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At least 271 records · Page 15

Highlights of 10th plasma chemistry meeting

The chemical structure is given of a film formed by plasma polymerization from pyridine monomers. The film has a hydrophilic chemical structure, its molecular weight is 900, and the molecular system is C55H50N10O3. The electrical characteristics of a plasma polymerized film are described. The film has good insulating properties and was successfully applied as video disc coating. Etching resistance properties make it possible to use the film as a resist in etching. The characteristics of plasma polymer formed from monomers containing tetramethyltin are discussed. The polymer is in film form, displays good adhesiveness, is similar to UV film UV 35 in light absorption and is highly insulating.

Kitamura, K.↗

Infrared line widths at planetary atmospheric temperatures

Recent theoretical models and measurements of the variation of collision-broadened line width with temperature in the infrared are discussed for temperatures relevant to planetary atmospheres. The present review is restricted to lines broadened by H2, N2, O2, CO2, and He, the lines formed in the atmospheres of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. The design for a low-temperature absorption cell consisting of a nickel-coated copper tube is described. The lack of an adequate theoretical model for variation of the collision-broadened line width with temperature in terms of the molecular constants of the colliding partners is pointed out.

Varanasi, Prasad↗

Inexpensive Method for Growing Unidirectional Oriented Materials Using Friction-Transferred Poly(tetrafluoroethylene) Substrates

In recent years, there has been an increasing interest in properties of unidirectional materials grown on highly oriented polymer surfaces such as the poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE) films coated onto smooth glass surfaces. In this technique, a thin PTFE film is deposited by sliding or rubbing a Teflon bar over a heated glass surface at a specific temperature. Depending on the pressure, temperature and sliding rate the thickness of deposited layers can be varied from 30 A to 150 A. The PTFE-coated substrate is simple yet surprising versatile for oriented growth of many organic, inorganic and polymer. The significant aspect of PTFE films is their unusual ability to molecularly align a wide variety of materials grown onto them from solution, melt or vapor phase deposition, at temperature below the melting point of PTFE (approx. 340 C). The PTFE structure may be derived, in part, from the multitude of ridges forming in the film and these ridges can presumably provide effective nucleation sites to induce the unidirectional growth of variety of materials. Electron diffraction studies of these films revealed that the PTFE macromolecules are oriented parallel to each other along the sliding direction. Direct observation of the film thickness, molecular structure and individual fluorine atoms from these highly oriented films were achieved using atomic force microscopy (AFM). In this paper, we also report the first direct observation of individual fluorine atoms, and the measurement of the fluorine-helix and carbon-helix radii to be 1.70 A and 0.54 A, respectively.

Lee, Jonathan A.↗

Mechanical Actuation via Homeomorphic Transformations of Topological Solitons within Polymer Coatings

Abstract Topological solitons are currently under investigation for their exotic properties, especially in nonlinear physics, optics, and material sciences. However, challenges of robust generation and limited stability over time have hindered their practical uses. To address this issue, an approach is developed to form structured arrays of solitons in films of polymerizable liquid crystals. Their complex molecular architecture is preserved by in situ photopolymerization forming a stable liquid crystal network. Most excitingly, their properties are advanced to include responsiveness functions. When thermally actuated, these topological solitons mediate the reconfiguration of surface topographies. Complex shape changes occur depending on the intrinsic complex spatial distribution of the director, which may even lead to full shape inversion and topographical changes as high as ≈40% of the initial thickness. Conversely, the shape changes provide information on the initial director profile, which is consistent with the mathematical model. The soliton‐containing polymer coatings are applicable in multiple domains, ranging from tunable optics to haptics, and from shape‐coupled sensing systems to temperature‐coupled heat management.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Surface enrichment dictates block copolymer orientation

Orientation of block copolymer (BCP) morphology in thin films is critical to applications as nanostructured coatings. Despite being well-studied, the ability to control BCP orientation across all possible block constituents remains challenging. Here, in this study, we deploy coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations to study diblock copolymer ordering in thin films, focusing on chain makeup, substrate surface energy, and surface tension disparity between the two constituent blocks. We explore the multi-dimensional parameter space of ordering using a machine-learning approach, where an autonomous loop using a Gaussian process (GP) control algorithm iteratively selects high-value simulations to compute. The GP kernel was engineered to capture known symmetries. The trained GP model serves as both a complete map of system response, and a robust means of extracting material knowledge. We demonstrate that the vertical orientation of BCP phases depends on several counter-balancing energetic contributions, including entropic and enthalpic material enrichment at interfaces, distortion of morphological objects through the film depth, and of course interfacial energies. BCP lamellae are found more resistant to these effects, and thus more robustly form vertical orientations across a broad range of conditions; while BCP cylinders are found to be highly sensitive to surface tension disparity.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗

Compression Response of Silicone-Based Composites with Integrated Multifunctional Fillers

Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is known for its exceptional mechanical properties, chemical stability, and flexibility. Recent advancements have focused on developing functional PDMS composites by integrating various functional fillers, including polymers, ceramics, and metals, for advanced applications such as electronics, medical devices, and aerospace. Consequently, there is a growing need to investigate PDMS composites to achieve higher filler loadings offering enhanced mechanical performance. This study addresses this need by utilizing the high molecular weight (MW) PDMS resin we have developed, offering its high elongation capacity of up to >6500%. We incorporated boron (B), hollow glass microballoons (HGMs), and tungsten-coated hollow glass microballoons (WHGMs) into the developed high MW PDMS. The resulting composites demonstrated excellent elastic properties and significant compression resilience (35–80%) and elastic modulus (1.28–10.15 MPa) at high filler loadings (~60 vol.%). Specifically, B/PDMS composites achieved up to 67.6 vol.% of B, HGM/PDMS composites held up to 68.6 vol.% of HGM, and WHGM/PDMS composites incorporated up to 54.0 vol.% of WHGM. These findings highlight the potential of high MW PDMS for developing high-performance PDMS composites suitable for advanced applications such as aerospace, automotive, and medical devices.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Optical degradation due to contamination on the SAGE/SAGE II spacecraft instruments

An optical model for contamination effects has been developed for the SAGE II/ERBS instrument. This model describes instrument throughput efficiency and response characteristics as a function of molecular contamination thickness for indexes of refraction representative of Shuttle/ERBS/SAGE II contaminants at seven spectral wavelengths between 0.385 and 1.02 micrometers. Contamination effects are treated as thin film coatings on selected optical elements which cause changes in those elements' reflection/transmission/absorption characteristics. SAGE/AEM in-orbit performance data were used to estimate the optical constants for the contaminants. SAGE and SAGE II are radiometers that spatially scan the sun through the earth's atmosphere with a narrow field-of-view in spectral intervals from visible to the near infrared.

Mauldin, L. E., III↗

Tribological systems as applied to aircraft engines

Tribological systems as applied to aircraft are reviewed. The importance of understanding the fundamental concepts involved in such systems is discussed. Basic properties of materials which can be related to adhesion, friction and wear are presented and correlated with tribology. Surface processes including deposition and treatment are addressed in relation to their present and future application to aircraft components such as bearings, gears and seals. Lubrication of components with both liquids and solids is discussed. Advances in both new liquid molecular structures and additives for those structures are reviewed and related to the needs of advanced engines. Solids and polymer composites are suggested for increasing use and ceramic coatings containing fluoride compounds are offered for the extreme temperatures encountered in such components as advanced bearings and seals.

Buckley, D. H.↗

Precision cleaning methods for spacecraft applications

A small CO2 snow cleaning apparatus to clean both molecular films and particles from small and large components and surfaces was constructed. Various types of surfaces were cleaned using the CO2 technique. Vacuum deposited and sputtered metallic coatings such as germanium, aluminum, and silver and silicon wafers, and polished copper conical mirrors were purposely contaminated with everyday aerospace contaminants, including particle fallout and fingerprints. Precleaning characterization by Bidirectional Reflectance Distribution Function (BRDF), ellipsometry, nonvolatile residue, and microscopic particle evaluation served as evaluation of cleaning efficiency. Good results were obtained in trial application.

Ryan, L. E.↗

Ionic Liquid Facilitated Solvent‐Phase Polymerization of Ultrasmooth Coatings of Polycatecholamines

Mussel-inspired polycatecholamine coatings and films have proven to be versatile materials for surface modification. However, the progress of chemically modified coatings with tailored properties has been slow due to the lack of definitive evidence of their polymeric structure. Polycatecholamines form aggregates during polymerization, and their formation mechanism has been a subject of debate owing to their insolubility in traditional molecular solvents. Exploiting the capability of ionic liquids (ILs) to exhibit strong electrostatic interactions, herein, the first solution-phase polymerization approach is reported to achieve polymerization of four catecholamines – dopamine (DA), norepinephrine (NE), L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA), and adrenaline (AD). Kinetic control over the polymerization process in the solution phase enabled it to follow the process with 1 H NMR spectroscopy, revealing the formation of structural features of resulting complex heterogeneous and soluble polymers. The polymers are both covalent and associative in nature. Solution phase polymerization prevented the formation of large aggregates in the solution, thus facilitating the formation of coatings that are ultra-smooth and have root mean square roughness of the order of sub-nm to nm scale.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Thin-film composite membranes based on hyperbranched poly(ethylene oxide) for CO 2 /N 2 separation

