Challenges
A
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Aarhus Karlshamn AB
- Challenge number 20
How do we create maximum structure / highest possible viscosity in a triglyceride based fat with lowest possible content of saturated fatty acids ?
Sub targets:
o Has to meet a "natural trend" (If you think that is unclear - you are right!)
o Has to melt away in the mouth
- Challenge number 20
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ABB, Corporate Research
- Challenge number 40
What materials have the properties of low friction solid lubrication or/and wear resistant hardfacing? (metal to metal)
Applications in mind could be robots, mechanisms for High voltage equipment among other things where the lubricating situation makes it impossible to use conventional lubrication or when conventional lubrication is un-sufficient.
Potential solutions might include self-lubricating surfaces among other things.
- Challenge number 41
Are there any realistic low-cost alternatives to silver in low-voltage switching metallic contacts?
Today silver material is used extensively in low-voltage switching contacts. This is due to its unique combination of properties such as good conductivity, stability against oxidation (temperature of an low-voltage arc may reach 20 000K) and self-healing effect . However, during the last couple of years the silver price has increased drastically. Hence, if a suitable low-cost alternative could be found there is lot to gain. The alternative solution have to be a reasonable good metallic conductor.
Remark: Low voltage in this case in according to power industries standard, defined to up to 1000 V AC.
- Challenge number 42
What kind of characterization methods can be used to study the geometry of polymer solid-solid interfaces? (both semiconducting and insulating layers)
The insulation system of extruded high voltage cables consist of three co-extruded polymer layers - an insulation layer surrounded by an inner and an outer semiconducting layer. The interfaces between the layers should be as smooth as possible to minimize the risk of electrical breakdown, but there are sometimes small irregularities due to e.g. poor dispersion of fillers or scratches in the extrusion tools. We would like to know about characterization methods that can be used to give numbers on the smoothness of such solid-solid interfaces. Typical radial dimensions on irregularities could be 1 to 100 µm. The area to scan is from some cm3 and higher. The semiconducting layers are black (Polyethylene filled with carbon black) and the insulation XLPE (cross-linked poly ethylene), can be made transparent by heating above melting temperature.
- Challenge number 43
What alternative methods and limitations are there to measure the morphology and surface potential in polymers?
Do researchers from the academy have facilities to characterize surface potential on polymers films (AFM/KPFM or other technique)?
What is todays problem? Identification of possible charge traps, and correlation with structure and/or contamination present in the materials.
What applications? Insulation materials
High resolution; micrometer to nanometer scale
- Challenge number 50
Is it possible to make copper/graphene or copper/carbon nanotube composites with improved electrical/thermal conductivity compared to pure copper? If so, it is possible to make bulk volumes to low cost?
There are quite a number of applications interesting for ABB if such material would be available. Common to all those applications are that bulk quantities are needed, not grams but rather many kilograms or tons.
References:
K. Jagannadham et al., J. Vac. Sci. Technol. B 30(3), May/Jun 2012
K. Jagannadham, Metal. Mat. Transactions B, Vol. 43B, Apr 2012
O. Hjortstam et al., Appl. Phys. A 78, 1175 (2004)
- Challenge number 51
What polymeric materials have the properties of low friction solid lubrication and/o high wear resistance, and certain mechanical, thermal and chemical resistance?
Solutions could include polymer composites or coatings to metal.
- Challenge number 40
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AB Sandvik Coromant
- Challenge number 9
How can plastic deformation hardening in workpiece materials be predicted and how does plastic deformation hardening influence adhesive wear?
Notch and chipping are two wear types which often limit the tool life. Adhesive wear mechanism is an important cause.
- Challenge number 9
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Albany International AB
- Challenge number 28
Is the degree of orientation of the polymer chains (PET and PA’s) important for tribology related properties? Will the degree of orientation (draw ration 4-12) affect for example friction and the abrasion resistance along or perpendicular to the draw direction in the monofilament? If this is the case - is this behavior different for different polymers?
In preparation of Paper Machine Clothing (PMC), forming fabrics, press felts and dryer fabrics, highly oriented monofilaments are used, the polymers used are mostly PET and various polyamides. In order to achieve high modulus monofilaments these are highly drawn or oriented. Besides mechanical and physical properties there is a strong incentive for creating materials/structures that will reduce energy consumption which I reality is friction.
- Challenge number 29
Is this possible to control phase separation and to create structures in µ-scale using liquid crystalline polymers?
Liquid crystalline polymers can be made to obtain different morphology like round balls, sticks etc either spontaneously or by applying forces like electromagnetic field or mechanical stress. This can be related to both single phase systems and multiphase systems.
- Challenge number 30
Is it possible to build hierarchical structures into polymers?
Can this be made direct in the polymer matrix and/or by making structural elements like foams, fiber networks etc in order to improve mechanical properties significantly as well as create material/structures with negative poisons ratio?
- Challenge number 28
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AlfaLaval
- Challenge number 21
Could scCO2 (or other benign solvent) be used to dissolve non-crosslinked EPDM or FEPM (Fluorinated Ethyl Propyl Monomers, also known as Aflas) polymers. Could these polymers then be sprayed onto a metal surface forming a thin film?
