Abstract: An economical method of manufacturing a plastic glazing panel having a decorative marking and/or opaque border printed from a UV curable ink is presented. This economical method includes the steps of forming a plastic panel; printing an opaque pattern from an ink, the pattern having an A-side and a B-side with the B-side being in contact with the plastic panel; curing the ink in the shape of the printed pattern using UV radiation directed at the ink from both the A-side and B-side; applying a weatherable layer on the B-side of the ink and on the plastic panel; curing the weatherable layer; and depositing an abrasion resistant layer onto the weatherable layer.

Abstract: A fiber composite component comprising at least two, first and second partial elements (1, 2) bordering one another, each having a fiber structure (3, 4) and different matrix systems which respectively embed the fiber structure (3, 4) and cure differently from a liquid state, can be produced with an increased stability of the joint between the two partial elements (1, 2) in that first the matrix system of the first partial element (1) is liquefied and thereby penetrates irregularly into the region of the bordering second partial element (2), in that subsequently the matrix system of the second partial element (2) is liquefied and in that the matrix systems are cured. The forming of the irregular boundary surfaces causes an intermeshing or interlocking of the matrix systems with one another, whereby a boundary surface (5) with an increased shear strength is created.

Abstract: The recording medium comprises at least a first (L1) and a second (L2) micro-structured stage assembled by an adhesive layer (4) and arranged between micro-structured bottom (2) and top substrates. A polymerizable layer forming the adhesive layer (4) is deposited on the first stage (L1). Then a micro-structured transparent matrix (5) is provisionally placed on the adhesive layer (4) so as to micro-structure the adhesive layer (4). Polymerization of the adhesive (4) is performed by exposure, through the matrix (5), with a polymerization light. Then the matrix (5) is removed and the second stage (L2) is deposited on the micro-structured adhesive layer (4). Then an additional adhesive layer (9) is deposited on the second stage (L2) and the micro-structured matrix (5) is definitively placed on the additional adhesive layer (9) so as to form the top substrate.

Abstract: There is provided a honeycomb structure which is useful as a trapping filter for exhaust gas, especially as a DPF for a diesel engine and capable of effectively inhibiting defects such as a crack due to thermal stress from being generated upon use and regeneration. The honeycomb structure is provided with a honeycomb segment bonded body obtained by unitarily bonding a plurality of honeycomb segments at bonded faces via a bonding material layer and the outer periphery coat layer and has a structure having a plurality of cells functioning as fluid passages disposed in parallel with one another in a direction of a central axis. The honeycomb structure is characterized in that a bonding cross portion where two or more bonding material layers cross has a smaller thermal capacity than those of bonding portions other than the bonding cross portion.

Abstract: A thermal insulation system is provided for a component of a bonding system, such as an optical system. The thermal insulation system comprises multiple insulation layers located between the component and a heat source. The multiple insulation layers comprise at least one layer of moving air injected into the layer and a cover layer enclosing the layer of moving air. The multiple insulation layers may further comprise a layer of static air.

Abstract: Fiber based z-directional reinforced composites having enhanced inter-laminar strength, impact toughness, transmission properties (electrical and thermal conduction) and coefficient of thermal expansion are provided. The composites include at least two substrates separated by a reinforcement zone that includes a plurality of fibers disposed in a binder resin. At least some, and in one embodiment, a majority, of the fibers are oriented so as to be substantially perpendicular to the substrates. Multi-layered composites having more than two substrate layers can also be formed. Methods for forming such composites are also provided.

Abstract: A coating system for application to a porous substrate such as wood is disclosed. The coating system comprises a color-imparting stain or toner and a UV-curable clear coat. The stain and/or toner contains an aldimine or a ketimine that improves the adhesion of the coating system to the substrate.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a thermoforming pack made of top and bottom web films and to a method of forming said pack.

Abstract: The invention relates to an assembly of several sheet pile walls and at least one pair of connecting profiles (10, 20) with uniform cross section viewed along the longitudinal direction to connect two sheet pile walls (90, 94). In this assembly (100), the first of the two connecting profiles (10) possesses a base attached to the first sheet pile wall (90), a neck strip projecting from the base in a predetermined direction, and a head strip of larger cross section on the free end of the neck strip for engagement with a claw strip partially surrounding the head strip. The second of the two connecting profiles (2) possesses a base attached to a second sheet pile wall (90) and a claw strip to secure a head strip.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a laminate of polymeric tapes, characterised in that polymeric tapes of the core-cladding C) type are used, in which the core material has a higher melting temperature than the cladding material, which method comprises the following steps: i) biassing the polymeric tapes, ii) positioning the polymeric tapes, iii) consolidating the polymeric tapes to obtain the laminate.

