Refractory Metal Salt Or Oxide Patents (Class 428/472)
  • Patent number: 6638600
    Abstract: The present invention provides a new and useful nonstick coating for use on pure aluminum, alloys of aluminum, or aluminized steel surfaces. A nonstick coating according to the present invention includes a ceramic substrate disposed on an aluminum surface and a fluorocarbon polymer coating disposed on the ceramic substrate. The ceramic substrate, prior to firing, includes at least two layers: a first or bottom layer applied to the aluminum surface including an enamel ground coat; and a second or top layer applied over the enamel ground coat layer including a blend of one or more glass frits, non-ceramic refractory particles, and non-vitreous inorganic oxide particles. Upon firing, the ceramic substrate includes a continuous layer of vitreous enamel that is bonded to the aluminum surface. The exposed surface of the ceramic substrate has a micro-rough texture that is enriched with bonding sides for binder resins used in a fluorocarbon polymer primer layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: Ferro Corporation
    Inventors: Louis J. Gazo, Srinivasan Sridharan
  • Patent number: 6638598
    Abstract: A laminate includes an amorphous or polycrystalline substrate; a textured buffer layer arranged on the substrate and having a columnar structure wherein a low index crystal axis is inclined with respect to the substrate normal and a surface of columnar crystallites is inclined with respect to the low index crystal axis; at least one cover layer arranged on the buffer layer and having a closed surface; and an oriented thin layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: Theva Duennschichttechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Helmut Kinder, Markus Bauer, Joachim Schwachulla
  • Patent number: 6638609
    Abstract: Coated milling insert has a WC-Co cemented carbide with a low content of cubic carbides and a highly W-alloyed binder phase and a coating including an inner layer of TiCxNy with columnar grains followed by a layer of &kgr;-Al2O3 and a top layer of TiN. The coated milling insert is particularly useful for milling of grey cast iron with or without cast skin under wet conditions at low and moderate cutting speeds and milling of nodular cast iron and compacted graphite iron with or without cast skin under wet conditions at moderate cutting speeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: Sandvik Aktiebolag
    Inventors: Anders Nordgren, Ingemar Hessman, Marian Mikus
  • Publication number: 20030198816
    Abstract: A heat treatable coated article (e.g., vehicle windshield, IG unit, etc.) is provided with a dual-silver low-E coating. Before and/or after heat treatment (HT), the coating and/or coated article has a visible transmittance of at least 70%, more preferably at least 75%. Moreover, the coating and/or coated article is designed so as to have approximately the same color when viewed over a wide range of viewing angles. In certain embodiments, at least one contact layer (e.g., of or including NiCrOx) that contacts an infrared (IR) reflecting layer (e.g., Ag) is oxidation graded so that it progressively becomes less oxidized through its thickness as it nears the IR reflecting layer. In still other embodiments, a Si-rich silicon nitride layer(s) may be utilized to reduce haze.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2003
    Publication date: October 23, 2003
    Applicants: Guardian Industries Corp., Centre Luxembourgeois de Recherches pour le Verr et la Ceramique S.A. (C.R.V.C.).
