Abstract: A pleated air filter media with a plurality of continuous-contact reinforcing filaments on at least one face of the pleated air filter. The filaments have locally-thinned bending zones each of which is registered with pleat tip or pleat valley of the pleated air filter media.

Abstract: Methods of modifying a medical device and manufacturing a medical device are disclosed. One embodiment of a method of modifying a medical device includes treating a portion of the medical device with cold plasma and functionalizing the plasma-treated portion with a polymer. One embodiment of a method of manufacturing a medical device includes providing a subcutaneous part configured to be positioned subcutaneously in a user and performing a surface treatment on a portion of the subcutaneous part.

Abstract: Systems and methods for highly reproducible and focused plasma jet printing and patterning of materials using appropriate ink containing aerosol through nozzles with narrow orifice and tubes with controlled dielectric constant connected to high voltage power supply, in the presence of electric field and plasma, that enables morphological and/or bulk chemical modification and/or surface chemical modification of the material in the aerosol and/or the substrate prior to printing, during printing and post printing.

Abstract: An ink jet head includes a nozzle plate substrate having a nozzle for ejecting ink toward a recording medium and an oil repellent film on a surface of the nozzle plate substrate, the surface facing the recording medium. The oil repellent film comprises a fluorine compound having a first end and a second end, the first end comprising a perfluoroalkyl group with 3 to 5 carbon atoms per each molecule of the fluorine compound, and a ratio of a density of CF2 groups in the oil repellent film with respect to a density of CF3 groups in the oil repellent film is between 1.5 and 4.0 as measured by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic analysis.

Abstract: Described herein are all-dry encapsulation methods that enable well-defined polymers to be applied around particles. One aspect of the invention relates to a method of coating a particle, comprising the steps of: placing said particle in a vessel at a pressure; rotating said vessel at a rotating speed for a period of time; mixing together a first gaseous monomer at a first flow rate, and a gaseous initiator at a second flow rate, thereby forming a mixture; introducing said mixture into said vessel via a vapor feedline; heating said mixture, thereby forming a reactive mixture; contacting said particle with said reactive mixture; thereby forming a polymer coating on said particle. The methods may be modified forms of initiated chemical vapor deposition using a thermally-initiated radical polymerization to create conformal coatings around individual particles while avoiding agglomeration. Particle surfaces may be coated with a range of functional groups.

Abstract: A system and method for depositing a photoresist and utilizing the photoresist are provided. In an embodiment a deposition chamber is utilized along with a first precursor material comprising carbon-carbon double bonds and a second precursor material comprising repeating units to deposit the photoresist onto a substrate. The first precursor material is turned into a plasma in a remote plasma chamber prior to being introduced into the deposition chamber. The resulting photoresist comprises a carbon backbone with carbon-carbon double bonds.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for depositing an anti-fouling top coat onto the outermost coating layer of a coated optical article, comprising the following steps: a) providing an optical article having two main faces, at least one of which being coated with an outermost layer; b) treating said outermost layer with energetic species resulting in surface physical attack and/or chemical modification; and c) vacuum evaporating a liquid coating material for an anti-fouling top coat by means of an evaporation device, resulting in the deposition of the evaporated coating material onto the treated outermost layer of the optical article, wherein prior to the vacuum evaporation step of the liquid coating material, said liquid coating material has been treated with energetic species.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention is directed to a process for the manufacture of a speaker cover comprising loading the speaker cover into a plasma chamber, introducing a fluoro monomer into the plasma chamber, pulsing plasma for processing, removing any excess monomer gas from the plasma chamber, and removing the speaker cover from the plasma chamber.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for producing a plastic container coated with a thin film that is excellent in gas barrier properties, film coloration and film adhesiveness without using an external electrode having a special shape while suppressing deposition of foreign matters such as carbon powders.

Abstract: Functionalized multilayer structures are manufactured by a process whereby a substrate material is treated with a reactive-gas plasma to form an activated layer on the surface thereof, and then by depositing a liquid functional monomer on the activated layer to form a self-assembled functional layer. Any excess liquid monomer must be allowed to re-evaporate in order to obtain optimal functionality on the surface of the resulting structure. The deposition of the liquid layer is preferably carried out with high kinetic energy to ensure complete penetration of the monomer throughout the body of the substrate. For particular applications, prior to formation of the reactive layer the substrate may be coated with a high glass-transition temperature polymer or a metallic layer.