Abstract: A man-made, molded article is provided. The article includes a profile including a planar wall, and an adjacent integral molded depression having a contoured wall extending downwardly from the planar wall. The contoured wall includes a bead portion, a cove portion, and a ledge between the bead and cove portions. The articles are stackable, one above another for transport, in a nestable relationship in which multiple contact zones are present between the contoured walls of an adjacently stacked pair of the molded articles. The contact zones include an arcuately extending contact interface zone between the bead exterior and interior surfaces. The depression has a substantially uniform thickness varying by no more than about +1 percent to about ?11 percent in relation to a thickness of the planar wall. Related methods and assemblies are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention presents an optical recording medium capable of forming visible images of excellent visibility by using laser light, and a method for manufacturing the same. An optical recording medium has a first substrate on which an information recording layer and an image recording layer are formed in this order, and a second substrate formed on the image recording layer, in which a surface of the image recording layer side of the second substrate is roughened.

Abstract: It is intended to provide a composite structure excellent in resistance characteristics such as plasma resistance. The composite structure includes a base material having a surface containing a ceramic polycrystal and a structure formed on the surface of the base material containing the ceramic polycrystal, wherein the structure contains a polycrystal containing a brittle material; a grain boundary layer having a glass layer does not substantially exist on a boundary face between crystals forming the polycrystal; a part of the polycrystal forms an anchor part embedded into the base material surface; and an average roughness (Ra) of an interface between the anchor part and the base material surface is 100 nm or less.

Abstract: A dry etching gas comprising a C4-6 fluorine compound which has an ether bond or carbonyl group and one or more fluorine atoms in the molecule and is constituted only of carbon, fluorine, and oxygen atoms and in which the ratio of the number of fluorine atoms to the number of carbon atoms (F/C) is 1.9 or lower (provided that the compound is neither a fluorine compound having one cyclic ether bond and one carbon-carbon double bond nor a saturated fluorine compound having one carbonyl group); a mixed dry etching gas comprising the dry etching gas and at least one gas selected from the group consisting of rare gases, O2, O3, CO, CO2, CHF3, CH2F2, CF4, C2F6, and C3F8; and a method of dry etching which comprises converting either of these dry etching gases into a plasma and processing a semiconductor material with the plasma.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for modifying a surface of a polymer derived from a mixture comprising a thiol monomer and an olefinic monomer. The method comprises exposing at least a portion of the polymer surface to electromagnetic radiation of sufficient energy to modify the polymer surface. The present invention also provides a polymer derived from polymerizing a mixture of monomers comprising a thiol monomer, an olefinic monomer, and an iniferter.

Abstract: A enhanced abradable friable graded insulator FGI results from the laser patterning of a coating where a series of top surfaces reside on a series of columns such that the walls of the columns are not significantly densified relative to the interior of the columns. Patterns can be generated where the columns are oriented independently normal to or at an acute angle to the top surfaces. The cross sections of the top surfaces are formed to conform to the average dimensions of the spheres of the FGI coating. The cross sections of the top surfaces can be more than 1.5 times the diameter of the spheres. Various patterns of top surfaces can be used including regular, random, quasiperiodic patterns. A gradient of abradability can be imposed on the coating.

Abstract: A laminate comprising a compressible, cushioning layer and an open layer comprised of a tough, reinforcing woven or non-woven mesh, net, webbing, scrim or sheet material having openings therein and attached to the compressible, air permeable, cushioning layer is particularly useful for producing horn wraps that permit ventilation for the parts of the horns and head in contact with a horn wrap product. Permeable or air ventilating laminates of various materials and configurations are disclosed along with methods of making horn wraps using the laminates.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a wiring substrate includes the steps of: (a) forming a sacrificial layer in a first pattern on a substrate; (b) forming a catalyst layer in a second pattern on the substrate; (c) immersing the substrate in an electroless plating liquid, thereby depositing a metal layer on the catalyst layer in the second pattern; and (d) heating to remove the sacrificial layer and to form a metal layer in a third pattern, wherein the third pattern is a region where the first pattern and the second pattern overlap each other.

