Abstract: A magnetostrictive composite having large magnetostriction by virtue of 2-50 vol. % magnetostrictive particles dispersed throughout a resin matrix formed from a thermosetting resin, an amine curing agent, fumed silica and a flexibilizing agent, wherein the magnetostrictive particles are aligned in the direction of their magnetic easy axes by the presence of a magnetic field prior to or during curing of the resin matrix. In an exemplary embodiment, an epoxy-Terfenol composite is formed by mixing an epoxy resin, fumed silica, a cycloaliphatic amine curing agent, and a flexibilizing agent that is a flexible diepoxide of EEW 390-470 or a mixture of a high molecular weight polyamine of MW 2000-5000 and a low molecular weight polyamine of MW 230-450 with Terfenol particles and curing the mixture in the presence of a magnetic field.

Abstract: Heat sinks are provided that achieve very high convective heat transfer surface per unit volume. These heat sinks comprise a spreader plate, at least two fins and at least one porous reticulated foam block that fills the space between the fins.

Abstract: A resistor (having a resistance of Rs) is connected in series with an inductor whose inductance and/or resistance is desired to be determined. An alternating voltage (such as a sinusoidal voltage) is applied across the series-connected resistor and inductor, wherein the alternating voltage has a frequency ?, a unique maximum or minimum value Vm, an average value and a unique crossover of the average value. The voltage Vr is measured across the resistor when the alternating voltage is at its maximum or minimum value. The voltage Vl is measured across the resistor when the alternating voltage is at its average value. The resistance RL of the inductor is calculated from an equation in which RL is a function of Vm, Vr, Rs and Vl. The inductance L of the inductor is calculated from an equation in which L is a function of Vl, Rl, Rs, Vr and ?.

Abstract: A magnetic force sensor and method for measuring a force applied to an object. A magnetostrictive element mounted on at least a portion of the object is subjected to a prestress. A conductive coil is wound around at least a portion of the magnetostrictive element. An excitation source, which includes one of a current source and a voltage source, excites the conductive coil. A detection circuit detects one of an induced voltage across the conductive coil and a voltage drop across a resistor in series with the conductive coil. The detected voltage can be used to determine the applied force. A second coil can be used in a bipolar sensor or to correct for variations in ambient conditions.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for forming a heat sink laminate and a heat sink laminate formed by the method. In the method a particle mixture is formed from a metal, an alloy or mixtures thereof with a ceramic or mixture of ceramics. The mixture is kinetically sprayed onto a first side of a dielectric material to form a metal matrix composite layer. The second side of the dielectric material is thermally coupled to a heat sink baseplate, thereby forming the heat sink laminate.

Abstract: A resistor (having a resistance of Rs) is connected in series with an inductor whose inductance and/or resistance is desired to be determined. An alternating voltage (such as a sinusoidal voltage) is applied across the series-connected resistor and inductor, wherein the alternating voltage has a frequency &ohgr;, a unique maximum or minimum value Vm, an average value and a unique crossover of the average value. The voltage Vr is measured across the resistor when the alternating voltage is at its maximum or minimum value. The voltage Vl is measured across the resistor when the alternating voltage is at its average value. The resistance RL of the inductor is calculated from an equation in which RL is a function of Vm, Vr, Rs and Vl. The inductance L of the inductor is calculated from an equation in which L is a function of Vl, Rl, Rs, Vr and &ohgr;.

Abstract: A magnetostrictive composite having large magnetostriction by virtue of 2-50 vol. % magnetostrictive particles dispersed throughout a resin matrix formed from a thermosetting resin, an amine curing agent, fumed silica and a flexibilizing agent, wherein the magnetostrictive particles are aligned in the direction of their magnetic easy axes by the presence of a magnetic field prior to or during curing of the resin matrix. In an exemplary embodiment, an epoxy-Terfenol composite is formed by mixing an epoxy resin, fumed silica, a cycloaliphatic amine curing agent, and a flexibilizing agent that is a flexible diepoxide of EEW 390-470 or a mixture of a high molecular weight polyamine of MW 2000-5000 and a low molecular weight polyamine of MW 230-450 with Terfenol particles and curing the mixture in the presence of a magnetic field.

Abstract: A thermoelectric nanogranular material with an enhanced Seebeck coefficient is provided. The thermoelectric nanogranular material includes particles having a grain size d. The grain size d is characterized by the relationship mfp/2<d<5mfp, where mfp is the phonon-limited mean free path of an equivalent bulk thermoelectric material prior to processing the bulk thermoelectric material into the thermoelectric nanogranular material having a grain size d. A method of making a thermoelectric nanogranular material is also provided. The method includes preparing a bulk thermoelectric material, reducing the bulk thermoelectric material into a powder, and filtering the powder to retain only those particles having a grain size d. The method also includes pressing the retained particles at a predetermined pressure and sintering the pressed particles at a predetermined temperature for a predetermined period of time in a predetermined atmosphere.

