Influence of the silicon surface treatment by plasma etching and scratching on the nucleation of diamond grown in HFCVD - a comparative study

A comparative study for the nucleation of diamond was carried out using surface treatment like (i) surface scratching with 1 μm diamond paste and (ii) surface etching using chlorine plasma at different RF powers (50, 100 and 150 W). Atomic force microscopic study shows variation in roughness from 31 nm to 110 nm. Scratching results in random scratches, whereas plasma etches a surface uniformly. Scanning electron microscopic observations show well faceted crystallites with a predominance of angular shaped grains corresponding to 〈100〉 and 〈110〉 crystallite surfaces for the scratched as well as plasma etched substrate. Surface etching at 150 W plasma power results in a better growth in comparison with 50 and 100 W plasma powers. Chlorine-radical is found responsible for the changes in the growth morphology. Raman spectroscopy shows a sharp peak at 1,332 cm⁻¹ and a peak at ∼1,580 cm⁻¹ for both samples.     

Electrooptic studies on polymer‐dispersed liquid‐crystal composite films. III. Poly(methyl methacrylate‐co‐butyl acrylate)/E7 and poly(methyl methacrylate‐co‐butyl acrylate)/E8 composites

Composite films composed of poly(methyl methacrylate‐co‐butyl acrylate) (PMMABA) and nematic‐type liquid crystals E7 and E8 (commercial products from E. Merck, Darmstadt, Germany) were prepared through solvent casting in chloroform. The morphology and electrooptic responses were studied. Scanning electron microscopy observations showed that the liquid‐crystal phase (E7 or E8), as larger, elongated, interconnected cavities, was continuously embedded in a spongelike PMMABA matrix. At a specific level of the liquid‐crystal (E7 or E8) loading (30/70 wt %), the effects of the voltage, temperature, and frequency of an applied alternating‐current electric field on the transmittance of the composite films were measured with a He–Ne laser (wavelength = 632.8 nm). The results were interpreted in terms of the aggregation structure, interfacial interaction, and solubility of the liquid crystal in the matrix polymer. The results indicated that, under these experimental conditions, the output could be controlled to a desired level by the selection of suitable liquid crystals to prepare polymer‐dispersed liquid‐crystal, electrooptic, active composite films with a response time of the order of only milliseconds or less. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 2008     

New fire‐protective intumescent coatings for wood

Polyurethane coatings are highly flammable, and because of their widespread applications on different substrates (wood, steel, and building materials), there is a need to increase their fire‐safety properties. Intumescent additives sharply suppress the flammability properties of polyurethane coatings. Two problems accompany intumescent additives: their high loading percentage and incompatibility with polyurethane coatings. In this research, we succeeded in increasing the compatibility by mixing intumescent additives with a butyl acrylate polymer and in lowering the flame‐retardant additive loading (up to 20%) by incorporating newly modified montmorillonite. The flammability properties of the new intumescent coatings were characterized with a cone calorimeter. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008     

Synthesis of polyurethane resins and its improvement on dimensional stability and finishing performances of medium‐ and small‐diameter softwoods

This study analyzed the effects of polyurethane (PU) resin treatments on surface homogeneity, dimensional stability, and finishing performances of medium‐ and small‐diameter softwoods produced in Taiwan. Two‐pack PU resins were prepared by combing short castor oil‐modified alkyd resin serving as a polyol with polymeric 4,4′‐diphenymethane diisocyanate (PMDI) serving as a hardener, by the molar ratio of NCO/OH+COOH of 1.2. Four types of short oil‐modified alkyd resins with different polyhydric alcohols (glycerin and pentaerythritol) and polybasic acids (phthalic anhydride and isophthalic acid) were synthesized. Three kinds of medium‐ and small‐diameter softwoods, including China fir, Taiwanina, and Japanese fir with a diameter of 10–15 cm were obtained from Hui‐Sun Forest Station, Taiwan. The wood coating of nitrocellulose (NC) lacquer including sanding sealer and top clear was used. Results show that the surface hardness, homogeneity, moisture excluding efficiency, and antiswelling efficiency of woods were enhanced by PU resin treatments. Among all the PU resins, the isophthalic acid and pentaerythritol‐containing PU resin (IPA‐P‐MDI) achieved the best improved efficiency on dimensional stability of woods. Results of two types of finishing procedure, i.e. NC lacquer sanding sealer plus top clear and top clear only, applied onto the PU‐treated woods revealed that the hardness, adhesion, and durability of NC lacquer films on the PU‐treated wood were superior to those of untreated one, especially for top clear finishing alone. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008     

Impacts of varnishes and impregnation chemicals on combustion properties of oak (Quercus petreae lipsky)