    Inventors: Philip J. Lingle, Anton Dietrich, Ronald E. Laird, Jean-Marc Lemmer
  • Patent number: 6635352
    Abstract: A coating composition includes an organosilicon compound and an adhesion improver made of at least one compound selected from acetylene compounds of the general formulas (I-a) to (I-d): wherein Ra and Rc each independently represents a hydrogen atom or an optionally branched alkyl group having from 1 to 5 carbon atoms; Rb and Rd each independently represents an optionally branched alkyl group having from 2 to 8 carbon atoms; Re and Rf each independently represents an optionally branched alkyl group having from 1 to 3 carbon atoms; m and n each indicate an integer of 1 or more; and m′ and n′ each indicate an integer of 0 or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Assignee: Hoya Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi Shirakawa
  • Publication number: 20030194574
    Abstract: A piece for protection has applied thereto a composition comprising a mixture of boride powder constituted for the most part of TiB2, at least one vitreous refractory oxide powder constituted for the most part by a mixture of borosilicate glass, and a binder containing a ceramic-precursor resin. The resin is cured and is subsequently transformed into a ceramic by heat treatment or during first exposure of the coated part to high temperatures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2002
    Publication date: October 16, 2003
    Inventors: Jacques Thebault, Pascal Diss, Michel Laxague, Eric Lavasserie
  • Patent number: 6632514
    Abstract: A cutting tool insert particularly useful for wet and dry milling of low and medium alloyed steels and stainless steels includes a cemented carbide body with a coating consisting of an MTCVD Ti(C,N) layer and a multi-layer coating being composed of &kgr;-Al2O3 and TiN or Ti(C,N) layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Seco Tools AB
    Inventors: Anette Sulin, Rolf Olofsson, Sakari Ruppi, Jan Qvick
  • Patent number: 6632539
    Abstract: The polycrystalline thin film is made of a composite oxide of a cubic crystal system which has a pyrochlore type crystalline structure of a composition represented as either AZrO or AHfO (A in the formula represents a rare earth element selected from among Y, Yb, Tm, Er, Ho, Dy, Eu, Gd, Sm, Nd, Pr, Ce and La) formed on the film forming surface of the polycrystalline substrate, wherein the grain boundary misalignment angle between the same crystal axes of different crystal grains in the polycrystalline thin film along a plane parallel to the film forming surface of the polycrystalline substrate are controlled within 30°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignees: Fujikura Ltd., International Superconductivity Technology Center,
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Iijima, Mariko Kimura, Takashi Saitoh
  • Publication number: 20030186087
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a structure of a gradient barrier layer. The gradient barrier with a composite structure of metal/metal salt of different composition/metal such as Ta/TaxN1−x/TaN/TaxN1−x/Ta (tantalum/tantalumx nitride1−x/tantalum nitride/tantalumx nitride1−x/tantalum) is proposed to replace the conventional barrier for copper metallization. The gradient barrier can be formed in a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process or a multi-target physical vapor deposition (PVD) process. For CVD process, using the characteristics of well-controlled reaction gas injection, the ratio of tantalum (Ta) and nitrogen (N) can be modulated gradually to form the gradient barrier. For the multi-target PVD process, the gradient barrier is formed by depositing multi-layers of different composition TaxN1−x films.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2002
    Publication date: October 2, 2003
    Inventors: Fu-Tai Liou, Cheng-Yu Hung, Tri-Rung Yew
  • Patent number: 6627323
    Abstract: A protective coating system and method for protecting a thermal barrier coating from CMAS infiltration. The coating system comprises inner and outer alumina layers and a platinum-group metal layer therebetween. The outer alumina layer is intended as a sacrificial layer that reacts with molten CMAS, forming a compound with a melting temperature significantly higher than CMAS. As a result, the reaction product of the outer alumina layer and CMAS resolidifies before it can infiltrate the TBC. The platinum-group metal layer is believed to serve as a barrier to infiltration of CMAS into the TBC, while the inner alumina layer appears to enhance the ability of the platinum-group metal layer to prevent CMAS infiltration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Bangalore Aswatha Nagaraj, Jeffrey Lawrence Williams, John Frederick Ackerman
  • Patent number: 6627335
    Abstract: There are disclosed a coated cutting tool which comprises a base material of a hard alloy comprising a hard phase of tungsten carbide and at least one material selected from a carbide, nitride and carbonitride of a metal selected from the Group 4, 5 and 6 of the Periodic Table and a mutual solid solution thereof and a binder phase of at least one element selected from Fe, Ni and Co, and a hard coating film formed on the surface of the base material by a CVD method, wherein the hard coating film has a columnar crystal layer comprising at least one material selected from a carbide, nitride and carbonitride of titanium, the columnar crystal layer contains large-sized particles and small-sized particles, and the ratio of the amounts of the large particles to the small particles is 3 to 50; and a method for producing the same which comprises forming the hard coating film by at least one coating film of a carbide, carbonitride and carbonitroxide of titanium using a hydrocarbon gas containing ethane as a carbon elem
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Toshiba Tungaloy Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kodama, Nobukazu Yoshikawa, Itsuo Yazaki
  • Patent number: 6627317
    Abstract: A heat treatable coated article includes an anti-migration or barrier layer(s) provided between a solar management layer (e.g., NiCr layer) and a dielectric layer (e.g., silicon nitride). In certain example embodiments, the anti-migration or barrier layer(s) may include a metal oxide, and functions to prevent element(s) from migrating between the solar management layer and the dielectric layer upon heat treatment (HT) of the coated article. As a result, the coated article has improved color stability (and thus a lower &Dgr;E* value) upon HT. For example, the coated article may have a &Dgr;E* value (transmissive and/or glass side reflective) upon HT of no greater than 5.0, more preferably no greater than 4.0. Coated articles herein may be used in the context of insulating glass (IG) window units, other architectural windows, vehicle windows, or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Guardian Industries Corp.
