In‐Situ‐Charakterisierung optischer Mehrschichtsysteme in Großflächen‐ Produktionsanlagen

The paper discusses approaches to the insitu analysis of optical multi‐layer coating stacks such as mirror coatings, AR coatings or lowE layer stacks on large‐area substrates in production environments. The stable production of complex layer systems requires in‐situ analysis systems that are able to provide spectral information and optical performance data, but also yield thickness information for individual layers and thus aide the operating staff in detailed analyzing deviations from the production target stack. Solutions incorporating in‐situ optical reflectance, transmittance and ellipsometry measurements wi^th optical data being collected not only for the completed layer stack, but also at intermediate coating stages, are discussed and the accuracy, robustness and stability of different measurement systems and computation strategies are compared.     

Bilayer SiO2 Nanorod Arrays as Omnidirectional and Thermally Stable Antireflective Coating

Nature instigates researchers significantly in imitating to engender comparable properties using artificial methods, which unlocks developing trend in material science and engineering progress. Fabricating graded‐index nanostructures is an effective approach to tune and generate similar properties artificially such as the moth's eye antireflectance (AR) or lotus like superhydrophobicity. Herein, Bilayer AR coatings with periodically arranged SiO₂ hierarchical nanostructures resembling moth eyes are fabricated on dense SiO₂ matrix base layer using the versatile route of glancing angle deposition technique (GLAD). The refractive indices of monolayer SiO₂ are tuned from 1.46 to 1.08 by changing the deposition angle (α) from 0 to 88°. The fabricated bilayer SiO₂ AR (BSAR) film possess high optical omnidirectional broadband transparency and tunability at a desired wavelength range showing <1% reflectance. The present AR design is flexible and practically applicable to various supporting substrate materials (η varies from 1.45 to 1.9). Furthermore, the omnidirectional BSAR films show multiple functions including enhanced mechanical strength, the thermal stability (up to 300 °C), and hydrophobic capability with a water contact angle (CA) of 147° to withstand under humid environment. This multipurpose coating provides an intriguing route in optics field for imminent research.

     

Anti‐Eis‐Oberflächenbeschichtungen

Anti‐icing coating — optimization by means of plasma technology Ice on surfaces can significantly limit the function of devices and has to be removed by processes with high energy consumption. E. g., the formation of ice on rotor blades of wind turbines is not desired, on the wings of aircrafts it is even dangerous. With the aid of plasma technology, the Fraunhofer IGB has developed an anti‐icing coating for polymeric surfaces. Water‐repellent micro‐ and nanostructured coatings are applied to polymer foils made of impact‐resistant and shockproof polyurethane. Optimization of various process parameters has made it possible to produce ultra‐thin coatings, which reduces the ice's adhesion by over 90 percent. The new nanostructured foils open a wide range of applications.     

Superhydrophobic Coatings on Cellulose‐Based Materials: Fabrication,Properties, and Applications

Wettability of a solid surface by a liquid plays an important role in several phenomena and applications, for example in adhesion, printing, and self‐cleaning. In particular, wetting of rough surfaces has attracted great scientific interest in recent decades. Superhydrophobic surfaces, which possess extraordinary water repelling properties due to their low surface energy and specific nanometer‐ and micrometer‐scale roughness, are of particular interest due to the great variety of potential applications ranging from self‐cleaning surfaces to microfluidic devices. In recent years, the potential of superhydrophobic cellulose‐based materials in the function of smart devices and functional clothing has been recognized, and in the past few years cellulose‐based materials have established themselves among the most frequently used substrates for superhydrophobic coatings. In this Review, over 40 different approaches to fabricate superhydrophobic coatings on cellulose‐based materials are discussed in detail. In addition to the anti‐wetting properties of the coatings, particular attention is paid to coating durability and other incorporated functionalities such as gas permeability, transparency, UV‐shielding, photoactivity, and self‐healing properties. Potential applications for the superhydrophobic cellulose‐based materials range from water‐ and stain‐repellent, self‐cleaning and breathable clothing to cheap and disposable lab‐on‐a‐chip devices made from renewable sources with reduced material consumption.     

