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Alumina Surface Treated Pigmentary Titanium Dioxidewith Suppressed Photoactivity
Pages 51-58
N. Veronovski, M. Lešnik and D. Verhovšek

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.6000/2369-3355.2014.01.01.6

Published: 25 June 2014

 

Abstract: The aim of the optimization of the technological process was to coat the surface of the pigment in a controlled manner and to supress photoactivity in the titanium dioxide (TiO2) pigment. As part of this research, a systematic approach to TiO2 pigment surface treatment with alumina was conducted. Surface treatment with alumina plays a significant role in the improvement of TiO2 properties (e.g. weather resistance and photostability).This research encompasses a raw material analysis and process conditions study. Sodium aluminate and aluminium sulphate were used as a source of alumina hydroxide. The effectiveness of surface treatment was determined using scanning-transmission (STEM) and transmission (TEM) electron microscopy. The photoactivity of pigmentary TiO2 was determined before and after surface treatment. A controlled surface treatment process resulted in pigmentary TiO2 particles with uniform amorphous layers, which supressed the photoactivity of the pigment.

Keywords: Titanium dioxide, Surface treatment, Coatings, Alumina, Photo activity.

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DLC Coatings in Oil and Gas Production
Pages 59-68
Tomasz Liskiewicz and Amal Al-Borno

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.6000/2369-3355.2014.01.01.7

Published: 25 June 2014

 

Abstract: Diamond-like carbon (DLC) coatings are recognized in many sectors as a promising way of controlling wear and the corrosion performance of components. DLC coatings are well established in the automotive industry where they are applied to the moving parts of direct injection fuel systems operating under frictional conditions at high pressures and in the aggressive environment of the combustion chamber. Over the last few years, there have also been an increasing number of reports of DLC coating applications in oil and gas production contexts, including in pipes, shut-off gates and various types of valves.

This paper reviews current efforts to use DLC coatings in the oil and gas sectors and analyses typical coating degradation mechanisms including wear and wear-accelerated corrosion regimes. DLC coating deposition techniques including Physical (PVD) and Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) techniques are elaborated and the unique coating properties obtained from those two methods are assessed. Surface functionalization is discussed including dopants (W and Si) and gradient interlayers. Finally, the outlook for future use of DLC coatings in oil and gas production is discussed.

Keywords: Diamond-like carbon, DLC, surface engineering, functional coatings, tribology, corrosion.

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Tunable Photoluminescence via Thermally Evaporated ZnS Ultra Thin Films
Pages 69-77
Nitu Mandal, Mukul Dubey, Rakesh Kumar Gupta, Baibhav Ghimire, David Galipeau and Qi Hua Fan

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.6000/2369-3355.2014.01.01.8

Published: 25 June 2014

 

Abstract: Low refractive index materials (n<1.3) are not common in nature. However, they are essential for antireflection coatings. In this study porous anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) on glass substrate was fabricated by electrochemical oxidation and subsequent etching. The pore size was modulated from less than 80 nm to more than 250 nm. The pore depth was controlled by electrochemical anodization and/or chemical etching time. It is challenging to effectively quantify the pore structures and the optical properties of such porous materials. Using spectroscopic ellipsometry, the authors showed that the AAO materials had tunable refractive index from 1.25 to 1.40, which is ideal for antireflection coating on glass (n=1.54). In addition, quantitative information on the AAO film porosity, profile structure, film thickness, dielectric constants, and roughness was also derived from the ellipsometry analysis. It was shown that the as-fabricated AAO film included trace amount of residual metal aluminum with an effective thickness ~0.28 nm.

Keywords: Anodic aluminum oxidation, etching, reflectance, refractive index, spectroscopic ellipsometry.

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