Composite particles comprising at least one type of polymer particles having surfaces that have thereon coatings formed of finely-disintegrated cellulose, with the polymer particles and the finely-disintegrated cellulose being inseparably bonded together.

Acid-catalyzed curable coating compositions containing 1,1-di-activated vinyl compounds are described, including multi-layer coatings. Also provided are processes for coating substrates with coating compositions comprising 1,1-di-activated vinyl N compounds. Also provided are coated articles comprising coatings formed from coating compositions comprising 1,1-di-activated vinyl compounds.

A modification method of a surface of a base includes applying a composition on a surface layer of a base to form a coating film. The surface layer contains a metal atom. The coating is heated. The composition contains a polymer and a solvent. The polymer includes at an end of a main chain or at an end of a side chain thereof, a functional group that is at least one selected from: a group represented by the following formula (1); a group containing a carbon-carbon triple bond; and a group containing an aromatic hydroxy group. In the formula (1), R.sup.1 represents a hydrogen atom or a monovalent organic group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms; and n is an integer of 1 to 10, wherein in a case in which n is no less than 2, a plurality of R.sup.1s are identical or different. ##STR00001##

This invention discloses spray-based methods for generating polymer-based coatings with a range of morphologies, chemical reactivities, and physical stabilities useful for a broad range of applications, such as for the fabrication of non-wetting and slippery surfaces. Certain embodiments of this invention provide coatings with nanoscale morphologies, physical stabilities, and chemical reactivities that are similar to or improved compared to analogous coatings and materials made using conventional dip coating or flow-based methods. These spray-based methods can also be used to fabricate coatings with substantially similar functional properties, but with improved consistency, efficiency, additional functionality, and reproducibility. In an aspect of the invention, two or more chemically reactive polymer solutions are sprayed onto a substrate to form a crosslinked polymer coating on the substrate. The polymer solutions may be applied to the substrate sequentially or simultaneously.

An apparatus for coating at least a first plurality of articles each article thereof having at least a first surface to be coated is disclosed. The apparatus includes an emission source for directing emission elements towards the first surfaces of the plurality of articles, at least one support member for supporting the first plurality of articles, wherein support member supports the first plurality of articles such that the first surface is exposed to the path of emission from said emission source, and a drive assembly for moving the support member such that the first plurality of articles is moveable with respect to the path of emission from said emission source.

Some variations provide a method of forming a transparent icephobic coating, comprising: obtaining a hardenable precursor comprising a first component and a plurality of inclusions containing a second component, wherein one of the first component or the second component is a low-surface-energy polymer, and the other is a hygroscopic material; applying mechanical shear and/or sonication to the hardenable precursor; disposing the hardenable precursor onto a substrate; and curing the hardenable precursor to form a transparent icephobic coating. The coating contains a hardened continuous matrix containing regions of the first component separated from regions of the second component on an average length scale of phase inhomogeneity from 10 nanometers to 10 microns, such as less than 1 micron, or less than 100 nanometers. The transparent icephobic coating may be characterized by a light transmittance of at least 50% at wavelengths from 400 nm to 800 nm, through a 100-micron coating.

Techniques regarding methods and/or apparatuses for protecting metal substrates during one or more lithography processes are provided. For example, one or more embodiments described herein can comprise a method that can include coating a metal substrate with a polymer film that self-assembles on a metal oxide positioned on a surface of the metal substrate. The method can also include covalently bonding the polymer film to the metal oxide.

Tunable thermoplastic polymer sealants and tunable conductive thermoplastic polymer sealants, and edge seals and fillet seals produced from such sealants; and substrates, components and objects comprising the tunable edge seals and fillet seals, and methods for making and applying such edge seals and fillet seals are disclosed.

A coating for a medical device or appliance may include a fluoropolymer and a polyimide. Such coatings may provide a lubricious exterior surface that facilitates insertion or displacement of a medical device in a body lumen. Some coatings that include a fluoropolymer and a polyimide may, among other functions and characteristics, provide increased strength and/or durability relative to some other coatings.

Methods of modifying medical devices and medical devices are disclosed. One embodiment of a method of modifying a medical device includes functionalizing a surface of the medical device using cold plasma. One embodiment of a medical device is obtained by a method of modifying a device that includes functionalizing a surface of the medical device using cold plasma.