Background:
We are evaluating rubber adhesives based on EPDM and FEP polymers but are not satisfied with the types of solvents needed - heptane/petroleum ether for EPDM and THF for FEP. These highly specialised adhesives will be used in very demanding environments such as gas sweetening and soda processing.
- Challenge number 22
What happens at the point of condensation with the gaseous species that are dissolvable in water? Are they sucked into the liquid phase yielding high concentration that later, as the condensation proceeds, are diluted to non-corrosive concentrations? If so, how can it be assessed?
Condensation kinetics
The assessment of the risk of corrosion is often based on analysis of the medium. I condensation applications the composition of the condensate is frequently supplied for such an assessment. Of special interest is the condensation of VDUs (vacuum distillation units) top fraction. This fraction contains water vapour and corrosive species such as HCl (g) and H2S (g) in addition to lighter hydrocarbons.
Based on an analysis of the condensate the water phase may contain let’s say 100 ppm Cl and the pH can be 5-6, indicating rather mild conditions. Still severe corrosion can occasionally be observed on even a very corrosion resistant material as Ti (grade1 – commercially pure Ti). The attack was limited to a very narrow zone coinciding with the actual condensation.
Obviously the conditions at the point of condensation are not reflected by the condensate analysis.
- Challenge number 23
Is there a simple and robust technique for determining the cleanness of corrugated metallic surfaces in a large scale production capacity ?
During forming of thin stainless steel coil material or thin sheets (0.25 – 0.8 mm) different kinds of lubricants are used to minimize wear on tools and lower friction during forming. After forming, lubricants are often removed using various methods. Depending on product type, further machining of the stainless steel plates is sometimes necessary downstream, which may be sensitive to the cleanness of the plate surface (e.g. welding).
It is thus sensitive in specific production processes that the plate surface is free from lubricants, detergents and foreign particles. There is a need for alternative simple and robust techniques for determining the cleanness of such corrugated metallic surfaces in a large scale production capacity.
- Challenge number 21
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Alfa Laval
- Challenge number 14
How to test quantitatively the repellent properties of a coating?
Contact angle will give the wettability but not the repellency and easy to clean properties. Marker test will give a qualitative idea but the test is quite subjective.
- Challenge number 15
How to measure adhesion of a coating to a metal surface?
Cross-cut test gives a qualitative idea of the adhesion and the pull off test doesn't work so good for hydrophobic coatings (problems to glue).
- Challenge number 16
How can one make a sol gel coating more chemically resistant?
Acid or basic solutions cause delamination of the coating.
- Challenge number 14
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Atlas Copco Secoroc
- Challenge number 76
How is magnetic coercitivity measured and how does the geometry affect the measurement, specifically for; 1 g sphere, foil of (15 µm thickness) or grid/wire (15 µm i diameter) of cobolt?
No additional information available.
- Challenge number 77
How does the profile of a chockwave affect the mechanisms of fracture mechanics in brittle materials under compression?
No additional information available.
- Challenge number 78
How can you tell with certaintiy that cobolt has reached its final fcc state?
According to litterature, cobolt may go through several phase transitions between hcp and fcc before reaching a final state in an fcc phase. Why is the final state always fcc, and if it is, why does the material undergo several transitions before reaching the final state?
- Challenge number 76
B
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Biolin Scientific AB
- Challenge number 67
How can the QCM-D technique support cell studies?
QCM-D is short for Quartz Crystal Microbalance with Dissipation monitoring. An overview of the technology can be found at our website http://www.q-sense.com/qcm-d-technology
The QCM-D technique is used in a wide range of applications. In our product range we have accessory modules enabling QCM-D to be combined with complementary measurement techniques, such as for example Electrochemistry and Ellipsometry. Today, we are observing an increasing interest in cell studies and to perform combined QCM-D and cell studies.
We are interested in meeting researchers with experience in cell studies and that can share their knowledge and help increase our understanding regarding:
- How do we interpret the result from a QCM-D measurement on a sensor covered with cells?
- What parameters can be interesting to study with QCM-D when it comes to cell studies?
- How relevant is it to perform a combined QCM-D and microscopy measurements, and what are the requirements on the microscope?
- What applications are there in the cases of fixed cells and live cells respectively?
- If studying live cells, what time frames are we talking about for the experimental run of a QCM-D measurement?
- Regarding the question above, in the case of ”long” measurements, when it is important that the cells stay alive, what requirements are there on the QCM-D setup as incubator?
The questions above do cover a wide range of expertise, but it would be good if scientists with the below knowledge could join:
- Cells and their mechanical features/structure/geometry (what happens with the cells mechanical features when influenced by different stimuli, e.g. pharmaceuticals)
- Mechanics (can QCM-D responses be expected, if yes than what kind of response, when cells change characteristics according to the above)
- Cell studies (what parameters are relevant/interesting to study)
- Cell studies (what are the requirements on the cells environment)
- Challenge number 67
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Björks Rostfria AB
- Challenge number 75
Vid plasmasvetsning i rostfritt stål, hur kan man karaktärisera skillnaderna i svetsfogen jämfört med ursrpungsmaterialet? Är det någon skillnad?
