Changes

=Miscellaneous Fiber Testing=

=Miscellaneous Fiber Testing=

== Alcohol Test ==

== Alcohol Tests ==

Poly(methyl methacrylate), or plexiglass, was found to react to ethanol when used in high concentrations.  When our fiber bending tank (made of poly) was being cleaned with pure ethanol, an obvious reaction was seen as crazing developed on the surface of the walls of the tank.  Because our fibers are made from a similar material (polystyrene with flour-acrylic cladding) it seemed necessary to also test their reaction to exposure to alcohol.   

Poly(methyl methacrylate), or plexiglass, was found to react to ethanol when used in high concentrations.  When our fiber bending tank (made of poly) was being cleaned with pure ethanol, an obvious reaction was seen as crazing developed on the surface of the walls of the tank.  Because our fibers are made from a similar material (polystyrene with flour-acrylic cladding) it seemed necessary to also test their reaction to exposure to alcohol.   

As can be seen from the plots of the data the greatest change in the size of the fibers occurred when the fibers were soaked in 80% alcohol.  The most interesting thing, I think, to be learned here is that there seems to be a greater change in the fibers that were soaked in 80% alcohol as opposed to the ones soaked in 100% alcohol.  My guess is that there were impurities in the tap water that acted as catalysts in the reaction, but the reason could be any number of things.

As can be seen from the plots of the data the greatest change in the size of the fibers occurred when the fibers were soaked in 80% alcohol.  The most interesting thing, I think, to be learned here is that there seems to be a greater change in the fibers that were soaked in 80% alcohol as opposed to the ones soaked in 100% alcohol.  My guess is that there were impurities in the tap water that acted as catalysts in the reaction, but the reason could be any number of things.

== Strength Test ==

 

 

== Strength Tests ==

In order to test the transverse strength of the fused bonds created with the splicing unit, fibers were fused and then broken in order to test their strength.  The size of the fiber and the fused joints were measured and recorded as well as the mass that each fiber held on the fuse point before breaking.   

In order to test the transverse strength of the fused bonds created with the splicing unit, fibers were fused and then broken in order to test their strength.  The size of the fiber and the fused joints were measured and recorded as well as the mass that each fiber held on the fuse point before breaking.   

==Liana Hotte's Lab Journal / Research Progress==

==Liana Hotte's Lab Journal / Research Progress==

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== Aaron Carta's Lab Journal ==