Nanosized rutile titanium dioxide (TiO2) is used in inorganic pigments and cosmetics because of its high whiteness and duality. The high quality of the white pigments depends on their surface coating technique via the solgel process. SiO2 coatings are required to improve the dispersibility, UV-blocking, and whiteness of TiO2. Tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) is an important coating precursor owing to its ability to control various thicknesses and densities. In addition, we use Na2SiO3 (sodium silicate) as a precursor because of its low cost. Compared to TEOS, which controls the pH using a basic catalyst, Na2SiO3 controls the pH using an acid catalyst, giving a uniform coating. The coating thickness of TiO2 is controlled using a surface modifier, cetrimonium bromide, which is used in various applications. The shape and thickness of the nanosized coating layer on TiO2 are analyzed using transmission electron microscopy, and the SiO2 nanoparticle behavior in terms of the before-and-after size distribution is measured using a particle size analyzer. The color measurements of the SiO2 pigment are performed using UV-visible spectroscopy.

This study is aimed at preparing and evaluating the plasma resistance of YAS (Y2O3-Al2O3-SiO2) coating layer with crystalline YAG phase contents. For this purpose, YAS frits with controlled phase contents are prepared and melt-coated on sintered Al2O3 ceramics. Then, the results of phase analysis of crystalline YAS coating layer are compared to that of YAS frits, and discussed with regard to the plasma resistance of the YAS coating layer. The phase contents of the YAS frit change in a manner different from that of the prepared YAS coating layer, presumably owing to the composition change of YAS frit during the melt-coating process. The plasma resistance of the YAS coating layer is shown to increase with the YAG phase contents in the coating layer. Comparing the weight loss of YAS coating layer with those of commercial Y2O3, Al2O3, and quartz ceramics, the plasma resistance of the prepared YAS coating layer is 8 times higher than that of quartz and 3 times higher than that of Al2O3; this layer shows 70 % of the resistance of Y2O3.

This study is aimed at improving the plasma resistance of Al2O3 ceramics on which plasma resistant YAS(Y2O3- Al2O3-SiO2) frit is melt-coated using a simple heat-treatment process. For this purpose, the results of phase analysis and microstructural observations of the prepared YAS frits and the coating layers on the Al2O3 ceramics according to the batch compositions are compared and discussed with regard to the results of plasma resistance test. The prepared YAS frits consist of crystalline or amorphous or co-existing crystalline and amorphous phases according to the batch compositions, depending on the role and content of each raw material. The prepared YAS frit is melt-coated on the densely sintered Al2O3 ceramics, resulting in a dense coating layer with a thickness of at least ~ 80 m. The YAS coating layer consists of crystalline YAG(Y3Al5O12), Y2Si2O7, and Al2O3 phases, and YAS glass phase. Plasma resistance of YAS coated Al2O3 ceramics is strongly dependent on the content of the YAG(Y3Al5O12) and Y2Si2O7 crystalline phases in the coating layer, especially on the content of the YAG phase. Comparing the weight loss of YAS coating ceramics with values obtained for commercial Y2O3, Al2O3, and quartz ceramics, the plasma resistance of the YAS coating ceramics is 6 times higher than that of quartz, 2 times higher than that of Al2O3, and 50 % of the resistance of Y2O3.

Transparent organic-inorganic hybrid hard coating films were prepared by the addition of SiO2 or ZrO2, as an inorganic filler to improve the hardness property, filler was highly dispersed in the acrylic resin. To improve the compatibility in the acrylic resin, SiO2 or ZrO2 is surface-modified using various silanes with variation of the modification time and silane content. Depending on the content and kind of the modified inorganic oxide, transparent modified inorganic sols were formulated in acryl resin. Then, the sols were bar coated and cured on PET films to investigate the optical and mechanical properties. The optimized film, which has a modified ZrO2 content of 4 wt% markedly improved in terms of the hardness, haze, and transparency as compared to neat acrylate resin and acrylate resin containing modified SiO2 content of 8 wt%. Meanwhile, the low transparency and high haze of these films slowly appeared at SiO2 content above 10 wt% and ZrO2 content of 5 wt%, but the hardness values were maintained at 2H and 3H, respectively, in comparison with the HB of neat acrylate resin.

When a single inorganic precursor is used for the synthesis of a sol-gel coating, there is a problem of cracking on the surface of coating layer. In order to solve this problem of surface cracking, we synthesized inorganic-organic coatings that have hybrid properties of inorganic and organic materials. Sols of various ratios (1:0.07, 0.2, 0.41, 0.82, 1.64, 3.26, 6.54, 13.2) of an inorganic precursor of Tetrabutylorthotitanate (Ti(OBu)4, TBOT) and an organic precursor of γ-Methacryloxy propyltrimethoxysilane (MAPTS) were prepared and coated on stainless steels (SUS316L) by dip coating method. The binding structure and the physical properties of the synthesized coatings were analyzed by FT-IR, FE-SEM, FIB (Focused Ion Beam), and a nano-indenter. Dynamic polarization testing and EIS (electrical impedance spectroscopy) were carried out to evaluate the micro-defects and the corrosion properties of the coatings. The prepared coatings show hybrid properties of inorganic oxides and organic materials. Crack free coatings were prepared when the MAPTS ratio was above a critical value. As the MAPTS ratio increased, the thickness and the corrosion resistance increased, and the hardness decreased.

Superhydrophobic SiO2 layers with a micro-nano hierarchical surface structure were prepared. SiO2 layers depositedvia an electrospray method combined with a sol-gel chemical route were rough on the microscale. Au particles were decoratedon the surface of the microscale-rough SiO2 layers by use of the photo-reduction process with different intensities (0.11-1.9 mW/cm2) and illumination times (60-240 sec) of ultraviolet light. With the aid of nanoscale Au nanoparticles, this consequentlyresulted in a micro-nano hierarchical surface structure. Subsequent fluorination treatment with a solution containingtrichloro(1H,2H,2H,2H-perfluorooctyl)silane fluorinated the hierarchical SiO2 layers. The change in surface roughness factorwas in good agreement with that observed for the water contact angle, where the surface roughness factor developed as ameasure needed to evaluate the degree of surface roughness. The resulting SiO2 layers revealed excellent repellency towardvarious liquid droplets with different surface tensions ranging from 46 to 72.3mN/m. Especially, the micro-nano hierarchicalsurface created at an illumination intensity of 0.11mW/cm2 and illumination time of 60 sec showed the largest water contactangle of 170o. Based on the Cassie-Baxter and Young-Dupre equations, the surface fraction and work of adhesion for the micro-nano hierarchical SiO2 layers were evaluated. The work of adhesion was estimated to be less than 3×10−3N/m for all the liquiddroplets. This exceptionally small work of adhesion is likely to be responsible for the strong repellency of the liquids to themicro-nano hierarchical SiO2 layers.