Material Application of a Transformer Box: A Study on the Electromagnetic Shielding Characteristics of Al–Ta Coating Film with Plasma-Spray Process
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
The paper presents investigation result on Ta and Al for EMI shielding over SS box. The multilayer of Ta/Al/SS were tested under various conditions, to enhance heat-resistant, explosion-proof and electromagnetic waves shielding. The topic is not new, but it is always actual since the number of applications significantly increased for the last few years. Nowadays, the EMI shielding is the aspect that has to be taken into consideration in many industrial and household applications.
Minor remarks:
1. line 53. Plasma not P.lasma
2. line 55 1 mm not 1mm
3. lines 63-68 different color, why?
4. line 79 ?? 300K to 3GHz ???
5. line 87, Fig.
6. line 89, the formula
7. line 95, Al2O3
and many other lines, please double check the paper.
Conclusions should be rewritten.
Author Response
Manuscript ID: coatings-556412
Reviewer1 ’s Comments:
1. Comments and Suggestions for Authors
The paper presents investigation result on Ta and Al for EMI shielding over SS box. The multilayer of Ta/Al/SS were tested under various conditions, to enhance heat-resistant, explosion-proof and electromagnetic waves shielding. The topic is not new, but it is always actual since the number of applications significantly increased for the last few years. Nowadays, the EMI shielding is the aspect that has to be taken into consideration in many industrial and household applications.
Thanks for the encourage of reviewer.
2. line 53. Plasma not P.lasma
Have revised.
3. line 55 1 mm not 1mm
Have revised.
4. lines 63-68 different color, why?
Have revised.
5. line 79 ?? 300K to 3GHz ???
This is instrument’s scanning frequency range from 300 K to 3 GHz with an accuracy of ±10 ppm.( minimum to maximum range)
6. line 87, Fig.
The article has been modified.
7. line 89, the formula
Electromagnetic wave shielding was measured and automatic calculation by instrument (electromagnetic wave equation not shown here) [25]
[25] Tipler, Paul. Physics for Scientists and Engineers: Electricity, Magnetism, Light, and Elementary Modern Physics (5th ed.). W. H. Freeman. 2004. ISBN 0-7167-0810-8.
The article has been modified.
8. line 95, Al2O3
Have revised.
9. And many other lines, please double check the paper.
Thanks for the comments and encouragement.
10. Conclusions should be rewritten.
Have revised.
Author Response File: 
Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 2 Report
Dear Dr. Fei-Shuo Hung,
I thoroughly read your manuscript, and despite your efforts, the manuscript in the present form and with this content is not acceptable at all for any further revision.
It lacks any explanation on how you measured certain physical quantities, any explanation on how the change in relative humidity improve the electromagnetic shielding, figures of surface (?) and/or section of the layers, multilayers misrepresent the results.
You are offering to the readers a bunch of data and results weakly supported by explanation and details.
In the following you will find my few comments to your manuscript, which, I hope, will help you to improve the content.
My best regards.
1. The Abstract must be completely rewritten and please avoid all the “in order to”: only “to” is enough. I would write:
In this study we present the results of two experiments. In the first one, Ta/Al/S.S.(stainless steel, S.S.) multilayer coating structure was prepared by plasma spraying equipment to investigate the coating structure and interface properties. In the second one, Ta/Al on glass multilayer was preparare by sputtering process to measure the thickness effect of thin film on the electromagnetic wave shielding (EMI) characteristics and to the design of the high power switchboard covers.
According to the experimental results, the multilayer structure of Ta/Al on S.S. improve the mechanical properties of the stainless steel plate by enhancing the explosion-proof property. Appropriate thickness of plasma sprayed aluminum layer can increase the adhesion to the stainless steel substrate and buffer the the stress effect. After heat treatment (annealing), the Ta/Al/S.S. multilayer structural characteristics is excellent and suitable for shielding effect < to what??? > at different temperatures and humidity, which can be used as a reference for engineering application of communication room and base power station.
According to EMI test of multi-coated glass 19 (Ta/Al/glass), by increasing the thickness of Ta layer, we cannot effectively improve the full-frequency EMI shielding, however, with improved shielding at low-mid frequency condition. In addition, the Ta/Al interface formation of Al-Ta-O compound layer can improve the adiabatic effect to reduce the thermal conductivity.
2. Line 30: contains instead of contained.
3. Line 30-32: please, a better description.
4. Line 32: remove “The switchboards are placed in the residential area”
5. Line 32-36: the switchboard covers must contain the strong electromagnetic field, and be fire- and explosion-proof. The ideal electromagnetic shielding material must effectively protect from the strong electromagnetic variable fields, have light weight, thin thickness, and strong mechanical properties.
6. Line 37- 39: Moreover, the shielding has to be adapted to various environmental conditions, such as high temperature resistance, high pressure resistance, rust resistance, dust resistance, high explosion resistance and electrical conductivity.
7. Line 43. “causing the application effect on the materials is reduced” change to Therefore the coating effect is reduced by aging.
8. Line 43-51: Previous studies found that Ta and Al have excellent EMI shielding. By following them, in these current studies we found that the plasma coating of stainless-steel plate (304 S.S.) with Ta/Al multilayer enhances heat-resistant, explosion-proof and electromagnetic waves shielding performance. TO better understand the quality and interface characteristics of the coating multilayer, we investigated Ta/Al multilayer structure on glass to evaluate the EMI shielding. Our results can be straightforward guide the design of switchboard covers, and be a reference for EMI engineering applications to equipment room, high power stations, and medical institutions.
9. Line 53-74: unreadable, un-understandable.
10. Line 76:82: rewrite: The Ta/Al multilayer structures on glass were exclusively prepared to investigate the EMI shielding. The thickness of the coating was set to Al (50 nm), Ta (100, 200, 400 nm). The coaxial electromagnetic wave shielding effect tester (Elgal set 19A coaxial holder) is used with scanning frequency range from 300K to 3 GHz and accuracy of ±10 ppm. Normal incident plane waves were used. The measured frequency range was controlled in the range between 50 MHz to 3000 MHz. All the results were averaged in 3~5 points data. FInally the shielding efficiency value is obtained by calculation. < Please give the equation, formula >
Results and Discussion:
1. Clearly divide it in 2 subparagraphs: Stainless steel and glass cases.
2. Line 84: remove.
3. Line 85-86: Figure 1 shows the characteristics of Al laye as an eneven morphology and irregular surface roughness.
4. Line 87: remove “in addition”, and change “it was found that the oxidized aluminum structure was formed on the surface of the aluminum layer” to “we find, as expected, that the aluminum self-passivated to Aluminum oxide”
5. Line 88-91: how did you measure/estimate those values? Please explain.
6. Figure 1b) clearly state: what is the bottom layer, the intermediate layer an the black. I observe a black layer between the probable steel and the probable aluminum, can you tell us what is it?
7. Figure 2: caption: did you spray Al2O3 or Aluminum? we need to know which kind of cathode you used, what represent the peaks. Such a figure is completely useless without a proper caption.
8. Line 96: structureS, plural
9. Line 96-99: it seems to me that, perhaps, you do not show the surface topography of the Ta/Al multilayers, and if it is a real image of the surface, you have peeling of the Ta layer even at 400 um.
At this point the manuscript is NOT ACCEPTABLE AT ALL for publication or further revision.
Author Response
Please refer to the attachment file.Thank you very much.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Round 2
Reviewer 2 Report
Dear Author, I am happy with this revision which is, now, well readable and the content seems to be improved.
