Applications Research Studies on Microtubules
Abstract
This final report describes progress completed on two of three phases of work aimed at defining new applications areas for microtubules formed as self-organizing microstructures from lipids with diacetylenic lecithin structures. The emphasis in the first phase was on the suspension, orientation, and electro-optical properties of metalized microtubule dispersions in fluids, liquid crystals, and polymers, and on techniques for controlling the orientation and attachment of microtubules to surfaces. The emphasis in the second phase was on phase shift effects in the millimeter wave region with field effects on metalized microtubule dispersions, in regard to potential applications such as scanning radar antennas and radar lenses. In these studies it was discovered that composite fluids consisting of metalized microtubules dispersed in liquid crystals have the highest birefringence values which have been reported in the millimeter wave region and that these composite fluids are readily aligned by applied electrical and magnetic fields.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1990
- Accession Number
- ADA228756
Entities
People
- Anna M. Lackner
- Camille I. Van Ast
- Elena Sherman
- J. D. Margerum
- K. C. Lim
- Leroy J. Miller
- Willis H. Smith Jr.
Organizations
- HRL Laboratories