.; Buck, Kenneth B.; Kress, Holger; Shundrovsky, Alla; Merrill, Jason W.; Dufresne, Eric R.; Forscher, Paul

2013-01-01

Adhesions are multi-molecular complexes that transmit forces generated by a cell’s acto-myosin networks to external substrates. While the physical properties of some of the individual components of adhesions have been carefully characterized, the mechanics of the coupling between the cytoskeleton and the adhesion site as a whole are just beginning to be revealed. We characterized the mechanics of nascent adhesions mediated by the immunoglobulin-family cell adhesion molecule apCAM, which is known to interact with actin filaments. Using simultaneous visualization of actin flow and quantification of forces transmitted to apCAM-coated beads restrained with an optical trap, we found that adhesions are dynamic structures capable of transmitting a wide range of forces. For forces in the picoNewton scale, the nascent adhesions’ mechanical properties are dominated by an elastic structure which can be reversibly deformed by up to 1 µm. Large reversible deformations rule out an interface between substrate and cytoskeleton that is dominated by a number of stiff molecular springs in parallel, and favor a compliant cross-linked network. Such a compliant structure may increase the lifetime of a nascent adhesion, facilitating signaling and reinforcement. PMID:24039928

Correlation of microstructure and thermo-mechanical properties of a novel hydrogen transport membrane

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Yongjun

A key part of the FutureGen concept is to support the production of hydrogen to fuel a "hydrogen economy," with the use of clean burning hydrogen in power-producing fuel cells, as well as for use as a transportation fuel. One of the key technical barriers to FutureGen deployment is reliable and efficient hydrogen separation technology. Most Hydrogen Transport Membrane (HTM) research currently focuses on separation technology and hydrogen flux characterization. No significant work has been performed on thermo-mechanical properties of HTMs. The objective of the thesis is to understand the structure-property correlation of HTM and to characterize (1) thermo mechanical properties under different reducing environments and thermal cycles (thermal shock), and (2) evaluate the stability of the novel HTM material. A novel HTM cermet bulk sample was characterized for its physical and mechanical properties at both room temperature and at elevated temperature up to 1000°C. Micro-structural properties and residual stresses were evaluated in order to understand the changing mechanism of the microstructure and its effects on the mechanical properties of materials. A correlation of the microstructural and thermo mechanical properties of the HTM system was established for both HTM and the substrate material. Mechanical properties of both selected structural ceramics and the novel HTM cermet bulk sample are affected mainly by porosity and microstructural features, such as grain size and pore size-distribution. The Young's Modulus (E-value) is positively correlated to the flexural strength for materials with similar crystallographic structure. However, for different crystallographic materials, physical properties are independent of mechanical properties. Microstructural properties, particularly, grain size and crystallographic structure, and thermodynamic properties are the main factors affecting the mechanical properties at both room and high temperatures. The HTM cermet behaves more like an elastic material at room temperature and as a ductile material at temperature above 850°C. The oxidation and the plasticity of Pd phase mainly affected the mechanical properties of HTM cermet at high temperature, also as a result of thermal cycling. Residual stress induced in the HTM by thermo cycles also plays a very critical role in defining the thermo-mechanical properties.

A Novel Mechanism for Chemical Sensing Based on Solvent-Fluorophore-Substrate Interaction: Highly Selective Alcohol and Water Sensor with Large Fluorescence Signal Contrast.

PubMed

Chung, Kyeongwoon; Yang, Da Seul; Jung, Jaehun; Seo, Deokwon; Kwon, Min Sang; Kim, Jinsang

2016-10-06

Differentiation of solvents having similar physicochemical properties, such as ethanol and methanol, is an important issue of interest. However, without performing chemical analyses, discrimination between methanol and ethanol is highly challenging due to their similarity in chemical structure as well as properties. Here, we present a novel type of alcohol and water sensor based on the subtle differences in interaction among solvent analytes, fluorescent organic molecules, and a mesoporous silica gel substrate. A gradual change in the chemical structure of the fluorescent diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP) derivatives alters their interaction with the substrate and solvent analyte, which creates a distinct intermolecular aggregation of the DPP derivatives on the silica gel substrate depending on the solvent environment and produces a change in the fluorescence color and intensity as a sensory signal. The devised sensor device, which is fabricated with simple drop-casting of the DPP derivative solutions onto a silica gel substrate, exhibited a completely reversible fluorescence signal change with large fluorescence signal contrast, which allows selective solvent detection by simple optical observation with the naked eye under UV light. Superior selectivity of the alcohol and water sensor system, which can clearly distinguish among ethanol, methanol, ethylene glycol, and water, is demonstrated.

Electrical leakage phenomenon in heteroepitaxial cubic silicon carbide on silicon

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pradeepkumar, Aiswarya; Zielinski, Marcin; Bosi, Matteo; Verzellesi, Giovanni; Gaskill, D. Kurt; Iacopi, Francesca

2018-06-01

Heteroepitaxial 3C-SiC films on silicon substrates are of technological interest as enablers to integrate the excellent electrical, electronic, mechanical, thermal, and epitaxial properties of bulk silicon carbide into well-established silicon technologies. One critical bottleneck of this integration is the establishment of a stable and reliable electronic junction at the heteroepitaxial interface of the n-type SiC with the silicon substrate. We have thus investigated in detail the electrical and transport properties of heteroepitaxial cubic silicon carbide films grown via different methods on low-doped and high-resistivity silicon substrates by using van der Pauw Hall and transfer length measurements as test vehicles. We have found that Si and C intermixing upon or after growth, particularly by the diffusion of carbon into the silicon matrix, creates extensive interstitial carbon traps and hampers the formation of a stable rectifying or insulating junction at the SiC/Si interface. Although a reliable p-n junction may not be realistic in the SiC/Si system, we can achieve, from a point of view of the electrical isolation of in-plane SiC structures, leakage suppression through the substrate by using a high-resistivity silicon substrate coupled with deep recess etching in between the SiC structures.

A Chromium-Free Coating System for DoD Applications

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-05-01

Cu -Mg and Al - Cu -Fe-Mn intermetallics, lead to good mechanical properties of the alloy by strengthening the Al matrix [2]. Aluminum and its alloys ...pretreatment; target performances were resistance in the B-117 salt spray test of the primer only of 2000 hours for Al alloys , 1000 hours for HDG...silanes. The films deposited on Al substrate and silicon wafer have similar bulk properties and top surface morphology. We conclude that

Surface and corrosion characteristics of carbon plasma implanted and deposited nickel-titanium alloy

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

Poon, R.W.Y.; Liu, X.Y.; Chung, C.Y.

2005-05-01

Nickel-titanium shape memory alloys (NiTi) are potentially useful in orthopedic implants on account of their super-elastic and shape memory properties. However, the materials are prone to surface corrosion and the most common problem is out-diffusion of harmful Ni ions from the substrate into body tissues and fluids. In order to improve the corrosion resistance and related surface properties, we used the technique of plasma immersion ion implantation and deposition to deposit an amorphous hydrogenated carbon coating onto NiTi and implant carbon into NiTi. Both the deposited amorphous carbon film and carbon plasma implanted samples exhibit much improved corrosion resistances andmore » surface mechanical properties and possible mechanisms are suggested.« less

Mechanisms of Probe Tack Adhesion of Model Acrylic Elastomers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lakrout, Hamed; Creton, Costantino; Ahn, Dongchan; Shull, Kenneth R.

1997-03-01

The adhesion mechanisms of model acrylate homopolymers and copolymers are studied with an instrumented probe tack test. A video camera positioned under the transparent glass substrate records the bonding and debonding process while the force displacement curve is acquired. This setup allows to couple the observation of the cavitation and fibrillation mechanisms, occurring during the debonding of the film from the stainless steel probe, with the mechanical measurement of stress and strain. The transitions between different debonding mechanisms are critically dicussed in terms of the bulk and surface properties of the adhesive and its molecular structure.

The Processing and Mechanical Properties of High Temperature/High Performance Composites. Book 1, Section 1: Coatings and Interfaces

DTIC Science & Technology

1989-10-15

Cut Prestressed Film H.M. Jensen on a Substrate J.W. Hutchinson K.S. Kim 8. Measuring the Strength and Stiffness T.P. Weihs of Thin Film Materials by...for Thin Films T.P. Weihs Using Micro-Cantilever Beams J.C. Bravman W.D. Nix 10. Analysis of Elastic and Plastic Deformation A.K. Bhattacharya...Associated with Indentation Testing of Thin W.D. Nix Films on Substrates 11. Finite Elenent Simulidion of Indentation A.K. 13hattacharya Experimnents W.D

The Role of Interfacial Electronic Properties on Phonon Transport in Two-Dimensional MoS 2 on Metal Substrates

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

Yan, Zhequan; Chen, Liang; Yoon, Mina

2016-11-08

In this paper, we investigate the role of interfacial electronic properties on the phonon transport in two-dimensional MoS 2 adsorbed on metal substrates (Au and Sc) using first-principles density functional theory and the atomistic Green’s function method. Our study reveals that the different degree of orbital hybridization and electronic charge distribution between MoS 2 and metal substrates play a significant role in determining the overall phonon–phonon coupling and phonon transmission. The charge transfer caused by the adsorption of MoS 2 on Sc substrate can significantly weaken the Mo–S bond strength and change the phonon properties of MoS 2, which resultmore » in a significant change in thermal boundary conductance (TBC) from one lattice-stacking configuration to another for same metallic substrate. In a lattice-stacking configuration of MoS 2/Sc, weakening of the Mo–S bond strength due to charge redistribution results in decrease in the force constant between Mo and S atoms and substantial redistribution of phonon density of states to low-frequency region which affects overall phonon transmission leading to 60% decrease in TBC compared to another configuration of MoS 2/Sc. Strong chemical coupling between MoS 2 and the Sc substrate leads to a significantly (~19 times) higher TBC than that of the weakly bound MoS 2/Au system. Our findings demonstrate the inherent connection among the interfacial electronic structure, the phonon distribution, and TBC, which helps us understand the mechanism of phonon transport at the MoS 2/metal interfaces. Finally, the results provide insights for the future design of MoS 2-based electronics and a way of enhancing heat dissipation at the interfaces of MoS 2-based nanoelectronic devices.« less

Adsorption force of fibronectin controls transmission of cell traction force and subsequent stem cell fate.

PubMed

Lin, Manping; Mao, Shilong; Wang, Jinfeng; Xing, Juan; Wang, Yuanliang; Cai, Kaiyong; Luo, Yanfeng

2018-04-01

The transmission of cell traction force (CTF) to underlying biomaterials is essential for adhered cells to measure and respond to their mechanical microenvironment. Given that the protein layer adsorbed on materials lies between the cells and materials, we hypothesize that the interfacial strength of protein-material interfaces (i.e., the adsorption force of proteins, F ad ) should have an important role in regulating the transmission of CTF. To test this hypothesis, rat mesenchymal stem cells (rMSCs) were cultured on poly(dimethyl siloxane) (PDMS) substrates with different F ad of fibronectin (FN), and the transmission of CTF was observed by immunofluorescence staining of FN and deformation of PDMS. As revealed, FN on substrates with low F ad is more liable to be desorbed by CTF, which prevents the transmission of CTF to substrates. In contrast, high F ad facilitates the transmission of CTF from rMSCs to the FN layer and PDMS substrates so that rMSCs can perceive the mechanical properties of substrates. We further demonstrated that the divergent transmission of CTF on low and high F ad substrates regulates the lineage specifications of rMSCs. Our study confirms the important role of F ad in CTF transmission and provides a new perspective to gain insights into cell-material interactions and cell fates, which may help to guide the design of better biomaterials. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Influence of external mechanical stress on electrical properties of single-crystal n-3C-SiC/p-Si heterojunction diode

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Qamar, Afzaal; Veit Dao, Dzung; Tanner, Philip; Phan, Hoang-Phuong; Dinh, Toan; Dimitrijev, Sima

2015-06-01

This article reports for the first time the electrical properties of fabricated n-3C-SiC/p-Si heterojunction diodes under external mechanical stress in the [110] direction. An anisotype heterojunction diode of n-3C-SiC/p-Si was fabricated by depositing 3C-SiC onto the Si substrate by low-pressure chemical vapor deposition. The mechanical stress significantly affected the scaling current density of the heterojunction. The scaling current density increases with stress and is explained in terms of a band offset reduction at the SiC/Si interface under applied stress. A reduction in the barrier height across the junction owing to applied stress is also explained quantitatively.

Matrix Rigidity Regulates Cancer Cell Growth and Cellular Phenotype

PubMed Central

Tilghman, Robert W.; Cowan, Catharine R.; Mih, Justin D.; Koryakina, Yulia; Gioeli, Daniel; Slack-Davis, Jill K.; Blackman, Brett R.; Tschumperlin, Daniel J.; Parsons, J. Thomas

2010-01-01

Background The mechanical properties of the extracellular matrix have an important role in cell growth and differentiation. However, it is unclear as to what extent cancer cells respond to changes in the mechanical properties (rigidity/stiffness) of the microenvironment and how this response varies among cancer cell lines. Methodology/Principal Findings In this study we used a recently developed 96-well plate system that arrays extracellular matrix-conjugated polyacrylamide gels that increase in stiffness by at least 50-fold across the plate. This plate was used to determine how changes in the rigidity of the extracellular matrix modulate the biological properties of tumor cells. The cell lines tested fall into one of two categories based on their proliferation on substrates of differing stiffness: “rigidity dependent” (those which show an increase in cell growth as extracellular rigidity is increased), and “rigidity independent” (those which grow equally on both soft and stiff substrates). Cells which grew poorly on soft gels also showed decreased spreading and migration under these conditions. More importantly, seeding the cell lines into the lungs of nude mice revealed that the ability of cells to grow on soft gels in vitro correlated with their ability to grow in a soft tissue environment in vivo. The lung carcinoma line A549 responded to culture on soft gels by expressing the differentiated epithelial marker E-cadherin and decreasing the expression of the mesenchymal transcription factor Slug. Conclusions/Significance These observations suggest that the mechanical properties of the matrix environment play a significant role in regulating the proliferation and the morphological properties of cancer cells. Further, the multiwell format of the soft-plate assay is a useful and effective adjunct to established 3-dimensional cell culture models. PMID:20886123

Constructed wetland using corncob charcoal substrate: pollutants removal and intensification.

PubMed

Liu, Mao; Li, Boyuan; Xue, Yingwen; Wang, Hongyu; Yang, Kai

2017-09-01

To investigate the feasibility of using corncob charcoal substrate in constructed wetlands, four laboratory-scale vertical flow constructed wetlands (VFCWs) were built. Effluent pollutant (chemical oxygen demand (COD), NH 4 + -N, total phosphorus (TP)) concentrations during the experiment were determined to reveal pollutant removal mechanisms and efficiencies at different stages. In the stable stage, a VFCW using clay ceramisite substrate under aeration attained higher COD (95.1%), and NH 4 + -N (95.1%) removal efficiencies than a VFCW using corncob charcoal substrate (91.5% COD, 91.3% NH 4 + -N) under aeration, but lower TP removal efficiency (clay ceramisite 32.0% and corncob charcoal 40.0%). The VFCW with raw corncob substrate showed stronger COD emissions (maximum concentration 3,108 mg/L) than the corncob charcoal substrate (COD was lower than influent). The VFCW using corncob charcoal substrate performed much better than the VFCW using clay ceramisite substrate under aeration when the C/N ratio was low (C/N = 1.5, TN removal efficiency 36.89%, 4.1% respectively). These results suggest that corncob charcoal is a potential substrate in VFCWs under aeration with a unique self -supplying carbon source property in the denitrification process.

Substrate thermal conductivity controls the ability to manufacture microstructures via laser-induced direct write

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tomko, John A.; Olson, David H.; Braun, Jeffrey L.; Kelliher, Andrew P.; Kaehr, Bryan; Hopkins, Patrick E.

2018-01-01

In controlling the thermal properties of the surrounding environment, we provide insight into the underlying mechanisms driving the widely used laser direct write method for additive manufacturing. We find that the onset of silver nitrate reduction for the formation of direct write structures directly corresponds to the calculated steady-state temperature rises associated with both continuous wave and high-repetition rate, ultrafast pulsed laser systems. Furthermore, varying the geometry of the heat affected zone, which is controllable based on in-plane thermal diffusion in the substrate, and laser power, allows for control of the written geometries without any prior substrate preparation. These findings allow for the advance of rapid manufacturing of micro- and nanoscale structures with minimal material constraints through consideration of the laser-controllable thermal transport in ionic liquid/substrate media.

Circularly polarized Raman study on diamond structure crystals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Je-Ho; Kim, Sera; Seong, Maeng-Je

2018-01-01

Circularly polarized Raman and/or photoluminescence (PL) analyses have recently been very important in studying physical properties of many layered materials that were either mechanically exfoliated or grown by chemical-vapor-deposition (CVD) on silicon substrates. Since silicon Raman signal is always accompanied by the circularly polarized Raman and/or PL signal from the layered materials, observation of proper circularly polarized Raman selection rules on silicon substrates would be extremely good indicator that the circularly polarized Raman and/or PL measurements on the layered materials were done properly. We have performed circularly polarized Raman measurements on silicon substrates and compared the results with the Raman intensities calculated by using Raman tensors of the diamond crystal structure. Our experimental results were in excellent agreement with the calculation. Similar circularly polarized Raman analysis done on germanium substrate also showed good agreement.

Elastic Moduli of Nanoparticle-Polymer Composite Thin Films via Buckling on Elastomeric Substrates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yuan, Hongyi; Karim, Alamgir; University of Akron Team

2011-03-01

Polymeric thin films find applications in diverse areas such as coatings, barriers and packaging. The dispersion of nanoparticles into the films was proven to be an effective method to generate tunable properties, particularly mechanical strength. However, there are very few methods for mechanical characterization of the composite thin films with high accuracy. In this study, nanometric polystyrene and polyvinyl alcohol films with uniformly dispersed cobalt and Cloisite nanoparticles at varying concentrations were synthesized via flow-coating and then transferred to crosslinked polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) flexible substrates. The technique of Strain-Induced Elastic Buckling Instability for Mechanical Measurements (SIEBIMM) was employed to determine the elastic moduli of the films, which were calculated from the buckling patterns generated by applying compressive stresses. Results on moduli of films as a function of the concentrations of nanoparticles and the thicknesses of the composite films will be presented. *Corresponding author: alamgir@uakron.edu

Printing Highly Controlled Suspended Carbon Nanotube Network on Micro-patterned Superhydrophobic Flexible Surface

PubMed Central

Li, Bo; Wang, Xin; Jung, Hyun Young; Kim, Young Lae; Robinson, Jeremy T.; Zalalutdinov, Maxim; Hong, Sanghyun; Hao, Ji; Ajayan, Pulickel M.; Wan, Kai-Tak; Jung, Yung Joon

2015-01-01

Suspended single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) offer unique functionalities for electronic and electromechanical systems. Due to their outstanding flexible nature, suspended SWCNT architectures have great potential for integration into flexible electronic systems. However, current techniques for integrating SWCNT architectures with flexible substrates are largely absent, especially in a manner that is both scalable and well controlled. Here, we present a new nanostructured transfer paradigm to print scalable and well-defined suspended nano/microscale SWCNT networks on 3D patterned flexible substrates with micro- to nanoscale precision. The underlying printing/transfer mechanism, as well as the mechanical, electromechanical, and mechanical resonance properties of the suspended SWCNTs are characterized, including identifying metrics relevant for reliable and sensitive device structures. Our approach represents a fast, scalable and general method for building suspended nano/micro SWCNT architectures suitable for flexible sensing and actuation systems. PMID:26511284

Printing Highly Controlled Suspended Carbon Nanotube Network on Micro-patterned Superhydrophobic Flexible Surface.

PubMed

Li, Bo; Wang, Xin; Jung, Hyun Young; Kim, Young Lae; Robinson, Jeremy T; Zalalutdinov, Maxim; Hong, Sanghyun; Hao, Ji; Ajayan, Pulickel M; Wan, Kai-Tak; Jung, Yung Joon

2015-10-29

Suspended single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) offer unique functionalities for electronic and electromechanical systems. Due to their outstanding flexible nature, suspended SWCNT architectures have great potential for integration into flexible electronic systems. However, current techniques for integrating SWCNT architectures with flexible substrates are largely absent, especially in a manner that is both scalable and well controlled. Here, we present a new nanostructured transfer paradigm to print scalable and well-defined suspended nano/microscale SWCNT networks on 3D patterned flexible substrates with micro- to nanoscale precision. The underlying printing/transfer mechanism, as well as the mechanical, electromechanical, and mechanical resonance properties of the suspended SWCNTs are characterized, including identifying metrics relevant for reliable and sensitive device structures. Our approach represents a fast, scalable and general method for building suspended nano/micro SWCNT architectures suitable for flexible sensing and actuation systems.

Soft bio-integrated systems for continuous health monitoring

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Raj, M.; Wei, P. H.; Morey, B.; Wang, X.; Keen, B.; DePetrillo, P.; Hsu, Y. Y.; Ghaffari, R.

2014-06-01

Electronically-enabled wearable systems that monitor physiological activity and electrophysiological activity hold the key to truly personalized medical care outside of the hospital setting. However, fundamental technical challenges exist in achieving medical systems that are comfortable, unobtrusive and fully integrated without external connections to bench top instruments. In particular, there is a fundamental mismatch in mechanical coupling between existing classes of rigid electronics and soft biological substrates, like the skin. Here we describe new mechanical and electrical design strategies for wearable devices with mechanical properties that approach that of biological tissue. These systems exploit stretchable networks of conformal sensors (i.e. electrodes, temperature sensors, and accelerometers) and associated circuitry (i.e. microcontroller, memory, voltage regulators, rechargeable battery, wireless communication modules) embedded in ultrathin, elastomeric substrates. Quantitative analyses of sensor performance and mechanics under tensile and torsional stresses illustrate the ability to mechanically couple with soft tissues in a way that is mechanically invisible to the user. Representative examples of these soft biointegrated systems can be applied for continuous sensing of muscle and movement activity in the home and ambulatory settings.

Effect of the Cold-Sprayed Aluminum Coating-Substrate Interface Morphology on Bond Strength for Aircraft Repair Application

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Blochet, Quentin; Delloro, Francesco; N'Guyen, Franck; Jeulin, Dominique; Borit, François; Jeandin, Michel

2017-04-01

This article is dealing with the effects of surface preparation of the substrate on aluminum cold-sprayed coating bond strength. Different sets of AA2024-T3 specimens have been coated with pure Al 1050 feedstock powder, using a conventional cold spray coating technique. The sets were grit-blasted (GB) before coating. The study focuses on substrate surface topography evolution before coating and coating-substrate interface morphology after coating. To study coating adhesion by LASAT® technique for each set, specimens with and without preceding GB treatment were tested in load-controlled conditions. Then, several techniques were used to evaluate the effects of substrate surface treatment on the final coating mechanical properties. Irregularities induced by the GB treatment modify significantly the interface morphology. Results showed that particle anchoring was improved dramatically by the presence of craters. The substrate surface was characterized by numerous anchors. Numerical simulation results exhibited the increasing deformation of particle onto the grit-blasted surface. In addition, results showed a strong relationship between the coating-substrate bond strength on the deposited material and surface preparation.

Opto-Mechanical Analyses for Performance Optimization of Lightweight Grazing-Incidence Mirrors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Roche, Jacqueline; Kolodziejczak, Jeff; Odell, Steve; Eisner, Ronald; Ramsey, Brian; Gubarev, Mikhail

2013-01-01

New technology in grazing-incidence mirror fabrication and assembly is necessary to achieve sub-arcsecond optics for large-area x-ray telescopes. In order to define specifications, an understanding of performance sensitivity to design parameters is crucial. MSFC is undertaking a systematic study to specify a mounting approach, mirror substrate, and testing method. Because the lightweight mirrors are typically flimsy, they are susceptible to significant distortion due to mounting and gravitational forces. Material properties of the mirror substrate along with its thickness and dimensions significantly affect the distortions caused by mounting and gravity. A parametric study of these properties and their relationship to mounting and testing schemes will indicate specifications for the design of the next generation of lightweight grazing-incidence mirrors. Initial results will be reported.

Opto-mechanical Analyses for Performance Optimization of Lightweight Grazing-incidence Mirrors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Roche, Jacqueline M.; Kolodziejczak, Jeffery J.; Odell, Stephen L.; Elsner, Ronald F.; Weisskopf, Martin C.; Ramsey, Brian; Gubarev, Mikhail V.

2013-01-01

New technology in grazing-incidence mirror fabrication and assembly is necessary to achieve subarcsecond optics for large-area x-ray telescopes. In order to define specifications, an understanding of performance sensitivity to design parameters is crucial. MSFC is undertaking a systematic study to specify a mounting approach, mirror substrate, and testing method. Lightweight mirrors are typically flimsy and are, therefore, susceptible to significant distortion due to mounting and gravitational forces. Material properties of the mirror substrate along with its dimensions significantly affect the distortions caused by mounting and gravity. A parametric study of these properties and their relationship to mounting and testing schemes will indicate specifications for the design of the next generation of lightweight grazing-incidence mirrors. Here we report initial results of this study.

Opto-mechanical Analyses for Performance Optimization of Lightweight Grazing-incidence Mirrors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Roche, Jacqueline; Kolodsiejczak, Jeffrey; Odell, Stephen; Elsner, Ronald; Weisskopf, Martin; Ramsey, Brian; Gubarev, Mikhail

2013-01-01

New technology in grazing-incidence mirror fabrication and assembly is necessary to achieve sub-arcsecond optics for large-area x-ray telescopes. In order to define specifications, an understanding of performance sensitivity to design parameters is crucial. MSFC is undertaking a systematic study to specify a mounting approach, mirror substrate, and testing method. Because the lightweight mirrors are typically flimsy, they are susceptible to significant distortion due to mounting and gravitational forces. Material properties of the mirror substrate along with its thickness and dimensions significantly affect the distortions caused by mounting and gravity. A parametric study of these properties and their relationship to mounting and testing schemes will indicate specifications for the design of the next generation of lightweight grazing-incidence mirrors. Initial results will be reported.

Directing stem cell fate on hydrogel substrates by controlling cell geometry, matrix mechanics and adhesion ligand composition.

PubMed

Lee, Junmin; Abdeen, Amr A; Zhang, Douglas; Kilian, Kristopher A

2013-11-01

There is a dynamic relationship between physical and biochemical signals presented in the stem cell microenvironment to guide cell fate determination. Model systems that modulate cell geometry, substrate stiffness or matrix composition have proved useful in exploring how these signals influence stem cell fate. However, the interplay between these physical and biochemical cues during differentiation remains unclear. Here, we demonstrate a microengineering strategy to vary single cell geometry and the composition of adhesion ligands - on substrates that approximate the mechanical properties of soft tissues - to study adipogenesis and neurogenesis in adherent mesenchymal stem cells. Cells cultured in small circular islands show elevated expression of adipogenesis markers while cells that spread in anisotropic geometries tend to express elevated neurogenic markers. Arraying different combinations of matrix protein in a myriad of 2D and pseudo-3D geometries reveals optimal microenvironments for controlling the differentiation of stem cells to these "soft" lineages without the use of media supplements. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Drop casting of stiffness gradients for chip integration into stretchable substrates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Naserifar, Naser; LeDuc, Philip R.; Fedder, Gary K.

2017-04-01

Stretchable electronics have demonstrated promise within unobtrusive wearable systems in areas such as health monitoring and medical therapy. One significant question is whether it is more advantageous to develop holistic stretchable electronics or to integrate mature CMOS into stretchable electronic substrates where the CMOS process is separated from the mechanical processing steps. A major limitation with integrating CMOS is the dissimilar interface between the soft stretchable and hard CMOS materials. To address this, we developed an approach to pattern an elastomeric polymer layer with spatially varying mechanical properties around CMOS electronics to create a controllable material stiffness gradient. Our experimental approach reveals that modifying the interfaces can increase the strain failure threshold up to 30% and subsequently decreases delamination. The stiffness gradient in the polymer layer provides a safe region for electronic chips to function under a substrate tensile strain up to 150%. These results will have impacts in diverse applications including skin sensors and wearable health monitoring systems.

CAD/CAM milled complete removable dental prostheses: An in vitro evaluation of biocompatibility, mechanical properties, and surface roughness.

