Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of cleaning a diesel particulate filter. The method requires a step of contacting the diesel particulate filter with a cleaning composition containing one or more fatty acids or a derivative thereof. The one or more fatty acids or a derivative thereof may include a natural oil, such as a plant-based oil.

Abstract: Described herein are processes and apparatus for the high purity and high concentration recovery of multivalent products via continuous ion exchange from aqueous solutions for further down-stream purification.

Abstract: Provided is a method for maintaining a preset air pressure of a low-pressure chamber.

Abstract: A pipette tip includes a body and projections. In the body, a flow passage in which liquid from the syringe flows and an ejection opening that ejects the liquid, which has flowed through the flow passage, to the outside are formed. The ejection opening is formed in a distal end portion. The projections are provided on the distal end portion and protrude from a region around the ejection opening in the ejection direction of liquid. The projections are partially disposed around the central axis of the body. Even in a case where a residual droplet adheres to the ejection opening, the residual droplet does not adhere to an injection opening of a sample container, because the projections guard a region around the residual droplet.

Abstract: In the case of a plate-shaped substrate material (20), in which a microfluidic structure (5) is formed, there is consequently the ability for light (11, 12) that was diffusely scattered by an inner wall (9) to be captured and that a fill level, a speed of advance or any other variable for characterizing a liquid transport of a liquid (8) in the microfluidic structure (5) be ascertained by calculation from the captured, diffusely scattered light (11, 12).

Abstract: An analysis container comprises a main body; a first chamber that is provided inside the main body and holds a liquid sample; a second chamber; a liquid passage; and an air passage. The liquid passage connects the first chamber and the second chamber, and moves the liquid sample from the first chamber to the second chamber. The air flow chamber connects the first chamber and the second chamber, and moves air from the second chamber to the first chamber.

Abstract: A microfluidic device with reduced risk of bubble formation at a capillary junction between two conduits is provided. In some embodiments, the microfluidic device comprises a supply reservoir, a first conduit and a second conduit. The first conduit is configured such that liquid flows by capillary effect from the supply reservoir into the first conduit. The second conduit is connected to the first conduit through an opening in a wall of the first conduit and is configured such that liquid flows from the first conduit to the second conduit by capillary effect. A width of the second conduit, along a direction of liquid flow in the first conduit, is greater than a depth of the second conduit and a depth of the second conduit is less than a depth of the first conduit.

Abstract: A microdevice for separating plasma from human blood comprising a blood flow channel (2) connected to a corpuscles flow channel (5) and a plasma flow channel (8) through a curved construction channel (15). Blood flow channel has width 150 to 400 ?m and length 1-20 mm, constriction channel (15) has width 60 to 200 ?m, length 0.157 to 3.15 mm and curvature angle 90-270° with inner radius 50 ?m to 1 mm and outer radius 110 ?m to 1.2 mm and corpuscles flow channel (5) has width 200 to 700 ?m, length 0.5 to 5 mm and bend angle 40-70°. Plasma channel is sinewave shaped and has width 20-150 ?m and length 10-50 mm. Channels have uniform depth 20-120 ?m (FIG. 1).

Abstract: A new method is disclosed for extracting plasma from whole blood and metering the amount of plasma to an exact volume for dispensing into a diagnostic test, in a fully automatic and self-contained device. The device can be used in resource limited settings by unskilled users to facilitate sophisticated medical diagnostic testing outside of a hospital, clinic or laboratory.

Abstract: Provided herein are microfluidic devices that can be configured to generate an electrophoretic flow that is in opposition to a fluid flow through a microcapillary of a microfluidic device provided herein. Also provided herein are methods that include adding an amount of particle to the inlet area of a microfluidic device as provided herein, generating a first fluid flow through a microcapillary of a microfluidic device provided herein; and applying a uniform electric field to the microfluidic device, where the uniform electric field generates an electrophoretic flow that is in opposition to the fluid flow.

Abstract: Methods for detecting target analytes utilizing an array of wells are advantageous for detection of low concentrations of target analytes. Use of an array of wells requires sealing of the wells. The methods provided herein utilize digital microfluidics to seal wells of an array with a fluid that is immiscible with the aqueous liquid present in the wells to prevent evaporation and contamination of the aqueous fluid during analysis of signals from the wells. The disclosed method include generating a biphasic droplet composed of the immiscible fluid and an aqueous fluid. The immiscible fluid present in the biphasic droplet is moved over the array of wells to seal the wells by electrically actuating the aqueous fluid present in the biphasic droplet which in turn pulls the immiscible fluid.

