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.

Disclosed is a method of treating a substrate. The surface is contacted with a sealing composition comprising a lithium cation; and optionally, with conversion composition comprising a cation of a lanthanide, a Group IIIB, and/or a Group IVB metal. The conversion composition is applied to provide a film on the substrate surface resulting in a level of the lanthanide, Group IIIB metal, and/or Group IV metal thereon of at least 100 counts greater than on a surface of a substrate that does not have the film thereon as measured by X-ray fluorescence (measured using X-Met 7500, Oxford Instruments; operating parameters 60 second timed assay, 15 Kv, 45 ?A, filter 3, T(p)=1.5 ?s for lanthanides, Group IIIB metals, and Group IVB metals except zirconium; operating parameters 60 second timed assay, 40 Kv, 10 ?A, filter 4, T(p)=1.5 ?s for zirconium). A substrate obtainable by the methods also is disclosed.

Disclosed is a method of treating a substrate. The surface is contacted with a sealing composition comprising a lithium cation; and optionally, with conversion composition comprising a cation of a lanthanide, a Group IIIB, and/or a Group IVB metal. The conversion composition is applied to provide a film on the substrate surface resulting in a level of the lanthanide, Group IIIB metal, and/or Group IV metal thereon of at least 100 counts greater than on a surface of a substrate that does not have the film thereon as measured by X-ray fluorescence (measured using X-Met 7500, Oxford Instruments; operating parameters 60 second timed assay, 15 Kv, 45 ?A, filter 3, T(p)=1.5 ?s for lanthanides, Group IIIB metals, and Group IVB metals except zirconium; operating parameters 60 second timed assay, 40 Kv, 10 ?A, filter 4, T(p)=1.5 ?s for zirconium). A substrate obtainable by the methods also is disclosed.

An electrochemical device electrode pertaining to one mode of the present invention has a current collector, an aluminum oxide layer, a conductive layer, and an active material layer. The current collector is an aluminum foil. The aluminum oxide layer is formed on a principle surface of the current collector and contains aluminum hydroxide and aluminum oxide. The conductive layer is formed on the aluminum oxide layer and contains conductive material, while the active material layer is formed on the conductive layer.

An electrochemical device electrode pertaining to one mode of the present invention has a current collector, an aluminum oxide layer, a conductive layer, and an active material layer. The current collector is an aluminum foil. The aluminum oxide layer is formed on a principle surface of the current collector and contains aluminum hydroxide and aluminum oxide. The conductive layer is formed on the aluminum oxide layer and contains conductive material, while the active material layer is formed on the conductive layer.

Disclosed herein is a method of pretreatment of a metallic substrate for a subsequent metal cold forming process. The method includes at least steps (1) and (2), namely providing at least one substrate having at least one surface at least partially made of at least one metal (step (1)), contacting the at least one surface of the substrate provided in step (1) with an aqueous lubricant composition (B) (step (2)), where the aqueous lubricant composition (B) includes besides water at least constituents (b1) to (b4) and optionally (b5).

Further disclosed herein are a pretreated metallic substrate obtained by the method, a method of cold forming of a metallic substrate, and an aqueous lubricant composition (B).

The invention relates to a method for removing and/or decolourizing metal stains on a surface of a substrate composed of aluminium or aluminium alloy, the method comprising the consecutive steps of (a) providing the substrate comprising metal stains on the surface, said metal stains having a metal stain surface area; (b) providing an aqueous treatment liquid comprising one or more components selected from the group consisting of galactaric acid and galactarate salts; and (c) treating at least part of the surface of the substrate by contacting at least part of the metal stain surface area with the aqueous treatment liquid, wherein the aqueous treatment liquid is free of phosphorus- and/or acrylate-containing compounds and wherein the pH of the aqueous treatment liquid is between 6.5 and 10.9. The invention further concerns the resulting products and the use of the aqueous treatment liquid for removing and/or decolourizing metal stains on a surface of a substrate composed of aluminium or aluminium alloy.

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.

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.

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.