PubMed

Srinivasan, Murali; Gjengedal, Harald; Cattani-Lorente, Maria; Moussa, Mira; Durual, Stéphane; Schimmel, Martin; Müller, Frauke

2018-03-06

This study compared the biocompatibility, mechanical properties, and surface roughness of a pre-polymerized polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) resin for CAD/CAM complete removable dental prostheses (CRDPs) and a traditional heat-polymerized PMMA resin. Two groups of resin substrates [Control (RC): conventional PMMA; Test (RA): CAD/CAM PMMA] were fabricated. Human primary osteoblasts and mouse embryonic-fibroblasts were cultured for biocompatibility assays. Mechanical properties and surface roughness were compared. ANOVA revealed no difference between the resin groups in the biocompatibility assays. RA demonstrated a higher elastic modulus (p=0.002), young's modulus (p=0.002), plastic energy (p=0.002), ultimate strength (p=0.0004), yield point (p=0.016), strain at yield point (p=0.037), and toughness (p<0.0001); while RC displayed a higher elastic energy (p<0.0001). Laser profilometry concluded a rougher surface profile (p<0.0001) for RA. This study concluded that the tested CAD/CAM resin was equally biocompatible and presented with improved mechanical properties than the traditional heat-polymerized PMMA resin used in the fabrication of CRDPs.

The effect of water uptake on the mechanical properties of low-k organosilicate glass

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guo, X.; Jakes, J. E.; Nichols, M. T.; Banna, S.; Nishi, Y.; Shohet, J. L.

2013-08-01

Water uptake in porous low-k dielectrics has become a significant challenge for both back-end-of-line integration and circuit reliability. The influence of absorbed water on the mechanical properties of plasma-enhanced chemical-vapor-deposited organosilicate glasses (SiCOH) was investigated with nanoindentation. The roles of physisorbed (α-bonded) and chemisorbed (β-bonded) water were examined separately through annealing at different temperatures. Nanoindentation measurements were performed on dehydrated organosilicate glass during exposure to varying humidity conditions. The elastic modulus and hardness for as-deposited SiCOH are intimately linked to the nature and concentration of the absorbed water in the dielectric. Under mild-annealing conditions, the water-related film mechanical property changes were shown to be reversible. The mechanical properties of UV-cured SiCOH were also shown to depend on absorbed water, but to a lesser extent because UV curing depopulates the hydrophilic chemical groups in SiCOH. High-load indentation tests showed that in-diffusion of water in the film/substrate interface can degrade the hardness of SiCOH/Si film stacks significantly, while not significantly changing the elastic modulus.

Nanocrystalline cellulose as an eco-friendly reinforcing additive to polyurethane coating for augmented anticorrosive behavior.

PubMed

Abd El-Fattah, M; Hasan, Abdulraheim M A; Keshawy, Mohamed; El Saeed, Ashraf M; Aboelenien, Ossama M

2018-03-01

Nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) and micro-powdered cellulose (MPC) were extracted from rice straw by mechanical and alkali treatment methods, then characterized via infrared spectroscopy and dynamic light scattering. A series of polyurethane nanocrystalline cellulose composite (PNCCC) and polyurethane micro-powdered cellulose composite (PMPCC) coatings were prepared with various loading levels of NCC and MPC from 0.5 to 2.0 wt.%, and the coatings were applied onto the pretreated mild steel substrate at room temperature. The results showed that the NCC and MPC influenced positively the studied properties of the polyurethane coating; furthermore the most pronounced anticorrosive properties were obtained at 1 wt.% NCC and MPC, as confirmed by open circuit potential (OCP) study, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) study and salt spray test. However, the optimum enhancement of mechanical properties was found at 1.5 wt.% loading level, after which further loading of NCC and MPC led to the reduction in the mechanical properties. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Microstructures and Properties of 40Cu/Ag(Invar) Composites Fabricated by Powder Metallurgy and Subsequent Thermo-Mechanical Treatment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Xin; Huang, Yingqiu; Liu, Xiangyu; Yang, Lei; Shi, Changdong; Wu, Yucheng; Tang, Wenming

2018-03-01

Composites of 40Cu/Ag(Invar) were prepared via pressureless sintering and subsequent thermo-mechanical treatment from raw materials of electroless Ag-plated Invar alloy powder and electrolytic Cu powder. Microstructures and properties of the prepared composites were studied to evaluate the effect of the Ag layer on blocking Cu/Invar interfacial diffusion in the composites. The electroless-plated Ag layer was dense, uniform, continuous, and bonded tightly with the Invar alloy substrate. During sintering of the composites, the Ag layer effectively prevented Cu/Invar interfacial diffusion. During cold-rolling, the Ag layer was deformed uniformly with the Invar alloy particles. The composites exhibited bi-continuous network structure and considerably improved properties. After sintering at 775 °C and subsequent thermo-mechanical treatment, the 40Cu/Ag(Invar) composites showed satisfactory comprehensive properties: relative density of 99.0 pct, hardness of HV 253, thermal conductivity of 55.7 W/(m K), and coefficient of thermal expansion of 11.2 × 10-6/K.

Thin Film Delamination Using a High Power Pulsed Laser Materials Interaction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sherman, Bradley

Thin films attached to substrates are only effective while the film is adhered to the substrate. When the film begins to spall the whole system can fail, thus knowing the working strength of the film substrate system is important when designing structures. Surface acoustic waves (SAWs) are suitable for characterization of thin film mechanical properties due to the confinement of their energy within a shallow depth from a material surface. In this project, we study the feasibility of inducing dynamic interfacial failure in thin films using surface waves generated by a high power pulsed laser. Surface acoustic waves are modeled using a finite element numerical code, where the ablative interaction between the pulsed laser and the incident film is modeled using equivalent surface mechanical stresses. The numerical results are validated using experimental results from a laser ultrasonic setup. Once validated the normal film-substrate interfacial stress can be extracted from the numerical code and tends to be in the mega-Pascal range. This study uses pulsed laser generation to produce SAW in various metallic thin film/substrate systems. Each system varies in its response based on its dispersive relationship and as such requires individualized numerical modeling to match the experimental data. In addition to pulsed SAW excitation using an ablative source, a constrained thermo-mechanical load produced by the ablation of a metal film under a polymer layer is explored to generate larger dynamic mechanical stresses. These stresses are sufficient to delaminate the thin film in a manner similar to a peel test. However, since the loading is produced by a pulsed laser source, it occurs at a much faster rate, limiting the influence of slower damage modes that are present in quasi-static loading. This approach is explored to predict the interfacial fracture toughness of weak thin film interfaces.

Laser-Assisted Cold-Sprayed Corrosion- and Wear-Resistant Coatings: A Review

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Olakanmi, E. O.; Doyoyo, M.

2014-06-01

Laser-assisted cold spray (LACS) process will be increasingly employed for depositing coatings because of its unique advantages: solid-state deposition of dense, homogeneous, and pore-free coatings onto a range of substrates; and high build rate at reduced operating costs without the use of expensive heating and process inert gases. Depositing coatings with excellent performance indicators via LACS demands an accurate knowledge and control of processing and materials' variables. By varying the LACS process parameters and their interactions, the functional properties of coatings can be manipulated. Moreover, thermal effect due to laser irradiation and microstructural evolution complicate the interpretation of LACS mechanical deformation mechanism which is essential for elucidating its physical phenomena. In order to provide a basis for follow-on-research that leads to the development of high-productivity LACS processing of coatings, this review focuses on the latest developments in depositing corrosion- and wear-resistant coatings with the emphasis on the composition, structure, and mechanical and functional properties. Historical developments and fundamentals of LACS are addressed in an attempt to describe the physics behind the process. Typical technological applications of LACS coatings are also identified. The investigations of all process sequences, from laser irradiation of the powder-laden gas stream and the substrate, to the impingement of thermally softened particles on the deposition site, and subsequent further processes, are described. Existing gaps in the literature relating to LACS-dependent microstructural evolution, mechanical deformation mechanisms, correlation between functional properties and process parameters, processing challenges, and industrial applications have been identified in order to provide insights for further investigations and innovation in LACS deposition of wear- and corrosion-resistant coatings.

Improvement of mechanical robustness of the superhydrophobic wood surface by coating PVA/SiO2 composite polymer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Feng; Wang, Shuliang; Zhang, Ming; Ma, Miaolian; Wang, Chengyu; Li, Jian

2013-09-01

Improvement of the robustness of superhydrophobic surfaces is crucial for the purpose of achieving commercial applications of these surfaces in such various areas as self-cleaning, water repellency and corrosion resistance. We have investigated a fabrication of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/silica (SiO2) composite polymer coating on wooden substrates with super repellency toward water, low sliding angles, low contact angle hysteresis, and relatively better mechanical robustness. The composite polymer slurry, consisting of well-mixing SiO2 particles and PVA, is prepared simply and subsequently coated over wooden substrates with good adhesion. In this study, the mechanical robustness of superhydrophobic wood surfaces was evaluated. The effect of petaloid structures of the composite polymer on robustness was investigated using an abrasion test and the results were compared with those of superhydrophobic wood surfaces fabricated by other processes. The produced wood surfaces exhibited promising superhydrophobic properties with a contact angle of 159̊ and a sliding angle of 4̊, and the relatively better mechanical robustness.

Mechanical Characterization of Polydopamine-Assisted Silver Deposition on Polymer Substrates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cordes, Amanda Laurence

Inspired by the adhesive proteins in marine mussels, polydopamine has become a popular adhesive ad-layer for surface functionalization of a variety of substrates. Based on the chemistry of the dopamine monomer, amine and thiol functional groups are hypothesized to increase adhesion between polymer substrates and polydopamine thin films. This hypothesis was the central motivation for development of a tailorable thiol-ene system in order to study the effects of substrate chemistry on polydopamine adhesion. While polydopamine-adhered silver has been studied on a variety of substrates, no in depth mechanical characterization has been performed and to date, no research has been published on thiol-enes coated in polydopamine-adhered silver. The purpose of this study was to characterize the mechanical durability and adhesion properties of a polydopamine-adhered silver film on commercial substrates and a tailorable thiol-ene system. Polydopamine and silver coatings were deposited on a variety of polymer substrates through a simple dip-coat process. The polydopamine forms a thin uniform adhesive layer and the silver deposits in a discontinuous manner with a nanoparticle sized base layer covering the full surface and micron-sized clusters adhered sporadically on top. Mechanical tensile testing was performed to characterize the durability of the silver coating on commercial polymers. Coated nylon and HDPE showed no signs of degradation or delamination of the polydopamine-adhered silver coating up to 30% strain although both substrates showed large plastic deformation. Peel tests were performed on both commercial polymers as well as a tailorable thiol-ene system. Results support the hypothesis that polydopamine adhesion is increased with the presence of functional groups. Parts of the HDPE sample were cleanly peeled, but silver patches were left sporadically across the surface pointing to weaker adhesion between polyethylene and polydopamine. A high adhesive strength tape was used on nylon and the thiol-ene polymers and removed some of the large clusters but was ineffective at removing the particle base layer. The silver base layer remained firmly attached on the surface after multiple rounds of peel testing. With the addition of functional groups in the polymer makeup, the adhesion strength of polydopamine-adhered silver coatings can be increased to create a mechanically durable and adhesively robust silver coating.

Nanomechanical properties of hybrid coatings for bone tissue engineering.

PubMed

Skarmoutsou, Amalia; Lolas, Georgios; Charitidis, Costas A; Chatzinikolaidou, Maria; Vamvakaki, Maria; Farsari, Maria

2013-09-01

Bone tissue engineering has emerged as a promising alternative approach in the treatment of bone injuries and defects arising from malformation, osteoporosis, and tumours. In this approach, a temporary scaffold possessing mechanical properties resembling those of natural bone is needed to serve as a substrate enhancing cell adhesion and growth, and a physical support to guide the formation of the new bone. In this regard, the scaffold should be biocompatible, biodegradable, malleable and mechanically strong. Herein, we investigate the mechanical properties of three coatings of different chemical compositions onto silanized glass substrates; a hybrid material consisting of methacryloxypropyl trimethoxysilane and zirconium propoxide, a type of a hybrid organic-inorganic material of the above containing also 50 mol% 2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) moieties and a pure organic material, based on PDMAEMA. This study investigates the variations in the measured hardness and reduced modulus values, wear resistance and plastic behaviour before and after samples' submersion in cell culture medium. Through this analysis we aim to explain how hybrid materials behave under applied stresses (pile-up formations), how water uptake changes this behaviour, and estimate how these materials will react while interaction with cells in tissue engineering applications. Finally, we report on the pre-osteoblastic cell adhesion and proliferation on three-dimensional structures of the hybrid materials within the first hour and up to 7 days in culture. It was evident that hybrid structure, consisting of 50 mol% organic-inorganic material, reveals good mechanical behaviour, wear resistance and cell adhesion and proliferation, suggesting a possible candidate in bone tissue engineering. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Application of hybrid organic/inorganic polymers as coatings on metallic substrates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Augustinho, T. R.; Motz, G.; Ihlow, S.; Machado, R. A. F.

2016-09-01

Acrylic polymers, particularly poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), have certain specific properties, such as good film formation, transparency, and good mechanical properties, which have been widely used in paints, coatings and adhesives. However, the limited chemical and physical stability of these pure polymers limits their applications when exposed to hostile conditions, as in ship hulls, for example. A suitable way to enhance PMMA properties is the addition of silicon polymers with very good protective characteristics. In this study, a PMMA and HTT 1800 (commercial silazane) copolymer were applied on metallic substrate and compared to pure PMMA and HTT 1800. All the materials were applied as coatings. They were applied on stainless steel via dip-coating to investigate the coating properties. Thermal cycling was employed to analyze coating durability at high temperatures (50 °C to 600 °C). Optical microscopy (OM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to characterize the coated surfaces, and the adhesion of pure PMMA, pure HTT 1800 and PMMA/HTT 1800 coatings on metallic substrate was investigated by Cross-Cut-Test (ASTM D 3359). The sessile drop method was used to determine the contact angle. PMMA coatings presented complete degradation from 250 °C, while hybrid coatings of PMMA and HTT 1800 have good protection until 400 °C. The adherence of the coating on metallic substrate showed improvement in all synthesized materials when compared to pure PMMA, obtaining the best adherence possible. The contact angle test showed that the hydrophobicity of the hybrid coatings is higher than that of the pure coatings.

Seed layer effect on different properties and UV detection capability of hydrothermally grown ZnO nanorods over SiO2/p-Si substrate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sannakashappanavar, Basavaraj S.; Byrareddy, C. R.; Kumar, Pesala Sudheer; Yadav, Aniruddh Bahadur

2018-05-01

Hydrothermally grown one dimensional ZnO nanostructures are among the most widely used semiconductor materials to build high-efficiency electronic devices for various applications. Few researchers have addressed the growth mechanism and effect of ZnO seed layer on different properties of ZnO nanorods grown by hydrothermal method, instead, no one has synthesized ZnO nanorod over SiO2/p-Si substrate. The aim of this study is to study the effect of ZnO seed layer and the growth mechanism of ZnO nanorods over SiO2/p-Si substrate. To achieve the goal, we have synthesized ZnO nanorods over different thickness ZnO seed layers by using the hydrothermal method on SiO2/p-Si substrate. The effects of c-plane area ratio were identified for the growth rate of c-plane, reaction rate constant and stagnant layer thickness also calculated by using a modified rate growth equation. We have identified maximum seed layer thickness for the growth of vertical ZnO nanorod. A step dislocation in the ZnO nanorods grown on 150and 200 nm thick seed layers was observed, the magnitude of Burges vector was calculated for this disorder. The seed layer and ZnO nanorods were characterized by AFM, XPS, UV-visible, XRD (X-ray diffraction, and SEM(scanning electron microscope). To justify the application of the grown ZnO nanorods Ti/Au was deposited over ZnO nanorods grown over all seed layers for the fabrication of photoconductor type UV detector.

Dehomogenized Elastic Properties of Heterogeneous Layered Materials in AFM Indentation Experiments.

PubMed

Lee, Jia-Jye; Rao, Satish; Kaushik, Gaurav; Azeloglu, Evren U; Costa, Kevin D

2018-06-05

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is used to study mechanical properties of biological materials at submicron length scales. However, such samples are often structurally heterogeneous even at the local level, with different regions having distinct mechanical properties. Physical or chemical disruption can isolate individual structural elements but may alter the properties being measured. Therefore, to determine the micromechanical properties of intact heterogeneous multilayered samples indented by AFM, we propose the Hybrid Eshelby Decomposition (HED) analysis, which combines a modified homogenization theory and finite element modeling to extract layer-specific elastic moduli of composite structures from single indentations, utilizing knowledge of the component distribution to achieve solution uniqueness. Using finite element model-simulated indentation of layered samples with micron-scale thickness dimensions, biologically relevant elastic properties for incompressible soft tissues, and layer-specific heterogeneity of an order of magnitude or less, HED analysis recovered the prescribed modulus values typically within 10% error. Experimental validation using bilayer spin-coated polydimethylsiloxane samples also yielded self-consistent layer-specific modulus values whether arranged as stiff layer on soft substrate or soft layer on stiff substrate. We further examined a biophysical application by characterizing layer-specific microelastic properties of full-thickness mouse aortic wall tissue, demonstrating that the HED-extracted modulus of the tunica media was more than fivefold stiffer than the intima and not significantly different from direct indentation of exposed media tissue. Our results show that the elastic properties of surface and subsurface layers of microscale synthetic and biological samples can be simultaneously extracted from the composite material response to AFM indentation. HED analysis offers a robust approach to studying regional micromechanics of heterogeneous multilayered samples without destructively separating individual components before testing. Copyright © 2018 Biophysical Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Structure and mechanical properties of a two-layered material produced by the E-beam surfacing of Ta and Nb on the titanium base after multiple rolling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bataev, V. A.; Golkovski, M. G.; Samoylenko, V. V.; Ruktuev, A. A.; Polyakov, I. A.; Kuksanov, N. K.

2018-04-01

The study has been conducted in line with the current approach to investigation of materials obtained by considerably deep surface alloying of the titanium substrate with Ta, Nb, and Zr. The thickness of the resulting alloyed layer was equal to 2 mm. The coating was formed through weld deposition of a powder with the use of a high-voltage electron beam in the air. It has been lately demonstrated that manufactured such a way alloyed layers possess corrosion resistance which is significantly higher than the resistance of titanium substrates. It has already been shown that such two-layered materials are weldable. The study objective is to investigate the feasibility of rolling for necking the sheets with the Ti-Ta-Nb anticorrosion coating with further fourfold decrease in their thickness. The research is also aimed at investigation of the material properties after rolling. Anticorrosion layers were formed both on CP-titanium and on VT14 (Ti-4Al-3Mo-1 V) durable titanium alloy. The results of chemical composition determination, structure examination, X-ray phase analysis and mechanical properties observations (including bending properties of the alloyed layers) are presented in the paper. The combination of welding, rolling, and bending enables the manufacture of corrosion-resistant vessels and process pipes which are made from the developed material and find technological application.

Characterization of hydroxyapatite whisker reinforced composites and scaffolds for mechanical and biological function in orthopaedic and spinal implants

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Conrad, Timothy L.

The overall objective of this study was to investigate the mechanical and biological properties of HA whisker reinforced polyaryletherketone (PAEK) composites and scaffolds which are key to clinical translation for orthopedic and spinal implants. The fatigue behavior of polyetherketoneketone (PEKK) reinforced with 0, 20, and 40 vol% hydroxyapatite (HA) was investigated in four-point bending fatigue. The fatigue life decreased with increasing HA reinforcement. However, PEKK reinforced with 40 vol% HA whiskers exhibited a fatigue life greater than 2.106 cycles at 40 MPa. Moreover, HA whisker reinforcement resulted in decreased creep deformation and minimal modulus degradation. The effects of the mold temperature and polyetheretherketone (PEEK) powder were investigated on the mechanical properties and crystallinity of HA whisker reinforced PEEK scaffolds prepared using compression molding and porogen leaching. The mechanical properties of the scaffolds increased while the PEEK crystallinity decreased, with increasing mold temperature and suggested an optimal mold temperature of 370--375°C for PEEK scaffolds comprising of 75% porosity and 20 vol% HA whisker reinforcement, regardless of the PEEK powder size. The effects of the porogen morphology on the architecture, mechanical properties, and permeability of HA whisker reinforced PEEK scaffolds were investigated in 75--90% porous scaffolds. HA whisker reinforced PEEK scaffolds prepared with an ellipsoidal porogen exhibited a greater permeability than scaffolds prepared with a cubic porogen. The compressive modulus, yield strength, and yield strain were not affected by the porogen morphology. The effects of HA reinforcement morphology and content was investigated on the behavior of primary osteoblasts on dense HA reinforced PEEK substrates in vitro. At day 7, the number of osteoblasts attached to PEEK substrate surfaces increased with increasing HA content and for HA whiskers compared to equiaxed HA powder reinforcement. This suggests that the HA reinforcement content morphology can promote cellular attachment and proliferation at early time points.

Simultaneous Measurement of Multiple Mechanical Properties of Single Cells Using AFM by Indentation and Vibration.

PubMed

Zhang, Chuang; Shi, Jialin; Wang, Wenxue; Xi, Ning; Wang, Yuechao; Liu, Lianqing

2017-12-01

The mechanical properties of cells, which are the main characteristics determining their physical performance and physiological functions, have been actively studied in the fields of cytobiology and biomedical engineering and for the development of medicines. In this study, an indentation-vibration-based method is proposed to simultaneously measure the mechanical properties of cells in situ, including cellular mass (m), elasticity (k), and viscosity (c). The proposed measurement method is implemented based on the principle of forced vibration stimulated by simple harmonic force using an atomic force microscope (AFM) system integrated with a piezoelectric transducer as the substrate vibrator. The corresponding theoretical model containing the three mechanical properties is derived and used to perform simulations and calculations. Living and fixed human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK 293) cells were subjected to indentation and vibration to measure and compare their mechanical parameters and verify the proposed approach. The results that the fixed sample cells are more viscous and elastic than the living sample cells and the measured mechanical properties of cell are consistent within, but not outside of the central region of the cell, are in accordance with the previous studies. This work provides an approach to simultaneous measurement of the multiple mechanical properties of single cells using an integrated AFM system based on the principle force vibration and thickness-corrected Hertz model. This study should contribute to progress in biomedical engineering, cytobiology, medicine, early diagnosis, specific therapy and cell-powered robots.

Wear mechanisms of the biotribological nanocomposite a-C : H coatings implanted by metallic nanoparticles.

PubMed

Major, L; Janusz, M; Lackner, J M; Kot, M; Dyner, M; Major, B

2017-10-01

Recently, to reduce the residual stress and increase the mechanical properties of a-C:H coatings, metallic nanoparticles have been implanted into their structure. In the present work, to improve the properties of the coating, metallic nanoparticles, including Cu, Nb, Ta, Zr, AgPt and Ag, were inserted into the a-C:H structure. The applied biological and mechanical analysis allowed the optimal biotribological parameters to be indicated for the potential application as protective coatings for metallic medical tools. Wear mechanisms operating at the small length of the designed biotribological coating, such as a-C:H implanted by Zr nanoparticles, were studied by means of transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The TEM analysis confirmed very good coating adhesion to the metallic substrate. © 2017 The Authors Journal of Microscopy © 2017 Royal Microscopical Society.

Transparent conductive p-type lithium-doped nickel oxide thin films deposited by pulsed plasma deposition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huang, Yanwei; Zhang, Qun; Xi, Junhua; Ji, Zhenguo

2012-07-01

Transparent p-type Li0.25Ni0.75O conductive thin films were prepared on conventional glass substrates by pulsed plasma deposition. The effects of substrate temperature and oxygen pressure on structural, electrical and optical properties of the films were investigated. The electrical resistivity decreases initially and increases subsequently as the substrate temperature increases. As the oxygen pressure increases, the electrical resistivity decreases monotonically. The possible physical mechanism was discussed. And a hetero p-n junction of p-Li0.25Ni0.75O/n-SnO2:W was fabricated by depositing n-SnO2:W on top of the p-Li0.25Ni0.75O, which exhibits typical rectifying current-voltage characteristics.

Synthesis of sub-micro-flakes CrSe2 on glass and (110) Si substrates by solvothermal method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tang, Qingkai; Liu, Changyou; Zhang, Binbin; Jie, Wanqi

2018-06-01

Layered structure MX2 (M = transition metal, X = S, Se and Te) chalcogenides have rich physic properties and potential applications. While it is still a challenge to prepare the chalcogenides by solvothermal method. In this work, we reported a new solution method to prepare CrSe2 sub-micro-flakes on different substrates. The surface morphologies, structures and compositions of the precursor CrSe2(en)1/2 and CrSe2 were investigated by SEM, XRD, thermogravimetric, IR and Raman spectra. The CrSe2 flakes with the sizes of 5-15 μm were obtained on both glass and (110) Si crystalline substrates. The formation mechanism of CrSe2 sub-micro-flakes is suggested.

A phase code for memory could arise from circuit mechanisms in entorhinal cortex

PubMed Central

Hasselmo, Michael E.; Brandon, Mark P.; Yoshida, Motoharu; Giocomo, Lisa M.; Heys, James G.; Fransen, Erik; Newman, Ehren L.; Zilli, Eric A.

2009-01-01

Neurophysiological data reveals intrinsic cellular properties that suggest how entorhinal cortical neurons could code memory by the phase of their firing. Potential cellular mechanisms for this phase coding in models of entorhinal function are reviewed. This mechanism for phase coding provides a substrate for modeling the responses of entorhinal grid cells, as well as the replay of neural spiking activity during waking and sleep. Efforts to implement these abstract models in more detailed biophysical compartmental simulations raise specific issues that could be addressed in larger scale population models incorporating mechanisms of inhibition. PMID:19656654

Scanning-electron-microscopy observations and mechanical characteristics of ion-beam-sputtered surgical implant alloys

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Weigand, A. J.; Meyer, M. L.; Ling, J. S.

1977-01-01

An electron bombardment ion thruster was used as an ion source to sputter the surfaces of orthopedic prosthetic metals. Scanning electron microscopy photomicrographs were made of each ion beam textured surface. The effect of ion texturing an implant surface on its bond to bone cement was investigated. A Co-Cr-W alloy and surgical stainless steel were used as representative hard tissue implant materials to determine effects of ion texturing on bulk mechanical properties. Work was done to determine the effect of substrate temperature on the development of an ion textured surface microstructure. Results indicate that the ultimate strength of the bulk materials is unchanged by ion texturing and that the microstructure will develop more rapidly if the substrate is heated prior to ion texturing.

Biophysical assays to probe the mechanical properties of the interphase cell nucleus: substrate strain application and microneedle manipulation.

PubMed

Lombardi, Maria L; Zwerger, Monika; Lammerding, Jan

2011-09-14

In most eukaryotic cells, the nucleus is the largest organelle and is typically 2 to 10 times stiffer than the surrounding cytoskeleton; consequently, the physical properties of the nucleus contribute significantly to the overall biomechanical behavior of cells under physiological and pathological conditions. For example, in migrating neutrophils and invading cancer cells, nuclear stiffness can pose a major obstacle during extravasation or passage through narrow spaces within tissues.(1) On the other hand, the nucleus of cells in mechanically active tissue such as muscle requires sufficient structural support to withstand repetitive mechanical stress. Importantly, the nucleus is tightly integrated into the cellular architecture; it is physically connected to the surrounding cytoskeleton, which is a critical requirement for the intracellular movement and positioning of the nucleus, for example, in polarized cells, synaptic nuclei at neuromuscular junctions, or in migrating cells.(2) Not surprisingly, mutations in nuclear envelope proteins such as lamins and nesprins, which play a critical role in determining nuclear stiffness and nucleo-cytoskeletal coupling, have been shown recently to result in a number of human diseases, including Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy, limb-girdle muscular dystrophy, and dilated cardiomyopathy.(3) To investigate the biophysical function of diverse nuclear envelope proteins and the effect of specific mutations, we have developed experimental methods to study the physical properties of the nucleus in single, living cells subjected to global or localized mechanical perturbation. Measuring induced nuclear deformations in response to precisely applied substrate strain application yields important information on the deformability of the nucleus and allows quantitative comparison between different mutations or cell lines deficient for specific nuclear envelope proteins. Localized cytoskeletal strain application with a microneedle is used to complement this assay and can yield additional information on intracellular force transmission between the nucleus and the cytoskeleton. Studying nuclear mechanics in intact living cells preserves the normal intracellular architecture and avoids potential artifacts that can arise when working with isolated nuclei. Furthermore, substrate strain application presents a good model for the physiological stress experienced by cells in muscle or other tissues (e.g., vascular smooth muscle cells exposed to vessel strain). Lastly, while these tools have been developed primarily to study nuclear mechanics, they can also be applied to investigate the function of cytoskeletal proteins and mechanotransduction signaling.

