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- Fluorescence (15)
- Additive Manufacturing (11)
- LIBS (9)
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- 1 Analytische Chemie; Referenzmaterialien (88)
- 6 Materialchemie (76)
- 8 Zerstörungsfreie Prüfung (70)
- 5 Werkstofftechnik (31)
- 4 Material und Umwelt (30)
- 6.6 Physik und chemische Analytik der Polymere (27)
- 6.3 Strukturanalytik (22)
- 1.2 Biophotonik (20)
- 7 Bauwerkssicherheit (20)
- 8.1 Sensorik, mess- und prüftechnische Verfahren (20)
Übersicht über die gefahrgutrechtlichen Anforderungen zur Bauartprüfung und dem Qualitätsmanagement für Verpackungen für nicht zulassungspflichtige Versandstücke.
The test material EDS-TM001 together with an accompanying software package, “EDX spectrometer check”, have been made available in 2009 by BAM to be employed by EDS (energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometer) users to check the performance of an EDS attached to the SEM. Particularly for test laboratories operating under accreditation schemes like ISO/IEC 17025, a periodical control of the critical instrumental parameters in end-user laboratories is required. With EDS-TM001 or EDS-TM002 (second generation) test material, this periodical check is simplified to the acquisition of only one 10 kV spectrum. The software “EDX spectrometer check” is destined to evaluate automatically this spectrum and determine the performance of the EDS in terms of energy resolution and calibration, as well as possible alteration of low-energy Efficiency due to detector contamination. Energy resolution can be compared with the specified values according to the international ISO standard ISO 15632:2012. EDS-TM is a synthetic material consisting of a 6 μm thick layer of C, Al, Mn, Cu and Zr deposited on a steel (in case of EDS-TM001) or silicon (in case of EDS-TM002) substrate. The chemical composition of EDS-TM was chosen such as to give nearly equal intensities of the low energy lines in a 10 kV spectrum, thus, making it very sensitive against spectrometer efficiency changes. Meanwhile, about 150 laboratories use the EDS-TM001 or EDS-TM002 test material for the periodical check of their EDS. A detailed description of the test material and software together with examples of application was published recently. New results and gained experiences will be presented as well. When the FWHM of the X-ray lines in the EDS-TM spectrum are determined, the spectrum background must be subtracted accurately. The applied physical background subtraction procedure is robust and takes into account the transmission of the detector window. While the previous version considers only Moxtek AP windows, the new version includes selection of silicon Nitride window and the case of windowless detector. Moreover, the new version allows importing of spectra in Bruker spx-format and EMSA/MSA files from EDAX TEAM software.
Windowless detectors have been also tested demonstrating long-term stability after repeated heating and cooling cycles. In this case, the appropriate Background subtraction is decisive for accurate detector characterization. Detailed results will be presented.
It was demonstrated in the past that the electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) can be applied to determine accurately both elemental composition and thickness of thin films by using the dedicated software package for thin film analysis Stratagem. A relatively small number of film materials such as pure metallic films of platinum and nickel, binary alloys of Fe-Ni, and Pt-Ni-Co ternary alloy films has been reported in literature as working successfully. Further, the software can be applied ‘inversely’, i.e., by feeding it with the thickness of the film and using the determined mass coating, one can easily calculate the film density, which for porous layers leads us to the true film porosity.
The present study repeats measurements on an already tested system of Fe-Ni thin films on silicon and reports for the first-time results of analysis on Si-Ge thin films deposited on a non-conductive aluminium oxide substrate. Standard-based and standardless EPMA (with EDS) results were used in combination with Stratagem for the quantification.
Further, X-ray fluorescence analysis (XRF) can be used for the determination of elemental composition and thickness of such films as well. In this case, XRF with a μ-focus X-ray source (μ-XRF) attached to a SEM was applied. For quantification, a fundamental parameter (FP) approach has been used to calculate standard-based and standardless results. Compared to EPMA, XRF has a larger information depth and a higher elemental sensitivity because of a generally lower background.
Both thin film systems have been chosen as samples of an international round robin test (RRT) organised in the frame of standardisation technical committee ISO/TC 201 ‘Surface chemical analysis’, under the lead of KRISS. The main objective of the RRT is to compare the results of atomic fractions of Fe1-xNix and Si1-xGex alloy films obtained by different surface Analysis techniques, such as X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Auger electron spectroscopy (AES), and secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) applied in the depth-profiling operation mode.
Five samples of different atomic fractions of each thin film system, i.e., Fe1-xNix and Si1-xGex, have been grown by ion beam sputter deposition on silicon and Al2O3 wafers, respectively. Reference FeNi and SiGe films with well-known elemental composition and thickness have been also supplied for standard-based analysis. The atomic fractions of all the samples including the references have been certified by RBS (Rutherford backscattering spectrometry) and ICP-AES (inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy).
Porous materials play an important role in several fields of technology, especially for energy applications like photovoltaics, electrolysis or batteries. The activity of porous films is affected by properties like porosity, film thickness, chemical composition of the material, as well as the crystallinity of the framework. The complex morphology of such porous films constitutes a challenge even for modern analytical techniques and requires new approaches employing the combination/complementation of data of different analytical methods. In this contribution, we characterise thin mesoporous iridium-titanium mixed oxide film properties by electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) at an SEM.
Mesoporous iridium oxide - titanium oxide (IrOx-TiOx) films were prepared via dip-coating of a solution containing a triblock-copolymer as structure-directing agent, an iridium precursor as well as a titanium precursor in ethanol. IrOx-TiOx films were synthesized with different amounts of iridium and calcined in air. The SEM micrographs reveal for all films the achievement of a well-ordered mesoporous structure and homogeneous films with thicknesses between 67 nm and 152 nm.
For the determination of film elemental composition and porosity, EPMA can be used as part of a combined SEM/EDS/STRATAGem analysis. Elemental compositions and mass depositions (in μg cm-2) of IrOx-TiOx films were calculated with the thin film analysis Software STRATAGem via k-values measured with SEM/EDS. Pure bulk Ir, TiO2 and Si were measured as references. The average density of the films was obtained from the mass Deposition and the film thickness as measured by cross-section SEM. The porosity was then extracted from the measured average film density divided by a theoretical bulk density. The latter is calculated from the weight fractions of IrOx and TiOx as determined with STRATAGem and the bulk mass densities of IrO2 and TiO2 (rutil) from literature.
The fitting results of the k-values from the STRATAGem software, which are in fair agreement with the measured k-values.
