Table of Contents

Shot peening was used synchronously to improve Fe-based amorphous coating performance by delivering ZrO₂ ceramic particles into a low-temperature region of a flame during the high velocity oxygen flame (HVOF) spray process. The coating became denser, and its hardness became higher via the new process. Moreover, the compressive residual stress was induced by shot peening. The results from the dry friction test indicated that the coating’s wear resistance was enhanced obviously. The wear mechanism of coatings with and without shot peening is an abrasive wear combined with an oxidation wear at wear test conditions of a low load and a low frequency. The coating with the best wear resistance did not have the strongest microhardness but had the highest compressive residual stress. The compressive residual stress had a significant positive influence on the wear resistance at a low frequency, while its effect is weakened at a high frequency. Full article

Present theoretical investigation is a mathematical illustration of an application to endoscopy by incorporating hybrid nanoparticles and an induced magnetic field with a rheological fluid model for more realistic results. Rheological fluid behavior is characterized by the Ostwald-de-Waele power-law model. A hybrid nanofluid mechanism is considered comprising platelet-shaped nanoparticles since nanoparticles are potential drug transportation tools in biomedical applications. Moreover, ciliary activity is encountered regarding their extensive applications in performing complex functions along with buoyancy effects. An endoscope is inserted inside a ciliated tube and peristalsis occurred due to ciliary activity in the gap between tube and endoscope. A non-Newtonian model is developed by mathematical formulation which is tackled analytically using homotopy analysis. The outcomes are interpreted graphically along with the pressure rise and streamlining configuration for the case of negligible inertial forces and long wavelength. A three-dimensional graphical interpretation of axial velocity is studied as well. Moreover, tables are prepared and displayed for a more physical insight. Full article

Dodecyl pyridinium bromide (DDPB), tetradecyl pyridinium bromide (TDPB) and dodecyl 1,1′-bispyridinium dibromide (DDBPB) were successfully synthesized, characterized and evaluated for HCl pickling of X-60 low carbon steel. Order of corrosion inhibitions efficiencies, as revealed by both electrochemical and gravimetric studies, is TDPB > DDPB > DDBPB. The degree of hydrophilicity of inhibitors as predicted by a partition coefficient (Log P) and supported by a contact angle measurement was found to be responsible for their order of corrosion inhibition efficiencies. Adsorption of DDPB, TDPB, and DDBPB through the pyridinium nitrogen on mild steel surface was confirmed by ATR-FTIR and SEM-EDX analyses. The pyridinium nitrogen was found not to be the only factor responsible for their efficiency, but hydrophobes and the orientation of the hydrophilic ring were responsible, which incline to the deviation of experimental results and the order of Monte Carlo simulation adsorption energies. DDPB, TDPB, and DDBPB obey the Langmuir isotherm model despite major contributions of the film formed on the surface of X-60 mild steel on their overall inhibition corrosion resistance. Full article

In this work, polyester/TiO₂ coatings on wood surfaces were prepared in one step via two deposition methods by using an atmospheric pressure plasma jet technique with the aim to further enhance the stabilization of the wood surfaces against UV-radiation and moisture. The first method, based on the combination of plasma spray powder (PSP) coating and liquid precursor plasma spraying (LPPS) coating techniques, used polyester powder and titanium tetraisopropoxide (TTIP) liquid precursor as feedstock. In the second method, the polyester/TiO₂ coatings were prepared by using a mixed powder of polyester micro-particles and TiO₂ nano-particles as feedstock and applied via plasma spray powder coating technique. The surface topology and morphology of the wood samples were observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The SEM results showed the presence of a rough structure after coating with polyester/TiO₂. The surface chemical compositions of the samples were characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The wetting behaviour of the coated wood surfaces was studied by measuring the water contact angle. After coating a hydrophilic wood surface with polyester/TiO₂ prepared via (PSP + LPPS), it showed excellent water repellency; the wood surfaces were transformed from hydrophilic to superhydrophobic, while the polyester/TiO₂ coating prepared via (PSP) was hydrophilic. Protection against UV radiation-induced colour changes was determined by UV tests and photo-assisted analysis using the CIELab colour system. The abrasion test results indicated that the polyester-containing films had good abrasion resistance and good adhesion to the wood substrates. Full article

