Stable superhydrophobic surfaces over a wide pH range

A stable superhydrophobic surface was fabricated by solidifying poly(epoxy-terminated polydimethylsiloxane-co-bisphenol A) [P(ETPDMS-co-BPA)] copolymer on a rough substrate. The low surface energy of the copolymer and the geometric structure at micrometer scale of the surface contribute to the superhydrophobic property. The as-prepared surface shows stable superhydrophobicity over a wide pH range (1-14) and the wettability is excellent stable to heating, water, corrosive solution and organic solvent treatments. The procedure is simple and time-saving as well as utilizing non-fluorine-containing compounds.     

In situ hybridization to chitosan/magnetite nanocomposite induced by the magnetic field

Chitosan/magnetite nanocomposite was synthesized induced by magnetic field via in situ hybridization in ambient condition. Results of XRD patterns and TEM micrographs indicated that magnetite particles with 10–20 nm were dispersed in chitosan homogeneously. An interesting result is that magnetite nanoparticles were assembled to form chain-like structures under the influence of the external magnetic field, which mimics the magnetite chains inside of magnetotatic bacteria. The saturated magnetization (Ms) of nano-magnetite in chitosan was 50.54 emu/g, which is as high as 54% of bulk magnetite. The remanence (Mr) and coercivity (Hc) were 4 emu/g and14.8 Oe, respectively, which indicated that magnetite nanoparticles were superparamagnetic. The key of route is that a pre-precipitated chitosan hydrogel membrane, used as chemical reactor, which controlled the precipitation of chitosan precipitation and in situ transformation of magnetite from the precursor simultaneously in the magnetic field environment.     

Effects of roughness on interfacial performances of silica glass and non-polar polyarylacetylene resin composites

The influence of roughness on interfacial performances of silica glass/polyarylacetylene resin composites was investigated. In order to obtain different roughness, silica glass surface was abraded by different grits of abrasives and its topography was observed by scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. At the same time, the failure mechanisms of composites were analyzed by fracture morphologies and the interfacial adhesion was evaluated by shear strength test. The results indicated that shear strength of silica glass/polyarylacetylene resin composites firstly increased and then decreased with the surface roughness of silica glass increased. The best surface roughness range of silica glass was 40-60 nm. The main mechanism for the improvement of the interfacial adhesion was physical interlocking at the interface.     

Adhesive-free bonding of Zerodur glass to silicon

This work demonstrates anodic bonding of Zerodur glass having very low co-efficient of thermal expansion (CTE) to Si, Zerodur glass to thermally grown silicon dioxide on silicon and Pyrex glass to Ge. Bonding results, using point cathode contact and plate cathode contact configurations, are discussed. Bonding parameters, i.e. applied dc voltage, temperature and bonding time were determined. Heating and cooling rates for crack-free bonding of Zerodur glass were also determined.     

Surface modification of polyethylene film by acrylamide graft and alcoholysis for improvement of antithrombogenicity

To improve antithrombogenicity of polyethylene (PE) films, the films pretreated by Ar plasma were radiated by ultraviolet light to initiate grafting polymerization with acrylamide (AAm) in absence of photo-initiator, then the AAm-grafted PE films (PE-g-AAm) were alcoholized with octadecyl alcohol. Effects of Ar plasma composite parameter (W/FM), pretreated time, AAm monomer concentration, and UV irradiation time on grafting rate were investigated systematically. AAm-grafted PE film and alcoholized PE film (PE-g-SAAm) were characterized by contact angle, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), attenuated total reflectance Fourier transfer infrared (ATR-FT-IR) spectroscopy and atomic force microscope (AFM), respectively. The results indicated that the moieties of AAm and stearyl were successively immobilized onto the PE surface. The platelet adhesion experiment showed that antithrombogenicity of the modified PE films was improved in comparison with PE films. The change in antithrombogenicity is attributed to the surface of the modified film in presence of tail-like structure which consists of polyacrylamide as spacer and stearyl as end groups.     

Study on wettabilities and platelet adhesion behavior of C:H and C:N:H films prepared by DC-MFCVA

The C:H and C:N:H films were prepared by direct current magnetic filtered cathodic vacuum arc deposition (DC-MFCVA) at room temperature (RT). Raman spectra were used to analyze structure of films. The surface energy and interfacial tension of the films were calculated by contact angle measure using four common liquids. Platelet adhesion experiment in vitro was done to characterize anticoagulant property of the synthesized films from an aspect. The results showed that the doping of N and H element could decrease interfacial tension of DLC films. The synthesized DLC have good anticoagulant property and may be considered as candidate anticoagulant biomaterials.     

