Effect Of Mechanical Stress Research Articles

An experimental demonstration of the effect of mechanical stresses on the laser generation of acoustic vibrations in various materials

The process of generating an acoustic signal during laser heating of metals and dielectrics is analyzed in the framework of the theory of thermoelasticity. A comparison of the experimental optoacoustic signal and the theoretical distribution of mechanical stresses for plates with a hole of aluminum alloy and silicon nitride is performed. It was found that the standard theory of thermoelasticity can qualitatively describe the dependence of the optoacoustic signal on the stress near the hole in the silicon nitride plate, but is not enough to correctly describe the dependence of the signal on the stress near the hole in the metal plate. It is noted that in order to achieve agreement between the obtained experimental and theoretical results for metals, in addition to the thermal effect of laser radiation on the lattice, it is necessary to take into account the additional effect of the electron system.

The Impacts of Cesl and STI Mechanical Stress Effect on Device Performance for UTBB FD-SOI MOSFET

The effects of a stressor nitride oxide layer on device performance and reliability are investigated. Impact of tensile and compressive stress contact etch stop layer (CESL) and shallow trench isolation(STI) mechanical stress on performance and mobility enhancement of <110>/(100) Fully Depleted Sillicon On Insulator(FD-SOI) MOSFETs (ultrathin film, short length, metal-gate/high-K stack, thin BOX) were studied in detail. By thoroughly evaluating their impact on current, mobility, and threshold voltage, the performance gain of CESL is quantified at CMOS with mobility enhancement identified as the major source. It is also experimentally demonstrated that advantageous Length of Diffusion. In the Compress CESL(cCESL) strain , PMOS show 34% performance enhancement with LOD increase 0.1nm to 1um. On the ather hand, NMOS show 3.41%. In the Tensile CESL(tCESL) strain , NMOS show 11.72% performance enhancement with same LOD condition. On the ather hand , PMOS has changed 3.72%.

Impact of Selective Epitaxial Growth and Uniaxial/Biaxial Strain on DIBL Effect Using Triple Gate FinFETs

The influence of Selective Epitaxial Growth (SEG) and the Uniaxial and Biaxial Strain are studied in triple gate FinFETs, analyzing the Drain Induced Barrier Lowering Effect (DIBL). The splits using SEG present better performance for strained devices than the unstrained ones but the inverse is observed for devices without SEG. The DIBL values are higher for SEG devices in all cases. For devices without SEG, the effect of mechanical stress is more pronounced and the mobility is higher in the uniaxially strained devices. These devices have lower VT values in the saturation condition causing the highest DIBL.

Effect of pressing and impacting bruises on optical properties of kiwifruit flesh

• Effect of mechanical stress on μ a and μ s ' of kiwifruit flesh were investigated. • μ a increased first then decreased, while μ s ' decreased first then increased after bruising. • μ a of bruised kiwifruit flesh was higher than that of non-bruised flesh. • μ s ' of bruised flesh was significantly smaller ( P ≤ 0.05) than that of non-bruised ones. • Scattering technique has great potential in identifying bruised from non-bruised kiwifruit. Near-infrared spectroscopy and hyperspectral imaging technologies have been proved to be able to detect invisible bruised kiwifruit. Therefore, it is doubted that the optical properties of kiwifruit are affected by bruises. However, it is not clear how bruises influence the optical properties of kiwifruit and whether different bruises have same effect on optical properties. To answer these questions, the kiwifruit with pressing and impacting bruises were used as samples, and the non-bruised kiwifruit were used as control to investigate the absorption coefficient ( μ a ) and reduced scattering coefficient ( μ s ' ) of kiwifruit flesh by using an integrating sphere system in 950−1650 nm in 16 d after bruising. Moreover, the soluble solids content (SSC), moisture content, firmness and color were measured, and the microstructure of flesh tissue was observed. The results showed that at the absorption peaks of 980 nm and 1175 nm, the μ a of used samples increased first, then decreased with time after bruising. At the same time, the bruised samples had higher μ a than non-bruised ones, but there was no significant difference ( P ≤ 0.05). After bruising, the μ s ' decreased first, then increased with time at a given wavelength between 950 nm and 1360 nm. The μ s ' of bruised samples was significantly smaller ( P ≤ 0.05) than that of non-bruised samples at the same time. Bruises caused cell rupture and reduced firmness. The results indicate that scattering technique has great potential in identifying bruised kiwifruit from non-bruised ones. This study is helpful to understand the effect of bruises on optical properties of kiwifruit and to better apply near-infrared spectroscopy and hyperspectral imaging technologies to detect the kiwifruit with internal bruises.

