Engineering Commons^™

Development Of Project-Based Introductory To Materials Engineering Modules, Stacy Gleixner, Elliot Douglas, Olivia Graeve, Hilary Lackritz, Laura Demsetz, Amy Moll

Faculty Publications

This paper will discuss the progress of curriculum development under an NSF, CCLI-EMD sponsored work, “Development of Project-Based Introductory to Materials Engineering Modules” (DUE # #0341633). A multi-university team of faculty are developing six lecture and three laboratory modules for use in Introductory to Materials courses. This course is required by most engineering programs in the U.S., with an annual enrollment of 50,000 students. This freshman/ sophomore class is an ideal place to excite students about their engineering majors and expose them to engineering design experiences. PRIME Modules, Project Based Resources for Introduction to Materials Engineering, are being developed that …

Design, Fabrication, And Characterization Of An Electrostatically Actuated Microfluidic Valve, Ryan Dale Rivers

Master's Theses

Microfluidic device construction uses certain critical structures throughout many different applications. The valve structure remains one of the primary structures that present a barrier to miniaturization and portability. The extensive support devices required to power common microfluidic valves remove a significant amount of freedom from microfluidic device design. Moving to electrostatic methods of actuation could reduce the overall footprint of the microfluidic valve. This thesis covers three concept prototypes. Concept I presents an attempt at inlaying gold electrodes into polydimethylsiloxane substrates. Concept II attempts to use liquid silver injected into channels as electrode materials. Concept III uses aluminum sputtering to …

Positive Spin Polarization In Co/Alo3 /Co Tunnel Junctions Driven By Oxygen Adsorption, Kirill D. Belashchenko, Evgeny Y. Tsymbal, Ivan I. Oleynik, Mark Van Schilfgaarde

Materials Research Science and Engineering Center: Faculty Publications

Using a first-principles Green's function technique, we study spin-dependent tunneling in two model realizations of (111) fcc Co/Al3/Co tunnel junctions assuming O-terminated crystalline epitaxy in the corundum structure. For the first model, which includes 3 O atoms at the interface, the tunneling current is polarized negatively, just as for the clean Co surface. The second model contains additional oxygen atoms inside large pores at each interface. Located at the three-fold hollow adsorption sites, these O atoms bind very strongly to Co. This bonding creates an interface band in the majority-spin channel which strongly enhances the tunneling current in this channel. …

High Temperature Chemical Degradation Of Pmr-15 Polymer Resins, Grant W. Robinson

Theses and Dissertations

PMR-15 is a polymer resin for glass and carbon reinforced composites used for high temperature, civilian and military aerospace applications. The harsh environments of PMR-15 applications lead to long term structural degradation and, in turn, impact the readiness capabilities of the system. This study investigated the thermal and oxidative degradation of PMR-15 neat resin powder through the use of thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) in oxygen, argon and air at isothermal hold temperatures of 260, 288, 316, and 343 °C for 250 hours. The TGA measured the degradation by recording the change in neat resin powder mass versus time. The qualitative …

Dissolution, Reactor, And Environmental Behavior Of Zro2-Mgo Inert Fuel Matrix: Quarterly Report, April 2005 To June 2005, Earl Wolfram, Thomas Hartmann, Kenneth Czerwinski

Fuels Campaign (TRP)

This project will examine inert matrix fuels containing ZrO₂ and MgO as the inert matrix, with the relative amount of MgO varied from 30% to 70% in ZrO₂. Reactor physics calculations will be used to examine suitable quantities of burnable poisons from the candidate elements Gd, Er, or Hf with reactor grade Pu providing the fissile component, with up to 10 % of ²³⁹Pu. Ceramics will be synthesized and characterized based on the reactor physics results. The solubility the fuel ceramics, in reactor conditions, reprocessing conditions, and repository conditions, will be investigated in a manner to …

Determination Of The Constitutive Equations For 1080 Steel And Vascomax 300, Zachary A. Kennan

Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this research is to establish a better representation of the components utilized in a gouging event being considered in research leading to a better understanding of the Holloman High Speed Test Track. Gouging occurs when two metals are traveling at a slight incline to each other at velocities nearing 1.5 kilometers per second, and results in a structural failure of both the metals. The gouging process occurs at very high strain rates, which results in non-linear stress-strain relations. The coefficients that lead to the Johnson-Cook equations have been determined by the Split Hopkinson Bar test for 1080 …

Dynamic Matrix Composition In Engineered Cartilage With Stochastic Supplementation Of Growth Factors, Asit K. Saha, J. (Jagannath) Mazumdar, Sean S. Kohles