Applying pulsed-laser holography to studying the filament behaviour during the air-jet texturing process

By means of a ruby laser, pulsed-laser holography—because of its high speed, non-destructive, and real-time properties—is introduced to the field of textile engineering for studying the behaviour of filaments emerging from a jet nozzle during the air-jet texturing process. It is proved that this is an efficient method to investigate the mechanism of the air-texturing process.     

Electrostatic forces in micromanipulations: Review of analytical models and simulations including roughness

Manipulations by contact of objects between 1 m and 1 mm are often disturbed by adhesion between the manipulated object and the gripper. Electrostatic forces are among the phenomena responsible for this adhesive effect. Analytical models have been developed in the literature to predict the electrostatic forces. Most models are developed within the framework of scanning probe microscopy, i.e. for a contact between a conducting tip and a metallic surface. Models are reviewed in this work and compared with our own simulations using finite elements modeling. The results show a good correlation. The main advantage of our simulations lies in the fact that they can integrate roughness parameters. For this purpose, a fractal representation of the surface topography was chosen through the use of the Weierstrass-Mandelbrot function. Comparisons with experimental benchmarks from the literature show very good correlation between experimental results and simulations. It demonstrates the importance of surface topography on electrostatic forces at very close separation distances.     

Measuring Electrospun Nanofibre Diameter: a Novel Approach

A new method based on image analysis for electrospun nanofibre diameter measurement is presented. First, the SEM micrograph of the nanofibre web obtained by electrospinning process is converted to binary image using local thresholding method. In the next step, skeleton and distance transformed image are generated. Then, the intersection points which bring about untrue measurements are identified and removed from the skeleton. Finally, the resulting skeleton and distance transformed image are used to determine fibre diameter. The method is evaluated by a simulated image with known characteristics generated by ？-randomness procedure. The results indicate that this approach is successful in making fast, accurate automated measurements of electrospun fibre diameters.     

Effect of surface roughness of chitosan-based microspheres on cell adhesion

Microspheres are novel candidate materials for microcarriers and tissue-engineering scaffolds. Chitosan microspheres were selected as the base materials because of their excellent properties for biomedical applications. But their smooth surfaces were not adapted for cell attachment. Hence, in order to improve the roughness of chitosan microspheres, β-TCP/chitosan composite microspheres were developed. From SEM photographs, the coarse surfaces of composite microspheres were observed, there were some ceramic particles standing out of the chitosan matrix. And their roughness measured by profilometers was about 2.0 μm. Mouse MC3T3-E1 osteoblasts were seeded on the microspheres for evaluating the attachment interaction between cells and materials. According to the ESEM photographs and MTT assay, the adherence and proliferation of osteoblasts on the surfaces of modified microspheres were better than those on the chitosan microspheres, which were mainly attributed to the improved roughness of surface.     

Dielectric breakdown of rubber materials by femtosecond irradiation

We report the reversible micro-structuring of a synthetic rubber polymer (cis1,4-polybutadiene (PB)) by femtosecond laser illumination. Visco-elastic relaxation of the optically damaged region was observed. The recovery time, typically 10²–10⁴ ms, can be varied by changing the irradiation pulse energy. Multi-shot-induced damage recovers on the much longer scale of 10¹–10² s. It was found that the doping of PB by 4 wt. % of pentazadiene ([4-NO₂]–phenyl–N=N–N(C₃H₇)–N=N–phenyl–[4-NO₂]) reduces the threshold of light-induced photo-modification by 20%. This is explained by photo-induced (homolytic) cleavage of the pentazadiene bonds and formation of gaseous N₂, which facilitates material failure at the irradiated spot. The recovery of optical transmission can be applied to optical memory, optical and micro-mechanical applications. The underlying mechanism of the phenomenon is discussed in terms of anelastic α- and β-relaxation (polymer backbone and chains/coils relaxation, respectively). Received: 11 October 2001 / Accepted: 9 July 2002 / Published online: 25 October 2002 RID="*" ID="*"Corresponding author. Fax: +81-88/656-7598, E-mail: misawa@eco.tokushima-u.ac.jp     

Capillary Adhesion of Microbeams： Finite Deformation Analysis

Capillary force may cause adhesion of devices at micro- and nano-scales. Considering the fact that large deformation is often involved in adhesion of microbeams, we analysed the capillary adhesion of two beams using finite deformation elasticity theory. The critical adhesion condition can be obtained from the present method as a function of the bending stiffness, Young＇s contact angle, the spacing of the two beams as well as the surface tensions of the solid and liquid phases. The solution for the capillary adhesion of a beam with a rigid substrate is also given. The results from the finite deformation analysis are compared with that of infinitesimal deformation method in order to show the necessity of accounting for the nonlinear effect associated with large deflection. The method adopted in this study can also be used to solve other adhesion problems associated with van der Waals force or electrostatic force.     

