Modification of surface properties of polyamide 6 films with atmospheric pressure plasma

To investigate the effect of the different plasma gases treatment on the surface modification of atmospheric pressure plasma, polyamide 6 films were treated using pure helium (He), He/O₂ and He/CF₄, respectively. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) showed rougher surface, while X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) revealed increased oxygen and fluorine contents after the plasma treatments. The plasma treated samples had lower water contact angles and higher T-peel strength than that of the control. The addition of small amount of O₂ or CF₄ to He plasma increases the effectiveness of the plasma treatment in polymer surface modification in terms of surface roughness, surface hydrophilic groups, etching rate, water contact angle and bonding strength.     

The effect of deposition temperature on the surface coverage and morphology of iron-phosphate coatings on low carbon steel

The influence of deposition temperature and concentration of NaNO₂ in the phosphating bath on the surface morphology and coverage of iron-phosphate coatings on low carbon steel was investigated. The phosphate coatings were chemically deposited on steel from phosphate bath at different temperatures (30-70 °C) and with the addition of different amounts of accelerator, NaNO₂ (0.1, 0.5 and 1.0 g dm⁻³). The morphology of phosphate coatings was investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The composition of iron-phosphate coatings was determined using energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Surface coverage was evaluated by the voltammetric anodic dissolution (VAD) technique.It was shown that the increase in temperature of the NaNO₂-free phosphating bath up to 70 °C caused an increase in surface coverage. The addition of NaNO₂ in the phosphating bath significantly increased the surface coverage of phosphate coatings deposited at temperatures lower than 50 °C. The phosphate crystals were of laminated and needle-like structures for deposits obtained at temperatures lower than 50 °C, while at higher temperatures needle-like structure was transformed to laminated structure. The increase in NaNO₂ concentration in the phosphating bath from 0.1 to 1.0 g dm⁻³ did not significantly increase the surface coverage, but decreased the crystals size, consequently favouring the phosphate nucleation and better packing of the crystals.     

Hard carbon coatings deposited on steel

We report results of steel substrates coated with hard amorphous carbon and with diamond films. In order to enhance the adherence to the substrate, steel substrates were pretreated by means of a silicon ion beam. Raman spectroscopy was used to analyze the structure of silicon interface while the elastic recoil detection analysis method was applied to determine their composition and thickness. The a-C adherence to the substrate and hardness were also tested. The diamond films were observed by SEM.     

Investigation of magnetite-nanoparticle agglomeration on the surface of structured polyamide films

An atomic force microscopy investigation into the deposition of nanoscale magnetite from drops of an aqueous suspension applied to the surface of a porous polymer film is conducted. Analysis of the micros-copy images reveals the formation of agglomerates and a certain orientation of the deposited magnetite nanoparticles due to anisotropy of the structured space of the porous material and magnetic interaction of the nanoparticles with each other.     

Effects of a donor on the bond property of quantum-dot molecules

Within the framework of effective mass approximation, we have calculated the electronic structure of the two laterally coupled quantum dots with a donor by the finite element method. The calculated results show that the bond states of quantum-dot molecules are quite sensitive to the donor positions. By varying the donor position, the transition from covalent to ionic bond state is realized for some electronic states. Some extreme cases are also discussed for comparison.     

Investigation on friction and wear behaviors of FeS films on L6 steel surface

Low temperature ion sulfuration technique was utilized to prepare the solid lubrication iron sulfide (FeS) film on the surface of die-steel AISI L6. The friction and wear behaviors of sulfurized L6 steel were investigated on the ring-on-block tester of MM-200 under dry sliding condition. Atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy were adopted to analyze the morphologies and compositions of surfaces and wear scars of the FeS film. X-ray diffractometer was used to study the film phase structure. Scanning Auger microprobe was employed to detect the elements distribution with depth. The results showed that the tribological properties of sulfurized L6 steel were superior to that of the unsulfurized one.     

