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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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5 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2025

An improved method for quantitatively measuring antifouling coating performance using a mussel single thread tensile adhesion test

Surface biofouling reduces the efficiency and lifespan of equipment across many industries. The development of high-performance antifouling surfaces, such as foul release coatings, benefits from test methods that can quickly identify superior antifouling surfaces in the laboratory during material development. Existing test methods poorly discriminate between different foul release coatings. Here is presented a method to assess the ability of surfaces to resist mussel adhesion using a quantitative, controlled single thread adhesion test (STAT) method, allowing for meaningful comparisons between low adhesion foul release surfaces. This method provides greater accuracy and finer resolution than push-based mussel shear adhesion methods without the difficulties associated with mussel size, thread attachment angle, or harming the mussels. The single thread tensile method is demonstrated on a variety of standard and high-performance coatings, and it is shown that the method detects differentiation between commercial foul release coatings that could not be resolved using other methods.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2025

Evaluation of antifouling surfaces using a method that employs mussel larvae settlement quantified by machine learning

Antifouling coating development requires extensive performance testing. Coatings that prevent aquatic larval settlement are of interest because many forms of macrofouling begin at the larval stage. However, field testing can be time consuming and poorly controlled. Herein is reported a screening tool, Settlement of Larvae Assay using Mussels (SLAM), for down-selecting materials prior to field testing. The method entails using a dense concentration of mussel larvae that are allowed to settle on submerged test surfaces. Settled larvae are then quantified to provide a measure of antifouling performance. The SLAM test differentiated coatings with only slight differences in formulation. To enable efficient quantification of dense larvae settlement, an automated counting method was developed that combines two analyses: a color thresholding identifies larvae clumps, and a machine learning algorithm identifies non-clumped larvae. Finally, this automated ‘hybrid’ approach rapidly quantifies settled larvae as effectively as manual counting but in a fraction of the time.

Mytilus↗
DOE OSTI2025

Enhanced Interfacial Strength in Carbon Fiber Composites via Mussel‐Inspired Sizing Polymers

Composite materials possess a high strength-to-weight ratio. A key determinant of their mechanical performance is the interfacial strength between the fibers and the matrix. Sizing agents are commonly used to improve this interface by promoting better adhesion, though optimizing this interaction remains a significant challenge. Here, this study evaluates the use of poly(catechol-styrene) (PCS), a mussel-inspired sizing agent, to enhance fiber–matrix bonding in carbon fiber composites. Woven carbon fiber laminates were dip-coated with varying concentrations of PCS (0.05 and 0.1 wt%) and subsequently fabricated using vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding followed by compression molding. Interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) tests showed improvements of 4% and 8% for the 0.05% and 0.1% PCS treatments, respectively. These results indicate that PCS is effective in reinforcing interfacial adhesion, thereby improving the mechanical integrity of carbon fiber-reinforced composites.

Carbon fiber composites↗
DOE OSTI2025

Hanford Site Freshwater Mussel Monitoring Report for Calendar Year 2024

The U.S. Department of Energy, Hanford Field Office (HFO) conducts ecological monitoring at the Hanford Site to collect and maintain data to ensure compliance with an array of environmental laws, regulations, and policies governing HFO activities. Ecological monitoring data provides baseline information about the plants, animals, and habitats under HFO stewardship at the Hanford Site that is required for decision making under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980. In addition, ecological monitoring helps ensure that HFO, its contractors, and other entities conducting activities at the Hanford Site are in compliance with DOE/EIS-0222-F, Final Hanford Comprehensive Land-Use Plan Environmental Impact Statement. HFO places priority on monitoring those plant and animal species or habitats with specific regulatory protections or requirements that are rare and/or declining (i.e., federal or state listed endangered, threatened, or sensitive species) or are of significant interest to federal, state, or tribal governments or the public.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2025

HydroBio: Hydropower Capacity and Freshwater Biodiversity in Conterminous United States Sub-basins

This dataset summarizes existing and potential hydropower capacity and freshwater biodiversity at the sub-basin level throughout the conterminous United States (CONUS). It contains descriptive information regarding each sub-basin (e.g., 8-digit hydrologic unit code identifier, name, states, and size) along with sub-basin-level summaries of: 1) existing hydropower capacity (MW), 2) potential nominal non-powered dam (NPD) capacity (MW), 3) potential capacity of new stream reach development (NSD) (MW), and 4) freshwater biodiversity, including the total richness of fish, crayfish, and mussels and metrics that account for how rare and threatened those species tend to be. Hydropower data were obtained from Oak Ridge National Laboratory data resources (Existing Hydropower Assets, Non-Powered Dam Technical Potential, and New Stream Reach Development). Freshwater biodiversity data were obtained from NatureServe. Sub-basin characteristic information was obtained from the United States Geological Survey. Additionally, long data that provide lists of unique elements within each sub-basin for each constituent data resource (e.g., NatureServe, Existing Hydropower Assets) are provided to enhance dataset utility for users. The dataset provides, for the first time, a national-level assessment of existing and potential hydropower capacity in the context of freshwater biodiversity and is a valuable resource for stakeholders tasked with providing affordable, reliable energy to the American public while maintaining or enhancing invaluable freshwater resources. The dataset contains six data files in comma separated (*.csv) format that are within a zipped file.

Bozeman, Bryan [Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORN↗