    Inventor: Hong Wang
  • Publication number: 20030180571
    Abstract: Materials and coatings having submicron microstructure suitable for high temperature applications, such as turbine engines, are disclosed. The materials and coatings are made in an electron-beam, physical vapor deposition (EB-PVD) apparatus and have a microstructure that includes submicron grains and, in some instances, a plurality of substantially discrete columnar layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2003
    Publication date: September 25, 2003
    Applicant: The Penn State Research Foundation
    Inventor: Jogender Singh
  • Publication number: 20030180554
    Abstract: When plural-layer ceramic coatings are formed on a surface of an grain-oriented silicon steel sheet after finish annealing according to the invention, TiNO coating is formed as a first coating layer by a hollow cathode process under an application of a high bias voltage to the steel sheet, whereby ceramic tension coatings having excellent coating adhesion property and hence tension applying effect can be formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2003
    Publication date: September 25, 2003
    Inventor: Yukio Inokuti
  • Patent number: 6623850
    Abstract: In a surface-coated boron nitride sintered compact tool, at least a part of the tool edge related with cutting is based on a substrate of a high pressure phase type boron nitride, and a surface-coated layer is provided on the surface thereof. The surface-coated layer includes an intermediate layer present in a continuous manner at the interface of the high pressure phase boron nitride sintered compact substrate, and further includes a hard coated layer formed thereon. The intermediate layer consists of at least one element selected from the Groups 4a, 5a and 6a of the Periodic Table, and has a mean thickness of 0.005 to 0.05 &mgr;m. Thereby, a markedly improved adhesive strength of the hard coated layer on the substrate is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoru Kukino, Michiko Ota, Hisanori Ohara, Haruyo Fukui
  • Patent number: 6623865
    Abstract: Crystalline dielectric lead zirconate titanate thin film composites on metallic foils exhibit high dielectric constants, low dielectric loss (loss tangent of less than 5%) and low leakage current. The lead zirconate titanates may be of the formula PbZrxTiyOz (PZT) wherein x and y are independently from about 0.35 to about 0.65 and z is from about 2.5 to about 5.0. The thin foil dielectric composites can be prepared by a variety of methods including deposition of PZT thin films on brass, platinum, titanium, and stainless steel foils using sol-gel processing, sputtering deposition and chemical vapor deposition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: Energenius, Inc.
    Inventors: Qin Zou, Ben G. Yacobi, Harry Eugen Ruda, Mark Farrell
  • Patent number: 6623876
    Abstract: The invention concerns a mechanical part with abrasionproof surface characterized in that it comprises a sintered metallic body obtained from metallic powders and a laser-deposited cermet coating. The coating has a certain thickness whereof a portion is metallurgically bound with the metallic body. The laser deposit enables the sintered part to be surface-melted under the effect of the laser beam. The surface of the sintered part to be coated is therefore fused over a thickness ranging between 10 &mgr;m and 1 mm, which enables the surface pores to be closed, as is characteristic of sintered parts, thereby increasing its resistance to shocks. Moreover, the small surface coated at a given moment by the laser enables the self-hardening of the exposed part, following the beam displacement, by the heat-sink effect of the surrounding metallic volume. The resulting coating also has very low porosity owing to the complete fusion of the powders by laser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: Invegyre Inc.
