XRD-Studies of SiC/Si layers on carbon substrates

Structural investigations of thin films of SiC, SiC with free silicon and various titanium suicides (TiSi₂, TiSi and Ti₅Si₃) are described. The crystal phases have been identified using X-ray diffractometry. The growth of reaction products from surface reactions between silicon and deposited titanium can be observed.Dedicated to Professor Dr. rer.nat. Dr. h.c. Hubertus Nickel on the occasion of his 65th birthday     

High temperature corrosion behaviour of M(Co,Ni)CrAIY-coatings on high temperature materials-microanalytical investigations

In our former investigations, the phenomenon high temperature corrosion (HTC) was described exemplarily on selected materialcoating combinations for blades of stationary gas turbines, mainly in the temperature region of up to 750° C. To answer the question, in which manner higher gas inlet and/or higher material surface temperature would influence the HTC behaviour, a special analytical technique—the integral layer profile analysis—was introduced to ameliorate concentration profile methods. By examining IN 738 LC specimens with CoCrAlY plasma spray coating, stressed by hot gas at 900° C, the limits of this system are shown by explaining the corrosion mechanism; the method is also used for other systems, e.g. U 520 with NiCrAlY coating at 750° C.     

Investigations of the effect of viscosity of resin on the diffusion of pyrene in silicone polymer coatings using steady state fluorescence technique

The diffusion phenomenon of pyrene in silicone coatings prepared from various commercial silicone resins with different viscosities was investigated using steady state excimer fluorescence technique. The amount of pyrene lost from the coatings by diffusion at different temperatures ranging from 25 to 70 °C was estimated from the excimer emission intensity. The diffusion coefficients (D) and activation energy of diffusion of pyrene in silicone coatings were determined. It was found that the kinetic parameters of pyrene were comparable in all the four silicone coatings and independent of the viscosity of the resin. The D values were lower than those expected for pyrene in PDMS resins in the corresponding viscosity range. This may be attributed to restricted mobility of pyrene due to cross-linking of polymer chains in the cured silicone coatings.     

Cerium hybrid silica coatings on stainless steel AISI 304 substrate

AISI 304 Stainless Steel is widely used in different industrial fields because of its mechanical and corrosion properties. However, its tendency to corrosion in presence of halide ions limits the applications. One strategy to improve the corrosion resistance is the use of coatings barriers containing corrosion inhibitors in their formulation. The lanthanides present attractive green and corrosion properties for the substitution of chromates, which are the most common substances used as corrosion protection. However, these compounds are highly toxic, and an intense effort is being undertaken to replace them. Cerium is a good alternative because of its relatively low cost and abundance. It fulfils the basics requirements for being considered an alternative inhibitor: the ions form insoluble hydroxides and they present low toxicity. Inorganic and hybrid sol-gel coatings have been developed to increase the corrosion resistance of metals and they provide an excellent vehicle for the incorporation of secondary phases including particles and metal ions as cerium ions. The aim of this work was to study the influence of the incorporation of cerium ions in hybrid silica sol-gel coatings deposited on AISI 304 stainless steel as substrate as a potential replacement of chromate treatments. This system should combine the barrier protection effect of silica coating with the corrosion inhibitor effect of the cerium ions inside the coatings. After 7 days of immersion in NaCl, coated substrates showed lower current densities than the bare steel, although the coatings produced from Ce (III) salts experience a slight weakening in time and those obtained from Ce (IV) chemicals evidence an enhance in the coating performance, probably due to the plugging of corrosion products in the defective areas of the film.     

Stability of Suspensions of Bioactive Particles Using Hybrid Organic–Inorganic Solutions as Dispersing Media

Functional coatings incorporating different types of particles developed by the sol–gel method have been proposed in the last few years for diverse applications. This work focuses on the preparation of homogeneous coatings prepared from stable suspensions with 10 wt% of glass and glass ceramic particles in a hybrid organic–inorganic solution as dispersing media. For this purpose, the pH was shifted up to 6–7 by adding tetrapropylammonium hydroxide (TPAH) which behaves as a cationic surfactant being probably adsorbed on the particles surface, while the sol maintains stable. Rheological measurements were performed to study the stability of the suspensions prepared at different conditions such as the kind and concentration of dispersant and the pH conditions. After sintering at 450^∘C/30 min, coatings around 2 μ m in thickness were obtained.     

