Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing a waterproof organic thin film being capable of restraining the generation of defects such as a crack. The method for producing a waterproof organic thin film includes a waterproofing step of preparing a long laminate having an organic thin film and bringing at least the organic thin film into contact with a waterproofing-treatment liquid, a washing step of washing at least the organic thin film surface of the long laminate, and a conveying step to be performed between the waterproofing step and the washing step, the conveying step being a step of conveying the long laminate from the waterproofing step to the washing step, wherein in the conveying step, the long laminate is conveyed while the waterproofing-treatment liquid remaining on the organic thin film surface is caused to flow relatively to the organic thin film surface.

Abstract: The invention relates to polymerizates that can be obtained by a) reacting at least one polyisocyanate with at least one polyol and optionally at least one radically curable monomer A with groups reactive toward isocyanate in at least one radically curable monomer B to form polyurethane particles having an average diameter of less than 40 nm, preferably less than 20 nm, and especially preferably less than 10 nm and an average number of radically curable functionalities in a range of 2 to 4, preferably 2 to 3, and b) emulsion polymerizing the product obtained under a). By means of the emulsion polymerization, larger cross-linked polyurethane/polymer hybrid dispersions are produced, in which the nanoparticles act as a connecting member between the polymer areas and the polyurethane components.

Abstract: This invention is related to controlled release formulations of volatile antimicrobial compounds against pathogens affecting meats, plants, or plant parts or dairy products. Provided are delivery systems in the form of coatings or films, where controlled release of their volatile components in vapor form is triggered by high relative humidity. The volatile component may include, for example volatile antimicrobial liquids including low molecular weight alcohols and/or aldehydes, 1-methylcyclopropene, and/or other volatile fungicides.

Abstract: A coating solution is applied to a web to form a coating layer. Then the web is transported into a drying apparatus, in which a guide roller guides the web such that an angle of the web to a horizontal direction is smaller downstream from the guide roller. The angles at entrance and exit of the drying apparatus are named entrance and exit angles ?1, ?3, respectively, and satisfy a condition ?1>?3. The coating layer has the temperature T1 at the entrance, the temperature T2 at the exit, and the temperature T3 in the drying apparatus. The differences |T2?T1| and |T3?T1| are at most 5° C. In the drying apparatus, as the organic solvent evaporates uniformly, the generation of the unevenness is reduced. Thereafter, the drying is made at the large drying speed in the blow-drying apparatus to obtain a film product.

Abstract: A dip-coating process includes immersing a member to be coated in a coating solution in a coating vessel and lifting the member to be coated while covering a side surface of the member to be coated with a telescopic sliding hood to form a coating film on a surface of the member to be coated. The telescopic sliding hood includes a plurality of tubular members connected so that their diameters successively decrease upward in a dip-coating direction, and can cover the side surface of the member to be coated by extending in association with the movement of the member to be coated during the lift of the member to be coated. While the member to be coated is being lifted, a downward airflow in the dip-coating direction is generated in a gap between an inner surface of the telescopic sliding hood and the member to be coated to discharge solvent vapor to outside the telescopic sliding hood.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the production of crystal layers or bulk crystals of group III nitride or of mixtures of different group III nitrides by means of precipitation, at a first temperature T1 in a first temperature range, from a group-III containing fused metal on a group-III-nitride crystal seed placed in the fused metal or on a foreign substrate placed in the fused metal, with the admixture of nitrogen in the fused metal at a pressure P. With the method a solvent additive is added to the fused metal which increases the conversion rate of group III metal to group III nitride in the fused metal. The fused metal runs through at least one temperature cycle with a first and a second process phase in which cycle the fused metal cools after the first process phase from the first temperature to a second temperature T2 below the first temperature range and at the end of the second process phase is heated from the second temperature back to a temperature within the first temperature range.

