Abstract: Certain example embodiments of this invention relate to techniques for applying an overcoat (e.g., which may include an organic material) to a coated article having a layer stack already disposed thereon in order to reduce the potential for surface marring. An evacuative process may be used to deposit the mar reducing overcoat. The coated article including the mar-reducing overcoat has a contact angle greater than, and a surface friction less than, a contact angle and a surface friction of the single- or multi-layer stack supported by the substrate alone. Any marring due to cat-scratching or the like preferably would not be visible at 4× magnification following application of the mar reducing overcoat.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a poly- or microcrystalline silicon layer on an insulator comprises a silicon containing insulator, growing a thin adhesion promoting layer comprising amorphous silicon onto it and further growing a poly- or microcrystalline silicon layer onto the adhesion promoting layer. Such a sequence of layers, deposited with a PECVD method, shows good adhesion of the poly- or microcrystalline silicon on the base and is advantageous in the production of semiconductors, such as thin film transistors.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for making a composite material that contains structured particles. The process includes providing a first precursor in the form of a dry precursor powder, a precursor liquid, a precursor vapor of a liquid and/or a precursor gas. The process also includes providing a plasma that has a high field zone and passing the first precursor through the high field zone of the plasma. As the first precursor passes through the high field zone of the plasma, at least part of the first precursor is decomposed. An aerosol having a second precursor is provided downstream of the high field zone of the plasma and the decomposed first material is allowed to condense onto the second precursor to from structured particles.

Abstract: Apparatuses, methods and systems for applying a coating to an ear of corn in a high throughput manner are disclosed. The system includes means for moving the ear of corn through the system and means for coating the ear of corn with a coating while passing through the system. The apparatus includes a carrying position for an ear of corn, an automated line having a plurality of the carrying positions, and an automated coating station adapted to apply a coating to the ear of corn on the automated line. The method includes staging a plurality of ears of corn on an automated line, passing the automated line through an ear coating process, and coating the plurality of ears of corn with a coating.

Abstract: A method for forming a film by atomic layer deposition wherein vertical growth of a film is controlled, includes: (i) adsorbing a metal-containing precursor for film formation on a concave or convex surface pattern of a substrate; (ii) oxidizing the adsorbed precursor to form a metal oxide sub-layer; (iii) adsorbing a metal-free inhibitor on the metal oxide sub-layer more on a top/bottom portion than on side walls of the concave or convex surface pattern; and (iv) repeating steps (i) to (iii) to form a film constituted by multiple metal oxide sub-layers while controlling vertical growth of the film by step (iii). The adsorption of the inhibitor is antagonistic to next adsorption of the precursor on the metal oxide sub-layer.

Abstract: An arrangement of elongated nanowires that include titanium silicide or tungsten silicide may be grown on the exterior surfaces of many individual electrically conductive microfibers of much larger diameter. Each of the nanowires is structurally defined by an elongated, centralized titanium silicide or tungsten silicide nanocore that terminates in a distally spaced gold particle and which is co-axially surrounded by a removable amorphous nanoshell. A gold-directed catalytic growth mechanism initiated during a low pressure chemical vapor deposition process is used to grow the nanowires uniformly along the entire length and circumference of the electrically conductive microfibers where growth is intended. The titanium silicide- or tungsten silicide-based nanowires can be used in a variety electrical, electrochemical, and semiconductor applications.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a magnetic recording medium with high recording density and enabling stable flight of a magnetic head, with high manufacturing yields, is provided. The method includes layering a magnetic layer, a protective layer, and a lubricating layer in order on a substrate, and forming a medium for transfer. The method further includes transferring a magnetic pattern to the medium for transfer, and flattening a surface of the lubricating layer of the medium for transfer for which the magnetic pattern transferring is completed. The surface of the lubricating layer is flattened either by wiping the surface of the lubricating layer using a member without a cutting effect, or by heating the surface of the lubricating layer.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for applying a coating to an ear of corn are disclosed. An enclosure having a user accessible workspace and a motor to turn an ear of corn therein to apply a coating to the ear of corn rotated by the motor is also disclosed. The method includes providing an enclosure with a user accessible workspace for housing a motor assembly having a motor with a grip, releasably securing the ear of corn to the grip, rotating the ear of corn with the motor, and spraying the coating on the ear of corn with the coating applicator associated with the workspace. Each ear of corn has an identifier to track and index the ear corn during coating and drying.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a method of making a textured coating on a wear surface of a component. The method includes applying a mask on the surface and depositing a tribological coating on the surface. The method further includes removing the mask.

