Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Fiber Coating'

Office waste paper is one of the fastest growing segments of the recycled fiber industry. Toner particles are rigid, insoluble and difficult to disperse and detach from fibers. Therefore papers made from recycled office waste having high toner content will contain noticeable ink particles. This work will consider an alternative way of efficient de-inking using plasma polymers which will not affect the fibers chemically or mechanically. The focus is development and characterization of plasma-deposited films to serve as a barrier film for the adhesion of ink toner to the paper fibers and thereby enhance ink lift off from the fibers. The plasma treated paper is coated with fluorocarbon (PFE) and polyethylene glycol (PFE) films, with constant thickness of PFE and varying the thickness of PEG by 1500, from 1500 to 4500, for the three cases studied (PFE greater than PEG, PFE=PEG, PFE less than PEG). Handsheets were made using virgin fibers to eliminate effects of fillers. Once the sheets were coated and printing performed, they were re-pulped and both the slurry and the de-inking surfactant were placed in a flotation cell. Handsheets were made from the collected foam and stock and were scanned for particle count. The results indicated higher ink loss for the cases with increased thickness of polymer films. A handsheet with a 7500 film (PFE = 3000 and PEG = 4500) showed 61% ink removal compared to 38% for handsheets with no film deposited. There was also less material loss for the cases with higher polymer film thickness.

The paper describes formation of telomers of tetrafluoroethylene (TFE), which are very interesting in-termediate materials of different purposes, by radiation polymerization. In some cases there are formed long chained oligomers suitable for creation of superhydrophobic coatings. In such systems formation of gels is observed under low TFE content. Quantum chemical analysis allows to reveal the factors that are responsible for this phenomenon. In the case of solvents with appropriate cyclic structure, short chain oli-gomers, which have low C-H bonds content, are raw materials for fluoropolymers suitable for manufactur-ing optical fibers. The work is aimed to predict which types of materials are formed under polymerization conditions. For these purposes the generalized Polany-Semenov rule is used. Its parameters found by DFT calculations can be recommended for practical applications in the molecular design of new fluorine-containing polymers. When you are citing the document, use the following link http://essuir.sumdu.edu.ua/handle/123456789/35479

Il mondo dei materiali compositi è in continua evoluzione ed il loro utilizzo per il rinforzo, l’adeguamento sismico e la messa in sicurezza di strutture civili è diventata una pratica comune tra gli ingegneri ed architetti. Gli FRCM (Fabric Reinforced Cementitious Matrix) rappresentano una nuova metodologia per il rinforzo strutturale e si stanno proponendo come una valida alternativa ai più affermati FRP, ogni volta che le condizioni di progetto non permettano l'uso di compositi a base di polimeri organici. Gli FRCM sono definiti dall’American Concrete Institute (ACI549) come dei sistemi costituiti dall’accoppiamento di uno o più strati di rete di fibra a elevate prestazioni e di una matrice inorganica stabilizzata impiegata con la funzione di adesivo. Gli FRCM sono generalmente costituiti da reti di fibre secche, tuttavia, si è dimostrato che il legame di interfaccia matrice-fibra non è ottimale, in quanto soltanto i filamenti esterni in contatto con la matrice sono in grado di trasferire gli sforzi, mentre i filamenti interni si sfilano a causa al basso attrito tra le fibre. Questo lavoro ha lo scopo di contribuire a migliorare ed approfondire lo stato dell’arte dei sistemi FRCM in diverse direzioni ed è suddiviso in quattro studi. In particolare la ricerca si è dedicata alla caratterizzazione di diversi sistemi FRCM, in modo da chiarire la differenza in termini di comportamento e prestazioni tra reti di fibre secche o apprettate, di analizzare gli effetti delle elevate temperature sulle proprietà meccaniche degli FRCM, di valutare l'efficacia nell’utilizzo di diverse malte (cementizie e geopolimeriche) e la compatibilità di quest’ultime con supporti in muratura. Lo scopo del primo studio è quello di analizzare come l’utilizzo di diversi tipi di coating (pre-impregnazione a base di resine epossidiche) applicati a reti bi-direzionali in fibra di carbonio vada ad influenzare il comportamento di interfaccia fibre-malta e le proprietà meccaniche dei sistemi FRCM. L'efficacia del coating è stato studiato mediante test di trazione diretta, pull-off e di adesione al supporto. La sperimentazione è stata condotta combinando diversi tipi di rete in carbonio e matrici cementizie, variando il livello di pre-impregnazione del tessuto durante la sua fabbricazione (leggera, media e completa impregnazione). Inoltre, è stato sperimentato e studiato l'utilizzo di uno strato di sabbia quarzifera applicato sulle fibre dopo l’impregnazione. Le prove sperimentali hanno dimostrato un notevole miglioramento del legame di interfaccia tra le fibre e la matrice inorganica e, quindi, un generale miglioramento delle prestazioni del sistema FRCM, anche impregnando le fibre parzialmente, a seconda del tipo di malta usata. Lo scopo del secondo studio è quello di valutare il comportamento meccanico dei sistemi FRCM sottoposti ad alte temperature. Diversi sistemi FRCM sono stati valutati, utilizzando reti bidirezionali in fibra di carbonio secche o pre-impregnate. La campagna sperimentale ha riguardato test di trazione monoassiale su provini di FRCM e test di adesione a supporti in muratura con temperature comprese tra 20 °C e 120 °C. Il terzo studio riguarda il possibile utilizzo di malte geopolimeriche come matrici per sistemi FRCM, accoppiate a diverse reti in fibra di carbonio. Lo studio ha incluso la caratterizzazione meccanica della malta, prove di trazione e di adesione a supporti in muratura. Infine il quarto studio analizza il legame di interfaccia FRCM-substrato in muratura, considerando l'utilizzo di diversi primers inorganici per migliorare l’adesione al supporto.
Composites materials are continuously evolving and their use for the repair and retrofit of civil structures has become a common practice among the engineering community. Fabric Reinforced Cementitious Matrix (FRCM) system represents a new repair methodology for structural strengthening and is becoming a viable alternative to FRP, whenever the project conditions do not allow the use of organic polymer based composites. FRCM is described by the American Concrete Institute (ACI) committee 549 like a composite material consisting of a sequence of one or more layers of cement-based matrix reinforced with dry fibers in the form of open single or multiple meshes that, when adhered to concrete or masonry structural members, forms a FRCM system. FRCMs are usually constituted by dry fabrics, however, it is proved that the bond at the matrix-fibers interface is not optimal, since only the external filaments are in contact with the matrix and able to transfer the load, while the inner filaments slip due to the low friction between the fibers. This work aims to advance the FRCM state of the art in several directions and is divided in four studies. In particular, the study is devoted to characterize several FRCM systems, to clarify the differences in performance and behavior of dry and coated fabrics, to analyze the effects of high temperatures on the FRCM mechanical properties, to evaluate the effectiveness and compatibility with masonry substrates of different mortars (cementitious and geopolymeric). The purpose of First Study is to analyze how different types and amounts of organic coatings applied to a carbon bi-directional fabric could affect the bond behavior at the fiber-mortar interface and mechanical properties of the FRCM system. The effectiveness of coating treatments applied on the fabrics surface was studied by means of direct tensile, pull-off and shear-bond double-lap tests. Experimentation was carried out on different combinations of carbon fabrics and mortars, by varying the level of pre-impregnation of the fabric during the manufacturing process. In addition, the use of a quartz sand layer applied to the fabric after impregnation was investigated. Experimental evidence showed a promising enhancement of the bond between fabric and matrix and, therefore, improved performances of the entire FRCM system even with the use of low percentages of resin, depending on the type of mortar used. The purpose of Second Study is to evaluate the FRCM mechanical behavior under high-temperature conditions. Different FRCM systems were evaluated including carbon fabrics with dry or completely impregnated fibers. The experimental campaign comprised of uniaxial tensile and double-shear bond tests performed under temperatures ranging from 20°C to 120°C. Third Study explores the use of a geopolymer mortar coupled with different carbon fabrics for FRCM applications. The study included the mechanical characterization of the mortar, tensile and double-shear bond tests of the FRCM system when applied to masonry substrates. Finally, Fourth Study analyzes the bond at the FRCM to masonry substrate interface, considering the use of different inorganic primers to improve the interface bond.