Abstract: A method of locally repairing an aluminide coating (50) on a gas turbine engine nozzle guide vane (26) or a turbine blade (30,30B) comprises removing a damaged portion of the aluminide coating (50) from a portion (53) of the surface of the article. Any oxidised layer (54) is removed from the portion (53) of the surface of the article. Stoichiometric amounts of nickel and aluminium are placed on the portion (53) of the surface of the article using at least one foil (57). The stoichiometric amounts of nickel and aluminium are heat treated to form an aluminide patch coating (50B) on the portion (53) of the surface of the article and to bond the aluminide patch coating (50B) to the portion (53) of the surface of the article and to the aluminide coating (50) surrounding the aluminide patch coating (50B). The advantage is that the aluminide coating (50) surrounding the aluminide patch coating (50B) is not over aluminised.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of forming multilayer coating film of excellent appearance by 3-coat-1-bake system, comprising successively applying onto a coating object, a water-based intermediate paint, water-based base paint and a clear paint; and then simultaneously heat-curing the resulting 3-layered coating film.

Abstract: A system and process for removing an inorganic salt from a catalyst roaster belt is disclosed. The system includes an apparatus with a drying vessel having a catalyst roaster belt inlet, a catalyst roaster belt outlet, a heating medium inlet, and a heating medium outlet, wherein the catalyst roaster belt inlet and the catalyst roaster belt outlet are spaced apart along a first direction, the heating medium inlet and the heating medium outlet are spaced apart along a second direction, the heating medium inlet is spaced apart from the catalyst roaster belt inlet in the second direction, and the catalyst roaster belt inlet is between the heating medium inlet and the heating medium outlet along the second direction. The system includes an acid bath and a moveable catalyst roaster belt extending from the acid bath through the catalyst roaster belt inlet and through the catalyst roaster belt outlet.

Abstract: In a coating zone, a cylindrical tube is soaked in and taken out from a solution, such that a coating film is formed on a curved surface of the tube. In a wet gas zone, while a first gas feeding nozzle having a gas outlet moves in a state where the gas outlet faces an outer peripheral surface of the tube, wet gas is blown toward the coating film through the gas outlet. Water drops are generated on the coating film and grown up. In a dry gas zone, as in the case of the first gas feeding nozzle, while a second gas feeding nozzle having a gas outlet moves, dry gas is blown toward the coating film through the gas outlet. Solvent and water drops are evaporated from the coating film. Pores form from the water drops as a template for the porous material on the coating film.

Abstract: Apparatus for continuous coating has a chamber wall which forms a processing chamber, thermal insulation which forms a processing area within the chamber, a transportation device for substrates located in the processing area with a substrate transportation direction of the substrates lying in the lengthwise extension of the apparatus for continuous coating, and heating equipment which heats the substrates, is designed to minimize unwanted coating, in particular of parts of the apparatus, in order to minimize the expense of maintaining and servicing the apparatus A condensation element is positioned in the processing chamber, which extends into the processing area and binds the arising vapor through condensation.

Abstract: The process for manufacturing a platinum temperature-measuring resistance element comprises the step of preparing a thermosensitive part having a portion to be sealed coated with a glaze; the step of placing a pre-sealing element on a tray and inserting the same in a chamber; the step of enclosing a purge gas containing an inert gas and oxygen in the chamber; the step of raising the internal temperature of the chamber to a region in which the platinum is in reduced form at a partial pressure of oxygen in the purge gas as determined from platinum oxide formation free energy; the step of replacing the purge gas with an inert gas wherein oxygen is 1 kPa or below; and the step of under the replaced condition, rapidly heating the furnace interior (interior of the chamber) to a fit melting temperature by means of a lamp heating unit to thereby seal the portion to be sealed of the thermosensitive part.

Abstract: Devices and methods for applying a coating to an implantable device are disclosed. A method for applying a coating to an implantable device is disclosed. The method includes positioning an implantable device relative to a material delivery apparatus. A spray pattern of an application material is produced using the material delivery apparatus. At least a portion of the spray pattern is deflected using a focusing assembly.

