Brian R. Strohmeier

Surface characterization of aluminum foil annealed in the presence of ammonium fluoborate

Abstract The surface composition of aluminum foil which had been annealed in the presence of ammonium fluoborate was investigated using the techniques of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS or ESCA), low energy ion scattering spectroscopy (ISS), and secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS). Results indicated that for coils of foil that were heat treated in a furnace containing ammonium fluoborate, fluorine and boron species were both deposited on and/or reacted with the aluminium oxide surface layer. For the tightly wrapped coils, this deposition was diffusion limited to the outer edges (i.e., ∼ 4 cm) of the foil. The complete chemistry of the fluorine and boron species is not clear. However, results indicated that the surface fluorine is bound to aluminum in a state chemically similar to aluminum fluoride. The boron species which were present were found to be predominantly oxidic in nature. The reaction of the fluorine and boron species with the aluminum oxide surface layer was limited to the top few monolayers (∼ 10 A). The majority of both the fluorine and the boron species were water soluble. The fluorine/boron layer formed on the foil surfaces did not offer any significant protection against hydroxide formation in wet environments when compared to typical aluminum foil behavior.

Characterization of oxide films electrochemically deposited from solutions of palladium chloride and sodium hexachloroiridate

Abstract Cyclic voltammetry of platinum and glassy carbon electrodes in an acidic mixture containing 1.0 mM PdCl 2 and 2.0 mM Na 2 IrCl 6 yields a film of a 0.75 μm film is about 0.2 at.%. The surface concentration of palladium drops to below the detection limit of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy wh experiments as a function of pH, two linear regions, over the pH ranges 1–5 and 6–10, with respective slopes of 62 mV (pH unit) −1 and 83 mV ( peak potentials vs. pH are commensurate with the potentiometric data. Charge transport coefficients for the oxidation of the film are lower than for th solution the respective values are 5 × 10 −9 cm 2 s −1 and 8 × 10 −9 cm 2 s −1 .

Improving the wettability of aluminum foil with oxygen plasma treatments

The wettability of aluminum foil is an important concern in many industrial converting processes. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS or ESCA) and water contact angle results indicated that relatively mild (i.e. 250 W, 15 s) oxygen plasma treatments efficiently removed residual carbon contamination from cold-rolled foil surfaces. This resulted in a significant improvement in the foil wettability. It was also found that the wettability of plasma-treated foils degraded with time, apparently due to the adsorption of hydrophobic, airborne carbon species and other contaminants. Furthermore, oxygen plasma treatments caused additional aluminum oxide to grow on the metal surface. The composition of this additional oxide was found to be similar to that of the native passivation oxide. The thickness of the aluminum oxide layer increased with both the plasma RF power and the plasma exposure time.

Evaluation of polymeric standard reference materials for monitoring the performance of X-ray photoelectron spectrometers

Abstract The use of standard reference materials is a common practice in X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS or ESCA). Recently, several polymeric standard reference materials have become available for monitoring various performance aspects of ESCA spectrometers. These reference materials include polyethylene (PE), polyethylene glycol (PEG), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and dimethyl silicon (DMS). The advantages and disadvantages encountered when using these materials as standards were investigated in this study. Results indicated that PEG, PTFE and DMS are useful standards for checking or determining relative elemental sensitivity factors for C, O, F and/or Si. These three materials can also be used for monitoring the linearity and stability of the instrumental binding energy scale. However, in general, metallic standards such as gold, silver and/or copper are superior to the polymeric standards for this purpose, because their photoelectron lines cover a wider binding energy range and their respective peak positions are much better known. Although PE exhibits a fairly narrow C1s line that can be used to monitor variations in the instrumental energy resolution, the FWHM observed for the C1s line is much broader that the FWHM values obtained from the appropriate lines of sputtered-cleaned metals. Results also indicated that the use of PTFE as a standard reference material must be done with caution, because PTFE readily degrades with time under X-ray exposure.

Achieving Effective Technical Leadership in Today's R&D Organizations

Most modern Research and Development (R&D) organizations employ a multitude of scientists and engineers who are considered technical leaders, that is technical experts, in some specialized scientific field. However, in todays climate of downsizing, restructuring, and reengineering, these same organizations need to nurture the growth of technical leaders in order to successfully manage change and survive in a fiercely competitive world market. This essay explores the differences between being a technical leader and a true technical leader in an R&D environment.

Comment on ‘Influence of surface composition on initial hydration of aluminium in boiling water’ by A. Strålin and T. Hjertberg

Abstract A polemic on the recent paper entitled “Influence of surface composition on initial hydration of aluminium in boiling water”, by A. Stralin and T. Hjertberg [Appl. Surf. Sci. 74 (1994) 263]. Attention is drawn to the misinterpretation of a feature that can appear in the Al2p XPS spectra of Al-Mg alloys when using a Mg Kα X-ray source. Stra and Hjertberg suggested that this feature was related to the formation of MgAl2O4 on the metal surface. This feature, however, was most likely the Mg Kα X-ray-induced Mg KLL Auger line from MgO, which can have a significant intensity if the magnesium oxide surface concentration exceeds that of aluminum oxide. This feature would be absent in the Al2p XPS spectra of Al-Mg alloys when using an Al Kα X-ray source, because of the apparent binding energy shift of the Mg KLL Auger line caused by the (233 eV) difference in kinetic energy between the two X-ray sources.

The Leadership Principles Used by Jack Welch as he Re-energized, Revolutionized, and Reshaped General Electric

Starting in the early 1980s till now, Jack Welch, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the General Electric Corporation (GE), has led his company through one of the most revolutionary and far-reaching changes ever witnessed in modern business history. Under Welchs leadership, GE rose to be ranked No. 1 among the worlds most valuable companies based on a combination of revenues, profits, market value, and assets. This article will discuss some of the leadership principles that Welch used to cause such a major revolution in the social, political, and economic climate at GE.

Ion scattering analysis of speckles appearing on solution heat-treated Al–Li alloys

Abstract The surfaces of Al–Li 2090 alloys are typically covered with small dark spots or speckles following vertical solution heat-treatment and water quenching. Ion scattering spectroscopy (ISS) has indicated that the surface concentration of fluorine in the speckled areas is significantly less than that in the normal appearing areas. The non-uniform surface distribution of fluorine apparently results from the use of ammonium fluoborate in the solution heat-treating furnaces to prevent high temperature oxidation (HTO).