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Ali Erdemir (ET) has won the American Society of Mechanical Engineers' Innovative Research Award, recognizing his consistent and pioneering contributions to the science of tribology.
One of Erdemir's most recent developments was a "near-frictionless" carbon coating that has a coefficient of friction less than .001 when tested in a dry nitrogen atmosphere -- 20 times lower than the previous record holder. The new coating also has the highest wear resistance of any solid material. (See story below.)
For comparison, when tested under the same conditions, Teflon's coefficient of friction is around .04; steel has a coefficient of about 1.1. Oxygen and moisture increase the new material's friction coefficient.
Erdemir also received a 1999 Argonne Director's Award for this innovation, which he developed along with George Fenske (ET) and Osmon Eryilmaz, a visiting scientist from the Technical University of Istanbul, Turkey.
Erdemir is a materials scientist at Argonne. He conducts fundamental and applied research in tribology, surface science and engineering, lubrication and coatings. He discovered new solid lubricants and carbon coatings for metal-forming and engine applications.
He is associate editor of the journal Tribology Transactions, and chairs a technical committee for the Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers (STLE). Erdemir is an associate member of ASME's Research Committee on Tribology. Among his many honors are two R&D 100 Awards from Research and Development magazine and a Discover magazine award and the STLE Edmond E. Bisson Award.
The near-frictionless carbon (NFC) coating developed by Ali Erdemir and others has been featured in hundreds of magazine and newspaper articles since 1997, and has generated more than 2,500 phone calls from engineers working on everything from artificial hip joints to rocket engines -- just about anything with moving parts.
Erdemir discussed some of the latest research on the material at a recent seminar.
"Numerous tests under well-calibrated, controlled conditions at Argonne and other labs showed the friction coefficient is perhaps the lowest reported to date for a solid material, and wear resistance is the highest," Erdemir said.
The material's wear resistance is tested in a machine that slides a ball of hard material in a circle on a sample surface under high pressure: one gigaPascal, or about 145,000 p.s.i.
In a dry nitrogen atmosphere, a steel ball coated with NFC withstood 17.5 million passes on an NFC-coated steel plate -- equivalent to rolling the ball from Chicago to Denver. The experiment ended when the testing machine failed; the only effect on the NFC coating was a nearly invisible scuff mark.
"There is something unique going on at the material's surface," Erdemir said. But the material's precise atomic structure and how the coating process results in such surprising properties are still mysteries. Erdemir's research centers on the role of hydrogen bonds at the material's surface.
The material is created in a radio-frequency chamber -- essentially a microwave oven operating at a higher frequency. Carbon, in the form of methane, is piped into the chamber where the radio waves turn it into plasma -- a gaseous soup of atomic nuclei and electrons.
Carbon nuclei drift down from the plasma onto a substrate, usually a polished disk of sapphire or steel, where they form the coating. Compared to previous methods of producing carbon coatings, the new process is quick -- a few hours -- and can produce large amounts of the coating. The material adheres well to many kinds of substrates and is non-toxic.
Potential applications for the coating include oilless bearings, spacecraft mechanisms, rolling and sliding gear systems and bearings for ultrahigh vacuum instruments like X-ray tubes.
Argonne-West employees are helping celebrate National Chemistry Week, Nov. 7-13, with displays at the Idaho site and outreach programs in area communities.
National Chemistry Week is a program of the American Chemical Society (ACS) aimed at enhancing awareness of the contributions of chemistry to everyday life and in the nation's economy.
A week-long display has been set up in the lobby of Argonne-West's Laboratory and Office building, where several promotional items and handouts will be available. Argonne-West ACS members will be available during lunch to answer questions about National Chemistry Week and to hand out materials.
Argonne-West Chemist Mary Adamic (ED), local National Chemistry Week coordinator, said the display at Argonne-West is only one of the many activities planned for southeastern Idaho.
