Nick Bierwisch studied Computer Science from 1998-2003 in Leipzig. In 2006, he started working in the field of Contact Mechanics and he was a self-employee in 2008. Most of his work in the field of Contact Mechanics was done at Saxonian Institute of Surface Mechanics.

Nowadays the used materials or material combinations in all application fields (e.g. optical, avionic, fun sports or automotive industry) are getting more and more complex. These complex structures are needed in order to increase the performance and lifetime of the components. Such improvements of each part of your complex device, tool or structural element are necessary to reach the performance goals demanded by the desired application. This increased complexity demands extended analysis and optimization methods. Engineering knowledge and rules of thumb aren't enough anymore. Proper characterization and optimization of such structures requires invertible mathematical tools of sufficient holistic character. SIO developed analytical models which dramatically speed up the simulation of complex contact situations compared to FEM systems. One big field in which these models could be used is the lifetime prediction for such complex devices. SIO created complex wear laws which can use more than one wear parameter and take the complete stress field into account. With such more complex laws, it's possible to reproduce the tribological measurements more accurately and so they could be used for a much more accurate lifetime prediction. Using such models can save a lot of testing time and money. Another extension of this concept is the introduction of quantum theoretical tools in order to better observe and control the total uncertainty of the model with respect to experiment, life time prediction and optimization.

Ezer Castillo is an under-graduate Chemistry student at Adelphi University, NY (USA). He currently works as a Research Assistant in Dr. Widera-Kalinowska’s laboratory and also spent the summer conducting research at University of Warsaw, Poland through the McDonnel Research Fellowship, developing polymer hydrogels for sensor application in collaboration with Dr. Barbara Pałys.

Hydrogels are materials easily swollen by water, producing three-dimensional cross-linked structures with large surface area. Hydrogels contain interstitial spaces, permitting transport of small molecules. Conductive polymers hydrogels are highly preferable due to their mechanical and swelling properties, additional to specific electron transport properties of simple conductive polymers. Hydrogels of polyaniline (PANI), polyindole (PIN) and poly (indole-5-carboxylic acid) (PIN5COOH) were chemically synthesized with poly styrene sulfonate at pH=5. Infrared spectroscopy (IR) was employed to characterize the synthesized hydrogels. Spectra of the gels revealed intense bands from water and poly styrene sulfonate. Further characterization was carried out using Raman spectroscopy at 455, 633 and 1064 nm excitation lines. The spectra of the PANI gel revealed bands corresponding to its conductive and bipolaronic forms. The spectra obtained for PIN gel showed bands characterizing hetero aromatic rings and C=N bond modes which are in agreement with its structure. Spectra of the PIN5COOH gel exhibited bands indicating carboxylic acid groups, in addition to bands seen in the PIN gel spectra. Raman spectra of electrochemically deposited films of the polymers were also obtained, confirming the bands that were observed in the gel spectra. Cyclic voltammograms of the gels validated the redox properties of all three conductive polymers gels. Morphological studies were performed using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), suggesting the formation of small polymer spheres bound to each other. Conductive polymer hydrogels add high conductivity and sensitivity, contributing to sensor design possibilities. Preliminary application of PANI gel as substrate for tyrosinase was done for electrochemical detection of catechol. The sensitivity of the PANI gel-based biosensor (1080 μA M-1) was much greater when compared to the biosensor based on PANI film (103 μA M-1). Catechol detection was also performed using PANI gel in conjunction with gold nanoparticles, which increased the electrode’s sensitivity to 2370 μA M-1.

Mohammed H Alhamdo is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering departmen in College of Engineering - AlMustansirya University, Baghdad, Iraq. He is working in AlMustansirya University from past 21 years. As a Professor credits him with many publications in national and international journals. He is committed to highest standards of excellence and it proves through his authorship of many reserach papaers.

