Tailoring the microstructure and mechanical properties of arrays of aligned multiwall carbon nanotubes by utilizing different hydrogen concentrations during synthesis

We synthesize vertically aligned arrays of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in a chemical vapor deposition system with floating catalyst, using different concentrations of hydrogen in the gas feedstock. We report the effect of different hydrogen concentrations on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the resulting material. We show that a lower hydrogen concentration during synthesis results in the growth of stiffer CNT arrays with higher average bulk density. A lower hydrogen concentration also leads to the synthesis of CNT arrays that can reach higher peak stress at maximum compressive strain, and dissipate a larger amount of energy during compression. The individual CNTs in the arrays synthesized with a lower hydrogen concentration have, on average, larger outer diameters (associated with the growth of CNTs with a larger number of walls), but present a less uniform diameter distribution. The overall heights of the arrays and their strain recovery after compression have been found to be independent of the hydrogen concentration during growth. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Microstructure and mechanical properties of electron beam weld joints of a Zr41Ti14Cu12Ni10Be23 bulk metallic glass with Zr

The electron beam welding technique was used to join Zr41Ti14Cu12Ni10Be23 bulk metallic glass (BMG) to crystalline pure Zr. Compositional, microstructural, and mechanical property variations across the welded interface were evaluated. It is shown that a crystalline layer develops close to the welding interface. Transmission electron microscopy of this layer indicates the crystalline phase to be tetragonal with lattice parameters close to that reported for Zr2Ni. However, the composition of this phase is different as it contains other alloying additions. The interface layer close to the bulk metallic glass side contains nanocrystalline Zr2Cu phase embedded in the glassy matrix. Nanoindentation experiments indicate that the hardness of the crystalline layer, although less than the bulk metallic glass, is more than the Zr itself. Commensurately, tensile tests indicate that the failure of the welded samples occurs at the Zr side rather than at the weld joint.

Microstructure and mechanical properties of spray-formed Al-Si-Pb alloys

Liquid phase co-spray forming (LPCSF) was employed to produce two Al-Si-Pb alloys. The preforms thus obtained were then subjected to hot extrusion at different extrusion ratios. Following extrusion, the materials were tensile tested at room temperature. The distribution of Pb particles and the microstructural characterization in as-formed preforms and in the extruded rods were studied on the basis of SEM observation. The influence of the Pb content on the mechanical properties was investigated. (C) 2002 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.

Ligand-modulated Parallel Mechanical Unfolding Pathways of Maltose-binding Proteins

Protein folding and unfolding are complex phenomena, and it is accepted that multidomain proteins generally follow multiple pathways. Maltose-binding protein (MBP) is a large (a two-domain, 370-amino acid residue) bacterial periplasmic protein involved in maltose uptake. Despite the large size, it has been shown to exhibit an apparent two-state equilibrium unfolding in bulk experiments. Single-molecule studies can uncover rare events that are masked by averaging in bulk studies. Here, we use single-molecule force spectroscopy to study the mechanical unfolding pathways of MBP and its precursor protein (preMBP) in the presence and absence of ligands. Our results show that MBP exhibits kinetic partitioning on mechanical stretching and unfolds via two parallel pathways: one of them involves a mechanically stable intermediate (path I) whereas the other is devoid of it (path II). The apoMBP unfolds via path I in 62% of the mechanical unfolding events, and the remaining 38% follow path II. In the case of maltose-bound MBP, the protein unfolds via the intermediate in 79% of the cases, the remaining 21% via path II. Similarly, on binding to maltotriose, a ligand whose binding strength with the polyprotein is similar to that of maltose, the occurrence of the intermediate is comparable (82% via path I) with that of maltose. The precursor protein preMBP also shows a similar behavior upon mechanical unfolding. The percentages of molecules unfolding via path I are 53% in the apo form and 68% and 72% upon binding to maltose and maltotriose, respectively, for preMBP. These observations demonstrate that ligand binding can modulate the mechanical unfolding pathways of proteins by a kinetic partitioning mechanism. This could be a general mechanism in the unfolding of other large two-domain ligand-binding proteins of the bacterial periplasmic space.

Use of maleic anhydride-grafted polyethylene as compatibilizer for HDPE-tapioca starch blends: Effects on mechanical properties

Tapioca starch in both glycerol-plasticized and in unplasticized states was blended with high-density polyethylene (HDPE) using HDPE-g-maleic anhydride as the compatibilizer. The impact and tensile properties of the blends were measured according to ASTM methods. The results reveal that blends containing plasticized starch have better mechanical properties than those containing unplasticized starch. High values of elongation at break at par with those of virgin HDPE could be obtained for blends, even with high loading of plasticized starch. Morphological studies by SEM microscopy of impact-fractured specimens of such blends revealed a ductile fracture, unlike blends with unplasticized starch at such high loadings, which showed brittle fracture, even with the addition of compatibilizer. In general, blends of HDPE and plasticized starch with added compatibilizer show better mechanical properties than similar blends containing unplasticized starch. (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Coupled electro-mechanical response of an electroactive polymer cantilever structure and its application in energy harvesting

Ionic polymer-metal composites (IPMC), piezoelectric polymer composites and nematic elastomer composites are materials, which exhibit characteristics of both sensors and actuators. Large deformation and curvature are observed in these systems when electric potential is applied. Effects of geometric non-linearity due to the chargeinduced motion in these materials are poorly understood. In this paper, a coupled model for understanding the behavior of an ionic polymer beam undergoing large deformation and large curvature is presented. Maxwell's equations and charge transport equations are considered which couple the distribution of the ion concentration and the pressure gradient along length of a cantilever beam with interdigital electrodes. A nonlinear constitutive model is derived accounting for the visco-elasto-plastic behavior of these polymers and based on the hypothesis that the presence of electrical charge stretches/contracts bonds, which give rise to electrical field dependent softening/hardening. Polymer chain orientation in statistical sense plays a role on such softening or hardening. Elementary beam kinematics with large curvature is considered. A model for understanding the deformation due to electrostatic repulsion between asymmetrical charge distributions across the cross-sections is presented. Experimental evidence that Silver(Ag) nanoparticle coated IPMCs can be used for energy harvesting is reported. An IPMC strip is vibrated in different environments and the electric power against a resistive load is measured. The electrical power generated was observed to vary with the environment with maximum power being generated when the strip is in wet state. IPMC based energy harvesting systems have potential applications in tidal wave energy harvesting, residual environmental energy harvesting to power MEMS and NEMS devices.

An Empirical Model of the Process of Synthesis of Multiple State Mechanical Devices

Automated synthesis of mechanical designs is an important step towards the development of an intelligent CAD system. Research into methods for supporting conceptual design using automated synthesis has attracted much attention in the past decades. The research work presented here is based on the processes of synthesizing multiple state mechanical devices carried out individually by ten engineering designers. The designers are asked to think aloud, while carrying out the synthesis. The ten design synthesis processes are video recorded, and the records are transcribed and coded for identifying activities occurring in the synthesis processes, as well as for identifying the inputs to and outputs from the activities. A mathematical representation for specifying multi-state design task is proposed. Further, a descriptive model capturing all the ten synthesis processes is developed and presented in this paper. This will be used to identify the outstanding issues to be resolved before a system for supporting design synthesis of multiple state mechanical devices that is capable of creating a comprehensive variety of solution alternatives could be developed.