A reinforcement means for molded and extruded articles such as tires has a metal structure with a layer of silica gel bonded thereto. The silica gel bonds the reinforcement means to the rubber compound during the molding/vulcanization of the rubber compound without the need for a slow curing stage. The silica gel may be applied to the metal structure by a sol-gel process with the gel formed by drying the sol at a temperature up to 150 C. The reinforcement means is preferably a cable formed from steel wires coated with the silica gel. To further improve bonding of the silica gel to the rubber compound, an organosilane bonding agent may be included in the rubber compound or the reinforcing means provided with a second layer comprising an organosilane as a bonding agent. The reinforcement means are particularly useful for strengthening and providing geometric stability to tires.

The invention relates to a protection layer which is used as anticorrosion layer on corrosion-prone substrates, especially corroding metals, alloys and other materials, especially on steel, and as a basecoat for the application of further porous layer systems or as a topcoat, and to the process for production thereof and to use on a coated substrate for protection against corrosion and specifically for use against microbially induced corrosion (MIC), wherein the anticorrosion layer comprises a high-density protection layer on a corrosion-prone substrate, containing pre-condensed layer-forming alkoxysilane precursors, wherein the molecules of the pre-condensed layer-forming alkoxysilane precursors are formed from monomer units selected from the group of the triethoxysilane precursors, wherein the molecules of the pre-condensed layer-forming alkoxysilane precursors are crosslinked with one another, and wherein the high-density protection layer has a layer thickness of at least 50 m.

Provided is a barrier film comprising a base layer, and an inorganic layer including Si, N, and O, and including a first region and a second region, which have different elemental contents (atomic %) of Si, N, and O from each other as measured by XPS, wherein the film has a water vapor transmission rate of 5.0?10.sup.?4 g/m.sup.2.Math.day or less as measured under conditions of a temperature of 38? C. and 100% relative humidity after being stored at 85? C. and 85% relative humidity conditions for 250 hours, or wherein the inorganic layer has a compactness expressed through an etching rate of 0.17 nm/s in the thickness direction for an Ar ion etching condition to etch Ta.sub.2O.sub.5 at a rate of 0.09 nm/s. The barrier film has excellent barrier properties and optical properties and can be used for electronic products that are sensitive to moisture and the like.

Electrocatalytic materials and methods of making the electrocatalytic materials are provided. Such a method may comprise forming precursor nanosheets comprising a precursor metal on a surface of a substrate; exposing the precursor nanosheets to a modifier solution comprising a polar, aprotic solvent and a metal salt at a temperature and for a period of time, the metal salt comprising a metal cation and an anion, thereby forming modified precursor nanosheets; and calcining the modified precursor nanosheets for a period of time to form an electrocatalytic material comprising structurally modified nanosheets and the substrate, each nanosheet extending from the surface of the substrate and having a solid matrix. The solid matrix defines pores distributed throughout the solid matrix and comprises a precursor metal oxide and domains of another metal oxide distributed throughout the precursor metal oxide; or the solid matrix comprises the precursor metal oxide and nanoparticles of the another metal oxide distributed on a surface of the solid matrix.

The invention relates to the use of a coating of a layer including an inorganic, glass-like matrix of an alkali silicate and/or alkaline earth silicate or a layer including an inorganic-organic hybrid matrix or of a double layer of a base layer including an inorganic, glass-like matrix of an alkali silicate and/or alkaline earth silicate or a base layer including an inorganic-organic hybrid matrix and an alkali silicate-free and alkaline earth silicate-free top layer including a matrix of an oxidated silicon compound as the anti-limescale coating on at least one metal surface or inorganic surface of an object or material. The anti-limescale coating can be used for storage or transport devices for water or media containing water. The anti-limescale coating is suitable for pipelines, sand control systems or safety valves in the conveyance of oil or gas or the storage of oil or gas.

A ferroelectric film a plurality of fired films is provided. E each of the plurality of fired films is made of metal oxide in a perovskite structure including Pb, Zr, and Ti, a total content of Li, Na, and K in the each of the plurality of fired films is 3 mass ppm or less, and the total content of Li, Na, and K on one surface of each of the plurality of fired films is 5 times or more of the total concentration of Li, Na, and K on other surface of each of the plurality of fired films.

A method for treating surfaces of fasteners made of titanium alloy or corrosion-resistant steel using a sol-gel pretreatment process prior to the application of an aluminum pigment coating. The sol-gel pretreatment process produces an interface film on the fastener surface, which interface film comprises an organometallic-based network system. The interface film aids in improving adhesion and surface roughness when fasteners are used in interference fit conditions (i.e., the hole diameter is smaller than the fastener shank diameter).

A method of manufacturing a heat dissipation device is disclosed. The heat dissipation device manufactured with the method includes two titanium metal sheets, which are subjected to a heat treatment before undergoing mechanical processing, plastic working and surface modification. With these arrangements, the titanium metal sheets can be freely plastically deformed and possess a capillary force, and can therefore be used in place of the conventional copper material to serve as a material for making heat dissipation devices, and the heat dissipation devices so produced can have largely reduced weight and largely improved heat dissipation performance.

A manufacturing method of heat dissipation unit is disclosed. The heat dissipation unit is mainly composed of two titanium metal plate bodies. The titanium metal plate bodies are heat-treated, whereby the titanium metal plate bodies can be mechanical processed, shaped and surface-modified. Accordingly, the titanium metal can be freely shaped and provide capillary attraction. In this case, the titanium metal plate bodies can be used as the material of the heat dissipation unit instead of the conventional copper plate bodies to greatly reduce the weight and enhance the heat dissipation performance.

Provided herein are nanoparticulate coated structures and methods of making structures. The structures comprise a support element, a nanoparticulate layer, and a binder disposed on the support element, wherein the binder comprises an alkali silicate or borate. In addition, methods of making the structures and uses of the described structures are described herein.