Dynamic Tensile Behavior and Fracture Mechanism of Polymer Composites Embedded with Tetraneedle-Shaped ZnO Nanowhiskers

Dynamic tensile properties of glass-fiber polymer composites embedded with ZnO nanowhiskers are investigated by a split Hopkinson tensile bar. The stress-strain curves, ultimate strength, failure strain and elastic modulus are obtained and the failure mechanism of the composites is investigated by the macroscopic and microscopic observation of fractured specimens. The strain rate effect on the mechanical behavior is discussed and a constitutive model is derived by simulating the experimental data. The experimental results show that the materials have an obvious non-linear constitutive relation and strain rate strengthening effect. The composites with ZnO nanowhiskers under dynamic loading have various failure modes and better mechanical properties.     

Preparation of Aligned Polymer Micro/Nanofibres by Electrospinning

Polymer micro/nanofibres are prepared by typical and modified methods of electrospinning. The morphologies and microstructures of the electrospun micro/nanofibres are characterized by a scanning electron microscope （SEM）. The micro/nanofibres prepared by the typical electrospinning are usually collected in the form of nonwoven mats lacking of structural orientation, However, by modifying collector（s） of the electrospinning setup, the resulting polymer fibres show aligned structures to some extent. We analyse all the forces that the fibres experienced during electrospinning and find that the electrostatic force originating from the splitting electric field plays a key role in the alignment of the micro/nanofibres.     

Dynamic Response and Fracture Mechanism of a Novel Structural Radar Absorbing Material

A novel structural radar absorbing material （SRAM）, which gives the normal resin-base composites new function, is prepared. The dynamic compressive tests of SRAM are carried out in both in-plane and normal directions of composites by means of the split Hopkinson pressure bar （SHPB）. In the compressive test along in-plane direction, failure occurs at the interface between a fibre and the matrix. A fracture mode and mechanism was proposed to explain these results. The addition of absorbing particles results in the deterioration of the compressive properties. However, there is no obvious decrease on compressive strength of SRAM with the radar absorbing properties.     

Surface characterisation of carbon fibre recycled using fluidised bed

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was used to investigate the surface of carbon fibres recycled using a high-temperature fluidised bed. The interfacial shear strength of the recycled carbon fibres with epoxy resin was examined using a micro-droplet test. The corresponding as received carbon fibres were used as control samples. It was shown that the recycling process converted some of the surface hydroxyl groups into carbonyl and carboxylic groups due to the effect of heat in atmosphere of air. The overall O/C ratio was not changed significantly. The interfacial shear strength with epoxy resin was not affected by the change of surface oxygen composition. It was also shown that surface texture may play a dominant role in interfacial bonding performance.     

Textural changes during CO2 activation of chars: A fractal approach

In this paper two series of active carbons obtained at different flow rates of the activating agent, CO₂, are characterized in order to establish the different mechanisms of pore development during the activation step. This study complements previous works on textural development during the different steps in the process of obtaining active carbons: coal oxidation, coal pyrolysis and char gasification. As the characteristics of the original and intermediate materials are of capital importance in the pore development of active carbons, the properties of the active carbons, precursor chars and coals were considered and analyzed together. Mercury porosimetry and helium picnometry were used to determine classical textural parameters as well as to perform a more detailed study of the pore volume generation during the different conditions of the activation step. Data obtained from the mercury porosimetry determinations was also employed for fractal determinations according to the methodologies proposed by Friesen and Mikula, Zhang and Li and the procedure of Neimark. Average surface fractal dimensions as well as fractal profiles and local surface fractal dimensions were calculated. The use of different flow rates during the activation step produces changes not only in the ordinary textural parameters but also in the fractal characteristics of the active carbons. Activation at higher flow rates leads to smoother fractal profiles and also to lower values of the average surface fractal dimensions of the active carbons.     

Blended pastes of cement and lime: Pore structure and capillary porosity

Microstructure of blended pastes of lime and cement were studied in this paper. An increment of complexity of the microstructure was found when pastes increase their percentage in cement. Microstructural characteristics as porosity, morphology of the pores, pore size distribution and surface fractal dimension were evaluated in the different pastes studying the modification with the variation of composition. The capillary water absorption is also evaluated obtaining higher capillary coefficients values for the pastes with higher amounts of lime. The increase of complexity of the microstructure, due to the cement in the pastes, leads to slight deviations of the parallel tube model.     

Modeling on debonding dynamics of pressure-sensitive adhesives

We propose a simple mechanical model describing viscoelasticity and cavitation during the debonding process in pressure-sensitive adhesives (PSA). Our calculation qualitatively reproduces typical stress-strain curves in the probe-tack test, such as the steep stress maxima and the following plateau region. It is shown that in the thin-film geometry the stress-strain curve is essentially determined by the cavities created by the large negative pressure. Effects of pre-existent air bubbles due to surface roughness are also discussed.