Effect of Plasma Surface Finish on Wettability and Mechanical Properties of SAC305 Solder Joints

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Kyoung-Ho; Koike, Junichi; Yoon, Jeong-Won; Yoo, Sehoon

2016-12-01

The wetting behavior, interfacial reactions, and mechanical reliability of Sn-Ag-Cu solder on a plasma-coated printed circuit board (PCB) substrate were evaluated under multiple heat-treatments. Conventional organic solderability preservative (OSP) finished PCBs were used as a reference. The plasma process created a dense and highly cross-linked polymer coating on the Cu substrates. The plasma finished samples had higher wetting forces and shorter zero-cross times than those with OSP surface finish. The OSP sample was degraded after sequential multiple heat treatments and reflow processes, whereas the solderability of the plasma finished sample was retained after multiple heat treatments. After the soldering process, similar microstructures were observed at the interfaces of the two solder joints, where the development of intermetallic compounds was observed. From ball shear tests, it was found that the shear force for the plasma substrate was consistently higher than that for the OSP substrate. Deterioration of the OSP surface finish was observed after multiple heat treatments. Overall, the plasma surface finish was superior to the conventional OSP finish with respect to wettability and joint reliability, indicating that it is a suitable material for the fabrication of complex electronic devices.

Striated Acto-Myosin Fibers Can Reorganize and Register in Response to Elastic Interactions with the Matrix

PubMed Central

Friedrich, Benjamin M.; Buxboim, Amnon; Discher, Dennis E.; Safran, Samuel A.

2011-01-01

The remarkable striation of muscle has fascinated many for centuries. In developing muscle cells, as well as in many adherent, nonmuscle cell types, striated, stress fiberlike structures with sarcomere-periodicity tend to register: Based on several studies, neighboring, parallel fibers at the basal membrane of cultured cells establish registry of their respective periodic sarcomeric architecture, but, to our knowledge, the mechanism has not yet been identified. Here, we propose for cells plated on an elastic substrate or adhered to a neighboring cell, that acto-myosin contractility in striated fibers close to the basal membrane induces substrate strain that gives rise to an elastic interaction between neighboring striated fibers, which in turn favors interfiber registry. Our physical theory predicts a dependence of interfiber registry on externally controllable elastic properties of the substrate. In developing muscle cells, registry of striated fibers (premyofibrils and nascent myofibrils) has been suggested as one major pathway of myofibrillogenesis, where it precedes the fusion of neighboring fibers. This suggests a mechanical basis for the optimal myofibrillogenesis on muscle-mimetic elastic substrates that was recently observed by several groups in cultures of mouse-, human-, and chick-derived muscle cells. PMID:21641316

Cell response to nanocrystallized metallic substrates obtained through severe plastic deformation.

PubMed

Bagherifard, Sara; Ghelichi, Ramin; Khademhosseini, Ali; Guagliano, Mario

2014-06-11

Cell-substrate interface is known to control the cell response and subsequent cell functions. Among the various biophysical signals, grain structure, which indicates the repeating arrangement of atoms in the material, has also proved to play a role of significant importance in mediating the cell activities. Moreover, refining the grain size through severe plastic deformation is known to provide the processed material with novel mechanical properties. The potential application of such advanced materials as biomedical implants has recently been evaluated by investigating the effect of different substrate grain sizes on a wide variety of cell activities. In this review, recent advances in biomedical applications of severe plastic deformation techniques are highlighted with special attention to the effect of the obtained nano/ultra-fine-grain size on cell-substrate interactions. Various severe plastic deformation techniques used for this purpose are discussed presenting a brief description of the mechanism for each process. The results obtained for each treatment on cell morphology, adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation, as well as the in vivo studies, are discussed. Finally, the advantages and challenges regarding the application of these techniques to produce multifunctional bio-implant materials are addressed.

Plasma modification of sisal and high-density polyethylene composites : effect on mechanical properties

Treesearch

A.R. Martin; S. Manolache; L.H.C. Mattoso; R.M. Rowell; F. Denes

2000-01-01

Sisal fibers and finely powdered high-density polyethylene were surface functionalized using dichlorosilane (DS) under R-F plasma conditions to improve interfacial adhesion between the two dissimilar substrates. The functionalized polyethylene (70%) and sisal (30%) were compounded on four different ways using thermokinetic mixer and injected molded into composites...

Optimal Substrate Preheating Model for Thermal Spray Deposition of Thermosets onto Polymer Matrix Composites

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ivosevic, M.; Knight, R.; Kalidindi, S. R.; Palmese, G. R.; Tsurikov, A.; Sutter, J. K.

2003-01-01

High velocity oxy-fuel (HVOF) sprayed, functionally graded polyimide/WC-Co composite coatings on polymer matrix composites (PMC's) are being investigated for applications in turbine engine technologies. This requires that the polyimide, used as the matrix material, be fully crosslinked during deposition in order to maximize its engineering properties. The rapid heating and cooling nature of the HVOF spray process and the high heat flux through the coating into the substrate typically do not allow sufficient time at temperature for curing of the thermoset. It was hypothesized that external substrate preheating might enhance the deposition behavior and curing reaction during the thermal spraying of polyimide thermosets. A simple analytical process model for the deposition of thermosetting polyimide onto polymer matrix composites by HVOF thermal spray technology has been developed. The model incorporates various heat transfer mechanisms and enables surface temperature profiles of the coating to be simulated, primarily as a function of substrate preheating temperature. Four cases were modeled: (i) no substrate preheating; (ii) substrates electrically preheated from the rear; (iii) substrates preheated by hot air from the front face; and (iv) substrates electrically preheated from the rear and by hot air from the front.

Study on Evaluation Methods for Mechanical Properties of Organic Semiconductor Materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kobayashi, T.; Yokoyama, T.; Utsumi, Y.; Kanematsu, H.; Masuda, T.

2013-04-01

This paper describes the evaluation method of the mechanical properties of the materials constituting organic semiconductor, and the test result of the relation between applied strain and the fracture of thin films. The final target of this work is the improvement of flexibility of organic light emitting diode(OLED), the tensile test of the thin films coated on flexible substrate is conducted, and the vulnerable parts of the constituent material of the OLED is quantitatively understood, further the guideline for designing OLED structure will be obtained. In the present paper, tensile test of an aluminium oxide thin films deposited on a poly-ethylene-tere-phtalate (PET) substrate was carried out under constant conditions, the following results were obtained:(1)Cracking of the aluminium oxide thin films was observed using an optical transparent formula microscope at more than 40 times magnification; (2)Cracking was initiated at a strain of about 3%; (3)the number of cracks increased proportional to the strain, and saturated at about 9% strain; (4)Organic thin films α-NPD caused the same cracking as oxide thin films.

Application of TiN/TiO2 coatings on stainless steel: composition and mechanical reliability

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nikolova, M. P.; Genov, A.; Valkov, S.; Yankov, E.; Dechev, D.; Ivanov, N.; Bezdushnyi, R.; Petrov, P.

2018-03-01

The paper reports on the effect of the substrate temperature (350 °C, 380 °C and 420 °C) during reactive magnetron sputtering of a TiN film on the phase composition, texture and mechanical properties of TiN/TiO2 coatings on 304L stainless steel substrates. Pure Ti was used as a cathode source of Ti. The texture and unit cell parameters of both TiN and TiO2 phases of the coating are discussed in relation with the tribological properties and adhesion of the coating. The scratch tests performed showed that the nitride deposited at 380 °C, having the highest unit cell parameter and a predominant (111) texture, possessed the lowest friction coefficient (μ), tangential force and brittleness. The anatase-type TiO2 with predominant (101) pole density and increased c unit cell parameter showed the highest stability on the nitride deposited at 420 °C. The results indicated that the friction coefficient, tangential force and critical forces of fracture could be varied by controlling the coating deposition temperature.

Mechanism of Cohesion of Monomolecular Water Film with the β-AgI Crystal Surface under Thermal Fluctuations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shevkunov, S. V.

2018-07-01

The growth of liquid phase nuclei on the surface of some crystals was shown to differ from that described in the classic theory of capillarity. The surface of the base face of a silver iodide crystal is completely covered with a monomolecular water film already in unsaturated vapors, and the wetting conditions of the substrate are determined by the hydrophobic properties of the film surface, but not the crystal surface itself. The mechanism by which the monomolecular film is held on the surface of crystalline silver iodide was studied by the Monte Carlo method at the molecular level. It was found that the adhesion of the film to the surface of the base face of the crystal was by hydrogen bonding with the ions of the second crystallographic layer of the substrate, and the film was thermodynamically stable even in unsaturated water vapor. The film hydrophobicity is due to the deficiency of hydrogen bond donors on its surface. The nanostructural elements on the surface of the aerosol particle can neutralize the hydrophobic properties of the film and thus serve as nucleation centers.

Bone Cell Bioenergetics and Skeletal Energy Homeostasis

PubMed Central

Riddle, Ryan C.; Clemens, Thomas L.

2017-01-01

The rising incidence of metabolic diseases worldwide has prompted renewed interest in the study of intermediary metabolism and cellular bioenergetics. The application of modern biochemical methods for quantitating fuel substrate metabolism with advanced mouse genetic approaches has greatly increased understanding of the mechanisms that integrate energy metabolism in the whole organism. Examination of the intermediary metabolism of skeletal cells has been sparked by a series of unanticipated observations in genetically modified mice that suggest the existence of novel endocrine pathways through which bone cells communicate their energy status to other centers of metabolic control. The recognition of this expanded role of the skeleton has in turn led to new lines of inquiry directed at defining the fuel requirements and bioenergetic properties of bone cells. This article provides a comprehensive review of historical and contemporary studies on the metabolic properties of bone cells and the mechanisms that control energy substrate utilization and bioenergetics. Special attention is devoted to identifying gaps in our current understanding of this new area of skeletal biology that will require additional research to better define the physiological significance of skeletal cell bioenergetics in human health and disease. PMID:28202599

Smooth, All-Solid, Low-Hysteresis, Omniphobic Surfaces with Enhanced Mechanical Durability.

PubMed

Boban, Mathew; Golovin, Kevin; Tobelmann, Brian; Gupte, Omkar; Mabry, Joseph M; Tuteja, Anish

2018-04-11

The utility of omniphobic surfaces stems from their ability to repel a multitude of liquids, possessing a broad range of surface tensions and polarities, by causing them to bead up and either roll or slide off. These surfaces may be self-cleaning, corrosion-resistant, heat-transfer enhancing, stain-resistant or resistant to mineral- or biofouling. The majority of reported omniphobic surfaces use texture, lubricants, and/or grafted monolayers to engender these repellent properties. Unfortunately, these approaches often produce surfaces with deficiencies in long-term stability, durability, scalability, or applicability to a wide range of substrates. To overcome these limitations, we have fabricated an all-solid, substrate-independent, smooth, omniphobic coating composed of a fluorinated polyurethane and fluorodecyl polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane. Liquids of varying surface tension, including water, hexadecane, ethanol, and silicone oil, exhibit low-contact-angle hysteresis (<15°) on these surfaces, allowing liquid droplets to slide off, leaving no residue. Moreover, we demonstrate that these robust surfaces retained their repellent properties more effectively than textured or lubricated omniphobic surfaces after being subjected to mechanical abrasion.

Sensitive kinase assay linked with phosphoproteomics for identifying direct kinase substrates

PubMed Central

Xue, Liang; Wang, Wen-Horng; Iliuk, Anton; Hu, Lianghai; Galan, Jacob A.; Yu, Shuai; Hans, Michael; Geahlen, Robert L.; Tao, W. Andy

2012-01-01

Our understanding of the molecular control of many disease pathologies requires the identification of direct substrates targeted by specific protein kinases. Here we describe an integrated proteomic strategy, termed kinase assay linked with phosphoproteomics, which combines a sensitive kinase reaction with endogenous kinase-dependent phosphoproteomics to identify direct substrates of protein kinases. The unique in vitro kinase reaction is carried out in a highly efficient manner using a pool of peptides derived directly from cellular kinase substrates and then dephosphorylated as substrate candidates. The resulting newly phosphorylated peptides are then isolated and identified by mass spectrometry. A further comparison of these in vitro phosphorylated peptides with phosphopeptides derived from endogenous proteins isolated from cells in which the kinase is either active or inhibited reveals new candidate protein substrates. The kinase assay linked with phosphoproteomics strategy was applied to identify unique substrates of spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk), a protein-tyrosine kinase with duel properties of an oncogene and a tumor suppressor in distinctive cell types. We identified 64 and 23 direct substrates of Syk specific to B cells and breast cancer cells, respectively. Both known and unique substrates, including multiple centrosomal substrates for Syk, were identified, supporting a unique mechanism that Syk negatively affects cell division through its centrosomal kinase activity. PMID:22451900

Buckling of a growing tissue and the emergence of two-dimensional patterns☆

PubMed Central

Nelson, M.R.; King, J.R.; Jensen, O.E.

2013-01-01

The process of biological growth and the associated generation of residual stress has previously been considered as a driving mechanism for tissue buckling and pattern selection in numerous areas of biology. Here, we develop a two-dimensional thin plate theory to simulate the growth of cultured intestinal epithelial cells on a deformable substrate, with the goal of elucidating how a tissue engineer might best recreate the regular array of invaginations (crypts of Lieberkühn) found in the wall of the mammalian intestine. We extend the standard von Kármán equations to incorporate inhomogeneity in the plate’s mechanical properties and surface stresses applied to the substrate by cell proliferation. We determine numerically the configurations of a homogeneous plate under uniform cell growth, and show how tethering to an underlying elastic foundation can be used to promote higher-order buckled configurations. We then examine the independent effects of localised softening of the substrate and spatial patterning of cellular growth, demonstrating that (within a two-dimensional framework, and contrary to the predictions of one-dimensional models) growth patterning constitutes a more viable mechanism for control of crypt distribution than does material inhomogeneity. PMID:24128749

Buckling of a growing tissue and the emergence of two-dimensional patterns.

PubMed

Nelson, M R; King, J R; Jensen, O E

2013-12-01

The process of biological growth and the associated generation of residual stress has previously been considered as a driving mechanism for tissue buckling and pattern selection in numerous areas of biology. Here, we develop a two-dimensional thin plate theory to simulate the growth of cultured intestinal epithelial cells on a deformable substrate, with the goal of elucidating how a tissue engineer might best recreate the regular array of invaginations (crypts of Lieberkühn) found in the wall of the mammalian intestine. We extend the standard von Kármán equations to incorporate inhomogeneity in the plate's mechanical properties and surface stresses applied to the substrate by cell proliferation. We determine numerically the configurations of a homogeneous plate under uniform cell growth, and show how tethering to an underlying elastic foundation can be used to promote higher-order buckled configurations. We then examine the independent effects of localised softening of the substrate and spatial patterning of cellular growth, demonstrating that (within a two-dimensional framework, and contrary to the predictions of one-dimensional models) growth patterning constitutes a more viable mechanism for control of crypt distribution than does material inhomogeneity. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The effects of injectable calcium silicate-based composites with the Chinese herb on an osteogenic accelerator in vitro.

PubMed

Chang, Nai-Jen; Chen, Yi-Wen; Shieh, Den-En; Fang, Hsin-Yuan; Shie, Ming-You

2015-09-11

We aimed to investigate the physicochemical and biological effects of calcium silicate (CS)-based cements together with the Chinese medicine Xu Duan (XD) after seeding with human adipose-derived stem cells (hADSCs). Here, we fabricated CS-based substrates with different ratios of XD (0%, 5% and 10%) as bioactive and biodegradable biocomposites, subsequent to examining their respective effectiveness for bone repair. The setting time, the injectability, the mechanical properties measured by diametral tensile strength (DTS), the in vitro degradation determined by changes in the weight loss of the composites, the characteristic formation of bone-like apatite, and cell growth as well as osteogenesis protein and bone mineralization were comprehensively evaluated before and after immersion in simulated body fluid (SBF), respectively. At the end of testing, with regard to physicochemical effects, the CS-based substrate mixed with the 10% XD group showed significantly sound mechanical properties, an applicable setting time and injectability and the formation of a dense bone-like apatite layer. In terms of biological effects, the CS-based substrate with the 10% XD group showed a significant development of osteogenic activities with sound cell proliferation and higher alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, as well as indicating osteogenic differentiation, greater osteocalcin (OC) protein secretion and clearly calcified tissue mineralization. The present drug-release strategy with CS-based cements may pave the way for future alternative bone repair therapy.

Multilayer poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-dexamethasone and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-polystyrene sulfonate-carbon nanotubes coatings on glassy carbon microelectrode arrays for controlled drug release.

PubMed

Castagnola, Elisa; Carli, Stefano; Vomero, Maria; Scarpellini, Alice; Prato, Mirko; Goshi, Noah; Fadiga, Luciano; Kassegne, Sam; Ricci, Davide

2017-07-13

The authors present an electrochemically controlled, drug releasing neural interface composed of a glassy carbon (GC) microelectrode array combined with a multilayer poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) coating. The system integrates the high stability of the GC electrode substrate, ideal for electrical stimulation and electrochemical detection of neurotransmitters, with the on-demand drug-releasing capabilities of PEDOT-dexamethasone compound, through a mechanically stable interlayer of PEDOT-polystyrene sulfonate (PSS)-carbon nanotubes (CNT). The authors demonstrate that such interlayer improves both the mechanical and electrochemical properties of the neural interface, when compared with a single PEDOT-dexamethasone coating. Moreover, the multilayer coating is able to withstand 10 × 10 6 biphasic pulses and delamination test with negligible change to the impedance spectra. Cross-section scanning electron microscopy images support that the PEDOT-PSS-CNT interlayer significantly improves the adhesion between the GC substrate and PEDOT-dexamethasone coating, showing no discontinuities between the three well-interconnected layers. Furthermore, the multilayer coating has superior electrochemical properties, in terms of impedance and charge transfer capabilities as compared to a single layer of either PEDOT coating or the GC substrate alone. The authors verified the drug releasing capabilities of the PEDOT-dexamethasone layer when integrated into the multilayer interface through repeated stimulation protocols in vitro, and found a pharmacologically relevant release of dexamethasone.

Interface structure and mechanics between graphene and metal substrates: a first-principles study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, Zhiping; Buehler, Markus J.

2010-12-01

Graphene is a fascinating material not only for technological applications, but also as a test bed for fundamental insights into condensed matter physics due to its unique two-dimensional structure. One of the most intriguing issues is the understanding of the properties of graphene and various substrate materials. In particular, the interfaces between graphene and metal substrates are of critical importance in applications of graphene in integrated electronics, as thermal materials, and in electromechanical devices. Here we investigate the structure and mechanical interactions at a graphene-metal interface through density functional theory (DFT)-based calculations. We focus on copper (111) and nickel (111) surfaces adhered to a monolayer of graphene, and find that their cohesive energy, strength and electronic structure correlate directly with their atomic geometry. Due to the strong coupling between open d-orbitals, the nickel-graphene interface has a much stronger cohesive energy with graphene than copper. We also find that the interface cohesive energy profile features a well-and-shoulder shape that cannot be captured by simple pair-wise models such as the Lennard-Jones potential. Our results provide a detailed understanding of the interfacial properties of graphene-metal systems, and help to predict the performance of graphene-based nanoelectronics and nanocomposites. The availability of structural and energetic data of graphene-metal interfaces could also be useful for the development of empirical force fields for molecular dynamics simulations.

Antibacterial characteristics of thermal plasma spray system.

PubMed

Goudarzi, M; Saviz, Sh; Ghoranneviss, M; Salar Elahi, A

2018-03-15

The objective of this study is to investigate antibacterial characteristics of a thermal plasma spray system. For this purpose, copper powder was coated on a handmade atmospheric plasma spraying system made by the stainless steel 316 substrate, which is preheated at different temperatures before spraying. A number of deposition characteristics such as antibacterial characteristics, adhesion strength and hardness of coating, was investigated. All of the spray parameters are fixed except the substrate temperature. The chemical composition was analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD). A scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and back scattering electron microscopy (BSE) were used to show the coating microstructure, its thickness and also the powder micrograph. The energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) was used to analyze the coating particles. Hardness of the deposition was examined by Vickers tester (HV0.1). Its adhesion strength was declared by cross cut tester (TQC). In addition, the percentage of bactericidal coating was evidenced with Staphylococcus aurous and Escherichia coli bacteria. Study results show that as the substrates temperature increases, the number of splats in the shape of pancake increases, the greatness and percentage of the deposition porosity both decrease. The increment of the substrate temperature leads to more oxidation and makes thicker dendrites on the splat. The enhancement of the substrate temperature also enlarges thickness and efficiency of coating. The interesting results are that antibacterial properties of coatings against the Escherichia coli are more than Staphylococcus aurous bacteria. However the bactericidal percentage of the coatings against Staphylococcus aurous and Escherichia coli bacteria roughly does not change with increasing the substrate temperature. Furthermore, by increment of the substrate temperature, coatings with both high adhesion and hardness are obtained. Accordingly, the temperature of substrate can be an important parameter for progressing mechanical properties of the antiseptic deposition.

Effect of Atmospheric Pressure Plasma and Subsequent Enzymatic Treatment on Flax Fabrics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhong, Shaofeng; Yang, Bin; Ou, Qiongrong

2015-09-01

The objective is to investigate the effect of atmospheric pressure dielectric barrier discharge (APDBD) plasma and subsequent cellulase enzyme treatment on the properties of flax fabrics. The changes of surface morphology and structure, physico-mechanical properties, hydrophilicity, bending properties, whiteness, and dyeing properties of the treated substrate were investigated. The results indicated that atmospheric pressure dielectric barrier discharge plasma pre-treatment and subsequent cellulase enzyme treatment could diminish the hairiness of flax fabrics, endowing the flax fabrics with good bending properties, water uptake and fiber accessibility while keeping their good mechanical properties compared with those treated with cellulase enzyme alone. supported by the Science and Technology Project of the Education Department of Zhejiang Province, China (No. Y201432680) and the Professional Leaders Leading Project of the Education Department of Zhejiang Province, China (No. lj2013131), the Teaching and Research Award Program for Outstanding Young Teachers in Higher Education Institutions of the Education Department of Zhejiang Province, China (No. 1097802072012001)

Effects of filler type and content on mechanical properties of photopolymerizable composites measured across two-dimensional combinatorial arrays.

PubMed

Lin-Gibson, Sheng; Sung, Lipiin; Forster, Aaron M; Hu, Haiqing; Cheng, Yajun; Lin, Nancy J

2009-07-01

Multicomponent formulations coupled with complex processing conditions govern the final properties of photopolymerizable dental composites. In this study, a single test substrate was fabricated to support multiple formulations with a gradient in degree of conversion (DC), allowing the evaluation of multiple processing conditions and formulations on one specimen. Mechanical properties and damage response were evaluated as a function of filler type/content and irradiation. DC, surface roughness, modulus, hardness, scratch deformation and cytotoxicity were quantified using techniques including near-infrared spectroscopy, laser confocal scanning microscopy, depth-sensing indentation, scratch testing and cell viability. Scratch parameters (depth, width, percent recovery) were correlated to composite modulus and hardness. Total filler content, nanofiller and irradiation time/intensity all affected the final properties, with the dominant factor for improved properties being a higher DC. This combinatorial platform accelerates the screening of dental composites through the direct comparison of properties and processing conditions across the same sample.

Organic photochemical storage of solar energy. Progress report, July 1, 1977--Feburary 28, 1978

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

Jones, G. II

1978-03-01

The prospects for driving endoergic reactions of simple, relatively abundant organic chemicals by photochemical means have been examined. Strategies for utilization of light of varying wavelength involve sensitization mechanisms which depend on the redox properties of energy storing substrates and photosensitizers. Of principal interest is valence isomerization which can be induced by electron donor-acceptor interaction between substrate and sensitizer in an excited complex or exciplex. Photophysical studies show that potentially isomerizable substrates efficiently intercept redox photosensitizers. The quenching of emission of electron acceptor sensitizers by non conjugated hydrocarbon dienes is indeed a function of the reduction potential of the acceptorsmore » (a series of aromatics with varying absorption characteristics) and the oxidation potentials of the substrates. Electron deficient dienes have been shown alternatively to be efficient quenchers of excited donor sensitizers. That exciplexes are formed between isomerizable substrates and donor or acceptor sensitizers has been confirmed by emission spectroscopy. The rearrangement of hexamethyldewarbenzene, a model exciplex isomerization has been examined in some detail.« less

Structural and mechanical properties of lanthanide doped La1/3Nb0.8Ta0.2O3 thin films prepared by sol-gel method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brunckova, Helena; Medvecky, Lubomir; Kovalcikova, Alexandra; Fides, Martin; Mudra, Erika; Durisin, Juraj; Skvarla, Jiri; Kanuchova, Maria

2017-04-01

Transparent Eu and Nd doped lanthanum niobate tantalate La1/3Nb0.8Ta0.2O3 (LNT) thin films (˜150 nm) were prepared by sol-gel/spin-coating process on Pt/SiO2/Si substrates and annealing at 1100 °C. The x-ray diffraction analysis of films confirmed formation of the perovskite La1/3NbO3 and La1/3TaO3 phases with traces of pyrochlore LaNbO4. Eu and Nd doped LNT films were smoother with roughness 17.1 and 25.4 nm in comparison with LNT (43.3 nm). In all films was observed heterogeneous microstructure with the perovskite spherical and pyrochlore needle-like particles. The mechanical properties of films were characterized for the first time by conventional and continuous stiffness (CSM) nanoindentation. The Eu and Nd doped LNT film modulus (E) and hardness (H) were higher than LNT (˜99.8 and 4.4 GPa) determined by conventional nanoindentation. It was measured the significant effect of substrate on properties of Eu or Nd films (H ˜ 5.9 or 4.9 GPa and E ˜ 107.3 or 104.1 GPa) by CSM nanoindentation.

Structural and tribological properties of CrTiAlN coatings on Mg alloy by closed-field unbalanced magnetron sputtering ion plating

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shi, Yongjing; Long, Siyuan; Yang, Shicai; Pan, Fusheng

2008-09-01

In this paper, a series of multi-layer hard coating system of CrTiAlN has been prepared by closed-field unbalanced magnetron sputtering ion plating (CFUBMSIP) technique in a gas mixture of Ar + N 2. The coatings were deposited onto AZ31 Mg alloy substrates. During deposition step, technological temperature and metallic atom concentration of coatings were controlled by adjusting the currents of different metal magnetron targets. The nitrogen level was varied by using the feedback control of plasma optical emission monitor (OEM). The structural, mechanical and tribological properties of coatings were characterized by means of X-ray photoelectron spectrometry, high-resolution transmission electron microscope, field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), micro-hardness tester, and scratch and ball-on-disc tester. The experimental results show that the N atomic concentration increases and the oxide on the top of coatings decreases; furthermore the modulation period and the friction coefficient decrease with the N 2 level increasing. The outstanding mechanical property can be acquired at medium N 2 level, and the CrTiAlN coatings on AZ31 Mg alloy substrates outperform the uncoated M42 high speed steel (HSS) and the uncoated 316 stainless steel (SS).

Nanostructured hydroxyapatite/poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) composite coating for controlling magnesium degradation in simulated body fluid.

PubMed

Johnson, Ian; Akari, Khalid; Liu, Huinan

2013-09-20

Biodegradable magnesium (Mg) and its alloys have many attractive properties (e.g. comparable mechanical properties to cortical bone) for orthopedic implant applications, but they degrade too rapidly in the human body to meet clinical requirements. Nanostructured hydroxyapatite (nHA)/poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) composite coatings provide synergistic properties for controlling degradation of Mg-based substrates and improving bone-implant integration. In this study, nHA/PLGA composites were spin coated onto Mg-based substrates and the results showed that the nHA/PLGA coatings retained nano-scale features with nHA dispersed in PLGA matrix. In comparison with non-coated Mg, the nHA/PLGA composite coated Mg increased the corrosion potential and decreased the corrosion current in revised simulated body fluid (rSBF). After 24 h of immersion in rSBF, increased calcium phosphate (CaP) deposition and formation of Mg-substituted CaP rosettes were observed on the surface of the nHA/PLGA coated Mg, indicating greater bioactivity. In contrast, no significant CaP was deposited on the PLGA coated Mg. Since both PLGA coating and nHA/PLGA coating showed some degree of delamination from Mg-based substrates during extended immersion in rSBF, the coating processing and properties should be further optimized in order to take full advantage of biodegradable Mg and nHA/PLGA nanocomposites for orthopedic applications.

Nanostructured hydroxyapatite/poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) composite coating for controlling magnesium degradation in simulated body fluid

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Johnson, Ian; Akari, Khalid; Liu, Huinan

2013-09-01

Biodegradable magnesium (Mg) and its alloys have many attractive properties (e.g. comparable mechanical properties to cortical bone) for orthopedic implant applications, but they degrade too rapidly in the human body to meet clinical requirements. Nanostructured hydroxyapatite (nHA)/poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) composite coatings provide synergistic properties for controlling degradation of Mg-based substrates and improving bone-implant integration. In this study, nHA/PLGA composites were spin coated onto Mg-based substrates and the results showed that the nHA/PLGA coatings retained nano-scale features with nHA dispersed in PLGA matrix. In comparison with non-coated Mg, the nHA/PLGA composite coated Mg increased the corrosion potential and decreased the corrosion current in revised simulated body fluid (rSBF). After 24 h of immersion in rSBF, increased calcium phosphate (CaP) deposition and formation of Mg-substituted CaP rosettes were observed on the surface of the nHA/PLGA coated Mg, indicating greater bioactivity. In contrast, no significant CaP was deposited on the PLGA coated Mg. Since both PLGA coating and nHA/PLGA coating showed some degree of delamination from Mg-based substrates during extended immersion in rSBF, the coating processing and properties should be further optimized in order to take full advantage of biodegradable Mg and nHA/PLGA nanocomposites for orthopedic applications.

