Materials Science and Engineering Commons^™

Degradation Of Polymers And Polymer Composites In Extreme Environments, Ben T. Jewell

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Polymeric materials are widely used in engineering applications due to their high strength-to-weight ratio, easy manufacturability, and cost-effectiveness. When incorporated into composites, they provide further performance enhancements, enabling use in demanding structural applications. However, long-term exposure to harsh environments including elevated temperatures, UV radiation, harsh chemicals, and radiation, can drive degradation processes that alter the material’s network structure, and in turn, degrade its mechanical performance. Exposure to thermo-oxidative conditions is one of the most common environments driving polymer degradation, leading to chain scission and crosslinking events, with the resulting oxidative products causing discoloration, reduced ductility, and changes in glass transition …

Bayesian Alloy Design With Additive Synthesis, Michael R. Sulwer

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

To reduce carbon emissions and increase power out, steam powerplants need to increase the operating temperatures and pressures of steam turbines to improve efficiency. This necessitates the development of high temperature alloys with superior strength and stability. This research aims to design a class of solid solution High Entropy Alloys (HEAs) to exceed the high temperature performance of commercial alloys like Haynes 230 while maintaining comparable costs for Advanced Ultra Supercritical (A-USC) steam cycles. This project integrates Bayesian optimization and Calculation of Phase Diagrams (CALPHAD) within an Integrated Computational Materials Engineering (ICME) framework to predict and optimize key material properties: …

Molecular Modeling Methods And Applications For Accelerating Polymerization And Pyrolysis Studies, Joshua D. Kemppainen

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Polymer matrix composites and carbon-carbon composites play critical roles in the aerospace, automotive, and construction industries. Different matrix materials and processing conditions can lead to a large variety of composite materials and composite properties. Integrated computational materials engineering has been used to tailor PMC matrix materials and processing conditions to specific properties and manufacturing techniques. The integrated computational materials engineering process modeling framework uses molecular dynamics at the nanometer length scale to characterize the evolving thermo-mechanical properties of the polymer as it cures. Then finite element analysis is used at the micrometer length scale to adjust cure cycles to tailor …

Ultrasound Shear Wave Elastography: Development Of Tissue Models And Investigation Of Shear Wave Variability, Emily J. Miller

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Ultrasound shear wave elastography (USWE) is an evolving and promising clinical tool for noninvasively measuring in vivo soft tissue biomechanical properties. Assumptions incorporated into the clinical workflow and technical limitations have created gaps between theoretical and clinically derived solutions. The heterogeneity of the fibrotic liver tissue, composition of the background, such as the presence of fatty liver tissue, and the preferred local orientation of the scarred fibrotic liver tissues embedded into the liver parenchyma, may contribute to the uncertainty in USWE measurements. This study aims to systematically investigate four cofounding factors (i.e., size, volume fraction, orientation of the fibrotic inclusions, …

Iron Ore Tailings Reprocessing By Electrostatic Separation Plus Two Stages Froth Flotation, Vincent Bailey Arohunmolase

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

The reprocessing of tailings is crucial for recovering valuable iron and reducing the environmental impact associated with tailings disposal. This study investigates the practicality of reprocessing tailings to enhance iron oxide content, combining electrostatic separation with a two-stage froth flotation process using oleic acid (direct flotation) and amine (reverse flotation). The primary goal is to efficiently recover valuable iron from tailings, thereby reducing waste and promoting sustainable resource utilization. The process aims to upgrade the iron oxide content to around 93-99% Fe₂O₃, making the recovered material suitable for the production of direct-reduced iron.