Abstract: A technology can efficiently dry the high-boiling point solvent contained in the object and achieve the space-saving and energy-saving of a drying apparatus. A drying method for drying an object containing a first solvent while conveying the object into a chamber (38), comprises: a first drying step of drying the object up to a drying point in the prestage of the chamber (38); and a second drying step of forming a vapor atmosphere of a second solvent having a lower boiling point than the first solvent in the chamber (38) and drying the object such that the temperature of the object in an inlet port of the chamber (38) is made to be lower by a predetermined temperature difference than the temperature of the vapor atmosphere.

Abstract: A drain port and an exhaust port arranged at the bottom of a cup surrounding a substrate holding unit. A drainage tray is arranged below the cup so as to cover the moving area of the drain port when the substrate holding unit and the cup move in X-directions and Y-directions. An exhaust unit is arranged at a position corresponding to the position of the exhaust port of the cup when the substrate holding unit is in its spin-drying position. The exhaust unit is connected to the exhaust port to suck the interior of the cup when the spin-drying of the substrate is executed. The use of a flexible tube which is always connected to the exhaust port is no longer necessary.

Abstract: A method for making a positive photosensitive planographic printing plate including of a base having formed thereon in this order an undercoat layer and an image recording layer, wherein the undercoat layer is obtained by applying an undercoat layer solution containing a solvent and an acrylic resin having an alkali-soluble group, followed by drying the coating, the image recording layer contains a novolac resin and an infrared absorbing agent, and the applied undercoat layer solution is dried in an undercoat layer drying step which includes a steam-containing hot air drying step using steam-containing hot air having a temperature of 90° C. to 200° C., and a relative humidity of 8% to 70%.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method for the manufacture of coating or doctoring blades, wherein an elastomeric wear-resistant material at the blade tip is provided in a continuous process. During the manufacturing, the thickness of the applied elastomeric material is determined by winding the blade (containing the applied polymer composition) into a coil before the applied composition is fully cured. Successive turns of the coil are separated by a distance which is smaller than the initial thickness of the applied composition, such that the only partly cured composition is deformed by adjacent turns of the coil into the desired thickness and/or shape.

Abstract: Described is a method for preparing a coating composition comprising a fluorine and silicon containing polymer, with a reactive diluent, and optionally non-reactive oligomeric additives, crosslinkers, or inorganic particles, which upon curing provides coatings with a good balance of adhesion, mechanical properties, scratch resistance, low surface energy, repellency, and transparency. The coatings are useful as a topcoat, particularly in optical applications.

Abstract: In a liquid processing apparatus for forming a coating film on a polygonal substrate by spin coating in an ambient with a descending clean air flow, a spin chuck includes a support plate for substantially horizontally supporting the substrate thereon. Air flow control members are provided on the spin chuck such that the air flow control member being disposed adjacent to a periphery of the polygonal substrate supported on the spin chuck, wherein the air flow control member is not provided near corner portions of the substrate supported on the spin chuck. The liquid processing apparatus may includes an air flow regulation ring which is provided with an air inlet having an opening surrounding an outer periphery of the air flow control member, wherein the air inlet communicates with the exhaust unit.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an endless belt member is provided, the method including: applying a film forming resin solution onto a surface of a cylindrical core body; drying the film forming resin solution applied on the core body while rotating the core body around an axial direction of the core body; providing a shielding member to one end side of the core body in the axial direction, the shielding member shielding a wind fed from the one end side; and manufacturing an endless belt member on which the film forming resin is solidified, by putting the core body to which the shielding member is provided into a heating furnace equipped with a blowing part that blows a hot air from the one end side, and heating the core body.

Abstract: The resist coating unit (COT) has a spin chuck (41) which holds the wafer to be supplied with a resist liquid, and a process cup (50) which accommodates the spin chuck (41) and exhaustes an atmosphere around the wafer W from a bottom thereof. The process cup (50) comprises a first cup (51) with an outer circumferential wall (61a), and an airflow control member (52) laid out close to the wafer W in the first cup (51) in such a manner as to surround the wafer W. The airflow control member (52) has a vertical cross section of an approximately rectangular shape defined by the upper ring portion (62a) having a cross section of an approximately triangular shape and protruding upward, and a lower ring portion (62b) having a cross section of an approximately triangular shape and protruding downward. An exhaust passage (55) for substantially exhausting the atmosphere around the wafer W is formed between the outer circumferential wall (61a) and the airflow control member (52).