The conformational free-energy landscape of β-D-mannopyranose: evidence for a (1)S(5) → B(2,5) → (O)S(2) catalytic itinerary in β-mannosidases.

PubMed

Ardèvol, Albert; Biarnés, Xevi; Planas, Antoni; Rovira, Carme

2010-11-17

The mechanism of glycosidic bond cleavage by glycosidases involves substrate ring distortions in the Michaelis complex that favor catalysis. Retaining β-mannosidases bind the substrate in a (1)S(5) conformation, and recent experiments have proposed an unusual substrate conformational pathway ((1)S(5) → B(2,5) → (O)S(2)) for the hydrolysis reaction. By means of Car-Parrinello metadynamics simulations, we have obtained the conformational free-energy surface (FES) of a β-d-mannopyranose molecule associated with the ideal Stoddart conformational diagram. We have found that (1)S(5) is among the most stable conformers and simultaneously is the most preactivated conformation in terms of elongation/shortening of the C1-O1/C1-O5 bonds, C1-O1 orientation, and charge development at the anomeric carbon. Analysis of the computed FES gives support to the proposed (1)S(5) → B(2,5) → (O)S(2) catalytic itinerary, showing that the degree of preactivation of the substrate in glycoside hydrolases (GHs) is related to the properties of an isolated sugar ring. We introduce a simple preactivation index integrating several structural, electronic, and energetic properties that can be used to predict the conformation of the substrate in the Michaelis complex of any GH.

Local control of the resistivity of graphene through mechanically induced switching of a ferroelectric superlattice

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Humed Yusuf, Mohammed; Gura, Anna; Du, Xu; Dawber, Matthew

2017-06-01

We exploit nanoscale mechanically induced switching of an artificially layered ferroelectric material, used as an active substrate, to achieve the local manipulation of the electrical transport properties of graphene. In Graphene Ferroelectric Field Effect Transistors (GFeFETs), the graphene channel’s charge state is controlled by an underlying ferroelectric layer. The tip of an atomic force microscope (AFM) can be used to mechanically ‘write’ nanoscale regions of the graphene channel and ‘read’ off the modulation in the transport behavior. The written features associated with the switching of ferroelectric domains remain polarized until an electrical reset operation is carried out. Our result provides a method for flexible and reversible nano-scale manipulation of the transport properties of a broad class of 2D materials.

[Catalytic properties of enzymes from Erwinia carotovora involved in transamination of phenylpyruvate].

PubMed

Paloian, A M; Stepanian, L A; Dadaian, S A; Ambartsumian, A A; Alebian, G P; Sagian, A S

2013-01-01

Km for L-phenylalanine, L-glutamic acid, L-aspartic acid, and the corresponding keto acids were calculated, as well as Vmax, was measured for the following pairs of substrates: L-phenylalanine-2-ketoglutarate, L-phenylalanine-oxaloacetate, L-glutamic acid-phenylpyruvate, and L-aspartic acid-phenylpyruvate for aminotransferases PATI, PAT2, and PAT3 from Erwinia carotovora catalyzing transamination of phenylpyruvate. The ping-pong bi-bi mechanism was shown for the studied aminotransferases. The substrate inhibition (Ks) of PAT3 with 2-ketoglutarate and oxaloacetate was 10.23 +/- 3.20 and 3.73 +/- 1.99 mM, respectively.

Structural features, substrate specificity, kinetic properties of insect α-amylase and specificity of plant α-amylase inhibitors.

PubMed

Kaur, Rimaljeet; Kaur, Narinder; Gupta, Anil Kumar

2014-11-01

α-Amylase is an important digestive enzyme required for the optimal growth and development of insects. Several insect α-amylases had been purified and their physical and chemical properties were characterized. Insect α-amylases of different orders display variability in structure, properties and substrate specificity. Such diverse properties of amylases could be due to different feeding habits and gut environment of insects. In this review, structural features and properties of several insect α-amylases were compared. This could be helpful in exploring the diversity in characteristics of α-amylase between the members of the same class (insecta). Properties like pH optima are reflected in enzyme structural features. In plants, α-amylase inhibitors (α-AIs) occur as part of natural defense mechanisms against pests by interfering in their digestion process and thus could also provide access to new pest management strategies. AIs are quite specific in their action; therefore, these could be employed according to their effectiveness against target amylases. Potential of transgenics with α-AIs has also been discussed for insect resistance and controlling infestation. The differences in structural features of insect α-amylases provided reasons for their efficient functioning at different pH and the specificity towards various substrates. Various proteinaceous and non-proteinaceous inhibitors discussed could be helpful in controlling pest infestation. In depth detailed studies are required on proteinaceous α-AI-α-amylase interaction at different pH's as well as the insect proteinase action on these inhibitors before selecting the α-AI for making transgenics resistant to particular insect. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Characterization and evaluation of whey protein-based biofilms as substrates for in vitro cell cultures.

PubMed

Gilbert, Vanessa; Rouabhia, Mahmoud; Wang, Hongxum; Arnould, Anne-Lise; Remondetto, Gabriel; Subirade, Muriel

2005-12-01

Whey proteins-based biofilms were prepared using different plasticizers in order to obtain a biomaterial for the human keratinocytes and fibroblasts in vitro culture. The film properties were evaluated by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) technique and mechanical tests. A relationship was found between the decrease of intermolecular hydrogen bond strength and film mechanical behavior changes, expressed by a breaking stress and Young modulus values diminishing. These results allow stating that the film molecular configuration could induce dissimilarities in its mechanical properties. The films toxicity was assessed by evaluating the cutaneous cells adherence, growth, proliferation and structural stratification. Microscopic observation demonstrated that both keratinocytes and fibroblasts adhered to the biofilms. The trypan blue exclusion test showed that keratinocytes grew at a significantly high rate on all the biofilms. Structural analysis demonstrated that keratinocytes stratified when cultured on the whey protein-based biofilms and gave rise to multi-layered epidermal structures. The most organized epidermis was obtained with whey protein isolate/DEG biofilm. This structure had a well-organized basal layer under supra-basal and corneous layers. This study demonstrated that whey proteins, an inexpensive renewable resource which can be obtained readily, were non-toxic to cutaneous cells and thus they could be useful substrates for a variety of biomedical applications, including tissue engineering.

Mechanical properties of thin-film materials evaluated from amplitude-dependent internal friction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nishino, Yoichi

1999-09-01

A method is presented to evaluate the mechanical properties of thin-film materials from measurements of the amplitude-dependent internal friction. According to the constitutive equation, the internal friction in the film can be determined separately from measured damping of the film/substrate composite. The internal friction in aluminum films is dependent on the strain amplitude that is approximately two orders of magnitude higher than that for bulk aluminum. On the basis of the microplasticity theory, the amplitude-dependent internal friction in the film can be converted into the plastic strain as a function of effective stress on dislocation motion. The mechanical responses thus obtained for aluminum films show that the plastic strain of the order of 10-9 increases nonlinearly with increasing stress. These curves tend to shift to a higher stress with decreasing film thickness and also with decreasing temperature, both indicating a suppression of microplastic flow. The microflow stress at a constant level of the plastic strain varies inversely with the film thickness, provided the grain size is larger than the film thickness. The film thickness effect in the microplastic range can be well explained by the bowing of a dislocation segment whose ends are pinned at the film surface and at the film/substrate interface.

Recent Insight into the Kinetic Mechanisms and Conformational Dynamics of Y-Family DNA Polymerases

PubMed Central

2015-01-01

The kinetic mechanisms by which DNA polymerases catalyze DNA replication and repair have long been areas of active research. Recently discovered Y-family DNA polymerases catalyze the bypass of damaged DNA bases that would otherwise block replicative DNA polymerases and stall replication forks. Unlike DNA polymerases from the five other families, the Y-family DNA polymerases have flexible, solvent-accessible active sites that are able to tolerate various types of damaged template bases and allow for efficient lesion bypass. Their promiscuous active sites, however, also lead to fidelities that are much lower than those observed for other DNA polymerases and give rise to interesting mechanistic properties. Additionally, the Y-family DNA polymerases have several other unique structural features and undergo a set of conformational changes during substrate binding and catalysis different from those observed for replicative DNA polymerases. In recent years, pre-steady-state kinetic methods have been extensively employed to reveal a wealth of information about the catalytic properties of these fascinating noncanonical DNA polymerases. Here, we review many of the recent findings on the kinetic mechanisms of DNA polymerization with undamaged and damaged DNA substrates by the Y-family DNA polymerases, and the conformational dynamics employed by these error-prone enzymes during catalysis. PMID:24716482

Effect of mechanical pre-loadings on corrosion resistance of chromium-electroplated steel rods in marine environment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shubina Helbert, Varvara; Dhondt, Matthieu; Homette, Remi; Arbab Chirani, Shabnam; Calloch, Sylvain

2018-03-01

Providing high hardness, low friction coefficient, as well as, relatively good corrosion resistance, chromium-plated coatings (∼20 μm) are widely used for steel cylinder rods in marine environment. However, the standardized corrosion test method (ISO 9227, NSS) used to evaluate efficiency of this type of coatings does not take into account in-service mechanical loadings on cylinder rods. Nevertheless, the uniform initial network of microcracks in chromium coating is changing under mechanical loadings. Propagation of these microcracks explains premature corrosion of the steel substrate. The aim of the study was to evaluate relationship between mechanical loadings, propagation of microcracks network and corrosion resistance of chromium coatings. After monotonic pre-loading tests, it was demonstrated by microscopic observations that the microcracks propagation started at stress levels higher than the substrate yield stress (520 MPa). The microcracks become effective, i.e. they have instantly undergone through the whole coating thickness to reach the steel substrate. The density of effective microcracks increases with the total macroscopic level, i.e. the intercrack distance goes from 60 ± 5 μm at 1% of total strain to approximately 27 ± 2 μm at 10%. Electrochemical measurements have shown that the higher the plastic strain level applied during mechanical loading, the more the corrosion potential of the sample decreased until reaching the steel substrate value of approximately ‑0.65 V/SCE after 2 h of immersion. The polarization curves have also highligthed an increase in the corrosion current density with the strain level. Therefore, electrochemical measurements could be used to realize quick and comprehensive assesment of the effect of monotonic pre-loadings on corrosion properties of the chromium coating.

Synthesis and tribological properties of diamond-like carbon films by electrochemical anode deposition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Yang; Zhang, GuiFeng; Hou, XiaoDuo; Deng, DeWei

2012-06-01

Diamond-like carbon films (DLC) are deposited on Ti substrate by electrochemical anodic deposition at room temperature in pure methanol solution using a pulsed DC voltage at a range from 200 V to 2000 V. Raman spectroscopy analysis of the films reveals two broaden characteristic absorption peaks centred at ˜1350 cm-1 and 1580 cm-1, relating to D- and G-band of typical DLC films, respectively. A broad peak centred at 1325-1330 cm-1 is observed when an applied potential is 1200 V, which can confirm that the deposited films contained diamond structure phase. Tribological properties of the coated Ti substrates have been measured by means of a ball-on-plate wear test machine. A related growth mechanism of DLC films by the anodic deposition mode has also been discussed.

Optoelectrical Properties of a Heterojunction with Amorphous InGaZnO Film on n-Silicon Substrate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jiang, D. L.; Ma, X. Z.; Li, L.; Xu, Z. K.

2017-10-01

An a-IGZO/ n-Si heterojunction device has been fabricated at room temperature by depositing amorphous InGaZnO (a-IGZO) film on n-type silicon substrate by plasma-assisted pulsed laser deposition and its optoelectrical properties studied in detail. The heterojunction showed distinct rectifying characteristic with rectification ratio of 1.93 × 103 at ±2 V bias and reverse leakage current density of 1.6 × 10-6 A cm-2 at -2 V bias. More interestingly, the heterojunction not only showed the characteristic of unbiased photoresponse, but could also detect either ultraviolet or ultraviolet-visible light by simply changing the polarity of the bias applied to the heterojunction. The variable photoresponse phenomenon and the charge transport mechanisms in the heterojunction are explained based on the energy band diagram of the heterojunction.

Growth of single-crystalline cobalt silicide nanowires and their field emission property.

PubMed

Lu, Chi-Ming; Hsu, Han-Fu; Lu, Kuo-Chang

2013-07-03

In this work, cobalt silicide nanowires were synthesized by chemical vapor deposition processes on Si (100) substrates with anhydrous cobalt chloride (CoCl2) as precursors. Processing parameters, including the temperature of Si (100) substrates, the gas flow rate, and the pressure of reactions were varied and studied; additionally, the physical properties of the cobalt silicide nanowires were measured. It was found that single-crystal CoSi nanowires were grown at 850°C ~ 880°C and at a lower gas flow rate, while single-crystal Co2Si nanowires were grown at 880°C ~ 900°C. The crystal structure and growth direction were identified, and the growth mechanism was proposed as well. This study with field emission measurements demonstrates that CoSi nanowires are attractive choices for future applications in field emitters.

Effect of sputtered titanium interlayers on the properties of nanocrystalline diamond films

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

Li, Cuiping, E-mail: licp226@126.com, E-mail: limingji@163.com; Li, Mingji, E-mail: licp226@126.com, E-mail: limingji@163.com; Wu, Xiaoguo

2016-04-07

Ti interlayers with different thicknesses were sputtered on Si substrates and then ultrasonically seeded in a diamond powder suspension. Nanocrystalline diamond (NCD) films were deposited using a dc arc plasma jet chemical vapor deposition system on the seeded Ti/Si substrates. Atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy tests showed that the roughness of the prepared Ti interlayer increased with increasing thickness. The effects of Ti interlayers with various thicknesses on the properties of NCD films were investigated. The results show nucleation, growth, and microstructure of the NCD films are strongly influenced by the Ti interlayers. The addition of a Timore » interlayer between the Si substrate and the NCD films can significantly enhance the nucleation rate and reduce the surface roughness of the NCD. The NCD film on a 120 nm Ti interlayer possesses the fastest nucleation rate and the smoothest surface. Raman spectra of the NCD films show trans-polyacetylene relevant peaks reduce with increasing Ti interlayer thickness, which can owe to the improvement of crystalline at grain boundaries. Furthermore, nanoindentation measurement results show that the NCD film on a 120 nm Ti interlayer displays a higher hardness and elastic modulus. High resolution transmission electron microscopy images of a cross-section show that C atoms diffuse into the Ti layer and Si substrate and form TiC and SiC hard phases, which can explain the enhancement of mechanical properties of NCD.« less

Graphene Sheet-Induced Global Maturation of Cardiomyocytes Derived from Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells.

PubMed

Wang, Jiaxian; Cui, Chang; Nan, Haiyan; Yu, Yuanfang; Xiao, Yini; Poon, Ellen; Yang, Gang; Wang, Xijie; Wang, Chenchen; Li, Lingsong; Boheler, Kenneth Richard; Ma, Xu; Cheng, Xin; Ni, Zhenhua; Chen, Minglong

2017-08-09

Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) can proliferate infinitely. Their ability to differentiate into cardiomyocytes provides abundant sources for disease modeling, drug screening and regenerative medicine. However, hiPSC-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) display a low degree of maturation and fetal-like properties. Current in vitro differentiation methods do not mimic the structural, mechanical, or physiological properties of the cardiogenesis niche. Recently, we present an efficient cardiac maturation platform that combines hiPSCs monolayer cardiac differentiation with graphene substrate, which is a biocompatible and superconductive material. The hiPSCs lines were successfully maintained on the graphene sheets and were able to differentiate into functional cardiomyocytes. This strategy markedly increased the myofibril ultrastructural organization, elevated the conduction velocity, and enhanced both the Ca 2+ handling and electrophysiological properties in the absence of electrical stimulation. On the graphene substrate, the expression of connexin 43 increased along with the conduction velocity. Interestingly, the bone morphogenetic proteins signaling was also significantly activated during early cardiogenesis, confirmed by RNA sequencing analysis. Here, we reasoned that graphene substrate as a conductive biomimetic surface could facilitate the intrinsic electrical propagation, mimicking the microenvironment of the native heart, to further promote the global maturation of hiPSC-CMs. Our findings highlight the capability of electrically active substrates to influence cardiomyocyte development. We believe that application of graphene sheets will be useful for simple, fast, and scalable maturation of regenerated cardiomyocytes.

Atomic Layer Deposition in Bio-Nanotechnology: A Brief Overview.

PubMed

Bishal, Arghya K; Butt, Arman; Selvaraj, Sathees K; Joshi, Bela; Patel, Sweetu B; Huang, Su; Yang, Bin; Shukohfar, Tolou; Sukotjo, Cortino; Takoudis, Christos G

2015-01-01

Atomic layer deposition (ALD) is a technique increasingly used in nanotechnology and ultrathin film deposition; it is ideal for films in the nanometer and Angstrom length scales. ALD can effectively be used to modify the surface chemistry and functionalization of engineering-related and biologically important surfaces. It can also be used to alter the mechanical, electrical, chemical, and other properties of materials that are increasingly used in biomedical engineering and biological sciences. ALD is a relatively new technique for optimizing materials for use in bio-nanotechnology. Here, after a brief review of the more widely used modes of ALD and a few of its applications in biotechnology, selected results that show the potential of ALD in bio-nanotechnology are presented. ALD seems to be a promising means for tuning the hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity characteristics of biomedical surfaces, forming conformal ultrathin coatings with desirable properties on biomedical substrates with a high aspect ratio, tuning the antibacterial properties of substrate surfaces of interest, and yielding multifunctional biomaterials for medical implants and other devices.

Laser Cladding of TiAl Intermetallic Alloy on Ti6Al4V -Process Optimization and Properties

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cárcel, B.; Serrano, A.; Zambrano, J.; Amigó, V.; Cárcel, A. C.

In order to improve Ti6Al4V high-temperature resistance and its tribological properties, the deposition of TiAl intermetallic (Ti-48Al-2Cr-2Nb) coating on a Ti6Al4V substrate by coaxial laser cladding has been investigated. Laser cladding by powder injection is an emerging laser material processing technique that allows the deposition of thick protective coatings on substrates,using a high power laser beam as heat source. Laser cladding is a multiple-parameter-dependent process. The main process parameters involved (laser power, powder feeding rate, scanning speed and preheating temperature) has been optimized. The microstructure and geometrical quantities (clad area and dilution) of the coating was characterized by optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In addition the cooling rate of the clad during the process was measured by a dual-color pyrometer. This result has been related to defectology and mechanical coating properties.

The effects of nanophase ceramic materials on select functions of human mesenchymal stem cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dulgar-Tulloch, Aaron Joseph

2005-11-01

Modification of the chemistry and surface topography of nanophase ceramics can provide biomaterial formulations capable of directing the functions of adherent cells. This effect relies on the type, amount, and conformation of adsorbed proteins that mediate the adhesion of mesenchymally-descended lineages. The mechanisms driving this response are not yet well-understood and have not been investigated for human mesenchymal stem cells (HMSCs), a progenitor-lineage critical to orthopaedic biomaterials. The present study addressed these needs by examining the in vitro adhesion, proliferation, and osteogenic differentiation of HMSCs as a function of substrate chemistry and grain size, with particular attention to the protein-mediated mechanisms of cell adhesion. Alumina, titania, and hydroxyapatite substrates were prepared with 1500, 200, 50, and 24 (alumina only) nm grain sizes, and characterized with respect to surface properties, porosity, composition, and phase. Adhesion of HMSCs was dependent upon both chemistry and grain size. Specifically, adhesion on alumina and hydroxyapatite was reduced on 50 and 24 (alumina only) nm surfaces, as compared to 1500 and 200 nm surfaces, while adhesion on titania substrates was independent of grain size. Investigation into the protein-mediated mechanisms of this response identified vitronectin as the dominant adhesive protein, demonstrated random protein distribution across the substrate surface without aggregation or segregation, and confirmed the importance of the type, amount, and conformation of adsorbed proteins in cell adhesion. Minimal cell proliferation was observed on 50 and 24 (alumina only) nm substrates of any chemistry. Furthermore, cell proliferation was up-regulated on 200 nm substrates after 7 days of culture. Osteogenic differentiation was not detected on 50 nm substrates throughout the 28 day culture period. In contrast, osteogenic differentiation was strongly enhanced on 200 nm substrates, occurring approximately 7 days earlier and in greater magnitude than that observed on 1500 nm substrates. In summary, the current study elucidated the chemical and topographical cues necessary to optimize the vitronectin-mediated adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells on ceramic surfaces. These results expand the understanding of surface-mediated cell functions and provide information pertinent to the design of next-generation orthopaedic and tissue engineering biomaterials.

Properties of Galvanized and Galvannealed Advanced High Strength Hot Rolled Steels

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

V.Y. Guertsman; E. Essadiqi; S. Dionne

2008-04-01

The objectives of the project were (i) to develop the coating process information to achieve good quality coatings on 3 advanced high strength hot rolled steels while retaining target mechanical properties, (ii) to obtain precise knowledge of the behavior of these steels in the various forming operations and (iii) to establish accurate user property data in the coated conditions. Three steel substrates (HSLA, DP, TRIP) with compositions providing yield strengths in the range of 400-620 MPa were selected. Only HSLA steel was found to be suitable for galnaizing and galvannealing in the hot rolled condition.

Solar cell array design handbook, volume 1

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rauschenbach, H. S.

1976-01-01

Twelve chapters discuss the following: historical developments, the environment and its effects, solar cells, solar cell filters and covers, solar cell and other electrical interconnections, blocking and shunt diodes, substrates and deployment mechanisms, material properties, design synthesis and optimization, design analysis, procurement, production and cost aspects, evaluation and test, orbital performance, and illustrative design examples. A comprehensive index permits rapid locating of desired topics. The handbook consists of two volumes: Volume 1 is of an expository nature while Volume 2 contains detailed design data in an appendix-like fashion. Volume 2 includes solar cell performance data, applicable unit conversion factors and physical constants, and mechanical, electrical, thermal optical, magnetic, and outgassing material properties. Extensive references are provided.

Effect of Heat and Laser Treatment on Cu2S Thin Film Sprayed on Polyimide Substrate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Magdy, Wafaa; Mahmoud, Fawzy A.; Nassar, Amira H.

2018-02-01

Three samples of copper sulfide Cu2S thin film were deposited on polyimide substrate by spray pyrolysis using deposition temperature of 400°C and deposition time of about 45 min. One of the samples was left as deposited, another was heat treated, while the third was laser treated. The structural, surface morphological, optical, mechanical, and electrical properties of the films were investigated. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis showed that the copper sulfide films were close to copper-rich phase (Cu2S). Increased crystallite size after heat and laser treatment was confirmed by XRD analysis and scanning electron microscopy. Vickers hardness measurements showed that the samples' hardness values were enhanced with increasing crystallite size, representing an inverse Hall-Petch (H-P) effect. The calculated optical bandgap of the treated films was lower than that of the deposited film. Finally, it was found that both heat and laser treatment enhanced the physical properties of the sprayed Cu2S films on polyimide substrate for use in solar energy applications.

Tribological characteristics of gold films deposited on metals by ion plating and vapor deposition

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Miyoshi, K.; Spalvins, T.; Buckley, D. H.

1984-01-01

The graded interface between an ion-plated film and a substrate is discussed as well as the friction and wear properties of ion-plated gold. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) depth profiling and microhardness depth profiling were used to investigate the interface. The friction and wear properties of ion-plated and vapor-deposited gold films were studied both in an ultra high vacuum system to maximize adhesion and in oil to minimize adhesion. The results indicate that the solubility of gold on the substrate material controls the depth of the graded interface. Thermal diffusion and chemical diffusion mechanisms are thought to be involved in the formation of the gold-nickel interface. In iron-gold graded interfaces the gold was primarily dispersed in the iron and thus formed a physically bonded interface. The hardness of the gold film was influenced by its depth and was also related to the composition gradient between the gold and the substrate. The graded nickel-gold interface exhibited the highest hardness because of an alloy hardening effect. The effects of film thickness on adhesion and friction were established.

Effect of Spray Distance on Microstructure and Tribological Performance of Suspension Plasma-Sprayed Hydroxyapatite-Titania Composite Coatings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Chao; Xu, Haifeng; Geng, Xin; Wang, Jingjing; Xiao, Jinkun; Zhu, Peizhi

2016-10-01

Hydroxyapatite (HA)-titania (TiO2) composite coatings prepared on Ti6Al4V alloy surface can combine the excellent mechanical property of the alloy substrate and the good biocompatibility of the coating material. In this paper, HA-TiO2 composite coatings were deposited on Ti6Al4V substrates using suspension plasma spray (SPS). X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier infrared absorption spectrometry and friction tests were used to analyze the microstructure and tribological properties of the obtained coatings. The results showed that the spray distance had an important influence on coating microstructure and tribological performance. The amount of decomposition phases decreased as the spray distance increased. The increase in spray distance from 80 to 110 mm improved the crystalline HA content and decreased the wear performance of the SPS coatings. In addition, the spray distance had a big effect on the coating morphology due to different substrate temperature resulting from different spray distance. Furthermore, a significant presence of OH- and CO3 2- was observed, which was favorable for the biomedical applications.

Tribological characteristics of gold films deposited on metals by ion plating and vapor deposition

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Miyoshi, K.; Spalvins, T.; Buckley, D. H.

1986-01-01

The graded interface between an ion-plated film and a substrate is discussed as well as the friction and wear properties of ion-plated gold. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) depth profiling and microhardness depth profiling were used to investigate the interface. The friction and wear properties of ion-plated and vapor-deposited gold films were studied both in an ultra high vacuum system to maximize adhesion and in oil to minimize adhesion. The results indicate that the solubility of gold on the substrate material controls the depth of the graded interface. Thermal diffusion and chemical diffusion mechanisms are thought to be involved in the formation of the gold-nickel interface. In iron-gold graded interfaces the gold was primarily dispersed in the iron and thus formed a physically bonded interface. The hardness of the gold film was influenced by its depth and was also related to the composition gradient between the gold and the substrate. The graded nickel-gold interface exhibited the highest hardness because of an alloy hardening effect. The effects of film thickness on adhesion and friction were established.

Reversible tuning of magnetocaloric Ni-Mn-Ga-Co films on ferroelectric PMN-PT substrates.

PubMed

Schleicher, Benjamin; Niemann, Robert; Schwabe, Stefan; Hühne, Ruben; Schultz, Ludwig; Nielsch, Kornelius; Fähler, Sebastian

2017-10-31

Tuning functional properties of thin caloric films by mechanical stress is currently of high interest. In particular, a controllable magnetisation or transition temperature is desired for improved usability in magnetocaloric devices. Here, we present results of epitaxial magnetocaloric Ni-Mn-Ga-Co thin films on ferroelectric Pb(Mg 1/3 Nb 2/3 ) 0.72 Ti 0.28 O 3 (PMN-PT) substrates. Utilizing X-ray diffraction measurements, we demonstrate that the strain induced in the substrate by application of an electric field can be transferred to the thin film, resulting in a change of the lattice parameters. We examined the consequences of this strain on the magnetic properties of the thin film by temperature- and electric field-dependent measurements. We did not observe a change of martensitic transformation temperature but a reversible change of magnetisation within the austenitic state, which we attribute to the intrinsic magnetic instability of this metamagnetic Heusler alloy. We demonstrate an electric field-controlled entropy change of about 31 % of the magnetocaloric effect - without any hysteresis.

Silica-Based and Borate-Based, Titania-Containing Bioactive Coatings Characterization: Critical Strain Energy Release Rate, Residual Stresses, Hardness, and Thermal Expansion.

PubMed

Rodriguez, Omar; Matinmanesh, Ali; Phull, Sunjeev; Schemitsch, Emil H; Zalzal, Paul; Clarkin, Owen M; Papini, Marcello; Towler, Mark R

2016-12-01

Silica-based and borate-based glass series, with increasing amounts of TiO₂ incorporated, are characterized in terms of their mechanical properties relevant to their use as metallic coating materials. It is observed that borate-based glasses exhibit CTE (Coefficient of Thermal Expansion) closer to the substrate's (Ti6Al4V) CTE, translating into higher mode I critical strain energy release rates of glasses and compressive residual stresses and strains at the coating/substrate interface, outperforming the silica-based glasses counterparts. An increase in the content of TiO₂ in the glasses results in an increase in the mode I critical strain energy release rate for both the bulk glass and for the coating/substrate system, proving that the addition of TiO₂ to the glass structure enhances its toughness, while decreasing its bulk hardness. Borate-based glass BRT3, with 15 mol % TiO₂ incorporated, exhibits superior properties overall compared to the other proposed glasses in this work, as well as 45S5 Bioglass ® and Pyrex.