Abstract: A device for manipulating liquid droplets comprises a structured surface including an array of larger pillars and a number of smaller pillars distributed among the larger pillars, where each of the larger pillars comprises a shape memory polymer having a glass transition temperature Tg. The structured surface has an undeformed initial configuration, and, upon compression of the larger pillars, the structured surface comprises a deformed configuration. The undeformed initial configuration is recoverable from the deformed configuration by heating the shape memory polymer at or above the Tg. When exposed to a liquid droplet, the structured surface comprises a first wettability in the deformed configuration and a second wettability in the undeformed initial configuration. Thus, the structured surface exhibits a dynamic wettability for manipulating liquid droplets.

Abstract: A sieve system for a grinding device permitting the processing of materials in terms of particle size, in particular the processing of solid or powder materials. The system includes a filtering portion having fine holes and designed to cooperate with a rotor of the grinding device in such a way as to press the material to be ground through said filtering portion; and a support portion having large holes, which is able to reinforce the filtering portion. The sieve can be coupled to a vibratory device. The sieve system allows for the grinding method to be operated in continuous mode, with a material flow rate through the sieve up to 50% higher than that reached with a conventional sieve.

Abstract: A crushing mill includes a crushing chamber and a feed unit to feed the waste to be crushed positioned upstream of the crushing chamber. Upstream of the feed unit a first aperture is positioned for the inlet of the waste to be treated in the feed unit and, downstream of the feed unit, a second transfer aperture is positioned to transfer the waste to be treated toward the crushing chamber. The feed unit includes a member rotatable around a determinate axis and provided with at least a pair of cylindrical sectors angularly offset with respect to the axis, provided with corresponding inlet and discharge apertures of the waste to be crushed and configured so that, in any loading and/or crushing step of the waste to be crushed in the crushing mill, they prevent the first and second apertures from coming into communication with each other.

Abstract: A stirring device for stirring a particulate material and a grinding media in a grinding mill includes one or more protective elements that extend outwardly from a body to deflect said particulate material and said grinding media from the body.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an industrial powder making device, including: a powder making cylinder body, spiked hammer arms, a front oblique hammer, vertical hammers, a hammer aim, a detachable rack, a detachable rack inner bulge, spiked blade arms, a front oblique blade, high-hardness wear-resistant alloy sheets, a blade arm, a rotating shaft, a rotating shaft groove, a clamping piece, a feeding port, a discharging port, bearings, a rotating power module, a liquid nitrogen storage tank, a pipeline, a valve, nitrogen input holes, a nitrogen output hole, a fine particle collection device and a disc bevel discharging control device. And an operating method is: crushing the ore by the spiked hammer arms, grinding the ore by the spiked blade arms, cooling with nitrogen, controlling equivalent input and output of the ore, and crushing and grinding the ore according to an established route, thereby realizing rapid powder making.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for grinding fresh stock, comprising comminuting the fresh stock in a first roller press roller gap into ground grinding stock, dividing the ground grinding stock via an adjustable divider into a first and second part stream in a variably adjustable ratio and comminuting the ground grinding stock of the first part stream in a second roller press. The adjustable divider divides ground grinding stock into an intermediate stream comprising ground grinding stock issuing from an intermediate roller gap region, and into two peripheral streams each comprising ground grinding stock issuing from one of the two roller gap peripheral regions. The two peripheral streams are combined to form the first part stream and the intermediate stream forms the second part stream. The second part stream is conveyed from the divider into a bypass line, passing the second roller press.

Abstract: A gold panning machine that works with or without water. A pan is attached to a transmission and motor like that in a clothes-washing machine. The transmission and motor oscillate the pan full of Gold-Bearing sand like the tub in a clothes-washing machine. The pan has a ring attached to it that prevents the gold from being thrown off by the centrifugal force caused by the oscillation. The gold concentrates in the bottom of the pan by gravity and the waste is discarded by centrifugal force.