Abstract: A method for creating a superhydrophobic coated nanoporous assembly includes the steps of: providing a nanoporous assembly formed of discrete and/or continuous structures that provide a morphology defining pores of less than 1 micron between neighboring discrete and continuous structures; bringing gaseous plasma precursors in the presence of the nanoporous assembly and in the presence of a plasma generator; employing the plasma generator to convert the gaseous plasma precursors to the plasma state; and permitting the plasma precursors to deposit as a coating on the nanoporous assembly through plasma polymerization techniques the deposition thereof preserving the porous structure of the nanoporous assembly, the deposited coating exhibiting a surface energy of less than 30 dynes/cm.

Abstract: One or more aspects of the disclosure pertain to an article including a film disposed on a glass substrate, which may be strengthened, where the interface between the film and the glass substrate is modified, such that the article has an improved average flexural strength, and the film retains key functional properties for its application. Some key functional properties of the film include optical, electrical and/or mechanical properties. In one or more embodiments, interface exhibits the effective adhesion energy is about less than about 4 J/m2. In some embodiments, the interface is modified by the inclusion of a crack mitigating layer between the glass substrate and the film.

Abstract: The present invention fabricates a hydrophobic and oleophobic polymer fabric through two stages of modification using atmospheric plasmas. The modified fabric has a rough surface and a fluorocarbon functional group having the lowest surface free energy. The fabric has a grafted fluorocarbon monomer layer to enhance the graft efficiency of the fluorocarbon functional groups and its wash fastness. The atmospheric plasmas can be mass produced and less expensively. Hence, the present invention can rapidly modify surfaces of polymeric materials with low cost and good environment protection.

Abstract: Provided a method for producing an oriented-porosity dielectric material on a substrate. The method includes depositing a composite layer on a substrate by vapor deposition comprising a material forming a matrix and a compound comprising chemical groups capable of being oriented under the effect of an electromagnetic field and/or photonic radiation; treating the composite layer to obtain the cross-linking of the material forming a matrix; and subjecting the substrate coated with the composite layer to an electromagnetic field and a photonic radiation.

Abstract: A method for reducing creep corrosion on a printed circuit board, the printed circuit board comprising a substrate, a plurality of electrically conductive tracks located on at least one surface of the substrate, a solder mask coating at least a first area of the plurality of electrically conductive tracks and a surface finish coating at least a second area of the plurality of electrically conductive tracks, the method comprising depositing by plasma-polymerization a fluorohydrocarbon onto at least part of the solder mask and at least part of the surface finish.

Abstract: Disclosed is a polymeric electret film as well as the method of manufacturing the same. The polymeric electret film comprises a polytetrafluoroethylene film and an electrode layer. The polytetrafluoroethylene film includes a porous layer, which has a porous structure. The porous structure has a pore diameter ranging between 0.01 ?m and 5.0 ?m and has a porosity ranging between 20% and 95%. The polytetrafluoroethylene film has a thickness ranging between 1 ?m and 50 ?m, and is preferably made of expanded porous polytetrafluoroethylene. The polymeric electret film has a surface potential ranging between 0.1 V and 1000 V.

Abstract: A method of fabricating hydrophobic and oleophobic polymer fabric through two stages of modification using atmospheric plasmas including (a) moving a substrate into an atmospheric plasma area, generating an atmospheric filamentary discharge plasma with a first plasma working gas to obtain a first rough surface of said substrate, (b) exposing plasma treated substrate to air to obtain highly active peroxide on said first rough surface of said substrate, (c) immersing said substrate in a solution of fluorocarbon compound and processing a first stage of graft of a fluorocarbon monomer or oligomer on said substrate to obtain a grafted fluorocarbon monomer or oligomer layer on said first rough surface of said substrate, (d) processing a second stage of graft a fluorocarbon functional group to said grafted fluorocarbon monomer or oligomer layer by generating a carbon tetrafluoride plasma from a second plasma working gas and irradiating said carbon tetrafluoride plasma on said grafted fluorocarbon monomer or oligomer

Abstract: The invention relates to a conformal nanocoating applied by a low pressure plasma process. The invention also relates to a method for making such a conformal nanocoating on a three-dimensional nanostructure, in particular a three-dimensional structure containing electrically conductive and non-conductive elements.

Abstract: An electrical assembly which comprises a substrate and a conformal coating deposited on at least one surface of the substrate by plasma polymerization of a compound of formula (I) and deposition of a resulting polymer of the compound of formula (I), and plasma polymerization of a fluorohydrocarbon and deposition of a resulting polymer of the fluorohydrocarbon, such that the resulting polymer of the compound of formula (I) and the resulting polymer of the fluorohydrocarbon create discrete layers of the conformal coating; wherein the compound of formula (I) is an organic compound.

