Surface Structural Changes in Silicone Rubber Due to Electrical Tracking.

There is a growing interest in the use of silicone composite insulators for electrical power transmission and distribution applications. However, such materials are susceptible to degradation as they are exposed to electrical and environmental stresses during operating conditions. Therefore, it is crucial to gain a thorough understanding of the degradation mechanism through changes in the material structure that may provide insight into potential failures in the electrical grid.

Algae Adhesion onto Silicone is Sensitive to Environment-Induced Surface Restructuring.

Resistance to algae contamination is an important characteristic of insulators used in overhead power distribution in coastal environments. It is therefore important to understand the parameters governing algae adhesion onto polymer insulator materials such as silicone. Flow cell-based shear experiments were conducted in order to characterize the adhesion strength of algae onto polydimethylsiloxane surfaces, comparing fresh polymer substrates with those that have been soaked in water and saline solutions for 1 month.

An automated image analysis platform for the study of weakly -adhered cells.

Details of the design and implementation of an open-source platform for studying the adhesion of cells attached to solid substrata are provided. The hardware is based on a laser-cut flow channel connected to a programmable syringe pump. The software automates all aspects of the flow rate profile, data acquisition and image analysis.