Online Archive of University of Virginia Scholarship
Laser Surface Texturing of Ytterbium Disilicate to Improve Adhesion; Regrettable Substitution and the Toxic Substances Control Act60 views
Author
Watson, Andrea, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Virginia
Advisors
Fitz-Gerald, James, EN-Mat Sci & Engr Dept, University of Virginia
Wayland, Kent, EN-Engineering and Society, University of Virginia
Abstract
A processing procedure to increase adhesion strength and prevent spalling between ytterbium disilicate (YbDS) coating layers was designed and tested. Processing methods include ultra-short pulse laser texturing and heat treatments designed to increase mechanical interlocking and reduce defects. The design patterns were tested using a custom adhesion testing setup, and compositional changes due to texturing were characterized using energy dispersive spectroscopy. Textured samples featured a multilayer failure surface after adhesion testing, while most nontextured, control samples featured an interface failure; this may be a indication of increased spalling resistance in textured samples.
Despite the existence of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), substances of concern such as polyfluoroalkyl substances continued to exist within U.S. consumer products. The history and implementation of the Toxic Substances Act was researched and analyzed to determine the cause for the unhindered presence of pollutants. Although direct interactions between the federal government and industry were not available, analyzing the different versions of TSCA as it was debated by Congress demonstrated how the bill became significantly weaker in regulating hazardous substances. Analysis of primary sources during the enactment of TSCA demonstrates how public comments of elected officials and industry may have influenced the content of the bill. Ultimately, the influenced bill affected the trajectory of chemical manufacturing for decades, with phenomena such as "regrettable substitution" becoming a regular practice within the chemical manufacturing industry.
School of Engineering and Applied Science
Bachelor of Science in Materials Science and Engineering
Technical Advisor: James Fitz-Gerald
STS Advisor: Kent Wayland
Technical Team Members: Aaron Sweeney, Isabel Mittal, Finley Pettitt, Joseph Giordano, Michael Hann
Language
English
Rights
All rights reserved by the author (no additional license for public reuse)
Watson, Andrea. Laser Surface Texturing of Ytterbium Disilicate to Improve Adhesion; Regrettable Substitution and the Toxic Substances Control Act. University of Virginia, School of Engineering and Applied Science, BS (Bachelor of Science), 2026-05-09, https://doi.org/10.18130/51r3-wp09.