Electrostatic separation was …

Advances In Conductive Polymer-Based Flexible Electronics For Multifunctional Applications, Md Abdus Shahid, Md Mostafizur Rahman, Md Tanvir Hossain, Imam Hossain, Md Sohan Sheikh, Md Sunjidur Rahman, Nasir Uddin, Scott W. Donne, Md Ikram Ul Hoque

Michigan Tech Publications

The rapid developments in conductive polymers with flexible electronics over the past years have generated noteworthy attention among researchers and entrepreneurs. Conductive polymers have the distinctive capacity to conduct electricity while still maintaining the lightweight, flexible, and versatile characteristics of polymers. They are crucial for the creation of flexible electronics or gadgets that can stretch, bend, and adapt to different surfaces have sparked momentous interest in electronics, energy storage, sensors, smart textiles, and biomedical applications. This review article offers a comprehensive overview of recent advancements in conductive polymers over the last 15 years, including a bibliometric analysis. The properties of …

Effect Of Aging Duration On The Microstructure And Corrosion Characteristics Of 17-4 Ph Stainless Steel, G. Narasinga Rao, Subrat Kumar Baral, Y. Madhavi, Sriram Vijayan, Ravikumar Dumpala

Michigan Tech Publications

Heat treatment plays a critical role in inducing key microstructural changes necessary to enhance corrosion resistance of 17-4 PH stainless steel (SS). During the process, precipitates form within the metal matrix, contributing to the strength of the martensitic steel. Inconsistencies in the literature concerning the response of 17-4PH SS to heat treatment have been noted. Therefore, this study examines the impact of aging duration on microstructural characteristics, microhardness, and corrosion resistance of material. The solution heat-treatment process consisted of heating the material to 1040 °C for one hour and rapid cooling in water. Subsequently, aging treatment was carried out at …

Nature-Derived Flame Retardant For Cotton Fabrics With Green Coconut Shells, Tarikul Islam, Abdullah Al Rakib Shikder, Md Shahabul Hossen, Md Mazbah Uddin, Md Tanvir Hossain, M. Mahbubul Bashar

Michigan Tech Publications

This study presents an eco-friendly flame-retardant solution for cellulosic fabrics using green coconut shell (GCS) extract and phytic acid (PA). Cellulosic materials are highly flammable and release harmful gases during combustion. Conventional flame retardants may pose environmental and health risks while impacting the fabric quality. GCS extract is a rich source of tannins, phosphorus, silicates, metallic salts, and oxides and is explored as a novel flame retardant (FR) for cotton fabrics. Cotton samples were pretreated with PA and then with varying concentrations of GCS extract using a padding technique. Comprehensive characterization followed, including limiting oxygen index (LOI), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), …

Annual Progress In Global Carbon Capture, Utilization, And Storage In 2023, Siyuan Fang, Yun Hang Hu

Michigan Tech Publications

Since the industrial revolution, global anthropogenic CO2 emissions have surged dramatically to unsustainable levels, resulting in severe issues, such as global warming, extreme weather events, and species extinction. In response to this critical situation, extensive efforts have been undertaken across academia, industry, and policymaking sectors to deploy carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) technologies. Here, we present the annual summary of global CCUS for the year 2023. We begin by discussing the trends of anthropogenic CO2 emissions and atmospheric CO2 concentrations, and then offer an up-to-date summary of progress in academia, industry, and policy, respectively. In academia, we analyze the …

Synergy Between Ca2+ And High Ionic Field-Strength Cations During The Corrosion Of Alkali Aluminoborosilicate Glasses In Hyper-Alkaline Media, Qianhui Qin, Nicholas Stone-Weiss, Nian Shi, Pinaki Mukherjee, Jinjun Ren, Ashutosh Goel

Michigan Tech Publications

One major factor impeding the design of nuclear waste glasses with enhanced waste loadings is our insufficient understanding of their composition–structure–durability relationships, specifically in the environments the waste form is expected to encounter in a geological repository. In particular, the high field-strength cations (HFSCs) are an integral component of most waste streams. However, their impact on the long-term performance of the glassy waste form remains mostly undeciphered. In this context, the present study aims to understand the impact of some HFSCs (i.e., Nb5+, Zr4+, Ti4+, and La3+) on the dissolution behavior of alkali/alkaline-earth aluminoborosilicate-based model nuclear waste glasses in hyper-alkaline …

Progress In Energy: Usa–Canada Special Issue On Energy, Yun Hang Hu

Michigan Tech Publications

No abstract provided.