    Inventor: Paul Caron
  • Patent number: 6620523
    Abstract: An ice skate blade is provided which has improved fracture toughness, strength, corrosion resistance, and wear resistance, while at the same time being lighter weight than other materials of manufacture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: Dynamet Technology
    Inventors: Stanley Abkowitz, Susan M. Abkowitz, Harold L. Heussi, Paul F. Weihrauch
  • Publication number: 20030170432
    Abstract: A method of production of a ceramic electronic device such as a multilayer ceramic capacitor, comprising forming a first ceramic coating layer on the surface of a substrate, forming an internal electrode on the surface of the first ceramic coating layer, then forming a second ceramic coating layer on the surface of the first ceramic coating layer so as to cover the internal electrode. In this case, when a mean particle size of ceramic particles of the first ceramic coating layer is &agr;1, a thickness of the first ceramic coating layer is T1, a mean particle size of ceramic particles of the second ceramic coating layer is &agr;2, and a thickness of the second ceramic coating layer is T2, the conditions of &agr;1≦&agr;2, 0.05<&agr;1≦0.35 &mgr;m, T1<T2, and 0<T1<1.5 &mgr;m are satisfied. As a result, it is possible to provide a ceramic electronic device, in particular a multilayer ceramic capacitor, resistant to short-circuit defects, withstand voltage defects, and other structural defects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2003
    Publication date: September 11, 2003
    Applicant: TDK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryou Kobayashi, Kaname Ueda, Yasushi Izumibe, Hitoshi Ishida, Akira Saitoh
  • Patent number: 6617057
    Abstract: A vapour deposited coating on the surface of a metal, such as a stainless steel substrate, obtained in a plasma vapour depositing device having magnetic vapour stream filtering means. The vapour deposited coating comprises pairs of a metal layer and a ceramic metal compound (“ceramic”) layer. The metal layer deposited is one of titanium, chromium, vanadium, aluminum, molybdenum, niobium, tungsten, zirconium, hafnium or alloys ofthese metals. The ceramic layer is a nitride, carbonitride, carbide, oxycarbide or oxynitride of one or an alloy of the above metals. The substrate surface is optionally ion nitride prior to the vapour deposition of the metal—ceramic layers. The substrate bearing pairs of metal—ceramic layers may be subsequently heat treated. The obtained coating on a metal substrate exhibits high wear resistance and hardness and low surface roughness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Inventors: Vladimir Gorokhovsky, Nicholas Bekesch
  • Patent number: 6607850
    Abstract: Chain parts and other steel articles are provided with hard, wear-resistant carbide coatings by tumbling them in a heated retort with a particulate mix which includes a source of vanadium and/or niobium. The steel substrate comprises a steel having at least 0.2% carbon, preferably 0.7-1.2%. Where the chromium content of the steel is 4-12%, preferably 4-8%, the chemical deposition process includes drawing a small amount of chromium from the steel substrate into the vanadium or niobium carbide coating, where it is distributed substantially homogeneously, helping to provide adhesion strength to the coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Assignee: BorgWarner, Inc.
    Inventors: Yumin Wang, Yoshito Hanayama, Doug Fornell, Naosumi Tada, Kunihiko Mishima
  • Patent number: 6605365
    Abstract: A surface treatment, especially for titanium and aluminum alloys, forms a pigmented sol-gel film covalently bonded on the metal surface to produce desired color, gloss, reflectivity, electrical conductivity, emissivity, or a combination thereof usable over a wide temperature range. The coating retains its characteristics and impact resistance following exposures to temperatures at least in the range from −321° F. to 750° F. An aqueous sol containing an alkoxyzirconium and an organosilane with an organic acid catalyst and zirconium stabilizer is applied to etched or grit blasted substrates by dipping, spraying, or drenching, to produce bonds in a single application comparable in strength and performance to standard anodize controls. Parameters affecting performance include the sol composition, the Si/Zr ratio, the ratio of sol ingredients, the concentration of the sol, the carrier solvent, solution age, catalysts, surface pretreatment, application method, curing process, and primer used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Kenneth A. Krienke, Kay Y. Blohowiak, Larry K. Olli, Joseph H. Osborne
  • Patent number: 6604941
    Abstract: Refractory ceramics and composite materials consisting of nitrides, mixed nitrides and oxides, and oxynitrides of Group IV metals Hf, Zr, Ti, and Group III metals Sc, Y, and lanthanides La through Lu, are used to form refractory articles, or as coatings for refractory articles. These materials and articles have high resistance to molten metals, molten salts, erosion, and high temperature corrosive environments, and can be engineered to have desirable thermal and electrical properties. In particular the articles are crucibles, molds, containment vessels, and spray nozzles, and most particularly these articles are made of or coated with the Hf compounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Inventor: Garth W. Billings
  • Publication number: 20030148148
    Abstract: The invention discloses a component with a heat-insulating layer on its surface. The heat-insulating layer comprises a lower region and an upper region. The lower region is situated between the component and the upper region. The lower region consists entirely or predominantly of YSZ or a glass-metal composite material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2002
    Publication date: August 7, 2003
    Inventors: Markus Dietrich, Robert Vassen, Cao Xueqiang, Detlev Stover
  • Publication number: 20030148122
