Abstract: The present invention relates to an artificial leather having nap very little oriented on the surface and having short fibers densely, and hence having a good nubuck-like look and hand, and also relates to a production process thereof. The present invention provides an artificial leather having a nap surface of ultra-fine fibers at least on one side, which is formed by applying an elastic polymer to an ultra-fine fiber-entangled substrate, characterized by being 0.3 g/cm3 or more in the apparent density of the artificial leather, being 0.5 mm or less in the nap length, and being 25% or less in the R value obtained from the goniometric reflectance distribution measured with the nap surface rotated from 0 degree to 180 degrees using a goniophotometer.

Abstract: A method for texturing substrate surfaces and a substrate product, such as for computer disk drives. Microbump textured substrates are produced having a Rp value of about 20-200 Å and a ratio of Rmax:Rp of about 1.4 or less. In an exemplary embodiment, a microbump textured substrate is produced having colloidal particles on a surface thereof at a density of at least about 25 particles per 25 &mgr;m2, wherein the surface topography includes a Rp value of about 20-200 Å, a micro-roughness Rq of about 10 Å or less, and a ratio of Rmax:Rp of about 1.4 or less. An exemplary method includes first providing a substrate surface having a surface micro-roughness Rq of about 10 Å or less and depositing colloidal particles on the surface to provide a Rp value of about 20-200 Å and a ratio of Rmax:Rp of about 1.4 or less. In a further exemplary embodiment, the method increases the micro-roughness Rq, but to a value that is still less than about 10 Å with Rmax:Rp still of about 1.

Abstract: A method of decorating an article, the method comprising mixing a thermochromic ink with a transparent lacquer, applying the mixture on to part or all of the surface of an article, once the mixture is set, applying a second layer of dishwasher proof transparent lacquer.

Abstract: An aqueous inorganic solution for sealing the porosity of metal components made of sintered compacted powered metal and castings formed from liquid metal, and a process for applying the solution onto the components. The solution consists primarily of a blend of inorganic metallic salt silicates with the metal ions being taken from Group 1A elements.

Abstract: A method for coating free-standing micromechanical devices using spin-coating. A solution with high solids loading but low viscosity can penetrate the free areas of a micromachined structure. Spinning this solution off the wafer or die results in film formation over the devices without the expected damage from capillary action. If an organic polymer is used as the solid component, the structures may be re-released by a traditional ash process. This method may be used as a process in the manufacture of micromechanical devices to protect released and tested structures, and to overcome stiction-related deformation of micromechanical devices associated with wet release processes.

Abstract: A nonstaining ink (or inkless) fingerprint composition and applicator comprises two nonpermeable foil strips, made of Mylar, for example, having the same width with one strip being slightly longer than the other. A thin layer or coating of an inkless (or nonstaining) fingerprint composition is sandwiched between the superimposed foil strips leaving a small border including a small area at the end of the strips free of the composition. The inkless composition which includes a color former and may or may not include a developer is in a semisolid state and room temperature and in a liquid state at about 110° F. and above.

Abstract: A high quality ink jet recording medium is formed of a dimensionally stable absorbent paper base sheet and a coating that is primarily a reaction product of polyvinyl alcohol and boric acid. The reaction product has molecule bonds that are principally polyvinyl alcohol-boric acid-polyvinyl alcohol bonds which, when applied to the substrate, form a three-dimensional sieve or screen-like coating facilitating penetration to the absorbent base-sheet of ink carrier vehicle and holding out on the sieve or screen the ink pigments and colorants. The coating facilitates manufacture of a high quality recording medium of exceptionally low cost, ideally suited for high-speed multicolor ink jet printing in continuous web form. Methods of making the coating and the medium are disclosed.

Abstract: A method for coating an ink jet printhead with an ink-phobic coating includes applying the coating to an outer surface of the printhead and then drawing or forcing the coating through the apertures of the printhead, preferably with a vacuum. The method coats and renders ink-phobic not only the outer surface, but also the inside surfaces of the apertures. The ink-phobic coating may contain an amorphous fluoropolymer.

Abstract: A method of confined synthesis of nanostructured material inside a mesoporous material. The method includes the step of providing mesoporous material having uniform and ordered mesopores. Next, a monolayer of charged functional group is attached on the pore surface of mesoporous host material by reacting with functional molecule. A oppositely-charged molecule is incorporated into the confined space of mesoporous material by either ion exchange or incipient wetness impregnation. Finally, the incorporated molecule is reduced or oxidized or further reacted with secondarily-incorporated molecule to form nanostructured material in mesoporous material.

Abstract: A two-part coating system comprises a first part comprising one or more aliphatic polyisocyanates, optionally blended with one or more “amine reactive” resins and/or non reactive resins, and a second part comprising one or more aromatic polyamines optionally blended with one or more oligomeric polyamines, such that the two parts, when mixed together and applied to the internal surfaces of pipelines, form a rapid setting impervious coating suitable for contact with drinking water.

Abstract: A process for inhibiting the fouling of a substrate in a fouling environment, which comprises forming on the substrate, before exposure to the environment, a coating comprising a film-forming polymer (A) carrying unreacted curable silicon-containing functional groups providing latent reactivity, and thereafter applying a layer comprising a curable polymeric fouling-inhibiting material (B), more especially a curable polysiloxane or a curable flourine-containing polymer, and bonding the applied layer to the coating by a condensation curing reaction involving the unreacted functional groups thereon. The initial coating can be applied over a range of worn or damaged anti-fouling coatings. The sequential application of layers is a simpler, more flexible and more controllable procedure than is offered by complex systems designed to produce outer siloxane-rich regions. Relatively long periods are achievable.