Abstract: A working fluid filtration and separation system that removes contaminants from a working fluid of a working machine. The system includes a vessel and an electrostatic collector mounted within the vessel which electrostatically removes contaminants from contaminated working fluid as it passes through the electrostatic collector element. The electrostatic collector element includes a plurality of concentric electrodes of different radii, a plurality of corrugated walls residing in spaces located between adjacent electrodes. An elongated center post electrode is provided that induces a voltage in at least one of the plurality of concentric electrodes. The system is configured to generate a voltage difference between each pair of adjacent concentric electrodes to electrostatically remove contaminants from the working fluid as it flows through the filtration and separation system.

Abstract: A centrifugal separator includes a casing which delimits a space which is sealed off from and having an under pressure in relation to the surroundings, by at least one seal. A rotor is arranged for rotation around a rotational axis and forms within itself a separation space. In the separation space, centrifugal separation of at least one higher density component and at least one lower density component from a fluid takes place during operation. At least one inlet extends into the rotor for introducing the fluid to the separation space. At least one first outlet extends from the rotor for discharge of at least one component separated from the fluid during operation. The rotor includes at least one second outlet extending from a portion of the separation space to the space for discharge of at least one higher density component separated from the fluid during operation.

Abstract: A batch centrifuge having a filter screen that can be expeditiously removed and replaced and that is more rigid and more durable than filter screens that are typically employed in current practice. The batch centrifuge may include a centrifuge basket and a cylindrical filter screen disposed within the centrifuge basket, wherein the filter screen is formed of a plurality of curved panels that fit together at adjoining edges. In some embodiments, each of the curved panels may be small enough to fit through an opening in the top of the centrifuge basket without being bent or otherwise deformed.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the disclosure are directed to an air/fluid filter device comprising a sheet of material initially configured in one or more planar sections, a plurality of organized air/fluid outlets arranged on the sheet and configured to allow the air/fluid to flow through the sheet, and a plurality of cyclonic compartments coupled to the sheet, each compartment comprising a cyclonic structure comprising at least one of a cone or a cylinder, including a tangential inlet, and a cyclonic outlet at the end of the cyclonic structure that is coupled to the sheet. In some embodiments, each tangential opening is in air/fluid communication with a respective incoming air/fluid side of the sheet, and each cyclonic outlet is coupled to a respective outlet of the sheet.

Abstract: A substrate treating apparatus includes a front heat-treating block, a front relay block and a solution treating block. The front heat-treating block has heat-treating units and main transport mechanisms. The front relay block has receivers and transport mechanisms. The solution treating block has solution treating units and transport mechanisms for solution treatment. The front heat-treating block and front relay block are connected to be able to transport substrates reciprocally. The front relay block and solution treating block are connected to be able to transport the substrates reciprocally. The front relay block is disposed between the solution treating block and front heat-treating block.

Abstract: A surface treatment assembly for treating a contoured surface includes a surface treatment array formed from a plurality of base structures, each base structure operably coupled to a first phalange structure and a first phalange structure first end. A second phalange structure operatively coupled to each first phalange structure and a phalange joint disposed between each first phalange structure and each second phalange, thereby forming a finger structure. Moreover, at least one applicator head is coupled to a second phalange structure second end of each finger structure and configured to treat the contoured surface. A base structure actuator and a phalange joint actuator operatively coupled to and configured to manipulate the first phalange structure and the second phalange of each finger structure to adjust the surface treatment array relative to the contoured surface.

Abstract: A portable ultrafine nebulizer comprises a housing, an atomizing nozzle located at the front port of the housing, an air turbine deposited inside the housing, an air flow guide device fixed at the front port of the housing, and a water pump for pumping liquid; the air flow guide device is provided with a plurality of air flow guide blades distributed uniformly around the periphery of the atomizing nozzle, and each of the air flow guide blades is provided with a guide surface; in the atomizing nozzle is provided with a spiral channel and a fluid channel communicated with the water pump, the atomizing nozzle is provided with a spray port at the front end, and the spray port is communicated with the fluid channel through the spiral channel; the air turbine, the air flow guide blades and the spray port are distributed successively along the airflow direction.

Abstract: A high-pressure low-volume spray system includes a hose disposed between a compressor and a spray gun. The hose acts as an accumulator when the spray gun is deactivated. A check valve is disposed in a fitting connecting the hose to the compressor. The check valve includes a spring that applies a nonlinear force to a downstream end of a valve member, such that the valve member tips open in response to the pressure differential, providing a variable flowpath opening through the check valve.