Abstract: According to the drying method and apparatus of the present invention, at first, the coated film on one end side of the support is more quickly dried than that on the other end side, because drying air is supplied from one end side of the support. Subsequently, the coated film on the other end side of the support is more quickly dried than that on one end side, because drying air is supplied from the other end side of the support. Accordingly, the method and the apparatus can diminish a difference between drying rates in on one end side and in the other end side of the long support, in the whole drying zone. Thus, the method and the apparatus can uniformly dry the support and inhibit the production of a dry spot.

Abstract: In a drying method of an aspect of the present invention, drying steps are conducted immediately after coating in a drying zone, and during the execution of drying by blowing the one-way flow drying wind flowing from one edge side to another edge side in the width direction of the continuous support, the windless drying step is conducted in a windless drying zone provided in the drying zone where the drying wind is not blown.

Abstract: A method for preparing carpet by using polyurethane to anneal secondary backing to a greige, comprising fibers attached to a primary backing. The polyurethane monomers are mixed just prior to application to the greige primary backing allowing the relatively low viscosity polyurethane to penetrate the fibers of the primary backing to aid in fiber lock. The polyurethane is puddle between two rollers that coat a layer of polyurethane onto the greige. The polyurethane coated greige is then contacted with the secondary backing before complete polymerization to insure sufficient tack to hold the backings together resulting in a durable carpet requiring a relatively low weight of polyurethane monomers.

Abstract: Processes for coating implantable medical devices that improve the stability of therapeutic agents contained within the coating.

Abstract: An optical compensatory sheet producing apparatus produces an optical compensatory sheet having a liquid crystal layer. In the apparatus, a rubbing unit is supplied with resin film having a first layer including resin, and subjects the first layer to a rubbing process, so as to form an orientation layer. A dust remover removes dust from the orientation layer by use of liquid such as perfluorocarbon, to which the orientation layer is insoluble. A liquid crystal layer coater is disposed downstream from the dust remover, for coating the orientation layer with coating liquid including liquid crystalline compound, so that the liquid crystal layer is formed.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for the controlled assembly of layered silk fibroin coatings using aqueous silk fibroin material. The methods described herein can be used to coat substrates of any material, shape, or size. Importantly, the described methods enable control of the biomaterial surface chemistry, thickness, morphology and structure using layered thin film coatings, or bulk coatings. Furthermore, the methods can be performed in all water and do not require intensive chemical processing enabling controlled entrapment of labile molecules such as, drugs, cytokines, and even cells or viruses to generate functional coatings that can be used in a variety of applications.

Abstract: A method of imparting a non-stick coating to a surface of an aluminum foil sheet, and the resulting foil sheet. The method involves coating at least part (preferably at least 40%) of an area of a surface of a metal sheet article (preferably an aluminum foil sheet) with a substantially solvent-free silicone oil at an average coating application rate in a range of 1.5 to 10 mg/ft2 of the coated surface area. The coated sheet article is then preferably coiled. The coated sheet article is then heated in the presence of air or oxygen at a temperature of 250° C. or higher for a period of time of at least 10 minutes. The treated surface is both non-stick and food-friendly.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a hot air drier assembly for a solvent and waterborne paint spray booth for drying a substrate coated with liquid waterborne basecoat located inside the spray booth, comprising: a free-standing portable heat exchange device with a hot air outlet directed towards the substrate and a heat exchange fluid heating device located remotely from the paint spray booth and in fluid communication with the heat exchange device via heat exchange fluid conduits which are in fluid communication with heat exchange fluid conducting tubes for heating spray booth air directed from the spray booth air intake to the heat is exchange chamber and out the hot air outlet. The disclosure additionally relates to a paint spray booth incorporating the hot air drier assembly and methods for drying a substrate using the hot air drier assembly.