Mechanical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Dynamic extracellular matrix (ECM) synthesis is explored in a hypothesized engineered cartilage construct. Growth (α) and decay (β) rate parameters are developed from a previous engineered cartilage model. The presented mathematical model was constructed from the parameterized experimental data using a deterministic and stochastic examination of ECM synthesis based on a negative feedback control mechanism. A growth factor supplementation is incorporated in a probabilistic mathematical approach. The growth factor component modified an initial deterministic model through a Gaussian white noise fluctuation. As the primary constituents of ECM, the mathematical tool is intended to characterize the probable steady state distribution of …

Nanostructured Composite Materials Based On Carbon Nanotubes And 3-D Photonic Crystals, Jing Chen

Dissertations

Carbon nanotubes (CNT) and in particular, single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) have been extensively studied, in large part, due to their unique one-dimensional crystalline structures and related electronic and optical properties. Various polymeric composite materials, which were based on carbon nanotubes, have been also developed in an attempt to combine the properties of polymer and CNT in a single film. Such composites were mainly formed by mixing carbon nanotubes within the polymer without special emphasis on the structure and thereby, the nanoscopic properties of the resultant material.

Photonic crystals belong to a class of man-made structures aimed at manipulating the propagation …

Potential Fluctuations Of 7075 Aluminum Alloy Under Thin Electrolyte Layers, Su-Jing Chen, Qing-Ming Yuan, Jian-Ping He, Xiao-Lei Liu

Journal of Electrochemistry

Lens tissues adsorbing 3.5% sodium chloride solution were used to simulate thin electrolyte layers. The 7075 aluminum alloy was immersed under the thin electrolyte layers for 0, 4, 6, 8 and 12 h respectively. Then the fluctuations of natural-corrosion potentials of the alloy were monitored. The fluctuations of natural-corrosion potential were observed rather small in the initial corrosion stages after 6h immersion, and the positive peaks of potential appeared. However the amplitudes reached 20mV after 4h and 12h immersion. The RMS of natural-corrosion potentials decreased with corrosion time at first and then increased. It reached a minimum at 4 h. …

Application Of Nickel Foam Electrode For Electroreduction Intermediate Of Purine, Hui-Wen Yang, Xi-En Hu, Xue-Jun Wang

Journal of Electrochemistry

Nickel foam with weight uniformity, good porosity ,pore size and low resistivity as a three-dimensional cathode was used in a filter-press electrochemical reactor. The H₂SO₄ as supporting electrolyte, separator of cation ion exchange membrane, and the lead plate as an anode were used. The cyclic system consisted of electroreduction reactor, pump, store tank and ampere meter. NAU was electroreduced in the cathode chamber of the reactor. Purine intermediate was synthesized with DAU, and the results were compared with those of iron powder reduction process. A peak current in the electroreduction process was detected. The current density of …

Ni-Mo-P Alloy By Electroless Deposition And Its Properties, Sen-Lin Wang, Xin-Ren Lan, Ting-Ting Huang, Jun-Mo Jin, Ji-Bei Ling, Zhi-Ming Chen

Journal of Electrochemistry

The electroless Ni-Mo-P alloy has been deposited from the alkaline bath containing boric acid as a buffer agent and sodium citrate as a complexing agent. The effect of deposition parameters, such as pH and concentration of (NH₄)₆Mo₇O₂₄·4H₂O on the plating rate, the composition, the structure and the microhardness of the coating was examined. It was found that the presence of molybdenum has an inhibitory effect on the alloys deposition. As a consequence, the percentage of molybdenumin the Ni-Mo-P coatings never reaches high values, which was lower than 20 at%. It …

Using Electrodeposition To Fabricate Mould For Polymer Microfluidic Chip, Yi Luo, De-Nan Chu, Zhi-Feng Lou, Chong Liu, Li-Ding Wang

Journal of Electrochemistry

Many researches have been focused on polymer microfluidic chip in recent years and the mould plays an important role in its fabrication process. Using electrodepositingmethod to fabricate a metal mould for polymer microfluidic chip has been presented in this paper. An ultra-thick photoresist SU-8 was coated on a pretreated metal plate, after photolithography, nickel was electrodeposited in the patterned SU-8, then was removed the SU-8 to obtain a final metal mould. This methodreduces workload of electrodeposit largely. Applying counter current before deposit, adding additive to solution and vacuum anneal after demould have been used to improve the binding force between …

Preparation, Characterization And Electrochemical Properties Of Nano Tio2-Cnt-Pt On Ti Substrate Complex Electrode, Dao-Bao Chu, De-Xiang Feng, Jin-Hua Zhang, Xiao-Hua Li

