Material Characterization (material + characterization)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Imaging of Cell-to-Material Interfaces by SEM after in situ Focused Ion Beam Milling on Flat Surfaces and Complex 3D-Fibrous Structures,

ADVANCED ENGINEERING MATERIALS, Issue 11 2009
Anne Greet Bittermann
Detailed analysis of the cell-to-implant interface needs to be performed prior to medical application. As these interfaces are often not accessible for direct visualization SEM after in situ focused ion beam milling was explored that allows selecting the regions of interest and serial sectioning for analysis of large scale implant architecture/topology down to detailed sub-cellular structures in one sample that might be very useful for (bio)material characterization. [source]


Applications of artificial neural networks to RF and microwave measurements

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RF AND MICROWAVE COMPUTER-AIDED ENGINEERING, Issue 1 2002
Jeffrey A. Jargon
Abstract This article describes how artificial neural networks (ANNs) can be used to benefit a number of RF and microwave measurement areas including vector network analysis (VNA). We apply ANNs to model a variety of on-wafer and coaxial VNA calibrations, including open-short-load-thru (OSLT) and line-reflect-match (LRM), and assess the accuracy of the calibrations using these ANN-modeled standards. We find that the ANN models compare favorably to benchmark calibrations throughout the frequencies they were trained for. We summarize other current applications of ANNs, including the determination of permittivities of liquids from the reflection coefficient measurements of an open-ended coaxial probe and the determination of moisture content of wheat from free-space transmission coefficient measurements. We also discuss some potential applications of ANN models related to power measurements, material characterization, and the comparison of nonlinear vector network analyzers. © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J RF and Microwave CAE 12: 3,24, 2002. [source]


The effect of surface treatments on the fretting behavior of Ti-6Al-4V alloy

JOURNAL OF BIOMEDICAL MATERIALS RESEARCH, Issue 2 2008
Matteo Dalmiglio
Abstract Stem modularity in total hip replacement introduces an additional taper joint between Ti-6Al-4V stem components with the potential for fretting corrosion processes. One possible way to reduce the susceptibility of the Ti-6Al-4V/Ti-6Al-4V interface to fretting is the surface modification of the Ti-6Al-4V alloy. Among the tested, industrially available surface treatments, a combination of two deep anodic spark deposition treatments followed by barrel polishing resulted in a four times lower material release with respect to untreated, machined fretting pad surfaces. The fretting release has been quantified by means of radiotracers introduced in the alloy surface by proton irradiation. In a simple sphere on flat geometry, the semispherical fretting pads were pressed against flat, dog-bone shaped Ti-6Al-4V fatigue samples cyclically loaded at 4 Hz. In this way a cyclic displacement amplitude along the surfaces of 20 ,m has been achieved. A further simplification consisted in the use of deionized water as lubricant. A comparison of the radiotracer results with an electrochemical material characterization after selected treatments by potentiostatic tests of modular stems in 0.9% NaCl at 40°C for 10 days confirmed the benefit of deep anodic spark deposition and subsequent barrel polishing for improving the fretting behavior of Ti-6Al-4V. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 2008 [source]


Luminescence imaging for the detection of shunts on silicon solar cells

PROGRESS IN PHOTOVOLTAICS: RESEARCH & APPLICATIONS, Issue 4 2008
M. Kasemann
Abstract Luminescence imaging is a non-destructive, fast, and versatile imaging method for spatially resolved solar cell and material characterization. In this paper, we investigate its ability to detect shunts on silicon solar cells. We give a detailed description of the relation between local junction voltage and local luminescence signal. This relation is important because shunts drain majority currents causing voltage drops across the surrounding series resistances and that way affect luminescence images. To investigate effects related to majority currents, we describe and apply a simulation model that allows the simulation of lateral voltage distributions on solar cells. This model, and a comparison to illuminated lock-in thermography, helps to discuss some practical aspects about shunt detection by luminescence imaging. We will discuss a procedure to distinguish between ohmic and diode-like shunts and finally present simulations and measurements showing that luminescence imaging is only weakly sensitive to shunts under the metallization. However, we also show its high sensitivity for remote shunts and propose a possible application where this high sensitivity could be especially helpful. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


Progress technology in microencapsulation methods for cell therapy

BIOTECHNOLOGY PROGRESS, Issue 4 2009
Jean-Michel Rabanel
Abstract Cell encapsulation in microcapsules allows the in situ delivery of secreted proteins to treat different pathological conditions. Spherical microcapsules offer optimal surface-to-volume ratio for protein and nutrient diffusion, and thus, cell viability. This technology permits cell survival along with protein secretion activity upon appropriate host stimuli without the deleterious effects of immunosuppressant drugs. Microcapsules can be classified in 3 categories: matrix-core/shell microcapsules, liquid-core/shell microcapsules, and cells-core/shell microcapsules (or conformal coating). Many preparation techniques using natural or synthetic polymers as well as inorganic compounds have been reported. Matrix-core/shell microcapsules in which cells are hydrogel-embedded, exemplified by alginates capsule, is by far the most studied method. Numerous refinement of the technique have been proposed over the years such as better material characterization and purification, improvements in microbead generation methods, and new microbeads coating techniques. Other approaches, based on liquid-core capsules showed improved protein production and increased cell survival. But aside those more traditional techniques, new techniques are emerging in response to shortcomings of existing methods. More recently, direct cell aggregate coating have been proposed to minimize membrane thickness and implants size. Microcapsule performances are largely dictated by the physicochemical properties of the materials and the preparation techniques employed. Despite numerous promising pre-clinical results, at the present time each methods proposed need further improvements before reaching the clinical phase. © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 2009 [source]


Titanium Containing ,-MnO2 (TM) Hollow Spheres: One-Step Synthesis and Catalytic Activities in Li/Air Batteries and Oxidative Chemical Reactions

ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 19 2010
Lei Jin
Abstract Titanium containing ,-MnO2 octahedral molecular sieves having hollow sphere structures are successfully prepared for the first time using a one-step synthesis method. Titanium cations are used as structure-directing agents in the synthesis process. The assembly of the hollow spheres is carried out at the beginning of the process. Various techniques including XRD, N2 adsorption, SEM, EDX, RAMAN, TEM, XPS, and TGA are employed for the materials characterization. Ti is incorporated into the MnO2 framework in isolated sites, and TiO2 phases (anatase and rutile) are not observed. When introduced in medium-sized lithium-air batteries, the materials give very high specific capacity (up to 2.3 A h g,1). These materials are also catalytically tested in the oxidation of toluene with molecular oxygen at atmospheric pressure, showing significant oxidative catalytic activities in this difficult chemical reaction. [source]


Combinatorial Material Mechanics: High-Throughput Polymer Synthesis and Nanomechanical Screening,

ADVANCED MATERIALS, Issue 21 2005
A. Tweedie
Combinatorial materials science requires parallel advances in materials characterization. A high-throughput nanoscale synthesis/nanomechanical profiling approach capable of accurately screening the mechanical properties of 1,700 photopolymerizable materials (see Figure, scale bar: 100 ,m) within a large, discrete polymer library is presented. This approach enables rapid correlation of polymer composition, processing, and structure with mechanical performance metrics. [source]