Abstract: A thin layer of hafnium oxide or stacking of thin layers comprising hafnium oxide layers for producing surface treatments of optical components, or optical components, in which at least one layer of hafnium oxide is in amorphous form and has a density less than 8 gm/cm3. The layer is formed by depositing on a substrate without energy input to the substrate.

Abstract: A process makes at least one nanotube between two electrically conducting elements located on a substrate, using, inside a deposition chamber, a microwave power, a magnetic field, and at least one electronic cyclotron resonance zone faciliting ionization and/or dissociation of a gas containing carbon injected into the deposition chamber at a low pressure inside the deposition chamber, causing ionization and/or dissociation of this gas in each electronic cyclotron resonance zone. The ions and electrons produced are located along the field lines of the magnetic field set up in the deposition chamber. The process also includes a screening operation of the various species produced in each electronic cyclotron resonance zone to enable exclusive access of CxHy°non condensable free radicals produced to access a deposition zone adjacent to at least one part of the substrate including the two electrically conducting elements to make the nanotube.

Abstract: A method for producing a disk-shaped substrate 10 used for producing an optical disk includes: (a) forming a protective layer 12a that is larger in area than the disk-shaped substrate 10 on a surface of a transparent plate 11a; and (b) cutting a portion of the plate 11a with the protective layer 12a formed thereon other than an outer edge portion of the protective layer 12a to form a disk shape. According to this producing method, a thin substrate can be prevented from being damaged by forming a protective layer. Furthermore, according to this producing method, a protective layer with a uniform thickness can be formed.

Abstract: A method using irradiation with optical light in the presence of a chemical dissolved in a solvent which chemical reacts with the surface in the presence of the irradiation to modify the surface (12A, 104A, 202A, 304A, 402A, 502A) of a substrate (12, 104, 202, 304, 402, 502) is described. The light can be pulsed or continuous. The method is significantly enhanced by the presence of water (14, 124, 204, 308, 410, 508) as the solvent containing the dissolved chemical on the surface. The treated surfaces are more paintable and bondable.

Abstract: An article such as a hollow gas turbine blade has an internal cavity therein with an inlet and outlet. The outlet has an outlet minimum transverse dimension of from about 0.009 inch to about 0.012 inch. An aluminiding source powder has a minimum particle size of greater than about 0.0015 inch and not greater than about 0.005 inch. The aluminiding source powder is a mixture of from about 5 to about 15 percent by weight of a metallic aluminum-containing powder and from about 85 to about 95 percent by weight of a ceramic powder. The aluminiding source powder is flowed into the internal cavity through the inlet, and the article is heated with the aluminiding source powder in the internal cavity to a temperature of from about 1750° F. to about 2000° F., and for a time of from about 2 hours to about 12 hours, to deposit an aluminum-containing coating on the internal surface of the internal cavity. The aluminiding source powder is thereafter removed from the internal cavity through the inlet.

Abstract: A method of making an ophthalmological implant by applying a layer of pharmaceutical agent and an overlying layer of a bioerodible material, a biodegradable material, a bloavailable material or a mixture thereof, the overlying layer having variable thickness and being dimensioned for prolonged release of the pharmaceutical agent from the implant as the overlying layer degrades.

Abstract: A thermal barrier coating, or TBC, and method for forming the TBC. The TBC is formed of a thermal-insulating material that contains yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) alloyed with at least a third oxide. The TBC is formed to also contain elemental carbon, and may potentially contain carbides and/or a carbon-containing gas that forms from the thermal decomposition of carbon. The TBC is characterized by lower density and thermal conductivity, high temperature stability and improved mechanical properties. To exhibit the desired effect, the third oxide is more particularly one that increases the lattice strain energy of the TBC microstructure as a result of having an ion size that is sufficiently different than a zirconium ion.

Abstract: A method of making nematic liquid crystal devices where low energy zenith anchoring of the liquid crystal is obtained over confinement plates. A polymer or copolymer is deposited based on PVC onto a substrate. The polymer deposit is stabilized. An azimuth orientation is defined for the deposit to induce controlled azimuth anchoring of the liquid crystal.

Abstract: A nickel-base superalloy substrate includes a surface region having an integrated aluminum content of from about 18 to about 24 percent by weight and an integrated platinum content of from about 18 to about 45 percent by weight, with the balance components of the substrate. The substrate is preferably a single-crystal advanced superalloy selected for use at high temperatures. The substrate may optionally have a ceramic layer deposited over the platinum-aluminide region, to produce a thermal barrier coating system. The platinum-aluminide region is produced by diffusing platinum into the substrate surface, and thereafter diffusing aluminum into the substrate surface.

Abstract: A method for reducing the scattered light emitted through an optical element is provided that protects adhesive used to hold the optical element in place from light induced deterioration. In one embodiment, the method includes applying a thin coating of an organoxy metallic compound to a region on an optical element where adhesive will be applied and exposing the organoxy metallic compound to ultra-violet light. Exposure to ultra-violet light converts the organoxy metallic compound to its corresponding metal oxide forming an optically inert, light absorbing coating that protects adhesive used to hold the optical element in place from light induced deterioration.

