INVESTIGATION OF METALLOPORPHYRIN MODIFIED HOPG AND GC ELECTRODES BY SCANNING TUNNELING MICROSCOPE

HOPG and GC electrode surface feature modified with Cobaltmethyltetraphenylorphyrins (CoTPP) was investigated by scanning tunneling microscope combined with cyclic voltammograms. The effect of electrode surface morphologie

Study on the structure of C-phycocyanin in Spirulina platensis with scanning tunneling microscope

The C-phycocyanin (C-PC) trimmer was isolated from the blue-green alga Spirulina platensis, and scanning tunnelling microscope (STM) was used to investigate its structure, High resolution STM images of C-PC were obtained. From the STM images, it could be observed that the C-PC molecules were disk-like in shape and the subunits of C-PC arranged in ring-like pattern with a channel in the center. After filter treatment, the folding of the polypeptide chains could be. seen clearly. This is the first time to observe directly the topography of phycobiliprotein, and the results showed STM to be a powerful tool for the structural study of phycobiliproteins.

INVESTIGATION OF C-PHYCOCYANIN FROM BLUE-GREEN-ALGA SPIRULINA-PLATENSIS WITH SCANNING TUNNELING MICROSCOPE

C-phycocyanin (C-PC) was isolated from blue-green alga spirulina platensis. A scanning tunneling microscope (STM) has been used to investigate its three-dimensional structure. The samples were dialyzed before the STM experiment, and then deposited on highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG). The measurement was carried out in ambient condition at room temperature. STM images showed that C-phycocyanin was uniformly distributed on solid-state substrate HOPG. The shape of C-phycocyanin is disklike with a channel in the center. It is concluded that STM has great potential to observe the structure of biliproteins and phycobilisomes.

Net-like Ferromagnetic Mnsb Film Deposited on Porous Silicon Substrates

MnSb films were deposited on porous silicon substrates by physical vapor deposition (PVD) technique. Modulation effects due to the substrate on microstructure and magnetic properties of the MnSb film's were studied by scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and measurements of hysteresis loops. SEM images of the MnSb films indicate that net-like structures were obtained because of the special morphology of the substrates. The net-like MnSb films exhibit some novel magnetic properties different from the unpatterned referenced samples. For example, in the case of net-like morphology, the coercive field is as low as 60 Oe.

Thermal Properties Measurement of Micro-Electromechanical System Sensors by Digital Moire Method

The thermal properties of a micro-electromechanical system sensor were analysed by a novel digital moire method. A double-layer micro-cantilever sensor (60 mu m long, 10 mu m width and 2 mu dm thick) was prepared by focused ion beam milling. A grating with frequency of 5000 lines mm- I was etched on the cantilever. The sensor was placed into a scanning electron microscope system with a high temperature device. The observation and recording of the thermal deformation of the grating were realised in real-time as the temperature rose from room temperature to 300 degrees C at intervals of 50 degrees C. Digital moire was generated by interference of the deformed grating and a digital virtual grating. The thermal properties including strain distribution of the sensor and the linear expansion coefficient of polysilicon were accurately measured by the phase-shifted moire patterns.

Failure modes of doubly supported capacitive RF MEMS switches

For the design of radio frequency micro-electro-mechanical systems (RF MEMS) switches, the reliability issue becomes increasingly important. This paper represents some failure phenomena of doubly supported capacitive RF MEMS switches that include observable destruction failure and directly measurable parameter degradation obtained from the actuating-voltage testing and scanning electron microscope (SEM) observation. The relevant failure modes as well as their failure mechanisms are identified.

Essential and Non-Essential Work of Fracture of PI/SiO2 Hybrid Thin Films

Essential work of fracture (EWF) analysis is used to study the effect of the silica doping level on fracture toughness of polyimide/silica (PI/SiO2) hybrid films. By using double-edge-notched-tension (DENT) specimens with different ligament lengths, it seems that the introduction of silica additive can improve the specific essential work of fracture (w (e) ) of PI thin films, but the specific non-essential work of fracture (beta w (p) ) will decease significantly as the silica doping level increasing from 1 to 5 wt.%, and even lower than that of neat PI. The failure process of the fracture is investigated with online scanning electron microscope (SEM) observation and the parameters of non-essential work of fracture, beta and w (p) , are calculated based on finite element (FE) method.

Preliminary Investigations on Low-Pressure Laminar Plasma Spray Processing

The usual plasma spraying methods often involve entrainment of the surrounding air into the turbulent plasma core and result in coated materials having relatively high porosity and low adhesive strength. Therefore, exploration of new plasma spraying methods for fabricating high quality coatings to meet the requirement of special applications will be quite important. In this study, an alternative plasma spraying method, i.e. the low-pressure laminar plasma spraying process, is investigated and used in an attempt for spraying thermal barrier coatings (TBCs). Investigations on the characteristics of the laminar plasma jets, feeding methods for the ceramic powder and the formation process of the individual quenched splats have been carried out. The properties of the TBCs sprayed by laminar plasma jet process, such as the adhesive strength at the interface of the ceramic coating/bond coat, the surface roughness and microstructure, are examined by tensile tests and scanning electron microscope (SEM) observations.