The application of the SEM/EDS/STRATAGem approach for accurate porosity determination on pure mesoporous TiOx films and pure porous IrOx films has been recently demonstrated.
The porosities of pure IrOx, TiOx and mixed IrOx-TiOx films in this study have been determined. The contribution will assess in detail the advantages and limitations of the combined SEM/EDS/STRATAGem analysis for the morphology and porosity of thin metal oxide films. Moreover, the comparison with other measurement techniques and the combination of datasets from multiple measurements will be discussed.
Microbeam analysis data are of continuously improving quality, this owing mainly to developments in instrumentation (hardware and software) and computer performance. The knowledge and skills of the operators must be also kept correspondingly updated. To be deemed as technically competent, the laboratories must be accredited according to an accreditation scheme, mostly following ISO/IEC 17025.
International standards are able to provide requirements, specifications, guidelines or characteristics of methods, instruments or samples with the final goal that these can be used consistently in accredited laboratories. In the field of electron microscopy and microbeam Analysis standardisation and metrology are terms that are encountered rather seldom at major conferences and scientific publications. Several ISO standards already published and used successfully by a large part of the electron microscopy and microbeam analysis community. For example, file formats such as EMSA/MSA for spectral-data exchange or tagged image file format (TIFF) for SEM images; procedures for the specification of X-ray spectrometers, the specification of certified reference materials (CRMs), and for measurement of average grain size by electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD); and guidelines for calibrating image magnification in SEM or TEM. A main task of ISO technical committee TC 202 ‘Microbeam Analysis’ is to identify feasible projects/proposals needed to be developed into new international standards, particularly in respect to recent technology, such the silicon drift detector (SDD).
As far as the metrological aspects are regarded, The International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM) through the Consultative Committee for the Amount of Substance (CCQM) is concerned with the metrological aspect in Chemistry and Biology. In particular, the Surface Analysis Working Group (SAWG) assists in identifying and establishing inter-laboratory work to test the consistency as well as to improve the traceability of spatially resolved chemical surface analysis at the micro and nanoscale. Examples of recent projects on quantitative microbeam analysis at low energies, such as the quantification of light elements such as carbon and nitrogen will be presented.
The significant sources of measurement uncertainty will be emphasized. These are: quality of the unknown and the reference materials used, the quantification model, instrumental parameters like take-off-angle, spectrometer efficiency, and particularly the beam current. The crucial importance of working with uniform and well-defined measurement and data evaluation protocols will be discussed in compliance with the ISO document “Guide to the expression of uncertainty in measurement (GUM)”.
Another international platform where pre-standardisation work can be organised is VAMAS (Versailles Project on Advanced Materials and Standards). International collaborative Projects aim at providing the technical basis for harmonised measurements, testing, specifications, and standards to be further developed at ISO level. One key point of VAMAS activities is constituted by inter-laboratory comparisons for high-quality data. In the field of microbeam analysis, the technical working area (TWA) 37 Quantitative Microstructural Analysis deals with corresponding projects. Good ideas, e.g., on analysis at low energies, are particularly encouraged by directly contacting the author. Support and guidance will be supplied.
Virtual-lab-based determination of a macroscopic yield function for additively manufactured parts
(2019)
This work aims for a yield function description of additively manufactured parts of S316L steel at the continuum-mechanical macro-scale by means of so-called virtual experiments using a crystal plasticity (CP) model at meso-scale. Additively manufactured parts require the consideration of the specific process-related microstructure, which prevents this material to be macroscopically treated as isotropic, because of crystallographic as well as topological textures. From virtual experiments, yield loci under various loading conditions are simulated. The scale bridging from meso- to macro-scale is realised by the identification of the simulated yield loci as a modified anisotropic Barlat-type yield model representation.
The simultaneous detection of different analytes has gained increasing importance in recent years, especially in the fields of environmental and health monitoring. Particularly suitable formats for multiplexing are bead-based assays. The beads employed need to fulfil size and density requirements important for instance for flow cytometry and shall exhibit an as high as possible surface area for anchoring capture probes to allow for low limits of detection. Core/shell particles are ideally suited in this sense because of their modularity in design and adaptability for various (bio)analytical assays. Here, polystyrene particles coated with different kinds of mesoporous silica shells are presented, possessing distinctly higher surface areas in comparison to non-porous core/shell particles. Different factors such as pH and amount and type of mediator salt used during shell preparation were evaluated with shell inspection by scanning/transmission scanning electron microscopy (SEM/tSEM) being key to architecture control of the monodisperse particles.
For a cytometric model assay, the optimized core/shell particles were functionalized with capture oligonucleotides for DNA detection. After covalent attachment of single-stranded DNA to the silane-modified silica surface, a hybridisation assay using labelled t-DNA complementary strands was carried out to demonstrate particle performance, showing how tailoring of the shell’s surface area controls sensitivity and dynamic range of the assay. Finally, a multiplex assay for the determination of DNA from different human papilloma virus (HPV) lines was developed. Using our optimized particles, we were able to detect down to 10 amolμl‒1, which is an improvement of one order of magnitude compared to assays using non-porous particles reported in the literature. In addition, multiplexed detection could successfully be demonstrated.
Feuchte, insbesondere in Form von Flüssigwasser, stellt in Baustoffen ein hohes Schadenspotential dar. Um mit zerstörungsfreier Prüfung mögliche Risikostellen zu lokalisieren und Präventionsmaßnahmen zu ergreifen, sind Kenntnisse über das Porengefüge und Feuchtetransportmechanismen im Baustoff erforderlich. Eine wesentliche Problematik besteht derzeit in der Erfassung und Quantifizierung von Feuchteverteilungen bei Teilsättigung.
Wir verfolgen derzeit einen Ansatz, mittels Nuklear Magnetischer Resonanz (NMR) in Korrelation mit relativen Luftfeuchtmessungen den Flüssigwasseranteil bei Teilsättigung zu ermitteln. Mit Protonen-NMR lassen sich Relaxationszeiten von Wasserstoffprotonen in Abhängigkeit von ihrer Bindungsart und ihrer Umgebung - z. B. Porenstruktur und -größe - erfassen. Allerdings lässt sich bei Materialien mit sehr breiten Porengrößenverteilungen nicht klar differenzieren, ob kurze Relaxationszeiten durch größere teilgesättigte oder kleinere vollgesättigte Poren verursacht werden. Für die Korrelation mit der relativen Luftfeuchte im Baustoff erfolgt zunächst eine künstliche Regulierung im Klimaschrank. Durch einen neuentwickelten Ansatz von Hillerborg lassen sich dann bei jeder Luftfeuchte die adsorbierten Wasserschichtdicken und der Porensättigungsgrad für die vorhandenen Porengrößen berechnen. Mithilfe des berechneten Porensättigungsgrades lässt sich eine genauere Analyse der zeitlichen Entwicklung von Relaxationszeitenverteilungen (insbesondere bei Trocknungs- und Aufsättigungsprozessen) vornehmen. Somit sollen erstmals Aussagen zu kürzeren Relaxationszeiten bei teilgesättigten Porensystemen, die beispielsweise auch eine multimodale Porengrößenverteilung aufweisen, getroffen werden können.
