Abstract: Random copolymer top coats are described that can be spin coated onto block copolymer thin films and used to control the interfacial energy of the top coat-block copolymer interface. The top coats are soluble in aqueous weak base and can change surface energy once they are deposited onto the block copolymer thin film. The use of self-assembled block copolymers to produce advanced lithographic patterns relies on their orientation control in thin films.

Abstract: Technologies described herein are generally related to systems and processes for repairing a graphene membrane on a support. A chamber may receive a layer of graphene on a support. The layer of graphene may include a hole. A first container including an initiator may be effective to apply an initiator through the hole to the support to functionalize the support and produce an initiator layer on the support. A second container including an activator may be effective to apply an activator through the hole to the initiator layer to activate the initiator layer. The application of the activator may further be effective to grow a polymer from the initiator layer. The growth of the polymer may be effective to produce a polymer plug in the hole and effective to repair at least a portion of the layer of graphene.

Abstract: A method is provided for printing graphic designs in-line during manufacture of a vehicle. The method utilizes an ink jet printing system to apply graphic designs over an uncured base coat of paint on the vehicle surface followed by the application of a protective clear coat over the graphic design.

Abstract: A method of coating substrate monoliths is disclosed. The method comprises locating a containment means on top of the first end face of the monolith; and dosing a predetermined quantity of washcoat composition comprising a liquid phase, at least one polysaccharide rheology modifier and at least one of (i) a suspension of metal oxide particles into the containment means; and (ii) at least one metal salt solute in the liquid phase. The locating step may occur before or after the dosing step. Pressure is applied to the washcoat composition to generate shear stress and to transfer an entirety of washcoat composition into the channels of the monolith by plug flow. Substantially all of the predetermined quantity is retained within the monolith. The part-coated monolith is then rotated so that the second end face is located at the top, and the first three steps are repeated without drying the part-coated monolith.

Abstract: A method of coating a substrate with a liquid comprising a catalyst component, the method comprising: (a) holding the substrate vertically, thereby defining upper and lower ends thereof, wherein the vertical substrate comprises a plurality of channels that are open at said upper and lower ends; (b) continuously introducing the liquid into the substrate by pushing or injecting the liquid through the open ends of the channels at the lower end of the substrate with a piston; and (c) after the lower end of the substrate has been partly filled with the liquid in step (b), applying a vacuum to the open ends of the channels at the upper end of the substrate while continuing to introduce the liquid into the substrate.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a pattern formation method includes: forming a cyclic pattern having first strips of a first polymer component and second strips of a second polymer component by forming chemical guides having affinity for the first polymer component on a substrate to be processed and coating a directed self-assembly material comprising the first polymer component and the second polymer component on the substrate to be processed. In this pattern formation method, the chemical guides comprise a plurality of regions arrayed in matrix with a predetermined interval on the substrate to be processed; each of the regions has a symmetrical shape with respect to a centerline of the region, the centerline extends in the first direction; and a width along the first direction of the region is narrowed from the centerline toward each of end parts of the region.

Abstract: The present invention relates to highly ordered arrays of nanoholes in metallic films and to an improved method for producing the same. The method according to the invention for producing an highly ordered array of nanoholes in metallic films on a substrate comprises the following steps: a) providing microspheres comprising poly-N-isopropylamide (polyNIPAM), the microspheres being selected from pure poly-N-isopropyl-amide (polyNIPAM) hydrogel microspheres and polymeric or inorganic beads carrying poly-N-isopropylamide (polyNIPAM) hydrogel chains, b) coating an aqueous dispersion of said microspheres onto a substrate and drying the dispersion, which results in a non-close packed ordered array of the microspheres, c) generating a metallic film on the substrate, d) removing the microspheres from the surface of the substrate which results in an ordered array of nanoholes on the substrate, and e) optionally increasing the thickness of the metallic film by selective electroless plating.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus using aqueous fixatives for fogging of ventilation ductwork, enclosures, or buildings containing dust, lint, and particulates that may be contaminated by radionuclides and other dangerous or unsafe particulate contaminants, which method and apparatus are capable of (1) obtaining full coverage within the ductwork and (2) penetrating and fixing the lint, dust and large particles present in the ductwork so that no airborne particles are released during or after the application of the fixative. New aqueous fogging solutions outperform conventional glycerin-based solutions. These aqueous solutions will fog using conventional methods of application and contain a surfactant to aid wetting and penetration of the lint and dust, a binder to stabilize loose or respirable particles, and an agent to aid in fogging and enhance adhesiveness. The solutions are safe and easy to use.

Abstract: A diblock copolymer system that self-assembles at very low molecular weights to form very small features is described. One polymer in the block copolymer contains silicon, and the other polymer is a polylactide. The block copolymer may be synthesized by a combination of anionic and ring opening polymerization reactions. This block copolymer may form nanoporous materials that can be used as etch masks in lithographic patterning.

Abstract: First a metal plate is coated with a primer layer. Next the metal plate is coated with an adhesive layer over the primer layer. Then the metal plate is coated with a compound that includes an inorganic fiber, an organic fiber, an unvulcanized fluororubber, a peroxide for vulcanization and an inorganic filler over the primer layer and the adhesive layer. Thereafter, the metal plate coated with the compound is hot pressed with the fluororubber being vulcanized.

