Preparation of films from aluminum acetylacetonate by plasma sputtering

Aluminum acetylacetonate has been reported as a precursor for the deposition of alumina films using different approaches. In this work, alumina-containing films were prepared by plasma sputtering this compound, spread directly on the powered lowermost electrode of a reactor, while grounding the substrates mounted on the topmost electrode. Radiofrequency power (13.56 MHz) was used to excite the plasma from argon atmosphere at a working pressure of 11 Pa. The effect of the plasma excitation power on the properties of the resulting films was studied. Film thickness and hardness were measured by profilometry and nanoindentation, respectively. The molecular structure and chemical composition of the layers were analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy. Surface micrographs, obtained by scanning electron microscopy, allowed the determination of the sample morphology. Grazing incidence X-ray diffraction was employed to determine the structure of the films. Amorphous organic layers were deposited with thicknesses of up to 7 μm and hardness of around 1.0 GPa. The films were composed by aluminum, carbon, oxygen and hydrogen, their proportions being strongly dependent on the power used to excite the plasma. A uniform surface was obtained for low-power depositions, but particulates and cracks appeared in the high-power prepared materials. The presence of different proportions of aluminum oxide in the coatings is ascribed to the different activations promoted in the metalorganic molecule once in the plasma phase. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Filmes orgânicos contendo óxido de alumínio depositados a plasma

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Innovative low temperature plasma approach for deposition of alumina films

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Técnica híbrida de plasma para a deposição de filmes de alumina

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Aluminum tolerance on genotypes of signal grass

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Effects of aluminum on plant growth and nutrient uptake in young physic nut plants

Aluminum (Al3+) toxicity is a major limiting factor to crop productivity in acid soils. The effects of aluminum on root and shoot growth of physic nut (Jatropha curcas L.) young plants and, the uptake and distribution of phosphorus, calcium, magnesium and aluminum in the roots and shoots were investigated in the present study. Plants were grown in 2.5L pots in a greenhouse. After fourteen days of adaptation to nutrient solution, plants were exposed to Al concentrations of 0, 370, 740, 1,100 and 1,480 mu mol L-1, corresponding to an active Al3+ solution of 13.3, 35.3, 90.0, 153.3 and 220.7 mu mol L-1, respectively. The dry matter partitioning between roots, stems and leaves, and the concentrations of P, Ca, Mg and Al in plant tissue, were measured after 75 days exposure to Al. The increasing level of Al3+ activity in solution progressively decreased the growth of the shoot and root of physic nut plants, and at the two highest active Al3+ levels, plants showed morphological abnormalities typical of the toxicity caused by this metal. Higher Al3+ activity reduced P concentrations in leaves and Ca and Mg in leaves and roots of physic nut, demonstrating the effect of Al on the uptake, transport and use of these nutrients by plants. The Al accumulated preferentially in the roots of physic nut, whereas only a small amount was transported to shoots.

Chemical and microbiological evaluation of the internal surfaces of aluminum tubes both unlined and lined with epoxi resin by means of the stereoscope and scanning electron microscope

A superfície interna das bisnagas fabricadas com alumínio não revestido e revestido com resina epóxi, utilizadas para acondicionar cremes, pomadas, géis, etc., foram avaliadas quimicamente e por métodos microbiológicos correlacionados com a aderência de microrganismos. A prova da porosidade e da resistência à remoção da resina foi observada por meio do microscópio eletrônico de varredura (Topcon FM300) e estereoscópio Leica (MZ12) acoplado a Sistema de Digitalização de Imagens. Para avaliar a ação dos microrganismos foram utilizados corpos-de-prova esterilizados (discos de 10mm de diâmetro), imersos em caldo Mueller Hinton (Difco) e colocados em tubos de polipropileno com tampa de rosca (Corning). Foram inoculados tubos com meio de cultura para cada uma das suspensões bacterianas (10(9)UFC/mL) de Streptococcus agalactiae, Staphylococcus aureus, Acinetobacter lwoffii e Candida albicans, incubados a 37°C, sob agitação constante durante 12 dias. O meio de cultura era trocado a cada 3 dias. Após esse período, os corpos-de prova foram removidos, processados e observados em microscópio eletrônico de varredura JEOL-JSM (T330A). A observação por meio do microscopio eletrônico de varredura mostrou a aderência e a formação de biofilme sobre a superfície de alumínio não revestido e revestido com resina epóxi.