PEMFC are considered to be the most promising for automotive energy because of their good working effect, low temperature, high efficiency, and zero pollution. Stainless steel as a PEMFC bipolar plate has unparalleled advantages in strength, cost, and processability, but it is easy to corrode in a PEMFC working environment. In order to improve the corrosion resistance, the surface modification of 316L stainless steel is a feasible solution for PEMFC bipolar plates. In the present study, the plasma-nitrided coating and CrN_x coating were prepared by the plasma-enhanced balanced magnetron sputtering technology on the 316L stainless steel surface. The microstructures, phase compositions, and corrosion resistance behavior of the coatings were investigated. The corrosion behavior of the prepared plasma-nitrided coating and CrN_x coating was investigated by potentiodynamic polarization, potentiostatic polarization, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) in both cathodic and anodic environments. The experimental results show that corrosion resistance of the CrN_x coating was better than the plasma-nitrided coating. It was indicated that the technology process of nitriding first and then depositing Cr was better than nitriding only. Full article

Herein, we report the fabrication of a modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) with high-performance hydrazine sensor based on Fe-doped TiO₂ nanoparticles prepared via a facile and low-cost hydrothermal method. The structural morphology, crystalline, crystallite size, vibrational and scattering properties were examined through different characterization techniques, including FESEM, XRD, FTIR, UV–Vis, Raman and photoluminescence spectroscopy. FESEM analysis revealed the high-density synthesis of Fe-doped TiO₂ nanoparticles with the average diameter of 25 ± 5 nm. The average crystallite size of the synthesized nanoparticles was found to be around 14 nm. As-fabricated hydrazine chemical sensors exhibited 1.44 μA µM⁻¹ cm⁻² and 0.236 µM sensitivity and limit of detection (LOD), respectively. Linear dynamic ranged from 0.2 to 30 µM concentrations. Furthermore, the Fe-doped TiO₂ modified GCE showed a negligible inference behavior towards ascorbic acid, uric acid, glucose, SO₄²⁻, NO₃⁻, Pb²⁺ and Ca²⁺ ions on the hydrazine sensing performance. Thus, Fe-doped TiO₂ modified GCE can be efficiently used as an economical, easy to fabricate and selective sensing of hydrazine and its derivatives. Full article

To investigate the antibacterial effects of two newly developed quaternary ammonium salts (QAMs)-dimethylaminododecyl methacrylate (DMADDM) and dimethylaminohexadecyl methacrylate (DMAHDM), in the presence of various root canal inhibitors. Streptococcus gordonii, Enterococcus faecalis, Lactobacillus acidophilus and Actinomyces naeslundii were used. Dentine, dentine matrix and dead bacteria were selected as inhibitors. The antimicrobial efficacy of monomers of DMADDM and DMAHDM was tested against suspensions formed by mixtures of four bacterial species in or without the presence of inhibitors. The inhibition results were compared with chlorhexidine (CHX) and sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl). One-way analyses of variance (ANOVA) followed by Tukey’s multiple comparison test was performed to determine significant differences. The antibacterial effects of DMADDM and DMAHDM were variably inhibited dentine, dentine matrix and dead bacteria. CHX and NaOCl showed substantivity and they inhibited bacteria present in suspension. The concentration of compound decreased in the dentine block due to constant release. Bacterial colonies on the dentine surface and dentine tubules were significantly inhibited by DMADDM and DMAHDM. The antibacterial effects of DMADDM and DMAHDM could be inactivated by dentine, dentine matrix and dead bacteria, while DMADDM and DMAHDM could inhibit bacteria colonization on the dentine surface and kill bacteria present in dentinal tubules. The antibacterial effects of DMADDM and DMAHDM as free monomers in the presence of inhibitors was evaluated for the first time. They could help inhibit the residual bacteria on the dentine surface and in dentinal tubules that may cause persisting infection. Therefore the novel QAMs showed great potentials as root canal medication. Full article

