Methods for forming a coating can include preparing a nanocomposite film including surface modified silicon dioxide nanoparticles, applying an oxygen plasma treatment to the nanocomposite film to form a treated nanocomposite film, and applying a fluorosilane solution to the treated nanocomposite film to form the coating. A coating can include a nanocomposite film including surface modified silicon dioxide nanoparticles, the nanocomposite film having an oxygen plasma treated surface, and a monolayer of a fluoro alkyl chain

An expansion mount, electrode arrangement and a surface treater station include a mounting block with one or more clamps pivotally coupled to the mounting block to move between a connect position and a release position. When the mounting block is coupled to a surface treater, the one or more clamps are configured to engage the electrode in the connect position and disengage from the electrode in the release position.

A surface-treated carbon fiber having a mole ratio between a carboxyl group and an acid anhydride of 50:50 to 70:30 when measured by pyrolysis gas analysis, is manufactured by spraying a reactive gas that has been made into a plasma onto the surface of a carbon fiber and introducing a functional group into the surface of the carbon fiber.

A composition that is easily applied, clear, well-bonded, and superhydrophobic is disclosed. In one aspect, the composition includes a hydrophobic fluorinated solvent, a binder comprising a hydrophobic fluorinated polymer, and hydrophobic fumed silica nanoparticles. Also disclosed is a structure including a substrate coated with the composition, as well as a method for making the composition and a method of coating a substrate with the composition.

Provided are a SmFeN magnetic powder which is superior not only in water resistance and corrosion resistance but also in hot water resistance, and a method of preparing the powder. The present invention relates to a method of preparing a magnetic powder, comprising: plasma-treating a gas; surface-treating a SmFeN magnetic powder with the plasma-treated gas; and forming a coat layer on the surface of the surface-treated SmFeN magnetic powder.

Devices and methods are provided to apply thin layers of antimicrobial coatings onto a wide variety of substrates and articles. The methods can be performed at moderate temperatures and pressures, allowing for the coating of sensitive substrates and articles.

A wire grid polarizer and method of making a wire grid polarizer can protect delicate wires of the wire grid polarizer from damage. The wire grid polarizer can include a protective-layer located on an array of wires. The array of wires can further be protected by a chemical coating on an inside surface of the air-filled channels, closed ends of the air-filled channels, damaged wires of the array of wires in a line parallel to an edge of the wire grid polarizer, or combinations thereof. The method can include (i) providing the wire grid polarizer, (ii) applying the protective-layer, by physical vapor deposition or chemical vapor deposition but excluding atomic layer deposition, onto the array of wires, (iii) cutting the wire grid polarizer wafer into multiple wire grid polarizer parts, then (iv) protecting the array of wires.

Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed to prepare an aircraft surface, including depositing a first solution on a substrate on the aircraft surface, the substrate having a first charge, the first solution having a second charge opposite the first charge, the first solution including a carrier fluid, removing a first amount of the first solution deposited on the substrate to form a first layer on the substrate, depositing a second solution on the first layer, the second solution having the first charge, the second solution including the carrier fluid, and removing a second amount of the second solution deposited on the first layer to form a second layer on the first layer to prepare the aircraft surface.

A fastener sealing material for application to fasteners is formulated from an acrylate present in a concentration of about 90 to about 97 percent by weight of the sealing material and a nanostructured material present in a concentration of about 3 to about 10 percent by weight of the sealing material. The sealant is applied to the fastener as a liquid and is cured using an ultraviolet or LED light source and without the use of heat.

A superhydrophobic and self-cleaning surface including a substrate and a superhydrophobic layer. The superhydrophobic layer having a reacted form of octadecyltrichlorosilane. The octadecyltrichlorosilane is disposed on and crosslinked to a surface of the substrate via surface hydroxyl groups. The surface exhibits a rms roughness of 40 nm to 60 nm, a water contact angle of 155° to 180°, and a contact angle hysteresis of less than 15°. A method of preparing the substrate with a superhydrophobic and self-cleaning surface including treating a substrate with a plasma treatment, contacting the substrate with water or an alcohol to form an hydroxylated substrate, contacting the hydroxylated substrate with a solution of octadecyltrichlorosilane in an alkane solvent at a concentration in the range of 0.05 M to 0.3 M, and drying the solution on to the substrate under ambient air to form the superhydrophobic and self-cleaning surface on the substrate.