Chemical Science and Technology Laboratory Annual Report – FY2004
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Chemical Science and Technology Laboratory Annual Report – FY2004 NISTIR 7202 NISTIR 7202 Chemical Science and Technology Laboratory Annual Report - FY2004 Willie E. May, Director William F. Koch, Deputy Director Chemical Science and Technology Laboratory February 2005 U. S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Carlos Gutierrez, Secretary TECHNOLOGY ADMINISTRATION Philip J. Bond, Under Secretary for Technology NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY Hratch G. Semerjian, Acting Director Compiled and Edited by Ellyn S. Beary and Pedro Espina. Cover design by Ann L. Leith. For information contact NIST/CSTL Telephone: 301-975-8300 Facsimile: 301-975-3845 E-Mail: [email protected] Web Sites: www.nist.gov www.cstl.nist.gov Any mention of commercial products is for information only. It does not imply recommendation or endorsement by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, nor does it imply that the materials or equipment mentioned are necessarily the best available for this purpose. February 2005 Table of Contents Page Message from the CSTL Director iii A. CSTL Overview 1 B. CSTL Programs 15 1. Automotive and Aerospace (Transportation) 17 2. Biomaterials 21 3. Pharmaceuticals and Biomanufacturing 25 4. Chemical and Allied Products 29 5. Energy and Environmental Technologies 41 6. Food and Nutritional Products 57 7. Forensics and Homeland Security 59 8. Health and Medical Technologies 75 9. Industrial and Analytical Instruments and Services 91 10. Microelectronics 111 11. Measurement Standards 121 12. Data and Informatics 133 13. Technologies for Future Measurements and Standards 143 C. Exploratory Research 157 D. Staff Recognition 167 i ii A Message from the CSTL Director The Chemical Science and Technology Laboratory is one of seven discipline-based technical operating units at the National Institute of Standards and Technology. All of us in CSTL are proud to share with you our Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2004. While this report represents only a snapshot of our activities, it illustrates the wide breadth of research that we conduct and measurement services that we provide. During this past fiscal year, Dr. William F. Koch served as Acting Director and ably led CSTL through an aggressive strategic planning process. He began serving in this capacity in July 2003, when Dr. Hratch Semerjian was appointed the Deputy Director of NIST. I became Director of CSTL in late December 2004 having served as Chief of CSTL’s Analytical Chemistry Division for the past ten years. It is both an honor and a privilege to take over the helm, and to advance the creative research activities and delivery of world-class measurement services for which CSTL has become internationally renowned. This past year has witnessed many changes in our Laboratory. In addition to the leadership changes just mentioned, many other changes have occurred, including our move into our new Advanced Measurement Laboratory—a truly unique facility with respect to air cleanliness, and temperature, humidity, and vibration control. All proceeded in a very smooth manner with no adverse impact on the research and measurement services that CSTL provides. This is truly a testament to both the depth of leadership within our Laboratory, and the quality, creativity, and dedication of our staff. We have been challenged in recent years with relatively flat budgets. Therefore, it has become all the more important to rigorously set our priorities and to focus our efforts on projects and programs that will provide the largest benefits to US citizens, and return on investment for our Nation. In this regard, we will continue to be proactive in communicating the breadth and depth of our capabilities as well as the quality and impact of our work. We will continue to strengthen our interactions with industry and other stakeholders in order to help us prioritize our work. We are grateful for the candid input and ideas that these colleagues have shared with us in the past and look forward to continued fruitful interactions. In closing, the NIST Chemical Science and Technology Laboratory has world-class facilities, and the most comprehensive array of chemical, physical, and engineering measurement capabilities of any group working in the general area of chemical science and technology. We will continue to be well-positioned as “a world-class research laboratory recognized by the Nation as the primary source for the chemical, biochemical, and chemical engineering measurements, data, models, and reference standards” that are required to enhance US competitiveness in the world market and facilitate improved quality of life. While maintaining our focus on NIST’s core mission responsibilities for the measurements and standards that we have traditionally supported, we are expanding our programs in Bioscience and Health, Nanometrology, Data and Informatics, and Homeland Security. The main body of this report reflects the increased focus in these areas and the critical synergistic relationships that exist among our research programs in measurement science, and the measurement services that we provide to our customers. Willie E. May, Director Chemical Science and Technology Laboratory iii http://www.nist.gov Hratch Semerjian, Acting Director Richard Kayser, Acting Deputy Director From automated teller machines and atomic clocks to mammograms and semiconductors, innumerable products and services rely in some way on technology, measurement, and standards provided by the National Institute of Standards and Technology. NIST is a non- regulatory federal agency within the US Commerce Department's Technology Administration. Founded in 1901, NIST's mission is to develop and promote measurements, standards, and technology to enhance productivity, facilitate trade, and improve the quality of life. Technology advances account for up to half of new economic growth. It strengthens America's security, improves the health of the American people, and creates new jobs and opportunities to support our future prosperity. NIST plays a key role in enabling the hard work and innovative ideas of the American people to strengthen our technology leadership. NIST works with the private sector to develop and apply the technology, measurements and standards that industry needs for new and improved products and services. In FY 2004, NIST had an operating budget of about $771 million and employs about 3,000 scientists, engineers, technicians, and support and administrative personnel. About 1,600 guest researchers complement the staff. In addition, NIST partners with 2,000 manufacturing specialists and staff at affiliated centers around the country. NIST carries out its mission in four cooperative programs: • The Measurement and Standards Laboratories provide technical leadership for vital components of the nation's technology infrastructure needed by U.S. industry to continually improve its products and services. NIST's seven discipline-based Measurement and Standards Laboratories work at all stages of the pipeline from advancing basic science and pioneering new measurement methods to the development of standard test methods, materials, and data to ensure the quality of commercial products. The seven NIST Laboratories are: Electronics and Electrical Engineering Laboratory (EEEL), Manufacturing Engineering Laboratory (MEL), Chemical Science and Technology Laboratory (CSTL), Physics Laboratory (PL), Materials Science and Engineering Laboratory (MSEL), Building and Fire Research Laboratory (BFRL), and Information Technology Laboratory (ITL). • The Advanced Technology Program (ATP) bridges the gap between the research lab and the market place, stimulating prosperity through innovation. Through partnerships with the private sector, ATP’s early stage investment is accelerating the development of innovative technologies that promise significant commercial payoffs and widespread benefits for the nation. • The Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) was established in 1989 as the first federally funded extension centers to help small manufacturers improve their capabilities and performance, which is a necessity for survival in the global marketplace. Today, the Manufacturing Extension Partnership is a nationwide network of more than 400 not-for-profit centers and field offices. The centers, serving all 50 States and Puerto Rico, are linkied together through NIST. MEP makes it possible for even the smallest firms to tap into the expertise of knowledgeable manufacturing and business specialists all over the U.S. • The Baldrige Quality Program is an outreach program associated with the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award that promotes performance excellence among U.S. manufacturers, service companies, educational institutions, and health care providers; conducts outreach programs and manages the annual Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award which recognizes performance excellence and quality achievement. iv Director, Willie E. May Deputy Director, William F. Koch A. Overview The Chemical Science and Technology Laboratory (CSTL) of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is the United States’ reference laboratory for chemical measurements. CSTL is entrusted with developing, maintaining, advancing, and enabling the chemical measurement system for the US, thereby enhancing US industry’s productivity and competitiveness, assuring equity in trade, and improving public health, safety, and environmental qual- ity. With current world events, the need for accurate and timely chemical and biological measurements is more impor-