Effect of Mechanical Stress on Structure of Magnetization of Three-Layer Nanosized Disks

The contribution of magnetoelastic effects to the effective magnetic anisotropy of a three-layer film nanodisk (nonmagnetic metal/ferromagnet/nonmagnetic metal) was studied. The mechanical stresses at the lateral surface of the disk that are caused by two factors, i.e., unequal thermal expansion of layers and excess surface energy at the layers interfaces, were estimated. The case in which the contribution of magnetoelastic effects to the anisotropy is comparable with those of shape and crystalline anisotropies was discussed. It was shown that the main reason for the change in the local anisotropy field in the vicinity of a nanodisk edge was the mechanical stresses induced by the excess surface energy. The possible application of film nanodisks of nickel with a bilateral golden coating as “nanolancets” for noninvasive cell surgery of tumors was discussed.

Peculiarities of Low-Temperature Behavior of Liquids Confined in Nanostructured Silicon-Based Material.

This study is devoted to the confinement effects on freezing and melting in electrochemical systems containing nanomaterial electrodes and liquid electrolytes. The melting of nanoparticles formed upon freezing of liquids confined in pores of disordered nanostructured n-type silicon has been studied by low-temperature differential scanning calorimetry. Experimental results obtained for deionized water, an aqueous solution of potassium sulfate, and n-decane are presented. A model is proposed for predicting the melting point of nanoparticles formed during freezing of liquids inside the pores of a disordered nanostructured material. The model is based on the classical thermodynamic concept of the phase transition temperature dependence on the particle size. It takes into account the issues arising when a liquid is dispersed in a matrix of another material: the effect of mechanical stress resulted from the difference in the thermal linear expansion coefficients at a temperature gradient, the effect of the volumetric liquid content in the matrix, the presence of a nonfreezing liquid layer inside the pores, and the effect of wettability of the matrix with the liquid. Model calculations for water and n-decane confined in nanostructured silicon matrix have been carried out considering the volumetric liquid content. The results obtained have been compared with the differential scanning calorimetry data.

IVIVC for Extended Release Hydrophilic Matrix Tablets in Consideration of Biorelevant Mechanical Stress

PurposeWhen establishing IVIVC, a special problem arises by interpretation of averaged in vivo profiles insight of considerable individual variations in term of time and number of mechanical stress events in GI-tract. The objective of the study was to investigate and forecast the effect of mechanical stress on in vivo behavior in human of hydrophilic matrix tablets.MethodsDissolution profiles for the marketed products were obtained at different conditions (stirring speed, single- or repeatable mechanical stress applied) and convoluted into C-t profiles. Vice versa, published in vivo C-t profiles of the products were deconvoluted into absorption profiles and compared with dissolution profiles by similarity factor.ResultsInvestigated hydrophilic matrix tablets varied in term of their resistance against hydrodynamic stress or single stress during the dissolution. Different scenarios, including repeatable mechanical stress, were investigated on mostly prone Seroquel® XR 50 mg. None of the particular scenarios fits to the published in vivo C-t profile of Seroquel® XR 50 mg representing, however, the average of individual profiles related to scenarios differing by number, frequency and time of contraction stress. When different scenarios were combined in different proportions, the profiles became closer to the original in vivo profile including a burst between 4 and 5 h, probably, due to stress-events in GI-tract.ConclusionFor establishing IVIVC of oral dosage forms susceptible mechanical stress, a comparison of the deconvoluted individual in vivo profiles with in vitro profiles of different dissolution scenarios can be recommended.

Impact of Film Stress of Field-Plate Dielectric on Electric Characteristics of GaN-HEMTs

This article reports a systematic study focused on the mechanical stress effect of field-plate dielectric film on the electric characteristics of AlGaN/GaN high-electron mobility transistors (HEMTs). AlGaN/GaN HEMTs were fabricated on SiC substrates, where the stress of a SiN field-plate dielectric film ranged from -252 (compressive) to +26.5 (tensile) MPa. Si-rich and compressive SiN films exhibited a significant increase in the isolation leakage. On the other hand, relatively N-rich and tensile SiN films showed a significant increase in the gate leakage current of HEMTs. In addition, pulsed I-V measurements showed the suppression in the current collapse by increasing the tensile stress. Consequently, small current collapse and small gate leakage current were obtained simultaneously with good isolation, as the film stress was optimized.