Abstract: An ink composition for inkjet recording is provided. The ink composition contains (a) a monomer containing a fluorinated alkylene group and two or more polymerizable groups, (b) a photo initiator, and (c) a polymerizable monomer.

Abstract: A process for producing an overprint is provided that includes a step of preparing a printed material printed on a printing substrate, a step of coating the printed material with a photocurable composition, and a step of photocuring the photocurable composition, the photocurable composition comprising (I) a fluorine-containing polymer having an ethylenically unsaturated group, (II) an ethylenically unsaturated compound, and (III) a photopolymerization initiator. There are also provided an overprint produced by the production process, and the photocurable composition.

Abstract: Novel, simple methods are presented directed to the synthesis of aligned nanofibers of polyaniline and substituted derivatives on a substrate. The production of these fibers is achieved via various methods by controlling the concentration of aniline monomer or substituted aniline derivatives or an oxidant in the reaction medium and maintaining said concentration at a level much lower than conventional polyaniline synthesis methods. Methods are disclosed relating to the use of a permeable membrane to control the release of a monomer and/or oxidant as well as a bulk polymerization method.

Abstract: A fibrous filtration media such as an electrostatic filtration media, whose fibre surfaces have been modified by exposure to a plasma deposition process so as to deposit a polymeric coating thereon.

Abstract: The present invention fabricates a hydrophobic and oleophobic polymer fabric through two stages of modification using atmospheric plasmas. The modified fabric has a rough surface and a fluorocarbon functional group having the lowest surface free energy. The fabric has a grafted fluorocarbon monomer layer to enhance the graft efficiency of the fluorocarbon functional groups and its wash fastness. The atmospheric plasmas can be mass produced and less expensively. Hence, the present invention can rapidly modify surfaces of polymeric materials with low cost and good environment protection.

Abstract: The application discloses articles and methods of plasma fluorination treatment that employ a capacitively-coupled system to fluorinate porous articles. The methods include placing the article to be treated within an ion sheath adjacent to an electrode and placing the article to be treated between powered and grounded electrodes separated by about 25 mm or less.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of making a fuel cell gas diffusion layer comprising the steps of a) providing a carbon fiber construction; b) coating at least the upper surface of the carbon fiber construction with composition which comprises a fluoropolymer; and c) exposing the upper surface to at least one plasma, such as a silane plasma, so as to generate a hydrophilic surface layer having a thickness of no more than 1 micron. The present invention also provides a method additionally comprising the step of partially covering the upper surface with a mask having windows according to a pattern, such that the hydrophilic surface layer is applied according to the pattern. The present invention also provides a method wherein the carbon fiber construction is provided as a roll good and the step of exposing said upper surface to at least one plasma is performed in continuous roll-to-roll fashion.

Abstract: A jet device is provided in the present invention. The jet device includes a chamber having a nozzle and a lateral channel, wherein the lateral channel is disposed along the outer side of a first side of the chamber, the nozzle is disposed at one end of the lateral channel and the chamber is connected with the lateral channel via the nozzle which is connected with the external space, wherein the fluid is filled in the chamber, the nozzle and the later channel and an arc and a block are disposed at the connection of the nozzle and the lateral channel; and a piston disposed at a second side of the chamber.

Abstract: A method for maintaining pore size of a reusable filtration membrane, said method comprising exposing said filtration membrane to a plasma comprising a hydrocarbon or fluorocarbon monomer so as to form a polymeric layer on the surface thereof. The treatment allows the filtration membrane to withstand washing procedures, in particular caustic washing. Thus reusable filtration membranes treated in this way and their use, form a further aspect of the invention.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an array plate for biomolecules includes coating a surface of a substrate with a hydrophobic material to form a hydrophobic layer having initial hydrophobic properties, etching the hydrophobic layer through an etch mask placed thereon to form a hydrophilic binding site, removing the etch mask, and processing the remaining region of the hydrophobic layer to recover the initial hydrophobic properties. A method for manufacturing a biochip using this array plate, includes processing the surface of the hydrophilic binding site of the array plate to increase an affinity of biomolecules to the hydrophilic binding site, and applying a solution containing biomolecules to the surface of the hydrophilic binding site.