Abstract: The disclosure discloses a spraying or fuming scooter, including a pedal base, front wheels, a rear wheel, a handle rod, a water tank, a spraying device disposed on an outlet of the water tank, and a circuit control component. The disclosure disposes an electric wire in the handle rod to enhance reliability and stability of circuit control. A light-emitting printed circuit board and a spraying piece are fixated on a nozzle of the water tank manufactured by blow molding via a fixing trestle cylinder. Water is added from an inlet of the water tank. After energization, mists atomized by the spraying piece are illuminated by a LED light-emitting light group of the light-emitting printed circuit board to show the mists with various colors. The mists simulate emission from engines of airplanes, vehicles and motorcycles, which can enhance entertainment and excitement of the scooter in the disclosure.

Abstract: An adhesive dispensing apparatus comprises a base, a carrier and a feeding assembly. The carrier is rotatably disposed on the base, and the carrier configured for containing an adhesive material. The feeding assembly is disposed between the base and the carrier. The feeding assembly comprises a guide roller set, a conduit and a nozzle. One end of the conduit is connected to the nozzle, and another end of the conduit corresponds to the guide roller set. In addition, the guide roller set is configured for feeding the adhesive material through the conduit to the nozzle.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a compact container having a short stroke pump and a ring button member and, more particularly, to a compact container having a short stroke pump and a ring button member, in which a pump support is formed in a plate shape on top of a container body and the pump is mounted on the pump support, wherein the pump is formed of a piston, a piston ring, a cylinder, and a suction valve plate as used in the conventional art; the stroke of the pump is reduced to 1.5-2.5 mm while the ratio of the stroke of the pump to the inner diameter of the cylinder is changed from 1:1-1:3 as in the conventional art to 1:5.5-1:13, thereby maximizing a content accommodating space in the main body of the container; a bushing is coupled to the upper portion of the cylinder of the pump, the end portion of the bushing being formed in a round shape, and a clearance of 0.3-1.

Abstract: A trigger dispenser device (1) envisages a secondary liquid aspiration duct (50) in communication with the dispenser duct, and a primary liquid aspiration duct (8) in communication with the container, off-axis with each other. Between these, a joining compartment (64) is provided communicating upstream with the primary liquid aspiration duct (8) and communicating downstream with the secondary liquid aspiration duct (50) to form the fluidic connection between them. In particular, the container (C) is of the type with built-in suction pipe.

Abstract: A pump for use with a material sprayer includes a cylinder, a piston, a pump head, first and second check valves, and an elbow connected to the cylinder. The cylinder and the piston are coaxial with a pump axis. The pump head is configured to make a mechanical connection with the reciprocating drive mechanism so as to allow the reciprocating drive mechanism to reciprocate the piston along the pump axis. The elbow includes a first end, a second end, and an inner fluid channel. The first end is configured to make a fluid connection with the hopper. The second end is configured to be fixed with respect to the cylinder. The inner fluid channel extends from the first end to the second end. The pump head and the first end of the elbow are configured to make mechanical and fluid connections with a single linear motion of the pump.

Abstract: An irrigation system includes a valve that controls the flow of water through a sprinkler head, and a flow sensor that measures the water flow rate through the sprinkler head. In some embodiments, the valve is adjusted until the flow sensor measures a water flow rate that matches a first predetermined water flow rate. This is a first position for the valve. The valve opening is adjusted again by a set amount or until the flow sensor measures a water flow rate that matches a second predetermined water flow rate. This is a second position for the valve. The first and second predetermined water flow rates each correspond to a throw distance the water stream discharged from the sprinkler head will travel. This relationship between the water flow rate and distance is based on empirical data for the sprinkler. A second equation relating the valve opening to water flow rate, for a given pressure, is then used to estimate the water effective pressure.

Abstract: A spray gun includes a gun body having a front body portion and a spray cap assembly attached to the front body portion of the gun body. The spray cap assembly includes a nozzle assembly and a spray cap positioned over the nozzle assembly. The nozzle assembly includes a nozzle piece configured to attach to the front body portion of the gun body and an air flow guide surrounding the nozzle piece. The spray cap interfaces with the air flow guide. The air flow guide is configured to engage with the nozzle piece so that the air flow guide is prevented from moving past the nozzle piece.

