Abstract: A superhydrophobic and self-cleaning surface including a substrate and a superhydrophobic layer. The superhydrophobic layer having a reacted form of octadecyltrichlorosilane. The octadecyltrichlorosilane is disposed on and crosslinked to a surface of the substrate via surface hydroxyl groups. The surface exhibits a rms roughness of 40 nm to 60 nm, a water contact angle of 155° to 180°, and a contact angle hysteresis of less than 15°. A method of preparing the substrate with a superhydrophobic and self-cleaning surface including treating a substrate with a plasma treatment, contacting the substrate with water or an alcohol to form an hydroxylated substrate, contacting the hydroxylated substrate with a solution of octadecyltrichlorosilane in an alkane solvent at a concentration in the range of 0.05 M to 0.3 M, and drying the solution on to the substrate under ambient air to form the superhydrophobic and self-cleaning surface on the substrate.

Abstract: A superhydrophobic and self-cleaning surface including a substrate and a superhydrophobic layer. The superhydrophobic layer having a reacted form of octadecyltrichlorosilane. The octadecyltrichlorosilane is disposed on and crosslinked to a surface of the substrate via surface hydroxyl groups. The surface exhibits a rms roughness of 40 nm to 60 nm, a water contact angle of 155° to 180°, and a contact angle hysteresis of less than 15°. A method of preparing the substrate with a superhydrophobic and self-cleaning surface including treating a substrate with a plasma treatment, contacting the substrate with water or an alcohol to form an hydroxylated substrate, contacting the hydroxylated substrate with a solution of octadecyltrichlorosilane in an alkane solvent at a concentration in the range of 0.05 M to 0.3 M, and drying the solution on to the substrate under ambient air to form the superhydrophobic and self-cleaning surface on the substrate.

Abstract: A superhydrophobic and self-cleaning surface including a substrate and a superhydrophobic layer. The superhydrophobic layer having a reacted form of octadecyltrichlorosilane. The octadecyltrichlorosilane is disposed on and crosslinked to a surface of the substrate via surface hydroxyl groups. The surface exhibits a rms roughness of 40 nm to 60 nm, a water contact angle of 155° to 180°, and a contact angle hysteresis of less than 15°. A method of preparing the substrate with a superhydrophobic and self-cleaning surface including treating a substrate with a plasma treatment, contacting the substrate with water or an alcohol to form an hydroxylated substrate, contacting the hydroxylated substrate with a solution of octadecyltrichlorosilane in an alkane solvent at a concentration in the range of 0.05 M to 0.3 M, and drying the solution on to the substrate under ambient air to form the superhydrophobic and self-cleaning surface on the substrate.

Abstract: A superhydrophobic and self-cleaning surface including a substrate and a superhydrophobic layer. The superhydrophobic layer having a reacted form of octadecyltrichlorosilane. The octadecyltrichlorosilane is disposed on and crosslinked to a surface of the substrate via surface hydroxyl groups. The surface exhibits a rms roughness of 40 nm to 60 nm, a water contact angle of 155° to 180°, and a contact angle hysteresis of less than 15°. A method of preparing the substrate with a superhydrophobic and self-cleaning surface including treating a substrate with a plasma treatment, contacting the substrate with water or an alcohol to form an hydroxylated substrate, contacting the hydroxylated substrate with a solution of octadecyltrichlorosilane in an alkane solvent at a concentration in the range of 0.05 M to 0.3 M, and drying the solution on to the substrate under ambient air to form the superhydrophobic and self-cleaning surface on the substrate.

Abstract: A friction stir welding tool comprising a composite of a tungsten-rhenium alloy and hafnium carbide particles, wherein a crystallite size of the tungsten-rhenium alloy is no more than 100 nm, wherein the hafnium carbide particles are dispersed within the tungsten-rhenium alloy, a method of fabricating the friction stir welding tool, and a method of friction stir welding a metal joint using the tool. Various embodiments of the friction stir welding tool, the method of fabricating the tool, and the method of friction stir welding using the tool are provided.

Abstract: A superhydrophobic and self-cleaning surface including a substrate and a superhydrophobic layer. The superhydrophobic layer having a reacted form of octadecyltrichlorosilane. The octadecyltrichlorosilane is disposed on and crosslinked to a surface of the substrate via surface hydroxyl groups. The surface exhibits a rms roughness of 40 nm to 60 nm, a water contact angle of 155° to 180°, and a contact angle hysteresis of less than 15°. A method of preparing the substrate with a superhydrophobic and self-cleaning surface including treating a substrate with a plasma treatment, contacting the substrate with water or an alcohol to form an hydroxylated substrate, contacting the hydroxylated substrate with a solution of octadecyltrichlorosilane in an alkane solvent at a concentration in the range of 0.05 M to 0.3 M, and drying the solution on to the substrate under ambient air to form the superhydrophobic and self-cleaning surface on the substrate.

Abstract: A friction stir welding tool comprising a composite of a tungsten-rhenium alloy and hafnium carbide particles, wherein a crystallite size of the tungsten-rhenium alloy is no more than 100 nm, wherein the hafnium carbide particles are dispersed within the tungsten-rhenium alloy, a method of fabricating the friction stir welding tool, and a method of friction stir welding a metal joint using the tool. Various embodiments of the friction stir welding tool, the method of fabricating the tool, and the method of friction stir welding using the tool are provided.