Power generation by using concentrated solar thermal energy on liquid enclosures is one of the most promising renewable energy technologies. In this work, a developed liquid enclosure fitted with various number and configurations of horizontal metal rings have been analyzed, fabricated and tested. The influence of adding metal rings arrangement is investigated for its potential to enhance radial heat conduction to the center-line of the enclosure from the side-walls. Experiments were carried out for fluid in both static and dynamic modes of operation inside the enclosure that subjected to high heat flux. A developed two-dimensional CFD model to predict the transient flow and thermal fields within liquid enclosure subjected to heat flux has been developed and tested. The developed numerical model takes into consideration energy transport between the liquid inside enclosure and the solid material of the enclosure. The numerical simulations have been compared with experimental measurement. The computational code has been found in a good level of agreement with the experimental data except for liquid at the peak part of the enclosure. The results indicate that adding metal rings produce significant impact on the transient temperature difference inside enclosure during both static and dynamic modes. The six-ring model is found to be more effective for enhancing radial heat transfer than other three models that have been tested. The in-line arrangement is found to provide better thermal effect as compared to the staggered rings. Two new correlations for natural heat transfer inside liquid enclosures subjected to high heat flux have been formulated (one for no-ring model and the other for six-ring model). The natural Nusselt number is found to be around a constant value for Rayleigh number less than (5x108). The recommended use of metal rings inside liquid enclosures subjected to heat flux, and the predicted Nusselt number correlation, will add to local knowledge a significant mean to gain more heat in large scale concentrated solar power plants.

Qasim Saleh Mahdi is a staff member in Mechanical Engineering department at Al-Mustansirya University in Baghdad. His field of interest is Mechanical Engineering (Thermal Power and Energy). He taught the under-graduate and post-graduate students in the faculty of engineering for more than 30 years. He has many consulting businesses in the field of Air Conditioning and Refrigeration.

In the present paper, an experimental investigation was carried out for the thermal behavior of heated natural composite material plates; (polyester resin mixed with seed dates, or egg shells, or and feathers) with different volume fraction (10%, 20% and 30%). Natural composite materials are heated with different heat flux (1078 W/m2, 928 W/m2, 750 W/m2, 608 W/m2 and 457 W/m2). Experimental test rig is used to measure the temperature distribution upper surface of composite materials. Also the thermal properties (thermal conductivity, specific heat, and thermal diffusivity) of natural composite materials are studied. The results show that the maximum value of temperature occurs at the mid-point of the all types of natural composite material plate when the volume fraction is equal to 30% and the heat flux equal to 1078 W/m2. Results show that the thermal conductivity for seed dates composite material, the specific heat for feathers composite material and the thermal diffusivity for seed dates composite material are higher value when the volume fraction equal to 30%.

Suleman Ramzan is pursuing his PhD in Advanced Drug Delivery Group (specializing in EHDA systems) and his expertise is in Nanotechnology. He completed his BSc Honors in Pharmaceutical and Cosmetic Sciences at De Montfort University

Antibiotics are key pharmaceuticals, which have significantly improved the health and wellbeing of the mass population globally. Drug development in this area has led to significant reduction of numerous infectious diseases including tuberculosis (TB). In recent years, bacterial resistance to antibiotics has led to the need to develop novel strategies to target and kill these microbes, and the production of antibiotic degrading enzymes is the most common form of antibiotic resistance (ABR). A reason for this is due to the overuse and misuse of antibiotics in the USA in the last year alone; 160 million antibiotic prescriptions were supplied. Many novel methods and strategies have been developed to kill bacteria; one such technique involves the use of nanoparticles. The advantages of nano-based systems are enhanced bioavailability and better target-specificity. Furthermore, the combination of nanoparticles (NPs) alongside established antibiotics makes them more lethal for microorganisms. Therefore, there is a need to develop novel strategies, which combine two or more proven anti-bacterial methods, while at the same time dosage form safety is maintained. In this work several types of metallic NP`s were synthesized (gold and silver, using method) and characterized (SEM, TEM, XRD and UV). The NPs were then co-delivered in a PLGA polymer particle system (size ~nm). This was achieved using the electrohydrodynamic atomization (EHDA) process making use of acetone and di chloromethane as base carrier solvents (flow rates=5-50 μL min-1, applied voltage=0-30 kV, nozzle diameter=500 μm). Additional formulations were used to prepare similar particle systems using amoxicillin (5 w/w% of PLGA carrier). The findings indicate an ambient temperature process to engineer multi-functional composite systems in a single step with the active intact. Particle size was easily varied using process parameters (flow rate and applied voltage) providing options to control drug and NP loading in PLGA matrix systems.