Abstract: An organic film vapor deposition method includes a first step of supporting a substrate formed with a scintillator on at least three protrusions of a target-support element disposed on a vapor deposition table so as to keep a distance from the vapor deposition table; a second step of introducing the vapor deposition table having the substrate supported by the target-support element into a vapor deposition chamber of a CVD apparatus; and a third step of depositing an organic film by CVD method onto all surfaces of the substrate, provided with the scintillator, introduced into the vapor deposition chamber.

Abstract: A copper film vapor phase deposition method includes the steps of exposing high-purity copper to a plasma of a gas containing chlorine gas to etch the high-purity copper, thereby generating active CuxCly, wherein x is 1 to 3, y is 1 to 3, gas, and forming a copper film by transporting the CuxCly gas onto the surface of a substrate to be processed. By using inexpensive high-purity copper and inexpensive chlorine, hydrogen chloride, or chlorine and hydrogen as source gases, a copper film containing no residual impurity such as carbon and having high film quality can be formed with high reproducibility.

Abstract: The invention includes methods of utilizing supercritical fluids to introduce precursors into reaction chambers. In some aspects, a supercritical fluid is utilized to introduce at least one precursor into a chamber during ALD, and in particular aspects the supercritical fluid is utilized to introduce multiple precursors into the reaction chamber during ALD. The invention can be utilized to form any of various materials, including metal-containing materials, such as, for example, metal oxides, metal nitrides, and materials consisting of metal. Metal oxides can be formed by utilizing a supercritical fluid to introduce a metal-containing precursor into a reaction chamber, with the precursor then forming a metal-containing layer over a surface of a substrate. Subsequently, the metal-containing layer can be reacted with oxygen to convert at least some of the metal within the layer to metal oxide.

Abstract: Method of predicting optical properties and physical characteristics of coated paper or other sheet products for the purpose of formulating enhanced coating or sheet forming systems, and in particular to a method, which uses a diffusion approximation model derived from a radiative transfer theory employing various inputs of the properties and/or characteristics to predict coating or sheet system performance.

Abstract: An optical fiber moisture sensor that can be used to sense moisture present in gas phase in a wide range of concentrations is provided, as well techniques for making the same. The present invention includes a method that utilizes the light scattering phenomenon which occurs in a porous sol-gel silica by coating an optical fiber core with such silica. Thus, a porous sol-gel silica polymer coated on an optical fiber core forms the transducer of an optical fiber moisture sensor according to an embodiment. The resulting optical fiber sensor of the present invention can be used in various applications, including to sense moisture content in indoor/outdoor air, soil, concrete, and low/high temperature gas streams.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a glazing panel having a solar factor (FS) of less than 70% and being composed of a vitreous substrate and a tin/antimony oxide coating layer provided on the vitreous substrate and having a Sb/Sn molar ratio ranging from 0.01 to 0.5, preferable 0.03 to 0.5, the method including the steps of providing reactants in gaseous phase which comprise tin and antimony compounds, which are present in an amount effective to form the tin/antimony oxide coating layer; and forming the tin/antimony oxide coating layer pyrolytically on the vitreous substrate from the reactants in gaseous phase to provide the glazing panel having a solar factor (FS) of less than 70%.

Abstract: Method of synthesizing carbon nano tubes (CNTs) on a catalyst layer formed on a support member, by catalytic deposition of carbon from a gaseous phase, whereby an ion beam is used prior to, during, and/or after formation of the carbon nano tubes for modifying the physical, chemical, and/or conductive properties of the carbon nanotubes.

Abstract: In a method of producing a nanotube layer on a substrate by using a CVD process, the substrate is placed in a reaction chamber, which is flushed with a carbon-containing gas. Subsequently, the substrate is heated by an induction process to a temperature at which carbon from the gas phase is deposited on the substrate while forming nanotubes thereon.

Abstract: A method of forming an A site deficient thin film manganate material on a substrate from corresponding precursor(s), comprising liquid delivery and flash vaporization thereof to yield a precursor vapor, and transporting the precursor vapor to a chemical vapor deposition reactor for formation of an A site deficient manganate thin film on a substrate. The invention also contemplates a device comprising an A site deficient manganate thin film, wherein the manganate layer is formed on the substrate by such a process and is of the formula LaxMyMnO3, where M=Mg, Ca, Sr, or Ba, and (x+y)<1.0, and preferably from about 0.5 to about 0.99.

Abstract: An apparatus and method efficiently focuses laser light to a target fiber to rapidly and evenly cure a coating on the fiber and to increase a draw rate for the fiber. The laser light is expanded and refocused to a strip of light having a diameter that is a multiple of the fiber diameter. The strip of light is applied to one side of the fiber and a reflection of the strip of light is focused to a second side of the fiber to provide uniform radiation of the fiber.