Abstract: Provided are magnetic core-ceramic shell (e.g., magnetite (Fe3O4) core-calcium phosphate (Ca3(PO4)2) shell) nanocrystals with high crystallization degree, uniform size, and high chemical stability and a method for synthesizing the same. A core-shell structure is synthesized in a process of forming magnetite seeds corresponding to cores by the reduction of magnetite precursors and then, sequentially, coating the magnetite with Ca3(PO4)2 by the reduction of Ca3(PO4)2 precursors.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a perpendicular magnetic recording medium including a nonmagnetic substrate, and at least a soft magnetic under layer, an orientation control layer, a magnetic recording layer constituted of two or more layers and a protective layer formed on the nonmagnetic substrate, the method including a step of forming a first magnetic recording layer having a granular structure constituted of ferromagnetic crystal grains and crystal grain boundaries made of a nonmagnetic oxide or nitride on the nonmagnetic substrate side, a step of forming a second magnetic recording layer constituted only of ferromagnetic crystal grains, a step of forming a surface unevenness control layer for decreasing surface unevenness of the first magnetic recording layer located between the first magnetic recording layer and the second magnetic recording layer, and a step of heating the nonmagnetic substrate so as to decrease a surface roughness Ra of the second magnetic recording layer

Abstract: A process for producing a glass substrate for magnetic disk through chemical strengthening operation, in which the distribution of compressive stress is uniformed at a surface layer portion of the glass substrate to thereby, while preventing failures such as head crash and thermal asperity, realize a low flying height of magnetic head, attaining high-density information recording. In particular, the provided glass substrate for magnetic disk is suitable for application to compact magnetic disks for portable information equipment.

Abstract: Selectively accelerated or selectively inhibited metal deposition is performed to form metal structures of an electronic device. A desired pattern of an accelerator or of an inhibitor is applied to the substrate; for example, by stamping the substrate with a patterned stamp or spraying a solution using an inkjet printer. In other embodiments, a global layer of accelerator or inhibitor is applied to a substrate and selectively modified in a desired pattern. Thereafter, selective metal deposition is performed.

Abstract: Processes for synthesizing graphene films. Graphene films may be synthesized by heating a metal or a dielectric on a substrate to a temperature between 400° C. and 1,400° C. The metal or dielectric is exposed to an organic compound thereby growing graphene from the organic compound on the metal or dielectric. The metal or dielectric is later cooled to room temperature. As a result of the above process, standalone graphene films may be synthesized with properties equivalent to exfoliated graphene from natural graphite that is scalable to size far greater than that available on silicon carbide, single crystal silicon substrates or from natural graphite.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for treating a least a portion of one or more initial seed samples to create one or more treated seed samples for use in research applications is provided. In various embodiments, the apparatus and method utilize two or more seed treaters operating in parallel to increase throughput for treating a portion of one or more initial seed samples. The apparatus and method may also include a metering station configured to distribute at least a portion of the one or more initial seed samples to the two or more seed treaters. As a result, the apparatus and method are configured to efficiently and accurately treat seed samples.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing a sintered NdFeB magnet having high coercivity and capable of being brought into applications without lowering its residual magnetic flux density or maximum energy product and without reprocessing. The method for producing a sintered NdFeB magnet according to the present invention includes applying a substance containing dysprosium (Dy) and/or terbium (Tb) to the surface of the sintered NdFeB magnet forming a base body and then heating the magnet to diffuse Dy and/or Tb through the grain boundary and thereby increase the coercivity of the magnet.

Abstract: The method of fabricating a magnetic head slider includes steps of: forming a first protective film on an air bearing surface of a magnetic head slider on which either a recording element or a reproduction element is formed or on which both a recording element and a reproduction element are formed; removing a portion of the first protective film to reduce the thickness of the first protective film and forming a second protective film over the first protective film that has been reduced in thickness; and forming an uneven portion for controlling the flying characteristics of the magnetic head slider on the air bearing surface of the magnetic head slider; wherein the formation of the uneven portion is carried out after the first protective film has been formed and before the second protective film is formed, or after the second protective film has been formed.

Abstract: An in-line film forming apparatus capable of conveying a carrier at a high speed, increasing the exhaust capability within a film forming chamber, and easily realizing a high vacuum degree in a short time is provided. A conveyor mechanism has a linear motor drive mechanism which drives the carrier in a noncontact state, a horizontal guide mechanism which is provided so as to be able to contact a side portion of the carrier, and guides the carrier driven by the linear motor drive mechanism in a horizontal direction, and a vertical guide mechanism which is provided so as to be able to contact a lower end of the carrier, and guides the carrier driven by the linear motor drive mechanism in the vertical direction.

Abstract: To provide a magnetic recording medium enabling excellent magnetic recording reproduction characteristics to be exhibited with the spacing loss reduced and a manufacturing method of the medium, a method of manufacturing a magnetic recording medium of the invention is to manufacture a magnetic recording medium having a magnetic recording layer of a granular structure having nonmagnetic boundary portions between pillar-shaped magnetic particles on a nonmagnetic substrate, and an exchange coupling layer provided on the magnetic recording layer to add an action of exchange coupling the magnetic particles, and is characterized by having an ion irradiation step of performing ion irradiation on the entire surface of the exchange coupling layer after layering the exchange coupling layer on the magnetic recording layer.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing a permeable dielectric film, includes the deposition on a substrate of a film constituted of a material comprising silicon, carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and, possibly, nitrogen and/or fluorine, a majority of Si—C bonds and a proportion of Si—O bonds such that the oxygen present in said material represents less than 30 atom %; and the selective destruction with a chemical agent of the Si—O bonds present in the film. Applications include microelectronics and microtechnology, in any manufacturing process that involves the degradation of a sacrificial material by diffusion of a chemical agent through a film that is permeable to this agent, for the production of air gaps, in particular the manufacture of air-gap interconnects for integrated circuits.