The advanced design of a millimeter-wave quasi-optical beamforming device (QOBD) based on the ferroelectric ceramic was elaborated and considered. Among the advantages of the proposed design are simplicity and cost-effectiveness in contrast to conventional analog and digital beamforming devices based on array antennas. The use of ferroelectric ceramic in the QOBD design allows operating in a wide frequency range up to 100 GHz. The advanced topology of discrete radiotransparent electrodes to provide a realization of different beamforming functions such as beam focusing and beam scanning was considered. The prototype of the proposed QOBD was designed to operate at 60 GHz. The measured radiation pattern of the QOBD prototype is in good agreement with the simulated one. Measurements demonstrate decreasing of beamwidth of the primary antenna radiation pattern by the lens prototype operating in the beam focusing regime. Full article

Coating materials can effectively protect stone-built cultural heritage and, as such, research into coating materials has gained comprehensive attention from researchers. The aim of this work is to prepare a TiO₂-modified sol coating material (TSCM) and study its protective effects on stone-built cultural heritage. TSCM and pure TiO₂ sol (p-sol, unmodified; for comparison) were applied evenly over the entire surface of stone samples. The prepared stone samples included untreated stone, stone treated with pure sol, and stone treated with TSCM. The protective effects of TSCM were evaluated by water absorption, water vapor permeability, acid resistance, and weather resistance experiments. The results show that stone treated with TSCM has excellent water absorption and water vapor permeability, strong acid resistance, and good weather resistance, compared with untreated stone or stone treated with p-sol. The acid resistance of stone treated by TSCM was 1.75 times higher than that treated with traditional coating materials. The weather resistance cycle number of stone treated by TSCM was four times higher than that treated with organic protective materials. These findings are expected to provide useful suggestions for the protection of stone-built cultural heritage. Full article

A puncture biopsy is a widely used, minimally invasive surgery process. During the needle insertion process, the needle body is always in direct contact with a biological soft tissue. Tissue adhesion and different degrees of tissue damage occur frequently. Optimization of the needle surface, and especially the lubrication of the needle surface, can deal with these problems efficiently. Therefore, in this paper, a biocompatible hydrophilic coating was applied onto the surface of a needle to improve the surface quality of the needle surface. Further, a simplified finite element model of insertion was established, and extracorporeal insertion experiments were used to verify the accuracy of the model. Then, by analyzing a simulation model of a coated needle and a conventional needle, the influence of the application of the coated needle on the insertion process was obtained. It can be seen from the results that the coating application relieved the force on the needle and the soft tissue during the insertion process and could significantly reduce friction during the insertion process. At the same time, the deformation of biological soft tissue was reduced, and the adhesion situation between the needle and tissue improved, which optimized the puncture needle. Full article

Using TiO₂-15MgAl₂O₄ mixed powder as spray-feed, an electrical-heating coating was successfully fabricated by atmospheric plasma spraying technology. The phase composition, microstructure, and electrical-heating performance of the coating were characterized by XRD, SEM, and cyclic electrification tests, respectively. The coating samples were heat-treated at 350 °C in a hydrogen atmosphere. The results show that TiO₂-15MgAl₂O₄ coating can be heated over 300 °C within 30 m at 55.1 V which preserves heat for a long time. Before heat treatment, the available heating temperature of the coating decreases significantly with electrification cycles. The resistivity of coating rises rapidly during the cyclic electricity test. After hydrogen heat treatment, the electrical-heating property of coatings is significantly enhanced. Full article

