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Item Implementation of Bus-Based and NoC-Based MP3 Decoders on FPGA(North Dakota State University, 2011) Kasisomayajula, Subramanyam VenkataThe trend of modern System-on-Chip (SoC) design is increasing in size and number of Processing Elements (PE) for various and general purpose tasks. Emergence of Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) into the world of technology has lowered the limitations faced by Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) design. FPGA has a less timeto- market and is a perfect candidate for prototyping purposes due to the flexibility they create for the design and this is the key feature of the FPGA technology. Technology advancements have introduced reconfiguration concepts which increase the flexibility of FPGA designs more. One method to improve SoC's performance is to adopt a sophi sticated communication medium between PEs to achieve a high throughput. Bus architecture has been improved to meet the requirements of high-performance SoCs, however, its inherently poor scalability limjts their enhancement. The Network-on-Chip (NoC) design paradigm has emerged to overcome the scalability limitations of point-to-point and bus communkation. This thesis presents an investigation towards NoC versus bus based implementation of an SoC. An MP3 decoder has been selected as an application to be implemented on the proposed design. The final design in the thes is demonstrated that the NoC based MP3 decoder achieves a 14% faster clock frequency and real time operation with the NoC based design decode an MP3 frame on average in 10% less time that the bus based MP3 decoder.Item Phytic Acid Enriched Biobased Membranes for Lead Ion Removal From Water(North Dakota State University, 2021) Ukey, Mayur IndalPollution by heavy metals, such as lead (Pb), in bodies of water is a serious problem today that poses great risk to human health and the environment. In this study, cellulose-acetate (CA) based membranes were synthesized by immersion precipitation process, and commercially available CA membranes were modified by a layering method. Phytic acid (PA), a phosphorus rich compound known for its chelating properties, was doped into the membrane films to improve their efficiency in removing Pb (II) ions from water. As formulation additives, cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs), amine-functionalized cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) and chitosan were used. Mechanical properties, and filtration efficiency of the resulting membranes as a function of PA content, PA incorporation method, and additive types were assessed. Synthesized membrane films containing CNC, and chitosan/ PA coated membrane films showed up to 60% and 90% removal of Pb (II) ions respectively from water.Item Corrosion Investigation of Structural Transition Joints Through Scanning Electrochemical Microscopy and the Characterization of High-Temperature Coatings at Different Temperatures(North Dakota State University, 2021) Wiering, Luke PeterScanning electrochemical microscopy is a method that incorporates an ultramicroelectrode capable of facilitating electrochemical reactions paired with an XYZ positioning system capable of micron-level movements. This study investigates the corrosion behavior of structural transition joint clad material that contains steel, pure aluminum, and an aluminum alloy blast welded into a single joint. This study will characterize the corrosion response of the structural transition joint and identify the galvanic activity measured between its layers. High-temperature coatings in this study are designed to be used effectively up to 1400°F. In this study, we characterized several commercial high-temperature coatings exposed to different levels of heat. General trends of decreasing barrier performance were observed with the exception when these coatings are exposed to their rated temperature limit of 1400°F, at which the barrier increased slightly, indicated by their low-frequency impedance modulus. The cause is a combination of sintering and oxide formation.Item The Synthesis, Characterization, and Evaluation of a Polypyrrole/ Aluminum Flake Composite Pigment(North Dakota State University, 2010) Vetter, Christopher AlanThe goal of this study was to synthesize a polypyrrole/aluminum flake composite pigment to inhibit corrosion on aluminum alloy 2024 T3. This was done in order to remedy some of the problems associated with the application of pure polypyrrole as a coating. Namely these problems are insolubility in common solvents, brittleness, poor adhesion to metal substrates, and catastrophic failure in some conditions due to fast ion incorporation. By incorporating the polypyrrole composite pigment into an epoxy primer, the superior mechanical properties of the epoxy binder can be combined with the corrosion inhibiting properties of the polypyrrole. Results indicated that the dopant of the polypyrrole played a large role in the corrosion inhibition of the substrate. While the sulfate doped sample inhibited corrosion in areas underneath the coating, it did not inhibit corrosion in defect areas. The vanadate doped and molybdate doped pigments did inhibit corrosion in defect areas.Item The Application of Electroanalytical Techniques to the Study of Coating Systems(North Dakota State University, 2015) Croes, Kenneth JamesElectroanalytical techniques are often employed to augment standard practices utilized to study and characterize coating performance on metal substrates, yielding information that is not provided by standard coating analysis methods. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) was utilized to study epoxy-amine coatings incorporating oligomers and monomers of phenylenediamine in the coating structure; these results were compared to unusual EIS results obtained in previous studies of organic-inorganic hybrid sol-gel coatings attributed to the sol-gel structure. With a different coating structure, the unusual results were replicated in coatings containing phenylenediamine oligomers but not monomer. The results suggested the oligomers caused the coatings to act as osmotic membranes. Potentiodynamic polarization studies were utilized to study a highly alkaline chemical bath used for the deposition of magnetite on steel. The results were used to develop a working model of how the bath functions and explain the high temperature and pH required for proper bath function.Item Structures of Crosslinked Networks(North Dakota State University, 2015) Zee, MaliaTwo independent sets of studies are conducted on two collections of thermoset coatings, each