A printed flexible PH sensor is provided. The printed flexible PH sensor includes a flexible substrate. A working electrode is disposed on the flexible substrate, and the working electrode includes a first silver layer formed on the flexible substrate by an ink-jet printing process, a second silver layer formed on the first silver layer by a silver mirror reaction, and a metal oxide layer disposed on the second silver layer of an end portion of the working electrode. A reference electrode is disposed on the flexible substrate, and the reference electrode includes the first silver layer and the second silver layer formed on the first silver layer, and a silver chloride layer totally covering the second silver layer. A method for fabricating the printed flexible PH sensor is also provided.

Porous, binderless ceramic surface modification materials are described, and applications of use thereof. The ceramic surface material is in the form of an interconnected network of porous ceramic material on a substrate. The ceramic material may include a metal oxide, a metal hydroxide, and/or hydrates thereof, or a metal carbonate or metal phosphate, on a substrate surface. The substrate may be in the form of a metal or polymer particulate, powder, extrudate, or flakes.

A pipe is manufactured through injecting a chloride ion-containing aqueous solution into a copper pipe to fill the copper pipe, thereby forming a copper oxide film on an inner surface of the copper pipe.

A pipe is manufactured through injecting a chloride ion-containing aqueous solution into a copper pipe to fill the copper pipe, thereby forming a copper oxide film on an inner surface of the copper pipe.

The invention relates to a method of preparing a metal oxide/metal composite, comprising depositing a metal oxide from a dispersion in a liquid on a metal surface; or depositing a metal oxide in the presence of a metal from a dispersion in a liquid on a substrate; or depositing a metal oxide from a metal salt solution on a metal substrate. The metal oxide/metal composites obtained by the process show synergistic antimicrobial activity due to release of high concentrations of redox active species (ROS) at the metal oxide/metal heterojunction. The invention also relates to use of the metal oxide/metal composite as an antimicrobial coating.

A novel method of blackening surgical needles is disclosed. Surgical needles having outer surfaces are first placed into a first pretreatment bath having a novel composition. The needles are then placed into a second blackening bath having a novel composition for a sufficient period of time to effectively blacken the surfaces of the needles. The novel methods for blackening the surfaces of a stainless steel alloy surgical needle provide a chromium (VI)-free alternative to current needle manufacturing processes. Another unique feature of this novel method is its short processing time. The blackening processes of the present invention can be utilized for in-line treatment processes which can be easily incorporated into high speed needle manufacturing processes, such as strip mounted processes. In addition, the processes of the present invention are readily adaptable to batch processes. Also disclosed are novel systems for blackening surgical needles and novel blackening baths for surgical needles.

A novel method of blackening surgical needles is disclosed. Surgical needles having outer surfaces are first placed into a first pretreatment bath having a novel composition. The needles are then placed into a second blackening bath having a novel composition for a sufficient period of time to effectively blacken the surfaces of the needles. The novel methods for blackening the surfaces of a stainless steel alloy surgical needle provide a chromium (VI)-free alternative to current needle manufacturing processes. Another unique feature of this novel method is its short processing time. The blackening processes of the present invention can be utilized for in-line treatment processes which can be easily incorporated into high speed needle manufacturing processes, such as strip mounted processes. In addition, the processes of the present invention are readily adaptable to batch processes. Also disclosed are novel systems for blackening surgical needles and novel blackening baths for surgical needles.

A method for passivating a metal surface of a light-weight metal part is disclosed, wherein a conversion layer is applied to the surface of the light-weight metal part in a passivation step. A passivation step is carried out wherein an aqueous passivation solution is used to create a calcium phosphate-containing conversion layer (5) on the metal surface of the part, said conversion layer comprising oxides and hydroxides from the material of the part and from the passivation solution and containing amino acids.

A method for passivating a metal surface of a light-weight metal part is disclosed, wherein a conversion layer is applied to the surface of the light-weight metal part in a passivation step. A passivation step is carried out wherein an aqueous passivation solution is used to create a calcium phosphate-containing conversion layer (5) on the metal surface of the part, said conversion layer comprising oxides and hydroxides from the material of the part and from the passivation solution and containing amino acids.

A corrosion-resistant coating on an aluminum-containing substrate such as an aluminum substrate, an aluminum alloy substrate (e.g., AA 2024, AA 6061, or AA7075), or other aluminum-containing substrate includes a corrosion inhibitor-incorporated ZnAl layered double hydroxide (LDH) layer and a sol-gel layer. A zinc salt and a corrosion inhibitor (e.g., a salt of an oxyanion of a transition metal such as a vanadate) is dissolved to form a zinc-corrosion inhibitor solution, and the substrate is immersed in or otherwise contacted with the solution to form the corrosion inhibitor-incorporated ZnAl LDH layer on the substrate. A sol-gel composition is applied on the corrosion inhibitor-incorporated ZnAl LDH layer of the substrate to form a sol-gel layer, and the sol-gel layer is cured.