    Abstract: A processing solution for forming a hexavalent chromium free, corrosion resistant trivalent chromate conversion film on zinc or zinc alloy plating layers comprises: trivalent chromium and oxalic acid in a molar ratio ranging from 0.5/1 to 1.5/1, wherein the trivalent chromium is present in the form of a water-soluble complex with oxalic acid; and cobalt ions, which do not form a hardly soluble metal salt with oxalic acid and are stably present in the processing solution without causing any precipitation; wherein the solution reacts with zinc when bringing it into contact with the zinc or zinc alloy plating to form a hexavalent chromium free, corrosion resistant, trivalent chromate conversion film containing zinc, chromium, cobalt, oxalic acid and silicon on the plating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2002
    Publication date: August 7, 2003
    Applicant: DIPSOL CHEMICALS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Katsuhide Oshima, Shigemi Tanaka, Manabu Inoue, Tomitaka Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 6602587
    Abstract: A transparent substrate particularly of glass, provided with a stack of thin layers having at least one metallic layer (4) having properties in the infrared range particularly having low emissivity and two coatings having a base of dielectric material located one (8) under and the other (9) over the layer having properties in the infrared range, as well as a protective metallic layer (5) place immediately over an in contact with the layer having properties in the infrared range, characterized in that in order to prevent the modification of properties of the stack, particularly optical and thermal properties, in the case where the substrate is submitted to a thermal treatment of the tempering or bending kind, firstly the second coating (9) having a base of dielectric material, includes a barrier layer for the diffusion of oxygen chosen from the following materials: components of silicon SiO2, SiOxCy, SiONNy, nitrates such as Si3N4 or AlN, carbides such as SiC, TiC, CrC, TaC of a thickness of at least 10 nanome
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Glass France
    Inventors: Philippe Macquart, Olivier Guiselin, Veronique Rondeau
  • Patent number: 6602608
    Abstract: A coated article, and a corresponding method of making the same are provided. The coated article includes a coating supported by a substrate, the coating including a thin metal or metal nitride contact layer (e.g., NiCr, Ni, Cr, CrNx or NiCrNx) located directly between and contacting an infrared (IR) reflecting layer (e.g., Ag) and an oxide barrier layer (e.g., NiCrOx).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: Guardian Industries, Corp.
    Inventor: Grzegorz Stachowiak
  • Patent number: 6602607
    Abstract: A titanium dioxide photocatalyst carrier is prepared by coating a surface of a substrate with a titanium dioxide precursor solution prepared from a hydrolyzable titanium compound and an aromatic compound solvent, and then heat-treating the coated substrate thereby preparing a carrier coated with a thin layer of titanium oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignees: Japan Carlit Co., Ltd., Shin Nikkei Company, Ltd., Asahi Glass Company, Limited
    Inventors: Seiichi Rengakuji, Yosuke Hara, Akihiro Shinagawa
  • Patent number: 6599637
    Abstract: A Si3N4 composite substrate which manifests no generation of cracking on the substrate even by mechanical shock or thermal shock, and is excellent in heat radiation property and heat-cycle-resistance property is obtained by using a Si3N4 substrate as a ceramic substrate. A Si3N4 substrate having a thermal conductivity of 90 W/m·K or more and a three-point flexural strength of 700 MPa or more is used, and the thickness tm of a metal layer connected on one major surface of the substrate and the thickness tc of the Si3N4 substrate are controlled so as to satisfy the relation formula: 2 tm≦tc≦20 tm. When metal layers are connected to both major surfaces of the Si3N4 substrate, the thickness tc and the total thickness ttm of the metal layers on both major surfaces are controlled so as to satisfy the relation formula: ttm≦tc≦10 ttm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ai Itoh, Michimasa Miyanaga, Masashi Yoshimura
  • Patent number: 6599636
    Abstract: A titanium aluminide substrate (4) is vulnerable to air oxidation, limiting the use of this substrate in a variety of industrial applications, including the aircraft and aerospace industries. A bilayer reactive barrier (2) is formed on a titanium aluminide substrate. The barrier layer includes an &agr;-Al2O3 layer (6) from the reaction of oxygen from the disassociation of water with alumina in a gaseous and water vapor atmosphere at high temperatures and low oxygen concentration. During the process, titanium migrates through the &agr;-Al2O3 to a gas/barrier layer surface (14) and is oxidized to form a Ti2O3 layer (8). A surface of the Ti2O3 layer is subsequently oxidized to form a TiO2 layer (12). In this manner, a triple layer barrier is formed in which the immersible TiO2 and &agr;-Al2O3 are separated by Ti2O3. The three layers are bonded to each with a bond strength greater than 4500 kPa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Inventor: Donald L. Alger
  • Patent number: 6596399
    Abstract: A silver oxide layer capable of absorbing and/or reflecting significant amounts of ultraviolet (UV) radiation, and a method of making the same. An ion beam including oxygen ions is utilized to densify silver material and transform it into a silver oxide inclusive layer. Due to the densification caused by the bombardment of oxygen ions, the resulting silver oxide layer is capable of absorbing and/or reflecting significant amounts of UV radiation. Such silver oxide layers may be utilized in the context of any suitable coating system where UV absorption and/or reflection is desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: Guardian Industries Corp.