H13 die steel often fails as a result of physical and chemical effects such as wear, erosion and cyclic stress. Accordingly, the study evaluates Co-based gradient coating on an H13 steel featuring a stress-relieving effect. Scanning electron microscope and X-ray diffraction were used to analyze the microstructure and phase of the coatings. A microhardness tester and friction and wear tester were used to compare the hardness and wear resistance of the coatings and the substrate, and the wear morphology was observed. A pendulum impact test was used to compare the impact resistance of the coatings and the substrate, and the fracture morphology was observed. Finally, a corrosion test was used to compare the corrosion resistance of coatings and substrate. The results show that the Co-based gradient coatings have good combinations with the substrate, the hard phase content gradually increases from the bottom to the top of the coating, and the crystal microstructure generally maintains a distribution trend from coarse to fine. The hardness of the gradient coatings is significantly higher than the substrate, and from the coating surface to the substrate, the hardness decreases slowly. The wear loss of the coatings is much lower than that of the substrate, the main wear mechanism of the substrate is abrasive wear, and the main wear mechanism of the coatings is brittle spalling. While the gradient coatings increase the surface hardness, the brittleness also increases, the impact resistance of the coatings is lower than that of the substrate, the fracture form of the substrate is a ductile fracture, and the fracture form of the coating is a brittle fracture. The gradient coatings effectively improve the corrosion resistance of the substrate surface, and the higher the content of the reinforcing phase, the better the corrosion resistance of the coatings. Full article

Comparative analysis of dry sliding wear behavior of nanocrystalline diamond (NCD) films and NCD films coated with a thin Al₂O₃ layer (Al₂O₃/NCD) is the main goal of the present study. Plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) and atomic layer deposition (ALD) methods were used to prepare the NCD and alumina films, respectively. Sliding wear tests were conducted at room temperature (RT), 300 and 450 °C in air. Independent of type of specimen, superlubricating behavior with the coefficient of friction (COF) in the range of 0.004‒0.04 was found for the tests at 300 °C. However, the COF value measured on the Al₂O₃/NCD films in the tests at 450 °C is lower than that for the NCD film. A relatively short run-in period and a stable COF value of about 0.15 were observed at this temperature for the Al₂O₃/NCD films. The width of the wear scars measured on the Al₂O₃/NCD films after the tests at 450 °C is significantly smaller in comparison with the NCD film. The apparent wear volume of the wear scar on the NCD film tested at 450 °C was noticeably higher than that on the Al₂O₃/NCD films. Full article

Two fluoroalkylated vinyltrimethoxysilane oligomer (R_F-(CH₂CHSi(OMe)₃)_n-R_F; n = 2, 3; R_F = CF(CF₃)OC₃F₇:R_F-VMSi) in methanol reacted with aqueous sodium carbonate solution containing 2-hydroxy-4,6-dichloro-1,3,5-triazine sodium salt (TAZ) to provide two fluoroalkylated oligomeric silica/TAZ nanocomposites (R_F-VMSiO₂/TAZ). The original cotton fabric gives an oleophilic/hydrophilic property on its surface; however, modified cotton fabric surface with R_F-VMSiO₂/TAZ composites was demonstrated to provide highly oleophobic/superhydrophobic property on the surface. We can observe a remarkable time-dependent decrease of the contact angle of dodecane (oil) on the modified surfaces, and the contact angles of dodecane were found to decrease effectively from 55 ${}^{\circ }$ –83 ${}^{\circ }$ to 0 ${}^{\circ }$ over 5–30 s to supply superoleophilicity with keeping the superhydrophobic property on the surfaces. The modified cotton fabric having superoleophilic/superhydrophobic property was applicable to the separation membrane to separate oil and water. Interestingly, modified cotton fabric was found to adsorb efficiently only droplets of oil spread on the water interface due to its unique surface wettability. Full article

The Al₂O₃ + TiO₂ coatings are of the interest of surface technology and tribology due to their good wear resistance and enhanced toughness comparing to pure Al₂O₃ coatings. However, the detailed effect of the used feedstock powder, is often neglected. Here, this work focuses on the deposition of Al₂O₃ + 13 wt % TiO₂ coatings by atmospheric plasma spraying (APS) method as well as on their microstructure, phase composition and selected mechanical properties, in the reference to the route of the powder feedstock preparation. The commercial powder Metco 6221 in agglomerated and sintered form was used as a feedstock material during spraying, due to the fact that, so far, sintered or cladded powders are the most studied ones. The 2^k + 1 spray experiment allowed to evaluate the influence of two variables, namely spray distance and torch linear velocity, on the coating microstructure. Afterwards, the coating adhesion was measured by the means of pull-off test. The correlations between Vickers microhardness, fracture toughness (Kc) as well as the coating morphology and phase composition were investigated. Finally, the dry sliding wear resistance was studied by using Ball-on-Disc method. Full article