Abstract: A friction stir welding tool comprising a composite of a tungsten-rhenium alloy and hafnium carbide particles, wherein a crystallite size of the tungsten-rhenium alloy is no more than 100 nm, wherein the hafnium carbide particles are dispersed within the tungsten-rhenium alloy, a method of fabricating the friction stir welding tool, and a method of friction stir welding a metal joint using the tool. Various embodiments of the friction stir welding tool, the method of fabricating the tool, and the method of friction stir welding using the tool are provided.

Abstract: A friction stir welding tool comprising a composite of a tungsten-rhenium alloy and hafnium carbide particles, wherein a crystallite size of the tungsten-rhenium alloy is no more than 100 nm, wherein the hafnium carbide particles are dispersed within the tungsten-rhenium alloy, a method of fabricating the friction stir welding tool, and a method of friction stir welding a metal joint using the tool. Various embodiments of the friction stir welding tool, the method of fabricating the tool, and the method of friction stir welding using the tool are provided.

Abstract: A friction stir welding tool comprising a composite of a tungsten-rhenium alloy and hafnium carbide particles, wherein a crystallite size of the tungsten-rhenium alloy is no more than 100 nm, wherein the hafnium carbide particles are dispersed within the tungsten-rhenium alloy, a method of fabricating the friction stir welding tool, and a method of friction stir welding a metal joint using the tool. Various embodiments of the friction stir welding tool, the method of fabricating the tool, and the method of friction stir welding using the tool are provided.

Abstract: A friction stir welding tool comprising a composite of a tungsten-rhenium alloy and hafnium carbide particles, wherein a crystallite size of the tungsten-rhenium alloy is no more than 100 nm, wherein the hafnium carbide particles are dispersed within the tungsten-rhenium alloy, a method of fabricating the friction stir welding tool, and a method of friction stir welding a metal joint using the tool. Various embodiments of the friction stir welding tool, the method of fabricating the tool, and the method of friction stir welding using the tool are provided.

Abstract: A friction stir welding tool comprising a composite of a tungsten-rhenium alloy and hafnium carbide particles, wherein a crystallite size of the tungsten-rhenium alloy is no more than 100 nm, wherein the hafnium carbide particles are dispersed within the tungsten-rhenium alloy, a method of fabricating the friction stir welding tool, and a method of friction stir welding a metal joint using the tool. Various embodiments of the friction stir welding tool, the method of fabricating the tool, and the method of friction stir welding using the tool are provided.

Abstract: A superhydrophobic and self-cleaning surface including a substrate and a superhydrophobic layer. The superhydrophobic layer having a reacted form of octadecyltrichlorosilane. The octadecyltrichlorosilane is disposed on and crosslinked to a surface of the substrate via surface hydroxyl groups. The surface exhibits a rms roughness of 40 nm to 60 nm, a water contact angle of 155° to 180°, and a contact angle hysteresis of less than 15°. A method of preparing the substrate with a superhydrophobic and self-cleaning surface including treating a substrate with a plasma treatment, contacting the substrate with water or an alcohol to form an hydroxylated substrate, contacting the hydroxylated substrate with a solution of octadecyltrichlorosilane in an alkane solvent at a concentration in the range of 0.05 M to 0.3 M, and drying the solution on to the substrate under ambient air to form the superhydrophobic and self-cleaning surface on the substrate.

Abstract: A wheelchair suspension system which includes two springs with at least one damper and a central movable component that attaches to a wheel on a wheelchair. The damper is positioned in the center of at least one of the two springs and resists sudden force acting against the wheelchair with the two springs, the central movable component moves either in an upward or downward direction when there is force acting on it from both the springs and damper or by the uneven terrain. The wheelchair suspension apparatus will create greater stability for the entire wheelchair and increase the comfort of the user.

Abstract: The method for the preparation of epoxy-clay nanocomposites uses high shear mixing of Nanomer I.30 E nanoclay into the diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) epoxy by optimization of high shear mixing speeds, mixing times and degassing temperature. The results showed that the optimum high shear mixing speed and mixing time for optimal clay dispersion were 6000 rpm and 60 min, respectively. Increasing the degassing temperature from 65° C. to 100° C. for the first two hours of the degassing process enhanced nanoclay dispersion, resulting in nanocomposites with a morphology dominated by disorder intercalation with some exfoliated structure. This enhancement in nanocomposite morphology can be attributed to the improvement in epoxy diffusion into the intergallery spacing between clay layers due to temperature rise.

Abstract: The method for the preparation of epoxy-clay nanocomposites uses high shear mixing of Nanomer 1.30 E nanoclay into the diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) epoxy by optimization of high shear mixing speeds, mixing times and degassing temperature. The results showed that the optimum high shear mixing speed and mixing time for optimal clay dispersion were 6000 rpm and 60 min, respectively. Increasing the degassing temperature from 65° C. to 100° C. for the first two hours of the degassing process enhanced nanoclay dispersion, resulting in nanocomposites with a morphology dominated by disorder intercalation with some exfoliated structure. This enhancement in nanocomposite morphology can be attributed to the improvement in epoxy diffusion into the intergallery spacing between clay layers due to temperature rise.