Abstract: A dispenser for dispensing a medicament that includes a canister for housing the medicament and a fluid propellant therefor and a drug-dispensing valve wherein one or more of the internal surfaces of the canister and/or valve includes a fluorinated coating prepared from plasma polymerisation of one or more fluorinated monomers selected from the group consisting of CH2FCF3 and C3F6 is disclosed.

Abstract: Systematic and effective methodology to clean capacitively coupled plasma reactor electrodes and reduce surface roughness so that the cleaned electrodes meet surface contamination specifications and manufacturing yields are enhanced. Pre-cleaning of tools used in the cleaning process helps prevent contamination of the electrode being cleaned.

Abstract: An item selected from a piece of fashion clothing, a clothing accessory or a household textile having a polymeric coating, formed by exposing said item or a material or yarn from which the item is subsequently constructed, to a pulsed plasma comprising a compound of formula (I) where R1, R2, R3 and l4 are defined in the specification for a sufficient period of time to allow a polymeric layer to form on the surface of the item or yarn. Items of this type are protected from contamination by a wide number of liquids, including environmental hazards such as rain water and water-based liquids as well as some oily liquids. They are also fade and odour resistant.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a photo-curable resin composition which provides a sealing agent for a flat panel display with good moisture permeation resistance and excellent adhesion. The present inventors have conducted extensive studies to solve the above-described problems, and as a result, they have found a photo-curable resin composition which comprises a cationic photopolymerization initiator (A), a cationically polymerizable compound (B), a cyclic polyether compound (C) and another organic compound (D), wherein the amount of (B) is 1.0 to 99.9% by mass and the amount of (C) is 0.0 to 10.0% by mass, both based on the sum of (B), (C) and (D), and the sum (F) of the fluorine atoms in a fluorine-containing organic compound is 0.0 to 40.0% by mass, based on the sum of (B), (C) and (D), and wherein at least 1/1000 mass ratio of the (B) component is a compound containing an oxetanyl group, and both of the contents of (C) and (F) are not 0.0% by mass at the same time.

Abstract: A method of processing a workpiece includes placing the workpiece on a workpiece support pedestal in a main chamber with a gas distribution showerhead, introducing a process gas into a remote plasma source chamber and generating a plasma in the remote plasma source chamber, transporting plasma-generated species from the remote plasma source chamber to the gas distribution showerhead so as to distribute the plasma-generated species into the main chamber through the gas distribution showerhead, and applying plasma RF power into the main chamber.

Abstract: A throttle body for an air intake system of an internal combustion engine, which includes a combustion chamber. The throttle body includes a body, a throttle plate and a coating. The body defines a throat through which air flows to the combustion chamber. The throttle plate, which is pivotally mounted with respect to the body, moves between first and second configurations with respect to the throat. The first configuration of the throttle plate substantially prohibits the air flow through the throat, and the second configuration of the throttle plate permits air flow through the throat. The coating, which is on at least one of the throat and the throttle plate, sheds contaminants that extend between the body and the throttle plate in the first configuration of the throttle plate.

Abstract: Anisotropic hydrophobic/hydrophilic nanoporous membranes and methods of forming anisotropic hydrophobic/hydrophilic nanoporous membranes are disclosed. The method of forming the nanoporous membrane includes growing a nanoporous oxide film on a substrate. A nanoporous membrane having a top side and a bottom side can then be formed by partially separating the nanoporous oxide film from the substrate. A fluorocarbon film can be deposited on the top side of the nanoporous membrane by plasma polymerization. The disclosed anisotropic hydrophobic/hydrophilic nanoporous membranes can have extremely different hydrophobicity between the top side and the bottom side of the nanoporous membrane.

Abstract: A method of forming a protective film that restrains gas adsorption while preserving durability and corrosion resistance of a plasma CVD carbon film is disclosed. A protective film of a slide-resistant member is deposited by means of a plasma CVD method using a raw material of hydrocarbon gas, wherein a bias voltage higher than ?500 V is applied to the slide-resistant member in an initial stage of depositing the protective film, and a bias voltage of ?500 V or lower is applied in a final stage of deposition. A proportion of time duration of the final stage is preferably at most 25% of the total time for depositing the protective film. A magnetic recording medium comprising a magnetic recording layer and a protective film formed by the method also is disclosed.

Abstract: A gas for plasma reaction comprising a chainlike perfluoroalkyne having 5 or 6 carbon atoms, preferably perfluoro-2-pentyne. This plasma reaction gas is suitable for dry etching for formation of a fine pattern, for plasma CVD for formation of a thin film, and for plasma ashing. The plasma reaction gas is synthesized by contacting a dihydrofluoroalkane compound or a monohydrofluoroalkene compound with a basic compound.

