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Results for “POLYVINYLS”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 307 records · Page 17
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2016

Study of magneto-optic effect on Mn{sub 1-x}Zn{sub x}Fe{sub 2}O{sub 4} nanoferrofluids

Mn{sub 1-x}Zn{sub x}Fe{sub 2}O{sub 4} nanoparticles (with x varying as 0.1, 0.3, 0.5, 0.7 and 0.9) have been synthesized by co- precipitation method using polyvinyl alcohol as surfactant. Structural analysis and surface morphology of the samples were analysed using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscope respectively. The Scherer approximation was used to obtain crystallite sizes and found to decrease from 8.9 nm to 4.3 nm with increase in zinc substitution. The chemical composition of samples obtained through EDAX was comparable with the initial substitutions. Saturation magnetization (M{sub s}), Remanence (M{sub r}) and Coercivity (H{sub c}) were measured using VSM at room temperature and found to decrease with increase in zinc substitution. Verdet constant of the samples are obtained from Faraday rotation for various magnetic fields and it varies from 18 × 10{sup −4} to 3 × 10{sup −4}deg/Gcm with zinc substitution.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2016

PVA/K{sub 2}Ti{sub 6}O{sub 13} synthetic composite for dielectric applications

We demonstrated the preparation of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) /Potassium titanate (K{sub 2}Ti{sub 6}O{sub 13}) synthetic composite by solution blending. The loading of K{sub 2}Ti{sub 6}O{sub 13} well dispersed in PVA and improved electrical performance. The dielectric constant and loss as a function of temperature were recorded under frequency (200 Hz-1 kHz). The real dielectric constant value obtained is (ε=1000) feasible for various electronic and non-conventional energy applications.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2016

Exploration of CdTe quantum dots as mesoscale pressure sensors via time-resolved shock-compression photoluminescent emission spectroscopy

The nanometer size of CdTe quantum dots (QDs) and their unique optical properties, including size-tunable narrow photoluminescent emission, broad absorption, fast photoluminescence decay, and negligible light scattering, are ideal features for spectrally tagging the shock response of localized regions in highly heterogeneous materials such as particulate media. In this work, the time-resolved laser-excited photoluminescence response of QDs to shock-compression was investigated to explore their utilization as mesoscale sensors for pressure measurements and in situ diagnostics during shock loading experiments. Laser-driven shock-compression experiments with steady-state shock pressures ranging from 2.0 to 13 GPa were performed on nanocomposite films of CdTe QDs dispersed in a soft polyvinyl alcohol polymer matrix and in a hard inorganic sodium silicate glass matrix. Time-resolved photoluminescent emission spectroscopy was used to correlate photoluminescence changes with the history of shock pressure and the dynamics of the matrix material surrounding the QDs. The results revealed pressure-induced blueshifts in emitted wavelength, decreases in photoluminescent emission intensity, reductions in peak width, and matrix-dependent response times. Data obtained for these QD response characteristics serve as indicators for their use as possible time-resolved diagnostics of the dynamic shock-compression response of matrix materials in which such QDs are embedded as in situ sensors.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2017

A facile alternative technique for large-area graphene transfer via sacrificial polymer

A novel method of transferring large-area graphene sheets onto a variety of substrates using Formvar (polyvinyl formal) is presented. Due to the ease at which formvar can be dissolved in chloroform this method allows for a consistent, a clean, and a more rapid transfer than other techniques including the PMMA assisted one. This novel transfer method is demonstrated by transferring large-area graphene onto a range of substrates including commercial TEM grids, silicon dioxide and glass. Raman spectroscopy was used to confirm the presence of graphene and characterize the morphological properties of the large-area sheets. SEM and AFM analyses demonstrated the effectiveness of our rapid transfer technique for clean crystalline large-area graphene sheets. The removal of the sacrificial polymer was found to be one to two orders of magnitude faster than PMMA methods. Ultimately this facile transfer technique offers new opportunities for a wide range of applications for large-area graphene through the utilization of a new sacrificial polymer.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2018

Probing detonator performance through radio wave emissions

Experiments were performed using a copper antenna to observe transient electric fields generated by shocked Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate (PETN), which behaves as a piezoelectric explosive. PETN pellets were shocked using a detonator and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) as shock attenuation. The amount of attenuation was varied until an initiation threshold was found to increase the probability of a deflagration-to-detonation (DDT) transition occurring. These experiments showed distinct transient shifts in frequency over the duration of the experiments. Correlation was observed between certain shifts in frequency and if the PETN pellet detonated.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2022