Na busca pela substituição dos materiais convencionais por materiais com alto desempenho estrutural nos mais variados setores do mercado, os materiais compósitos têm recebido cada vez mais a confiança dos engenheiros projetistas. Isto devido às características, comparadas com materiais convencionais como: baixa densidade associada à excelente rigidez e resistência estrutural, alta resistência à corrosão, resistência à temperaturas elevadas e ótimos resultados estéticos. Um dos processos de fabricação bastante utilizado para a produção de peças nestes materiais é o processo conhecido como Filament Winding ou \"Enrolamento Filamentar\". Essa técnica consiste em revestir a superfície de um mandril, através do enrolamento de fibras contínuas impregnadas por um banho de resina. As fibras utilizadas nesse processo, geralmente de vidro ou de carbono são posicionadas em uma trajetória calculada por algoritmos matemáticos que determinam o seu posicionamento adequado, o que está diretamente relacionado às propriedades mecânicas desejadas na peça final. Desta forma, este trabalho tem por objetivo desenvolver um sistema computacional para o cálculo da trajetória de deposição da fibra sobre o mandril e seu seqüenciamento durante o processo de Filament Winding. Foram desenvolvidas e implementadas computacionalmente estratégias para os revestimentos circular, helicoidal e polar utilizando trajetórias geodésicas, o que abrange a grande maioria das peças fabricadas por este processo. Os resultados foram validados com exemplo da literatura e, também através de interface com sistema CAD.
ln the search for the replacement of conventional materials by those with high structural performance, the reinforced composite materials have increasingly used by engineers during the product development process. The main reasons lies in their excellent characteristics compared to conventional materials such as: low-density associated with high stiffness and strength, good tolerance to corrosion, resistance to high temperatures and good aesthetic results. One of the manufacturing processes most used to produce composite parts is the Filament Winding. This technique consists in winding continuous impregnated fiber by a bath of resin along a mandrel. The fibers used are generally of glass or carbon, guided through a trajectory calculated by mathematical algorithms. Because of the importance of this study, this work proposes and develops a computational system to calculate the trajectories and sequences of the fiber in the Filament Winding process, considering geodesic trajectories during the hoop, helical and polar winding, which cover the majority of parts produced by this process. The routines and system are validated with the literature as well as in the CAD system.

With the growing impact of climate change on both political decisions and how companies develop their products, it is increasingly important to find environmentally friendly alternatives to fossil-based materials. One of the more interesting materials in this respect is cellulose, which is the world's most naturally occurring polymer and can be used in a variety of applications. One way to modify the fibers and to change their properties is to use a method called Layer-by-Layer (LbL) treatment where two polymers of opposite charge are alternately adsorbed to the fiber surface. Another possibility is to oxidize the cellulose in the fibers to obtain a higher charge. This means that the fibers can adsorb a higher amount of cationic additives and that the fibers swell more which means that they are plasticized and can create stronger joints between the fiber surfaces in the dry state, which results in stronger dry fiber networks. However, wood-based fibers are small and inhomogeneous, both chemically and morphologically, which means that it is necessary to use model systems to be able to clarify, in detail, how treated and untreated surfaces interact with each other at a molecular level. One model system that can be used to investigate how cellulose fibers are affected by coating using the LbL method is to use spherical beads made from regenerated cellulose. In the present work, these beads were treated with polyallylamine hydrochloride (PAH) and hylauronic acid (HA) as well as with PAH and alginate (Alg) before being allowed to dry together and then subjected to tensile testing to clarify the adhesion between the surfaces. The beads were treated with five and ten bi-layers of these polymers, respectively, and then dried together on an AKD-coated surface, to avoid adhesion to the underlying surface, to examine the adhesion between the beads. The adhesion increased when treated with LbL and became higher upon adsorption of multiple layers of polyelectrolytes and the Alg / PAH system showed the greatest increase. Ten-layer samples of Alg / PAH were also tested after a solution of calcium chloride was added during drying, resulting in poorer adhesion between the beads.
Med klimatfrågans växande inverkan på både politiska beslut och hur företagen utvecklar sina produkter så läggs det allt större vikt vid att hitta miljövänliga alternativ till fossilbaserade material. Ett av de mer intressanta materialen är cellulosa vilket är världens mest naturligt förekommande polymer och som kan användas i en rad olika tillämpningar. Ett sätt att modifiera fibrerna och att ändra deras egenskaper är att använda sig av en metod som kalls Layer-by-layer (LbL) behandling där två polymerer mot motsatt laddning växelvis adsorberas till fiberytan. En annan möjlighet är att oxidera cellulosan i fibrerna så att de erhåller de en högre laddning. Detta innebär dels att fibrerna kan adsorbera en högre mängd katjoniska tillsatskemikalier samt att fibrerna sväller mera vilket innebär att de plasticeras och kan skapa starkare fogar mellan fiberytorna i torrt tillstånd vilket resulterar i starkare torra fibernätverk. Vedbaserade fibrer är dock små och inhomogena såväl kemiskt som morfologiskt vilket innebär att det är nödvändigt att använda modellsystem för att kunna klarlägga, i detalj, hur behandlade och icke behandlade ytor växelverkar med varandra på en molekylär nivå. Ett modellsystem som kan användas för att undersöka hur cellulosafibrer påverkas av att beläggas med hjälp av LbL metoden är att använda sig av sfäriska kulor tillverkade från regenererad cellulosa. I föreliggande arbete behandlades dessa kulor med polyallylaminhydroklorid (PAH) och hylauronsyra (HA) samt med PAH och alginat (Alg) innan de tilläts torka ihop och därefter utsattes för dragprovning för att klarlägga adhesionen mellan ytorna. Kulorna behandlades med fem respektive tio bilager av dessa polymerer och torkades sedan ihop på en AKD-belagd yta, för att undvika adhesion till den underliggande ytan, för att undersöka adhesionen mellan kulorna. Adhesionen ökade när de behandlades med LbL och blev högre vid adsorption av flera lager polyelektrolyter och systemet med Alg/PAH resulterade i den största ökningen. Prover med tio lager av Alg/PAH testades även efter att en lösning av kalciumklorid tillsattes under torkningen vilket resulterade i en sämre adhesion mellan kulorna.

