Abstract: A solid structure includes a substrate and a layer located on a surface of the substrate. The layer includes crystalline or polycrystalline MgB2.

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: A method for decorating a substrate using novel thiol-stabilised gold nanoparticles of the general formula HSR where R is a C3-C60 alkyl group, aryl, benzyl, alicyclic, or heterocyclic group which is substituted or unsubstituted, branched or unbranched. The thiol-stabilised gold nanoparticles exhibit a plasmon frequency of between 480 and 600 nm.

Abstract: A process for etching multiple layers on a substrate 25 in an etching chamber 30 and cleaning a multilayer etchant residue formed on the surfaces of the walls 45 and components of the etching chamber 30. In multiple etching steps, process gas comprising different compositions of etchant gas is used to etch layers on the substrate 25 thereby depositing a compositionally variant etchant residue inside the chamber 30. In one cleaning step, a first cleaning gas is added to the process gas to clean a first residue or to suppress deposition of the first residue onto the chamber surfaces. In a second cleaning step, another residue composition is cleaned off the chamber surfaces using a second cleaning gas composition.

Abstract: A method for preheating golf ball covers prior to painting. The process comprises forming a golf ball with a cover, then heating the cover from about 90° F. to about 150° F. for 1 to 3 hours in a heated enclosure prior to applying a coat of primer or paint to the ball. This is done to accelerate the evaporation of paint solvents, immediately after the paint is applied. The painted balls are subsequently dried in a heated enclosure at about 105° F. to 108° F. All additional coats of primer or paint are applied in a similar fashion, wherein the balls are painted while still in the heated state and not cooled down.

Abstract: A method of making a coated substrate includes providing a substrate having a functional coating with a first emissivity value; depositing a coating material having a second emissivity value over at least a portion of the functional coating prior to heating to provide a coating stack having an emissivity value greater than the emissivity value of the functional coating; and heating the coated substrate.

Abstract: An improved wire bonding process for copper-metallized integrated circuits is provided by a nickel layer that acts as a barrier against up-diffusing copper. In accordance with the present invention the nickel bath is placed and remains in hydrogen saturation by providing a piece of metal that remains in the nickel plating tank before and during the plating process.

Abstract: A method for forming a diffusion coating on the interior of surface of a hollow object wherein a filament, extending through a hollow object and adjacent to the interior surface of the object, is provided, with a coating material, in a vacuum. An electrical current is then applied to the filament to resistively heat the filament to a temperature sufficient to transfer the coating material from the filament to the interior surface of the object. The filament is electrically isolated from the object while the filament is being resistively heated. Preferably, the filament is provided as a tungsten filament or molybdenum filament. Preferably, the coating materials are selected from the group consisting of Ag, Al, As, Au, Ba, Be, Bi, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Dy, Er, Eu, Fe, Ga, Ge, Hg, In, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni P, Pb, Pd, Pr, S, Sb, Sc, Se, Si, Sn, Sr, Te, Tl, Y, Yb, Zn, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: An optical information medium which has excellent abrasion resistance and which further exhibits sufficient smudge-proof properties is provided. The optical information medium is coated on at least one surface with a film of a silane coupling agent containing a water- or oil-repellent substituent, said silane coupling agent being represented by the following formula (1): R1—Si(X)(Y)(Z) wherein R1 is the water- or oil-repellent substituent; X, Y and Z are independently a monovalent group; and at least one of X, Y and Z is a group which is capable of forming Si—O—Si bond by polycondensation with silanol group; and said medium has an underlying layer formed in contact with said silane coupling agent film, and at least the surface of said underlying layer comprises a compound having a chemical bond represented by the formula (2): M—A wherein M is a metal atom (including a semimetal), and A is a chalcogen atom selected from O, S, Se, and Te, nitrogen atom, or carbon atom.

Abstract: An electroless or electrolytic process for treating metallic surfaces is disclosed. The disclosed process exposes the metallic surface to a first medium comprising at least one silicate, and then to a second medium comprising colloidal silica (additional processing steps can be employed before, between and after exposure to the first and second mediums). The first and second mediums can be electrolytic or electroless.

Abstract: A self-assembly process for preparing luminescent organic-inorganic nanocomposite thin films is disclosed. A homogeneous solution in water and an organic solvent is obtained containing a soluble silicate, a silica coupling agent, a surfactant, and an organic material having a hole transport, electron transport, and/or emissive material moiety. The silica coupling agent is selected to chemically react with the organic material. A film of the homogeneous solution is deposited onto a substrate. Preferentially evaporating the organic solvent enriches the concentration of water and non-volatile solution components to promote micelle formation. Organic materials migrate into the hydrophobic portion of the forming micelles. Continued evaporation promotes self-assembly of the micelles into interfacially organized liquid crystalline mesophases. Reacting the organic material and silica coupling forms a nanostructure self-assembly.