An automated fast neutron computed tomography instrument with on-line focusing for non-destructive evaluation

A fast neutron tomography imaging instrument has been designed, built, and tested at The Ohio State University 500 kW Research Reactor on a fast neutron beamline with a peak neutron flux ≈5.4 × 107 n·cm−2·s−1 at 1.6 MeV median neutron energy. The instrument and beamline are also configurable for thermal neutron imaging. The imaging apparatus is composed of a lens coupled, water-cooled Electron Multiplying Charge Coupled Device camera, a front-surface mirror, and a high light yield plastic Polyvinyl toluene scintillator. The instrument sits on a mobile cart. A total of 5 motion-control stages are built into the system for XYZ and rotational degrees of freedom for sample positioning; the fifth stage fine tunes the focal distance between the camera and the scintillator to achieve on-line focusing. A Python code with a user-friendly graphical user interface controls the fully automated image acquisition, not requiring user interaction, yet facilitating tracking of the image acquisition. A complete fast neutron computed tomography dataset with 360 projections requires less than 3 h, with 30 s per projection. On-line focusing is accomplished with a commercial, off-the-shelf, dielectrically actuated liquid lens. Finally, tomographic reconstructions are visualized using the Livermore Tomography Tools software package. The effective pixel size (width and height) is ≈0.1058 mm, yielding a minimum voxel size of 0.1058 × 0.1058 × 0.1058 mm3, and produces a spatial resolution of 231 μm when calculated from knife-edge measurements.

Bisbee, M. G. (ORCID:0000000313466697)↗
DOE OSTI2023

Compact high repetition rate Thomson parabola ion spectrometer

Here, we present the development of a compact Thomson parabola ion spectrometer capable of characterizing the energy spectra of various ion species of multi-MeV ion beams from >10 20 W/cm 2 laser produced plasmas at rates commensurate with the highest available from any of the current and near-future PW-class laser facilities. This diagnostic makes use of a polyvinyl toluene based fast plastic scintillator (EJ-260), and the emitted light is collected using an optical imaging system coupled to a thermoelectrically cooled scientific complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor camera. This offers a robust solution for data acquisition at a high repetition rate, while avoiding the added complications and nonlinearities of micro-channel plate based systems. Different ion energy ranges can be probed using a modular magnet setup, a variable electric field, and a varying drift-distance. We have demonstrated operation and data collection with this system at up to 0.2 Hz from plasmas created by irradiating a solid target, limited only by the targeting system. With the appropriate software, on-the-fly ion spectral analysis will be possible, enabling real-time experimental control at multi-Hz repetition rates.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2024

Flow resistance of phloem sieve plates revisited using an experimental model

Sieve plate resistance has been identified as the key to understanding the efficiency of phloem transport of carbohydrates in trees. These plates with small holes connecting sieve tubes are responsible for the largest resistance to flow in the phloem. Their structure determines how fast sugars can be transported through the phloem with certain pressure differences and what the limits for phloem transport in different plants are. Because experiments with the phloem are very challenging, our understanding of sieve plate resistance is mostly based on anatomical studies and hydrodynamic modeling of flow through sieve plates. These models calculate the resistance of the entire sieve tube–sieve plate system using the Hagen–Poiseuille flow resistance for the sieve cell lumen and a combination of the Hagen–Poiseuille resistance and Sampson flow resistance through the sieve pores. The resistance of the entire sieve plate is calculated by summing the Hagen–Poiseuille and Sampson flow resistances of each pore. To test the validity of this model formulation, an experimental model with aspect parameters similar to phloem sieve tubes was built using polyvinyl chloride (PVC) piping and plastic straws of different diameters and lengths. This system was used to measure flow rates and calculate flow resistance at Reynolds numbers 0.5–300. The results suggest that the current models may significantly overestimate the flow resistance caused by sieve plates and that the resistance might be better described by formulations used for perforated plates.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2026

Hofstadter butterfly and quantum transport benchmarks in PVA-exfoliated graphene heterostructures

