Abstract: The preparation and colloidal gold nanoparticles deposited using a wet-chemical, three-phase ligand-exchange procedure carried out at room temperature on anodic alumina oxide to enhance detection of materials using Surface-enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) is disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus for automated chemical vapor processing. The apparatus includes a chemical vapor processing chamber to treat articles with surface-smoothing chemical vapor and an article loading chamber to receive articles pending treatment by the chemical vapor processing chamber. The apparatus further includes an automated conveyor to move the articles between the article loading chamber and the chemical vapor processing chamber. The apparatus further includes an air lock to connect the article loading chamber to the chemical vapor processing chamber, and a controller to control the automated conveyor to move the articles between the article loading chamber and the chemical vapor processing chamber, and to control the air lock to seal the chemical vapor processing chamber from the article loading chamber when the automated conveyor is not moving articles between the article loading chamber and the chemical vapor processing chamber.

Abstract: A method of applying heat shield material to form a heat shield layer on a crown surface of a piston of an engine is provided. The method includes the steps of disposing a dispenser that linearly discharges the heat shield material toward the crown surface, and moving an applied position of the heat shield material with respect to the crown surface in a circumferential direction of the crown surface, while discharging the heat shield material from the dispenser toward the crown surface.

Abstract: Provided is a preparation method for a double-layer working medium target tape with a plasma-enhanced interfacial bonding force for a micro laser thruster. Aiming at the problem that in an existing micro laser thruster, when a working medium is ablated by a laser beam, due to a weak interlayer interfacial bonding force between a transparent film substrate and the coating working medium, sputtering or bulging occurs, which remarkably reduces propulsive performance, a method for treating a surface of a transparent film substrate with a low-temperature plasma is used to increase surface energy of a film and an adhesive force of a working medium layer on a surface of the film, thereby enhancing the interlayer interfacial bonding force. According to the method in the present disclosure, the transparent film substrate is treated with the low-temperature plasma.

Abstract: Optical elements with anisotropic, patterned surface relief microstructures in which information is encoded in the distribution of the orientation of different zones. From the analysis of the distribution of the light scattered from the element, the orientation distribution in the element and therefore the encoded information can be evaluated. The elements are particularly useful for securing documents and articles against counterfeiting and falsification.

Abstract: Provided is a method of forming a micro/nanowire having a nanometer- to micrometer-sized diameter at predetermined positions of an object. The method includes: preparing a micro/nanopipette having a tip with an inner diameter which is substantially the same as the diameter of the micro/nanowire to be formed; filling the micro/nanopipette with a solution containing a micro/nanowire-forming material; brining the solution into contact with the object through the tip of the micro/nanopipette; and pulling the micro/nanopipette from the object at a pulling speed lower than or equal to a predetermined critical speed (?c) to obtain a micro/nanowire having substantially the same diameter as the inner diameter of the micro/nanopipette tip.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a coating method for coating a component (e.g. motor vehicle body component) with a coating agent (e.g. paint), that includes steps of Defining a pattern on the component surface of the component to be coated, the pattern being a surface area outlined by a contour, and areal coating of the component surface with the coating agent within the contour, sharp-edged coating of the component surface with a coating agent along at least a portion of the contour of the pattern.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a cold spray metal process for imparting electromagnetic interference (EMI) resistance or lightning protection to the surface of a polymer, and a polymer with surface EMI resistance, or lightning protection, articles coated therefrom, and methods of reducing or eliminating electrochemical interactions between the metallic coating and components of the polymer.

Abstract: A method for preparing and finishing concrete is disclosed, comprising preparing a cement surface by a process comprising the admixture addition, to an industrial concrete mixer/pourer, of a formulation comprising nanosilica, after some or all water is combined and mixed with cement mix, sand and aggregate; followed by pouring and floating; followed by the addition, before or during combination, to the concrete surface, of a formulation comprising water, an alpha-hydroxy acid, a glycol alkyl ether and a polyethylene glycol.

Abstract: Applying a coating medium may include: emission of a coating medium jet from an application device and positioning the application device relative to the component with a particular application distance between the application device and the component, so that the coating medium jet impacts on the component and coats the component. The application distance (d) can be smaller than the disintegration distance of the coating medium jet, so that the coating medium jet impacts with its continuous region on the component.