    Inventor: Vijayen S. Veerasamy
  • Publication number: 20030134136
    Abstract: Changes in the infrared reflection spectrum of a thin film of silica-like resinous material sandwiched between metal electrodes can be induced by applying an electric potential to a top electrode which is semitransparent. Characteristic infrared absorption lines change in proportion to a small electric current flowing through the material. These changes occur with response times of the order of seconds, and show time constants of the order of minutes to reach stationary values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2003
    Publication date: July 17, 2003
    Applicant: The Regents of the University of Michigan
    Inventors: Mark Angelo Biscotto, Mark Monroe Banaszak Holl, Bradford Grant Orr, Udo C. Pernisz
  • Patent number: 6593015
    Abstract: A tool which includes a substrate which has a first surface and a second surface wherein the first surface ad the second surface intersect to form an edge. A adhesion coating scheme is on the substrate. The adhesion coating scheme comprises an innermost layer which contains titanium, and is on the surface of the substrate. The adhesion coating scheme includes an outermost adhesion layer. A wear coating scheme is on the adhesion coating scheme. The wear coating scheme includes one or more wear coating sequences wherein each wear coating sequence comprises an inner layer including aluminum and nitrogen and an outer layer including boron and nitrogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Assignee: Kennametal PC Inc.
    Inventor: Aharon Inspektor
  • Patent number: 6592996
    Abstract: A solar-shading light-transmissive panel has a light-transmissive sheet, an absorbing layer disposed on said light-transmissive sheet, a first transparent dielectric layer disposed on said absorbing layer, an Ag-rich layer comprising Ag as a main component disposed on said first transparent dielectric layer, and a second transparent dielectric layer disposed on said Ag-rich layer. The solar-shading light-transmissive panel, which basically has the four layers and can be manufactured relatively inexpensively, has an ornamentally excellent appearance, a relatively high solar-shalding capability, and a relatively high visible light transmittance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Assignee: Nippon Sheet Glass Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Terufusa Kunisada, Daisuke Arai, Etsuo Ogino
  • Patent number: 6592965
    Abstract: A ductile, solid electrolyte composite comprising a continuous, ordered, repeating ductile metallic array surrounded by and supporting an ionically conductive ceramic matrix such as stabilized zirconia, bismuth and/or ceria oxides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Assignee: IGR Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Arnold Z. Gordon
  • Patent number: 6592985
    Abstract: The present invention provides a superhard polycrystalline diamond or diamond-like element with greatly improved resistance to thermal degradation without loss of impact strength. Collectively called PCD elements, these elements are formed with a binder-catalyzing material in a high-temperature, high-pressure process. The PCD element has a plurality of partially bonded diamond or diamond-like crystals forming at least one continuous diamond matrix, and the interstices among the diamond crystals forming at least one continuous interstitial matrix containing a catalyzing material. The element has a working surface and a body, where a portion of the interstitial matrix in the body adjacent to the working surface is substantially free of the catalyzing material, and the remaining interstitial matrix contains the catalyzing material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Assignee: Camco International (UK) Limited
    Inventors: Nigel Dennis Griffin, Peter Raymond Hughes
  • Patent number: 6589658
    Abstract: Coated articles are provided with an anti-reflective (AR) layer(s) system which enables reduced reflection, increased visible transmission, and/or neutral color. In certain embodiments, the AR layer(s) system includes a titanium oxide layer, a silicon oxynitride layer, and/or a silicon oxide layer on the substrate over an infrared (IR) reflecting layer(s) such as silver. Silicon nitride layer(s) may optionally be provided below and/or over the IR reflecting layer in certain example embodiments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: Guardian Industries Corp.