Polymer exposure during van der Waals heterostructure fabrication is widely regarded as compromising the integrity of the electronic system required for hosting emergent quantum physics. This assumption has persisted largely because electronic benchmarking of heterostructures from polymer-exposed graphene has remained limited to only foundational transport metrics, such as mobility and charge inhomogeneity. Here, we challenge this assumption by establishing that graphene heterostructures produced by polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-assisted exfoliation and encapsulated in hexagonal boron nitride using elevated-temperature lamination satisfy demanding quantum transport benchmarks. Beyond exhibiting ultra-high mobility and ballistic transport, these heterostructures yield quantum scattering times comparable to the best polymer-free devices. Most demanding of all, moiré superlattices from PVA-exposed graphene exhibit Hofstadter butterfly spectra, confirming spatially uniform interlayer coupling across the device area. These results establish that PVA exposure is compatible with low-disorder electronic systems, relaxing the trade-off between scalable fabrication and low-disorder quantum transport. This study motivates further development of polymer-assisted assembly with engineered residue-removal protocols.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2020

Experimental and theoretical evidence for hydrogen doping in polymer solution-processed indium gallium oxide

The field-effect electron mobility of aqueous solution-processed indium gallium oxide (IGO) thin-film transistors (TFTs) is significantly enhanced by polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) addition to the precursor solution, a >70-fold increase to 7.9 cm 2 /Vs. To understand the origin of this remarkable phenomenon, microstructure, electronic structure, and charge transport of IGO:PVA film are investigated by a battery of experimental and theoretical techniques, including In K-edge and Ga K-edge extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS); resonant soft X-ray scattering (R-SoXS); ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS); Fourier transform-infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy; time-of-flight secondary-ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS); composition-/processing-dependent TFT properties; high-resolution solid-state 1 H, 71 Ga, and 115 In NMR spectroscopy; and discrete Fourier transform (DFT) analysis with ab initio molecular dynamics (MD) liquid-quench simulations. The 71 Ga{ 1 H} rotational-echo double-resonance (REDOR) NMR and other data indicate that PVA achieves optimal H doping with a Ga···H distance of ~3.4 Å and conversion from six- to four-coordinate Ga, which together suppress deep trap defect localization. This reduces metal-oxide polyhedral distortion, thereby increasing the electron mobility. Finally, hydroxyl polymer doping thus offers a pathway for efficient H doping in green solvent-processed metal oxide films and the promise of high-performance, ultra-stable metal oxide semiconductor electronics with simple binary compositions.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2023

Chemical stability investigation of haloolefin refrigerants and their blends with lubricants

This paper examines the findings of highly accelerated life tests (HALT), conducted according to ASHRAE Standard 97 sealed glass tube methodology for R-123 like, R-134a like and R-410A/R-404A like lower global warming potential (GWP) alternatives. Additionally, possible chemical breakdown pathways are reviewed for the new haloolefin refrigerants. Note, compositions for the following blends are shown as percent by weight. For R-123 like refrigerants, R-1336mzz(Z), R-1336mzz(E), R-514A (74.7% R-1336mzz(Z)/25.3% R-1130(E)), R-1233zd(E), and R-1224yd(Z) were examined with and without lubricants. R-1233zd(E) and R-1224yd(Z) were evaluated with mineral oil and the rest were evaluated with polyalkylene glycol (PAG), polyolester (POE) and polyvinyl ether (PVE) lubricants. For R-134a like refrigerants, R-1234ze(E), R-450A (42% R-134a/58% R-1234ze(E)), R-515B (91.1% R-1234ze(E)/8.9% R-227ea), R-1234yf, R-513A (56% R-1234yf/44% R-134a), and R-516A (77.5% R-1234yf/8.5% R-134a/14.0% R-152a) were examined with and without PAG, POE, and PVE lubricants. For R-410A/R-404A like, R-454B (68.9% R-32/31.1% R-1234yf), R-454C (21.5% R-32/78.5% R-1234yf), R-455A (3.0% R-744/21.5% R-32/75.5% R-1234yf), and R-468A (3.5% R-1132a/21.5% R-32/75.0% R-1234yf) were also examined with PAG, POE and PVE lubricants. R-466A (49% R-32/11.5% R-125/39.5% CF 3 I) was part of this study but will not be covered since it does not contain a haloolefin component.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2025

