High electrical performance liquid-phase HBr oxidation gate insulator of InAlAs/InGaAs metamorphic MOS-mHEMT

The InAlAs/InGaAs metal-oxide-semiconductor metamorphic high electron mobility transistors (MOS-mHEMTs) were demonstrated by using liquid-phase HBr treatment technology to form a high-quality gate insulator layer. In this study, liquid-phase HBr treatment technology was used instead of traditional plasma-assisted chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) because the proposed technology can prevent the device from plasma-induced damage. The novel HBr + ultraviolet (UV) illumination treated InGaAs provided a lower surface states such that MOS structure can be efficiently obtained. Besides, based on the atomic force microscopy (AFM) measurement, the native oxides film formed by HBr + UV illumination treatment also provided a better surface roughness compared to traditional NH₄OH and only HBr treatment solutions. It is beneficial for reducing the surface traps and lowering the leakage current in MOS-mHEMTs. Based on the flicker noise and load-pull power measurement results, HBr + UV treatment mHEMT achieved a low flicker noise at high current level and the power-added efficiency can be enhanced up to 9%. Therefore, the novel liquid phase method of HBr + UV illumination treatment exhibited a highly potential for low noise microwave power device applications.     

Fracture Toughness of Advanced Structural Ceramics: Applying ASTM C1421

The three methods of determining the quasi‐static Mode I fracture toughness (K_Ic) (surface crack in flexure—SC, single‐edge precracked beam—PB, and chevron‐notched beam—VB) found in ASTM C1421 were applied to a variety of advanced ceramic materials. All three methods produced valid and comparable K_Ic values for the Al₂O₃, SiC, Si₃N₄, and SiAlON ceramics examined. However, not all methods could successfully be applied to B₄C, ZrO₂, and WC ceramics due to a variety of material factors. The coarse‐grained microstructure of one B₄C hindered the ability to observe and measure the precracks generated in the SC and PB methods while the transformation toughening in the ZrO₂ prevented the formation of the SC and PB precracks and thus made it impossible to use either method on this ceramic. The high strength and elastic modulus of the WC made it impossible to achieve stable crack growth using the VB method because the specimen stored a tremendous amount of energy prior to fracture. Even though these methods have passed the rigors of the standardization process there are still some issues to be resolved when the methods are applied to certain classes of ceramics. It is recommended that, when appropriate, at least two of these methods be employed to determine the K_Ic, especially when a new or unfamiliar ceramic is being evaluated.     

Zn in Athenian Black Gloss Ceramic Slips: A Trace Element Marker for Fabrication Technology

The black‐colored pottery slips produced in Athens from the 6th to 4th centuries B.C., had a consistent composition achieved through processing and refinement of raw clay. Little direct evidence has been established as to what were these refinement methods. To better understand how the slip material was prepared, the major and trace elemental compositions of 19 slips from different ceramic vessels and their corresponding bodies of Athenian red‐figure and black‐figure vases were determined using laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA‐ICPMS). Notably higher Zn concentrations were found in the slips (271–1959 ppm) than in their corresponding body ceramics (<361 ppm). The Zn concentrations in the slips were also found to be above the natural background for typical clay (between 10 and 300 ppm) suggesting an unintentional anthropogenic enrichment of this metal. Based on the abnormally high Zn content of the slip, it is speculated that the clay was treated using vitriol (concentrated acid mine runoff which is rich in Zn), to induce flocculation and remove carbonate mineral phases from the raw material that, if present, would prevent the slip from vitrifying. This same signature of elevated levels of Zn with a corresponding Ce anomaly is also observed for black glosses produced in Corinthian and Etrurian (Italy) workshops indicating that these trace element signatures were imparted to the material by means of shared methods of manufacturing instead of being indicative of a single unique source for this material.     

Epoxidized linolenic acid salts as multifunctional additives for the thermal stability of plasticized PVC

Calcium and zinc salts of epoxidized linolenic acid were synthesized and used as multifunctional additives, to minimize or prevent the reaction of epoxidized soybean oil (ESO) with liberated hydrochloric acid (HCl) during the thermal degradation of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) in particular. These metal epoxy salts were incorporated as thermal stabilizers for both diisodecyl phthalate and ESO–plasticized PVC blends that underwent thermal degradation studies at 170°C. The overall performance of these metal epoxy salts was examined by thermal gravimetric analysis and visual color retention of the PVC blends. The weight loss profiles of the metal salt stabilized PVC were comparable to those of blends containing metal stearates. There were, however, vast improvements in color retention of the plasticized PVC using these novel additives. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 41736.     