Björks jobbar med vattenreningsanläggningar i rostfritt stål och använder plasmasvetsning som en metod för att sammanfoga rostfria komponenter.
- Challenge number 75
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Böhler Uddeholm Precision Steel AB
- Challenge number 3
How can we increase the fatigue life of thin martensitic steel strip?
thin martensitic steel strip is used in various types of compressors and the end user wants a material which has the longer life than today's materials.
- Challenge number 4
What type of wear is most important in doctor blades and how can we simulate / quantify it without large scale production testing in creping and coating mill operations?
No additional information available.
- Challenge number 6
What modern metallurgical tools can help us find an optimal material yield for production of precision strip, which is a very complex operation involving a large number of steps?
In precsion strip , we take a material from billet and make a strip of less than half a mm. Precision strip has a long production and supply chain route. Casting billets, hot rolling, cold rolling and final width allocation involve significant reduction in dimensions of the material being processed. What would an ideal way to design our process routes for maximum yields (minimum material losses) look like. What would be the most efficient tool (software, analysis, supply chain planning, etc.) to plan and achieve minimum material losses?
- Challenge number 3
C
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Coloplast AS
- Challenge number 31
How can the heat welding properties of medical films be better understood ?
For the assessment of heat welding properties of medical films, can quantitative surface concentration of process aids, such as slip and antiblock agents, be determined and identified? Could XPS (silica in antiblock agents and nitrogen in erucamide-based slip agents) or IR (amide groups of erucamide) be used for characterization?
- For understanding welding properties, can absence or presence (structure and scale) of polymer domains (as opposed to perfect mixtures) at the surface of polymer blends be identified/characterized? Could for example scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy, or (perhaps less obvious, as our films are not conducting) scanning tunneling microscopy be used?
- Medical films consisting of multiple layers can sometimes delaminate. Can the mechanisms for this occurring, be understood better and prevented? Can SEM or spatially resolved IR or XPS of the interface between layers of welded multilayer films, e.g. after cutting with a microtome or laser be used?
- Challenge number 32
How can we covalently modify polyolefinic surfaces into hydrophilic surfaces using UV-cruing ?
Can methods to form covalent bonds between different commercial and modified photo-initiators and polypropylene/polyethylene surfaces during activation by UV-light be developed?
- Investigate and estimate the density of photo-initiators covalently bonded to the polyolefinic surface
- Investigate and estimate the graft density of PEG functional photo-initiators covalently bonded to the polyolefinic surface
Can methods to establish covalent bonds between photo-initiator functionalized hydrophilic polymers (with the photo-initiators attached as side chains) and polypropylene/polyethylene during activation of UV-light be developed?
- Is it possible to measure bond density or -strength between hydrophilic polymers functionalized with photo-initiator moieties at the main chain onto polypropylene and polyethylene?
Investigate and propose bond mechanism for forming covalent bonds by UV-based photo-grafting saturated polymers onto polyolefinic surfaces.
- Challenge number 33
How can we study diffusion along an interface ?
Pressure sensitive adhesives are characterized by being soft non-glassy materials. Pressure sensitive adhesive comes in a range of hydrofilicities with acrylates being the more hydrophilic and silicones being the more hydrophobic.
- Is it possible to measure or even visualize the diffusion of small molecules (e.g. water, surfactants, oils) along an interface? - Specifically a skin/pressure sensitive adhesive interface? We would also be interested in results from a simpler model.
- Challenge number 31
D
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DACO Denmark A/S
- Challenge number 110
How can we obtain a measure of the thickness of paraffin-embedded tissue sections? And can we measure the thickness variation within the tissue section area? Desired thickness is typically 3-5 micrometer
The paraffin-embedded tissue sections are cut by microtome, attached to a microscope glass slide by heating at 60 degrees and finally dewaxed leaving the tissue section on the glass slide surface ready for further diagnostic analysis.
The thickness measure may be obtained in between any of these steps.
- Challenge number 111
Can expression levels of a protein biomarker in cell lines be manipulated to reach a pre-set level?
Controlled expression level is required in fixed cells, i.e., manipulation could be carried out during growth or after harvest.
A constant and pre-set expression level in fixed cells is needed as reference material in a diagnostic test.
- Challenge number 112
What transparent medium of low viscosity (easy to dispense) can be use to protect a tissue sample on a glass slide from oxidation by air, and mechanical destruction, for 5+ years?
Coverslipping is the method used in pathology laboratories enabling microscopy and preservation of human tissue samples places on a glass slides when diagnosing cancer. Standard method envolves a thin glass sheet glued to the glass slide. Intension is to replace this method with a non-toxic, fast hardening glue evenly distributed without glass sheet. The medium has meet the following conditions:
- Optical properties similar to glass supporting light microscopy
- Hardening time within minutes at ambient temperature
- Preserves tissue for years (low gas permability)
- Low level of toxic fumes
- Good resistance towards scratches
- Attaches to glass
- Challenge number 113
Why does microwaves heating accelerate the rate of hydrolysis (and other chemical reactions) compared to conventional heating?