Abstract: An exemplary method of making a woven fabric includes weaving a plurality of load supporting tension members and a plurality of cross fibers together into a woven fabric. A spacing between adjacent ones of the tension members has a first dimension. At least some of the cross fibers are shrunk to thereby decrease the spacing between the adjacent ones of the tension members to a second, smaller dimension. In another example, two woven fabrics are positioned next to each other. The two fabrics include a spacing between adjacent tension members having a first dimension. At least one tension member of one woven fabric is aligned with and between two of the tension members of the other fabric to thereby decrease the spacing to a second, smaller dimension.

Abstract: A method is disclosed, including providing a first mixture of cement and particulate stone material; mixing the first mixture with a predetermined amount of water for forming a second mixture; applying a layer of the second mixture to a surface located at the place where the sports area is intended to be situated; curing/setting the layer of the second mixture applied to the surface, wherein the cured layer is porous and allows water to flow through the cured layer; and applying a layer of a particle size fraction onto the cured layer after the step of curing. A mixture is also disclosed including cement and particulate stone material, wherein the mixture comprises ca. 15-40% by dry weight cement and 60-85% by dry weight particulate stone material, and wherein at least 75% of the particles of the particulate stone material are of sizes within the range 0.1-10 mm.

Abstract: A masking tape for use in applications where a coating material is applied to a surface for defining a sharp edge of the portion of the surface that is coated. A masking tape may include a reinforcing strip releasably attached to the non-adhesive side of conventional masking tape comprising a substrate with an adhesive layer on one side. The reinforcing strip extends longitudinally along the length of the substrate with one edge substantially aligned with, and preferably flush with, one longitudinal edge of the substrate and acts as a separate means to cut through a coating or film more efficiently than the masking tape alone, while subsequently leaving the masking tape in place until the preferred time of removal.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the present invention provides methods of immobilizing carbon nanotubes on a surface, wherein the method comprises: (1) mixing carbon nanotubes with a superacid to form a carbon nanotube solution; and (2) exposing the carbon nanotube solution to the surface. The exposing results in the immobilization of the carbon nanotubes on the surface. In some embodiments, the method occurs without the utilization of carbon nanotube wrapping molecules. Other embodiments of the present invention pertain to systems that comprise immobilized carbon nanotubes on a surface, as developed by the aforementioned methods.

Abstract: The present invention provides a water-based coating system that can be used to form a durable, abrasion resistant, tough, protective coating on a wide range of substrates. The coating system advantageously has excellent adhesion properties and can be directly coated onto stainless steel surfaces without requiring an intervening primer layer. Primer layers or other types of coatings can be used in combination with the coating system of the present invention if desired, however. The coating system is particularly effective for protecting metal-containing substrates such as intermodal, refrigerated cargo containers. The resultant coatings are flexible and impact resistant. Being water-based, the coating compositions have lower VOC emissions and less residual odor than solvent-based compositions.

Abstract: A method of formulating ink for high-speeding printing includes controlling a surface tension of the ink to equal to or greater than 26 mN/m, equal to or greater than 28 mN/m, or equal to or greater than 30 mN/m. The surface tension is measured when the ratio of the total non-volatiles volume fraction of the ink to the maximum total non-volatiles volume fraction of the ink is a ratio between about 0.40 and about 0.90. An ink for high-speed printing includes one or more resins, one or more colorants, one or more solvents, and one or more additives. The ink can be a flexographic ink, a rotogravure ink, a heatset offset ink, or a publication gravure ink. A print of the ink includes less than 1% of pinholes by area. A method of printing includes preparing an ink and applying the ink to a substrate. The ink has a surface tension of equal to or greater than 26 mN/m, and the substrate moves at a speed of greater than 1200 feet/min.

Abstract: A method for the repair of a sandwich plate having a core structure, a top surface layer and a bottom surface layer and a plurality of honeycomb-shaped cells includes providing at least one penetrating drill hole in at least one of the top surface layer and the bottom surface layer above one of the plurality of honeycomb-shaped cells in a damaged region of the sandwich plate, injecting a stabilising material into the honeycomb-shaped cell, and filling the damaged region with a filler material.

Abstract: A building material product and a method of making building material products, having increased resistance to granule rub off and staining. The building material product comprises a substrate having embedded granules and an acrylic latex coating positioned on the granules, where the polymer of the acrylic latex coating has the repeating structural unit [CH2—C(R1)(R2)], where R1 is hydrogen or C1-C8 alkyl; R2 is hydrogen, cyano or —COOR; and R is a linear or branched hydrocarbon containing 1-22 carbon atoms, with the proviso that R1 and R2 are both not hydrogen. The method includes applying this acrylic latex water based composition to a granule embedded substrate.

Abstract: Method of remanufacturing a component comprising: removing a damaged area of a cast iron component, the remaining component constituting a cast iron base; depositing molten particles on the cast iron base to form a pool of agglomerated molten particles, wherein the pool comprises aluminum and at least one of nickel, cobalt, chromium, silicon, or iron; cooling the pool to form a solid intermediate layer; and depositing solid particles on the solid intermediate layer to form an outer layer, wherein the solid particles comprise steel. Additionally, a component comprising: a cast iron base; an intermediate layer covering at least a portion of the cast iron base, wherein the intermediate layer comprises aluminum and at least one of nickel, cobalt, chromium, silicon, or iron; and an outer layer covering the intermediate layer, wherein the outer layer comprises steel.

Abstract: A method of blast cleaning the inside of a hollow article, such as a storage tank. The method includes the introduction of outside air and evacuation of inside air to permit blast cleaning to be carried out while managing the conditions within the enclosed interior space within the hollow article. Managing the interior space conditions permits rapid application of protective coatings to the cleaned surface.