exploring the molecular-level structures of its subject materials. The first work searches for the sources of durability in a library of paint film samples, prepared using linseed oil and inorganic pigments 1-2 decades before analysis. The second inquiry examines a series of end-linked polymer networks, created using different monomer architectures through molecular dynamics. Investigations proceed by drawing connections between the materials’ local structures and their large-scale properties: for oil paint, guided by questions of whether metal carboxylates are responsible for the films’ cohesion, and if so, then through what means; for simulations, by viewing all data through the lens of the theory of rubber elasticity, as well as outside of it. In the end, a new working model for the structure of mature oil paint is proposed; extensive connections between model and real-world polymers are made.Item Electrochemical Method for Characterization and Ranking of Corrosion Inhibitors(North Dakota State University, 2017) Kelly, BrettOne of the most cost-effective methods in mitigating corrosion effects is through the use of corrosion inhibitors. This work studied the performance of eight organic inhibitors on mild steel substrate through electrochemical characterization techniques, with the primary goal of incorporating a screening process to sift through the large selection of potential inhibitors without having to fully characterize them. The test methodology developed was successful at screening the potential corrosion inhibitors through linear polarization resistance (LPR) testing in NaCl electrolyte, narrowing the collection of inhibitors to the three most-promising chemicals, adrenalone, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid and dopamine. The screened inhibitors proved effective in HCl electrolyte, reducing the corrosion rates of mild steel by over 85%. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) testing were used to confirm surface adsorption of the molecules to the substrate, indicating the formation of a protective barrier film as the means of corrosion protection.Item Advancing Plant Protein-Based Proteoposite Films Targeted for Food Packaging Applications. A Combined Computational and Experimental Approach(North Dakota State University, 2021) Patnode, Kristen LorraineDemand for polymeric, plastic materials continues to grow each year. However, the limited supply of fossil-fuels and negative environmental impact caused by petrochemical products have led to an increased demand for bio-based plastic alternatives. While there is great interest in developing plant-based alternatives to plastic packaging products, industrial applications of such materials are limited and development of said products is time, cost, and resource consuming. For this reason, advanced, marketable plant-based bioplastics must be developed more efficiently. To achieve such a goal, this thesis outlines a combined computational and experimental approach which results in novel plant proteins-based (proteoposite) films, that demonstrate enhanced performance, developed via a time, cost, and resource-conscious, approach.Item Electrochemical and Mechanical Properties Studies of Flexible Mg-rich Primers(North Dakota State University, 2010) Chen, TiantianThe coating systems for military aircraft must protect the aluminum skin and frame, and associated fastening and joining from corrosion in a variety of aggressive environments. Excessive grinding is often needed to remove the corrosion products at the cracks formed around the seams and fasteners on the aircraft resulting from poor system flexibility of coatings, which causes high maintenance cost and damages the integrity of the aircraft's body. Thus the U.S. Air Force wants to develop an advanced performance coating system with a primer that can provide superior flexibility and good corrosion protection. Currently commercialized magnesium-rich corrosion protection primers were initially developed from some epoxy-amine coating systems, the most common polymer system for aircraft primer use. But the primers were developed under the old specification, which cannot meet the "ideal" goals of the Air Force. Thus, as a carefully selected alternate, polysulfide modified polymers, which have lowest gas permeability, outstanding oil resistance and UV resistance, and especially great flexibility, are being examined as candidate materials. In this research, a number of accelerated laboratory testing methods were applied to measure the electrochemical and mechanical properties of the modified Mg-rich primers which are based on polysulfide modified polymer as binder. Electrochemical measurement results and visual inspections show that the Mg-rich flexible primer has better or equal corrosion protection performance versus a standard epoxy-based Mg-rich primer with the same PVC. The flexibility of the newly formulated Mg-rich primer was also indicated by the results of a variety of empirical testings and instrumental characterizations. Meanwhile, the weathering impact introduced by the laboratory accelerated exposure cannot compromise the superiority of the flexible Mg-rich primers. Based on the results found, future work will be focused on creating a new formulate method or making some modification of the sulfur-containing polymer's structure to achieve a really low VOC.Item Electrochemical Investigation of Powder Coatings and Their Application to Magnesium-Rich Primers For Corrosion Protection(North Dakota State University, 2015) Orgon, Casey RoyCorrosion is the decomposition of metal and metal alloys which threatens the integrity of manmade structures. One of the more efficient methods of delaying the corrosion process in metals is by coatings. In this work, the durability of two polyester powder coatings were investigated for corrosion protection of AA-2024-T3. Polyester powder coatings crosslinked by either triglycidyl isocyanurate (TGIC) or β-hydroxyalkyl amide (HAA) compounds were prepared and investigated for barrier protection of metal substrates by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Polyester-TGIC coatings were found to provide better long-term protection, which can be attributed to the increased mechanical strength and higher concentration of crosslinking in the coating films. Additionally, the polyester powder coatings, along with a fusion bonded epoxy (FBE) were investigated for their compatibility as a topcoat for magnesiumrich primers (MgRP). Under proper application conditions, powder topcoats were successfully applied to cured MgRP while corrosion protection mechanisms of each system were maintained.