In dieser Arbeit wird die Kombination aus NMR und der relativen Luftfeuchte an sehr porösen Dämmplatten aus Kalziumsilikat, die zur Wärmedämmung sowie der Entgegenwirkung von Schimmelbildung eingesetzt werden, angewendet. Untersucht werden 28 Proben à 6 Gruppen, die von unterschiedlichen Herstellern stammen bzw. unterschiedlich hergestellt wurden.
Ultraschallmessverfahren werden seit Langem erfolgreich für Prüfaufgaben im Bauwesen eingesetzt. Die dauerhafte Überwachung und frühzeitige Erkennung von Schäden an komplexen Neubauten und alternder Infrastruktur kann mittels Ultraschall-Transmissionsmessungen und speziellen Auswertemethoden, wie z. B. Korrelationverfahren und Codawelleninterferometrie, realisiert werden. Für die Dauerüberwachung wurde ein kompaktes System entwickelt, das Ultraschall-Messdaten erfassen und ins Internet auf einen FTP-Server übertragen kann. Es können hierbei alle angeschlossenen Prüfköpfe für jede Messung wahlweise als Sender oder Empfänger geschaltet werden. Es wurden Vorverstärker entwickelt, bei denen die Versorgung mit Strom über die Messleitung erfolgt. Dadurch können die Verstärker nahe am Prüfkopf positioniert werden. Durch Änderungen in den Ultraschall-Signalen können Schädigungen des Bauteils, wie z.B. Risse, in Echtzeit erkannt werden.
Leitungswasserschäden nahmen im Jahr 2016 mit rund 2,6 Milliarden Euro den größten Posten bei Gebäudeversicherungen ein. Die Bestimmung und Lokalisierung des Schadensausmaßes ist dabei ein erster wichtiger Schritt, um die erforderlichen Sanierungsarbeiten abschätzen und effizient vornehmen zu können. Hierfür sind Radar und Neutronensonden bereits etablierte Verfahren. Für verlässliche Aussagen zum quantitativen Feuchtegehalt eines Baustoffes werden jedoch zerstörende Sondierungsbohrungen zur Kalibrierung der aufgenommenen Daten benötigt. Dieser hohe zeitliche und finanzielle Aufwand soll zukünftig durch den parallelen Einsatz der genannten Messverfahren verhindert werden. In der durchgeführten Studie wurden Estrichprobekörper auf Zement- und Anhydritbasis mit variablen Dicken und Festigkeiten hergestellt und deren Austrocknung mit Radar und Neutronensonde über einen Zeitraum von 90 Tagen beobachtet. Als Referenzverfahren zur Ermittlung des Feuchteverlaufs dienten die gravimetrische Darr- und chemische Calcium-Carbid-Methode, welche an kleineren Schwesterproben der gleichen Charge angewendet wurden. Kontinuierliche Wägungen der größeren Probekörper gaben hierbei Aufschluss über den durch Austrocknung schwindende Wasseranteil. Aus dem aufgenommen Radardatensatz konnten anschließend markante Signalmerkmale im Zeit- und Frequenzbereich extrahiert und deren Zusammenhang zum Feuchtegehalt der Estrichtypen untersucht werden. Hierbei wurden gängige Methoden aus der Literatur zur Feuchtemessung mit Radar angewandt, wobei die Kombination dieser und das Hinzuziehen der Neutronensonde mittels Datenfusion zu einem höheren Informationsgehalt beiträgt. Somit kann eine zerstörungsfreie Quantifizierung des Feuchteschadens an schwimmenden Fußbodenaufbauten vorgenommen werden
As part of the BonaRes research initiative, funded by the BMBF, strategies are being developed to use soil as a sustainable resource in the bio economy. The interdisciplinary subproject I4S - “Intelligence for soil” - is responsible for the development of an integrated system for site-specific management of soil fertility. For this purpose, a platform is constructed and various sensors are installed. Real-time data will be summarised in models and decision-making algorithms will be used to control fertilisation and accordingly improve soil functions. Aim of the BAM in the frame of I4S is the characterisation of an energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) based sensor for robust determination of plant essential nutrients in soil.
First a principal component analysis (PCA) was used to identify outliers and to observe the largest variance within the German soil samples. It could be monitored that splitting of the samples was due to their iron content. Given that clay samples contain high amounts of iron and sandy samples low amounts, a classification of the samples by their soil texture according to VD LUFA was possible. Considering the complex composition of soil, a matrix-specific calibration was carried out by univariate and multivariate data analysis. The figures of merit demonstrated that a more robust calibration model with negligible matrix effects can be obtained by a multivariate approach using partial least squares regression (PLSR). A better correlation between predicted values compared to reference values for German soil samples was observed for the chemometric calibration model than for the univariate one.
Different factors can affect the received calibration models such as moisture and particle size distribution which is especially important due to later online analysis.
In first studies the influence of moisture on the detection of plant essential nutrients was investigated. With increasing water content, the characteristic fluorescence peaks decrease and start to increase again at a water content of 15 %. With lower moisture content the soil agglomerates which leads to lower packing of the sample, resulting in a rougher surface which negatively influence the signals. Whereas, agglomerates are not formed at higher water content. This allows the sample to be packed more tightly thus a smoother surface and a better homogeneity is obtained.
Furthermore, particle size distribution leads to significantly higher uncertainties and lower signals when comparing grounded (< 500 μm) and not grounded (< 2 mm) samples. This can be explained by amplifying of the already known inhomogeneity of soils.
Both factors must be included in the chemometric PLSR to obtain robust calibration models for each macro and micro nutrient.