Kunststoffoptiken mit Antireflex‐ und Antibeschlageigenschaften durch Plasmaätzen und Beschichtung

Plastic optics exhibiting anti‐reflection and anti‐fogging properties produced by plasma etching and coating Plasma treatments are capable to generate antireflective surface structures on various polymers. On PMMA a self organized surface with nep‐like bumps exhibits excellent optical properties. Many other materials like polycarbonate, zeonex and lacquers can be etched after depositing a very thin initial layer to form a more holey structure. These surfaces attain high transmission values too and can be better stabilized by coatings than the nep‐ structure on PMMA. Interesting for practical applications are hydrophilic top‐layers to provide anti‐fogging properties in combination with improved transmission.     

Super‐Hydrophobic Surfaces: From Natural to Artificial

Super‐hydrophobic surfaces, with a water contact angle (CA) greater than 150°, have attracted much interest for both fundamental research and practical applications. Recent studies on lotus and rice leaves reveal that a super‐hydrophobic surface with both a large CA and small sliding angle (α) needs the cooperation of micro‐ and nanostructures, and the arrangement of the microstructures on this surface can influence the way a water droplet tends to move. These results from the natural world provide a guide for constructing artificial super‐hydrophobic surfaces and designing surfaces with controllable wettability. Accordingly, super‐hydrophobic surfaces of polymer nanofibers and differently patterned aligned carbon nanotube (ACNT) films have been fabricated.     

Ultrafast Processing of Hierarchical Nanotexture for a Transparent Superamphiphobic Coating with Extremely Low Roll‐Off Angle and High Impalement Pressure

Low roll‐off angle, high impalement pressure, and mechanical robustness are key requirements for super‐liquid‐repellent surfaces to realize their potential in applications ranging from gas exchange membranes to protective and self‐cleaning materials. Achieving these properties is still a challenge with superamphiphobic surfaces, which can repel both water and low‐surface‐tension liquids. In addition, fabrication procedures of superamphiphobic surfaces are typically slow and expensive. Here, by making use of liquid flame spray, a silicon dioxide–titanium dioxide nanostructured coating is fabricated at a high velocity up to 0.8 m s^?1. After fluorosilanization, the coating is superamphiphobic with excellent transparency and an extremely low roll‐off angle; 10 µL drops of n‐hexadecane roll off the surface at inclination angles even below 1°. Falling drops bounce off when impacting from a height of 50 cm, demonstrating the high impalement pressure of the coating. The extraordinary properties are due to a pronounced hierarchical nanotexture of the coating.     

Spektralfotometrische Messungen bei 60° Einfallswinkel

Spectrophotometric measurements at 60° incidence angle A measurement VN‐accessory for characterisation and quality control of optical coatings using absolute measurements of transmittance and reflectance for s‐ and p‐polarised light at 60° incidence angle has been developed. In the common case of nearly normal incidence, the polarisation state of the incident light is of low relevance. In the case of 45° incidence angle the Abeles relation holds. Therefore, in both cases, changing the polarisation will add no further information. The use of larger angles, as 60° in our case, is common in ellipsometry. At this large angle of incidence, when measuring thick samples, unwanted effects such as transmission beam offset and further beam splitting caused by multiple internal reflections become significant. Therefore, glass substrates with different thickness have been included into the evaluation process of the 60°‐VN‐accessory. An excellent agreement between theory and measurement could be established for sample thicknesses up to 2.5 mm.     

Realistische Modellierung der NIR/VIS/UV‐optischen Konstanten dünner optischer Schichten im Rahmen des Oszillatormodells

Modelling the NIR/VIS/UV optical constants of thin solid films: An oscillator model approach Based on a multioscillator approach, we demonstrate the determination of optical constants of different optical coating materials. The advanced LCalc‐software allows calculating the dielectric function as well as refractive index and extinction coefficient through a fit of transmittance and reflectance spectra measured at one or several angles of incidence. Sufficiently accurate spectrophotometric measurements are carried out by means of self‐developed VN‐ The thus obtained optical constants are automatically Kramers‐Kronig‐consistent and in reasonable correspondence to various kind of side information available about the coatings. This is demonstrated for dielectric oxide coatings as well as for one transparent conductive oxide (ITO) and a metal layer (aluminium). In application to reproducibility experiments, the method allows estimating process‐inherent stochastic variations in optical constants, which represent themselves an essential input for advanced computational manufacturing runs for design optimization prior to deposition.     