Abstract: A magnetostrictive force sensor universally usable in any environment with similar signals unaffected by the surrounding material. To this end, a sensor comprising a shaft of magnetostrictive material with an inductance coil wound around the shaft is provided with a magnetic shell enclosing the coil only or both the coil and the shaft. Upon application of the magnetic field, the resultant flow of magnetic flux is confined to a path through the shaft and the magnetic shell. By confining the magnetic flux path, the dependency of the sensor signal on the surrounding material and environment is essentially eliminated.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for the aluminum metalization of ceramics using a kinetic spray system. The method is rapid, does not require any surface preparation of the ceramic substrate, and produces a coating having properties similar to bulk aluminum. The method permits aluminum coatings of from microns to centimeters in thickness. The method further more enables one to quickly apply copper or copper alloys to the aluminum metalization to provide for soldering pads to attach other components. The method finds special application in the area of high powered electronics.

Abstract: A thermoelectric material that exhibits enhanced thermoelectric power, and thus an improvement in the thermoelectric figure of merit. Bismuth, as elemental bismuth, a bismuth alloy, a bismuth intermetallic compound, a mixture of these, or any of these including a dopant, is embedded in the pores of a host material having an average pore size in the range of about 5-15 nm. A method of making a composite thermoelectric material is also provided in which a porous host material is provided having an average pore size of about 5-15 nm, and a vapor of a bismuth-based material is caused to flow into the pores from a vapor inlet side of the host material to a vapor outlet side. The host material is then cooled from the vapor outlet side to progressively condense the vapor in the holes in the direction from the outlet side to the inlet side to progressively form nanowires of the bismuth-based material in the pores.

Abstract: A class of thermoelectric compounds based on the skutterudite structure with heavy filling atoms in the empty octants and substituting transition metals and main-group atoms. High Seebeck coefficients and low thermal conductivities are achieved in combination with large electrical conductivities in these filled skutterudites for large ZT values. Substituting and filling methods are disclosed to synthesize skutterudite compositions with desired thermoelectric properties. A melting and/or sintering process in combination with powder metallurgy techniques is used to fabricate these new materials.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for forming a heat sink laminate and a heat sink laminate formed by the method. In the method a particle mixture is formed from a metal, an alloy or mixtures thereof with a ceramic or mixture of ceramics. The mixture is kinetically sprayed onto a first side of a dielectric material to form a metal matrix composite layer. The second side of the dielectric material is thermally coupled to a heat sink baseplate, thereby forming the heat sink laminate.

Abstract: A class of thermoelectric compounds based on the skutterudite structure with heavy filling atoms in the empty octants and substituting transition metals and main-group atoms. High Seebeck coefficients and low thermal conductivities are achieved in combination with large electrical conductivities in these filled skutterudites for large ZT values. Substituting and filling methods are disclosed to synthesize skutterudite compositions with desired thermoelectric properties. A melting and/or sintering process in combination with powder metallurgy techniques is used to fabricate these new materials.

Abstract: A thermoelectric material that exhibits enhanced thermoelectric power, and thus an improvement in the thermoelectric figure of merit. Bismuth, as elemental bismuth, a bismuth alloy, a bismuth intermetallic compound, a mixture of these, or any of these including a dopant, is embedded in the pores of a host material having an average pore size in the range of about 5-15 nm. A method of making a composite thermoelectric material is also provided in which a porous host material is provided having an average pore size of about 5-15 nm, and a vapor of a bismuth-based material is caused to flow into the pores from a vapor inlet side of the host material to a vapor outlet side. The host material is then cooled from the vapor outlet side to progressively condense the vapor in the holes in the direction from the outlet side to the inlet side to progressively form nanowires of the bismuth-based material in the pores.

Abstract: Heat sinks are provided that achieve very high convective heat transfer surface per unit volume. These heat sinks comprise a spreader plate, at least three fins and at least one porous reticulated foam block that fills the space between the fins.

Abstract: A class of thermoelectric compounds based on the skutterudite structure with heavy filling atoms in the empty octants and substituting transition metals and main-group atoms. High Seebeck coefficients and low thermal conductivities are achieved in combination with large electrical conductivities in these filled skutterudites for large ZT values. Substituting and filling methods are disclosed to synthesize skutterudite compositions with desired thermoelectric properties. A melting and/or sintering process in combination with powder metallurgy techniques is used to fabricate these new materials.

Abstract: Heat sinks are provided that achieve very high convective heat transfer surface per unit volume. These heat sinks comprise a spreader plate, at least two fins and at least one porous reticulated foam block that fills the space between the fins.

Abstract: A class of thermoelectric compounds based on the skutterudite structure with heavy filling atoms in the empty octants and substituting transition metals and main-group atoms. High Seebeck coefficients and low thermal conductivities are achieved in combination with large electrical conductivities in these filled skutterudites for large ZT values. Substituting and filling methods are disclosed to synthesize skutterudite compositions with desired thermoelectric properties. A melting and/or sintering process in combination with powder metallurgy techniques is used to fabricate these new materials.

Abstract: A magnetoresistive sensor that includes a very thin film of monocrystalline semiconductive material, having at least a moderate carrier mobility and no greater than a moderate carrier density. The device includes means for inducing or enhancing an accumulation layer adjacent the film outer surface. With film thicknesses below 5 micrometers, preferably below 3 micrometers, the presence of the accumulation layer can have a very noticeable effect. The unexpected improvement provides a significant apparent increase in mobility and conductivity of the semiconductive material, and an actual increase in magnetic sensitivity and temperature insensitivity. A method for making the sensor is also described.