Distinct signalling properties of insulin receptor substrate (IRS)-1 and IRS-2 in mediating insulin/IGF-1 action.

PubMed

Rabiee, Atefeh; Krüger, Marcus; Ardenkjær-Larsen, Jacob; Kahn, C Ronald; Emanuelli, Brice

2018-07-01

Insulin/IGF-1 action is driven by a complex and highly integrated signalling network. Loss-of-function studies indicate that the major insulin/IGF-1 receptor substrate (IRS) proteins, IRS-1 and IRS-2, mediate different biological functions in vitro and in vivo, suggesting specific signalling properties despite their high degree of homology. To identify mechanisms contributing to the differential signalling properties of IRS-1 and IRS-2 in the mediation of insulin/IGF-1 action, we performed comprehensive mass spectrometry (MS)-based phosphoproteomic profiling of brown preadipocytes from wild type, IRS-1 -/- and IRS-2 -/- mice in the basal and IGF-1-stimulated states. We applied stable isotope labeling by amino acids in cell culture (SILAC) for the accurate quantitation of changes in protein phosphorylation. We found ~10% of the 6262 unique phosphorylation sites detected to be regulated by IGF-1. These regulated sites included previously reported substrates of the insulin/IGF-1 signalling pathway, as well as novel substrates including Nuclear Factor I X and Semaphorin-4B. In silico prediction suggests the protein kinase B (PKB), protein kinase C (PKC), and cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) as the main mediators of these phosphorylation events. Importantly, we found preferential phosphorylation patterns depending on the presence of either IRS-1 or IRS-2, which was associated with specific sets of kinases involved in signal transduction downstream of these substrates such as PDHK1, MAPK3, and PKD1 for IRS-1, and PIN1 and PKC beta for IRS-2. Overall, by generating a comprehensive phosphoproteomic profile from brown preadipocyte cells in response to IGF-1 stimulation, we reveal both common and distinct insulin/IGF-1 signalling events mediated by specific IRS proteins. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Effect of the substrate temperature on the physical properties of molybdenum tri-oxide thin films obtained through the spray pyrolysis technique

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

Martinez, H.M.; Torres, J., E-mail: njtorress@unal.edu.co; Lopez Carreno, L.D.

2013-01-15

Polycrystalline molybdenum tri-oxide thin films were prepared using the spray pyrolysis technique; a 0.1 M solution of ammonium molybdate tetra-hydrated was used as a precursor. The samples were prepared on Corning glass substrates maintained at temperatures ranging between 423 and 673 K. The samples were characterized through micro Raman, X-ray diffraction, optical transmittance and DC electrical conductivity. The species MoO{sub 3} (H{sub 2}O){sub 2} was found in the sample prepared at a substrate temperature of 423 K. As the substrate temperature rises, the water disappears and the samples crystallize into {alpha}-MoO{sub 3}. The optical gap diminishes as the substrate temperaturemore » rises. Two electrical transport mechanisms were found: hopping under 200 K and intrinsic conduction over 200 K. The MoO{sub 3} films' sensitivity was analyzed for CO and H{sub 2}O in the temperature range 160 to 360 K; the results indicate that CO and H{sub 2}O have a reduction character. In all cases, it was found that the sensitivity to CO is lower than that to H{sub 2}O. - Highlights: Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer A low cost technique is used which produces good material. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Thin films are prepared using ammonium molybdate tetra hydrated. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer The control of the physical properties of the samples could be done. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer A calculation method is proposed to determine the material optical properties. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer The MoO{sub 3} thin films prepared by spray pyrolysis could be used as gas sensor.« less

Rapid prototyped porous nickel–titanium scaffolds as bone substitutes

PubMed Central

Hoffmann, Waldemar; Bormann, Therese; Rossi, Antonella; Müller, Bert; Schumacher, Ralf; Martin, Ivan; Wendt, David

2014-01-01

While calcium phosphate–based ceramics are currently the most widely used materials in bone repair, they generally lack tensile strength for initial load bearing. Bulk titanium is the gold standard of metallic implant materials, but does not match the mechanical properties of the surrounding bone, potentially leading to problems of fixation and bone resorption. As an alternative, nickel–titanium alloys possess a unique combination of mechanical properties including a relatively low elastic modulus, pseudoelasticity, and high damping capacity, matching the properties of bone better than any other metallic material. With the ultimate goal of fabricating porous implants for spinal, orthopedic and dental applications, nickel–titanium substrates were fabricated by means of selective laser melting. The response of human mesenchymal stromal cells to the nickel–titanium substrates was compared to mesenchymal stromal cells cultured on clinically used titanium. Selective laser melted titanium as well as surface-treated nickel–titanium and titanium served as controls. Mesenchymal stromal cells had similar proliferation rates when cultured on selective laser melted nickel–titanium, clinically used titanium, or controls. Osteogenic differentiation was similar for mesenchymal stromal cells cultured on the selected materials, as indicated by similar gene expression levels of bone sialoprotein and osteocalcin. Mesenchymal stromal cells seeded and cultured on porous three-dimensional selective laser melted nickel–titanium scaffolds homogeneously colonized the scaffold, and following osteogenic induction, filled the scaffold’s pore volume with extracellular matrix. The combination of bone-related mechanical properties of selective laser melted nickel–titanium with its cytocompatibility and support of osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stromal cells highlights its potential as a superior bone substitute as compared to clinically used titanium. PMID:25383165

Shear Strength and Interfacial Toughness Characterization of Sapphire-Epoxy Interfaces for Nacre-Inspired Composites.

PubMed

Behr, Sebastian; Jungblut, Laura; Swain, Michael V; Schneider, Gerold A

2016-10-12

The common tensile lap-shear test for adhesive joints is inappropriate for brittle substrates such as glasses or ceramics where stress intensifications due to clamping and additional bending moments invalidate results. Nevertheless, bonding of glasses and ceramics is still important in display applications for electronics, in safety glass and ballistic armor, for dental braces and restoratives, or in recently developed bioinspired composites. To mechanically characterize adhesive bondings in these fields nonetheless, a novel approach based on the so-called Schwickerath test for dental sintered joints is used. This new method not only matches data from conventional analysis but also uniquely combines the accurate determination of interfacial shear strength and toughness in one simple test. The approach is verified for sapphire-epoxy joints that are of interest for bioinspired composites. For these, the procedure not only provides quantitative interfacial properties for the first time, it also exemplarily suggests annealing of sapphire at 1000 °C for 10 h for mechanically and economically effective improvements of the interfacial bond strength and toughness. With increases of strength and toughness from approximately 8 to 29 MPa and from 2.6 to 35 J/m 2 , respectively, this thermal modification drastically enhances the properties of unmodified sapphire-epoxy interfaces. At the same time, it is much more convenient than wet-chemical approaches such as silanization. Hence, besides the introduction of a new testing procedure for adhesive joints of brittle or expensive substrates, a new and facile annealing process for improvements of the adhesive properties of sapphire is suggested and quantitative data for the mechanical properties of sapphire-epoxy interfaces that are common in synthetic nacre-inspired composites are provided for the first time.

Highly Stretchable Superhydrophobic Composite Coating Based on Self-Adaptive Deformation of Hierarchical Structures.

PubMed

Hu, Xin; Tang, Changyu; He, Zhoukun; Shao, Hong; Xu, Keqin; Mei, Jun; Lau, Woon-Ming

2017-05-01

With the rapid development of stretchable electronics, functional textiles, and flexible sensors, water-proof protection materials are required to be built on various highly flexible substrates. However, maintaining the antiwetting of superhydrophobic surface under stretching is still a big challenge since the hierarchical structures at hybridized micro-nanoscales are easily damaged following large deformation of the substrates. This study reports a highly stretchable and mechanically stable superhydrophobic surface prepared by a facile spray coating of carbon black/polybutadiene elastomeric composite on a rubber substrate followed by thermal curing. The resulting composite coating can maintain its superhydrophobic property (water contact angle ≈170° and sliding angle <4°) at an extremely large stretching strain of up to 1000% and can withstand 1000 stretching-releasing cycles without losing its superhydrophobic property. Furthermore, the experimental observation and modeling analysis reveal that the stable superhydrophobic properties of the composite coating are attributed to the unique self-adaptive deformation ability of 3D hierarchical roughness of the composite coating, which delays the Cassie-Wenzel transition of surface wetting. In addition, it is first observed that the damaged coating can automatically recover its superhydrophobicity via a simple stretching treatment without incorporating additional hydrophobic materials. © 2017 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Structural studies on bioactive compounds. Part 29: palladium catalysed arylations and alkynylations of sterically hindered immunomodulatory 2-amino-5-halo-4,6-(disubstituted)pyrimidines.

PubMed

Hannah, D R; Sherer, E C; Davies, R V; Titman, R B; Laughton, C A; Stevens, M F

2000-04-01

The immunological agent bropirimine 5 is a tetra-substituted pyrimidine with anticancer and interferon-inducing properties. Synthetic routes to novel 5-aryl analogues of bropirimine have been developed and their potential molecular recognition properties analysed by molecular modelling methods. Sterically challenged 2-amino-5-halo-6-phenylpyrimidin-4-ones (halo = Br or I) are poor substrates for palladium catalysed Suzuki cross-coupling reactions with benzeneboronic acid because the basic conditions of the reaction converts the amphoteric pyrimidinones to their unreactive enolic forms. Palladium-mediated reductive dehalogenation of the pyrimidinone substrates effectively competes with cross-coupling. 2-Amino-5-halo-4-methoxy-6-phenylpyrimidines can be converted to a range of 5-aryl derivatives with the 5-iodopyrimidines being the most efficient substrates. Hydrolysis of the 2-amino-5-aryl-4-methoxy-6-phenylpyrimidines affords the required pyrimidin-4-ones in high yields. Semi-empirical quantum mechanical calculations show how the nature of the 5-substituent influences the equilibrium between the 1H- and 3H-tautomeric forms, and the rotational freedom about the bond connecting the 6-phenyl group and the pyrimidine ring. Both of these factors may influence the biological properties of these compounds.

On the Interplay Between Adhesion Strength and Tensile Properties of Thermal Spray Coated Laminates—Part I: High Velocity Thermal Spray Coatings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Luo, Xiaotao; Smith, Gregory M.; Sampath, Sanjay

2018-02-01

Adhesion of thermal spray (TS) coatings is an important system level property in coating design and application. Adhesive-based pull testing (ASTM C633) has long been used to evaluate coating/substrate bonding. However, this approach is not always suitable for high velocity spray coatings, for example, where adhesion strengths are routinely greater than the strength of the adhesive bonding agent used in the testing. In this work, a new approach has been proposed to evaluate the adhesion of TS coatings. A systematic investigation of the effects of substrate roughness on both the uniaxial tensile yield strength and traditional bond pull adhesive strength of HVOF Ni and Ni-5wt.%Al, as well as cold-sprayed Ni-coated laminates revealed a strong correlation between these two test methodologies for the respective materials and processes. This approach allows measurement of the adhesion response even where the adhesive method is not applicable, overcoming many of the issues in the traditional ASTM C633. Analysis of cracking patterns of the coatings after 10.5% strain was used to assess the adhesion and cohesion properties. The mechanisms which determine the load transfer between the substrate and the coating are also briefly discussed.

Electrochemical Deposition Of Conductive Copolymers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nagasubramanian, Ganesan; Distefano, Salvador; Liang, Ranty H.

1991-01-01

Experiments show electrically conductive films are deposited on glassy carbon or indium tin oxide substrates by electrochemical polymerization of N-{(3-trimethoxy silyl) propyl} pyrrole or copolymerization with pyrrole. Copolymers of monomer I and pyrrole exhibit desired electrical conductivity as well as desired adhesion and other mechanical properties. When fully developed, new copolymerization process useful in making surface films of selectable conductivity.

Spontaneous Phase Transformation and Exfoliation of Rectangular Single-Crystal Zinc Hydroxy Dodecylsulfate Nanomembranes

Treesearch

Fei Wang; Joseph E. Jakes; Dalong Geng; Xudong Wang

2013-01-01

Free-standing two-dimensional (2D) nanostructures, exemplified by graphene and semiconductor nanomembranes, exhibit exotic electrical and mechanical properties and have great potential in electronic applications where devices need to be flexible or conformal to nonplanar surfaces. Based on our previous development of a substrate-free synthesis of large-area, free-...

Surface morphology and nanomechanical properties of tribological antiwear films derived from zinc dialkyl dithiophosphate compounds

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aktary, Mirwais

The protection of mechanical equipment from wear is of significant economic interest. It has been estimated that up to half of a percent of the gross domestic product of industrialized countries goes to replacing mechanical components that have lost compliance due to wear. Antiwear additives are key ingredients in lubrication oils that assist in protecting components from wear during high loads. These agents form sacrificial films on metal parts that limit the adhesion between the contacting surfaces and reduce the wear rate considerably. One of the most common classes of compounds employed as an antiwear agent is zinc dialkyldithiophosphates (ZDDP). This work will explore the formation, structure, and mechanical properties of ZDDP derived antiwear films on the nanoscale. These studies are important because the macroscopic performance of antiwear coatings is dictated by their nanoscale surface properties. As a first study, scanning force microscopy (SFM) is employed to track the formation of films formed from the thermooxidative decomposition of ZDDP on gold substrates. The SFM analysis is correlated with infrared spectroscopy to relate surface structure to chemical composition. The morphology and mechanical strength of ZDDP tribofilms formed at the interface of sliding stainless steel contacts is also investigated. The tribofilms evolve morphologically with contact time and are characterized by distinct segregated islands at low times that transforms to a full film at longer times. The nanomechanical properties of the tribofilms are evaluated by nanoindentation analysis. It is found that the films are mechanically softer than the underlying steel substrate. SFM and nanoindentation analyses reveal that calcium sulphonate detergents promote the formation of ZDDP tribofilms and impart to them greater mechanical stability. By contrast succinimide dispersants reduce the capacity of ZDDP to form effective antiwear films. The first application of SFM and nanoindentation to the study of automotive engine components obtained directly from vehicles is demonstrated. The wear zone on a rocker arm bridge from a diesel engine is shown to contain a tribofilm at the periphery of contact where the contact load is less. SFM images also reveal wear damage at the center of the wear zone where the contact load is expected to be higher.

Thallium Bromide Deposited Using Spray Coating

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ferreira, E. S.; Mulato, M.

2012-08-01

Spray coating was used to produce thallium bromide samples on glass substrates. The influence of several fabrication parameters on the final structural properties of the samples was investigated. Substrate position, substrate temperature, solution concentration, carrying gas, and solution flow were varied systematically, the physical deposition mechanism involved in each case being discussed. Total deposition time of about 3.5 h can lead to 62-μm-thick films, comprising completely packed micrometer-sized crystalline grains. X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy were used to characterize the samples. On the basis of the experimental data, the optimum fabrication conditions were identified. The technique offers an alternative method for fast, cheap fabrication of large-area devices for the detection of high-energy radiation, i.e., X-rays and γ-rays, in medical imaging.

Non-canonical transcription initiation: the expanding universe of transcription initiating substrates.

PubMed

Barvík, Ivan; Rejman, Dominik; Panova, Natalya; Šanderová, Hana; Krásný, Libor

2017-03-01

RNA polymerase (RNAP) is the central enzyme of transcription of the genetic information from DNA into RNA. RNAP recognizes four main substrates: ATP, CTP, GTP and UTP. Experimental evidence from the past several years suggests that, besides these four NTPs, other molecules can be used to initiate transcription: (i) ribooligonucleotides (nanoRNAs) and (ii) coenzymes such as NAD+, NADH, dephospho-CoA and FAD. The presence of these molecules at the 5΄ ends of RNAs affects the properties of the RNA. Here, we discuss the expanding portfolio of molecules that can initiate transcription, their mechanism of incorporation, effects on RNA and cellular processes, and we present an outlook toward other possible initiation substrates. © FEMS 2016. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Early Intervention Stem Cell-Based Therapy (EISCBT) for Corneal Burns and Trauma

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-10-01

formation through material chemistry, topography, and mechanical properties (Clark et al., 1991; Engler et al., 2006; LeGeros, 2008). During development...methods ( Sun et al., 2015). Glass wafers were cleaned with 70% ethanol spin, coated with a 5 µm thick layer of SPR220.3 photoresist (MicroChem Corp...which point a tissue sheet could be mechanically separated from the substrate. Select tissue sheets were stained with Vybrant DiI ((2Z)-2-[(E)-3-(3,3

Development of Bioactive Ceramic Coating on Titanium Alloy substrate for Biomedical Application Using Dip Coating Method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Asmawi, R.; Ibrahim, M. H. I.; Amin, A. M.; Mustafa, N.; Noranai, Z.

2017-08-01

Bioactive apatite, such as hydroxyapatite ceramic (HA), [Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2] has been extensively investigated for biomedical applications due to its excellent biocompatibility and tissue bioactivity properties. Its bioactivity provides direct bonding to the bone tissue. Because of its similarity in chemical composition to the inorganic matrix of bone, HA is widely used as implant materials for bone. Unfortunately, because of its poor mechanical properties,. this bioactive material is not suitable for load bearing applications. In this study, by the assistance of dip-coating technique, HA coatings were deposited on titanium alloy substrates by employing hydrothermal derived HA powder. The produced coatings then were oven-dried at 130°C for 1 hour and calcined at various temperature over the range of 200-800°C for 1 hour. XRD measurement showed that HA was the only phase present in the coatings. However coatings calcined at 800°C comprised a mixture of HA and tri-calcium phosphate (TCP). FTIR measurement showed the existence of hydroxyl, phosphate, and carbonate bands. PO4 - band became sharper and narrower with the increased of calcination temperature. FESEM observation showed that the coating is polycrystalline with individual particles of nano to submicron size and has an average particle size of 35 nm. The thickness of the coating are direcly propotional with the viscosity of coating slurry. It was shown that the more viscous coating slurry would produce a thicker ceramic coating. Mechanical properties of the coating were measured in term of adhesion strength using a Micro Materials Nano Test microscratch testing machine. The result revealed that the coating had a good adhesion to the titanium alloy substrate.

Finite element modelling of fibre Bragg grating strain sensors and experimental validation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Malik, Shoaib A.; Mahendran, Ramani S.; Harris, Dee; Paget, Mark; Pandita, Surya D.; Machavaram, Venkata R.; Collins, David; Burns, Jonathan M.; Wang, Liwei; Fernando, Gerard F.

2009-03-01

Fibre Bragg grating (FBG) sensors continue to be used extensively for monitoring strain and temperature in and on engineering materials and structures. Previous researchers have also developed analytical models to predict the loadtransfer characteristics of FBG sensors as a function of applied strain. The general properties of the coating or adhesive that is used to surface-bond the FBG sensor to the substrate has also been modelled using finite element analysis. In this current paper, a technique was developed to surface-mount FBG sensors with a known volume and thickness of adhesive. The substrates used were aluminium dog-bone tensile test specimens. The FBG sensors were tensile tested in a series of ramp-hold sequences until failure. The reflected FBG spectra were recorded using a commercial instrument. Finite element analysis was performed to model the response of the surface-mounted FBG sensors. In the first instance, the effect of the mechanical properties of the adhesive and substrate were modelled. This was followed by modelling the volume of adhesive used to bond the FBG sensor to the substrate. Finally, the predicted values obtained via finite element modelling were correlated to the experimental results. In addition to the FBG sensors, the tensile test specimens were instrumented with surface-mounted electrical resistance strain gauges.

Formation, dissolution and properties of surface nanobubbles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Che, Zhizhao; Theodorakis, Panagiotis E.

2017-02-01

Surface nanobubbles are stable gaseous phases in liquids that form on solid substrates. While their existence has been confirmed, there are many open questions related to their formation and dissolution processes along with their structures and properties, which are difficult to investigate experimentally. To address these issues, we carried out molecular dynamics simulations based on atomistic force fields for systems comprised of water, air (N2 and O2), and a Highly Oriented Pyrolytic Graphite (HOPG) substrate. Our results provide insights into the formation/dissolution mechanisms of nanobubbles and estimates for their density, contact angle, and surface tension. We found that the formation of nanobubbles is driven by an initial nucleation process of air molecules and the subsequent coalescence of the formed air clusters. The clusters form favorably on the substrate, which provides an enhanced stability to the clusters. In contrast, nanobubbles formed in the bulk either move randomly to the substrate and spread or move to the water--air surface and pop immediately. Moreover, nanobubbles consist of a condensed gaseous phase with a surface tension smaller than that of an equivalent system under atmospheric conditions, and contact angles larger than those in the equivalent nanodroplet case. We anticipate that this study will provide useful insights into the physics of nanobubbles and will stimulate further research in the field by using all-atom simulations.

Wear and Corrosion Properties of 316L-SiC Composite Coating Deposited by Cold Spray on Magnesium Alloy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Jie; Ma, Bing; Liu, Guang; Song, Hui; Wu, Jinming; Cui, Lang; Zheng, Ziyun

2017-08-01

In order to improve the wear and corrosion resistance of commonly used magnesium alloys, 316L stainless steel coating and 316L-SiC composite coating have been deposited directly on commercial AZ80 magnesium alloy using cold spraying technology (CS). The microstructure, hardness and bonding strength of as-sprayed coatings were studied. Their tribological properties sliding against Si3N4 and GCr15 steel under unlubricated conditions were evaluated by a ball-on-disk tribometer. Corrosion behaviors of coated samples were also evaluated and compared to that of uncoated magnesium alloy substrate in 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution by electrochemical measurements. Scanning electron microscopy was used to characterize the corresponding wear tracks and corroded surfaces to determine wear and corrosion mechanisms. The results showed that the as-sprayed coatings possessed higher microhardness and more excellent wear resistance than magnesium alloy substrate. Meanwhile, 316L and 316L-SiC coating also reduced the corrosion current density of magnesium alloy and the galvanic corrosion of the substrates was not observed after 200-h neutral salt spray exposure, which demonstrated that corrosion resistance of a magnesium alloy substrate could be greatly improved by cold-sprayed stainless steel-based coatings.

Monolayer-directed Assembly and Magnetic Properties of FePt Nanoparticles on Patterned Aluminum Oxide

PubMed Central

Yildirim, Oktay; Gang, Tian; Kinge, Sachin; Reinhoudt, David N.; Blank, Dave H.A.; van der Wiel, Wilfred G.; Rijnders, Guus; Huskens, Jurriaan

2010-01-01

FePt nanoparticles (NPs) were assembled on aluminum oxide substrates, and their ferromagnetic properties were studied before and after thermal annealing. For the first time, phosph(on)ates were used as an adsorbate to form self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on alumina to direct the assembly of NPs onto the surface. The Al2O3 substrates were functionalized with aminobutylphosphonic acid (ABP) or phosphonoundecanoic acid (PNDA) SAMs or with poly(ethyleneimine) (PEI) as a reference. FePt NPs assembled on all of these monolayers, but much less on unmodified Al2O3, which shows that ligand exchange at the NPs is the most likely mechanism of attachment. Proper modification of the Al2O3 surface and controlling the immersion time of the modified Al2O3 substrates into the FePt NP solution resulted in FePt NPs assembly with controlled NP density. Alumina substrates were patterned by microcontact printing using aminobutylphosphonic acid as the ink, allowing local NP assembly. Thermal annealing under reducing conditions (96%N2/4%H2) led to a phase change of the FePt NPs from the disordered FCC phase to the ordered FCT phase. This resulted in ferromagnetic behavior at room temperature. Such a process can potentially be applied in the fabrication of spintronic devices. PMID:20480007

Influence of Substrate Heating and Nitrogen Flow on the Composition, Morphological and Mechanical Properties of SiNx Coatings Aimed for Joint Replacements

PubMed Central

Skjöldebrand, Charlotte; Schmidt, Susann; Vuong, Vicky; Pettersson, Maria; Grandfield, Kathryn; Högberg, Hans; Engqvist, Håkan; Persson, Cecilia

2017-01-01

Silicon nitride (SiNx) coatings are promising for joint replacement applications due to their high wear resistance and biocompatibility. For such coatings, a higher nitrogen content, obtained through an increased nitrogen gas supply, has been found to be beneficial in terms of a decreased dissolution rate of the coatings. The substrate temperature has also been found to affect the composition as well as the microstructure of similar coatings. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the substrate temperature and nitrogen flow on the coating composition, microstructure and mechanical properties. SiNx coatings were deposited onto CoCrMo discs using reactive high power impulse magnetron sputtering. During deposition, the substrate temperatures were set to 200 °C, 350 °C or 430 °C, with nitrogen-to-argon flow ratios of 0.06, 0.17 or 0.30. Scanning and transmission electron spectroscopy revealed that the coatings were homogenous and amorphous. The coatings displayed a nitrogen content of 23–48 at.% (X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy). The surface roughness was similar to uncoated CoCrMo (p = 0.25) (vertical scanning interferometry). The hardness and Young’s modulus, as determined from nanoindentation, scaled with the nitrogen content of the coatings, with the hardness ranging from 12 ± 1 GPa to 26 ± 2 GPa and the Young’s moduli ranging from 173 ± 8 GPa to 293 ± 18 GPa, when the nitrogen content increased from 23% to 48%. The low surface roughness and high nano-hardness are promising for applications exposed to wear, such as joint implants. PMID:28772532

Tensile Fracture Behavior and Failure Mechanism of Additively-Manufactured AISI 4140 Low Alloy Steel by Laser Engineered Net Shaping

PubMed Central

Kim, Hoyeol; Liu, Zhichao; Cong, Weilong; Zhang, Hong-Chao

2017-01-01

AISI 4140 powder was directly deposited on AISI 4140 wrought substrate using laser engineered net shaping (LENS) to investigate the compatibility of a LENS-deposited part with the substrate. Tensile testing at room temperature was performed to evaluate the interface bond performance and fracture behavior of the test specimens. All the samples failed within the as-deposited zone, indicating that the interfacial bond is stronger than the interlayer bond inside the deposit. The fracture surfaces were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy disperse X-ray spectrometry (EDS). Results show that the tensile fracture failure of the as-deposited part is primarily affected by lack-of-fusion defects, carbide precipitation, and oxide particles inclusions, which causes premature failure of the deposit by deteriorating the mechanical properties and structural integrity. PMID:29120374

Initiation of vacuum breakdown and failure mechanism of the carbon nanotube during thermal field emission

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dan, Cai; Lie, Liu; Jin-Chuan, Ju; Xue-Long, Zhao; Hong-Yu, Zhou; Xiao, Wang

2016-04-01

The carbon nanotube (CNT)-based materials can be used as vacuum device cathodes. Owing to the excellent field emission properties of CNT, it has great potentials in the applications of an explosive field emission cathode. The falling off of CNT from the substrate, which frequently appears in experiments, restricts its application. In addition, the onset time of vacuum breakdown limits the performance of the high-power explosive-emission-cathode-based diode. In this paper, the characteristics of the CNT, electric field strength, contact resistance and the kind of substrate material are varied to study the parameter effects on the onset time of vacuum breakdown and failure mechanism of the CNT by using the finite element method. Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 11305263 and 61401484).

Tensile Fracture Behavior and Failure Mechanism of Additively-Manufactured AISI 4140 Low Alloy Steel by Laser Engineered Net Shaping.

PubMed

Kim, Hoyeol; Liu, Zhichao; Cong, Weilong; Zhang, Hong-Chao

2017-11-09

AISI 4140 powder was directly deposited on AISI 4140 wrought substrate using laser engineered net shaping (LENS) to investigate the compatibility of a LENS-deposited part with the substrate. Tensile testing at room temperature was performed to evaluate the interface bond performance and fracture behavior of the test specimens. All the samples failed within the as-deposited zone, indicating that the interfacial bond is stronger than the interlayer bond inside the deposit. The fracture surfaces were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy disperse X-ray spectrometry (EDS). Results show that the tensile fracture failure of the as-deposited part is primarily affected by lack-of-fusion defects, carbide precipitation, and oxide particles inclusions, which causes premature failure of the deposit by deteriorating the mechanical properties and structural integrity.

Manufacturing the Gas Diffusion Layer for PEM Fuel Cell Using a Novel 3D Printing Technique and Critical Assessment of the Challenges Encountered

PubMed Central

Singamneni, Sarat; Ramos, Maximiano; Al-Jumaily, Ahmed M

2017-01-01

The conventional gas diffusion layer (GDL) of polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells incorporates a carbon-based substrate, which suffers from electrochemical oxidation as well as mechanical degradation, resulting in reduced durability and performance. In addition, it involves a complex manufacturing process to produce it. The proposed technique aims to resolve both these issues by an advanced 3D printing technique, namely selective laser sintering (SLS). In the proposed work, polyamide (PA) is used as the base powder and titanium metal powder is added at an optimised level to enhance the electrical conductivity, thermal, and mechanical properties. The application of selective laser sintering to fabricate a robust gas diffusion substrate for PEM fuel cell applications is quite novel and is attempted here for the first time. PMID:28773156

Manufacturing the Gas Diffusion Layer for PEM Fuel Cell Using a Novel 3D Printing Technique and Critical Assessment of the Challenges Encountered.