Abstract: An ink set for ink-jet printing includes a medium cyan ink-jet ink, a magenta ink-jet ink, and a gray ink-jet ink. Each of the medium cyan ink-jet ink, the magenta ink-jet ink, and the gray ink-jet ink are configured to have a lightness at a predetermined/given number of drops per unit area of an image-receiving medium such that the lightness of each of the inks are substantially matched.

Abstract: A transparent thermoplastic resinous film of at least 10 generally parallel layers in which the contiguous adjacent layers are of diverse transparent thermoplastic material differing in refractive index by at least about 0.03, the planarity of the film being modified so as to reflect non-specular color. Modification of the film can be achieved by co-extruding an outer thermoplastic layer with the multilayer film which outer thermoplastic layer has a solidification temperature lower than the remaining film layers, cooling the film to modify the planarity thereof.

Abstract: A multi-layer film having a layer structure that a polyvalent metal compound-containing layer adjoins one side or both sides of a polymer layer containing a carboxyl group-containing polymer and a polyvalent metal salt of the carboxyl group-containing polymer, wherein the polymer layer has a concentration gradient structure that the concentration of the polyvalent metal salt of the carboxyl group-containing polymer in the polymer layer is continuously reduced in the thickness-wise direction from a surface adjoining the polyvalent metal compound-containing layer, and a peak ratio A1560/A1700 as determined on the basis of an infrared absorption spectrum of the polymer layer is at least 0.25.

Abstract: Methods of manufacturing multi-colored, rubber pads such as edging and mats include providing a mold; mixing together a rubber component, a binder and a first coloring agent to form a matrix having a first colored surface; and introducing a second coloring agent onto the matrix to create a multicolored pad having a second colored surface opposite the first colored surface.

Abstract: A solid surface product having a thickness of 3 cm or greater is provided which is substantially free from warping, has a homogeneous surface appearance, and is substantially free from entrapped air bubbles or voids. The solid surface material includes from about 25 to about 95 wt %, i.e. weight percent, of a polymer resin and from about 0 to about 70 wt % of a filler. A method for producing the solid surface material is also provided and includes forming a mixture of from about 25 to about 95 wt % of a polymer resin and from about 0 to about 70 wt % of a filler; casting the mixture into an open mold to a thickness of 3 cm or greater; applying a vacuum to the molded mixture to release entrapped gases therein; and curing the molded mixture to produce a thick solid surface material.

Abstract: A method to prepare porous medium decorated with nanoparticles involves contacting a suspension of nanoparticles in an ionic liquid with a porous medium such that the particles diffuse into the pores of the medium followed by heating the resulting composition to a temperature equal to or greater than the thermal decomposition temperature of the ionic liquid resulting in the removal of the liquid portion of the suspension. The nanoparticles can be a metal, an alloy, or a metal compound. The resulting compositions can be used as catalysts, sensors, or separators.

Abstract: The invention relates to an absorbent moulded body, a method for production and use thereof, comprising micro- or meso-porous adsorbents. The moulded bodies serve as process heat and refrigeration sources, whereby a vapour working medium is expelled from the moulded body by the introduction of heat energy and optionally condensed and the working medium, optionally previously vaporised, is absorbed in gaseous form. The moulded body comprises crystalline powder and/or granules together with a conducting surface within a cage, connected to the surface and the powder and/or granules are bonded by the binder in the form of a random bed.

Abstract: Methods for reducing the density of thermoplastic materials and the articles made therefrom having similar or improved mechanical properties to the solid or noncellular material. Also disclosed are improvements to foaming methods and the cellular structures of the foams made therefrom, and methods for altering the impact strength of solid or noncellular thermoplastic materials and the shaping of the materials into useful articles.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method for producing a film with use of aerosol which is capable of forming a film of satisfactory quality at a high film formation rate. In the method, first, a carrier gas is mixed into a particle mixture which comprises raw fine particles comprising a brittle material as a main component and having a 50% average particle diameter of 0.010 ?m to 1.0 ?m on a volume basis, and auxiliary particles comprising a brittle material of the same type as or a different type from the brittle material of the raw fine particles as a main component and having a 50% average particle diameter of 3.0 ?m to 100 ?m on a volume basis, to form an aerosol. The aerosol is ejected onto the surface of a substrate to make the particle mixture come into collision with the substrate, so that the collision crushes or deforms the raw fine particles to form a film on the substrate.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method for producing a film with use of aerosol which is capable of forming a film of satisfactory quality at an extremely high film formation rate. In the method, first, a carrier gas is mixed into fine particles comprising a brittle material as a main component and having a 50% average particle diameter of 100 nm to 300 nm on a number basis to form an aerosol. The aerosol is ejected onto the surface of a substrate to make the fine particles come into collision with the substrate, so that the collision crushes or deforms the fine particles to form a film on the substrate.