Electromagnetic energy calibration of the SoLid detector with horizontal muons

SoLid is a neutrino experiment at very-short baselinesearching for active-to-sterile oscillations of reactorantineutrinos. The detection principle is based on the pairing oftwo types of solid scintillators: polyvinyl toluene and $^{6}$Li:ZnS(Ag), which is a new technology used in this field ofPhysics. In addition to good neutron-gamma discrimination, thissetup allows the detector to be highly segmented; the basicdetection unit is a 5 cm cube. High segmentation provides numerousadvantages including precise localisation of the Inverse Beta Decay(IBD) products, the derivation of an antineutrino energy estimatorbased on the isolated positron energy, and a powerful backgroundreduction tool that relies on the topological signature of thesignal. Finally, the system is read out by a network ofwavelength-shifting fibres coupled to photosensors. A relativeelectromagnetic calibration is performed with horizontal cosmicmuons. This source poses the simplest calibration problem in which asingle detection unit is involved. In addition, large muon energydeposits allow us to perform a calibration at the most detailedlevel (i.e. per fibre) and to accurately define the fraction ofenergy escaping to neighbouring detection cells. A statisticalprecision at the sub-percent level is reached. The paper alsodiscusses two methods to calibrate the absolute energy scale andpresents their implementation and results. The first method relieson horizontal muons, though the precision is limited to around 10%because of the uncertainty in the energy distribution of suchmuons. A novel, alternative method based on the radioactiveamericium-beryllium source is proposed. It takes advantage of theelectron-positron pair-production process and provides a calibrationpoint at 3.4 MeV (i.e. in the core of the IBD positronspectrum). The paper is concluded with various cross-check includinga determination of the energy spectrum of the standard cosmogenicbackground candle: $^{12}$B.

Abreu, Y. [Antwerp U.]↗
DOE OSTI2024

Discovery and adaptation of microbes that degrade oxidized low-density polyethylene films

There is a growing interest in developing a methodology for effectively cleaving carbon–carbon (C–C) bonds in polymer backbones through bioconversion processes that utilize microorganisms and their enzymes. This upsurge of interest is driven by the goal of achieving a circular economy. Polyolefin post-consumer plastics are a substantial source of carbon, but the recycling potential is severely limited. Upcycling routes are needed for converting polyolefin post-consumer plastics into value-added products while concurrently mitigating adverse environmental effects. These materials contain carbon-based chemicals that can, in principle, serve as the feedstock for microbial metabolism. Some microbes have been reported to grow on polyolefin plastics, but the rate of biodegradation is insufficient for industrial processes. In this study, low-density polyethylene (LDPE) films were subjected to two mild ozone-based oxidation treatments, which facilitated biodegradation. The degree of oxidation was determined by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy via analysis of the carbonyl index (1,710/1,460 cm −1 ), which ranged from 0.3 to 2.0, and also via analysis of the carboxylic acid content. Following oxidation of the films, studies were conducted to investigate the ability of a panel of polyvinyl alcohol-degrading microbes to degrade the oxidized films. A defined minimal medium was used to cultivate and assess microbial growth on the oxidized films. Following 45 days of cultivation, the most effective strains were further cultivated up to three additional generations on the oxidized film substrates to improve their ability to degrade the oxidized LDPE films. After these enrichments, we identified a strain from the third generation of Pseudomonas sp. Rh926 that exhibited significant cell growth and reduced the oxidized LDPE film mass by 25% in 30 days, demonstrating an enhanced capacity for degrading the oxidized LDPE films.

Adaptation↗
DOE OSTI2016

PRex: An Experiment to Investigate Detection of Near-field Particulate Deposition from a Simulated Underground Nuclear Weapons Test Vent

An experiment to release radioactive particles representative of small-scale venting from an underground nuclear test was conducted to gather data in support of treaty capability development activities. For this experiment, a CO2-driven “air cannon” was used to release lanthanum-140 at ambient temperatures. The radioisotope 140La was chosen as a representative fission fragment with a short half-life and prominent gamma-ray emissions; the choice was also influenced by the successful production and use of 140La with low levels of radioactive contaminants in the Defence Research and Development Canada Field Trials. The source was created through activation of high-purity lanthanum oxide at the TRIGA research reactor of Washington State University, Pullman, Washington. Witness plates and air samplers were laid out in an irregular grid covering the area for which the plume was anticipated to deposit based on climatological wind records. A vehicle-mounted spectrometer, and handheld and backpack instruments ranging from polyvinyl toluene to high purity germanium, were used to survey the plume. Additionally, three soil sampling techniques were investigated. The relative sensitivity and utility of sampling and survey methods are discussed in the context of On-Site Inspection.