PubMed

Jayakumar, Arunkumar; Singamneni, Sarat; Ramos, Maximiano; Al-Jumaily, Ahmed M; Pethaiah, Sethu Sundar

2017-07-14

The conventional gas diffusion layer (GDL) of polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells incorporates a carbon-based substrate, which suffers from electrochemical oxidation as well as mechanical degradation, resulting in reduced durability and performance. In addition, it involves a complex manufacturing process to produce it. The proposed technique aims to resolve both these issues by an advanced 3D printing technique, namely selective laser sintering (SLS). In the proposed work, polyamide (PA) is used as the base powder and titanium metal powder is added at an optimised level to enhance the electrical conductivity, thermal, and mechanical properties. The application of selective laser sintering to fabricate a robust gas diffusion substrate for PEM fuel cell applications is quite novel and is attempted here for the first time.

Activity of plasma sprayed yttria stabilized zirconia reinforced hydroxyapatite/Ti-6Al-4V composite coatings in simulated body fluid.

PubMed

Gu, Y W; Khor, K A; Pan, D; Cheang, P

2004-07-01

Hydroxyapatite (HA)/yttria stabilized zirconia/Ti-6Al-4V bio-composite coatings deposited onto Ti-6Al-4V substrate through a plasma spray technique were immersed in simulated body fluid (SBF) to investigate their behavior in vitro. Surface morphologies and structural changes in the coatings were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy, thin-film X-ray diffractometer, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The tensile bond strength of the coatings after immersion was also conducted through the ASTM C-633 standard for thermal sprayed coatings. Results showed that carbonate-containing hydroxyapatite (CHA) layer formed on the surface of composite coatings after 4 weeks immersion in SBF solution, indicating the composite coating possessed excellent bioactivity. The mechanical properties were found to decrease with immersion duration of maximum 56 days. However, minimal variation in mechanical properties was found subsequent to achieving supersaturation of the calcium ions, which was attained with the precipitation of the calcium phosphate layers. The mechanical properties of the composite coating were found to be significantly higher than those of pure HA coatings even after immersion in the SBF solution, indicating the enhanced mechanical properties of the composite coatings.

Processing Conditions Affecting Grain Size and Mechanical Properties in Nanocomposites Produced via Cold Spray

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cavaliere, P.; Perrone, A.; Silvello, A.

2014-10-01

Cold spray is a coating technology based on aerodynamics and high-speed impact dynamics. In this process, spray particles (usually 1-50 μm in diameter) are accelerated to a high velocity (typically 300-1200 m/s) by a high-speed gas (pre-heated air, nitrogen, or helium) flow that is generated through a convergent-divergent de Laval-type nozzle. A coating is formed through the intensive plastic deformation of particles impacting on a substrate at a temperature below the melting point of the spray material. In the present paper the main processing parameters affecting the microstructural and mechanical behavior of metal-metal cold spray deposits are described. The effect of process parameters on grain refinement and mechanical properties were analyzed for composite particles of Al-Al2O3, Ni-BN, Cu-Al2O3, and Co-SiC. The properties of the formed nanocomposites were compared with those of the parent materials sprayed under the same conditions. The process conditions, leading to a strong grain refinement with an acceptable level of the deposit mechanical properties such as porosity and adhesion strength, are discussed.

Excavated substrate modulates growth instability during nest building in ants

PubMed Central

Toffin, Etienne; Kindekens, Jonathan; Deneubourg, Jean-Louis

2010-01-01

In social insects, the nests of the same species can show a large difference in size and shape. Despite these large variations, the nests share the same substructures, some appearing during nest growth. In ants, the interplay between nest size and digging activity leads to two successive morphological transitions from circular to branched shapes (budding along the perimeter of the circular cavity and tunnelling of the galleries). Like several other self-organized collective behaviours, this phenomenon, as well as the entire nest-digging process, is thought to be modulated by environmental properties. The present study investigates the effect of excavated substrate on the nest morphogenesis and the morphological transitions by using two materials with different cohesions. Here, we show that the two morphological transitions occur more frequently with a cohesive substrate than with a granular one: 96 per cent of cohesive experiments showed both transitions, whereas only 50 per cent did in granular experiments. We found that transitions and excavation cessation follow area–response thresholds: the shape transitions take place and the digging activity stops when the dug area reaches the corresponding threshold values. The shape transition thresholds are lower with the cohesive substrate and that of stopping digging is independent of nest shape and material. According to simulations, the experimental frequencies of transitions found their origin in the competition between transitions and activity cessation and in the difference between the transition threshold values of each substrate. Our results demonstrate how the substrate properties modulate the collective response and lead to various patterns. Considering the non-specific mechanisms at work, such effects of substrate coarseness have their counterparts in various collective behaviours, generating alternative patterns to colonize and exploit the environment. PMID:20410036

Investigating interfacial contact configuration and behavior of single-walled carbon nanotube-based nanodevice with atomistic simulations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cui, Jianlei; Zhang, Jianwei; He, Xiaoqiao; Mei, Xuesong; Wang, Wenjun; Yang, Xinju; Xie, Hui; Yang, Lijun; Wang, Yang

2017-03-01

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs), including single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs), are considered to be the promising candidates for next-generation interconnects with excellent physical and chemical properties ranging from ultrahigh mechanical strength, to electrical properties, to thermal conductivity, to optical properties, etc. To further study the interfacial contact configurations of SWNT-based nanodevice with a 13.56-Å diameter, the corresponding simulations are carried out with the molecular dynamic method. The nanotube collapses dramatically into the surface with the complete collapse on the Au/Ag/graphite electrode surface and slight distortion on the Si/SiO2 substrate surface, respectively. The related dominant mechanism is studied and explained. Meanwhile, the interfacial contact configuration and behavior, depended on other factors, are also analyzed in this article.

A study of structural and mechanical properties of nano-crystalline tungsten nitride film synthesis by plasma focus

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hussnain, Ali; Singh Rawat, Rajdeep; Ahmad, Riaz; Hussain, Tousif; Umar, Z. A.; Ikhlaq, Uzma; Chen, Zhong; Shen, Lu

2015-02-01

Nano-crystalline tungsten nitride thin films are synthesized on AISI-304 steel at room temperature using Mather-type plasma focus system. The surface properties of the exposed substrate against different deposition shots are examined for crystal structure, surface morphology and mechanical properties using X-ray diffraction (XRD), atomic force microscope, field emission scanning electron microscope and nano-indenter. The XRD results show the growth of WN and WN2 phases and the development of strain/stress in the deposited films by varying the number of deposition shots. Morphology of deposited films shows the significant change in the surface structure with different ion energy doses (number of deposition shots). Due to the effect of different ion energy doses, the strain/stress developed in the deposited film leads to an improvement of hardness of deposited films.

Studying Some of Electrical and Mechanical Properties for Kevlar Fiber Reinforced Epoxy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rafeeq, Sewench N.; Hussein, Samah M.

2011-12-01

As ordinary known the ability of synthesizing electrical conducting polymer composites is possible but with poor mechanical properties, for the solution of this problem, we carried out this study in order to obtain that both properties. Three methods were applied for preparing the conductive polyaniline (PANI) composites using Kevlar fiber fabric as substrate for the deposition of the PANI at one time and the prepared composite (EP/Kevlar fiber) at others. The chemical oxidative method was adopted for polymerization of the aniline and simultaneously protonated of PANI with a hydrochloric acid at concentration (1M). Two kinds of oxidation agents (FeCl3.6H2O) and ((NH4)2S2O8) were used. The electrical measurements indicate the effect of each preparation method, kind of oxidant agent and the kind of mat erial which PANI deposited on the electrical results. The conductivity results showed that the prepared composites lie within semiconductors region. Temperature—dependence of electric conductivity results showed semiconductors and conductors behavior of this material within the applied temperature ranges. The mechan ical property (tensile strength) was studied. X-ray diffraction study showed the crystalline structure for EP/Kevlar fiber/PANI composites prepared by the three methods. These results gave optimism to the synthesis of conductive polymer composites with excellent mechanical properties..

Effect of parylene C coating on the antibiocorrosive and mechanical properties of different magnesium alloys

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Surmeneva, M. A.; Vladescu, A.; Cotrut, C. M.; Tyurin, A. I.; Pirozhkova, T. S.; Shuvarin, I. A.; Elkin, B.; Oehr, C.; Surmenev, R. A.

2018-01-01

In this paper, parylene C coating with the thickness of 2 μm was deposited on different magnesium alloy substrates (AZ31, WE43 and AZ91). The structure and phase composition of parylene C coating was analysed by Fourier transformed infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD). In addition, extensive surface characterization was done using atomic force microscopy. The corrosion performance of polymer-coated magnesium alloys was investigated by electrochemical measurements in Hanks' balanced salts solution that simulates bodily fluids at 37 ± 0.5 °C. The depth-dependent mechanical properties including Young's modulus and nanohardness of parylene C films were investigated using nanoindentation technique. The effect of the penetration depth on the properties on nano- and microscale level have been described in detail. The percentage of elastic recovery was used to characterize the elastic properties of the polymeric coatings. The results of XRD showed (020) preferred orientation of the monoclinic unit cell of the alpha phase of parylene C. The parylene C revealed a semicrystalline structure with nanocrystalline blocks of 4.9 nm. The parylene C film shows a uniform surface morphology with a higher roughness level at micro and nanoscales compared to magnesium alloy surfaces. All of the uncoated substrates exhibited a low corrosion resistance compared to the coated samples, indicating that the corrosion resistance of the magnesium alloys could be improved by parylene C coating. The resulting average nanohardness and Young's modulus of the parylene C coatings deposited onto different substrates were in the range of 0.18-0.25 GPa and 4.19-5.14 GPa, respectively. Furthermore, a higher percentage of elastic recovery of the polymer coating indicated a higher elasticity as compared to the magnesium alloy surface. The polymer coating has revealed the ability to recover elastically. Therefore, parylene C coating can not only improve corrosion resistance, but also provide the ability to recover elastically, expanding the potential applications of this material to include various biointerface platforms.

Investigation of temperature, catalyst thickness and substrate effects in In2O3 nanostructures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tuzluca, Fatma Nur; Yesilbag, Yasar Ozkan; Ertugrul, Mehmet

2017-12-01

This study successfully synthesized In2O3 nanotowers (NTs), nanowires (NWs), nanochains (NChs) and nanocrystals (NCs) on n-type Si(100) and quartz substrates at temperature of 900-1000 °C by using Au catalysts via the Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) technique. The analyses of experimental results revealed that In2O3 nanostructures (NSs) grew in different morphologies due to variable parameters, such as temperature, thickness of catalyst and substrate type. This was because these In2O3 NSs were formed by both the Vapor-Liquid-Solid (VLS) and the Vapor-Solid (VS) growth mechanisms. For instance, In2O3 NTs and NChs were formed by the VLS growth mechanism; In2O3 NCs were formed by the VS growth mechanism and In2O3 NWs were formed by both the VLS and VS growth mechanisms. Morphology and crystal structures were identified through X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HRTEM), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) and Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (EDS). Moreover, photoluminescence (PL) peaks of In2O3 NSs were measured to be 367 nm, 470 nm, and 630 nm at room temperature (RT). These measurement results indicated that structural, morphological, compositional and optical properties of synthesized In2O3 NSs correlated with growth parameters.

Mechanically enhanced nested-network hydrogels as a coating material for biomedical devices.

PubMed

Wang, Zhengmu; Zhang, Hongbin; Chu, Axel J; Jackson, John; Lin, Karen; Lim, Chinten James; Lange, Dirk; Chiao, Mu

2018-04-01

Well-organized composite formations such as hierarchical nested-network (NN) structure in bone tissue and reticular connective tissue present remarkable mechanical strength and play a crucial role in achieving physical and biological functions for living organisms. Inspired by these delicate microstructures in nature, an analogous scaffold of double network hydrogel was fabricated by creating a poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (pHEMA) network in the porous structure of alginate hydrogels. The resulting hydrogel possessed hierarchical NN structure and showed significantly improved mechanical strength but still maintained high elasticity comparable to soft tissues due to a mutual strengthening effect between the two networks. The tough hydrogel is also self-lubricated, exhibiting a surface friction coefficient comparable with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) substrates lubricated by a commercial aqueous lubricant (K-Y Jelly) and other low surface friction hydrogels. Additional properties of this hydrogel include high hydrophilicity, good biocompatibility, tunable cell adhesion and bacterial resistance after incorporation of silver nanoparticles. Firm bonding of the hydrogel on silicone substrates could be achieved through facile chemical modification, thus enabling the use of this hydrogel as a versatile coating material for biomedical applications. In this study, we developed a tough hydrogel by crosslinking HEMA monomers in alginate hydrogels and forming a well-organized structure of hierarchical nested network (NN). Different from most reported stretchable alginate-based hydrogels, the NN hydrogel shows higher compressive strength but retains comparable softness to alginate counterparts. This work further demonstrated the good integration of the tough hydrogel with silicone substrates through chemical modification and micropillar structures. Other properties including surface friction, biocompatibility and bacterial resistance were investigated and the hydrogel shows a great promise as a versatile coating material for biomedical applications. Copyright © 2018 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Deposition of Electrically Conductive Coatings on Castable Polyurethane Elastomers by the Flame Spraying Process

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ashrafizadeh, H.; McDonald, A.; Mertiny, P.

2016-02-01

Deposition of metallic coatings on elastomeric polymers is a challenging task due to the heat sensitivity and soft nature of these materials and the high temperatures in thermal spraying processes. In this study, a flame spraying process was employed to deposit conductive coatings of aluminum-12silicon on polyurethane elastomers. The effect of process parameters, i.e., stand-off distance and air added to the flame spray torch, on temperature distribution and corresponding effects on coating characteristics, including electrical resistivity, were investigated. An analytical model based on a Green's function approach was employed to determine the temperature distribution within the substrate. It was found that the coating porosity and electrical resistance decreased by increasing the pressure of the air injected into the flame spray torch during deposition. The latter also allowed for a reduction of the stand-off distance of the flame spray torch. Dynamic mechanical analysis was performed to investigate the effect of the increase in temperature within the substrate on its dynamic mechanical properties. It was found that the spraying process did not significantly change the storage modulus of the polyurethane substrate material.

Micro-composite substrates for the study of cell-matrix mechanical interactions.

PubMed

Chao, Pen-hsiu Grace; Sheng, Shou-Chien; Chang, Wei-Ren

2014-10-01

The chemical and physical gradients in the native cell microenvironment induce intracellular polarization and control cell behaviors such as morphology, migration and phenotypic changes. Directed cell migration in response to substrate stiffness gradients, known as durotaxis or mechanotaxis, has drawn attention due to its significance in development, metastasis, and wound healing. We developed a microcomposite substrate (μCS) platform with a microfabricated base and collagen hydrogel top to generate physiological linear stiffness gradients without any variation in chemical or transport properties. This platform is compatible with both 2D and 3D cell culturing and can be assembled with common supplies found in most biology labs. Ligament fibroblasts (LFs) and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) both respond to the mechanical gradient with directed migration. Interestingly, LFs exhibit higher mechanosensitivity compared with MSCs. Polarized nonmuscle myosin IIB distribution was also found on the μCS gradient, confirming previous reports. This robust system provides an easily accessible platform to study cell mechanosensing and a more physiological microenvironment for cell studies. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Amine oxidation by d-arginine dehydrogenase in Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

PubMed

Ouedraogo, Daniel; Ball, Jacob; Iyer, Archana; Reis, Renata A G; Vodovoz, Maria; Gadda, Giovanni

2017-10-15

d-Arginine dehydrogenase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PaDADH) is a flavin-dependent oxidoreductase, which is part of a novel two-enzyme racemization system that functions to convert d-arginine to l-arginine. PaDADH contains a noncovalently linked FAD that shows the highest activity with d-arginine. The enzyme exhibits broad substrate specificity towards d-amino acids, particularly with cationic and hydrophobic d-amino acids. Biochemical studies have established the structure and the mechanistic properties of the enzyme. The enzyme is a true dehydrogenase because it displays no reactivity towards molecular oxygen. As established through solvent and multiple kinetic isotope studies, PaDADH catalyzes an asynchronous CH and NH bond cleavage via a hydride transfer mechanism. Steady-state kinetic studies with d-arginine and d-histidine are consistent with the enzyme following a ping-pong bi-bi mechanism. As shown by a combination of crystallography, kinetic and computational data, the shape and flexibility of loop L1 in the active site of PaDADH are important for substrate capture and broad substrate specificity. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Glancing angle deposition of Fe triangular nanoprisms consisting of vertically-layered nanoplates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Jianghao; Li, Liangliang; Ma, Lingwei; Zhang, Zhengjun

2016-10-01

Fe triangular nanoprisms consisting of vertically-layered nanoplates were synthesized on Si substrate by glancing angle deposition (GLAD) with an electron beam evaporation system. It was found that Fe nanoplates with a crystallographic plane index of BCC (110) were stacked vertically to form triangular nanoprisms and the axial direction of the nanoprisms, BCC <001>, was normal to the substrate. The effects of experimental parameters of GLAD on the growth and morphology of Fe nanoprisms were systematically studied. The deposition rate played an important role in the morphology of Fe nanoprisms at the same length, the deposition angle just affected the areal density of nanoprisms, and the rotation speed of substrate had little influence within the parameter range we investigated. In addition, the crystal growth mechanism of Fe nanoprisms was explained with kinetically-controlled growth mechanism and zone model theory. The driving force of crystal growth was critical to the morphology and microstructure of Fe nanoprisms deposited by GLAD. Our work introduced an oriented crystal structure into the nanomaterials deposited by GLAD, which provided a new approach to manipulate the properties and functions of nanomaterials.

Carbonyl reductase of dog liver: purification, properties, and kinetic mechanism.

PubMed

Hara, A; Nakayama, T; Deyashiki, Y; Kariya, K; Sawada, H

1986-01-01

A carbonyl reductase has been extracted into 0.5 M KCl from dog liver and purified to apparent homogeneity by a three-step procedure consisting of chromatography on CM-Sephadex, Matrex green A, and Sephadex G-100 in high-ionic-strength buffers. The enzyme is a dimer composed of two identical subunits of molecular weight 27,000. The pH optimum is 5.5 and the isoelectric point of the enzyme is 9.3. The enzyme reduces aromatic ketones and aldehydes; the aromatic ketones with adjacent medium alkyl chains are the best substrates. Quinones, ketosteroids, prostaglandins, and aliphatic carbonyl compounds are poor or inactive substrates for the enzyme. As a cofactor the enzyme utilizes NADPH, the pro-S hydrogen atom of which is transferred to the substrate. Two moles of NADPH bind to one mole of the enzyme molecule, causing a blue shift and enhancement of the cofactor fluorescence. The reductase reaction is reversible and the equilibrium constant determined at pH 7.0 is 12.8. Steady-state kinetic measurements in both directions suggest that the reaction proceeds through a di-iso ordered bi-bi mechanism.

Carbon nanotube multilayered nanocomposites as multifunctional substrates for actuating neuronal differentiation and functions of neural stem cells.

PubMed

Shao, Han; Li, Tingting; Zhu, Rong; Xu, Xiaoting; Yu, Jiandong; Chen, Shengfeng; Song, Li; Ramakrishna, Seeram; Lei, Zhigang; Ruan, Yiwen; He, Liumin

2018-08-01

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have shown potential applications in neuroscience as growth substrates owing to their numerous unique properties. However, a key concern in the fabrication of homogeneous composites is the serious aggregation of CNTs during incorporation into the biomaterial matrix. Moreover, the regulation mechanism of CNT-based substrates on neural differentiation remains unclear. Here, a novel strategy was introduced for the construction of CNT nanocomposites via layer-by-layer assembly of negatively charged multi-walled CNTs and positively charged poly(dimethyldiallylammonium chloride). Results demonstrated that the CNT-multilayered nanocomposites provided a potent regulatory signal over neural stem cells (NSCs), including cell adhesion, viability, differentiation, neurite outgrowth, and electrophysiological maturation of NSC-derived neurons. Importantly, the dynamic molecular mechanisms in the NSC differentiation involved the integrin-mediated interactions between NSCs and CNT multilayers, thereby activating focal adhesion kinase, subsequently triggering downstream signaling events to regulate neuronal differentiation and synapse formation. This study provided insights for future applications of CNT-multilayered nanomaterials in neural fields as potent modulators of stem cell behavior. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Cu-rGO subsurface layer creation on copper substrate and its resistance to oxidation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pietrzak, Katarzyna; Strojny-Nędza, Agata; Olesińska, Wiesława; Bańkowska, Anna; Gładki, Andrzej

2017-11-01

On the basis of a specially designed experiment, this paper presents a model, which is an attempt to explain the mechanism of formatting and creating oxidation resistance of Cu-rGO subsurface layers. Practically zero chemical affinity of copper to carbon is a fundamental difficulty in creating composite structures of Cu-C, properties which are theoretically possible to estimate. In order to bind the thermally reduced graphene oxide with copper surface, the effect of structural rebuilding of the copper oxide, in the process of annealing in a nitrogen atmosphere, have been used. On intentionally oxidized and anoxic copper substrates the dispersed graphene oxide (GO) and thermally reduced graphene oxide (rGO) were loaded. Annealing processes after the binding effects of both graphene oxide forms to Cu substrates were tested. The methods for high-resolution electron microscopy were found subsurface rGO-Cu layer having a substantially greater resistance to oxidation than pure copper. The mechanism for the effective resistance to oxidation of the Cu-rGO has been presented in a hypothetical form.

Atmospheric-pressure plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition of a-SiCN:H films: Role of precursors on the film growth and properties

DOE PAGES

Guruvenket, Srinivasan; Andrie, Steven; Simon, Mark; ...

2012-09-14

Atmospheric pressure plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (AP-PECVD) using Surfx Atomflow TM 250D APPJ was utilized to synthesize amorphous silicon carbonitride coatings using tetramethyldisilizane (TMDZ) and hexamethyldisilizane (HMDZ) as the single source precursors. The effect of precursor chemistry and the substrate temperature (T s) on the properties of a-SiCN:H films were evaluated, while nitrogen was used as the reactive gas. Surface morphology of the films was evaluated using atomic force microscopy (AFM); chemical properties were determined using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR); thickness and optical properties were determined using spectroscopic ellipsometry and mechanical properties were determined using nano-indentation. In generalmore » films deposited at substrate temperature (T s) <200 °C contained organic moieties, while the films deposited at T s >200 oC depicted strong Si-N and Si-CN absorption. Refractive indices (n) of the thin films showed values between 1.5 -2.0 depending on the deposition parameters. Mechanical properties of the films determined using nano-indentation revealed that these films have hardness between 0.5 GPa to 15 GPa depending on the Ts. AFM evaluation of the films showed high roughness (R a) values of 2-3 nm for the films grown at low T s (< 250 °C), while the films grown at T s ≥ 300 °C exhibited atomically smooth surface with R a of ~ 0.5 nm. Furthermore, based on the gas phase (plasma) chemistry, precursor chemistry and the other experimental observations, a possible growth model that prevails in the AP-PECVD of a-SiCN:H thin films is proposed.« less

Bridging Nano- and Microtribology in Mechanical and Biomolecular Layers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tomala, Agnieszka; Göçerler, Hakan; Gebeshuber, Ille C.

The physical and chemical composition of surfaces determine various important properties of solids such as corrosion rates, adhesive properties, frictional properties, catalytic activity, wettability, contact potential and - finally and most importantly - failure mechanisms. Very thin, weak layers (of man-made and biological origin) on much harder substrates that reduce friction are the focus of the micro- and nanotribological investigations presented in this chapter.Biomolecular layers fulfil various functions in organs of the human body. Examples comprise the skin that provides a protective physical barrier between the body and the environment, preventing unwanted inward and outward passage of water and electrolytes, reducing penetration by destructive chemicals, arresting the penetration of microorganisms and external antigens and absorbing radiation from the sun, or the epithelium of the cornea that blocks the passage of foreign material, such as dust, water and bacteria, into the eye and that contributes to the lubrication layer that ensures smooth movement of the eyelids over the eyeballs.Monomolecular thin films, additive-derived reaction layers and hard coatings are widely used to tailor tribological properties of surfaces. Nanotribological investigations on these substrates can reveal novel properties regarding the orientation of chemisorbed additive layers, development of rubbing films with time and the relation of frictional properties to surface characteristics in diamond coatings.Depending on the questions to be answered with the tribological research, various micro- and nanotribological measurement methods are applied, including scanning probe microscopy (AFM, FFM), scanning electron microscopy, microtribometer investigations, angle-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy and optical microscopy. Thoughts on the feasibility of a unified approach to energy-dissipating systems and how it might be reached (touching upon new ways of scientific publishing, dealing with over-information regarding the literature and the importance of specialists as well as generalists in tribology) conclude this chapter.

Atmospheric-pressure plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition of a-SiCN:H films: role of precursors on the film growth and properties.

PubMed

Guruvenket, Srinivasan; Andrie, Steven; Simon, Mark; Johnson, Kyle W; Sailer, Robert A

2012-10-24

Atmospheric pressure plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (AP-PECVD) using Surfx Atomflow(TM) 250D APPJ was utilized to synthesize amorphous silicon carbonitride coatings using tetramethyldisilizane (TMDZ) and hexamethyldisilizane (HMDZ) as the single source precursors. The effect of precursor chemistry and substrate temperature (T(s)) on the properties of a-SiCN:H films were evaluated, while nitrogen was used as the reactive gas. Surface morphology of the films was evaluated using atomic force microscopy (AFM); chemical properties were determined using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR); thickness and optical properties were determined using spectroscopic ellipsometry and mechanical properties were determined using nanoindentation. In general, films deposited at substrate temperature (T(s)) < 200 °C contained organic moieties, while the films deposited at T(s) > 200 °C depicted strong Si-N and Si-CN absorption. Refractive indices (n) of the thin films showed values between 1.5 and 2.0, depending on the deposition parameters. Mechanical properties of the films determined using nanoindentation revealed that these films have hardness between 0.5 GPa and 15 GPa, depending on the T(s) value. AFM evaluation of the films showed high roughness (R(a)) values of 2-3 nm for the films grown at low T(s) (<250 °C) while the films grown at T(s) ≥ 300 °C exhibited atomically smooth surface with R(a) of ~0.5 nm. Based on the gas-phase (plasma) chemistry, precursor chemistry and the other experimental observations, a possible growth model that prevails in the AP-PECVD of a-SiCN:H thin films is proposed.

Effect of Thermal Treatment on High-Temperature Mechanical Properties Enhancement in LPPS, HVOF, and APS CoNiCrAlY Coatings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Waki, Hiroyuki; Kitamura, Takeshi; Kobayashi, Akira

2009-12-01

The mechanical properties of a MCrAlY coating significantly influence the initiation of cracks in the superalloy substrate under thermomechanical-fatigue conditions. Previous studies have developed a convenient method for evaluating the mechanical properties of sprayed coatings by lateral compression of a circular tube coating. This method does not need chucking, and manufacturing the free-standing coating is quite straightforward. In this study, the mechanical properties of the free-standing CoNiCrAlY coatings prepared using low-pressure plasma spraying (LPPS), high-velocity oxyfuel (HVOF) spraying, and atmospheric plasma spraying (APS) were systematically measured with the lateral compression method at room temperature through to 920 °C. The effect of postspray thermal treatments, in vacuum and in air, on the mechanical properties was investigated in the 400 to 1100 °C temperature range. It was found that high-temperature thermal treatment in air was effective in increasing the bending strength and Young’s modulus. It was especially effective on the APS coatings, which were produced using powders with average size 60 μm, and on HVOF coating, whose bending strengths increased by approximately three times. On the contrary, the enhancement in the LPPS and APS coatings produced with powders 21 μm in size was found to be approximately 1.6 times.

Mechanics analysis and design of fractal interconnects for stretchable batteries

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huang, Yonggang

2014-03-01

An important trend in electronics involves the development of materials, mechanical designs and manufacturing strategies that enable the use of unconventional substrates, such as polymer films, metal foils, paper sheets or rubber slabs. The last possibility is particularly challenging because the systems must accommodate not only bending but also stretching. Although several approaches are available for the electronics, a persistent difficulty is in power supplies that have similar mechanical properties, to allow their co-integration with the electronics. Here we introduce a set of materials and design concepts for a rechargeable lithium ion battery technology that exploits thin, low modulus silicone elastomers as substrates, with a segmented design in the active materials, and unusual ``self-similar'' interconnect structures between them. The result enables reversible levels of stretchability up to 300%, while maintaining capacity densities of ~1.1 mAh cm-2. Stretchable wireless power transmission systems provide the means to charge these types of batteries, without direct physical contact.