Motivation:
- Reduktion der CO 2 Emissionen von Verbrennungsmotoren durch den Einsatz von LNG als alternativer Kraftstoff
- Aktuell werden doppelwandige Edelstahltanks mit Vakuumisolation für den Transport eingesetzt
- Reduktion des Tankgewichts und Vereinfachung der Konstruktion soll durch die Substitution mit GFK inklusive einer Isolationsschicht erreicht werden
- Leichtere Überprüfung von einwandigen Tankkonstruktionen
- Günstiges Versagensverhalten von GFK im Brandfall
Zusammenfassung:
- Thermische Performance kann mit Isolation aus PU Schaum erreicht werden
- Messung der Abdampfrate bildet einfache Möglichkeit zur Bestimmung der thermischen Performance
- Mikrorisse in der Matrix führen zur Leckage -> Liner notwendig
- Biegemodul bis 30 MPa vergleichbar, danach Abfall um ca. 50 % bei tiefen Temperaturen
Ausblick:
- Prüfung von GFK Proben mit Fasern in 0°-Orientierung
- Prüfung der thermischen Performance mit Demonstratoreinheiten verschiedene Größen
- Entwicklung einer Skalierungsfunktion, um Ergebnisse von druckloser Prüfung auf Druckanstieg zu übertragen
The introduction of the 5G technology and automotive radar applications moving into higher frequency ranges trigger further miniaturization of LTCC technology (low temperature co-fired ceramics). To assess dimensional tolerances of inner metal structures of an industrially produced LTCC multilayer, computer tomography (CT) scans were evaluated by machine learning segmentation.
The tested multilayer consists of several layers of a glass ceramic substrate with low resistance silver-based vertical interconnect access (VIA). The VIAs are punched into the LTCC green tape and then filled with silver-based pastes before stacking and sintering. These geometries must abide by strict tolerance requirements to ensure the high frequency properties.
This poster presents a method to extract shape and size specific data from these VIAs. For this purpose, 4 measurements, each containing 3 to 4 samples, were segmented using the trainable WEKA segmentation, a non-commercial machine learning tool. The dimensional stability of the VIA can be evaluated regarding the edge-displacement as well as the cross-sectional area. Deviation from the ideal tubular shape is best measured by aspect ratio of each individual layer. The herein described method allows for a fast and semi-automatic analysis of considerable amount of structural data. This data can then be quantified by shape descriptors to illustrate 3-dimensional information in a concise manner. Inter alia, a 45 % periodical change of cross-sectional area is demonstrated.
Homogeneous introduction of organic additives is a key of ceramic powder processing. Addition of organics to ceramic slurries holds advantages compared to dry processing like organic content reduction and a more homogeneous additive distribution on the particle surface.
Investigations of the alumina slurries were primarily based on zeta potential measurements and sedimentation analysis by optical centrifugation. Both methods were combined to determine a suitable additive type, amount and composition, whereas the spray drying suitability has been ensured by viscosity measurements. Granules, yielded by spray drying of such ideally dispersed alumina slurries, are mostly hollow and possess a hard shell. Those granules cannot easily be processed and can only hardly be destroyed in the following shaping step, leading to sinter bodies with many defects and poor strength and density.
The precise slurry destabilization, carried out after ideally dispersing the ceramic powder, shows a strong influence on the drying behavior of the granules and hence on the granule properties. A promising degree of destabilization and partial flocculation was quantified by optical centrifugation and resulted in improved granule properties. Spray drying the destabilized alumina slurries yielded homogeneous “non-hollow” granules without the above mentioned hard shell. Sample bodies produced of these granules exhibited a reduction of defect size and number, leading to better results for sinter body density and strength.
The positive effect of the slurry destabilization has been further improved, by exchanging the atomizing unit from a two-fluid one to an ultrasound atomizer with only minor slurry adjustments necessary. The controlled destabilization and ultrasound atomization of the ceramic slurry show excellent transferability for zirconia and even ZTA (zirconia toughened alumina) composite materials.
The knowledge of transformation pathways and identification of transformation products (TPs) of veterinary drugs is important for health, food and environmental matters. Monensin (MON) is an ionophore antibiotic widely used to cure and prevent coccidiosis by chicken especially in broiler farming. Residues can be found in food products (chicken and eggs) and in the environment (manure, soil, water). Several transformation processes can alter the parent compound MON, ranging from biotransformation in living organism to biotic/abiotic and microbial processes in environmental matters.
The main objective of this work was to investigate the potential of electrochemistry (EC) to simulate oxidative transformation processes of MON and to predict TPs. An electrochemical reactor was used consisting of a flow-through cell with a glassy carbon working electrode. Derived TPs were analyzed by online coupling of EC and high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) and LC/HRMS offline measurements. Among the generated TPs already known as well as unknown TPs of MON could be found.
Additionally, MON was subjected also to other transformation experiments like metabolism tests with rat microsomes or the pH-dependent hydrolysis. As a result, different targeted and suspected TPs could be identified by analysis with LC/HRMS.
An overview of detected/identified TPs from this study will be presented in comparison to literature known metabolites and TPs.
The European Joint Programme on Radioactive Waste Management (EURAD) has been launched to coordinate activities on agreed priorities of common interest between European partners. The main actions include scientific and technical activities on radioactive waste characterization and processing, interim storage of radioactive waste as well as predisposal and disposal solutions. As part of the programme, the work package on Spent Fuel Characterization and Evolution until Disposal (SFC) was proposed and accepted by the European Commission. The objectives of this work package include the development of beyond-state-of-the-art characterization techniques for spent nuclear fuel during its evolution from reactor unloading until disposal, the understanding of the spent fuel performance during prolonged storage, transport and emplacement in a deep geological repository, the understanding of the behaviour of fuel, cladding, pellet-cladding interaction and ageing effect under normal and postulated accident scenarios until disposal, and contributions to operational safety concepts for fuel handling at spent nuclear fuel packaging facilities.
Small unmanned aircraft are used increasingly as flying sensor platforms to perform tasks such as gas distribution mapping or environmental monitoring. Sometimes, these applications require knowledge of the ambient wind field.
In general, it would be interesting to avoid any additional hardware, both on ground and on the aircraft. Here, we present an approach to estimate the wind vector just by exploiting the state variables of the aircraft.
Nicht nur die Qualitätssicherung von Bauteilen wird immer wichtiger und muss immer höheren Anforderungen entsprechen, sondern auch die dafür verwendete Prüfeinrichtung und die Sensorik. Für die Qualitätssicherung von Ultraschall-Prüfköpfen mit Luftankopplung bestand die bisherige Lösung darin, baugleiche Wandler als Aktuatoren (Referenzsender) einzusetzen.