Cross-linked amorphous poly(ethylene oxide) (XLPEO) is one of the leading membrane materials for post-combustion CO 2 capture. For example, XLPEO prepared from poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether acrylate (PEGMEA) exhibited CO 2 permeability of 570 Barrer and CO 2 /N 2 selectivity of 41 at 35 °C. However, these XLPEOs cannot be dissolved in coating solutions, making it impossible to be fabricated into thin-film composite (TFC) membranes using state-of-the-art manufacturing processes. In this study, we synthesized high molecular weight yet soluble HPEO via atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). These polymers were thoroughly characterized and compared with XLPEO, including thermal transitions, free volumes, and pure-gas sorption and permeation properties. A polymer with the best combination of CO 2 permeability (540 Barrer) and CO 2 /N 2 selectivity (43) was fabricated into defect-free TFC membranes with a thickness as thin as 506 ± 44 nm. When challenged with simulated flue gas containing water vapor at 35 °C for over 100 h, the membrane shows stable CO 2 permeance of 850 GPU and CO 2 /N 2 selectivity of 37, comparable to the leading commercial membranes for carbon capture.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Photoelectrocatalytic reduction of CO 2 to formate using immobilized molecular manganese catalysts on oxidized porous silicon

The reduction of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) to formate using molecular catalysts immobilized on high surface area porous silicon is described. Manganese complexes of the type ( R bpy)Mn(CO) 3 Br (bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine) were prepared with silatrane groups on the bpy ligand for attachment to oxide-coated porous silicon (SiO x -porSi). SiO x -porSi wafers were formed by heating hydrogen-terminated p-type porous silicon wafers under air, and the manganese complexes were immobilized on SiO x -porSi by heating at 80°C. The resulting hybrid photoelectrodes are photoelectrocatalysts for CO 2 reduction in acetonitrile containing 2.0 M triethylamine and 2.0 M isopropanol, yielding formate with high selectivity (>96%) and current density (∼0.6 mA/cm 2 ), excellent reproducibility, and a photovoltage of 280 mV at −1.75 V (versus ferrocenium/ferrocene) under 1 sun illumination. Here, the applied potential is close to the equilibrium potential for CO 2 reduction to formate. This work presents rare examples of immobilized molecular catalysts for CO 2 reduction to formate and the first on semiconducting silicon.

13 HYDRO ENERGY↗

Novel viruses of the family Partitiviridae discovered in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

It has been 49 years since the last discovery of a new virus family in the model yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae . A large-scale screen to determine the diversity of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) viruses in S . cerevisiae has identified multiple novel viruses from the family Partitiviridae that have been previously shown to infect plants, fungi, protozoans, and insects. Most S . cerevisiae partitiviruses (ScPVs) are associated with strains of yeasts isolated from coffee and cacao beans. The presence of partitiviruses was confirmed by sequencing the viral dsRNAs and purifying and visualizing isometric, non-enveloped viral particles. ScPVs have a typical bipartite genome encoding an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRP) and a coat protein (CP). Phylogenetic analysis of ScPVs identified three species of ScPV, which are most closely related to viruses of the genus Cryspovirus from the mammalian pathogenic protozoan Cryptosporidium parvum . Molecular modeling of the ScPV RdRP revealed a conserved tertiary structure and catalytic site organization when compared to the RdRPs of the Picornaviridae . The ScPV CP is the smallest so far identified in the Partitiviridae and has structural homology with the CP of other partitiviruses but likely lacks a protrusion domain that is a conspicuous feature of other partitivirus particles. ScPVs were stably maintained during laboratory growth and were successfully transferred to haploid progeny after sporulation, which provides future opportunities to study partitivirus-host interactions using the powerful genetic tools available for the model organism S . cerevisiae .

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Payload/orbiter contamination control requirement study

The results of a contamination impact analysis upon the spacelab carrier and the spacelab carrier upon some of its potential payloads are presented. These results are based upon contamination computer modeling techniques developed to predict the induced environment for spacelab and to provide the basis for evaluation of the predicted environment against the current on orbit contamination control criteria as specified for payloads. Those spacelab carrier contamination sources evaluated against the stated contamination control criteria were outgassing/offgassing of the major nonmetallic thermal control coating of the spacelab carriers, spacelab core and experiment module and tunnel cabin atmosphere leakage, avionics bay vent, spacelab condensate vent, random particulate sloughing, and the return flux of the molecular content of these sources from the gas-gas interactions with the ambient orbital environment. It is indicated that the spacelab carrier can meet the intent of the contamination control criteria through incorporating known contamination control practices.

Bareiss, L. E.↗

Colorless Polyimide Containing Phenoxy-Linked Diamines

Tough, optically transparent films produced. Polyimides having this molecular structure form tough, transparent films. Films made transparent by careful control of manufacturing conditions, including use of highly purified monomers. Need for high-temperature, flexible polymeric films and coating materials that have high optical transparency in 300- to 600nm range of electro-magnetic spectrum for use on antennas, solar cells, and thermalcontrol coatings.