atmospheric dispersion↗
DOE OSTI2023

Effect of Temperature on Thrombogenicity Testing of Biomaterials in an In Vitro Dynamic Flow Loop System

To develop and standardize a reliable in vitro dynamic thrombogenicity test protocol, the key test parameters that could impact thrombus formation need to be investigated and understood. In this study, we evaluated the effect of temperature on the thrombogenic responses (thrombus surface coverage, thrombus weight, and platelet count reduction) of various materials using an in vitro blood flow loop test system. Whole blood from live sheep and cow donors was used to assess four materials with varying thrombogenic potentials: negative-control polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), positive-control latex, silicone, and high-density polyethylene (HDPE). Blood, heparinized to a donor-specific concentration, was recirculated through a polyvinyl chloride tubing loop containing the test material at room temperature (22–24°C) for 1 hour, or at 37°C for 1 or 2 hours. The flow loop system could effectively differentiate a thrombogenic material (latex) from the other materials for both test temperatures and blood species ( p < 0.05). However, compared with 37°C, testing at room temperature appeared to have slightly better sensitivity in differentiating silicone (intermediate thrombogenic potential) from the relatively thromboresistant materials (PTFE and HDPE, p < 0.05). These data suggest that testing at room temperature may be a viable option for dynamic thrombogenicity assessment of biomaterials and medical devices.

Engineering↗
DOE OSTI2018

Discriminating Uranium Isotopes Using the Time-Emission Profiles of Long-Lived Delayed Neutrons

In nuclear nonproliferation and safeguards, detecting and accurately characterizing special nuclear material remains one of the greatest challenges. Uranium enrichment determination is typically achieved by measuring the ratio of characteristic γ -ray emissions from 235 U and 238 U. Fission also produces β -delayed neutrons, which have been used in the past to determine uranium enrichment from the time dependence of the long-lived delayed-neutron emission rate. Such measurements typically use moderated 3 He-tube detectors. We demonstrate an alternative measurement technique that employs a fast neutron active-interrogation probe and a scintillation detector to measure the enrichment of uranium using both the buildup and decay of β -delayed-neutron emission. Instead of 3 He tubes, a capture-based heterogeneous composite detector consisting of scintillating Li glass and polyvinyl toluene is constructed and used, offering a prospect to scale delayed-neutron measurements to larger detector sizes. Since the technique relies on the existing tabulated nuclear data, no calibration standards are required. It is shown that the buildup of delayed-neutron emission can be used to distinguish between uranium samples and infer the uranium enrichment level, with accuracy that rivals the method that employs the time-dependent decay of delayed-neutron emission.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Search for very-short-baseline oscillations of reactor antineutrinos with the SoLid detector

In this paper we report the first scientific result based on antineutrinos emitted from the BR2 reactor at SCK CEN. The SoLid experiment uses a novel type of highly granular detector whose basic detection unit combines two scintillators, polyvinyl toluene (PVT) and Li 6 F : ZnS ( Ag ) , to measure antineutrinos via their inverse- β -decay products. An advantage of PVT is its highly linear response as a function of deposited particle energy. The full-scale detector comprises 12 800 voxels and operates over a very short 6.3–8.9 m baseline from the reactor core. The detector segmentation and its three-dimensional imaging capabilities facilitate the extraction of the positron energy from the rest of the visible energy, allowing the latter to be utilized for signal-background discrimination. We present a result obtained from 280 reactor-on days (55 MW mean power) and 172 reactor-off days, respectively, of live data taking. A total of 29 479 ± 603 (stat) antineutrino candidates have been selected, corresponding to an average rate of 105 events per day and a signal-to-background ratio of 0.27. A search for disappearance of antineutrinos to a sterile state has been conducted using complementary model-dependent frequentist and Bayesian fits, providing constraints on the allowed region of the reactor antineutrino anomaly.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