Abstract: A method for increasing the hydrophobic characteristics of a surface. The surface is exposed to an ionizing gas plasma at about atmospheric pressure for a predetermined period of time. The ionizing gas plasma is formed from a mixture of a carrier gas and a reactive gas. The reactive gas may be comprised of one or more hydrocarbon compound such as an alkane, an alkene, and an alkyne. Alternatively, the reactive gas may be a fluorocarbon compound.

Abstract: Methods for forming a protective polymeric coating on a silicon or silicon-carbide electrode of a plasma processing chamber are provided. The polymeric coating provides protection to the underlying surface of the electrode with respect to exposure to constituents of plasma and gaseous reactants. The methods can be performed during a process of cleaning the chamber, or during a process for etching a semiconductor substrate in the chamber.

Abstract: A transparent, monolithic or laminated sheet material based on a methyl methacrylate homopolymer or copolymer, the laminated material having at least one of its two outer layers made of the methyl methacrylate homopolymer or copolymer, characterized in that the monolithic sheet of methyl methacrylate homopolymer or copolymer or at least one outer layer of methyl methacrylate homopolymer or copolymer of the laminated sheet has, in the region of the surface, over a depth of at least 50 nanometers from the surface, an increase in its average density of 0.1 to 1 g/cm3, the average density being determined by X-ray reflectometry.

Abstract: Coatings for implantable medical devices, such as stents, and methods of coating the devices are disclosed. The method includes forming a coating by plasma polymerization of a monomer or a blend of monomers.

Abstract: A method of producing a permanent demoulding layer by plasma polymerisation on the surface of a mould, in which a gradient layer structure is created in the demoulding layer by varying the polymerisation conditions over time.

Abstract: A system and method for improving the durability and reliability of recording media used in hard drives is disclosed. A protective overcoat made by depositing a diamond like carbon (DLC) layer over a magnetic layer and then depleting a portion of the DLC protective layer of hydrogen before it is coated with a Perfluoropolyethers (PFPE) using an in-situ vapor lubrication technique. The portion of the DLC layer which is depleted can be data zone of the media so that the lubricant-bonding ratio is higher for the landing zone than it is for the data zone.

Abstract: An epoxy resin composition suitable for forming a film of excellent water repellency which comprises an epoxy resin having one or more water repellent groups and two or more cyclic aliphatic epoxy groups per molecule, a triazine-base catalyst for cationic polymerization and a non-polar solvent.

Abstract: Elastomeric fluoropolyether lubricant topcoats are formed on a protective overcoat of a magnetic recording medium. Embodiments include forming a an amorphous carbon layer having a thickness of no greater than about 25 ? as the protective overcoat and polymerizing a fluorpolyether having one or more acrylate groups on the amorphous carbon layer to form the elastomeric fluoropolyether topcoat lubricant directly on the protective overcoat.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for forming a fluoropolymer layer on a thin film device, comprising contacting said thin film device with a gas phase fluoromonomer, and initiating polymerization of said fluoromonomer with a free radical polymerization initiator whereby said fluoromonomer polymerizes to form said fluoropolymer layer on said thin film device.

Abstract: A medical device comprising a substrate having a plasma polymerized functionally bonded to at least a portion of the substrate. A superoxide dismutase mimic agent having a complimentary functional group to the plasma polymerized functionality is bonded to the portion of the substrate by bonding to the plasma polymerized functionality.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for single-step surface modification, grafting and sterilization for bio-active coating on materials and biomaterials used in medical devices, such as catheters, tissue engineering scaffolds, or drug delivery carrier materials. This may include any medical device or implantable that could benefit from improved antithrombogenic and biocompatible surfaces. Other relevant device examples may include heparin or urokinase coated stents to reduce clotting and restenosis, dental or ophthamological implants. These materials may be comprised of a variety of polymeric compositions such as, polyurethane, polyester, polytetrafluoroethylene, polyethylene, polymethylmethacrylate, polyHEMA, polyvinyl alcohol, polysiloxanes, polylactic or glycolic acids, polycaprolactone, etc. The substrates can also be metal, ceramics or biologically derived materials.

Abstract: A method of coating a surface with a polymer layer, which method comprises exposing said surface to a plasma comprising a monomeric unsaturated organic compound which comprises a chain of carbon atoms, which are optionally substituted by halogen; provided that where the compound is a perhalogenated alkene, it has a chain of at least 5 carbon atoms; so as to form an oil or water repellent coating on said substrate.