Journal of Electrochemistry

The nanoTiO₂-CNT-Pt on Ti substrate complex electrodes were prepared from precursor of (Ti(OEt)₄) directly hydrolyzed and by cyclic voltammograms electroplating method . The XRD and SEM results showed that the nano TiO₂ (anatase) particle sizes ranged 5~10 nm and the Pt nanoparticle (average size 9nm) dispersed uniformly on nanoTiO₂-CNT film surface. The electrocatalytic activity of Ti/nanoTiO₂-CNT-Pt electrode was investigated by cyclic voltammetry and chronopotentiogram. The results indicated that the Ti/nanoTiO₂-CNT-Pt electrode exhibited very high electrocatalytic activity and stability for the electro-oxidation of methanol at room temperature. When Pt loading …

A Comparison On Structural Sensitive Adsorption Of Sb On Au Single Crystalline Electrodes, Jia-Wei Yang, Wang-Huo Shang, Qiong Wu, Bing-Wei Mao

Journal of Electrochemistry

We compare the behaviors of irreversible adsorption of Sb(III) and its reduction, underpotential deposition of Sbon Au(111) and Au(100) as well as mutual interactions of the processes. Based on in-situ scanning tunneling microscopic and cyclic voltammetric results, the substrate structure not only influence anion adsorptionbehavior and thus the Sb adsorption structure, but also the stability of its own structure. On Au(111) surface,the irreversibly adsorbed dense and disordered SbO⁺ film structure remains after reduction of the film; while on Au(100)surface, due to the coadsorption of SO₄^2-, an ordered(2×2)structure is formed after reduction. UPD of Sb on Au(111) …

Electrochemical Stability Of Pva Alkaline Gel Polymer Electrolyte Membranes, Jun-Hong Wang, Jian-Min Liu, Hua-Bin Yang, Zuo-Xiang Zhou

Journal of Electrochemistry

Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) alkaline polymer gel electrolyte (GPE) membranes were successfully prepared by a solution-casting technique and their electrochemical stabilities were investigated. The electrochemical impedance spectrum (EIS) results showed that the ionic conductivity of the PVA alkaline GPE membranes first increased with the increase of KOH content, then decreased with the further increase of KOH. When the weight percentage of the KOH in the PVA alkaline GPE membrane approached to 42%, it exhibitedthe highest ionic conductivity of 2.01×10^-3 S/cm at room temperature (R.T.). The X-ray diffraction (XRD) results revealed that with the increase of KOH the crystalline of the …

A Preliminary Study Of Electrocrystallization Of Bismuth On Glassy Carbon, Min-Li Yang, Zhan-Jun Zhang

Journal of Electrochemistry

The electrocrystallization of bismuth on glassy carbon electrodes (GCEs) from nitrate solutions was studied by cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry. Cyclic voltammograms exhibit a crossover between the cathodic and anodic branches, characteristic of the formation of bismuth nuclei on GCEs, and show that the bismuth electrocrystallization on GCEs is a diffusion-controlled reaction. The current transients were analyzed with the Scharifker and the Heerman equations. With the increaseof Bi³⁺ concentration, the non-dimensional plots leaned to the theoretical curve for 3D instantaneous nucleation and growth. The overpotential dependence of nucleation and growth mechanism was also found. With the increase of overpotential, the …

Preparation And Characterization Of Mcm-41/Pvdf-Hfp Composite Microporous Polymer Electrolytes For Li-Ion Batteries, Zuo-Feng Chen, Yan-Xia Jiang, Quan-Chao Zhuang, Quan-Feng Dong, Shi-Gang Sun

Journal of Electrochemistry

MCM-41/vinylidine fluoride-hexafluropropene copolymer (PVdF-HFP) composite microporous polymer electrolytes were prepared with mixed solvent of N, N-Dimethylformamide (DMF) and acetone. The influence of MCM-41 and nano-SiO₂ on the porous structure of the microporous polymer electrolytes were studied with SEM. The results show that MCM-41 could take the place of the plasticizer in the process of making pores, and bring the preparation of microporous membranes easily. The preliminary electrochemical tests showed that the ion conductivity of composite microporous polymer electrolyte with 10% MCM-41 was about 10^-3 S cm^-1, and the performance of batteries was improved. The mesoporous MCM-41selected …

Investigation On Ru-Ti-Ir-Sn Oxide Anode Coatings For Electrolyzing Seawater, Ke Wang, Yan Han, Lei-Yuan Wang, Xiao-Ling Zhang, Yu-Pu Sun

Journal of Electrochemistry

The anode coatings of Ru-Ti-Ir-Sn oxide with various compositions were prepared by thermal decomposition. The physical and electrochemical properties of the coatings were characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray detector (EDX), accelerated life, current efficiency, anti-Mn²⁺ contamination, polarization curveandcyclic voltammetry tests. The results showed thatthe anode coating with optimized formula possessed excellent overall properties for electrolyzing seawater.