Thermo-Photo Catalytic Anode Process For Carbonate-Superstructured Solid Fuel Cells, Hanrui Su, Yun Hang Hu

Michigan Tech Publications

Converting hydrocarbons and greenhouse gases (i.e., carbon dioxide, CO2) directly into electricity through fuel cells at intermediate temperatures (450 to 550 °C) remains a significant challenge, primarily due to the sluggish activation of C-H and C=O bonds. Here, we demonstrated a unique strategy to address this issue, in which light illumination was introduced into the thermal catalytic CO2reforming of ethane in the anode as a unique thermo-photo anode process for carbonate-superstructured solid fuel cells. The light-enhanced fuel activation led to excellent cell performance with a record-high peak power density of 168 mW cm-2at an intermediate temperature of 550 °C. Furthermore, …

Solidification Cracking In Additively Manufactured High Entropy Alloy Nicrcofe With V Or W, Andrew R. Walch

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Recent sustainability efforts have reduced CO2 emissions from electricity generation by increasing operating temperatures and pressures in advanced ultra-supercritical (A-USC) power plants. However, the extreme operating conditions in these A-USC power plants require new high temperature materials. The recent study of nickel-based high-entropy alloys (HEA) represents the latest approach to meet the specifications for A-USC operations. A CALculation PHase Diagram (CALPHAD) driven Bayesian optimization method was used to design the composition of alloys composed of NiCrCoFe with V or W, which were fabricated via wire-based additive manufacturing to enable high throughput development. Although the alloy was designed to minimize solidification …

Heating Capacity And Biocompatibility Of Hybrid Nanoparticles For Magnetic Hyperthermia Treatment, Aline Alexandrina Gomes, Thalita Marcolan Valverde, Vagner De Oliveira Machado, Emanueli Do Nascimento Da Silva, Daniele Alves Fagundes, Fernanda De Paula Oliveira, Erico Freitas, José Domingos Ardisson, José Maria Da Fonte Ferreira, Junnia Alvarenga De Carvalho Oliveira, Eliza Rocha Gomes, Caio Fabrini Rodrigues, Alfredo Miranda De Goes, Rosana Zacarias Domingues, Ângela Leão Andrade

Michigan Tech Publications

Cancer is one of the deadliest diseases worldwide and has been responsible for millions of deaths. However, developing a satisfactory smart multifunctional material combining different strategies to kill cancer cells poses a challenge. This work aims at filling this gap by developing a composite material for cancer treatment through hyperthermia and drug release. With this purpose, magnetic nanoparticles were coated with a polymer matrix consisting of poly (L-co-D,L lactic acid-co-trimethylene carbonate) and a poly(ethylene oxide)–poly(propylene oxide)–poly(ethylene oxide) triblock copolymer. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy and selected area electron diffraction confirmed magnetite to be the only iron oxide in the sample. Cytotoxicity …

Molecular Modeling Of Phenolic Resin For Carbon-Carbon Composites, Ivan Gallegos

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

One of the most difficult challenges associated with space exploration is terrestrial atmospheric reentry due to the high thermal loads generated. Carbon carbon (C/C) composites have been used as heat shielding materials due to their high strengthto- weight ratio and thermal properties and their applications include heat shielding for various high temperature environments. C/C composites are manufactured by polymer-infiltration pyrolysis (PIP) via cycles of curing and pyrolysis of a prepreg which can be costly and take up to several days. Thus, C/C composites ideal candidates for computationally-driven optimization techniques, such as a multiscale Integrated Computational Materials Engineering (ICME) approach, by …