Hydrolysis is used for restoring epitopes in tissue fixated in formalin. Reaction rate is accelerated by conventional conductive heating but has been shown to be accelerated even further when using microwave heating. Difference cannot be attributed to heat ramp up solely.
- Challenge number 110
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Digilektro AB
- Challenge number 8
Low voltage electrical energy to mechanical work conversion
Is it possible to find a solution for an energy efficient conversion of low voltage electric energy to mechanical work like a linear or rotating action? The solution would preferably have the following properties:
A wide operating temperature range -30 (-40) to + 70°C
Operational voltage <3 VDC
Maximum current ~0,5 A
Reliable function with few parts
High mechanical force/torque and a stroke of ~2 mm or a rotation of ½ to 1 turn
Full actuation within 2 – 3 seconds
Low cost in mass production
Is it possible to find an alternative solution to an electrical energy to mechanical work conversion?
The work that needs to be executed is as described above. It shall be initiated at contact with bulk water but not by high humidity in air. Environmental operating temperature: -30 (-40) to + 70°C. Water temperature down to 0 °C for fresh water or down to -1,5°C for sea water.
- Challenge number 8
E
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E.ON och Vattenfall
- Challenge number 17
Vilka problem kan förknippas med HIPning? Kan man undvika oxidation av pulvret? Hur stor är spridningen i mekaniska egenskaper mellan batcher? Vilka produktionsbegränsningar av HIP-material finns?
I ett kärnkraftverk ställs stora krav på ingående materials sammansättning för att minimera stråldoser. Exempelvis maximeras den tillåtna kobolthalten i rostfritt stål och nickelbaslegeringar eftersom kobolt aktiveras under neutronbestrålning och blir Co-60 med en halveringstid av 5.3 år.
Med hjälp av pulvermetallurgi kan man styra materialsammansättningen på ett bättre sätt än vid konventionell gjutning och vidare bearbetning.
Ytterligare en fördel med pulvermetallurgi är att man kan tillverka till nästan färdig slutform.
Vid HIPning (Het-Isostatisk-Pressning) får man en produkt där porositet och liknande i stort sett eliminerats och produkten utgör därför ett alternativ till gjutning och i viss mån även smide.
- Challenge number 18
Hur kan HIPade material kvalificeras som tryckbärande komponenter? Vilka oförstörande mätmetoder kan användas för utvärdering av HIP material? Vilka korrosionsegenskaper har HIPade material – jämför smide och gjutgods?
I ett kärnkraftverk ställs stora krav på ingående materials sammansättning för att minimera stråldoser. Exempelvis maximeras den tillåtna kobolthalten i rostfritt stål och nickelbaslegeringar eftersom kobolt aktiveras under neutronbestrålning och blir Co-60 med en halveringstid av 5.3 år.
Med hjälp av pulvermetallurgi kan man styra materialsammansättningen på ett bättre sätt än vid konventionell gjutning och vidare bearbetning.
Ytterligare en fördel med pulvermetallurgi är att man kan tillverka till nästan färdig slutform.
Vid HIPning (Het-Isostatisk-Pressning) får man en produkt där porositet och liknande i stort sett eliminerats och produkten utgör därför ett alternativ till gjutning och i viss mån även smide.
- Challenge number 17
F
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FOSS Analytical AB
- Challenge number 37
How can we develop a surface treatment with strong adsorption in the NIR- range (800-250 nm) ?
At several places in our instruments it is very important that the light scatter and absorption characteristics are limited or ideally eliminated not to affect the NIR spectra and ultimately the predications. The best alternative at the moment is Nextel paint but it is relatively complex to use in our production. We are searching for alternatives that are easy to apply to aluminum with a standard surface treatment procedure and at the same time heavily absorbs in the NIR range (800 – 2500nm)
- Challenge number 38
How can we develop robust materials for calibration of wavelength and intensity ?
To calibrate our instruments we use different materials with characteristics of two types
1. Wavelength calibration – sharp and well separated peaks at certain wavelengths usually rare-earth oxide doped compounds, ceramics or glass
2. Intensity calibration – material with even absorption across whole spectra 800-2500nm. Usually a compound mix of two types
It is very important that the characteristics of these materials have minor changes over time and in other environments like higher temperatures or moisture. Ideally they do not change at all. More stabile and robust materials would be of interest.
- Challenge number 37
G
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GE Healthcare
- Challenge number 39
Why can channels disappear in PDMS fluidic structures?
In fluidic system of PDMS (Poly Dimethyl Siloxane/silicone rubber) you find channels and valves. It happens that liquid will be locked for a long time (hours) between two closed valves. The liquid disappears (due to the permeability of PDMS) and the channel is compressed. The walls of the collapsed channel does not bind together but are very tightly compressed. Is it possible to describe the process causing this phenomenon?
- Challenge number 39
H
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Höganäs AB
- Challenge number 59
How can we handle metallic nano powders in air and how to avoid oxidation ?
Med metallpulver kan komponenter med komplicerade former framställas. För att kunna tillverka mycket små komponenter med fin ytfinish i stora serier måste man använda pulver med en extremt fin partikelstorlek från några mikrometer ner till nano-storlek. Hur kan man tillverka metalliska (inte ädelmetaller) pulver i nanoskala samt hantera dessa pulver i luft utan att de oxiderar?