Easy‐to‐clean Schichten – spezielle Anwendungen

Easy to clean surfaces – special applications Easy to clean surfaces can be made by wet‐chemical coating with subsequent heat‐treatment. Organically modified metal oxide films form the base reinforced by nano composite structures. The hydro‐ and oleophobic effect is obtained by perfluorinated organic molecule chains in the nano composite sol‐gel coatings. Application specific materials can be synthesized by the proper choice of suitable starting compounds and process parameters. The resulting coatings consist of a three‐dimensional cross‐linked inorganic part (such as a silica network) combined with an organic part. The organic material acts either as a surface modifier (example: alkyl, phenyl) or as crosslinker (example: acrylic, epoxy). The properties of such coating systems can be adjusted to obtain a wide range of glass‐ceramic or polymer‐like properties. The incorporation of nanoparticles into these materials significantly enhances the abrasion and the scratch resistance. Such coatings mainly on metal parts are used in diagnostics, analytical chemistry and medical technology.     

Eigenschaften und Anwendungen von Chemisch Nickel‐Dispersionsschichten

Properties and applications of electroless nickel composite coatings This paper discusses the variety of composite electroless coatings used in different industrial applications. The inclusion of particulate matter within electroless nickel deposits can add entirely new properties to the plated layer. Composites with hard particles like diamond, silicon carbide and boron carbide provide greater wear resistance and the possibility for adjustable friction properties. Composite electroless nickel with diamond or ceramics has found wide applications in the textile, automotive and mechanical engineering industry. Friction joints in automotive engines constitute an important field of application for diamond coatings. Modern internal combustion engine designs require that the crankshaft and camshaft be fitted at a specific relative angle. In order to establish the correct angle during assembly and maintain it over the life of the engine, axial press‐fit joints in combination with centrally located retention bolts are employed. Failure of either the joints or the bolts can result in serious damage to the engine. The torque transfer ability of these engine components can be significantly increased by incorporating a friction foil that is diamond‐coated on both sides. Composite coatings with coarser diamond particles can be used for the coating of precision tools in the semiconductor industry. Enhanced lubricity can be achieved by incorporating solid lubricants in electroless nickel deposits. Composite coatings with PTFE or PFA offers non‐stick surfaces with antiadhesive properties and good resistance against adhesive wear. Because of the temperature and softness limitations these coatings are best suited for lower temperature and light loading applications. Electroless nickel boron nitride coatings can withstand temperatures up to 600 °C. This coating reduces coefficient of friction and wear in dynamic applications. A further application is the coating of molds for rubber and plastic components.     

Achieving One‐Step Surface Coating of Highly Hydrophilic Poly(Carboxybetaine Methacrylate) Polymers on Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Surfaces

It is highly desirable to develop a universal nonfouling coating via a simple one‐step dip‐coating method. Developing such a universal coating method for a hydrophilic polymer onto a variety of surfaces with hydrophobic and hydrophilic properties is very challenging. This work demonstrates a versatile and simple method to attach zwitterionic poly(carboxybetaine methacrylate) (PCB), one of the most hydrophilic polymers, onto both hydrophobic and hydrophilic surfaces to render them nonfouling. This is achieved by the coating of a catechol chain end carboxybetaine methacrylate polymer (DOPA‐PCB) assisted by dopamine. The coating process was carried out in water. Water miscible solvents such as methanol and tetrahydrofuran (THF) are added to the coatings if surface wettability is an issue, as for certain hydrophobic surfaces. This versatile coating method was applied to several types of surfaces such as polypropylene (PP), polydimethyl siloxane (PDMS), Teflon, polystyrene (PS), polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and also on metal oxides such as silicon dioxide.     

