Surface Graft Copolymerization of Poly(vinylidene fluoride) Film with Simultaneous Lamination to Copper Foil

Surface thermal graft copolymerization with concurrent lamination was carried out between an Ar plasma pretreated poly(vinyh'dene fluoride) (PVDF) film and a copper foil in the presence of a small quantity of a N-containing monomer, such as 4-vinyl pyridine (4-VPN) and acryloyl morpholine (ACMO), under atmospheric conditions and in the complete absence of an added polymerization initiator and system degassing. The adhesion strength, as reported by T-peel strength, was dependent on the argon plasma pretreatment time of the PVDF film, the thermal lamination temperature and the type of monomer. An optimum T-peel adhesion of about 10 N/cm was readily achieved in the Cu/PVDF laminate for grafting and lamination carried out in the presence of 4-VPN. A lower adhesion strength was obtained using ACMO and other N-containing monomers. The chemical compositions of the graft copolymerized and delaminated sample surfaces were studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The failure mode of the Cu/4-VPN/PVDF assembly was a combined adhesional and cohesive failure. The strong adhesion between the Cu foil and the PVDF film arises from the strong charge transfer interaction between Cu and the pyridine ring, as well as the fact that the graft chains are covalently tethered on the PVDF films surfaces as a result of surface graft copolymerization.     

Dilute solution properties of anionic poly(potassium-2-sulfopropylmethacrylate)

The dilute solution properties of an anionic polyelectrolyte, poly(potassium-2-sulfopropylmethacrylate) [poly(SPM)], are studied by measurements of polymerization rate, intrinsic viscosity, degree of binding, ionic strength, and critical micelle concentration. The polymerization of SPM in 0.5M NaCl aqueous solution proceeded more easily than that of SPM in pure water. The polymerization rate of SPM is found to pass through an extreme value as a function of pH. The intrinsic viscosity of this polyelectrolyte is related to the type and concentration of the salt added. The intrinsic viscosity for anionic polyelectrolyte resulting from the electrostatic repulsive force of the polymer chain is in contrast with the polyampholyte. The polyelectrolyte in a high concentration of NaCl has a low degree of binding, indicating that the proton ion (H⁺) is relatively difficult to bind to the sulfonate group (SO⁻₃) at the polymer end. An increase in ionic strength causes the pKa (dissociation constant) to decrease at the half-neutralization point. The monomer solutions exhibit a plot typical of those observed for detergents, with a break in the curve occurring at the critical micelle concentration. For the polymer solutions, no break in the equivalent conductance curve was found for the concentrations studied. The polymer is adapted for use as viscosity-controlling agents in secondary oil recovery operations by water flooding. We have the proposed models to account for the poly(SPM) solution viscometrics. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Development of an amperometric ethanol biosensor based on a multiwalled carbon nanotube-Nafion-alcohol dehydrogenase nanobiocomposite

An amperometric biosensor for the determination of ethanol has been constructed. It comprises a multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) conduit, a Nafion binder, and an alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) function. The measurement of ethanol is based on the signal produced by beta-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH), the product of the enzymatic reaction. The MWNTs are cylindrical with an outer diameter in the range 40-60 nm, an inner diameter in the range 2-5 nm, and a length of up to several micrometers. The homogeneity of the resulting nanobiocomposite film was characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The performance of the MWNTs-Nafion-ADH nanobiocomposite modified glassy carbon electrode was examined using cyclic voltammetry and amperometry in presence of NADH and in the presence of ethanol. The electrocatalytic activity of MWNTs towards the oxidation of NADH has allowed an effective low-potential amperometric determination of ethanol. In the case of 6 mgmL(-1) ADH, the MWNTs-Nafion-ADH nanobiocomposite film displayed a sensitivity of 830 nAmM(-1), a linear range up to 0.1 mM, a detection limit of 3 microM, and a response time of about 4 s.     

Neuronal growth cones respond to laser-induced axonal damage

Although it is well known that damage to neurons results in release of substances that inhibit axonal growth, release of chemical signals from damaged axons that attract axon growth cones has not been observed. In this study, a 532 nm 12 ns laser was focused to a diffraction-limited spot to produce site-specific damage to single goldfish axons in vitro. The axons underwent a localized decrease in thickness (‘thinning’) within seconds. Analysis by fluorescence and transmission electron microscopy indicated that there was no gross rupture of the cell membrane. Mitochondrial transport along the axonal cytoskeleton immediately stopped at the damage site, but recovered over several minutes. Within seconds of damage nearby growth cones extended filopodia towards the injury and were often observed to contact the damaged site. Turning of the growth cone towards the injured axon also was observed. Repair of the laser-induced damage was evidenced by recovery of the axon thickness as well as restoration of mitochondrial movement. We describe a new process of growth cone response to damaged axons. This has been possible through the interface of optics (laser subcellular surgery), fluorescence and electron microscopy, and a goldfish retinal ganglion cell culture model.     

