Latest Publications & Patents on Surface Coatings

Spin coating is a procedure for depositing uniform thin films onto flat substrates. An excess of a coating solution is placed on the substrate, which is then rotated at high speed. Centrifugal force spreads the solution, and solvent evaporation or curing solidifies the film, with the final thickness determined by viscosity, concentration, and spin speed.

The Fill Factor (FF) is a key parameter that determines the quality of a solar cell. It is the ratio of the maximum power a cell can produce (\(P_{max}\)) to the theoretical power if it were an ideal voltage and current source (\(V_{oc} \times I_{sc}\)). A higher fill factor indicates lower parasitic resistance losses and a more 'square' I-V curve.

Heijunka is the principle of production leveling or smoothing within the Toyota Production System. It involves averaging out the production volume and mix over a fixed period to eliminate peaks and valleys in workload. This creates a predictable and stable manufacturing environment, which is a prerequisite for implementing Just-in-Time (JIT) and standardized work effectively.

Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) is a coating process where a substrate is exposed to one or more volatile chemical precursors. These precursors react or decompose on the substrate's surface in a reaction chamber, producing a high-purity, high-performance solid thin film or coating. Temperature and pressure are critical process parameters that control the deposition rate and film quality.

A conformal coating is a thin, protective polymeric film applied to a printed circuit board (PCB) that 'conforms' to the contours of the board and its components. Its primary purpose is to protect the electronic circuits from harsh environmental conditions such as moisture, dust, chemicals, and extreme temperatures, thereby increasing the reliability and lifespan of the device.

The ratio of Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) to Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) is a key indicator of the biodegradability of organic pollutants in wastewater. COD measures nearly all chemically oxidizable organic material, while BOD measures only the fraction that microorganisms can readily degrade. A higher BOD/COD ratio indicates a more biodegradable effluent, suitable for biological treatment.

A matrix method of structural analysis fundamental to the finite element method (FEM). It models a structure as an assembly of elements connected at nodes. The method relates nodal forces \({R}\) to nodal displacements \({D}\) through a global stiffness matrix \([K]\), expressed as \([K]{D} = {R}\). Solving this system of linear equations yields the unknown nodal displacements.

A structured methodology for creating new products, typically involving analysis, concept development, and synthesis. It is an iterative cycle where designers research user needs, brainstorm ideas, create prototypes, and test them to refine the final product. This process ensures that the end product is both functional and meets market demands effectively before full-scale production.

Takt time is a theoretical calculation representing the pace of customer demand (\(Available Time \div Demand\)). In contrast, cycle time is an empirical measurement of the actual time taken to complete one unit of work at a specific process step. A core principle of lean manufacturing is to ensure that cycle time is consistently less than or equal to Takt time.

The Toyota Production System is founded on the complete elimination of waste, categorized into 7 types, 3 main being described here: Muda (non-value-adding work), Muri (overburden), and Mura (unevenness). While Muda is the most commonly discussed, TPS recognizes that Muri and Mura are often the root causes of Muda and must be addressed first to achieve a truly lean system.

Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) is a system of regulations and guidelines ensuring that pharmaceutical products are consistently produced and controlled according to quality standards. It covers all aspects of production, from the starting materials, premises, and equipment to the training and personal hygiene of staff. GMP is designed to minimize the risks involved in any pharmaceutical production.

Spin welding is a friction welding technique for joining thermoplastic parts with circular joint interfaces. One part is held stationary while the other rotates at high speed. The parts are then brought together under pressure, and the resulting friction generates sufficient heat to melt the interface. The rotation is stopped, and pressure is maintained or increased until the weld solidifies.

The fire tetrahedron is an advanced model that adds a fourth element to the classic fire triangle: a sustained chemical chain reaction. This fourth element represents the process where the heat produced by the combustion reaction is sufficient to sustain the fire by creating further flammable vapors and radicals. This model better explains flaming combustion.

FTA is a top-down, deductive failure analysis technique. It starts with a potential undesired event (the "top event") and uses Boolean logic gates (AND, OR, etc.) to determine the combinations of component failures or human errors that could cause it. It provides a graphical model for understanding and quantifying system risk, identifying critical failure paths.