Additional activities include performing more than 40 hands-on experiments both at an Idaho Falls mall and the public library, "Chemical Magic" shows, displays at the Idaho Falls Public Library, an essay contest and displays at local universities and colleges.
During November, Adamic, Kevin Carney (ED) and Rick Waligora (RPS-ESW) will be leading hands-on activities with local elementary, junior high and middle school students.
Last year the Idaho Section received two awards for its outstanding NCW program and its public outreach efforts and media coverage for NCW activities. Adamic appeared on all three TV affiliates (NBC, CBS, ABC) to promote local NCW activities.
For more information about Idaho Section National Chemistry Week activities, contact Adamic at ext. 3-7858.
Argonne and DOE will celebrate Veteran's Recognition Day on Monday, Nov. 8, with a lunchtime program at Argonne-East's Building 203 Auditorium.
At 11:45 a.m., there will be flyovers by a B-25 bomber and a P-51 Mustang. The one-hour program will begin at noon with a color guard, followed by remarks by Argonne Interim Director Yoon Chang and DOE Chicago Operations Office Manager Robert L. San Martin. Retired state senator Bob Mitchler will speak, and Lt. Col. Jill Morgenthaler (ECT) will present a talk titled "A Grave New World."
Military memorabilia will be on display at the auditorium.
Employees are invited to bring their lunches to the program.
Representatives from CIGNA, HMO Illinois, Rush Prudential HMO and Argonne's Human Resources will available in Argonne-East's Building 213 Cafeteria Nov. 2, 3 and 4 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. to answer questions about the laboratory's medical plans.
Representatives will have HMO information packets and PPO directories.
Open enrollment for the laboratory's medical plans and flexible spending accounts will be held Nov. 1-24. Open enrollment allows employees to choose from among the three medical plans offered by the laboratory, and enroll in or change flexible spending accounts.
Open enrollment materials have been posted to the Human Resources World Wide Web site. Employees who do not have access to the Web will receive an information package by interoffice mail.
For more information, call Human Resources at ext. 2-2991.
Jim Hodgson, scientific glassblower for Kansas State University, spent a week at Argonne learning a variety of techniques from Joe Gregar (CHM), a fourth-generation master glassblower.
Hodgson has a geophysics degree and worked in the oil industry for 11 years. He turned to glassblowing when he found his previous line of work unfulfilling. "In scientific glassblowing I can use some of my science background," he said, "and creating a good piece of scientific glassware is also artistically satisfying."
Hodgson first met Gregar in a workshop at the annual American Scientific Glassblowers Society (ASGS) symposium. Gregar, an active member of the society and director of its Midwest section, runs workshops for glassblowers early in their careers and volunteers as a mentor.
Hodgson received an internship through the society's grant-in-aid mentorship program, and spent with week at Argonne with the support of the university and Argonne's Division of Educational Programs.
A representative from MetLife will visit Argonne-East on Tuesday, Nov. 2, 9 and 16, to meet with individual employees and provide insurance comparisons and quotes for the "METPAY" group automobile and homeowners insurance program.
To schedule an appointment, call (630) 810-0346, ext. 143.
Employees should fax their auto policy renewal statements to Craig Riddick at (630) 810-1628 before their appointments.
The laboratory's retirement vendors will meet with Argonne-East employees in November to answer questions about retirement plans and retirement plan assets. To schedule an appointment, call the number listed.
Appointments are for one-half hour each, except for Prudential, which offers half-day sessions.
| Vendor | Day | For Appointments, call: |
| Fidelity | Tuesday, Nov. 9 and 16 Wednesday, Nov. 17 | (800) 642-7131 |
| TIAA-CREF | Tuesday, Nov. 16 and Wednesday, Nov. 17 | (800) 842-2005 |
| Prudential | Wednesday, Nov. 3, 10 and 17 | (847) 619-3519 |
Argonne-East's Structural Biology Center will host the workshops "High-Throughput Methods For Structural Genomics," Nov. 15-16, and "Rapid Structure Determination at Third-Generation Synchrotron Sources," Nov. 17-19.