A phase field crystal model simulation of morphology evolution and misfit dislocation generation in nanoheteroepitaxy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, J.; Chen, Z.; Cheng, C.; Wang, Y. X.

2017-10-01

A phase field crystal (PFC) model is employed to study morphology evolution of nanoheteroepitaxy and misfit dislocation generation when applied with enhanced supercooling, lattice mismatch and substrate vicinal angle conditions. Misfit strain that rises due to lattice mismatch causes rough surfaces or misfit dislocations, deteriorates film properties, hence, efforts taken to reveal their microscopic mechanism are significant for film quality improvement. Uniform islands, instead of misfit dislocations, are developed in subcritical thickness film, serving as a way of strain relief by surface mechanism. Misfit dislocations generate when strain relief by surface mechanism is deficient in higher supercooling, multilayers of misfit dislocations dominate, but the number of layers reduces gradually when the supercooling is further enhanced. Rough surfaces like islands or cuspate pits are developed which is ascribed to lattice mismatch, multilayers of misfit dislocations generate to further enhance lattice mismatch. Layers of misfit dislocations generate at a thickening position at enhanced substrate vicinal angle, this further enhancing the angle leading to sporadic generation of misfit dislocations.

The effect of poly(vinyl alcohol) type and radiation treatment on the properties of starch-poly(vinyl alcohol) films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cieśla, Krystyna; Abramowska, Anna; Boguski, Jacek; Drewnik, Joanna

2017-12-01

Our present study concerns the effect of application of various PVA substrates and the influence of ionising radiation on the properties of films based on starch and PVA. Four PVAs revealing various molecular masses (in the range of 11-145 kDa) were selected for this purpose. The films characterized by starch: PVA ratios of 40:60 were prepared by solution casting and irradiated with 60Co gamma rays (under nitrogen) and with fast electrons (under air) applying the absorbed dose of 25 kGy. Mechanical properties of the films (tensile strength, elongation at break and Young Modulus) were examined, as well as the contact angle to water and swelling in water, in regard for evaluation of the hydrophilic/hydrophobic properties. Gel content in the samples was also determined. Physicochemical properties of the films and their sensitivity to irradiation strongly depend on the applied PVA substrate. This can be related to differences in the capability of particular PVAs for forming the crosslinked starch-PVA network during the films' synthesis and future treatment. In particular, the usage of the PVA characterized by the high molecular mass has appeared more rewarding as compared to those based on the low molecular mass PVAs. Additionally, properties of these films were not affected or improved after irradiation.

Electrodeposited silk coatings for bone implants.

PubMed

Elia, Roberto; Michelson, Courtney D; Perera, Austin L; Brunner, Teresa F; Harsono, Masly; Leisk, Gray G; Kugel, Gerard; Kaplan, David L

2015-11-01

The aim of this study was to characterize the mechanical properties and drug elution features of silk protein-based electrodeposited dental implant coatings. Silk processing conditions were modified to obtain coatings with a range of mechanical properties on titanium studs. These coatings were assessed for adhesive strength and dissolution, with properties tuned using water vapor annealing or glycerol incorporation to modulate crystalline content. Coating reproducibility was demonstrated over a range of silk concentrations from 1% to 10%. Surface roughness of titanium substrates was altered using industry relevant acid etching and grit blasting, and the effect of surface topography on silk coating adhesion was assessed. Florescent compounds were incorporated into the silk coatings, which were modulated for crystalline content, to achieve four days of sustained release of the compounds. This silk electrogelation technique offers a safe and relatively simple approach to generate mechanically robust, biocompatible, and degradable implant coatings that can also be functionalized with bioactive compounds to modulate the local regenerative tissue environment. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Electrodeposited silk coatings for bone implants

PubMed Central

Elia, Roberto; Michelson, Courtney D.; Perera, Austin L.; Brunner, Teresa F.; Harsono, Masly; Leisk, Gray G.; Kugel, Gerard; Kaplan, David L.

2014-01-01

The aim of this study was to characterize the mechanical properties and drug elution features of silk protein-based electrodeposited dental implant coatings. Silk processing conditions were modified to obtain coatings with a range of mechanical properties on titanium studs. These coatings were assessed for adhesive strength and dissolution, with properties tuned using water vapor annealing or glycerol incorporation to modulate crystalline content. Coating reproducibility was demonstrated over a range of silk concentrations from 1 to 10%. Surface roughness of titanium substrates was altered using industry relevant acid etching and grit blasting, and the effect of surface topography on silk coating adhesion was assessed. Florescent compounds were incorporated into the silk coatings, which were modulated for crystalline content, to achieve four days of sustained release of the compounds. This silk electrogelation technique offers a safe and relatively simple approach to generate mechanically robust, biocompatible and degradable implant coatings that can also be functionalized with bioactive compounds to modulate the local regenerative tissue environment. PMID:25545462

Effect of the interface on the mechanical properties and thermal conductivity of bismuth telluride films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lai, Tang-Yu; Wang, Kuan-Yu; Fang, Te-Hua; Huang, Chao-Chun

2018-02-01

Bismuth telluride (Bi2Te3) is a type of thermoelectric material used for energy generation that does not cause pollution. Increasing the thermoelectric conversion efficiency (ZT) is one of the most important steps in the development of thermoelectric components. In this study, we use molecular dynamics to investigate the mechanical properties and thermal conductivity of quintuple layers of Bi2Te3 nanofilms with different atomic arrangements at the interface and study the effects of varying layers, angles, and grain boundaries. The results indicate that the Bi2Te3 nanofilm perfect substrate has the ideal Young’s modulus and thermal conductivity, and the maximum yield stress is observed for a thickness of ∼90 Å. As the interface changed, the structural disorder of atomic arrangement affected the mechanical properties; moreover, the phonons encounter lattice disordered atomic region will produce scattering reduce heat conduction. The results of this investigation are helpful for the application of Bi2Te3 nanofilms as thermoelectric materials.

Effect of deposition temperature & oxygen pressure on mechanical properties of (0.5) BZT-(0.5)BCT ceramic thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sailaja, P.; Kumar, N. Pavan; Rajalakshmi, R.; Kumar, R. Arockia; Ponpandian, N.; Prabahar, K.; Srinivas, A.

2018-05-01

Lead free ferroelectric thin films of {(0.5) BZT-(0.5) BCT} (termed as BCZT) were deposited on Pt/TiO2/SiO2/Si substrates by pulsed laser deposition at four deposition temperatures 600, 650, 700, 750°C and at two oxygen pressures viz. 75mtorr and 100 mtorr using BCZT ceramic target (prepared by solid state sintering method). The effect of deposition temperature and oxygen pressure on the structure, microstructure and mechanical properties of BCZT films were studied. X-ray diffraction patterns of deposited films confirm tetragonal crystal symmetry and the crystallinity of the films increases with increasing deposition temperature. Variation in BCZT grain growth was observed when the films are deposited at different temperatures andoxygen pressures respectively. The mechanical properties viz. hardness and elastic modulus were also found to be high with increase in the deposition temperature and oxygen pressure. The results will be discussed.

Mechanically Flexible and High-Performance CMOS Logic Circuits.

PubMed

Honda, Wataru; Arie, Takayuki; Akita, Seiji; Takei, Kuniharu

2015-10-13

Low-power flexible logic circuits are key components required by the next generation of flexible electronic devices. For stable device operation, such components require a high degree of mechanical flexibility and reliability. Here, the mechanical properties of low-power flexible complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) logic circuits including inverter, NAND, and NOR are investigated. To fabricate CMOS circuits on flexible polyimide substrates, carbon nanotube (CNT) network films are used for p-type transistors, whereas amorphous InGaZnO films are used for the n-type transistors. The power consumption and voltage gain of CMOS inverters are <500 pW/mm at Vin = 0 V (<7.5 nW/mm at Vin = 5 V) and >45, respectively. Importantly, bending of the substrate is not found to cause significant changes in the device characteristics. This is also observed to be the case for more complex flexible NAND and NOR logic circuits for bending states with a curvature radius of 2.6 mm. The mechanical stability of these CMOS logic circuits makes them ideal candidates for use in flexible integrated devices.

Mechanically Flexible and High-Performance CMOS Logic Circuits

PubMed Central

Honda, Wataru; Arie, Takayuki; Akita, Seiji; Takei, Kuniharu

2015-01-01

Low-power flexible logic circuits are key components required by the next generation of flexible electronic devices. For stable device operation, such components require a high degree of mechanical flexibility and reliability. Here, the mechanical properties of low-power flexible complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor (CMOS) logic circuits including inverter, NAND, and NOR are investigated. To fabricate CMOS circuits on flexible polyimide substrates, carbon nanotube (CNT) network films are used for p-type transistors, whereas amorphous InGaZnO films are used for the n-type transistors. The power consumption and voltage gain of CMOS inverters are <500 pW/mm at Vin = 0 V (<7.5 nW/mm at Vin = 5 V) and >45, respectively. Importantly, bending of the substrate is not found to cause significant changes in the device characteristics. This is also observed to be the case for more complex flexible NAND and NOR logic circuits for bending states with a curvature radius of 2.6 mm. The mechanical stability of these CMOS logic circuits makes them ideal candidates for use in flexible integrated devices. PMID:26459882

Tuning Material Properties of Oxides and Nitrides by Substrate Biasing during Plasma-Enhanced Atomic Layer Deposition on Planar and 3D Substrate Topographies

PubMed Central

2018-01-01

Oxide and nitride thin-films of Ti, Hf, and Si serve numerous applications owing to the diverse range of their material properties. It is therefore imperative to have proper control over these properties during materials processing. Ion-surface interactions during plasma processing techniques can influence the properties of a growing film. In this work, we investigated the effects of controlling ion characteristics (energy, dose) on the properties of the aforementioned materials during plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition (PEALD) on planar and 3D substrate topographies. We used a 200 mm remote PEALD system equipped with substrate biasing to control the energy and dose of ions by varying the magnitude and duration of the applied bias, respectively, during plasma exposure. Implementing substrate biasing in these forms enhanced PEALD process capability by providing two additional parameters for tuning a wide range of material properties. Below the regimes of ion-induced degradation, enhancing ion energies with substrate biasing during PEALD increased the refractive index and mass density of TiOx and HfOx and enabled control over their crystalline properties. PEALD of these oxides with substrate biasing at 150 °C led to the formation of crystalline material at the low temperature, which would otherwise yield amorphous films for deposition without biasing. Enhanced ion energies drastically reduced the resistivity of conductive TiNx and HfNx films. Furthermore, biasing during PEALD enabled the residual stress of these materials to be altered from tensile to compressive. The properties of SiOx were slightly improved whereas those of SiNx were degraded as a function of substrate biasing. PEALD on 3D trench nanostructures with biasing induced differing film properties at different regions of the 3D substrate. On the basis of the results presented herein, prospects afforded by the implementation of this technique during PEALD, such as enabling new routes for topographically selective deposition on 3D substrates, are discussed. PMID:29554799

EXAMINATION OF THE OXIDATION PROTECTION OF ZINC COATINGS FORMED ON COPPER ALLOYS AND STEEL SUBSTRATES

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

Papazoglou, M.; Chaliampalias, D.; Vourlias, G.

2010-01-21

The exposure of metallic components at aggressive high temperature environments, usually limit their usage at similar application because they suffer from severe oxidation attack. Copper alloys are used in a wide range of high-quality indoor and outdoor applications, statue parts, art hardware, high strength and high thermal conductivity applications. On the other hand, steel is commonly used as mechanical part of industrial set outs or in the construction sector due to its high mechanical properties. The aim of the present work is the examination of the oxidation resistance of pack cementation zinc coatings deposited on copper, leaded brass and steelmore » substrates at elevated temperature conditions. Furthermore, an effort made to make a long-term evaluation of the coated samples durability. The oxidation results showed that bare substrates appear to have undergone severe damage comparing with the coated ones. Furthermore, the mass gain of the uncoated samples was higher than this of the zinc covered ones. Particularly zinc coated brass was found to be more resistant to oxidation conditions in which it was exposed as it has the lower mass gain as compared to the bare substrates and zinc coated copper. Zinc coated steel was also proved to be more resistive than the uncoated steel.« less

Controlled growth of vertically aligned carbon nanotubes on metal substrates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gao, Zhaoli

Carbon nanotube (CNT) is a fascinating material with extraordinary electrical thermal and mechanical properties. Growing vertically aligned CNT (VACNT) arrays on metal substrates is an important step in bringing CNT into practical applications such as thermal interface materials (TIMs) and microelectrodes. However, the growth process is challenging due to the difficulties in preventing catalyst diffusion and controlling catalyst dewetting on metal substrates with physical surface heterogeneity. In this work, the catalyst diffusion mechanism and catalyst dewetting theory were studied for the controlled growth of VACNTs on metal substrates. The diffusion time of the catalyst, the diffusion coefficients for the catalyst in the substrate materials and the number density of catalyst nanoparticles after dewetting are identified as the key parameters, based on which three strategies are developed. Firstly, a fast-heating catalyst pretreatment strategy was used, aiming at preserving the amount of catalyst prior to CNT growth by reducing the catalyst diffusion time. The catalyst lifetime is extended from half an hour to one hour on a patterned Al thin film and a VACNT height of 106 mum, about twenty fold of that reported in the literature, was attained. Secondly, a diffusion barrier layer strategy is employed for a reduction of catalyst diffusion into the substrate materials. Enhancement of VACNT growth on Cu substrates was achieved by adopting a conformal Al2O 3 diffusion barrier layer fabricated by a specially designed atomic layer deposition (ALD) system. Lastly, a novel catalyst glancing angle deposition (GLAD) strategy is performed to manipulate the morphology of a relatively thick catalyst on metal substrates with physical surface heterogeneity, aiming to obtain uniform and dense catalyst nanoparticles after dewetting in the pretreatment process for enhanced VACNT growth. We are able to control the VACNT growth conditions on metal substrates in terms of their distribution, heights and alignments. Catalyst loss is controlled by the catalyst diffusion time and catalyst diffusion coefficients. A shorter catalyst diffusion time and smaller diffusion coefficient enhance VACNT growth on metals due to reduced catalyst loss during the pretreatment process. The dewetting behaviors of the thin film catalysts are influenced by the physical surface heterogeneity of the substrates which leads to non-uniform growth of VACNTs. The GLAD process facilitates the deposition of a relatively thick catalyst layer for the creation of dense and uniform catalyst nanoparticles. Applications of VACNT-metal structures in TIMs and microelectrodes are demonstrated. The VACNT-TIMs fabricated on Al alloy substrates have a typical thermal contact resistivity of 17.1 mm2˙K/W and their effective application in high-brightness LED thermal management was demonstrated. Electrochemical characterization was carried out on VACNT microelectrodes for the development of high resolution retinal prostheses and a satisfactory electrochemical property was again demonstrated.

Bioinformatics analysis identifies several intrinsically disordered human E3 ubiquitin-protein ligases.

PubMed

Boomsma, Wouter; Nielsen, Sofie V; Lindorff-Larsen, Kresten; Hartmann-Petersen, Rasmus; Ellgaard, Lars

2016-01-01

The ubiquitin-proteasome system targets misfolded proteins for degradation. Since the accumulation of such proteins is potentially harmful for the cell, their prompt removal is important. E3 ubiquitin-protein ligases mediate substrate ubiquitination by bringing together the substrate with an E2 ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme, which transfers ubiquitin to the substrate. For misfolded proteins, substrate recognition is generally delegated to molecular chaperones that subsequently interact with specific E3 ligases. An important exception is San1, a yeast E3 ligase. San1 harbors extensive regions of intrinsic disorder, which provide both conformational flexibility and sites for direct recognition of misfolded targets of vastly different conformations. So far, no mammalian ortholog of San1 is known, nor is it clear whether other E3 ligases utilize disordered regions for substrate recognition. Here, we conduct a bioinformatics analysis to examine >600 human and S. cerevisiae E3 ligases to identify enzymes that are similar to San1 in terms of function and/or mechanism of substrate recognition. An initial sequence-based database search was found to detect candidates primarily based on the homology of their ordered regions, and did not capture the unique disorder patterns that encode the functional mechanism of San1. However, by searching specifically for key features of the San1 sequence, such as long regions of intrinsic disorder embedded with short stretches predicted to be suitable for substrate interaction, we identified several E3 ligases with these characteristics. Our initial analysis revealed that another remarkable trait of San1 is shared with several candidate E3 ligases: long stretches of complete lysine suppression, which in San1 limits auto-ubiquitination. We encode these characteristic features into a San1 similarity-score, and present a set of proteins that are plausible candidates as San1 counterparts in humans. In conclusion, our work indicates that San1 is not a unique case, and that several other yeast and human E3 ligases have sequence properties that may allow them to recognize substrates by a similar mechanism as San1.

Effect of seven Indian plant extracts on Fenton reaction-mediated damage to DNA constituents.

PubMed

Kar, Indrani; Chattopadhyaya, Rajagopal

2017-11-01

The influences of substoichiometric amounts of seven plant extracts in the Fenton reaction-mediated damage to deoxynucleosides, deoxynucleoside monophosphates, deoxynucleoside triphosphates, and supercoiled plasmid DNA were studied to rationalize anticancer properties reported in some of these extracts. Extracts from Acacia catechu, Emblica officinalis, Spondias dulcis, Terminalia belerica, Terminalia chebula, as well as gallic acid, epicatechin, chebulagic acid and chebulinic acid enhance the extent of damage in Fenton reactions with all monomeric substrates but protect supercoiled plasmid DNA, compared to standard Fenton reactions. The damage to pyrimidine nucleosides/nucleotides is enhanced by these extracts and compounds to a greater extent than for purine ones in a concentration dependent manner. Dolichos biflorus and Hemidesmus indicus extracts generally do not show this enhancement for the monomeric substrates though they protect plasmid DNA. Compared to standard Fenton reactions for deoxynucleosides with ethanol, the presence of these five plant extracts render ethanol scavenging less effective as the radical is generated in the vicinity of the target. Since substoichiometric amounts of these extracts and the four compounds produce this effect, a catalytic mechanism involving the presence of a ternary complex of the nucleoside/nucleotide substrate, a plant compound and the hydroxyl radical is proposed. Such a mechanism cannot operate for plasmid DNA as the planar rings in the extract compounds cannot stack with the duplex DNA bases. These plant extracts, by enhancing Fenton reaction-mediated damage to deoxynucleoside triphosphates, slow down DNA replication in rapidly dividing cancer cells, thus contributing to their anticancer properties.

Effect of structural evolution on mechanical properties of ZrO2 coated Ti-6Al-7Nb-biomedical application

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zalnezhad, E.

2016-05-01

Zirconia (ZrO2) nanotube arrays were fabricated by anodizing pure zirconium (Zr) coated Ti-6Al-7Nb in fluoride/glycerol electrolyte at a constant potential of 60 V for different times. Zr was deposited atop Ti-6Al-7Nb via a physical vapor deposition magnetron sputtering (PVDMS) technique. Structural investigations of coating were performed utilizing X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) were used to characterize the morphology and microstructure of coatings. Unannealed ZrO2 nanotube arrays were amorphous. Monoclinic and tetragonal ZrO2 appeared when the coated substrates were heat treated at 450 °C and 650 °C, while monoclinic ZrO2 was found at 850 °C and 900 °C. Mechanical properties, including nanohardness and modulus of elasticity, were evaluated at different annealing temperatures using a nanoindentation test. The nanoindentation results show that the nanohardness and modulus of elasticity for Ti-6AL-7Nb increased by annealing ZrO2 coated substrate at 450 °C. The nanohardness and modulus of elasticity for coated substrate decreased with annealing temperatures of 650, 850, and 900 °C. At an annealing temperature of 900 °C, cracks in the ZrO2 thin film coating occurred. The highest nanohardness and elastic modulus values of 6.34 and 218 GPa were achieved at an annealing temperature of 450 °C.

Modification of the surface properties of glass-ceramic materials at low-pressure RF plasma stream

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tovstopyat, Alexander; Gafarov, Ildar; Galeev, Vadim; Azarova, Valentina; Golyaeva, Anastasia

2018-05-01

The surface roughness has a huge effect on the mechanical, optical, and electronic properties of materials. In modern optical systems, the specifications for the surface accuracy and smoothness of substrates are becoming even more stringent. Commercially available pre-polished glass-ceramic substrates were treated with the radio frequency (RF) inductively coupled (13.56 MHz) low-pressure plasma to clean the surface of the samples and decrease the roughness. Optical emission spectroscopy was used to investigate the plasma stream parameters and phase-shifted interferometry to investigate the surface of the specimen. In this work, the dependence of RF inductively coupled plasma on macroscopic parameters was investigated with the focus on improving the surfaces. The ion energy, sputtering rate, and homogeneity were investigated. The improvements of the glass-ceramic surfaces from 2.6 to 2.2 Å root mean square by removing the "waste" after the previous operations had been achieved.

A 94 GHz imaging array using slot line radiators. Ph.D. Thesis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Korzeniowski, T. L.

1985-01-01

A planar endfire slotted-line antenna structure was investigated. It was found that the H-plane beamwidths are basically dependent upon the substrate properties, whereas the E-plane beamwidths are more strongly a function of the slot's shape and size. It is shown that these antennas produce symmetrical E and H-plane beamwidths while following Zucker's standard traveling-wave antenna beamwidth curves over some range of antenna normalized length. An empircally derived design formula for effective substrate thickness is shown to predict this range for linearly tapered slotted-line antennas. The experimental imaging properties of these arrays are presented and imaging theory is discussed. It is shown that a minimum spacing of elements is necessary for exact reconstruction for a sampled image in a diffraction limited system. Because these LTSA elements employ the traveling-wave mechanism of radiation, they can be spaced two times closer than a conical feed horn of comparable beamwidth.

Diatomite-Templated Synthesis of Freestanding 3D Graphdiyne for Energy Storage and Catalysis Application.

PubMed

Li, Jiaqiang; Xu, Jing; Xie, Ziqian; Gao, Xin; Zhou, Jingyuan; Xiong, Yan; Chen, Changguo; Zhang, Jin; Liu, Zhongfan

2018-05-01

Graphdiyne (GDY), a new kind of two-dimensional (2D) carbon allotropes, has extraordinary electrical, mechanical, and optical properties, leading to advanced applications in the fields of energy storage, photocatalysis, electrochemical catalysis, and sensors. However, almost all reported methods require metallic copper as a substrate, which severely limits their large-scale application because of the high cost and low specific surface area (SSA) of copper substrate. Here, freestanding three-dimensional GDY (3DGDY) is successfully prepared using naturally abundant and inexpensive diatomite as template. In addition to the intrinsic properties of GDY, the fabricated 3DGDY exhibits a porous structure and high SSA that enable it to be directly used as a lithium-ion battery anode material and a 3D scaffold to create Rh@3DGDY composites, which would hold great potential applications in energy storage and catalysts, respectively. © 2018 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Communication: Enhanced chemical reactivity of graphene on a Ni(111) substrate

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

Ambrosetti, Alberto; Silvestrelli, Pier Luigi

2016-03-21

Due to the unique combination of structural, mechanical, and transport properties, graphene has emerged as an exceptional candidate for catalysis applications. The low chemical reactivity caused by sp{sup 2} hybridization and strongly delocalized π electrons, however, represents a main challenge for straightforward use of graphene in its pristine, free-standing form. Following recent experimental indications, we show that due to charge hybridization, a Ni(111) substrate can enhance the chemical reactivity of graphene, as exemplified by the interaction with the CO molecule. While CO only physisorbs on free-standing graphene, chemisorption of CO involving formation of ethylene dione complexes is predicted in Ni(111)-graphene.more » Higher chemical reactivity is also suggested in the case of oxidized graphene, opening the way to a simple and efficient control of graphene chemical properties, devoid of complex defect patterning or active metallic structures deposition.« less

Single-crystalline chromium silicide nanowires and their physical properties.

PubMed

Hsu, Han-Fu; Tsai, Ping-Chen; Lu, Kuo-Chang

2015-01-01

In this work, chromium disilicide nanowires were synthesized by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) processes on Si (100) substrates with hydrous chromium chloride (CrCl3 · 6H2O) as precursors. Processing parameters, including the temperature of Si (100) substrates and precursors, the gas flow rate, the heating time, and the different flow gas of reactions were varied and studied; additionally, the physical properties of the chromium disilicide nanowires were measured. It was found that single-crystal CrSi2 nanowires with a unique morphology were grown at 700°C, while single-crystal Cr5Si3 nanowires were grown at 750°C in reducing gas atmosphere. The crystal structure and growth direction were identified, and the growth mechanism was proposed as well. This study with magnetism, photoluminescence, and field emission measurements demonstrates that CrSi2 nanowires are attractive choices for future applications in magnetic storage, photovoltaic, and field emitters.

Growth of single-crystalline cobalt silicide nanowires and their field emission property

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

In this work, cobalt silicide nanowires were synthesized by chemical vapor deposition processes on Si (100) substrates with anhydrous cobalt chloride (CoCl2) as precursors. Processing parameters, including the temperature of Si (100) substrates, the gas flow rate, and the pressure of reactions were varied and studied; additionally, the physical properties of the cobalt silicide nanowires were measured. It was found that single-crystal CoSi nanowires were grown at 850°C ~ 880°C and at a lower gas flow rate, while single-crystal Co2Si nanowires were grown at 880°C ~ 900°C. The crystal structure and growth direction were identified, and the growth mechanism was proposed as well. This study with field emission measurements demonstrates that CoSi nanowires are attractive choices for future applications in field emitters. PMID:23819795

Engineering Protein Allostery: 1.05 Å Resolution Structure and Enzymatic Properties of a Na[superscript +]-activated Trypsin

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

Page, Michael J.; Carrell, Christopher J.; Di Cera, Enrico

2008-05-28

Some trypsin-like proteases are endowed with Na{sup +}-dependent allosteric enhancement of catalytic activity, but this important mechanism has been difficult to engineer in other members of the family. Replacement of 19 amino acids in Streptomyces griseus trypsin targeting the active site and the Na{sup +}-binding site were found necessary to generate efficient Na{sup +} activation. Remarkably, this property was linked to the acquisition of a new substrate selectivity profile similar to that of factor Xa, a Na{sup -} activated protease involved in blood coagulation. The X-ray crystal structure of the mutant trypsin solved to 1.05 {angstrom} resolution defines the engineeredmore » Na{sup +} site and active site loops in unprecedented detail. The results demonstrate that trypsin can be engineered into an efficient allosteric protease, and that Na+ activation is interwoven with substrate selectivity in the trypsin scaffold.« less

Bovine versus Porcine Acellular Dermal Matrix: A Comparison of Mechanical Properties.

PubMed

Adelman, David M; Selber, Jesse C; Butler, Charles E

2014-05-01

Porcine and bovine acellular dermal matrices (PADM and BADM, respectively) are the most commonly used biologic meshes for ventral hernia repair. A previous study suggests a higher rate of intraoperative device failures using PADM than BADM. We hypothesize that this difference is, in part, related to intrinsic mechanical properties of the matrix substrate and source material. The following study directly compares these 2 matrices to identify any potential differences in mechanical properties that may relate to clinical outcomes. Sections of PADM (Strattice; Lifecell, Branchburg, N.J.) and BADM (SurgiMend; TEI Biosciences, Boston, Mass.) were subjected to a series of biomechanical tests, including suture retention, tear strength, and uniaxial tensile strength. Results were collected and compared statistically. In all parameters, BADM exhibited a superior mechanical strength profile compared with PADM of similar thickness. Increased BADM thickness correlated with increased mechanical strength. In suture tear-through testing with steel wire, failure of the steel wire occurred in the 4-mm-thick BADM, whereas the matrix material failed in all other thicknesses of BADM and PADM. Before implantation, BADM is inherently stronger than PADM at equivalent thicknesses and considerably stronger at increased thicknesses. These results corroborate clinical data from a previous study in which PADM was associated with a higher intraoperative device failure rate. Although numerous properties of acellular dermal matrix contribute to clinical outcomes, surgeons should consider initial mechanical strength properties when choosing acellular dermal matrices for load-bearing applications such as hernia repair.

Laser Engineered Net Shaping of Nickel-Based Superalloy Inconel 718 Powders onto AISI 4140 Alloy Steel Substrates: Interface Bond and Fracture Failure Mechanism

PubMed Central

Kim, Hoyeol; Cong, Weilong; Zhang, Hong-Chao; Liu, Zhichao

2017-01-01

As a prospective candidate material for surface coating and repair applications, nickel-based superalloy Inconel 718 (IN718) was deposited on American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) 4140 alloy steel substrate by laser engineered net shaping (LENS) to investigate the compatibility between two dissimilar materials with a focus on interface bonding and fracture behavior of the hybrid specimens. The results show that the interface between the two dissimilar materials exhibits good metallurgical bonding. Through the tensile test, all the fractures occurred in the as-deposited IN718 section rather than the interface or the substrate, implying that the as-deposited interlayer bond strength is weaker than the interfacial bond strength. From the fractography using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy disperse X-ray spectrometry (EDS), three major factors affecting the tensile fracture failure of the as-deposited part are (i) metallurgical defects such as incompletely melted powder particles, lack-of-fusion porosity, and micropores; (ii) elemental segregation and Laves phase, and (iii) oxide formation. The fracture failure mechanism is a combination of all these factors which are detrimental to the mechanical properties and structural integrity by causing premature fracture failure of the as-deposited IN718. PMID:28772702

Laser Engineered Net Shaping of Nickel-Based Superalloy Inconel 718 Powders onto AISI 4140 Alloy Steel Substrates: Interface Bond and Fracture Failure Mechanism.