This study investigated polysiloxane hybrid sol-gel coatings synthesized from tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS), 3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate (MAPTMS) and two different precursors, i.e., methyl- or ethyl- methacrylate (MMA or EMA), as corrosion protection of aluminium alloy 7075-T6. The hypothesis was that the additional alkyl group might affect the chemical properties and, consequently, the corrosion properties. Synthesis of the sols proceeded in two steps, each involving either MMA or EMA in the same molar ratio. The resulting sols, siloxane-(poly(methyl methacrylate-co-MAPTMS)) or siloxane-(poly(ethyl methacrylate-co-MAPTMS)), were applied on aluminium alloy followed by characterization in terms of chemical structure and composition, topography, wettability, adhesion and corrosion resistance in 0.1 M sodium chloride solution. The chemical properties of sols, monoliths and coatings were investigated using Fourier transform infrared spectrometry, solid state nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry. Coatings were similar in terms of surface topography, while the wettability of the coating with EMA showed 6° greater water contact angle compared to the coating with MMA. Both coatings were shown, by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy in 0.1 M NaCl solution, to act as barriers to protect the underlying substrate in which coating with EMA exhibits better protection properties after 2 months of immersion. Adhesion tests confirmed the highest grade of adhesion to the substrate for both coatings. Testing in a salt-spray chamber demonstrated excellent corrosion protection, where coatings remaining intact after more than 600 h of exposure. Full article

In this paper, a variety of micro-textures made by imitating the biological body surface are mentioned, and four common biomimetic texture types—convex hull, pit, groove and corrugation—are summarized by referring to a large number of literatures. These texture types that are widely used are those of the grooves and the pits of non-smooth surface because their viscosity drag reduction effects are relatively optimal for wear-resistance; in view of these two types of textures (with others including pit diameter, groove width, depth and area of share, and morphology spacing), we use data analysis and comparisons to find optimal parameter values in order to find the optimal effect of drag reduction and anti-sticking wear-resistance. Several texture processing methods are briefly introduced through case analysis and an illustration of the viscosity drag reduction mechanism of wear-resistance, and general fluid dynamic pressure is deduced from a theory formula in order to facilitate future research work on the basis of the optimal parameters to further improve the friction, wear lubrication, and hydrophobic properties, thus improving the bionic texture surface efficiency of saving energy and reducing consumption in industrial applications. Full article

This article explores the impact of a magnetic dipole on the heat transfer phenomena of different nano-particles Fe (ferromagnetic) and Fe ${}_3$ O ${}_4$ (Ferrimagnetic) dispersed in a base fluid ( $60\%$ water + $40\%$ ethylene glycol) on micro-polar fluid flow over a stretching sheet. A magnetic dipole in the presence of the ferrities of nano-particles plays an important role in controlling the thermal and momentum boundary layers. The use of magnetic nano-particles is to control the flow and heat transfer process through an external magnetic field. The governing system of partial differential equations is transformed into a system of coupled nonlinear ordinary differential equations by using appropriate similarity variables, and the transformed equations are then solved numerically by using a variational finite element method. The impact of different physical parameters on the velocity, the temperature, the Nusselt number, and the skin friction coefficient is shown. The velocity profile decreases in the order Fe (ferromagnetic fluid) and Fe ${}_3$ O ${}_4$ (ferrimagnetic fluid). Furthermore, it was observed that the Nusselt number is decreasing with the increasing values of boundary parameter $\left(\delta \right)$ , while there is controversy with respect to the increasing values of radiation parameter $\left(N\right)$ . Additionally, it was observed that the ferromagnetic case gained maximum thermal conductivity, as compared to ferrimagnetic case. In the end, the convergence of the finite element solution was observed; the calculations were found by reducing the mesh size. Full article