- Challenge number 60
How can we bond metallic particles together using a very low level of binder ?
I många fall används organiska bindemedel för att klistra metallpulverpartiklar på varandra. Denna bindning bör vara stark så att den geometrisk komplicerade komponenten kan hanteras utan att falla sönder. Dessutom bör halten bindemedel vara mycket låg, helst bara omkring 0,1%. Hur kan man åstadkomma en stark bindning mellan metallpartiklar med bindemedel i extremt låg halt som härdar på nolltid (temperatur, ljus, ultraljud, etc?.)?
- Challenge number 61
How can we characterize, chemically and structurally, thin coatings on irregular surfaces ? Can we also obtain information over larger areas or on several different particles ?
Skikten är mycket tunna (under 200 nm) och består av komplexa föreningar innehållande en eller fler metaller och kan vara någon typ av oxid eller liknande. Eftersom ytorna på metallpartiklarna och ytorna i de porösa metallstrukturerna är mycket oregelbundna är det svårt att analysera vilken/vilka föreningar som bildats på ytan. Hur kan man karaktärisera, både kemiskt och strukturellt, dessa tunna beläggningar på de oregelbundna ytorna och dessutom få uppgift både punktvis och över större ytor eller ett flertal partiklar?
- Challenge number 62
How to combine a ceramic thin layer on a metallic substrate and avoid spalling in the temperature range RT-1000 C.
Eftersom keramiska material och metalliska material har olika värmeutvidgningskoefficienter är det svårt att få keramiska beläggningar på metalliska ytor att sitta fast då systemet upphettas. Ofta vill man kunna värma upp till 1000 C utan att det keramiska skiktet släpper. Keramskiktet är tunt i relation till metallen, 1-100 micron
- Challenge number 59
L
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LUIS
- Challenge number 120
Organizer
Register for this question if you are working at LUIS or will participate in AIMday Materials in a different role than an expert.
- Challenge number 120
N
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Novozymes A/S
- Challenge number 57
How could you monitor enzymatic activity, such as hydrolysis real-time, in solution and at interfaces?
a. Do any of these approaches render themselves for studies in the presence of surfactants and emulsion particles?
b. Are there technologies that are able to cope with heterogeneous and poly-disperse systems?
- Challenge number 58
In experiments above, to what extent do we need to mimic complex substrate systems for potential modification by enzyme, e.g. found in nature and our modern society (from human body soil such over food products to municipal waste) in order to extract mechanistic information, e.g. about dynamics or conversion of key molecular species?
a. What kind of model systems are around?
b. What is known about correlations to various response variables?
- Challenge number 57
Q
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Qpharma
- Challenge number 25
How can one develop small scale method or devices for measuring the release of active substances from plastic, or silicone materials?
Today we are using water as a release medium; the method is time consuming and occupies a large space. We are interested in a method that is more realistic, performed under conditions similar to the situation in-vivo, and operates in smaller scale than current methods.
- Challenge number 26
How can we measure or characterize the interactions between an active substance and silicone?
In production, the mixtures of active substance and silicone have shown time dependant properties. They tend to become hard and crumbly, or grainy, with time. It is a reversible phenomenon since when exposed to shear forces or pressure, the mixtures regains their initial properties. We believe that the time dependant hardness is due to interactions between the active substance and the silicone material. We need a characterization method, or some other way of determining the interactions, to measure or predict how hard the material is at any instance but without touching the material.
- Challenge number 27
How can we determine the solubility of a substance in silicone when varying the water activity ?
In one of our products the release rate of our active substance varies much during the first day. We believe that this variation comes from the solubility of our active substance in the silicone material. We would like to determine how this solubility is influenced by for example the water concentration (water activity) in the silicone material.
- Challenge number 25
R
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Rolling Optics
- Challenge number 65
What kind of coatings are suitable for micro structured Ni surfaces to achieve increased resistance to mechanical wear and low adhesion to UV-curable plastic?Low coating temperature is a requirement.
The tool cost for R2R Ni-stampers is very high. Consequently, an improvement in the Ni-surface scratch resistance and anti-adhesion properties would extend the tool lifetime and reduce costs. What coatings are suitable with regards to e.g. scratch resistance, chemical stability, wetting properties, and low-temperature deposition technique?
- Challenge number 66
How can frequency analysis be used to obtain surface (polymers) information of microstructures?
A micro-structured surface creates a noise when scratched with a hard object. What physical properties determine the nature of this noise? What part(s) of the frequency spectrum can be related only to the micro-structured surface?
- Challenge number 65
S
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Saan Energi AB
- Challenge number 12
How to characterize microstructure in 3D of a representative volume of electrodes (20µm x 20µm x 20µm) with a voxel edge length of about 10nm or less?
Actual microstructural investigation tools (FIB SEM, TEM, µTomography) failed to combined resolution in the nano-scale range and representative volume of the microstructure (20µm x 20µm x 20µm):
- Challenge number 13
How to arrange nano-particles structurally stable at high temperature? How to produce this assembly in cost effective ways?