Abstract: A process for the production of a honeycomb-like porous body of 10 to 1000 nm in thickness which is made of a water-insoluble polymer and has pores having diameters of 10 to 100 nm, which comprises the following steps: (1) the step of dissolving a water-insoluble polymer in a water-incompatible organic solvent having a surface tension (?L) of 50 dyne/cm or below to prepare a solution of the polymer in the organic solvent, (2) the step of applying the solution prepared in the step (1) to the surface of a substrate with the proviso that the surface tension (?S) of the substrate, the surface tension (?L) of the organic solvent, and the surface tension (?SL) between the substrate and the solvent satisfy the relationship: ?S??SL>?L, and (3) the step of bringing the solution applied on the substrate into contact with air having a relative humidity of 30% or above to evaporate the organic solvent at such a rate that the coating thickness at applying the solution to the surface of the substrate is reduced to one-f

Abstract: An improved weathered stone panel is provided that is strong and durable, but flexible enough to accommodate curved surfaces, is suitable for water-based applications, and is lighter and less costly to ship while still maintaining the aesthetically pleasing smooth texture of the panel. The improved method for manufacturing a weathered stone panel includes preparing a base mixture comprising wood glue and plaster of paris and applying the base mixture to a substrate. The method further includes cutting the substrate to create panels of a desired size, applying light air movement to the panels until the panels are dry, applying an acrylic base to the panels, applying light air movement to the panels until the panels are dry, cutting the panels to preferred sizes, manipulating the panels by hand until at least one crack is created in each panel, applying a glaze to the panels for coloring, and finally drying the panels.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the production of crystal layers or bulk crystals of group III nitride or of mixtures of different group III nitrides by means of precipitation, at a first temperature T1 in a first temperature range, from a group-III containing fused metal on a group-III-nitride crystal seed placed in the fused metal or on a foreign substrate placed in the fused metal, with the admixture of nitrogen in the fused metal at a pressure P. With the method a solvent additive is added to the fused metal which increases the conversion rate of group III metal to group III nitride in the fused metal. The fused metal runs through at least one temperature cycle with a first and a second process phase in which cycle the fused metal cools after the first process phase from the first temperature to a second temperature T2 below the first temperature range and at the end of the second process phase is heated from the second temperature back to a temperature within the first temperature range.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for selectively placing carbon nanotubes on a substrate surface by using functionalized carbon nanotubes having an organic compound that is covalently bonded to such carbon nanotubes. The organic compound comprises at least two functional groups, the first of which is capable of forming covalent bonds with carbon nanotubes, and the second of which is capable of selectively bonding metal oxides. Such functionalized carbon nanotubes are contacted with a substrate surface that has at least one portion containing a metal oxide. The second functional group of the organic compound selectively bonds to the metal oxide, so as to selectively place the functionalized carbon nanotubes on the at least one portion of the substrate surface that comprises the metal oxide.

Abstract: An environmentally-friendly method is disclosed for transforming preserved wood, for example creosote-treated or CCA-treated wood with supercritical water. The product of treating weathered creosote-treated wood is a mixture that is similar to fresh creosote. The novel system is akin to a closed-loop system for recovering and rejuvenating creosote. In another aspect of the invention, acidic supercritical water is used to extract copper, chromium, and arsenic from CCA-treated wood, or more generally, to extract metals from an organic matrix.

Abstract: A method of forming a coating for an implantable medical device, such as a stent, is provided which includes applying a composition to the device in an environment having a selected pressure.

Abstract: A method for heating and fixing an inking, particularly a toner powder on a plate-shaped support. Heat is applied and fixes the inking to a coated upper side of the support. The method of this invention can be used to fix and adhere toner inkings on thick-walled supports. In one method step of this invention, the coated upper side and/or an uncoated underside of the plate-shaped support each is subjected to infrared radiation and/or a hot air stream and/or a microwave radiation. At least a portion of the infrared radiation and/or the hot air stream and/or the microwave radiation directed onto the uncoated underside of the support passes through while another portion is absorbed, such as if the support has a high weight per unit area of the support. A ceramic or thermosetting toner forms the applied ink.

