Showing papers by "Sitaram Dash published in 2007"

Imaging distribution of local stiffness over surfaces using atomic force acoustic microscopy

Abstract: We report a systematic study to determine local elastic properties of surfaces using atomic force acoustic microscopy(AFAM). AFAM is a combination of atomic force microscopy (AFM) and acoustic waves. We describe the technique and principle of AFAM in detail and interpret the obtained images using simple arguments. We have used (1) polished commercial piezoelectric PZT, Pb(Zr,Ti)O3 ceramic, (2) thin film of PZT deposited by the sol?gel technique and (3) thin film of Au deposited on a Si(0?0?1) substrate to elucidate the capability of the AFAM technique to image the distribution of local stiffness over the sample surface. We have also used a complementary technique such as force?distance measurements using the AFM mode to support the interpretation of the AFAM images. We have determined semi-quantitatively the change in the local stiffness over the sample surface using both the force?distance measurement and the change in the contact resonance peak frequency at various regions. We have also shown that the AFAM technique can be used to get a better surface image contrast where contact mode AFM shows poor contrast.

Hydrodynamical phenomena in the process of laser welding and cutting

Abstract: The main objective of the paper is to outline the 'bridges' existing between the outcomes of fundamental researches and the results of investigations in the field of industrial laser materials processing (LMP). An analysis is presented on the models based on non-stationary hydrodynamic phenomena caused by deeply penetrating high power CW laser beam into materials. This is typical of laser welding (LW) and laser cutting (LC). A physical analysis pertaining to melt removal and melt layer instability mechanisms of gas jet assisted CW–CO2 laser fusion cutting is presented. The models deliberated here are melt squeezing out by gas pressure gradient, melt dragging by the friction force between melt surface and gas flow, formation of moving shelves at the cutting front. In case of high laser intensity, radiative flux interacts with material causing dynamical thermal transport onto the surface and phase transition at solid–liquid–gas interfaces. The solution is based on the non-stationary variables. Under...

Microstructural investigation of alumina implanted with 30 keV nitrogen ions

Abstract: Among ceramics, alumina is being widely used as biomaterials now these days. It is being used as hip joints, tooth roots etc. Ion implantation has been employed to modify its surface without changing it bulk properties. 30 keV nitrogen with varying ion dose ranging from 5 × 10 15 ions/cm 2 to 5 × 10 17 ions/cm 2 is implanted in alumina. Surface morphology has been studied with optical microscope and atomic force microscope (AFM). Improvement in brittleness has been observed with the increase in ion dose. Compound formation and changes in grain size have been studied using X-Ray diffraction (XRD). AlN compound formation is also observed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The change in the grain size is related with the nanohardness and Hall–Petch relationship is verified.

SPM characterization of pulsed laser deposited nanocrystalline CrN hard coatings.

Abstract: Nanocrystalline CrN coatings, widely required for surface engineering application covering wear and corrosion resistance, need to be investigated for atomic scale morphology, surface roughness, local stiffness, phase uniformity, and homogeneity. Evolution of these properties as a function of thickness need to be studied. In this paper, we have attempted to address these issues through use of a multimode scanning probe microscope (SPM) equipped to carry out Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and Atomic Force Acoustic microscopy (AFAM) of Chromium nitride films (100-500 nm thick) on Si prepared under high vacuum by pulsed Laser Ablation using Nd-YAG Q-switched laser. Prior to SPM analysis, the coatings were annealed in N2 atmosphere at 700 degrees C for 30 minutes for improving crystallanity and coating substrate adhesion. The GIXRD patterns of these annealed specimens showed formation of nanocrystalline CrN. Also signature of amorphous phases was seen. The grain size was estimated to be less than 30 nm. Contact mode AFM imaging revealed a roughness value less than 50 nm. Local stiffness values were calculated from AFM force-distance curves. Imaging of frictional force and surface flaws are being investigated by Frictional Force Microscopy (FFM), resonance spectroscopy, and AFAM, respectively. The contrast in AFAM images is seen due to variation in surface elasticity in reference and CrN samples. Stiffness constant and elastic modulus were calculated for both the samples and compared.

Detecting onset of chain scission and crosslinking of γ-ray irradiated elastomer surfaces using frictional force microscopy

Abstract: We report here that atomic force microscopy (AFM) in frictional force mode can be used to detect the onset of chain scission and crosslinking in polymeric and macromolecular samples upon irradiation. A systematic investigation to detect chain scission and crosslinking of two elastomers, (1) ethylene-propylene-diene monomer rubber and (2) fluorocarbon rubber, upon γ-ray irradiation has been carried out using frictional force microscopy (FFM). From the AFM results we observed that both the elastomers show a systematic smoothening of its surfaces, as the γ-ray dose rate increases. However, the frictional property studied using FFM of the sample surfaces show an initial increase and then a decrease as a function of dose rate. This behaviour of increase in its frictional property has been attributed to the onset of chain scission, and the subsequent decrease in friction has been attributed to the onset of crosslinking of the polymer chains. The evaluated qualitative and semi-quantitative changes observed in the overall frictional property as a function of the γ-ray dose rate for the two elastomers are presented in this paper.