Abstract: A method for producing a painted ceramic body. A transfer material containing an inorganic pigment, or hot melt ink containing an inorganic pigment is directly or indirectly disposed on the surface of a ceramic body in an imagewise manner. Subsequently, the ceramic body with the image formed thereon is heated and the inorganic pigment contained in the image is sintered on the surface of the ceramic body.

Abstract: A lanthanum complex of formula (I) having a low evaporation temperature can be used as a useful precursor for MOCVD of a BLT thin layer on semiconductor devices. wherein A is pentamethyldiethylenetriamine(PMDT) or triethoxytriethyleneamine(TETEA).

Abstract: This invention provides a method for efficiently applying a coating to each of a plurality of objects selected from the group consisting of ophthalmic lenses, molds for making ophthalmic lenses, and other medical devices, the method comprising dipping the plurality of objects into a coating bath containing a coating solution having a coating material; and creating with a means a convective current flow and thereby forcing a coating solution flowing over and under each of the plurality of ophthalmic lenses. In a preferred embodiment, the plurality of objects are held in baskets which are pre-conditioned to have a first layer of polyelectrolytes and a second layer of aqueous solution or have a mixed layer of polyelectrolytes and aqueous solution on the surfaces of the baskets.

Abstract: An improved packaging material may include a substrate which is normally susceptible to permeation by substances such as oil or grease. A colorant layer may be applied to the outer surface of the substrate. The colorant layer may be of a color chosen to closely resemble or to overpower the appearance of a stain on the substrate which would otherwise be caused by the substances. In this manner, the colorant layer serves to mask the stain which would otherwise be caused by substances permeating through the substrate. A second colorant layer may optionally be provided over the first colorant layer to provide a uniform background of a desired color. Graphics, e.g, text and/or images, may then be applied to the first or second colorant layer in a conventional manner.

Abstract: A composite article having large scale predictable dimensional stability comprises a metal foil backing having adhered thereto a layer of cured polymer having an exposed surface bearing a three-dimensional microstructure of precisely shaped and located functional discontinuities. The article is made by depositing a layer of a radiation curable composition onto a metal foil backing, contacting a master with a pattern capable of imparting a three-dimensional microstructure of precisely shaped and located functional discontinuities into the layer of radiation curable composition, while the layer of radiation curable composition is in contact with the master, exposing the curable composition to radiation to cure the composition, and separating the cured polymer layer on the metal foil backing from the surface of the master. Either the metal foil backing or the master may be radiation transmissive.

Abstract: In a transparent laminate, n thin-film units (n=3 or 4) are laminated unit by unit successively on a surface of a substrate, and a high-refractive-index transparent thin film is deposited on a surface of the laminate of the n thin-film units, each of the n thin-film units consisting of a high-refractive-index thin film and a silver transparent conductive thin film. When the silver transparent conductive thin films are deposited by a vacuum dry process, the temperature T(K) of the transparent substrate at the time of film deposition is set to be in a range 340?T?410, whereby the transparent laminate having a standard deviation of visible light transmittance which is not larger than 5% in a wave range of from 450 to 650 nm can be produced.

Abstract: Continuous void-free uniform coatings are formed on substrates by repeatedly contacting the substrate at a first position with wetted surface portions of at least two rotating wire-wound coating rods and re-contacting the substrate with such wetted surface portions at a different position or positions on the substrate. The coating is repeatedly picked up from and placed onto the substrate and made more uniform. Extremely uniform and extremely thin coatings can be quickly and easily obtained using low cost equipment.

Abstract: A method for surface treatment of at least one electrically conducting substrate or a substrate that has been coated so as to be conducting (1) by means of a gas placed in the region of an electric discharge (2). The discharge region is restricted by at least two essentially opposite sides of the substrate surface to be treated (7). This process is especially suitable for treating band-shaped and continuously supplied substrates.

Abstract: When a running web (3) is coated with a liquid coating mixture, at least one side of the web is provided with a coating (40, 40?) of coating mixture. Existing excess (33) of coating mixture in or adjacent to the regions of the edge portions of the web is removed by being blown off downstreams of where the coating operation is performed.