Junctionless double gate non-parabolic variable barrier height Si-MOSFET for energy efficient application

Microsystem Technologies - Analytical model for the computation of drain current of the junction-less double gate junction-less MOSFET with a variable barrier height has been presented in this...     

Alternatives of resorcinol in carbon black filled belt skim compound: A sustainable approach to make tire

As per global trends, new legislation, regulations, and restrictions on the use of hazardous materials with respect to environmental concerns, it has become necessary to eliminate resorcinol from the rubber compound as it was generating carcinogenic fumes during processing at high temperature. In this research, two non-hazardous phenolic resins [A] and [B] were explored, in place of resorcinol, in a typical PCR tire belt skim compound. The entire study includes three phases. In Phase I, resorcinol was substituted with both the resins and it was revealed that they have potential to function as resorcinol in rubber-brass bonding mechanism with few limitations, primarily as low cure rate. In Phase II, it was adjusted by incorporating TBBS as an additional accelerator but an abrupt loss in extent of adhesion retention was noticed for aged samples. It leads to further investigation in Phase II compositions. In Phase III, a little amount of precipitated silica was formulated, which results into a significant revival of adhesion retention. Eventually, both the compounds were showing faster vulcanizing characteristics, improved aged and un-aged properties, higher dynamic stiffness, and lower hysteresis. Compound [B] showed best performance in all the properties except fatigue crack growth rate in low strain percentage.     

Historical Origin and Recent Development on Normal Directional Impact Models for Rigid Body Contact Simulation: A Critical Review

The impact is one of the most abundant phenomena in the field of multi-body dynamics when two or more bodies come in close vicinity and depending on the interaction properties and geometry, all the interacting bodies experience certain impulsive force for an infinitesimal duration. Nowadays, impact modelling becomes an intrinsic part in the modelling of structural pounding, granular materials, crash and machinery analysis, robotics and bio-mechatronics applications. Since the time of Newton, numerous literatures have been published on the modelling of both normal and oblique contact phenomena. The scope of this critical review is limited to consolidate the existing knowledge on the computational model of normal directional impact on rigid bodies. The literature related to modelling of oblique impact, soft body impact, impact damage in composites and associated stress wave propagation are excluded from the scope of this critical review. Smooth and non-smooth mechanics are two schools of thought in simulating the normal directional impact. In this review, the shortcomings of all the classes of compliance and non-smooth models are analysed in the unified dimensionless frame-work to compare their response output with the conventional stereo-mechanical model. This review opens a new avenue for future researchers in selecting a proper contact formulation for specific application.     

Glucose sensing using near-infrared surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy: gold surfaces, 10-day stability, and improved accuracy

This research presents the achievement of significant milestones toward the development of a minimally invasive, continuously monitoring, glucose-sensing platform based on the optical quantitation of glucose in interstitial fluid. We expand our initial successes in the measurement of glucose by surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), demonstrating substantial improvements not only in the quality and optical properties of the substrate system itself but also in the robustness of the measurement methodology and the amenability of the technique to compact, diode laser-based instrumentation. Herein, we compare the long-term stability of gold to silver film over nanosphere (AuFON, AgFON) substrates functionalized with a partitioning self-assembled monolayer (SAM) using both electrochemical and SERS measurements. AuFONs were found to be stable for a period of at least 11 days. The switch to AuFONs not only provides a more stable surface for SAM formation but also yields better chemometric results, with improved calibration and validation over a range of 0.5-44 mM (10-800 mg/dL). Measured values for glucose concentrations in phosphate-buffered saline (pH approximately 7.4) based on 160 independent SERS measurements on AuFONs have a root-mean-square error of prediction of 2.7 mM (49.5 mg/dL), with 91% of the values falling within an extended A-B range on an expanded Clarke error grid. Furthermore, AuFONs exhibit surface plasmon resonances at longer wavelengths than similar AgFONs, which make them more efficient for SERS at near-infrared wavelengths, enabling the use of low-power diode lasers in future devices.     

Kinetics of polymerisation of furfuryl alcohol in aqueous solution

Kinetic information on the polymerisation of furfuryl alcohol catalysed by Clark-Lubs' aqueous buffer in the pH range of 1.0–2.2 has been derived from the rate of increase of colour intensity measured with a photoelectric colorimeter. The polymerisation reaction is found to be of zero order, with the activation energy increasing exponentially with pH. The time required to reach the extent of reaction at which a resin layer separates out from the aqueous solution decreases with increasing temperature but increases with increasing pH. An exponential expression relating the time for phase separation with temperature and pH has been derived.     