Because of the high operating temperature, nano-particles tend to agglomerate reducing performance.
- Challenge number 68
What is the optimal structure of functional layers for fuel cell?
Rate limiting steps in electro catalytic process depends on the operating temperature, and are still not clarified which makes difficult the optimization of the microstructure of electrodes. Further design and development of such SOFC requires the extending use of modeling to have a comprehensive understanding of all kinetic, transport limitation of different species within these structures, starting from the microstructural modeling (Fluid dynamic, diffusion…) till homogenous model (I-V curves) to optimize microstructural parameter (thickness, pore size…)
- Challenge number 12
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Saft AB
- Challenge number 100
Is it possible to detect and characterize the surface reaction and is there a way to prohibit it?
Background: Ni(OH)2 constitutes the active component of positive electrodes in Ni-Cd batteries. The Ni(OH)2 surface can be affected during manufacturing, most probably due to oxidation. If so, the performance and capacity will be reduced of the final product.
- Challenge number 101
Find replacing material(s) for graphite in order to keep the good conductive properties and low price but also a good binder.
Graphite has very good conductive properties and is widely used in rechargeable Ni-Cd batteries. Graphite has also disadvantages, it is easily carbonized during charging and discharging and it is a lousy binder.
- Challenge number 102
Are there other suitable materials that can be used as membrane in a battery vent and that also meet current demands regarding chemical resistance, temperature range, life time expectancy etc.?
For SAFT’s low maintenance batteries there is a need to develop a vent cap that maintains a low overpressure, in the range of 20-50 mbar, in the cell. The vent should also prevent leakage of electrolyte if a cell is dropped. Today’s vents use a rubber cap to facilitate these features.
- Challenge number 103
Find replacing material(s) for PA66 in order to avoid problems with breaking washers and to remove the water conditioning procedure. The material must be chemical resistant to KOH, white oil pharmaceutical quality, anti-corrosion oil and anti-foaming agent.Find replacing polymeric material for SS 1265-14 (alternative EN 10268:2006 HC 420 LA and Docol 600 DP) that is cheap and chemical resistant to KOH, white oil pharmaceutical quality and anti-foaming agent.
The gasket cup keeps the sealing in a correct position. Today the material is SS 1265-14 (alternative EN 10268:2006 HC 420 LA and Docol 600 DP). The material is stressed during assembling. The cup is pressed 0.5 mm into the cell container (PP) and then reverted.
The lock washer seals and locks the electrode stack with the container in a correct position. Today the material is PA66 including approx. 2% coloring matter with polyamide base. The lock washer is stressed during assembling and from time to time it is cracking. The crack appears in the point where the material is joining during injection molding. Before assembling the washers are water conditioned in order to reduce problems with cracks.
- Challenge number 100
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Saint-Gobain Ecophon AB
- Challenge number 10
Modelling the structure of porous materials to achieve specific acoustic properties related to absorption, transmission and reflection. Is this possible?
- Challenge number 11
How can we reuse waste material (Ecodrain) from glasswool production?
search "ecodrain"
- Challenge number 10
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Sandvik Materials Technology
- Challenge number 97
How can ductility of thin PVD Ti layer be controlled? How is ductility related to contamination, phase composition, hardness, porosity, adhesion, etc.? How can ductility of thin PVD Ti layer be determined?
The structure is composed of Stainless Steel (SS) coated with Titanium and Carbon, thicknesses less than 100 nm. The 0.1 mm austenitic steel has a surface roughness of about 0.2 my, and is subjected to forming to above 30 %. When the structure is formed (tensile and compressive stress), there is a risk for the Ti layer to crack, depending on the degree of forming. Therefore a more ductile layer is desired.
0
- Challenge number 98
What parameters influence the ductility and conductivity in a thin PVD Carbon layer?
The structure is composed of Stainless Steel (SS) coated with Titanium and Carbon, thicknesses less than 100 nm. The 0.1 mm austenitic steel has a surface roughness of about 0.2 my, and is subjected to forming to above 30 %. When the structure is formed (tensile and compressive stress), there is a risk for the C layer to crack, depending on the degree of forming. Therefore a more ductile layer is desired.
0
- Challenge number 99
What methods are most suitable for characterization thin PVD carbon layers? (porosity, crystallinity, chemical bonding, etc.)
The structure is composed of Stainless Steel (SS) coated with Titanium and Carbon, thicknesses less than 100 nm. The 0.1 mm austenitic steel has a surface roughness of about 0.2 my.
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- Challenge number 97
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Solibro
- Challenge number 53
What would be a suitable material and deposition process to achieve an as efficient, electrically conductive, Na barrier as possible?