Underwater Mechanically Robust Oil‐Repellent Materials: Combining Conflicting Properties Using a Heterostructure

The development of underwater mechanically robust oil‐repellent materials is important due to the high demand for these materials with the increase in underwater activities. Based on the previous study, a new strategy is demonstrated to prepare underwater mechanically robust oil‐repellent materials by combining conflicting properties using a heterostructure, which has a layered hydrophobic interior structure with a columnar hierarchical micro/nanostructure on the surface and a hydrophilic outer structure. The surface hydrophilic layer imparts underwater superoleophobicity and low oil adhesion to the material, which has oil contact angle of larger than 150° and adhesion of lower than 2.8 µN. The stability of the mechanical properties stemming from the interior hydrophobic‐layered structure enables the material to withstand high weight loads underwater. The tensile stress and the hardness of such a heterostructure film after 1 month immersion in seawater and pH solution are in the range from 83.92 ± 8.22 to 86.73 ± 7.8 MPa and from 83.88 ± 6.8 to 86.82 ± 5.64 MPa, respectively, which are superior to any underwater oil‐repellent material currently reported.     

On‐line Quality Control of Coated Glass. On‐line Qualitätskontrolle von beschichtetem Glas

Properties of optical coatings (e.g. low‐e or solar control) can be described and controlled using transmittance, reflectance and sheet resistance measurements. Multiple in situ transmittance measurement points allow a quick response to adjust different coating processes (layer thickness and homogeneity). For the final characterization of the coated substrate ex situ transmittance, reflectance and sheet resistance measurements are used. Accurate and reproducible measurements in a combination with Reverse Engineering methods admit monitoring all layers and in this way detecting slight drifts.     

Superstrong,Chemically Stable,Superamphiphobic Fabrics from Particle‐Free Polymer Coatings

Superamphiphobic fabrics with a robust, chemically stable, highly liquid‐repellent surface have been prepared by one‐step coating treatment of fabric substrate using a coating solution comprising poly(vinylidene fluoride‐co‐hexafluoropropylene), fluoroalkyl silane, and a volatile solvent (e.g., acetone). The coated fabric has a contact angle of 162°, 156°, and 150° to water, olive oil, and silicone oil, respectively. The highly volatile solvent in the coating solution plays an important role in forming highly liquid repellent surface on the fabric. The coating is highly stable, and can withstand 98% concentrated sulfuric acid and strong alkaline solution (e.g., 40% KOH). It is also durable enough against at least 800 cycles of machine wash, and 10 000 cycles of abrasion. Physical damages such as abrasion with a fabric, rubbing with sandpaper, or scratching with a sharp blade can even increase the liquid repellency to a certain extent. In addition, the coating has a self‐healing property against UV damages. Such a superstrong, superamphiphobic fabric coating may find applications in development of innovative textiles and functional clothing for various applications.     

Scalable, “Dip‐and‐Dry” Fabrication of a Wide‐Angle Plasmonic Selective Absorber for High‐Efficiency Solar–Thermal Energy Conversion

A galvanic‐displacement‐reaction‐based, room‐temperature “dip‐and‐dry” technique is demonstrated for fabricating selectively solar‐absorbing plasmonic‐nanoparticle‐coated foils (PNFs). The technique, which allows for facile tuning of the PNFs' spectral reflectance to suit different radiative and thermal environments, yields PNFs which exhibit excellent, wide‐angle solar absorptance (0.96 at 15°, to 0.97 at 35°, to 0.79 at 80°), and low hemispherical thermal emittance (0.10) without the aid of antireflection coatings. The thermal emittance is on par with those of notable selective solar absorbers (SSAs) in the literature, while the wide‐angle solar absorptance surpasses those of previously reported SSAs with comparable optical selectivities. In addition, the PNFs show promising mechanical and thermal stabilities at temperatures of up to 200 °C. Along with the performance of the PNFs, the simplicity, inexpensiveness, and environmental friendliness of the “dip‐and‐dry” technique makes it an appealing alternative to current methods for fabricating selective solar absorbers.     

