Copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) films were deposited for the first time by the brush electrodeposition technique. X-ray diffraction studies indicated the formation of single phase chalcopyrite CIGS. Lattice parameters, dislocation density, and strain were calculated. Band gap of the films increased from 1.12&#x2009;eV to 1.63&#x2009;eV as the gallium concentration increased. Room temperature transport parameters of the films, namely, resistivity increased from 0.10&#x2009;ohm&#x2009;cm to 12&#x2009;ohm&#x2009;cm, mobility decreased from 125&#x2009;cm<sup>2</sup>V<sup>&#x2212;1</sup>s<sup>&#x2212;1</sup> to 20.9&#x2009;cm<sup>2</sup>V<sup>&#x2212;1</sup>s<sup>&#x2212;1</sup>, and carrier concentration decreased from 4.99 &#xd7; 10<sup>17</sup>&#x2009;cm<sup>&#x2212;3</sup> to 2.49 &#xd7; 10<sup>16</sup>&#x2009;cm<sup>&#x2212;3</sup> as the gallium concentration increased. Photosensitivity of the films increased linearly with intensity of illumination and with increase of applied voltage.

N. P. Subiramaniyam

P. Thirunavukkarasu

K. R. Murali

Photoconductive Properties of Brush Plated Copper Indium Gallium Selenide Films

The dependence of loop tack, peel strength, and shear strength of NBR/SMR L blend-based pressure-sensitive adhesives on the rate of testing was investigated using coumarone-indene resin and toluene as the tackifier and solvent, respectively. A 40&#x25; NBR content in the NBR/SMR L blend was used throughout the experiment. The adhesion properties were measured by a Lloyd Adhesion Tester operating at different rates of testing. The result indicates that loop tack, peels strength, and shear strength increase with the rate of testing due to the viscoelastic response of the adhesive. At low testing rate, the failure mode is cohesive in nature whereas adhesion failure mode occurs at higher testing rates. Adhesion properties also increase with the increase in adhesive coating thickness, an observation which is attributed to the wettability of the adhesive and viscoelastic behavior of the rubber blend.

B. T. Poh

Junidah Lamaming

Effect of Testing Rate on Adhesion Properties of Acrylonitrile-Butadiene Rubber/Standard Malaysian Rubber Blend-Based Pressure-Sensitive Adhesive

Postdeposition annealing of thin nickel films synthesized using R.F. magnetron sputtering technique is carried in this study. The XRD analysis indicates that annealing of the nickel films leads to the formation of nickel oxide with a preferential growth along (200) plane. The oxidation mechanism is observed with a phase transformation and results in polycrystalline NiO films. The surface morphology of the thin films was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) as a function of annealing temperature. The studies indicate the formation of well-defined grain boundaries due to agglomeration of nanocrystallites. The films annealed in the range 573&#x2013;773&#x2009;K are found to be porous. The optical transmission spectra of the films annealed at 773&#x2009;K exhibit interference effects for photon energies below the fundamental absorption edge. The optical studies indicate the existence of direct interband transition across a bandgap of 3.7&#x2009;eV in confirmation with earlier band structure calculations.

I. Dhanya

B. Sasi

A Study on the Thermodynamics of Grain Growth in R.F. Magnetron Sputtered NiO Thin Films

Hot-dip aluminizing of low carbon steel was done in molten Al-7Si-2Cu bath at 690&#xb0;C for dipping time ranging from 300 to 2400 seconds. Characterization of the intermetallics layer was done by using scanning electron microscope with energy dispersive spectroscopy. Four intermetallic phases, <svg     style="vertical-align:-3.3907pt;width:14.675px;" id="M1" height="12.15" version="1.1" viewBox="0 0 14.675 12.15" width="14.675"  xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg">
	
		
			<g transform="matrix(.017,-0,0,-.017,.062,7.863)"><path id="x1D70F" d="M471 456q-22 -60 -37 -85q-20 -3 -84 -3q-9 0 -29 2t-29 2q-38 -145 -54 -234q-15 -80 14 -80q23 0 68 38l14 -25q-78 -83 -137 -83q-50 0 -50 64q0 25 7 57l67 266q-57 4 -98 -9t-80 -49l-20 21q14 18 27 31t36.5 30t56.5 26t73 9q26 0 82.5 -2t89.5 -2q21 0 32 5t24 24&#xA;z" /></g>

			<g transform="matrix(.012,-0,0,-.012,8.275,11.95)"><path id="x35" d="M153 550l-26 -186q79 31 111 31q90 0 141.5 -51t51.5 -119q0 -93 -89 -166q-85 -69 -173 -71q-32 0 -61.5 11.5t-41.5 23.5q-18 17 -17 34q2 16 22 33q14 9 26 -1q61 -50 124 -50q60 0 93 43.5t33 104.5q0 69 -41.5 110t-121.5 41q-53 0 -102 -20l38 305h286l6 -8&#xA;l-26 -65h-233z" /></g>

