Characterization of films

C.Y. Liu, A.J. Bard, F. Wudl, I. Weitz, and J.R. Heath, Electrochemical characterization of films of single-walled carbon nanotubes and their possible application in supercapacitors. Electrochem. Solid... 

Characterization of films of organofunctional silanes by TOFSIMS and XPS. Part I. Films of A/-(2-(vinylbenzylamino)-ethyl]-3-aminopropyltri-methoxysilane on zinc and y-aminopropyltriethoxysilane on steel substrates... 

In this series of papers we will report on the use of TOFSIMS for the characterization of films of a number of commonly used silanes deposited on various substrates, mainly metals. The background of this interest in metals is the possible application of silanes as corrosion-inhibiting metal pretreatments. 

Figure 4.8 Reprinted from Spectrochim. Acta, Vol. 49A, N.E. Lindsay, R.O. Carter, ID, P.J. Schmitz, L.P. Haack. R.E. Chase, J.E. DeVries and P.A. Willermet, Characterization of films formed at a lubricated cam/tappet contact, pp. 2057-2070. Copyright 1993, with permission from Elsevier.

Fig. 5.12. Process control techniques for the in situ characterization of film and process properties and closed-loop control strategies for optical film deposition by reactive sputtering...

Most film deposition and processing are carried out in a vacnnm. hi addition, almost aU the characterization of films is performed in a vacnnm. Althongh there is mnch rich literature on vacnnms, it seems that a brief discnssion of relevant subjects is necessary. Specifically, some of the most commonly enconntered concepts in thin film deposition and characterization, snch as mean free path and flow regimes and their dependence on pressnre and temperature, will be introduced. Readers who want to learn more fundamentals and techniqne details of vacuums are referred to References 11 throngh 13. 

Tejinder, S., Preparation and characterization of films using barley and oat P-glucan extracts. Cereal Chem., 80, 728, 2003. 

Other examples for the characterization of films and membranes using impedance spectroscopy are the investigation of electrolyte uptake of polymer films [31-33] and the determination of exchange currents at ion-selective membranes for po-tentiometric sensors [32, 34],... 

Unfortunately, many polysaccharides have not been examined in rigorously pure conditions, and often examination has not extended to characterization of films. Therefore, at times, it is useful to classify polysaccharides according to source. 

I.Z. Schroeder, P. Franke, U.F. Schaefer, and C.M. Eehr, Development and characterization of film forming polymeric solutions for skin drug dehvery, Eur. J. Pharm. Biopharm., 65, 111-121,2007. 

TABLE 11. CHARACTERIZATION OF FILMS FROM ALKYD EMULSIONS WITH VARYING PERCENT OIL ... 

Z. Shi, P.K. Mallick, R.C. McCune, Characterization of film formation on magnesium alloys due to corrosion in engine coolants , SAE technical paper 2008-01-1155, SAE International, Detroit. 2008. 

Schonherr H, Frank CW. Ultrathin films of poly(ethylene oxides) on oxidized silicon. 1. Spectroscopic characterization of film structure and crystallization kinetics. Macromolecules 2003 36 1188-1198. 

Conklin SD, Heineman WR, Seliskar CJ (2007) Spectroelectrochemical sensing based on multimode selectivity simultaneously achievable in a single device. 19. Preparation and characterization of films of quatemized poly (4-vinylpyridine ) - silica. Electroanalysis 19 523-529... 

The characterization of film properties may be done at various points in the processing. Early characterization can give an early indication of problems or variations in the processing. 

Swelling - particularly due to the uptake of water - often creates opacity within the film (whitening) which is undesirable in many applications. This phenomenon is caused by refractive index inhomogeneities created in the film when water penetrates the interstitial regions between the particles. Characterization of film whitening can be done with conventional techniques as discussed above. 

The in-depth resolution of the electron probe is about the same as the lateral resolution (1-3 /im). Normally, the analysis is restricted to regions as large or larger than these dimensions. However, the instrument is employed increasingly in the characterization of films of submicrometer dimensions, (determining both film thickness and composition " ) as well as of small particles. A search of the literature shows that the electron probe has been applied to a wide range of materials. ... 

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