Für eine Weiterentwicklung der Wandler ist eine akustische Quelle wünschenswert, die eine weit größere Bandbreite mit flachem Frequenzgang aufweist, als die zu untersuchenden Prüfköpfe. Hier bieten sich thermoakustische Wandler an, die keine ausgeprägten Resonanzen haben und über eine hohe Bandbreite verfügen (min. 10 kHz bis 1 MHz). Diese wurden von der BAM in Berlin entwickelt und decken den Frequenzbereich von typischen Luftultraschall-Prüfköpfen vollständig ab.
Der Vortag beschreibt die Besonderheiten der Ansteuerung dieser Wandler, die einen Innenwiderstand von ca. 7 Ohm besitzen und eine Pulsleistung von etwa 10 kW benötigen.
Ferner werden erste Ergebnisse der Charakterisierung von unterschiedlichen piezokeramischen Prüfköpfen im Frequenzbereich von 50 kHz bis 500 kHz präsentiert.
Beispielhaft zeigte ein Prüfkopf mit mehreren Anpassschichten lokale Frequenzunterschiede im Schallfeld.
19th and 20th centuries glass paint layers consist of a colour body and a colourless lead silicate flux, in which borax or boric acid was added as further component to improve the paint ability and to reduce the firing temperature for multiple layers of paint. Model glasses were used in laboratory tests to investigate the stability of glass paints with additions of boron oxide. To determine boron in paint layers, a LIBS-system with pulsed NdYAG-laser was used.
Die ThermoExtraktionDesorption-Gaschromatografie-Massenspektrometrie (TED-GC-MS) ist die wichtigste Methode der BAM zur Analyse von Mikroplastikpartikeln in Umweltproben. Mit wachsendem Erfahrungsschatz traten Komplikationen auf, bei deren Bewältigung das Analysensystem verbessert werden konnte. Das Poster präsentiert u. a. die Verbesserung der Nachweisgrenzen sowie die Eliminierung von Kontaminationsquellen aus gängigen Probennahmeverfahren.
Specific co-fertilization of nutrients can enhance their plant-availability and thus the yield of plants. To investigate this effect, we performed a pot experiment with three different P-fertilizers and ammonium nitrate sulfate as a co-fertilizer, without and with a nitrification inhibitor (NI), and analyzed the form of nitrogen (N) in the soil via novel X-ray spectroscopic method. The application of NI with the N fertilizer led to a higher dry matter yield of maize. Novel N K-edge micro-X-ray absorption near-edge structure (micro-XANES) spectroscopy identified that the application of a NI promotes the temporary formation of a non-exchangeable N in detectable hot-spots in the soil. The subsequent slow release and prolonged availability of N during plant growth leads to higher yield. It can be concluded that NIs lead to a temporary fixation of ammonium-N in a pool that can be accessed by plant roots. Those types of available nutrient pools meet the idea of so-called “next generation fertilizers” as plants have access to nutrients according to their current demand.
Phosphorus (P) fertilizers from secondary resources became increasingly important in the last years. However, these novel P-fertilizer can also contain toxic pollutants e.g. chromium (Cr) in the hexavalent state (Cr(VI)), which is regulated with low limit values in agricultural products (German fertilizer ordinance limit: 2 mg/kg Cr(VI)). The determination of Cr(VI) in these novel fertilizer matrices can be hampered by redox processes that lead to false results with the standard wet chemical extraction method (German norm DIN EN 15192). Therefore, we analyzed Cr(VI) in various P-fertilizers with the DGT technique. DGT devices equipped with a APA (polyacrylamide) diffusion layer and Cr(VI) selective N-methyl-D-glucamine (NMDG) binding layer were used for the study. After a 24 h conditioning period of the fertilizer at 60% of the water holding capacity (WHC), the fertilizers were brought to 100% WHC, transferred onto the DGT devices and deployed for 24 h at 25°C. The extraction of Cr from the DGT binding layer was carried out with 1 M HNO3 for 24 h. The Cr-concentrations of the extract were determined by means of ICP-MS. We found a good correlation between the standard wet chemical extraction and the DGT method for the whole range of P-fertilizers. However, partly soluble Cr(VI) compounds cannot be detected in full extent by the DGT method that is best suited for mobile Cr(VI). Furthermore, Cr K-edge XANES spectroscopy showed that the Cr(VI)-selective DGT binding layer also adsorbs mobile Cr(III) compounds from acid treatment of phosphates which can therefore cause an overestimation of Cr(VI). The DGT method was very sensitive and in most cases selective for the analysis of Cr(VI) in P-fertilizers made from recycled materials. However, the results of certain types of P-fertilizers containing mobile Cr(III) or partly immobile Cr(VI) show that still some optimization of the method is required to avoid over- or underestimation of Cr(VI).
P recycling fertilizers are gaining increasing importance in our efforts to close nutrient cycles. An unsatisfactory performance of standard chemical extraction methods to assess the fertilizing effects of such products was reported. They demonstrated that DGT extractions of incubated soil/fertilizer mixtures were able to predict the fertilizing effects of the respective products more accurately. Since DGT works with soil/fertilizer mixtures, its interpretation is soil-dependent. Therefore, in order to facilitate its use as a tool to predict fertilizer performance, it needs to be standardized based on a standard substrate. This research aims to develop a standard substrate based on which evaluation categories for the DGT fertilizer extraction can be derived. The substrate composition should allow to vary the most important soil properties determining the plant availability of fertilizer P. It must also be reproducible at any time and any place. Substrate variants with varying proportions of quartz sand, a clay mineral and sphagnum peat were prepared and set to pH-levels 5.5 and 7 by addition of CaCO3. 7 variants were incubated with a set of test fertilizers (2 recycling fertilizers based on sewage sludge ash and 2 conventional mineral fertilizers) for 2 weeks. Substrate/fertilizer mixtures were then extracted with DGT and an ANOVA was performed to test if the DGT extraction was able to depict significant differences between fertilizers and substrate variants. An 8-week pot trial with ryegrass (3 cuts) was set up with the same substrate variants and test fertilizers. P uptake was determined to assess the fertilizing effect and correlated with the results of the DGT extractions. Statistically significant differences were found between DGT results for the various test fertilizers and substrate variants, indicating that DGT is able to differentiate between P solubility of fertilizers in relation to substrate quality. DGT results showed a strong relationship with P uptake, confirming that this method is suitable to predict the fertilizing effect of P fertilizers. Further optimization of substrate composition and tests with a wider variety of crops and fertilizer types are needed, before evaluation categories for DGT values can be derived.