Gestational exposure to chlorpyrifos: apparent protection of the fetus?

Advances in endoscopic instrumentation and techniques offer new alternatives for safe and effective treatment of urethral strictures. Visual internal urethrotomy, the standard treatment modality, is associated with new scar formation with stricture recurrence. This experience has led to the investigation of alternative techniques which would avoid or ameliorate this result. This article reviews the current literature and discusses these newer approaches, including balloon dilatation, laser urethrotomy, endoscopic urethroplasty, "cut to the light" and "core through" procedures, and urethral wallstent implantation.     

Dual ISM band printed antenna with omnidirectional radiation pattern and better radiation efficiency

Designing a high gain planar antenna on the low‐cost FR4 substrate is one of the major challenging tasks for the researchers. The omnidirectional radiation pattern is desired for 360° coverage. Both of these requirements have been addressed in this article. This article presents a dual band printed antenna designed on an FR4 substrate of 1.6 mm thickness. The proposed antenna operates in the ISM band of 2.4 and 5.8 GHz for the application of dual‐band WLAN/WIFI. The proposed antenna consists of a circular patch and ring‐shaped ground plane. The overall dimension of the antenna is 66 × 66 × 1.6 mm³. Excellent impedance matching and radiation efficiency for both the bands have been achieved. The proposed antenna shows omnidirectional radiation pattern at 2.4 GHz ISM band and nearly omnidirectional pattern along with high gain of 4.7 dBi at 5.8 GHz ISM band.     

Chemical toughening of epoxies. II. Mechanical,thermal, and microscopic studies of epoxies toughened with hydroxyl-terminated poly(butadiene-co-acrylonitrile)

Diglycidyl ether–bisphenol-A-based epoxies toughened with various levels (0–12%) of chemically reacted liquid rubber, hydroxyl-terminated poly(butadiene-co-acrylonitrile) (HTBN) were studied for some of the mechanical and thermal properties. Although the ultimate tensile strength showed a continuous decrease with increasing rubber content, the toughness as measured by the area under the stress-vs.-strain curve and flexural strength reach a maximum around an optimum rubber concentration of 3% before decreasing. Tensile modulus was found to increase for concentrations below 6%. The glass transition temperature T_g as measured by DTA showed no variation for the toughened formulations. The TGA showed no variations in the pattern of decomposition. The weight losses for the toughened epoxies at elevated temperatures compare well with that of the neat epoxy. Scanning electron microscopy revealed the presence of a dual phase morphology with the spherical rubber particles precipitating out in the cured resin with diameter varying between 0.33 and 6.3 μm. In contrast, a physically blended rubber–epoxy showed much less effect towards toughening with the precipitated rubber particles of much bigger diameter (0.6–21.3 μm).     

Study on Solution Properties of Binary Mixtures of Some Industrially Important Solvents with Cyclohexylamine and Cyclohexanone at 298.15 K

Densities and viscosities were measured for the binary mixtures of cyclohexylamine and cyclohexanone with butyl acetate, butanone, butylamine, tert-butylamine, and 2-butoxyethanol at 298.15 K over the entire composition range. From density data, the values of the excess molar volume (V ^E) have been calculated. The experimental viscosity data were correlated by means of the equation of Grunberg–Nissan. The density and viscosity data have been analyzed in terms of some semiempirical viscosity models. The results are discussed in terms of molecular interactions and structural effects. The excess molar volume is found to be either negative or positive depending on the molecular interactions and the nature of the liquid mixtures and is discussed in terms of molecular interactions and structural changes.     

Use of poly(ethylene‐co‐vinyl alcohol) as compatibilizer in LDPE/thermoplastic tapioca starch blends

Poly(ethylene‐co‐vinyl alcohol) (EVOH) was used as a compatibilizer to make blends of low‐density polyethylene (LDPE) and plasticized starch (TS). The tensile properties and impact strength were measured and compared with those of neat LDPE. The morphology of the blend specimens, both fractured and unfractured, was observed by scanning electron microscopy. Comparison of the properties showed that the impact strength of the blend improves significantly by the addition of a compatibilizer even with a high TS loading of 40 and 50% (by weight). A high elongation at break almost matching that of neat polyethylene was also obtained. The blend morphology of the etched specimens revealed fine dispersion of the starch in the polyethylene matrix, while the fracture surface morphology clearly indicate that the failure of compatibilized blends occurs mainly by the ductile mode. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 86: 3126–3134, 2002