This study was performed to determine the effects of varnishing after impregnation with boron compounds on combustion properties of oak. For this aim, the test samples prepared from oak (Quercus petreae Liebl.) wood were impregnated according to ASTM D 1413‐99 with boric acid (Ba) and borax (Bx) by vacuum technique. After impregnation, surfaces were coated by cellulosic (Cv), synthetic (Sn), polyurethane (Pu), waterborne (Wb), acrylic (Ac), and acid hardening (Ah) varnishes in accordance to ASTM D 3023. Combustion properties of samples after varnishing process were determined, according to ASTM E 160‐50. According to material and process types, combustion temperature was the highest in Bx and Cv, the lowest in Ba and Ac. An important difference was not observed between without flame source combustion (WFSC) and flame source combustion (FSC). According to combustion type, impregnation material and varnish type, combustion temperature was the highest value in WFSC + Bx + acid hardening varnish combination and the lowest in WFSC + Ba + acrylic varnish combination. As a result, the tested varnishes showed an increasing impact but boron compounds showed a decreasing impact on combustion properties of oak. In consequence, for usage areas having a high risk of fire, impregnation of wood material with boron compounds before varnishing will decrease combustion temperature and provide security. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 2008     

高温合金表面激光熔敷热障涂层组织结构与氧化性能

采用 5KW连续CO2 激光器对Ni基高温合金上二次重熔NiCoCrAlY和ZrO2 陶瓷层进行了研究。结果表明 :激光快速熔化和凝固获得定向外延生长、紧密堆积的柱状晶氧化锆陶瓷层。NiCoCrAlY结合层与柱状晶之间存在氧化铝层 ,保证了柱状晶与NiCoCrAlY层的联结。扫描电镜和电子探针联合分析发现 ,氧化锆层与NiCoCrAlY结合层、结合层与基体间均为冶金结合。采用化学改性氧化锆消除了涂层裂纹。高温氧化性能测试得出激光重熔试样氧化动力学近似地遵守抛物线速率方程。在 12 0 0℃ ,空气下激光熔敷TBCs 抗氧化性明显高于等离子喷涂TBCs。     

A study of neutron and gamma radiation effects on transmission of various types of glasses, optical coatings, cemented optics and fiber

A study of radiation effects on various types of glasses, dielectric optical coatings, cemented optics and fiber was undertaken with a view to select them for extreme radiation environments. Samples were exposed to different radiation doses in the Pakistan Research Reactor-I (PARR-I) for neutron and Cobalt 60 source for gamma irradiation. Transmissions were measured before and after irradiation. The dielectric coatings were subjected to additional tests (adhesion, abrasion and humidity, etc.) as per MIL-M-13508C and MIL-C-675C. All 15 glasses studied showed varying amounts of transmission loss as expected, with negligible degradation for three types. Recovery of transmissions with time/ageing was also studied, with more or less complete recovery with temperature annealing. A faster bleaching of darkened/brown glasses was achieved by using UV lamps or UV laser. The dielectric coatings (HR, AR) and one of the two commercial optical cements showed excellent resistance to neutrons and gamma radiations, and could be good candidates for the fabrication and utilization of optical components in extreme radiation environments. The data allowed several Chinese glasses to be studied for the first time.     

Optimisation of metallic pigments in coatings by an electrochemical technique and an investigation of manganese powder as pigment for metal rich primers

Zinc dust and manganese powder as pigments were incorporated in epoxy-polyamide and butyl titanate medium, with different pigment volume concentration (PVC) ranging from 20 to 74. These protective coatings were coated on sand blasted mild steel substrates and immersed in 3 wt.% sodium chloride solution and the corrosion current was measured by the Tafel extrapolation method. From the corrosion current produced by these primers, the optimum level of the pigments in these binders was identified. Thus the protective performance of optimised primers was evaluated on a sand blasted mild steel surface by the Tafel polarisation method in 3 wt.% sodium chloride solution, over different periods of time. The results were found to be comparable with the salt spray test and galvanic current measurements. The manganese powder used for this investigation showed that it could be used as an alternative to zinc powder for metal rich primers.     

化学镀Ni-P-PTFE复合镀层的性能

本文对化学镀ＮｉＰＰＴＦＥ复合镀层的性能作了测定和评价。实验表明，用优化的镀液配方和工艺可获得含ＰＴＦＥ粒子２５～３０％ｖｏｌ的ＮｉＰＰＴＦＥ复合镀层。这种镀层具有优良的结合力和良好的耐蚀性，其硬度随ＰＴＦＥ含量增加而降低，其特别突出的性能是优异的减摩性和耐磨性，是一种具有自润滑功能的表面复合材料。