Plasma-spray coatings have a unique microstructure composed of various types of microcracks and weakly bonded interfaces which dictate their nonlinear mechanical properties. The intrinsic photo-luminescence (PL) characteristics of alpha-alumina (α-Al2O3) within these coatings offer a diagnostic functionality, enabling these properties to be probed experimentally at the microscale, under substra...

In this study we explore the cutting performance of ZrAlN coatings. WC:Co cutting inserts coated by cathodic arc evaporated Zr1-xAlxN coatings with x between 0 and 0.83 were tested in a longitudinal turning operation. The progress of wear was studied by optical microscopy and the used inserts were studied by electron microscopy. The cutting performance was correlated to the coating composition ...

Ice repellent coatings have been studied and keenly sought after for many years, where any advances in the durability of such coatings will result in huge energy savings across many fields. Progress in creating anti-ice and anti-frost surfaces has been particularly rapid since the discovery and development of slippery, liquid infused porous surfaces (SLIPS). Here we use SLIPS-coated differentia...

Zeolites/molecular sieves with uniform, molecular-sized pores are important for many adsorption-based separation processes. Pore size gaps, however, exist in the current zeolite family. This leads to a great challenge of separating molecules with size differences at ~0.01 nm level. Here, we report a novel concept, pore misalignment, to form a continuously adjustable, molecular-sieving "gate" at...

Lubricants can affect quasicrystalline coating surfaces by modifying the commensurability of the interfaces. We report results of the first computer simulation studies of physically adsorbed hydrocarbons on a quasicrystalline surface: methane, propane, and benzene on decagonal Al-Ni-Co. The grand canonical Monte Carlo method is employed, using novel embedded-atom method potentials generated fro...

simple and economic coating monitoring technology. The light-emitting properties of the novel coating can serve as an indicator layer, which warns when the coating has worn off, replacing or recoating is necessary [7]. When we inspect on coating with a hand-held UV-lamp, the yellowgreen light of SrAl2O4:Eu, Dy3+ will disappear. It means that the functional coating is worn out and that recoating...