This invention provides resin formulations which may be used for 3D printing and pyrolyzing to produce a ceramic matrix composite. The resin formulations contain a solid-phase filler, to provide high thermal stability and mechanical strength (e.g., fracture toughness) in the final ceramic material. The invention provides direct, free-form 3D printing of a preceramic polymer loaded with a solid-phase filler, followed by converting the preceramic polymer to a 3D-printed ceramic matrix composite with potentially complex 3D shapes or in the form of large parts. Other variations provide active solid-phase functional additives as solid-phase fillers, to perform or enhance at least one chemical, physical, mechanical, or electrical function within the ceramic structure as it is being formed as well as in the final structure. Solid-phase functional additives actively improve the final ceramic structure through one or more changes actively induced by the additives during pyrolysis or other thermal treatment.

This application features a method of forming a nanoporous layer. The method includes steps of reducing metal ions in a reverse micelle phase composition to form nanoparticles, removing surfactant from the composition to form clusters of the nanoparticles, dispensing the composition including the nanoparticle clusters dispersed in a liquid on a substrate, and drying to form the nanoporous layer. The nanoporous layer includes nanoparticles deposited to form a three dimensional network of irregularly shaped bodies. The nanoporous layer also includes a three dimensional network of intercluster spaces that are not occupied by the three dimensional network of irregularly shaped bodies.

A problem to be solved by this disclosure is to provide a composition, preferably a composition for forming a liquid-repellent coating film. This problem is solved by a composition comprising [1] a polymer constituting a water-repellent component, the polymer containing a constituent unit derived from (A) at least one modified fine particle containing (i) a core fine particle and (ii) one or more modifying moieties that modify the core fine particle, wherein some or all of the one or more modifying moieties have one or more polymerizable groups (a), and a constituent unit derived from (Bs) at least one compound containing one or more polymerizable groups (b) in the molecule, and containing fluorine; [2] a monomer (Bm) constituting an abrasion-resistant component; and [3] a solvent mainly containing one or more solvents selected from the group consisting of non-fluorine organic solvents and water,
wherein the ratio of the mass of the abrasion-resistant component [2] to the total mass of the water-repellent component [1] and the abrasion-resistant component [2] is 85:100 to 35:100.

Disclosed is a coating composition which includes: polyurethane; and amphiphilic silica nanoparticles having an amine functional group and a fluorine functional group in their structure. Further provided are a polyurethane-silica composite film including the coating composition and a method of preparing the same.

A thin-film coating applicator assembly is disclosed for coating substrates in outdoor applications. The innovative thin-film coating applicator assembly is adapted to apply performance enhancement coatings on installed photovoltaic panels and glass windows in outdoor environments. The coating applicator is adapted to move along a solar panel or glass pane while applicator mechanisms deposit a uniform layer of liquid coating solution to the substrate's surface. The applicator assembly comprises a conveyance means disposed on a frame. Further disclosed are innovative applicator heads that comprise a deformable sponge-like core surrounded by a microporous layer. The structure, when in contact with a substrate surface, deposits a uniform layer of coating solution over a large surface.

This disclosure relates to a glucose-sensing electrode including a nanoporous metal layer and an electrolyte ion-blocking layer formed over the nanoporous metal layer. The nanoporous metal layer is capable of oxidizing both glucose and maltose without an enzyme specific to glucose in the glucose-sensing electrode. The electrolyte ion-blocking layer is configured to inhibit Na.sup.+, K.sup.+, Ca.sup.2+, Cl.sup.−, PO.sub.4.sup.3− and CO.sub.3.sup.2− from diffusing toward the nanoporous metal layer such that there is a substantial discontinuity of a combined concentration of Na.sup.+, K.sup.+, Ca.sup.2+, Cl.sup.−, PO.sub.4.sup.3− and CO.sub.3.sup.2− between over and below the electrolyte ion-blocking layer.

A resin composition for coating an optical fiber is a resin composition comprising: a base resin containing an oligomer comprising urethane (meth)acrylate, a monomer, and a photopolymerization initiator; and hydrophobic zirconium oxide, wherein the content of the zirconium oxide is 0.5% by mass or more and 65% by mass or less based on the total amount of the resin composition.

Disclosed herein is a black paint composition with improved blackness by controlling a black paint and an additive.

Coating compositions including a nanoparticle layer including nanoparticles and a curable resin and a curable resin layer comprising the curable resin, where the nanoparticle layer has a thickness of 0.2 μm to 8 μm, and where the nanoparticle layer includes less than 40 vol. % of the curable resin. Methods for preparing the coating compositions, laminates including the coating compositions, and articles including the laminates are provided.

The present disclosure relates to an antimicrobial coating on a surface, a method for preparing and uses of the same. In particular it relates to a process for preparing an antimicrobial coating on a surface, the process comprising the steps of: a) providing a surface; b) coating a metal oxide or a metal hydroxide on the surface in the presence of a solvent in a hydrothermal synthesis step to form a coated surface having a plurality of nanostructures; c) optionally drying the coated surface, wherein said nanostructure is preferably in nanopillar structure. The coating of the present application exhibits excellent antimicrobial activity against different types of microorganism, such as bacteria and yeast. The nanostructures are able to exert stress to the microorganism, and therefore controlling or killing them.