Devices, systems and techniques are described for producing and implementing articles and materials having nanoscale and microscale structures that exhibit superhydrophobic, superoleophobic or omniphobic surface properties and other enhanced properties. In one aspect, a surface nanostructure can be formed by adding a silicon-containing buffer layer such as silicon, silicon oxide or silicon nitride layer, followed by metal film deposition and heating to convert the metal film into balled-up, discrete islands to form an etch mask. The buffer layer can be etched using the etch mask to create an array of pillar structures underneath the etch mask, in which the pillar structures have a shape that includes cylinders, negatively tapered rods, or cones and are vertically aligned. In another aspect, a method of fabricating microscale or nanoscale polymer or metal structures on a substrate is made by photolithography and/or nano imprinting lithography.

A surface treatment method for an aluminum exterior part of a vehicle includes: pre-treating the aluminum exterior part comprising aluminum or an aluminum alloy; etching a surface of the pre-treated aluminum exterior part by immersing the pre-treated aluminum exterior part in an etching solution; forming an oxide layer on the surface of the aluminum exterior part by immersing the aluminum exterior part, which is subjected to the etching, in a hydrothermal synthetic solution; and forming an electrodeposition coating layer on the surface of the aluminum exterior part, which is subjected to the forming the oxide layer.

A composite can include a substrate and a conversion coating overlying the substrate and comprising at least one of a zirconium oxide, a hafnium oxide, or a combination thereof. The conversion coating can be formed from a zirconia or hafnia-based complex obtained by reacting at least one of a zirconium ion source, a hafnium ion source, or a combination thereof, with a chelating compound in a reaction and another chelating compound in another reaction.

A composite can include a substrate and a conversion coating overlying the substrate and comprising at least one of a zirconium oxide, a hafnium oxide, or a combination thereof. The conversion coating can be formed from a zirconia or hafnia-based complex obtained by reacting at least one of a zirconium ion source, a hafnium ion source, or a combination thereof, with a chelating compound in a reaction and another chelating compound in another reaction.

The invention relates generally to liquid-repellent coatings, and in particular, to porous liquid-repellent coatings, a method of preparing the porous liquid-repellent coatings, and a method of characterizing a porous surface for the liquid-repellent coatings. The invention further relates to a porous liquid-repellent coating comprising a porous layer of a transition metal oxide and/or hydroxide and a layer of a liquid-repellent compound deposited onto the porous layer of the transition metal oxide and/or hydroxide, wherein the porous layer of the transition metal oxide and/or hydroxide is comprised of a plurality of surface pores of varying angles with an average angle that is re-entrant.

Provided is a coated aluminum material having a coating film on a surface of an aluminum material, and capable of exerting excellent corrosion resistance even under severe use conditions while being chromium-free. The coating film is formed on a surface of the aluminum material with a silica-containing film including a water dispersible silica, a phosphorus compound, and a silane coupling agent provided therebetween. The silica-containing film includes 0.5 to 35 mass % of a silane coupling agent, and has Si and P contents of 2 to 60, and 0.1 to 6.0 mg/m.sup.2, respectively, and a P/Si mass ratio of P content and Si content of 0.02 to 0.15. Further, provided is a method for producing such a coated aluminum material.

This disclosure relates to hydrophobic metal phosphate ceramic comprising a Group IV element of silicon, germanium, tin, or lead having at least one hydrocarbon covalently bonded thereto. Methods of providing water proofing and/or anti-corrosion protection are provided.

This disclosure relates to hydrophobic metal phosphate ceramic comprising a Group IV element of silicon, germanium, tin, or lead having at least one hydrocarbon covalently bonded thereto. Methods of providing water proofing and/or anti-corrosion protection are provided.

Provided is a coated aluminum material for joining having an adhesion layer on a surface, and can exert excellent adhesion strength and corrosion resistance performance even under severe use conditions while being chromium-free. Provided is a coated aluminum material capable of producing the coated aluminum material for joining, and an aluminum resin composite material using the coated aluminum material for joining. Disclosed are a coated aluminum material for joining having an adhesion layer on a surface thereof and including a coated aluminum material and a silica-containing film formed on a surface of the aluminum material, the silica-containing film including 0.5 to 35 mass % of a silane coupling agent and having Si and P contents of 2 to 60, and 0.1 to 6.0 mg/m.sup.2, respectively, and P/Si mass ratio of P content and Si content of 0.02 to 0.15, and a coated aluminum material capable of producing the coated aluminum material for joining, and an aluminum resin composite material obtained using the coated aluminum material for joining.

Devices, systems and techniques are described for producing and implementing articles and materials having nanoscale and microscale structures that exhibit superhydrophobic, superoleophobic or omniphobic surface properties and other enhanced properties. In one aspect, a surface nanostructure can be formed by adding a silicon-containing buffer layer such as silicon, silicon oxide or silicon nitride layer, followed by metal film deposition and heating to convert the metal film into balled-up, discrete islands to form an etch mask. The buffer layer can be etched using the etch mask to create an array of pillar structures underneath the etch mask, in which the pillar structures have a shape that includes cylinders, negatively tapered rods, or cones and are vertically aligned. In another aspect, a method of fabricating microscale or nanoscale polymer or metal structures on a substrate is made by photolithography and/or nano imprinting lithography.