Airside performance of herringbone wavy fin-and-tube heat exchangers – data with larger diameter tube

This study examines the airside performance of the wavy fin-and-tube heat exchangers having a larger diameter tube (D_c = 16.59 mm) with the tube row ranging from 1 to 16. It is found that the effect of tube row on the heat transfer performance is quite significant, and the heat transfer performance deteriorates with the rise of tube row. The performance drop is especially pronounced at the low Reynolds number region. Actually more than 85% drop of heat transfer performance is seen for F_p ～ 1.7 mm as the row number is increased from 1 to 16. Upon the influence of tube row on the frictional performance, an unexpected row dependence of the friction factor is encountered. The effect of fin pitch on the airside performance is comparatively small for N = 1 or N = 2. However, a notable drop of heat transfer performance is seen when the number of tube row is increased, and normally higher heat transfer and frictional performance is associated with that of the larger fin pitch.     

Evaluation of commercial lithium-ion cells based on composite positive electrode for plug-in hybrid electric vehicle applications. Part I: Initial characterizations

Evaluating commercial Li-ion batteries presents some unique benefits. One of them is to use cells made from established fabrication process and form factor, such as those offered by the 18650 cylindrical configuration, to provide a common platform to investigate and understand performance deficiency and aging mechanism of target chemistry. Such an approach shall afford us to derive relevant information without influence from processing or form factor variability that may skew our understanding on cell-level issues. A series of 1.9 Ah 18650 lithium ion cells developed by a commercial source using a composite positive electrode comprising {LiMn_1/3Ni_1/3Co_1/3O₂ + LiMn₂O₄} is being used as a platform for the investigation of certain key issues, particularly path-dependent aging and degradation in future plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) applications, under the US Department of Energy's Applied Battery Research (ABR) program. Here we report in Part I the initial characterizations of the cell performance and Part II some aspects of cell degradation in 2C cycle aging. The initial characterizations, including cell-to-cell variability, are essential for life cycle performance characterization in the second part of the report when cell-aging phenomena are discussed. Due to the composite nature of the positive electrode, the features (or signature) derived from the incremental capacity (IC) of the cell appear rather complex. In this work, the method to index the observed IC peaks is discussed. Being able to index the IC signature in details is critical for analyzing and identifying degradation mechanism later in the cycle aging study.     

Metallic glasses: Gaining plasticity for microsystems

Since the 1960s, metallic glasses (MGs) have attracted tremendous re-search interest in materials science and engineering, given their unique cornbination of mechanical properties. How-ever, the industrial applications of MGs have been hindered due to their lack of ductility in bulk form at room temperature. In contrast, it was observed that MGs could exhibit excellent plasticity at the small size scale. In this article, we summarize the related experimental findings having been reported so far together with the possible origins of such a size effect in MGs. The enhanced plasticity of MGs in small volumes, together with their high mechanical strengths and remarkable thermoplastic formability, strongly implies that MGs are the promising materials for fabricating the next generation of micro- and nano-devices.     

Thin film metallic glasses: Preparations,properties, and applications

With unique properties such as high strength, amorphous alloys in the bulk form have been a focus for many studies in recent years. Yet, the amorphous alloys (metallic glass) in the thin film form have not received much attention. In this paper, we will review and report some important and interesting results obtained from these thin film metallic glasses in which unique physical and mechanical properties can be enhanced by changing their compositions and by the precipitation of nanoscale particles.     

Calculation of impurity diffusivities in α-Fe using first-principles methods

Self- and impurity diffusivities in body-centered-cubic (bcc) iron have been calculated within the formalisms of harmonic transition-state theory and the Le Claire nine-frequency model for vacancy-mediated diffusion. The approach combines first-principles calculations of vacancy formation, migration, and solute-binding enthalpies and entropies in the ferromagnetic phase, with an empirical relationship for the effect of magnetic disorder on diffusion activation energies. Calculated Fe self-diffusion and Mo and W impurity-diffusion coefficients are shown to agree within a factor of five with the most recent experimental measurements in both the ferromagnetic and paramagnetic phases. Calculated diffusion coefficients for Mo and W impurities are comparable to or larger than that for Fe self-diffusion at all temperatures below the α–γ phase transition. Calculated activation energies for Ta and Hf impurities suggest that these solutes should also display impurity-diffusion coefficients larger than that for self-diffusion in body-centered cubic Fe.     

Fatigue and Fracture Behavior of a Ca-Based Bulk-Metallic Glass

The compression and fatigue behavior of a Ca₆₅Mg₁₅Zn₂₀ bulk-metallic glass (BMG) was studied in air at room temperature. During the preparation of cubical samples of the Ca₆₅Mg₁₅Zn₂₀ for compression and fatigue investigations, small spherical cavities were found. Under both monotonic and cyclic compression loadings of the samples, fractures initiated at these cavities and propagated in a direction generally parallel to the loading axis. Finite-element analysis (FEA) was used to model the fracture behavior. The FEA of a centrally located spherical void showed that under compression loading, large tensile stresses evolved in the cavities. The orientation of the maximum principal stress (P1) was found to be normal to the direction of crack propagation, which is consistent with the experimental finding. Stresses in deeply embedded adjacent voids and those in superficial voids were also studied. The influence of the void location in the cubical sample on the fracture behavior was quantitatively discussed.