Abstract: The invention comprises a process for joining a first surface and a second surface where the first surface comprises an initially non-solderable surface which comprises coating the first surface with a solder-adhesion layer to produce a solder-adhesion layer on the first surface and providing a Thermal Interface Material (“TIM”) composition comprising solderable heat-conducting particles in a bondable resin matrix where at least some of the solderable heat-conducting particles comprise a solder surface. The TIM composition is placed between the first surface and the second surface to extend between and be contiguous with both the second surface and the solder-adhesion layer on the first surface. Sufficiently heating the TIM composition results in (a) soldering at least some of the solderable heat-conducting particles to one another; and (b) soldering at least some of the solderable heat-conducting particles to the solder-adhesion layer on the first surface.

Abstract: The present invention has its object to provide a coating material with a gas-barrier property which can give a very transparent packaging material with a satisfactory gas-barrier property when it has a thin gas-barrier layer and, when it has a gas-barrier layer with an ordinary thickness, can give a packaging material with a higher gas-barrier property, a process for producing such coating material with a gas-barrier property, and a packaging container with a high gas-barrier level obtained by coating with such coating material with a gas-barrier property. The present invention provides a coating material composition with a gas-barrier property which comprises, as essential components, an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer (A) obtained by saponifying an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, an inorganic layered compound (B) and a solvent, wherein the total amount of (A) and (B) is 1 to 30% by mass and the mass ratio (A)/(B) is (30/70) to (50/50).

Abstract: To provide a large sputtering target excellent in discharge characteristics during sputtering and in characteristics of a thin film thereby obtainable. Further, a process for producing a sintered body is provided, whereby a large green body excellent in shape accuracy can be obtained by means of cold isostatic pressing directly without preforming, and a sintered body capable of providing the above-mentioned excellent sputtering target, can be produced efficiently at a low cost. The sputtering target is produced by using a sintered body having the content of carbon contained as an impurity reduced to less than 0.005 wt %. Such a sintered body is obtainable by molding a raw material powder by cold isostatic pressing directly without adding a binder containing an organic substance or a molding aid, followed by firing.

Abstract: Optical films are described that comprise an antistatic primer disposed on the substrate and a high refractive index layer disposed on the primer. The primer comprises a sulfopolymer and at least one antistatic agent. The high refractive index layer comprises surface modified inorganic nanoparticles dispersed in a crosslinked organic material. The antistatic agent is preferably selected from conductive inorganic particles, conductive polymer, and mixtures thereof. Also describes are antistatic compositions and surface treated conductive inorganic oxide particles.

Abstract: The invention relates to a polyethylene molding composition which has a multimodal molar mass distribution and is particularly suitable for producing external sheathing of electric or information transmission cables. The molding composition has a density at a temperature of 23° C. in the range from 0.94 to 0.95 g/cm3 and an MFI190/5 in the range from 1.2 to 2.1 dg/min. It comprises from 45 to 55% by weight of a low molecular weight ethylene homopolymer A, from 30 to 40% by weight of a high molecular weight copolymer B of ethylene and another olefin having from 4 to 8 carbon atoms and from 10 to 20% by weight of an ultra high molecular weight ethylene copolymer C. The invention also relates to an electric or information transmission cable having an external sheath of the polyethylene molding composition which has a thickness in the range from 0.2 to 3 cm.

Abstract: A process for preparing embossed fine particulate thin metal flakes having high levels of brightness and color intensity. The process comprises forming a release coat on a flexible polymeric carrier film, embossing the release coat with a diffraction grating pattern that is monoruled at an angle above 45°, vacuum metalizing the embossed release surface with a highly reflective metal such as aluminum, and solubilizing the metalized release coat in a solvent for removing the metal from the carrier to form embossed metal flakes that replicate the embossment pattern. The flakes are recovered from the solution containing the solvent and release coat polymer while avoiding high shear, particle sizing or other application of energy that would excessively break up the flakes, so that the D50 particle size of the flakes is maintained at or above 75 microns.