After decades of development, optical fiber technology has reached a high degree of sophistication and maturity, and currently serves as the backbone of today''s internet. Despite its technical versatility and capability, current silica fiber technology still has a significant flaw: since silica fibers only possess very weak second order nonlinearity, it has been impossible to develop a large number of important nonlinear optical devices and instruments, such as optical parametric amplifiers (OPA) and optical parametric oscillators (OPO). In this thesis,we show how to overcome this intrinsic limitation, and introduce second order nonlinearity into silica fiber devices.
Master of Science

Executive summary Today, packaging has gained a significant role in the food industry as well as other industries. Paper substrates that have been coated in some ways are typically used to make packaging. The amount and type of pigment used in the formulation determine whether this coating is a pigment coating or a barrier coating. Critical pigment volume concentration (CPVC) is the optimum spot when the pigments are packed as densely as possible, and the binder fills the air gaps. When the amount of pigment in a coating is less than CPVC, a barrier coating is formed, although when the amount of pigment in the coating is greater than CPVC, a pigment coating is formed. Pigment coating adds optical properties to a package, such as improved printability. And chemical protection is primarily provided for water, water vapour, fats, and gases in the case of the barrier coating. Chemical protection against these substances means, for food packaging, that the shelf life of the product will be extended, among other things. The role of packaging in society is expected to grow as barrier coatings on packaging continue to improve. The use of nanoclay in barrier coatings is investigated in this laboratory study. Two latexes are tested with nanoclay, with latex chosen based on its glass transition temperature (Tg). The hypothesis was that a latex with a higher Tg would have more properties like brittleness and orderly structure in its amorphous structure than the other latex. Latex with a lower Tg, on the other hand, would have more elasticity, be more ductile, and have a lower degree of ordered structure in its amorphous structure. Latex with a higher Tg was referred to as Hard latex and was composed of Styrene-butadiene, while latex with a lower Tg was referred to as Soft latex and was composed of Polyolefin dispersion, although it is unorthodox to call it latex. Previous research has found that the addition of Bentonite nanoclay can improve the mechanical and barrier properties of barrier coatings. Bentonite was therefore chosen as the nanoclay for this study due to having a higher aspect ratio, is flaky and can improve desired properties. The coating was applied as a dispersion coating using a lab-scale rod coater. The substrate for this study was BillerudKorsnäs FibreForm with a grammage of 150 g/m2.In order to find the optimum rod for the coating, three different rods were tested during screening test 1. The rods tested were based on the desired coating weight and thickness, a red rod with a wet film thickness of 12 μm was chosen. The nanoclay content of the latex formulation was investigated to determine the optimal level for improved barrier properties. In screening test 2, the concentrations examined were 2/4/8 w/w% nanoclay in each latex, and 0 w/w% to compare the difference with Hard/Soft latex to see if there are any benefits of nanoclay. For both latexes, the addition of 2/4 w/w% nanoclay resulted in more pinholes as well as a poor water vapour transmission rate and permeability. The results of screening test 2 showed that adding 8 w/w% nanoclay to both latexes improved the water vapour transmission rate, water vapour permeability, and pinholes test when compared to the other concentrations of nanoclay. In the water vapour transmission rate and pinholes test, however, 0 percent nanoclay performed similarly 8 w/w% for each latex formulation. The selected formulation for further study was 8 w/w% nanoclay with Hard/Soft latex.  Water vapour was the most important barrier property to investigate since barrier coatings were intended for food packaging. For the intended food packaging, it was sought that the barrier could be stretched with 3.8/6.7/10.4%-stretch and then characterized by water vapour transmission rate to be able to see the differences before and after stretching. Stretching with tensile tester were performed on a barrier coated FibreForm, first in the machine direction (MD), then in cross-direction (CD). Hydroforming with shaped bubbles was used for the second method of stretching with various bubbles. Stretching in MD + CD, and hydroforming bubbles were done according to the desired %-stretching. Characterization of the coating was done by water vapour transmission rate (WVTR) for all coatings, pinholes test for hydroformed coatings, water vapour permeability (WVP) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) on tensile-stretched coatings. The performance of Soft latex with an 8 w/w% formulation stretched in MD then CD and characterized by water vapour transmission rate was significantly unchanged despite stretching up to 10.4%. This is thought to be because nanoclay, as the literature suggests, has created a better barrier against water vapour. The mean WVTR of 10.4%-stretching in MD then CD was 5.5 g/m2/day, compared to 5.5 g/m2/day for the unstretched barrier.  SEM images of both stretched and non-stretched coatings show that the dispersion of nanoclay is poor, as there are islands of polymer and nanoclay bulk. The poor dispersion of nanoclay in the matrix was due to the lack of polar groups in the backbone of Soft latex (Polyolefin) and also being hydrophobic, as opposed to Bentonite, which is hydrophilic. Despite poor nanoclay dispersion and a stretch of 10.4% in MD + CD, resulting in reduced barrier thickness, WVP improved from 289 g* /m2/day (pre-stress) to 191 g* /m2/day (10.4%-stretch), giving the impression of some reorientation of nanoclay in the polymer matrix. A crack was also visible in SEM images, near the boundary layer between the barrier and the substrate, on an unstretched coating, which is thought to be caused by the difference in the boundary layer and adhesive forces, that has occurred during drying. Cracks are not visible on the stretched barriers, even though it was expected. With increased stretching of hydroforming substrates coated with Soft latex formulation, the performance of water vapour transmission rate was significantly worse. The reason for this is thought to be that the barrier was damaged during hydroforming due to friction during pressing and shaping, as the hydroforming was done on the barrier side. The pinhole test revealed clearly degraded performance with a large number of pinholes. This could indicate that the barrier has been stretched beyond its capacity or has been damaged. There was no correlation found between stretching in tensile tester and hydroforming.  Hard latex with an 8 w/w% formulation stretched in MD then CD and characterized by water vapour transmission rate could be stated to have significantly improved performance despite stretching up to 10.4%. The mean-WVTR of 10.4%-stretching in MD then CD was 11.3 g/m2/day, compared to 16.4 g/m2/day for the unstretched barrier. According to SEM images, the reason for this is that nanoclay was very well dispersed in the matrix and that there has seemingly been a slight reorientation of nanoclay with increased stretch. Furthermore, SEM images show that the thickness was reduced, yet despite this, mean-WVP improved from 1094 g* /m2/day (pre-stress) to 419 g* /m2/day (10.4%-stretch), indicating reorientation of nanoclay and thus improved stretchability.These SEM images show cracks at the boundary layer between the barrier and the substrate for both unstretched and 10.4%-stretched barriers in the Hard latex formulation. The cracks are seemingly stopped by nanoclay in the matrix, according to the stress concentration effect, where the crack moves around nanoclay and not through nanoclay. Hydroforming of barrier coated Hard latex formulation showed a deterioration of water vapour transmission rate with increased stretching. The mean WVTR of hydroforming with 10.4%-stretching was 30.6 g/m2/day. It is not thought that pressing during hydroforming damaged the Hard latex barrier as much, which can be confirmed by the pinholes test. Pinholes test demonstrated good performance and comparable to an unstretched barrier. Because comparisons between the different polymers were impractical, it was not possible to state if the glass transition temperature was important for the improvement seen by stretching in the tensile tester. But it can be argued that Hard latex has a more structured and rigid structure, allowing for a greater degree of reorientation. Soft latex, on the other hand, has less stiffness and thus less reorientation. The result of this study is that when stretching is done in both tensile testing and hydroforming, 8 w/w% nanoclay (bentonite) with Hard latex (styrene-butadiene) can be used advantageously in FibreForm packaging if stretchability is desired while maintaining barrier properties against water vapor.
Sammanfattning Idag har förpackningar fått en betydande roll i matindustrin såväl som andra industrier. Vid bestrykning på förpackningar och papperssubstrat så är det vanligt med pigment- eller barriärbestrykning. Vid pigmentbestrykning så tillförs optiska egenskaper till förpackningen, såsom exempelvis förbättrad tryckbarhet. Vid barriärbestrykning tillförs huvudsakligen kemisk skydd mot exempelvis vatten, vattenånga, fetter eller gaser, och innebär för matförpackningar bland annat att hållbarheten blir längre för livsmedlet. Genom fortsatt utveckling av barriärbestrykningar på förpackningar så förväntas även förpackningens roll i samhället att bli större. I denna laborativa studie undersöks möjligheterna kring töjbara barriärer på papperssubstrat, med fokus på vattenångaresistans.  De formuleringar som togs fram bestod av en latex med låg glasövergångstemperatur (Tg), kallad Soft latex med implementerad nanolera samt en latex med en Tg kallad Hard latex med implementerad nanolera. Soft latex var en Polyolefin dispersion med Tg -30°C, och Hard latex var en Styren-butadien latex med Tg = 0°C. 8 w/w% nanolera var den halt som bedömdes ge förbättringar i de mekaniska samt barriäregenskaper som eftersöktes för de båda latex. För denna studie valdes Bentonit som nanolera, på grund av dess plana samt dess fjälliga (flaky) struktur.  Töjbarheten hos de framtagna barriärformuleringarna testades med töjning i dragprov först i maskin-riktning (MD) och sedan tvär-riktning (CD) samt töjning med hydroforming, med töjning på 3,8/6,7/10,4% för respektive metod. Efter töjning av respektive metod bestämdes överföringshastigheten av vattenångpermabilitet (WVTR) genom barriären. En jämförelse gjordes mellan töjning i dragprov och hydroforming för att få en ökad förståelse kring WVTR-prestationen beroende på metod av töjning.  Soft latex visade en oförändrad vattenångaresistans efter 10,4%-töjning i dragprovaren. Detta tros bero på att nanoleran försvårar vattenångan att genomträngas trots töjning. Vid elektronmikroskop (SEM) kunde det ses att dispersionen av nanolera med Soft latex inte var bra, och därför var inte förbättringarna lika tydliga. Den sämre dispersionen av nanolera i matrisen beror på att Polyolefin saknar polära grupper i dess ryggrad (backbone) samt är väldigt hydrofobt, till skillnad från Bentonit som är hydrofilt. Trots sämre dispersion av nanolera och en töjning på 10,4% i MD + CD, så förbättrades vattenånga permeabiliteten (WVP).För hydroforming var prestationen av Soft latexformuleringen gällande WVTR dåliga, och vid Pinholes test fanns det uppenbara pinholes.  Hard latex visade en tydlig förbättring av WVTR efter 10,4%-töjning i dragprovaren, som tros bero på en omorientering av nanoleran i polymer matrisen vid töjning, vilket kan bekräftas av elektronmikroskop (SEM) där viss omorientering är synlig. Dessutom sågs en tydlig förbättring i WVP trots en lägre barriärtjocklek.För hydroforming var WVTR-värdena liknande till endast Hard latex och 0% nanolera.  Vid töjning var jämförelser beroende på de olika glasövergångstemperaturerna hos polymererna inte möjlig, och därför inte heller möjligt att konstatera ifall glasövergångstemperaturen var viktig för den förbättring som setts trots töjning i dragprovare. Men det kan hävdas att Hard latex har en mer strukturerad och stel struktur, vilket möjliggör en större grad av omorientering. Soft latex däremot, är mindre styvt och mindre ordnat, därav åstadkoms en mindre omorientering.  Resultaten av denna studie är att när stretching görs i både dragprovning och hydroformning, kan 8 w/w% nanoclay (bentonit) med Hard latex (styren-butadien) vara fördelaktig i FibreForm-förpackning om töjbarhet önskas samtidigt som barriäregenskaperna mot vattenånga bibehålls.

