Effect of elements with positive enthalpy of mixing on mechanical properties of bulk metallic glasses

Samples of (Cu₄₆Zr₄₆Al₈)_100?xZ_x metallic glass forming alloys with diameters 2–6 mm were prepared by injection casting. The effect of minor amounts of elements Z = Gd, Co and Re with positive enthalpy of mixing within the Gd–Zr, Cu–Co and Cu–Re terminal systems was compared. The addition of Gd up to x = 2 slightly enhances the glass forming ability, Co reduces the critical diameter of bulk metallic glass formation, whereas even for small fractions of Re bulk samples were crystalline, but only amorphous splats can be prepared. Both Gd and Co diminish the crystallization temperature T_x with respect to the Cu₄₆Zr₄₆Al₈ master alloy, but in Re-bearing splats T_x is increased. Alloying with optimum amounts of Gd and Co up to x = 2 leads to plastic deformability of rods, 2 and 3 mm in diameter, in comparison with the brittle Cu₄₆Zr₄₆Al₈ bulk metallic glass.     

Electrochemical characterization of electrolytes for lithium-ion batteries based on lithium difluoromono(oxalato)borate

The salt lithium difluoromono(oxalato)borate (LiDFOB) showed some promising results for lithium-ion-cells. It was synthesized via a new synthetic route that avoids chloride impurities. Here we report the properties of its solutions (solvent blend ethylene carbonate/diethyl carbonate (3:7, mass ratio), including its conductivity, cationic transference number, hydrolysis, Al-current collector corrosion-protection ability and its cycling performance with some electrode materials. Some Al-corrosion studies were also performed with the help of our recently developed computer controlled impedance scanning electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM) that proofed to be a useful tool for battery material investigations.     

Nanoanalysis of interfacial chemistry

In recent years, atom probe tomography has advanced to an outstanding tool of analyzing interfacial chemistry in nanostructured materials. In this article, quantitative measurements of the natural width of multilayer interfaces and of segregation at grain boundaries and even at separate triple junctions of the boundary structure are presented and their physical consequences discussed.     

Absorbable polymer stent technologies for vascular regeneration

Stents are structural implants with widespread clinical use in vascular intervention to re‐open stenotic vessels for the treatment of coronary artery disease and peripheral arterial occlusive disease. Apart from their mechanical function, current drug‐eluting stents (DES) utilize local drug delivery from a drug‐incorporated permanent polymer coating to prevent in‐stent restenosis. This delayed closure of the stented vessel is considered one of the major limitations of conventional bare metal stents (BMS). The long‐term safety of DES, however, is still under debate, with reported cases of delayed healing, late thrombosis and hypersensitivity demanding further evolution in this field. A promising approach to circumvent the limitations of first generation DES is the application of degradable polymer coatings in second generation DES, and fully absorbable polymer stents. From a materials and engineering perspective, this paper provides a mini‐review of current clinically relevant DES technology and recent advancements in the development of stents from degradable polymeric materials as an alternative to permanent BMS and DES. This review, includes work on degradable stents and coatings based on blends of polylactic acid and the microbially‐produced poly(4‐hydroxybutyrate). Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry     

Development of Zn‐Mg alloy coatings by JVD

To promote continuous dry coatings for steel strip by PVD, CRM develops its own JVD (jet vapour deposition) simulator and applies an economical integration strategy combining continuous annealing of steel and vapour deposition by JVD. The JVD system is a very compact system, characterised by a high productivity, a very high metal yield, possibility of working at high partial pressure (up to 1 mbar), homogeneous metal distribution and alloy composition and good coating adherence. It was verified that continuous annealing is a very efficient surface pre‐treatment for steel strip in a wide range of industrial dew points. No additional thermal energy is needed for strip heating since this PVD system is introduced in the end section just after continuous annealing. Application to the Zn‐Mg system is described. Influence of annealing parameters, residual gas pressure, coating speed, steel strip temperature and chemistry are discussed.     

Comparison of soft-breakdown triggers for large-area capacitorsunder constant voltage stress

This work quantitatively compares soft breakdown identification methods for constant voltage stress of large-area nMOS capacitors (up to 10 mm²) with 1.8- to 12-nm gate-oxide thickness (with negative gate voltage). We conclude that in the studied range, breakdown is identified more reliably with a current step trigger than through increased current fluctuation. We present a method to quantify the system background noise, and show results of data filtering algorithms that significantly enhance the ratio between the breakdown signal and background noise level     

商用车涂料为水性聚氨酯涂料拓展更广泛的应用领域

随着环保重要性的不断增加以及法规压力的不断加大,西欧地区形成了各种低排放交通工具涂料的概念.本文着重介绍了双组分水性聚氨酯体系的应用情况,以及相关的原材料、技术和原理.     

A biologically inspired active compliant joint using local positive velocity feedback (LPVF).

Starting from studies which revealed that positive feedback is found in the control system for walking in arthropods, we have constructed a new positive feedback driven joint that can be used for solving compliant motion tasks. We propose two different joint constructions each of which shows passive compliance. Based on these joints we introduce three different local positive velocity feedback (LPVF) controllers and discuss their properties in the context of motion generation in closed kinematic chains. The third circuit named undelayed dLPVF is used for the control of a compliant planar manipulator which turns a crank. Our concept is of highly decentralized nature and follows the idea of embodiment. In our case this means that a process which is controlled by LPVF controllers reveals its nature when the controllers interact with this process.