The structural genomics workshop will combine oral presentations, posters and discussion sessions to discuss all aspects of structural genomics, with an emphasis on high-throughput approaches. The rapid structure determination workshop will be a "hands-on" session held mainly at Advanced Photon Source beamlines. Participation will be limited to 25 attendees.
For more information, see the World Wide Web page at http://www.sbc.anl.gov.
A breast cancer awareness session will be held at Argonne-West Thursday, Nov. 4, in the Building 710 Conference Room.
All employees are invited to attend the one-hour session, which will include an instructional video, guest panel of breast cancer survivors and directions on how to conduct a comprehensive self-breast exam at home.
Human Resources will offer several classes at Argonne-East during November. To enroll, contact a Training Management System representative. For more information, call Betty Iwan (HR) at ext. 2-3410 or visit the Human Resources web site and click the "Performance Development" link, or visit the Argonnet and click "On-site training courses " under "Education and training."
Russian Language (HR164) -- Tuesdays and Thursdays in
Building 208, Room A262, beginning Tuesday, Nov. 2.
Beginning classes are held at 10 a.m. and intermediate
classes at 11:30 a.m.
Performance Management (HR561) -- Thursday, Nov. 4, 1
p.m. _ 4 p.m., Building 201, Room 190.
Facilitating Effective Meetings (HR636) -- Monday,
Nov. 8, 1 p.m. - 5 p.m., in Building 362, Room F108.
English As A Second Language (HR534) -- Tuesdays and
Thursdays from 11:30 a.m. -- 1 p.m. in Building 201, Room
238, beginning in mid-November. The cost is $375. A $30
pretest required for all new participants.
Office computer software will be the subject of classes offered through mid-November by the Electronics and Computing Technologies Division.
Unless otherwise noted, classes will be held in Argonne-East's Building 221, Room A142, are limited to 10 participants and cost $135. Class schedules and complete information are available online.
Excel Working With Large Worksheets (ECT348) --
Wednesday, Nov. 3, 8:30 a.m. _ 11:30 a.m.
Word: Everyday Tasks Made Easier (ECT345) --
Wednesday, Nov. 3, 1:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Excel Organizational Tools (ECT350) -- Thursday, Nov. 4,
8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Prerequisite: Windows 95, basic Excel
97 skills.
Word Helpers (ECT346) -- Thursday, Nov. 4, 1:30
a.m. - 4:30 a.m. Prerequisite: Introduction to Windows 95.
Excel Database Management (ECT361) -- Friday, Nov. 5,
8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Prerequisite: Windows 95, basic Excel
97 skills.
Microsoft Word: Working With Long Documents (ECT356)
-- Friday, Nov. 5, 1:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Beginning Unix (ECT564) -- This class consists of two
three-hour sessions for a total of six hours. First session:
Tuesday, Nov. 9, 9 a.m. - noon. Second session:
Thursday, Nov. 11, 9 a.m. - noon.
Introduction to PowerPoint 97 (ECT342) -- Friday, Nov. 12,
1:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Introduction to Word 97 (ECT363) -- Monday, Nov. 15,
8:30 a.m. _ 4:30 p.m. Location: Building 221, Room A142.
Cost: $195. Prerequisite: Introduction to Windows 95.
Introduction to Excel 97 (ECT366) -- Tuesday, Nov. 16,
8:30 a.m. _ 4:30 p.m. Cost: $195. Prerequisite: Introduction
to Windows.
Introduction to Access 97 (ECT332) -- Wednesday, Nov. 17,
8:30 a.m. _ 4:30 p.m. Class size limited to 8. Cost: $195.
Prerequisite: Introduction to Windows 95.
Microsoft Outlook98 (ECT362) -- Monday, Nov. 1,
8:30 a.m. _ 4:30 p.m., and Tuesday; Nov. 30, 8:30 a.m.
_ 4:30 p.m. Cost: $195.
