Friction Stir Welding Tool and Process for Welding Dissimilar Materials
This tool design provides a hardened or abrasive surface to essentially scratch the stronger material of a dissimilar metal joint. The abrasive tip is located on the pin of a traditional friction stir tool, such that the temperature and pressure of the FSW process allows the softer material from the dissimilar stack to flow into and around the roughened surface of the harder base material.
SYSTEM AND PROCESS FOR CAPTURE OF ACID GASSES AT ELEVATED PRESSURE FROM GASEOUS PROCESS STREAMS
A system, method, and material that enables the pressure-activated reversible chemical capture of acid gasses such as CO2 from gas volumes such as streams, flows or any other volume. Once the acid gas is chemically captured, the resulting product typically a zwitterionic salt, can be subjected to a reduced pressure whereupon the resulting product will release the captures acid gas and the capture material will be regenerated. The invention includes this process as well as the materials and systems for carrying out and enabling this process.
System and Process for Formation of Time Released Drug-eluting Transferable Coating
This invention describes a method for time-released drug delivery to a blood vessel wall using a polymer/drug composite lumen deposited on a medical balloon and deployed on the vessel wall by inflation of the balloon at the location where needed. We have successfully demonstrated the deposition of polymer and polymer/drug lumens on medical balloon surfaces, have developed methods for modifying the balloon surface to allow removal of the lumen, and have shown the transfer of polymer lumens to surrogate blood vessels (medical grade Tygon tubing) under conditions similar to those found in a human body.
Synthetic polymers and methods of making and using the same
Monomer embodiments that can be used to make polymers, such as homopolymers, heteropolymers, and that can be used in particular embodiments to make sequence-defined polymers are described. Also described are methods of making polymers using such monomer embodiments. Methods of using the polymers also are described.
ACOUSTIC TRANSMISSION DEVICE AND PROCESS FOR TRACKING SELECTED HOSTS
A new acoustic tag and process are disclosed for identifying and tracking underwater hosts in up to three dimensions. The acoustic tag has an operation lifetime up to a year or longer at a pulse rate interval of about 15 seconds. The acoustic tag has a signal detection range up to at least about 500 meters that enhances detection probability.
Subwavelength coatings and methods for making and using same
Methods are disclosed for forming subwavelength coatings for use in the UV, visible, or infrared part of the electromagnetic spectrum. A first material and a second material are deposited onto a substrate. The first material may include dielectric spheres of subwavelength size that self-assemble on the substrate to form a template or scaffold with subwavelength size voids between the spheres into which the second material is deposited or filled. First and second materials are heated on the substrate at a preselected temperature to form the subwavelength coating.
SELF-HEALING POLYMER-MODIFIED CEMENTS FOR AMBIENT TEMPERATURE APPLICATIONS (iEdison No. 0685901-21-0097)
The present invention consist on polymer-modified cement formulations with self-healing capability at ambient temperature. The impact of this technology will be to lower the cost and frequency of concrete infrastructure repairs and maintenance while increasing its lifespan. The present polymer-modified cements that can be readily mixed with typical fine and coarse aggregates to build new concrete structures. It will also provide the technical basis to extend their application to more durable, cost-effective repair materials and methods for existing infrastructure.
DEVICES AND METHODS FOR PERFORMING SHEAR-ASSISTED EXTRUSION PROCESSES (iEdison No. 0685901-13-0018)
A process for forming extruded products using a device having a scroll face configured to apply a rotational shearing force and an axial extrusion force to the same preselected location on material wherein a combination of the rotational shearing force and the axial extrusion force upon the same location cause a portion of the material to plasticize, flow and recombine in desired configurations. This process provides for a significant number of advantages and industrial applications, including but not limited to extruding tubes used for vehicle components with 50 to 100 percent greater ductility and energy absorption over conventional extrusion technologies, while dramatically reducing manufacturing costs.
SEPARATOR ASSEMBLIES AND METHODS (iEdison No. 0685901-18-0025)
Here we disclose a device that filters large particles out of a mixture of particles of multiple sizes without the addition of "clean" liquid streams. Using the device in a cascade pair produces a stream of particles with a narrow and well defined particle distribution of large particles. The distinguishing features include separation without any moving parts, without the addition of a mass separating agent, and without the addition of energy (other than the energy provided by an external pump to drive fluid flow). Further distinguishing features include but are not limited to operation at Reynolds numbers high enough to be turbulent in configurations commensurate with pipe flow with a unique express lane structure. No clean (particle free stream) is necessary because the device takes one mixed input stream and provides two separated outlet streams, one of which has the large particles of interest. Cascades and arrays of the device may be used to tune the output for desired applications.
Biological Material Fouling Assessment Systems and Methods
The accumulation of bacteria in surface attached biofilms, or biofouling, can be detrimental to human health, dental hygiene, and many industrial processes. A critical need in identifying and preventing the deleterious effects of biofilms is the ability to observe and quantify their development. Analytical methods capable of assessing early stage fouling are cumbersome or lab-confined, subjective, and qualitative. The software described in this invention disclosure applies a novel PNNL-developed image analysis algorithm to digital photos of fouled surfaces and provides the user with an objectively quantified measurement of fouling. The software and the accompanying sample preparation method will be described in a forthcoming peer-reviewed publication. Our aim in this invention disclosure is to make the source code available to researchers wishing to apply this method in their own research. Releasing the software is a critical step towards establishing Laboratory leadership in the biofouling research community by establishing new quantitative measurement standards.