Abstract: The present invention pertains to a method of controlling the microstructure and service properties of electrically conductive transparent and other materials by passing an electrical current through the materials while simultaneously employing an additional process. Examples of the additional process include heating, sintering, deposition, casting, electrical arcing, and immersion in liquids. In one embodiment of the present invention, the additional process is deposition of a transparent conductive coating material while passing a current through the deposited coating along the surface of the coated material.

Abstract: A probe, for determining local shear stress on the face of a solid surface caused by relative movement between it and a fluid, comprises a 3-dimensional array of seven spaced electrodes constituted of: one electrode at the center of the array, two electrodes equally spaced from said center electrode along a first line through said center, two electrodes equally spaced from said center electrode along a second line through said center and perpendicular to said first line, and two electrodes equally spaced from said center electrode along a third line through said center and perpendicular to said first and second lines. The probe further includes magnetic means for producing a magnetic field in the region of the electrodes.