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus for spin-coating a semiconductor substrate, including (a) a rotary table rotatable in opposite directions, (b) a nozzle dropping coating material onto a semiconductor substrate lying on the rotary table, (c) an electrode having a ring-shaped cross-section and disposed around the rotary table, and (d) a power source applying a voltage to the electrode, the voltage having an electric polarity opposite to an electric polarity of the coating material. Coating material dropped onto the semiconductor substrate is attracted to an electric field generated by the electrode around the semiconductor substrate. Hence, the coating material is not concentrated around a center of the semiconductor substrate, but is facilitated to uniformly spread over the semiconductor substrate, ensuring formation of a coating layer having a uniform thickness.

Abstract: A method of applying a coating such as a varnish or a paint on a hollow article. The method includes the operation consisting in depositing a predetermined quantity of coating in the fluid state on the center of a surface of the article, and in spreading it by causing the article to revolve.

Abstract: Disclosed is a film-forming method, comprising dispensing from a dispenser nozzle a coating solution, which is prepared by adding a solid component to a solvent and controlled to be spread on the substrate in a predetermined range, onto a target substrate to be processed while relatively moving the dispenser nozzle and the target substrate so as to form a liquid film on the entire surface of the target substrate, and arranging a sucking nozzle above and apart from the target substrate such that the sucking nozzle is not in contact with the surface of the liquid film so as to permit the sucking nozzle to suck the solvent vapor right under the sucking nozzle while moving the sucking nozzle relative to the target substrate, thereby removing the solvent from the liquid film and, thus, forming a coated film.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of supplying a developing solution to a surface of a substrate to perform developing treatment for the substrate, comprising a first step of supplying the developing solution to the surface of the substrate while a developing solution supply nozzle is moving relative to the substrate and a second step of developing the substrate for a first predetermined period of time, and the second step has the step of stirring the developing solution on the surface of the substrate after a second predetermined period of time from the completion of the first step. Because of stirring, the concentration of the developing solution on the substrate is made uniform, resulting in a rise in the uniformity of developing treatment.

Abstract: A drive pulley is disposed to a driving motor. A plurality of follower pulleys are disposed to a rotating shaft of a spin chuck that vacuum sucks a substrate. A belt is passed from one follower pulley to the drive pulley. Belts are passed from the other follower pulleys to the drive shafts of a plurality of air motors. Since the air motors assist the driving of the driving motor, a large substrate can be rotated at a predetermined rotating acceleration. Thus, a film forming apparatus and a film forming method that allow the quantity of process solution supplied to be reduced and a film of process solution to be equally formed on a substrate can be provided.

Abstract: An apparatus for and method of rinsing one side of a two-sided substrate and removing unwanted material from the substrate's edge and/or backside. One embodiment of the method is directed toward rinsing and cleaning a substrate having a front side upon which integrated circuits are to be formed and a backside. This embodiment includes dropping the substrate front side down onto a pool of rinsing liquid in a manner such that the front side of the substrate is in contact with the solution while the substrate is held in suspension by the surface tension of the solution liquid thereby preventing the backside of the substrate from sinking under an upper surface of the pool. Next, while the substrate is in suspension in said rinsing liquid, the substrate is secured by its edge with a first set of fingers and in some embodiments the substrate is subsequently spun. In another embodiment, a method of forming a copper layer on a front side of a substrate is disclosed.

Abstract: A wafer is held on the upper side of a chuck. The chuck is connected to a spin motor, a motor-pedestal seat and an air cylinder shaft. The spin motor functions to rotate the chuck while the air cylinder shaft functions to elevate the chuck. When a resist is dropped on the wafer, the air is supplied to the air cylinder concurrently with the rotation of the spin motor, thus causing the chuck to move upward while rotating. The upward movement causes a downward inertial force to act on the resist, which in turn causes the resist to be pressed against the wafer while being dispersed over the surface of the wafer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for preparing an optical information medium comprising a disk-shaped substrate having a center hole, an information recording layer thereon, and a resin-based light-transmitting layer thereon by which recording/reading laser beam is transmitted. The apparatus includes a rotating table (2) for holding and rotating the substrate (100) having the information recording layer borne thereon, a plug means (3) including a disk member (31) for closing the center hole (101) and an integral support shaft (32), and a nozzle (4) for feeding a coating fluid containing the resin to the outer periphery of the support shaft (32), wherein the coating fluid is flowed from the support shaft to the disk member, then over the substrate, thereby forming the light-transmitting layer having a minimized thickness variation.

Abstract: A process for achieving a wear resistant translucent surface on surface elements (1) which comprises a decorative upper layer (2) and a supporting core (5). A number of layers of UV- or electron-beam curing lacquer are applied on a decorative surface, through a process comprising the steps; i) Applying a base layer of lacquer to a surface weight of 5-50 g/m2. ii) Applying hard particles with an average particle size in the range 10-150 &mgr;m which are sprinkled to an amount of 1-40 g/m2 on the still wet lacquer. iii) Curing the applied layer of lacquer to a desired viscosity. iv) Applying a covering layer of lacquer to a surface weight of 5-150 g/m2. v) Curing the applied layer of lacquer to a desired viscosity. vi) Applying a topcoat layer of lacquer with an additive of 5-35% of hard particles with an average size in the range 50 nm-30 &mgr;m to a surface weight of 2-20 g/m2. vii) Curing the applied layers of lacquer to a desired final viscosity.