Abstract: The present invention provides a continuous process for producing catalyst-coated polymeric electrolyte membranes and membrane electrode assemblies for fuel cells. The process of the invention uses an ionomer membrane having a polymeric backing film on the back side. After the first coating step, the membrane is dried, during which the residual solvent may be almost completely removed. After this, the polymeric backing film is removed and the back side of the membrane is coated in a second step. The front and back sides of the membrane can be coated by various methods, such as screen printing or stencil printing. Two gas distribution layers are applied to the two sides of the catalyst-coated membrane to produce a 5-layer membrane electrode assembly. The membrane electrode assemblies are used in polymeric electrolyte membrane fuel cells and in direct methanol fuel cells.

Abstract: A method of forming a rhenium layer on a substrate, comprising: applying a solid rhenium-containing compound to a substrate; reducing at a temperature above ambient temperature the rhenium-containing compound so that a rhenium layer is formed on the substrate; and optionally, repeating applying additional rhenium-containing compound on at least a section of the rhenium layer, and reducing at a temperature above ambient temperature the additional rhenium-containing compound so that a thicker layer of rhenium is formed.

Abstract: Silicon carbide structures are fabricated by fabricating a nitrided oxide layer on a layer of silicon carbide and annealing the nitrided oxide layer in an environment containing hydrogen. Such a fabrication of the nitrided oxide layer may be provided by forming the oxide layer in at least one of nitric oxide and nitrous oxide and/or annealing an oxide layer in at least one of nitric oxide and nitrous oxide. Alternatively, the nitrided oxide layer may be provided by fabricating an oxide layer and fabricating a nitride layer on the oxide layer so as to provide the nitrided oxide layer on which the nitride layer is fabricated. Furthermore, annealing the oxide layer may be provided as a separate step and/or substantially concurrently with another step such as fabricating the nitride layer or performing a contact anneal. The hydrogen environment may be pure hydrogen, hydrogen combined with other gases and/or result from a hydrogen precursor. Anneal temperatures of 400° C. or greater are preferred.

Abstract: An article having an internal passage therein and an internal article surface is coated by providing a coating slurry that is a mixture of a deposition source including a source of aluminum, a halide activator, and a flowable carrier comprising a flowable compound selected from the group consisting of a flowable organic compound and a flowable inorganic compound. There is no oxide dispersant in the coating slurry. The coating slurry is introduced into the internal passage and dried to remove at least a portion of the carrier therefrom and leave a dried coating material. The article surface in gaseous communication with the dried coating material is heated to form an aluminum-containing coating bonded to the article surface. Any residual dried coating material is removed by blowing compressed air through the internal passage.

Abstract: A process for coating a substrate is provided which includes the following steps: (a) applying a waterborne base coat composition to a surface of the substrate; (b) applying infrared radiation at a power density of 1.5–30.0 kW/m2 and a first air stream simultaneously to the base coat composition such that a pre-dried base coat is formed upon the surface of the substrate; and (c) applying a second air stream in the absence of infrared radiation to the base coat composition such that a dried base coat is formed upon the surface of the substrate. Various embodiments of the invention are disclosed including continuous, batch, and semi-batch processes, which may include additional process steps, such as subsequent application of a topcoat. The process may be used to coat a variety of metal and polymeric substrates, for example, those associated with the body of a motor vehicle.

Abstract: A method of and an apparatus for coating a substrate with a polymer solution to produce a film of uniform thickness, includes mounting the substrate inside an enclosed housing and passing a control gas, which may be a solvent vapor-bearing gas into the housing through an inlet. The polymer solution is deposited onto the surface of the substrate in the housing and the substrate is then spun. The control gas and any solvent vapor and particulate contaminants suspended in the control gas are exhausted from the housing through an outlet and the solvent vapor concentration is controlled by controlling the temperature of the housing and the solvent from which the solvent vapor-bearing gas is produced. Instead the concentration can be controlled by mixing gases having different solvent concentrations. The humidity of the gas may also be controlled.