The main goal of this dissertation was to show that the principle of atomic layer deposition (ALD) can be applied to “endless” fibers. A reactor of atomic layer deposition has been designed, especially for coating depositions onto meter long bundles of fibers. Aluminum oxide (alumina), titanium oxide (titania), double layers of alumina and titania, as well as aluminium phosphate have been deposited onto bundles of carbon fibers using the home-built reactor. Scanning electron microscopic (SEM) and transmission electron microscopic (TEM) images indicate that the coatings were uniform and conformal onto fiber surface. There was a good adhesion of the coatings to the fibers. Alumina has been deposited using two separate aluminum sources (aluminum trichloride and trimethylaluminum), and water as a source of oxygen. In case of alumina deposition using aluminum trichloride and water, initial deposition temperature was 500 °C. In these conditions, a part of the fiber bundle has been damaged. Thus, the deposition temperature was decreased to 300 °C and the fibers were unaffected. In addition, during this process hydrochloric acid is formed as a byproduct which is a corrosive substance and affects the reactor and there was a chloride impurity in the coatings. Thus, aluminum trichloride precursor was replaced by trimethylalumium. Alumina deposition onto carbon fibers using trimethylaluminum and water was carried out at a temperature of 77 °C. SEM images revealed that the fibers were unaffected and the coatings were uniform and conformal. Oxidation resistance of the carbon fibers was improved slightly after alumina deposition. Oxidation onset temperature of the uncoated fibers was about 630 °C. The resistance was linearly increased with the coating thickness (up to 660 °C) and getting saturated over a thickness of 120 nm. Titania coatings have been deposited using titanium tetrachloride and water. The physical appearances of the titania coatings were similar to the alumina coatings. The oxidation onset temperature of the titania coated carbon fibers was similar to the uncoated fibers but the rate of oxidation was decreased than the uncoated fibers. Two double layer coatings were deposited, alumina followed by titania (alumina/titania), and titania followed by alumina (titania/alumina). If the fibers were coated with the double layer of alumina/titania, they had almost same oxidation onset as alumina coated fibers but the rate of oxidation was decreased significantly compared to alumina coated fibers. This feature is independent of the thickness of the titania layers, at least in the regime investigated (50 nm alumina followed by 13 nm and 40 nm titania). On the other hand, the oxidation onset temperature of fibers coated with titania/alumina (20 nm titania /30 nm alumina) was approximately 750 °C. The fibers were burned completely when temperature was further increased to 900 °C and held another 60 minutes at 900 °C. This is significantly better than any other coating used in this dissertation. ALD of titania and alumina in principle was known beforehand, this dissertation here applies this knowledge for the first time to endless fibers. Furthermore, this dissertation shows for the first time that one can deposit aluminum phosphate via ALD (planar surface as well as fibers). Aluminum phosphate might be special interest in the fiber coating because it is a rather soft material and thus might be used to obtain a weak coupling between fiber and matrix in composites. Aluminum phosphate was deposited using trimethylaluminum and triethylphosphate as precursors. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and solid state nuclear magnetic resonance spectra confirmed that the coating comprises aluminum phosphate (orthophosphate as well as other stoichiometries). Scanning electron microscopic images revealed that coatings are uniform and conformal. In cases of alumina and titania, it was observed that the coatings were delaminated from the ends of cut fibers and thus formed of clear steps. On the other hand, for aluminum phosphate coating it was observed that the border between coating and underlying fiber often being smeared out and thus formed an irregular line. It seems in case aluminum phosphate cohesion is weaker than adhesion, thus it might be act a weak interface between fiber and matrix. Alumina, titania, and double layer microtubes have been obtained after selective removal of the underlying carbon fibers. The carbon fibers were selectively removed via thermal oxidation in air at temperatures exceeding 550 °C. SEM and TEM images indicate that the inner side of the tube wall has the same morphology like the fibers. In addition, it was observed that the individual microtubes were separated from their neighbors and they had almost uniform wall thicknesses. The longest tubes had a length of 30 cm
Das Hauptziel dieser Dissertation bestand darin nachzuweisen, dass die Atomlagenabscheidung (engl. atomic layer deposition (ALD)) auf „endlose“ Fasern angewendet werden kann. Es wurde ein Reaktor zur Atomlagenabscheidung gestaltet, der speziell für die Beschichtung meterlanger Faserbündel geeignet ist. Aluminiumoxid, Titanoxid, Doppelschichten aus Aluminiumoxid und Titanoxid sowie Aluminiumphosphat wurden mit Hilfe des selbstgebauten Reaktors auf Kohlefaserbündel abgeschieden. Rasterelektronenmikroskopische (REM) und transmissionselektronenmikroskopische (TEM) Aufnahmen zeigten, dass die Beschichtung auf den Fasern einheitlich und oberflächentreu war. Des Weiteren wurde eine gute Adhäsion zwischen Beschichtung und Fasern beobachtet. Das Prinzip der Beschichtung mit Titanoxid und Aluminiumoxid mit Hilfe der ALD war bereits vorher bekannt und im Rahmen dieser Dissertation jedoch erstmals auf "endlose" Fasern angewendet. Des Weiteren wird in dieser Dissertation erstmals gezeigt, dass es möglich ist, Aluminiumphosphat mittels ALD abzuscheiden (sowohl auf planaren Oberflächen als auch auf Fasern). Aluminiumphosphat könnte von besonderem Interesse in der Faserbeschichtung sein, da es ein relativ weiches Material ist und könnte daher als eine Art „schwacher“ Verbindung zwischen Faser und Matrix in Kompositen dienen. Die Oxidationsbeständigkeit von beschichten Kohlefasern wurde im Vergleich zu unbeschichteten Fasern bis zu einem gewissen Grad erhöht. Monoschichten von Aluminiumoxid und Titanoxid waren dafür wenig effektiv. Aluminiumphosphatbeschichtete Fasern waren deutlich besser geeignet als die beiden anderen. Eine Doppelschicht aus Titanoxid gefolgt von Aluminiumoxid verbesserte die Oxidationsbeständigkeit nochmals deutlich gegenüber allen anderen Beschichtungen, die in dieser Dissertation verwendet wurden. Mikroröhren aus Aluminiumoxid, Titanoxid und Doppelschichten wurden durch die selektive Entfernung der zugrunde liegenden Kohlefasern erhalten. Einzelne Mikroröhren waren von benachbarten Röhren getrennt und sie weisen eine nahezu einheitliche Wanddicke auf

