A New Image Analysis Based Method for Measuring Electrospun Nanofiber Diameter

In this paper, a new image analysis based method for electrospun nanofiber diameter measurement has been presented. The method was tested by a simulated image with known characteristics and a real web. Mean (M) and standard deviation (STD) of fiber diameter obtained using this method for the simulated image were 15.02 and 4.80 pixels respectively, compared to the true values of 15.35 and 4.47 pixels. For the real web, applying the method resulted in M and STD of 324 and 50.4 nm which are extremely close to the values of 319 and 42 nm obtained using manual method. The results show that this approach is successful in making fast, accurate automated measurements of electrospun fiber diameters.     

Achieving Outstanding Mechanical Performance in Reinforced Elastomeric Composite Fibers Using Large Sheets of Graphene Oxide

A simple fiber spinning method used to fabricate elastomeric composite fibers with outstanding mechanical performance is demonstrated. By taking advantage of the large size of as‐prepared graphene oxide sheets (in the order of tens of micrometers) and their liquid crystalline behavior, elastomeric composite fibers with outstanding low strain properties have been fabricated without compromising their high strain properties. For example, the modulus and yield stress of the parent elastomer improved by 80‐ and 40‐fold, respectively, while maintaining the high extensibility of ～400% strain inherent to the parent elastomer. This outstanding mechanical performance was shown to be dependent upon the GO sheet size. Insights into how both the GO sheet size dimension and dispersion parameters influence the mechanical behavior at various applied strains are discussed.     

Distance transform algorithm for measuring nanofiber diameter

This paper describes a new distance transform method used for measuring fiber diameter in electrospun nanofiber webs. In this algorithm, the effect of intersection is eliminated, which brings more accuracy to the measurement. The method is tested by a series of simulated images with known characteristics as well as some real webs obtained from electrospinning of PVA. Our method is compared with the distance transform method. The results obtained by our method were significantly better than the distance transform, indicating that the new method could successfully be used to measure electrospun fiber diameter.     

Synthesis and Characterization of the Antibacterial Activity of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles against Salmonella typhi

Metal oxides can be used as a series of new and effective anti-bacterial agents.In this study,four concentrations of ZnO nanoparticles(0.2,0.5,0.7 and 1.0 mol/L) were synthesized using a low-temperature sol-gel method annealed at400 and 550 °C.The products were characterized by X-ray diffraction(XRD),transmission electron microscopy(TEM)and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(FTER).XRD results show the hexagonal wurtzite structure of the nanoparticles with the grain size in the range of 38-43 nm.TEM micrographs exhibit a polyhedral form of the synthesized nanoparticles.The antimicrobial activity of different concentrations of nanoparticles against Salmonella typhi PTCC 1609 was determined by disk diffusion and agar dilution method at five concentrations of 10,5,2.5,1.25 and 0.625 mg/mL.Analysis shows that the prepared ZnO nanoparticles have a very effective antimicrobial activity against Salmonella typhi.This activity increases by reducing the size of nanoparticles and increasing their content in the bacterial growth medium.     

Experimental and numerical evaluation of rigid column to baseplate connection under cyclic loading

One of the most important connections in steel structures is column to the baseplate connection. This kind of connection has a complex nature, due to different behaviors of the constituents, including baseplate, grout, foundation, and anchor bolts. Studying the impact of this connection in general behavior of structure seems to be an essential issue, especially during earthquake, which is more likely to be associated with plastic hinge forming. The main goal of this work is to provide a hybrid modeling for describing hysteresis behavior of column to the baseplate connection. Within hybrid modeling, a mechanical model is accomplished by using neural network model components. Our findings reveal that hybrid models are able to show pinched hysteresis complex behavior of baseplate connections. Also, the proposed hybrid developed model is robust and reliable approaches for predicting behaviors of a recent designed connection.     

A new approach for optimization of electrospun nanofiber formation process

Precise control of fiber diameter during electrospinning is very crucial for many applications. A systematic and quantitative study on the effects of processing variables enables us to control the properties of electrospun nanofibers. In this contribution, response surface methodology (RSM) was employed to quantitatively investigate the simultaneous effects of four of the most important parameters, namely solution concentration (C), spinning distance (d), applied voltage (V) and volume flow rate (Q), on mean fiber diameter (MFD) as well as standard deviation of fiber diameter (StdFD) in electrospinning of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) nanofibers.     

Minimizing thermally induced interfacial shearing stress in a thermoelectric module with low fractional area coverage

High temperature differences between the ceramic parts in thermo-electric modules (TEMs) intended for high temperature applications makes the TEMs vulnerable to the elevated thermal stress leading to possible structural (mechanical) failures. The problem of reducing the interfacial shearing stress in a TEM structure is addressed using analytical and finite-element-analysis (FEA) modeling. The maximum shearing stress occurring at the ends of the peripheral legs (and supposedly responsible for the structural robustness of the assembly) is calculated for different leg sizes. Good agreement between the analytical and FEA predictions has been found. It is concluded that the shearing stress can be effectively reduced by using thinner (smaller fractional area coverage) and longer (in the through thickness direction of the module) legs and compliant interfacial materials.     

Strain‐Responsive Polyurethane/PEDOT:PSS Elastomeric Composite Fibers with High Electrical Conductivity

It is a challenge to retain the high stretchability of an elastomer when used in polymer composites. Likewise, the high conductivity of organic conductors is typically compromised when used as filler in composite systems. Here, it is possible to achieve elastomeric fiber composites with high electrical conductivity at relatively low loading of the conductor and, more importantly, to attain mechanical properties that are useful in strain‐sensing applications. The preparation of homogenous composite formulations from poly­urethane (PU) and poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) that are also processable by fiber wet‐spinning techniques are systematically evaluated. With increasing PEDOT:PSS loading in the fiber composites, the Young's modulus increases exponentially and the yield stress increases linearly. A model describing the effects of the reversible and irreversible deformations as a result of the re‐arrangement of PEDOT:PSS filler networks within PU and how this relates to the electromechanical properties of the fibers during the tensile and cyclic stretching is presented.     

Effects of the Cd:Zn:S molar ratio and heat treatment on the optical and photoluminescence properties of nanocrystalline CdZnS thin films

Nanocrystalline cadmium zinc sulfide thin films with different molar ratios were prepared by sol–gel dip-coating in a polyethyleneglycol matrix. After heat treatment in air at 250, 350 and 450 °C, the thin films were characterized by studying their structural, morphological, compositional, optical (linear and nonlinear) and photoluminescence (PL) properties. According to X-ray diffraction (XRD) results, the samples are polycrystalline with a hexagonal crystal structure and an average grain size of 12–18 nm. The surface morphology of the films was examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results show that the films consist of nanocrystalline grains included in clusters with uniform coverage over the substrate surface. To determine their chemical composition, X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS) of composite films were measured. The transmittance and bandgap of the films increased with the Zn concentration and decreased with increasing annealing temperature. The refractive index of the films was measured and the related dispersion is discussed in terms of the Wemple–DiDomenico single oscillator model. The third-order nonlinear polarizability of the films was estimated using a semi-empirical relation based on the single oscillator model. The results show that the films are suitable as optical switches. PL spectra were recorded for an excitation wavelength of 210 nm. The emission intensity for the films varied with the Zn ratio and the annealing temperature and the behavior of different peaks is discussed.