F-Temper Vs O-Temper Brazing Of 3003 Aluminum Return Bends, Mieka R. Clark

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

As-extruded (F-temper) 3003 return bends can provide cost savings over annealed (O-temper) return bends in aluminum heat exchangers. To assess if F-temper return bends are an alternative to the baseline O-temper bends, the grain structure, bending performance, and melting behavior were assessed through:

• Quantifying the effect of dispersoids on recrystallization
• Tracking bending behavior through grain morphology and surface texture
• Measuring the number and volume fraction of the α-Al(Mn,Fe)Si intermetallic
• Inducing incipient melting through high temperature thermal exposure.

When homogenized at 620°C and 630°C, the F-temper bends had no orange peel texture, the grain size was equivalent to the annealed product, …

Improving Cast Steel Rail Coupler Fatigue Resistance Through Local Wire-Arc Additive Manufacturing, Andrew M. Bunge

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Every year, thousands of cast-steel railcar couplers suffer from corrosion-initiated fatigue cracking in similar areas of the coupler’s knuckle; between 2015 and 2018 about 90,000 knuckles were replaced, otherwise these couplers would have been at risk for unexpected failures. These types of couplers have been common in industrial use as early as 1932, hence it is desirable for a countermeasure to the fatigue cracking that does not involve significantly altering the geometry or casting process. Wire arc additive manufacturing (WAM) is a developing technology which boasts the ability to produce complex near-net-shape components; however, less attention has been paid to …

High Temperature Strength Reduces Soldering In Aluminum High Pressure Die Casting, Jacob A. Belke

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Die soldering, an adhesion defect in high pressure die casting (HPDC), is a symptom of localized sticking where a localized portion of the cast material is adhered to the tooling surface causing build up over time. This requires the tooling to be serviced which incurs additional costs to the process that gets passed on to the parts. Historically, soldering has been mitigated using lubricants, coatings, and alloy chemistry modifications but solder persists.

The Tresca friction thermomechanical model suggests soldering occurs when the local interfacial shear stress between the casting and die surface exceeds the local shear strength of the casting. …

Machine Learning For Electronic Structure Prediction, Shashank Pathrudkar

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Kohn-Sham density functional theory is the work horse of computational material science research. The core of Kohn-Sham density functional theory, the Kohn-Sham equations, output charge density, energy levels and wavefunctions. In principle, the electron density can be used to obtain several other properties of interest including total potential energy of the system, atomic forces, binding energies and electric constants. In this work we present machine learning models designed to bypass the Kohn-Sham equations by directly predicting electron density. Two distinct models were developed: one tailored to predict electron density for quasi one-dimensional materials under strain, while the other is applicable …

Matrix Stiffness Sensing By Nascent Adhesions And The Role Of Riam In Adhesion Assembly, Nikhil Mittal

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Mechanical stiffness of the extracellular matrix (ECM) impacts many cellular functions such as proliferation, migration, and differentiation. ECM stiffness is sensed by a cell via integrin-based focal adhesions (FAs) by changing conformation and biochemical activities of molecules within FAs by the exchange of the force between the ECM and filamentous actin (F-actin). Cells in turn respond to this stiffness by generating traction force that plays an important role in many biological events such as tissue morphogenesis, stem cell differentiation, wound healing, and cancer cell metastasis. The stiffness of the extracellular matrix induces differential tension within integrin-based adhesions. Understanding stiffness sensing …

Sustainable Materials For Environment − Multifunctional Material Made From Dead Leaves And Nanostructured Materials For Antibiotic Degradation, Siyuan Fang

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

As environmental pollution from industrial processes and human activities continues to rise, finding efficient approaches to recycle waste materials and degrade persistent contaminants becomes increasingly critical. Dead leaves, an abundant but underutilized biomass, present an opportunity for creating value-added materials if their biocomponents can be preserved and transformed. Simultaneously, antibiotics such as tetracycline are widely found in water bodies but pose serious ecological and health risks, necessitating effective degradation methods. This dissertation addresses these challenges by leveraging natural and nanostructured materials to develop multifunctional products and advanced photocatalytic processes.