The objective of this work is to apply the method of variation of parameters to various direct and inverse nonlinear, multimode heat transfer problems. An overview of the general method of variation of parameters is presented and applied to a simple example problem. The method is then used to obtain solutions to three specific extended surface heat transfer problems: 1. a radiating annular fin, 2. convective and radiative exchange between the surface of a continuously moving strip and its surroundings, and 3. convection from a fin with temperature-dependent thermal conductivity and variable cross-sectional area. The results for each of these examples are compared to those obtained using other analytical and numerical methods. The method of variation of parameters is also applied to the more complex problem of combined conduction-radiation in a one-dimensional, planar, absorbing, emitting, non-gray medium with non-gray opaque boundaries. Unlike previous solutions to this problem, the solution presented here is exact. The model is verified by comparing the temperature profiles calculated from this work to those found using numerical methods for both gray and non-gray cases. The combined conduction-radiation model is then applied to determine the temperature profile in a ceramic thermal barrier coating designed to protect super alloy turbine blades from large and extended heat loads. Inverse methods are implemented in the development of a non-contact method of measuring the properties and temperatures within the thermal barrier coating. Numerical experiments are performed to assess the effectiveness of this measurement technique. The combined conduction-radiation model is also applied to determine the temperature profile along the fiber of an optical fiber thermometer. An optical fiber thermometer consists of an optical fiber whose sensing tip is coated with an opaque material which emits radiative energy along the fiber to a detector. Inverse methods are used to infer the tip temperature from spectral measurements made by the detector. Numerical experiments are conducted to assess the effectiveness of these methods. Experimental processes are presented in which a coating is applied to the end of an optical fiber and connected to an FTIR spectrometer. The system is calibrated and the inverse analysis is used to infer the tip temperature in various heat sources.

Im Rahmen des Transferprojektes T01 „Textilbeschichtung mit hochviskosen Massen“ des Sonderforschungsbereiches 532 (SFB 532) wird die Realisierung und Bewertung eines integrierten Beschichtungskonzeptes zur nachhaltigen Verbesserung der Tragfähigkeit von textilbewehrten Betonbauteilen an der RWTH Aachen University untersucht. Dazu wird eine neue Auftragstechnik für hochviskose Beschichtungsmassen entwickelt, die eine vollständige Penetration von Multifilamentgarnen mit großen Garntitern und einer hohen Anzahl an Filamenten in textilen Gelegen erzielt. Des Weiteren werden aktive Beschichtungsmassen auf der Basis von Polyvinylalkohol-Zement-Compositen, die eine homogene Anbindung aller Einzelfilamente an die Zementmatrix ermöglichen, erforscht.

A transmissão de dados e informação na fibra óptica vem aumentando nos últimos anos. O interesse para avaliar melhor a confiabilidade mecânica tomou-se uma necessidade, depois que uma fibra, de um cabo instalado, estava se partindo com muita facilidade. O foco principal deste trabalho foi voltado para estabelecer metodologias para avaliar o estado de degradação dos polímeros usados. Através destas técnicas, buscou-se encontrar parâmetros (E\', E\", tan δ, Tg, etc.) que pudessem indicar o estado de degradação dos revestimentos. Diferentes técnicas foram empregadas para avaliar o revestimento das fibras tais como: calorimetria exploratória diferencial (DSC), diferencial fotocalorimetria (DPC), análise térmica dinâmico mecânico (DMTA) e espectroscopia na região do infravermelho (FIIR). A partir da técnica desenvolvida, DMTA, esta pode ser empregada para avaliar a confiabilidade mecânica de várias fibras comercias. As técnicas DMTA e FIIR mostraram ser muito promissoras, pois consegue-se, através delas, obter muitos dados a respeito das características dos polímeros.
The datas and information transmission in the optical fiber have been increasing in the last years. The interest to evaluate the mechanical reliability became necessary, after that a optical fiber, from a cable installed, was cracking very easily. The principal aim of this work was establishing methodologies to evaluate the polymer degradation state. Through of this techniques we search to find out parameters (E\', E\", tan δ, Tg. etc) that could denote the degradation state of the coatings. Different techniques were utilized to evaluate the coating of the optical fibers such as: differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), differential photocalorimeter (DPC), dynamic mechanic thermal analyzer (DMTA) and infrared spectroscopy (FIIR). From the method development (DMTA), it was possible to evaluate the mechanical realiability of many commercial fibers. DMTA and FTIR techniques shown to be very promising to obtain very dates to respect of polymer characteristics.

