An aluminum alloy substrate for magnetic disks, including an aluminum alloy containing: 1.0 to 6.5 mass % of Mg; and the balance consisting of Al and unavoidable impurities, in which the distribution of Si—K—O-based particles with a longest diameter of 1 μm or more adhering to the surface from the surrounding environment is equal to or less than one particle/6,000 mm.sup.2; and in which the distribution of Ti—B-based particles with a longest diameter of 1 μm or more present on the surface is equal to or less than one particle/6,000 mm.sup.2, and a magnetic disk using the aluminum alloy substrate for magnetic disks.

Multi-terminal capacitor devices and methods of making multi-terminal capacitor devices are described herein. The multi-terminal capacitor devices may include a plurality of individual capacitors arranged in a single device layer, such as high surface area capacitors. A individual capacitor may include an aluminum foil-based electrode, an aluminum oxide dielectric layer conformal with the aluminum foil-based electrode, and a conductive material electrode, such as a conducting polymer or a conductive ceramic, in conformal contact with the dielectric layer.

A discretized-flow electrode for use in electrochemical machining (ECM) and a corresponding method and system for using the discretized-flow cathode are disclosed. The machining face of the discretized-flow cathode is divided into a plurality of discrete sections. The discrete sections may be geometrically shaped, and they are separated at the machining face by an electrolyte flow outlet channel, and each discrete section includes an electrolyte flow inlet local to the discrete section. The plurality of discrete sections of the machining face of the discretized-flow electrode divide the electrolyte flow into approximately equal portions for even electrolyte flow across the machining face.

A method of manufacturing a bright surface product comprises a step of performing electroless plating to form a first metal film on a base coat layer formed on a substrate, a step of performing electrolytic plating to form a second metal film thereon so that the bonding strength between each film of a multi-layered metal film comprising the first metal film and the second film is higher than the bonding strength between the base coat layer and the first metal layer, a step of integrally and discontinuously segmentalizing the multi-layered metal film with cracks to form an island-like metal film comprising a collection of fine multi-layered metal regions with island-like structures; and a step of forming a translucent top coat layer to cover the fine multi-layered metal regions of the island-like metal film and enter into the cracks to make contact with the base coat layer.

An aluminum alloy substrate for magnetic disks, including an aluminum alloy containing Fe as an essential element; at least one of Mn or Ni as selective elements; and the balance including Al and unavoidable impurities, with the total amount of Fe, Mn, and Ni having a relationship of 0.10 to 7.00 mass %; in which the distribution of Si—K—O-based particles with a longest diameter of 1 μm or more adhering to the surface from the surrounding environment is equal to or less than one particle/6,000 mm.sup.2, and in which the distribution of Ti—B-based particles with a longest diameter of 1 μm or more present on the surface is equal to or less than one particle/6,000 mm.sup.2; and a magnetic disk using the aluminum alloy substrate.

In the method for producing a plating stack, a plating layer A mainly composed of a second metal is deposited on an object to be plated S mainly composed of a first metal by a substitution reaction, then a plating layer B mainly composed of a third metal is deposited on the plating layer A, and then a plating layer C mainly composed of the second metal, the third metal, or a fourth metal is deposited on the plating layer B by a redox reaction. A concrete configuration of plating layers includes, for example, the plating layer A is gold, platinum or silver, the plating layer B is palladium, and the plating layer C is palladium.

Exemplary thermoelectric devices and methods are disclosed herein. Thermoelectric generator performance is increased by the shaping isothermal fields within the bulk of a thermoelectric pellet, resulting in an increase in power output of a thermoelectric generator module. In one embodiment, a thermoelectric device includes a pellet comprising a semiconductor material, a first metal layer surrounding a first portion of the pellet, and a second metal layer surrounding a second portion of the pellet. The first and second metal layers are configured proximate to one another about a perimeter of the pellet. The pellet is exposed at the perimeter. And the perimeter is configured at a sidewall height about the pellet to provide a non-linear effect on a power output of the thermoelectric device by modifying an isotherm surface curvature within the pellet. The device also includes a metal container thermally and electrically bonded to the pellet.

The present invention pertains to a multilayer tubular article, to processes for the manufacture of said multilayer tubular article and to uses of said multilayer tubular article in upstream applications for conveying hydrocarbons from a well to a floating off-shore unit via a bottom platform.

Various embodiments relate to methods, apparatus, and systems for forming an interconnect structure, or a portion thereof. The method may include contacting the substrate with a functionalization bath comprising a first solvent and a functionalization reactant to form a modified first material, and then depositing a second material on the modified first material through electroless plating, electroplating, chemical vapor deposition, or atomic layer deposition. The first material may be a dielectric material, a barrier layer, or a liner, and the second material may be a barrier layer or a barrier layer precursor, a liner, a seed layer, or a conductive metal that forms the interconnect of the interconnect structure, according to various embodiments.

A method and system for manufacturing an optical article is provided. The method may comprise providing at least one ophthalmic lens substrate having a surface; applying at least one conductive coating on at least a portion the ophthalmic lens substrate; and electroplating the ophthalmic lens substrate to form a plating layer that is in a contacting relationship with the conductive coating of the optical article. Other layers may also be applied.