The Cu(InxGa1-x)Se2 (CIGS) absorber layer in CIGS-based thin-film solar cells is usually doped with Na to achieve optimal performance of the solar cell. This can be done either by letting Na diffuse from a soda-lime glass substrate (which is the most commonly used substrate material) or by supplying Na separately. The latter is necessary for non sodium containing substrate, but could also be desirable for CIGS layers on soda-lime glass substrates in order to have better control of the doping level. We deposit CIGS by thermal evaporation on top of a Mo back-contact layer on a soda-lime glass substrate. The Mo layer lets a substantial amount of Na through from the soda-lime glass substrate. In order to better control the Na content in our CIGS layers, we would like to deposit an efficient Na barrier layer underneath the back contact (Mo) and then supply Na in an alternative, more controlled, way. The barrier layer should be electrically conductive so that it contributes to the back contact conduction (enabling a thinner Mo layer on top of the barrier layer). What would be a suitable material and deposition process to achieve an as efficient, electrically conductive, Na barrier as possible? The Na barrier layer should be possible to deposit on large areas in an efficient way, preferably by sputtering.
- Challenge number 54
How to measure the minority carrier diffusion length in CIGS solar cells?
- In Cu(In,Ga)Se2 solar cells the diffusion length of the minority carriers is very essential for the device quality.
- If we could measure the minority carrier diffusion length it would be very helpful. Suggestions are EBIC, TRPL, or any other suitable method.
- Challenge number 55
Which Mo property has the largest impact on the alkali diffusivity?
- It is well known that alkali diffusivity at elevated temperatures through a thin Mo film ~ 0.3 µm deposited on Soda-Lime glass can be varied with the oxygen content in the Mo.
- 2 Mo films sputtered at different conditions with similar amount of oxygen are quite similar in XRD, SEM and low resolution TEM with (110) texture and ~40 nm grain size. But not similar in Na diffusivity.
- In these two samples which Mo property has the largest impact on the alkali diffusivity? Grain size, G
grain size at glass interface, size of oxidized grain boundary zone, texture, oxide type ….
- Possible analysis? HRTEM, EELS and EFTEM on very thin manually polished samples
- Challenge number 53
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Solve Research and Consultancy AB
- Challenge number 85
What is the projected market growth for protein therapeutics over the next 5 years and what new technologies are pharma companies investing in to address evolving materials concerns such as protein aggregation?
No additional information available.
- Challenge number 106
Are the physicochemical and proformance properteis of your materials outpacing your materials characterization capabilites?
SOLVE is a newly formed contract research organization that is focused on providing clients with indepth knowledge about the properties and performance of complex materials. Our core technology is field flow fractionation (FFF) which is unique to our business.
With FFF we can provide information about the size, molecular weight, branching, topography, aggregation state, and solution and surface behavior
of complex materials such as proteins and protein aggregates, polysaccharides and other natural macromolecules, nanoparticles and more. We can look at these materials in their native environments across a wide range of industries including life science, pharmaceutical, functional foods, etc. We are actively seeking clients.
- Challenge number 107
Can single particle optical sensing be utilized to detect protein aggregates? If so, what is the sensitivity and the lower size limit?
No additional information available.
- Challenge number 85
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Sophion Bioscience
- Challenge number 44
What are possible measurement techniques for phsiological evaluation of cells,which are physiologically relevant for example measuring ion tranporters or other physiological
More information will be collated and sent shortly
- Challenge number 45
What are the fundamentals of cell adhesion to a polymer and what are some characterisation techniques
More information will be collated and sent shortly
- Challenge number 46
Are there polymeric materials that can draw substantial current which are also biocompatible
More information will be collated and sent shortly
- Challenge number 47
Can quantum dot technology be used to measure ion channel / cell membrame activity?
More information will be collated and sent shortly
- Challenge number 44
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Swedish National Heritage Board
- Challenge number 104
Are there any researchers or companies interested to cooperate around the field artificial ageing of organic material in relation to historic objects?
The Swedish National heritage Board (RAA) has started a project which aim at finding out the possibilities and the need for establishing an unique and excellent environment in the research field; natural and artificial ageing of cultural objects made in organic material. In Sweden and Scandinavia there is no coordinated research around the impact of time on our cultural assets.
- Challenge number 105
What are the successfactors for the established research centers close to the field in the research of natural and artificial ageing of cultural objects made in organic material?
The Swedish National heritage Board (RAA) has started a project which aim at finding out the possibilities and the need for establishing an unique and excellent environment in the research field; natural and artificial ageing of cultural objects made in organic material. In Sweden and Scandinavia there is no coordinated research around the impact of time on our cultural assets.
- Challenge number 104
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Svenska Aerogel AB
- Challenge number 52
Can TEM be used for high resolution characterization of our material (an aerogel) with respect to size distribution, porosity and surface properties?
Swedish Aerogel is a company that manufactures aerogel material with its own manufacturing process. The materials are Si-based and difficult to characterize in the microscope (insulating), but it would be desirable to analyze the material at high resolution.
- Challenge number 52
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SverigeGrepen
- Challenge number 48
How to mechanically reinforce critical areas of a complex geometry in engineering plastics (see attached picture of a fork). How can we effectively analyze the results?
The fork is made of polyamide plastic (PA). Sometimes the outer "teeth" breaks. Could it be due to design, manufacturing process (injection molding), the tough operating environment, or the choice of material (should it possibly be reinforced)? Is it possible to use a cheaper plastic (material)? Is it possible to study the fracture surface in the SEM, or analyze the fork with ultrasound?
