Metal Alloys for Filaments in 3D Fusion Filament Modelling Printing Process

The paper presents experimental research regarding the application of specific low melting metals in the FDM process. Previous trends in the transfer of the filament from the spool to the hot-end showed that the filament undergoes specific mechanical stress during the transfer. To achieve an appropriate transfer the filament should prove stiffness and resistance to the mechanical actions of the transfer wheels. At the same time, the entrance to the hot-end creates specific resistance to the movement of the filament, and the filament undergoes important deformations. The experimental research used three materials characterized by melting temperature below 260oC: Sn-58Bi, Sn-9Zn, and Sn-3.5Ag. Sn-58Bi showed a yield stress above 50 MPa, but very low extension during the tensile test. Sn-9Zn exhibited a yield stress above 30 MPa, and about double the extension during the tensile test. Sn-3.5Ag displayed a yield stress above 25 MPa, and extension in excess of 8%. The analysis of the surface was performed, revealing that the increase of the yield stress influenced the appearance of specific prints given by the transfer wheels. The deepest prints were measured for Sn-3.5Ag and they were maximum 100 μm. The other two materials were stiffer and the prints have depths below 50 μm. According to the obtained results, each of the tested materials can be an appropriate solution to filament use for the FDM 3D printing process

Electromagnetic field in matter. Surface enhanced Raman scattering

The polarization and magnetization degrees of freedom are included in the general treatment of the electromagnetic field in matter, and their governing equations are given. Particular cases of solutions are discussed for polarizable, non-magnetic matter, including quasi-static fields, surface plasmons, propagation, zero-point fluctuations of the eigenmodes, especially for a semi-infinite homogeneous body (half-space). The van der Waals London-Casimir force acting between a neutral nano-particle and a half-space is computed and the response of this electromagnetically coupled system to an external field is given, with relevance for the surface enhanced Raman scattering

Utilization of granular solidification during terrestrial locomotion of hatchling sea turtles

Biological terrestrial locomotion occurs on substrate materials with a range of rheological behaviour, which can affect limb-ground interaction, locomotor mode and performance. Surfaces like sand, a granular medium, can display solid or fluid-like behaviour in response to stress. Based on our previous experiments and models of a robot moving on granular media, we hypothesize that solidification properties of granular media allow organisms to achieve performance on sand comparable to that on hard ground. We test this hypothesis by performing a field study examining locomotor performance (average speed) of an animal that can both swim aquatically and move on land, the hatchling Loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta). Hatchlings were challenged to traverse a trackway with two surface treatments: hard ground (sandpaper) and loosely packed sand. On hard ground, the claw use enables no-slip locomotion. Comparable performance on sand was achieved by creation of a solid region behind the flipper that prevents slipping. Yielding forces measured in laboratory drag experiments were sufficient to support the inertial forces at each step, consistent with our solidification hypothesis

On the origin of the reactor antineutrino anomalies in light of a new summation model with parameterized β−\beta^{-} transitions

We investigate the possible origins of the norm and shape reactor antineutrino anomalies in the framework of a summation model (SM) where $\beta^{-}$ transitions are simulated by a phenomenological Gamow-Teller $\beta$-decay strength model. The general trends of the discrepancies to the Huber-Mueller model on the antineutrino side can be reproduced both in norm and shape. From the exact electron-antineutrino correspondence of the SM model, we predict similar distortions in the electron spectra, suggesting that biases on the reference fission-electron spectra could be at the origin of the anomalies

Thermal evaporation furnace with improved configuration for growing nanostructured inorganic materials

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)A tubular furnace specifically designed for growing nanostructured materials is presented in this work. The configuration allows an accurate control of evaporation temperature, substrate temperature, total pressure, oxygen partial pressure, volumetric flow and source-substrate distance, with the possibility of performing both downstream and upstream depositions. In order to illustrate the versatility of the equipment, the furnace was used for growing semiconducting oxide nanostructures under different deposition conditions. Highly crystalline indium oxide nanowires with different morphologies were synthesized by evaporating mixtures of indium oxide and graphite powders with different mass ratios at temperatures between 900 degrees C and 1050 degrees C. The nanostructured layers were deposited onto oxidized silicon substrates with patterned gold catalyst in the temperature range from 600 degrees C to 900 degrees C. Gas sensors based on these nanowires exhibited enhanced sensitivity towards oxygen, with good response and recovery times. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3597577]826Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)FAPESP [DD05/59270-0

Parity Violation in Elastic Electron-Proton Scattering and the Proton's Strange Magnetic Form Factor

We report a new measurement of the parity-violating asymmetry in elastic electron scattering from the proton at backward scattering angles. This asymmetry is sensitive to the strange magnetic form factor of the proton as well as electroweak axial radiative corrections. The new measurement of A = -4.92±0.61±0.73 ppm provides a significant constraint on these quantities. The implications for the strange magnetic form factor are discussed in the context of theoretical estimates for the axial corrections