Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods of creating a biosensor. A palladium film is deposited onto a surface of a substrate. The palladium film is then treated with an air plasma to stabilize the palladium and reduce or eliminate its catalytic activity. The biosensor is created from the treated palladium film and the substrate.

Abstract: An interference filter includes a layers stack comprising a plurality of layers of at least: layers of amorphous hydrogenated silicon with added nitrogen (a-Si:H,N) and layers of one or more dielectric materials, such as SiO2, SiOx, SiOxNy, a dielectric material with a higher refractive index in the range 1.9 to 2.7 inclusive, or so forth. The interference filter is designed to have a passband center wavelength in the range 750-1000 nm inclusive. Added nitrogen in the a-Si:H,N layers provides improved transmission in the passband without a large decrease in refractive index observed in a-Si:H with comparable transmission. Layers of a dielectric material with a higher refractive index in the range 1.9 to 2.7 inclusive provide a smaller angle shift compared with a similar interference filter using SiO2 as the low index layers.

Abstract: A cask liner includes a hollow cylinder comprising a boron-containing composition. The hollow cylinder has no longitudinal joints. The hollow cylinder may be formed as a single unit by isostatic pressing, for example by hot isostatic pressing (HIP) of a blend of a boron-containing powder and an aluminum or aluminum alloy powder which is blended by mechanical alloying. Casked nuclear fuel includes a nuclear fuel rod comprising uranium, which is disposed in or extends through the hollow cylinder of the cask liner.

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a one-dimensionally varying optical filter, a substrate is coated to form a stack of layers of two or more different types. The coating may, for example, employ sputtering, electron-beam evaporation, or thermal evaporation. During the coating, the time-averaged deposition rate is varied along an optical gradient direction by generating reciprocation between a shadow mask and the substrate in a reciprocation direction that is transverse to the optical gradient direction. In some approaches, the shadow mask is periodic with a mask period defined along the direction of reciprocation, and the generated reciprocation has a stroke equal to or greater than the mask period along the direction of reciprocation. The substrate and the shadow mask may also be rotated together as a unit during the coating. Also disclosed are one-dimensionally varying optical filters, such as linear variable filters, made by such methods.

Abstract: A sucker rod string is formed from sucker rods and sucker rod couplings. The sucker rod couplings are formed from a spinodally-hardened copper alloy comprising from about 8 to about 20 wt % nickel, and from about 5 to about 11 wt % tin, the remaining balance being copper, and having a sliding coefficient of friction of 0.4 or less when measured against carbon steel. The sucker rod string has low friction and improved pumping stroke, enhanced pumping capacity, and less load in the overall system.

Abstract: Disclosed are various processes for preparing a strip or plate of a copper-nickel-tin alloy. The processes begin with an input, usually of a rectangular shape. The input is hot rolled and annealed. The input is then subjected to a first cold reduction, a first annealing a second cold reduction, a second annealing, a third cold reduction, and a third annealing. If desired, a fourth cold reduction, a fourth annealing, and a fifth cold reduction may be performed. The resulting strip or plate is very smooth and has increased fatigue life, along with high strength.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to metal alloys for biosensors. An electrode is made from the metal alloy, which more specifically can be a nickel-based alloy. The alloy provides physical and electrical property advantages when compared with existing pure metal electrodes.

Abstract: A light generator comprises a light conversion device and a light source arranged to apply a light beam to the light conversion element. The light conversion device includes an optoceramic or other solid phosphor element comprising one or more phosphors embedded in a ceramic, glass, or other host, a metal heat sink, and a solder bond attaching the optoceramic phosphor element to the metal heat sink. The optoceramic phosphor element does not undergo cracking in response to the light source applying a light beam of beam energy effective to heat the optoceramic phosphor element to the phosphor quenching point.

Abstract: An apparatus (e.g., a multi-spectral optical filter array, an optical wafer, an optical component) has an aperture mask printed directly thereon, the aperture mask including a positive or negative photoresist. The apparatus includes a substrate having the aperture mask printed on at least one of a light entrance surface or a light exit surface of the substrate so as to provide an aperture over a portion of the substrate. The photoresist from which the aperture mask is formed is photo-definable or non-photo-definable, and is deposited/printed to form the aperture mask on the substrate.

Abstract: An air cavity package includes a dielectric frame that is formed from an alumina ceramic, a polyimide, or a semi-crystalline thermoplastic. The dielectric frame is joined to a flange using a high temperature silicone adhesive. Leads may be bonded to the dielectric frame using a high temperature organic adhesive, a direct bond, or by brazing.

