Provided is a method of producing isolated graphene sheets from a supply of coke or coal powder containing therein domains of hexagonal carbon atoms and/or hexagonal carbon atomic interlayers. The method comprises: (a) dispersing particles of the coke or coal powder in a liquid medium containing therein an optional surfactant or dispersing agent to produce a suspension or slurry, wherein the coke or coal powder is selected from petroleum coke, coal-derived coke, meso-phase coke, synthetic coke, leonardite, anthracite, lignite coal, bituminous coal, or natural coal mineral powder, or a combination thereof; and (b) exposing the suspension or slurry to ultrasonication at an energy level for a sufficient length of time to produce the isolated graphene sheets.

Provided are methods of forming stacks comprising a substrate and one or more sol-gel layers disposed on the substrate. Also provided are stacks formed by these methods. The sol-gel layers in these stacks, especially outer layers, may have a porosity of less than 1% or even less than 0.5%. In some embodiments, these layers may have a surface roughness (R.sub.a) of less than 1 nanometers. The sol-gel layers may be formed using radiative curing and/or thermal curing at temperatures of between 400° C. and 700° C. or higher. These temperatures allow application of sol-gel layers on new types of substrates. A sol-gel solution, used to form these layers, may have colloidal nanoparticles with a size of less than 20 Angstroms on average. This small size and narrow size distribution is believed to control the porosity of the resulting sol-gel layers.

Provided herein are methods of making functional surfaces, including liquid repellant surfaces that can exhibit selective wetting properties. Methods of forming a functional surfaces can comprise providing a dispersion of nanoparticles; and applying the dispersion to a polymer surface to form a multiplicity of re-entrant structures embedded within and protruding from the polymer surface. The re-entrant structures are formed from aggregates of the nanoparticles. Also provided are functional surfaces prepared by these methods, as well as articles comprising these functional surfaces.

The disclosure belongs to the technical field of floor preparation, and provides a method for treating a surface of a floor. Compared with traditional methods for preparing floor, in the method according to the disclosure, an embossing is performed not directly after laminating, but after applying a wear-resistant primer, and a topcoat is then applied. Therefore, the resulting embossed floor has a clear texture. Further, the composition of the wear-resistant primer could be optimized, such that the resulting embossed floor exhibits excellent wear resistance and hardness.

The disclosure belongs to the technical field of floor preparation, and provides a method for treating a surface of a floor. Compared with traditional methods for preparing floor, in the method according to the disclosure, an embossing is performed not directly after laminating, but after applying a wear-resistant primer, and a topcoat is then applied. Therefore, the resulting embossed floor has a clear texture. Further, the composition of the wear-resistant primer could be optimized, such that the resulting embossed floor exhibits excellent wear resistance and hardness.

The present document describes a composition for the pretreatment of surfaces, which comprises plasticizers, degassers, pH adjusting agents, pigments, a phenol formaldehyde resin based adhesive, process of making the same and method of using the same.

Methods of protecting a propeller include applying an inner polymer layer onto a propeller. The inner polymer layer is impregnated with a biologically active chemical substance that inhibits biofouling-induced chemical, biological, and bio-proliferative damage and that does not chemically or galvanically interact with a material of the propeller. An outer polymer layer is applied onto the inner polymer layer, the outer polymer layer being impregnated with a biologically active chemical substance that inhibits biofouling-induced chemical, biological, and bio-proliferative damage and that repels biofouling organisms to prevent invasion of the inner polymer layer.

Methods of protecting a propeller include applying an inner polymer layer onto a propeller. The inner polymer layer is impregnated with a biologically active chemical substance that inhibits biofouling-induced chemical, biological, and bio-proliferative damage and that does not chemically or galvanically interact with a material of the propeller. An outer polymer layer is applied onto the inner polymer layer, the outer polymer layer being impregnated with a biologically active chemical substance that inhibits biofouling-induced chemical, biological, and bio-proliferative damage and that repels biofouling organisms to prevent invasion of the inner polymer layer.

A method of synthesizing bimetallic oxide nanocomposites includes the steps of: providing a first metal salt solution; adding an oxidizing agent to the first metal salt solution while degassing the solution with an inert gas; heating the first metal salt solution; adding a second metal salt solution to the heated first metal salt solution to form a reaction mixture; adding a solution comprising a poly (ionic liquid) into the reaction mixture; adding a first base into the reaction mixture; adding a second base while stirring and maintaining a temperature ranging from about 40° C. to about 65° C. to provide a solution including a bimetallic oxide nanocomposite precipitate. The first metallic salt solution can include FeCl.sub.3 dissolved in water. The second metallic salt solution can include CuCl.sub.2 dissolved in water. The bimetallic oxide nanocomposites can be combined with epoxy resin to coat a steel stubstrate.

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.