A fundamental question in ecology is how biodiversity affects ecosystem function. Biodiversity is commonly estimated based on genetic variation. We investigated a new approach that defines and measures biodiversity in complex microbial communities. We used the variation in multiple functionally-relevant, phenotypic traits measured in parallel in single cells as a metric for microbial phenotypic diversity. We studied phenotypic diversity and ecosystem functioning throughout different photosynthetic layers dominated by divergent microbial communities in the gradient of Lago di Cadagno. We determined genetic diversity by 16S and 18S amplicon sequencing and bulk ecosystem functioning (photosynthesis). In addition, we determined phenotypic diversity using single-cell technologies such as nanometer-scale secondary ion mass spectrometry (NanoSIMS) correlated with confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and scanning flow-cytometry. We measured functional trait variation between individuals in 13CO2 fixation, 15NH4+ uptake, and variation in physio-morphological cell traits, such as cell size, shape, and auto-fluorescence for various pigments related to photosynthesis. We used the distances between individuals in a multidimensional trait space to derive phenotypic trait-based diversity indices, such as trait richness, trait evenness, and trait divergence. We find that phenotypic trait divergence associates with ecosystem functioning, whereas genetic diversity does not. Including activity-based, single-cell phenotypic measurements with NanoSIMS provided an additional accuracy to the trait-based diversity assessment and allowed us to formulate hypotheses on the mechanisms that shape the correlation between phenotypic diversity and eco-system function. Together, our results show that phenotypic diversity is a meaningful concept to measure microbial biodiversity and associate it with ecosystem functioning.
Background:
One cornerstone to prevent the spread of antibiotic resistant bacteria in clinical settings is the application of disinfectants. However, bacteria can evolve resistance to disinfectants, which in turn can confer cross-resistance to antibiotics. Additionally, clonal bacterial populations can display phenotypic heterogeneity with respect to the tolerance of antibiotic stress leading to a prolonged survival of a sub-population; this phenomenon is termed persistence. Persistence to antibiotics is an evolvable trait and can serve as a stepping stone for the evolution of genetically encoded resistance. Until now, there is a lack of systematic studies that investigate if bacterial populations establish persister subpopulations that tolerate disinfectant stress longer than most of the population.
Objectives:
Our objective is to investigate if persistence is a bacterial survival strategy against disinfectants. Furthermore, we investigate the mechanisms of disinfectant persistence and if persistence can evolve in the face of fluctuating exposure to disinfectants. Lastly, we test if the evolved mechanisms of disinfectant tolerance lead to disinfectant resistance and if they confer cross-tolerance and cross-resistance against antibiotics.
Methods:
We use time-kill assays in the presence of disinfectants and experimental evolution combined to whole-genome sequencing in the model organism E. coli.
Results:
We find persister sub-populations against chlorhexidine and quaternary ammonium compounds, but not to alcohols, aldehydes and oxidative compounds. We will present the relationship of mechanisms known to underlie antibiotic persister formation to the formation of persisters against disinfectants. In addition, we will present data from an ongoing evolution experiment for persistence against disinfectants.
Question:
One cornerstone to prevent the spread of bacteria in clinical and industrial settings is the application of biocides including disinfectants and preservatives. However, bacteria can evolve resistance to biocides, which in turn can confer cross-resistance to antibiotics. Additionally, clonal bacterial populations can display phenotypic heterogeneity with respect to the tolerance of antibiotic stress leading to a prolonged survival of a sub-population; this phenomenon is termed persistence. Persistence to antibiotics is an evolvable trait and can serve as a stepping stone for the evolution of genetically encoded resistance. Until now, there is a lack of systematic studies that investigate if bacterial populations establish persister subpopulations that tolerate disinfectant stress longer than most of the population. Our objective is to investigate if persistence is a bacterial survival strategy against biocides. Furthermore, we investigate the mechanisms of biocide persistence and if persistence can evolve in the face of fluctuating exposure to biocides. Lastly, we test if the evolved mechanisms of biocide tolerance lead to biocide resistance and if they confer cross-tolerance and cross-resistance against antibiotics.
Methods:
We use time-kill assays in the presence of biocides and experimental evolution combined to whole-genome sequencing in the model organism E. coli.
Results:
We find persister sub-populations against chlorhexidine and quaternary ammonium compounds, but not to alcohols, aldehydes and oxidative compounds. We will present the relationship of mechanisms known to underlie antibiotic persister formation to the formation of persisters against biocides. In addition, we will present data from an ongoing evolution experiment for persistence against biocides.
Conclusion
There is a link between antibiotic and biocide persistence with possible implications for antibiotic resistance evolution and spread.
We developed a setup for time- and lateral-resolved X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) spectroscopy. A dispersive element is placed behind the sample to investigate. The broadband incoming beam transmits the sample, is then dispersed and finally collected by a position sensitive detector. This allows the recording of a whole X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) or extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectrum in a single shot. The dispersive element is a Si(111) crystal, bent by means of a so called wafer bender, developed in house. Our setup is very flexible, easy to adjust and allows a time resolution down to one second which can be used to follow chemical reactions with dynamics on this time scale.
Fire testing is an essential part of the hypothetical, cumulative mechanical and thermal test conditions that shall guarantee package safety in severe accidents. Within regulatory approval of transport or storage packages for radioactive material, specific thermal load tests are required in accordance to licensing conditions and international standards, respectively. The specifications of these thermal tests are based on test conditions with equivalent heat input to that of a hydrocarbon fuel fire. In the past, light heating oil, diesel or kerosene was mostly used as the fuel to generate the pool fire. In accordance with IAEA regulations for a fire in an accident, the temperature of 800 °C over a period of 30 minutes must be fulfilled. Furthermore, the delivery acceptance criteria for containers in nuclear waste repositories could reach for example average temperatures of 800 °C during a period of one hour in combination with defined requirements on activity release. BAM as a scientific and technical German federal government institute operates an open air Technical Safety Test Site for experimental investigations of dangerous good and its containment. In this areal a large fire test facility is under operation. Liquid Propane is utilized as fuel which is pumped via pipelines from a central storage tank to the fire exposed test facility areas. In the ring burner system, the gas is released from nozzles, and ignited by ignition burners. The paper includes examples of fire test performance with prototypes of a transport package and a storage container, respectively. In preparation of the thermal load, calorimeter tests have been performed using test specimens of appropriate size and behavior. For the fire test scenario is demonstrated that the IAEA thermal test requirements are fulfilled.