Structure And Corrosion Electrochemical Properties Of Self-Assembled (3-Mercaptopropyl) Trimethoxysilane Films On Copper Electrode, Ling Huang, Ke-Fa Lin, Fang-Zu Yang, Shu-Kai Xu, Shao-Min Zhou

Journal of Electrochemistry

A self-assembled monolayer of (3-mercaptopropyl) trimethoxysilane(MPTS) was formed on a electrochemical polished copper surface electrode. The corrosion protection abilities of the monolayer were evaluated in 5% NaCl solution using electrochemical linear polarization. The effects of deposition time and silane concentration on corrosion of copper were also discussed. The surface structure of MPTS films was measured by FT-IR and SEM. It was found that the corrosion resistance of copper was reduced markedly owing to the MPTS monolayers formation on copper. The MPTS monolayer retarded the reduction of dissolved oxygen and inhibited the growth of copper oxide in the NaCl solution. FT-IR …

Selective Electroless Copper Plating Micro-Pattern On Ceramics Without Sensitisation And Activation, Zhen-Lin Xu, Qi-Long Guo, Yi-Cheng Shen, Xiong-Chao Zhao, Yan-Ping Hong, Zhi-Jun Gu

Journal of Electrochemistry

The purpose of this article is to provide a new technology of electroless copper plating without palladium activation steps. By combining the technology of laser micro-etching with the new copper-plating bath, copper plating on ceramics was obtained. The experimental results showed that the solution used for copper electroless plating was stable and the copper coating obtained was bright, dense with good electrical conductivity.The line definition was about 40 μm. The electroless Cu films deposited from this system were gentle and required simple operating conditions.

Study On Synthesis Of M-Phenoxy Benzoic Acid By Electrolysis Oxidation Method, Wei Xu, Chong-Tao Zhao

Journal of Electrochemistry

The m-phenoxy benzoic acid was synthesized by oxidation m-phenoxy toluene using Cr(Ⅵ)as oxidation media, which was prepared by electrolysis oxidation of Cr(Ⅲ)in the electrochemical bath using Nafion 417 as a diaphragm, Pb-PbO₂ as an anode and Pb as cathode. The effect factors on the electrochemical oxidation of Cr(Ⅲ)to Cr(Ⅵ)in this electrolysis were studied. Furthermore, the optimal conditions for electronic synthesis of m-phenoxy benzoic acid were also discussed.

Initial Process Of Pyrophosphate Copper Electroplating, Shao-Bin Feng, Shi-Bo Shang, Li-Ting Feng

Journal of Electrochemistry

The relationship between the type of on changes of copper electroplating potential time and the adhesion of coating layer was examined by chronopotentiometry. The conception of critical initial current density D_KC was put forward. When the initial working current D_KI was higher than the critical initial current, the iron electrodewas polarized to activation potential of iron surface firstly, then to the activation of the substratesurface, and finally to depositionpotentialof copper ion. The coating deposited on the active surface and had goodadhesion. On the contrary ,when D_KI was lower than D_KC, the coating deposits on the …

The Preparation And Performance Of The Aqueous Matrix For Molten Carbonate Fuel Cells, Hua-Xin Lin, Mo-Jie Ceng, Bao-Lian Yi

Journal of Electrochemistry

PVA matrix of MCFC was prepared from the α-LiAlO₂ powder, and polyvinylalcohol(PVA), Compared with the conventional PVB matrix, higher porosity, higher thermal weight loss and smaller maximum pore diameter were achieved for PVA matrix. Single cell was assembled with PVA matrix. At reaction gas pressure of 0.9 MPa, under reaction gas utilization of 20%, at 300 and 428.57 mA·cm^-2, the cell voltage was 0.849 and 0.739 V respectively, and the output power density was 254.7 and 316.7 mW·cm^-2 respectively, which are higher than those of the cell assembled with PVB matrix. During thermal cycles, the cell …

The Synthesis, Characteristics And Performance Of Cnt Composites As Anodic Materials In Litium-Ion Battery, Quan-Feng Dong, Ming-Sen Zheng, Zhen-Cai Huang, Ming-Gang Jin, Ya-Ding Zhan, Zu-Geng Lin

Journal of Electrochemistry

As an anodic material for lithium ion battery the carbon nano-tube (CNT) and some compounds based on tin have ever been investigated intensively. The fruited progress has not been made yet, however. In this paper the composites of CNT and Sn/SnO₂ were synthesized employing two methods and characterized by SEM and XRD. And the electrochemical performance of the composites was investigated.

