Materials Science and Engineering Commons^™

Unsteady Tip Leakage, Bow Shock, Igv Wake Interaction In A Compressor, Xuedong Zhou, J. Mitch Wolff

Mechanical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications

Unsteady aerodynamic analysis of Inlet Guide Vane (IGV)/rotor interaction is conducted with a commercial CFD solver, STAR-CD. 12% and 26% IGV axial chord IGV/Rotor spacing configurations were examined for 100% corrected speed at choke, peak efficiency and near stall conditions to investigate bow shock/tip leakage interaction within blade rows. Comparison with IGV surface unsteady pressure experimental data indicates good agreement at the IGV trailing edge across the span for both spacing configurations; therefore, validating the modeling of the high speed, highly loaded transonic compressor. The strongest effect on the tip clearance flow physics was caused by decreasing the axial spacing. …

High Voltage Bias Testing And Degradation Analysis Of Photovoltaic Modules, Vinaykumar Hadagali

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis mainly focuses on two important aspects of the photovoltaic modules. The first aspect addressed the high voltage bias testing and data and degradation analysis of high voltage biased thin film photovoltaic modules. The second aspect addressed the issues of reliability and durability of crystalline silicon module. Grid-connected photovoltaic systems must withstand high voltage bias in addition to harsh environmental conditions such as intermittent solar irradiance, high humidity, heat and wind. a-Si:H thin-film photovoltaic modules with earlier generation SnO2:F transparent conducting oxide (TCO) on the front glass installed on the FSEC High Voltage Test Bed were monitored since December …

Data Management And Visualization Of X-Ray Diffraction Spectra From Thin Film Ternary Composition Spreads, I. Takeuchi, C. J. Long, O. O. Famodu, M. Murakami, Jason R. Hattrick-Simpers, G. W. Rubloff, M. Stukowski, K. Rajan

Faculty Publications

We discuss techniques for managing and visualizing x-ray diffraction spectrum data for thin film composition spreads which map large fractions of ternary compositional phase diagrams. An in-house x-ray microdiffractometer is used to obtain spectra from over 500 different compositions on an individual spread. The MATLAB software is used to quickly organize the data and create various plots from which one can quickly grasp different information regarding structural and phase changes across the composition spreads. Such exercises are valuable in rapidly assessing the “overall” picture of the structural evolution across phase diagrams before focusing in on specific composition regions for detailed …

Arc-Discharge In Solution: A Novel Synthesis Method For Carbon Nanotubes And In Situ Decoration Of Carbon Nanotubes With Nanoparticles, Debasis Bera

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Nanotechnology has reached the status of the 21st century's leading science and technology based on fundamental and applied research during the last two decades. An important feature of nanotechnology is to bridge the crucial dimensional gap between the atomic and molecular fundamental sciences and microstructural scale of engineering. Accordingly, it is very important to have an in-depth understanding of the synthesis of nanomaterials for the use of state-of-the-art high technological devices with enhanced properties. Recently, the 'bottom-up' approach for the fabrication of nanomaterials has received a great deal of attention for its simplicity and cost effectiveness. Tailoring the various parameters …

Transmission Electron Microscopy Studies In Shape Memory Alloys, Madhavi Tiyyagura

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In NiTi, a reversible thermoelastic martensitic transformation can be induced by temperature or stress between a cubic (B2) austenite phase and a monoclinic (B19') martensite phase. Ni-rich binary compositions are cubic at room temperature (requiring stress or cooling to transform to the monoclinic phase), while Ti-rich binary compositions are monoclinic at room temperature (requiring heating to transform to the cubic phase). The stress induced transformation results in the superelastic effect, while the thermally induced transformation is associated with strain recovery that results in the shape memory effect. Ternary elemental additions such as Fe can additionally introduce an intermediate rhombohedral (R) …

Development Of Transparent And Conducting Back Contacts On Cds/Cdte Solar Cells For Photoelectrochemical Application, Upendra Sureshchandra Avachat

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The development of devices with high efficiencies can only be attained by tandem structures which are important to the advancement of thin-film photoelectrochemical (PEC) and photovoltaic (PV) technologies. FSEC PV Materials Lab has developed a PEC cell using multiple bandgap tandem of thin film PV cells and a photocatalyst for hydrogen production by water splitting. CdS/CdTe solar cell, a promising candidate for low-cost, thin-film PV cell is used as one of the thin film solar cells in a PEC cell. This research work focuses on developing various back contacts with good transparency in the infrared region (~750 - 1150 nm) …