		
	
</svg>-Al<sub  >7</sub>Fe<sub  >2</sub>Si, <svg     style="vertical-align:-0.1638pt;width:8.5874996px;" id="M2" height="12.4375" version="1.1" viewBox="0 0 8.5874996 12.4375" width="8.5874996"  xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg">
	
		
			<g transform="matrix(.017,-0,0,-.017,.062,12.162)"><path id="x1D703" d="M475 507q0 -83 -20 -172t-56 -167.5t-93.5 -129t-125.5 -50.5q-157 0 -157 227q0 78 21.5 164t59 161t96.5 123.5t126 48.5q79 0 114 -58t35 -147zM391 522q0 155 -81 155q-62 0 -111 -82.5t-73 -200.5h253q12 81 12 128zM373 346h-255q-12 -91 -12 -150q0 -72 20 -123&#xA;t63 -51q34 0 64 28.5t52.5 77t39 103t28.5 115.5z" /></g>

		
	
</svg>-FeAl<sub  >3</sub>, <svg     style="vertical-align:-3.56265pt;width:8.5249996px;" id="M3" height="12.175" version="1.1" viewBox="0 0 8.5249996 12.175" width="8.5249996"  xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg">
	
		
			<g transform="matrix(.017,-0,0,-.017,.062,7.675)"><path id="x1D702" d="M471 401q0 -32 -14 -91l-83 -376q-30 -146 -21 -180l-7 -15q-22 0 -47.5 23.5t-25.5 40.5q0 49 53 271l53 224q4 18 6.5 31t3.5 22.5t1 15t-2 9t-4.5 4.5t-6.5 1q-31 0 -100.5 -63.5t-126.5 -145.5q-16 -53 -40 -163q-48 -11 -74 -21l-7 8l82 341q9 36 -4 36&#xA;q-8 0 -28.5 -14t-38.5 -32l-17 22q41 43 85 71t66 28q23 0 23 -39q0 -19 -10 -64l-24 -103h2q77 101 201 182q37 24 74 24q31 0 31 -47z" /></g>

		
	
</svg>-Fe<sub  >2</sub>Al<sub  >5</sub>, and <svg     style="vertical-align:-3.27605pt;width:14.675px;" id="M4" height="12.0125" version="1.1" viewBox="0 0 14.675 12.0125" width="14.675"  xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg">
	
		
			<g transform="matrix(.017,-0,0,-.017,.062,7.863)"><use xlink:href="#x1D70F"/></g>

			<g transform="matrix(.012,-0,0,-.012,8.275,11.95)"><path id="x31" d="M384 0h-275v27q67 5 81.5 18.5t14.5 68.5v385q0 38 -7.5 47.5t-40.5 10.5l-48 2v24q85 15 178 52v-521q0 -55 14.5 -68.5t82.5 -18.5v-27z" /></g>

		
	
</svg>-Al<sub  >2</sub>Fe<sub  >3</sub>Si<sub  >3</sub>, were identified in the reaction layer. <svg     style="vertical-align:-3.3907pt;width:14.675px;" id="M5" height="12.15" version="1.1" viewBox="0 0 14.675 12.15" width="14.675"  xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg">
	
		
			<g transform="matrix(.017,-0,0,-.017,.062,7.863)"><use xlink:href="#x1D70F"/></g>

			<g transform="matrix(.012,-0,0,-.012,8.275,11.95)"><use xlink:href="#x35"/></g>

		
	
</svg>- Al<sub  >7</sub>Fe<sub  >2</sub>Si phase was observed adjacent to aluminum-silicon topcoat, <svg     style="vertical-align:-0.1638pt;width:8.5874996px;" id="M6" height="12.4375" version="1.1" viewBox="0 0 8.5874996 12.4375" width="8.5874996"  xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg">
	
		
			<g transform="matrix(.017,-0,0,-.017,.062,12.162)"><use xlink:href="#x1D703"/></g>

		
	
</svg>-FeAl<sub  >3</sub> between <svg     style="vertical-align:-3.3907pt;width:14.675px;" id="M7" height="12.15" version="1.1" viewBox="0 0 14.675 12.15" width="14.675"  xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg">
	
		
			<g transform="matrix(.017,-0,0,-.017,.062,7.863)"><use xlink:href="#x1D70F"/></g>

			<g transform="matrix(.012,-0,0,-.012,8.275,11.95)"><use xlink:href="#x35"/></g>

		
	
</svg> and <svg     style="vertical-align:-3.56265pt;width:8.5249996px;" id="M8" height="12.175" version="1.1" viewBox="0 0 8.5249996 12.175" width="8.5249996"  xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg">
	