PubMed

Kim, Hoyeol; Cong, Weilong; Zhang, Hong-Chao; Liu, Zhichao

2017-03-25

As a prospective candidate material for surface coating and repair applications, nickel-based superalloy Inconel 718 (IN718) was deposited on American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) 4140 alloy steel substrate by laser engineered net shaping (LENS) to investigate the compatibility between two dissimilar materials with a focus on interface bonding and fracture behavior of the hybrid specimens. The results show that the interface between the two dissimilar materials exhibits good metallurgical bonding. Through the tensile test, all the fractures occurred in the as-deposited IN718 section rather than the interface or the substrate, implying that the as-deposited interlayer bond strength is weaker than the interfacial bond strength. From the fractography using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy disperse X-ray spectrometry (EDS), three major factors affecting the tensile fracture failure of the as-deposited part are (i) metallurgical defects such as incompletely melted powder particles, lack-of-fusion porosity, and micropores; (ii) elemental segregation and Laves phase, and (iii) oxide formation. The fracture failure mechanism is a combination of all these factors which are detrimental to the mechanical properties and structural integrity by causing premature fracture failure of the as-deposited IN718.

Plasma sprayed hydroxyapatite coatings on titanium substrates. Part 2: optimisation of coating properties.

PubMed

Tsui, Y C; Doyle, C; Clyne, T W

1998-11-01

Heat treatment and the introduction of a Ti bond coat have been applied to hydroxyapatite (HA) coatings sprayed using different plasma powers and gas mixtures. Attempts were made in this way to achieve optimal coating properties for orthopaedic implants. In particular, the effects on the degree of crystallinity, the adhesion, the OH ion content and the purity were evaluated. Heat treatment at 700 C for 1 h in air proved to be effective in increasing the crystallinity, regaining the OH- ion and removing other non-HA compounds, although it caused a significant decrease in the degree of adhesion (interfacial fracture toughness) for those specimens sprayed at high powers. This heat treatment was found to induce significant transformation of amorphous HA to the crystalline form, while not detrimentally changing the properties of the underlying Ti-6Al-4V substrates. Precoating with a 100 microm Ti layer increased the adhesion of the HA coatings on Ti-6Al-4V substrates, primarily by providing a rougher surface and promoting better mechanical interlocking. Changes in coating properties during immersion in biological fluids were also studied and were found to depend critically on the chemical composition of the fluids. Small precipitates formed on the coating surfaces when immersed in Ringers solution. These might account for the apparent drop in the degree of crystallinity when measured using X-ray diffraction. A significant drop in the interfacial adhesion was found for those coatings sprayed at high powers. This could be offset by prior precoating with a titanium bond coat and suitable heat treatment. In summary, the following processing sequence is suggested in order to achieve optimum coating properties: precoating the substrate with a layer of Ti (approximately 100 microm), spraying HA at a sufficiently high-power level (depending on particle size and gas mixture) and heat treatment at 700 degrees C for 1 h in air.

Universal Coatings Based on Zwitterionic-Dopamine Copolymer Microgels.

PubMed

Vatankhah-Varnosfaderani, Mohammad; Hu, Xiaobo; Li, Qiaoxi; Adelnia, Hossein; Ina, Maria; Sheiko, Sergei S

2018-06-05

Multifunctional coatings that adhere to chemically distinct substrates are vital in many industries, including automotive, aerospace, shipbuilding, construction, petrochemical, biomedical, and pharmaceutical. We design well-defined, nearly monodisperse microgels that integrate hydrophobic dopamine methacrylamide monomers and hydrophilic zwitterionic monomers. The dopamine functionalities operate as both intraparticle cross-linkers and interfacial binders, respectively providing mechanical strength of the coatings and their strong adhesion to different substrates. In tandem, the zwitterionic moieties enable surface hydration to empower antifouling and antifogging properties. Drop-casting of microgel suspensions in ambient as well as humid environments facilitates rapid film formation and tunable roughness through regulation of cross-linking density and deposition conditions.

GaAs-based resonant tunneling diode (RTD) epitaxy on Si for highly sensitive strain gauge applications.

PubMed

Li, Jie; Guo, Hao; Liu, Jun; Tang, Jun; Ni, Haiqiao; Shi, Yunbo; Xue, Chenyang; Niu, Zhichuan; Zhang, Wendong; Li, Mifeng; Yu, Ying

2013-05-08

As a highly sensitive strain gauge element, GaAs-based resonant tunneling diode (RTD) has already been applied in microelectromechanical system (MEMS) sensors. Due to poor mechanical properties and high cost, GaAs-based material has been limited in applications as the substrate for MEMS. In this work, we present a method to fabricate the GaAs-based RTD on Si substrate. From the experimental results, it can be concluded that the piezoresistive coefficient achieved with this method reached 3.42 × 10-9 m2/N, which is about an order of magnitude higher than the Si-based semiconductor piezoresistors.

Preparation, structural and luminescent properties of nanocrystalline ZnO films doped Ag by close space sublimation method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Khomchenko, Viktoriya; Mazin, Mikhail; Sopinskyy, Mykola; Lytvyn, Oksana; Dan'ko, Viktor; Piryatinskii, Yurii; Demydiuk, Pavlo

2018-05-01

The simple way for silver doping of ZnO films is presented. The ZnO films were prepared by reactive rf-magnetron sputtering on silicon and sapphire substrates. Ag doping is carried out by sublimation of the Ag source located at close space at atmospheric pressure in air. Then the ZnO and ZnO-Ag films were annealed in wet media. The microstructure and optical properties of the films were compared and studied by atomic force microscopy (AFM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), photoluminescence (PL) and cathodoluminescence (CL). XRD results indicated that all the ZnO films have a polycrystalline hexagonal structure and a preferred orientation with the c-axis perpendicular to the substrate. The annealing and Ag doping promote increasing grain's sizes and modification of grain size distribution. The effect of substrate temperature, substrate type, Ag doping and post-growth annealing of the films was studied by PL spectroscopy. The effect of Ag doping was obvious and identical for all the films, namely the wide visible bands of PL spectra are suppressed by Ag doping. The intensity of ultraviolet band increased 15 times as compared to their reference films on sapphire substrate. The ultraviolet/visible emission ratio was 20. The full width at half maximum (FWHM) for a 380 nm band was 14 nm, which is comparable with that of epitaxial ZnO. The data implies the high quality of ZnO-Ag films. Possible mechanisms to enhance UV emission are discussed.

Zwitterionic modification of polyurethane membranes for enhancing the anti-fouling property.

PubMed

Liu, Peiming; Huang, Tao; Liu, Pingsheng; Shi, Shufeng; Chen, Qiang; Li, Li; Shen, Jian

2016-10-15

Polyurethane (PU) is a biopolymer that has been commonly used for biomedical applications. However, the biofouling phenomenon on the hydrophobic PU surface is one of the crucial issues that embarrassing its applications. Here, we report a facile & efficient approach to improve the anti-biofouling ability of the PU substrates. Active residues were firstly generated on the PU surface by using the low temperature air-plasma treatment, promoting the immobilization of the atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) initiators on the surface. Then, three types of zwitterionic polymer brushes, as well as PEG brushes, have been fabricated on the PU substrates through surface-initiated ATRP (SI-ATRP). Robust surface characterizations that capable of revealing the surface chemistry (including X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and wettability tests), and antifouling evaluations of the PU substrates (protein adsorption, platelet adhesion, and cell adhesion measurements) were performed. Results showed that three types of zwitterionic brushes have been successful grafted on the PU surface, respectively. And the three types of zwitterionic brushes, in general, significantly inhibited the protein adsorption, the platelet adhesion, and the cell adhesion on the PU surface, endowing a significantly improved anti-fouling ability to the PU substrates. Furthermore, we found that this facial zwitterionic surface modification did not compromise the mechanical property of the PU substrates. This strategy could be easily exploited to PU-based biomaterials to improve their performance in many applications. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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

Lu, Mingyuan; Mead, James; Wu, Yueqin

In this study, a nanoindentation-based microcantilever bending technique was utilized to investigate the interfacial properties of a β-Mg{sub 17}Al{sub 12}/AZ91 Mg alloy film/substrate system under tensile loading conditions. Finite element analysis (FEA) was first undertaken to optimise the design of cantilever structures for inducing high tensile stresses at the interface. Cantilevers consisting of a necked region or notch at the interface were determined to be the most successful designs. Microcantilevers containing the β-Mg{sub 17}Al{sub 12}/AZ91 interface were then made using focused ion beam (FIB) milling technique. Necks were made in the cantilevers to intensify the tension at the interface andmore » notches were used to introduce a stress concentration to the interface. During bending, the cantilevers were deflected to failure. Subsequent analysis of the deformed cantilevers using electron microscopies revealed that plastic deformation, and subsequent ductile rupture, of the AZ91 phase was the dominant failure mechanism. When the β-Mg{sub 17}Al{sub 12}/AZ91 film/substrate system was subjected to tension, the softer AZ91 phase failed prior to interfacial delamination, demonstrating that the strength of the interface exceeded the stresses that caused ductile failure in the substrate material. - Highlights: •Microcantilever bending was used to study the property of film/substrate interface. •FEA was used to optimise cantilever design for achieving high interfacial tension. •The intermetallic coatings on AZ91 substrate have strong interfacial adhesion.« less

Pulse based sensor networking using mechanical waves through metal substrates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lorenz, S.; Dong, B.; Huo, Q.; Tomlinson, W. J.; Biswas, S.

2013-05-01

This paper presents a novel wireless sensor networking technique using ultrasonic signal as the carrier wave for binary data exchange. Using the properties of lamb wave propagation through metal substrates, the proposed network structure can be used for runtime transport of structural fault information to ultrasound access points. Primary applications of the proposed sensor networking technique will include conveying fault information on an aircraft wing or on a bridge to an ultrasonic access point using ultrasonic wave through the structure itself (i.e. wing or bridge). Once a fault event has been detected, a mechanical pulse is forwarded to the access node using shortest path multi-hop ultrasonic pulse routing. The advantages of mechanical waves over traditional radio transmission using pulses are the following: First, unlike radio frequency, surface acoustic waves are not detectable outside the medium, which increases the inherent security for sensitive environments in respect to tapping. Second, event detection can be represented by the injection of a single mechanical pulse at a specific temporal position, whereas radio messages usually take several bits. The contributions of this paper are: 1) Development of a transceiver for transmitting/receiving ultrasound pulses with a pulse loss rate below 2·10-5 and false positive rate with an upper bound of 2·10-4. 2) A novel one-hop distance estimation based on the properties of lamb wave propagation with an accuracy of above 80%. 3) Implementation of a wireless sensor network using mechanical wave propagation for event detection on a 2024 aluminum alloy commonly used for aircraft skin construction.

Aerogel-Based Antennas for Aerospace and Terrestrial Applications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Meador, Mary Ann (Inventor); Miranda, Felix (Inventor); Van Keuls, Frederick (Inventor)

2016-01-01

Systems and methods for lightweight, customizable antenna with improved performance and mechanical properties are disclosed. In some aspects, aerogels can be used, for example, as a substrate for antenna fabrication. The reduced weight and expense, as well as the increased ability to adapt antenna designs, permits a systems to mitigate a variety of burdens associated with antennas while providing added benefits.

Characterization of mechanical properties and electrochemical behaviour in a Hank´s solution of 316L/Cr1- xAlxN system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Osorio, D. M.; Caicedo, J. C.; Aperador, W.; Benitez-Castro, A. M.; Giraldo-Betancur, A. L.; Muñoz-Saldaña, J.; Yañez-Limón, J. M.; Sanchez, O.; Zambrano, G.

2017-01-01

Cr1-xAlxN hard coatings were successfully deposited by R.F. reactive magnetron co-sputtering in an Ar/N2 gas mixture using chromium and aluminium targets on 316L stainless steel substrates. Crystallographic orientations associated to the Cr1-xAlxN FCC based in the conjugate complex of CrN and w-AlN phases, with ao=4.18Å lattice parameter for the ternary Cr1-xAlxN compound were identified by X-Ray diffraction. The thickness and roughness of the deposited coatings are 1.00±0.05nm and 2.65±0.6nm, respectively. The mechanical properties were determined by nanoindentation leading to a hardness of 27.8±2.6GPa and elastic modulus of 346GPa. The corrosion resistance of the coated 316L/Cr1-xAlxN system under simulated body fluid (SBF, Hank’s solution) was determined via electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. A reduction in the corrosion rate of 99% in relation to uncoated 316L stainless steel substrate was found by Tafel. Thus, these coatings seem to be excellent candidates to be used in biomedical applications.

Nanowell-Trapped Charged Ligand-Bearing Nanoparticle Surfaces – A Novel Method of Enhancing Flow-Resistant Cell Adhesion

PubMed Central

Tran, Phat L.; Gamboa, Jessica R.; McCracken, Katherine E.; Riley, Mark R.

2014-01-01

Assuring cell adhesion to an underlying biomaterial surface is vital in implant device design and tissue engineering, particularly under circumstances where cells are subjected to potential detachment from overriding fluid flow. Cell-substrate adhesion is a highly regulated process involving the interplay of mechanical properties, surface topographic features, electrostatic charge, and biochemical mechanisms. At the nanoscale level the physical properties of the underlying substrate are of particular importance in cell adhesion. Conventionally, natural, pro-adhesive, and often thrombogenic, protein biomaterials are frequently utilized to facilitate adhesion. In the present study nanofabrication techniques are utilized to enhance the biological functionality of a synthetic polymer surface, polymethymethacrylate, with respect to cell adhesion. Specifically we examine the effect on cell adhesion of combining: 1. optimized surface texturing, 2. electrostatic charge and 3. cell adhesive ligands, uniquely assembled on the substrata surface, as an ensemble of nanoparticles trapped in nanowells. Our results reveal that the ensemble strategy leads to enhanced, more than simply additive, endothelial cell adhesion under both static and flow conditions. This strategy may be of particular utility for enhancing flow-resistant endothelialization of blood-contacting surfaces of cardiovascular devices subjected to flow-mediated shear. PMID:23225491

Developing Flexible, High Performance Polymers with Self-Healing Capabilities

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jolley, Scott T.; Williams, Martha K.; Gibson, Tracy L.; Caraccio, Anne J.

2011-01-01

Flexible, high performance polymers such as polyimides are often employed in aerospace applications. They typically find uses in areas where improved physical characteristics such as fire resistance, long term thermal stability, and solvent resistance are required. It is anticipated that such polymers could find uses in future long duration exploration missions as well. Their use would be even more advantageous if self-healing capability or mechanisms could be incorporated into these polymers. Such innovative approaches are currently being studied at the NASA Kennedy Space Center for use in high performance wiring systems or inflatable and habitation structures. Self-healing or self-sealing capability would significantly reduce maintenance requirements, and increase the safety and reliability performance of the systems into which these polymers would be incorporated. Many unique challenges need to be overcome in order to incorporate a self-healing mechanism into flexible, high performance polymers. Significant research into the incorporation of a self-healing mechanism into structural composites has been carried out over the past decade by a number of groups, notable among them being the University of I1linois [I]. Various mechanisms for the introduction of self-healing have been investigated. Examples of these are: 1) Microcapsule-based healant delivery. 2) Vascular network delivery. 3) Damage induced triggering of latent substrate properties. Successful self-healing has been demonstrated in structural epoxy systems with almost complete reestablishment of composite strength being achieved through the use of microcapsulation technology. However, the incorporation of a self-healing mechanism into a system in which the material is flexible, or a thin film, is much more challenging. In the case of using microencapsulation, healant core content must be small enough to reside in films less than 0.1 millimeters thick, and must overcome significant capillary and surface tension forces to flow, mix and react to achieve healing. Vascular networks small enough to fit into such films must also overcome these same flow limitations. Self-healing has also been demonstrated in ionomeric substrates such as Surlyn , wherein the heat generated by a projectile impact triggers the latent ability of this substrate to flow back to its original shape. Recent work using Diels-Alder reactions have shown promise in bringing about actual reforming of broken chemical bonds to achieve self-healing [2]. All self-healing mechanisms that rely on the use of inherent latent substrate properties require some degree of polymer chain flow to achieve any significant level of healing.

Effects of alloying and local order in AuNi contacts for Ohmic radio frequency micro electro mechanical systems switches via multi-scale simulation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gaddy, Benjamin E.; Kingon, Angus I.; Irving, Douglas L.

2013-05-01

Ohmic RF-MEMS switches hold much promise for low power wireless communication, but long-term degradation currently plagues their reliable use. Failure in these devices occurs at the contact and is complicated by the fact that the same asperities that bear the mechanical load are also important to the flow of electrical current needed for signal processing. Materials selection holds the key to overcoming the barriers that prevent widespread use. Current efforts in materials selection have been based on the material's (or alloy's) ability to resist oxidation as well as its room-temperature properties, such as hardness and electrical conductivity. No ideal solution has yet been found via this route. This may be due, in part, to the fact that the in-use changes to the local environment of the asperity are not included in the selection criteria. For example, Joule heating would be expected to raise the local temperature of the asperity and impose a non-equilibrium thermal gradient in the same region expected to respond to mechanical actuation. We propose that these conditions should be considered in the selection process, as they would be expected to alter mechanical, electrical, and chemical mechanisms in the vicinity of the surface. To this end, we simulate the actuation of an Ohmic radio frequency micro electro mechanical systems switch by using a multi-scale method to model a current-carrying asperity in contact with a polycrystalline substrate. Our method couples continuum solutions of electrical and thermal transport equations to an underlying molecular dynamics simulation. We present simulations of gold-nickel asperities and substrates in order to evaluate the influence of alloying and local order on the early stages of contact actuation. The room temperature response of these materials is compared to the response of the material when a voltage is applied. Au-Ni interactions are accounted for through modification of the existing Zhou embedded atom method potential. The modified potential more accurately captures trends in high-temperature properties, including the enthalpy of mixing and melting temperatures. We simulate the loading of a contacting asperity to several substrates with varying Ni alloying concentrations and compare solid solution strengthening to a phase-separated system. Our simulations show that Ni concentration and configuration have an important effect on contact area, constriction resistance, thermal profiles, and material transfer. These differences suggest that a substrate with 15 at. % Ni featuring phase segregation has fewer early markers that experimentally have indicated long-term failure.

Robust mechanical property measurements of fibrous parylene-C thin-film substrate via moiré contouring technology.

PubMed

Sciammarella, F M; Sciammarella, C A; Lamberti, L; Styrcula, M; Wei, L; Lakhtakia, A

2013-04-01

Parylene-C is a bio-inert, bio-compatible and relatively inexpensive material with many bio-medical applications from coatings for implantable devices to bio-scaffolds. The main objective of this research was to demonstrate a novel approach to accurately measure the mechanical properties of free-standing fibrous thin-film substrates (TFS) of parylene-C. For that purpose, a two-stage experimental protocol based on the use of moiré contouring technology was developed. In this protocol, local measurements employing an advanced moiré setup that uses non-conventional illumination (i.e. evanescent field) are first performed to gather high-resolution information on a small region of the specimen; then, global measurements based on shadow moiré are performed to monitor the overall behavior of the membrane. The protocol was first calibrated for an aluminum foil and then partially applied to the fibrous parylene-C TFS. Material properties extracted from experiments are f0ully consistent with the data reported in literature and the results of a hybrid identification procedure based on the combination of finite element analysis and nonlinear optimization. The results will help lay the foundation for developing a comprehensive understanding of the influence that morphology and stresses play in the ability to enhance and sustain cell growth and tissue development, for biomedical applications. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A Comparative Study of the Microstructure, Mechanical Properties and Corrosion Resistance of Ni- or Fe- Based Composite Coatings by Laser Cladding

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wan, M. Q.; Shi, J.; Lei, L.; Cui, Z. Y.; Wang, H. L.; Wang, X.

2018-04-01

Ni- and Fe-based composite coatings were laser cladded on 40Cr steel to improve the surface mechanical property and corrosion resistance, respectively. The microstructure and phase composition were analyzed by x-ray diffraction (XRD) and field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) equipped with an energy-dispersive spectrometer (EDS). The micro-hardness, tribological properties and electrochemical corrosion behavior of the coatings were evaluated. The results show that the thickness of both the coatings is around 0.7 mm, the Ni-based coating is mainly composed of γ-(Ni, Fe), FeNi3, Ni31Si12, Ni3B, CrB and Cr7C3, and the Fe-based coating is mainly composed of austenite and (Fe, Cr)7C3. Micro-hardness of the Ni-based composite coating is about 960 HV0.3, much higher than that of Fe-based coating (357.4 HV0.3) and the 40Cr substrate (251 HV0.3). Meanwhile, the Ni-based composite coating possesses better wear resistance than the Fe-based coating validated by the worn appearance and the wear loss. Electrochemical results suggested that Ni-based coating exhibited better corrosion resistance than the Fe-based coating. The 40Cr substrate could be well protected by the Ni-based coating.

Method of forming through substrate vias (TSVs) and singulating and releasing die having the TSVs from a mechanical support substrate

DOEpatents

Okandan, Murat; Nielson, Gregory N

2014-12-09

Accessing a workpiece object in semiconductor processing is disclosed. The workpiece object includes a mechanical support substrate, a release layer over the mechanical support substrate, and an integrated circuit substrate coupled over the release layer. The integrated circuit substrate includes a device layer having semiconductor devices. The method also includes etching through-substrate via (TSV) openings through the integrated circuit substrate that have buried ends at or within the release layer including using the release layer as an etch stop. TSVs are formed by introducing one or more conductive materials into the TSV openings. A die singulation trench is etched at least substantially through the integrated circuit substrate around a perimeter of an integrated circuit die. The integrated circuit die is at least substantially released from the mechanical support substrate.

Determination of structural, mechanical and corrosion properties of Nb2O5 and (NbyCu 1-y)Ox thin films deposited on Ti6Al4V alloy substrates for dental implant applications.

PubMed

Mazur, M; Kalisz, M; Wojcieszak, D; Grobelny, M; Mazur, P; Kaczmarek, D; Domaradzki, J

2015-02-01

In this paper comparative studies on the structural, mechanical and corrosion properties of Nb2O5/Ti and (NbyCu1-y)Ox/Ti alloy systems have been investigated. Pure layers of niobia and niobia with a copper addition were deposited on a Ti6Al4V titanium alloy surface using the magnetron sputtering method. The physicochemical properties of the prepared thin films were examined with the aid of XRD, XPS SEM and AFM measurements. The mechanical properties (i.e., nanohardness, Young's modulus and abrasion resistance) were performed using nanoindentation and a steel wool test. The corrosion properties of the coatings were determined by analysis of the voltammetric curves. The deposited coatings were crack free, exhibited good adherence to the substrate, no discontinuity of the thin film was observed and the surface morphology was homogeneous. The hardness of pure niobium pentoxide was ca. 8.64GPa. The obtained results showed that the addition of copper into pure niobia resulted in the preparation of a layer with a lower hardness of ca. 7.79 GPa (for niobia with 17 at.% Cu) and 7.75 GPa (for niobia with 25 at.% Cu). The corrosion properties of the tested thin films deposited on the surface of titanium alloy depended on the composition of the thin layer. The addition of copper (i.e. a noble metal) to Nb2O5 film increased the corrosion resistance followed by a significant decrease in the value of corrosion currents and, in case of the highest Cu content, the shift of corrosion potential towards the noble direction. The best corrosion properties were obtained from a sample of Ti6Al4V coated with (Nb0.75Cu0.25)Ox thin film. It seems that the tested materials could be used in the future as protection coatings for Ti alloys in biomedical applications such as implants. Copyright © 2014. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Investigation of electroforming techniques, literature analysis report

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Malone, G. A.

1975-01-01

A literature analysis is presented of reports, specifications, and documented experiences with the use of electroforming to produce copper and nickel structures for aerospace and other engineering applications. The literature period covered is from 1948 to 1974. Specific effort was made to correlate mechanical property data for the electrodeposited material with known electroforming solution compositions and operating conditions. From this survey, electrolytes are suggested for selection to electroform copper and nickel outer shells on regeneratively cooled thrust chamber liners, and other devices subject to thermal and pressure exposure, based on mechanical properties obtainable, performance under various thermal environments, and ease of process control for product reproducibility. Processes of potential value in obtaining sound bonds between electrodeposited copper and nickel and copper alloy substrates are also discussed.

Stress hysteresis during thermal cycling of plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposited silicon oxide films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Thurn, Jeremy; Cook, Robert F.

2002-02-01

The mechanical response of plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposited SiO2 to thermal cycling is examined by substrate curvature measurement and depth-sensing indentation. Film properties of deposition stress and stress hysteresis that accompanied thermal cycling are elucidated, as well as modulus, hardness, and coefficient of thermal expansion. Thermal cycling is shown to result in major plastic deformation of the film and a switch from a compressive to a tensile state of stress; both athermal and thermal components of the net stress alter in different ways during cycling. A mechanism of hydrogen incorporation and release from as-deposited silanol groups is proposed that accounts for the change in film properties and state of stress.

Inkjet Printing of Functional and Structural Materials: Fluid Property Requirements, Feature Stability, and Resolution

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Derby, Brian

2010-08-01

Inkjet printing is viewed as a versatile manufacturing tool for applications in materials fabrication in addition to its traditional role in graphics output and marking. The unifying feature in all these applications is the dispensing and precise positioning of very small volumes of fluid (1-100 picoliters) on a substrate before transformation to a solid. The application of inkjet printing to the fabrication of structures for structural or functional materials applications requires an understanding as to how the physical processes that operate during inkjet printing interact with the properties of the fluid precursors used. Here we review the current state of understanding of the mechanisms of drop formation and how this defines the fluid properties that are required for a given liquid to be printable. The interactions between individual drops and the substrate as well as between adjacent drops are important in defining the resolution and accuracy of printed objects. Pattern resolution is limited by the extent to which a liquid drop spreads on a substrate and how spreading changes with the overlap of adjacent drops to form continuous features. There are clearly defined upper and lower bounds to the width of a printed continuous line, which can be defined in terms of materials and process variables. Finer-resolution features can be achieved through appropriate patterning and structuring of the substrate prior to printing, which is essential if polymeric semiconducting devices are to be fabricated. Low advancing and receding contact angles promote printed line stability but are also more prone to solute segregation or “coffee staining” on drying.

Wetting of cholesteric liquid crystals.

PubMed

Silvestre, Nuno M; Figueirinhas Pereira, Maria Carolina; Bernardino, Nelson R; Telo da Gama, Margarida M

2016-02-01

We investigate theoretically the wetting properties of cholesteric liquid crystals at a planar substrate. If the properties of substrate and of the interface are such that the cholesteric layers are not distorted, the wetting properties are similar to those of a nematic liquid crystal. If, on the other hand, the anchoring conditions force the distortion of the liquid crystal layers the wetting properties are altered, the free cholesteric-isotropic interface is non-planar and there is a layer of topological defects close to the substrate. These deformations can either promote or hinder the wetting of the substrate by a cholesteric, depending on the properties of the cholesteric liquid crystal.

High Temperature Mechanical Behavior of UHTC Coatings for Thermal Protection of Re-Entry Vehicles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pulci, G.; Tului, M.; Tirillò, J.; Marra, F.; Lionetti, S.; Valente, T.

2011-01-01

In this work, the high temperature mechanical properties of ultra high temperature ceramics (UHTC) coatings deposited by plasma spraying have been investigated; particularly the stress-strain relationship of ZrB2-based thick films has been evaluated by means of 4-point bending tests up to 1500 °C in air. Results show that at each investigated temperature (500, 1000, and 1500 °C) modulus of rupture (MOR) values are higher than the ones obtained at room temperature (RT); moreover at 1500 °C the UHTC coatings exhibit a marked plastic behavior, maintaining a flexural strength 25% higher compared to RT tested samples. The coefficient of linear thermal expansion (CTE) has been evaluated up to 1500 °C: obtained data are of primary importance for substrate selection, interface design and to analyze the thermo-mechanical behavior of coating-substrate coupled system. Finally, SEM-EDS analyses have been carried out on as-sprayed and tested materials in order to understand the mechanisms of reinforcement activated by high temperature exposure and to identify the microstructural modifications induced by the combination of mechanical loads and temperature in an oxidizing environment.