Interdiffusion Analysis For Nicocraly And Nial Vs. Various Superalloys, Emmanuel Perez

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Hot section components in gas turbines can be NiCoCrAlY-coated to provide the component with an Al reservoir that maintains a protective oxide layer on its surface. Over the service life of the component, the coatings degrade by composition and phase changes due to oxidation/hot-corrosion, and multicomponent interdiffusion from and into the superalloy substrate. In this study, the rate of Al interdiffusion into selected Ni-base superalloys using various diffusion couples of two-phase NiCoCrAlY (beta + gamma) and single beta-phase NiAl with the selected alloys is measured. The diffusion couples were examined with an emphasis on the composition-dependence of Al interdiffusion. Microstructural …

Solar Driven Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting For Hydrogen Generation Using Multiple Bandgap Tandem Of Cigs2 Pv Cells And Thin Film Photocatalyst, Anant Jahagirdar

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The main objective of this research was to develop efficient CuIn1-xGaxS2 (CIGS2)/CdS thin film solar cells for photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting to produce very pure hydrogen and oxygen. Efficiencies obtained using CIGS2 have been lower than those achieved using CuInSe2 and CuIn1-xGaxSe2. The basic limitation in the efficiencies is attributed to lower open circuit voltages with respect to the bandgap of the material. Presently, the main mechanism used to increase the open circuit voltage of these copper chalcopyrites (CuInSe2 and CuInS2) is the addition of gallium. However, addition of gallium has its own challenges. This research was intended to (i) …

Instrumented Nanoindentation Studies Of Deformation In Shape Memory Alloys, Sudhir Rajagopalan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Near equi-atomic nickel titanium (NiTi) shape memory alloys (SMAs) are a class of materials characterized by their unique deformation behavior. In these alloys, deformation mechanisms such as mechanical twinning and stress induced phase transformation between a high symmetry phase (austenite) and a low symmetry phase (martensite) additionally occur and influence mechanical behavior and thus their functionality. Consequently, applications of SMAs usually call for precise phase transformation temperatures, which depend on the thermomechanical history and the composition of the alloy. Instrumented indentation, inherently a mechanical characterization technique for small sampling volumes, offers a cost effective means of empirically testing SMAs in …

Melting And Solidification Study Of Indium And Bismuth Nanocrystals Using Reflection High-Energy Electron Diffraction, Mohamed K. Zayed

Electrical & Computer Engineering Theses & Dissertations

As technology begins to utilize nanocrystals for many chemical, biological, medical, electrical, and optoelectrical applications, there is a growing need for an understanding of their fundamental properties. The study of melting and solidification of nanocrystals is of interest to fundamental understanding of the effect of reduced size and crystal shape on the solid-liquid phase transition. Melting and solidification of as-deposited and recrystallized indium and bismuth nanocrystals were studied using reflection high-energy electron diffraction (RHEED). The nanocrystals were thermally deposited on highly oriented 002-graphite substrate at different deposition temperatures. The growth dynamics of the nanocrystals was studied using in situ RHEED …

Synthesis Of Gold Nanoparticles Attached To Polypyrrole Nanofibers, Sunil K. Pillalamarri, Frank D. Blum, Massimo F. Bertino

Chemistry Faculty Research & Creative Works

Polypyrrole is a frequently studied conducting polymer due to its application in sensing and catalysis.1 Polypyrrole is considered among the most promising conductive polymers due to its stability and ease of conversion between conducting and insulating forms.2 Different chemical and electrochemical methods are generally used in the synthesis of polypyrrole.2 Despite many interesting applications, the use of polypyrrole is limited because of difficulty in processing it. Several approaches have been explored to improve the ability to process polypyrrole, including the use of emulsion, inverse emulsion, steric stabilizer, and microemulsion methods.1 Several reports have also been published on the synthesis of …

Copolymers And Blends Of Methyl Acrylate And Acrylic Isobutyl Poss Nanomaterials, Manikantan B. Nair, Frank D. Blum

Chemistry Faculty Research & Creative Works

Ultra-thin polymer films attached to solid substrates (supported films) have attracted significant interest in recent years. Supported films are used in the design of advanced materials like photoresists, lubricants and other electronic devices. Glass transition temperatures (Tgs) of supported polymer films have also been of significant interest. The Tg has been shown to depend on the thickness of the polymer film on the surface and the inherent nature of the surface. The effect of end-grafting of a polymer chain to a surface, on the Tg of the polymer has been studied previously.1 Reports on the study of glass transition behaviors …

