The present inventions relate to the formation of a thin polymer film on a substrate. Apparatus is described for transforming a solid polymer resist into an aerosol of small particles, electrostatically charging and depositing the particles onto a substrate, and flowing the particles into a continuous layer. Apparatus is further described for transforming solid resist into an aerosol of small particles by heating the resist to form a low viscosity liquid such as is compatible with nebulization and applying the techniques of jet or impact nebulization and aerosol particle sizing to form the aerosol. A method is further described of using ionized gas to confer charge onto the aerosol particles and using a progression of charging devices establish an electric field directing the flow of charged particles to the substrate. The progression of charging devices and associated apparatus results in high collection efficiency for the aerosol particles.

A system capable of depositing a matrix film containing a low amount of impurities (e.g. neutral particles) is provided. The system includes: a first plate electrode 120 having an attachment surface on which a sample plate P is to be attached; a second plate electrode 130 arranged so as to face the attachment surface; a nozzle 110 for spraying a liquid containing a matrix substance into the space between the two electrodes 120 and 130 by an electrospray method, the nozzle 110 arranged so that none of the electrodes 120 and 130 lies on the central axis A of a spray flow of the liquid; and an electric field creator 140 for creating, between the two electrodes 120 and 130, an electric field for forcing electrically charged droplets contained in the spray flow of the liquid containing the matrix substance to move toward the attachment surface.

A system capable of depositing a matrix film containing a low amount of impurities (e.g. neutral particles) is provided. The system includes: a first plate electrode 120 having an attachment surface on which a sample plate P is to be attached; a second plate electrode 130 arranged so as to face the attachment surface; a nozzle 110 for spraying a liquid containing a matrix substance into the space between the two electrodes 120 and 130 by an electrospray method, the nozzle 110 arranged so that none of the electrodes 120 and 130 lies on the central axis A of a spray flow of the liquid; and an electric field creator 140 for creating, between the two electrodes 120 and 130, an electric field for forcing electrically charged droplets contained in the spray flow of the liquid containing the matrix substance to move toward the attachment surface.

A method for simultaneous additive manufacturing and thickness-limited, electrospray deposition may include forming an electrically conductive target via additive manufacturing and exposing the electrically conductive target to an incident spray comprising a thermo-responsive polymer solution, in the presence of an electric field. The electrically conductive target may have a surface temperature, the thermo-responsive polymer solution may have a solution temperature, and the thermo-responsive polymer solution may include a non-conductive polymer. The method may further include allowing the solution temperature to deviate toward the surface temperature to a deposited temperature at which the non-conductive polymer is immobile. The method may further include allowing the non-conductive polymer to accumulate on the electrically conductive target to form a layer, having a thickness sufficient to repulse the incident spray.

A method for simultaneous additive manufacturing and thickness-limited, electrospray deposition may include forming an electrically conductive target via additive manufacturing and exposing the electrically conductive target to an incident spray comprising a thermo-responsive polymer solution, in the presence of an electric field. The electrically conductive target may have a surface temperature, the thermo-responsive polymer solution may have a solution temperature, and the thermo-responsive polymer solution may include a non-conductive polymer. The method may further include allowing the solution temperature to deviate toward the surface temperature to a deposited temperature at which the non-conductive polymer is immobile. The method may further include allowing the non-conductive polymer to accumulate on the electrically conductive target to form a layer, having a thickness sufficient to repulse the incident spray.

Methods of enhancing the anti-virus capabilities of surfaces directly contacted by humans. The methods include applying a hydrophobic coating material to a surface of an article to form a hydrophobic surface coating overlying the surface such that the hydrophobic surface coating defines a hydrophobic outer surface of the article. The hydrophobic outer surface is more hydrophobic than the surface of the article, and a liquid that contains suspended viruses and is deposited on the hydrophobic outer surface exhibits a contact angle relative to the hydrophobic outer surface that is greater than a contact angle of the liquid if directly deposited on the surface of the article, and the hydrophobic outer surface thereby increases inactivation of the viruses suspended in the liquid as compared to the surface of the article to which the hydrophobic coating material was applied.

Methods of enhancing the anti-virus capabilities of surfaces directly contacted by humans. The methods include applying a hydrophobic coating material to a surface of an article to form a hydrophobic surface coating overlying the surface such that the hydrophobic surface coating defines a hydrophobic outer surface of the article. The hydrophobic outer surface is more hydrophobic than the surface of the article, and a liquid that contains suspended viruses and is deposited on the hydrophobic outer surface exhibits a contact angle relative to the hydrophobic outer surface that is greater than a contact angle of the liquid if directly deposited on the surface of the article, and the hydrophobic outer surface thereby increases inactivation of the viruses suspended in the liquid as compared to the surface of the article to which the hydrophobic coating material was applied.

A portable, hand-held electrospinning or electrospraying device and system, method, and portions thereof are described. Such device can be for electrospinning or electrospraying a predetermined solution toward a deposit surface. The device can have a durable portion, a semi-durable portion, and a consumable portion. The consumable portion can be received and held by the semi-durable portion, and the semi-durable portion holding the consumable portion can be removably coupled to the durable portion.

This invention relates to a multilayer coating film sequentially comprising, on a substrate, a colored coating film, an effect coating film, and a clear coating film, wherein the multilayer coating film has a lightness L*110 within a range of 60 to 90, the lightness L*110 being based on a spectral reflectance of light illuminated at an angle of 45 degrees with respect to the coating surface and received at an angle of 110 degrees with respect to the specularly reflected light; a 60-degree specular gloss within a range of 105 to 180, a graininess HG within a range of 10 to 40; and a flip-flop value within a range of 1.0 to 1.8.

This invention relates to a multilayer coating film sequentially comprising, on a substrate, a colored coating film, an effect coating film, and a clear coating film, wherein the multilayer coating film has a lightness L*110 within a range of 60 to 90, the lightness L*110 being based on a spectral reflectance of light illuminated at an angle of 45 degrees with respect to the coating surface and received at an angle of 110 degrees with respect to the specularly reflected light; a 60-degree specular gloss within a range of 105 to 180, a graininess HG within a range of 10 to 40; and a flip-flop value within a range of 1.0 to 1.8.