St. Clair, A. K.↗

Microlith Based Sorber for Removal of Environmental Contaminants

The development of energy efficient, lightweight sorption systems for removal of environmental contaminants in space flight applications is an area of continuing interest to NASA. The current CO2 removal system on the International Space Station employs two pellet bed canisters of 5A molecular sieve that alternate between regeneration and sorption. A separate disposable charcoal bed removes trace contaminants. An alternative technology has been demonstrated using a sorption bed consisting of metal meshes coated with a sorbent, trademarked and patented as Microlith by Precision Combustion, Inc. (PCI); thesemeshes have the potential for direct electrical heating for this application. This allows the bed to be regenerable via resistive heating and offers the potential for shorter regeneration times, reduced power requirement, and net energy savings vs. conventional systems. The capability of removing both CO2 and trace contaminants within the same bed has also been demonstrated. Thus, the need for a separate trace contaminant unit is eliminated resulting in an opportunity for significant weight savings. Unlike the charcoal bed, zeolites for trace contaminant removal are amenable to periodic regeneration. This paper describes the design and performance of a prototype sorber device for simultaneous CO2 and trace contarninant removal and its attendant weight and energy savings.

Roychoudhury, S.↗

Advanced Materials for the Lunar Surface: Multiscale Computational Design of Refractory Alloys and Carbides

Emerging operational environments, such as the lunar surface, present novel challenges for NASA and drive the need for advanced materials in applications like fission surface power systems. To address these demands, computational materials science is rapidly evolving to augment or replace costly and hazardous empirical testing. Although materials selection at NASA remains predominantly experimentally driven, advanced simulation methodologies are being steadily integrated into the engineering lifecycle. This work details the application of multiscale simulation techniques—including first-principles calculations, CALPHAD, dislocation dynamics, and molecular dynamics—at NASA's Ames Research Center to evaluate advanced materials for extreme environments. First, we present contributions to the Space Nuclear Propulsion Project. Be-cause propellant channel coatings in nuclear thermal rockets must withstand high-pressure, high-temperature hydro-gen, optimizing these materials is critical. First-principles calculations were employed to establish a rigorous quantitative and qualitative understanding of the behavior of the refractory carbides ZrC, NbC, and their mixtures in high-enthalpy hydrogen environments. This necessitated the generation of high-fidelity thermodynamic models for both stoichiometric and carbon-depleted carbides, both with and without the presence of hydrogen. Furthermore, we highlight efforts under the Refractory Alloy Additive Manufacturing Build Optimization (RAAMBO) project, where existing and novel alloy compositions were assessed for additive manufacturing printability and subsequent performance in applications such as heat pipes and rocket nozzle extensions. This was accomplished through a comprehensive multiscale simulation framework that bridged the gap from the nanometer to the millimeter scale. Across both initiatives, rigorous validation against empirical data was prioritized. By systematically employing a verified and validated computational frame-work, we demonstrate how simulation effectively supports multidisciplinary engineering efforts, builds project-wide confidence, and drives critical materials development.

computational materials↗

Epoxy-based vitrimeric semi-interpenetrating network/MXene nanocomposites for hydrogen gas barrier applications

Herein, we report MXene-filled epoxy-based vitrimeric nanocomposites featuring a semi-interpenetrating network (S-IPN) to develop a hydrogen gas (H 2 ) barrier coating with self-healing characteristics for compressed H 2 storage applications. The reversible epoxy network was formed by synthesizing linear epoxy chains with pendent bis-hydroxyl groups using amino diol, which were then crosslinked with 1,4-benzenediboronic acid to generate dynamic boronic ester linkages. To achieve the S-IPN-type molecular arrangement, the epoxy chains were in situ crosslinked in the presence of poly(ethylene-co-vinyl alcohol) (EVOH), giving rise to a self-healing network (EEP) with a healing efficiency of 87%. Into the S-IPN vitrimer (EEP), a 2D platelet-type nanofiller MXene was incorporated to introduce a tortuous path for H 2 gas diffusion along with improved mechanical properties. The nanocomposite coating was applied to nylon 6 liner material, which is conventionally used in all-composite H 2 storage vessels. Further, the application of a 2 wt% MXene/EEP nanocomposite coating showed a permeability coefficient of 0.062 cm 3 mm m -2 d -1 atm -1 exhibiting ~96% reduction in gas permeability compared to uncoated nylon 6. The same nanocomposite exhibited a healing efficiency of 79%. Increasing the MXene loading to 10 wt% further reduced the permeability coefficient to 0.002 cm 3 mm m -2 d -1 atm -1 ; however, the healing efficiency decreased due to restricted chain mobility. In essence, the current work highlights the potential of vitrimeric S-IPN nanocomposite coatings for H 2 gas-barrier applications, enhancing safety and performance.

42 ENGINEERING↗