Effect of light and mechanical stress in combination with chemical elicitors on the production of stilbene compounds and defensive responses in peanut hairy root culture

Plants encounter diverse stressors simultaneously with changing environmental factors. The combined effect of different types of stresses can have a wide range of effects on plants. The present study demonstrated that various stress factors such as the combination of chemical elicitors, namely paraquat (PQ), methyl jasmonate (MeJA) and methyl-β-cyclodextrin (CD), light exposure versus darkness, and mechanical shearing stress affected the defence response in peanut hairy root culture. The antioxidant activities were dramatically increased at all time points after hairy roots were subjected to elicitation with PQ + MeJA + CD under root cutting in both light and dark conditions. The stilbene compounds were highly increased in the culture medium after elicitor treatment of uncut hairy roots under dark conditions. In contrast to the high stilbene contents detected in culture medium under dark conditions, the transcription of the stilbene biosynthesis genes PAL, RS and RS3 was enhanced by the effect of light in uncut hairy root tissues. The antioxidant enzyme genes APX, GPX and CuZn-SOD of uncut and cut hairy roots were more highly expressed in light conditions than in dark conditions. The pathogenesis-related protein (PR)-encoding genes chitinase, PR4A, PR5 and PR10 of uncut hairy roots were highly expressed in response to light conditions compared to dark conditions at all time points. Recent evidence of the production of antioxidant stilbene compounds and defence response genes has implicated plant protective functions through defence responses under different stress challenges. Plant responses might therefore be regulated by the coordination of different signal responses through dynamic pathways.

Effects of mechanical stress on human oral mucosa-derived cells.

Placement of a denture results in the application of mechanical stress (MS), such as occlusal force, onto the oral mucosa beneath the denture. To better understand the molecular mechanism underlying MS-induced inflammation in the oral mucosa, we examined the impact of MS on human oral epithelial cells (HO-1-N-1) and human fibroblasts (HGFs) in this study. MS was applied on HO-1-N-1 and HGFs using a hydrostatic pressure apparatus. The expression and production of inflammatory cytokines and growth factors were examined by real-time RT-PCR and ELISA. MS-induced intracellular signal transduction via MAP kinase (MAPK) was also examined. 1MPa MS resulted in a significant increase in inflammatory cytokines, and 3MPa MS resulted in a significant increase in FGF-2. MS also increased p-38 phosphorylation and the addition of a p-38 inhibitor significantly suppressed the production of inflammatory cytokines. Our study suggested that MS applied through a denture increases the production of inflammatory cytokines from oral mucosal epithelial cells and fibroblasts via the p38 MAPK cascade. These responses to MS likely lead to inflammation of the mucosal tissue beneath dentures. On other hand, up-regulation of growth factors is likely a manifestation of the biological defense mechanism against excessive MS.

Uterine bathing with sonography gel prior to IVF/ICSI-treatment in patients with endometriosis, a multicentre randomised controlled trial.