Chapter 3 of this dissertation addresses the challenge of converting waste …

Nickel Superalloy Composition And Process Optimization For Weldability, Cost, And Strength, Sophie A. Mehl

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

To advance sustainability efforts, electric power plants have reduced specific carbon dioxide emissions by increasing operating temperatures and pressures to improve power generation efficiency. The latest improvements are utilized in advanced ultra-supercritical power generation. To meet these operating conditions, nickel superalloys are used in the highest temperature components; however, they are expensive and present weldability challenges. This project aims to experimentally optimize a nickel superalloy to improve material weldability and decrease cost without compromising strength. Three optimized compositions were developed, and their microstructures and mechanical properties were compared to Nimonic 263, a common nickel superalloy in electric power plants. The …

Anaerobic Reductive Bioleaching Of Manganese Ores, Neha Sharma

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Manganese extraction by biological methods is a green and economical way to produce manganese from low as well as high grade manganese ores. This is especially important for US ores, which are primarily either small in extent, low-grade with a high iron content, or both. They are therefore not suitable for conventional mining, which is very capital-intensive and requires a large up-front investment and are therefore imported at high costs. The goal is therefore to develop a process that can be applied at small scales, with minimal startup costs, and low equipment and labor requirements. It is also critical to …

Halide-Assisted Growth Of Transition Metal Dichalcogenides, Vinaayak Sivam Balasubramaniam

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Monolayers of transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) have attracted significant attention as the rare two-dimensional (2D) semiconducting materials with a direct energy band gap. Chemical vapour deposition (CVD) is one of the scalable techniques to grow atomically thin TMDC monolayers in high quality, but it requires high growth temperature. Herein we report the growth of MoS2, WS2 and MoSe2 by a one-step halide-assisted CVD method using NaCl and KCl as the catalysts. These halides could reduce the growth temperature of TMDCS by reacting with the precursors (TMDC powders) to form volatile intermediate compounds as the growth species. We use optical microscopy, …

Fatigue Resistant Cast Steel Railcar Couplers Produced By Wire-Arc Additive Manufacturing (Waam), Samuel Vellequette

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Every year, approximately 90,000 cast steel railcar coupler knuckles are replaced preemptively to avoid fatigue failure. The coupler geometry has been in service since the early 1930s, so geometry changes are restricted to maintain compatibility with the existing fleet. Defects from the casting process, decarburization during heat treatment, and in-service exposure to corrosive environments combine to promote fatigue crack nucleation in high-stress regions of the knuckle. Wire-arc additive manufacturing (WAAM), which uses traditional welding techniques to build material to near-net shapes, was employed to deposit higher-strength materials in critical regions. By replacing the cast steel in the high-stress region of …

The Influence Of Boron (B), Tin (Sn), Copper (Cu), And Manganese (Mn) On The Microstructure Of Spheroidal Graphite Irons, A. V. Bugten, P. Sanders, C. Hartung, R. Logan, M. Di Sabatino, L. Michels

Michigan Tech Publications

Most spheroidal graphite irons (SGIs) have a matrix consisting of ferrite, pearlite, or a mix of the two. To achieve the desired matrix composition, pearlite promoters such as Mn, Cu, or Sn, are added to the molten metal. Among these elements, Sn is the most potent pearlite promoter. However, each has a different impact on the solidification, graphite precipitation, eutectoid transformation, and ultimately the final structure of the material. Research has shown that B promotes ferrite in fully pearlitic grades where Cu and Mn were used to promote pearlite. The present work investigates the effect of B in SGI with …

