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Coatings, Volume 5, Issue 1 (March 2015) – 7 articles , Pages 1-94

Cover Story (view full-size image): Atmospheric pressure plasma jet (APPJ) is used to process nanomaterials for energy devices. APPJ-sintered nanoporous metal oxides and reduced graphene oxides are used for dye-sensitized solar cells. The optimal processing times are less than 1 min. APPJ-processed graphite felts are used for flow batteries to improve the energy efficiency. APPJ treatment can introduce surface modification and doping on carbon-based materials, thereby enhancing the electrochemical reactivity for energy devices. View this paper.

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1875 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Study on the Correlation between Microstructure Corrosion and Wear Resistance of Ag-Cu-Ge Alloys

by Antonio Cusma, Marco Sebastiani, Daniele De Felicis, Andrea Basso and Edoardo Bemporad

Coatings 2015, 5(1), 78-94; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings5010078 - 13 Mar 2015

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 6376

Abstract

In this work, a morphological and structural characterization of a ternary Ag-Cu-Ge alloy of known composition was performed with the aim of evaluating how the passivation parameters (time and temperature) influence the morphological features of the material surface. A nanomechanical characterization was performed in order to correlate the morphology and microstructure of the alloy with its tarnish, wear, and scratch resistance. It was found that the addition of germanium to the alloy not only provides the material with tarnish and fire-stain resistance, but it also improves the scratch and wear resistance owing to the formation of a dense and stable thin oxide layer. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Trends in Coatings and Surface Technology—Feature Papers)

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608 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Micromechanical Simulation of Thermal Cyclic Behavior of ZrO₂/Ti Functionally Graded Thermal Barrier Coatings

by Hideaki Tsukamoto

Coatings 2015, 5(1), 63-77; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings5010063 - 05 Mar 2015

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 5627

Abstract

This study numerically investigates cyclic thermal shock behavior of ZrO₂/Ti functionally graded thermal barrier coatings (FG TBCs) based on a nonlinear mean-field micromechanical approach, which takes into account the time-independent and dependent inelastic deformation, such as plasticity of metals, creep of metals and ceramics, and diffusional mass flow at the ceramic/metal interface. The fabrication processes for the FG TBCs have been also considered in the simulation. The effect of creep and compositional gradation patterns on micro-stress states in the FG TBCs during thermal cycling has been examined in terms of the amplitudes, ratios, maximum and mean values of thermal stresses. The compositional gradation patterns highly affect thermal stress states in case of high creep rates of ZrO₂. In comparison with experimental data, maximum thermal stresses, amplitudes and ratios of thermal stresses can be effective parameters for design of such FG TBCs subject to cyclic thermal shock loadings. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue High Temperature Coatings)

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417 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Role of Cl on Diffusion of Cu in In₂S₃ Layers Prepared by Ion Layer Gas Reaction Method

by Henry Wafula, Musembi Robinson, Albert Juma, Thomas Sakwa, Manasse Kitui, Rodrigo Araoz and Christian-H. Fischer

Coatings 2015, 5(1), 54-62; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings5010054 - 16 Feb 2015

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 5225

Abstract

Ion layer gas reaction (ILGAR) method allows for deposition of Cl-containing and Cl-free In₂S₃ layers from InCl₃ and In(OCCH₃CHOCCH₃)₃ precursor salts, respectively. A comparative study was performed to investigate the role of Cl on the diffusion of Cu from CuSCN source layer into ILGAR deposited In₂S₃ layers. The Cl concentration was varied between 7 and 14 at.% by varying deposition parameters. The activation energies and exponential pre-factors for Cu diffusion in Cl-containing samples were between 0.70 to 0.78 eV and between 6.0 × 10⁻⁶ and 3.2 × 10⁻⁵ cm²/s. The activation energy in Cl-free ILGAR In₂S₃ layers was about three times less compared to the Cl-containing In₂S₃, and the pre-exponential constant six orders of magnitude lower. These values were comparable to those obtained from thermally evaporated In₂S₃ layers. The residual Cl-occupies S sites in the In₂S₃ structure leading to non-stoichiometry and hence different diffusion mechanism for Cu compared to stoichiometric Cl-free layers. Full article

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3778 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Halogen-Free Phosphonate Ionic Liquids as Precursors of Abrasion Resistant Surface Layers on AZ31B Magnesium Alloy

by Tulia Espinosa, José Sanes and María-Dolores Bermúdez

Coatings 2015, 5(1), 39-53; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings5010039 - 28 Jan 2015