- Challenge number 49
How can blackness from an aluminum shaft be avoided? In the current situation anodizing (eloxering) is used to provide a protective oxide layer on the aluminum shaft.
Should the oxide layer be made thicker? Could an alternative surface treatment method be used? Importance of the aluminum quality? Does the oxide surface wear away with time? How can the material quality and the thickness of the oxide layer be measured?
- Challenge number 48
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Uddeholms AB
- Challenge number 63
What defines damping resitance (internal friction) in the steel microstructure?
A grade that dampens out the oscillations quickly is desired.
- Challenge number 64
Alloying with small amount of Ni suppresses the ferrite transformation in steels (at about 600 C and realistic quenching rates). Why?
Hot work tool steels. How does suppression of ferrite formation favor martensite formation, and how Ni contributes to this.
- Challenge number 63
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VELUX
- Challenge number 24
Isolating materials for tomorrow windows
There is an ongoing need for reducing the energy performers for windows, both for glass as well as frame technology.
What will the day of tomorrow bring for new materials which will let this happen?
Will there be any possibility for storing energy in materials which can be used later and so on?
- Challenge number 24
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Volvo Advanced Technology & Research
- Challenge number 69
How does the next generation of renewable materials look like?
We need renewable materials that are commercial, easy to mass-produce, suitable for automotive industry (high technical demands) and sustainable.
Today we can find polymers like:
• Poly Lactic acid (PLA)
• Starch plastic
• Cellulosic plastic
• Soy-based plastics
• Polyhydeoxyalkanoates (PHAs)
• Bio-Polypropylene
• Bio-polyethylene
• Biobased Nylon
How does the next generation of materials that meets these requirements look like?
Natural fibre reinforcements in conjunction with nanotechnology are poised to create major breakthroughs.
- Challenge number 70
What types of coatings could meet the harsh demands on a commercial vehicle and how can these be manufactured and applied onto vehicles? How could wear, scratch or abrasion resistance of plastic materials be improved with novel technology?
Commercial vehicles are built to operate in a wide variety of conditions, ranging from hot summer days in Africa to freezing winter days in northern Scandinavia. Other exposures that a vehicle can experience are from mud or salty ice-slush on winter roads.
In these conditions a protective coating, e.g. hydrophobic, could be of great advantage to protect vital parts of the vehicle or avoid build-up of ice or mud.
What types of coatings could meet such harsh demands and how can these be manufactured and applied onto vehicles?
A vehicle is exposed to many tough environments that can be challenging for plastic materials. How could wear, scratch or abrasion resistance of plastic materials be improved with novel technology?
- Challenge number 71
What functions could be combined in a material that could be useful for a commercial vehicle?
A commercial vehicle (bus or truck) contains a lot of metallic, plastic and textile materials.
Today, most of these materials have only one function, such as a being a structural material holding weight. Researchers are looking into how new functions can be added, e.g. Volvo Cars are researching the possibilities to use lightweight structural batteries (e.g. a battery and a car door at the same time)
What functions could be combined that could be useful for a commercial vehicle?
- Challenge number 72
How could wear, scratch or abrasion resistance of plastic materials be improved with novel technology?
A vehicle is exposed to many tough environments that can be challenging for plastic materials. How could wear, scratch or abrasion resistance of plastic materials be improved with novel technology?
- Challenge number 69
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Volvo Aero Corporation
- Challenge number 34
How can we limit the effects of material defects in turbine materials by reliable inspection and prediction?
No additional information available.
- Challenge number 35
What are the possibilities/limits with developing physically based material models for prediction of life for real aero-engine components taking into account the effect of manufacturing processes on defects/microstructure/properties of the final component?
No additional information available.
- Challenge number 34
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White arkitekter AB
- Challenge number 81
Forskas det på alternativ till härdplaster som inte tillverkas av cancer/allergiframkallande komponenter?
Ofta behövs fogfria golv i utrymmen som storkök mm men alla sådana tillverkas av komponenter som ofta både är cancerframkallande och allergiframkallande. Epoxygolv baseras ofta på Bisfenol a/f och epiklorhydrin och/eller harts av dessa Forskas det på alternativ till dessa som ger en bättre arbetsmiljö till golvläggarna? Kan man anse att bisfenol etc är bundet i de härdade golven? Is there any research going on to find alternatives to the epoxy or urethane floorings which uses cancerogenic/sensitizing components?
- Challenge number 82
Is it possible and how in that case could you stabilize or seal cortén or copper sheets for example used as facade material to stop the "bleeding" and leakage of copper ions to prevent the ions which are toxic to aquatic species and could pollute the stormwater and soil the materials around?
No additional information available.
- Challenge number 84
Går det att försegla/hindra mjukgörare i plaster som pvc att läcka ut?
Problemet med att mjukgörare som ftalater läcker ut är välkänt och det forskas mycket på effekterna, dessutom byts ftalaterna ut mot mindre farliga mjukgörare men går det att hindra mjukgörarna att läcka ut ur plasten om man måste använda dem eller blir resultatet en hård plast? Is it possible to seal PVC for exampel in flooring material to prevent softeners like phtalates to escape?
- Challenge number 81