    Inventor: Grzegorz Stachowiak
  • Publication number: 20030124363
    Abstract: The wearing part, such as a cutting insert, is made from hard metal or cermet. A hard-material coating is applied on the base material. The coating includes a single-layer or multilayer mixed-oxide coat, predominantly comprising Al2O3, in which defined proportions of titanium oxide and boron oxide are dissolved or homogeneously distributed extremely finely. The wearing part is distinguished by a high wear resistance, which improves the service life, and a fine-grained structure and uniformity of the coat and by a highly economic application of the coat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2002
    Publication date: July 3, 2003
    Inventors: Martin Kathrein, Wilfried Schintlmeister, Wolfgang Wallgram
  • Publication number: 20030124395
    Abstract: A coating for a mold surface of a casting mold includes a metallic bond coat bonded to the mold surface and having a continuous, uniform thickness of between about 0.002 to 0.005 inch on the mold surface. A topcoat of yttria stabilized zirconia is located on top of the metallic bond coat and has a continuous, uniform thickness of between about 0.005 to 0.030 inch. The topcoat has a porosity between 5-15%. The topcoat has a surface layer having a thickness of between about 0.001 to 0.002 inch and a porosity of less than 1%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2002
    Publication date: July 3, 2003
    Inventors: Neville C. Whittle, Roger W. Kaufold, Jamal Righi, Joseph P. Harenski
  • Patent number: 6587263
    Abstract: An method, and method of production thereof, which provides excellent performance, reduced cost, and reduced breakage due to reduced manual handling. The present invention comprises a substrate, a bond layer coating the substrate, a reflective layer coating the bond layer, and a radiative layer coating the reflective layer. Preferably, the radiative layer comprises SiO2, Si3N4 or SiOxNy, low absorbency of electromagnetic radiation having wavelengths of approximately 200 nm to approximately 2500 nm and high absorbency and emissivity electromagnetic radiation having wavelengths of approximately 2.5 &mgr;m to approximately 25 &mgr;m. Preferably, the bond layer comprises chromium, titanium, or titanium-tungsten and the substrate comprises aluminum, aluminum alloys, polyimide, carbon-filled polyimide, or carbon composite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Charles Dominic Iacovangelo, Yiqun Pan, Chang Wei, Mao Chen
  • Patent number: 6586098
    Abstract: A flake-based pigment is provided having improved specular reflectance characteristics in the visible wavelength range. The flake-based pigment has a plurality of composite reflective flakes each formed of a support layer and a reflector layer on one or both opposing sides of the support layer. This flake structure exhibits a uniaxial compressive strength much greater than a corresponding uniaxial tensile strength. The structure of the flakes provides the benefits of rigidity and brittle fracture during manufacture and application processes, which ultimately provides favorable planar and specular reflectance characteristics to the pigment in the visible wavelength range. A variety of outer coating layers can be formed around the composite reflective flakes, such as various dielectric and/or absorber layers, to produce desired optical characteristics in the pigment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Flex Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Kent E. Coulter, Thomas Mayer, John S. Matteucci, Roger W. Phillips
  • Patent number: 6586876
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an organic light-emitting device which provides an electroluminescence (EL) or photoluminescence (PL) device with high external quantum efficiency. The present invention forms a composite film layer with continuously changing refraction indices between an ITO transparent electrode and a substrate made of plastic or glass. The refraction index of the composite film layer is the same as the ITO electrode at the interface with the ITO electrode. It decreases along the direction perpendicular to the substrate in a linear or nonlinear way. The refraction index is the same as that of the plastic or glass at the interface with the substrate. This way can avoid reflection due to the difference in the refraction index across the interface. The excited light originally trapped in the ITO electrode can be guided outwards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Rung-Ywan Tsai, Chia-Shy Chang, Ching-Ian Chao, Mu-Yi Hua
  • Patent number: 6586102
    Abstract: Coated articles are provided with an anti-reflective (AR) layer(s) system which enables reduced reflection, increased visible transmission, and/or neutral color. In certain embodiments, the AR layer(s) system includes a silicon nitride layer(s), a silicon oxynitride layer, and/or a silicon oxide layer on the substrate over an infrared (IR) reflecting layer(s) such as silver. The AR system surprisingly enables improved visible transmission and/or reflection to be combined with more neutral color.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Guardian Industries Corp.