The full-notch creep test (FNCT) is a common method to evaluate the environmental stress cracking (ESC) behavior of high-density polyethylene (PE-HD) container materials . The test procedure as specified in ISO 16770 provides a comparative measure of the resistance against ESC using the time to failure of specimens mechanically loaded in a well-defined liquid environment. Since the craze-crack damage mechanism underlying the ESC process is associated with brittle failure, the occurrence of globally brittle fracture surfaces is a prerequisite to consider an FNCT measurement as representative for ESC . Therefore, an optical evaluation of FNCT fracture surfaces concerning their brittleness is essential. Due to the experimental setup, an inevitable increase of the true mechanical stress and the associated appearance of small ductile parts on fracture surfaces is induced in any case. Hence, an FNCT experiment is considered as 'valid', if the corresponding fracture surface is predominantly brittle . Based on laser scanning microscopy (LSM) height data of FNCT fracture surfaces , a universal and easy-to-use phenomenological criterion was developed to assess the validity of distinct FNCT experiments. This criterion is supposed to facilitate a quick evaluation of FNCT results in practical routine testing.
Inorganic nanoparticles are used to improve the performance of epoxy as the matrix phase in fiber-reinforced composites used for aerospace applications. The effectiveness of nanofillers on property enhancement of thermosetting polymers depends on many factors including the interaction between the functional groups of nanofillers and the polymer reactants. In the current work, we study the effect of boehmite nanoparticles (BNPs) on properties of anhydride-cured bisphenol-A-diglycidyl ether (DGEBA). Dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) and a high-resolution force measurement approach called intermodulation atomic force microscopy (ImAFM) were carried out to investigate the thermomechanical and nanomechanical properties of this material, respectively. It was found that BNPs lead to decrease of glass transition temperature (Tg) and crosslink density of the polymer network meanwhile significantly enhancing the Young’s modulus. Besides formation of a soft interphase near the particles, significant changes in local stiffness of polymer matrix far from the interphase was observed with ImAFM. Thus, boehmite induces long-range chemical alteration on the matrix. This effect has a higher impact on overall composite properties compared to the formation of interphase which is only a short-range effect. The local chemical evaluations on the soft interphase using an infrared-AFM method (NanoIR) revealed the accumulation of anhydride hardener near the boehmite interface. Based on these observations the effect of boehmite on the curing of epoxy is hypothesized to be governed by the strong interaction between boehmite and the anhydride. This interaction causes changes the ratio of reactants in the epoxy mixture and hence alteration of curing pathway and the network architecture. In future studies we examine this hypothesis by measuring the thermomechanical properties of cured epoxies in which the epoxy-hardener ratio is systematically altered and further comparing to those properties of nanocomposites shown in the current study.
A new dual purpose cask design was developed for the safe transport and interim storage of spent fuel elements of German research reactors. In the framework of the safety assessment within the package approval procedure the Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und –prüfung (BAM) as competent authority performed a series of drop tests according with the IAEA Transport Regulations. The package consists of a cylindrical thick-walled ductile cast iron cask body closed by a bolted lid system with metallic seals. A lid and bottom sided impact limiter consisting of a wood/steel construction limit the mechanical impact loading. The full-scale test specimen was equipped with a basket and assembled with dummy-fuel elements. The package and test specimen, respectively have a total mass of approximately 24 metric tons. The mechanical drop test program included three 9m free drop tests, in horizontal, vertical and oblique cask orientation onto the lid system. Additionally, a 1m-puncture bar drop test followed the horizontal drop test to consider an IAEA-drop test sequence. The horizontal and vertical drop tests were performed at a temperature of minus 40°C. During the oblique drop test the upper impact limiter was heated up to +80°C. The tests were conducted onto an unyielding target, fulfilling the IAEA requirements. The test specimen was considerably instrumented with strain gauges and accelerometers. Transient strains at selected locations of the inner and outer container walls, of the primary and secondary lid, as well as of the corresponding lid bolts were measured during the drop tests. Furthermore, decelerations in different locations at the cask body and the lids were measured. The complex geometrical deformation of the impact limiters due to the impact were determined by optical 3D- measurements. Before and after the drop tests the leakage rate of the lid system was determined by helium leakage testing. The experimental results contribute to the evaluation of the package response to mechanical tests, demonstrating safety under normal and accident conditions of transport and especially to the verification of the dynamic finite-element model of the package used in the package design safety report.
Nanoparticles (NP) have become important materials for a variety of chemical technologies. The enhanced surface-area-to-volume ratio of NPs, making them excellent for use as catalyst, in analytical assays, and for antimicrobial applications.
Nickel NPs have exhibited immense potential as important catalyst for the Sabatier reaction, i.e. converting waste to energy via transformation of CO2 into CH4, and could replace the rare earth elements such as Ru, PT, or Rh. In this work we describe the solvothermal synthesis of monometallic and bimetallic nickel nanoparticles.
Monodisperse monometallic Ni NPs were synthesized using Oleylamin as solvent and reducing agent. The nanoparticles were investigated using small angle scattering (SAXS), scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), showing that the NPs are stable while the surface is not entirely covered. However, Ni has a high propensity to undergo oxidation, and becoming deactivated by coke formation. Hence, we further explore the preparation of bimetallic NPs, where a second metal is added to stabilize the Ni.
Bimetallic Cu-Ni NPs were synthesized by simultaneous solvothermal reduction. These bimetallic NPs exhibit excellent catalytic properties are promising candidates to be used as catalysts for efficient energy storage.
We present the synthesis of monodisperse monometallic Ni nanoparticles (NPs) and bimetallic NiCu respectively NiCo NPs. The NPs were investigated using SAXS, STEM, EDX, and XANES, showing that the NPs are size tunable and stable while the surface is not entirely covered. Nickel NPs have exhibited immense potential as important catalyst for the Sabatier reaction, i.e. converting waste to energy via transformation of CO2 into CH4.
Nanoparticles (NPs) have become important materials for a variety of chemical technologies. The enhanced surface-area-to-volume ratio of NPs, making them excellent for use as catalyst, in analytical assays, and for antimicrobial applications.
Nickel NPs have exhibited immense potential as important catalyst for the Sabatier reaction, i.e. converting waste to energy via transformation of CO2 into CH4, and could replace the rare earth elements such as Ru, PT, or Rh. In this work we describe the solvothermal synthesis of monometallic and bimetallic nickel nanoparticles.
Monodisperse monometallic Ni NPs were synthesized using Oleylamin as solvent and reducing agent. The nanoparticles were investigated using small angle scattering (SAXS), scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), showing that the NPs are stable while the surface is not entirely covered. However, Ni has a high propensity to undergo oxidation, and becoming deactivated by coke formation. Hence, we further explore the preparation of bimetallic NPs, where a second metal is added to stabilize the Ni.