Abstract: A system for additive manufacturing includes a nozzle configured to translate along a first axis, a second axis perpendicular to the first axis, and a third axis orthogonal to the first and second axes, wherein the nozzle is operably coupled to: an extruder having an outlet and including a screw disposed within a barrel, and a pump having an inlet and an outlet. The inlet is coupled to the extruder, and the outlet is in fluid communication with the nozzle. The system also includes a controller configured to adjust a speed of the pump with respect to a speed of the screw to apply a target pressure at the outlet of the extruder.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for forming a metal pattern on a pattern formation section set on a base material. In the present invention, a substrate provided with a fluorine-containing resin layer on a surface of the base material including the pattern formation section is used. The present inventive method for forming a metal pattern includes steps of: forming a functional group on the pattern formation section; and applying a metal ink including an amine compound and a fatty acid as protective agents to the base material surface to fix the metal particles on the pattern formation section. In the present invention, a fluorine-containing resin having a surface free energy measured by the Owens-Wendt method of 13 mN/m or more and 20 mN/m or less is applied as the fluorine-containing resin layer. Further, a metal ink including ethyl cellulose as an additive is applied as the metal ink.

Abstract: A method for constructing a porous micro-nano structure, includes: thoroughly mixing glass powders and metal powders to obtain a mixture; coating the mixture on a surface of a substrate, and forming a coating on the surface, wherein a temperature of forming the coating and a melting point of the glass powders comply with the following formula: Tforming?Tglass?50° C.; and constructing a surface structure of the coating to obtain a porous micro-nano structure coating on the surface, such that a material with a porous micro-nano structure is obtained. The method is simple and has a low cost. The porous micro-nano structure coating prepared has excellent mechanical stability.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a plurality of head portions which supplies droplets on a processing substrate, and a controller which applies a signal to each of the head portions, where the controller controls each of the head portions to supply the droplets on the processing substrate, where the signal includes a difference between a preset location of a pixel and an actual location of a pixel.

Abstract: A method for producing an ultra-stable and enhanced solid wood flooring for under-floor heating via surface compression technique includes: subjecting, while subjecting a solid wood to surface compression and enhancement, the solid wood to primary stabilization treatment by controlling a temperature of a hot pressing plate to obtain a compressed enhanced solid wood; putting the compressed enhanced solid wood into a heat treatment tank; and subjecting the compressed enhanced solid wood to secondary stabilization treatment by controlling a pressure and a temperature of steam or air in the heat treatment tank and a treatment time to obtain a finished product. The ultra-stable surface-compressed enhanced solid wood flooring produced by the method features high dimensional stability, low set-recovery after water absorption, and desired moisture and heat resistance.

Abstract: Through the plasma spraying technology and the cold spraying high-speed deposition technology, an evenly distributed protective coating is formed on the surface of a plasma etching chamber. The protective coating, having a double-layer composite structure, includes a metal+Y2O3 coating as a metal+Y2O3 transition layer deposited by plasma spraying as a lower layer of the double-layer composite structure, and a high-purity Y2O3 ceramic coating coated on the metal+Y2O3 transition layer as an upper layer of the double-layer composite structure, the metal+Y2O3 transition layer is configured to reduce the difference in expansion coefficient between the Y2O3 ceramic coating and the metal substrate, and enhance the bonding force between the Y2O3 ceramic coating and the metal substrate; the high-purity Y2O3 ceramic coating is formed by depositing Y2O3 ceramic powders on the metal+Y2O3 transition layer at high speed through cold spraying high-speed deposition.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for programming a program-controlled coating robot for coating components. A robot path is preset and application parameters observed by the applicator are also preset based on real coating operation during movement along the robot path. There is a virtual determination of a coating result for the predetermined robot path and the predetermined application parameters.

Abstract: A method for applying thin film material onto a substrate comprises: forming microdroplets of a solvent and a solute material forming the thin film material; depositing the microdroplets on an upper surface of a micro-structured mesh, wherein the microdroplets are deposited to allow coalescing into droplets extending into the micro-structured mesh; and arranging a surface of the substrate in close relation to a bottom surface of the micro-structured mesh such that a capillary force draws liquid of the droplets onto the surface of the substrate, whereby forced dynamic wetting of the surface of the substrate is provided to form a liquid film on the surface of the substrate.

Abstract: Disclosed is an antimicrobial coating and antimicrobial laminate that can be used on surfaces to prevent the spread of bacteria and viruses. Spray-on techniques can be used with antimicrobial agents mixed with an air-drying antimicrobial coating and a heated liquid plastic antimicrobial coating. Efficacy of the antimicrobial coating can be monitored by detecting changes in texture, color, opaqueness, fluorescence, and other techniques. Soft plastics and acrylics can be used to suspend the antimicrobial agents to provide better efficacy in the release of antimicrobial agents over time.

Abstract: A method includes illuminating a drop with a pulse of light from a light source. A duration of the pulse of light is from about 0.0001 seconds to about 0.1 seconds. The method also includes capturing an image, video, or both of the drop. The method also includes detecting the drop in the image, the video, or both. The method also includes characterizing the drop after the drop is detected. Characterizing the drop includes determining a size of the drop, a location of the drop, or both in the image, the video, or both.