Abstract: A polyamide molding composition with the following constitution is described: (A) from 30 to 100% by weight of at least one 10T/6T copolyamide, where this is composed of (A1) from 40 to 95 mol % of 10T units, formed from the monomers 1,10-decanediamine and terephthalic acid (A2) from 5 to 60 mol % of 6T units, formed from the monomers 1,6-hexanediamine and terephthalic acid (B) from 0 to 70% by weight of reinforcing materials and/or fillers (C) from 0 to 50% by weight of additives and/or further polymers where the entirety of components A to C is 100%, with the proviso that in component (A) up to 30 mol %, based on the entirety of the dicarboxylic acids, of the terephthalic acid can have been replaced by other aromatic, aliphatic, or cycloaliphatic dicarboxylic acids, and with the proviso that in component (A) up to 30 mol % of 1,10-decanediamine and respectively 1,6-hexanediamine, based on the entirety of the diamines, can have been replaced by other diamines, and with the proviso that not more than 3

Abstract: A process for creating readily or highly dispersible nanoparticles on which chemically reactive functional groups or ligands have been placed. An ultra-high shear fluidic processor is used to change the size distribution of nanoparticle agglomerations and facilitate the formation of stable dispersions of such nanoparticles, as well as the placement of various chemically reactive functional groups or ligands on exposed surface areas of such nanoparticles. Such functionalized nanoparticle agglomerations have a broader size distribution (with a substantial increase in the proportion of smaller agglomerations), can exhibit enhanced dispersion characteristics and, when dispersed in various bulk materials, can impart to such bulk materials the desirable physical or chemical properties associated with the selected chemically active functional groups that have been attached to the surface areas of such agglomerations.

Abstract: A resin composition for molding materials according to the present invention comprising an acrylic polymer and a plasticizer, wherein the acrylic polymer consists of primary particles which have a core-shell structure comprising a core polymer and a shell polymer, and wherein the core polymer and shell polymer comprise methyl methacrylate monomer units and the core polymer has a lower content of methyl methacrylate monomer units than the shell polymer. The resin composition has high moldability during molding and gives a molded article having high hardness and high tear strength and reduced in plasticizer bleeding.

Abstract: A graphite body comprises aligned graphite flakes bonded with a binder, in which the graphite has an average particle size of >200 ?m. Methods of forming such highly oriented graphite material include:— a) forming a mixture of a mesophase pitch with a graphite powder; b) rolling the mixture to align the graphite powder and to form a body of graphite and pitch; c) carbonising the body; and optionally d) graphitising the body. Pressing rather than rolling may be employed. Such graphite bodies have high thermal conductivity and anisotropy and may be used for thermal management.

Abstract: A surface (30) suitable for promoting the formation of droplets of liquid (35) is provided comprising alternating regions of liquid repelling (32) and liquid attracting (33) material in at least one direction across the surface wherein the diameter of the droplets is controlled by the size of the smallest dimension of the liquid attracting material. The surface (30) may be textured and/or form a pattern. Also disclosed are a method and a system of collecting a liquid (35) carried by or condensed out of a vapour comprising passing a vapour across such a surface (30) and a method of purifying a liquid by passing a vapour containing droplets of a liquid over such a surface.

Abstract: A polymer composition comprising a mixture of a) a first resin component comprising a polyaryl ether ketone, a polyaryl ketone, a polyether ketone, a polyether ether ketone, or a combination of two or more of the foregoing, and b) a second resin component comprising a specific type of copolycarbonate, wherein the mixture has at least two glass transition temperatures, as measured by ASTM method D5418, wherein the first glass transition temperature is from 120 to 160° C. and the second glass transition temperature is from 170 to 280° C. is disclosed. The compositions have improved properties such as improved load bearing capability at high temperature, better impact strength, and a high crystallization temperature.

Abstract: An aqueous composition with a sediment content ?5%, comprising a polyurethane dispersion wherein the polyurethane has an acid value in the range of from 25 to 65 mgKOH/g and comprises (i) 36 to 60 wt % of at least one aromatic polyisocyanate and where the polyurethane is prepared in the presence of (a) ?5 wt % of 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone by weight of the polyurethane, (b) 5 to 100 wt % of 1-ethyl-2-pyrrolidinone by weight of polyurethane and (c) water.