Influence of shot peening and hard chromium electroplating on the fatigue strength of 7050-T7451 aluminum alloy

Chromium electrodeposition is a technique for the production of functional coatings on engineering components. These coatings are extensively micro-cracked and present high level of hardness, resistance to corrosion and wear and low coefficient of friction. In this paper the shot peening influence on the fatigue strength of aluminum 7050-T7451 alloy chromium electroplated, was investigated.The shot peening process was carried out to create residual stresses using ceramic and glass shots. A hard chromium electroplated coating of 100 mu m thickness was performed on the base material and the shot peened base material surfaces. S-N curves were obtained in axial and bending fatigue tests and compared with the 7050-T7451 aluminum alloy. In order to study the influence of residual stresses on fatigue life, the behavior of compressive residual stress field was measured by an X-ray tensometry.An increase in the axial fatigue strength of 25% and 50% of ceramic and glass shots, respectively, was observed. The lower performance in fatigue life for ceramic-shot peening may be attributed to higher surface damage, as a consequence of the overpeening intensity performed. However, in bending fatigue the behavior was practically equivalent for both processes. Fracture surface analysis by scanning electron microscopy was used to observe crack origin sites from shot peened and chromium electroplated samples. (C) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Fractal analysis along stretch zone for an aluminum alloy

The topography of fracture surface along stretch zone front for Al7050 is analyzed about its fractal behavior and compared against local distributions of microstructural parameters and stretch zone height, considered here as a toughness parameter. Major influence on microscale was presented by precipitation density. Larger grains should be significant on topographic behavior at macroscale, besides the local toughness measured along stretch zone. The large scattering of fractal measurements along specimen width should limit the validity of models relating fractal values and fracture toughness. It is proposed that models based on mixed fractals must also consider some dispersion parameter instead of mean fractal measurements due to the overall complexity of fracture relief formation. It is suggested that sampling for fractal measurement must be restricted to plane strain region along fracture surface, due to smaller scattering in this region. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Evaluation on fatigue strength of AISI 4340 steel aluminum coated by electroplating and IVD processes

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Comparative analysis of root surface smear layer removal by different etching modalities or erbium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser irradiation. A scanning electron microscopy study

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of erbium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Er:YAG) laser (2.94 mu m) irradiation on the removal of root surface smear layer of extracted human teeth and to compare its efficacy with that of citric acid, ethylenediamine tetra-acetic acid (EDTA), or a gel containing a mixture of tetracycline hydrochloride (HCl) and citric acid, using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Thirty human dentin specimens were randomly divided into six groups: G1 (control group), irrigated with 10 ml of physiologic saline solution; G2, conditioned with 24% citric acid gel; G3, conditioned with 24% EDTA gel; G4, conditioned with a 50% citric acid and tetracycline gel; G5, irradiated with Er:YAG laser (47 mJ/10 Hz/5.8 J/cm(2)/pulse); G6, irradiated with Er:YAG laser (83 mJ/10 Hz/10.3 J/cm(2)/pulse). Electron micrographs were obtained and analyzed according to a rating system. Statistical analysis was conducted with Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests (P < 0.05). G1 was statistically different from all the other groups; no statistically significant differences were observed between the Er:YAG laser groups and those undergoing the other treatment modalities. When the two Er:YAG laser groups were compared, the fluency of G6 was statistically more effective in smear layer removal than the one used in G5 (Mann-Whitney test, P < 0.01). Root surfaces irradiated by Er:YAG laser had more irregular contours than those treated by chemical agents. It can be concluded that all treatment modalities were effective in smear layer removal. The results of our study suggest that the Er:YAG laser can be safely used to condition diseased root surfaces effectively. Furthermore, the effect of Er:YAG laser irradiation on root surfaces should be evaluated in vivo so that its potential to enhance the healing of periodontal tissues can be assessed.

Effects of aluminum-copper alloy filtration on photon spectra, air kerma rate and image contrast

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Influence of different levels of aluminum on the development of citrus rootstock swingle citrumelo (Citrus paradisi mcf. x Poncirus trifoliata raf.) in nutrient solution

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Aluminum in corn plants: influence on growth and morpho-anatomy of root and leaf

A toxicidade do alumínio (Al) é um dos fatores mais limitantes para a produtividade. Esta pesquisa foi realizada para avaliar a influência do Al, em solução nutritiva, na altura de plantas, no peso da matéria seca e nas alterações morfoanatômicas de raízes e folhas de milho (Zea mays L.). O experimento foi conduzido em casa de vegetação com tratamentos constituídos de cinco doses de Al (0; 25; 75; 150; e 300 µmol L-1) e seis repetições. As soluções foram constantemente aeradas e o pH foi ajustado a 4,3, inicialmente. A matéria seca da parte aérea e das raízes e a altura das plantas diminuíram significativamente com o aumento da concentração de Al. As raízes de plantas de milho cultivadas em soluções com Al tiveram seu crescimento inibido e apresentaram menos raízes laterais e desenvolvimento do sistema radicular inferior, em comparação com as das plantas-controle. As folhas das plantas crescidas em soluções que continham 75 e 300 µmol L-1 de Al não apresentaram muita diferença anatômica em relação às das plantas-controle. A bainha da folha das plantas exposta ao Al apresentou epiderme uniestratificada revestida por uma fina camada de cutícula e as células da epiderme e do córtex foram as que menos se desenvolveram. No feixe vascular, o metaxilema e protoxilema não tinham paredes secundárias, e o diâmetro de ambos foi muito menor quando comparado com os das plantas-controle.