STUDY QUESTIONWhat is the effect of uterine bathing with sonography gel prior to IVF/ICSI-treatment on live birth rates after fresh embryo transfer in patients with endometriosis?SUMMARY ANSWERAfter formal interim analysis and premature ending of the trial, no significant difference between uterine bathing using a pharmacologically neutral sonography gel compared to a sham procedure on live birth rate after fresh embryo transfer in endometriosis patients (26.7% vs. 15.4%, relative risk (RR) 1.73, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.81–3.72; P-value 0.147) could be found, although the trial was underpowered to draw definite conclusions.WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADYImpaired implantation receptivity contributes to reduced clinical pregnancy rates after IVF/ICSI-treatment in endometriosis patients. Previous studies have suggested a favourable effect of tubal flushing with Lipiodol® on natural conceptions. This benefit might also be explained by enhancing implantation through endometrial immunomodulation. Although recent studies showed no beneficial effect of endometrial scratching, the effect of mechanical stress by intrauterine infusion on the endometrium in endometriosis patients undergoing IVF/ICSI-treatment has not been investigated yet.STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATIONWe performed a multicentre, patient-blinded, randomised controlled trial in which women were randomly allocated to either a Gel Infusion Sonography (GIS, intervention group) or a sham procedure (control group) prior to IVF/ICSI-treatment. Since recruitment was slow and completion of the study was considered unfeasible, the study was halted after inclusion of 112 of the planned 184 women.PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODSWe included infertile women with surgically confirmed endometriosis ASRM stage I–IV undergoing IVF/ICSI-treatment. After informed consent, women were randomised to GIS with intrauterine instillation of ExEm-gel® or sonography with gel into the vagina (sham). This was performed in the cycle preceding the embryo transfer, on the day GnRH analogue treatment was started. The primary endpoint was live birth rate after fresh embryo transfer. Analysis was performed by both intention-to-treat and per-protocol.MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCEBetween July 2014 to September 2018, we randomly allocated 112 women to GIS (n = 60) or sham procedure (n = 52). The live birth rate after fresh embryo transfer was 16/60 (26.7%) after GIS versus 8/52 (15.4%) after the sham (RR 1.73, 95% CI 0.81–3.72; P-value 0.147). Ongoing pregnancy rate was 16/60 (26.7%) after GIS versus 9/52 (17.3%) in the controls (RR 1.54, 95% CI 0.74–3.18). Miscarriage occurred in 1/60 (1.7%) after GIS versus 5/52 (9.6%) in the controls (RR 0.17, 95% CI 0.02–1.44) women. Uterine bathing resulted in a higher pain score compared with a sham procedure (visual analogue scale score 2.7 [1.3–3.5] vs. 1.0 [0.0–2.0], P < 0.001). There were two adverse events after GIS compared with none after sham procedures.LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTIONThe study was terminated prematurely due to slow recruitment and trial fatigue. Therefore, the trial is underpowered to draw definite conclusions regarding the effect of uterine bathing with sonography gel on live birth rate after fresh embryo transfer in endometriosis patients undergoing IVF/ICSI-treatment.WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGSWe could not demonstrate a favourable effect of uterine bathing procedures with sonography gel prior to IVF/ICSI-treatment in patients with endometriosis.STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S)Investigator initiated study. IQ Medical Ventures provided the ExEm FOAM® kits free of charge, they were not involved in the study design, data management, statistical analyses and/or manuscript preparation, etc. C.B.L. reports receiving grants from Ferring, Merck and Guerbet, outside the submitted work. C.B.L. is Editor-in-Chief of Human Reproduction. V.M. reports grants and other from Guerbet, outside the submitted work. B.W.M. reports grants from NHMRC (GNT1176437), personal fees from ObsEva, Merck and Merck KGaA, Guerbet and iGenomix, outside the submitted work. N.P.J. reports research funding from Abb-Vie and Myovant Sciences and consultancy for Vifor Pharma, Guerbet, Myovant Sciences and Roche Diagnostics, outside the submitted work. K.D. reports personal fees from Guerbet, outside the submitted work. The other authors do not report any conflicts of interest. No financial support was provided.TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBERNL4025 (NTR4198)TRIAL REGISTRATION DATE7 October 2013DATE OF FIRST PATIENT’S ENROLMENT22 July 2014

Do membrane filtration systems in drinking water treatment plants release nano/microplastics?

Drinking water treatment plants (DWTPs) are thought to be able to remove many micropollutants including nanoplastics (NPs) and microplastics (MPs). However, few studies have focused on the water treatment process itself producing NPs and/or MPs. This paper discussed the possibility of releasing NPs and MPs from organic membranes in drinking water treatment plants. The effects of physical cleaning, chemical agents, mechanical stress, aging, and wear on the possibility of membrane breach during long-term use were analyzed. Further analysis based on membrane aging mechanisms and material properties revealed that the membrane filtration systems could release NPs/MPs to drinking water supply networks. Although the toxicity of membrane materials to human body needs further study, the action that should be taken to treat the release of NPs/MPs in DWTPs cannot be ignored: (1) in-depth study of the generation and release mechanisms of NPs/MPs; (2) reconsideration of membrane life cycle design; (3) determination of NPs/MPs concentration limits in drinking water through toxicity assessment; (4) accelerating development of biomembrane and inorganic membrane materials; and (5) unification of NPs/MPs sampling and testing standard. Accordingly, more research needs to be conducted to investigate the release of NPs and/or MPs from DWTPs.