Fourier Transform Infrared Analysis Of Hydroxyl Content Of Hydrothermally Processed Heteroepitaxial Barium Titanate Films, Sandeep K. Patil, Nipun Shah, Frank D. Blum, M. N. Rahaman

Chemistry Faculty Research & Creative Works

The concentration of hydroxyl (-OH) groups in epitaxial barium titanate (BaTiO3) films (thickness ≈ 200 nm), deposited on single-crystal strontium titanate (SrTiO3) at 150 °C by a hydrothermal technique, was investigated using x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. After hydrothermal treatment, a broad FTIR resonance for the hydroxyl groups indicated a significant concentration of surface -OH groups in the films. The as-deposited films were subsequently treated hydrothermally with D2O, and the kinetics of the exchange reaction between -OH incorporated into the film and -OD from the D2O were studied using FTIR. For reactions carried out intermittently, the …

The Effect Of Cu-Doping On The Magnetic And Transport Properties Of La₀.₇Sr₀.₃Mno₃, M. S. Kim, Jinbo Yang, Qingsheng Cai, X.-D. Zhou, William B. Yelon, Paul Ernest Parris, William Joseph James

Physics Faculty Research & Creative Works

The effects of Cu-doping on the structural, magnetic, and transport properties of La0.7Sr0.3Mn1xCuxO3 (0<=x<=0.20) have been studied using neutron diffraction, magnetization, and magnetoresistance (MR) measurements. All samples show the rhombohedral structure with the R[overline 3]c space-group from 10 K to room temperature (RT). Neutron diffraction data suggest that some of the Cu ions have a Cu3+ state in these compounds. The substitution of Mn by Cu affects the MnO bond length and Mn-O-Mn bond angle resulting from the minimization of the distortion of the MnO6 octahedron. Resistivity measurements show that a metal to insulator transition occurs for the x>=0.15 samples. The x=0.15 sample shows the highest MR([approximate]80%), which might result from the co-existence of Cu3-Cu2+ and the dilution effect of Cu-doping on the double exchange interaction

Dissolution, Reactor, And Environmental Behavior Of Zro2-Mgo Inert Fuel Matrix, Kenneth Czerwinski

Fuels Campaign (TRP)

This project examines inert 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 are 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 are synthesized and characterized based on the reactor physics results. The solubility of the fuel ceramics, in reactor conditions, reprocessing conditions, and repository conditions, are investigated in a manner to provide thermodynamic data necessary for …

Modeling And Simulation To Investigate Effects Of Static Mixer, Carrier Gas, Temperature And Pressure On The Mixing Ratio Of Carbon Nanotubes Growth Reactors, David Addie Noye

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The problem of this study was to investigate the effects of static mixer, carrier gas, carrier gas inlet pressures, and reactor operating temperatures on the mixing ratio of carbon nanotube synthesizing reactor. The methodology included design of static mixers, mathematical modeling, and computer modeling and simulation experiments.

The simulation experiment was performed based on single phase carrier gas modeling due to difficulty and time for three phase fluid modeling. First only nitrogen carrier gas in addition to the other three factors under constant inlet flow velocity and inlet temperature was simulated. Secondly, the same procedure was applied to argon carrier …

Effect Of Plasticizer On Pvac-D3 Dynamics Using 2h Solid-State Nmr, Rakesh R. Nambiar, Frank D. Blum

Chemistry Faculty Research & Creative Works

Poly(vinyl acetate) (PVAc) is an important polymer for use in many applications due to its various bulk and surface characteristics. The structure of poly(vinyl acetate) results in a relatively low glass transition temperature (Tg) and makes it important for processing and applications such as paints, adhesives, thin films and surface coatings. Poly(vinyl acetate) can also be easily plasticized, widening its range of applications. The term "plasticizer" refers to a species that will decrease Tg of a polymer.1 Polymer-plasticizer systems have been studied for years and continue to be of current interest. The effects of polymer-plasticizer interactions2 and plasticizer structure3 on …

Estimation Of Bound Carbonyls In Pmma-R-Ps Copolymers Adsorbed On Silica, Pavan K. Challa, Bing Zhang, Frank D. Blum