Use of α‐diketones as visible photoinitiators for the photocrosslinking of waterborne latex paints

The efficiency of several α‐diketones as visible light photoinitiators for the crosslinking of waterborne latex dispersions in the presence of acrylic monomers was evaluated. Among the eight α‐diketones studied, camphorquinone allows the fastest curing speed, and the curing of the acrylic waterborne coating is not affected by the presence of oxygen. The properties of the sunlight‐cured volatile organic compound (VOC)‐free pigmented paints prepared from the waterborne latex are as good or better than the equivalent conventional paint containing VOCs. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 3171–3181, 2002     

Plasma deposition of thin films from a fluorine-containing cyclosiloxane

Thin films have been deposited from radio-frequency glow discharges fed with vapors of a silicon- and fluorine-containing organic compound, namely 2,4,6-tris[(3,3,3-trifluoropropyl) (methyl)] cyclotrisiloxane, in mixture with argon. 2,4,6-tris[(3,3,3-trifluoropropyl)(methyl)]cyclotrisiloxane A triode reactor has been utilized to deposit films by independently changing substrate temperature and bias-induced ion-bombardment. Laser interferometry, electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy have been used to monitor film growth rate and composition. Results unambiguously show an activating effect of the ion-bombardment, which confirm the validity of the ion-assisted deposition model utilized for the plasma deposition of both teflon- and silicone-like films. In our experiments, low substrate temperature and bias conditions results in films with a “monomer-like” stoichiometry, while drastic conditions give origin to materials with a completely different composition and a markedly increased hardness. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Maleation of poly(3,4‐epoxy‐1‐butene) for accelerated crosslinking in the presence of a redox catalyst

Accelerated crosslinking of novel poly(3,4‐epoxy‐1‐butene) (3,4‐PEPB) oligomers in the presence of a cobalt‐based redox catalyst was investigated. Previous studies using model compounds, 3,4‐dimethoxy‐1‐butene and 1,4‐dimethoxy‐2‐butene, suggested that maleation of hydroxyl‐terminated 3,4‐PEPB oligomers would result in more rapid crosslinking in thin films. Novel maleated oligomers offered a unique combination of both electron‐rich and electron‐poor olefinic sites, and quantitative maleation significantly increased the crosslinking rate of 3,4‐PEPB. Efficient copolymerization between terminal maleate groups and olefinic groups in the repeating unit was proposed to account for accelerated crosslinking rates. Furthermore, the addition of novel reactive diluents, such as maleic acid mono‐ethyl ester, also effectively improved the 3,4‐PEPB crosslinking rate. Sol fraction measurements as a function of coating thickness revealed that the crosslinking rate versus oxygen diffusion was less significant for the maleated oligomers because of the presence of reactive electron‐poor olefins. Sol fractions were constant for catalyst concentrations greater than 0.25–0.50 wt % (as compared with oligomer feed). This observation suggested that a redox process was not a dominant factor in determining crosslinking rates at various experimental conditions. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 2789–2798, 2002     

Sol-gel ZrO2 coatings for chemical protection of stainless steel

ZrO₂ coatings deposited on 316 L stainless steel sheets were synthesized by sol-gel method using Zr(OC₃H₇)₄ as precursor and isopropanol, glacial acetic acid, and water as solvents for application with ultrasounds. Different solutions for dip-coating were prepared with compositions varying between 0.025 and 0.9 mol/dm³ of ZrO₂. X-ray diffraction shows that the films densified at 800°C are crystalline with a tetragonal structure. The thickness of the coatings varied from 0.35–0.75 m. The influence of the ZrO₂ coatings on the corrosion behavior of stainless steel substrates in aqueous NaCl was studied through potentiodynamic polarization curves at 1 mV/s. The values of the electrochemical parameters allow for an explanation of the role of the films in the increased resistance of steel against corrosion in moderately aggressive environments.     

Industrial Application of Hybrid Sol-Gel Coatings for the Decoration of Crystal Glassware

The coloration of glass via melting techniques presents some unique problems with respect to the reproducibility, toxicology and economics of certain colors, especially if the market demands are highly variable. This is also the case for consumer products such as crystal glass and tableware. Traditionally, the decoration of crystal glasses is performed by laborious manual techniques, which are costly and do not meet modern market requirements. Alternatively, spraying of colored lacquers is a highly flexible and valuable tool for the development of new products. Sol-gel type hybrid coatings provide several advantages compared to conventional organic systems like high abrasion resistance, almost perfect adhesion, refractive index matching and sufficient stability in dishwashing procedures. The solubility of organic dyes in the hybrid matrix is sufficient for intense colors even at rather low layer thicknesses, which on the other hand convey the high brilliance of the base material. The development of transparent, translucent and opaque hybrid coatings for crystal glass has been completed in the last few years and the production of partially coated articles has started recently. The synthesis and properties of the coating material are reviewed and the industrial process and first market results are also outlined.