The intrinsic stability of fibre optic based sensing systems offer a platform that is suited to hazardous waste detection in a wide range of environments. Over the last few years Cranfield University has been working on the development of chemical sensors using optical fibres in combination with a group of chemical recognition molecules called calixarenes. Calixarenes semi-selectively with a range of solvents of interest makes them useful for chemical detection systems. This work has primarily been focused on the use of calixarenes in sensing benzene and other hazardous solvents. However, this approach could potentially be expanded for use in a wide range of chemical and even biological recognition systems. The initial aim of this project was to build on the previous work in fibre optic sensing at Cranfield and explore approaches to improve and extend the performance of the sensor system. The project first focused on improving the techniques used in the Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) deposition of calixarenes. Initial studies in this area highlighted one critical experimental error associated with the use of dry Wilhelmy plates to monitor the surface pressure of the Langmuir film. Dry filter paper plates take up to 2 hours to give stable data, with a drift of up to 10% in the measured surface pressure. It is shown that this problem can be avoided by using pre-soaked plates. To provide an alternative to the Wilhelmy plate surface pressure senor, an optical fibre surface pressure sensor was developed, measuring changes in the meniscus forming properties of a liquid. The sensor consists of a tapered single mode silica fibre, mounted with a small curvature and positioned with the tapered region of the fibre immersed in the water. The performance of the fibre optic sensor is comparable with that of the conventional Wilhelmy plate surface pressure sensor showing linearity of greater than 0.9. Following the analysis of the experimental systems used in the construction of the sensors, the project then focused on the chemistry of the materials and their suitability for LB coating. A variety of these materials were spread as Langmuir monolayers and their behavior upon compression measured. Long chain-substituted resorcinarenes gave more stable monolayers than their short chain analogues. The incorporation of long chain surfactants led to large increases in surface area, demonstrating that both resorcinarenes and surfactants are located at the water surface, except for one system where a bilayer structure is potentially formed. Further work on the behavior of the materials involved the alteration of the dipole-dipole interaction of the monolayer materials with the subphase. The modification of this interaction through the introduction of dipole altering additives, including alcohols and hydrogen peroxide, to the aqueous subphase was investigated. The resulting isotherms of the materials showed a reduction in the surface pressure and area per molecule required in order for the monolayer to reach its point of collapse. This ability to shift the point of collapse has application in the optimisation of Langmuir-Blodgett coating of surfaces. Within this project the sensing properties of a fibre sensor were also modelled extensively in order to determine the theoretical sensing limits of a fibre optic vapour sensor. The model showed that the sensing goals of 1ppm originally envisaged for this project were unobtainable due to the low number of gas molecules interacting with the sensor. However, this led to the proposal of a new application of the system in sensing contaminants in water, where the same limitations would not apply. The results for the sensor system tested in water show how significantly more sensitive the system is to toluene contamination in water than it is to toluene vapour. These results demonstrate the utility of the developed system for many pollutant-sensing applications, include crude oil detection.

Fiber optic sensors have been utilized as corrosion sensors by depositing metal coatings to the surface of the sensors. Three types of fiber optic sensors were investigated as candidates for corrosion detection: the extrinsic Fabry-Perot interferometer (EFPI), the absolute extrinsic Fabry-Perot interferometer (AEFPI), and the long period grating (LPG) fiber optic sensor. The corrosion monitoring technique used with the EFPI and AEFPI sensors exploits the ability of a thick coating of metal to maintain strain information in fiber optic strain sensors. The sensors are placed under tensile stress, and while in the resulting strained position, a thick coating of metal is applied. Due to an increase in the quantity of material, the sensor does not return to its original position upon release, and strain is maintained within the sensor element. As the metal thickness decreases due to corrosion, this residual strain is released, providing the sensing mechanism for corrosion detection. LPG fiber optic sensors have demonstrated their ability as bandstop filters, by coupling the fundamental guided mode to circularly symmetric cladding modes. The cladding modes are extremely lossy due to the fiber jacket and bending along the fiber. Losses at discrete wavelengths can be monitored to determine the onset and progress of metal corrosion. Background theory and experimental results are discussed and reported for EFPI, AEFPI, and LPG fiber optic corrosion sensors. The study is preceded with an overview of different corrosion sensor designs and methods which are used in the area of non-destructive evaluation.
Master of Science

Paper coatings or coating colours are high solidssuspensions that are applied to paper to improve chieflyprintability and optical properties. A paper coatingsuspension, including pigments, binders and thickeners, is acomplex system which must be understood if the end-useproperties of paper are to be improved. Some of the importantissues that need to be addressed are the mechanisms ofmigration of latices in a drying film, the influence ofthickener on the overall consolidation and the behaviour ofpaper coatings under compression.U nderstanding theconsolidation of paper coatings is essential as the aggregatestructures formed at this stage largely determine theperformance of the paper coating.Similarly, the forming ofpaper itself from pulp fibres requires a detailed understandingof the consolidation and dewatering process.

In this thesis several approaches have been used in order tostudy the consolidation of paper coatings before and afterapplication to substrates. The techniques utilised arerheometry, centrifugation with NMR-imaging, scanning electronmicroscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM).Furthermore, investigations of the compressional rheology offibre systems has indicated that stepped pressure filtrationcan be a useful tool in the study of fibre dewatering.

The primary findings presented in this thesis can besummarised as follows. Studies of the compressive yield stressand rheological properties of ground calcium carbonate (GCC)suspensions indicate that the addition of a commonly usedthickener can cause flocculation, most likely of a depletiontype, which leads to more compact structures during dewatering.When applied to substrates, migration and film formation ofbinder latices in the presence of calcium carbonate pigmentsand CMC thickeners occurs concurrently and collectively. Thisis shown to influence the consolidation of the top layer of thecoating to a great extent. It was found that CMC retards themigration of latices and that ethyl(hydroxyethyl)cellulose(EHEC) adsorbs to latex and creates a composite material uponlocal film formation. The composite retains an internalhoneycomb structure in the film, that is revealed by mapping ofelastic variations using AFM phase imaging.

For fibre systems, the novel method of stepped pressurefiltration has been applied to study the compressional rheologyof pulp suspensions, and the effect of added surfactantsinvestigated. The technique is shown to be a promising tool forthe study of structure-dewatering relationships in fibresuspensions.

Tapered optical fibres have been manufactured, characterised and studied. These are compact devices made from single-mode optical fibre. A system for producing tapers has been developed, employing flame heating of the optical fibre and computer controlled rotation stages to stretch the fibre in a controlled and repeatable fashion. Subsequently tapered fibres were coated with nanostructured films of materials that change their optical properties in response to an external stimulus. An investigation of the effect of depositing chemically sensitive nano-scale films onto tapered optical fibres has been undertaken. Three different methods of deposition were applied: Langmuir-Blodgett technique, electrostatic-self-assembly and – for the first time - chemical grafting. Six different films of materials were deposited onto tapered fibres: 4-[2-(4-dimethylamino- naphtalen-1-yl)-vinyl]-1-octadecyl-quinolinium iodide (merocyanine dye), calix[4]resorcinarene, bilayers of poly(allyamine hydrochloride) (PAH) and anionic tetrakis(4-sulfophenyl)porphine (TSPP), PAH and cyclodextrine, TiO2 nanoparticles imprinted with ((1-(4-Nitrophenylazo)-2-naphthol (NPAN) compound), polyaniline (PANI). During the deposition process the light was launched into each fibre and the evolution of the transmission spectrum observed. The coated tapers were subsequently investigated for their potential application as chemical sensors: pH, red-ox, ammonia sensors. The response to a stimulus was investigated by immersing the coated tapered fibre in an environment containing the measurand. The properties of these devices were also used in combination other photonics concepts, such as fibre Bragg gratings written in the tapered region of a fiber, under investigation within the Engineering Photonics Group to develop new sensor elements.

Thesis (M. S.)--Chemical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2008.
Committee Chair: Yulin Deng; Committee Member: Jeffery S. Hsieh; Committee Member: Sujit Banerjee; Committee Member: Zhong Lin Wang.