Low Dietary c9t11-Conjugated Linoleic Acid Intake from Dairy Fat or Supplements Reduces Inflammation in Collagen-Induced Arthritis

Dietary cis‐9,trans‐11 (c9t11) conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) fed at 0.5 % w/w was previously shown to attenuate inflammation in the murine collagen‐induced (CA) arthritis model, and growing evidence implicates c9t11‐CLA as a major anti‐inflammatory component of dairy fat. To understand c9t11‐CLA's contribution to dairy fat's anti‐inflammatory action, the minimum amount of dietary c9t11‐CLA needed to reduce inflammation must be determined. This study had two objectives: (1) determine the minimum dietary anti‐inflammatory c9t11‐CLA intake level in the CA model, and (2) compare this to anti‐inflammatory effects of dairy fat (non‐enriched, naturally c9t11‐CLA‐enriched, or c9t11‐CLA‐supplemented). Mice received the following dietary fat treatments (w/w) post arthritis onset: corn oil (6 % CO), 0.125, 0.25, 0.375, and 0.5 % c9t11‐CLA, control butter (6 % CB), c9t11‐enriched butter (6 % EB), or c9t11‐CLA‐supplemented butter (6 % SB, containing 0.2 % c9t11‐CLA). Paw arthritic severity and pad swelling were scored and measured, respectively, over an 84‐day study period. All c9t11‐CLA and butter diets decreased the arthritic score (25–51 %, P < 0.01) and paw swelling (8–11 %, P < 0.01). Throughout the study, plasma tumor necrosis factor (TNFα) was elevated in CO‐fed arthritic mice compared to non‐arthritic (NA) mice but was reduced in 0.5 % c9t11‐CLA‐ and EB‐fed mice. Interleukin‐1β and IL‐6 were increased in arthritic CO‐fed mice compared to NA mice but were reduced in 0.5 % c9t11‐CLA‐ and EB‐fed mice through day 42. In conclusion, 0.125 % c9t11‐CLA reduced clinical arthritis as effectively as higher doses, and decreased arthritis in CB‐fed mice suggested that the minimal anti‐inflammatory levels of c9t11‐CLA might be below 0.125 %.     

Copper(I)-Dioxygen Adducts and Copper Enzyme Mechanisms

Primary copper(I)-dioxygen (O₂) adducts, cupric-superoxide complexes, have been proposed intermediates in copper-containing dioxygen-activating monooxygenase and oxidase enzymes. Here, mechanisms of C−H activation by reactive copper-(di)oxygen intermediates are discussed, with an emphasis on cupric-superoxide species. Over the past 25 years, many synthetically derived cupric-superoxide model complexes have been reported. Due to the thermal instability of these intermediates, early studies focused on increasing their stability and obtaining physical characterization. More recently, in an effort to gain insight into the possible substrate oxidation step in some copper monooxygenases, several cupric-superoxide complexes have been used as surrogates to probe substrate scope and reaction mechanisms. These cupric superoxides are capable of oxidizing substrates containing weak O−H and C−H bonds. Mechanistic studies for some enzymes and model systems have supported an initial hydrogen-atom abstraction via the cupric-superoxide complex as the first step of substrate oxidation.     

Additive Manufacturing of Dense Ceramic Parts via Direct Ink Writing of Aqueous Alumina Suspensions

Additive manufacturing of near‐net‐shaped dense ceramic components has been established via room‐temperature direct writing of highly loaded aqueous alumina suspensions in a layer‐by‐layer fashion. The effect of alumina solid loading on rheology, specimen uniformity, density, microstructure, and mechanical properties was studied. All suspensions contained a polymer binder (~5 vol.%), dispersant, and 51–58 vol.% alumina powder. Rheological measurements indicated all suspensions to be yield‐pseuodoplastic, and both yield stress and viscosity were found to increase with increasing alumina solid loading. Shear rates ranging from 19.5 to 24.2/s, corresponding to viscosities of 9.8 to 17.2 Pa·s, for the 53–56 vol.% alumina suspensions were found to produce the best results for the 1.25‐mm tip employed during writing. All parts were sintered to >98% of true density, with grain sizes ranging from 3.2 to 3.7 μm. The average flexure strength, which ranged from 134 to 157 MPa, was not influenced by the alumina solid loading.