    Inventor: Grzegorz Stachowiak
  • Patent number: 6586114
    Abstract: An article, particularly a metallic article, is coated with a multi-layer coating having the color or appearance of dark copper. The coating comprises a chromium, refractory metal or refractory metal alloy adhesion promoting layer, a titanium-zirconium alloy nitride or titanium-zirconium alloy carbonitride protective and color layer, and a titanium-zirconium alloy oxide or titanium-zirconium oxynitride color enhancing layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Vapor Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Bryce Randolph Anton
  • Publication number: 20030115941
    Abstract: A method for determining past-service conditions and/or remaining useful life of a component of a combustion engine and/or a thermal barrier coating (“TBC”) of the component comprises providing a photoluminescent (“PL”) material in the TBC, directing an exciting radiation at the TBC, measuring the intensity of a characteristic peak in the emission spectrum of the PL material, and correlating the intensity of the characteristic peak or another quantity derived therefrom to an amount of a new phase that has been formed as a result of the exposure of the component to extreme temperatures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2001
    Publication date: June 26, 2003
    Applicant: General Electric CRD
    Inventors: Alok Mani Srivastava, Anant Achyut Setlur, Holly Ann Comanzo, John William Devitt, James Anthony Ruud, Luke Nathaniel Brewer
  • Patent number: 6582809
    Abstract: A glazing assembly is provided made of at least one transparent substrate having a stack thereon that includes an alternation of n functional layers and n−1 coatings, wherein the functional layers have reflection properties in the infrared and/or solar radiation and where n≧1 and where, in order to maintain the quality of the stack when the substrate is subjected to a heat treatment step, at least one of the following must be satisfied: the coating placed on top of at least one of the functional layers includes at least one barrier layer providing a barrier to at least oxygen and water; and at least one absorbent or stabilizing layer made of a material capable of absorbing or stabilizing the consituent material of the functional layer forms a part of either the coating placed on top of the functional layer and under the barrier layer or the coating placed beneath the functional layer; and a method for production of the glazing assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Glass France
    Inventors: Philippe Boire, Fabrice Didier, Jean-Michel Grimal
  • Publication number: 20030113560
    Abstract: PCD and PCBN composite constructions have an ordered structure of two or more material phases that are combined together in a packed or interwoven configuration. One of the material phases is formed from materials selected from the group consisting of: polycrystalline diamond, polycrystalline cubic boron nitride; carbides, borides, nitrides, and carbonitrides from groups IVA, VA, and VIA of the Periodic Table; and mixtures thereof. Another material phase is preferably formed from a material having a degree of ductility that is higher than that of the first material phase. Example second material phase materials include those selected from the group consisting of cermets, Co, Ni, Fe, W, Mo, Cu, Al, Nb, Ti, Ta, and mixtures thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2003
    Publication date: June 19, 2003
    Applicant: Smith Internationl, Inc.
    Inventor: Zhou Yong
  • Publication number: 20030113552
    Abstract: An article comprising a substrate containing silicon and at least one barrier layer which functions as a thermal barrier at temperatures in excess of 1300° C. in aqueous environments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2001
    Publication date: June 19, 2003
    Inventors: Ellen Y. Sun, Harry E. Eaton
  • Publication number: 20030113592
    Abstract: An article is coated with a multi-layer coating having the appearance of nickel. The coating comprises one or more electroplated layers on the surface of said article and vapor deposited on the electroplated layers a refractory metal nitride or metal alloy nitride where the nitrogen content of said nitride is from about 6 to about 45 atomic percent, and wherein the nitride layer is deposited at relatively low pressures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2001
    Publication date: June 19, 2003
    Inventor: Guocun Chen
  • Publication number: 20030113558
    Abstract: An article is coated with a multi-layer coating having the appearance of stainless steel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2001
    Publication date: June 19, 2003
    Inventor: Guocun Chen