Thermal Alternating Polymer Nanocomposite (TAPNC) Coating Designed to Prevent Aerodynamic Insect Fouling

Thermal Alternating Polymer Nanocomposite (TAPNC) Coating Designed to Prevent Aerodynamic Insect Fouling

Insect residue adhesion to moving surfaces such as turbine blades and aircraft not only causes surface contamination problems but also increases drag on these surfaces. Insect fouling during takeoff, climb and landing can result in increased drag and fuel consumption for aircraft with laminar-flow surfaces. Hence, certain topographical and chemical features of non-wettable surfaces need to be d...

High performance Thermal Coating Comprising (CuO:NiO) Nanocomposite/C Spectrally Selective to Absorb Solar Energy

A novel nanocomposite consisted of nanomaterials as (CuO:NiO) and carbon (fuel ash) were designed to absorb solar energy. Thin films were made via casting and spin coating of the dopants nanocomposite thin films, containing different concentration ratios of CuO:NiO. These thin films are precipitated on a glass and copper substrates. The optical properties of the doped fuel ash films with na...

Tailored Polyethylene Nanocomposite Sealants: Broad-Range Peelable Heat-Seals Through Designed Filler/Polymer Interfaces

The heat sealing behavior of novel polyethylene-based nanocomposite films was investigated, as they relate to flexible packaging of fresh-cut vegetables, processed foods and biomedical devices. Appropriately designed sealant nanocomposites, which include dispersed montmorillonite nanofillers and ethyl vinyl acetate copolymer, produce a hermetic but peelable heat seal across a broad, 30–40◦C, ra...

Deformation and adhesion of a soft-soft nanocomposite designed with structured polymer colloid particles

New Electrical Control Methods to Prevent Power Plant Fouling

One new non-chemical method for removal of biofouling utilizes pulsed acoustic waves above the cavitation threshold to remove accumulated scale and/or biofouling from the inside walls of piping and other enclosed structures. The pulsed acoustic wave successively removes accumulated deposits as the arc-discharge source is moved down the tube by an operator. We describe a program developing a com...