		
			<g transform="matrix(.017,-0,0,-.017,.062,7.675)"><use xlink:href="#x1D702"/></g>

		
	
</svg>-Fe<sub  >2</sub>Al<sub  >5</sub>, <svg     style="vertical-align:-3.56265pt;width:8.5249996px;" id="M9" height="12.175" version="1.1" viewBox="0 0 8.5249996 12.175" width="8.5249996"  xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg">
	
		
			<g transform="matrix(.017,-0,0,-.017,.062,7.675)"><use xlink:href="#x1D702"/></g>

		
	
</svg>-Fe<sub  >2</sub>Al<sub  >5</sub> adjacent to base material, and <svg     style="vertical-align:-3.27605pt;width:14.675px;" id="M10" height="12.0125" version="1.1" viewBox="0 0 14.675 12.0125" width="14.675"  xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg">
	
		
			<g transform="matrix(.017,-0,0,-.017,.062,7.863)"><use xlink:href="#x1D70F"/></g>

			<g transform="matrix(.012,-0,0,-.012,8.275,11.95)"><use xlink:href="#x31"/></g>

		
	
</svg>-Al<sub  >2</sub>Fe<sub  >3</sub>Si<sub  >3</sub> precipitates within Fe<sub  >2</sub>Al<sub  >5</sub> layer. The average thickness of Fe<sub  >2</sub>Al<sub  >5</sub> layer increased linearly with square root of dipping time, while for the rest of the layers such relationship was not observed. The tongue-like morphology of Fe<sub  >2</sub>Al<sub  >5</sub> layer was more pronounced at higher dipping time. Overall intermetallic layer thickness was following parabolic relationship with dipping time.

Prashanth Huilgol

Suma Bhat

K. Udaya Bhat

Hot-Dip Aluminizing of Low Carbon Steel Using Al-7Si-2Cu Alloy Baths

Different proportions of <i>&#x3b1;</i>-Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> and pure Al powders were coated onto AZ91D magnesium alloy substrates by cold gas dynamic spray. The microstructure and morphologies of the coatings were observed by scanning electron microscope. The friction and wear properties were tested by a ball-on-disk wear tester. It was found that the interfaces between grains and substrates formed close boundaries. It is revealed that the composite coatings could increase the friction or wear properties of the coatings. It was observed that the wear of coatings was converted from adhesive wear into abrasive wear with <i>&#x3b1;</i>-Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> particles increasing and that the adhesive wear accompanied with abrasive wear would increase the wear rate of coatings.

Jie Wu

Yongshan Tao

Huazi Jin

Ming Li

Tianying Xiong

Chao Sun

Friction and Wear Properties of Cold Gas Dynamic Sprayed <svg style="vertical-align:-3.40982pt" height="16.475" version="1.1" viewBox="0 0 80.875 16.475" width="80.875" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g transform="matrix(.017,-0,0,-.017,.062,12.162)"><path id="x1D736" d="M505 450h125l-163 -259q-1 -4 -1 -12q0 -19 1 -23q9 -98 41 -98q36 0 58 76l24 -7q-34 -139 -121 -139q-32 0 -57.5 24t-31.5 55q-72 -77 -181 -77q-73 0 -114 44t-41 124q0 118 79 210q79 93 197 93q51 0 86 -27t50 -71zM369 281q0 141 -62 141q-43 0 -95 -84
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q-25 23 -56 39q-34 17 -97 38v17q69 21 100 53t31 78q0 103 -99 103q-40 0 -69.5 -19t-56.5 -64z"/></g><g transform="matrix(.017,-0,0,-.017,58.662,12.162)"><use xlink:href="#x2D"/></g><g transform="matrix(.017,-0,0,-.017,64.714,12.162)"><use xlink:href="#x41"/></g><g transform="matrix(.017,-0,0,-.017,76.494,12.162)"><use xlink:href="#x6C"/></g></svg> Composite Coatings

Nanocomposite conducting coatings can impart stable surface electrical conductivity on the substrate. In this paper, carbon nanofiber (CNF) and nanographite (NG) are dispersed in thermoplastic polyurethane matrix and coated on the surface of glass and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film. The nanoparticles dispersion was studied under TEM. The coating thicknesses were estimated. Further, their resistance and impedance were measured. It has been observed that the 5&#x2009;wt&#x25; CNF dispersed nanocomposite coatings show good conductivity. The use of NG can bring down the amount of CNF; however, NG alone has failed to show significant improvement in conductivity. The nanocomposite coating on PET film using 2.5&#x2009;wt&#x25; of both CNF and NG gives frequency-independent impedance which indicates conducting network formation by the nanoparticles. The study was carried out at different test distances on nanocomposite coated PET films to observe the linearity and continuity of the conducting network, and the result shows reasonable linearity in impedance over total test length (from 0.5&#x2009;cm to 4.5&#x2009;cm). The impedance of nanocomposite coatings on glass is not frequency independent and also not following linear increase path with distance. This indicates that the dispersion uniformity is not maintained in the coating solution when it was coated on glass.