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 5760

Abstract

Surface coatings formed by immersion in the ionic liquids (ILs) 1,3-dimethylimidazolium methylphosphonate (LMP101), 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium methylphosphonate (LMP102) and 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium ethylphosphonate (LEP102) on magnesium alloy AZ31B at 50 °C have been studied. The purpose of increasing the temperature was to reduce the immersion time, from 14 days at room temperature, to 48 hours at 50 °C. The abrasion resistance of the coated alloy was studied by microscratching under progressively increasing load, and compared with that of the uncoated material. The order of abrasion resistance as a function of the IL is LEP102 > LMP101 > LMP102, which is in agreement with the order obtained for the coatings grown at room temperature. The maximum reduction in penetration depth with respect to the uncovered alloy, of a 44.5%, is obtained for the sample treated with the ethylphosphonate LEP102. However, this reduction is lower than that obtained when the coating is grown at room temperature. This is attributed to the increased thickness and lower adhesion of the coatings obtained at 50 °C, particularly those obtained from methylphosphonate ionic liquids. The results are discussed from SEM-EDX and profilometry. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Trends in Coatings and Surface Technology—Feature Papers)

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3401 KiB

Open AccessReview

Rapid Atmospheric-Pressure-Plasma-Jet Processed Porous Materials for Energy Harvesting and Storage Devices

by Jian-Zhang Chen, Cheng-Che Hsu, Ching Wang, Wei-Yang Liao, Chih-Hung Wu, Ting-Jui Wu, Hsiao-Wei Liu, Haoming Chang, Shao-Tzu Lien, Hsin-Chieh Li, Chun-Ming Hsu, Peng-Kai Kao, Yao-Jhen Yang and I-Chun Cheng

Coatings 2015, 5(1), 26-38; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings5010026 - 27 Jan 2015

Cited by 30 | Viewed by 9637

Abstract

Atmospheric pressure plasma jet (APPJ) technology is a versatile technology that has been applied in many energy harvesting and storage devices. This feature article provides an overview of the advances in APPJ technology and its application to solar cells and batteries. The ultrafast APPJ sintering of nanoporous oxides and 3D reduced graphene oxide nanosheets with accompanying optical emission spectroscopy analyses are described in detail. The applications of these nanoporous materials to photoanodes and counter electrodes of dye-sensitized solar cells are described. An ultrashort treatment (1 min) on graphite felt electrodes of flow batteries also significantly improves the energy efficiency. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Trends in Coatings and Surface Technology—Feature Papers)

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16927 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Performance Assessment of Low-Noise Road Surfaces in the Leopoldo Project: Comparison and Validation of Different Measurement Methods

by Gaetano Licitra, Mauro Cerchiai, Luca Teti, Elena Ascari, Francesco Bianco and Marco Chetoni

Coatings 2015, 5(1), 3-25; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings5010003 - 15 Jan 2015

Cited by 46 | Viewed by 6428

Abstract

In almost all urban contexts and in many extra-urban conurbations, where road traffic is the main noise pollution source, the use of barriers is not allowed. In these cases, low-noise road surfaces are the most used mitigation action together with traffic flow reduction. Selecting the optimal surface is only the first problem that the public administration has to face. In the second place, it has to consider the issue of assessing the efficacy of the mitigation action. The purpose of the LEOPOLDO project was to improve the knowledge in the design and the characterization of low-noise road surfaces, producing guidelines helpful to the public administrations. Several experimental road surfaces were tested. Moreover, several measurement methods were implemented aiming to select those that are suitable for a correct assessment of the pavement performances laid as mitigation planning. In this paper, the experience gained in the LEOPOLDO project will be described, focusing on both the measurement methods adopted to assess the performance of a low-noise road surface and the criteria by which the experimental results have to be evaluated, presenting a comparison of the obtained results and their monitoring along time. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Low-Noise Road Surfaces)

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114 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Acknowledgement to Reviewers of Coatings in 2014

by Coatings Editorial Office

Coatings 2015, 5(1), 1-2; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings5010001 - 08 Jan 2015

Viewed by 3720

Abstract

The editors of Coatings would like to express their sincere gratitude to the following reviewers for assessing manuscripts in 2014:[...] Full article

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