Abstract: A piston ring is made from a copper-nickel-silicon-chromium alloy. This material permits the top compression ring of a piston to be moved closer to the piston crown, reducing crevice volume and reducing the tendency for pre-Ignition. Ignition timing advance can be realized by installing the rings and letting the ECU advance the timing as the sensors allow, increasing efficiency. Also, shorter pistons and longer connecting rods are possible. The shorter pistons reduces the reciprocated mass in the engine and the longer connecting rods reduce the frictional loss caused by radial forces pushing the piston against the liner. Both reducing volume and tendency for pre-ignition increase engine efficiency.

Abstract: A sucker rod guide having low friction and high wear resistance is disclosed herein, along with a fluid extraction system comprising the same. At least a part of the exterior surface of the sucker rod guide is formed from a cold worked and spinodally-hardenable or spinodally-hardened copper alloy comprising from about 5 to about 20 wt % nickel, and from about 5 to about 10 wt % tin, the remaining balance being copper, and having a 0.2% offset yield strength of at least 75 ksi. The guide includes a smoothbore adapted to surround and engage the surface of a sucker rod. The exterior surface of the guide can include grooves miming between the two ends. In particular embodiments, the guide is made by joining together two identical guide segments. In other embodiments, the guide is a single integral piece molded around a sucker rod.

Abstract: Processes for refurbishing a spent sputtering target with a non-circular shape are disclosed. In one form, the processes include the steps of receiving one or more spent sputtering targets, inspecting and weighing the spent sputtering targets, removing any contaminants or other surface impurities from the spent sputtering target surfaces, preparing a hot press die with spacers, disposing the spent sputtering targets in the hot press die, the spacers used to center the spent sputtering targets therein, loading fresh metal refilling powder into the die to account for depleted regions of the spent sputtering targets to produce a powder-filled sputtering target, and applying sufficient heat and force to the filled sputtering target to produce a refurbished sputtering target with homogeneous composition and sufficient adhesion strength.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed which includes an ultraviolet laser and at least one reflective mirror having a substrate which is made from beryllium, an aluminum metal matrix, or silicon carbide. The at least one mirror is adapted to reflect a laser beam generated from the ultraviolet laser, which can then be used on a silicon film used in the production of an electronic display. The laser beam can be used to anneal the silicon film, or in a laser lift-off process for separating the silicon film from a temporary substrate upon which the silicon film was mounted.

Abstract: Methods for making a high purity (>99.99%) and low oxygen (<40 ppm) sputtering target containing Co, CoFe, CoNi, CoMn, CoFeX (X=B, C, Al), Fe, FeNi, or Ni alloys with a column microstructure framed by boron intermetallics are disclosed. The sputtering target is made by directional casting a molten mixture of the metal alloy, annealing to remove residual stresses, slicing, and optional annealing and finishing to obtain the sputtering target.

Abstract: A cover lid for use with a semiconductor package is disclosed. First, a polyamide mask is applied to one surface of the lid plate. Next, the exposed areas of the surface, as well as the sides of the lid plate, are metallized. The polyamide mask can then be removed. This reduces pullback and shrinkage of the metallized layer, while lowering the manufacturing cost and process times.

Abstract: Methods for producing a coiled strip of metal matrix composite (MMC) material are disclosed. The methods include a combination of hot rolling and warm rolling processes that reduce the thickness of the input material and increase its ductility. The resulting MMC strip can be coiled, which is useful for high volume coil-to-coil applications.

Abstract: Systems and methods for reducing the thickness of a strip of an aluminum-based material are disclosed. The aluminum-based material is pre-heated before running the material through a warm rolling process. The systems include devices for pre-heating, which can include a heated payoff station or a dedicated pre-heating station that applies heated rolls or acts as a heated tunnel.

Abstract: A cold worked and spinodally-hardened copper alloy comprising from about 8 to about 20 wt % nickel, and from about 5 to about 11 wt % tin, the remaining balance being copper, and having a 0.2% offset yield strength of at least 75 ksi, is used to form a sucker rod coupling or subcoupling. Each coupling is formed from a core having two ends, each end having an internal thread. These box ends engage the pin of a sucker rod or other rod. The exterior surface of the core includes grooves running between the two ends.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to the packaging of metal thin films deposited on polymeric substrates. The packaging method prevents deleterious change of surface energy/water contact angle as a function of time for metal thin films such as rolls, coils, sheets or strips of sputtered or vacuum deposited metal thin films. Methods and kits directed toward a unique packaging and storage scheme are also disclosed. This results in maintenance of the metal film's hydrophilicity and surface energy for extended periods of time.