Microstructure and selected properties of hot-work tool steel with PVD coatings after laser surface treatment

The paper presents the effect of HPD laser treatment on the microstructure and selected properties of the PVD CrN, (Ti,Al) and Ti(C,N) coatings deposited onto hot-work tool steel substrates. The microstructure and surface topography of the investigated samples are characteristic of the diversified morphology connected with the applied laser beam power. Employment of laser beam at 0.7 kW power to the laser treatment of samples with Ti(C,N) coatings causes clear coating adhesion growth because of the diffusive processes induced by heat release. Because of the higher value of the (Ti,Al)N absorption coefficient one can state that the observed substrate materials change and finally coatings destruction in case of those samples is the most noticeable. The moderate effect of the laser beam treatment of the hot-work tool steel with the PVD coating was observed for CrN coatings. However, for laser beam power above 0.5 kW differences in the thermal expansion coefficients of the substrate materials and coatings generate coating crackings.     

Stabilisation of monometallic nanoparticles by polyamide 6

Monometallic metal nanoparticles (Pd, Pt, Ag and Ru) stabilised by polyamide 6 (PA6) have been prepared via a polyol process sustained by microwave irradiation. PA6 proved to be a good stabiliser, being spherical particles with little dimensional dispersion identified by transmission electron microscopy. Due to the inclusion of the metals in small amount (up to 3% w/w) into the macromolecular lattice, the polymer underwent changes in thermal behaviour, which, however, do not impair the possibility to process the material. The observed changes in differential scanning calorimetry curves indicated that metal containing PA6 materials are less crystalline and ordered than pure PA6. This was confirmed by diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform analysis, which indicated that the introduction of the metal nanoparticles lowered the conformational order of the polymer matrix and partly disrupted the hydrogen bond network of the polyamide.     

In-situ identification of iron--zinc intermetallics in galvannealed steel coatings and iron oxides on exposed steel

Identification of all the compounds present in various coatings on steels is particularly difficult. Non-destructive, in-situ analysis is necessary if the fraction of each compound as well as its probable layering within the coating, is to be determined. Mössbauer spectroscopy is one valuable probe capable of uniquely identifying all iron compounds which form as coatings on steel and other iron alloy surfaces. To investigate a complete coating several criteria need to be considered. Removing the coating inevitably leaves a small and perhaps important component intact on the substrate. Therefore investigating the coating as it remains intact on the steel is important if complete identification of the iron compounds is to be made. This also preserves crystalline texture or preferred growth orientation within the coating to which the Mössbauer effect is sensitive. Mössbauer spectroscopy is a non-destructive technique which allows the integrity of the coating to be maintained during analysis. The combined transmission and scattering Mössbauer geometries generally result in accurate analysis of the coating composition. For the scattering geometry added information on compound layering is obtained if separate Mössbauer spectra are recorded using the re-emitted gamma rays as well as the conversion electrons and subsequently emitted X-rays. In-situ scattering Mössbauer spectroscopy has been used to characterize the iron--zinc alloys which form in the coatings of commercially produced corrosion resistant galvannealed sheet steel, a product of great interest to automotive producers. The results show that different amounts of four iron--zinc phases are present depending on the production conditions of the coating. The different phases are also distinctly layered. Mössbauer analyses of corrosion coatings formed on the surface of steels which have been exposed to different environments has also been undertaken. Materials include structural steels exposed for up to 25 years in marine, rural and industrial environments, and the interior surfaces of boiler pipes subjected to adverse chemical and temperature environments.     

单层硅烯表面的CoPc分子吸附研究

由于低维材料表面上的单原子和分子具有丰富的物理化学性质,现已经成为量子器件及催化科学等领域的研究热点.单层硅烯在不同的衬底制备温度下,表现出丰富的超结构,这些超结构为实现有序的单原子或分子吸附提供了可靠的模板.利用原位硅烯薄膜制备,分子沉积,超高真空扫描隧道显微镜以及扫描隧道谱,本文研究了Ag(111)衬底上3种硅烯超结构((4×4),(■×■),(2■×2■))的电子态结构,表面功函数随超结构的变化,以及CoPc分子在这3种超结构硅烯上的吸附行为.研究结果表明,这3种超结构的硅烯具有类似的电子能带结构,且存在电子从Ag(111)衬底转移到硅烯上的可能性,从而导致硅烯的表面功函数增大,表面功函数在原子级尺度上的变化对分子的选择性吸附起着重要作用.此外,还观察到分子与硅烯的相互作用导致CoPc分子的电子结构发生对称性破缺.     

