Polymer concentration, shear and stretch field effects on the surface morphology evolution during the spin-coating

Polymer concentration and shear and stretch field effects on the surface morphology evolution of three different kinds of polymers (polystyrene (PS), polybutadiene (PB) and polystyrene-b-polybutadiene-b-polystyrene (SBS)) during the spin-coating were investigated by means of atomic force microscopy (AFM). For PS and SBS, continuous film, net-like structure and particle structure were observed at different concentrations. For PB, net-like structures were not observed and continuous films and radial array of droplets emerged. Moreover, we compared surface morphology transitions on different substrate locations from the center to the edge. For PS, net-like structure, broken net-like structure and irregular array of particles were observed. For SBS, net-like structure, periodically orientated string-like structure and broken-line structure appeared. But for PB, flower-like holes in the continuous film, distorted stream-like structure and irregular distributions of droplets emerged. These different transitions of surface morphologies were discussed in terms of individual material property.

Coating nano-hemalite on (Y,Gd)BO3 : Eu3+ phosphors by a facile method

(Y, Gd) BO3:Eu3+ particles coated with nano-hematite were prepared by a facile method I for example (humid) solid phase reaction at room temperature. The resulted hematite-coated (Y, Gd)BO3:Eu3+ particles were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS) analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS), and photoluminescence spectra (PL). The SEM and EDS analyses indicate that the particles are coated with a very thin layer of iron oxide. XPS results further confirmed that the coating was hematite, and the coating thickness was in nanometer range. XRD patterns showed that either the hematite coating was too thin or the content of hematite was too small, so that the XRD cannot detect it. The emission spectra illustrate that the peak near 580 nm disappears due to the coating of iron oxide, and when the coating is very thin, the ratio of D-5(0)-> F-7(2) to D-5(2)-> F-7(1) of coated particles is higher than that of uncoated ones, which indicates that the color purity of the phosphor is increased by coating nano-hematite.

Coating carbon nanotubes with europium oxide

Carbon nanotubes (CNTS) coating with europium oxide by a simple method is reported in this letter for the first time. The CNTS were refluxed in a solution of nitric acid containing europium nitrate, and the pH value was subsequently ajusted with ammonia solution. At last, the mixture was filtered and annealed. The TEM micrograph showed that the CNTS were covered with a uniform thin layer with thickness of about 15 nm. The XRD results revealed that the CNTS were coated with europium oxide.

Mechanism and life study on polyaniline anti-corrosion coating

Solvent free polyaniline emeraldine base(EB) corrosion protection coating was prepared, employing aliphatic polyamine as solvent of EB as well as hardener of epoxy resin. This coating passed 2000h of salt fog test when the EB loading was about 1 wt%. The interaction between EB and iron indicated that EB acted as a "quasi-catalyst" to cause the formation of densed iron oxide film in the interface.

Silicon dioxide coating of CeO2 nanoparticles by solid state reaction at room temperature

The synthesis Of SiO2 coated CeO2 nanoparticles by humid solid state reaction at room. temperature is described. Transmission electron microscope results show that CeO2 Particles were coated with a layer Of SiO2. Binding energy of Ce 3d(5/2) was shifted from 883.8 to 882.8 eV after coating in the XPS Ce 3d spectra. This confirms the chemical bond formation between SiO32- and Ce4+. Because the surface photovoltage property of CeO2 nanoparticles that were used as core materials in the experiment approaches to that of CeO2 macroparticles, peak P2 (electron transition from 0 2p on surface to Ce 4f) disappeared in the surface photovoltage spectrum of CeO2 nanoparticles. Also, the effect Of SiO2 on the electron transition from 0 2p to Ce 4f results in the lowering of surface photovoltage response intensity of P1 peak (electron transition from 0 2p in bulk to Ce 4f).

Coating of Y2O3 : Eu3+ particles with alumina by a humid solid state reaction at room temperature

Humid solid state reaction at room temperature was utilized for the first time to coat Y2O3 : Eu3+ particles with alumina. The particles were studied with an X-ray photoelectron spectrometer (XPS), a scanning electron microscope (SEM), and an energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS). XPS results show that the yttrium and europium contents are decreased and that the aluminum content is the highest except for that of oxygen after coating. SEM and EDS results show that particles are coated with a thin shell of alumina.