The aim of this study was to develop a multifunctional biomedical coating that is highly corrosion resistant, biocompatible, and reveals the bioactive properties. For that purpose, titanium dioxide coatings doubly-doped with Ca and Ag ions were deposited by dip-coating onto M30NW biomedical steel. The influence of different ratios of Ca and Ag dopants on morphology, surface structure, corrosion resistance, bioactivity, wettability, and biological properties of TiO₂-based sol-gel coatings was studied and discussed. Comprehensive measurements were performed including atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray reflectivity (XRR), corrosion tests, immersion test, contact angle, as well as biological evaluation. The obtained results confirmed that anatase-based coatings containing Ca and Ag ions, independently of their molar ratio in the coating, are anticorrosive, hydrophilic, and bioactive. The results of the biological evaluation indicated that investigated coatings are biocompatible and do not reduce the proliferation ability of the osteoblasts cells. Full article

Three-component waterborne silicone antifouling coatings, which could cured at room temperature, were prepared, respectively, with cationic (stearyl trimethyl ammonium bromide) or anionic (sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate) silicone emulsion as a film-forming substance, γ-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane as a curing agent and dibutyltin dilaurate as a catalyst. The effect of emulsifier on the structure and properties of silicone coating was studied. The results showed that the coating with cationic silicone emulsion had high crosslinking density, and its surface is smooth. The surface of the coating prepared by the anionic silicone emulsion is rough. Emulsifier type had no obvious effect on the surface free energy of the waterborne silicone coating. The coatings have the characteristics of low surface energy and excellent bacterial desorption properties. Stearyl trimethyl ammonium bromide in the cured coating can reduce the adhesion of marine bacteria on the coating surface. Both the emulsifiers can inhibit the activity of Navicula Tenera. The waterborne silicone coating prepared by cationic silicone emulsion has better comprehensive mechanical properties and antifouling performance. Full article

Water pipes and drinking water quality deterioration in distribution systems and sea water desalination impose the use of corrosion inhibitors. The protective effect of spiropyrazole derivatives against Q235 steel and its adsorption performance were examined in solution of 1 M HCl utilizing TP (Tafel polarization), electrochemical frequency modulation (EFM), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) tests. The outcome data from hindrance efficiency rise with the dose of inhibitor. The orders of %IE of spiropyrazole derivatives are given: (1) > (2) > (3).It was noted that the values of E_HOMO and E_LUMO dropping in order run parallel to the improvement in %IE, which support the preceding order. EIS spectra exhibited one capacitive loop and approve the protective ability. Molecular docking was utilized to get a full picture on the binding mode among spiropyrazoles derivatives and the receptor of 3tt8-hormone of crystal structure examination of Cu human insulin derivative. The morphology of protected Q235 steel was evaluated by checking electron magnifying instrument innovation with energy dispersive X-beam spectroscopy (SEM–EDX). Full article

The amount of plastics used globally today exceeds a million tonnes annually, with an alarming annual growth. The final result is that plastic packaging is thrown into the environment, and the problem of waste is increasing every year. A real alternative is the use bio-based polymer packaging materials. Research carried out in the laboratory context and products tested at the industrial level have confirmed the success of replacing plastic-based packaging with new, edible or completely biodegradable foils. Of the polysaccharides used to obtain edible materials, sodium alginate has the ability to form films with certain specific properties: resistance, gloss, flexibility, water solubility, low permeability to O₂ and vapors, and tasteless or odorless. Initially used as coatings for perishable or cut fresh fruits and vegetables, these sodium alginate materials can be applied to a wide range of foods, especially in the meat industry. Used to cover meat products, sodium alginate films prevent mass loss and degradation of color and texture. The addition of essential oils prevents microbial contamination with Escherichia coli, Salmonella enterica, Listeria monocytogenes, or Botrytis cinerea. The obtained results promote the substitution of plastic packaging with natural materials based on biopolymers and, implicitly, of sodium alginate, with or without other natural additions. These natural materials have become the packaging of the future. Full article

