A method of conferring modified properties, e.g. modified physical and/or biochemical properties, to a metallic substrate surface, including at least two steps being (i) a first step including at least exposing the substrate surface to a hetero-bifunctional anchoring molecule carrying at least a silane group and at least a A.sub.1 group, the A.sub.1 group being optionally introduced within the anchoring molecule via a preliminary functionalizing step, and (ii) a second step of exposing the substrate surface to a polymer carrying at least three groups A.sub.2 capable of reacting with A.sub.1 in a thiol-ene reaction, the number average molecular weight of the polymer being greater than 1 000 g/mol.

A uniform oleophobic or oleo- and hydrophobic film is applied to equipment used in the petroleum industry. The methods can be applied to new equipment or equipment pulled from service, with the application process being performed in a controlled environment or the field. Applicator tools for efficient delivery and application of cleaners, solvents, and films used in the coating process are also described.

The disclosed technology relates to methods, apparatuses and systems for detecting molecules using surface plasmon resonance techniques, and more particularly to surface plasmon resonance techniques that employ metal nanoparticles formed on substrates. In one aspect, method of making a layer of metallic nanoparticles includes providing a liquid composition comprising a binder polymer and a solvent and at least partially immersing, into the liquid composition, an article comprising a polymeric surface, wherein the polymeric surface comprises a polymeric material and does not comprise an inorganic glass or crystalline material. The method additionally includes applying a gas phase plasma to the liquid composition to facilitate chemical reactions between the binder polymer and the polymeric material of the polymeric surface to form a binder layer on the polymeric surface of the article. The method further includes applying metallic nanoparticles onto the binder layer to form a metallic nanoparticle layer on the binder layer.

Hybrid pre-patterns were prepared for directed self-assembly of a given block copolymer capable of forming a lamellar domain pattern. The hybrid pre-patterns have top surfaces comprising independent elevated surfaces interspersed with adjacent recessed surfaces. The elevated surfaces are neutral wetting to the domains formed by self-assembly. Material below the elevated surfaces has greater etch-resistance than material below the recessed surfaces in a given etch process. Following other dimensional constraints of the hybrid pre-pattern described herein, a layer of the given block copolymer was formed on the hybrid pre-pattern. Self-assembly of the layer produced a lamellar domain pattern comprising self-aligned, unidirectional, perpendicularly oriented lamellae over the elevated surfaces, and parallel and/or perpendicularly oriented lamellae over recessed surfaces. The domain patterns displayed long range order along the major axis of the pre-pattern. The lamellar domain patterns are useful in forming transfer patterns comprising two-dimensional customized features.

A method for the manufacture of a carbon nanomembrane is disclosed. The method comprises preparing a metallised polymer substrate and applying on the metallised polymer substrate a monolayer prepared from an aromatic molecule. The aromatic molecule is cross-linked to form a carbon nanomembrane. The carbon nanomembrane is coated by a protective layer and subsequently the carbon nanomembrane and the protective layer are released from the metallised polymer substrate. Finally, the carbon nanomembrane and the protective layer are optionally placed on a support. The protective layer can be optionally removed. The carbon nanomembrane can be used for filtration.

The present invention relates to a surface treatment composition for forming a self-assembled coating layer which is easily coated and removed and a surface treatment method, where the self-assembled coating layer can be easily formed because of use of a compound having the hydroxyl groups as a diol are attached to an ortho position of a benzene ring and be removed by treatment of Al.sup.3+ or Fe.sup.3+. Thus, the surface can be reused by forming a new self-assembled coating layer, thereby making the surface treatment composition be applied to various researches and industrial fields of the self-assembly coating layer which are used for reduction in metal abrasion resistance, introduction of a chemical functional group for detecting a biomolecule, the surface hydrophilicity, introduction of an antifouling property to the surface, and the like.

A method of forming a self-cleaning film system includes depositing a perfluorocarbon siloxane polymer onto a substrate to form a first layer. The method includes removing a plurality of portions of the first layer to define a plurality of cavities in the first layer and form a plurality of projections that protrude from the substrate. The method includes depositing a photocatalytic material onto the plurality of projections and into the plurality of cavities to form a second layer comprising: a bonded portion disposed in the plurality of cavities and in contact with the substrate, and a non-bonded portion disposed on the plurality of projections and spaced apart from the substrate. The method also includes, after depositing the photocatalytic material, removing the non-bonded portion to thereby form the self-cleaning film system.

This invention relates generally to articles, devices, and methods for inhibiting or preventing the formation of scale during various industrial processes. In certain embodiments, a vessel is provided for use in an industrial process, the vessel including a surface in contact with a mineral solution, wherein the surface is provided or is modified to have .sup.polar/.sup.total no greater than about 0.2 and/or the surface is provided or is modified to have a surface energy no greater than about 32 mJ/m.sup.2, thereby providing resistance to mineral scale deposits thereupon.

The present disclosure provides a composite structure and associated method for preparing a composite substrate comprising an inorganic coating that is adhered to an organic-based substrate via an adhesion promoting agent comprising a molecule having a urea moiety at one end of the molecule and an alkoxysilane moiety at the other end of the molecule. The use of adhesion promoting agent having at least one of an amine or imine moiety and an alkoxysilane moiety promotes tight adhesion of the inorganic coating to the substrate.

A process of providing an antibacterial coating to the surface of an article including the steps of applying a layer of an antibacterial precursor layer to the surface of an article to which an antibacterial coating is to be applied, wherein said antibacterial precursor layer is a precursor from which the coating is to be formed; and directing a neutral molecular hydrogen flux from a neutral molecular hydrogen flux emission source towards the surface of the article. Upon impact of neutral hydrogen molecules on molecules at or on the surface of an article, the bonds of the antibacterial precursor layer are selectively ruptured, and wherein the selectively ruptured bonds cross-link with themselves or with other chemical moieties at said surface or a combination thereof, resulting an antibacterial coating being formed on the surface of the article.