A unique fiber core sampler composition, related systems, and techniques for designing, making, and using the same are described. The sampler is used to interface with existing field instrumentation, such as Ion Mobility Spectrometer (IMS) equipment. Desired sampler characteristics include its: stiffness/flexibility; thermal mass and conductivity; specific heat; trace substance collection/release dependability, sensitivity and repeatability; thickness; reusability; durability; stability for thermal cleaning; and the like. In one form the sampler has a glass fiber core with a thickness less than 0.3 millimeter that is coated with a polymer including one or more of: polymeric organofluorine, polyimide, polyamide, PolyBenzlmidazole (PBI), PolyDiMethylSiloxane (PDMS), sulfonated tetrafluoroethylene (PFSA) and Poly(2,6-diphenyl-p-phenylene Oxide) (PPPO). Multiple polymer coatings with the same or different polymer types may be included, core/substrate surface functionalization utilized, and/or the core/substrate may be at partially filled with thermally conductive particles.

So as to perform a vacuum surface treatment on a workpiece at a predetermined temperature, which is different from a temperature to which the surface is exposed during the vacuum surface treatment, the workpiece is conveyed in a conveyance direction along one or more than one station group including one or more than one tempering station and of a single treatment station.

Methods and systems for coating metal substrates are provided. The methods and systems include sequential application of low flow and high flow powder coatings followed by a single heating step to provide a cured coating. The methods and systems include a marker that allows coating uniformity to be monitored and assessed during application. The described methods provide coatings with optimal surface smoothness and edge coverage.

A system and method for treating wood material is provided. The method comprising: applying heat to the wood thereby charring the surface of the wood; applying pressure to the wood with a press having a pattern, thereby forming a charred surface with a pattern; cooling the wood with water or other coolant; letting the wood dry; brushing the charred surface of the wood; and applying a sealant to the surface of the wood. The system comprising a heating system for charring the surface of the wood, a mechanical press for forming a pattern on the charred surface, and a cooling system for cooling the wood. The system and method used to produce decorative wood pieces with a charred surface and a pattern pressed into it.

An automated process for producing exposed electrical contact areas on the conductor part of an epoxy coated bus bar. When the epoxy coating is in the glassy state, one can safely and economically, preferably via automated apparatus, put the epoxy into the rubbery state by positioning the bar and applying localized heat at a select area of the coating; monitoring the heating to above the glass transition temperature of the epoxy, bringing cutting tools into contact with the epoxy for cutting and removing the rubbery coating away from the bus bar, and cooling the bus bar to bring adjacent coating back to the glassy state, thereby leaving an exposed electrical contact area of conductor on the bus bar with little or no surface damage.

A discharge apparatus includes an ink accommodating unit that accommodates a clear ink, a discharge head including a nozzle configured to discharge the clear ink to a print target, a heating unit configured to heat the print target, and a wiping member configured to wipe a nozzle-formed surface of the discharge head including the nozzle. The clear ink includes water and resin particles having a volume average particle diameter of 50 nm or less. A dried film of the clear ink has glass transition temperatures (Tg) at 50 degrees Celsius or higher and at lower than 0 degrees Celsius.

A system for forming a particle layer on a substrate may include at least one sprayer and at least two masks configured to selectively mask a substrate in a first region and second region of the substrate. The at least one sprayer may be configured to spray particles at the substrate, where the at least two masks maintain the first region and second region substantially free of the deposited material. A heater may be employed to heat the substrate as the particles are sprayed by the at least one sprayer onto the substrate.

A system for forming a particle layer on a substrate may include at least one sprayer and at least two masks configured to selectively mask a substrate in a first region and second region of the substrate. The at least one sprayer may be configured to spray particles at the substrate, where the at least two masks maintain the first region and second region substantially free of the deposited material. A heater may be employed to heat the substrate as the particles are sprayed by the at least one sprayer onto the substrate.

A flow inspection method includes: a flow step of making powder resin flow in a housing portion of a flow tank; a viscosity measurement step of measuring a viscosity of the powder resin flowing in the housing portion; and a judgment step of judging whether or not an estimate of a bulk density of the powder resin flowing in the housing portion is less than or equal to a bulk density permissible value, the estimate being obtainable from a correlation, calculated in advance, between the bulk density and a viscosity of the powder resin flowing in the housing portion, and a measured value of the viscosity obtained in the viscosity measurement step.

A method for forming a polyethylene and alumina nanocomposite coating on a substrate is described. The method may use microparticles of UHMWPE with nanoparticles of alumina to form a powder mixture, which is then applied to a heated steel substrate to form the nanocomposite coating. The nanocomposite coating may have a Vickers hardness of 10.5-12.5 HV.