If the coating is sufficiently flexible, no tears, cracks, or debond will occur. Although geopolymers have a great potential as a coating material, research on the flexural properties is very limited. In this study, a three-point bending test and scanning electron microscope were used to investigate the flexural properties and microstructure of the geopolymer composite coating (GCC), respectively. Response Surface Methodology (RSM) consists of a combination of mathematical and statistical techniques, which is useful in modelling, analyzing, and optimizing responses that are influenced by several factors. It was used in determining the relationship between each factor and determining the best composition for the composite coating. Several factors were considered including ratio of activated alkaline (AA) solution (V₁), RHA/AA ratio (V₂), and curing temperature (V₃). Results showed that the RHA/AA ratio mostly influenced the response, followed by curing temperature while the ratio of AA was not significant. Lower V₂ and V₃ values provided the highest flexural strength and modulus. The optimum composition which provided the best coating of flexural properties were V₁ = 3.5, V₂ = 0.39, and V₃ = 45.7 °C. Microscopic images showed that coating with high flexural properties (ductile coating) exhibited minor and rough cracks as compared to that of coating with low flexural properties (brittle coating) which displayed a crack with a clean linear cut. Brittle coating was highly agglomerated and has a significant negative effect on the flexural properties. By developing the optimum composition, the GCC may potentially be a good alternative as a building construction coating material. Full article

A layer-by-layer deposition is essential for fabricating the Cu interconnects in a nanoscale-sized microelectronics because the gap-filling capability limits the film deposition step coverage on trenches/vias. Conventional layer-by-layer electrochemical deposition of Cu typically works by using two electrolytes, i.e., a sacrificial Pb electrolyte and a Cu electrolyte. However, the use of a Pb electrolyte is known to cause environmental issues. This study presents an Mn monolayer, which mediated the electrochemical growth of Cu(Mn) film through a sequence of alternating an underpotential deposition (UPD) of Mn, replacing the conventionally used UPD-Pb, with a surface-limited redox replacement (SLRR) of Cu. The use of the sacrificial Mn monolayer uniquely provides redox replacement by Cu²⁺ owing to the standard reductive potential differences. Repeating the sequence of the UPD-Mn followed by the SLRR-Cu enables Cu(Mn) film growth in an atomic layer growth manner. Further, controlling the time of open circuit potential (OCP) during the Cu-SLRR yields a technique to control the content of the resultant Cu(Mn) film. A longer OCP time caused more replacement of the UPD-Mn by the Cu²⁺, thus resulting in a Cu(Mn) film with a higher Cu concentration. The proposed layer-by-layer growth method offers a wet, chemistry-based deposition capable of fabricating Cu interconnects without the use of the barrier layer and can be of interest in microelectronics. Full article

This article examines a wire coating technique using a viscoelastic Eyring–Powell fluid in which magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) flow, thermal transfer, and Joule heating effects are studied. Temperature-dependent, variable-viscosity models are used. Flexible-viscosity models which are temperature dependent are also considered. The interface of the thermal boundary layer which describe the flux and thermal convection phenomena, are evaluated by using a dominant numerical technique known as the fourth-order Runge–Kutta method. In particular, this article takes into account the impact of a permeable matrix which behaves like a dielectric in order to avoid heat dissipation. The effect of thermal generation is also explained, since it controls power. The novel effects for the numerous parameters which affect the velocity and temperature profiles on the wire coating process are investigated through graphs explained in detail. These include non-Newtonian, hydromagnetic, permeability, and heat source/sink effects. For validation purposes, the numerical scheme is also compared with a semi-numerical technique HAM and BVPh2 software, and found a closed agreement with the numerical results. Full article

Pavement skid resistance is an important guarantee for driving safety. However, it is very difficult to determine the exact friction in a field environment. In order to overcome the limitations of traditional evaluation methods, the effect mechanism of surface 3D (three-dimensional) texture on skid resistance was firstly analyzed. Then the surface 3D texture of pavement was acquired through an improved binocular reconstruction method. Additionally, the relationship between friction coefficient and 3D texture was also analyzed. Subsequently, under the concept of IFI (international friction index) used to harmonize different detection methods of skid resistance, the evaluation model of skid resistance based 3D texture was further established. The results showed that the multiple quadratic multinomial regression model can well describe the relationship between skid resistance and texture indicators. The establishment of an improved evaluation model is simple to operate and implement. It can directly evaluate the skid resistance on pavement surface once the aggregates’ type and 3D texture are known. This evaluation model not only overcomes the challenges of friction coefficient with a strong conditional restriction, but also provides a harmonious approach for different detection methods in the evaluation of pavement skid resistance. Full article