Amitava Bhattacharyya

Gopinathan Janarthanan

Studies on Nanocomposite Conducting Coatings

Highly transparent, conducting zinc oxide [ZnO] thin films co-doped with fluorine and zirconium have been deposited on glass substrates by the ultrasonic chemical spraying technique. The effects of aging of the starting solution and substrate temperature on the structural, morphological, and electrical properties of the ZnO:F:Zr films have been studied. The resistivity of the films decreases with the aging time of the starting solution until the seventeenth day reaching a minimum of about <svg style="vertical-align:-0.1638pt;width:67.487503px;" id="M1" height="16.049999" version="1.1" viewBox="0 0 67.487503 16.049999" width="67.487503" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g transform="matrix(.017,-0,0,-.017,.062,15.775)"><path id="x31" d="M384 0h-275v27q67 5 81.5 18.5t14.5 68.5v385q0 38 -7.5 47.5t-40.5 10.5l-48 2v24q85 15 178 52v-521q0 -55 14.5 -68.5t82.5 -18.5v-27z" /></g><g transform="matrix(.017,-0,0,-.017,8.222,15.775)"><path id="x2E" d="M113 -12q-24 0 -39.5 16t-15.5 42q0 24 16 40.5t40 16.5t40 -16.5t16 -40.5q0 -26 -16 -42t-41 -16z" /></g><g transform="matrix(.017,-0,0,-.017,12.098,15.775)"><path id="x32" d="M412 140l28 -9q0 -2 -35 -131h-373v23q112 112 161 170q59 70 92 127t33 115q0 63 -31 98t-86 35q-75 0 -137 -93l-22 20l57 81q55 59 135 59q69 0 118.5 -46.5t49.5 -122.5q0 -62 -29.5 -114t-102.5 -130l-141 -149h186q42 0 58.5 10.5t38.5 56.5z" /></g><g transform="matrix(.017,-0,0,-.017,24.031,15.775)"><path id="xD7" d="M528 54l-36 -38l-198 201l-198 -201l-36 38l197 200l-197 201l36 38l198 -202l198 202l36 -38l-197 -201z" /></g><g transform="matrix(.017,-0,0,-.017,37.783,15.775)"><use xlink:href="#x31" /></g><g transform="matrix(.017,-0,0,-.017,45.942,15.775)"><path id="x30" d="M241 635q53 0 94 -28.5t63.5 -76t33.5 -102.5t11 -116q0 -58 -11 -112.5t-34 -103.5t-63.5 -78.5t-94.5 -29.5t-95 28t-64.5 75t-34.5 102.5t-11 118.5q0 58 11.5 112.5t34.5 103t64.5 78t95.5 29.5zM238 602q-32 0 -55.5 -25t-35.5 -68t-17.5 -91t-5.5 -105&#xA;q0 -76 10 -138.5t37 -107.5t69 -45q32 0 55.5 25t35.5 68.5t17.5 91.5t5.5 105t-5.5 105.5t-18 92t-36 68t-56.5 24.5z" /></g><g transform="matrix(.012,-0,0,-.012,54.112,7.613)"><path id="x2212" d="M535 230h-483v50h483v-50z" /></g><g transform="matrix(.012,-0,0,-.012,61.097,7.613)"><use xlink:href="#x32" /></g></svg> Ω cm and then increases. Though all the samples are of polycrystalline hexagonal wurtzite type and grow preferentially with (002) plane parallel to the substrate, their morphology depends strongly on the aging time of the reaction solution. The optical transmittance of all the films remained around 80% in the visible spectral range. These highly transparent, low resistive thin films are expected to be highly useful as transparent electrodes in the fabrication of thin film solar cells.

Luis Casta&#xf1;eda

Fabrication of Transparent Conductive Zinc Oxide Co-Doped with Fluorine and Zirconium Thin Solid Films by Ultrasonic Chemical Pyrolysis: Effects of Precursor Solution Aging and Substrate Temperature

Currently, the most promising technology of coating formation is microarc oxidation (MAO) with unique properties of the surface layer, which combine high wear resistance, corrosion resistance, and heat and erosion resistance. Microarc oxidation can be used for parts and components manufacturing in various segments of industries. However, the technology improvement by improving the tribological characteristics of MAO-coatings can not only enhance economic effect, but also expand its application.

V. N. Malyshev

A. M. Volkhin

B. M. Gantimirov

Tribological Characteristics Improvement of Wear Resistant MAO-Coatings

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Journal of Coatings