Epoxy intumescent coatings are fire protection systems for steel structural elements that are widely used in applications that protection from severe hydrocarbon fires is required, such as oil and gas facilities. These polymer coatings react upon heating and expand into a thick porous char layer that insulates the protected steel element. In the typical fire scenarios for these applications, the intumescent coatings must resist very high heat fluxes and highly erosive forces from ignited pressurised gases. Hence, continuous fibre reinforcement is embedded in the thick epoxy coating during installation, so as to ensure the integrity of the weak intumesced char during fire exposure. This reinforcement is typically in the form of a bidirectional carbon and/or glass fibre mesh, thus under normal service conditions a fibre-reinforced intumescent coating (FRIC) is essentially a lightly fibre-reinforced polymer (FRP) composite material. This thesis examines the impacts of embedded high strength fibres on the tensile behaviour of epoxy intumescent materials in their unreacted state prior to fire exposure, and the potential enhancements that arise in the structural performance of elements protected with FRICs. An experimental programme is presented comprising tensile coupon tests of unreacted intumescent epoxies, reinforced with different fibre meshes at various fibre volume fractions. It is demonstrated that the tensile properties of FRICs can be enhanced considerably by including increasing amounts of carbon fibre reinforcement aligned in the principal loading direction, which can be tailored in the desired orientation on the coated structural members to enhance their load carrying capacity and/or deformability. An experimental study is presented on coated intact and artificially damaged I-beams (simulating steel losses from corrosion) tested in bending, demonstrating that FRICs can enhance the flexural response of the beams after yielding of steel, until the tensile rupture of the coatings. An analytical procedure for predicting the flexural behaviour of the coated beams is discussed and validated against the obtained test results, whereas a parametric analysis is performed based on this analytical model to assess the effect of various parameters on the strengthening efficiency of FRICs. The results of this analysis demonstrate that it is feasible to increase the flexural load capacity of thin sections considerably utilising the flexural strength gains from FRICs. Finally, a novel application is proposed in this thesis for FRICs as a potential system for structural strengthening or retrofitting reinforced concrete and concrete-encased steel columns by lateral confinement. An experimental study is presented on the axial compressive behaviour of short, plain concrete and concrete-encased structural steel columns that are wrapped in the hoop direction with FRICs. The results clearly show that epoxy intumescent coatings reinforced with a carbon fibre mesh of suitable weight can provide lateral confinement to the concrete core resisting its lateral dilation, thus resulting in considerable enhancements of the axial strength and deformability of concrete. The observed strengthening performance of the composite protective coatings is found to be at least as good as that of FRP wraps consisting of the same fibre reinforcement mesh and a conventional, non-intumescent epoxy resin. The predictive ability of existing design-oriented FRP confinement models is compared against the experimental results, and is found to be reasonably precise in predicting the peak strength of the tested columns, hence existing models appear to be suitable for design and analysis of column strengthening schemes with the proposed novel FRIC system. The research presented herein shows clearly that FRICs have a strong potential as alternative systems for consideration in the field of structural strengthening and rehabilitation, since they can provide substantial enhancements in the load carrying capacity for both applications considered. At the same time FRICs can thermally protect the underlying structural elements in the event of a fire, by intumescing and charring, thus potentially eliminating the need for additional passive fire protection that is common with conventional fire-rated FRP wrapping systems. Although this thesis provides a proof-of-concept for use of the proposed novel FRICs as structural strengthening materials, considerable additional research is particularly required to study their fire protection performance when applied to concrete substrates, to make use of the proposed hybrid functionality with confidence.

Bioengineering
Ph.D.
Electrospinning of nanofibrous mats and scaffolds enables generation of scaffolding that is not only highly porous, but also has a structure that essentially mimics the natural basement membrane. As a result, the method has proliferated extensively, and is commonly used for diverse applications such as water filtration or tissue engineering, the latter of which may involve the use of natural or synthetic materials. Common laboratory scale electrospinning setups can be built inexpensively with merely a syringe pump, a high voltage supply, and an aluminum foil target. These systems, however, are limited to flat target surface geometries that span several centimeters. While a scaffold can be cut or folded to conform to a bone or other biological surface, spinning directly onto a surface with significant peaks and troughs results in poor fiber uniformity. Furthermore, if an alteration of fiber properties is preferred, the high voltage setup limits user access and customization of parameters during the spinning period. Finally, control of the electric field is compromised by the proximity of grounded electrical components. As its first aim, this project develops a robotic control system to enable custom coatings of arbitrary surfaces. By augmenting the traditional electrospinning system with a three-dimensional robotic control system, electric field focusing fibers, and additional aerodynamic forces terms ‘electroblowing’, the device can be produced across targets with strong topographic anisotropy. The second aim continues to enhance these attributes with biocompatible soy based scaffolds. Craniofacial implants are often complex in geometry, and conformal bandages are particularly hard to produce in these areas. Soy based scaffolds will be produced for 3D-printed replicas of these situations. Finally, the methods developed across this aim enables the development and use of a handheld electrospinning system that combines a coaxial high velocity air flow with the high voltage spinning element to reduce effects of operator error. The final goal of the thesis is to test whether fiber control successfully reduces effects of fiber anisotropy in vitro and to use the enhanced fiber control mechanisms to produce scaffolds with significant anisotropy, depositing aligned fibers at a target point to eventually enable generation of scaffolds with programmable variable spatial alignment similar to tendon. When completed, the systems described will enable custom production of coatings or scaffolds for functionality as scaffolding on medically relevant surfaces. Specifically, this means first, that scaffolds can be used with confidence to improve fixation even of non-cylindrical implants and enhance local tissue integration, and second, that implants can be customized with areas of ‘guidance’ fibers or local drug depots to either promote regeneration and population by surrounding tissue or mimic natural anisotropic cues necessary for mechanical or biological functionality.
Temple University--Theses

The dual resonant response of long period fibre gratings (LPG) operating near the phase matching turning point to the deposition of nanostructured coatings is explored. A broad range of LPGs have been fabricated with grating periods ranging from 80m to 180m, and these have been characterized with three different coating materials,-tricosensoic acid, undecyl-calix[4]resorcarene and tert-butyl-calix[8]arene carboxylic acid. The dual resonant response has been exploited with the construction of an LPG based sensor coated with a quinolinium dye forming a pH sensor. The wavelength response of this device was measured with a sensitivity of -0.55pH/nm. Furthermore, length apodised phase shifted long period gratings have been characterized, and the effect on the dual resonant response has been recorded. Partial coating of this device has resulted in the observation of a bandgap feature in the wavelength response. The use of calixarenes as a functional coating for long period fibre gratings is also investigated. Calixarene is applied in a thin layer with a thickness of several hundred nm’s to the cladding of the fibre in the region containing the LPG sensor. The chemical sensing capabilities of a long period fibre grating sensor is presented for the detection of the volatile organic compounds; hexane, cyclohexane, benzene and toluene. The wavelength response was measured and the sensitivity to toluene vapour was recorded at 1600ppmv/nm. Using intensity detection of the central maxima in the wavelength response, the chemical selectivity is demonstrated showing sensitivity to toluene vapour over 13 times greater compared to hexane vapour.

Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Materials Science and Engineering, 2009.
Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 40-42).
Multifunctionality can be imparted to protein-based fibers and coatings via either synthetic or biological approaches. Here, we demonstrate potent antimicrobial functionality of genetically engineered, phage-based fibers and fiber coatings, processed at room temperature. Facile genetic engineering of the M13 virus (bacteriophage) genome leverages the well-known antibacterial properties of silver ions to kill bacteria. Predominant expression of negatively-charged glutamic acid (E3) peptides on the pVIII major coat proteins of M13 bacteriophage (or phage) enables solution-based, electrostatic binding of silver ions and subsequent reduction to metallic silver along the phage length. Antibacterial fibers of micrometer-scale diameters are constructed from such E3-modified phage, via wet-spinning and glutaraldehyde-crosslinking of the E3-modified phage. Silverization of the free-standing fibers is confirmed via energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and inductively-coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES), showing -0.61,pg/cm of silver on E3-Ag fibers. This degree of silverization is threefold greater than that attainable for the unmodified M13-Ag fibers. Conferred bactericidal functionality is determined via live-dead staining and a modified disk-diffusion (Kirby-Bauer) measure of zone of inhibition (Zol) against Staphylococcus epidermidis and Escherichia coli bacterial strains. Live-dead staining and Zol distance measurements indicate increased bactericidal activity in the genetically engineered virus fibers attached to silver.
(cont.) Coating of Kevlar fibers with E3 viruses exhibits antibacterial effects, as well, with relatively smaller ZoIs attributable to the lower degree of silver loading attainable in these coatings. Such antimicrobial functionality is amenable to rapid incorporation within fiber-based textiles to reduce risks of infection, biofilm formation, or odor-based detection, with the potential to exploit the additional electronic and thermal conductivity of fully silverized fibers and coatings.
by Joan Y. Mao.
S.M.