Abstract: The present invention uniformly dries, in a clean room in which down flow is constituted, a coated film formed on a surface of a substrate held in a state that the coated surface faces down. In a coating apparatus including an absorption board holding a substrate in a state that its surface to be coated looks down, and a coating mechanism that coats with coating liquid the surface to be coated of the substrate held by this absorption board, there is provided an air current generating apparatus which supplies clean gas toward the surface to be coated.

Abstract: A method of forming a fluorescent screen where a pigment film and a fluorescent film are deposited on a surface of a light transmissive substrate, is presented. The method includes coating a pigment dispersion liquid on the surface of the light transmissive substrate to form a coated film and forming the pigment film by drying the coated film. The drying of the coated film is performed under conditions that a temperature of the corner portions of the light transmissive substrate is controlled to 36° C. to 50° C.

Abstract: The invention is a method of monitoring a filter for absorbing paint particles produced during spray painting with a spray gun in a paint spray booth coupled to an exhaust pump, the method includes the steps of: 1) installing a filter between the booth and exhaust pump; 2) determining the initial pressure drop across a filter prior to use of the spray booth; 3) determining the maximum allowable pressure drop for the filter prior to the requirement that spraying activities must be terminated by adding the initial pressure drop of the filter to the maximum allowable increase in pressure drop across the filter before the of spraying activities must be terminated; 4) providing a warning when a first portion of the maximum allowable pressure drop is reached; and 5) preventing the use of the spray gun when a second portion, greater than the first portion, of the maximum allowable pressure drop is reached.

Abstract: A system and method for applying a material for improving the adhesion between the surface of thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO) elements and a coating applied thereto is disclosed. The system comprises the mixing of an adhesion promoter with de-ionized water and applying it to the surface of the TPO elements to be coated. Preferably, the application occurs in an atmospherically controlled enclosure. The application of the adhesion promoter is preferably accomplished by distributing the mixture over the TPO elements through a series of nozzles. Multiple parameters of the application system may be monitored and regulated. Upon completion of the application process, the treated TPO elements are preferably dried in an oven, leaving a thin layer of adhesion promoter over the surface thereof.

Abstract: An economical process for creating decorative and/or functional finishes on chrome, involves formation of a polyurethane film on the chrome substrate, wherein a strong and durable adhesion between the polyurethane film and the metal substrate is achieved by employing a silane adhesion promoter. Specific embodiments involve the use of an aromatic amine functional silane-coupling agent and/or an epoxy functional silane-coupling agent to achieve excellent adhesion between the polyurethane film and a chrome surface.

Abstract: An aluminiding process that enables the cooling holes of an air-cooled component, such as a hot gas path component of a gas turbine engine, to be machined and then aluminized after all external surface coatings have been deposited. The aluminide coating is deposited using a slurry process capable of forming the aluminide coating on the component without damaging an existing ceramic coating on the component. The process involves applying an activator-free slurry containing aluminum particles that, when the component is sufficiently heated, melt and diffuse into the component surface to form the diffusion aluminide coating.

Abstract: A method of forming a coating for an implantable medical device, such as a stent, is provided which includes applying a composition to the device in an environment having a selected pressure. An apparatus is also provided for coating the devices. The apparatus comprises a chamber for housing the device wherein the pressure of the chamber can be adjusted during the coating process.

Abstract: A nitrided oxide layer on a silicon carbide layer is processed by annealing the nitrided oxide layer in a substantially oxygen-free nitrogen containing ambient. The anneal may be carried out at a temperature of greater than about 900° C., for example, a temperature of about 1100° C., a temperature of about 1200° C. or a temperature of about 1300° C. Annealing the nitrided oxide layer may be carried out at a pressure of less than about 1 atmosphere, for example, at a pressure of from about 0.01 to about 1 atm or, in particular, at a pressure of about 0.2 atm. The nitrided oxide layer may be an oxide layer that is grown in a N2O and/or NO containing ambient, that is annealed in a N2O and/or NO containing ambient or that is grown and annealed in a N2O and/or NO containing ambient.