Chemistry Faculty Research & Creative Works

The adsorption of random copolymers on solid surfaces is essential for developing good properties in composite materials. A good control and understanding of interfaces allows tuning of the properties of the individual components. Interfacial polymers are important in many industrial applications such as photoresists, protective coatings, metal insulator and semi-conductor insulator junctions, metal-filled polymer composites and polymer-lined metal containers for protective food packaging. The effect of the drying process,1 configuration and tacticity,2 molecular mass, density of surface hydroxyls,3 and adsorbed amounts4 have already been studied for interfacial polymers. The thermal characterization for polystyrene,5 PMMA11 and PMMA-r- PS6 copolymers adsorbed on …

Segmental Dynamics In Poly(Methyl Acrylate)-D3 On Strongly And Weakly Adsorbing Silica Surfaces, Burak Metin, Frank D. Blum

Chemistry Faculty Research & Creative Works

The segmental dynamics of a polymer on a solid surface appears to be significantly different than that in bulk. The strength of the interaction between polymer segments and a solid surface is likely to be an important factor affecting the segmental mobility of the polymers. Studies of polymers on a weakly adsorbing surface would provide additional understanding of their motional characteristics on surfaces. In a recent NMR study by Rivillon et al., chain dynamics was seen to be different for samples, even when there was no specific interaction with the surface. Peanasky et al. have found a restricted segmental dynamics …

Tunable Multiferroic Properties In Nanocomposite Pbtio3-Cofe2O4 Epitaxial Thin Films, M. Murakami, K.-S. Chang, M. A. Aronova, C.-L. Lin, Ming H. Yu, Jason R. Hattrick-Simpers, M. Wuttig, I. Takeuchi, C. Gao, B. Hu, S. E. Lofland, L. A. Knauss, L. A. Bendersky

Faculty Publications

We report on the synthesis of PbTiO₃–CoFe₂O₄ multiferroic nanocomposites and continuous tuning of their ferroelectric and magnetic properties as a function of the average composition on thin-film composition spreads. The highest dielectric constant and nonlinear dielectric signal was observed at (PbTiO₃)₈₅–(CoFe₂O₄)₁₅, where robust magnetism was also observed. Transmission electron microscopy revealed a pancake-shaped epitaxial nanostructure of PbTiO₃ on the order of 30 nm embedded in the matrix of CoFe₂O₄ at this composition. Composition dependent ferroics properties observed here indicate that there …

Cryogenic Shape Memory Alloy Actuators For Spaceport Technologies: Materials Characterization And Prototype Testing, Jennifer Lemanski

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Shape memory alloys (SMAs) possess the unique ability to change their shape by undergoing a solid-state phase transformation at a particular temperature. The shape change is associated with a large strain recovery as the material returns to its "remembered" shape. Their ability to act as both sensor and actuator has made them an attractive subject of study for numerous applications. SMAs have many characteristics which are advantageous in space-related applications, including generation of large forces associated with the strain recovery, smooth and controlled movements, large movement to weight ratio, high reliability, and spark-free operation. The objective of this work is …

Self-Assembled Supramolecular Structures Of Chiral Phospholipids: Structure, Mechanical Properties And Patterning, Nidhi Mahajan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Lipid molecule is well known natural building block to form different supramolecular structures with specific shape, size and functionality. In my thesis work, I have used DC8,9PC 1,2-bis(tricosa-10,12-dinoyl)-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine), a type of chiral lipid to form the vesicles, tubules and ribbons . By using Atomic Force Microscope, I have studied the morphological features of these particular structures. Also, the mechanical properties of lipid tubules have been studied using AFM. Softlithography has been used to pattern the lipid vesicles and tubules into 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional ordered arrays. The structure of self-assembled hollow spherical vesicles was studied using AFM. The applications of soft …

Structural Evolution In Mechanically Alloyed Fe-Based Powder Systems, Umesh Patil

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A systematic study of iron-based binary and multi-component alloys was undertaken to study the structural evolution in these powders as a function of milling time during mechanical alloying. Blended elemental powders of Fe100-XBX (where x = 5, 10, 17, 20, 22, 25, 37.5 and 50 at. %) and a bulk metallic glass (BMG) composition (Fe60Co8Zr10Mo5W2B15) were subjected to mechanical alloying in a SPEX 8000 mixer mill. X-ray diffraction technique was employed to study the phase evolution, crystallite size, lattice strain and also to determine the crystal structure(s) of the phases. Depending on the milling time, formation of supersaturated solid solutions, …

Self-Assembly Of Ge Quantum Dots On Si(100)- 2×1 By Pulsed Laser Deposition, M. S. Hegazy, H. E. Elsayed-Ali

Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

Self-assembled Ge quantum dots are grown on Si(100)- 2×1 by pulsed laser deposition. The growth is studied by in situ reflection high-energy electron diffraction and postdeposition atomic force microscopy. After the completion of the wetting layer, transient hut clusters, faceted by different planes, are observed. When the height of these clusters exceeded a certain value, the facets developed into {305} planes. Some of these huts become {305}-faceted pyramids as the film mean thickness was increased. With further thickness increase, dome clusters developed on the expense of these pyramids. © 2005 American Institute of Physics. [DOI: 10.1063/1.1949285]

Study Of The Electronic Structure Of Cafeo₃, Jinbo Yang, M. S. Kim, Qingsheng Cai, X.-D. Zhou, Harlan U. Anderson, William Joseph James, William B. Yelon

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

We have studied the charge disproportionation phenomenon in CaFeO3 using the local-spin density approximation with the on-site Coulomb interaction parameter U and exchange parameter J. The calculation reveals that the total number of the 3d electrons is about 5.1 for both Fe(1)(Fe5+) and Fe(2)(Fe3+) atoms, and that there are about 0.25 electron holes in the O-2p band. Therefore, the charge disproportionation can be more accurately described as 2d5L(Fe4+)=d5L2(Fe5+)+d5(Fe3+), where L denotes a hole in the oxygen 2p band, instead of 2d4(Fe4+)=d3(Fe5+)+d5(Fe3+). The hybridization between the Fe-3d and O-2p orbitals is stronger for Fe(1) than for Fe(2) due to the shorter …

Approaches Toward Integrating Functionality Into Structural Materials, Rajiv S. Mishra

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

No abstract provided.

Nmr And Modulated Differential Scanning Calorimetry Of Adsorbed Poly(Methyl Acrylate) On Silica, Frank D. Blum, Burak Metin

Chemistry Faculty Research & Creative Works

The interaction between polymers and solid substrates can be studied by a variety of techniques. The results from different experiments can be affected by the nature of the polymer, surface, polymer-surface interactions and, also, the experiment. A great deal has been learned about the behavior of polymers at interfaces, but there is also much to be learned about the interactions and how they affect the physical properties of adsorbed polymers. In the present study, we report both deuterium nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and modulated differential scanning calorimetry (MDSC) of poly(methyl acrylate) (PMA) adsorbed on Cab-O-Sil silica. The focus of this …

Coupled Electrical And Magnetic Properties In (La,Sr)Feo3-Δ, X.-D. Zhou, Qingsheng Cai, Jinbo Yang, M. S. Kim, William B. Yelon, William Joseph James, Y.-W. Shin, B. J. Scarfino, Harlan U. Anderson

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This article is aimed at studying the temperature dependence oxygen nonstoichiometry, magnetic moments, Fe³⁺ fraction, Néel temperature and conductivity of (La,Sr)FeO_3-δ. It is found that the magnetic properties in La_0.60 Sr_0.40 Fe_3-δ is determined by Fe³⁺ and its concentration, and the conductance is resulted from Fe⁴⁺ ions, which act as electron holes. Both of magnetic and electrical properties were directly governed by oxygen nonstoichiometry (δ). when δ=0.2, the compound has maximum Fe³⁺, the saturation magnetic moments and Néel temperature are 3.8 µB and 410 °C, both at the highest level, …

Alloy Recovery And Control In Steel Melting, Kent D. Peaslee, Darryl S. Webber, Semen Naumovich Lekakh, Bradley Randall

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Alloy recovery plays an important role in steel melting economics because the cost of alloying additives such as ferroalloys and pure non-ferrous metals is significantly higher than the cost of steel scrap. Recovery of alloying additives also influences the reproducibility of steel properties from heat to heat. This paper reviews alloy recovery and final chemistry distributions at seven steel foundries and preliminary laboratory studies of alloy dissolution in ladles. Melting and alloy practices were observed for several plant trial heats in each of the foundries. Alloying and chemistry data were collected for an additional 20 - 155 heats at each …

Efficiency In Steel Melting: Ladle Development, Kent D. Peaslee, Semen Naumovich Lekakh, Todd P. Sander, Jeffrey D. Smith

Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Effective ladle design and use is important for steel casting production. In foundry operations, the ladle temperature of the liquid steel is typically 150 to 250°F above the steel's melting point to compensate for the heat losses in small ladles and the associated high cooling rates from the large surface area to volume ratios. Higher superheat is also necessary to provide sufficient steel fluidity to properly fill the mold cavity. In spite of the relatively short time that the steel is in contact with the ladle lining, the huge thermal gradients in the lining drive high values of heat flow …