Effect of mechanical stress on electrochemical corrosion of X65 carbon steel in CO2 saturated brine

Abstract Applied mechanical stress could accelerate the chemical or electrochemical process of metal corrosion in weak acid solution. Series of experimental tests were conducted in this research. The results show that there is no obvious correlation between OCP (open circuit potential) values and applied stresses. However, The LPR (linear polarization resistance)corrosion rate increased intensively under the applied stress of 400 MPa. Correspondingly, the EIS (electrochemical impedance spectroscopy) Nyquist diagrams show that all of the plots contain a semicircle over the whole frequency range and the semicircle size decreased with increasing applied stress. The real-time corrosion current square waves triggered by the mechanical stress were successfully monitored by using the potentiostatic method in CO2 saturated brine under 200 mv (above OCP), flow and lower pH condition. This result is significant for many research fields, such as petrochemistry, aerospace and nuclear industries, which suffer weak acid corrosive environment.

Mechanical stress regulates autophagic flux to affect apoptosis after spinal cord injury.

Increased mechanical stress after spinal cord injury (SCI) expands the scope of nerve tissue damage and exacerbates nerve function defects. Surgical decompression after SCI is a conventional therapeutic strategy and has been proven to have neuroprotective effects. However, the mechanisms of the interaction between mechanical stress and neurons are currently unknown. In this study, we monitored intramedullary pressure (IMP) and investigated the therapeutic benefit of decompression (including durotomy and piotomy) after injury and its underlying mechanisms in SCI. We found that decreased IMP promotes the generation and degradation of LC3 II, promotes the degradation of p62 and enhances autophagic flux to alleviate apoptosis. The lysosomal dysfunction was reduced after decompression. Piotomy was better than durotomy for the histological repair of spinal cord tissue after SCI. However, the autophagy‐lysosomal pathway inhibitor chloroquine (CQ) partially reversed the apoptosis inhibition caused by piotomy after SCI, and the structural damage was also aggravated after CQ administration. An antibody microarray analysis showed that decompression may reverse the up‐regulated abundance of p‐PI3K, p‐AKT and p‐mTOR caused by SCI. Our findings may contribute to a better understanding of the mechanism of decompression and the effects of mechanical stress on autophagy after SCI.

Effects of mechanical stress on protective properties of a marine coating on mild steel substrate

The degradation behaviour of a marine epoxy coating on Q235 steel under mechanical stress in 3.5 % NaCl solution was investigated by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and adhesion tests. Results revealed that mechanical stress had a significant effect on coating barrier properties, adhesion, delaminated area, water uptake and diffusion, and this effect was not only related to the magnitude and direction of stress, but depended on immersion time. The coating under mechanical stress, regardless of stress direction, deteriorated faster than that under unstressed state. The disparity in changing trends of water uptake and diffusion coefficient with mechanical stress was also discussed.

Mechanistic study of model drug release from HPMC matrices in fed gastric media

Modified release (MR) formulations can persist in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) for longer periods, being exposed to many variable conditions. After food intake, the gastric motility elevates and prolonged stress on the stomach content is expected. In this study, combination of food and mechanical stress effect on the model drug (paracetamol) release from HPMC matrix tablets was studied. Dissolution tests under simulated fed conditions were performed in the paddle apparatus (USP2) and reciprocating cylinder (USP3) and compared to the biorelevant dissolution model – the advanced gastric simulator (AGS). The absence of the mechanical stress in the conventional dissolution apparatuses caused apparently higher influence of the fed media (with high fat and protein content) on dissolution rate, possibly due to the deposition of poorly soluble fed media components onto the tablet surface – a process, which is unlikely to happen in vivo. Moreover, our results also indicate that the static apparatuses may have only a poor ability to identify the less robust formulations in the presence of osmotically active ingredients in the fed media. The present study therefore demonstrates that the use of mechanically bio-relevant dissolution apparatus, like the AGS, can provide an important additional insight into the interactions between food components and HPMC matrix tablets in the stomach.

Effects of conjoint mechanical and chemical stress on perfluorosulfonic-acid membranes for fuel cells

To improve the lifetime of proton-exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells, it is necessary to provide a better understanding of the degradation mechanisms of the perfluorosulfonic acid (PFSA) membranes during fuel cell operation. Despite quantities of work focusing independently on chemical or mechanical degradation, only a few concerned the effect of both combined. The purpose of this study is to analyze the effects of conjoint chemical and mechanical stress on PFSA membranes via an ex-situ approach. First, an investigation of the effects of chemical degradation by radical attacks (i.e. exposure to Fenton reagents) on PFSA membranes was carried out. The results confirm that the chemical decomposition of PFSA membranes is significantly influenced by the concentration of Fenton's reagents, both chemically and morphologically. Second, a custom-made device was developed to examine the impact of coupled chemical and mechanical degradations. The initial results show that fully hydrated membranes seem to withstand severe sinusoidal constraints as no crack formed. However, the application of cyclic compression resulted in accelerated chemical decomposition of PFSA membranes. The results also demonstrate that some microstructural changes can appear and lead to a slight increase in the hydrogen crossover that can be detected before it impacts the cell performances.

