Los Alamos National Laboratory August Tip Sheet
STICKIER WICKET, WHAT?
Anyone who has tried to remove a bumper sticker may not believe it, but adhesion is a problem for material researchers. Many materials, such as metals, ceramics and plastics, require special coatings for protection from wear and corrosion. But often there is a problem with getting the coatings to adhere tightly, especially thick ones. Los Alamos researchers have developed a method that produces highly adherent layers of common coatings such as metal oxides or nitrides, plus a diamond-like carbon coating. The method uses a plasma that roots itself in the substrate, creating a graded coating that provides excellent resistance against delamination. The method is more environmentally friendly than many methods currently in use and allows creation of coating-substrate combinations that are not currently feasible. The technique can be applied in manufacturing of automobile parts, machine tools, prosthetics and other devices. Kathy DeLucas, 505-665-9201, duke@ lanl.gov
HERE'S LOOKING AT YOU, KID
Containers of unknown and possibly hazardous materials are often found at laboratories, industrial buildings, dump sites and other locations. Labeled containers may have been refilled or their contents may have chemically changed over time. In addition, corrosion can render containers fragile and prone to rupture when moved. A Los Alamos researcher has invented two devices that can open unknown containers without endangering the operator or the environment. The devices use a remote-controlled, air-powered piston to puncture and vent containers and draw samples. They can be used to contain escaping substances and neutralize or pump out the container's contents. One version straps directly to large containers, such as 55-gallon drums, while the second is an adjustable device that holds containers ranging from small milk bottles to 30-gallon drums. The sampling devices are environmentally friendly, inexpensive to produce and compatible with breathing equipment frequently used by hazardous material teams. Kathy DeLucas, 505-665-9201, duke@ lanl.gov
ONLINE ELK
A computer program is helping Los Alamos ecologists make better decisions for the fauna on the Laboratory's 43 square miles. Researchers have fitted elk with a signal collar that, through satellite link, pinpoints their locations every 23 hours. A computer program analyzes the movements for what kinds of terrain and vegetation the elk prefer, how much time they spend on sunny or shaded slopes and which water sources they frequent. It tracks the collared elk's daily mileage and where they linger or congregate. After forest fires in the surrounding Jemez Mountains increased available forage in recent years, the elk population exploded, impacting fragile habitats and archeological sites and running afoul of humans and their cars. The study will lead to predictive models of the species' movements, essential for making informed animal management decisions. Gary Kliewer, (505) 665-2085, [email protected]
ZAPPING SOILS FOR DIAMONDS
Los Alamos advancements in laser spectroscopy are being brought to the marketplace by Coyote Mining and Environmental Instruments Inc. CMEI will develop a backpack-sized unit that uses a brief, powerful laser pulse to reveal a material's elemental makeup . The device can be applied to prospecting -- including seeking minerals associated with diamond deposits -- ore processing control or environmental remediation. Kathy DeLucas, 505-665-9201, duke@ lanl.gov
For assistance call 505-667-7000 08/97
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