Fatimah Edhaim is pursuing her PhD at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology. She completed her Master’s Degree. In laboratory, she synthesizes new porous materials which have promising applications in gas and hydrocarbon separation. She participated in a number of international conferences where her work was selected for oral and poster presentations and where she received very good feedback from colleagues. At present, she is publishing her papers with results for at least three research articles. She is an expert user of many analytical techniques including XRD, XRF, SEM, EDX, TGA, TDA, ICP, CPD, FTIR, UV and physical adsorption instrumentation.

The synthesis and characterization of the rare earth chalcogenide aerogels NaYSnS4, NaGdSnS4 and NaTbSnS4 is reported. Rare earth metal ions like Y3+, Gd3+ and Tb3+ react with the chalcogenide clusters [SnS4]4- in aqueous formamide solution forming extended polymeric networks by gelation. Aerogels obtained after supercritical drying have BET surface areas of 649 m2/g (NaYSnS4), 479 m2/g (NaGdSnS4) and 354 m2/g (NaTbSnS4). Electron microscopy and physisorption studies revealed that the new materials have pores in the macro (above 50 nm), meso (2-50 nm) and micro (below 2 nm) regions. These aerogels show higher adsorption of toluene vapor over cyclohexane vapor and CO2 over CH4 or H2. The notable adsorption capacity for toluene (NaYSnS4: 6.90 mmol/g), (NaGdSnS4: 12.36 mmol/g) and (NaTbSnS4: 9.76 mmol/g) and high selectivity for gases NaYSnS4 (CO2/H2: 155 and CO2/CH4: 37), NaGdSnS4 (CO2/H2: 172 and CO2/CH4: 50) and NaTbSnS4 (CO2/H2: 75 and CO2/CH4: 28) indicate potential future use of chalcogels in absorption-based gas or hydrocarbon separation processes. Characterization and properties of the NaYSnS4 gel. (a) Nitrogen isotherm, (b) Pore–size distribution plot calculated by the BJH method from the adsorption isotherm, (c) Adsorption-desorption isotherms of toluene and cyclohexane observed at room temperature in (a) NaYSnS4, (d) Selectivity of CO2 over H2 and CO2 over CH4 in NaYSnS4.

Arnaud Caron is a Material Scientist with expertise in “The multi-scale mechanical behavior of materials, surfaces and micro-components”. He has been an Assistant Professor at School of Energy, Materials and Chemical Engineering, KoreaTech, Republic of Korea since 2015. He completed his Engineering Degree in Materials Science in 2004 at University of Saarland, Germany. In 2009, he completed his Doctoral Degree in Materials Science at University of Saarland, Germany. From 2006 to 2015, he worked as a Research Associate at Institute of Micro- and Nano Materials, University of Ulm, Germany; WPI-Advanced Institute of Materials Research, Japan and; Leibniz-Institute for New Materials, Germany.

In this work, we report on the nanotribological properties of three fcc metals (Ag, Cu, and Ni). Both friction and wear were measured by atomic force microscopy with a stiff diamond coated cantilever. Friction forces were recorded during successive contact imaging as a function of the normal force. For all three samples, the friction force vs. normal force plot exhibit two regimes corresponding to wear-less friction and wear, respectively. Wear and its on-set were further characterized by topography images cross-correlation recorded during friction measurements and non-contact imaging of the area scanned during friction measurements. While the normal force at the on-set of wear scales with the hardness and the melting point of the respective metals, the amount of wear and size of generated debris do not follow this dependence. Instead Cu exhibits the larger amount of ploughing and the larger friction coefficient, followed by Ag and Ni. We discuss these findings based on the hardness normalized by the shear modulus and the surface energy at the melting point.