Abstract: A powered liquid spray apparatus mounts an air gun to a power-driven circumferential ring arranged for rotation about a pipe, with the air gun's nozzle oriented perpendicular to the pipe. The flow of coating through the nozzle is controlled as the power-driven ring rotates about the pipe. If the air gun is mounted parallel to the pipe, the pipe or pipe joint may be coated when skid mounted.

Abstract: An applicator for dispensing liquid material onto a substrate includes a body, a valve module, and a backpressure control device having a device passage. The body includes an inlet passage, a dispensing outlet passage, and a recirculation outlet passage. The valve module has a dispensing mode and a recirculation mode, and directs the liquid material through the dispensing outlet passage in the dispensing mode and directs the liquid material through the recirculation outlet passage in the recirculation mode. The backpressure control device directs the liquid material through the device passage in the recirculation mode such that a backpressure of the liquid material in the recirculation mode is substantially equal to a backpressure of the liquid material in the dispensing mode. A method of adjusting a backpressure experienced by liquid material is also disclosed.

Abstract: This invention is to reduce the number of irrigation risers needing replacement throughout the pasture irrigation season due to livestock interaction causing breaking of the riser.

Abstract: A material sprayer includes a hopper and a shaker assembly mounted onto a sidewall of the hopper. The hopper includes at least one sidewall that extends along a first plane. The shaker assembly includes a resilient bracket, an electromagnetic coil, and an armature. The resilient bracket is mounted to the sidewall of the hopper and includes first and second ends and a curved portion. The electromagnetic coil is mounted to a portion of the resilient bracket and is configured to generate a magnetic field in response to a current from a power source. The armature is mounted to a portion of the resilient bracket such that the armature is able to move relative to the electromagnetic coil along an acceleration axis that is orthogonal to the first plane of the sidewall of the hopper.

Abstract: The present invention provides a cleanout adaptor (1) for a spray foam applicator equipped with a receiver basket (3) having a feed port (3b) adapted to receive an inlet source of foamable material, the cleanout adaptor having an open end that fits securely into the receiver basket, and the cleanout adaptor defining a fluid flow channel extending from the feed port to and securely connecting with a source of cleaner, such as water, for example, from a hose.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for the two-sided coating of at least one running flat material web (10), with a first and a second coating nozzle (2, 3), wherein the first coating nozzle (2) is providable to the first side of the flat material web (10) and the second coating nozzle (3) is providable to the second side of the flat material web (10), in order to coat the respective side of the flat material web (10), and wherein at least one, preferably both, coating nozzles (2, 3) are transferable from a working position into a maintenance position (A, W) and back, as well as with supply line sections (4, 8) with throughflow channels (4a, 8a) that are embodied therein and that are connected with one another in the working position (A) and that ensure a throughflow for supplying a hot, liquid coating material to the respective coating nozzle (2, 3), wherein, during the transferring of at least one of the said coating nozzles (2, 30) from the working position into the maintenance position (A, W)

Abstract: A device for depositing overspray from the overspray-charged booth air of coating installations with a flow system for booth air. The flow system includes a number of depositing units through which overspray-charged booth air can be directed and in which overspray is deposited. The depositing units are designed as an exchangeable structural unit with a filter housing, a filter inlet, a filter unit and a filter outlet, each of which can be fed to the flow system and can thereby be moved into or out of an operating position. In the operating position of a depositing unit, the filter inlet is connected to an associated first flow connection of the flow system and the filter outlet is connected to an associated second flow connection of the flow system. There are docking means, by which the filter inlet and the filter outlet of one of the depositing units and the flow connections of the flow system are forcibly aligned in relation to one another during the feeding movement.

Abstract: A sealant dispensing apparatus includes a rotatable injection cartridge for loading a sealant, having a plurality of outlets distributed from a periphery to a center with respect to a rotation axis of the injection cartridge; and a nozzle assembly in fluid communication with the injection cartridge, including at least two sub-nozzles arranged in a line. The outlet of the injection cartridge closer to the center of the injection cartridge is in communication with the sub-nozzle of the nozzle assembly closer to a first end of the line, and the outlet of the injection cartridge closer to the periphery of the injection cartridge is in communication with the sub-nozzle of the nozzle assembly closer to a second end of the line. The first end is opposite to the second end.