Abstract Multiphase Droplet Interactions with a Single Fiber By: Noor M. Farhan A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at Virginia Commonwealth University. Virginia Commonwealth University, 2019 Director: Hooman V. Tafreshi, Professor, Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering Formulating the physics of droplet adhesion to a fiber is interesting intellectually and important industrially. A typical example of a droplet–fiber system in nature is the dew droplets on spider webs, where droplets first precipitate and grow on the fibers, but they eventually fall when they become too heavy. Obviously, quantifying the force of adhesion between a droplet and a fiber is crucial in designing fog harvesting devices or manufacturing filtration media for liquid–gas or liquid–liquid separation, among many other industrial applications. This study is aimed at developing a mathematical framework for the mechanical forces between a droplet and a fiber in terms of their physical and wetting properties. To this end, a series of experiments were conducted to detach ferrofluid droplets of varying volumes from fibers with different diameters and Young–Laplace contact angles (YLCAs) in a controlled magnetic field. The force of detachment was measured using a sensitive scale and used along with the results of numerical simulations to develop a semi-analytical expression for the force required to detach a droplet from a fiber. This universally-applicable expression allows one to predict the force detachment without the need to run an experiment or a computer simulation. This work also reports on the use of magnetic force to measure the force of detachment for nonmagnetic droplets for the first time. This is accomplished by adding a small amount of a ferrofluid to the original nonmagnetic droplet to create a compound droplet with the ferrofluid nesting inside or cloaking the nonmagnetic droplet. The ferrofluid is then used to induce a body force to the resulting compound droplet and thereby detach it from the fiber. The recorded detachment force is used directly (the case of nesting ferrofluid) or after scaling (the case of cloaking ferrofluid) to obtain the force of detachment for the original nonmagnetic droplet. The accuracy of these measurements was examined through comparison with numerical simulations as well as available experimental data in the literature. In addition, a simple method is developed to directly measure the intrinsic contact angle of a fiber (i.e., Young–Laplace Contact angle of the fiber material) with any arbitrary liquid. It is shown that the intrinsic contact angle of a fiber can be obtained by simply measuring the angle between the tangent to the fiber surface and the tangent to the droplet at the contact line, if the droplet possesses a clamshell conformation and is viewed from the longitudinal direction. The novelty of the proposed method is that its predictions are not affected by the volume of the droplet used for the experiment, the wettability of the fiber, the surface tension of the liquid, or the magnitude of the body force acting on the droplet during the experiment. Also, a liquid droplet interaction with granular coatings is simulated and the droplet apparent contact angle (ACA) and the transition from Cassie (fully dry) to Wenzel (fully wet) state as a function to the roughness wavelength have been studied. For a fixed droplet volume, two different granular coatings have been used, spherical and hemispherical bumps. It is demonstrated that the chemistry (YLCA) and geometrical parameters for the granular microtexture play an important effect on the droplet ACA and its transition from Cassie to Wenzel state.

Current body armor technologies need further improvements in their design to help reduce combat injuries of military and law enforcement personnel. Kevlar-based body armor systems have good ballistic resistance up to a certain ballistic threat level due to limitations such as decreased mobility and increased weight [1,2]. Kevlar fibers have been modified in this work using a nano-scale boron carbide coating and a marked increase in the puncture resistance has been experimentally observed. It is hypothesized that this improvement is due to the enhancement of the mechanical properties of the individual Kevlar fibers due to the nano-scale coatings. This study presents a comprehensive experimental investigation of individual Kevlar fibers based on nanoindentation to quantify the cause of the enhanced puncture resistance. The experimental setup was validated using copper wires with a diameter size in the same order of magnitude as Kevlar fibers. Results from nanoindentation did not show significant changes in the modulus or hardness of the Kevlar fibers. Scanning Electron Microscopy revealed that the coated fibers had a marked change in their surface morphology. The main finding of this work is that the boron carbide coating did not affect the properties of the individual fibers due to poor adhesion and non-uniformity. This implies that the observed enhancement in puncture resistance originates from the interaction between fibers due to the increase in roughness. The results are important in identifying further ways to enhance Kevlar puncture resistance by modifying the surface properties of fibers.

Für den Nachweis dieser Schadstoffe in niedrigen Konzentrationsbereichen sind schnelle und empfindliche Analysemethoden erforderlich. Molekular geprägte Polymere (MIPs) wurden als synthetische Materialien entwickelt, um die molekulare Erkennung von natürlichen Rezeptoren nachzuahmen, aufgrund ihrer Fähigkeit, selektiv eine Vielzahl von Analyten zu erkennen, ihre Stabilität und ihrer einfachen Herstellung. Sie sind zunehmend in der chemischen Sensorik als Rezeptormaterial für den Nachweis bestimmter Analyten bei niedrigen Konzentrationen zu finden, insbesondere in Kombination mit Fluoreszenz aufgrund dessen hoher Empfindlichkeit. Ziel dieser Arbeit war die Entwicklung von optischen Sensormaterialien unter Verwendung von MIPs als Erkennungselemente im Zusammenhang mit Fluoreszenz zum sensitiven Nachweis von Herbiziden und Antibiotika in Wasser- und Lebensmittelproben and deren Kombination mit verschiedenen Vorrichtungsformaten für die zukünftige Detektion einer breiten Palette von wichtigen Analyten.
For the detection of these contaminants in low concentration ranges fast and sensitive analytical tools are required. Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) have been used as synthetic materials mimicking molecular recognition by natural receptors due to their ability to recognize selectively a wide range of analytes, their stability and ease of synthesis. They have gained more and more attention in chemical sensing as receptor material for the detection of suitable groups of analytes at low concentrations especially in combination with fluorescence due to the latter’s high sensitivity. This work aimed the development of optical sensor materials using MIPs as recognition elements connected with fluorescence for the sensitive detection of herbicides and antibiotics in water and food samples and their combination with various device formats for the future detection of a wide range of analytes.

Thesis: S.B., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, 2015.
This electronic version was submitted by the student author. The certified thesis is available in the Institute Archives and Special Collections.
Cataloged from student-submitted PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (page 32).
Mussel byssal threads exhibit unique self-healing mechanical properties. This study designed a synthetic system modeled after the byssal thread structure in order to isolate the origins of their unique self-healing mechanical properties. PDMS fibers were coated with metal-coordination bonds crosslinked PEG gels and their mechanical properties were tested with uniaxial tension tests. The synthetic system achieved a similar behavior to that of the natural mussel fibers, showing that a thin stiff coating on a soft polymer fiber can have a dramatic effect on its mechanical behavior. The coated fibers were much stiffer at small strains than the uncoated PDMS. The linear elastic region was followed by a distinct yield stress, which indicated the coating beginning to fracture. At high strains, when the coating had failed catastrophically, the PDMS behavior dominated. The coatings were healed though hydration in a humid environment and were then able to recover their stiffness similar to mussel byssal threads.
by Inbar Yamin.
S.B.