Modification Strategies For Development Of 2d Material-Based Electrocatalysts For Alcohol Oxidation Reaction, Haichang Fu, Zhangxin Chen, Xiaohe Chen, Fan Jing, Hua Yu, Dan Chen, Binbin Yu, Yun Hang Hu, Yanxian Jin

Michigan Tech Publications

2D materials, such as graphene, MXenes (metal carbides and nitrides), graphdiyne (GDY), layered double hydroxides, and black phosphorus, are widely used as electrocatalyst supports for alcohol oxidation reactions (AORs) owing to their large surface area and unique 2D charge transport channels. Furthermore, the development of highly efficient electrocatalysts for AORs via tuning the structure of 2D support materials has recently become a hot area. This article provides a critical review on modification strategies to develop 2D material-based electrocatalysts for AOR. First, the principles and influencing factors of electrocatalytic oxidation of alcohols (such as methanol and ethanol) are introduced. Second, surface …

Modification Strategies For Development Of 2d Material-Based Electrocatalysts For Alcohol Oxidation Reaction, Haichang Fu, Zhangxin Chen, Xiaohe Chen, Fan Jing, Hua Yu, Dan Chen, Binbin Yu, Yun Hang Hu, Yanxian Jin

Michigan Tech Publications

2D materials, such as graphene, MXenes (metal carbides and nitrides), graphdiyne (GDY), layered double hydroxides, and black phosphorus, are widely used as electrocatalyst supports for alcohol oxidation reactions (AORs) owing to their large surface area and unique 2D charge transport channels. Furthermore, the development of highly efficient electrocatalysts for AORs via tuning the structure of 2D support materials has recently become a hot area. This article provides a critical review on modification strategies to develop 2D material-based electrocatalysts for AOR. First, the principles and influencing factors of electrocatalytic oxidation of alcohols (such as methanol and ethanol) are introduced. Second, surface …

Acute Exposure To Two Biocides Causes Morphological And Molecular Changes In The Gill Ciliary Epithelium Of The Invasive Golden Mussel Limnoperna Fortunei (Dunker, 1857), Amanda Maria Siqueira Moreira, Erico Freitas, Mariana De Paula Reis, Júlia Meireles Nogueira, Newton Pimentel De Ulhôa Barbosa, André Luiz Martins Reis, Afonso Pelli, Paulo Ricardo Da Silva Camargo, Antonio Valadão Cardoso, Rayan Silva De Paula, Erika Cristina Jorge

Michigan Tech Publications

Limnoperna fortunei, the golden mussel, is a bivalve mollusk considered an invader in South America. This species is responsible for ecological and economic damages due to its voluminous fouling capability. Chemical biocides such as MXD-100™ and sodium dichloroisocyanurate (NaDCC) are often used to control L. fortunei infestations in hydraulic systems. Thus, we proposed to investigate the effects of different periods (24, 48 and 72 h) of exposure to MXD-100™ (0.56 mg L−1) and NaDCC (1.5 mg L−1) on the gills of L. fortunei through morphological and molecular analyses. NaDCC promoted progressive morphological changes during the analyzed periods and only an …

Evolution Of Glassy Carbon Derived From Pyrolysis Of Furan Resin, Josh Kemppainen, Ivan Gallegos, Aaron Krieg, Jacob R. Gissinger, Kristopher E. Wise, Margaret Kowalik, Julia A. King, S. Gowtham, Adri Van Duin, Gregory Odegard

Michigan Tech Publications

Glassy carbon (GC) material derived from pyrolyzed furan resin was modeled by using reactive molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The MD polymerization simulation protocols to cure the furan resin precursor material are validated via comparison of the predicted density and Young's modulus with experimental values. The MD pyrolysis simulations protocols to pyrolyze the furan resin precursor is validated by comparison of calculated density, Young's modulus, carbon content, sp carbon content, the in-plane crystallite size, out-of-plane crystallite stacking height, and interplanar crystallite spacing with experimental results from the literature for furan resin derived GC. The modeling methodology established in this work can …