Abstract: Provided herein are an optical test platform and corresponding method of manufacturing the same. The test platform may include a shell defining a cavity for receiving a sample tube, a first aperture, and a second aperture. The first aperture and the second aperture of the shell may each be configured to optically couple the cavity with an exterior of the shell. The test platform may further include a first window and a second window embedded in the shell. The first window may seal a first aperture and the second window may seal a second aperture. The first window and second window may each permit the optical coupling of the cavity with the exterior of the shell. The first window and the second window may be optically coupled via the cavity, and the shell may prohibit optical coupling between the first window and the second window through the shell.

Abstract: A gas barrier material includes an atomic sheet, such as graphene and/or an analog of graphene. The gas barrier material can be arranged as part of a component, such as a container or other vessel, to limit the flow or permeation of gas through the component. Where the component is a container or part of a container, the gas barrier material may be formulated and arranged to limit or prevent gas ingress or egress with respect to the internal volume of the container. The atomic sheet offers improved gas barrier properties compared to traditional polymeric barrier materials and is particularly useful in applications where it is desired to limit permeation of small gas molecules such as helium, such as airships or other lighter than air vehicles.

Abstract: Various systems and methods relating to two-dimensional materials such as graphene. A membrane include a cross-linked graphene platelet polymer that includes a plurality of cross-linked graphene platelets. The cross-linked graphene platelets include a graphene portion and a cross-linking portion. The cross-linking portion contains a 4 to 10 atom link. The cross-linked graphene platelet polymer is produced by reaction of an epoxide functionalized graphene platelet and a (meth)acrylate or (meth)acrylamide functionalized cross-linker.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a foam layer, a coating layer and an elastomer. The foam layer includes a first surface for coupling the apparatus to a surface exposed to weather, a second surface opposite the first surface, and a plurality of pores within the foam layer. The coating layer is deposited on the second surface of the foam layer. The elastomer is deposited within the plurality of pores within the foam layer.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a foam layer, a coating layer and an elastomer. The foam layer includes a first surface for coupling the apparatus to a surface exposed to weather, a second surface opposite the first surface, and a plurality of pores within the foam layer. The coating layer is deposited on the second surface of the foam layer. The elastomer is deposited within the plurality of pores within the foam layer.

Abstract: A method includes determining a target acoustic profile based on acoustic conditions at an exterior surface exposed to weather. The method further includes determining a plurality of foam layer characteristics based on the target acoustic profile. The method further includes determining one or more of elastomer characteristics based on the target acoustic profile and the plurality of foam layer characteristics. The method further includes providing a foam layer comprising the plurality of foam layer characteristics. The method further includes depositing an elastomer into the provided foam layer according to the one or more elastomer characteristics. The method further includes coupling the foam layer comprising the deposited elastomer onto the exterior surface exposed to weather. The foam layer including the deposited elastomer absorbs acoustic energy corresponding to the target acoustic profile.

Abstract: Systems and methods of reducing drag on outer surfaces of vehicles that are in contact with water using a polymer solution that reduces the drag on the outer surfaces of the vehicles as the vehicles travel through water. A polymer solution is passively ejected into the boundary layer of the water flowing past the outer surface of the vehicle. The polymer solution is mixed and introduced into the boundary layer passively with minimal or no usage of electrical energy. The passive mixing and ejection of the polymer solution minimizes energy consumption, thereby maximizing electrical energy consumption efficiency during operation of the vehicle.

Abstract: Provided herein are cross-linked graphene platelet polymers, compositions thereof, filtration devices comprising the cross-linked graphene platelet polymers and/or compositions thereof and method is using and making the same.

Abstract: A gas barrier material includes an atomic sheet, such as graphene and/or an analog of graphene. The gas barrier material can be arranged as part of a component, such as a container or other vessel, to limit the flow or permeation of gas through the component. Where the component is a container or part of a container, the gas barrier material may be formulated and arranged to limit or prevent gas ingress or egress with respect to the internal volume of the container. The atomic sheet offers improved gas barrier properties compared to traditional polymeric barrier materials and is particularly useful in applications where it is desired to limit permeation of small gas molecules such as helium, such as airships or other lighter than air vehicles.

Abstract: A gas barrier material includes an atomic sheet, such as graphene and/or an analog of graphene. The gas barrier material can be arranged as part of a component, such as a container or other vessel, to limit the flow or permeation of gas through the component. Where the component is a container or part of a container, the gas barrier material may be formulated and arranged to limit or prevent gas ingress or egress with respect to the internal volume of the container. The atomic sheet offers improved gas barrier properties compared to traditional polymeric barrier materials and is particularly useful in applications where it is desired to limit permeation of small gas molecules such as helium, such as airships or other lighter than air vehicles.

