Carbon nanotube (CNT) agglomerates can be aligned along the field lines between adjacent electrodes to form conductive bridges. The present invention is directed to a stepwise process of dielectrophoretic deposition of CNTs to form conducting bridges between adjacent electrodes spanning lengths over 50 microns. The CNT bridges are permanently secured using electrodeposition of the conducting polymer polypyrrole. Morphologies of the CNT bridges formed within a frequency range of 1 kHz and 10 MHz are employed and explained as a consequence of interplay between dielectrophoretic and electroosmotic forces. Postdeposition heat treatment increases conductivity of CNT bridges likely due to solvent evaporation and resulting surface tension inducing better contact between CNTs.

The present invention is directed to devices and methods for assembling particulates through the use of non-contact electrokinetic forces applied to polymeric, organic, non-organic, and metallic micro- and nano-particulates in an aqueous solution. The present invention features an electrode comprising a conductive substrate with a layer of photosensitive polymer disposed on it with a plurality of windows etched into the layer. The plurality of windows expose certain portions of the conductive substrate. Applying electric signals to the conductive substrate (e.g. by a function generator) causes materials to attract to only the exposed portions of the conductive substrate. The materials may comprise a plurality of organic, non-organic, and metallic micro- and nano-particulates disposed in an aqueous solution.

Disclosed is a device for impregnation using electrophoresis, which includes a chassis, a storing unit, a pipeline unit, an injection unit, a bearing tank, a first driver element and a second driver element, wherein the storing unit has several storage tanks storing the materials for impregnation. The pipeline unit has several pipelines connecting the storage tanks and the injection unit. The injection unit has a static mixing tube and an injector, so as to inject said materials for impregnation into the several slide sets located in the bearing tank. The first driver element drives the bearing tank to reciprocate transversely, and the second driver element drives the injection unit to shift up and down. The device can perform impregnation operations automatically, with quick operation and low operational difficulty level, while the prepared gel has high quality stability and yield.

Disclosed is a device for impregnation using electrophoresis, which includes a chassis, a storing unit, a pipeline unit, an injection unit, a bearing tank, a first driver element and a second driver element, wherein the storing unit has several storage tanks storing the materials for impregnation. The pipeline unit has several pipelines connecting the storage tanks and the injection unit. The injection unit has a static mixing tube and an injector, so as to inject said materials for impregnation into the several slide sets located in the bearing tank. The first driver element drives the bearing tank to reciprocate transversely, and the second driver element drives the injection unit to shift up and down. The device can perform impregnation operations automatically, with quick operation and low operational difficulty level, while the prepared gel has high quality stability and yield.

A method for increasing a detection distance of a surface of an object illuminated by near-IR electromagnetic radiation, including: (a) directing near-IR electromagnetic radiation from a near-IR electromagnetic radiation source towards an object at least partially coated with a near-IR reflective coating that increases a near-IR electromagnetic radiation detection distance by at least 15% as measured at a wavelength in a near-IR range as compared to the same object coated with a color matched coating which absorbs more of the same near-IR radiation, where the color matched coating has a ΔE color matched value of 1.5 or less when compared to the near-IR reflective coating; and (b) detecting reflected near-IR electromagnetic radiation reflected from the near-IR reflective coating. A system for detecting proximity of vehicles is also disclosed.

A method for increasing a detection distance of a surface of an object illuminated by near-IR electromagnetic radiation, including: (a) directing near-IR electromagnetic radiation from a near-IR electromagnetic radiation source towards an object at least partially coated with a near-IR reflective coating that increases a near-IR electromagnetic radiation detection distance by at least 15% as measured at a wavelength in a near-IR range as compared to the same object coated with a color matched coating which absorbs more of the same near-IR radiation, where the color matched coating has a ΔE color matched value of 1.5 or less when compared to the near-IR reflective coating; and (b) detecting reflected near-IR electromagnetic radiation reflected from the near-IR reflective coating. A system for detecting proximity of vehicles is also disclosed.

The present disclosure relates generally to coating medical devices. In particular, the present disclosure provides materials and methods for coating a portion of a balloon catheter with a pharmaceutical agent using electrodeposition techniques. Although angioplasty and stenting can be effective methods for treating vascular occlusions, restenosis remains a pervasiveness problem. Therefore, coating portions of a balloon catheter with a pharmaceutical agent that inhibits restenosis can reduce the likelihood of restenosis.

Disclosed are pretreatment compositions and associated methods for treating metal substrates with pretreatment compositions, including ferrous substrates, such as cold rolled steel and electrogalvanized steel. The pretreatment composition includes: a Group IIIB and/or IVB metal; free fluoride; and molybdenum. The methods include contacting the metal substrates with the pretreatment composition.

Disclosed are pretreatment compositions and associated methods for treating metal substrates with pretreatment compositions, including ferrous substrates, such as cold rolled steel and electrogalvanized steel. The pretreatment composition includes: a Group IIIB and/or IVB metal; free fluoride; and molybdenum. The methods include contacting the metal substrates with the pretreatment composition.

An electrodeposition coating method includes a degreasing/cleaning step, a chemical conversion step, and an electrodeposition coating layer formation step. The degreasing/cleaning step includes a degreasing step of ultrasonically vibrating a degreasing solution in which a target object is immersed, using an ultrasonic vibrator. The electrodeposition coating layer formation step includes: a first electrodeposition step; a first rinsing step; a rinse water removal/reduction step of removing or reducing rinse water on a rinse water stagnating surface of the target object; a thermal flow step of allowing the first electrodeposition coating film to thermally flow so that the first electrodeposition coating film formed on a portion of the target object near a first counter electrode has a higher electrical resistance than the first electrodeposition coating film formed on a portion of the target object far from the first counter electrode; and a second electrodeposition step.