A substrate treatment method for treating a substrate, includes the steps of: (A) heating the substrate having a coating film formed on a surface thereof by supply of a coating solution; (B), after the (A) step, moving a discharge destination of a removing solution from a peripheral position on the surface of the substrate toward a center side of the substrate and turning it back at a first position to return it again to the peripheral position while rotating the substrate; (C), after the (B) step, moving the discharge destination of the removing solution from the peripheral position on the surface of the substrate toward center side of the substrate and turning it back at a second position closer to an outside than the first position to return it again to the peripheral position while rotating the substrate; and (D), after the (C) step, heating again the substrate.

Systems and methods in which dot-like portions of a material (e.g., a viscous material such as a solder paste) are printed or otherwise transferred onto an intermediate substrate at a first printing unit, the intermediate substrate having the dot-like portions of material printed thereon is transferred to a second printing unit, and the dot-like portions of material are transferred from the intermediate substrate to a final substrate at the second printing unit. Optionally, the first printing unit includes a coating system that creates a uniform layer of the material on a donor substrate, and the material is transferred in the individual dot-like portions from the donor substrate onto the intermediate substrate at the first printing unit. Each of the first and second printing units may employ a variety of printing or other transfer technologies. The system may also include material curing and imaging units to aid in the overall process.

Systems and methods in which dot-like portions of a material (e.g., a viscous material such as a solder paste) are printed or otherwise transferred onto an intermediate substrate at a first printing unit, the intermediate substrate having the dot-like portions of material printed thereon is transferred to a second printing unit, and the dot-like portions of material are transferred from the intermediate substrate to a final substrate at the second printing unit. Optionally, the first printing unit includes a coating system that creates a uniform layer of the material on a donor substrate, and the material is transferred in the individual dot-like portions from the donor substrate onto the intermediate substrate at the first printing unit. Each of the first and second printing units may employ a variety of printing or other transfer technologies. The system may also include material curing and imaging units to aid in the overall process.

Methods of making fiber-containing prepregs are described. The methods may include the steps of providing a plurality of fibers, and applying a reactive resin composition to the plurality of fibers to make a mixture of the plurality of fibers and the resin composition. The reactive resin composition may include at least one of monomers and oligomers capable of polymerizing into a polymerized resin matrix. The mixture may be heated to a polymerization temperature where the monomers, oligomers, or both polymerize to form a fiber-resin amalgam that includes the polymerized resin matrix. The fiber-resin amalgam may be formed into the fiber-containing prepreg. Also described are methods of forming a fiber-reinforced composite that includes the prepreg.

Methods of making fiber-containing prepregs are described. The methods may include the steps of providing a plurality of fibers, and applying a reactive resin composition to the plurality of fibers to make a mixture of the plurality of fibers and the resin composition. The reactive resin composition may include at least one of monomers and oligomers capable of polymerizing into a polymerized resin matrix. The mixture may be heated to a polymerization temperature where the monomers, oligomers, or both polymerize to form a fiber-resin amalgam that includes the polymerized resin matrix. The fiber-resin amalgam may be formed into the fiber-containing prepreg. Also described are methods of forming a fiber-reinforced composite that includes the prepreg.

An apparatus and method for producing a coated analytic substrate using a compact and portable automated instrument located in the laboratory setting at the point of use which can consistently produce one or a plurality of coated analytic substrates “on demand” for using the analytic substrate immediately after coating, preferably without a step of rinsing the coated analytic substrate before use. The apparatus preferably uses applicator cartridges having a reservoir containing the coating compositions used to form the coatings. Preferably the cartridges are removable and interchangeable to facilitate the production of individual analytic substrates having different coatings or different coating patterns. These coated analytic substrates have superior specimen adhesion characteristics due to the improved quality of the coatings applied by the coating apparatus and due to the quickness with which the coated analytic substrates can be used in the lab after production.

An apparatus and method for producing a coated analytic substrate using a compact and portable automated instrument located in the laboratory setting at the point of use which can consistently produce one or a plurality of coated analytic substrates “on demand” for using the analytic substrate immediately after coating, preferably without a step of rinsing the coated analytic substrate before use. The apparatus preferably uses applicator cartridges having a reservoir containing the coating compositions used to form the coatings. Preferably the cartridges are removable and interchangeable to facilitate the production of individual analytic substrates having different coatings or different coating patterns. These coated analytic substrates have superior specimen adhesion characteristics due to the improved quality of the coatings applied by the coating apparatus and due to the quickness with which the coated analytic substrates can be used in the lab after production.

A coated film having good characteristics is manufactured. A method for manufacturing the coated film includes: (a) a step of applying a coating liquid 20a to a first surface of a base material 1 unwound from an unwinding unit UW; (b) a step of forming a coating layer 3b on the first surface of the base material 1 by drying the coating liquid (coating film 3a) on the base material 1; and (c) a step of winding the base material 1 on which the coating layer 3b has been formed in a winding unit WD. Also, the base material 1 is continuously arranged from the unwinding unit UW to the winding unit WD, tension cut of the base material 1 is performed by a first suction roll SR after the base material 1 is taken out from the unwinding unit UW and before the step (b), and tension cut of the base material 1 on which the coating layer 3b has been formed is performed by a second suction roll SR before the step (c).

A coated film having good characteristics is manufactured. A method for manufacturing the coated film includes: (a) a step of applying a coating liquid 20a to a first surface of a base material 1 unwound from an unwinding unit UW; (b) a step of forming a coating layer 3b on the first surface of the base material 1 by drying the coating liquid (coating film 3a) on the base material 1; and (c) a step of winding the base material 1 on which the coating layer 3b has been formed in a winding unit WD. Also, the base material 1 is continuously arranged from the unwinding unit UW to the winding unit WD, tension cut of the base material 1 is performed by a first suction roll SR after the base material 1 is taken out from the unwinding unit UW and before the step (b), and tension cut of the base material 1 on which the coating layer 3b has been formed is performed by a second suction roll SR before the step (c).

A system for manufacturing a thermoplastic prepreg includes a double belt mechanism that is configured to compress a fiber mat, web, or mesh that is passed through the double belt mechanism, a resin applicator that is configured to apply monomers or oligomers to the fiber mat, web, or mesh, and a curing oven that is configured to effect polymerization of the monomers or oligomers and thereby form the thermoplastic polymer as the fiber mat, web, or mesh is moved through the curing oven. The double belt mechanism compresses the fiber mat, web, or mesh and the applied monomers or oligomers as the fiber mat, web, or mesh is passed through the curing oven so that the monomers or oligomers fully saturate the fiber mat, web, or mesh. Upon polymerization of the monomers or oligomers, the fiber mat, web, or mesh is fully impregnated with the thermoplastic polymer.