Electrostatic surface trap for cold polar molecules on a chipElectrostatic surface trap for cold polar molecules on a chipElectrostatic surface trap for cold polar molecules on a chip

We propose a simple scheme for trapping cold polar molecules in low-field seeking states on the surface of a chip by using a grounded metal plate and two finite-length charged wires that half embanked in an insulating suhstrate, calculate the electric field distributions generated by our charged-wire layout in free space and the corresponding Stark potentials for ND3 molecules, and analyze the dependence of the trapping center position on the geometric parameters. Moreover, the loading and trapping processes of cold ND3 molecules are studied by using the Monte Carlo method. Our study shows that the loading efficiency of the trap scheme can reach 11.5%, and the corresponding temperature of the trapped cold molecules is about 26.4 inK.     

Chemical bond approach to the dielectric constant of SbSI

The electronic band structure of SbSI crystal was calculated by Mulliken-Wolfsberg-Helmholtz (MWH) method. The semiempirical evaluation of dipole moments for band-to-band transitions was discussed. It was shown the interatomic transitions contribute mainly to the static dielectric constant ϵ₁(0). The interchain interactions should be taken in consideration to describe the dielectric constant. The chemical bonding of SbSI is discussed.     

Triplet-triplet annihilation of eosin molecules on the anodized aluminum surface

Spectral-kinetic properties of slow-rate fluorescence caused by triplet-triplet annihilation of triplet-excited eosin molecules on the anodized aluminum surface are studied in the temperature interval 120–290 K. The decay kinetics of slow-rate luminescence of adsorbed eosin molecules is analyzed for models of random triplet excitation energy transfer and exchange-resonance energy transfer that considers the relationship between the depth of luminophor penetration into pores of anodized aluminium and the fractal dimension of its surface.Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 10, pp. 7–12, October, 2004.     

Long jumps in the surface diffusion of large molecules

We have studied the diffusion of the two organic molecules DC and HtBDC on the Cu(110) surface by scanning tunneling microscopy. Surprisingly, we find that long jumps, spanning multiple lattice spacings, play a dominating role in the diffusion of these molecules--the root-mean-square jump lengths are as large as 3.9 and 6.8 lattice spacings, respectively. The presence of long jumps is revealed by a new and simple method of analysis, which is tested by kinetic Monte Carlo simulations.     

Chemical bond model of lattice distortions in hexagonal layers

The lattice distortions of a hexagonal layer are discussed in terms of a simple model with isotropic interactions. If only nearest-neighbour interactions are considered, the only stable distorted structures are the MnP structure (with zig-zag chains) and the low-temperature NbS structure (with triangles of metal atoms). If also interactions with more distant atoms are considered, more complicated distortions, as observed in crystals with charge density waves, are possible.     

Effect of nitrogen implantation with overlay coatings on microhardness in 4145 steel

The effect of nitrogen implantation on microhardness in 4145 steel was investigated. Practically no increase in microhardness for 10, 20 and 40 gm loads was observed in samples implanted with a dose of 6.5×10¹⁷N⁺ ions cm^?2 at 94 keV. The effect of ion-beam induced intermixing of aluminium and titanium film (400Å), due to nitrogen implantation was also studied. A noticeable increase of 15% in microhardness was observed. Annealing at temperature ∽300°C proved effective, while a decreasing trend in hardness could be observed for annealing temperatures >300°C. Furthermore, preliminary test indicated that these samples were more suitable for wear-protection.     

Nature of the adhesion bond between epoxy adhesive and steel

The potential difference that appears in the epoxy resin located between two grade 3 steel plates is studied. One of them is stored in epoxy resin to reach equilibrium, and the second plate is coated with an asprepared mixture of epoxy resin with a hardener. It is found that the potential difference decreases in time because of charge transfer by Fe²⁺ ions through epoxy resin. The luminescence and infrared absorption spectra of the epoxy adhesive on the grade 3 steel surface are recorded. An analysis of these spectra shows that Fe²⁺ ions penetrate into the as-prepared mixture of epoxy resin with the hardener, and interact with CN groups in the mixture, and form coordination compounds. As a result, a diffusion layer saturated by the coordination compounds forms at the interface between the steel and the adhesive.