Abstract: Systems and methods of reducing drag on outer surfaces of vehicles that are in contact with water using a polymer solution that reduces the drag on the outer surfaces of the vehicles as the vehicles travel through water. A polymer solution is passively ejected into the boundary layer of the water flowing past the outer surface of the vehicle. The polymer solution is mixed and introduced into the boundary layer passively with minimal or no usage of electrical energy. The passive mixing and ejection of the polymer solution minimizes energy consumption, thereby maximizing electrical energy consumption efficiency during operation of the vehicle.

Abstract: Large area graphene (LAG) sheets can be embedded in a polymer-based material as a mechanical reinforcement or to otherwise enhance the properties of the polymer-based material. The LAG sheets can be nanoperforated and/or functionalized to enhance interaction between the graphene and the polymer. Reactive functional groups can facilitate formation of covalent bonds between the graphene and the polymer so that the LAG sheets become an integral part of the cross-linked structure in curable polymer-based materials. Nanoperforations in the LAG sheets provide useful sites for the functional groups and can allow cross-links to form through the nanoperforations.

Abstract: Various systems and methods relating to two-dimensional materials such as graphene. A membrane include a cross-linked graphene platelet polymer that includes a plurality of cross-linked graphene platelets. The cross-linked graphene platelets include a graphene portion and a cross-linking portion. The cross-linking portion contains a 4 to 10 atom link. The cross-linked graphene platelet polymer is produced by reaction of an epoxide functionalized graphene platelet and a (meth)acrylate or (meth)acrylamide functionalized cross-linker.

Abstract: A gas barrier material includes an atomic sheet, such as graphene and/or an analog of graphene. The gas barrier material can be arranged as part of a component, such as a container or other vessel, to limit the flow or permeation of gas through the component. Where the component is a container or part of a container, the gas barrier material may be formulated and arranged to limit or prevent gas ingress or egress with respect to the internal volume of the container. The atomic sheet offers improved gas barrier properties compared to traditional polymeric barrier materials and is particularly useful in applications where it is desired to limit permeation of small gas molecules such as helium, such as airships or other lighter than air vehicles.

Abstract: Large area graphene (LAG) sheets can be embedded in a polymer-based material as a mechanical reinforcement or to otherwise enhance the properties of the polymer-based material. The LAG sheets can be nanoperforated and/or functionalized to enhance interaction between the graphene and the polymer. Reactive functional groups can facilitate formation of covalent bonds between the graphene and the polymer so that the LAG sheets become an integral part of the cross-linked structure in curable polymer-based materials. Nanoperforations in the LAG sheets provide useful sites for the functional groups and can allow cross-links to form through the nanoperforations.

Abstract: Method for coating a non-oxidised stainless steel support plate and a MCFC fuel cell stack provided with a separator plate coated in this way. First a diffusion barrier layer and then a nickel layer are applied to the anode side of the support plate. The diffusion barrier layer consists of titanium oxide and the adhesion between titanium oxide and the support plate can be improved by providing an adhesion layer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a drive mechanism (2) for transporting a tow (4) at constant speed between feed and receive reels (5, 6), an interlayer tape (7) being interleaved on both reels (5,6) between successive windings of the tow. According to the invention, said tape is drivingly coupled between the two reels (5,6) to a drive wheel (9) and each reel is further drivingly coupled to the drive wheel (9) via a slip mechanism (18, 19). Preferred application: driving fibres through a CVD chamber.

Abstract: The invention discloses a long carbon fibre reinforced ceramic matrix composite in which the matrix is an engineering ceramic, characterized in that the engineering ceramic comprises Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 and Y.sub.2 O.sub.3 as highly refractory sinter additives, the composite has a high density of at least 95% theoretical, a high fibre content of at least 30% by volume, and that substantially all the fibres are uniformly distributed within the matrix with a uniform inter-fibre spacing of 10-15 micrometer. The invention also discloses a process for preparing such a composite, characterized in that unidirectionally wound fibre tapes are cut into sections, the sections are infiltrated by the matrix material in the form of a slurry of the ceramic itself or as a precursor material, the infiltrated fibre tape sections are successively stacked and pressed wet to achieve intermeshing of the tape sections, compacted, dried and hot pressed.