Abstract: A method of joining metals to a ceramic material such as a ceramic matrix composite is provided which utilizes a compliant interlayer having a coefficient of thermal expansion between the coefficient of thermal expansion of the metal and that of the ceramic matrix composite. The compliant interlayer is bonded to the metal, and the ceramic matrix composite is then bonded to the bonded interlayer/metal. The method results in a high strength joint between a metal having a high coefficient of thermal expansion and a ceramic material having a low coefficient of thermal expansion.

Abstract: A method for coating zinc, zinc plated, or steel articles with a hydroxy benzoic acid protective coating by coating a cleaned zinc, zinc plated, or steel with a hydoxy benzoic acid composition having a pH of about 2.0 to 5.0; and coating cleaned tin surfaced articles with a composition having a PH of 2.0 to 12.0, and the composition having as its essential ingredients proteins, amino acids, amino acid-protein compounds and amine alcohols; and the articles produced thereby along with the coated articles having an appropriate paint thereon.

Abstract: Esters of cyclohexane polycarboxylic acids are used as plasticisers for polyvinyl chloride to enable products with comparable mechanical properties to be obtained using less polyvinyl chloride. Use of these esters also produces formulations with increased stability to ultra-violet light, improved low temperature properties, lower viscosity and improved processability as well as reduced smoke on burning. The esters of cyclohexane polycarboxylic acids may be used alone or in admixture with other plasticisers when the esters of cyclohexane polycarboxylic acids may act as viscosity depressants. Fast fusing plasticisers may also be included. The formulations are particularly useful in the production of a range of goods from semi-rigid to highly flexible materials and are particularly useful in the production of medical materials such as blood bags and tubing.

Abstract: The present invention refers in one embodiment to a method of manufacturing multilayer coated papers and paperboards, but excluding photographic papers and pressure sensitive copying papers, that are especially suitable for printing, packaging and labeling purposes, in which at least two curtain layers selected from aqueous emulsions or suspensions are formed into a composite, free-falling curtain and a continuous web of basepaper or baseboard is coated with the composite curtain, and paper or paperboard thereby obtainable.

Abstract: A method of producing a carbon fiber-metal composite material includes: (a) mixing an elastomer, a reinforcement filler, and carbon nanofibers, and dispersing the carbon nanofibers by applying a shear force to obtain a carbon fiber composite material; and (b) replacing the elastomer in the carbon fiber composite material with a metal material, wherein the reinforcement filler improves rigidity of at least the metal material.

Abstract: A multi-layer metallurgical product comprising a core aluminum alloy, purposefully tailored through chemistry and processing route to resist recrystallization during the brazing cycle to intentionally exploit the higher strengths immediately after brazing of a deformed and recovered microstructure, the core aluminum alloy being positioned on one side to an aluminum alloy interliner designed to be resistant to localized erosion, which, in turn, is adjacent to a 4xxx cladding alloy. The multi-layer product can be fabricated at least in part via any multi-alloy ingot casting processes such as the Simultaneous Multi-Alloy Casting process or the Unidirectional Solidification of Castings process.

Abstract: The lifespan of a layer system at high temperatures is determined by the diffusion of single elements between the substrate and the layers on the substrate. A diffusion inhibiting layer according to the invention with an adapted aluminum content which lies between the aluminum content of the substrate and the aluminum content of the bonding or corrosion protective layer prevents the diffusion of aluminum and raises therefore the lifespan of the layer system.

Abstract: An alloy for use in vapor deposition or atomic layer deposition is described herein that includes ruthenium and at least one element from group IV, V or VI of the Periodic Chart of the Elements or a combination thereof. In addition, a layered material is described herein that comprises at least one layer that includes a ruthenium-based material or ruthenium-based alloy and at least one layer that includes at least one element from group IV, V or VI of the Periodic Chart of the Elements or a combination thereof.

Abstract: In a process involving the formation of an insulating film on a substrate for an electronic device, the insulating film is formed on the substrate surface by carrying out two or more steps for regulating the characteristic of the insulating film involved in the process under the same operation principle. The formation of an insulating film having a high level of cleanness can be realized by carrying out treatment such as cleaning, oxidation, nitriding, and a film thickness reduction while avoiding exposure to the air. Further, carrying out various steps regarding the formation of an insulating film under the same operation principle can realize simplification of the form of an apparatus and can form an insulating film having excellent property with a high efficiency.