Abstract: A coating system and related method for coating a part. The coating system having a process tank filled with a fluid coating material to a fluid coating level and an inert gas blanket formed above the fluid coating level. The coating system also having a process tank conveyor to support a part to be coated. The process tank conveyor having a submerge section which transfers the part through the inert gas blanket and below the fluid coating level, a coating residence section which maintains the part submerged below the fluid coating level for a coating period, a coating removal section which raises the part above the fluid coating level but below the inert gas blanket level, and an inert gas blanket residence section which maintains the part within the inert gas blanket level but above the fluid coating level for a drying period.

Abstract: An applicator head for a vacuum coating system includes a manifold shell having opposing shell plates, each including a conduit attachment coupled to a shell aperture. An applicator manifold is affixed to each shell plate. Each applicator manifold includes two coupled manifold plates, with one including a manifold aperture, and each is affixed to the respective shell plate so that each manifold aperture aligns with the respective shell aperture. An applicator channel is formed between the manifold plates of each applicator manifold, and the applicator channel is fluidically coupled to the manifold aperture of each respective applicator manifold. Each applicator channel forms an applicator port at a leading edge of each respective applicator manifold, and each leading edge is configured to be complementary in shape to an edge of a workpiece to be coated. First and second face plates are disposed over the leading edges of the applicator manifolds.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a printed circuit board having a structure for preventing coating liquid overflow. In the printed circuit board on which an electronic component is mounted and in which a connection hole for joining the electronic component and another component to each other is formed, a land region to which lead may be applied is formed adjacent to the connection hole.

Abstract: An adhesive material applying apparatus includes a storage cavity (1) for storing an adhesive material and a cooling layer (9) arranged on an outer wall of the storage cavity (1) for cooling the storage cavity (1). The adhesive material applying apparatus can keep a constant temperature and maintain the viscosity coefficient of the adhesive material so that stability and uniformity of adhesive applying are improved.

Abstract: An improved dispensing device for application and dispensing of viscous liquid substances comprising of a storage reservoir, dosing mechanism with audible and tactile feedback, dispensing plunger, nozzle tip, and end of travel pressure release mechanism. The dosing and the dispensing are de-coupled, allowing a preselection of dosage volume and controlled dispensing. A pressure relief mechanism is incorporated to eliminate oozing of liquids after the termination of dispensing.

Abstract: A coating applicator that applies a coating or liquid to a variety of different substrates having different contoured surfaces is disclosed, A coating applicator of the present disclosure is able to reach, contact, and cover the entirety of a contoured substrate. In this manner, the coating applicator is able to transfer a coating to the entirety of the contoured substrate. Additionally, fluid application systems of the present disclosure include systems for advantageously providing a fluid to a fluid applicator.

Abstract: The invention provides a vacuum evaporation apparatus, wherein the magnetic plate comprises a plurality of magnetic units respectively corresponding to different areas of metal mask to attract the corresponding areas of metal mask to low surface of substrate by magnetic force, the driving mechanism comprises a plurality of driving units correspondingly one-to-one to magnetic units, and the magnetic units are driven by corresponding driving units to move upward/downward independently so that the stress generated during the mask sheet of metal mask attached to substrate is fully released by adjusting the movement order of magnetic units to reduce difficulty on metal mask design and improve yield rate. Moreover, the corresponding magnetic units are adjusted in real-time according to the color mixing situation of products to improve the equipment utilization rate, and the magnetic force on corresponding area of metal mask is independently adjusted according to product color mixing situation.

Abstract: A sealant smearing method and a display panel are provided. The sealant smearing method is used to perform sealant smearing for a display panel including multiple groups of sub-display panels. Each group of sub-display panels includes at least two columns of sub-display panels. The sealant smearing method, for each group of sub-display panels, includes smearing a first sealant at regions between any two adjacent columns of sub-display panels, and smearing a second sealant at left edges of a leftmost column of sub-display panels and at right edges of a rightmost column of sub-display panels. A width of the second sealant is larger than or equal to half of a width of the first sealant.

Abstract: A low reflectivity coating (40, 80/82) is provided on a substrate (22). The coating includes a layer of substantially vertically aligned carbon nanotubes (40) on an exposed surface (21) of the substrate. Provided on and extending partially within the carbon nanotube layer (40) is a hydrophobic coating (80, 82), in the preferred embodiment of or containing fluorocarbon. The hydrophobic coating (80, 82) prevents any settling or ingress of water particles onto or into the carbon nanotube layer (40) and as a result increases the stability of the carbon nanotube layer during use (40) whilst improving the low reflectivity of the film.