The Effect Of Oxidant On Structure And Properties Of Pan/Ptfe Conducting Composite Membrane, Chang-Yuan Tao, Jing Chen, Jun Du, Cai-Xin Sun

Journal of Electrochemistry

The PAn/PTFE conducting composite membrane was prepared by means of in-situ permeating chemical polymerization, with (NH₄)₂S₂O₈ and Na₃VO₄ being used as an oxidant respectively. The polymerization-growth behavior of the aniline by using different oxidant was compared. In addition, the oxidant effect on the structure and properties of conducting composite membrane was discussed. The results of SEM micrographs, pore size distribution and electrochemical methods suggested that using either oxidants could also induce the product with small pore size and dense pore structure. Compared with (NH₄)₂S₂O …

Possible Side Reactions Due To Water In Emulsion Polymerization By Late Transition Metal Complexes Ii: Deactivation Of The Catalyst By A Wacker-Type Reaction, Roger L. Dekock, Iordan H. Hristov, Grant D. W. Anderson, Inigo Göttker-Schnetmann

University Faculty Publications and Creative Works

The transition metal catalyzed ethylene polymerization in water suspensions has been increasingly successful in the last couple of years. Water, however, adversely affects the polymerization process by deactivating the catalyst in a Wacker-type reaction. The cationic Pd(II)-diimine Brookhart catalyst 1 is studied here by a combination of quantum mechanics and molecular mechanics to determine the nature of the decomposition reaction. The study considers the decomposition process to take place in two stages. In the first stage, a coordinated olefin is attacked by a hydroxide group to ultimately produce a β-hydroxy-ethyl complex 2. The second step represents a decomposition to acetaldehyde …

Method Of Reducing Internal Stress In Materials, Maher S. Amer, John F. Maguire

Mechanical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications

Methods are provided for adjusting and controlling the stress between layers of material in a multilayer structure. A first stress is configured in a region of stress on the substrate material. A second material is then deposited over the substrate. A second stress results between the substrate and the second material such that a net stress results where the net stress is a function of said first and second stresses. As such, the first stress can be configured to achieve a predetermined, desired net stress. For example, the first stress can be configured to cancel out the second stress such …

Nanocomposite Nickel Ceria Cermet With Low Nickel Content For Anode-Supported Sofcs, Piotr Z. Jasinski, Toshio Suzuki, Vladimir Petrovsky, Harlan U. Anderson

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Ni-ceria cermet's with 7.5, 11, and 14 vol % of Ni manufactured by a novel method, called net-shape technology, are presented and evaluated. the method is a combination of conventional ceramic sintering and a polymer precursor impregnation technique. Ceria powder with a carbon pore former is sintered, constructing a rigid and stable oxide skeleton, which is next backfilled with Ni polymer precursor. the electrical conductivity of the cermet's as a function of Ni content has been investigated. © 2005 the Electrochemical Society. All rights reserved.

Role Of Interface Bonding In Spin-Dependent Tunneling (Invited), Evgeny Y. Tsymbal, Kirill D. Belashchenko

Materials Research Science and Engineering Center: Faculty Publications

Measured positive values of the spin polarization of the tunneling current from 3d ferromagnetic metals are commonly explained by the dominant s-electron contribution based on symmetry considerations for bulk materials, ignoring the influence of the interfaces. In this work, three different models are considered which suggest that the spin polarization is primarily determined by the electronic and atomic structures of the ferromagnet/insulator interfaces rather than by the bulk properties. A simple tight-binding model demonstrates that the existence of interface states and their contribution to the tunneling current depend on the degree of hybridization between the orbitals on metal …

Friction And Adhesion In Rigid Surface Indentation Of Nitrile Rubber, Stephen Jerrams

Articles

When a rigid body in the form of a plane strain indentor is forced into an elastomer, the asperities on the surface of the indentor are filled by the softer material. As depth of ingress increases, the rubber displaced into the indentor asperities exhibits stick-slip behaviour. The rubber adheres to the rigid body and if the depth of ingress is held at a maximum, the level of adhesion remains constant despite short-term load relaxation occurring in the rubber.

This text describes the influence of a range of factors on indentation forces and adhesion in rigid indentation of hydrogenated nitrile rubbers. …