Abstract: In at least certain embodiments, the present invention provides a diffusion media and fuel cells and systems employing the diffusion media. In at least one embodiment, the diffusion media comprises a porous matrix having an outer surface and a hydrophilic polymeric coating on at least a portion of the porous matrix with the hydrophilic coating comprising the cured product of a formulation comprising a hydrophilic monomer.

Abstract: A vehicle having a chassis with a body and a drive train disposed on the chassis is disclosed. The drive train includes a metal housing having a void and a damping element disposed within the void. Also disclosed is a controller for damping vehicle noise that includes a processing circuit for executing instructions for: receiving a signal representative of a sensed vibration at a metal housing of the vehicle; in response to the sensed vibration, generating a control signal to activate a camping element disposed at a void within the metal housing; and causing the damping element to change in such a manner as to change the damping characteristics at the void of the metal housing.

Abstract: A metallic nanowire having an aspect ratio of at least 100 and a diameter less than 200 nanometers composed of at least one of bismuth, indium, tin, lead, zinc, antimony and alloys of the same and a method of making the same from a thin film composite.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of making a coated substrate, especially a diamond coated substrate. In one embodiment, the method includes depositing an interlayer on a substrate to create an interlayer surface, peening the interlayer surface with a peening compound to create a peened interlayer surface, and depositing a coating on the peened interlayer surface to create a coated substrate wherein the peening compound comprises particles of the coating. Also provided is a method of drilling a nonferrous substrate such as aluminum with no more than minimum lubricants. The method includes providing a diamond coated drill produced by the foregoing method, and moving the drill against a nonferrous substrate under sufficient force such that the drill cuts and removes a portion of the substrate, wherein the moving of the drill against the substrate occurs under minimum lubrication conditions.

Abstract: A method of surface treating heat treated members to remove oxide scale. The heat treated members are subjected to a staged series of discrete chemical and physical cleaning steps yielding a substantially scale-free surface readily adaptable for subsequent application of protective coatings.

Abstract: A surface of an article is heated and subjected to pressure by operation of a friction stir tool. The pressure of the face of the tool on the article surface, and the speed of rotation of the tool and of its progression along the surface of the article, are controlled to progressively hot-work a specified surface area. The face of the tool may be round and have a profiled, axially extending, smaller diameter pin for higher concentration of frictional heat and load and for plasticizing a surface layer of the workpiece. Such hot work may be applied for reducing surface porosity or for producing another change in the surface microstructure, or for effecting another change in surface material properties.

Abstract: A self-healing tribological surface comprises a shape memory material. The self-healing tribological surface can be used for recovering a scratches and/or indentations in the surface. Processes for recovering scratches or indentations generally comprises forming a shape memory material onto the surface; scratching or indenting the surface; and heating an area about the scratch or indentation, wherein a depth of the scratch or the indentation decreases after heating as compared to the depth prior to heating.

Abstract: A bipolar plate having hydrophilic surfaces is disclosed. The bipolar plate includes multiple surfaces including channels having channel surfaces. A hydrophilic coating is provided on the surfaces to enhance the water management capabilties of a fuel cell.

Abstract: A method of enhancing water management capabilities of a fuel cell is disclosed. The method includes providing a fuel cell component having hydrophilic or weakly hydrophobic surfaces, increasing a hydrophobicity of at least one of said hydrophilic surfaces and assembling the fuel cell component into the fuel cell.

Abstract: A material and method for adhering at least two materials that includes the step of interposing at least one intermediate layer between the two materials and associated adhesion material. The materials to be adhered exhibit at least one characteristic dissimilarity and the intermediate material interposed contains at least one shape memory alloy, the shape memory alloy capable of exhibiting superelasticity.

Abstract: A magnetorheological fluid composition comprising a carrier fluid; and a plurality of high aspect ratio magnetizable particles, wherein the aspect ratio of the high aspect ratio magnetizable particles is greater than 1.5. Optionally, the high aspect ratio magnetizable particles can have interlocking structures comprising male component and a female component. Still further, a magnetorheological fluid composition can comprise low aspect ratio magnetizable particles having the interlocking structures, wherein the aspect ratio of the low aspect ratio magnetizable particles is 1 to 1.5.

Abstract: A magnetorheological fluid composition comprising a low aspect ratio magnetizable particle comprising a unimodal particle distribution and an aspect ratio less than 1.5, a high aspect ratio magnetizable particle comprising an aspect ratio greater than 1.5, and a carrier fluid.

Abstract: Additions of small but effective amounts of one or more of bismuth, indium, lead and/or tin to an aluminum casting alloy markedly improved the dry machinability of a casting made from the modified alloy. The added elements, which are softer and lower melting than the matrix alloy form as small globules in the microstructure of the aluminum casting. These globules do not adversely affect the strength or hardness of the casting but enable surfaces of the casting to be machined without the use of a cooling and lubricating machining fluid.

Abstract: Various embodiments of roller hemming apparatus and methods are disclosed including one wherein multiple rollers are carried on a single mount to hem a flange in a single pass, another including induction heating and air quenching means movable with a roller to anneal the flange just prior to hem forming, and another in which friction from a rotatably driven roller heats the flange to reduce bending stresses during hemming of the flange.

Abstract: A metallic nanowire having an aspect ratio of at least 100 and a diameter less than 200 nanometers composed of at least one of bismuth, indium, tin, lead, zinc, antimony and alloys of the same and a method of making the same from a thin film composite.

Abstract: A belt for a continuously variable transmission (CVT) includes at least one continuous band supported against a contact face in a slot formed in each of a plurality of transverse elements of the CVT. The band has a surface positioned against the contact face. This surface is coated with chromium nitride by physical vapor deposition to reduce wear.

Abstract: An electrically conductive fluid distribution element for a fuel cell which comprises an electrically conductive substrate, a flow field for distributing fluid along a surface of the substrate, and an electrically conductive coating on the surface which comprises a noble metal, desirably Ru, Rh, Pd, Ag, Ir, Pt, Os, and preferably Au.

Abstract: A material and method for adhering at least two materials that includes the step of interposing at least one intermediate layer between the two materials and associated adhesion material. The materials to be adhered exhibit at least one characteristic dissimilarity and the intermediate material interposed contains at least one shape memory alloy, the shape memory alloy capable of exhibiting superelasticity.

Abstract: An electrically conductive fluid distribution element for a fuel cell which comprises an electrically conductive substrate, a flow field for distributing fluid along a surface of the substrate, and an electrically conductive coating on the surface which comprises a noble metal, desirably Ru, Rh, Pd, Ag, Ir, Pt, Os, and preferably Au.

Abstract: A material and method for adhering at least two materials that includes the step of interposing at least one intermediate layer between the two materials and associated adhesion material. The materials to be adhered exhibit at least one characteristic dissimilarity and the intermediate material interposed contains at least one shape memory alloy, the shape memory alloy capable of exhibiting -superelasticity.