Surface morphology evolution of thin triblock copolymer films during spin coating

The surface morphology evolution of thin poly(styrene-block-ethylene/butylenes-block-styrene) (SEBS) triblock copolymer films as a function of the copolymer concentration was investigated by means of dynamic mode atomic force microscopy. At a relatively low copolymer concentration (0.025% w/v), the periodically orientated stripes were observed. This kind of surface patterning produced in the spin-coating process has not been reported in the literature before. It has been shown by our experiment that a shearing and stretching field can cause flexible polymer coils or aggregates to orientate during the spin coatings At a copolymer concentration of 0.05% w/v, SEBS molecule aggregates form network structures in the whole film. With further increase of the copolymer concentration, a continuous film with a microphase-separated structure was visualized.

Formation of nano-crystalline corrosion products on Zn-Al alloy coating exposed to seawater

Hot dip Zn-Al alloy coating performs better than hot dip galvanized coating and 55% Al-Zn-Si coating as well with regard to general seawater corrosion protection. A characterization of the corrosion products on Zn-Al alloy coating immersed in dynamic aerated seawater has been performed mainly based on transmission electron microscopy (TEM) for morphological analysis and X-ray diffraction (XRD) technique for crystalline phase identification. The XRD and TEM analyses showed that the corrosion products mainly were typical nanometer Zn4CO3(OH)(6).H2O, Zn-5(OH)(8)Cl-2 and Zn6Al2CO3(OH)(16). 4H(2)O microcrystals. This probably is connected to the co-precipitation of Zn2+ and Al3+ ions caused by adsorption. Zn-Al alloy coating being suffered seawater attacks, AI(OH)(3) gel was first produced on the coating surface. Zn and Al hydroxides would co-precipitate and form double-hydroxide when the concentration of adsorbed Zn2+ ions by the newly produced gel exceeded the critical degree of supersaturation of the interphase nucleation. However, because the growth of the crystals was too low to keep in step with the nucleation, a layer of nano-crystalline corrosion products were produced on the surface of the coating finally. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Study on growth factors of intermetallic layer within hot-dipped 25% Al-Zn alloy coating on steel

25%Al-Zn alloy coating performs better than hot dip galvanized coating and 55%Al-Zn-Si coating with regard to general seawater corrosion protection. This study deals with the interfacial intermetallic layer's growth, which affects considerably the corrosion resistance and mechanical properties of 25%Al-Zn alloy coatings, by means of three-factor quadratic regressive orthogonal experiments, The regression equation shows that the intermetallic layer thickness decreases rapidly with increasing content of Si added to the Zn-Al alloy bath, increases with rise in bath temperature and prolonging dip time. The most effective factor that determined the thickness of intermetallic layer was the amount of Si added to Zn-Al alloy bath, while the effect of bath temperature and dip time on the thickness of intermetallic layer were not very obvious.

Design of a silicone reservoir intravaginal ring for the delivery of oxybutynin.

Oxybutynin, a drug of choice in the treatment of urinary incontinence, has low oral bioavailability due to extensive first-pass metabolism. A toxic metabolite, N-desethyloxybutynin, has been linked to adverse reactions to oral oxybutynin. This study, therefore, reports on the design of an oxybutynin intravaginal ring (IVR) of reservoir design, comprising an oxybutynin silicone elastomer core encased in a non-medicated silicone sheath, manufactured by reaction injection moulding at 50oC. An unusually high initial burst release of oxybutynin (42.7 mg in 24 h) was observed in vitro with a full length core (100 mg drug loading), with subsequent non-zero order drug release. Use of fractional segment cores substantially reduced the burst effect, yielding linear cumulative drug release versus time plots from days 2 to 14. Thus, a 1/8 fractional segment core gave a 24 h burst of 11.28 mg oxybutynin and, thereafter, zero order release at the target dose of 5 mg/day over 14 days. Two oxybutynin cores, each 1/16 of full length, gave a greater release than a single 1/8 core, due to core segment end effects resulting in an increased surface area for release. The burst release was investigated by determining drug solubilities in the propan-1-ol product of elastomer condensation cure (390 mg/ml) and in the elastomer itself (13.9-20.21 mg/ml, by direct extraction and indirect thermal methods). These high oxybutynin solubilities were considered the major contributors to the burst effect. It was concluded that use of a fractional segment core would allow development of a suitable oxybutynin reservoir IVR.