Effect of mechanical stresses on the domain structure of barium titanate single crystals

This review article summarizes the material of years of research on the impact of mechanical stresses on the domain structure of multiaxhetoelectrics using the example of barium titanium monocrystals. Since the discovery of the ferroelectric properties of barium titanate in 1944, this material has been the subject of comprehensive investigation as the first practically important and perhaps the most famous ferroelectric. The domain structure of barium titanate is sensitive to mechanical stresses arising both from simple uniaxial compression and from point impacts by local mechanical loading. Mechanical stress applied to a ferroelectric crystal may have a significant effect on dielectric and piezoelectric properties. In particular, 90-degree domain switching is possible under the influence of stresses. The most interesting experimental results are obtained in the study of elastoplastic processes in BaTiO 3 originating from local mechanical stresses. The following features are found and studied: development of strained region around the point of application of the load; “internal” 90-degree domain that does not extend to the crystal surfaces and does not close upon other domains; the growth of 90-degree domains under the influence of residual mechanical stresses; growth of cracks along charged 90-degree domain walls. The notions of “ferroplastic effect” (crystal deformation due to the formation of 90-degree ferroelectric domains) and “ferromechanical effect” (crack formation and growth along charged 90-degree domain walls) are introduced. The hypothesis of a significant role of oxygen vacancies in the processes of 90-degree domain reorientation was put forward and experimentally confirmed. In particular, an increase in the concentration of oxygen vacancies by reducing annealing of barium titanate single crystals creates more favorable conditions for the appearance of an "internal" 90-degree domain under local mechanical load. The study of the mechanisms governing the formation of a domain structure in ferroelectric crystals remains an important problem of modern materials science.

Effect of mechanical stress on electrochemical corrosion of X65 carbon steel in CO2 saturated brine

Abstract Applied mechanical stress could accelerate the chemical or electrochemical process of metal corrosion in weak acid solution. Series of experimental tests were conducted in this research. The results show that there is no obvious correlation between OCP (open circuit potential) values and applied stresses. However, The LPR (linear polarization resistance)corrosion rate increased intensively under the applied stress of 400 MPa. Correspondingly, the EIS (electrochemical impedance spectroscopy) Nyquist diagrams show that all of the plots contain a semicircle over the whole frequency range and the semicircle size decreased with increasing applied stress. The real-time corrosion current square waves triggered by the mechanical stress were successfully monitored by using the potentiostatic method in CO2 saturated brine under 200 mv (above OCP), flow and lower pH condition. This result is significant for many research fields, such as petrochemistry, aerospace and nuclear industries, which suffer weak acid corrosive environment.

Development of a Flexible Tunable and Compact Microstrip Antenna via Laser Assisted Patterning of Copper Film

Design and rapid prototyping of a tunable and compact microstrip antenna for industrial, scientific and medical (ISM) band applications is presented in this paper. Laser machining is introduced as a fast and accurate method for the antenna fabrication. The antenna, with an overall dimension of 65 × 46 × 0.127 mm, was fabricated by sandwiching a flexible Kapton polyimide substrate, with a dielectric constant of 3.5, between two flexible copper tapes, as the radiating patch and ground plane, respectively. The radiating patch was patterned in a meander configuration,with three slots, demonstrating the capability to reduce the resonant frequency of the microstrip antenna from 2.4 GHz to 900 MHz, without increasing the overall size of the antenna (87% compact). The effect of mechanical stress on the antenna performance was investigated by performing bend and stretch tests. The antenna was subjected to compressive bend with a minimum radius of curvature of 86 mm and 150 mm along the x-axis and y-axis which resulted in a maximum increase of resonant frequency by 3.1% and 1.3%, respectively. Similarly, the antenna was subjected to tensile bend with a minimum radius of curvature of 79 mm and 162 mm along the x-axis and y-axis which resulted in a maximum decrease of the resonant frequency by 4.2% and 0.3%, respectively. An overall 0.9% decrease in the resonant frequency was measured for an applied strain of 0.09% during stretching the antenna along the y-axis.