Bimetallic Cu-Ni NPs were synthesized by simultaneous solvothermal reduction. These bimetallic NPs exhibit excellent catalytic properties are promising candidates to be used as catalysts for efficient energy storage.
In this poster we will present some results of a research projects dealing with Arabic recipes of black inks [1-2]. To improve conservation practices of Arabic manuscripts we have assessed the feasibility of the recipes collected from many Arabic sources on bookmaking and reproduced the most common inks. Ink samples were then artificially aged and analysed using an array of analytical techniques, mostly non-invasive, in order to build a database of Arabic inks and their ingredients and also to verify the detection limits of the portable equipment employed.
We will show procedures and problems concerning the identification of ink types and ingredients using reflectography (in Vis, IR and UV), X-Ray Fluorescence, Infrared and Raman spectroscopy. The focus will be in particular on squid ink [3] and mixed inks – both in the form of carbon inks with the addition of tannins and of a mixture of carbon and iron gall inks – which are particularly difficult to detect [4]. We will also examine the results of iron gall inks made with iron filings or nails instead of vitriol, the various precursor used to extract gallic acid that are mentioned in the sources as surrogates of gall nuts.
[1] A. Schopen, Tinten und Tuschen des arabisch-islamischen Mittelalters, Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 2004
[2] S. Fani, Le arti del libro secondo le fonti arabe originali. I ricettari arabi per la fabbricazione degli inchiostri (sec. IX-XIII): loro importanza per una corretta valutazione e conservazione del patrimonio manoscritto, PhD thesis, Napoli: Università L’Orientale, 2013
[3] S. Centeno, J. Shamir Journal of Molecular Structure, 873 (2008), 149-159
[4] C. Colini et. al, Manuscript cultures, 11 (2018) 43-50
Using a swarm of copter-based gas-sensitive aerial nano robots for monitoring indoor air quality is challenging due to, e.g., limited air space in buildings. To avoid an over-regulation of the available indoor air space (e.g., prohibit copters to fly above each other), a safety region around each copter must be defined to guarantee a safe operation of the swarm.
The key contributions of this poster are the realization of experiments that investigate the influence of the rotor downwash on flying vertically displaced nano robots and the development of a model describing the above-mentioned safety region.
Introduction: Biofilms are regarded as a common cause of chronic infections on medical devices. Preventive and therapeutic strategies against biofilm infections commonly involve applications of multiple antimicrobial substances: antimicrobial coatings on the implanted biomaterials in combination with systemically administered antibiotics. While this practice of combination therapy harbours the risk of developing cross-resistance, it might also provide the possibility to implement specific antimicrobial-antibiotic combinations (AACs) that can slow down the selection of antibiotic resistant strains.
Hypothesis and aims: Specific AACs can exert combinatorial effects on the growth of susceptible and antibiotic-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa that either suppress or increase their individual effects.
Our aim is to identify AACs with antagonistic or synergistic effects on pseudomonal biofilms and to understand their impact on selection of resistant strains. Specifically, we want to identify AACs that select for and against antibiotic resistance during biofilm formation.
Methodology: We screened for AACs that cause antagonistic or synergistic effects on planktonic P. aeruginosa.
To study the effect of antimicrobial-antibiotic exposure on resistance selection in bacterial biofilms, we will grow resistant and sensitive strains on PDMS surfaces with and without antimicrobial coatings and expose them to antibiotics.
Results: Several combinations with synergistic or antagonistic interaction on the growth rate of P. aeruginosa were detected. We observed a strong antagonism when combining the antimicrobial substance chlorhexidine with the carbapenem drug meropenem. A meropenem-resistant mutant showed a selection advantage in low concentrations of chlorhexidine combined with a sub-inhibitory concentration of meropenem over the wild-type. No antagonistic effect was observed for the same combination when E. coli was exposed to chlorhexidine and meropenem, suggesting a non-chemical basis for the observed effect on P. aeruginosa.
Conclusion: Gaining a better understanding about resistance selection during biofilm formation on biomedical surfaces will enable us to mitigate against biofilm-associated antimicrobial resistance.
Small Area Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) is a powerful tool for investigating small surface features. It is often unclear, if the signal in the spectrum is an unwanted contamination of the Field of View (FoV) or is it originated from outside. The reason is, that XPS-spectra are affected by beam shapes. Scheithauer proposed to measure Pt apertures of different diameters and normalize the Pt4f count rate by a second measurement on the Pt metal. New reference materials were developed and tested in the VAMAS TWA2 A22 Project.
The elemental analysis of seawater is often critical to the understanding of marine chemistry, marine geochemistry, and the deep-sea ecosystems. Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) with the advantage of rapid multi-elements detection, has a great potential for in-situ elemental analysis of seawater. In practice, it is crucial to create a compact, low cost and power saving instrument for the long-term deep-sea observation. A recently appeared diode-pumped solid-state (DPSS) laser seems to be a promising candidate as it is both compact and robust. Additionally, its high repetition rate up to hundreds of kHz can provide a considerable throughput for LIBS analysis. However, the DPSS lasers operate at moderate pulse energies, usually less than one mJ, which cannot sustain stable breakdowns in bulk water. To ensure stable laser-induced plasmas underwater with such a μJ-DPSS laser, we introduced an ultrasound source to assist the breakdown process. The phase interface and mass flow generated by the near-field ultrasound can greatly reduce the breakdown threshold and enhance element-specific emissions. Meanwhile, the high repetition-rate pulses can also improve the breakdown probability and generate unique emission lines originated from the water molecule. We further demonstrate that the high repetition-rate DPSS laser combined with the Echelle spectrometer can provide effective quantitative analysis for metal elements in bulk water.
The development of algorithms for mapping gas distributions and localising gas sources is a challenging task, because gas dispersion is a highly dynamic process and it is impossible to capture ground truth data. Fluid-mechanical simulations are a suitable way to support the development of these algorithms. Several tools for gas dispersion simulation have been developed, but they are not suitable for simulations of large outdoor environments. Here we present a concept of how an existing simulator can be extended to handle both indoor and large outdoor scenarios.
Quality Aspects of Additively Manufactured Medical Implants - Defect Detection in Lattice Parts
(2019)
Additive Manufacturing technologies are developing fast to enable a rapid and flexible production of parts. Tailoring products to individual needs is a big advantage of this technology, which makes it of special interest for the medical device industry and the direct manufacturing of final products. Due to the fast development, standards to assure reliability of the AM process and quality of the printed products are often lacking. The EU project Metrology for Additively Manufactured Medical Implants (MetAMMI) is aiming to fill this gap by investigating alternative and cost efficient non-destructive measurement methods.