By using the methods of XRD, SEM/EDS, electrochemical polarization, and a weight loss test, the effects of the rare earth salt CeCl₃ on the adherence, hardness, porosity and corrosion resistance of an electroplated Pd-Ni film on 316L stainless steel were studied. The results showed that by adding 1.0 g L⁻¹ CeCl₃ in the plating bath, the obtained Pd-Ni film was obviously improved. The grain size was refined, and the microstructure was more compact and uniform. The film hardness and the adherence to the substrate increased, and the corrosion resistance in a 20 wt % H₂SO₄ solution (80 °C) obviously increased. Ce³⁺ increased the throwing power of the bath, which resulted in more uniform current distribution and strengthened the cathodic polarization degree during the electroplating process. Full article

The existing coating systems used for the preparation of super-hydrophobic surfaces are facing new challenges because the use of organic solvents and long-carbon-chain organic fluorine monomers is banned. In this article, the authors have proven that by using inductively coupled plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) with argon (Ar), which is a completely dry process, lauryl methacrylate (LMA) can produce a stable super-hydrophobic coating effect. The effect of electron temperature on the super-hydrophobicity of cotton fabrics is investigated in terms of water repellency, chemical composition, and surface morphology. It is found that the improvement in the hydrophobicity of cotton fabric is attributed to the deposition of alkyl and ester groups, and the formation of a micro–nano-structure on the surface of the fabric after plasma treatment. The electron temperature plays an important role in achieving the super-hydrophobicity of cotton fabrics. The plasma-enhanced coating may offer a safe and dry super-hydrophobic technique with diverse applications. Full article

The effect of chromizing time on the microstructure and properties of B–Cr duplex-alloyed coating prepared by a two-step pack-cementation process was investigated. The phases, microstructure, and element distribution of three coatings obtained were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), secondary electron imaging (SEI), backscattering electron imaging (BSEI), and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), respectively. The results show that as the chromizing time increases, the net-like Fe₂B and rod-like CrFeB phases in the coating gradually disappear, and finally completely transform into the block-like Cr₂B and Cr_xC_y (Cr₇C₃ and Cr₂₃C₆) phases. The growth kinetics analysis shows that interface reaction dominates the coating growth during the early stage of chromizing, while atomic diffusion gradually controls the coating growth at the later stage. The evolution mechanism of the B-Cr duplex-alloyed coating was also discussed. Full article

In the present study, the influence of experimental variables on the growth characteristics and texture development in chemically vapour deposited α-Al₂O₃ coatings was investigated. The emphasis was on the effects of H₂S. The α-Al₂O₃ layers were deposited from the AlCl₃-H₂-CO₂-HCl-H₂S precursor system onto intermediate Ti(C,N) layers. The substrate was cemented carbide. The coatings were characterized with respect to microstructure and texture using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and electron back-scattering diffraction. The observations were unpredictable, suggesting that in addition to the growth rate, H₂S strongly affected the texture of the α-Al₂O₃ coatings. The uncatalyzed α-Al₂O₃ coatings (H₂S = 0) developed (11 $\overline{2}$ 0) texture. With the increment of H₂S concentration the texture changed from (11 $\overline{2}$ 0) texture through (10 $\overline{1}$ 0), (10 $\overline{1}$ 2) and (10 $\overline{1}$ 4) textures to (0001) texture. Growth regimes for (11 $\overline{2}$ 0), (10 $\overline{1}$ 0), (10 $\overline{1}$ 2), (10 $\overline{1}$ 4) and (0001) textures were depicted as a function of the H₂S/CO₂ ratio. Examples of grain-boundary and microstructural manipulation of CVD α-Al₂O₃ layers by applying texture control were presented. Full article