Mid-infrared (2.5 ≤ λ ≤ 12.5 μm) optical absorption enhancement of textured silicon surfaces coated with an antireflective thin film

High-performance solar cells and optical detection devices frequently incorporate microscopic surface texturing and antireflective (AR) thin films to reduce the reflection of incident radiation and, thus, enhance optical absorption. Using conventional electrochemical and single-crystal silicon micromachining techniques, porous silicon (PS) and textured surfaces composed of randomly spaced and sized pyramids (RSSPs) were fabricated and optically characterized over the mid-infrared (2.5 ≤ λ ≤ 12.5 μm) portion of the optical spectrum. The utility of a 1.53 ± 0.03 μm thick yttrium oxide (Y₂O₃) AR thin film was also investigated in an attempt to enhance optical absorption. The optical measurements were accomplished using a 21 ° incident illumination angle (measured with respect to the sample's normal) and a Bomem® total integrating sphere to quantify the total (specular and diffuse) reflectance (R). A highly-polished, uncoated, single-crystal silicon wafer was used as a reference surface (R_ave = 0.436 with R_σ = 0.033). The performance of the uncoated PS samples revealed R_ave = 0.205 with R_σ = 0.078, and the RSSP samples manifested R_ave = 0.090 with R_σ = 0.003. The AR coating significantly improved the performance of the reference and the RSSP textured surfaces: reference sample, (R_ave = 0.251 with R_σ = 0.040; RSSP samples, (R_ave = 0.024 with R_σ = 0.017). The AR coating did not improve the mid-infrared optical performance of the PS samples; however, the R characteristics for the 0.5 ≤ λ ≤ 2.5 μm portion of the optical spectrum were reduced by more than 50%.     

Superhydrophobic Coatings for Technical Applications

Water repellent coatings developed in this work showed that two superimposed rough structures are required to generate superhydrophoby with WCA >150°. A micro rough surface overcoated with a submicro or nano rough hydrophobic material behave similar to the hierarchical structures found on leafs of some plants which generate the highly mobile Cassie/Baxter droplets. Coatings of inorganic and organic materials were performed by thermal spraying (inorganic materials) and spraycoating (organic materials) on sandblasted metal, mainly stainless steel, surfaces. Hierarchical roughness structures were developed by thermal treatment of pure and composite fluoropolymeric layers. Such hierarchical superhydrophobic coating systems showed water contact angles between 160° and 170°. The coatings have good mechanical stability and can be applied in numerous technical applications.     

Preparation and incorporation of microcapsules in functional coatings for self‐healing of packaging board

The replacement of flexible polyolefin barrier layers with novel, thin, functional polymer coatings in the production of paperboard packaging involves the risk of deteriorated barrier and mechanical properties during the converting process. Local defects or cracks in the protective barrier layer can arise because of the stress induced in creasing and folding operations. In this study, the incorporation of microencapsulated self‐healing agents in coating formulations applied both by spot‐ and uniform‐coating techniques was studied. The preparation process of microcapsules with a hydrophobic core surrounded by a hydrophobically modified polysaccharide membrane in aqueous suspension was developed to obtain capsules fulfilling both the criteria of small capsule size and reasonably high solids content to match the requirements set on surface treatment of paperboard for enhancement of packaging functionality. The survival of the microcapsules during application and their effectiveness as self‐healing agents were investigated. The results showed a reduced tendency for deteriorated barrier properties and local termination of cracks formed upon creasing. The self‐healing mechanism involves the rupture of microcapsules local to the applied stress, with subsequent release of the core material. Crack propagation is hindered by plasticization of the underlying coating layer, while the increased hydrophobicity helps to maintain the barrier properties. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Impact of high‐velocity oxy‐fuel sprayed TiAlN surface coating on mechanical and slurry erosion performance of aluminium alloys

TiAlN coatings were deposited on AA1050 and AA5083 aluminium alloys by high‐velocity oxy‐fuel (HVOF) spray process and evaluated for their mechanical and slurry erosion performance. In comparison to base alloys, the mechanical properties were found to enhance upon coating. The effect of working parameters namely impingement angle, impact velocity, erodent size and erodent feed rate on the slurry erosion wear rate has been investigated. The slurry erosion wear rate of the uncoated samples was found to decrease with an increase in the impingement angle whereas for coated samples the slurry erosion wear rate first increased, reached to a maximum value at 60° and then decreased with further increase in the impingement angle. For uncoated and coated samples the slurry erosion wear rate was found to increase with an increase in impact velocity, erodent size and erodent feed rate. Finally, the morphology of the eroded surfaces was analyzed using scanning electron microscopy and the possible erosion mechanisms have been studied.