Damage of a high-energy solid propellant and its effects on combustion

In order to improve the safety of high-energy solid propellants, a study is carried out for the effects of damage on the combustion of the NEPE (Nitrate Ester Plasticized Polyether) propellant. The study includes: (1) to introduce damage into the propellants by means of a large-scale drop-weight apparatus; (2) to observe microstructural variations of the propellant with a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and then to characterize the damage with density measurements; (3) to investigate thermal decomposition; (4) to carry out closed-bomb tests. The NEPE propellant can be considered as a viscoelastic material. The matrices of damaged samples axe severely degraded, but the particles are not. The results of the thermal decomposition and closed-bomb tests show that the microstructural damage in the propellant affects its decomposition and burn rate.

Undercooling and Rapid Solidification of Nb-Si Eutectic Alloys Studied by Long Drop Tube

Niobium-silicide alloys have great potential for high temperature turbine applications. The two-phase Nb/Nb5Si3 in situ composites exhibit a good balance in mechanical properties. Using the 52 in drop tube, the effect of undercooling and rapid solidification on the solidification process and micro-structural characterization of Nb-Si eutectic alloy was studied. The microstructures of the Nb-Si composites were investigated by optics microscope (OM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) equipped with X-ray energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS). Up to 480 K, deep undercooling of the Nb-Si eutectic samples was successfully obtained, which corresponds to 25% of the liquidus temperature. Contrasting to the conventional microstructure usually found in the Nb-Si eutectic alloy, the microstructure of the undercooled sample is divided into the fine and coarse regions. The most commonly observed microstructure is Nb+Nb5Si3, and the Nb3Si phase is not be found. The change of coarseness of microstructure is due to different cooling rates during and after recalescence. The large undercooling is sufficient to completely bypass the high temperature phase field.

Deformation and Failure of Polymer Bonded Explosives under Diametric Compression Test

The tensile deformation and failure of polymer bonded explosives (PBXs), a particulate composite, is studied in this paper. Two HMX-based PBXs with different binder were selected for study. A diametric compression test, in which a disc-shaped specimen is loaded diametrically, was chosen to generate tensile failure in the materials. The quasi-static tensile properties and the tensile creep properties were studied by using conventional displacement transducers to measure the lateral strain along the horizontal diameter. The whole-field in-plane creep deformation was measured by using the technique of high resolution moire´ interferometry. Real time microscopic examination was conducted to monitor the process of deformation and failure of PBXs by using a scanning electron microscope equipped with a loading stage. A manifold method (MM) was used to simulate the deformation and failure of PBX samples under the diametric compression test, including the crack initiation, crack propagation and final cleavage fracture. The mechanisms of deformation and failure of PBXs under diametric compression were analyzed. The diametric compression test and the techniques developed in this research have proven to be applicable to the study of tensile properties of PBXs.

Microstructure, deformation and failure of polymer bonded explosives

Polymer bonded explosives (PBXs) are highly particle filled composite materials comprised of explosive crystals and a polymeric binder (ca. 5-10% by weight). The microstructure and mechanical properties of two pressed PBXs with different binder systems were studied in this paper. The initial microstructure of the pressed PBXs and its evolution under different mechanical aggressions were studied, including quasi-static tension and compression, ultrasonic wave stressing and long-pulse low-velocity impact. Real-time microscopic observation of the PBXs under tension was conducted by using a scanning electron microscope equipped with a loading stage. The mechanical properties under tensile creep, quasi-static tension and compression were studied. The Brazilian test, or diametrical compression, was used to study the tensile properties. The influences of pressing pressures and temperatures, and strain rates on the mechanical properties of PBXs were analyzed. The mesoscale damage modes in initial pressed samples and the samples insulted by different mechanical aggressions, and the corresponding failure mechanisms of the PBXs under different loading conditions were analyzed.

Embryo-damage induced nucleation of microcracks in an aluminum-alloy under impact loading

The nucleation of microdamage under dynamic loading was investigated through planar impact experiments accomplished with a light gas gun. The microscopic observation of recovered and sectioned specimens showed that microcracks were nucleated only by cracking of brittle particles inside material. However, for comparison the in situ static tensile tests on the same material conducted with a scanning electron microscope showed that the microcracks were nucleated by many forms those were fracture of ductile matrix, debonding particles from matrix and cracking of brittle particles. The quantitative metallographic observations of the specimens subjected to impact loading showed that most of the cracked particles were situated on grain boundaries of the aluminium matrix. These facts suggested the concept of critical size and incubation time of submicroscopic cavities in the dynamic case and the mechanism of embryo-damage induced nucleation by fracture of brittle particles in the aluminium alloy under impact loading was proposed.

The interlaminar fracture-behavior and toughening mechanisms of new carbon-fiber-reinforced bismaleimide composites

The interlaminar fracture behaviour of carbon fibre-reinforced bismaleimide (BMI) composites prepared by using a new modified BMI matrix has been investigated by various methods. Laminates of three typical stacking sequences were evaluated. Double cantilever beam, end-notch flexure and edge-delamination tension tests were conducted under conventional conditions and in a scanning electron microscope. The strain energy release rates in Mode I and Mode III G(lc) and G(llc), as well as the total strain energy release rate, G(mc), have been determined and found to be higher than those for laminates with an epoxy matrix. Dynamic delamination propagation was also studied. The toughening mechanisms are discussed.